Chapter 12

Rebirth

Sesshomaru had kept his word throughout the rest of the week. He had been at her door every morning to pick her up and drive her in and he took her home every night. Rin had noticed a few other changes as well, but they were minute at best. She had caught his eyes on her more than a few times, and each time she met them it seemed like he had wanted to speak to her, but had remained silent or quickly brought up something related to the job. It felt like something had changed, but it seemed as if he were fighting it even harder now. Which may have been backtracking she wasn't quite sure. His motives seemed even more obscure than they had before. Which only frustrated Rin even more.

The kiss had not come up again, and although he still kept a hand on her waist to and from the elevator he had done nothing else to show he wanted to speak of it or repeat it. It was tense near him almost all the time, and she had a hard time figuring out what was really causing it. Kagome had also been suspiciously quiet about it. She felt almost as if her cousin was avoiding her, barely answering her messages and calls. Sango, on the other hand, had been a great help.

She had suggested upping the stakes, and when Rin had not known what she had meant she had pointed out that Sesshomaru had reacted so violently to Naraku approaching her in the club and in the streets that clearly they needed to push him a bit more and replicate the situation, but with slightly different effects. She had explained her plan in more detail, and Rin had agreed to it. It was a bit mean she felt, but it would at least force him to act in one way or another instead of just staring at her in a longing manner and placing a hand around her. Being near him with such frequency had also allowed for the plan to unfold nicely. It had started simply: with a phone call.

They had planned it ahead of time so that on the third day of him escorting her on their way back to her apartment in his car, Sango had called her. Rin had apologized to Sesshomaru politely, but insisted she needed to take it. He had made that frustrating little noise he liked to make instead of giving an articulate response "hnh" and she had picked up.

"Sango-chan! I'm sorry, I can't really talk right now-"

She had paused dramatically, then responded with her best attempt at surprise:

"Wait, he agreed? Oh, that's, um, really great news. I didn't think he would be interested in me, but that's really exciting!"

Another pause as Sango had gone on

"No, no, of course we can go out! Sure, just send me his details, I can try and get in touch with him. Okay, great, thanks so much Sango, I'll tell you about it later."

After hanging up, Rin felt the silence fall heavily in the car between them. She felt the tension and did her best to seem coy and excited typing a message on her phone with no recipient. She eyed Sesshomaru as carefully as she could from the corner of her eyes as she did, and saw his were narrowed and his face was stony. Upon arriving in the parking garage of the building he opened her door for her again, but this time he did not place his arm around her waist on the walk up, or in the elevator as he had previously.

On the ride up however, Rin found herself worrying maybe that he was either too angry, or nonplussed. It was too hard to tell at the moment. Then he spoke. "Setting up plans?" She could hear the ice in his voice, and she did her best to not smile in response. "Something like that, yeah. I met a friend of Sango's awhile ago, and he just got back into town. Seems like he's interested in meeting." "Interested in meeting?" "Yes, I have to get in touch with him, but he's a very sweet guy, and he's apparently really interested in meeting with me." She wasn't sure how she pulled off a blush, but she did. Maybe she should've pursued acting instead.

The doors opened and she stepped out of the elevator. He followed her, still not touching her, his face still cold. "I mean, I don't have any other reason not to meet with him, right?" she asked, looking askance towards him as they walked down her hallway. She saw his lips twitch slightly and she wondered the effect it was having on him, if any. They came to a stop in front of her door, and she looked up to him through her eyelashes. He wasn't looking at her, his face turned away.

He stood with his hands in his pockets, and she felt her heart pang as she looked at him. His face was tight and drawn, but she could see pain there. "There is no reason why you shouldn't pursue meeting with him." Rin felt her heart crack slightly. "Of course. He's nice, from a good family, it makes sense." She could hear the despondency in her own voice, and his eyes slid over to meet hers. They were fathomless and dark, the gold dim. "I can see no reason as to why you shouldn't. You deserve a normal life with someone you can grow old with and benefit from." His voice was warm, and it sounded so final. Rin nodded, keeping his gaze. "Yes, well, I suppose I'll see you tomorrow then?" He nodded, and Rin turned to unlock her door, entering the code and unlocking it. "Thank you, for driving me home again."

He was no longer looking at her, his eyes focused back on the wall opposite her door. "Of course. It was a pleasure, as always." He nodded to her politely. "Goodnight, Rin." "Goodnight Sesshomaru." Rin entered and closed her door on him as he turned away and made his way back to the elevator.

Sesshomaru paced around his living room, his mind whirling. He growled as he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and he pulled it out, resisting the urge to smash it. Instead he answered, barking into the speaker: "What?!" "Woah, calm yourself, what the hell?!" His half-brother responded, sounding angry. Sure, they never got on very well, but this kind of hostility was not normal. "I'm busy brother, what do you want?" he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to reign in his fury. Inuyasha had never been bright, but he did not deserve the backlash of the news he had just received.

"Well, the wife told me to start checking in with you, and I realized we hadn't talked since the whole thing with Rin and I figured should see how it's all going." Sesshomaru grimaced and felt a headache starting as the demon in him roared in rage, but he tried his best to keep himself contained. "It's developed. In a direction." "Well, hey that's great! Kagome's been silent about the whole thing keeping to herself, which is really weird because normally she tells me everything whether I want to hear it or not-" "She's seeing someone!" he snapped, losing the battle with his demon as his eyes shifted and his swiped out at his sofa, slashing it down the center. "Wait, what?" "That gypsy girl set her up with some boy she knows!" "Wait, gypsy girl what the hell does that mean-?" Sesshomaru growled, seeing red, and disconnected the call, not knowing how to even voice what he was thinking and feeling.

He only had himself to blame of course, he had stopped himself since he had met her for this very reason. He had wanted to stop himself from ruining her life, which he would do if he took her as his mate. He had felt this to the core of his being, just as he had known she was the only person that could make him feel this way. And now it was happening and he was losing his mind. His demon was telling him to slay the other male, to take her as his, to mark her so she could never be with another. The other pieces of him were telling him to let her go, finally.

She had seemed happy and content with the idea of this other man, and she deserved to be happy, to be with another human who could grow old with her and die with her. He could not give her that, not with the virus looming over his species especially. So why? Why was he having any complications with finally letting her go? Rin did not choose to be born as his mate, why could his demon not just let him release her from her unchosen path? Isn't this all he had wanted? Then why was he not giving up on her, why was he fighting doing so with every fibre of himself?

