Woo Hoo! updates!... during class :P I'm a bad example...

But enjoy!

A deep sigh escaped the demon as he moved throughout the manor. Countless meetings and encounters with several other demons and rulers from lands occupied most if not all of his time for the past three weeks, taking him away from the young woman he wanted desperately to talk too.

She was healing splendidly, now walking and active with her cousin and InuYasha, able to remain awake without drowsy or dizziness. Her body did wince once or twice, but the time for recovery was diminishing and less painful each time.

The demon had worried that she may not wake up after the first night, that it would be the last time he got to speak to her, got to kiss her, to hold her. His worries were for naught as he woke to Kagome and InuYasha tightly hugging her, her own hands running over the back of their heads with a small smile on her face.

Since then that smile had been immoveable, InuYasha and Kagome spending their time in the gardens outside Rin's room, her deep brown eyes always watching over them. Eventually, she moved to sit on the wooden planks to watch them before being able to walk out and join them, clearly enjoying the ability to move about in the snow without a thick coat or a horrendous wind. Winters were always mild where the demon lived, something the four of them were thankful for.

Sesshomaru peeked into the room where his little brother slept peacefully, Kagome in the room next to him, her sleep just as deep. Lifting his brow, the demon found it odd that her elder cousin was not in the room sleeping with her, Rin usually asleep before the children due to her fatigue.

InuYasha and Kagome were fitting in rather well, the servants of the manor all informed never to mock their heritage, not one of his subordinates daring to cross the now Lord of the Western Lands. His father's death was met with mostly sadness from the other Lords and Ladies, his claim of his predecessor's lands having no resistance from them. There was only one issue that was brought up, and issue he immediately rectified.

The door slid softly shut behind the demon as he moved through the quiet manor, his senses looking for the young woman who had so easily captured him. Turning towards the eastern side of the house, Sesshomaru was silent as he finally saw her sitting outside, her face to the moon and the mountains, the only boarder separating where she was now and where she had lived all her life.

Amber eyes looked over the woman who hadn't taken noticed of his presence. She looked almost otherworldly in the moon's light, her face seeming paler, her lashes blacker and longer, framing her soft eyes and relaxed features.

"Rin?"

The young woman turned to look at him, her face still reflected in the moon was she watched him approach her gently, his body folding to sit beside her.

"How are you feeling?" Sesshomaru asked quietly, his eyes roaming her slim form for any inclination of her state of health.

"Better," she murmured, her eyes turning from him to look back towards the mountain, her eyes seemingly distant, "tired."

"Then you should retire," the demon told her softly, "you shouldn't push yourself further than you can."

"I know," the young woman sighed, her face still wistful and faraway.

"Rin?"

"Hm?" the dark eyes turned to look at him, "sorry… my mind's in other places…"

"Back in the mountains?" Sesshomaru pressed, his head tilted slightly while she nodded slowly.

"It's just an adjustment," Rin admitted, "I've been isolated for so long, I've almost forgotten what it's like to be in the company of others."

"I understand," he murmured, "will you two be going back?"

"I doubt there's anything to go back too," the young woman confessed quietly, "besides, Kagome is so happy here…"

"Are you?"

Her brown eyes searched his, the demon showing neither hate nor distain for her, only concern and compassion.

For the first time in the night, Sesshomaru saw her truly smile.

"Yeah," she nodded, "I'd have to say I am," her head came to rest on his shoulder, "with you… and them…" dark eyes flickered up to the demon, "what about you?"

"Happier than I could've dreamed," he confessed, his lips to her temples, his eyes closing as he inhaled her relaxing scent deeply.

"Sesshomaru…"

The demon pulled back to look her in the eye, his deep amber searching her innocent chocolate.

"Rin," Sesshomaru began, his arms sliding to face her, "tell me… do you… do you love me?"

She was taken aback by the question, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Wh… Why are you asking me?" the young woman whispered quietly, nervousness suddenly filling her system.

His fingers gently reached to stroke her cheeks, the tips running over her alabaster flesh.

"I need to know," was all he told her, his eyes sincere.

She swallowed thickly, her heart beating harder in her breast as she thought of what to say.

