Between Borders

"Jaken."

That one word brought the imp attention to his master. He quickly bowed, his face closed to the grass, "Mi'lord excuse my absence. It took longer than expected."

Sesshomaru ignored this statement, "What was the results?"

"It is as you expected. Naraku have gain the supports of the other lords. You are the only one that deny his proposal Mi'lord. If any demon interfere with their plans then they won't hesitate to cut them down… regardless of who it is."

"Their invasion on the humans doesn't concern me. I don't care what they do."

"Uh… Mi'lord," Jaken gulped, he was nervous to continue Sesshomaru glared forced him, "They are planning to invade through your land."

Sesshomaru growled lowly. Such weaklings, they crumple into the half breed words. Invading though his land was Naraku way of opposing his will on him as well as defying him. Sesshomaru wasn't one to allow anyone to utilize him for their own gain.

"Take A-Un and head to Koga's tribe. Inform him of this as well as any other demon that still hold allegiance with my father," Even though his father has passed on almost a century ago there were those that still support him, meaning that they will support his son.

Jaken was shocked at this order, "Mi'lord?"

Sesshomaru glared at him, making the imp shrink. Jaken quickly hopped on A-Un and flew off.


Rin watched the scene unfold. It wasn't her place to interfere, but hearing what will happen made her nervous. She thought of her brothers and father. They would be caught in this chaos. She saw Sesshomaru walked away and she quickly followed him. She trailed behind not sure how to converse with him.

She build up her courage, "Where are we going?"

She was met with silence. She sighed not expecting him to answer. His reply after stunned her, "To visit a friend of my father."


The trip was longer then it normally would've been for Sesshomaru. Travelling with humans made things slower, it frustrated him. Leaving her was no longer an option as A-Un wasn't around anymore. He even considered carrying her and flying. They would be there in an instant. Though thinking of her near him wasn't doing any favors for his body. It wouldn't be a good idea. He was extremely fortunate when Jaken had interrupted what would have been uncontrollable if it was to happen. He was angry at himself for that. How could he have stooped so low as to actually wanting to kiss her? He blamed the sight he saw in the hot spring. It's not like he haven't been with a woman. He have been with multiple demon women. He have never wanted a human woman before. But looking at her fragile body in that hot spring had entice him. The predator side of him wanted to play and he had to fight it to submission. He was also fortunate that she was in such a trance that she wasn't sure if his action was real or not.

He smelled the rain, though it was a ways off he knew that Rin needed shelter. Dealing with a sick human would be even more annoying then dealing with just a tired one. It was dark, but that was no obstacle for the dog demon.

"Come," Sesshomaru said as he located a cave close by.

"Where are we going?" he could hear her confusion.

"It will rain soon. We need to find shelter before that," the explanation seem to have satisfy her as she became quiet. The cave came to view. Fortunately they have made it to shelter just as the heavy down pour hit.

Sesshomaru rested against the wall. He saw Rin was looking around for something. Though it didn't take long for him to understand why. She was trying to build a fire, though no supplies would be found in this cave and any other were wet by the rain making them useless. He saw her sighed as she slowly laid across from him. The cave was small though there wasn't too far off from each other. He saw her shivered as she try to rubbed warmth into her body. Sesshomaru wondered how such a weak creature was able to survive for so long. Seeing her this weak made him a little uncomfortable. Jaken and A-Un was the ones responsible in keeping her warm. Without extra warmth she will get sick.

"Rin, come here."

She was shocked at his request, but slowly obeyed. She sat close by him. He could tell she was unsure of what to do next. He decided for her. His mokomoko wrapped around her as he made her lean in closer to him, "You being sick would be annoying."

Though he was acting callous he knew his action was dangerous for them both. He tried so hard to deny the attraction, but with her it was becoming increasingly hard. He knew then that he was doomed. He felt Rin quickly fall asleep. The heavy rain soon stopped, they could continue to travel, but he decided to let her sleep instead.


Rin felt the sunlight hit her in the face. Though the warmth she felt was way too comfortable for her to wake up. The softness of this warmth was luring her back to sleep.

"You are awake," She heard a deep tone state.

This automatically woke her. Her eyes flew open and she sat straight up. She saw amber eyes stared straight at her without a hint of emotion. She then noticed that something was curled around her. It was the fur that Sesshomaru wore. Then it hit her. She was sleeping against Sesshomaru. Her body was still pressed up against him.

