I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters in Inuyasha. But Ikuto, Nagisa and Tomoya are mine!

Rin was careful not to open the wound as she started off toward the end of the village where Ah-Un, Jaken and Inuyasha would be. Her movements were a bit stiff, and they most certainly were slow, but the boys didn't seem to mind. They walked beside her, quiet and patient.

She caught a glimpse of Ikuto and her lips twitched at the sight. His eyes continued to slowly close and then snap open; the boy was tired still. Fortunately, he didn't look the least bit worried about anything. Aside from him being sleepy he was relatively calm. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was completely alert. He stared in one direction-the one before him, and never altered his vision. He always had been a focused demon...

Once they reached the gate, the other demons quickly fell in their view. Sesshomaru gasped when he saw his brother and he ran to him, to Rin's amazement.

"Good morning, brudder!" he whispered excitedly. "Are you coming with us?"

Inuyasha crouched down to meet his brother's gaze. "No, Sessh. Not today." His voice was suspiciously hoarse; soft, but broken.

Rin and Ikuto met up with them. Inuyasha stood up and gave her a half smile. "Morning."

She bowed her head. "Thank you for everything, Inuyasha."

He waved his hand. "It was no big deal."

"It was," she said with feeling. "It meant everything."

Inuyasha didn't know what to say to that so he just cleared his throat with a cough and muttered, "So, do you need help getting up?"

"Yes."

He looked at her leg. "How is it?"

She awkwardly placed her hand to where the wound was and rubbed the sore spot. "It feels as if it is being strung up against a hook, and with each step I take it stretches till I fear it will split open."

Inuyasha cleared his throat. "I... Er... Let's go back."

"No," Rin said. "I can't. You know what must be done."

"But your leg..."

"From here on out I will fly with Ah-Un. Don't worry, Inuyasha. I'll be fine."

He wasn't so sure about that, but he listened to her nonetheless, and gently scooped her into his arms, jumped up, and placed her over Ah-Un's saddle. The boys followed behind him, leaping into the air, landing with the grace of an eagle.

His gaze roamed the saddle, making sure everything was in place. Rin smiled softly. "Inuyasha," she said, "everything's fine."

He blushed. "Yeah, I know."

"I'll be all right."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't like this," he grumbled. He cocked his head toward Ikuto. "How come you're letting him go?"

Rin placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Inuyasha, give it a rest. I have to go."

He literally pouted. "I want to go," he whispered. "I don't like you going without me or even Jaken. At least take the toad..."

Rin was shaking her head before he even finished. "He'll take his anger out on him."

"Oh, so you're okay with him taking it out on you? Rin-"

"He won't harm me."

He searched her eyes. "How do you know?"

She didn't. Not really. Oh sure, a part of her believed that Sesshomaru wouldn't lay a harmful finger at her. He'd never done so before. But this was different. A different time under different circumstances. Her heart believed he wouldn't hurt her... Would it prove to be right?

"I just know," she lied. "Trust me. I'll be okay."

"Fine. But if he gets stupid know that we won't be far. You can come back here. I'm fine with that." He narrowed his eyes to tiny slits. "You won't be far, right?"

"No. I'll be close."

He nodded, appeased. "Good. Then-"

"How long are you going to be up there?" Jaken shrilled from below.

Inuyasha looked down. "Would you shut the hell up?" he snarled. "You'll wake everyone up."

Jaken crossed his arms over his chest and humphed. "I don't care," he replied with a stubborn lift to his chin.

Sesshomaru followed behind Inuyasha and glared at Jaken. His gaze was unrelenting, so much so that Jaken squirmed beneath it. "Jaken, you are my servant, are you not?"

"A-aye, milord!"

"Then I order you to listen to my brudder and shut up!"

Jaken bowed his head. "Aye, milord."

"Good." Sesshomaru stepped back and patted his brother's back. "The toad is now silent, Yasha."

Inuyasha grinned. "Thanks, bro."

He gave him a curt nod. "You are welcome." Then he faced Rin. "Shall we be off?"

Inuyasha arched a brow at the brat. He didn't even know where they were going, yet he seemed eager to be off and on his way. Why? Because he would be with Rin? Inuyasha frowned as a small, tiny, almost atom-like tinge of jealousy began to erupt in his stomach.

