Hey everyone. You guys might want to read 'Bound to the Night' before this one. This is an alternative ending.

Death was so close. He could almost feel it. He could see the servants of the never world, hovering, waiting for her. He shook his head, tightening his grip on her. "Rin… how? How will I know it's you?"

Her eyes cracked open slightly. "Simple." She smiled. "I have never been afraid of you. So… just look for the girl… who isn't scared. That will be me. The one who… isn't… scared."

"Where? Where will I find you?"

She cringed in the pain, her body growing stiff as her heart gave one final beat. "When… you need me… Lord… Sess…homa…ru." She whispered then let out a sigh. The hand on his face dropped and her whole body slumped in his arms.

After a moment of silence, the demon let out a deep sigh as death finally claimed her life. His hand touched the pendant around his neck then lifted her up into his arms.

I won't accept it. I won't accept your death Rin. He lower body to the floor carefully then looked over to where Akuma had gone. He was dead as well, blood pooling from his many wounds and from the false, fatal wound in his shoulder. The one that he had given to Rin and sealed his own fate.

The second inuyoukai knelt next to him, thinking over what he knew.

They are bound by the pendants… Rin no longer wears them… so… he reached out to the demon, roughly rolling him onto his back and shuffling in the clothes. Without the pendants… his hand closed around the sun pendant. He won't be bound to her.

He pulled.

The gold broke as easily as a twig.

He hurried over to Rin and looked for the demons as they dragged off her soul. He'd never even drawn Tenseiga before but did it quickly and without a second's hesitation as he slayed the minions.

Sword still in hand, he knelt next to her, waiting, watching…

Hoping.

Rin… shifted!

She moved. Her hand twitched. Her eyes tightened. Her soul returned. As did her life. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, shocked and amazed. "What… you… I…"

He smiled at her as she sat up, looking over her healed and healthy body. "I revived you."

She blinked and looked at the sword. Then she frowned and stared at him. "YOU IDIOT! BRING ME BACK WILL ONLY BRING AKUMA BACK!"

"No… look." He held up the sun pendant in his other hand.

She looked at it then at Akuma's body. He was still and dead. In fact, his demon flesh was already beginning to degrade. She blinked, standing up and taking a few steps. "You mean… he's dead?"

"Yes."

"And I'm alive?"

"Obviously."

She turned and looked at him. "You saved me."

He took a moment, letting the words sink in. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you are Rin. I bent the laws of nature for my will. To keep you by my side."

She blinked then smiled, running over and wrapping her arms around him. "I don't care if you hate this; I'm giving you a hug!"

He sighed and pushed her back. "Human."

"Demon." She resorted. "So… what now?"

"I will search for my father's sword. And as I saved your life, you owe me and shall follow."

Rin's eyes widened. "Excuse me? Shall I remind you how many times I saved your life?" But she grinned, walking behind him. She knew he was playing tough. He was glad to have her there.

Why else would he use the sword on her life?

Why else would he have told her to put up with the pain of his attacks?

Why else… would he have shed a tear as she died?

Oh yes, she knew what had happened. She remembered her death…

Her hand went to her shoulder. It still ached but it was fading, healing faster. Her eyes went back to Sesshomaru and she smiled. He bent the laws of nature… he broke the curse… to keep me. Well… every dog has his day.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Rin sighed loudly as she looked at Sesshomaru. "Hey, Sesshomaru?"

"What is it Rin?"

For a moment, the young woman was silent then leant on his arm and smiled. "Goodnight."

He looked down at her and sighed, lifting his arm and pulling her blanket closer over her body. "Goodnight Rin."

"How are we going to find Tetsusaiga? That clue Akuma gave us was… pretty useless."

"I have a theory."

"Care to share?"

"Totosai."

"Totosai?"

"Yes. He was the demon who forged both Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga."

"And he might know where it's been hidden?"

"He was near at my father's final moments. He should know."

"He might not tell willingly."

Sesshomaru grinned and closed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm hoping for it."

-0-0-0-0-0-

With a wide smile, Rin walked over to Sesshomaru, putting her sword back on her hip. "Still causing trouble."

"They were in our way."

"Yeah, but you could have just asked. Or waited for them to pass. Seriously, traveling with a demon is hard work." Rin sighed loudly.

Regrettably, she was getting use to Sesshomaru always causing fights with humans… and demons… and on the one occasion a tree.

She smiled but let it fall and held her cheek. "Oww."

"What is it?"

