A/N: Here is it! Chapter 11, and it's a longer one ;) Thanks for the follows, reviews and support! It's always awesome hearing your thoughts and unique reactions to the material :3 Are you guys as excited as I am to finally get some Rin & Sesshomaru time/interaction? Well, sending my thanks for your kind words and shared enthusiasm 3 Happy reading!

[In the tearoom, some time after Lady Rin and Lady Fugashi had been dismissed]

After Lord Sesshomaru had talked with Master Fugashi he immediately exited the tearoom. He didn't plan on being there long and wanted nothing to do with the village's festival.

"But you must stay, you are our honored guest, my Lord" Master Fugashi had insisted on behalf of the Lady of the House.

The Lord would have easily refused the forced invitation if not for the fact that his mind was still fixated on her. The last time Lord Sesshomaru had left the village it took him months to shake that scent off. And it took him even longer to stop thinking about it. And now here he was again, and not only was her scent stronger than ever, but he now had to see the actual person that had preyed upon his consciousness for so long. And no matter of tactics seemed to correct his disturbed state of mind. As Lord Sesshomaru walked towards his chambers, his eyes fell on that door that he had stood in front of last time he had visited. He knew she was in there, just behind that door. He couldn't subdue the thoughts that came to his mind. He pictured her face once more, knowing now that the image in his mind was accurate. He brought his gaze back in front of him and continued to his quarters.

[The next day; Jaken returns from the marketplace]

"Milord, are you okay?"

Jaken returned from the village market to find his Lord in the exact place where he had been when Jaken left earlier that morning. Hours had passed. Lord Sesshomaru sat at his window staring off into the nearby mountains. His face stoic as ever and gaze unflinching. I never know what to do when he goes into these deep thoughts! Goodness!

"We will leave soon, Jaken."

The Lord did not move from his seat or even look at his loyal servant. Jaken was a bit confused.

"But Milord, we just got he—"

"We will leave soon."

Jaken had frozen. Lord Sesshomaru rarely repeated himself and Jaken dared not make him do so again.

"Of course, Milord!"

After a moment of silence, Jaken decided to shift gears.

"I saw the Lady Rin while at the marketplace! She is still the sentimental girl she was before…"

Lord Sesshomaru's eyes fixed on Jaken.

"That human still knows not how to restrain her shows of affection!" Jaken rambled pretending he had been offended by Rin's actions.

"She shamelessly wrapped her arms around ME in the middle of the village market! To think that all those people could see such a spectacle made by Lady Rin! Ai ya!

Lord Sesshomaru's eyes slightly widened as Jaken continued to rant about Rin's brazen public embrace of him.

"Where is she?"

Jaken paused with the interruption; now noticing the Lord was focused on him.

"Uhh…I'm not sure, Milord. I last saw the Lady at the market when I said goodbye. But I'm sure she will return soon!"

Lord Sesshomaru turned his attention back to the window. Jaken looked around nervously. What had he done wrong?

"Milord, the village's week-long festival begins tonight. I'm sure our Lady Rin will be attending with the Fugashi Household. Would you not join them? You are, after all, the festival's honored guest!"

Lord Sesshomaru brought just his eyes back to Jaken for a moment.

"Perhaps."

Jaken was surprised. He was sure the Lord was going to either dismiss the idea or ignore the question altogether. He stood there for a moment in shock. Lord Sesshomaru looked back to the window.

"Send word to Lady Rin that I will escort her to the festival, is she so chooses."

Jaken was now in even more of a state of shock. What just happened?

"O-of course, Milord" Jaken's voice stuttered.

Jaken stood there for another moment in residual shock. Then the Lord's eyes darted back to him.

"Now, Jaken."

"Ahh! Yes, Milord! Of course!"

Jaken scurried away to fulfill his Lord's command, and Lord Sesshomaru remained unmoved with his thoughts once more.

