AN: I am so sorry it has been such a long time since I posted a chapter. I was diagnosed with Covid-19 at the beginning of the month and could barely move, let alone think. Once I recovered, well mostly recovered, I was able to get back to teaching, and digital learning is more work than I ever thought possible. I hope you all can forgive me. I know this chapter is shorter than my others, but I am already halfway through Chapter 17 and should post it in the next week or two. I love you all for being so supportive and patient, don't give up on me or the story just yet. :) 3

Chapter 16 – Freedom?

Heavy.

That was how he felt.

Sesshomaru couldn't lift his hands, legs . . . not even his eyes. So much weight pressed against his body.

Taking a deep breath, he could smell his father and Inuyasha. Sesshomaru knew that he was in his room, but why did he feel so heavy.

"When do you think he will wake up?" Inuyasha's voice was quiet and filled, strangely enough, with worry.

"I know not, son. His body is completely healed from the fight and the gun shot. I think this bout of unconsciousness is from the seal breaking. His demonic aura has been kept on a leash for a long time and now he has full access. Of course, that is only a guess." Sesshomaru could hear his father seated to the side of him. For once, Toga sounded thousands of years old.

Sesshomaru looked inward to his beast and saw that he no longer had a cage. It was roaming free in his mind, but it was calm, almost subdued. Sesshomaru didn't even realize that the cage he had seen for over half a year wasn't his own created barrier, but the cage made from the seal. When he tried to move his hand again, he felt it twitch and the conversation around him halted.

"Sesshomaru? Son?" Toga sounded almost frantic. Sesshomaru heard a quite pathetic groan leave his throat which made his male relatives breathe out in relief.

"Take your time, Sesshomaru. Your body has been through the ringer. Try to open your eyes." Sesshomaru heard Inuyasha step up to the opposite side of the bed.

Slowly, the world became clearer and a white ceiling entered his vision. Taking another deep breath, Sesshomaru turned his head to see his father's grief-stricken tear-filled eyes. Tear-filled? What the fuck?

"Why the hell are you crying?" Sesshomaru attempted to speak, but it came out in a dry rattle that made him cough and sputter.

"Drink, son." A cup was brought to his lips. Sesshomaru drank greedily before slowly pushing himself up in bed. As he did, however, dizziness filled his vision and he brought a clawed hand to his head in the hopes of stopping it from spinning.

"Woah there, slowly brother," Inuyasha said before quickly moving pillows to help prop him up. Sesshomaru was beyond confused. Why the hell was Inuyasha acting this way?

"What the hell happened? Why are you being so kind? And why the fuck are you crying father?" This time the words were clear. Sesshomaru watched Inuyasha take a step back and chuckle.

"He ain't in bad shape at all."

Toga just stared at his son.

Sesshomaru was growing more uncomfortable. His father had this look that entered Sesshomaru's heart and tore him up.

"Son, what do you remember?"

Sesshomaru attempted to wrap his brain around the events spinning across his eyes.

Entering the homeless shelter.

Meeting Mr. Suzuki for the first time since the business take-over.

Serving and eating with the humans, half-demons, and full demons who had no place to call home.

Going out to the garbage bins.

The human males that attacked.

The seal stopping him from fighting back.

A gun pointed at Rin.

Rin. Rin. Rin.

Sesshomaru shot out of bed, but his body turned into a noodle and he began to slip to the floor. "Rin! Where's Rin? There was a gun."

Inuyasha and Toga both caught the flailing demon and placed him back on his bed.

"Easy son, Rin is perfectly fine. She was not really injured." Toga explained, pulling Sesshomaru's legs back on the bed sheets.

"There were men who attacked Mr. Suzuki and I. I tried to fight back, but the seal gave me so much pain that I could do nothing but take the beating. Then I heard Rin come out, and there was a gun. What the fuck happened? Why did my seal stop me from fighting off the humans?"