"I… I let you share my bed," Rin whispered, "when you're near, I can't think straight," her hand reached to clutch at the kimono over her chest, "and my heart won't start beating… I keep thinking you hear it. It's hard for me to breathe when you're around me and… and," her eyes looked up at his, "and I want nothing more than to be with you."

The white hair slipped his over his shoulder as his head tilted.

"Rin…"

His finger slid under her chin, the warmth of his amber orbs taking her breath away.

"Knowing this… will… will you stay here… with me?"

Nothing but the wind could be heard as Rin searched the sincere eyes, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.

"Rin," Sesshomaru broke the silence, his hand reaching to take hers, "I'm asking you to marry me."

The young woman felt her eyes widen in shock at the words, her jaw slack slightly as she reminded herself to breathe.

"Wh… Why me?" she finally whispered, "y-you can have any woman you want-"

"Is that a no?" he asked, his eyes watching hers with interest.

"NO!"

The outburst came as a surprise to the both of them, her cheeks flushing red as she turned to where the other two were sleeping, thankful she had not disturbed him.

"Th… That's not the issue," Rin admitted quietly, "I-I mean… do-do you really want me? A human with no background… when you could have a demon from a predominate family?"

"There isn't anyone else I could desire," Sesshomaru whispered, his fingers running over her cheeks, "Rin… you are kind and cared for my brother and I when there was nowhere for us to go," his lips ghosted over hers, "if you think my emotions only bloomed because of our proximity, you couldn't be more wrong."

"You promise me?" she dared to ask, tears of hope blooming in her eyes, "that after months and years go by, you'll still feel the same?"

"I can't," he murmured, "I know my love for you will only grow stronger."

"Really?"

"You doubt me?" Sesshomaru teased, a small smile on his lips as they pressed to hers, her eyes fluttering shut at the touch.

"Not for a second," Rin smiled up at him, her hands cupping his cheeks, her thumb running over the dark marks on his cheeks.

"I'll always want you," the demon told her, "until the day I die, I will desire you. You and any children you wish to give me."

"Even if they're half demons?"

"Even then."

The young woman couldn't stop the smile on her face, her tears that of happiness.

"Then… Lord Sesshomaru," her arms slid around his shoulders, "I would be honoured to be your wife… nothing would make me happier."

"No, Lady Rin," his lips pressed against hers passionately, "I am the one who is overjoyed to have you in my life."

Giggling, the young woman felt her body flip to the wood, her black hair spilt over the dark brown, the deep chocolate of her eyes shining with happiness up at him.

She'd never imagine being with a handsome and imperious demon such as he but now, she couldn't think of a life without him. Lips met and fingers tugged at her kimono, her flesh illuminated by the moon.

"Se… Sesshomaru," Rin whispered as his tongue found her throat, "w… wait!"

"Why?" he pressed, his breath ghosting over her skin, "it's been too long, I need to have you again."

"I'm not saying no," she teased, her body curling to kiss him, "but what if InuYasha and Kagome come out to investigate?"

His amber eyes flickered to the doorways where their youngers slept, blissfully unaware of their devious antics.

Smirking, the demon hoisted the slim form into his strong arms, a small squeak of surprise escaping her lips.

"Sesshomaru!"

"You were the one who said you didn't want them to find us," he murmured, "and you also told me you didn't want to stop."

Her stunned face morphed into a soft laugh, her lips pressing against his as her arms squeezed his back.

"Cheeky," she muttered, the demon chuckling as he kissed her.

"You might want to know who you're going to marry," Sesshomaru pointed out.

"I already do," Rin smiled warmly, "someone who's brave, strong, handsome…"

"You sound like you love this man," the demon teased, "I might get jealous."

"Would you?" she giggled, "I can understand why. He's quite admirable."

"Well, you'll just have to settle for me," Sesshomaru told her softly, chuckling as he moved her to his private quarters.

"Oh no," the young woman mocked, "how shall I survive?"

"I don't know," the demon murmured, his fingers gently skimming over her sides, the silken kimono she was dressed in falling to the wood, her naked form exposed to his hungry eyes piece by piece, his nose lowering to run over her soft flesh, "how shall you?"

"With you."

Sesshomaru looked up at the young woman, her lips pulling into a warm smile while her fingers ran through his long locks.

