Rin's face lit up when she saw him standing there. "Sesshomaru!" she said, springing up from the throne, "I've been so worried. What kept you?"
"Vermin," he answered. "But nevermind that. Come, we leave."
"Stay, girl."
At Inukimi's command, Rin promptly sat back down.
Sesshomaru tried to overcome the slight but couldn't. Quite frankly, this wounded him. "Rin," he said softly to her, "you would shun me for her if she told you to." A frown pulled at his mouth. But then he focused on his mother and the grimace melted away, leaving a stern expression there. He said directly to her, "This is mine."
"So she is," Inukimi said, almost resignedly. She sipped from her saucer, then set it down. "Though not entirely…"