Toga sat back down on the chair he had pulled from the desk located on the side of the room. With a sigh he said, "The contract stated that you could not harm a human or the seal would activate. I was under the impression that it meant when you were in demon form, but apparently that was not accurate."

"No shit. Those men attacked Mr. Suzuki because he was a demon. I was defending a demon, and I got beat in my human form because of it. That is absolute bullshit." Sesshomaru tried to stand up again, but with his body in noodle mode, he had no such luck.

"What the fuck is wrong with me? I am a demon again, so why the fuck am I weaker than when I was turned human the first time?!"

The look on his father and brother's face said it all. Taking a quiet breath to ready himself, Sesshomaru continued. "What are you not telling me?"

"You died."

The silence in the large bedroom was palpable. Sesshomaru's eyes widened in shock at the power those two words had over his mind and heart. You died.

"You were shot in your human form. When we got to you in that alleyway, your heart had stopped. I threw your demonic energy back into your body and its power was able to restart your heart, but you were dead. You would have stayed dead if we were much later." Toga's voice was thick with emotion that must have been very new for him.

Sesshomaru didn't say anything, because he couldn't find the words. He was many hundreds of years old, and the idea of death had never once fazed him or came into his thoughts. Death was impossible. Death was never coming for him. And yet.

"There's more," Inuyasha stated still standing. "Your seal is gone."

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped to his left wrist that was very clearly blank.

"How?" Sesshomaru didn't remember anything that showed he had fulfilled the contract.

"You saved Rin. You jumped in front of the bullet meant to kill her. You selflessly protected a human, and so the contract is complete." Inuyasha explained, sitting down in another chair with a huff.

Sesshomaru stared at his now blank wrist. He was free. No seal, no contract.

"When we got to the scene, Rin was unconscious holding your quite dead body. She hasn't woken up from the seal break either." Inuyasha muttered as he pulled out his phone looking for some sort of message from his mate that Rin was now conscious.

That was when the extent of the situation fully hit Sesshomaru. No seal, no contract, no marriage. Rin was no longer his "wife". He was no longer bound to her. She didn't have to stay at the Taisho compound, or move into his house, or mate with him. It was over.

Each discovery left a sour taste in Sesshomaru's mouth. "Rin can't go back to Naraku." His statement had no context and it obviously confused his male family members.

"Of course, she isn't going back to Naraku. He is still very publicly under investigation. However, we cannot force her to stay here. She is no longer bound to you, so I am not sure what she will want to do." Toga grumbled the last piece. Obviously, Toga wanted Rin to stay. He wanted her as a daughter-in-law, and Inuyasha looked just as upset.

Sesshomaru wasn't sure what to say or think. There were too many things twirling in his mind, and he needed to sort through them so he could think more clearly.

"When will I get my strength back?" Sesshomaru moved his arms experimentally and was content to know that they didn't feel so flimsy.

"I am not sure. I can't believe it would be long. Why don't you rest until tomorrow? The council is convening, and you are expected to attend. I am sure they will want to know what happened and discuss what happens next." Toga stood and began to move towards the door.

"What about Rin?" Sesshomaru asked. This stopped Toga in his tracks and he slowly spun to face his eldest son.

"Rin is still unconscious. However, she is also free from the contract. I am not sure how she will take this news. You told me of her feelings for you and your growing feelings for her. I would hope that once you are back to your full strength and she is awake, you will act on those feelings, so she doesn't slip through your fingers. Though, that is your decision." Toga finished his speech before leaving the room with Inuyasha behind him.

Now alone, Sesshomaru reflected on all this new information. He was free from the contract, from turning human, and from being married to a human. However, he didn't want to be. That thought alone made him clench his hands into fists. Sesshomaru was happy to not turn human again, but to be free of Rin didn't sit well.

Would she stay and be with him? Could he tell her how he felt? Should he act on his feelings?

His initial thought was yes. He wanted her. Sesshomaru wanted Rin.