He hadn't slept that night, and had ordered a new sofa to replace the one he had shredded. When he stood outside of her apartment the next morning, he knocked, as he had done every day for the past week. This morning however there was no answer.

His instincts immediately went on full alert. She had never been late before, and had been ready by the door every morning. He knocked again, this time a shorter more urgent rap, still with no answer. He knew the door was not sound-proof like the flooring, and he could hear nothing suspicious from within, but he did know the combination to enter with the spare key in his pocket. He had carried it since he hired her, but he had never had to use it.

Just as he decided to open the door, consequences be damned, his phone chimed with a notification. Brow creased he checked it quickly, sliding it and the key from his pocket. It was a message from Rin, and he felt his demon calm at seeing her quickly-typed message: "Sorry, running a little late, in the bathroom, but feel free to head out without me! Sorry again!" He debated for one more moment, then typed back quickly: "I have no issues waiting. I'm already outside your door." That was when his delicate ears heard the crash from the back of the apartment and a yelp that could only be Rin's.

Instinct took over him and his fingers deftly punched the code into the security pad, the key in the lock and the door was thrown open. His mind was racing, his thoughts jumping immediately to every worst possible scenario he could think of as he flew towards the source of the crash and her yelp. His claws were bare, his fangs flashing, prepared to slice through any threats. He flew to the back of the apartment to her bedroom door which was cracked open.

As he stepped through the doorway, his eyes scanned the room for threats, and saw none immediately, but his eyes found her quickly. She was on her back on the floor, holding her knee, and surrounded by shards of broken glass. The mirror on the bureau just in front of her was broken and had left debris all over the ground. In one hand was her phone, the other gripping her left knee. "Sesshomaru, what-?" "What happened, are you hurt?" He heard the ferocious roar in his voice, and saw her eyes widen at it.

"I-I was trying to hurry and I fell off the bed and broke the mirror, I think I'm okay-" His senses narrowed as his eyes scanned over her. 'Blood!' His thoughts were frenzied as his nostrils flared once he caught the whiff from between her fingers around the knee she clasped. Without giving her warning he stepped fully into the room, through the shards on the floor and scooped her up from the debris, cradling her into his chest. Everything seemed to calm almost as soon as he held her and he carried her out of the room into the kitchen.

"Sesshomaru, please, I'm fine, it's just a small cut it must've happened when I fell, please-" "I'll be the judge of that. You need to be more careful." He spoke over her desperate pleas, too set in his actions from the sight and scent of her blood to leave now. In the kitchen he placed her on one of the stools, missing her warmth instantly. He took a step back and noticed the red flush on her cheeks and how it was spreading quickly down her neck...which was bare, along with her entire top-half. He instantly understood her frenzied plea as he noticed she was shirtless, in only a thin lacy bra. She noticed him noticing this and her arms wrapped around her chest, trying to hide her nakedness from him. "Um...I was getting dressed when I fell." she explained, not meeting his blatant gaze.

He turned his back to her instantly, trying to focus on the matter at hand and not on how the curves of her breasts were barely concealed behind her hands. "There's a first-aid kit in the bathroom, I'll grab you something to wear as well." "There's a blanket on the couch, can you just give me that for now please?" He didn't dare look to her again, but nodded grabbing the purple quilt off of the sofa and handing it back to her without turning around again. He heard a rustle as she must've wrapped the quilt around her, but he left to go back into the bedroom and the bathroom, feeling she deserved a moment to recover her composure.

The scent of her blood pierced his senses, and his need to confirm she was fine drove him forwards. He found the kit easily in the vanity and and on his way out spotted the black button-up on the bed, haphazardly hanging on the edge. He grabbed it and made his way back into the kitchen. As he rounded the corner he saw a very frazzled and flushed Rin, wrapped securely in the purple quilt from the couch, her injured leg resting on the other stool. He placed the kit on the counter and handed her the shirt. One of her hands reached out and grabbed it, shaking slightly. "Thank you." she mumbled, her eyes downcast. "I, um, need to, um…"

Sesshomaru tried not to smile at how flustered she clearly was, his eyes moving over her bundled form before he nodded and turned his back to her again. He heard as the blanket hit the ground and another rustling as she slipped the shirt on quickly. After a moment she mumbled: "Okay, all set." and he turned back to face her. "Now, let me see that knee."

Rin watched the silver-haired god as he tended to the small cut on her knee. He was definitely overreacting, it was just a small gash, but she relished the attention either way. She wasn't quite sure how it had all happened, but in her hurry to answer his message and get herself ready she had managed to not only throw herself off of her bed, but also break her mirror. Amongst the glass and the searing pain from injuring her knee (somehow), suddenly, there was Sesshomaru in her doorway. He looked ready to take on hell itself, eyes red, claws extended, fangs gnashing, and she immediately was aware of the fact that she had not quite finished dressing yet.

Her first thought was to run into her bathroom and grab something, anything, to cover herself with but she also noticed her feet were bare and she was surrounded by broken glass. Escaping was not an option, and she doubted he would let her judging by his current state. Her next reaction was to get him out of the room and get herself decent, but he was having none of that either as he bent down, scooped her up and took her out into her kitchen.

He may be blatantly ignoring her current state of undress, but she could feel his hands on her bare skin and everything in her mind turned into scrambled nonsense. His hands were cold and her skin was hot and the combination made her tremble uncontrollably. It wasn't until he placed her down in the kitchen that it struck her that he had not noticed her awkward state. Once he had she tried her best to cover herself, and luckily he was polite enough to turn away from her as soon as he realized.

After he left the room she wrapped herself in her quilt, a present from Kagome, and sat shivering as she tried to keep her knee elevated. Of course she had picked a skirt to wear today, so the second challenge was trying to keep it pulled down while still keeping the quilt covering as much of her as she could. She took a quick look at her knee, but it seemed to just be a small cut, and it had already stopped bleeding. She contemplated telling him to just leave so she could try to get everything cleaned up, but she knew he wouldn't. When he returned, she found it too difficult to look at him, feeling very vulnerable. She squirmed into the shirt he brought as quickly as she could, buttoning it tightly. She took a deep breath before telling him she was ready, and he had turned back to her, eyes focused on her injury.

