AN: Thank you for the fav's/ reviews!

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Rin's light body slumped against Sesshoumaru's shoulder, gently he wrapped his arm around her small frame and chuckled deeply. The last vestiges of lust faded from the air, abruptly bringing him back to reality and the invisible line in the sand that he had just crossed.

He must have been getting old, Sesshoumaru mused; falling so easily for the innocent lust of a mortal girl. Rin instinctively snuggled into his chest, and with a gentle use of strength slid her over his powerful shoulder, bringing her back to the room where Arashi sat carefully measuring out the bolts of fabric that he had brought for her.

Arashi rose as he came to the screen door, elegantly sliding it back

"Oh what have you done Sesshoumaru?" Arashi said with a wicked smile on her plain face, Sesshoumaru suppressed a glare at her.

"She fainted, it is the heat... I have forgotten how fragile mortals can be." Sesshoumaru replied passing her and laying Rin in the corner surrounded my cushions. Gently he brushed the hair from Rin's face, only to hear Arashi giggle.

"My you are fond of her Lord of the Western Lands" Arashi mocked

Sesshoumaru stiffened "She is my ward"

Arashi laughed "If she is your ward, my name is Sara and I live in the modern world"

He turned and regarded her evenly "Arashi why do you mock me so? It has been many months since I have last come to see you."

"You never came with this chit before" Arashi snapped revealing a bit of her anger. Sesshoumaru chuckled

"Could you be jealous? Great Aunt to the Crown Prince of Edo?"

Arashi put her nose in the air as she summoned a few of her employees to tie up the bolts with the scroll of measurements she had composed in his absence.

"Your kimonos will be ready in two fortnights. enjoy the pleasures of Edo for a few weeks. If you are bored of this little girl come see me again." And with an elegant swish of her many layered kimono she was gone from the room in a shower of wisteria petals.

Sesshoumaru let out his pent out breath "Jaken" he said a bit loudly. From behind an elaborate painted screen came the disguised form of the small bird like demon

"Yes, milord?"

"Did you hear everything?"

Jaken swallowed "No Sire"

He cast his golden eyes at the small demon "Where is Ah-un?"

"Outside he looks like any merchants horse."

Sesshoumaru concentrated and a moment later the two head demon Ah-un was standing on the platform looking a bit disgruntled.

Tenderly he picked up Rin and lay her over the saddle, "Go back to the hotel there is much to do tomorrow..." he cast his eyes at Jaken, who seemed to be hesitating.

"What Jaken?" he snapped impatient, there was much to do before they made their journey back to the Western lands.

"Nothing Sesshoumaru-sama" he bowed hastily and grabbing Ah-un's reigns was gone in a red cloud of Sesshoumaru's power.

A few moments later Sesshoumaru called for Aine, who would assist him in purchasing a certain 'forbidden' kimono.

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Back at the opulent hotel, Rin was now awake and quite confused. She watched bewildered as Ah-un went to the corner of the sparsely furnished yet opulent room and curled up on the silk cushions that she had recently purchased for him.

The perfume of wisteria blossoms still clung greedily to her clothes and hair, while a soft presence lingered on her lips. She touched them softly, had she dreamed that moment when... Her face was suddenly red, as she watched Jaken unpack another small satchel from his back and into a large teak trunk. She had always wondered what went into that trunk each time they came in from the hot streets of Edo.

Sesshoumaru-sama had strictly instructed her not to impede Jaken in anyway while the heavy trunk was unlocked, so now she watched and waited patiently. Her kimono sticking to her in the heat despite the cool breeze that reached them from the ninth floor of the establishment. She needed a bath and badly.

"Jaken what is in that box?" she asked softly, Jaken turned to glare at her

"Nothing child" he replied cooly shutting the trunk with a resounding clang and locking the elaborate padlock with a click of finality. Rin sighed and lay down on the soft futon.

"When is Sesshoumaru-sama coming back?"

"I know not" Jaken said returning to his normal form, he too lay down on his own pallet and closed his eyes.

Rin rolled over and stared at the red framed screen that lead into Sesshoumaru's grand bedroom, she had only glimpsed it as he had made his way through his room and into the other one. That room was big enough to hold a wooden tub wasn't it?

