So, much to my shameful internet's delight, most of what I'd had written for this chapter was lost in the great internet abyss when I attempted to save it right as my internet decided to go down. -.-
I can't say that was very pleasing, especially since I was in such a good flow with this chapter. So if you read some of it and think, 'wow this seems a bit forced', IT'S BECAUSE I ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE AN AWESOME CHAPTER AND HAVE POSSIBLY FAILED MISERABLY. So I hope you all like it, if not then my internet and I apologize for the smeh-ness of it all. :(

The rest of the drive home was made in almost complete silence. Except for the huffing and irritated puffing of Kagome in the seat next to me, I might have forgotten she was with me. I was so focused on the roads and keeping away from as much traffic as possible, I ended up taking several detours before we finally made it close enough to the manor that the city lights faded away into the background. The only thing that lit our path along the ever extending blackness was the headlights shining brightly into the darkness, almost as if those beams could keep away whatever lurked beyond the safety of the vehicle.

You know what's lurking out there. He's big and bad and is probably super angry with you.

I sighed to myself, letting my inner monologue chastise me for my reckless behavior. And was it actually so reckless? I'd gone out with Kagome to shop around for clothing that fit her. It shouldn't have been a big deal, but I knew Sesshomaru might not want me out on a girls trip without the proper escorts, so I'd stolen from the manor like a thief in the night, wanting nothing more than a semblance of normalcy, even if my life wasn't like that anymore.

See? Reckless, you putz.

I sighed again, this time loudly enough that my companion turned to my direction and spoke up.

"I think we should get married as soon as possible." I cast a wary glance in her direction before plastering a smile on my face.

"Listen Kagome, I love you and everything, but I'm pretty sure if I married you that it wouldn't even be legal. Not to mention you're not my type." Long silver haired gods were my type, unfortunately for my health and mental stability.

Man, I couldn't even make it more than 30 minute without hearing his voice and I found myself missing him more than I had earlier in the day. What a sad excuse of a modern woman I was.

"Oh haha." Kagome smacked my arm, causing the wheel to tug slightly to the right before I got it fully back under control. I cast her an anxious glance, unbelieving she'd hit me so hard I could have lost control of the car. Ignoring my angry glare, Kagome fluffed her hair while looking into a mirror, making sure all the strands were in place when she came home to Inuyasha. "I'm serious about us getting these marriages out of the way. I don't want to get married and look more like a balloon."

"I thought you were wanting to wait until you had the baby before you got married?" Hadn't she just mentioned that earlier in the day?

"Yeah, I thought about it, but no way am I having this kid out of wedlock. Inuyasha hasn't mated with me like Sesshomaru has with you, so I think I need more assurance than his word."

"But isn't his word what should really matter?"

"Oh Rin. You're so young!"

"I'm like a year younger than you." Besides, I was practically married already. Didn't that make me the more mature one just on principle?

Then I remembered two days ago snorting a sip of coca-cola out of my nostril because Sesshomaru had made me laugh about something ridiculous mid-drink. He'd been acting all graceful and smooth, his general demeanor, but had ended up slipping on a white piece of paper that blended in with the white tile, causing him to slide half a foot. Trying to catch himself, he'd completely forgotten about the bowl of chili in his hands, which splattered all over his crisp, silk white button up shirt and landed all over his pants as well.

I'd been so hysterical that I'd cried for a solid two minutes, completely ignoring the menacing demeanor my mate had on when he sauntered in my direction. Then he'd smacked me in the face with a pillow from the couch in the living room.

I shook my head, trying my best not to laugh as I remembered everything from the night before.

So I supposed being married didn't necessarily mean anyone was more mature than the other. STILL. Kagome needed to make up her damn mind.

"Okay, look." I said aloud, cutting off Kagome's babbling. "We need to figure out what to do about this whole thing. Either we get married ASAP, which is fine with me, or we wait until you pop this little guy, or girl, out and then get married, which is also fine with me. Whichever decision you choose, I support. But time is ticking little lady, so you better have a decision for me by the time I park this car at the manor, do you understand?"

