Chapter 13: Changing

Rin…

Her eyelashes fluttered open slowly. She blinked once then again to put the room into focused. She was laid in a spoon fashion beside Sesshoumaru. His arms rested underneath the crook of her neck. Her legs tangled in between his smooth furred ones. Her waist locked in his other arm. She could feel the slow rhythm of his heart and the warm breath on her neck every time he exhaled. They must have been sleeping for nearly half a day but it felt much longer than that.

Rin…

There it was again. The singsong voice that called her out of her dream. She looked towards the rippling of waters and stared at it for a brief moment before slowing stirring out of Sesshoumaru's embrace. She lifted his dead weighted arm from across her waist and placed it behind her slowly as to not wake him, then picked her head up from his pillowed arm and felt the moisture there from his heated skin. She wiped her neck and then ran her soaked hand on the soft sheets. Rin turned to looked at Sesshoumaru on the side of her shoulder and smiled lovingly. Never before had she experience something like this and she only wanted Sesshoumaru to give her that experience and no one else.

Rin…

She jerked her head from his soft feature and looked at the water again. Its clear liquid cascade down like flowing melody. She felt the warmth radiating from it as she moved carefully off the bed and set foot on the cool wooden floor. The water was calling her. Instead of feeling strange, she was mesmerized. As if in a trance she neared the flow of waters staring in bewilderment. All thoughts of her nakedness were toss aside. Her hand reached out towards the liquid but stopped remembering Sesshoumaru's command. Why had he told her not to touch it?

She crooked her head to her side. Her warm hand raise to her chest cupping them for comfort. She was now fully aware of her nakedness. Thinking of last night had made her blush. She felt the soreness in between her legs and cringed. She had never been so sore in her life.

Rin turn back to watch Sesshoumaru's sleeping form. He was laid on his stomach. One arms on the pillow the other beneath it. As she moved, the sheet had moved slightly from his lean back and onto the mattress. She could clearly see her fingernail mark on him. Red visible lines that had no direction, but evidence of their earlier lovemaking.

She turned around again. The water was too tempting. Finally decided, she placed one foot onto the concaved floor and then the other followed lead. She closed her eyes as warm water drop down on her. It fell easily off her head onto her shoulders and down the floor. It was like heaven to be able to feel warm water without having to boil it over a heated fire. She stuck her cupped hand out to catch whatever droplet that fell into them. In her mind she knew that the water had a sweet taste from the beginning but was still surprised that it did tasted like sweet honey, yet it was smooth as silk.

When Sesshoumaru opened his eyes the first thing he saw was his naked life-mate bathing herself. For the first time in his life he was content. She had filled the empty void in his life and in his heart and made it whole, but it was too soon to let her know that. He came up on one elbow and supported his head there. His face never wavers from the same expression that he had when he woke up. Contentment.

He wanted to watch her enjoying herself a little bit longer in her powers before he go to her. She looked like a little child playing under the rain. He liked the way her silky black hair fall pass her naked bottom as she tilted her head back to catch more water into her mouth. Just watching her had made his body harden. He wanted to have her again. Last night he was too rushed in his selfish ways. The next time he'd go slower, bring her need above his own, like it should have been.

Sesshoumaru sent a small caress across her mind. She felt the touch and turn around to the person who had touched her mentally. Her hand instantly covered her front. Sesshoumaru sent an invisible wave around her, gripping her wrists and bringing them to the side. She grasped and laughed. His lips lifted to a sensual smile.

"Sesshoumaru let me go," she said laughing to hide her embarrassment. She watched as he made his way across the bed. She couldn't stop staring at his powerfully built form, his strong posture, and his devilish grin. His movement was silent and fluid as he took the few steps to reach her.

"You're beautiful," he said and took her mouth furiously. His large hand cupped her head to bring her closer. The droplets of water cascade down his body like a flowing river. As their kiss deepened, Rin could feel his hard length pressing against her belly. She moaned into his mouth as he pulled her tighter to him.

