Hello all my lovelies, first i want to thank all of you who have been following and reviewing this story, yoiur comments, thoughts and love mean a lot. Next I want to say sorry that I haven't updated this story in awhile but I have been suffering from what most of you can relate to, "Writer's Block" I couldn't seem to put words to my ideas :(, and lastly i want to point out a few things, first is that YES Jaken is nasty, that is my point. Throughout the series Jaken is constantly insulting Rin, so isn't it realistic to assume that his words would have some affect on Rin? Next is that we are finally starting a new point in the story, the journey where Sesshy tries to woo our young Rin *wiggles eye brows* interesting right lol. I am hoping to update this story again soon, but no promises. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave reviews, i have no idea if you love or hate me sometimes lol.

Also please remember this story is rated M and will continue to be so, and that I do not own any of the characters but I DO claim the insane plot that makes up this story. Lots of love, and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter.

Chapter Ten

Rin stared at Sessho-maru as he stood there, already beginning to question her own sanity for agreeing to travel with him again. What had she been thinking? He could not, would not love her, and it broke her heart all over again to know that history was bound to repeat itself. However she contented herself with the knowledge that at least this time she was a grown, independent woman, who was more than capable of taking care of herself. If things took a turn for the worse she could simply tell him she was through and leave.

Sessho-maru eyed his mate, her facial expressions were surprisingly blank and immediately his guard was up, he knew she was planning something, the only question was what? If she thought that he would allow her to put a barrier between them she had another thing coming. She was going to be his, body, heart, and soul.

"How long will it take you to prepare? This Sessho-maru would like to leave as soon as possible." Questioned Sessho-maru, the sooner he was able to get her away from this village, the sooner he could begin courting her in true demon fashion.

"An hour or so I think, I need to let the villagers know." said Rin shrugging noncommittally.

"Why must you let them know? You owe them nothing." growled Sessho-maru, as he recalled that this was the same village that had often beaten her as a child. When he had met her for the first time she had had faint scratches and a couple small bruises and he had given it little thought. But when she had come back to him later that evening and he had seen the fresh bruises that covered her face and hands he had known without a doubt that she was being beaten, the further damning evidence was the in the form of the scent all over her, as that only happened when skin came into contact with other skin. To known that a child who had been trying to do him a favor had been punished and beaten had angered him like nothing ever had before. Indeed if he had been at full strength he would have more than likely gone into the village and slaughtered them all.

"They have been good to me. I'm especially going to miss the children…" muttered Rin irritated dragging Sessho-maru out of his bloodthirsty thoughts.

"They used to beat you, or have you forgotten?" growled Sessho-maru wishing that they would give him an opportunity to unleash his wrath upon them.

"Not all of them! Only the men." defended Rin.

"The women allowed it. No one protected you—no one cared." argued Sessho-maru.

"It doesn't concern you Lord Sessho-maru." sneered Rin, turning around and stomping back down the path towards her hut.

Sessho-maru fought down the growl that was bubbling up in his chest. His demon was seconds away from snatching her up and taking her right then and there until she could scream nothing but his name. She was too independent and defiant—He was the alpha, and his patience was sorely tested. His demon roaring at him to give into his urges, his desires.

Rin was already beginning to doubt her decision to travel with him, if he was going to be this way all the time she couldn't promise that she wasn't going to make an attempt on his life. Who did he think he was?! He was not her husband, she owed him no explanations. Upon reaching her hut Rin quickly grabbed a large pack that she had fashioned quickly packing up her rice, dried fish, and salted meat. After that she quickly packed her bed roll, strapping it to the bottom of the pack, following that she gathered her bandages, herbs, her spare kimonos, and other necessary supplies. Satisfied with packing Rin then saw to the next most important task, arming herself. She quickly attached her kunai knives to her hidden compartments of her kimono, followed by the long kantana strapped to her back, and her staff, which served multiple purposes. Sighing to herself Rin slung her pack over her shoulder, grabbing her staff Rin exited the hut, and leaving her home of these past months behind.

Sessho-maru watched as Rin exited the hut, noting the pack and visible weapons that she had strapped to her person, and again his inner demon roared. Did she think that he was incapable of protecting her that she must arm herself? He was her mate, it was his duty and privilege to protect and provide for her. He tried to calm his demon with the knowledge that Rin was unaware of demonic courtships and therefore had no knowledge of the fact that she was challenging him. In response his demon rumbled discontentedly, but quieted none the less.

Ignoring him Rin continued walking past him heading towards the village. She was still so annoyed, this was not the Lord Sessho-maru that she remembered, in fact his domineering behavior was so opposite from anything that she remembered that she was having a hard time reconciling herself with this new development. She recalled that as a child he was often unconcerned with the trouble that she would manage to get herself into, many times simply smacking Jaken on the head with a projectile and telling her to prepare to leave. While he often kept her safe, she never thought herself to be a priority to him. After all she was just some homeless urchin that had followed him around. Jaken had made the point of reminding her that he had no responsibilities or obligations to her—that everything he did, he did out of pity.