When Rin had first heard the request from Master Jaken she had been caught off guard. Besides their first meeting, when Rin had bowed and honored the Lord, she had not seen much of him at all. And she preferred it that way. She wanted to decline the invitation, but knew the Master and Lady of the House would not let her so do without consequence. Play your part, Rin. Don't forget your end game. You're getting close. Focus. Breathe.

Rin sat there on the edge of her bed once more, staring at the door in front of her. It was all so strange and ironic to her. The young, uncivilized girl that had entered this room so many years ago only wanted for one thing. And yet, here she was, a tamed lady and all she wanted was the exact opposite. I would have died to be with Sesshomaru. Rin shook her head and closed her eyes. She ran her hands across her lap, feeling the soft silk caress her fingers. Suddenly the fabric caught, and her eyes opened. She looked to her lap and saw that the silk had snagged on one of her calluses. Rin remembered the countless hours she had spent and continued to spend training for combat. Guess I'm not so tame after all. Rin heard approaching footsteps and her heart stopped for a single moment. The steps halted in front of her door. A moment later there was a knock and Rin stared at the door in stillness. Another blunt knock followed and Rin stood up straight and began to walk towards the door. Suddenly there was a squeak in the floorboards and Rin's mind instantaneously went to the hidden kimono; the kimono Lord Sesshomaru had given her. As her thoughts raced after the memories of that kimono, her hand landed on the door. Rin's hand felt as if it could feel his presence, as if it could feel a warmth radiating from him. She paused trying to regain control of her thoughts. Breathe. Focus.

When the door slid open Lord Sesshomaru could not have prepared himself for the surge of emotion that floored him. In all his years and all his training, he had never encountered such a powerful opponent. He was the great Lord of the West. The Lord who conquered many lands; whose strength and agility were respected and feared; the Great Dog Demon Lord who need not bow to another. But these titles meant nothing when faced with this internal battle before him. And as he fought for control within him, his exterior remained unmoved. That much he had left within his control. He looked upon Rin, and for the first time he was able to gaze at her without the eyes of onlookers watching him. He didn't need to armor himself. And as the Lord looked upon her, he felt something strange and compelling. She was like nothing he had ever seen before. Her long, thick, dark hair was loosely pulled back in a bun with just a few wandering strands of hair remaining around her face. Her skin was flawless, yet not perfect at all. The little scars and darkened shades of her skin showed that she had not lived nobly her whole life, but that she had survived much. And as her dark brown eyes gazed slightly down and away from him, he could not break his stare from her. There was so much to see, to observe. Lord Sesshomaru looked at her he felt an unfamiliar sense of admiration for this human; something he had never felt before…for anyone. He was taken by all the little imperfections that made her distinctly Rin. He hadn't realized that he had missed those so.

It was time to do it. She could no longer avoid it. I have to look him in the eyes. Rin internally bolstered herself, trying to ready her mind. Focus, Rin. Breathe. This changes nothing. Rin looked up and immediately found her eyes locked with the eyes of the demon Lord in front of her. His amber irises burned hers. She broke the gaze, and looked down trying to regain her resolve. Nothing is changed. Remember your freedom.

"Lady Rin."

His low and steady voice made her uneasy. She took a silent inhale and looked back up with a soft face.

"My Lord."

Rin quietly bowed to the demon Lord in front of her. She couldn't muster enough to say his name aloud. Sesshomaru stood there unmoving as Rin began to straighten up and look to the Lord once more.

"Shall we go, my Lord?"

Lord Sesshomaru's eyes were still fixed on her. Then in a moment, he nodded his head and extended his arm for her to grab. Rin reached her arm out, resting it on top of the demon Lord's. Everything within Rin was screaming; she wanted to pull away. Her skin was crawling and she was bearing down trying to not show her repulsion and internal confliction. Sesshomaru's arm firmed beneath hers. She felt the support and looked to him briefly. He no longer looked at her, but now his gaze was firmly in front of them. Rin looked back down and they began to walk. What does he want from me?