"I'll live, happily, with you," she repeated, her body curling up to his him once more, "you and InuYasha and Kagome."

The demon looked up at his to-be-wife, feeling her smile stir something within him. He had despised his brother from the moment he learned of the half-demon's conception; a life with him was something the elder brother would have done anything to obtain. He had hated humans almost as much, thought them weak and pathetic, horrible creatures that shouldn't have survived for as long as they did.

His thoughts were all undone when he met her, everything he believed about her kind was proven false by her treatment of him, how kind and generous she was.

How much he loved her.

"And I with the three of you," the demon murmured as he lowered the two of them to the ground, his body hovering over hers while his lips skimmed her creamy throat.

She sighed softly, his own breath ghosting over her flesh, his eyes watching her exposed chest swell to meet his long fingertips.

"Rin…"

"BIG BROTHER!? RIN!?"

Both adults froze at the sound of the calling voices, their heads looking towards the door before back to each other, Rin with her hair splayed out over the wooden floor and her kimono opened to the demon's lecherous eyes, her chest and stomach exposed while he was over her, his silver locks slipped over his shoulders and pooling on the ground beside his wife-to-be.

"Sesshomaru," Rin murmured, "can you let me up? I don't want InuYasha and Kagome to see me like this…"

"Of course," the demon nodded, his fingers extended for her to take, his body sitting back off hers. "Although," he started, his arm pulling her to his chest, eliciting a small squeak of surprise, "while I understand your reason, I don't want anyone to see you like that."

"Don't worry," she whispered, kissing his markings, "no one else will."

Feeling a smile settle on his lips, the demon regrettably stood from her, ensuring she had straightened herself before he opened the door to two very curious and tired-looking children.

"Big brother?" InuYasha asked looking up at his elder, Kagome standing behind him peering around the demon to her cousin.

"Yes, InuYasha?" Sesshomaru asked, standing aside so the little girl could hug the young woman she was so concerned about, "what did you want?"

"We didn't see you 'fore we went to sleep, and when we woke up, Rin wan't there," he seemed to fidget in embarrassment, "we got worried…"

"You two should be in bed," the demon murmured, "but we're both fine, you can go back to sleep."

"Mmm…" the boy hummed, his hands coming around his brother's legs, his eyes looking towards Rin, "Ms. Rin…?"

"I'm fine InuYasha," Rin reassured him for the umpteenth time in the day, "I'd tell you kids if I wasn't."

"You sure?" Kagome piped up, her eyes looking up at her cousin.

"Yes," the young woman nodded, "what made you think I wasn't?"

"Cause you forgot where you sleep," the little girl informed them matter-of-factly, Rin's ebbing blush returning in full force.

"I… didn't," the young woman mumbled, "I… was talking to Sesshomaru about… something important…"

"Like wha?" InuYasha asked, his head turning to the demon who sat beside his half-brother.

"Do you remember when I told you I had a meeting today?" the demon started slowly, his brother's face turning sour as he nodded.

"Yeah," he mumbled, "you said you'd have too when we got home… s'bout you getting married… right?"

"It was," Sesshomaru nodded slowly, the half-demon looking downcast.

"So… when do I meet her?" the boy asked, deliberately looking away from a now worried Kagome.

"You already have," the demon told his brother, the half-demon looking up at his elder in confusion. "When I went to the meeting, it was to tell them that I couldn't marry the other demon because I'm going to marry somebody else."

"Who?" InuYasha asked, "big brother! Tell me! Who is it?"

Sesshomaru remained silent as the younger bounced around him, his amber eyes flickering up to the young woman who sat with her cousin in her lap, the half-demon following his elder's eyes to Rin, Kagome looking up at her cousin as well.

"Me," was all Rin murmured with a happy smile before both children ran towards her, giggling and laughing along with the young woman.

Sesshomaru felt the familiar smile creep back onto his lips as he listened to the cries of how happy and excited they were to finally be an official family, for InuYasha and Kagome to meet the babies they wanted Rin to have and how much they loved both of their elders.

"So… we're not going back then!?" Kagome asked after a moment, excitement in her voice at the prospect of never having to return to the cold.

"Of course not," Rin shook her head, her eyes looking towards the dog demon who settled next to her, "we're home, after all."

So? What do you guys think? Lemme know!