He had remarkable candor given the awkwardness of the situation, she could give him that. Just having him in her space like the night he had brought her home after Naraku's assault it seemed odd to see him out of constant context. It occurred to her that he was in fact a living creature outside of his office and that he in fact lived above her. A whole life she knew nothing about happened just over her head every night. This made her a bit sad, but also curious as to what she was missing out on. Did demons have hobbies?

Sesshomaru was always so serious and focused, she had always assumed his life was his work, he had no social presence really aside from functions he had to attend for his image and the companies' and there was no record of him ever even dating, she had searched thoroughly enough throughout the years. Even while she had been away at school she found herself searching the internet for news on him while he was away in America. There had nothing non-business related of course, but her heart beat furiously every time she had typed his name into the search bar.

She gasped in pain as he applied something on a cotton ball to her cut and the sting brought her back to her present circumstances. His eyes met hers, which were slightly accusatory. She saw the corners of his lips turn upwards at her indignant glare. "It's not bad at all, you were pretty lucky." "Yes, well, I don't feel lucky." she murmured, embarrassed again. "I'm very sorry about the mirror, I can pay to have it replaced." She cursed as she felt her face heating again in shame.

His eyes were focused on her knee as he tended to it, applying something that smelled strongly of alcohol. "It's not really a problem. I'll have someone from maintenance come over to replace it and clean up the mess. They've had little to do since the building was finished, I doubt they will mind." Rin lapsed into silence then, watching his long elegant fingers as they tended to her wound. He was so careful when he touched her and she watched as he cleaned the cut then began to wrap it in gauze and proceeded to bandage it efficiently and quickly.

He was clearly taking care not to touch too much of her skin, but she marvelled at how his large hands made her elevated leg look so small in comparison. "I'm sorry if I worried you. My alarm didn't wake me on time and I was just planning on getting myself in-" "It's fine, it's most likely my fault you fell." He glanced up to her as he finished the bandage and cut the extra wrapping. "No, honestly I'm really surprised something like that hasn't happened sooner, I'm a bit accident-prone. I'm shocked I haven't knocked the whole place down yet. Gramps used to joke he would have to baby-proof the whole mansion just to stop me from killing myself on a sharp corner." She laughed aloud at herself as he began packing up the kit. "You know saying things like that is not building confidence that I can leave you alone, I may have to coat the whole place in bubble-wrap at this rate." Rin met his eyes, surprised at the humorous tone in his voice.

He met her eyes as well, and she saw a flash of pain in them briefly before he looked away and began to clean up the kit. "Try standing on it, see if putting pressure on it hurts." He closed the box and held his hand out to help her off of the stool. Rin took it, her hands no longer trembling thankfully, and stood cautiously. It was easy enough, and the binding was especially tight, but aside from that it felt like whatever he had used on the cut had some kind of pain-relief in it as well as it no longer stung either. "Seems fine." she looked up to him smiling, and caught him giving her another one of those longing looks that had been driving her crazy all week.

There was a fire in his eyes as he looked down on her, and she realized her hand was still in his. It felt nice, natural. He nodded and released it, making her wish he hadn't immediately. "Good. keep it covered for now, just remove it before you bathe next and you should be able to leave it uncovered after that." "Where did you learn to do that?" Rin asked, noticing the expertise of the bandage. "There was a time when I needed to learn how to tend to my own wounds, so self-taught I suppose." Rin bit her lip, seeing how terse he was as he said this. It reminded her that he had a whole history she was oblivious to.

"Well, you did a great job." She took notice of the time on her oven display and gasped. "Oh, I've made us so late! And I'm not even finished getting ready yet!" "It's fine. Seeing as how you're the only one who accounts for my comings and goings I doubt anyone will have noticed. What else do you need to do?" "I suppose you're right, you don't exactly have a boss do you? Not much really, I just need to eat a little something and get my things together. Might switch to pants though, this isn't very seemly to look at." She extended her leg, taking a look at the bandage.

"You won't be going back in that room with all of that glass in there. If you tell me what you need, I can get it for you." "Um, sure, I guess I could make some breakfast then. Have you eaten yet?" Sesshomaru shrugged. "I don't usually eat, but you should." "Okay, I'll just make something real quick then I guess. The second drawer of the bureau there's a pair of black pants can you grab those for me?" He nodded and left her heading back towards the room.

Rin moved around the center-island into the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. She decided, against her better judgement to make him a small serving as well. She normally just ate something quick, but having him here with her and outside of the office she may have been intentionally stalling. She enjoyed having him in her apartment as if it were completely normal. She decided to pursue this feeling.

She was just cracking the eggs as he returned holding the pants she had requested. She looked at him over her shoulder and nodded to the island. "You can place them there. Should just be a few minutes." He nodded solemnly and placed them down, standing on the edge of the kitchen flooring. She eyed him as she whisked eggs and added some seasoning. He looked like a caged animal, unsure of what to do with himself. Uncertainty was not something she had seen from him yet, and it made her almost want to giggle. So being normal made him uncomfortable she noted before she began to scramble she eyed him over her shoulder, smiling warmly. "Have a seat, I'll dish you some eggs. Hope you like scrambled." she added, turning back to her pan.

She didn't hear him sit, but a few moments later when she grabbed two small plates and turned to him with breakfast he had taken a seat at the stool she had been sitting in previously. She placed the plate in front of him and grabbed him a fork. "I know you don't need to eat, but breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all." She winked as he eyed the plate dubiously. She waited a moment before she began to eat herself, and was happy they turned out fluffy and flavorful. She had never been much of a cook, but she did enjoy it when she could.

She watched him take a bite slowly then another. "I'm not really a cook, but when I moved away I got sick of instant noodles pretty quick so I taught myself some basics." He nodded then met her eyes. "It's very good. Thank you." Rin smiled and waved away his thanks. "It's the least I can do. You saved me from myself after all." He seemed to accept this and they fell into a comfortable silence. Rin tried not to watch him as he ate, but she couldn't help it. It was so mundane, but so bizarre having Sesshomaru, the man that had haunted her thoughts and her heart for so long sitting across from her eating breakfast.