"Yes, mom." Kagome rolled her eyes before poking her tongue out at me and crossing her arms in front of her chest, mimicking me perfectly when I was younger.

"Thank you, young lady."

Too soon we crept up the long gravel drive, past the main gate. I crept the car further, hoping to go slow, but not so slow it would be discernible to anyone, ahem Sesshomaru, who might have been watching. Once the wheels hit smooth concrete, I knew there was no escaping what lurked within the entry way.

Would he be waiting to pounce on me as soon as I walked through the door? Or would he be playing it cool and no where to be found, ensuring I'd have to hunt him down just so he could reprimand me? Hmmm. The possibilities could have been endless.

Kagome and I stepped from the car, both moving for the clothing items before Kagome thought better of it and smiled in my direction. "All this lifting could be bad for the baby. I'm sure Inuyasha wouldn't mind carrying a few bags for me, would he?"

Man, Kagome was vicious. There must have been at least a dozen bags of various sizes and heaviness, but I supposed Inuyasha knew what he was getting in to with this marriage, so why not?

"They're your bags. My flimsy sacks are nothing compared to the greatness that is now your wardrobe."

Kagome adjusted her new outfit and smiled back at me. "And don't you forget it, missy."

I snorted and rolled my eyes as she practically pranced up the stone steps leading inside.

"Wait! You didn't tell me your answer on when it's all going to take place."

"Oh yeah!" Kagome turned around and gave me a thumbs up. What was that supposed to mean? "Let's do this as soon as possible! I'm thinking like next week. Maybe sooner! I can't get fitted for a dress if this thing keeps growing so fast!" And with that she pushed open the door and stepped inside, the light from the entryway shining down on me like a homing beacon.

Next week? NEXT WEEK?!

Holy crap, there was going to be so much to do! Dresses, rings, tuxedos, flowers, bouquets, caterers, decorators, wedding planners and more. She wanted to get all of that done in a week?! We didn't even have a location picked out, unless we just used the ballroom in the main manor house, which would make sense and hopefully wouldn't be a problem if there were going to be guests arriving.

Then again, how many guests would there actually be? Kagome and I didn't plan on inviting anyone. Not my aunt, that was for sure. I'd rather have a damn heart attack in my 20s then ever see that retched woman again in my life.

I sighed, woeful at the prospect of planning a wedding in less than a months time. It would be one thing if I had plenty of time to plan. Then I'd be floating on a cloud of excitement about pending nuptials. Instead, I was already dreading the next several days as I trudged up the stairs, following after Kagome's faint footsteps that led into the mansion.

"Rin."

Sesshomaru's voice sent trimmers of delight up my spine, the tingling sensation spreading all the way to the top of my head, making me feel light and airy.

Part of me hoped that one day the tingly sensation would stop, mostly because it was incredibly unnerving, but another part of me felt that the shock losing its touch would be the bond weakening, and I definitely didn't want that.

"Hey, Sesshomaru." I walked up to him and planted a kiss softly to his lips, pretending to not notice the stiffness in his shoulders, or the slight growl that left his lips when I slipped away from him, as if he was reluctant to let me step away from him.

"I assume the shopping was uneventful." He took my small bags and deposited them onto a nearby table top, careful of the contents within.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you we were going out," I looked him in the eye before running my hands through my hair and sighing. "I know being safe is a high priority, especially for you after everything that's happened since we met, but all the guarding is driving me crazy. I mean, like completely bonkers." I threw my hands into the air to emphasize my point. "If you're not with me, you've got at least two other demons hanging around, barely giving me enough room to breathe. I don't even want to the leave the property, because of the constant shadowing. So this morning Kagome was feeling down in the dumps because none of her clothes fit," at that point my words were blowing by at a mile a minute and I was barely inhaling as I spoke. "so I figured, why not just go out on the town, just the two of us? So I did. And I should have told you, obviously and I wanted to, but I also knew you'd tightened the reigns and make whoever was around come with us and I didn't want that. So yes, it was diabolical and mean and I shouldn't have done it, and I'm sorry it hurt your feelings, but I needed a breather, so I took one."