"Oh, just a scratch." She turned her head to the side, showing it to him. "It hurts a little but…"

He held out his hand to her, holding her chin and looking at her wound. "Let me see."

She rolled her eyes away from him. "Seriously, I've died from worse. It's nothing."

His eyes shot into her and she fell silent. His finger slowly ran over the line of blood, coating his finger tip in it. "It's not that bad."

Rin kept totally still, one of his fingers had slipped and now pressed onto her lips, his nail slipping onto her skin to keep a grip. She pressed her lips closed to avoid it falling into her mouth.

He stared at her, ignorant of how close he was and how careless his touch was. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Strange. It should be healing by now."

Rin turned her face away so she could speak without swallowing his finger. "Yeah, it won't."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not that stupid are you?" She sighed, touching it. "Akuma is dead. My bond to him is broken. Life, memories… everything, gone."

He blinked. "You… you're healing as a human?"

"Durr."

For a moment, Rin just tried to rub the blood off her face. Then the demon sighed. "You'll have to be more careful."

"Of course. But don't worry about it. I'll admit it, hands up, this is my fault. I caught it on an arrow."

"Really."

"Yeah. As if one of those pathetic humans as you called them, could hurt me?" she stepped over and poked him in the chest. "You should feel ashamed for even thinking such a thing."

"I know Rin, you're not weak."

Her eyes widened and she leant back a little, looking into his eyes. Then her normal joking side appeared. "I sure am not. Don't you ever forget it."

"But you will have to be more careful."

"I know, I know."

His hand clamped tight on her shoulder, stopping her from moving. "Rin, I'm serious. You have to be careful. You almost had your throat pulled out but lived because of Akuma. Without him… any wound might be dangerous."

Rin stared at him. Then a smile twitched on her face and she stepped towards him, leaning over and quickly kissing his lips. She leant back and smiled a little more. "Don't worry about me."

He stood, stone faced right before her, not even breathing. With a huff, Rin turned away from him, patting him on the arm. "Hey, I count myself lucky not to dead from that. Come on, let's go. Tetsusaiga awaits!"

She went on down the road, broad, strong and not bothered by her own actions while behind her, the demon lifted two fingers to his lips and pressed them down. Then he looked at the woman and walked after her. "Humans."

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Totosai!" Sesshomaru roared as he looked at the short elderly demon, trying to sneak out of his demon skeleton home without him seeing.

"Heh-h-he… Lo-rd Sess-ho-ma-ru." He stammered on each syllable. "What are you doing here?"

"Tetsusaiga. Where is it?"

The blacksmith demon widened his eyes then began pointing a finger at the demon. "Your father gave direct instructions on that sword. He wanted it to be left to InuYasha and that is where it will be. You will not lay a finger on it and that is final."

"Where is my father's tomb?"

The demon gulped. "How… how did you know that?"

"Where is it Totosai? Do not test my patience."

"I won't say."

"Fine… then I shall kill you… slowly." He lifted his hand, claws glowing with poison. "Final chance."

Totosai shook his head and opened his mouth to speak but the demon's attention was drawn by something else. Something behind him. Something, or someone, coughing, struggling to breath in the thick, toxic volcanic air. Rin!

She was behind him, leaning on a rock face, her hand over her mouth as she coughed but as he turned, she fell to the floor and he ran over to her. "Rin!"

Rin looked at him, her eyes red from fumes. "Sorry… the air… it… it's so thick… I can't… breathe."

"Dam you, human!"

She grinned. "Demon." Her head dropped slightly as she passed out.

He growled in his throat at his own stupidity. Yes, we travelled through volcanic land before. But before she had Akuma healing her. I have to be more observant if she is to remain by my side. As carefully as he could, he scooped her into his arms and held her tight. She was hardly breathing. I have to get her somewhere with clean air…

Totosai swallowed, drawing his attention.

He turned, not even bothering to hide Rin. "I will return. When I do… I expect an answer."

The demon looked at him as he turned away. "Wait, Sesshomaru. That girl…"

"She's human."

The demon thought for a moment, then nodded. "Bring her inside." He turned into his home and Sesshomaru followed. The demon pointed to the mat on the floor. "Put her down there."

He wasn't use to following orders but he did as ordered, putting her slowly down and shifting out of the way as Totosai lifted her head and poured something from a wine cup into her mouth. The liquid half went down her neck but she swallowed enough and after a moment she woke up and began coughing.

"Yuck! What the hell is that stuff?" She snapped, sitting up but then putting a hand on her forehead. "Wow, I feel dizzy."