"If you are hungry you should find food before we leave."

Rin was too self-aware and anxious to be hungry, "I'm okay."

Sesshomaru nodded and stood up, Rin soon followed his lead. Without a word and much surprise to Rin Sesshomaru grabbed her by the waist and brought her to him.

"Having you tire is a nuisance. We will fly," was Sesshomaru explanation, though he wasn't staring at her as he spoke. Rin wonder why this sudden change as he never attempted to get this close to her before.


A small demon flea was rushing to the forge as he felt something troubling coming this way. The crow he was riding soared above the forge that was in a shape of a skull. The crow made a steep drop as it soared inside the forge. Once the bird landed the flea hopped off rushing to the smith that was working on a hammer.

"Totosai, we have an emergency!" The flea hopped into his field of vision.

The smith looked away from his work at the flea, "Oh, Myoga what brings you here?"

"He is coming!"

Totosai looked out of his forge and saw a white ball of light slowly descending in the entryway. What surprise him however was the human woman in his arm.

"Oh, Sesshomaru what brings you here?" Totosai asked slightly nervous for his reason for visiting him. Whenever the demon lord visit was never a good sign.

Sesshomaru released the woman, "Don't play coy. You know why I'm here."

Totosai nervously sweat at his word, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes which made the smith shrink a little. He was serious.

"Where is Myoga?"

He looked around and realized the damn flea flee and left him to fend off Sesshomaru wrath. Sesshomaru slowly started to walk towards him. He decided to try a different tactic, hopefully to dissuade the demon lord, "I never took you as one to travel with a human. Looks like you are a lot more like your father then we thought."

That did the trick. Sesshomaru stopped midstride, his expression was momentarily shock though it quickly went away to be replace by anger. Looks like he made his situation worst.


Rin saw the interaction between Sesshomaru and this demon. Sesshomaru seem to not like him much and the demon did not respect him in the least. Not surprisingly though as she had learned first-hand it take a special kind of person to just tolerate his presence. When the demon made a remark about her she was surprised as she didn't think she was anything special to Sesshomaru. Though she could only see his back she did feel his anger from the remark. Rin gulped she wasn't sure what she should do. Any wrong move could result in Sesshomaru lashing out at her. Looking at this demon, Totosai made her feel sorry for him. Sesshomaru was not known for his mercy as far as she could tell and she admit though it is in his nature she didn't want to see Sesshomaru kill. It was ironic as demons in general was only design to kill or so she was told at a young age.

Though she wasn't aware of it her body was moving on its own accord, until she was right behind him. Her hand trembled as she grabbed on to his sleeve. She didn't want to see him kill, at least not in front of her.

"Please… stop," she said in such a low voice she wasn't sure if he heard it. She was looking at her hand that was clenched on his sleeve too afraid to look at him directly.


Sesshomaru pride himself for controlling his emotions and expressions, even when something unexpected occurred. Seeing Rin pleading to him as she touch him in a way shocked him to the point that he knew it was visible for anyone to see. He could hear her heart beating rapidly, she was afraid. It was obvious, yet she took a dangerous action by telling him to stop. He could have easily finish her off, she was not an obstacle. Seeing Rin shed tears however made something in him stirred. He already knew he was doomed the moment he allowed her to be physically close to him. He shifted slightly so he was half facing her now. The hand that was clenched on his sleeve did not let go as he moved his hand to her cheek, gently wiping the tears away with his thumb.

"Don't cry," he ordered softly.


Rin was shocked as she felt a claw hand touched her cheek softly. His thumb touched her cheek as she felt his claw slowly graze her. She was not expecting this reaction at all. She was surprised that something so deadly could be so gentle. Something inside her stirred at the contact. Her heart skipped a beat and she slowly felt her cheeks go red. Her hand instantly let go of his sleeve and she quickly took a step back.

"I-I'm sorry," she quickly wiped the rest of her tears as she avoided his gaze. There was no way she could look into his face now.


Totosai was to say the least stunned at the interaction that occurred between the great and deadly demon and the human girl. Not once have he ever seen Sesshomaru be so gentle, but he just observed quietly as he saw Sesshomaru the demon who claimed to hate humans become gentle to one. Looks like he was a lot more like his father then even Sesshomaru wanted to admit.