Thenshe stopped abruptly which caused Sesshoumaru to lift his head. He watched as her face twisted into agonizing pain. Her body weakened and she found herself collapsed in his arm.

"Sesshoumaru what is … happening to me?" her voice was hoarse and out of breath. He sat in the pool of water and cradled her against his chest. He couldn't believe that this was happening. It was too fast for her to comprehend the life of a youkai, especially the mate of a taiyoukai. Had he paid more attention to the cycle of the moon it would have been different; he would've been more prepared. But everything with her was a surprise to him.

He kissed her tenderly once on her forehead and then pressed her head to his chest holding her there. Sesshoumaru looked up to the ceiling though the falling waters. He grabbed the liquid in a tight fist and threw whatever he was able to catch in his free hand up towards the ceiling. It splashed and sang a nice chime wherever it touches.

He felt her confused mind searching for answers. Her body felt different somehow. It was as if it was changing without her consent. Her once calmed heart started to increase its pace.

Calm your heart Rin…

"How could I Sesshoumaru?" She said frantically as she felt her hair growing out of her head in a rapid speed. Its silver mane grew to the same length as her silken black hair. It stopped pass her waist. She stared at her short stubby hands and found it to be a lot lovelier than it were before and fingernails. She had fingernails! For the longest time her nails would not grow. But she frowned as she watched her nails. It wasn't regular nails at all. It was a bit too yellow for her taste with sharp ends. She almost gagged.

Listen to mine and follow the steady beats. He told her mentally and felt her taking her focus from her nails and back to him. He soothed her as her heart begun its steady beat. That's it. Now take deep breathes, slowly. That's right. You're doing well. This will all be over soon.

She listened to his calm honeyed voice in her mind. The idea of him talking in her mind was too sensual and so intimate. She would be content just to listen to him running though her head like that.

She looked up at his bent head. "What is happening to me?" she repeated. He only whispered a couple of words, ancient and old and beautiful. Then suddenly she turned her head up and saw that the ceiling starting to disappear and turned into something else. She couldn't believe her eyes. She gasped. The pool of water that she was in just a week ago was right above her. She was staring at fishes that swam freely and floating water lilies. How can this be? A floating pool? And just above her head of all things.

"How….why…whaaaa…? Argh," she grunted. "Its here again, Sess…" She groan. Her stomach twisted and turned. She could almost hear her bone cracked and then an intense pain surge through her body. She cried as she struggled to stop the intrusion in her body. It felt like falling down from a tall tree and onto hard ground.

He knew she was in immense pain. This was one of the reasons he stayed away from her for so long even when his body screamed to take her all these years. His heart twisted. He wouldn't wish this on anyone especially on his lifemate, however what's done is done. He knew what was to be expected when he took a mate.

Minutes felt like hours to the both of them. Rin finally gave in to what was happening to her and closed her eyes with a sigh. She'll question him further when she wakes. Right now all she wanted was sleep. Her body begun to relax. The last thing she remembered was Sesshoumaru's beautiful voice in her mind. Mine. And she heard nothing else.

Rin body went limp in his arms. Sesshoumaru hugged her tighter wishing the transition would end soon. He whispered tender words in her ears to soothe away her pain, anything that would help. She'll be a youkai and soon his for all lifetime. He looked down at her small face. A faint glow of a half moon appeared like a bump on her forehead and instantly faded away. He sighed. He listened to her slow and even breathing and let out that breath that he didn't know he was holding.

She had completed the first transition without any complication.

My heart. He was scared shitless. Scared that the transition would be too hard on her, would ruin her or even….he didn't even want to think of the last thing.

In his lifetime, he has seen many taiyouki who had tried to transition their human mate. Most were also small like his Rin, however most didn't make it through the first transition; while others didn't even last a year. He'll make sure that none of that will happen to his Rin, even if he has to go into the pits of Hades.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. He shouldn't think that way. Although Rin was small, she is one of the strongest human he have had met.