"Lie back down Rin."

"Yeah, might be a good idea." She lay back and looked at the strange creature by her side. "You must be Totosai."

"I am."

"Then do us a favour and tell us where Tetsusaiga is?"

"Us?"

"She is traveling with me."

"A human?"

"She is unlike any human alive."

"Ah, thanks Sesshomaru." She laughed then coughed and fell still. "Oww."

"Keep still."

"Alright."

Totosai sat and looked at the two as they spoke. His eyes fixed on Rin then on Sesshomaru… then his eyes drifted to the sword the young demon wore. "You've used the Tenseiga."

"Yes. Now, tell me where Tetsusaiga is old man."

"Please, just tell him. You don't want to see him angry."

The man thought then hummed. "It's in your father's tomb."

Sesshomaru growled a warning. "We know that."

"It is seen…"

"But not seen, protected but never known to its protector." Rin moaned, sitting up and holding her head in her hands. "For your own life Totosai, stop with the riddled and tell us!"

He huffed, clearly wishing to have the dramatics. "Your father took it with him to the other world. The land of the dead."

Rin blinked, ignoring her headache. "Ok, how do we get there?"

"There is a…" Rin and Sesshomaru glared at him and he dropped the drama. "The black pearl."

"Where is that?"

"InuYasha's eye."

Rin looked a little disgusted, as did Sesshomaru but for a different reason. "In… his eye?!"

"The right one. Once removed, it will open a portal to the other world. It will allow you entrance for a short time, long enough to retrieve the sword."

After a moment, Sesshomaru stood and held his hand down to Rin, helping her up to her feet. "That is all we need."

As the inuyoukai walked outside, Rin looked at the other demon. "Why are you telling us this?"

"Well…" he said, picking at his ear. "I don't want to be on the wrong side of Sesshomaru."

Rin narrowed her eyes. "There's more to it. I might not have been able to move but I could still hear. You were adamant not to tell us." She knelt before him. "Then you did. Why?"

The demon let out a small smile. "The sword Tetsusaiga was made so Sesshomaru and InuYasha's father could protect humans."

"Rin, come along."

"Coming." She looked back at the blacksmith, kneeling down. "Why's that important?"

"Sesshomaru would never protect a human."

"He protects me."

"Yes… that is why I think the barrier on Tetsusaiga will accept him now."

"Barrier?"

"Rin."

"I'm coming!"

Totosai smiled. "Any demon who does not wish to protect humans… won't be able to even touch the sword."

"And you think it's a good idea not to tell Sesshomaru this?"

"Well…" He demon chuckled and sweat a little. "He scares the hell out of me."

Rin huffed then stood. "Don't know why."

"Rin!"

"Alright, alright!" She ran out after him, coughing as she pushed herself. The demon eyed her carefully but she smiled. "I'm fine! Stop worrying. But I better tell you…"

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-

InuYasha gasped and cried as he fell onto the floor, turning to see the masses of demons chasing after him, crawling for his blood. He gasped as they pounced but then something else appeared, a white blur that ran across the demons, killing three of them while two arrows killed the others.

He lay on the floor, scared as he looked at the figure. It was a demon. But this one… looked like him.

Then a human appeared. "Yikes, Sesshomaru, give me a chance to get myself together next time will you?" She sighed then walked over to the five year old. "Hey there, you must be InuYasha."

The boy shook, cuts and grazes on his face, dressed in red with silver hair and two cute ears out of his head. "You… you're not going to hurt me are you?"

The woman's eyes widened. "Hurt you? Why would we hurt you?"

"Don't tempt me." Sesshomaru muttered with a dark glint in his eyes.

The young boy backed off but the woman stared at him. "Don't be rude. He is your brother after all."

He looked away very quickly. "Half-brother. Half-breed. Half-human."

Rin rolled her eyes back to the child. "Come one… let's get you up InuYasha." She helped him onto his feet and brushed him down, smiling kindly as she rubbed the blood off his face. "There… good as new."

"How do you know my name? And… why aren't you scared of me."

"Scared? Of you?" She laughed and held out her hand. "Why would I be scared of you? You're only a child! And we've been looking for you." She stood and held out her hand, still smiling fearlessly. "Can you take us to your home? Don't worry, we'll look after you but we need to talk."

The boy nodded and with a smile grabbed her hand and pulled her away into the forest, leading her and the demon back towards the house where he and his mother lived. She stood in front of the house, her face plain and beautiful as the half demon ran over to her and hugged her by the legs. "Mother."

