I do not own Inuyaha

Sesshomaru looked like he was ready for a fight. His body felt tense and he was taking in everything his senses could give him. He waited, staring blankly at his mother who was glaring at him. Jaken had gotten off the dragon's tail and had immediately gone about blathering to the Lady Mother a hundred different platitudes she ignored. Finally he seemed to sense the tension and making an excuse, left them alone. The three way silence stayed that way for a full minute as his mother took turns glaring icily between the two of them. Sesshomaru simply brushed it off, but he felt his mate squirming next to his arm.

If course it was Rin who would speak first.

"My Lady, it's wonderful to see you again,"

Then he felt it. The smallest shift in her feet as she prepared to bow before his mother. He released her hand and quickly grabbed her arm to prevent it. His Lady bowed to no one. Rin had other ideas though. Without making it obvious she stepped on his foot in retaliation.

"She is you mother." she murmured quietly

Sesshomaru didn't care, but Rin, apparently, did. She sighed and put her hand on the one restraining her. Asking. Sesshomaru didn't like it, but he released her. She pulled away from him and stepping out of his reach she made a less formal bow, knowing without words that he would not tolerate her giving full obeisance. His mother's eyes flattened and he could smell her disapproval. She ignored Rin.

"What. Have. You. Done?" she asked flatly.

Sesshomaru felt his temper flare, but he remained outwardly calm.

"What you have been asking me to do since my father's death" he replied and enjoyed the incredulous look she couldn't control

"What I…" she repeated, then angrily, "Sesshomaru no Taisho you know perfectly well I meant…!"

She was interrupted by a masculine voice calling out to him

"Sesshomaru!"

A heavily muscled, demon who was just shorter than him quickly crossed the courtyard to join them. His Orange hair was long, like Sesshomaru's, but he wore it in a half ponytail accenting the black stripes that were on his face. His mouth was stretched wide in a grin that showed all of his very sharp teeth. Sesshomaru hadn't sensed him coming, but then he never could. The old cat was funny that way. He turned his face to his old Sensei and acknowledged him with a nod.

"General Hiroshi," Sesshomaru said before closing the gap between him and Rin. He trusted the General but he could get a little…rough with his enthusiasm. The smell of relief rose from Rin at the interruption.

"You ungrateful, neglectful, irresponsible, son of a bitch! You're back!" Master Hiroshi exclaimed happily. He was possibly the only person on the planet who could get away with insulting Sesshomaru like that and live. Probably because the old Tiger demon practically raised him and Sesshomaru had long since gotten used to his odd form of respect. Those he didn't have any for he was usually very formal with. Hiroshi got close to Sesshomaru and went to smack his lord on the arm.

Sesshomaru hadn't tolerated that sort of physical greeting since he was a pup and moved quickly out of the way, but he forgot about Rin who was standing in perfect position to receive the full impact of that "friendly" blow. Dread raced through him, but a fraction of a second later it vanished. He shouldn't have worried. He had trained Rin well and she had sensed the attack coming. Moving just as deftly as her mate, she side stepped the Sensei's punch in the opposite direction as Sesshomaru, who was now livid that she had been nearly pummeled. He let out a fierce growl to warn the tiger demon. However, Hiroshi had already realized his mistake and was immediately penitent.

"Oops! Sorry about that ningen," he said bowing to Rin in apology, "I didn't think he'd leave you open like that. It's a good thing you're quick on your feet, eh?"

Sesshomaru wanted to kill him, but Rin locked her eyes with his and smiled. He felt his anger dissipate as quickly as it had formed. Rin turned to Hiroshi.

"I had a very good teacher," she replied accepting his apology

"Sesshomaru, where are your manners you graceless whelp?" Hiroshi chastised his former pupil, "Introduce me to your lovely companion."

"Rin this is General Hiroshi. He is my advisor and the general of my armies," Sesshomaru complied, and then looking straight at his mother finished the introduction "This, is my Lady Rin"

Hiroshi froze in the act of kissing Rin's hand. Rin had tensed as well. Two sets of eyes, one yellow and one brown turned to stare at the Lord of the West, one in shock and the other questioning. Rin's expression reminded Sesshomaru that he hadn't discussed their mating with her yet. He knew she would probably be upset with him, but he didn't mind. She would forgive him. In the meantime it would give her time to think the idea over.

Hiroshi recovered his expression quickly and finished kissing Rin's hand before letting it drop, eyeing her speculatively. Sesshomaru's eyes went back to his mother who was silently fuming.

"Enough of this," Lady InuKimi suddenly ordered, "Sesshomaru…"

"General Hiroshi," Sesshomaru interrupted, "please have a maid prepare the room across from mine for the Lady Rin and then escort her there."

