A/N: Long time no see. I probably won't have any readers for this but I hope the ones that stayed will continue to read. I greatly apologize for not updating as promised, but I have been so busy that life would not even give me a breather. I have been so tired lately that all I want to do is rest. I hope all the readers who read this know that I am truly grateful for reading my story and persisting. Warnings and Trigger alert: mentions of sexual abuse.

Chapter 25

Sesshomaru and Jaken had decided to escort Rin and the child back to the village. There were stares made upon them as they entered. They were awestruck at Sesshomaru's presence. There was something regal about him. Was it the way he walked? Was it the way he was dressed? Was it the way his aura seemed to explode with nobility? The villagers were not sure, but the one thing they were sure of was that he was no ordinary person. No ordinary person had such snowy white hair unless they were of old age, and he was no elder. And those golden eyes? They have never seen such color on anyone before. He was a mystery to them. His whole appearance seemed to scream out to respect him. To them, he was truly an ethereal being.

Sesshomaru ignored the stares, only focusing on Rin's back. He felt at peace to see her so close to him, breathing and alive.

"Beautiful," he thought. His eyes never left Rin's body.

Jaken looked around and noticed the stares. He was irritated yet felt incredibly vain at the attention. The smug grin on his face showed off what he truly felt as if he was the one that the commoners were amazed with. He walked upright with his head slightly tilted up, showing his arrogance. Unlike Jaken, Sesshomaru walked with poise.

It took a while before they were settled at a seemingly abandoned small cottage far from the village. It looked as if it was not well taken care of and there seemed to be vines starting to overtake the wooden cabin. Rin turned around and smiled at them.

"This is my home. It's not in the best condition, but it is what it is," Rin stated, her smile never leaving her face, "I would have offered you both something to eat or drink but as you can see, I have nothing to give. But if you would like, the village we passed has a great restaurant with tons of great food and an inn for you to rest in."

"And what of you?" asked Sesshomaru. There was a concern inside of him, wondering if Rin had been ostracized like she was at the castle. With that thought in mind, his concern twisted into anger if it were true.

"Ah, what of me?" Rin questioned, tilting her head, her brows scrunched together in curiosity.

"What will you have for lunch," Jaken squawked impatiently for his master. He was annoyed that the young lady could be so slow-witted not to understand his master's intentions.

Sesshomaru glared at the short man for his insolent behavior towards his Rin. If he could, he would undoubtedly punish Jaken to bow to Rin one hundred times for forgiveness, but he would not do that for Rin's sake. She was never the kind to enjoy punishments or revenge.

"Oh, well, I usually forage my own food and cook them," she answered, "or I would make something from what I had left. As you can see, I cannot afford luxury or even bread for that matter."

"Do you usually have to look for your own food? Nobody has helped you or given you any charity," asked Sesshomaru, not amused by the thought that she had to search food by herself without any help, especially when she is blind. The thought of her facing dangers and nobody there to help had infuriated him. It was then he noticed how frail and skinny she looked, making him even more furious.

"Sometimes, though rarely, Ishi, the boy who was with me, will give me food his mother will make for the both of us," Rin replied sweetly with the expression of gratitude, "His mother is also the owner of the restaurant I talked about."

There was little comfort in hearing those words. Sometimes. "Sometimes" was not enough to Sesshomaru. She could have food one week but starve in another. With Rin's loss of sight and living in a deserted cabin, she would be alone and there would be no one to protect her from danger when she forages for food by herself.

The thought of her being hurt or killed took his thoughts to the day she fell off the cliff. His stomach dropped and he could feel his body falling into that darkness again until he heard her voice and felt her touch on his shoulder. Only she could break him away from his dark thoughts.

"Are you okay?" Rin's warm gentle voice asked in concern. She could feel his body trembling near her and knew there was something wrong, yet there was something about him. Something familiar. But what could it be?

"I- I'm fine," he answered, allowing himself to breathe.

Only Rin can calm him down. This emptiness he felt was slowly being filled up by Rin's warmth. She was the only one who could give him life again, the one whom he greatly missed. She's here and as long as she is here, he would stay here by her side as well. This, he promise.

Sesshomaru decided quickly that he would be her knight, her guard, her protector, and anything she wanted or needed him to be. He would not leave Rin again. He had yearned all this time to be with her. Now, he had that chance. He would not let that chance be thrown away even if he had to lie about who he was all his life.

"If you are sure," Rin stated, doubtful at his hesitant answer but not at all prying. Before the quietness turned into awkward silence, she changed the topic. "Thank you for being so kind as to walk me home. Normally, I do not allow strangers to follow me home, but the both of you seemed like nice lads. You both don't seem like bandits as no bandits would follow a poor, ill-dressed woman if they wanted to steal something. And if you were to attack me, you would already have done so."

Sesshomaru winced, not feeling comforted by her confidence in them. Her trust can be used to her disadvantage like so many times before by his hand and by others. Men can do many things even without an answer and their criminal acts can be done at no certain time. She could be raped by a perfect gentleman in disguise.

The thought sent shivers down in his spine as his mind returned to the thoughts of Naraku's punishments on her. Those men. Those women. Her body laying in that dungeon. Forced into sexual labor. He could not allow that to happen to her again. Even though he is glad she had trust in them, he felt she was too trusting like she always had been before. Before everything went downhill between them. When she was still carefree, innocent, and loving. When he was a part of her life.

He shook away the thoughts once again. There was no time to think about the past. He was in her life again and that was all he wanted. He needed to concentrate on atoning his sins and wanted to start now. He wanted to start by feeding her and clothing her. She deserved the world and he wanted to give it to her right away.

"Miss Rin, I know it is inappropriate of me, but I would like to invite you for dinner with me and my servant. Would that be okay?" asked Sesshomaru.

Shocked by his sudden invitation, Rin was about to turn down his offer since she did not know him well enough to dine with him and his servant. They were, after all, still strangers. It would also be inappropriate to go into a restaurant with the way she was dressed. Rin would only feel embarrassed and small from other people's judgmental eyes.

"I do not think it is a good idea, Mr. Nishio. I would only embarrass you with the way I dress. No one would allow me into their establishment, not even Ishi's mother. Even though the villagers saved me, accepted my existence and allowed me to teach the villager's children in literacy and math, I am not allowed to be part of their community. I am a cripple with nothing to my name. An oddity allowed to live, only to be starved and live by mere scraps. A mere beggar, as they say."

Sesshomaru's stomach turned. Rin had always lived a difficult life, even in her new life she was not allowed any luxuries. Always getting the short end of the stick. Always looked down upon. Always pushed aside. It was not fair, but he will change that. If only she allowed him that.

"Please, Miss Rin. It's all I can thank you for showing me the way to the village. One dinner is all I ask. I could even let you borrow some clothes just for tonight," Sesshomaru persuaded, "If you refuse me again, it would only lead me to feel indebted to you. Please, Miss Rin. Let me pay my debts to you."

Of course, those clothes she would be "borrowing" would be made from the finest silk with detailed sewing only a noblewoman would wear. In his travels as a bounty hunter and as an ex-prince, he saved up all the finest of clothes with all sorts of trinkets, hair dressings, and jewelry just for her. Hoping that some day, even if she did truly die, he would see her again and give her what he could not when he was once a prince.

Rin felt all sorts of emotions, mostly hesitance and guilt at him begging her. One dinner will not hurt, will it? This man will continue to be persistent until she said yes. Stubborn, like someone she once knew. Sesshomaru.

And she nodded.

Just for tonight.