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Rin, Age 17

It was March and the fifth day of spring break of Rin's senior year. She'd been invited to go to Cancun with a bunch of her classmates, but Rin had declined. Well, all of her bodyguards had scoffed at her suggestion of attending and then Rin had declined the invite a few days later. It wasn't that much of a big deal to Rin, anyway. Ever since the whole kidnapping thing, Rin hadn't made it a point to spend much time with her classmates unless it was for her debate class or her volleyball practice after school. The season was over now though and Rin wouldn't be playing volleyball again unless she played at the college level, which she wasn't sure she was good enough to do. Speaking of college, Rin was staring down at a large envelope in her hand, unsure of whether she should open it or not.

It had been sitting at the table in the entryway when she'd come home from shopping with Kagome, so someone must have seen it, although no one had been in the foyer when they'd come in. Without wasting another moment, Rin had snatched the mail from the tabletop and taken off, reaching the stairs in a few seconds before sprinting up to the next story of the house and running to her room, Kagome's concerned voice echoing behind her as she slammed the door and leaned back against it, taking a few deep breaths to get herself under control.

Rin had only applied to one college, the college her mother had attended many years ago. Columbia University was prestigious, well rounded and had a great program for her, which would involve criminal justice. Rin had developed a passion ever since she'd been taken a few years ago. She wanted to track down the bad guys, put them behind bars by whatever means necessary. Sure, Rin could have followed in her father's footsteps, but what would be the point in that? Rin didn't want to be like her father. She wanted to be like all of her friends, her bodyguards. She wanted to save lives with her own two hands, she wanted to be the difference the world saw with swift, unyielding justice. But first, Rin needed to get into a college that would help her along the path she had decided to take in life.

Rin clutched the envelope even tighter in her hand, afraid to open it. What if she didn't get in? She hadn't applied anywhere else and she would have to wait an entire fall semester of college before she could apply and successfully enroll into another college, one of which would be less than what she wanted. What would she do for the next few months after she graduated high school? Sure, all of her training with Sango and Kagome was going really well, but she couldn't just do that for the next several months. Rin supposed she could make Sesshomaru take her out to do all sorts of fun things and in her mind she could refer to them as dates, even though she was still too young to date him. At least to society's standards. Besides, Rin didn't want to tarnish Sesshomaru's reputation, or her own, until she was absolutely positive she wouldn't be rejected.

What if she did get in? Would all of her bodyguards just stay at home and wait for her to finish her classes everyday? Sure, it was a forty minute drive from her house to the campus, but Rin didn't want to live on campus, she wanted to stay in her own home, so Rin wouldn't let the drive be a problem for her. The only weird thing about college would be her friends trailing her wherever she went, like they did now. Granted, now they didn't stand right outside of her classroom at school. Generally they just sat in the car outside or did perimeter sweeps every few hours until it was time to return to the house, but going to a major university would be so much different than a high school. The odds of Rin getting lost in a crowd were astronomical, although Rin doubted anything would even happen to her now. Her father might be as distant as possible when it came to his only daughter, but he'd kept her friends informed on the dangers that might be present in Rin's life. To Rin's relief, the danger seemed to have passed and to her surprise, her bodyguards were still going to stay with her until her 21st birthday.

Sighing to herself, Rin moved away from the door and sat at her vanity table, running a shaking hand over the envelope, almost like a caress. She just needed to do it. Like a bandaid, right? Rin could just rip it open and get it over with as opposed to stretching it out even longer than she had already.

"Okay. Just open it. No big deal." Without further ado, Rin ripped the envelope open, pulling the thick, folded piece of computer paper from the envelope. With one hand Rin grabbed the pendants on her necklace, letting the cool feel of the white gold calm her as she unfolded the paper with her other hand, reading the contents. When Rin was done, she read the paper a few more times before it sank in.

Rin was going to college.

Shouting in joy, Rin stood up from the chair, not caring that it fell back in her excitement. Ripping open the bedroom door, Rin rushed back down the hallway and practically skipped down the staircase until she was back where she started.

"Hey, where is everyone?!"

Silence was all that greeted Rin and after a few minutes of searching throughout the large house, her excitement began to die down as her curiosity got the better of her. Where the heck was everyone at?