It seemed so odd, but it was somehow comforting as well. Her mind wandered quickly to what it would be like to do this every morning, to wake up with him and make him breakfast. A happiness spread through her blood as she contemplated this, a life together with him. It looked so picturesque in her mind, and it only strengthened her resolve. A future with him was all she wanted and she prayed that her and Sango's plan would be enough to move forward. She wanted this immediately and forever.

Friday came quickly and with it the last stage of the plan. Sango arrived on time, as she had promised, to pick Rin up from work, and as Rin granted her permission for her to enter to the annoyed security guard Sesshomaru exited his office as he had done every day that week. Rin looked up to him, feigning surprise. "Oh, no, I'm sorry I completely forgot! Sango's picking me up, we're going shopping for tonight." She hoped she didn't sound too fake, but he didn't seem to be suspicious, he instead gave her a blank look. "Shopping?" he asked, and she could hear the hint of disdain in his voice.

She nodded, trying to keep her face as innocent as possible. "Yes. I have a date tonight, and she wanted to help, you know make sure I look good and all." she focused on packing up her items, hoping Sango would arrive any moment. "Hnh. Tonight is it?" Rin nodded, staying as nonchalant as she could. "Yep. we're going dancing I guess." There was a knock at the door and she beeped Sango in, who entered cheerily. "Oh good, you're ready! We have to be quick, there's a lot to do!" Rin was sure she could feel the animosity radiating off of Sesshomaru, and she knew Sango could feel it too, but to her credit the girl took it in stride.

"Hey Sesshomaru, good to see you again! Rin's got a big night tonight, did you hear? Hopefully he won't steal your assistant away from you, you know sweep her off and make her his bride domestic life and all that, I hear you have a hard time keeping good help." she winked animatedly at Sesshomaru, who all but glowered back at her. "Since you have a way back, I'll be taking my leave then. I will see you on Monday Rin." He nodded to Rin, who nodded back, then bowed to Sango who bowed back, her eyes glittering with mirth.

As he opened the door, Sango threw her arms around Rin and cried out: "I'm so excited for you two Rin, he's such a great guy, you're going to love him!" Rin saw Sesshomaru's form go completely rigid from behind, but he left closing the door softly behind him. Both girls froze until they heard the elevator doors open then close again before Sango pulled away and burst into giggles. "Oh man he is so pissed! This is great!" Rin shook her head, slightly exasperated. "I feel like that last bit was unnecessary. I'm not trying to hurt him, just wake him up."

Sango smiled, seeing the somber expression on Rin's face. "Hey, listen, if anybody knows about demons it's me. I'm taking a wild stab, but based on all of his behaviors and the rituals of dog demons and how they go about choosing their mates, this should spur him into action finally and you can have the conversation initiated that you've been so scared to have. It's going to be fine Rin, now let's go get you all glitzed up! You've got a demon to seduce!" Rin smiled back to Sango, her enthusiasm catching on. She was nervous, but she trusted her and so far it has been working the way Sango had predicted almost to a "T". She pushed away her anxieties for a bit and let Sango lead her from the office and into the streets of downtown Tokyo.

Sesshomaru paced and paced and paced. His thoughts were harried and difficult to sort. His eyes glanced to the clock on the wall. Almost eight PM. They had to have met by now, and her future would be unfolding while his felt like it was dying. The past years were slipping across his mind and everything that had brought him to this exact moment. His choice to isolate himself with the emergence of the virus and what it meant for his kind, his father seeking him out and the speech he had given about finding purpose despite the ending of their species and his reign as a demon lord. What Izayoi had done to contribute to that, and how happy his father had seemed. The man before Izayoi, a merciless, cruel monster still found love and redemption with a human woman no less. Inuyasha and his wife the priestess and how happy they had been at their wedding, He had kept far from them, not wishing to see how easy it was for them to overcome their differences.

Seeing Rin again for the first time upon returning to Japan, and seeing the woman she has become. How thin he felt in America when he had run from her. How thin he felt every second without her since he had first scented her in his office years ago. How good it felt to hold her, how her smile filled his heart in a way he had never known was possible.

Back to Inuyasha and Kagome as they stood at the altar and professed their love for each other. The look in his half-brother's eyes, like a man saved from drowning, and she was his life-raft. He wanted that damnit! He had been denying himself for so long, telling himself that there was no way he could make her happy between their difference in species and his inability to give her what she needed, what she deserved.

His father, a demon demi-god drenched in rivers of blood, more than he himself could ever dream had found bliss in the arms of a human woman! If his uncouth half-brother could find peace in the arms of a human woman, what was stopping him from doing the same? What they were didn't matter really, all that mattered was that they were together. This thought burst free from his conscious and it ricocheted through him like lightning to a rod.

He had left so much of the blame on the primal attraction of his demon finding its mate he had done very little to consider how he felt about the matter, and the proof has been all around him for so long. He had been fighting his instinct for this long as well since needing to adapt to the post-feudal world, not being a great demon lord he had thought made his story complete, but now he knew it was just beginning. He only hoped he wasn't too late, that he hadn't already lost her, he had been so careless and so foolish just letting her go and not fighting to the death for her.

He threw the windows open to the balcony in his room and the night air swept over him, washing him in cool calm. Now was not the time for calm however, now was a time for war and battle. Battle for the only woman who could put him at peace forever and always. This would be the hardest night of his life, he knew. Failing to set aside his doubts completely he took to the sky and began scanning the night for her, using all of his heightened senses to find the one scent that could soothe his soul.

Rin stood outside of the small club, her arms wrapped around her shivering form. Sango stood next to her, on her left was her brother Kohaku. He had dressed nicely for the occasion as he had been told to do by his sister. Sango had dragged Rin to a fine boutique and had helped her pick out the smallest garment they had. For how small the dress was, the price tag had been large enough, but before Rin could protest Sango had paid and ushered them out of the shop and onto the salon for her hair and makeup. She had told the stylist that Rin needed to look like a wanton sex goddess, and they had obliged. At least Rin thought they had when she had seen the woman in the mirror, and now she stood outside in the chilly night feeling like it may have all been for nothing. They had already been waiting (at Rin's insistence) for close to forty-five minutes outside. Just in case.

