I do not own Inuyasha

Ch. 10

"Kagura."

"Long time no see Sesshomaru," she said silkily.

"Hn," was his answer as his eyes wandered back over to his mate, who was now in conversation with Kagome. She smiled at something she said. Gods above how he loved that smile.

"See, love sick puppy," Kagura commented, bringing his attention back to her.

"So she is the one I heard so much about," she said, meaning it to be a joke, but he didn't take it that way. He growled.

"Whoa, I meant no offense by it, just presently surprised," she said taking a look at Rin herself, "but I am not here to hash out our past. I'm here to represent my brother."

She looked at him dead on then, all humor gone.

"Who is your brother?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Naraku Onigumo, CEO to Onigumo Inc.," she replied, now looking like she just swallowed poison.

"Ah. Onigumo. The ones that want to merge with us," Sesshomaru commented.

"Yes," Kagura said quietly, now having a faraway look in her eyes. Then she put her stare back onto Sesshomaru.

"I've come to tell you that my brother is a very impatient man. He wants your reply about the possible merger soon," Kagura stared hard at him, "I also suggest you read those documents that your brother handed to you three days ago…very…carefully."

"And why is that?"

"Because Naraku likes to do underhanded things when he doesn't get what he wants. Just to warn you," Kagura answered, now looking at her nails. Then she looked around as if she was being watched.

"I have to go, but one last thing Sesshomaru," she said, now coming up close, whispering into his ear, "stay close to your mate. When I say Naraku likes to do underhanded things, he does it…underhanded."

With that Kagura left, leaving Sesshomaru in a state of astonishment.

Across the room Rin looked worriedly towards her mate. He had a strained look to his face. Whatever that woman said to him, was not sitting well with him.

"Kagome?" Rin turned to the woman next to her.

"Mm," responded Kagome who had a mouthful of food.

"Who was that woman talking to Sesshomaru just a moment ago?" Rin asked while Kagome tried to clear her throat.

"Oh…um…that was Kagura Onigumo," Kagome responded taking another bite of her appetizer.

"Oh the famous model. I remember her now. For some reason I didn't recognize her," Rin said thoughtfully.

"You know her?" Kagome asked.

"She did a modeling piece for Vogue about a year ago. Lingerie," Rin commented back, taking a sip of her champagne. She then looked back to where Sesshomaru used to stand to find him not there. She looked about the room and didn't find him anywhere in the room. In fact, none of the Larrabee men where in the room anymore.

"Kagome? Did you see where they went?" Rin asked, still looking around for them.

"Who are you talking about?" Kagome said, looking at her plate, looking like she was contemplating licking it.

"Kagome don't even think about it and don't you think you've had enough for now. Dinner should be ready in a few minutes. Besides I was talking about Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and InuTaisho. They are not in the room. Even my father isn't in here," Rin said still looking around the room for them.

"Oh dear don't worry about them. They probably stepped out of the room for a moment to talk business. They sometimes do that," said Izayoi who walked up to them, overhearing the last bit of conversation.

So it happened that someone else overheard.

"Yes they sometimes do that," said a silky male voice, making all the females spin around, startled.

When Rin first set her eyes on this man, she felt an involuntary shiver go down her spine and not a good shiver at that.

His hair was dark as night and had a slight curl to it. His eyes were dark, but seemed to shine with red and in them something else she could just not place.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Naraku Onigumo," he said, his voice sounding suave, but like his eyes held something underlying. He held out his hand first the Rin. She took it politely, but took her hand back just as quickly.

Izayoi and Kagome watched the exchange, they themselves feeling unease with this man in their presence.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, his hand once again extended to Rin.

Her first instinct was to run the opposite direction, but for appearances sake and to be polite took his hand.

"Would you hold my champagne Kagome?" she asked, Kagome taking it without a word.

Both she and Izayoi watched her nervously as they walked to the dance floor.

Naraku took Rin into his arms and started to dance. Rin still had the urge to run to her mate. The look in his eyes was giving her the creeps. His voice even more so once he opened his mouth.