Rin entered the large kitchen, sighing in defeat when no one was in there either. Rin was just about to give up her long search when she heard the clashing of metal coming from just inside the garden. Exiting the house, Rin followed the sound of combat, grunting and Inuyasha's harsh insults until she had found everyone she'd been looking for.

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were indeed fighting, both using these odd swords they had called 'fangs' to hack at each other. Sesshomaru remained silent as they battled, yet Inuyasha hurled insults at him and enjoyed talking crap to his elder brother. It was all familiar to Rin. In fact, it had been a few months since the brothers had duked it out over something, so Rin was surprised it had taken so long for another battle to happen.

"Rin, come watch!" Miroku called out merrily to the young woman, waving her over to their little group. Sango and Kagome winced appropriately when Sesshomaru launched an attack that sent Inuyasha flying backwards and into a set of bushes. The sound of branches snapping had Rin turning from her companions to towards the two dueling brothers.

"Hey! Stop destroying my garden!" Sesshomaru paused mid step, turning to face the girl who had shouted at him. Rin blushed delicately when he merely raised an eyebrow at her tone before turning back towards his brother. "Wait! Sesshomaru, please. I've got some really exciting news and I don't want it to be ruined because you and Inuyasha destroyed my favorite part of the house!" Rin spoke passionately, hoping the plea would make Sesshomaru stop the battle or at least move it to an alternate location. Her garden was precious to her, they all knew it.

"Hn." Was the reply she received, but it was enough to have Rin sighing in relief even when Inuyasha came out and launched at his brother, sword trapped in the bushes as he threw a punch at his brother. Sesshomaru dodged it with little effort, smirking at Inuyasha before moving back and over to Rin's side, signaling the end of their feud.

"What, afraid you won't be able to take me in a fist fight?"

"A little whelp like you? Please."

Rin smacked the palm of her hand into her forehead before huffing in outrage. "I said I had big news!"

Both brothers stopped their insulting tirade while the others turned to look at Rin expectantly.

She waited a beat or two before holding out the paper triumphantly and shouting, "I'm going to college!"

Rin, Age 17

College was amazing. Rin was an alternate on the volleyball team and currently she was taking 22 credit hours for her first semester of college, something that helped her pass the time, especially since Sesshomaru had been gone since a week before she had started college at Columbia. The missing him was hard, even a bit harder than it was when she was younger. Rin didn't know why, maybe because she was older and her feelings had grown just as much as she had, but she still felt alone and sad, which was why involving herself in as much of college as possible was a godsend.

Feeling alone while at college was also ridiculous, considering Kagome was also attending Columbia University. Rin had been startled at the news after she'd informed everyone that she was going to college, but apparently Kagome had seen her application and decided to apply as well, so that way there was a bodyguard with her at all times under the guise of just another student and friend. It was a good strategy, although at first Rin had felt a bit bereft at the news that Kagome would be her constant companion while attending college.

Now though, Rin was extremely grateful. They'd enrolled in the same classes and both of them were even on the volleyball team, although Rin had no idea how Kagome had made it. She was apparently great at every other type of physical activity except for volleyball. Rin wouldn't have believed it possible that Kagome could do so terrible at the sport... Until she'd seen it with her own two eyes. Rin had to wonder what Kagome had done to bribe the coach to let her on the team, but Rin knew it was definitely a bribe. There was no way Kagome could have made the team of her own accord.

Sitting at a desk in the college library, Rin enjoyed some downtime from Kagome and her six classes. Currently she was listening to some Macklemore on her iPod, tapping her pencil gently on the desk she occupied in a corner of the library. A few of her textbooks were scattered around her while the rest were inside the backpack sitting next to her feet. She'd been sitting at the library for a few hours now, waiting on Kagome to finish volunteering at a charity one of her classes was participating in.