When Lord Sesshomaru had requested Rin's presence with him at the festival it was with the full intention of telling her that he would be leaving shortly…and that she would be coming with him. Talk of war had been spreading throughout the province and when Lord Sesshomaru caught word he knew immediately what must be done. The time had finally come to journey back to his place in the West, and that is where he intended on leaving Rin. He would not make the mistake of entrusting her to anyone else again. However, upon seeing Rin he found that he could not keep his usual, unadulterated focus.

[FLASHBACK]

"Sesshomaru, one day you will no what it is like to be made completely dumb by another's presence!"

Sesshomaru's eyes glared to the side. He despised his mother's lectures on love and companionship. As far as he was concerned, his duty to his mother and their family name was to surpass his father's legacy and forge new and secured territory for the West. Father is no longer here, Mother. We cannot rely on the loyalty of others if we are to maintain our power. It will be I who secures our name and safety now. Without that security our family will surely perish.

"Don't disregard me, Sesshomaru! I am not one of your pathetic subjects!"

His mother approached him and stood directly in front of the Lord, she hated when he pretended to ignore her. Sesshomaru refused to look at her and acknowledge her rantings.

"You may be the Lord of the West, but you are not immune to being a demon!"

Sesshomaru's eyes looked to her for a moment. He couldn't imagine what she meant by that, but he often couldn't make sense of his mother's emotion laden ramblings.

"Once you find your mate, then you will know what it is to be powerless…"

Sesshomaru's eyes fixed on his mother.

"I will do no such thing."

The Lady broke out in laughter. Sesshomaru growled. If finding a mate means risking my power or the security of our kingdom, I will never succumb to such treachery. I will not make Father's mistake. Being without a companion is a very small price to pay. Why can you not understand this, Mother? Sesshomaru's mother turned her back to Sesshomaru and began to leave the room. She paused at the door and looked by over her shoulder at her son, the great demon Lord, her eyebrow raised.

"Like there's a choice."

[FLASHBACK ENDS]

Lord Sesshomaru watched as Rin walked around greeting the villagers participating in the festival. He watched her body move as she bowed and smiled at the other humans. He couldn't describe what she evoked in him, and the enigmatic nature of it all tortured him. When Rin began to disappear into the crowd, Sesshomaru grew uneasy. He got up from his seat at the banquet table and made his way toward her. When his eyes finally found her, he stopped for a moment and observed. He could see Rin intervening in a fight between human children. He watched her crouch down next to a small girl who had been thrown to the ground and gently help her up. Lord Sesshomaru kept his distance, he wanted to listen from afar; he wanted to observe this person who bothered him so.

"Are you okay?"

Rin looked to the little girl before her. Her knees were scraped and there were a few tears streaming down her dirt-covered face. Rin undoubtedly saw herself in this girl. The little girl's chin shook as she held in her small cry; she nodded her head and kept her eyes low. Rin's gaze shot up to the boys that had obviously harassed this girl. Her eyes burned on them.

"Leave this girl alone of you'll have me to answer to."

Rin's voice was firm and unflinching.

"And I will know if you don't."

The boys quickly ran off and Rin brought her attention back to the wounded girl in her arms. She looked down at her with such compassion and empathy. I wish I could take all the pain away. I wish I could undo this all. Rin propped the girl up and helped her stand on her own two feet. Still crouching down Rin then grabbed one of the girl's hands and placed it between hers making it flat. Rin pressed her hands together molding the little girl's palm prostrate. She looked to her.

"What is your name, child?"

The little girl's teary eyes met the Lady's.

"K-kamiko", the little girl whispered.

Rin then used a hand to hold the girl's wrist up, forcing the girl to look at the flat palm she had formed. Rin then traced her fingers along the pinky-edge of the girl's hand and tapped on it.

"Make it harder, Kamiko."

Kamiko looked at the Lady in confusion and then flexed her flattened hand making it sturdy.

"Ah, perfect."

Rin smiled widely at the girl.

"Now, Kamiko. The next time anyone tries to push you around, you take this edge of your hand…"

Rin brought her fingertips back to the pinky-edge of Kamiko's hand once more. She then brought that edge of the little girl's hand to her throat.