*Flashback*

"RIN!" wailed Jaken outraged.

"Yes Master Jaken?" asked Rin puzzled.

"What are you doing?!" he squawked.

"Picking flowers for Lord Sessho-maru. Aren't they pretty Master Jaken?" asked Rin holding up the small bouquet for the imp to see.

"Foolish girl! What would Lord Sessho-maru want with your little flowers?" snapped Jaken irritated.

"I always give him flowers…" mumbled Rin quietly.

"The Mighty Lord Sessho-maru has no use for them, he just tolerates them, just like he tolerates you!" whined Jaken.

"Master Jaken?" asked Rin confused.

"Fool! Do you even know why you are alive today?" challenged the imp.

"Of course! Lord Sessho-maru saved me!" chirped Rin cheerfully.

"It was an experiment!" Jaken blurted out angrily.

"Huh?" asked Rin even more lost.

"Lord Sessho-maru wanted to see if his sword was as powerful as Totosai claimed it to be. You were a convenient test subject. " shrugged the green little imp.

"But, Lord Sessho-maru let me come with him…" whispered Rin fighting back tears that had begun to form in her eyes.

"My lord, only allows you to travel with him out of pity, what would a poor little orphan like you do on your own?" taunted Jaken.

"Lord Sessho-maru likes me! I know he does!" cried Rin throwing down the flowers she had gathered.

"Hah! Shows what you know little human!" he snarled.

"Jaken, Rin." a quiet voice cut through their conversation.

"Lord Sessho-maru!" squawked the imp jumping in surprise at the sound of his voice.

"Let us be off." Lord Sessho-maru stated sweeping by them, to grab the dragon's reins.

Rin glanced down at the flowers and back towards her lord; Jaken's words ringing in her ears. Quickly brushing the tears from her eyes she scampered after them, in fear of being left behind. That had been the last time she ever gathered flowers for him.

*End of Flashback*

As the village came into view Rin slowed her pace and glanced back over her shoulder surprised to see Sessho-maru following at a slightly slower pace behind her. Refocusing her attention on the villagers she headed over towards the head villager's hut, in order to inform his wife of her departure, trying to ignore the whispers that were following her as the villagers noticed the demon lord following closely behind her.

Sessho-maru fought back the growls and snarls as he noticed the lustful gazes that were trained upon Rin's person. That these pathetic humans thought that they stood a chance at winning her affections made him want to kill them all, eliminating their threat and punishing them for their arrogance. There was no competition, she was his mate, and anyone who stood in the way of that would find themselves gutted faster than they could blink. He was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed a young man stepping into Rin's path and placing his hand upon her arm. Before he even thought about it, he had moved directly to her side, snarling at the man touching her.

Rin blinked in surprise as she recognized the young man in front of her as Kenchi, but she stiffened as she felt Sessho-maru appear next to her shoulder and heard the snarl escape his lips. Slowly she turned her head and looked over at Sessho-maru, wondering what he was doing; he had never reacted this way when she had played with Kohaku while she was growing up or any other person she had encountered for that matter. Focusing her attention back on Kenchi she realized that he had gone white and was quickly backing away from her as fast as humanly possible.

"Kenchi?"

"R-Rin, I want-ted to t-talk to y-you…" he managed to stutter out.

Another snarl erupted from Sessho-maru at his statement, how dare he act familiar with her! She was HIS.

Rin blinked in surprise at Sessho-maru's aggressiveness, but accredited to the facts that he hated humans and that he wanted to leave immediately.

"Of course Kenchi, what can I do for you?" asked Rin politely.

"D-Does h-h-he have t-to be h-here?" asked Kenchi timidly as his eyes darted over to Sessho-maru.

"Oh, oh, excuse me for a moment Lor-I mean Sessho-maru." mumbled Rin fighting the growing blush on her cheeks as she took a step towards where the young man was standing.

"This Sessho-maru does not excuse you, we need to be leaving, we have wasted enough time." stated the lord as he stood next to her and took hold of her arm, in order to guide her out of the village, with force if necessary, not that he was going to tell her that.

"L-Leaving?" Kenchi stuttered out surprised.

"Yes, I was on my way to see Yuna to tell her that she could let someone use my hut if they need it, since I've decided to leave the village." shrugged Rin.

"Where will you go?" asked Kenchi fighting the disappointed frown that he could feel making its way onto his face.

"She goes with me human." growled Sessho-maru tightening his grip on her ever so slightly.

"Y-YOU?!" he gasped in shock.

"Yes. You will tell this Yuna what Rin has said, we are leaving." snapped Sessho-maru leading Rin towards the outskirts of the village.

Rin was dumbfounded as Sessho-maru pulled her along. What had just happened?