She yawned widely, as the stickiness of the heat filled up her brain and she slept. When she awoke, she would have her bath so Kami-sama help her.

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It was late in the evening with Sesshoumaru returned to the high class mansion hotel owned by a former noble of Edo's royal circle. The owner Akamatsu was a full demon that had married a mortal woman, a princess from another land far to the southwest with dark hair, beautiful almond shaped eyes and long dark hair. She hailed from In, a country that had more gods then Japan's present religion of Shintoism and was far older...

Taking the ingenius wooden lift to the ninth floor he stepped off and glided down the hall his footsteps silent against the polished bamboo floor. After passing door after door of brightly painted wood screens he came to the room that had been speically picked out by Arashi hereself.

Smiling he slid back the screen and stepped in. The window was open to the cool breeze a lone candle protected by a bit of oiled rice paper was lit, it burned low. Jaken snored lightly on the futon and one of Ah-un's head woke up looking at Sesshoumaru briefly before drifting back to sleep. Crossing the room in a few strides, he pulled back the red framed screen and froze.

An ear spiltting scream pierced the quiet street, as Rin tumbled from the wooden tub flailling for the dirty kimono she had so hastily discarded at the sight of clean water and the heavenly smell of peony scented soap.

Sesshoumaru turned around, to see that Jaken was wide awake and ran to the door just in time to see Rin pull on her kimono which was now so wet it provided little protection of her modesty.

"Don't you knock!" she cried

Sesshoumaru smiled wickedly as he watched Jaken's eyes widen in shock

"No because it is my room"

There was a frustrated noise from Rin as she tried to tie her kimono with shaking hands, she was shivering half from the cold and the other from mortification.

"I brought you something" Sesshoumaru turned around eyes averted to the floor and held out a brightly wrapped package.

"What is it?" she asked voice trembling, why didn't he leave? Did Sesshoumaru-sama want her to dig a hole in the floor and die in it?

He tossed the package to her, she caught it. Dumbly she looked at the package and then at him

"Open it" his voice was faintly teasing

Rin took a deep breath "i will open it when you leave so I can dress"

Rin watched Sesshoumaru's silvery brow rise a fraction "I will be leaving with that dirty kimono on your back, so I suggest you open the package."

There was the sound of furious tearing and Rin gasped, a beautiful kimono of pale pink with green reeds and white cranes lay inside. It was wrapped very small and tight, she touched the fabric. It was of heavy linen, not silk but still breathable.

She looked up "Its beautiful, thank you"

A hint of his golden eyes could be seen "It was an overdue birthday present wasn't it?"

Rin's face went red, "Y-yes, please go now Sesshoumaru-sama it will only take me a few minutes to dress."

When she looked back at the door, it was already shut and taking a deep breath to steady her nerves stood up and went to find something to dry off.

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Jaken studied his Master from his position on his futon, Sesshoumaru leaned against the screen door with something like a smile curling his lips. He seemed mildly amused something that happened very infrequently now, the stress of rebuilding his father's palace had taken a toll on him these last few months.

"Milord do you find something amusing?"

Sesshoumaru's eyes slid to Jaken small figure "Amusing? Why yes I do... how should I punish her Jaken?" those golden eyes glittered, Jaken was a bit stunned. His Master seemed almost pleased...

"Punish?" Jaken blinked at a loss,

"I have been contemplating that Rin should be married.. as soon as possible" Sesshoumaru replied after a suitable pause.

"Married Sire? She is a bit long in the tooth already, these mortal girls whether high or low marry at 14 or 15 at most. Rin is how to say, a spinister already."

Sesshoumaru closed his eyes, at this comment. "True, but she is a bright girl and with mortals beauty fades so quickly. It is best she finds a husband before the year is out."

Jaken was now reeling from this news "Have you spoken to her about this Milord?" Jaken ventured.

"No, but I must and soon. Rin will not be happy" his smile widened a bit.

There was a rustiling near the door "Are you finished Rin?" Sesshoumaru asked his voice rising slightly. The screen door opened and Rin's dirty and dripping kimono appeared. Sesshoumaru took it

"Thank you dear"

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