AN: This is a short chapter... Please bear with me- next chapter things get dramatic again. Many thanks for the reviews and follows ^_^
Also kindly note I will be ending this story soon... Enjoy!
00000
Cradling her son in the nursery an hour later Rin was in a daze. Sakuya had just finished eating and she had changed his cloth diaper. While Botan tried somewhat successfully to corral the toddlers. They were all growing very fast- most of them were already beginning to talk even- which according to Botan was something that mortal children did not do so early in life.
Her eyes lowered to her son- who was gazing her with a serious expression on his little face. He reached up and tugged a bit of chocolate colored hair that had escaped from her elaborate bun. Too much had happened in the last few weeks that she was feeling drained. Still her heart pounded overfast from meeting Sesshoumaru's Mother-
"What is it my dearest?" she murmured sweetly, bending to kiss his little plump cheeks. Sakuya laughed and gurgled, waving his little fists. Rin wondered when Sesshoumaru's Mother would come to see Sakuya no doubt soon- since….
"I heard from Tsukssa that Sesshoumaru's Mother likes you very much" Botan said coming over to Rin and taking Sakuya from her arms. The baby fussed for the moment before he settled into the fragrant warmth of Botan's arms.
"I wouldn't quite say that Botan" Rin looked up at the demoness with worry in her eyes "I think I was a bit…" she searched for the word "impertinent. But I couldn't help it, she is very overwhelming and so very tall!"
Botan giggled "You did well, do not fret" she rose and set Sakuya in his crib "when we are done here, would you like to go for a walk in the gardens? Setsuna has told me that there is a new set of gardens he has added to when Alack and Tasogare-sama first came. Maybe you can sit somewhere and read or perhaps play your kugo. I know you haven't in some time"
It was true- Rin now had little time for her hobbies. Too much had happened in the last few weeks.
"I must check on Alack-sama's wings first"
"No Rin-Sesshoumaru's Mother will tend to him."
"Oh alright" Rin said with a little smile.
00000
"Jaken, it seems we meet again" Setsuna said gently as the small kappa youkai strode into Alack's busy room. The Avatar was changing the bandages that were wrapped about his wings- Alack lay unconscious while his three son's lay curled on a futon a short distance away fast asleep. Though it was only the late afternoon it had been a stressful day for all of them with the appearance of the assasian the night before. Setsuna knew that as they spoke, Sesshoumaru and the rest of his family were interrogating the mortal named Kou. The Avatar felt no sorrow or pain for the mortal. He would have been happier to see him dead- but Sesshoumaru would not have it. Apparently he was 'valuable' at least for now….
"So we do Avatar." The diminutive demon replied.
"Did your little plan work? I led Rin to Sesshoumaru-kun's room as you requested" Setsuna asked anyway even though he knew the answer full well.
The youkai's eyes glittered wickedly "I believe it worked well enough"
Setsuna recalled their two haggard faces that morning a few days previous and snorted with laughter "How long do you continue to fuel the Heat that dwells between the two of them?" truly he was interested. Rin and Sesshoumaru were very entertaining and a great source of energy.
Jaken gave a little sniff setting a fresh jar of salve down beside Setsuna. "Until I see that Sakuya has another sibling"
Setsuna's red eyes widened "That is truly wicked of you. But oh so clever- I found the idea of mixing the aphrodisiac into the manju ingenious- truly the Lord of the Western Lands blood ran hot that night." He commented quite blandly.
There was a moment of hushed silence, before the two of them burst into laughter…. Setsuna almost felt sorry for the little immortal Rin…. Well almost….
0000
As the cool breeze played with the tips of her hair, Rin's fingers ran deftly over the strings of the kugo deep in thought. Botan had found her that strange pond again, and the large fish had come to the edge to listen to her play. Their bright eyes glittering in the twilight that threw this secluded part of the gardens into tones of gold and peach.
So much had happened in the last year and now it abruptly sinking in. She was a new mother, an idea that had brought her a deep joy. But her life and the lives of those she loved had been threatened more than once. So many new people had come into her life and even though that came with a great happiness-she longed to be alone with Sesshoumaru again. Alone as they were those short weeks at the onsen.