Rin was wearing a tight black skirt that came down to mid thigh, a magenta sweater and a pair of feminine combat boots, almost identical to the ones Kagome owned. Rin set down her pencil as she flipped a page in her textbook, her other hand fingering the necklace that she wore proudly over her sweater. It had taken almost a year, but Rin was finally ready to allow the world to glimpse the treasure around her neck. It might not mean anything to the rest of the world, but to Rin, it meant that she was taken. Unavailable. It hadn't stopped some of her classmates from trying to take her out though, but Rin always told the guys no. One had even tried to get hands with Rin, but with the training she'd been doing for almost two years Rin was able to give him a well placed kick that had him walking funny and hopefully let him know that acting like a jerk was no way to treat a lady. Kagome had seen the incident and given a thumbs up as her sign of approval and as far as Rin knew, that incident had stayed between the two of them only. Rin didn't want to know what Sesshomaru would do if he knew some guy had grabbed her ass.

Sesshomaru...

Rin sighed sadly, her eyes drifting away from her textbook and to a bookshelf a few feet from her. He'd been gone since the end of July, making it almost four months since Rin had seen him. Some days he called her, although Rin never told anyone that he did. She suspected Inuyasha knew, considering his super hearing, but Rin was almost positive the others were oblivious. She didn't think Kagome or Sango would stop pestering her about it if they knew. The three women had grown that close, to the point where Sango and Kagome often teased her about the 'crush' she had on Sesshomaru. If only they knew.

Rin got a call almost every week, sometimes twice if she was lucky. If Rin thought Sesshomaru was a shy talker in person, he was completely silent on the phone with the exception of a few grunts and agreements, it was almost like Rin was talking to herself. To be honest, sometimes Rin wondered why he even bothered calling her if he never spoke to her about anything important, but Rin had a feeling Sesshomaru missed her, which was why he phoned when he could. It made sense. When they were together Rin was almost never silent, always continuously keeping the conversation going, or just thinking out loud, really, and Sesshomaru always listened. Maybe when he was gone doing whatever it was he did he got lonely and wanted his pestering companion to keep him company.

Happy with her explanation, Rin smiled to herself, touched her pendants and looked up. Her mouth went dry and her heart stopped, sputtering uncomfortably in her chest before the beat picked up again, beating rapidly. Standing abruptly, Rin ripped the buds out of her ears and squealed in delight as she ran forward. She wasted no time jumping at Sesshomaru, her arms circling his neck and her head resting against his chest. He wore his usual black attire, which let Rin know he must have just gotten back from whatever mission he'd been on.

"I'm so glad you're here." Rin sighed contently when Sesshomaru's hands circled her thin waist. Rin reached up and brushed the silver hair that was cascading down the front of Sesshomaru's chest, smiling when its soft strands caressed her skin. It was always such a mystery how his hair remained so soft and luxurious. Rin knew he never did anything with it, he barely even combed it. Granted, she always combed it when he was home with her, but that was one of their secrets and Rin wouldn't tell anyone, lest he seem less powerful than he already was. She doubted Sesshomaru would care what others thought of him, that's just how he was, but Rin didn't want anyone to see him as a weakling because of her. It would be wrong, and a lie, and Rin refused to be portrayed as a liability.

Not caring that they were in a crowded library, Rin held on to Sesshomaru tightly, hoping he wouldn't break their hug for at least another minute or so. She'd missed him more this last time than she ever had before and she didn't want to stop touching him, not if she could help it.

"Get a room you two!" Some kid fake whispered halfway across the library, causing Rin to blush and pull back too soon, almost hating herself for doing so. Grabbing Sesshomaru's hand and pointedly ignoring the kid that had reprimanded them, Rin led Sesshomaru over to her work area, letting go of his hand in order to pick up her books and place them inside her backpack, then her iPod and other utensils before lifting up the heavy bag, intent on carrying it with her. Sesshomaru merely cast her a glance before grabbing the bag with one hand and her hand in his other before leading them from the library and towards a black SUV.

"Oh, I told Kagome I would wait for her," Rin called as they kept their brisk pace and entered the vehicle, Sesshomaru in the drivers seat while Rin claimed the passenger seat.

"Kagome has been informed of my return. She will not be expecting your company this evening."

"Oh, okay." Rin fidgeted awkwardly with her short skirt, hyperaware of how much skin she was showing now that the person she had been wearing it for was in her presence.