He shook his head with a grimace. This whole week had not gone as planned. It began with him wanting to tease and make fun of the boy, and it ended... Well, it ended with him falling in love with the runt.

Damn. He was turning soft.

He shivered.

Ikuto stood beside a few rolled up cloths with clothes and other objects inside of them. Sesshomaru's kimono was in there. No sight of his pants had been found, unfortunately. Rin had said she left it behind with his old armor. Inuyasha wondered what Sesshomaru would think about that, then shrugged. The demon was wealthy. He could afford anything.

He nodded at Ikuto. "Yo." He still didn't know who the boy was. Rin had never given him an answer to that, and he hadn't pestered her this week because he thought that there were other, more important things to worry about. He'd ask when she returned, hopefully with Sesshomaru in tow. Inuyasha looked forward to seeing his brother. Truly, he did. He missed the bas- no, bastard wouldn't be a good word to describe him now. He missed the demon lord. A little. Loved the child version; respected the adult. How could he not? He was honorable, fierce, and a wicked swordsman.

Ikuto looked up from the floor. His hair swayed. "Yes, Inuyasha?"

He looked so innocent, with wide, hopeful eyes. Sure, he irked the hell out of Sessh, but that made Inuyasha laugh, so he was fine with that. "You can visit anytime you want."

The demon's grey eyes glowed. They resembled a fog, filling the circles with water. "I shall. Thank you for the invitation."

"Welcome."

Rin watched this exchange warily. After Sesshomaru returned she didn't think Ikuto would be around anyone; not for a while, at least.

She cleared her throat, grabbing onto her husband's hand, gently tugging him away from Inuyasha and toward the middle of the saddle. "Let's go, boys."

All-even Inuyasha and Ah-Un-nodded their heads. Rin smiled. Her boys.

Sesshomaru sat down, crossing his legs. The garb he was wearing was blue with a black sash at the middle. Ikuto wore an identical one with a green sash wrapped around his right arm. He sat beside her husband.

Inuyasha stood at the edge of the saddle, waiting to see if everything was set. He didn't want to leave her. Rin's heart warmed up at the sight of his concern. How she loved having a family. She hoped and prayed Sesshomaru would never even try to take them away from her.

Hope and pray: that's all she'd been doing this whole week. Well, today was the time for action. Her husband would return to his natural, beautiful, cold-hearted form and whatever happened would change her life. For better or for worst.

She went to sit down beside the boys, then thought the better of it and decided to run to her brother-in-law and hug him tight. His eyes gaped when he saw her coming at him, but he opened his arms quick enough to take her in. She stood just beneath his chin, so he rested it on her head and laughed half-heartedly.

"You scared the crap out of me, Ri-"

"Thank you," she whispered vehemently. "Thank you."

Inuyasha sobered. "It was no problem, sis."

"I don't know what I would've done without you and Kagome." She looked up to grin at him with misty, brown eyes. "You're the best brother a girl could ask for."

Inuyasha was touched. He was more than a decade married to Kagome but the fact that he had a real, honest to God family always made him feel emotional. He sniffed, but hid his feelings by rolling his eyes and shrugging. "I know, I'm the best."

Rin giggled. "You're so humble."

"This I know, too. Kagome tells me all the time."

"Uh-huh." She backed away from him giving him a skeptical look. "Right."

A slight, cool breeze moved past them. Rin stared at him with large, brown eyes that sparkled with tears. Discomfited by her sudden display of sadness and fear, he gently nudged her chin upward to meet his gaze. "Hey," he whispered. "No waterworks. You know how much I hate that."

She choked back a laugh. "I'm not a man. I can cry."

"It's not that," he said, shaking his head. God knew he shed a few tears last night, but that was neither here nor there. "You know how I get when Kagome cries. I feel helpless. It's the same with you. You're my sister and I don't like to see you cry."

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize to me about anything." He pulled back a brown tendril and hid it behind her ear. "Can you promise me something?"

She nodded.

"Promise me you won't let him take advantage of you. I know he's going to be pissed off. Hell, I would be, too. But if he dares to treat you like you're beneath him, don't go."

She turned ashen. Rin shook her head. "But-"

"Don't. Go."

Rin swallowed thickly. She didn't nod her head, nor did she make any promises. Inuyasha didn't approve so he scowled. "Rin, promise me-"

"I can't," she rasped out. "I can't."