"Looks like the danger is over," He heard Myoga say as he appeared from inside a pottery.

Totosai glared at him. He knew Myoga for a long time and knew of this flight behavior, but he still wasn't happy as the damn flea gave him too late of a warning on Sesshomaru arrival.

Myoga just looked up at him innocently, "What?"

"Myoga, Totosai" Both demons froze as they heard Sesshomaru voice.

"My father was a great demon. What was his power?"

This stunned them. Sesshomaru knew the basis of his father power, but it was the first time he wanted to know how he acquired such power. What Totosai wanted to know was why now. Sesshomaru was plenty powerful. What power was he searching for?

As if reading his mind Sesshomaru continued, "The demon lords of the other lands are going to go to war with the humans."

Totosai was confused, "Why do you care?"

"What the demons do to the humans is no concern of mine. However, they are planning to invade through my land."

This still doesn't help the smith understand. Sesshomaru never care much about the activity of other demons, regardless where they were going. He saw the human behind him and suspected the reason why this bothered him, "Are you worry for this human girl?"

This instantly gained a respond from the girl, she was stunned and he heard a small gasp. Sesshomaru however gained back his murderous gaze, "Invading my lands is a form of disrespect and they are defying my not helping them. They believe I won't interfere. They are fools who think me weak. They will pay for that."

"Well Sesshomaru you should stop being an ignorant whelp and learn to use your own powers."

He knew he went too far then as he saw the young demon claw fingers twitched, ready to cut him down. Surprisingly he slowly relax and he quickly saw why. That brave stupid girl stepped close to him and whisper his name. Her tone was pleading. Sesshomaru body physically relax. Sesshomaru turned from him and walk passed the girl.

"Consider yourself lucky Totosai. Come Rin," Sesshomaru left with the girl running to catch up.

Totosai sighed, he thought he was dead.

"Phew, that was a close on," Myoga said as he came out of hiding yet again.

This time Totosai did hit him, flattening the old flea, "We were lucky this time. Though Sesshomaru should realize that he is every bit as strong as his father if he just admit to his own feelings."

Myoga was confused, "What do you mean?"

"His father gain his strength from his compassion and his love for his human mate."

Myoga understood, "Ah, you mean Inuyasha's mother."

Totosai nodded, "Sesshomaru grew up resenting humans because his father died for one. However, Sesshomaru may not realize it now, but he is becoming like his father. His great strength will appear once he admit to that."

"Ah, why didn't you tell him?"

"Because I can't just treat him like a pup! He has to learn on his own!"

Myoga sighed and whispered so the old smith couldn't hear, "Good thing Sesshomaru wasn't around when you said that."


Meeting with those two always irked him afterwards, it was a wondered he hadn't kill them yet. Rin was silently walking behind him. He barely spared her a glance since they left the forge. Totosai words really irritated him. For Rin to also now know his thoughts also didn't help much either. Sesshomaru wasn't one to be embarrass, that was a useless emotion to him; however he did feel annoyance. He never thought of him being like his father when it came to emotions. His father was too compassionate, he was not. Rin was just a problem brought to him by his naïve little brother, which he now found an obligation to look after until Inuyasha eventually find them.

The scene above caught his attention. A horde of demons were seen flying above westward from the human wall. The scent of Naraku was evident as this horde flew by.

Following them will lead me to Naraku. He thought. He couldn't however leave Rin alone. Not that he care about her being alone, but she will be an easy kill for any demon that come by. He heard and smell a river close by. That can be a good spot to leave her. If she got hungry she could fish and she wouldn't be foolish enough to get into danger.

"There is a river on the other side of this forest. Stay there."

"Where would you be going?"

Something in him stirred at the sound of concern in her voice, "There is something of importance to deal with. It is no concern of yours."

He left after that, not bothering to wait for Rin to respond.


Finish another chapter, yay. I decided to update a lot sooner than intended as I really to want to try to finish this story by the end of summer to early fall. I finally put some more SessRin in this. Thanks to any who is trying to keep in touch with this story. I especially want to thank AnuBis25 for the first review in a long while and also for the kind advice given. I do my best to write as best I again and I always do appreciate any words of advice.