Sesshomaru started the vehicle, the headlights coming on automatically to disperse the darkness around them. A few minutes of silence passed before Sesshomaru spoke. "Are you not cold? Wearing such little clothing in November?" His tone was emotionless, but the glance he cast in her direction spoke volumes. Rin removed her hands from her skirt, pointedly crossing her left leg over the right to expose more of her thigh in his direction in defiance.

"Are you saying I'm inappropriately dressed?"

"It was implied."

Rin huffed in frustration before crossing her arms over her chest and turning to the side to glare at Sesshomaru. "Would you prefer I wear a potato sack instead of actual clothing? Would that make you feel better?"

"A potato sack and perhaps a parka. You should not be exposing such skin."

"You make it sound like I'm wearing nothing but a piece of tissue paper over my boobs." Sesshomaru remained silent. "It's not my fault you have no concept of fashion, Sesshomaru, but you shouldn't take your barbaric notions of decency out on my skirt."

"If your skirt was decent I would not urge you to wear something more modest."

Rin threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "Are you irritated that I'm wearing a short skirt or that men look at me while I'm wearing it?"

"That is irrelevant." Sesshomaru's voice was calm as usual, though his hands tightened slightly on the steering wheel. Rin sent him a triumphant look before leaning back in her seat, relaxing as the seat heat kicked on.

"I don't think it's as irrelevant as you want me to believe. It's fine though, you can keep your thoughts to yourself." I looked out the window, mumbling to myself. "You're probably just jealous I get hit on when I wear it."

"This Sesshomaru is not jealous of pathetic human boys." The words were slightly more snarly than Rin knew he intended. She turned her head from the window and looked back at him, smiling softly when their eyes met as the SUV stopped at a light.

"Good, because you know by now I don't have any interest in pathetic human boys." Just you, Rin said with her eyes, knowing by the shifting of his eyes that he heard her thoughts.

Rin, Eighteenth Birthday

Finally. Finally! The first semester of college was over, finished! Not only had Rin passed each and all of her classes, she'd made the Dean's List. She had actually just received the award in the mail, shouting happily when she'd opened the envelope addressed from the school, attracting the attention of all the people currently in the house with her, Sesshomaru included. After jumping up and down in excitement, Rin stopped when she noticed the audience surrounding her.

"What is it, Rin?" Sango asked, her hand reaching out and taking the award from Rin's hand. She read the award before beaming in pride and giving Rin a hug. "Oh Rin this is so fantastic! Congratulations on doing so well you're first semester!"

"Thanks Sango!" Rin jumped up and down again in happiness before looking down at herself, still clad in her flannel pajamas that had big white dogs all over them. She'd gotten them from Inuyasha the year before for Christmas. Inuyasha had been casting a cocky glance to Sesshomaru when she'd opened the gift, so she had an idea it was some sort of veiled insult for Sesshomaru, but Rin wore them anyways because they were incredibly adorable. Now that it was winter again, she could wear the pajamas without kicking them off in the middle of the night, so that's what she did. "I should probably go change. I can't be all bleh on my birthday!" And with that Rin rushed up the stairs and changed into a pair of jeggings, a sweater with snowflakes on it and a pair of ankle boots before coming back downstairs and eating brunch with everyone. Except Sesshomaru, who wasn't a big fan of human food. To this day, Rin had no idea what Sesshomaru ate, but she had a feeling it was probably alive when he hunted it.

After brunch the women went shopping, Kagome and Sango buying Rin a few things she wouldn't have purchased herself, mostly matching bra and panty sets and teasing her about Sesshomaru the entire time.

"So, do you think you're going to make a move on him now that you're legal?" Kagome waggled her eyebrows at Rin before holding up a bra that was basically two pieces of string and a slip of fabric to cover her nipples. Rin wrinkled her nose, mostly at the bra but also at Kagome's suggestion.

"I don't think I'm going to do it tonight. Jeez. If I attack him now he might run for the hills." Sango and Kagome cast each other suspicious looks before bursting into laughter.

"Come on, Rin. We all know you're not going to seduce Sesshomaru. Would anyone? He's kind of scary." Kagome placed the bra back on the rack before looking at something more modest.

"Sesshomaru hasn't said no to me before."

"Well, Rin, this is a lot different. Sex is a really big deal." Rin blushed scarlet before smacking Kagome upside the head.

