It was hard for Sesshomaru when the time came that his ward was no longer by his side every day.
Rin had gone to live with Kaede, as she convinced Sesshomaru that it was crucial for her to spend time with other humans, considering her age, so that one day, she could make the decision for herself who and where she wanted to live among. Sesshomaru understood this, but the parting was harder than he expected. However, he was more than welcomed to visit Rin whenever he desired, and often found that she was as happy to see him as he was to see her. He had grown fond of this human, and wanted to do what was best for her. And if that was being with humans, then that was what he would do.
One day when Sesshomaru came to visit Rin, Kaede thanked him, as it was helpful to have a break at her age, and the young girl had far more energy than she did.
"That's the third time this month you've taken care of Rin for me. There must be something I can do in return."
"I do not wish anything of you, Lady Kaede. I enjoy every moment we spend together."
While Kaede was gone, Sesshomaru lay back against a tree while Rin clambered over him, as Rin was far too young and weak to cause any real damage to a full-blooded demon such as he. However, Rin was quick, if nothing else. He was surprised to find himself off balance when he was not planning it. He brushed himself off, and Rin pounced on him once again. "Gotcha!"
After she 'let' him up, he dusted himself off and said, "I'll get you next time, you little rat fink!"
Then, much to his shock, Rin kissed his cheek. "I love you."
Sesshomaru didn't reply. She often said this to him, as well as Kaede, Kagome, and her other friends.
She smiled broadly. "Do you think one day you will get married, Sesshomaru?"
He laughed, a little. "No. But maybe someday the right demoness will come along."
In a shy voice, she said, "When I grow up, I want to marry you."
He laughed again.
"Please don't laugh at me. I meant it."
"I wasn't laughing at you. It was just such a sweet thing to say. I wasn't expecting it, that's all."
"You're not mad?"
"No." Sesshomaru replied with a kind smile. "It was the nicest proposal I've ever heard, and I've heard quite a few in my lifetime." He rested back against the tree and napped while she braided his long hair with flowers, which, according to Kagome, was a 'girly' thing that Rin really liked to do. So he allowed it.
Later that day as Sesshomaru prepared to leave, Kaede came to Sesshomaru with a broad smile on her face. "Congratulations!"
"On what?"
"On the big event. Rin just told me the good news." She laughed, something Kaede didn't often do.
Embarrassed, Sesshomaru asked her, "Who else did she tell?"
"I don't know. But I'd catch her quickly if I were you!"
"I'll have a little talk with her," Sesshomaru thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh to himself. "She asked me if I was getting married someday. The little rat fink, I should have known what she was up to!
Time passed, as it often did. 12 years, in fact. Years of growth and change for Rin, and Sesshomaru himself, growing closer to his human companion he had saved with Tensaiga years ago. Inuyasha and Kagome gave birth to a daughter, and Rin had become a fine young woman. As such, it was time for her mantlement - a ceremony which was a rite of passage for all women reaching 21 years of age, when she was to live independently.
It was the night before Rin's mantlement, a time most young women would be spending with their mother, trying to say enough kind things to last a lifetime. But Rin was an orphan, and, most importantly, felt afraid to provide for herself, despite having been trained by Kagome in archery, and Kaede in healing.
Sesshomaru, naturally, was a skilled hunter, and took time as well to train Rin the skills she would need to survive, at least on her own until she found a suitable husband. Until then, he knew that Kagome, Inuyasha, and the others would naturally help her, but Rin had been quite adamant of wanting to take care of herself, having spent so much of her life relying on others' kindness and hospitality.
"We must review target points," Sesshomaru said. "Here on the arm, you can restrict movement." He touched Rin's upper arm gently above the elbow. "Here on the flank you can rip with the right shot. But the throat is one of prime importance…" He put her arm over her back. "You strike them here bring them down here." Sesshomaru said. "It's important to let their own weight do the work."
A moment later, he pulled back and looked down. "Your heart is pounding. Are you all right?"
She stared at him. Her nostrils quivered as the warm tides of her breath came and went. "Sesshomaru…"
"I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. It is I who have offended you."
"Nonsense," he said, when Rin stood on her toes and nuzzled his cheek, kissing him affectionately.
