I do not own Inuyasha


Sesshomaru knew the return trip to his palace was a prime opportunity to speak about what had just happened, but for the life of him he couldn't find the words. Everything had changed because of Rin's transformation. There would be no question now of her acceptability as his mate so the challenge would be cancelled and when her newfound divinity was revealed… Sesshomaru permitted himself a small smile at the thought. He would be sure to be there when the Raven Lord heard that particular bit of news. He could clearly imagine the ambitious bird's face and he was anxious to have his fantasy realized.

Rin shifted beside him and all thoughts of revenge vanished as the action sent a fresh wave of her changed scent to him. His arms automatically pulled her closer and though his countenance never changed, he wanted to sigh with frustration at his reaction. He had heard about how a male's possessive nature increased exponentially upon finding an accepting female to mate, but he had no idea it would be this bad! It was taking every ounce of control he had not to drop to the ground and claim her immediately before returning to the palace.

The thought was apparently on Rin's mind as well because she broke the comfortable silence with the subject.

"Sesshomaru, I've been thinking," she said softly, "Maybe…maybe you ought to mark me before we go back."

His eyes widened imperceptibly, but ever observant Rin caught the expression and blushed.

"We don't have to…you know…do anything else," she quickly continued, "But I thought that, since I'm not human anymore, there's no real reason for the death matches to continue and it would encourage our 'guests' to give up on the idea."

His control faltered and without realizing it his cloud was lowering towards the earth. Oh Kami! If they hit the ground it would be over and there was one, in his mind, ridiculous reason why they couldn't yet.

"The rules of the challenge state that I may not choose a mate before the event is over. To do otherwise would mean forfeiting my title of Lord." His reply was a trifle husky as images of mating Rin refused to leave his mind.

"Oh,"

The look of disappointment on her face matched his thoughts perfectly and a frustrated growl threatened to make itself audible, but he ruthlessly shoved the impulse down and focused instead on increasing their elevation.

"Does this mean that I still have to kill all those females?" the inquiry was softly spoken, but her scent spoke of deep sadness and regret.

He didn't understand why she would regret killing a rival for her chosen mate, it was only natural that she fight and kill to keep others away from him. The Kami knew he wouldn't hesitate if the situation were reversed, however his intended wasn't born Inu and despite her ferocity as a fighter, she had a gentle heart. Her delicious new scent was marred by the smell of her anxiety and his instincts demanded he erase it. He turned her in his arms and held her so her head rested on his shoulder while his hand rubbed small circles on her back. Yet another gesture of comfort he had learned from observing Inuyasha. A small grimace thinned his lips as they pressed together in annoyance. He would have to find a way to repay him for the unintentional lessons. Dammit.

His attention refocused on Rin as the scent of her anxiety increased and he realized she was still waiting for an answer.

"They will have the opportunity to withdraw when we return, but should they not, then yes. You will have no choice." his voice was void of emotion as he spoke, but the anger he felt at having to put her in such a position was staggering.

He no longer feared for her life, a fact he was ridiculously grateful for, but he feared that she would retain guilt for the necessity of killing. He could only hope that the instincts of her new form would help diminish it. Inu's were after all, predators. Such a thing was part of their nature and she would have to acclimate herself to it eventually.

Rin did not reply. Her arms crept up around his torso and held him fast as she buried her nose in his neck, breathing deeply. His pleased rumbling growl vibrated her slender frame as he felt her calm and relax in his hold, the noxious smell of her fears fading into near nothingness. A few minutes later a light giggle came from his female and he felt her smile against his neck before pressing a quick kiss against it and pulling away to look at him

"Sesshomaru?" her voice was light and her eyes twinkled with merry curiosity.

He didn't answer but waited for her to continue as his eyes met hers

"I was just wondering, if I'm like you now, does that mean I can fly too?" she asked

He raised an eyebrow at the sudden turn of her thoughts, but didn't question it. Any subject would be a welcome distraction at his point. He turned his mind to her query and found that he hadn't thought about her being able to fly on her own now, but it was logical to assume.

"Only the most powerful of InuYokai can reach the sky Rin," his baritone voice was soft and the smallest of smiles tugged at his lips, "I expect you will learn the skill quickly."

Excitement and joy lit her face with its radiant light and the sight took Sesshomaru's breath away. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, allowing his actions to say all he couldn't voice to her. He sharply regretted not having taken her as his mate the moment she came of age. All that time wasted slaying lesser demons when they could have been pursuing far more important interests. Like getting an Heir. Obtaining one was suddenly and immediately of overwhelmingly necessity and Sesshomaru was never one to procrastinate.