"I wasn't talking about sex, exactly. God. We haven't even kissed yet you guys."

"So you think it will actually happen?" Sango asked. "Forgive me, Rin. I just can't picture Sesshomaru the type to show any kind of emotion, especially sexual or romantic." Rin slouched over, losing a bit of her happiness. Sango and Kagome eyed each other before smiling at Rin. "But what do I know? I just have Miroku as a romantic acquaintance and that just involves him groping me and me slapping him."

"We all know you love it. I see the way you two look at each other when you think no one is watching. How long have you been sleeping together?" Kagome asked nonchalantly as she browsed another rack of lingerie. Sango squeaked in embarrassment and Rin's eyes widened in surprise.

"OH MY GOD, you guys are sleeping together?!"

"Well... It might have happened once or twice since you guys both started taking college classes."

"Only twice?" Kagome asked sweetly.

Sango reddened further. "Well, maybe a few more than two."

"I just can't believe you're sleeping with Miroku." Rin shuddered as she pictured Miroku naked. Bleh, it was like seeing her brother naked. And it was actually Miroku, so it was even more gross.

"Don't get all high and mighty on me, Kagome. I know you've got a thing for Inuyasha." Kagome reddened as well before yelling at Sango.

"I don't either! He's such an arrogant jerk I can barely stand the sight of him!"

"Is that why I saw you two kissing out in the garden the other night? Because you can barely stand the sight of him?" Sango smirked before slinging a thong like a rubber band and hitting Kagome in the face with it. Rin laughed loudly at the pair as she grabbed a few items and headed into the dressing room to try them on, effectively leaving the two other women to duke it out amongst themselves.

One cookie cake and hours later, Rin was up in her bedroom, clad in a silky white tank top and a pair of booty short pajamas she'd bought at Victoria's Secret earlier that day. The shorts were silky with little hearts on them. Extremely adorable and equally as comfortable, Rin was glad she'd purchased them and a few other pairs in different patterns as well. Going to remove her watch, Rin stepped in front of her vanity, startling a bit when she realized Sesshomaru was standing behind her, wearing a plain black shirt and plaid pajama bottoms. Rin had never seen him so dressed down before. With his long hair and markings he looked like a warrior, even in pajamas. Rin smiled into the mirror at him before turning around, her long black hair brushing her lower back as she turned to look up at Sesshomaru.

"I wasn't sure if you would come see me before I fell asleep." To this day, Sesshomaru still claimed the chair in bedroom on the nights he was in town, staying with her until she fell asleep and sometimes even staying in the chair the entire night.

"I have come to give you your present." Rin looked at Sesshomaru's body, noticing that although he looked very nice in his slightly tight clothing, she doubted he was her birthday present.

"Did you forget it?" Rin looked at his empty hands, uncertain where her gift would be.

Without answering her, Sesshomaru reached into his pocket, pulling out a small white gold ring and handing it out to her. Rin stared at it, unsure of what she was seeing. When she hesitated to take it from him, Sesshomaru looked at her. "Do you not like it?"

"I...No, I love it. I just don't know why you're giving me a ring."

"It is for when I'm not here. It will help to keep you protected." Rin eyed the ring suspiciously, her mind recalling how jealous he was about other men looking at her when he was gone. Surely he didn't get her a promise ring... Right? Would he even know what such a thing was? Rin didn't think so. Rin reached out and took the ring, looking at the sapphire stone in the middle of the white gold band. On the inside was an inscription she didn't recognize. It was in some sort of language, although Rin couldn't figure out what language that would be.

"What does it say?"

"The ring has been imbedded with a certain type of demonic magic. A part of my demonic aura. If you should need me, if you encounter any danger, you merely press down on the stone and recite the words within the band."

"What happens then?"

"I will come for you." Five words that could have meant so little were filled with so much power Rin actually sat down on her bed from the weight of it, her legs dangling over the edge as she gazed down at the simple, yet elegant ring in her hand. After a few more seconds of looking at it, Rin tried a few fingers before effectively slipping the ring onto her ring finger. The fact that it fit her ring finger wasn't lost on her either. The ring looked beautiful against her pale skin and Rin sighed in contentment as she looked at it.