"Rin-"

She lifted her hand to stop him. "It depends on what happens. If anything like that... I'll do it. But if I know I can take it, I'll follow behind him. He is my husband, my place is by his side."

"Exactly. You belong by his side. Not beneath him. And not," he emphasized, "behind him. Do you understand me?"

At that she nodded. "Yes."

"Good. Now, go on off and come back as soon as you can. I want to see you as soon as possible"

"Yes, Inuyasha."

And with that he jumped off of Ah-Un and watched, with a grumpy Jaken at his side, his brother and sister fly away.

"Rin, where are we going?"

She turned away from the sky view and faced her husband. The sun was just beginning to rise above the surface and sparks of orange and pink filled the sky. Sesshomaru's hair shimmered in the sunlight, forcing her to squint her eyes against such brightness.

"You'll see," she told him.

He crossed his arms over his chest. His brows formed a dark v. "I want to know. You're keeping sonthin' from me."

Yes, she was, but that wouldn't make her give him a suitable reply. Because not even she knew where she was going. Once Ah-Un flew up into the sky she told him to take them somewhere nearby. Not too far, but not too close, either.

"Be patient, Sesshomaru."

"I told you-"

"Rin."

Rin turned to Ikuto. He was at the right side of the saddle, looking down at the surface. "There's a piece of land right under us that I think would be good enough."

She frowned. They'd only been flying for no more than ten minutes. "Why?"

He stared at her and his gaze was cool and unrelenting. "Trust me."

She understood. It was almost time.

"Ah-Un." The demon groaned. "Take us down. Ikuto will show you the way." The demon groaned again and waited for Ikuto. The boy decided then to use his powers. A firey orb formed at his finger tips. It grew like a fervent flame with every heated breath he blew against it, until finally he stopped. By then the orb was the size of his body, hovering above his hands. He pulled his arm back and hurled the ball at the space he chose for them.

Before it met the surface it stopped. It stood like a beacon, drawing Ah-Un near. The dragon flew down, the air smacking its passengers faces, until he paused before the light.

He landed gracefully, making little noise, upon a small, open clearing, surrounded by trees. Ikuto then whistled and before Rin could even blink, the ball hurtled itself into Ikuto's right hand and disappeared.

She gaped. Sesshomaru gasped. Ikuto looked at them both and smiled. "What do you think of that, Sesshomaru?"

He jumped up and squealed, "That was inqwedible! How did you do that?"

Blushing at his exuberance, he grumbled, "It's a gift."

Sesshomaru quickly approached him. "Can you teach me? I think I can do something like that."

"No."

"Why not?" Sesshomaru whined.

Ikuto lifted his nose. "Because I don't want to."

"But thaz not fair. You should teach me. This whole week we've been together. I'n almost your friend. So you gotta tell me how to do that!"

"I... I..." Ikuto was at a loss for words. Sesshomaru thought of him as his "almost friend?" How... Well, how shocking. He didn't know how to react to that so he just cleared his throat and muttered, "If you still like me in about a half an hour I'll teach you."

Sesshomaru cocked his head to the side and studied him. "Wuz gonna happen?"

"Something..." He paused. "Well, something different."

Sesshomaru gave him a strange look. "What? I don't get it."

Ikuto's eyes gleamed mischievously. "You're going to meet someone."

Sesshomaru leaned into him. "Who?"

"Rin's husband!"

"Ikuto!" Rin snapped. Why the hell did the boy have to be such a deviant? "I never gave you permission to say anything."

He puffed up his chest looking like the arrogant demon she remembered a few days ago- not that he stopped acting conceited. He just didn't show it off as much. "I am my own leader."

She growled at him. "Baka. I should cut you."

The little devil smirked. He seemed to be enjoying this, as if he planned on setting Rin off. She bit back a grimace. Was he psychotic? Wait, what kind of question was that? She already knew the answer: yes.

"Are you going to play stupid with me again?" she muttered.

His look was bewildered, with both brows furrowing. "I never played a stupid game."

Rin shook her head, grinning. "Drop it."

"We're going to meet your husband?" Sesshomaru breathed. His eyes were wide enough to see anything, even in the night.

"Er... Yes. Kind of," Rin muttered. It wasn't exactly a lie. He would be meeting himself again, what with all the memories coming back to him. It'd be like finding himself again.

"When is he coming?"

"Soon," Ikuto said, rubbing his hands. "Very soon."

