Rin started to squirm around making herself comfortable once she was she let out a tiny yawn, and then she smiled snuggling up to her lord. She was able to be seen as he let the coils loosen some so she could become more comfortable, it was almost like his fur made a nest around her. Inuyasha looked at his brother and the girl who seemed so happy to be in his mere presence "Are you-"

Sesshomaru took his eyes off of his little mate and stared coldly at Inuyasha with a blank expression on his face. It didn't seem like it, but deep down the western lord was happy to finally reveal the news about how he and Rin are connected. His brother and his group would learn that what he says is final, he will gladly fight to the death for his new found mate. They had no right to say if he could or couldn't mate her, they didn't know him or Rin that well. They occasionally would cross paths and that didn't mean that Inuyasha's group were experts on Sesshomaru and his ward.

'Why should a monk who flirts with every woman have the love of a demon slayer who beats him all the time?'

'Why should a half demon be in love with a priestess? Priestesses are supposed to destroy all demons.'

The demon lord looked off to the stars up above then down at his little sleeping mate. He couldn't help but let a smile in his eyes show a bit on his lips as the slightly curved upward. Rin was curled up and sleeping, he leaned down and sniffed her scent. Her body slowly moved with the rise and fall of her slow breathing, and her hair in her face from snuggling in his tail. Inuyasha watched with a hardened gaze Sesshomaru was acting strange, he was always kind and gentle with the girl but he was now showing his kind side in front of others. 'This could only mean.'

"Hey Sesshomaru-" He paid no attention to his brother as he looked down at Rin who had woke with a smile. She was in a sleep like daze, as she reached out her hand and wrapped it around a few of his finger and spoke softly "Please do-don't ever leave." She finished her request with a few yawns in the sentence she spoke. After speaking from her heart she fell instantly asleep.

Sesshomaru glared looking at all of them "As you see she wants to be with me."

Sango managed to stand up as she glared daggers at him "She is a stupid naïve human."

His eyes flashed red as he let out a growl shaking the ground, biting the inside of her cheek as she shook with fear. It made her knees wobbly and weak and she was forced to fall back into her seat. "You all say you care for her, yet you make her cry. I never make her cry. You must all think of me as an evil killing beast… I'm not the only killer here. The only difference between the members of your group Inuyasha is that I don't hide the things I do. I have killed many mortals and demons, however I do not deny that I do. Rin knows what I do and who I am."

Inuyasha huffed thinking about how his brother "My group? What do you mean?" Inuyasha took his brother's insult as a blow to his pride. Inuyasha was the leader, protector and alpha of his group. An insult to the group was an insult to him. Sesshomaru sat tall with an air of nobility around him as he spoke pointing out what he had meant.

"The demon slayer kills, I protected your brother and I was merciful towards you." Sango glared at him and spat back at him "I do not remember that!" Sesshomaru nearly grounded his fangs wondering how she could forget "I had decide not to kill you when you nearly killed Rin. I am more merciful than you, it seem you are a monster in denial. On top of that you have very poor memory."

Miroku looked at him "Sesshomaru I sense you wish to tell us something, that is fairly important. Tell us so we may understand the meaning behind your or Rin's actions." Sesshomaru closed his eyes and huffed at the formalness of the mortal monk it amused him; he opened his eyes and spoke clearly for all to hear "This is that last time I hope to see any of you. None of you will be allowed near Rin again."

Kagome jumped up worried her gaze directed on the girl in his protection, then looked up at him "Wh-Why?" Sesshomaru was ready to get up and leave it was tiresome how much he had to explain to this group, what did they not understand? Mortals are truly stupid creatures. He took a silent breath in order to hopefully make them all understand.

"You make her afraid; you all witnessed her crying in fearing of being taken from me." With that everyone seemed to look at the little girl who was content being in his protection, before looking back at Sesshomaru listening to him continue. "I am the lord of our race and am that means I'm also the strongest of our race. I was bred to be our kind's strongest living member. After all breeding within the royal family is carefully picked so we only produce stronger generations. The strongest member's blood from all the past rulers is in me due to the selective breeding of our ancestors." Inuyasha huffed and muttered "Not that strong since I cut off your arm, even if you were able to grow it back."

Taking a breath and remembering that the past should be left in the past he lets his half-brother's remark slide, and instead surprises him by his next sentence. "Inuyasha you must know how protective our kind is of our mates. I will do any means to keep my mate happy and healthy. I suggest you shut your mouth before I ask, Lady Rin of the western lands what she wishes her mate, Sesshomaru of the western lands to do."