"InuYasha, where have you been? I worried."

"I'm sorry mother."

The woman looked up at the heavily armed woman before her and then… her eyes narrowed a little on the demon. A name escaped her lips and the demon flinched with anger. The woman who held up her hands quickly. "Ah, no, this is Lord Sesshomaru, My lady."

The lady blinked at her address, her face solemn yet graceful. "How can I help you strangers?"

"We… need to talk to InuYasha."

"Why?" her eyes shifted to the demon. "You wouldn't be Inu no Taishō older son would you?"

Before Rin could react, Sesshomaru turned on her, hissing with anger. "Don't you dare say my father's name you pathetic human! It's because of you and that half-breed that he is dead!"

Rin fixed her glare on him. "Bound to the night, control yourself Sesshomaru!"

He moved his glare to her and he calmed down even when the pendant was still and silent. Rin turned back to the slightly scared woman as she protected her son. "Listen, I'll make this as quick as I can. When he died, Sesshomaru's father decided that the sword Tetsusaiga would be left to InuYasha and Tenseiga to Sesshomaru. And to make sure, the sword was taken with him to the other world."

"I didn't know what happened to the swords."

Sesshomaru kept his head down and tried to keep his cool. "I want the Tetsusaiga human."

Rin sighed and nodded. "But to get it, we need to use something called the black pearl…" she tried to smile sweetly. "Which was placed in InuYasha's right eye."

The woman gasped and held her child tighter. "How… how will you get it out?"

"I will call it, I will pull it, if needed I will take that half-breed's eye out but I will get it."

"Sesshomaru! Sit down and shut up!" He stared at her but she just looked smugly back. "Shut up and sit."

He stared at her a moment longer. "I'll deal with you later." He turned away from her and walked over to a tree, sitting down and crossing his arms.

Rin sighed and walked over to the shy little InuYasha. "Why don't I introduce myself? I'm Rin, I'm a friend of Sesshomaru's. We travel together. I promised to help him find the Tetsusaiga. But to do that… we have to use the black pearl. It… it might be painful to get it out but… please… will you let us try?"

"What's so special about of this… sword?"

Rin sighed and shrugged. "It was your father's and very powerful."

"And he wants it?"

"Yes. Please? Will you let us try?"

"It'll hurt?"

Rin nodded gently. "It might."

InuYasha lowered his head and thought, covering his right eye. "I… I never knew my father."

"Maybe when we come back… Sesshomaru will tell you about him." She tried to smile but knew, as did the mother, that it was an empty promise. It tore her heart to lie to such a sweet and cute looking child but she didn't want Sesshomaru getting angry and taking his eye out.

Rin stared at him gently, her eyes drawn to the similarities between her travel companion and the boy before her. Oh… and those ears… I just to hug him!

After a while, the half demon looked up at her. "Alright."

"Thank you InuYasha, this is very grown up of you." Rin stood and saw Sesshomaru was already behind her. "Please, try not to hurt him."

"I will make no promise."

Rin resisted the urge to slap him. She was on thin ice at the moment for telling him to 'sit'. Sesshomaru counted her as a friend but anyone else would be dead by now. She knelt to InuYasha's side and took hold of his hand. "It's going to be alright."

His mother held him tight, sitting behind as Sesshomaru knelt and took hold of his chin, keeping the boys trembling head still. Then, he held to fingers to his eye.

He could see the strange shape in the pupil, just hidden in the black. A crafty place to hide it father. Were you that desperate to keep it from me? Ah, this boy's scent is disgusting.

Concentrating, he pulled back his fingers with several long golden bolts of lighting coming from his fingers and driving into the boy's eye. He screamed and the two females held him tight, trying to comfort him.

It was a horrid sound and horrid to watch but Sesshomaru pulled back his hand, eyes locked on the pearl as he pulled it out.

Rin felt tears roll down her face as the torture continued until it finally stopped and InuYasha fell back into his mother's grip, covering his eye. The other human looked at the demon as he held in two fingers the thing he was looking for. She wiped her eyes quickly, before he saw her tears.

He almost smiled. "Well… that was interesting. How father ever intended you to use it… is beyond me." He stood and looked at the jewel before dropping it to the floor and stepping on it hard.

Rin almost shouted at him but then the pearl glowed on the floor and a black vortex appeared above the pearl. Sesshomaru looked at it as it wavered and shook in position then stepped forward, vanishing into it. Rin stood and looked at the crying InuYasha. "We'll be back soon." She didn't even hesitate in running into the vortex after him.