They had little time to truly sit and speak to one another. When they did see each other… She felt a blush creeping up on her cheeks… It had led to more passion then she had never thought herself capable of. Foolish, childish tears dripped down her face- happy that Botan was not here to see her weep. She had been far more adventurous going to look for the new path to the gardens Setsuna had created.
"Rin" a deep molasses voice made her look up. There framed by the dying twilight was Sesshoumaru. His chest rose and fell rapidly if he had run here. Her fingers tangling in the strings and she went to rise
"Don't please" he said crossing the small clearing and coming to stand in front of her. Rin looked up to him the tears spiling unheeded down her flawless face. Pink lips frowning in sorrow, she felt herself drowning in his golden eyes, her long lashes fluttering as more tears continued to fall. Gently he removed the harp from her lap and set it down before showering her face with kisses. Rin's hands came up to cling to his shoulders
"I have missed you Sesshoumaru" she said with a soft whine as he covered her mouth with a soft, tender kiss. moaning when he urged her to tilt her head more, before he returned to deepen the kiss. Breaking the kiss he sat heavily beside her pulling her onto his lap till her legs straddled his waist. The flimsy robe she wore riding up till the cool air brushed her legs. Rin shivered looking deep into his eyes, so much commincation seemed to pass between them. Such emotion that Rin buried his face in his neck, his arms tightening around her like a balm for her soul.
Wickedly her lips found the spot where she had Marked him and Sesshoumaru shuddered deeply.
"I am sorry to neglect you so Rin-" he began softly running a skillful hand down her back in a soothing motion that made her feel safe for the first time in many days.
"You didn't neglect me" she murmured, feeling her cheeks heating "only that we- we never spend time together anymore. I do not even have a chance to come and find you." His grip around her waist tightened and he nuzzled her neck. Instead of answering right away Sesshoumaru and her sat in coimpaniable silence for long minutes. His hand having moved upwards to comb through her hair, the expensive pins falling into the grass like so much trash.
At length he replied "We will soon have time again- Tasogare and Alack will be leaving for the Imperial Palace" she raised her head to look at him.
"They are taking the assassin back? I thought…." She began
"That we were going to kill him- what point is there in that, especially after we took pains to make sure he survived?" he said with a little grin "besides there might be a reward" he added dryly.
Rin felt a smile on her lips curling at his dry wit. Tenderly he reached up and wiped a stray tear on her cheek.
"How it grieves me to see you weep" he said softly brushing his thumb roughly over her lower lip. Rin couldn't quite help it she nipped at the tender pad of his fingertip. Sesshoumaru made a noise deep in his throat, almost like a purr as she took his thumb into her mouth and suckled. The taste of amber and hint of a dark spice filling her mouth.
Those golden eyes filled with a soft light- suddenly blazed hot with passion. Lids dropping to half shield his eyes, Rin held his gaze boldly her hazy remembrance of that night several days ago flaring. A scarlet blush flamed her cheeks, before Sesshoumaru slowly withdrew his finger and kissed her hard. Crushing her close, thrusting his hips against hers, even now Rin could feel how hard he always was for her. If he only touched her quivering thighs he would realize how very slick she was for him.
Rin made a soft strangled noise as he drank from her. Arching as his hands slid under the flimsy robe she wore to carress her bottom. A soft cough broke their impassioned moment. Rin turned slowly in her sensual haze to see that Sesshoumaru's Mother stood at the entrance of the clearing. With a cry of embarrassment Rin jumped away from Sesshoumaru as if he burned, struggling to arrange the flimsy robe she wore. Vainly trying to bring her hair back into some semblance of order, after a few moments she stopped and gave a bow. Her long chocolate tresses cascading over her shoulder.
Silently Sesshoumaru shifted his yukata back in order, schooling his face into a cool neutrality- the impression somewhat ruined by the hot blush that stained his cheeks and his ragged breathing.
Sesshoumaru's Mother smiled brilliantly- "I am very sorry to interrupt you dear children. But dinner is ready- I will be leaving tomorrow morning with my brother in law and Alack-sama to take Kou back to the Imperial Palace. Apparently the Prince claims to know him. He is part of the Emperor's private army"
Sesshoumaru was suddenly up "Impossible!"
The demoness gave a patient smile "I highly doubt the Emperor did this. He's just not that devious- however" she trailed off turning around "this is not the place to be speaking of this. I will enlighten you further on what Alack was able to extract from the mortal using his potent truth serum"
0000
