Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all related characters property of Takahashi Rumiko. Sess-kun, Umishio and Rin's dad are mine.


I sat behind my desk and waited for my stupid brother to stop growling and look at me. It took a few minutes.

"So, whaddya want?"

"I have a job for you."

"Don't do me any favors, Sesshomaru."

"I'm not. I need you to stay at the mansion while I am away on business, starting tonight. It would seem my security system requires human upgrades and until they are in place, you are the only one I can trust to keep Sess-kun and Rin safe."

"This is about that bastard father of Rin's, isn't it? I KNEW I smelled the prick on her again."

"There were two intruders, Inuyasha."

"WHAT!!"

"How this priest got in I am not sure yet, but it is being looked into."

"So you want me to baby-sit." The idiot folded his arms and glared at me. "What's in it for me?"

"Acceptance of your suit with the human miko."

"Like hell! You're not using Kagome against ME, Sesshomaru! I don't need your permission..."

"I am the head of this family, Inuyasha." My voice cut through his diatribe before it could start. "I am putting the care of the most precious things in my life in your hands. If you cannot handle this responsibility, how can I be assured you will be able to take care of a mate, an infinitely more delicate task? This will give your blood time to cool and let you THINK about what you want. Humans are very fragile and are not governed by our laws, as much as we like to pretend otherwise. Show yourself a responsible adult male and I will let you have the miko. Fail me and both of you will suffer my wrath. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"

"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to get nasty. I get the picture."

"For the moment, I will believe you."

"So when are you leaving?"

"Tonight, after the evening meal. You are invited, but I expect you will want to spend some time with the miko. While I am gone, there will be no illicit visits from her. You are to stay on the property whenever Rin and Sess-kun are there, and escort them wherever they go. You will not have time to dally with the miko. Thwart me in this and again, you will both suffer. I am sure she will understand, she seems rather level-headed for a female human, despite her taste in men."

"Oi! You don't have to insult us at every turn! Her name's Kagome, not 'miko'."

"Until I am satisfied you are both ready for mating, she does not have a name. The only reason I grace you with one is because Father gave it to you."

"Keh. Fucking prick."

"Name-calling will not endear your suit."

"Fine, fine. What are you gonna do about Rin's dad? You can't let him keep hurting her. It's been months since she's smelled like him. I was starting to breathe freely again."

"In my own time, Inuyasha." I folded my hands on my desk, keeping my stupid brother pinned with my gaze. "This is a delicate matter, one that I will handle. As long as I have you to keep them safe, without any killing."

"What if he breaks in again?"

"Escort him out, roughly if he resists, but leave him alive."

"Keh. That's no fun."

"Self control is a sign of adulthood."

"It always comes back to that with you."

"I have yet to see otherwise in you."

"All right already!! God, I get the picture. Was Father anything like you?"

"He was much worse." I allowed myself a faint smirk at the disbelief on my brother's face. It is so easy to tweak the hanyou's ears and one of my simple pleasures. At least now we've gone beyond the 'I'm going to kill you!' stage. A positive sign, in my eyes. Contrary to popular belief, I never really desired his death. I knew it would be easier for him if he was killed young, but he had survived and grown strong. I doubt he'll ever get over his hatred of me. I wonder if I'll ever be able to tell him of my pride in him? He has done Father credit, despite his human blood. Except for the choice in mates. I will never understand that. Reaching over, I toggled the intercom.

"Rin."

"Sir." I sat back, waiting. Inuyasha shook his head.

"Boy, you've got her trained."

"Rin is an excellent assistant."

"I'm still surprised Umishio accepted her."

"My mate understood Rin's value, perhaps more then even I did," I said coldly. Inuyasha huffed and looked away, reading my tone correctly. Umishio is a taboo subject. The door opened and Sess-kun scampered in, hopping up on my desk and into my lap in two awkward bounds. I stroked my son's hair, feeling the wrench as he looked at me from Umi's eyes.

"Feeling better?" I asked. He nodded and climbed my chest to burrow into my neck. I held him there, nodding to Rin standing in the doorway. She shut the door and approached the desk, taking a position to my left. Inuyasha glanced between us, then shrugged.

"Rin, Inuyasha will be staying at the mansion while I am gone. I am having the security systems upgraded as well. Once I am satisfied there will not be a repeat of last night, Inuyasha will be allowed to depart. I do not have a time frame on this. There are many factors."

"Yes sir." I smelled the spike of adrenaline, she was worried. Her voice betrayed nothing, but I noticed Inuyasha's nose twitch ever so slightly.

"Don't worry, Rin. I'll keep you and Sess-kun safe!"

"Thank you, Inuyasha-sama." She bowed slightly. Sess-kun began chewing on my fur, making hungry noises. Rin stepped forward. I held up my hand and looked at Inuyasha.

"Take Sess-kun home and feed him. The cook will assist you. Rin will be home in three hours."

"Me? Why..." I gave him my favorite look. He subsided and held out his arms. "Come here, squirt. Time to go gnaw on the cook." Sess-kun happily climbed into Inuyasha's arms and began chewing on the hanyou's hair, growling softly. Inuyasha sighed, tilting his head to keep his hair from being pulled.

"The things I do for family," He grumbled as he walked out, waving to Rin. She nodded in return, then gazed at me, fear seeping into her scent. To other humans, she was an expressionless doll. To youkai and hanyous she was a hard read. Only to Inuyasha and myself did she allow her emotions to show, even in the faintest ways. Umishio had taught her well.

"This is for your own protection, Rin. I will not allow a repeat of last night."

"I am sorry I failed you, sir," She said softly, dropping to her knees. I turned in my chair to face her, noting her supplicating bow, face almost in the carpet. What cruelty had her father done to her, and yet, without that cruelty, she would not be so useful to me. Fate has a wicked sense of humor.

"Stand, Rin. You are not to blame for lapses in security. Those who are responsible have been dealt with. You kept Sess-kun and the other boys safe. That is what is most important." She rose to her feet, meeting my eyes. Never backed down from a single look I gave her, never wavered in her mask. Umishio, I hope you are proud, where you are. You have done so very well with this human. "This is, in fact, an excellent opportunity to test Inuyasha's resolve with the miko. Keeping them apart will do them both good. I expect your assistance in this."

"No visitation after dark. Public meetings are acceptable, as long as they stay with Sess-kun and myself. Sneaking off is grounds for punishment," She replied, citing the rules I had given her when Inuyasha first started sniffing around the miko.

"Correct. Do you encourage this match?"

"I see potential, sir, but youth is an over-riding factor."

"You are not much older, Rin. Why do you say this?"

"Because I have watched such things happen before, between humans. The only difference here is that if they did mate, they would be bound for life. This is a very big responsibility. Humans have the luxury of mating and not being bound together. Hanyous and youkai do not. Both must understand this and not let desire rule."

"Do you think they do?"

"Kagome seems...hesitant to take that step, though she flirts with it. Inuyasha-sama desires her above all others and, if you'll pardon my blunt speaking sir, his blood is jumping for the chance. It would not take much to encourage Kagome to do the same, though she might regret it later."

"You echo my thoughts, Rin."

"They are my own observations, sir."

"Then we see the same. Good. I need an ally in this war." Her lips twitched slightly. Her fear had abated with my reassurance of her position. I found myself hesitant to bring up the subject, but I needed to confirm something. Lust had been strong in the air, and it came from two males. One had actually touched Rin, I knew the identity of this one. There had not been mating, but how far did it go?

"Rin, I must ask you about last night."