However. Something in the darkest part of his mind halted his thoughts. That deep distant conditioning from his mother was attempting to make an appearance, and it was more difficult than Sesshomaru cared to admit ignoring those old ideals. He would have to think long and hard about his next move, because he doubted, he would get a second chance.

Sliding down the bed so his head rested on the pillow, he thought about Rin and her evolution since she had become tied to him. Sesshomaru also thought about his own transformation. Part of him wasn't proud of the changes that he had gone through but the majority saw a stronger demon than who he was before.

The next afternoon, Sesshomaru awoke much stronger than before. He still felt the remnants of the broken seal but knew that he was strong enough to move and see Rin. Moving from his bed, he showered and dressed. Looking down at his wrist before he left his room, it was weird for him not to see it. The mark had been a constant reminder of his punishment and the contract, but now, there was a sense of freedom that Sesshomaru never expected to feel again.

Deep down he had hoped to fool the seal into thinking that he had fulfilled the contracted terms, he never expected to actually complete them without thought.

Leaving his room, Sesshomaru stepped quickly to Rin's door, wondering if she was awake yet. There were so many thoughts in his mind, and he knew that seeing her okay would put many of them at ease.

However, he would not see Rin until much later that day. As he turned the knob to enter her bedroom, Toga called out to him.

"Sesshomaru! You are awake. Perfect timing. The council wants to see you."

Sesshomaru huffed with a glare, "Now? I just woke up. I haven't seen Rin or had a moment to myself. Must they really be so pushy."

Toga chuckled but pulled Sesshomaru towards the stairs. "I am sorry son, but after this meeting, you will be done with the council. Just let them get their thoughts out of their mouths and then you can come home to Rin. She isn't even awake yet."

Sesshomaru grumbled immaturely and followed his father down the stairs and into the awaiting car.

The drive was short, but Sesshomaru had already lost all of his patience. He prayed to whomever would listen to give him enough strength not to tell off the council.

Upon entering the main chamber, the council was already seated, aside from Toga, who moved past his son and took his position. Sesshomaru stood in the center of the room with a look that screamed 'why the fuck did you drag me here again.'

"Sesshomaru. Welcome back! We are all so glad to see that you are not dead, as the rumors had us believe," the head demon spoke loudly. Sesshomaru swallowed a scoff.

"InuTaisho informed us, that you have successfully completed the contract and the seal has been broken. Congratulations on your newfound freedom. I do hope that we won't be having any more trouble from you. The council was very lenient with you this time, after all your past transgressions, break our laws again, Sesshomaru, and mercy will not be shown."

This time Sesshomaru did scoff. "If you called me hear to make idle threats, I am leaving now. I have much more important things to do."

"Yes, I am sure you want to move on with your life, now that you are no longer tied to a human. I would like to ask what will become of Rin? Will she be sent back to her father?" A new human spoke. Sesshomaru concluded that he must be the replacement for Mushin.

"Naraku is not Rin's real father, by any means. I know you were not present for that discussion, but I do believe that every other member here would not want Rin to go back to that man. Also, he is still being searched for by the authorities for the attack at our Winter Ball. I personally believe that he poses a threat to the safety of Rin until he is found and tried. Rin can stay at the Taisho compound until then if she wishes." InuTaisho spoke loud and clear and many of the council members nodded their head in agreement.

However, the newest member disagreed. "Don't you think that is in poor taste? Or inappropriate? That girl has been subject to demons for many long months. Countless times, she has been put in danger and attacked because of that association, and I am sure she would like nothing more than to get away and move back with her own kind."

Sesshomaru felt his demonic energy swirl around him in disgust at the words from this pompous, ignorant mortal. "How dare you make assumptions without any clear evidence."

His voice rang out and the entire room stilled and listened. "Rin's various life-threatening events were not because she became associated with demons." That wasn't completely true given the first attack by the two brothers, but Sesshomaru was not going to point that out.