The dress was shining gold with black straps that barely held it onto her slim form, the front low-cut, the back open down to the small of her back and a slit up the side that left her thighs exposed every time she took a step. The gold eyeshadow matched it perfectly and they had done a magnificent job of accentuating the roundness of her cheeks and plumped her lips nicely with dark liner and red lipstick that made her look like she was begging to be kissed. Her hair was nicely tousled, almost naturally so, despite the amount of product in it to make it look that way. Sango had given her an appraising look, claiming she looked "freshly boned", which had made Rin squeak and smack her.

Her black heels had gladiator-style ties that wrapped up around her calves, making her look leggy and lean. She did feel beautiful, and when Kohaku had arrived Rin had eyed Sango wearily. They had not actually discussed this portion. Kohaku was dating Shippo of course, and Sango had said he was the most harmless pick. Kohaku of course had no idea why he was there, only that he had been told to dress "as straight as possible", and he had given Rin high praise as well upon arriving. She looked around the brother-sister pair again and wilted when she didn't see any sign of a silver-haired form.

Sango noticed and gave her a sympathetic look. "Lighten up Rin! Why don't we head inside, dance a little? Remember even if he doesn't show tonight we just get some pictures of you two, the happy couple, and you casually set it as your desktop background. Either way it's a win!" Rin nodded as Kohaku's head poked around her, looking alarmed. "Wait, what are we doing?" he asked, looking between the two girls. "Don't worry about it, Shippo said it's fine anyway, let's go inside!" Kohaku did not look assured, but he followed them inside. It was loud within and Sango quickly pulled them onto the dancefloor, dancing first with Rin, then Kohaku who quickly began to lose his suspicion. Soon Rin found herself getting lost in the music as well, letting it carry her away from her thoughts of golden eyes.

As a slower rhythm picked up Kohaku extended a hand to her, wiggling his eyebrows. Rin giggled and took it as Sango stepped away to grab them drinks. "So what am I really doing here Rin?" Kohaku asked, leaning down to speak directly into her ear over the thrumming beat. Rin sighed, feeling bad for the poor boy, so clueless to their machinations. "Want to hear a story Kohaku? Maybe you can tell me how it should end." His dark eyes blinked back at her and he gave her a kind smile. "Go ahead." he answered, and Rin began to speak.

She told him of a girl doomed to an arranged love, and how a younger girl, unaware of the world, had discovered what it meant to fall in love in her place. How he ran from her and she in turn ran from the memory of him, but they were still drawn back to each other. How he watched her like all he wanted was to sweep her up and keep her forever, but his pride held him back at every turn. How the girl had no way to tell him that him being different didn't matter, that the only future she had ever wanted was with him, no matter the consequences. How her own loss made it too difficult for her to just look him in the eyes and tell him that she loved him, and the time for that may never come.

Kohaku listened, nodding and smiling sadly. As she finished, tears pricking her eyes, his fixed at a point over her shoulder, and his smile widened brightly. "Well, Rin-chan, there's no time like the present." And his hands on her waist tightened and he spun a confused Rin around to face the person he had been staring at. Rin's eyes fell on the tall man just behind them, and she froze. He had come, and he stood before her now, looking down on her with the same longing she had seen countless times before the past week and consistently throughout the week. This gaze was different however in a way she had a hard time identifying clearly.

"Hello Rin." She could hear his voice clearly as the song ended and just before the next one picked up his eyes moved to Kohaku behind her and narrowed to vicious slits. Rin felt Kohaku release her waist as if he had been burned and he threw his arms up as one did to show they were unarmed. "Well, Rin, this has been great and you're obviously one-of-a-kind, but you're clearly spoken for so I'll be going now!" And he was gone, disappearing into the crowd. Rin whipped around as he disappeared, but he was gone in the thrumming crowd. The music started again, and she turned back to Sesshomaru.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything he grabbed her hand and began pulling her out of the small club. She caught sight of Sango as he pulled her through the crowd, which seemed to part before him. The girl was carrying three drinks and as she caught sight of Rin her face split into a wide grin and she winked roguishly blowing a kiss.

Rin felt like she was in a dream as he pulled her outside into the brisk night air. It took all she had to not trip over her ambitious heels, and when he didn't stop but continued to pull her across the street and into a small park, dimly lit with low-hanging street-lights. He didn't look back, his hair blowing in the breeze and trailing behind him. When she almost tripped for the third time, Rin had finally had enough. "Sesshomaru, stop!" she cried out, and tugged her hand from his, coming to a stop.

She knew he had to have let her go intentionally, as with his strength he could have easily kept a hold on her. He stopped too, his back to her. "Sesshomaru, what is the meaning of this?" He didn't respond and kept his back to her. She became angry then, not knowing how to handle this newest development. Kohaku's words echoed in her mind: "There's no time like the present…"

Well, here goes. "It was fake! All of it was fake, of course it was! I could never imagine being with anyone else, there's only you, there only ever was! From the first time we met I've needed to be with you, since the first time I saw you there was no one else! I don't care that you're a demon, it doesn't matter, I've always loved you and I always will no matter how stubborn you are no matter how many times you deny me, there's no one else for me and damn the complications!" She finished, the exertion of her confession and the passion leaking into her voice and the tears from her eyes exhausting was it, this was the moment that would define everything. "I...love you Sesshomaru. I always have, and I always will." Her confession fell from her lips, and with it a great weight lifted from her shoulders. She felt pulled taut as she eyed his back, like she could break at any second.

"I know, little one." He finally spoke, his voice tired, and then he turned to face her. His eyes clashed with hers and he opened himself to her so briskly, she felt she could see deep into him, probably deeper than anyone ever had. Her eyes widened, her lips parted, and she felt the universe slide into place, finally He took two steps, closing the distance between them completely, and his arm wrapped around her waist pulling her flush against him as his mouth descended onto hers.

Their lips met, and Rin instantly saw fireworks behind her closed lids as his mouth covered hers completely and her body melted into his. Their first kiss had been soft and sweet, this was deep and encompassing pulling her into him. The arm around her waist tightened and Rin's hands fell onto his chest as he captured her. He nipped her bottom lip, eliciting a gasp from her, which gave him access to her mouth. His experienced tongue slipped into her warm mouth, and she felt her knees weaken as he began to drink her earnestly. His arm around her waist was stoic and solid and it kept her anchored despite her bodies inability to focus even on standing. She couldn't focus on anything other than his mouth as he took in every inch of hers.

