Chapter 10: Returning

Collapsing onto her pillow, Rin curled herself up into a ball, groaning under her breath at the pounding in her head. Closing her eyes helped a little but then she heard someone come into her room and sit by her bed. From the stink of perfume, she knew it was her mother.

"Are you alright Rin dear?"

"I'm fine mom. Just got a headache."

"Ahh, you probably had too much to drink."

"Maybe."

"Well, I'm glad you came to the party. I'll tell everyone you say goodnight. Try and sleep sweetie."

"Yes mom."

"Oh…. I see you are all packed. Honestly Rin, why don't you let your father and I take you back to uni?"

"I wouldn't want to take up your time. Besides, the train is faster."

"I guess so. Well, I'll let you sleep."

"Night mom."

"Goodnight Rin."

Rin sighed as her door was closed. As her headache grew, she lifted up her phone and loaded a picture. It had been taken the day she had gone swimming with Sesshomaru and had all of them in, Shippō included. She smiled and looked at the cold eyed demon in the back behind her. Then she loaded up a text to said demon.

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year. See you tomorrow.

She smiled and lowered the phone before giving a loud yawn and kicking off her shoes. She didn't even have the strength to get changed.

Her mother had been wrong.

It wasn't alcohol that was affecting her mind. In fact she'd been suffering from the same pain the last three weeks, ever since coming home but tonight it was pounding more than normal. It was so bad now that she couldn't think of anything but the pain.

She slept most of New Year's Day and the next day she said goodbye to her parents and climbed on a train back.

Her headache grew over the journey and by the time she arrived at the large building that was her home, the edges of her vision were blurry, her mind was filled with only one thought. Walking past the other flats to her own, her eyes drooped and she only just made out the man as he opened the door for her before her eyes closed completely and she passed out.

Sesshomaru grabbed her before she fell and held her into him, looking down on her peaceful sleeping face, brushing some of her hair back to see her clearer.

"Bloody hell! Is she alright?"

Sesshomaru nodded as his brother appeared. "She's fine, just exhausted."

"What happened?"

"It's the bond." He muttered while sweeping Rin's feet from under her. "Get her bag."

Grabbing the suitcase, InuYasha followed him into his room and watched as he placed Rin on his bed. "How the hell did the bond do that?"

"I would not expect you to understand. Rin and I are meant to be together. I am meant to be by her side. But we have spent the last three weeks away from each other. I knew there would be consequences."

"So the bond punished her for being away from you?"

"It was a pain, a pressure on the mind. A constant nagging headache that would not go away; pushing memories into her mind, reminding her where she should be. With me."

"Ouch."

Sesshomaru nodded as he stroked Rin's face. "It's fading now."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I was suffering from it as well. But now she is back and it is fading. She needs to sleep." His hands ran over her coat and found her keys, tossing them to his brother. "Put her case in her room."

Once he was gone, Sesshomaru moved to take Rin's shoes and coat off before shifting to lie beside her, holding her hand and flooding his mind with the relief being near her brought to him.

Suddenly she shifted and placed her head on his chest, her arm wrapped around him. Sesshomaru?

Sesshomaru blinked and looked at her, her face still sleeping as her nose rubbed into him, taking in the smell of his clothes. He closed his eyes and placed a hand on the back of her neck. Yes Rin. I'm here.

I'm back. I'm so glad to be back. I really missed you.

I missed you too.

This is where I belong, right here, with you.

Yes.

We should do this more. We don't do it enough.

I agree.

Did you have a good holiday?

InuYasha went home but I stayed here. I had too much work to do. Thank you for my present by the way.

Thank you for mine. I love it!

I knew you would. Now Rin, you need to sleep. We will talk more when you wake up.

Alright. Night Sesshomaru.

Goodnight Rin.

I really am glad to be back.

I know. Now go to sleep.

Rin gave a small smile and nodded, hugging him loosely as her mind eased and she found peace. Come morning, she sat up and smiled at Sesshomaru before returning to his side, head in the crook of his arm and looking up at him. "You really are handsome puppy."

He rolled his eyes. "Stop calling me that."

"I missed you puppy."

"I missed you too Rin."

~#~

Feeling the beat push right though her body, Rin had to fight the desire to cover her ears, looking around the crowded room of people as they danced. "It's so loud!" She shouted to the boy beside her.

Kohaku grinned as he leant towards her ear to be heard. "Yeah, it's great!"

"I don't like it!"

"Come on Rin! It's a party! Loosen up a little! I'll get you a drink!"

Rin frowned as he scooted his way into the crowds. If he hadn't practically begged her to come to his birthday party, she'd be home, wrapped up in bed with Sesshomaru's arms around her, warming her. Since returning from the holiday, Rin had found herself sleeping irregularly in Sesshomaru's arms, in her bed or his.

And it was becoming more regular.

She found herself in his arms during the day more too, wanting to be close to him, wrapping her arms around him, spending time with him when she could.

Just thinking about him now made her want him more. She didn't want to be here….