Sesshomaru nodded. "Good. Iz good I gets to meet 'hin now. I has to ask him a few 'kestions."

Ikuto arched an inquisitive brow. "Like what?"

Sesshomaru chose that moment to be mysterious. "When he comes, you'll know."

Rin rolled her eyes. If this was Ikuto's way of getting her mind away from what was to come, he was doing a phenomenal job of it. "Sesshomaru, Ikuto, off the dragon."

"Wait!" Sesshomaru exclaimed. "I wasn't finished."

"With what?"

"Are you going to teach me how to make a ball?"

Ikuto ruffled his "almost friend's" hair. "Maybe some other time, Sessh."

Sesshomaru mumbled something unintelligible, while fixing his hair. "Allight, but you gotta promise," he insisted.

"No promises, Sessh. Let's just see what happens."

Sesshomaru glared daggers at Ikuto, but he was undaunted. He stared right back at him with eyes that flashed with lightning. Sesshomaru stepped back. "Stop staring at me like that. Your eyes are scary."

Ikuto bowed. "So sorry to hear that."

"Liar."

Ikuto gasped. "How did you know!"

Sesshomaru stuck his tongue out at him. Ikuto did the same. This continued for about five minutes.

Exasperated, Rin sat and watched.

Inuyasha returned to his hut, exhausted and half depressed. Who knew that his heart would break after spending some time with his half brother? It was a surprise to him, just as it was when he found out Kagome had twins.

His steps were slow and heavy across the wood floor. It creaked and groaned against his weight. He ignored the sounds, focusing on what he was staring at: his bedroom door. Kagome would be there, he knew, sleeping. It was still too early for her to wake up and begin the days chores. Her arm would be where he would've been had he not left. She liked putting her arm around his waist. He did it to her, too, but when her arms were around his body, exploring him, or gently touching him, he felt at home, happy and content.

Maybe he'd feel the same once he crawled back there with her. Maybe she'd take pity on him, feel his pain and comfort him with the many ways she knew how. He didn't even feel disgusted with the way he was feeling. There was no reason to be ashamed of feeling sad when no one was around to make fun of him. His wife would never do that, not unless she knew it would cheer him up.

He crossed the hall in a matter of seconds, then slid the door with great speed. It slammed against the end, and he winced, fearing that he'd awoken his wife. So what, he thought. If she was awake, good. He wouldn't have to waste precious moments on cajoling her to rise and make hot love to him.

Unfortunately, she was not there. He cursed fluently, then groaned. Where the heck was his wife?

He lifted his nose in the air and sniffed. He found her delectable cherry scent easily. His head snapped to the right of the hall, and his gaze fell at Rin's guest room. He frowned.

Retaining that black look, he stomped toward the sliding door and glared at it. Only a few inches separated him from his wife, but the white thing irked him. He was tight and hot enough to be irked by anything that wasn't Kagome.

He slid the door back, gently this time, and found his wife sitting against the back wall.

"Hey," Inuyasha muttered in a gruff tone. She looked gorgeous. Her black hair glowed against the morning light. Dark rivulets cascaded down her blue night gown, resting at her breasts.

Kagome looked up from the floor and smiled. Like always it took his breath away.

"Wife, why aren't you in bed?"

She arched a brow. "Is there a reason for me to be there?"

"Of course!" He pointed at the hallway. "Get up there and march yourself back into bed. I want some love."

Kagome covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. Inuyasha had to bite the inside of his mouth to stop himself from laughing with her. Instead, he glared. "Woman, I told you to march!"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "I don't want to."

"I don't care what you want. You're going there and making love to-"

Kagome shushed him. "Would you lower your voice? You'll wake the children."

"I. Don't. Care." Truth. He didn't give a fig who heard him talking. He might have if he wasn't so... Well, in need of his wife's tender hands. But he did need her. Now. "Kagome, don't make me pick you up."

She rolled her eyes and stood up.

"What are you doing here anyway?" he said.

"I just wanted some time to think."

And she couldn't do that in their room because...? "About?"

"This week"

He grunted. "It's done and over with. Let's go."

"Do you think he's going to be angry at us?"

No doubt about it. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

No, no, no! She was not supposed to be talking. She was supposed to be taking care of his pathetic form and make him melt into a puddle of liquid fire. He wanted to growl at her. She was stalling, fully knowing how he got when she stopped him from becoming one with her and finding release. Damn her!

