Chapter 1
It had been a year since Rin had rejoined her lord Sesshomaru. Her birthday was tomorrow, but that didn't really mean much to her other than how much time had passed since she had come back home. The feeling stopped her and she smiled. Lord Sesshomaru was home. No matter where they went he was her home. It was nice to be home. Trailing behind him holding the reins of Lord Sesshomaru's dragon, Rin giggled as she enjoyed her happiness and she saw her Lord's ear twitch from the sound. She would be nineteen tomorrow. Lord Sesshomaru didn't concern himself with things like birthdays, or for that matter holidays of any sort, but Rin had gotten used to doing something special on that day. Her friends in the village had never forgotten her birthday or let the occasion pass without some kind of party to mark it. Memories drifted through her mind taking her away from the present.
The birthday parties were mostly Kagome's doing since she and Inuyasha had adopted her…kind of. She had lived with Kaede for a few years, but the old miko had given Kagome the task of caring for her while she recovered from a demon attack. Her body never quite recovered from it and it was difficult for her to do many of the basic tasks she used to. Caring for a young child became strenuous and Kagome saw it. She simplified things by moving Rin and Kaede into the same house with her and Inuyasha, much to the Hanyou's dismay.
She remembered those years fondly, though it was difficult for her at the time, being separated from her lord. While he was away, Rin had, at first, exclusively preferred Inuyasha's company to the other humans, since he looked a great deal like her beloved lord. Later she learned to care for Kagome and the others. However it was the half-demon who had first taught her to fight. Once she learned to defend herself, being around humans didn't seem so scary, and she began to fit in a little better, but she never forgot Lord Sesshomaru. She remembered how she looked forward to his visits the way Kagome looked forward to a hliday she called Christmas. He even brought her presents! Not every time, but usually.
He always came in the morning, so she had gotten into the habit of rising early to wait for him at the top of their hill every day. Most of the time he didn't come, but when he did… oh, when he did! She knew even then that he didn't particularly care for displays of affection so she tried her best not to show it, but on those mornings she would run to his side, grab his hand, and walk him down to the village while she filled his silence with unrelenting chatter about all he had missed while he was away. On those mornings…it was her Christmas.
Rin's focus snapped back to the present when she felt more than heard her lord growl softly. She came to an immediate halt and, dropping the reins of Ah-Un, her lord's dragon, she gripped the hilt of her sword.
"Rin" Lord Sesshomaru called quietly. She hurried to his side.
"Yes my lord?" she asked
"Hide."
She didn't argue. Grabbing the reins of Ah-Un she leapt onto his back and flew into the trees. She flew Ah-Un far back in the foliage and, finding the highest tree she could, hid them both in its branches. She knew she probably should have gone farther, but she wasn't going to let her lord out of her sight unless he specifically commanded it.