Sesshomaru moved to his usual chair by her bed, seating himself as she moved over on the bed, moving the bed sheet and comforter so she could climb underneath them and bask in their warmth. As she laid down she looked over at Sesshomaru, wanting to ask him something but not wanting to push their friendship over the edge too soon. After a few minutes of silence and them staring at one another, Rin finally spoke up.

"Have you ever cuddled with anyone before?"

"Cuddled?"

"Yeah, you know, held someone at night while you both slept, or just laid together and held each other?"

"Don't be ridiculous." His tone made it clear that he didn't want to continue the conversation, but Rin persisted anyway.

"I've just always wanted to try it, you know? But I've never dated anyone and I don't want to ask some random guy at college to cuddle with me."

"You will do no such thing." Rin sighed, although she knew she had him right where she wanted him.

"Well, if I can't do that with anyone else, would you cuddle with me tonight?" Sesshomaru remained silent, staring at Rin until the silence grew uncomfortable. "Please, Sesshomaru?" A few more minutes went by with no words exchanged between the two, leaving Rin to believe her request had been made in vain. She reached over to her nightstand, her new ring gleaming in the dull light before she switched the lamp over, turning on to her side and away from Sesshomaru as she shut her eyes, intending to fall asleep alone.

She didn't hear him move from the chair, but the covers moved back slightly and the bed dipped from the weight of his body as he slid under the covers next to her. Both of them remained motionless, almost as if they were afraid of startling one another and ruining the moment before it even began. After a few awkward shifts, Rin finally turned around so she faced Sesshomaru before laying her head on his chest, one arm tucked under her while her other arm circled his waist. The movement was natural, almost as if she'd been sleeping beside him for years, when the reality was that she had only dreamed it many times. Rin snuggled deeper into Sesshomaru's body, sighing when he turned slightly sideways, allowing his left arm to circle her back while his right arm held on to her waist, keeping her body pressed snuggly against his own.

"Happy Birthday, Rin."

Rin smiled softly, unaware Sesshomaru could see her perfectly, even in the dark. He held on to her, intent on departing the bed as soon as Rin fell into a deep sleep. Instead, he found himself holding the black haired beauty close to him, even after she dozed off, stroking her hair with his left hand and gazing down at her sleeping form next to him. Rin murmured something in her sleep, nuzzling her nose into his chest before inhaling, smiling contently and delving even further into her subconscious.

Her left hand rested comfortably against his chest by her own face, the ring he had given her fitting perfectly on her finger. In truth, Sesshomaru could have placed his aura into anything he had wished, his father had shown him how. But after Rin had blossomed into such a beautiful creature, Sesshomaru had taken care to take it one step further, displaying his dominance in other ways, especially whenever he could not be present. After living among the humans for so long, Sesshomaru was well aware of the implications of the ring he'd given Rin, even though he had feigned ignorance when confronted by her. Rin had a suspicion that the ring was more, perhaps a promise ring or engagement ring, but she had remained silent, clearly making her own judgment before slipping the ring on the proper finger.

She might admire him and have deep feelings for him, but Sesshomaru didn't want to scare her off. He was a demon, a terrifying creation that wielded more power in this world than any human could dare to dream up, even many of the demons still alive. Sesshomaru was considered one of the mightiest demons of them all, and even though Rin knew he was powerful, he didn't want her to be terrified of him, especially if one day she discovered him in his natural state. Which, if she ever used the ring as he'd informed her, she would unleash the beast from its true form to find and protect its mate, no matter his or her location. The enchantment engraved in the ring was merely to call his aura back into itself, almost like a locating spell or a GPS. He would feel the pull immediately and his aura would react so strongly he would contort into his mighty dog demon form and take to the sky to hunt down whatever threatened his soul.

Looking down at the woman in his arms, Sesshomaru did something he rarely did at all. He slept, deeply and peacefully, with his greatest treasure tucked safely in his arms.

The next few months passed by all too quickly, each night with Rin and Sesshomaru holding each other tightly while they slept.