She was lucky he loved her so much; he would've pounced on her a long time ago. Sadly, he was a good husband- the best, and a good husband didn't pounce on his wife unless they were playing fetch or tag. But they weren't doing that, so...

Wait. What were they talking about?

"Kagome, can we please-"

"How did you like Sesshomaru?" She scrunched her nose and lifted her hands. "I wanted to pinch his cheeks all the time. He was so cute!"

"He won't be cute anymore," he muttered. Sesshomaru was going to be a monster. "I doubt he'll ever come back here to visit." Oh, God, he was thinking too much!

Her lips pinched together. "I want him to."

Inuyasha glared at her. "Hey, wife, you're mine."

Kagome waved her hand, dismissing his open display of jealousy. "Of course I am. And you're mine. So?"

"I don't want you wanting any demon."

She looked at him as if he'd gone mad. "I don't. I just want you."

He narrowed his eyes. "Just want?"

Kagome's shoulders dropped. "Ugh. More than ten years married and you still act like a teenager. Will you ever grow up?"

"You didn't answer my question- you only want me?"

Kagome sauntered toward him, then wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. She licked a passage down his cheek, and rained kisses on his chin. Pulling back she stared into his amber eyes and whispered huskily, "Does that answer your question?"

He swallowed heavily. "No. You need to kiss me some more."

"Inuyasha..." she growled.

"Kagome," he growled back.

"You're such a beast."

He ground his arousal against her stomach. "Why don't you tame me?" he challenged.

Oh, how he loved to tease her! The offer of a challenge gleamed in her eyes and she released him, only to grab the handle of the door and slide it shut.

Inuyasha's breathing grew heavier by the second. And his wife's tantalizing seduction was doing wonders to his body. Shivers ran through him, circling around his groin. "Kag," he rasped. "I need you."

"I need you, too," she breathed. She took off the sash that wrapped around his waist, and dropped it to his feet. While she did this, he held onto the lapels of her garment. But a growl of impatience crept out from his lips, and he ripped the gown off of her. Kagome squealed, while Inuyasha hummed with approval.

He stared at her creamy, pale skin, then trailed a nail down her side, beginning at her shoulders, and ending at her waist. He leaned into her, covering his face with her brown locks. He took in the scent of cherry blossoms and nature. And breathed her into his lungs.

They fell on their knees together, losing the ability to stand. Kagome closed her eyes, letting her husband scan her body. He examined it as if he were about to be quizzed on every part of her form. And she loved every second of it.

She knew why he seemed so hungry for her, and her heart softened. She knew him so well, probably better than he knew himself.

She'd studied the way Inuyasha acted with his brother this week. And she knew that her husband had grown feelings for the demon; tender, loving feelings that he'd never had for any other demon, besides Shippo. He'd had the chance to see what it would have been like had Sesshomaru been a better, more open brother to him. And now he was going to lose it.

She gave him comfort. And she loved him that morning. Loved him so deeply, filling him up with her heart and soul, reminding him that she would never leave him, never betray him.

He took in every word she said as if it were the water of life.

And when they were finished, they rested against their head cushions, with their arms entangled around each other's bodies. Kagome quickly fell into a fitful sleep.

But Inuyasha could not. Not precisely because he was still worried about Sesshomaru and Rin (not even making love to Kagome could stop him from worrying). He pulled his hand away from her, instantly feeling bereft but ignoring it, and searched for what was beneath the cushion, causing him much discomfort.

He felt soft silk surrounding a short, pointed object. And he knew what it was, instantly. Filled with dread and sorrow, Inuyasha took the dagger he'd given Sesshomaru, and stared at it.

His brother had left the gift behind.

Ah-Un flew up into the sky and he waited there. Rin, Ikuto and Sesshomaru were together, atop a grey blanket. She'd informed Sesshomaru before that they were having a short picnic during her husband's return. When the boy asked where the food was, Rin quickly replied, "He will bring it."

Sesshomaru had nodded his head and placed himself beside her. The white and red kimono she'd helped him dress into only a few minutes before dragged beneath his feet. He wondered about the thing, then ignored it. Maybe her husband liked the colors.

At present time, she was quiet; too quiet for his comfort, but he made no sound. He listened closely to the voices and whispers of the forest surrounding the clearing, trying to hear her husband's arrival. He looked forward to meeting the man. He wanted to see the person who'd captured Rin's heart first.

