"Why is she of any concern to you? Do tell me how a teenage human is going to affect expansion and production," Sesshoumaru indulged.

"By affecting your reputation," his mother answered, drawing his attention to her, "And to prove my assertion correct why don't you take a look around the room and see if these fine councilmen still see the same potential in you as they did before you brought the girl to our province."

Sesshoumaru's eyes, although ordered otherwise by his mother, did not leave hers. His murderous look to his own and his complete disregard of the council's opinions had enough power to rekindle the respect of the room. But alas, the mother called his bluff.

"You think you can go marching around here like your father, doing whatever you please and thinking everyone will succumb to your threats…," she paused for a moment to scan the room, "…But we learned from that mistake the last time. "

Sesshoumaru's form remained unaffected by the mention of his father.

"You see, your father had the same attitude towards humans, and that weakness got him-"

"Don't you dare put me on his level of ignorance, mother," he emphasized his words as he stood up, "Humans are meaningless creatures to me. There are rules to everyone's character but there are also exceptions. Rin happens to be an exception to mine." His eyes burned red and his fangs grew, "You mistake my intentions. Should a time come where I am obliged to choose between the good of our clan and Rin, I will choose our clan."

"Then that time is now," said his mother flatly.

His eyes widened.

She smiled and looked at her son lovingly, "I know what you wanted to do with that statement, my dear boy. Life places forks in the road that eventually forces us choose one way or the other. And I have no doubt in my mind that if it came down to our clan burning and that puny human girl, you would choose your clan. But sometimes those convenient forks don't come until a great deal of damage has already been done to the traveler," her smile faded, "The council and I wish to eliminate the odds of that damage occurring."

Sesshoumaru stared blankly at her. The logic was undeniable.

"I know the girl means a lot to you but you're letting it hinder your foresight of the good of this land, Sesshoumaru, which is precisely my point in all of this."

She stood up to join his stature, "Should this girl weigh on your heart any longer, neighboring clans will think you've gone soft. Whether or not that would be true on the battlefield… it creates the battlefield. And what we want is peace. Peace that we've only been able to maintain through fear. And with a human girl at your side, you'll gather nothing but ridicule," she finished.

Sesshoumaru growled audibly and the room grew fearfully silent. He slammed his fists through the wooden table causing glasses, food, and plate ware to ricochet and crash to the ground. The members all stared at him.

"… How long do I have before this must be done?" He asked.

"Until the end of the cycle," his mother responded coolly, "Once it is done we can get back to affairs of the state."

"Very well," his voice cut through the silence, "I shall leave for my chambers tonight."

"You don't have to leave now sweetie! Stay and enjoy the feast with your mother!" She poured.

"Please spare me the family speech. I wouldn't spend another moment in here if I didn't have to," he sliced through her loving words.

She took a moment to recollect her calm before she shouted after him, "Travel safe and don't hold this against your mother, darling," she cooed, "You already hold too much against me!"

Sesshoumaru left without another word.

Lord Sesshoumaru stood in front of her. Eyeing her as her hand was still outstretched from the attempted turn of the knob. He gave a natural glare, "Were you going somewhere?"

Rin couldn't speak, "Uh… I… Cesaria…"

"Cesaria told you to not leave your room on behalf of my orders. Were you planning to disobey me?" His voice gathered momentum.

Rin looked straight down, "No, no I would never do that… I was going to go talk to Cesaria about… something…," she trailed but then jumped right back in, "… and honestly, through all of the confusion, I forgot I wasn't supposed to leave."

"What confusion?" he asked.

She looked up at him and then to the side, "I… um…" She didn't know how to tell him that he was the one on her conscience. But she didn't have to. He relaxed as he read her face and dropped the subject.

"We need to talk about something, Rin. Go sit," he motioned towards the bed. Confused (but what else was new?), she walked over and plopped down on the bed like he expected she would. She was so carefree and it showed in her slightest mannerisms. He sat directly to the right of her which made her slightly uncomfortable.

He looked towards the door when he finally spoke, "Rin. You must go live with humans." He kept his complacency and held his gaze with the door. Her bright eyes gradually grew dark as his words pierced her every muscle. She couldn't move.

He slowly swiveled his head to look at her. After a moment's silence between the two he said, "The council and I have decided that it isn't in the best interest of the empire to house a human in the castle of the sole patriarch and warlord." She stared at him for a moment before ushering, "Is there anything I can do? Please… Is there any way I can make my presence in the best interest of the empire?" He shook his head before she even finished, "It's done, Rin, there is no alternative."