He had started the kiss, but it was his beloved who had to end it. She broke away with a sigh of contentment and snuggled under his arm, his mokomoko-sama automatically unwrapping itself from his shoulder to wind around her waist. Taking a deep breath Sesshomaru allowed the wind flowing around them to clear his head and calm his body. They had a challenge to dispel first and then…he shook his head in an uncharacteristic display of frustration. His damn hentai thoughts just wouldn't stop!

Focus on the challenge, Sesshomaru thought as he forcibly made his mind obey his will, anything else will only serve as a distraction.

The remainder of the flight was silent and all too quickly, the walls of the palace were soon in sight. Sesshomaru felt Rin tense beside him and his mokomoko-sama tightened slightly in response. He looked down at her and a sense of pride filled him as he saw her face fixed with determination instead of fear. This was no wilting flower waiting to be saved. Standing by his side was a warrior who was ready to defend and defeat with all the skill and force in her power. He couldn't help himself. A full blown grin went unnoticed by Rin as she watched the horizon and his features were lit with an unholy glee he couldn't suppress and didn't want to.

Those fools would never know what hit them.


The first thing Rin noticed when they landed was the massive welcoming party that greeted them. The second was the oppressive silence that spoke louder than words of the offended anger they all held. At least it was until they noticed Rin's new look and aura. The silence went from angry to shocked to confused and Rin was pleased at how her new senses were able to pick up on the differences. Her sense of smell in particular served to transmit more information about those around her than any other. A small frown tugged at her lips as she realized how much she had missed without an InuYokai nose. It was like being in a room filled with conversation and only being able to understand a quarter of it!

Well not anymore, Rin thought smugly and the unnatural frown disappeared.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Raven lord was the first to break the silence.

"I should think that should be self-evident," came Sesshomaru's dry answer, his amusement at Lord Karasu's angry confusion was evident only to Rin and she had to fight not to roll her eyes. He found humor in the oddest things.

Instead, she stepped forward and cleared her throat to speak, but the Raven Lord continued his rant.

"You cannot introduce a new combatant to the challenge at this point Lord Sesshomaru," he was nearly shouting the words, "If you attempt to include this bitch…"

Rin had heard enough and stepped close enough to invade the Bird Yokai's personal space.

"This bitch, as you so eloquently put it, is the primary reason why there is a challenge in the first place," she hissed loudly enough to be heard across the courtyard, "Do I truly look that different to you Lord Karasu? I'm aware that my height has changed as well as my aura, but my face should still be recognizable, particularly by a bird Yokai."

Rin suppressed a smile. It was widely known that Bird Yokai relied on their sight the way InuYokai relied on their noses. Their eyesight was unmatched and it was a commonly held belief that the Lord possessed the best sense of sight of all. By questioning his vision Rin had basically forced him to either acknowledge her identity or admit his vision was fallible. Such a thing would seem to be a great weakness by his clan and he would be ousted before the sun set on the week.

The Raven Lord obviously understood the trap Rin had placed him in and he glared at her with undisguised loathing.

"Lady Rin," he acknowledged with the barest tilt of his head and with barely contained rage asked "Would you care to explain your …transformation?"

Rin politely bowed her head to the higher ranking male and stared him straight in the eyes when she straightened. To an InuYokai her gaze and stance were a blatant challenge, but the Bird missed the nuance and met her glare for glare. It truly pissed Rin off and she felt her lips pull back to bare her glistening white fangs in response.

Before she lost control to her instinctual urge to eliminate the threat and establish her dominance over this beta male, she felt her intended place a hand on her shoulder. His subsonic growl was both a warning and a command to wait to attack. The instinct to attack the intruding male was overridden by the more powerful urge to obey her Alpha and the red haze clouding her brain and her vision cleared. Rin took a deep breath to finish calming herself. She felt a little ashamed that she had lost her temper so quickly and she made a mental note to have Sesshomaru train her on controlling these more intense urges soon.

Lord Karasu had taken a step away from the pair and was watching Rin closely.

"How is this even possible?" he murmured quietly, but of course the pair in front of him heard

"My mother disapproved of my choice of mate based on her humanity," Sesshomaru surprisingly was the one to speak, he rarely offered explanations, "She took it upon herself to rid Lady Rin of it when she could not convince me to abandon my intended. Three days ago the Lady Mother kidnapped Rin and cast a spell to change her into what you see before you. She has paid for her betrayal with her life."

A soft gasp rippled through the crowd at his casual announcement of his mother's death, but Lord Karasu was quick to take advantage of it.

"Well then my Lord, allow me to offer my sincerest condolences," his smooth voice was dripping with smug satisfaction, "In light of this unfortunate development we will, of course, postpone the challenges until the period of mourning is complete…"

"No." Sesshomaru never raised his voice, but it projected across the courtyard regardless.

