Rin paced the village anxiously, keeping her eyes on the sky. It was her birthday. He always came to see her on her birthday. Well, he visited her more often than that, but he NEVER missed her birthday. Sure enough, she began to make out a dark shape approaching the village from the air. As it grew closer, she could see that it was her favorite two-headed dragon, with her favorite demon astride its back.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" She ran to meet Ah-Un as it came for a landing outside the village. Sesshoumaru rarely set foot into town, preferring not to mingle with humans or, heaven forbid, run into his half-brother.
"You've gotten taller, Rin." He noted as he dismounted and walked over to her. "How old are you now?"
"Thirteen, my lord!" Rin chirped.
"Thirteen." The demon lord mused. To a slow-ageing demon like him, thirteen years meant nothing. But Rin seemed especially proud of this fact, so he chose to humor her.
"I have brought you something." He reached over into the saddlebag and handed her a folded-up kimono. Rin's eyes widened and she ran her hand over the silk fabric in reverence.
"It's beautiful, my lord." She breathed. "Thank you so very much!" She suddenly got a gleam in her eye. "And I have something for you, too!"
"Do you, now?" The faintest glint of humor lit the demon's eyes.
"I do! Wait right here, I will be right back!" Rin took off at full speed back to the village.
"I wonder what has gotten Rin so excited?" Jakken wondered. "Do you think she has a gift for me too, Lord Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru said nothing. He watched, slightly confused, as Rin came running back, this time with a woman in tow. He could sense that she was a demon, a powerful one in fact. But despite her power and her admittedly pretty face, she dressed so strangely.
"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin panted as she came to a stop. The woman looked up at Sesshoumaru with equal confusion. "Look!"
"I am looking, Rin." Sesshoumaru said flatly. "What exactly am I looking at?"
"'What'?" The woman frowned. "That's a bit rude."
"Lady Tomoe, meet Lord Sesshoumaru, the ruler of all the western lands. Lord Sesshoumaru, meet Lady Tomoe. She is very powerful." Rin looked from one to the other. Tomoe bowed awkwardly and Sesshoumaru gave a near-imperceptible inclination of the head.
"Lord Sesshoumaru," Rin said, pausing for dramatic effect, "I have found you a wife!"

Tomoe looked down at the beaming little girl, then at the imp gaping at her with wide eyes, then at the demon standing in front of her. He reminded her of Youko Kurama, at least the hair and the eyes did. But other than that… this was a stranger. A stranger, apparently, Kaede's young ward Rin wanted her to marry.
"Wait. What?" Tomoe blinked. "I didn't agree to this!"
"Neither did I." Sesshoumaru had humored Rin long enough. He hoped that she wouldn't continue to play matchmaker. "I am not seeking a wife at this time, Rin."
"But she's perfect for you, Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin protested. "You are a demon, and she is a demon, and…"
"Rin, sweetie, you need to ask peoples' permission before you marry them off." Tomoe said gently. "Besides, I've already got someone."
"Who is it?" Rin pressed. "Is he as powerful as Lord Sesshoumaru?"
"That's enough, Rin." Sesshoumaru said.
"Probably." Tomoe nodded. "He's a spirit fox named Kurama."
"Youko Kurama? That brigand?" Sesshoumaru scoffed. "Anyone who associates with low-lives and thieves is not worth my time. Go back to the village, Rin."
"You know Youko Kurama?" Tomoe blinked in surprise. "He's here? Where have you seen him?"
"Shouldn't you know?" Sesshoumaru quipped. "Seeing as you're apparently married to him?"
"We're not- And can you stop being an ass for a minute and listen?" Tomoe growled.
"How dare you use such foul language around my master Lord Sesshoumaru!" Jakken cried. "You ungrateful hellion, you should be honored to be considered to be a bride of—"
"I wasn't talking to you, frogman." Tomoe said. She turned her attention back to Sesshoumaru. "Fine. If you won't tell me where Youko Kurama is, maybe you'll tell me about something else."
Sesshoumaru paused as he went to mount Ah-Un.
"And what might that be?" He asked.
"Have you ever seen a black cherry tree?" Tomoe asked. "You've got a flying dragon. I bet you travel all over the place. Have you ever come across one?" It was a long shot, but maybe, just maybe…
"A black cherry tree?" Sesshoumaru repeated. He thought for a while, then got into the saddle. "I have heard tell of such a thing in the North."
"The north?" Tomoe repeated. So it DID exist in this time period! She remembered her manners at the last minute and bowed. "Thank you for the information. I should be going." She paused before leaving, and smirked. "It's not you, it's me. I don't think this is going to work out."
"What?" Jakken watched as the woman walked with Rin back to the village. "What did that even mean?"
"Why should I care?" Sesshoumaru flicked the reins and Ah-Un rose into the air. As he rode away, he couldn't help but think to himself.
I almost got engaged today. Not even my mother is this insistent that I find a wife.
For a brief instant, the faintest smile crossed his face.