I took a deep breath all at once, settling down into a chair and smiling wanly up at him.

"Perhaps you were right in keeping this to yourself."

"I'm sorry... What?" Surely he hadn't just agreed with me. There couldn't have been any way I'd actually avoided an argument, especially when I'd come out on top right through the gate.

"Perhaps I have been too possessive with your safety as of late."

"Exactly," I agreed, although I felt like something disastrous was on the verge of happening. I narrowed my eyes at him. "So you know that maybe it's time to reign in all the demonic bodyguards?"

"I would give you human bodyguards if I thought they were capable of fending off Naraku." I rolled my eyes.

"So why are you being so agreeable about all of this now? You've been pretty adamant about my safety since the incident with Naraku."

"Since you were almost murdered?" His lip lifted into a silent snarl before his normal blank expression settled over his features. I shrugged my shoulders, trying to not think about everything that had happened a few months ago.

"Well... Yeah. I mean, I understand why you're nervous about something else happening, but we both know becoming mates has probably kept Naraku from getting inside my mind. And I can bet that he won't be getting in there again. I'm stronger now than I was then." Because of you, I wanted to say.

The thought passed between us regardless of whether or not I said it aloud, and my cheeks heated with the intimacy behind the act. In fact, other parts of me were beginning to heat from the nearness of Sesshomaru.

He was wearing a slate grey suit, a black silk shirt and a deep purple silk tie. My mouth dried the same time my womb clenched, making me well aware that I hadn't been with Sesshomaru sexually in nearly 24 hours, which had to have been the longest we'd gone without sex since we became mated.

His eyes flashed red before settling back to their normal golden hue and my expression turned from lust to one of confusion.

Why had he agreed so quickly with me about dropping the body guards?

"Wait. What's the catch to ditching the guards?" My tone held a definite amount of suspicion in it.

"My mother has become adamant that meeting you is a priority."

My mouth dropped open in shock. His mother? Oh God.

"I take it you've decided she and I will be meeting soon?" My heart skipped a beat, almost as if it could sense impending doom.

It was a well known fact that Sesshomaru's mother was not fond of humans, especially after Lord Inu Taisho had left her for one and had a second son, something Sesshomaru's mother was never able to grant him.

"I understand your hesitation, but a meeting will be necessary at some point before our wedding, whenever a date is decided."

Oh God, I thought in more earnest. I was going to have to plan a wedding in week and also meet a woman who could snap me like a twig with one hand tied behind her back?

"About the wedding... Kagome has decided she wants us all to get married before the child is born, and she has decided that sooner is definitely better than later. So I guess I'm going to meet your mother and possibly be eaten right after I find a wedding dress and get all this planned out."

"Do you believe I would ever allow another to harm you?" I rolled my eyes at his condescending tone.

"Of course not. Although it is a bit concerning knowing that you might turn into a giant demonic dog and devour your own mom if she tries to kill me." Instantly I thought of a giant, white cartoon dog taking a big bite out of an anonymous woman. The thought was so vivid and sudden I nearly burst into laughter. As it was, a snicker slipped past me and Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows at me, indicating he was also sharing the image with me.

"My mother isn't a concern at the moment." He stepped closer to me, looming over until I looked up into his eyes. "Kagome is certain of her decision, but are you? Anytime you desire to wed, we will do so, however, I am not one to cow down to the wishes of others, especially if their decision does not work well enough with you."

"Aw, that's the sweetest thing you've said to me all day."

"This is the first time we've spoken since I left for work."