The Raven Lord's face split into a wide grin

"Oh but I insist, my Lord," he said happily, "After all it's not every day the Lady of the West passes into the afterlife. She was well loved by her people and we are all saddened by such an event. The entire realm will wish to mourn her. In fact I doubt the traditional 49 days will be long enough…"

Rin's eyes narrowed in disgust. Just as she had cornered the Raven Lord, so now he was attempting to trap her. If he succeeded in delaying the Meito Challenge then it would give him more time to eliminate her through other means. Rin's quick mind began to work furiously for a solution, but fortunately she didn't need one. Her Beloved had seen the danger too.

"This Sesshomaru does not repeat himself," the Western Lord took a menacing step forward, his imposing gaze resting fully on the ambitious bird, "One does not mourn the passing of a traitor."

That casual announcement seemed to shock the Raven Lord more than her transformation had.

"You would condemn your own mother to hell as a traitor?" his face had lost some of its color at Sesshomaru's seemingly callous regard for the woman who gave him life.

"Does not kidnapping and cursing my mate qualify as treason?" came the flat reply, then a deadly smile lit up his face and the black bird flinched at the menace in it

"Though her treachery may be debatable, there is one irrefutable fact that renders a funeral pointless" Sesshomaru paused and his grin radiated pure malicious satisfaction, "There is nothing left of her to bury,"

Rin couldn't help but be impressed with his masterful handling of the news. He made it sound like he had brutally killed her instead of her simply disappearing. The idea that her beloved was ruthless and heartless enough not just to kill his own mother, but render her body to nothing, would fly across Japan faster than any messenger could carry it and the fear it would inspire would keep his lands safe for generations.

Rin couldn't help the surprising pride she felt in his clever use of his mother's death, but she knew that once the challenges were over and he had a moment to think about it, he would be upset over losing his remaining parent. At least a little, Rin mentally amended. She knew they had never been close, but she still believed there would be some small part of him that would grieve. After all, his mother died to protect his chosen mate, even if it was in a twisted way. Rin knew the lady mother could have just killed her. It would have been far easier, but instead she had honored her son's choice and made it work the way she believed it needed to.

Rin sighed to herself. If Lady InuKimi had just allowed herself to get to know Rin then it's possible she never would have found it necessary to do something so drastic. Of course, if she hadn't, the Goddess part of Rin's soul would have remained sealed and she would never have known what it was like to meet her lord as an equal. So, even though Rin disapproved of the Lady's actions, she didn't resent her for them. Quite the opposite, Rin was very grateful. She made a silent promise to her mother-in-law that when their "guests" had been dealt with she would make sure a proper funeral was held to honor the spirit of the Lady Mother of the West.

Now though, she had a small invasion to deal with.

"Lord Sesshomaru has spoken concerning his mother," She announced, her voice ringing clearly to the assembly, "As for the challenges," she paused for effect, "There is no reason to continue them. The basis for challenging my right to mate the Lord of the West was my humanity and as you can see, that is no longer an issue. Lord Sesshomaru and I would see your lives spared so we ask that you withdraw your challenge and allow our mating to commence without further delay." Stepping around the now enraged Raven Lord, Rin approached the remaining combatants

"I don't want to kill anyone else," she said quietly, grim determination radiating from her body, "but I will. To defend my love, I will spill the blood of every single bitch on this island and use it to paint my way to hell. You have this one chance to save yourselves and leave with our goodwill. Take it."

The silence was palpable for a few moments before a feminine voice came from the crowd.

"This is ridiculous," The lady from the Tiger clan proclaimed loudly as she stepped away from the crowd, "The Lady Rin is correct. Anyone with a nose can smell she is Inu now and frankly I wasn't looking forward to battling her as a human. You all saw what happened to Lady Chou. Stepping into the circle with her now is simply suicide and I am not ready to die just yet." she bowed low before Rin, "I formally withdraw my challenge Lady Rin and acknowledge your right to mate with the Western Lord."

The Tiger Yokai quickly left the courtyard followed by her father. Five minutes later the courtyard was empty save four challengers and their fathers

Rin's eyes met those of the ladies who refused to leave as she pulled Akita from her sheath.

"Very well," she declared calmly, "Then let us end this."


Thank you all for your support and your reviews! I have to say they truly are what has kept me writing this last month. Life can really suck sometimes and your kind words have been a balm to my author's soul. So with that in mind, I'd like to let you know that we only have two more chapters before the end! ( they may be huge but the story will finish with them) I hope you have all enjoyed reading this as i have writing it. Thank you again!

As always, Enjoy Memories of Rin!