"You hit here as hard as you can."

The girl's eyes widened.

"I promise you, Kamiko, they will never touch you again."

A little smile crept across the girl's face. And Lady Rin smiled back at her.

"Now go, enjoy the festival."

Kamiko quickly bowed to Lady Rin then ran off, repeatedly looking back over her shoulder and smiling brightly.

Rin stood there with a weary smile on her face watching as the girl began to disappear from her view. Give them hell, Kamiko.

As Sesshomaru stood there watching Rin teach this girl how to protect herself he found himself disturbed yet fascinated. This was not the making of a Lady. How does she know this? Why does she know this? He had so many questions and he was beginning to feel increasingly unsettled by his losing control and focus. What is this?

Sesshomaru watched as Rin began to make her way back to the banquet table. When she took her seat he watched as she looked around realizing that the Lord was not there. Everything about her confused him. Everything about her drew him in, and then pushed him away. He felt like this woman had some demonic hold on him; he was beguiled by her very presence and at the very same time he was disgusted by the sensation within him. Sesshomaru was beginning to dwell of the words his mother once said to him. Sesshomaru was beginning to wonder…Is she?

As the evening came to a close, Lord Sesshomaru arose from his seat and extended his arm once more toward the Lady Rin.

"Shall I escort you back to your chambers, Lady Rin?"

Rin didn't like it when he called her that. She didn't like anyone calling her that anymore. But she especially didn't like it when Lord Sesshomaru used that title. For some reason it made her feel like she was a liar. It felt as if he was clawing at her mask that she wore so well. Errrrrrr. It's just like…Azumi… Rin reached out and placed her arm on his once more. As they stood together and began to take their exit, a gentle breeze passed through and Rin's scent encompassed Lord Sesshomaru. Suddenly his arm dropped away from hers and Rin's arm abruptly fell to her side. She looked to him in surprise and confusion. What the hell was that? Rin kept her gaze on him, waiting for him to extend his arm once more. Sesshomaru stood there, unmoved. His gaze in front of him and his face expressionless. That scent.

"Shall we go then?"

Rin was stunned. What had just happened? Why did he not want to support her arm now? What the hell just happened? Lord Sesshomaru began to walk forward and Rin begrudgingly followed by his side. As they walked back to the Fugashi estate, Rin couldn't help but feel frustrated with the silent Lord. She started to feel that her old suspicions were right all along. See, Rin. Nothing has changed. You are a human. You repulse him. Nothing has changed. Remember what you want, Rin. Freedom. Breathe. Focus. When they began to approach the front gates of the Fugashi House, Rin froze. Lord Sesshomaru stopped a half step behind her and watched Rin closely.

Rin's eyes were fixed on a human man before them, just standing by the gates. He didn't look like anything special, maybe a guard based on his attire. The Lord looked back to Rin and saw that her eyes had widened with…fear. Who is this man? As Lord Sesshomaru tried to grasp at what was going on before him, Rin completely changed her demeanor. Her tight mouth turned to a soft smile and her widened eyes slightly narrowed. Her clenched fists softened and she gently exhaled. What the hell was that? The moment was gone, but Lord Sesshomaru had not missed it. He had seen her instinctual reaction to that human, and she looked afraid. Sesshomaru could sense his body tensing without his permission; his breath was growing hotter. Without a word, Rin then continued forward. Seamlessly, Lord Sesshomaru followed. As they walked towards the human, the man looked up and caught Lady Rin's gaze. Lord Sesshomaru watched as Rin stared into the man's eyes fiercely, not looking away once. The man, who had been laughing, froze in stillness. His eyes widened in terror. Who is this man? And who is this woman?