So she turned and headed over to the door of the house. Before she had chance to reach it, a hand grabbed her shoulder. "Rin? Where you going?"

"Home."

"Oh come on! It's not that late."

"I have a busy day tomorrow. Sorry."

"Come on Rin!" His eyes narrowed on her, judging her. "It's that demon isn't it? You're going back to him!"

Looking to the floor, Rin shrugged. "It's nothing to do with you, Kohaku."

"What?" He frowned at her then stepped forward, pushing her into a wall. "Are you going out with him?" He frowned even more at her as he leant over her face. "He's a demon Rin and… and you…."

"I'm human. So what?" She frowned and pushed past him. "Look I'm going home!" She pulled open the front door but stopped. The world was dark and water was falling from the sky in a pounding storm.

Holding her shoulder, Kohaku stared at her eyes. "Come on Rin, you can't go out in this storm. Stay a bit longer. Have a drink."

Rin blinked at the storm then shook her shoulder, freeing it from the man. "I'm going home." She repeated and stepped out into the storm, walking out of the house and into the street, feeling the water stick to her clothes. Of course, as she'd been going to a party, she only had a small bag with her, not big enough to carry her umbrella. So she had to cross the city in a short skirt and short sleeved shirt.

The cold weather was freezing and she rubbed her hands against her arms to keep her warm.

There were a few people on the streets but they all hurried to keep dry, pulling coats up and battling with umbrellas.

Come on Rin, a little further. Then you can have a nice hot shower and snuggle up with puppy. Come on, little further. You can do this.

Now she knew she was cold, giving herself a pep talk.

But she continued on her way down the road in the pouring rain; head down as she tried her hardest to keep warm.

As she got close to the building, Rin felt a warmth crack in her heart and looked up. A figure was stood before her, a large umbrella over his head while the wind played with the ends of his coat. She smiled and hurried over, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders and kissing his lips.

How did you know?

You called me.

Rin grinned as she kissed him a little harder. Let's go home.

The demon nodded as she pulled back then walked her home in silence until they were standing in the hallway between their rooms, sliding his hair back as he looked at her. "Goodnight then Rin."

He turned to enter his room but Rin looked up suddenly and held out her hand as if to grab him. "Wait…."

Freezing, he looked sideways to her. "Yes?"

With a soft smile, Rin nodded to her room. "Give me five minutes."

Understanding what she was implying, the demon nodded. "Five minutes."

"Don't get too perverted mister."

"I am not my brother."

Chuckling, Rin went into her room and locked it, stripping out of her cold wet clothes and jumped into the shower using the hot water to warm her body up then jumped out, drying herself off and going to her wardrobe, kneeling down to the bottom and pulling out a shoebox from under a load of jumpers. Her face grew warm as she got dressed but it stopped when she heard a knock on the door.

"No way was that five minutes puppy!"

"Are you going to let me in or not?"

Smoothing down the dress, she walked to the door and opened it, allowing Sesshomaru to enter and see her.

His face practically lit up.

She knew he'd like it.

After all, he'd brought it for her and she said she would never wear it. She had even lied that she'd thrown it away.

He grinned and placed a hand on her waist, pulling her towards him. "Lovely."

Rin lowered her head from his eyes but slid her arms around him. "Well… as a thank you. For coming to get me."

"I appreciate it."

"You better, I feel like a hooker in this."

"You look like an angel."

"Don't lie."

"I never do." His free hand began stroking her hair back to reveal her neck. "A pair of wings… and you could fool the saints."

"Humm…" Rin moaned as he began nibbling on her ear and neck. She allowed him to continue as he had been for a while before his hand slid down from her hip. Then she broke away from him, staring into the cold of his eyes.

Want and desire flooded her body from him, as if overflowing from the demon. She grinned at him then kissed his nose. Not yet.

He growled physically but an understanding came from his heart.

"Human." He grunted possessively before picking her up in one arm and carrying her to the bed, dropping her down and climbing in on top of her. He stared at her in the beautiful white snow like nightdress before leaning to kiss her neck and cheek again, crushing her down with his body until she began to drift off, yawning and not being as reactive as normal.

Sliding off the bed, he turned the light off and returned to her, lying beside her as she spooned up into him and his arm draped around her, keeping her in place.

Sesshomaru… from now on… can we sleep like this every night?

I would like that.

Ya!

Go to sleep.

~#~

VERRVERRVERRVERRVERRVERRVERR VERRVERRVERRVERRVERRVERRVERR VERRVERR!

Rin bolted up suddenly and blinked in the darkness. "Aaa?!" she moaned, covering her ears. "What's… what's, what's going on?"

Behind her Sesshomaru moaned and sat up, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Testing the fire alarm." He muttered before collapsing back onto the bed, his arm around Rin's waist. "Come back to bed."

"No! Sesshomaru, its five am!" Rin jumped up out of the bed and grabbed her housecoat. "They wouldn't test the alarm at this hour. It must be a real fire!"