Rin, Age 18

Rin stared up at him, doing her best to remain calm and collected. All she wanted to do was cry. It was early May and Rin should have been having the time of her life. She'd just finished the first year of college and Rin had planned to share as much of her summer break with Sesshomaru as possible. Rin had decided that this was the summer she was going to seduce him, to make him hers. She was an adult now, she'd matured immensely since she'd first met him at the tender age of fifteen and Rin was a woman now. It was time and she wasn't planning to let anything stand in her way. At least, she hadn't been planning to let anything stand in her way. Now, it seemed like she didn't stand a chance when confronting fate, because fate had a way of bitch slapping her plans in the face and wrecking her dreams. Rin should have been living life without any cares or concerns in the world, yet there she was, her heart lying broken at her feet. It shouldn't be happening. It couldn't be happening. Not to her. Not to him. Didn't the world understand they were supposed to be together? Didn't it?

All of her plans for the summer were ruined. All of her plans for the next year were ruined. Sesshomaru was leaving her for an entire year. Some sort of deployment to assist in a war in the middle east. Apparently being one of the few remaining demons in the world (there were less than 4000) meant that Sesshomaru was on some sort of list controlled by the government. It was how he had been recruited into the company he and the others worked for. It was not technically government funded, but very high ranking officials knew about it and made sure the proper allowances were given to them and the company to ensure they were happy with where they were and wouldn't be seeking out other opportunities. This allowed the government to call on certain individuals once or two, when in dire need of assistance for certain military issues. Rin didn't know much else about it except that it was for at least one year that Sesshomaru would be gone, perhaps longer. An entire year without hearing from him, seeing him, anything. He would be so deeply integrated into the assignment he wouldn't be able to contact her. How was Rin supposed to survive that? What if something happened to him and Rin never found out?

"Are you sure you need to go? That you have to? Maybe you can stay." Her voice cracked slightly and Rin looked away from him, placing a trembling hand over her mouth. Sesshomaru took a step towards her, closing the space between them as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his embrace. Rin's hands clenched his shirt, hiding her face in his chest as the tears she had been holding in began to fall as she sobbed quietly. "You can't leave me. You told me you would never leave me, but this feel like it's forever."

Sesshomaru ran one of his hands down her long black hair, smoothing it once, then twice, in his attempt to comfort her. "Rin, I have obligations I must attend to."

Rin pushed away from him, his words stinging in her ears. "Your obligations should be to me! Not to some stupid company that thinks its a great idea to rent you out as a private soldier for the government. You're not in the military, you can't just deploy to some godforsaken country in the middle of nowhere and fight a battle that isn't yours." The anger in her voice would have startled both Kagome and Sango, possibly even Inuyasha. Sesshomaru barely bat an eye at her tone. Didn't he understand how life altering this was for her? He couldn't just leave.

"This Sesshomaru does what he must. You should not question my judgment." Sesshomaru moved away from Rin, his fingers clenching into a fist as he stared at the crying young woman in front of him.

"I never question you, I never think twice about your actions because I trust you. But you've made promises to me too. You might not have said them with words but it's in the way you look at me. The way you touch me and hold me." Rin ran a hand through her long hair before crossing her arms over her chest and sitting down in a chair in the lounge attached to her bedroom.

"You know nothing." Sesshomaru spat at her, his eyes turning a dull shade of red before returning to normal as he came to her, towering over her in attempt to intimidate Rin. She merely stared up at him, hurt in her eyes. She expected some sort of emotion from him, but she didn't anticipate his rage. It was a foreign concept for Rin to see and she wasn't sure how she felt now that it was directed at her. She stared at him a few more seconds, letting his harsh words sink in before she responded, her words equally as passionate.

"I know that I love you." Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly before the careful mask he always wore descended over his face, leaving Rin with a sense of unease at just throwing those words at him like that. This was the first fight they'd ever had and she was throwing the fact that she loved him in his face? How petty could she get? Rin sucked in a deep breath, her shoulders slumping as she looked away from him and to the ground, careful to stare at the shoes he was wearing. "I know that when you're gone I feel like I can't breathe. That I'm almost empty. I know that I don't care about anyone or anything the way I care about you. Sometimes I worry so much that I don't sleep for days because I'm worried you might not come back. I know that you care for me, it's in the way you look at me when you think I'm not looking at you. I know that you always make sure nothing bad happens to me, even when you're off on some kind of assignment. I know that since the moment I laid my eyes on you that I was yours and you were mine. So if that's nothing to you, then yeah, I guess I don't know anything."