"Sesshomaru! You and Rin! Rin is you mate?!" Inuyasha yelled and Rin heard this and stirred more. Her demon ears always alerted her anytime her name, mate or Sesshomaru were used and this seemed it needed her attention too. She yawned waking and rubbing her golden eyes looking up at her lord with a happy smile "Good morning, my lord." He looked down at her and smiled through his eyes as he sighed. He was happy that she was back to normal, she was happy again "It is still night, Rin."

She looked up at the sky and then yawned again seeing the stars convinced her that it was indeed still night. Rin looked infront of her and was shocked to see so many faces, all these faces were fixed on her and on her lord. With everyone staring at her she shyly blushed and smiled "Well good night then." She went to lay down but then jumped up a question had just popped into her mind that she simply had to ask "So why are they staring my lord?" He looked down at her curious little eyes she let out another tired yawn and tilted head waiting for his response.

"Rin would you care to show them your mark I gave you yesterday?"

She smiled and nodded happily as her little fingers found the hem of her new silk yukata that went with her complexion very nicely. As Sesshomaru looked down at his mate he saw her start to pull down her hem it would soon be revealed, his arms tightened around her. 'No one will take her from me.' The group watched as Rin moved her yukata down to show the mark he was talking about, it was a bite mark on the juncture of her neck and shoulder "See!" Everyone stared with disgust and anger, Sesshomaru saw their faces and growled a bit so angered by their reactions. 'If Rin sees them and feels ashamed they will all die.'

Rin hadn't looked at their faces she was trying to see the mark, however she found it was impossible. She gave up it was hurting her neck trying to bend to see it, so she jerked her head up to look at everyone. Rin wore a huge proud smile and showed what she thought was the greatest thing ever. It took her a second to take in everyone's reactions she had first mistook them for good reactions like shock, but she was able to sense differently. Sesshomaru looked down at his mate who was beginning to sink into him from fear of the others. He wanted to growl and show his anger to the others, however something within him told him that he needed to reassure her. So he did something that he rarely did he smiled.

She looked up at him with fearful eyes that were brimming with tears and a horrible frown on her face, but that quickly changed. When she took in the expression of his face she found herself smiling just as big as she had before and something in her heart grew warm and fluttered seeing his smiling face. He normally smiled if he did at all only through his eyes, but this time his lips moved about two millimeters. It may not have been as big as her's but she knew for being in front of others that was a lot.

"My lord you are smiling!" She said as she threw her arms around his neck hugging while standing on her tippy toes. Her scent had thankfully changed he hated her scent when she was sad or upset, it made him want to do anything to get her to smile again. If that meant even putting his life endanger than he gladly would. That thought made him feel a bit fearful about the bond that he had created with her. She was now his ultimate weakness… 'She could destroy me.' Putting that thought aside he took in another breath of her scent. Rin smiled happily 'My lord.' Sesshomaru closed his eyes as his arm wrapped around her waist and behind her head in a sweet embrace. Everyone watched the sweet moment until it was broken by Inuyasha's smart comment.

"That was a fucking smile?! Poor Rin having to mate a bastard like you."

She removed her hands from hugging her lords neck to her sides as they formed tiny fists. In not time she swirled around and glared the most threatening glare she could. Living with Sesshomaru for two years gave her a great advantage at knowing how to put fear into other with a simple glare, after all he is the best in that department. The sight of the half demon made her begin to shake with anger, she found herself gritted her teeth. She had forgotten about her fangs and accidently cut the insides of her cheek, her anger grew more. 'He insulted my mate! He made me so mad I hurt myself! I hate him!' With all these thoughts swimming around her eyes quickly changed. The whites of her eyes began to bleed a deep red while her beautiful golden hues turned icy blue showing how cold hearted she was becoming in this instance. 'No Mercy!' She lifted up her lips and let out a low growl glaring at Inuyasha and quickly wanted to end the distance between them. 'I want to sink my claws into him! I want to scream at him! I want to'

She had only moved about two feet from Sesshomaru's side, and he wasn't going to let her go any further. He had to use his tail as a lasso and wrapped it around her waist pulling her back into his lap. However she still tried to charge at the half demon, but her lord's tight grip didn't let her move another inch. Inuyasha was surprised at the little girl's anger it was so intense for someone like her. She was so young and small, she also seemed really kind hearted.

Sango's eyes widened in horror of the little girl's transformation from looking kind and sweet to looking evil and corrupted 'How could he have turned her into this?!' Kagome gulped and stared in disbelief at Rin's anger, 'Inuyasha only insulted Sesshomaru. That's something those two do all the time, why is freaking out so much?'