"Aaaaaaaaah!" She screamed as she found herself flying in a dark red funnel then… as a bright light covered her view… she was in the air, falling towards a mist and rocky ground. Her eyes widened in shock at the approaching ground. "SESSHOMARUUUUUUU!"

He grabbed hold of her shoulder and held her tight to his body, stepping down from the sky to the rocks, glaring at her. "Hopeless."

Leaning him back, Rin narrowed her eyes in frustration. "Oi, I didn't know we'd arrive in mid-air! I can't fly you know!"

"Hm."

She sighed and looked up over the place they were in. It appeared empty and but before them was a very huge skeleton of a demon figure, clad in full armour and looking very fierce, even in death. "Wow… is…"

"That is my father."

For some reason, his claws dug a little more into her shoulder as he held it. Rin sighed and reached over to his hand. "Sesshomaru…"

"Let's go." He pulled her closer and took to the sky, flying to the bones and down into the open mouth. Rin had to hold back the feeling of being swallowed as they went down the neck and into the massive ribcage. He touched down on a floor of sculls with a small gold stand towards to spine.

Rin stepped away from him as he looked at the stand. This must be so hard for him…to be here… in his tomb… in fact, his inside his very bones!

He stared at the stand and the strange, tatty, rusting old sword that appeared to be stabbed in the middle. "Here it is."

Rin looked at the sword. "That's Tetsusaiga?!" She gasped, hardly holding in her shock. "That's the sword you've been looking for? It's junk!"

"Be silent Rin." She gulped and remained where she was as he walked slowly towards it. Sesshomaru stared at the sword before him.

Tetsusaiga… finally. He reached out and held the hilt in one hand. I will finally have the power of my farther. And I will surpass him. I will concur the world with this blade.

He pulled the sword up.

But it didn't move.

In fact golden lightning, like the kind Sesshomaru had used to pull the black pearl out, covering his hand and making it burn. He let go out of pain and even gasped a little.

Rin blinked and ran over to him. "Are you hurt?"

"It's nothing."

"What's wrong?"

Sesshomaru looked at his hand then at her. "For some reason… I can't draw it out."

"Humm?" She looked at the blade then reached out and held it with no reaction. "Humm… that's strange." She let go and looked at him. "Tell me… what do you want with the blade."

"To concur the world. Supreme conquest of all life."

"Human included?"

"Of course."

She sighed. "Stupid. Did you forget what Totosai said about the barrier? That Tetsusaiga won't allow someone who wishes to harm a human to even hold it."

Sesshomaru huffed and looked away from her. "So? Why would I protect humans?"

"You protect me don't you?"

His eyes turned back to her. And his father's last words stood in his mind. Do you have someone to protect? "Of course."

She smiled softly, reaching out and taking hold of his hand, placing it over the hilt of the blade, her own on top of his. "Will you always protect me?"

He thought… looking over her smiling and gentle face. "Yes." She smiled and pushed his hand to the side gently.

Without hesitation, the sword slide out of the stand and into his hand.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the blade in his hand. "Tetsusaiga?"

The blade shimmered a little and with a slow blink, the demon swung the blade in the air. With the movement… the sword glowed with fire and transformed, becoming wider, stronger and incredible.

Rin gasped in shock and stepped backwards, tripping over a scull on the floor and fell, not even bothering to break her fall or try and get back up, staring amazed at the sword in his hand. She couldn't even speak, struck dumb by the sword's transformation. No wonder he's been looking for it. It's…

"Rin." She blinked and looked at the demon as his eyes turned to her as she lay on the floor. "Stand up."

She blinked again and found her way up to her feet. "Oh, sorry, you just surprised me." She smiled, brushing down her pants and arms. "I can see why you were looking for it now." her eyes fell on the blade in his hand. "It's an impressive blade."

The demon stared at her. "Because of you."

"Humm?"

"Because of you… I can wield the Tetsusaiga."

"Well, it's because you want to protect me."

"Yes. Why I wish to do such a thing… is beyond me."

"Stupid, it's because we're friends!" she smiled and patted him on the shoulder lightly. "I protect you, you protect me. That's how it works."

"It isn't."

Stabbing the sword into the stand again, Sesshomaru grabbed the woman by the hand, using it to pull her into him. She gasped in shock but his arm went around her waist and the other to her neck, pulling her into his body and kissing her lips softly.