"Naraku was the leader in most of those attacks whether you choose to believe it or not. I heard Naraku's words, I know that he is guilty of many of the incidences. Rin's connection with myself or any other demon had nothing to do with it. Rin works with demons, half and full, as well as humans on a daily basis. She, unlike someone in the council, isn't prejudice enough to keep the species separate. Rin needs to be around people who are going to keep her safe until Naraku is dealt with, and that is with me and my family." By the end of his speech, Sesshomaru was breathing heavily in order to keep his beast in check. It has been too long since he had full access to his demonic energy, and it was more overwhelming than he expected.

"Lastly, the fact that the council allowed such a prejudice and bias mind to join, is just pathetic, and I hope you all hear the words being spoken and make a change. The council was created to bridge the gap between the species, not continue the antagonistic judgements and ignorant values. I am disappointed that it would be allowed after such progress has been made. Good day."

Sesshomaru bowed slightly at the waist, locked eyes with his father, before spinning around and strutting out of the room. He didn't wait to be dismissed, and he wasn't going back inside. He needed to run or workout to blow off steam so he didn't do something he would regret.

Back in the council chamber, Toga was smiling at the empty spot that his son had just vacated. "As you can see, members of the council, my son has changed. Not because of anything we have done. Not because of anything we forced on him, but because of a very special human girl that showed him kindness and humility. I think it is safe to assume that the situation is over and done with. Let us move on to more important matters."

The silence stretched for a long moment, before the head demon agreed and turned to his notes for the next ticket item to be addressed.

Heavy.

That was how she felt.

Rin couldn't lift her hands, legs . . . not even her eyes. So much weight pressed against her body.

"It has been too long, my love. This is worrying me beyond what I can express. Maybe she should be taken to a hospital to be evaluated." The voice of Izayoi was quiet in the large expanse of the room.

"There is nothing that needs to be done, Izayoi. We were told to wait, and that is what we must do. Have faith that all will be well. Sesshomaru hasn't woken up either. They will probably wake up at the same time." Toga's soothing words seemed to calm his mate, and Rin drifted back into the nothingness.

Rin wasn't sure how much time had passed before once again she was aware of her surroundings. Her body felt lighter than before, so she chanced moving her fingers. Her left hand moved smoothly, but her right seemed constricted.

When she tried to move it again, there came a loud gasp.

"Rin?! Oh thank Kami. Open your eyes Rin. It is time you woke up. You can do it." A female voice said with soothing and urgency.

Rin's brows furrowed before she felt her eye lids peel back slowly. For a moment, blurs filled her vision but slowly a clearer picture came in the form of a teary-eyed Kagome.

"Kag—" Rin tried before coughing at the dryness of her throat.

"Here drink this," Kagome brought a straw up to the girl's lips. After a few large gulps, Rin tried again.

"Kagome, why are you crying?" Rin looked at her sister-in-law with tired confusion. As she tried to sit up, Kagome helped place pillows behind Rin's back to prop her up.

"What do you remember Rin? You have been asleep for days," Kagome sniffled, grabbing a tissue from the box on the side table.

"Days?!" Rin's voice grew in shock as she tried to rack her brain around what would cause her to sleep for so long. Images ran across her eyes, but she couldn't focus on any of them. She was so focused that Rin didn't hear her door open.

Then it hit her. The picture of Sesshomaru laying deathly still in her arms, blood seeping through Rin's fingers as she put pressure on the bullet wound.

Bullet wound.

"Oh Kami, Sesshomaru! Where is he? Is he okay? He was shot. He jumped in front of the gun!" Words flew out of Rin's mouth as she pushed herself out of bed in her frantic attempt to get to wherever Sesshomaru was.

Sadly, her legs didn't get the memo that motion was what she wanted, and Rin began to collapse to the ground, however, a pair of arms caught her.

"Woah Rin, easy. You aren't strong enough to move yet. You and Sesshomaru both have the tendency to act without thought, huh." Inuyasha's kind voice rang through her ears as he chuckled and placed Rin back on her bed.