Ikuto sat by a tree a few feet away from them, still and mute. His eyes were closed, with his body resting against the side of the tree. Sesshomaru bit his lip. What was wrong with everyone? Wasn't this supposed to be a joyous event? Rin's husband was supposed to be returning to his wife- shouldn't she be happy about this? he wondered. He turned to her and noticed how pale her skin was. She was biting her lips, causing red, ripped lines to form at its pink curves. And her fists opened and closed, clasping and unclasping her gown.

Sesshomaru frowned.

Something wasn't right. The oppressive atmosphere was even effecting him, because he soon felt strange, too. Heavier suddenly, as if some sort of invisible weight had been planted on his shoulders, and was being pushed down with each second that passed. It wasn't hurting him so much as it was uncomfortable. He went to take Rin's hand and clasp it with his own, but then he heard something groan. Or was it a someone? He grimaced. Could it have been himself?

Suddenly he felt detached from everyone. As if his mind were turning blank.

Another groan slipped from his lips, loud enough for Rin and Ikuto to take notice of. They stopped what they were doing and stared at him. But when he fell on his knees, clutching his stomach, Rin, his beloved friend, jumped at him. She caught him before he fell face first, crying out his name. It sounded to his brain like a silent echo.

He whispered her name before everything went dark.

Rin held onto her husband as he continued to groan. Ikuto stood in front of her, staring at Sesshomaru who was obviously in much pain.

"What's happening to him?" Rin asked, panic dripping from her tongue.

The boy gave her a calm stare. "He's returning."

"Can you make the pain stop?" Her eyes begged him to do something, anything to ease his pain.

Ikuto shook his head, sadly. "I'm sorry, Rin."

"Sorry?" she whispered in disbelief. "What good is your apology when you can't help me fix something you began?"

A shadow crossed his face. "You know why I did it."

"It doesn't matter! I-"

Sesshomaru groaned, much louder this time. His eyes were clamped shut, and his mouth was opened wide as if he were screaming inside. Pain tore at Rin's heart and she could hardly take this. She gave Ikuto an imploring look. "Please, help him, Ikuto. Don't you have anymore spells to-"

"I can't use another spell until the first is broken."

"You have no healing powers? Nothing to numb him?" She sounded desperate- and she was. Sesshomaru's groans were turning into short exclamations. "Ikuto!"

He shook his head, turning white. "I'm sorry. Rin, I can't do anything."

She rocked Sesshomaru in her arms and leaned in to kiss his now sweaty forehead. "It's going to be all right," she whispered in his ear. "My love, don't worry. It'll pass."

Sesshomaru's reply was an anguish filled scream.

As soon as it ended, Rin heard something crack. Tears rained down Sesshomaru's cheeks even as his eyes tried to trap them in his sockets. He choked back a sob, then cried out for Rin.

She relaxed her hold on him. "I'm here. I'm here."

"Rin..."

"It'll pass."

"Rin!"

Oh, God. Was this what it was like when he'd first transformed into a child? She could hear his bones snapping, growing, extending and each time this happened she winced, and felt broken and helpless inside. The pain that encompassed her heart was nothing compared to the horrible torture Sesshomaru was experiencing.

And just when Rin was about to hurl curses at the cause of her suffering, she realized he was gone.

She looked left and right, and over her shoulder, but found no one within her sight.

Ikuto had left her alone with her husband who was growing right before her eyes.

She wiped the tears from his face, forgetting about her own. She stroked his hair and whispered words of comfort she knew did him no good. Still, she couldn't help herself. Sesshomaru arched his back and cried out once more. She watched, in shock and in awe, as his body grew considerably. Even as his face contorted with pain and suffering, she noticed how refined and stubborn his cheeks became. His lashes grew in length, and his lips widened. His legs stretched, feet grew, and his hair flowed in a white river of silk against her thighs.

And even as he continued to change, one word, one name seemed like a mantra to him. He uttered it again and again, in a whisper and a cry: "Rin."

This went beyond cruelty, and at that moment Rin damned Ikuto to the under world. She hated him. Hated what he did. Hated who he was. She almost vowed to kill him after this was over, but just as she was about to do that, her husband stopped crying out. Instead, he bit his lips, holding back his pain.