Rin understanding she won't be getting any closer opened her mouth and screamed at the one who insulted her mate "Who the hell do you think you are?! You are a Bastard you stupid half demon! You are just a mutt! A disgrace! A mistake! What gives you the idea that you are any better than my mate?! He is strong and brave! He is really kind and loyal me too! I see how you treat Kagome! You yell at her and treat her badly! You call her stupid and get jealous all the time! You were two timing on her for about a year! With her past life! Who knows if you're even over Kikyo! Kagome might not even know if you love her for being herself or for her being part of Kikyo!"

Sesshomaru pulled her down to sit back into his lap and as his eyes filled with some pride, she had defended him. That was one of the ways mates showed their loyalty and their love, he knew mates never allowed anyone to insult their mate and get away with it. Even though his mate was small she still defended him. He approved of her defending him, but she did do something that he didn't approve of at all. Sesshomaru turned her around and lightly flicked her nose "No cursing it is beneath a lady of your rank."

She pouted and puffed out her cheeks as she went to rub her nose "Okay…" After looking over her shoulder and seeing Inuyasha's stunned face she smiled at the good job she did, in victory she stuck out her tongue. Kagome sighed she was blown back almost amazed by Rin's behavior however how she stuck her tongue out reminded her of the child she still is.

Sango was disgusted by the little girl's behavior, 'Demons destroy all innocence. Poor Rin, she wasn't able to be saved.' The look she fixed on Rin was one of pity, sorrow and anger all mixed together. Sesshomaru caught the look the demon slayer was giving Rin and was sickened by it, he fixed his own glare on Sango telling her to back off. Kagome looked at the exchanged and thought how this situation was starting to really get out of hand and she didn't like the atmosphere. 'If this continues knowing Sesshomaru, he might attack one of us.' She also wondered how Rin new everything about her and Inuyasha's past, what it like a gossip subject now? How did it become common knowledge?!

She had nearly zoned out as a few more things were said between the two brothers, but they were just simple insults. She looked at Rin expecting her to attack Inuyasha again when he insulted Sesshomaru. What Kagome saw made her want to laugh; Sesshomaru was covering Rin's mouth with his hand. Kagome shot Inuyasha a glare this had to stop if it continued knowing how Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are it could escalate to violent actions, endangering everyone here. "Inuyasha! Apologize!" The half demon looked at the woman he had been courting honestly shocked that she was scolding him right now. "What the hell is her problem I am only defending myself!'

"Kagome are you crazy?! Rin started it!"

She glared a glare he knew all too well "Inuyasha you know you started it!"

"I did not!"

"Apologize or I will S.I.T you in front of both of them until you are black and blue!"

The half demon's eyes grew as wide as saucers as he thought about the overall physical pain he would have 'I'll be sore for weeks!' Swallowing his pride he took a deep breath and casted his eyes to the side avoiding direct eye contact "Sorry."

"Inuyasha apologize correctly!"

Hearing Kagome's voice he knew he didn't have much time until she uttered that horrible word, he summed up all his strength and looked Sesshomaru in the eyes and apologized as quick as he could "SORRY!" Kagome let out a sighed he said it so quickly that it didn't even sound like a real word, but he did do it. 'That is good enough I suppose; I know it wasn't easy for him.' Miroku stared he had been amazed at all this drama that just seemed to pop up a mere twenty minutes ago, 'That must be a new record! But it looked like if Kagome hadn't ended it when she did that blood was going to be shed!'

Rin smiled her inner demon had resided with the whole matter now over with, she cranked her head back and looked up at her lord and he removed his hand from her mouth allowing her to speak. She didn't speak but did open her mouth to yawn stretching her jaw before smiling up at him with eyes shining with love and pride. Sesshomaru looked at the sky it was a little before midnight and it would be dangerous to travel at night, besides a young pup like Rin needs sleep. He turned his back to the group and hopped into the closest tree. Inuyasha and his group went to their own spots to sleep for the night; everyone had been tired from a long days travel and knew that they would rise early. Sesshomaru looked down at the group and glared 'Still too close,' he look up and went about another four branches up before being content with that spot.

He sat on the strong branch and leaned his back against the tree's trunk, he curled his tail in his lap making a soft bed for his little mate to sleep on. It was way past the time she would normally sleep and it wasn't long before she fell asleep. Sesshomaru looked at the gentle rise and fall of her body as she slept on his lap. He had made up his mind he wouldn't sleep this night he will instead be guarding Rin.