He even closed his eyes in the action. Rin blinked in shock but then surrender, letting him hold her, claws digging into her skin and armour, his lips hard and cold but so sweet. Soon he pulled away from the human, looking down on her as she opened her eyes, blinking them at him. "Ummm…" she said, almost dazed.

But he lowered his head to her, locking her eyes in his. Then pulled her back for another kiss, pushing her backwards into the ribs of his father, pulling her up so she was level with his face.

She… is the reason I can hold the Tetsusaiga. She is the one I wish to protect. She is the one I shall protect… this… human. Rin…

Rin moaned as he bit her lip and turned her head away from him. "Sesshomaru… what… what are you doing?"

He leant into her ear. "Keep still."

She was about to ask why when he bit into her ear and lifted her leg up and wrapped it… around his waist! What's gotten into him? I know he's happy to have the sword but…

Sesshomaru was kissing her neck, licking and biting it softly, almost… teasing? He's teasing me? Well… two can play that game. She gasped and reached over to him, reaching to his neck and pulling the cloth to the side, putting her own lips to the skin, her fingers tracing the path of the pendant he wore, hidden deep in his clothes. But his reaction to her kiss was something she never would have expected. He began moving his hips, thrusting towards her in a slow and steady pace. His lips never left her neck, sliding up and down butRin couldn't feel them, too busy with the feeling coming between her legs.

He's humping me? God, he really is a dog! We're making out in his father's tomb! I have to admit… even by his standards… this is… seriously wrong.

Just as the thought faded away… he stopped. He leant off her neck, tongue still extended but quickly pulled back. He let go of her very roughly, almost dropping her to the floor with a bump. A little breathless, Rin just looked over at him.

The demon stared at her then went over back to the sword, picking it and a sheath from the stand, putting the two together then next to Tenseiga. "Let's go Rin."

Rin nodded, pulling herself together and running over to him, holding his arm as he took to the air again. She kept her eyes away from him as they flew back to the vortex in the sky, her mind mixed and confused. Something played on her mind as she looked back at the bones of the departed father.

They stepped out just where they had left but the now the human and her son had moved and InuYasha had stopped crying. He smiled at Rin and ran over to her, hugging her tightly as the black pearl hovered and went back to his right eye.

"Did… did you get it?"

"Rin, we are leaving."

Rin looked at the child. Then at his mother. Then turned around.

"Sesshomaru."

"What?"

She stood for a moment at held his gaze. Her mind was cold. "Tetsusaiga belongs to InuYasha."

His eyes almost glowed red with anger. "What… did you say?"

"Hear me out before you snarl at me, demon." She snapped but then sighed softly and managed a smile. "Your father wanted InuYasha to have the sword. Not you. That was his wish. You could only draw the sword because of how you protect me. As I'm human."

Sesshomaru only nodded softly. "Your point?"

"That sword belongs to him. I know… that you want it for your own purpose… but wish to make an arrangement with you…" Her eyes turned to the child who was standing behind her, looking curiously at her. She sighed and looked back at Sesshomaru. "InuYasha is too young for the Tetsusaiga. He's just a child."

"He is a half-breed."

"He is your brother! Deny it and hate it, it is true in fact. And it was your father's wish for him to have the sword." She took a second to step forward towards him. "Tetsusaiga belongs to InuYasha and I want you to swear… you will return it to him when he is old enough."

"Old enough?"

"Say… 20 years old. That gives you fifteen years."

"A blink of an eye to me."

"Then it wouldn't be a problem. To InuYasha and myself… fifteen years is a lifetime."

"Why would I give him the sword?"

Rin sighed and walked over, putting a hand flat on his chest. "Because… like it or not… it is the right thing to do… and you know it." A growl went up his chest and into her hand but the woman just smiled. "Agreed?"

"Fifteen years?"

"Fifteen years."

"You will forget by then. Or be dead."

"Then I will expect you to keep your word. Make your choice."

"What if I refuse?"

She shrugged a shoulder and gave him a knowing grin that even he found disturbing. "Then so be it. You'll have to live with me constantly bugging you about." His stare darkened but she just grinned back. "What? If you don't agree, then I will bug you about it every time you draw that sword. And if you get fed up of it… you'll have to leave me." She put a finger to her lips playfully. "But if you do… then you won't be able to use the sword." Her smile grinned. "I have you over a barrel and you know it."

He stared at her then in a quick, swift movement grabbed her wrist and dug his claws sharply into her skin, drawing blood but she didn't even flinch. "Fifteen years."