"So Ms. Fairchild, have you been in Paris long?" he asked.

"A little over two years, with a little interlude to go back to America to see my father. Why do you ask?" Rin slightly narrowed her eyes.

"Just genuinely curious," he replied, spinning her unexpectedly, nearly loosing her balance when he brought her back to his person.

"Sorry about that," he apologized, but Rin had had enough.

"Excuse me, but I think this dance is over," Rin let go and attempted to step away, but when her left hand slid out of his she felt a sharp pain along her wrist.

"Ah!" she exclaimed. Immediately, as if he was there the entire time, Sesshomaru was by her side.

"Is there a problem here?" he asked, glaring pointedly at the man in front of him.

"No problem here Mr. Larrabee. You probably should have that looked at. Excuse me," he bowed and left them. Sesshomaru turned his glare to a concerned one on Rin, seeing her holding her now bleeding wrist.

"Let's get off the dance floor," he said, gently cradling her wrist, hardly anyone in the room noticed the exchange, but a select few who were in the vicinity.

Rin's father was by her side, wrapping a cloth to help stop the bleeding.

"What did you cut you wrist on?" he asked.

"I don't know. When I stepped away from Mr. Onigumo is when it happened," she replied.

"Onigumo," Sesshomaru said, involuntarily growling it out loud, which had Rin and her father turning their heads towards him.

"Sesshomaru it was an accident," Rin said trying to reassure him.

Sesshomaru sighed and took her wrist and uncovered it to inspect it more closely. It wasn't deep, but he couldn't risk it being infected.

"Thomas go back to the party. I've got this," Sesshomaru said, still looking at Rin's wrist.

"It's okay daddy," Rin reassured him. Thomas nodded his head and kissed her brow, turned and left to talk to InuTaisho, who was not too far away, looking concerned also.

Rin turned her stare back to Sesshomaru and found him holding her wrist close to his face and taking a deep breath in.

"Sesshomaru, what-?"

"Hold still," he said, interrupting her. Then he very languidly stroked her wrist with his tongue. It happened very quickly, but Rin, for some reason, started to feel really hot.

Sesshomaru looked up when he started to catch Rin's arousal with his nose. They both caught each other's eyes and stared long and hard.

Without warning they had their lips locked together in a steamy dance. Rin wrapped her arms around his neck and he picked her up to bring her closer. They would have been at it for a while if not for the fact that they were in a room full of people.

They parted, opening their eyes, both sets darkened by their small endeavor.

"Whoa," was all Rin could say, as Sesshomaru set her down.

"Rin?"

"Mm?"

"Stay close to me the rest of the evening," he said, looking into her eyes with great seriousness.

Rin nodded her head in assent. For some reason she felt that the cut on her wrist wasn't just an accident. Maybe it was on purpose. That is why Sesshomaru didn't want her to wander too far from his side. To protect her.

Rin smiled as he led her back into the crowded room and toward their table when it was just in time for dinner to be served.

The rest of the evening was uneventful as far as cut wrists were concerned, but it was fun. Rin never left Sesshomaru's side.

Sooner than Rin thought the night was at an end and everyone was leaving.

Rin was seeing her father to the front door, Sesshomaru following behind, closely, saying goodnight.

"Will you see me off tomorrow?," Thomas asked, his arm draped over her shoulder.

"Yes, I'd be happy to. Sorry you couldn't stay longer," Rin replied, helping her father into his coat. He turned to his only child and smiled down at her.

"I know. Paris is a beautiful place, but unfortunately, not my home. It's yours. Oh before I forget to tell you two, don't bother coming home for Christmas either. Me and Taisho discussed it earlier. Just let it be you and Sesshomaru this year," he said, pulling her in for a hug. He parted with her and turned to Sesshomaru.

"Take care of her. I don't need to tell you what I told you a couple months ago," Thomas said sternly.

"You don't need to worry about that sir," Sesshomaru said, holding his hand out to shake it with his future father-in-law. Thomas took it and gave it a quick shake.

