SesshoMaru lay awake in the middle of his large opulent bed on top of deep blue silk sheets. After dinner he had excused himself from the others and headed for the suite of rooms that made up his living quarters. Shedding his normal attire, he took a less then warm bath in an attempt to try and cool his overheated blood. It had not worked as well as he had hoped; even now images of the girl's full ripe lips as she sucked the juice off a tender plum haunted him.

Dressed only in a pair of lightweight sleep pants the demon lord's problem was clearly evident. Getting to his feet with a sigh, SesshoMaru walked to the large glass doors that led out to his balcony and opened them on to the night. SesshoMaru hardly noticed the cold slate under his bare feet as he stepped out to welcome the fresh night breeze that touched the exposed plains of his chest and lifted his long silver hair. Looking up at the darkened sky he searched for a familiar set of stars; smiling as they came in to view.

Seven Years Ago

Rin pointed up at the night sky, "Oh look Lord SesshoMaru, those stars look like a giant dog."

SesshoMaru glanced up at the constellation the girl pointed to. Indeed one could see the outline of a dog in the sky, the star at its chest dwarfing the others in brilliance. Remembering a story from his childhood SesshoMaru turned to the girl. "That is Sora-Inu, the first great leader of my clan."

"Really?" Rin turned looking up at the tall demon with her incredibly brown eyes. SesshoMaru nodded, "Will you tell me the story?"

SesshoMaru raised a brow; he had never been asked to tell a story before. In truth he wasn't even sure if he knew how. Yet something in the way the child looked up at him had him, in a rather uncharacteristic move, sitting down next to her. "It was many millennia ago when the land was raw and wild."

Rin scooted closer, tucking herself in the curl of his fur. SesshoMaru looked down at her, but her eyes were turned once more to the stars. He felt a warmth creep into his body to settle somewhere around his chest. Unwilling to consider its meaning he opted to ignored it while still continuing his tale.

"There was nothing that was safe. During the day great destructive waves crashed into the land or melting hot fire shot from the earth's core. The night was when the true dangers formed. Beasts more terrifying then any known today ravaged the land, killing and ripping flesh from any who had not found shelter before the sun's rays died."

The girl at his side made a small squeaking sound and ducked under his arm, hiding her face in his armor. His shock was evident as he looked down at the girl. "Do you wish me to stop?"

Rin shook her head without lifting it, mumbling into his chest. "Please keep going."

SesshoMaru's lips twitched into a half smile at the girl's behavior and continued. "Sora-Inu after taking a mate felt that the land was far too dangerous for her and the child that was growing in her belly. So leaving his female in the safety of an enchanted palace at the center of his domain, he went out to clear his lands of the beast that would harm his new family."

"The battles were long, and both sides suffered heavy wounds, thought at the end of battle it was always Sora-Inu who stood victorious. It was not until the last battle against a giant snake with three venomous heads did he suffer a mortal strike over his heart. Still his powers where great and he was able to kill the beast. Poisoned and dying he found his way back to his mate and the new born son."

"Seeing Sora-Inu so badly wounded Takara, his mate, prayed to the gods to save her love. As a reward for freeing the land of such terrible creatures the gods took pity on the great demon and his mate. Though they could not heal the wound on his heart they could give him eternal life in another form. Lifting the fallen warrior up they placed him there, in the night sky, so that he could forever watch over his family and the land. The bright star you see is the wound from the snake's fangs, illuminated forever so that none will forget his sacrifice."

"Pretty story." The sleepy words were followed by a great yawn as the little girl snuggled herself up onto SesshoMaru's lap and fell asleep. Unsure what he was meant to do, the normally blithe demon lord reached down and gently brushed his hand over the girl's unruly locks and let left her to sleep.

Present Day

Many years after that night Rin had confessed to him that whenever they'd been apart and she was scared, she would search the sky for those stars, remember the story, and would no longer be afraid. Her words had pleased him more then he could explain, so he had said nothing and only smiled. Now when his mind was troubled he too turned to the great Sora-Inu for guidance. His great ancestor would grant SesshoMaru little peace this night. His mind drawn as it was to the girl-gone-woman that shared his home.

Going to the edge of his balcony his eyes were drawn instantly to a smaller platform just across the stone wall and down from his. No light escaped from inside the room as the candles would have long since been extinguished. The occupant of the chamber would already be asleep, her mind filled with dreams that he could only guess at. Turning with a sigh SesshoMaru walked back into his room and lay once more on the silken sheets. He could foresee a very long and sleepless night ahead. "What I'm I to do?"