His pride was returning, she realized swiftly. He didn't want her to hear him. Already he seemed ashamed. Even the tears stopped falling and his tremors grew less and less.

Until finally everything stopped. And she knew...

He was back.

He rolled himself away from her, though she did not want this. She let him go anyway, knowing what he needed. He laid on the floor, silent, with his hands flat. He grabbed a handful of grass and broke it off of its roots, curling his fingers to make a fist.

Rin didn't know what to do. Her hands twitched at her thighs, waiting for something, anything to happen. He was so still, so stiff, like a statue.

She sat up on her knees. Her scar stretched and her lips thinned because of the slight pain that grew sharper each time she moved, but she ignored her suffering and focused on her love.

Just when she could take his silence no longer and decided to reach out to him, Sesshomaru jumped away from her and slammed himself against a tree. His eyes were red, like fire, filled with rage, and he, her husband, the demon who only the day before confessed that he loved her, growled at her as if he wished to scare her away.

A still, haunting quiet filled the forest. The only sounds that could be heard were the songs of birds in the trees, and Sesshomaru's deep exhalations. She stared at him as he rested against the tree, inches away from her. So few, and yet so much. She wanted to touch him. Wanted to hold and comfort him. But the second he'd gained recovery of himself he recoiled away from her as if she had contracted some sort of malignant disease.

Bitterness licked at Rin's tongue. She knew this would happen. And the realization that she had been right all along, that Sesshomaru would despise her, consumed her inside.

She looked up at the sky, feeling awkward and weary. Ah-Un hovered hundreds of feet above them, looking far into some unknown distance. She wiped her eyes to try and clean herself up. Sesshomaru hated tears. They had always been a sign of weakness to him. She knew that better than anyone.

Then she stared at him, in fear of his next move. He continued to breathe harshly and every so often his fingers twitched as if he were still in pain. Was he?

"Sesshomaru," Rin whispered. "Are you still in pain?"

He gave no reply. In fact, it looked as if he weren't even listening to her. His eyes were red but they weren't focused. Could he hear her?

"Sessh-"

"Silence," he snapped.

She turned her gaze away from him and stared at the grass. Her vision blurred. She bit her lip, disabling it from trembling, and choked back a sob. She didn't know what to do, to say. She was terrified of what was to come. And worst of all, she was afraid of him. His anger was consuming him, and his broken pride wasn't making it any better, she knew. God, what was she to do with a demon that loved his pride more than anything else? Compliment him? Ha! He didn't want that. Neither did he wish for her to speak. His icy command proved that.

Still, she couldn't help herself. She was worried about her husband and could almost feel his suffering. She looked up and found his eyes closed. His jaw was hard, clenched together as if he wished to break all of his teeth. A vein throbbed in his neck and Rin could easily make it out.

She stood still as she said, "Sesshomaru."

His muscles tensed but his eyes remained shut.

"Please," she whispered. "You are in pain. Tell me what I can do to alleviate it."

"Nothing," he bit out.

She inched forward, reaching. "But-"

"Do not touch me," he snarled, red eyed. "I do not need your help- or you."

He might as well have stabbed her in the heart. Rin went to cover her breast where her heart thumped erratically, then stopped. He didn't need to know what he did to her. Wasn't as if he cared at this moment, she thought, feeling morose.

He stood up after a few interminable seconds, and turned his back at her. Rin made a move to stand, but then she stopped and remembered Inuyasha's words.

If he dares to treat you like you're beneath him, don't go.

You belong by his side. Not beneath him. And not behind him. Do you understand me?

Yes.

Suddenly, she knew, she wasn't going to go anywhere with Sesshomaru and that attitude.

He looked back at her. "Come." Another harshly toned demand.

She stared at him with sorrow, with pain, and whispered, "No."

He narrowed his eyes at her. The two golden orbs said, Come or be damned. Rin decided to be damned. Righteous indignation filled her. He was angry at her and she did not deserve this. He could've been angry at Ikuto, angry at himself, but her? No. Now she understood that it made no sense for him to act this way with her. She was his wife, to be his no matter what- even if he was a weak human, or worst, a young boy. She'd told him once that nothing could stop her from loving him. And, damn it, he knew this!

She continued to look at him. Her gaze cried, I love you. I love you. I love you! Love me, too!

But he didn't know how to read her heart. Never had. So he turned away and walked off, while she stood behind.