I stood up, heat filling my gaze as I looked at him. "I need you." I whispered the words up at him, enjoying the way his eyes shifted colors and his nostrils flared in anticipation. Then he was swinging me up into his arms and we were consumed by a white light. A moment later the light was gone and we were over a mile away from the mansion, in Sesshomaru's own home, my back pressing against the mattress to our bed.

"Then you will have me." He didn't waste any more time as his lips met mine, leaving no more room for talking.

I stay up too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say
That's what people say

I twirled around in a giant circle, my socks helping me to slide around on the hardwood floors in one of the living rooms. I was currently trying to find a pair of shoes I'd intended to wear and instead my iPod had lulled me into a dance frenzy. That, plus the thick socks I had on were making sliding around the living room and rocking out to T-Swift well worth a day to myself.

I go on too many dates
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say
That's what people say

I flung my arms out as I spun, singing at the top of my lungs as the beat kept a steady rhythm. I swayed my hips to the frantic beat, hoping to keep my body in tune with the music. I couldn't say that I was generally such a big fan of Taylor Swift's love ballads, but this song made me want to dance and have no cares in the world, and that was something magical when it came to music. I had no problem relishing the music and blasting the volume as high as it would go, closing my eyes and spinning around to face the other room where my shoes might have been hiding.

But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright

Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off

I shook my hands like I was getting rid of something pesky. As I did this and sang, I wandered into the next room, a large dining area full of deep mahogany furniture and plush white carpet that practically dared someone to spill a drop of red wine on it.

Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, Shake it off

I never miss a beat
I'm lighting up my feet

I jumped on my tip toes before jumping forward.

And that's what they don't see
That's what they don't see

I shook my finger in agreement.

I'm dancing on my own
I make the moves as I go
And that's what they don't know
That's what they don't know
But I keep cruising

Can't stop, won't stop grooving
It's like I got this music
In my mind, saying it's gonna be alright
Cause the players gonna play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off, Shake it off

Hey, hey, hey
Just think while you been getting down and out about the liars
And the dirty dirty cheats of the world
You could have been getting down to this sick beat

My ex man brought his new girlfriend
She's like oh my god
But I'm just gonna shake
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won't you come on over baby we could shake, shake

Cause the players gonna play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake
Shake it off. Shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake
Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

I turned again, squealing in shock as I took in the large figure before me. I threw my hand over my heart and sucked in a deep breath, feeling immediately light headed and thrown off my game.

I ripped my headphones from my ears, barely paying attention as they dangled at my sides, still playing the last of that Taylor Swift song.

"What are you doing home?"

Sesshomaru smirked at me, setting down a briefcase that had been clutched casually in his hand. Stepping closer to me, Sesshomaru began to adjust his tie, before removing it and letting it drop to the floor. Next came his suit jacket. Then he began to unbutton his shirt, all the while moving with an animal like grace in my direction.

Shake it off, Shake it off
Shake it off
Shake it off

"Um. Sesshomaru?" My voice came out softly, almost like I couldn't believe what was happening to me. Which I couldn't. Wasn't he supposed to be at work for another six hours? I would have looked at my watch for the current time, but I was afraid of looking away for an instant, only to find him gone when I looked back up.

Shake it off

His shirt came away from him, sinking leisurely to the floor, almost like it was on a cloud. His muscular chest was exposed, flexing as he reached out for me, his hand caressing the side of my face.

Shake it off

"I have need of you."

"Oh," was all I could think to say. Which was enough as he lowered his head to mine.

Yay, I finally managed to do two chapters in like a month! I'm definitely trying to get back into writing more frequently, but life has a way of taking up a lot of my writing time lately. On the bright side, I got a new job and am already getting promoted! On the night so bright side, it's very time consuming, though rewarding. ANYWHO, here is to hoping I'm able to keep this writing streak going and I'm also able to keep everyone interested :)

Feel free to leave any comments for me, I always love to read them :)