Rin couldn't believe it. It was that man. Hara's guard from that day. She felt a sharp pang of horror rip through her body as she remembered it all clearly. She remembered his eyes looking at her and flitting away in shame. She remembered him pretending as if she wasn't there; pretending as if Hara hadn't broken her completely. You did nothing. You heard my cries, you must have. You saw me…and still, you did nothing. You did nothing! Rin's fire burned furiously within her. And in a single blink of the eye, Rin's training kicked in. She calmed her demeanor and focused on nothing else but him. She continued forward, staring into the eyes of this man without blinking. Look at me! You cannot look away now! I will not let you forget! I can never forget! As Rin passed by him and his eyes finally caught hers, she could see the realization within his very pupils. He knew who she was. He remembers. Everything within her shook and without a thought her body had a visceral reaction. Her hips shifted and a clenched fist accelerated upwards. Then sudden stillness.

"Rin. Let us continue."

Rin had been halted. Her clenched hand caught in Lord Sesshomaru's. She was petrified. What have I done? How could I lose control like that? Rin, get a hold of yourself! A moment later they were suddenly continuing forward, leaving the stunned man in the path behind them. Lord Sesshomaru's fingers permeated through Rin's iron fist. His clawed hand wrapped firmly around hers, holding it tightly. She looked to him as he kept his gaze forward, never releasing his hold of her hand once. What is he doing? Rin. Focus. When they finally reached her chamber door he released Rin's hand. Rin was still looking at him, waiting for him to do or say something. Waiting for some reaction. Lord Sesshomaru kept his gaze away from Rin's. His face was without a single indication of thought or emotion. Rin had been caught off guard by this sudden gesture, and was most definitely confused by this demon's actions. However, her training would not fail her now. She gripped her disorganized thoughts. Rin! Breathe. Focus. Remember your freedom. Remember what you want!

"Tomorrow, I will leave…"

Rin's eyes instantly narrowed on Lord Sesshomaru. What is this? What does this demon want?

"And you are coming with me."

Rin's eyes widened in shock. She felt the fire within her flash brightly. And then suddenly, a wave of calm came over her. The same calm that had enveloped her the night she took her revenge. I bow to no one. Nothing changes. Remember that. Sesshomaru's command firmed Rin's resolve.

"No."

Sesshomaru's eyes shot to hers. Did she just say 'no'?

"It was not a question. You are leaving this place."

Rin looked directly into his burning amber eyes matching his glare with her own. Even though her eyes held a deep rage, everything else about Lady Rin remained completely passive and delicate.

"If this is about what just happened, I don't need—"

"This has nothing to do with that. Your leaving with me had already been arranged."

Rin's eyes remained unmoved. Sesshomaru's as well. Arranged? Is that so? You, son of a bitch.

"Why?" Rin's soft and contrived voice asked.

Rin looked at the Lord squarely, she was no longer intimidated to look him in the eyes. Sesshomaru was agitated by her questioning and simultaneously stirred by her tenacity. What the fuck is this?

"The 'why' does not matter. All that matters is that you are leaving with Jaken and I tomorrow morning."

Tomorrow?! Rin was fighting everything within her that wanted to rage against this demon in front of her. She could see his eyes looking into hers, observing her every reaction. She would not be unraveled by his doings. I will not let you. I will not allow anyone to break me again. I will not. Rin steadied her breath and without a single word nodded her head and brought her gaze low once more. You will not see me. You cannot have me. You will never control me.

"Of course, my Lord. I am forever indebted to you."

Rin could feel the fire burning in her heart. I will never bow to this demon or any other. I AM RIN. Lord Sesshomaru looked at the woman in front of him feeling internally conflicted by her last words. Even though she had submitted, her words felt like daggers stabbing at him. She was something completely different. He watched as she kept her now soft gaze low, but just a moment before he had seen it fume with indignant anger. She was something wild and untouchable in the most disturbing and shaking way, and the great and ruthless Lord of the West had no clue what to do with her. He could barely conjure enough strength to maintain his demeanor. And in just that very moment, Sesshomaru knew exactly who she was to him…He suddenly knew it so clearly. He would not say it to her, nor would he even speak the words aloud. But he suddenly knew without a doubt. This woman is my…mate.

A/N: Oooooooooooh. Yea, I don't know what else say...hehe. What did you guys think? Review and let me know! ;) Until next time!

Frida D