"Please tell me Sesshomaru is okay. He has to be okay," Rin nearly sobbed gripping Inuyasha's hand for dear life.

"Sesshomaru is alive and fine. He is up and moving too. He went to a council meeting just about half an hour ago. Take a deep breath," Inuyasha moved to pick Kagome up from the chair by the bed, sitting down and placing Kagome on his lap.

Rin let out a large breath and leaned back on the propped-up pillows. "I am so glad." She lifted a shaking hand to her face to wipe a stray tear.

"What else do you remember, Rin?" Kagome asked.

"I remember hearing loud voices and opening the door to the alley to see Sesshomaru and Suzuki being beaten. I ran around looking for something to use as a weapon and found a metal pipe and moved outside to help them. I was hitting one man when I saw another raise a gun at me. A shot rang out, but I didn't feel any pain. Then I saw Sesshomaru on the ground and he was dying. He couldn't stay awake, and then nothing. I can't remember anything after that."

"That's because you lost consciousness too, Rin." Inuyasha explained. Rin looked at him very confused.

"Why would I pass out? I wasn't injured or shot?"

"Look at your wrist."

Rin moved her gaze to her left wrist, somehow already knowing which wrist they were referring to and gasped.

"The seal," She whispered. The seal that bound Sesshomaru and Rin together was gone, replaced with clear blank skin. "The contract seal is gone." Moving her eyes back to Inuyasha and Kagome, she shook her head.

"How?"

"I don't know all the details, but Sesshomaru fulfilled his terms of the contract. When he jumped in front of you to stop the bullet from killing you, he acted selflessly and saved a human. The contract is now null and void. You are both free."

Rin felt the breath leave her lungs.

Free.

Sesshomaru was free from the contract. From the marriage. From her.

Oh.

"I see," her voice quiet and shaky. "That is excellent. He doesn't have to be tied to a human anymore. Sesshomaru is able to do what he likes. He doesn't have to turn human either anymore, does he?" Rin tried to smile and hide her hurt, but it was a failure.

Kagome looked at Rin with sad eyes, knowing how upset she must be. "I doubt the council would make Sesshomaru do anything else. He completed what the contract asked for. He and Toga are at the meeting now, so I suppose we will find out soon."

There were a few moments of silence, before Rin spoke again. "I guess, I should begin finding a place to live." Her voice emotionless.

"Place to live? What the hell you talking about Rin? You ain't leaving." Inuyasha's voice was harsh and confused but Rin shook her head.

"The contract is over, which includes the marriage. I have no right to stay here and take up your resources when there is nothing forcing you now. I refuse to go back to wherever Naraku is, so maybe I will stay with Shippo for a bit so I can figure it out." Rin was speaking on autopilot. She was so distraught over the news that the seal was gone, that her thoughts were jumbled and chaotic.

"Rin you don't have to leave. It doesn't matter that you and Sesshomaru aren't "married", you are family to us. We want and need to keep you safe until Naraku is found and dealt with." Kagome said with gentle urgency, not liking the thought of Rin leaving.

"Yeah, and we were never forced to take care of you. We wanted to help you, make you feel comfortable here and stuff. Don't go thinking that just because the contract is gone, we will all of a sudden throw you out with nothing." Inuyasha was pissed. He didn't understand how Rin could say these things after everything the Taisho family has done for her.

Rin said nothing for a while, just staring at her hands.

"You are both very kind, but it isn't right for me to stay. You all have done and given me more than I could ever repay or thank you for. I won't be a leech. Once I am stronger, I will pack a bag and call Shippo."

"Rin, please—" Kagome tried but Rin put up a hand.

"I think I would like to be alone for a moment, if you both don't mind. I am suddenly tired again," Rin's voice was full of sadness and defeat.

Kagome attempted to speak again, but Inuyasha motioned for her to stop.

"Rest, Rin. Don't make any decisions until you talk to Sesshomaru." Inuyasha stood up with Kagome.