Rin sat back in her chair, wiping another stray tear as it tracked down her face before she looked up and up until her gaze met Sesshomaru's. She had filled out the past year and a half, her chest and hips developing a nice curve even though her waist had stayed small and her height had only increased by three inches. She was taller, but still so much shorter than Sesshomaru she had to crane her neck to see his face. Rin had wanted it that way though, to be able to look up at him.

Now as Rin looked at the impassive face of Sesshomaru, she felt like a fool for admitting all those things aloud to him. God, he must think her an idiot. Rin stood, almost knocking back the chair she'd been sitting in with the force of her haste.

"Look forget I said anything. It's not like it matters." Rin brushed past Sesshomaru, her breath hitching in her throat as long fingers wrapped along her wrist tugging her back until her body pivoted and Rin was pulled into Sesshomaru. She opened her mouth, intent on asking him what he was doing. Imagine her surprise when Sesshomaru's head bent down, his lips gently pressing into hers.

Rin's eyes stayed open for a few more seconds as she took in the sudden changes that were occurring between her and her Sesshomaru. He was kissing her. He was kissing her. How many times had she imagined this moment, this kiss? How many hours had she wondered at how soft his lips would be, how he would hold her when it happened? His lips were like velvet, soft and wonderful as they caressed her own. She sighed into his lips, letting her own press against him as she shut her eyes, allowing her mind and body to enjoy the kiss and the embrace of the man she loved with all of her heart and soul.

Sesshomaru deepened the kiss, one of his hands clinging to the lower part of Rin's back, allowing him to bend her slightly as his lips trailed over hers. He knew kissing her now, the night before he planned to leave her for a lengthy time in a human's eyes was a bad decision. It would leave them both wanting more, which they wouldn't be able to have for several months at least. But knowing she hurt, knowing he was at fault for such heartache and the tears in her eyes, Sesshomaru wasn't too proud to give her the only thing he knew she wanted; his affection and his love. When words were incapable of adequately describing what Rin meant to him, his lips talked to her in other ways, leaving her lips to trail softly to her cheek and down to her neck, featherlight, yet settling deep within her.

Rin didn't think she would ever forget that moment, especially when his teeth nibbled on her neck before gently biting down. Rin sucked in a breath at the sharp sting, not expecting his teeth to actually pierce her skin.

Sesshomaru held on to Rin tightly, his tongue laving at the wound until he felt it heal beneath his mouth. He'd marked her, something he hadn't planned on doing for many years, possibly ever. When Rin had been fifteen, Sesshomaru knew he would not ever make her his mate because she was human. When she'd turned sixteen, he'd thought it might eventually happen. When she'd been foolish and kissed a boy while she thought Sesshomaru was gone and he'd found out, Sesshomaru knew the odds of her becoming his were much greater than he'd planned. He had concealed his jealousy well, but Sesshomaru had tracked the human boy down and threatened his life for daring to touch what didn't belong to him. When Rin had turned seventeen and her body had started maturing as well as her personality, Sesshomaru knew he couldn't stay away from her, couldn't go without her being his in every way. Now, with Rin declaring her love and misery all at once, Sesshomaru could not part without leaving her something of himself behind. Something to connect them to one another for the rest of their days, even while they might be a part.

Knowing the mating mark had taken, Sesshomaru kissed the spot once more before breaking his mouth away from her skin, his chin resting on top of her head as he held her to him.

His father, when he had lived centuries before, had once spoken of a mate bond, about how delicate, yet powerful it was. Sesshomaru had scoffed at his father's words, believing a mate would only cause weakness. No strength could come from having a weak woman at his side and yet...

Sesshomaru looked down at the young mate in his arms, feeling the power his father had spoken of flowing through him. He would do anything to protect her, to keep her safeguarded against the dangers of the world. Anything.

"The time will pass quickly."

Rin shook her head before resting it back against his head. "No it won't."

There we are, chapter 3! I hope you all enjoyed it, please feel free to leave me a review or to like the story!

Much love,

Mo