"Thousands of people came to cheer me on, and once the fight was over, I treated them all with cooked meat and wine." Takiko bragged, raising his head high to show how proud he was. Rin smiled brightly at his good acts. No wonder everyone at his village adored him.

Sesshomaru wasn't amused by his little stories. He was high on alert from Takiko's strange smell and appearance. Something was suspicious about this male.

Not to mention his personality was terrible too. Boasting about being popular and your riches gets annoying after a while. This man was in no way right to be with Rin. Why did she prefer this man over any other?

"Are you enjoying your meal, Takiko?" Rin asked, stuffing more rice into her own mouth. Takiko nodded and nibbled on a piece of fish. Sesshomaru could tell he was lying.

Takiko stood from his cushion and walked over to the pile of gifts he had brought for Rin. "I want to give you these to show how pampered you will be in my home." He shoved the food from in front of Rin and place down a hemping sack of clothing.

Rin blinked and started to sort out the clothes. His choice in clothing were tight and short. Rin's eyes widened. Sesshomaru would have never even let her touch these garments, he was very protective of Rin showing her figure.

"Th-thank you, Takiko." Rin stated and tried to smile. Takiko only grinned at her response and sat back down at his seat.

"Today as we travel back, I will buy you anything you like." He crossed his arms and nodded.

"You will leave tomorrow." Sesshomaru interrupted, bringing Takiko's attention to him.

"It would be better to leave as soon as possible." Takiko challenged. He seemed anxious to get back home.

"It is late, and for Rin's safety, she will stay here until the sun has risen once more." Sesshomaru finished and stood out from the dining table. Takiko's eyes narrowed as he watched Sesshomaru get up from his seat. "Rin, you are dismissed for the night."

"Yes, my lord." Rin agreed and left her seat as well.

"Wait, Rin." Takiko shouted, grabbing Rin's upper arm. "Don't you want to talk out in the garden?" Takiko suggested.

Rin hesitated as she thought about her answer. Sesshomaru had just told her to go to her chambers. If she disobeyed she would be punished again. On the other hand, Takiko was her soon to be husband and she would not be under Sesshomaru once she is married.

"I'm a little sleepy, Takiko." Rin replied, gently pulling herself from his grip. "We can talk during our trip back." Rin proposed.

Takiko frowned and let her leave. Rin looked over at Sesshomaru, seeing what he thought about what just happened. To her relief, he nodded and left the room without another word. Rin let out a sigh as she and Takiko both went their separate ways since Sesshomaru wouldn't let them share a bed in his palace.

Rin dashed to catch up with Sesshomaru since their rooms were in the same hall. She stayed quiet until they got to the very doors.

"My lord." Rin called out. Sesshomaru paused before entering his room and looked over to acknowledged her. "Are you okay with me leaving the west?" Rin asked, a little hesitant at first.

Sesshomaru turned back to his door. "I have let you make this decision, Rin." He answered. "There will be no difference when you leave."

Rin felt her heart begin to throb. It was like someone had dropped a large stone from high above onto her. His words had genuinely hurt her, like poison being poured over her body.

Sesshomaru remained silent until he heard no more noise. He glanced back to see that Rin had fled into her chambers, leaving him alone in the hallway. He disregarded this and left to his domain.

Rin collapsed onto her futon and curled up into her sheets. Maybe her decision to marry Takiko was wrong. She doesn't care for him. Both people in a relationship should love one another, and she did not love Takiko. She loves Sesshomaru. Though she had come to realized Sesshomaru could never love. He saw Rin as only his ward.

She gripped the sheets tighter and dug her face into the sheets, hiding her shame from Japan. Then she heard a sound coming from her patio doors. They slid open, revealing Takiko.

Rin sat up in shock and hopped out of bed to securely close her main doors.

"Takiko, we aren't supposed to be alone in the same ro-"

"Shh," Takiko brought his hand to her mouth and motion Sesshomaru's chambers next to them. Rin nodded her head, understanding that a powerful dog demon was resting nearby.

Takiko released his hand from her mouth and grabbed her hand, dragging her outside to the courtyard. Rin was skeptical but allowed him to guide her. Takiko did his best to distract her from her worries.

"Hey, look." He said plucking a teal flower from the ground. "I know you like this type of flower."

"Mhm." Rin hummed. Her mood brighted when he brought up flowers. It was how he had brought her attention to him the first time they met.

"There are plenty of more flowers at the village." Takiko whispered and gave the flower to her. Rin frowned when he mentioned his village. If she was totally honest, she would rather stay here than leave. She didn't want to seem rude though.

Takiko noticed her change in demeanor. He pulled her down to sit next to him on the grass and smiled at her. She softly returned the smile but it disappeared when she looked away. Takiko was getting frustrated.

"You aren't meant to be here." Takiko finally said. Rin turned back to look at him but he was looking out at the moon. "You are a human, Rin. This place is for demons."

Rin stayed silent and stared down at the ground. She was pondering over his suggestion. He couldn't be right, why would Sesshomaru have kept her around this long?

"No." Rin finally replied. "Lord Sesshomaru is my family."

"You are ignorant, Rin." Takiko addressed with a stern voice. "It's better to come with me to a place you actually belong to."

"I know where I belong." Rin proclaimed, standing up from beside him. She was on the bridge of crying but she held it in with all her strength.

"I'm surprised you weren't his concubine." Takiko whispered under his breath, though, not quiet enough. Rin stormed up to him and swung her foot into his crotch. He screamed in agony.

"Rin knows Lord Sesshomaru cares… for her!" Rin shouted but lost confidence at the end of her statement. She ran back to her room and locked the doors behind her. She was about to cry until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

She lowered her gaze, as her body began to shake with fear. She knew exactly who was in her room, grasping her at this very moment. She was careless and now her consequences would be given to her.

"Have you disobeyed me once more, Rin?" Sesshomaru seethed, his hand lowering down her back to slide beside her waist.

"My lord, please-" She was silenced as he took her into his arms, dropping her down on the sheets.

"Do not fight this Sesshomaru, Rin." Sesshomaru stated, masking out the light from the windows. The room grew dark, concealing Sesshomaru from Rin's eyes.

"Take your punishment."