"Thank you Inuyasha, but we all know what Sesshomaru will want." Rin whispered before turning to her side and closing her eyes in an attempt to keep the tears at bay.

The married couple said nothing and slowly moved out of the room. As soon as the door closed, Rin let the sobs out that were practically bursting from her chest. She wanted to believe that Sesshomaru cared for her. From his gifts, his kind words, and a few of his actions, one could conclude that he did have feelings. However, something dark and deep in Rin's subconscious pushed doubt into her mind.

Why would an incredibly powerful and wonderful demon want a damaged human with no family, money, or power of her own. These were new thoughts to Rin, she never used to doubt herself, but now, the dread and fear gripped her like a vice.

Outside of the room Kagome hugged Inuyasha as they both listened to Rin's cries.

"Sesshomaru wouldn't really want her to leave, right?" Kagome looked up at her mate.

"I would like to say no, but honestly, I am not sure. He will have to sort it out once he gets home though. I just hope he isn't a jackass." Inuyasha placed a kiss on her forehead and gently led her down the hall towards their daughter.

When Sesshomaru returned to the compound from the council meeting, he was greeted by two overly fluffy puppies. It was incredible how fast they were growing. Max and Charlie had hair to spare and were beginning to look a bit lanky in their aging. It was as if their legs were growing faster than their bodies. Surprisingly, they were incredibly well behaved. They still jumped too much in greeting, but they barked rarely and only ripped apart their toys.

"Hey boys, has your mom woken up yet?" Sesshomaru knelt down to pet their ears. He found himself enjoying their company more and more. Dogs were loyal and loved so unconditionally, and it warmed Sesshomaru's thawing heart to see such enthusiasm.

Hearing footsteps coming his way, Sesshomaru looked up to see a very distraught Kagome. Immediately thinking something bad had happened, he slowly stood back up.

"What happened, Kagome?" His voice was stern and blunt.

Kagome sniffed and wiped away a tear. "It's Rin." She hadn't completed that short sentence before Sesshomaru was rushing upstairs.

"No, Sesshomaru stop!" He wasn't sure why, but her words had halted his movements.

"Rin is awake and okay," Kagome sputtered out quickly. Sesshomaru felt his body loosen from the instant spike of adrenaline.

"Then, why are you so upset?"

"Because Rin is packing." Kagome almost screamed in frustration and pain. Her words cut Sesshomaru straight to his soul.

"Packing? Why the fuck is she packing?" He didn't understand. She must have just woken up, what could have possibly possessed her to want to pack.

"She is leaving, Sesshomaru. She knows that the contract is over, and the seal is gone. Rin doesn't think we want her here anymore. Shippo is coming in an hour to pick her up and move her into his spare bedroom until Rin can get back on her feet." Kagome was now openly sobbing.

"She doesn't want to be a burden now that you two aren't married." Sesshomaru moved quickly towards his sister-in-law and did something very uncharacteristically him. He hugged her.

"Rin will not be leaving us, Kagome. I give you my word. I will not let her go." Sesshomaru's voice worked to sooth her.

Kagome nodded against his chest, and after a moment, pushed back from him. "Sesshomaru, don't keep her because your family wants her to be apart of our lives. Keep her because you want her. She loves you. Deeply. In her mind right now, she is a burden and an annoyance in your life. If you feel for her at all, show her where she belongs. Prove to her that she deserves to stay and be here in our family."

Sesshomaru marveled at his sister and her words. She was very mature for a human, even if she was older because of her bond to his brother.

He gave her a little smile before leaving her side and swiftly moving towards Rin's room. In those few seconds, Sesshomaru had made up his mind.

Rin was his. She would not leave him. He would mark her. Mate her. Marry her.

She would forever be in his life to bright up the darkness of his soul and heart. She would forever be there to show him love, compassion, and kindness.

In return, Sesshomaru would do what he could to show her the same. There was still some fear in his mind, but he loved her, and with that love came the desire to be better.

And he would not fail.