He looked down there was a fire in the middle of camp and his brother was sitting against the base of the tree that was on the opposite side of the fire 'This spot makes it easy to watch his every move.' He then heard a rustle and saw it was the girl named Kagome who was tossing and turning in her sleep under her odd blanket. The fox was sleeping a few feet away doing the same with his own blanket. The monk who hadn't spoken much that night which he did appreciate seemed to be faking being asleep while he was actually looking at a book that held many detailed paintings of nude women.

'Disgusting mortal.'

The demon slayer though was the one that he felt most uneasy about there was just something about her. He glared down at her she was sleeping directly under the tree he was perched in. He looked down at her and wasn't surprised when she rolled on her back and glared up at him in the tree. She glared daggers at him and mouthed the word 'Monster,' with her mouth before rolling over and sleeping.

'That woman surely has a death wish.'

Everyone had gone to sleep and the next morning Sesshomaru had stated that Rin had wished to remain with them one more night. Rin smiled running to Kagome with the energy surely only a demon child could possess "I want to grow closer with my sister! Well you are not marked or mated yet, but I bet you will someday! That makes us sisters when you are!" The group from the following had learned to watch their mouths when speaking. The day had passed quickly Rin was glued to Kagome's side nearly talking the poor woman's ear off.

The following night was the night of the new moon, Kagome had grown close to Rin and felt like she was able to make a request from her 'Sister.' Rin walked over to Sesshomaru and smiled a big smile thinking about the favor Kagome had asked 'Keep Sesshomaru away from Inuyasha tonight. Otherwise Inuyasha will die if the two brother's fight.' Rin sighed even though Inuyasha was an annoying pain she couldn't let her mate's only brother die.

"My lord can I go bathe?! It would be so much fun and I want to stay clean! A princess should be clean right?" He nodded and with that they were gone for nearly two hours, Sesshomaru was instant that they find a hot spring. Where they had traveled that day was through a few small hills before coming into a forest, they made their way through the forest before making camp. Rin then asked if they could sleep in a tree a few yards from the barrier. She didn't like being so close to Sango and he could tell that, the whole time they traveled she stayed far from the demon slayer.

Inuyasha noticed that he hadn't seen his brother since dusk and was relieved 'I'm glad Kagome convinced Rin to keep that bastard away. I would hate for him to see me like this. All weak and mortal…ugh.' He turned his eyes to the moon in the sky that was normally a pearly white, however tonight it nearly blended in with the sky completely there was only a very thin line outlining the dark moon. The last golden hues of his turned to the darkest brown as he glared up at the moon "I hate new moons!" He huffed and glared up at it wanting it to fill up with its white glowing light 'It's only fair If I'm mortal under the new moon to be a full demon under the full moon.' Miroku sighed looking over at his friend "You as well as I know that the new moon is needed." Inuyasha couldn't help but mumbled "Who asked you? Stupid monk." Inuyasha huffed and got up turning his back to the monk, Miroku sighed at his friend's childish behavior.

"Oh getting all moody, because of your over whelming emotions? Perhaps I should leave you with your feelings." Inuyasha yelled "Fine go! But don't treat me like a girl!" With that the monk got up from his sitting spot and mouthed the words 'Good luck,' to Kagome who only smiled. She then came up behind him and placed her hands on her hips "I'll let it slide just for tonight, because I know how upset you get when you are mortal. But watch that mouth of yours!"

Sango smiled at her friend Kagome "Inuyasha that mouth is going to get him into trouble someday."

Everyone had tried to sleep but found themselves somehow restless. Kagome couldn't help but notice how everyone was back to their old selves with Rin and Sesshomaru gone. Inuyasha was back to having his famous attitude. While Miroku was still being his perverted self. Kagome was being the mother figure of their group taking care of everyone and correcting Inuyasha on his behavior. Shippo was being babied by Kagome and getting punched by Inuyasha.

Sleep had finally claimed them after three hours. Sesshomaru and Rin were still away, they too were resting peacefully in a far away tree.

Everyone had made their beds and fell asleep under the moons gaze; they had made camp on the edge of a forest that lead to a small valley. With Inuyasha in the condition he was in tonight Miroku had set up a barrier, so they could sleep without worry. He had explained even if it's for a night mortal bodies need rest. Inuyasha of course was reluctant, but Kagome had brought some sleeping medicine and mixed it in with his ramen that night. It wasn't long before the poor drugged Inuyasha was out cold. With the whole group out cold they weren't aware of the changes that were about to take place that night. Changes that would end their lives.