Hiroshi looked at the Lady Mother and understood at once what he was doing.

"Of course," he said, "If you would please come with me, my Lady"

"No" Lady InuKimi and Rin replied in unison causing both women to look at each other in surprise. Sesshomaru was no less so, and he felt heat from the defiance bubble within him. He opened his mouth to reissue his command.

"Sesshomaru, please," Rin stopped him and taking his hand said, "We will discuss my living arrangements later, in private, but I'm tired and hungry and I don't want to have this fight with your mother right now. Just let me use a guest room that's ready. Please?"

Sesshomaru sighed inwardly. It looked like she wasn't going to accept his unspoken offer quite that easily. He nodded and Hiroshi stepped up behind her. Taking her by the elbow he said.

"Don't worry pup, I'll take care of it."

Sesshomaru watched as Hiroshi charmed Rin into a laugh while he guided her away.

Sesshomaru waited. He knew his mother would voice objections, but he hoped she would at least…

"You're an idiot." She declared bluntly

Apparently not.

"Be that as it may, It is done." Sesshomaru replied coldly, "Rin is my mate. There will be no other."

"She is nothing of the kind," Lady Inukimi refuted in the same cold manner, "Unless my nose has failed me, that girl does not bear your mark. She is not your mate and she can never be your Lady. You know the law, my son. Only a full-blood yokai heir may inherit your title and lands."

He did know the law, but he thought he knew a way around it.

"This is unthinkable," his mother continued when he didn't answer, "How could you have possibly fallen this far? Humans are at best to be pitied, you know that. At your most compassionate you found them repugnant. What has happened to you, my son? Has your ningen placed some spell on you? I mean I knew you cared for the girl, but I assumed it was as a father..."

Sesshomaru stopped her.

"I am not her father," he said, with derision, "Nor have I ever pretended to or treated her as such. I am myself and I see no reason to explain myself to you. You may stay for now, but I expect your departure within the week."

Sesshomaru walked past her towards the house.

"I will be staying much longer than that, my son," she informed him icily, and he stopped. Anger at being defied built in his chest.

"I have called an assembly of the clan leaders with eligible daughters," she continued ignoring his growing hostility, "It has been agreed that the issue of your joining has been unsettled for too long. Seeing as none of the other Lords have an eligible daughter, protocol dictates that you choose from your own lands. It is time, my son. You need to take an appropriate lady and produce an heir. It is your duty and you cannot avoid it any longer if you wish to avoid bloodshed. The Clan leaders will arrive in three days and you will be given one month from then to make your selection."

Sesshomaru's anger at her high handedness was nearing the tipping point and he could barely keep himself from tearing into her. How dare she try to force him into a joining!

"You take too many liberties mother," he snarled, "I will not repeat myself. Tell the nobles to go home. The decision is made."

"It is not that simple." She snapped, and then sighed, "I…I am sorry about your Rin. Truly I am, but this is part of the pact that was made by the Five Lords of the land, of which you are now one. We only maintain peace as long as we adhere to that pact. If you choose a ningen as your mate you will be removed from your place as the Lord of the West and your clan vassals will not stop them. She will cost you everything and then she will die before a century has passed. Is that truly what you want?"

Sesshomaru's anger cooled a little, mingling with uncertainty. He knew about the pact of course, but the wording was vague enough to allow for the possibility of negotiation. It was risky. He knew the other Lord's views on humans ran similar to his own though he had always been the most vehemently opposed to them. He didn't know if he would be able to pull this off and a war could be the result. It was worrisome. Still…

"The law only states that my heirs must be full blooded Yokai. It does not say that I cannot take a human mate."

His mother smelled of frustration.

"My son, how exactly to you think you get full blooded heirs?" She asked with a trace of sarcasm and pointed in the direction Rin had walked "That woman can only give you Hanyou offspring and you know it." Her tone softened then, "I'm not telling you to get rid of her. Keep her. Make her your mate if you wish, but she cannot be your Lady. Your father knew that, It's why we..."

Sesshomaru was done.

"I will not do to Rin what father did to you," He ordered and then his voice went deadly quiet, "Stay if you want but you are to leave Rin alone. I will warn you only once mother. If you hurt her or attempt in any way to get rid of her. I will kill you."

The shocked silence confirmed his message had been clearly understood. He shoved his doubts aside and went to his rooms to clean himself and prepare for the coming of his unwelcome guests.

InuKimi watched her son walk away with sadness. He was truly prepared to risk war for that girl. She silently followed after him. Something had to be done. She knew he would hate her, probably even kill her for it, but there was no other option. He had made his choice and so hers was made for her. She would not allow her son to wed a ningen.