The second transition will start in the next three days and then on the fifth day she will become a full transformed youkai. She had become his life source and his her's. If anything should happen to either of them, neither one will survive very long without the other. This was the way of a taiyoukai lifemate.

Sessoumaru crossed the short distant from the pool to the bed and place Rin's sleeping form onto the mattress. She will be awake in an hour or so, so he must prepare for what was to come next. She would want an explanation. One that he wasn't ready to give but knew that he had to.

The Demon Lord placed a gentle kiss on the top of the person who now held his heart and soul. He walked to the door. Again it slides open and close behind him without him having to touch it. Once outside Sesshoumaru stared at the door. He whispered a few choice words and waited. The small cracks on the door groan and sealed itself locking the person inside. This way, no one will be able to disturb Rin, he thought.

Sesshoumaru made his way towards the chamber that he had occupied the first few days he brought Rin back to him. This room had more décor than the others. It used to be occupied by his father. Why he had picked this room out of all the others he doesn't know.

He made his way around the room to the small table that sat just two feet above the tatami mats. Around it sat red square seating cushion. Sesshumaru sat on one of them and crossed his legs.

"Milord?" The small Demon said behind closed sliding doors. The toad sat in a bowed position. Sesshomaru sighed. He didn't really expect to be disturbed this soon.

"What is it Jaken?"

Upon hearing his Master's voice, he answered, "Is there anything that I can get you?"

"No." Came the curt reply.

"Very well, please send for me if you should-"

"Jaken?"

"Yes, Milord?"

"Any news about the miniature white castle?" Silence.

On the other side Jaken hesitated. The last time his Lord asked about the miniature and received negative answer, he was thrown out the window into the swamps below. He was already there not too long ago when he was playing with Kenshin and was not ready to visit the swamps too soon. However, he couldn't lie to his lord and master.

"Jaken?"

"N….no milord." He said and flinched. Waiting for the object to fly through the rice paper doors and on to his head, but nothing came. Not even a single bellow. "Master?"

"You may go." His order was so soft and subtle that he didn't even realized that his lord had spoken to him.

Jaken stood up hesitantly. Afraid to question his master if he had really meant to dismiss him. His little mind was filled with confusion. His master was out of character. Jaken was never dismissed so easily without anything being thrown towards him or hit him. But then again, since his Lord encountered Rin at the marketplace his master hadn't been acting like himself.

Jaken scurried to adjust his yukata and turned to leave. The moment he turned, he heard his name being called on the other side of the screen doors. Jaken turned around and sat in his formal bowed position.

"Milord?"

"Come inside."

Jaken slide the doors and crawled slowly inside. "Milord-" was all he was able to say before he was sent flying out the opened doors and onto the hallway. After him was a medium side Chinese vase knocking him on the side of the head.

"Come to me with good messages next time. Now go."

Jaken scrambled to get up but failed. He was still a bit dizzy. He could already feel the slow pink bump that was forming on the side of this head. Jaken tried getting up again. This time he succeeds.

"Yes Milord," he replied softly and walked off using the wall as his balance beam.

Now, why did he ever thought his master was out of character?

Sesshomaru watch as Jaken little small form disappeared. He sighed again and figure that he should catch some sleep before facing his next challenge—how to explain everything to his lifemate.

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T.B.C.

Hello Everyone,

I apologize for not updating for a long time. Life had caught up with me and I wasn't able to write as much as I would love to. I hope this will fill in the gaps that I had made and wished that this chapter satified a little.

I also wanted to thank all the old readers who look forward for the continuation of each chapters and the new ones who decided to give my story a try. Thanks again for all the WONDERFUL and ENCOURAGING reviews!!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (to those who doesn't celebrate X-mas), and a Happy New Year!

Many hugs and kisses,

Suga Plum