"I'll do anything!" She raised her voice. Sesshoumaru graced her with a look of surprise as her walls came down, "Anything! I'll learn how to fight! I'll grow stronger! I'll do maid work for you! I-" he put his clawed forefinger over her lips. He looked down at her, the pain he felt right then was of guilt. Something he rarely had.

"There is nothing that can be done, Rin. You must leave within the month," he stated, toneless as usual.

Rin started to sob into her hands uncontrollably. He fought to ignore it.

"You must make the necessary preparations to be able to leave here and not return," he said tenderly, "I shall make preparations of my own as well."

As he stood up to leave he said, "Your loyalty to me has not been in vain or dismissed. Because of it, I have decided that until you leave you are allowed to do as you please here. Don't be hesitant to come to me. For this last month I will welcome your company."

Rin looked up at him and as he turned to go, she grabbed his sleeve to halt him.
"Then please…" she begged, "Stay. For right now. Just a few moments… please." His eyes widened at the audacity that her broken heart had allowed her in this hard situation. But in a way, he understood it, because he knew she was human.

Sesshoumaru placed himself back on the edge of her bed. The bed he had gotten her years before, but to him, it felt like only seconds ago. He knew he had wasted the time he had been graced with her. The time he should have spent indulging her wonders and questions, he spent toiling over texts and business. He had wrongfully viewed her as an endless treasure: a young girl who would always be around, with her smile and her innocence, to put his mind to rest. But politics don't work that way. Humans don't work that way. In a blink of an eye she would be dead and rotting from the cruelty of time, while he carried on with his labors, spared only by birth right. He knew, sitting there, that this very moment was one that would pass before his very eyes. He would watch it age in the back of his mind before it faded completely. At least, he was hoping it would fade completely. He had, in front of him, the one thing he had ever known that wouldn't betray him or deny him under any circumstance. He knew her life was his and yet, he was taking it away from her. He had, sitting next to him, the one thing that he had ever cared for, and he was breaking her. His eyes clouded with regret.

She sat there shaking in painful silence. Her eyes poured glistening trails down her cheeks. Before he gave it a second thought, he grabbed her and pulled her into him; her face against his chest. Rin's shaking began to subside. Sesshoumaru held her, using his knowledge of human interaction in an attempt to comfort the girl. Even though his intentions were of simple action and no more, he felt his emotions begin to swirl. Emotion he had felt only on one other occasion: when he nearly lost Rin seven years ago to the Demon of the Underworld. Pain. Loss. Love.

But his demon side quickly rejected the unusual stimuli. What was he thinking, embracing a mortal? Loving her? Had he truly grown soft? How long had the foot of this human girl been easing its way into his heart? He decided it was time to put a stop to his childish frivolity. If he didn't, he would end up just like his father.

She felt his grip on her arm like the burning of hot iron before realizing what had occurred. Her Lord's arms held her. Tenderly. Compassionately. Her tears stopped as her heart began to beat outside her chest. She let her hands grip his clothing, fearful that full reciprocity of his actions would be unwanted by her Lord. She breathed in his scent and yearned for more. What more could she want though? His touch? Just as her mind was taking her to unexplored territory, he gently pushed her back upright and stood in one complete fluid motion.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" She questioned, wiping away drying tears.

His reply never came. He strode out of her quarters, leaving behind dumbfounded silence. His tall, powerful form disappeared from her wondrous gaze beyond the door frame. She looked down in thought and brought her fingertips to the parting of her mouth, "Why did I suddenly get the urge to…" Then the reality that had taken place prior to his embrace suddenly cut her open like a knife. She had to leave him.

She threw her head down into her arms and the vicious process of grief started all over again. All she ever wanted to do was help her Lord and now, the only way to do that was to leave. Rin recalled how she once told herself that she would gladly give up her life for Lord Sesshoumaru. And now… it felt like she was doing just that. But it was much harder, now that she must endure the pain of time rather than the fleeting pain of death. This was worse. Much worse.

"I don't want to go…" her whispers became muttered by tears, "Please don't make me go…"

"Please, Lord Sesshoumaru…"

That's when she knew. That's when she realized. She loved him more than anything the rest of the world could possibly offer her.