She heard a moan come from her unbidden, much like the first time. This time however his hand tightened on her hip and his other hand tangled in her hair, pulling it taut and tipping her back to give him better access to her mouth. The kiss deepened even more, and Rin felt like she was drowning in him - his taste his affections, his love. It felt like it went on for an eternity, before his hand loosened in her hair and around her waist and he pulled away. Rin felt her eyes open, dazed, and she looked into his burning ones, swallowing thickly. "Wow…" she whispered, her voice slightly raspy. He smiled down on her, in a devilish manner then dipped slightly sweeping her up into his arms.

Rin gripped the lapels of his suit jacket as he took to the air, and they were flying through the night. He cradled her tightly and close, and she felt engulfed by his large form, curled into his chest. Everything felt perfect and right as she nuzzled into his strong chest. She heard him growl, almost a deep purr as she did, and his hands tightened around her knees and arms. She inhaled his scent as she lay in his arms high above the city, the night sky glittering romantically above them. He smelled like sandalwood and musk, something primal and evocative and their kiss played before her eyes again as they drifted closed. She felt so safe and warm despite the chill air and their altitude.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX NC-17 CONTENT, ENDS AT ENDING A/N XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He held her closely the whole way back and when she felt him touch down nearly a half hour later she was lulled into a trance. They were on the balcony of the top floor of the apartment building. It struck her that this must be his penthouse, and she turned her head as she watched him deftly open the glass door that led inside to a dark room. It was similar to hers, but the bed was much larger and the furnishings a bit different.

The moon lit the room casting long shadows across the floor. She saw his shadow stretching across the bed as he gently placed her down so precious and careful on the carpet. He took a step back from her then, and turned away from her beginning to unbutton his jacket slipping it off and dropping it onto an armchair near the balcony door. Reality hit her then, and him removing an article of clothing brought her back to what had happened. The wind had whipped her hair a bit and she tried to fix it frantically as his back was to her, then moved on to her dress, vainly trying to pull the skirt down a bit. It occurred to her during their flight it had slipped up much too far and she wrestled with it for a moment before he turned back to her.

The look in his eyes was unmistakable, and his eyes moved down her body, starting at her lips and further. "You're so beautiful Rin…" he breathed, as his eyes met hers. She felt her face heating up, and her breath whisked from her lungs at the passion she saw in his. It felt like the curtains he had always used to obscure his face and eyes was gone and he was finally giving her what she had always known was there, just beneath the surface. She took a step towards him, and was surprised when he took a step back.

"I-Is something wrong?" she asked suddenly feeling glaringly self-conscious. "No, there is nothing wrong with you, in fact you're perfect. It's more me." "What's wrong with you? There's nothing wrong with you." Rin felt confused and she shook her head. She saw the corners of his lips curve upwards for a moment in a slight smile, but his eyes were full of sorrow. "Rin, you have to understand, there are...issues, complications, to being with me." Rin flushed deeply and shook her head, her hair flying around her. "Oh, um, Kagome filled me in on some things, I know that it's...different, but it's okay I'm not afraid." She couldn't meet his gaze as she said this, too embarrassed. She heard him chuckle, and it sounded like rumbling thunder. She glanced back to him and he sobered.

"No, Rin, I more meant the difference in our life spans...and that...I can't give you children." Rin heard the pain in his voice and the shame that radiated in it as he haltingly spoke. Rin felt anger bubbling up in her with his shame, and she surged forwards. She knew he could stop her as she flew at him, but he didn't, and she placed her hands on his shoulders, stood on tiptoes and kissed him furiously. It felt a little more clumsy than his previous, but their mouths melded together so easily that Rin quickly found a rhythm.

She broke it just before she felt herself getting too carried away, and looked into his eyes, hoping she was as open to him now as he was to her. "Sesshomaru, you need to work on your listening skills. I told you already, none of that matters. We were made to be together, and nothing is going to stop that." He looked surprised at her vehemence, but his hands rested on her hips lightly and his eyes became liquid gold. 'That's familiar…' Rin found herself thinking as he leaned down for another kiss.

This one was immediately more overwhelming than before, and she felt as he used his hands on her waist to push her backwards until she felt the backs of her knees hitting the side of the bed. He broke the kiss for a moment and swept her up again, then he placed her in the middle of the bed, her head resting on his pillows. She was instantly engulfed in his scent again from the bedding. It was very comfy, and she felt herself sinking into it easily. He placed himself on top of her, his hands on either side of her face, and she gasped as his long body was laid over hers, new feelings blossoming in her chest and the pit of her stomach.

His lips descended onto hers again, and he used her gasp to force his tongue instantly into her mouth, probing and exploring. Rin felt her body wriggling under his comfortable weight, and this seemed to elicit a growl from him and he pulled away from her mouth, making her whimper softly, and she felt as his lips gave her a small hot kiss to her jawline and Rin felt the sensation ripple through her whole body. "I won't be able to stop myself Rin." His voice was a deep sexy rumble she could feel in her own chest with how close they were. "I don't want you to." she whispered, her voice breathy. A growl and his lips found hers once more, slanting over her lips sweetly, before he kissed the corner of her mouth, then her jawline again, then began moving lower, slowly. Rin felt her head tipping back, her body unconsciously begging for him to have more access.

He reached the point where her neck met her shoulder and something sparked in her. She gasped and felt the small of her back arch off of the comforter. The warmth building steadily in her stomach exploded in tingling nerves as his mouth closed on the spot, his teeth nicking it softly. Rin knew she had to have been making those soft moans and whimpers, but it didn't sound like her at all. He licked the skin there, teasing it for a moment longer, before he moved on to her shoulder, the kisses becoming hotter and involving more of his teeth and tongue. She was squirming under him, and she felt the heat in her spreading through her, her instinct begging for something, something she couldn't put coherent words to.

He withdrew his mouth, and she instantly whimpered wanting his mouth back immediately. "Wait-!" she cried out, to her own immediate embarrassment as he moved off of her and stood at the edge of the bed. Through her lusty haze she noticed he was unbuttoning his shirt and her heart skipped a beat. "I couldn't leave you right now even if I wanted to, little one." He hissed, his eyes fiery as they gazed upon her. He quickly slipped his shirt off of his broad shoulders, and bathed in moonlight her eyes drank in his body. She had known he was well-muscled, but seeing the extent of his definition made her stomach flip. She also had a bizarre instant obsession of wanting to touch every inch of his exposed skin. His muscles were hardened, but his skin looked so soft!