"Next time I'll see you will probably be a couple weeks before the wedding, but keep in touch," Thomas said to the both of them, noticing the slight blush on Rin's cheeks at the mention of the wedding.

"Oh speaking of wedding, I'll be right back," Rin said spinning on her heels and went back toward the ballroom before Sesshomaru could say anything.

Rin found the person she was looking for in the doorway getting her coat on.

"Izayoi!" Rin called to her. Izayoi turned to her voice, still adjusting her coat.

"Yes Rin?" she asked.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a favor," Rin said, with a slight pleading tone to her voice.

"Of course, what is it?"

"Me and Sesshomaru were talking a couple weeks back about the wedding. We were wondering if you could help us plan it," she asked.

Izayoi was wide eyed. She smiled at the young woman and nodded her head.

"Yes I would be honored. When would you like to start?" Izayoi inquired. At that moment Sesshomaru walked up behind Rin holding her shoal and clutch.

"Um, maybe after the holidays, so no one is utterly busy, but if you have any ideas, feel free to send them to me. Sound good?" Rin supplied, already feeling like a nervous bride.

"That sounds good. I'll keep in touch and you two have a great Christmas," Izayoi said, giving Rin a hug.

"You too," Rin replied stepping back to receive her shoal from Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru shook his father's hands and both of them turned and left the Piscine Molitor in the limo that brought them there.

Once inside the vehicle, Rin let out an audible sigh. Sesshomaru smirked slightly at his mate.

"This was a long evening," she said, yawning toward the end. Sesshomaru hummed in response and settled her hand into his.

It was a quiet ride to their apartment and for a moment Sesshomaru thought Rin fell asleep, but when they stopped she opened her eyes and opened the door to exit. Sesshomaru followed silently behind and went to the driver and tipped him.

Sesshomaru turned around and took her hand in his and they went inside, away from the cold, since it didn't stop snowing and there was a nice layer of snow on the ground.

Once inside, Sesshomaru noticed a visible blush to Rin's cheeks. It could have been from the cold, but after a while of warming up, he didn't think it was from the cold.

What was she thinking of to make her blush?

He found out once they were inside their apartment. He watched Rin take off her shoes at the entrance and stretch ever so slightly, taking off her shoal and tossing onto the coach.

"I'm going to go take a shower," she said, next taking off the clip in her hair and setting it on the kitchen table.

"I'll be up in a moment then," he replied, already having untied his bowtie.

"Actually I was wondering if you would like to join me," she said quietly. She heard no response from him, so she turned around to look at him. He was stock still, which told her that he heard her. She smiled a small smile and turned back around.

She really wanted him to join her, so to give him a little incentive, she started walking while unzipping the back of her dress.

Sesshomaru watched with wide eyes. He didn't know what to do.

Just go up and join her. It isn't like she's asking to have sex. It's just a shower. Besides I would like to finally see her naked.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes to concentrate on breathing.

Just don't do anything, alright.

Like I could. I'm a part of you remember. Demon Council rules apply to me too. Go to her.

Sesshomaru didn't need telling twice. He bounded up the stairs into their room, to find Rin's dress on the bed, but her panties were on the floor and on the door handle to the bathroom was her strapless bra. The shower was already running.

Sesshomaru had to stop once more to concentrate on breathing.

Stop stalling.

Patience is a virtue.

Not with me it isn't.

Shut up.

With that his demon half fell silent, as Sesshomaru very slowly started to undress himself. He took everything off except his boxers and entered the bathroom. He made a little bit of noise so as to alert her that he was coming in.

The first thing he saw was her silhouette behind the shower curtain. It wasn't exactly see through, but it gave him an idea at what he was expecting.

He took the pony tail that was in his hair out and then he took off his boxers. Slowly he approached the shower and pushed aside the curtain and stepped in.

Rin slightly stiffened once she felt his presence behind, but with a deep inhale she turned around to face him.

For a while neither of them moved, not even their eyes. Sesshomaru decided to make the first move and used his hand to take her chin so that now she was looking at him. Then he leaned in and kissed her.