The demon closed his eyes in a daze then opened them again. "You're right. I can smell the smoke."

Suddenly there was a pounding on their door. "Sesshomaru! Rin! Get up! There's a fire!"

"We're up Koga!"

Sesshomaru jumped out of bed and grabbed his shoes. "It's two floors above us. Big too by the smell."

"Oh my…"

"Sesshomaru, get Rin outside. I'm going to get Kagome!"

"Be careful InuYasha!"

"Don't worry about me Rin, I got my fire-rat robe on."

Rin smiled as she pulled on a pair of shoes and headed for the door. Before she got three steps, hands clamped tight around her shoulders and stopped her. "What?"

"Get dressed."

"What?"

"Get dressed." He repeated, firmer.

Rin could feel the possessive nature running in his voice but the annoying loud ring of the fire alarm as it was joined by the sirens of fire engines pushed it aside. "We don't have time." she muttered but then slid out of her housecoat and pulled one of Sesshomaru's shirts on over her night clothes and pulled his thick coat over her shoulders. Both bagged like a second skin but at least she was partly covered now.

He growled a little but the smell of smoke was growing, as was his want to protect her. Still unhappy, he placed a hand around her shoulder and led her out of the flat and out to the emergency assembly point.

Rin gave a sigh of relief when she saw InuYasha with Kagome, some strange red fabric wrapped around her. Koga was there too in his jacket with his tail flicking slowly. "Big." He muttered, eyes on the building behind her.

Turning, Rin looked at the building and covered her mouth as she saw a long column of smoke climbing out of one of the windows. "I hope everyone in there got out al…." she was cut off as Sesshomaru quickly pulled her back into his chest, crushing her against his body. She could both feel and hear his growl. "Sesshomaru… you… you're being rude!"

"Let me."

"What?"

"Let me possess you."

"I'm not some toy you know."

His grip increased even more and his back hunched over her. "Just this once. Please Rin. I ask for nothing more from you."

"Why?"

"Look around."

Turning her head to the side, Rin looked and saw that there were a lot of demons in the crowds, most looking at the fire and smoke.

Some however, were looking at her and Sesshomaru and he was looking at them, fangs shown. She swallowed and pressed her head into him, allowing him to hold her tight.

You are my weakness Rin. I would be helpless if anything happened to you. My family is powerful. We have lots of enemies. These demons need to know I will fight to keep you safe.

Rin slowly nodded and held him tight. Just this once.

While Rin was consumed in Sesshomaru's arms, InuYasha and Kagome were calling Miroku, telling him what was happening. Koga on the other hand was leant on a wall, looking over the fire and the crowds. Just as he scanned them again, the demon spotted a group of men not looking at the fire, crowding a young demoness with long light brown hair and the most beautiful fear filled green eyes Koga could ever remember seeing.

Koga frowned as the men began backing her into a wall, reaching out for her in the short sleeved top and shirt she was wearing. She had spirit, batting them away one by one but it was clear she was scared. Swiftly he walked over and stood with one hand on his hip. "Oi, what's going on here?"

The men, three demons, two humans, turned to look at him. "What's it to you?"

"Well you guys are picking on my girl. So piss off!" He stared at them coldly before they turned and mumbled off, disappearing into the crowds.

The woman watched them go but then looked up when she felt something drop on her back. Koga smiled as he placed his jacket on her. "There, you don't want to get cold."

She smiled, holding it tight and looking at him. "Thank you."

"No problem. I'm Koga."

"Ayame."

"Nice to meet you Ayame." He nodded over to where Sesshomaru and InuYasha where. "Come and wait with us, this won't last forever."

Ayame looked down at her feet as she walked over. "It might for me, that's my flat."

"Oh." The wolf scratched behind his head and looked at the fire. "Well… need be… you could have my bed."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll camp in the lounge. Or in the mutt's room."

InuYasha's ear twitched a little. "What did you just say?"

"Mutt."

"Why you…"

"InuYasha this is no time to fight!" Kagome snapped at the pair before a punch could be thrown then reached out her hand to the young wolf demon. "I'm Kagome."

"Ayame." The demoness repeated.

"What year are you in?"

"First."

"Ah. Made many friends yet?"

"I… I tend to keep to myself. Been too busy with my work."

"What subject?"

"Sports therapy."

Koga suddenly gave her a toothy grin. "I'm doing sports. Maybe we can help each other out?"

"I… I'd like that Koga."

Trapped in Sesshomaru's protective grip, Rin smiled at the pair, watching as Ayame's fluffy white tail wrapped itself around Koga's brown one and his returned the gesture. If the two knew of the subconscious action, she wasn't sure but it was clear their demonic sides liked each other.

She grinned and put her head on Sesshomaru's chest. Why don't you have a tail?

What?

Never mind, just thinking.

You are much better at transferring thoughts to me.

I guess that shows how close we are now.

Yes. It feels like I know everything about you now.

Rin very slowly lowered her head and closed her hand around him. Not everything Puppy.

A/N: Oh?

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