She was instantly self-conscious of her slight body in comparison, there was no way she looked that good. As if he sensed this he took another long slow glance down her bedraggled form. "I've wanted you for so long Rin, you're like a dream." She wasn't sure how to respond to this, so she whispered: "I feel like I'm dreaming…" A small smile slipped onto his lips and he placed himself back on the bed, his hands slid up her torso, slowly and torturously, until they buried themselves in her hair, tangling in it and pulling her neck back, forcing her back to arch again and her shoulders to push into the bed. She gasped at the sensation of being held like this, forceful and demanding.

He growled, low and vicious as his nose hovered over her neck. He used the tip of his tongue to trail down the line of her throat slowly and Rin shook with the teasing. When he reached the crook of her neck again, he inhaled deeply taking in her scent she assumed. There was something very sexy about this and Rin felt her legs tighten as the heat in her moved low into her core. "I need you Rin, I've wanted to taste you, take you for so long…" His voice was so throaty and masculine as he spoke into her neck she moaned. "Let's get rid of this devilish dress." She felt panic for a moment as one of his hands released her, his other still keeping her mildly restrained and she caught from the corner of her eye as his claws elongated and he slashed straight through the black straps around her shoulders. It hung off her now, and she felt as his hand slipped around her thigh smoothly and then a soft tug and he tossed it aside and onto the floor. And just like that she was only in her bra and panties before his hungry gaze.

Her arms, until now limp at her sides, reflexively moved to cover herself. His free hand grabbed her wrists with an agility that shocked her, and he placed them down on her stomach. "You will never cover yourself from me, Rin." Crimson flashed in his eyes as he snarled at her and she nodded, face flushed eyes wide. "It's just, I've never, this is the first time anyone has ever seen me this way-" "And no one else ever will. You are mine, and I am the only one who will ever see you like this, understand?" The gold of his eyes was swirling in with the demonic coloration, and stunned into silence at the primal pull of his words on her she could only nod.

He took this and his free hand slipped up her waist, following the curve of her side, using just the tips of his nails, still elongated. This elicited a hiss and she bit her lip to hold back a gasp. Across her ribs and his hand came to rest at the wiring of her bra (the same black one from when he had rescued her from the glass she realized then, a little disappointed she had not picked something different) seemingly hesitating for a second, before the hand entangled in her locks slipped out effortlessly and his clawed hand sliced her bra down the center and she was bare before him. She almost moved to cover herself again, when his crimson-flooded eyes passed before her and she was reminded of his command. Besides, she was quickly distracted as his grazed the side of her bare breast and she gasped at the intimate touch.

It didn't stop there though, touching her softly and slowly, circling around her nipple. He had sheathed his claws, and he used the tips of his fingers to trace her softly before finally reaching her sensitive nipple. Rin felt her stomach tightening as he teased around it, and she whimpered softly, her body leaning into his touch, desperate. Then, suddenly his mouth was on her opposite breast and she cried out, loud and passionate. His skilled tongue flicked and licked her tender nub, making the heat in her build fast her whole body dissolving under his mouth. His fingers stroked her other breast at the same time, moving between cupping and playing with her nipple, and he continued this for what felt like an eternity. Rin closed her eyes and bit her lip so hard she thought she might draw blood.

The fire in her was building quickly, almost too quickly, and the noises coming from her were almost obscene. She needed to touch him, and her hands finally lifted from the bed wrapping around his shoulders. They were broad and robust and his skin was as soft as it had looked. Her hands splayed across his shoulders, wanting to feel every inch of his sinewy build. As she touched him his mouth broke away from her breast and he made a low reverberating noise in his throat. His hand moved from her breast and down her flat stomach, her muscles bunching as his palm slipped down her, coming to her matching black panties. At least she had the forethought to match.

Her heart accelerated again as he grew out his nails again and sliced through them as well, so they fell off of her. And then she was officially naked before him. His hand gripped her hip, and he rose once more leaving her feeling cold without him over her. She watched as his eyes slid down her prone form, before he began removing his pants. He dropped them, and she felt her whole body blush upon seeing he was bare underneath as well. She had never seen a man fully-naked before, but she of course had a broad idea of what she might see, but nothing had prepared her for him. He was fully-erect and his member was huge, making her instantly nervous again. He noticed where her wide eyes had landed and a cocky smile spread across his lips. "It seems you were not filled in on everything then, hm little one?" She almost wanted to smack him for a moment at his devilish gaze. "I-I-I just haven't ever-" He silenced her stuttering by kissing her solidly, keeping his body aloft and away from her.

Breaking the kiss he whispered against her lips: "I will be gentle with you, little one, don't worry, but I will make you mine." The cockiness was gone now, and in its place in his golden eyes was a loving warmth. She trusted him, she believed him. Suddenly the exposure no longer intimidated her and his nakedness no longer beguiled her. He kissed her again, seeing the confidence return to her eyes, and his hand dipped down to her thigh, cupping it and squeezing softly. She cried out, and his tongue wrapped in hers, silencing her as his fingers sought out her warmth. She felt the tip of his finger find and trace her softly. Her blood was singing to him, her body suddenly glaringly aware of what it wanted.

He traced her up to her tip then his finger parted her lips and found a spot so sensitive she felt her whole body go rigid as her back flew off of the bed. Sensation swarmed her senses and her mind went completely blank, guided only by his finger, now moving deeper and exploring this area in more detail. He kept at this deftly, and as he played with her she felt a pressure building in her magnifying into a wave slowly washing over her. It seemed to recede and sweep in with his sweet touches, until he kissed her again, quieting her small mewels of pleasure that had been pouring unabashedly from her lips. With his kiss, the wave swept back in, flowing over her from head to toe, and at this he slid a finger into her, parting her wet lips easily. Rin's eyes clenched shut as her toes curled and her body bowed. Her cries of ecstasy was swallowed by his mouth, and she could hear his responding growl as she felt his finger deep inside of her tightening almost unbearably. It rushed over her for a few seconds before finally slowly stopping and she loosened around his finger.