It was slow and sweet with no heat in it, but when Sesshomaru parted with her, Rin felt dizzy. She opened her eyes and Sesshomaru's opened his. That is when both sets went to explore each other's body visually.

It was a slow process. Sesshomaru devoured every inch of Rin's body. Her collar bone, the valley in between her breasts, the breasts themselves, round and perky, to her stomach, which he saw a slight scare from when they took out her appendix, to her hips, then the patch of hair guarding her most sacred treasure. He didn't linger on that part for too long. He didn't want to get hard right in front of her, he was already using all of his self control to keep it down as it is. Then he finished with her legs, those well toned legs. His eyesight came back up to see Rin looking, wide eyed, at a certain part of his anatomy. He smirked.

Rin did the same thing. She loved his body. Every muscle, tensing and releasing. His pecs, his abs. She really wanted to reach out and start to touch him, but she had to remind her self, baby steps, baby steps. Her eyes reached his belly button where it started to have a small trail of hair heading further south. Her eyes looked down in fascination, but she was not prepared for how big his member was and it wasn't even erect. Her eyes widened and then she looked up to see Sesshomaru smirking at her. She blushed knowing he caught her staring.

"Have you washed yet?" he asked suddenly, making her start. She just shook her head no. He reached around her and grabbed the body wash and dispensed it into a loofa that she had.

"Turn around," he said and she complied. She then felt him start to wash her back in a circular motion. It felt soothing and relaxing that soon she started to feel the evening start to catch up to her. Her eyes started to droop and the next few moments were a blur.

Sesshomaru noticed this and quickly washed himself and rinsed both of themselves off and turned the water off. He stepped out first to grab a towel and wrapped it around Rin and picked her up bridal style and took her into their room and set her on the bed. By that time she was already half asleep, so Sesshomaru quickly dried her off and put a large t-shirt over her head and tucked her in.

She was out like a light. Sesshomaru watched her for a moment longer and then realized he was still naked as a jay bird. He quickly dried himself off and put a pair of sweat pants and joined Rin in bed.

She was so beautiful, so peaceful at this moment. He didn't want to leave this moment. It was too precious. He started to stroke her cheek with his hand and she responded by trying to get closer to him.

Only after a few months together, she was already this tuned to his touch, she responded with the slightest stimulation. She didn't need any prompting. They were meant to be.

Meant to be.

Sesshomaru shook his head when a certain memory came to his mind just then. The one where he tried, key word here: tried, to snap the bond that connected them. How stupid and naive he was back then.

He never really, truly broke it, he just deadened it. For one such as he to know his mate before she was born, it was clearly a sign that they were meant to be. Mates for life.

Sesshomaru let a small smile settle on his face as he finally closed his eyes and let sleep overtake him.

XOXO

Across town, a lone figure was walking toward a hotel. This figure entered the building and went up to the second floor and opened a door to a room.

"Hello Kagura," said a silky voice from within.

"Naraku," Kagura said with slight disgust, closing the door.

"Now, now. No need to be hostile. Good job tonight though," he said, standing up from a chair in the room.

"Good job? What are you talking about?" Kagura asked, feigning innocence.

"Oh you know what I'm talking about. Your little warning to Sesshomaru was exactly what was needed to push my plans forward," he said, now walking toward her. Kagura's eyes widened.

"What do you mean?"

"Like you said to him. I will do anything to get what I want and I want Larrabee Company. Besides I now have a little trump card to play if Sesshomaru doesn't play nicely," Naraku said, smirking.

Kagura's eyes widened further. She saw Naraku dance with Rin on the dance floor. She also saw when Rin stepped away, she cut her wrist.

Kagura gasped.

"You didn't."

"Oh yes I did," Naraku's smirk spread further into a smile that Kagura hated most. That smile meant death.

XOXO

A/N: First off I would like to say…I'M SORRY for not updating sooner. Life has been hectic lately and I had some major writers block for a while there. So here is the next chapter.

To blackacess you had some questions in your review and I hoped I answered them in this chapter. If not I'll try to make it clearer next chapter.

You know the drill, READ AND REVIEW!