He pulled back from her finger still inside her and kissed her cheeks and jaw softly. "W-What was that?" she panted, knowing but still perplexed by the intensity of the feeling. "You came little one...we're not done yet though." he whispered softly into her lips, and she felt as he slipped another finger inside of her slowly this time, taking a moment to make sure she could adjust. This had the opposite effect however, and her body spasmed again, this time unexpectedly. He roared, and his mouth covered her breast again sucking and nipping her nipple. This only expanded the feeling and she tightened even harder.

As the fire flooded her then dissolved into a warm pulse from her core, she felt as he removed his fingers, then she felt his hands gripped her hips and pulled them down slightly. She could feel the tip of his member placed at her slick entrance, and she opened her eyes just long enough to see him begin slipping himself into her. She had thought both fingers had felt compromising, but his member stretched her immediately and filled her in a way she didn't have words for. She looked to his face, and saw he looked taut and drawn, clearly sliding himself in as slowly and carefully as he could. It felt amazing, but there was the smallest bit of pain as he hit the halfway point of his thick shaft. Rin reached up to him, her hands cradling the sides of his face. She cupped his fine cheekbones and his eyes shot to hers. She could see he was slipping into his demons gaze and he was clearly fighting it as hard as he could. She smiled and shifted her hips, taking another few inches of him in.

He growled and she spoke, her voice hoarse: "Sesshomaru, please, you feel so good, I need more." She had no idea where those words had come from, but as soon as she had said them, she saw his eyes widen and then everything changed in an instant. There was a roar, and he slid himself into her up to his hilt, his hips meeting her inner thighs solidly. Rin screamed, more from the feeling of having him completely inside of her than anything else. It felt like the most primal and deepest of joinings, and then his arms wrapped around her, and he his hips began to move. It was a slow as he pulled out of her slightly, and slow as he slid his full length back into her, and Rin tried to open her thighs as wide as she could to accommodate him, but she struggled for a few of his beginning strokes.

He kept the pace, perhaps sensing her hesitance. Rin could feel he was still holding back, and she didn't want him to be restrained. She wanted him to feel as good as she was. And she was. The ache from his penetration was fading quickly and soon a heat from the feel of him inside of her was building the throbbing pleasure in her to a frenzy. "Sesshomaru, more, please!" she called out, needing him to know she could handle it. Her wanton cry seemed to be his breaking point, and he snapped.

She felt as the muscles in his shoulders bunched then loosened and he threw his head back, fangs bare and exposed, then he drove into her, burying himself. In an archaic dance, Rin found her hips, still gripped in his clawed hands, rising to meet his ferocious thrusting. His speed increased as he pulled her body tight against him and the touching of their skin drove her wild. He pounded into her, accelerating, and she barely noticed she had reached her fever pitch before her whole body spasmed from within and out and she screamed with the power of her orgasm. Another guttural roar from him, and a flash of crimson as his mouth descended onto her shoulder, the spot he had been so fond of earlier and she felt him bite her. Her muddled senses felt his fangs piercing her skin, and an alarmed thought told her she should be in pain, but she felt nothing of the sort.

Instead, he made four long, drawn-out strokes in and out of her, as he kept a grip on the area with his mouth and teeth and a kind of energy seemed to flow into her from the spot. It felt positive and filled her with a sense of giddy elation as she felt him push into her one last time and as deep as he had gone yet, doing her in yet again, adding pleasure onto pleasure. She would go mad with this certainly! He maintained his clenched bite on her as she felt his member release inside of her and this feeling only added to the pleasure she felt from her last orgasm as her soul felt like it kindled with his, both from where his fangs dug into her and from where he came inside of her. Her mind was awash in tides of pleasure so much so that she didn't notice when he withdrew his fangs from her. It wasn't until he slipped himself out of her that she noticed anything other than the manic ecstasy as it finally began to calm. She was breathless, panting, and exhausted.

He said nothing as he lay down next to her and pulled her to him, her body curling perfectly into his fitting like two pieces of a puzzle. Her cheek on his chest she blinked dazedly and looked up into his eyes. He was looking down on her, and the crimson was gone, the warm gold melted and simmering at her in adoration. "Sleep now little one. I will be here. I will always be here." Rin smiled, feeling almost goofy, but knowing nothing coherent was coming out of her mouth after everything she had just gone through. "I love you…" she vaguely heard herself whisper, and her mind drifted off to his silky voice whispering back into her ear: "I love you too, Rin…"

AN: Hello friends! I am back! With a vengeance :3

GENERAL DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT ENCOURAGE UNPROTECTED SEX, PLEASE BE SMART AND SAFE ALWAYS.

There, now that's out of the way:

I am SO sorry for all the mishap with this. I've actually started writing some smut on Amazon, and that kind of overlapped with this, and of course after recovering the document in full I needed to review well...EVERY-FRIGGIN-THING because as I've harped since the beginning I will probably always be editing everything I write, which is what made Amazon so scary...once it's there, it's official O.o Scared the bajingas outta me, but all done now. Now let's see if anyone wants to read my smut there at all :3 Of course, it never would have been possible without this site and every reader I've ever had throughout the years (which is sixteen effing years by the by...holy shit….) and this story in particular. Kinda gave me a reason and motivation to explore actually writing again, and the support of everyone here has just been...well, I don't have the words. Just remember, by clicking a link you could be giving a person life to a dream they've had since they could hold a pencil. So always be kind (I mean, this should apply to real life too, but I'm only responsible for my rhetoric on the internet, and this is probably the most amount of people I've ever spoken to in one place… O.o)

Speaking of thanks too, bit of a side plug: I know I always thank the music I love for helping me with editing, but seriously, after you're done Favoriting/Reviewing/Following (because you loveeeee meeeee), immediately head over to some sort of music streaming and check out Twin Shadow's album Eclipse and Confess. Seriously, Golden Light, Eclipse, Locked & Loaded, The One...just...damn. I mean daaaaaaamn. Wrote the whole damn chapter to it, and it just...really sets the whole tone. Plus, just REALLY talented, and everyone should listen to them. I can't stop listening to the first three albums. T-Bone is so sick of it by now...also, to T-Bone! As always, for believing I could get published, for believing my crazy BDSM smut was valuable and that anyone would want to read that or my pathetic little fanfictions. Love makes the world go round folks.

There will be more coming, I am far from done with these two! We still have some mysteries to solve, and some thematic holes to close up. So thank you Reader, for giving me my spirit back and keep that kindness going to everyone on this site because it only comes back to you in droves!

XO

-Kitty