She looked at his expression of surprise. "Don't hate me, Sesshomaru. You don't know how long I've waited to do that. How very long."
"We need to get back to hunting," Sesshomaru stammered, watching her trembling chin. "We don't have much time."
"We don't have much time," Rin replied. "I must hunt now. I may not have a chance, but I've stalked for a long time. Now I must break my cover and rush to you."
"Rin..." said Sesshomaru, "You don't know what you're saying, Rin..."
"I do, Sesshomaru. I've never been sure of anything more in my life." said Rin.
"I'm flattered. Really I am," said Sesshomaru, "But when you're older, you'll find someone more suitable. Someone human. Then you'll look back on this and laugh."
"I love you, Sesshomaru," said Rin with desperation in her voice, "I've always loved you. Remember, I said when I grew up, I'd marry you. You laughed then, but if you laugh now, I'll die. While life holds my soul and body together, I will love you. Even in death I will love you."
"In death?" Sesshomaru replied somewhat sadly. "Don't think of death, Rin. You are alive."
"How can I be alive? I've never lived. If I could only be close to you, just for tonight, I would have LIVED, Sesshomaru."
He looked into her eyes, and she playfully batted at him. Sesshomaru moved around her, looking for an opening. "If you hunt big game, prepare to exert yourself."
Rin pounced, locking her arms around his torso. Laughing and panting, she nearly shoved him to the ground. He flailed at her with his arms, but struck her so gently it would not have awakened a pup. She pushed him over.
Sesshomaru was able to use his weight to push her back over. "Gotcha!"
She looked deep into his eyes. Her jaw quivered. "Now that you've caught me, demon," she purred, "do what you will."
"Oh gods!" He began to nuzzle her passionately, giving in to the feelings held deep within his heart, "Rin, beloved!"
RIN:
Night is here; in its perfumed shadows
Let us hold the moment till its gone,
Winding through the gentle, fleeting passage,
That separates the sunset from the dawn.
SESSHOMARU:
Past has fled, future is uncertain
What remains is what I share with you
Feel my heart, it's yours in sweet surrender
Till the moonlight dies upon the morning dew.
BOTH:
This is the moment of our warm embrace
To tell you I love you and look in your face
To treasure each moment till dawn gilds the skies
And fathom the mystery of love in your eyes
In the silver moonlight, Rin whispered, "Come, my lover, where the night shall hide us away." He kissed her and rose to his feet. Rin followed, resting her head on his white fur mane and leaving it there as she walked alongside him into the shadows.
It was not long after that night when Rin's womb grew ripe, her swollen belly growing more and more visible with the twins she carried.
Some of the villagers filed by to see her, more out of curiosity than of joy.
Clearly, while Rin was not a social outcast, there were few doubts who the father of the twins was, and the circumstances of their conception. There was tension and a feeling of disapproval in the villagers who stopped by to see the her, then say something pleasant, only to go outside and gossip. There was no doubt she heard many hurtful things before the day was over.
Public attitudes were rather jaded. "Sesshomaru will be a devoted father," one said; "He has SUCH a way with KIDS."
However, Inuyasha, Kagome, Kaede, and the others had a much different attitude. In their minds, Rin was a grown woman, and was able to make her own choices. She loved Sesshomaru, and was happy to take her place as his mate. Sesshomaru himself was well aware of the rumors, but was a proud demon who would not allow such petty gossip to make him act irrationally. And, most importantly, he knew that Rin wanted to live in this area with him, and the last thing he wanted was to taint those relationships further. It made Sesshomaru realize, for the very first time, how his half-demon brother must have felt growing up being ridiculed and shamed by so many simply for being who and what he was. And he felt shame for being one of them.
Sesshomaru had sent a message to his mother that Rin was to become his mate, but he had not heard a reply. This was to be expected, of course, considering that Rin was human, and he was a demon. However, he could not help but be bothered by it. Despite his cold demeanor and lack of apparent caring, the fact that his mother was so unresponsive triggered something deep within him.
It was shortly after that Sesshomaru decided to seek out his mother on his own, and headed in her direction. She was exactly where he expected she'd be, and did not appear happy to see him.
"So," said his mother, "I hear you have taken a human mate, and that she carries your offspring."
"Yes and yes," Sesshomaru snapped.
"She was just a human, my son. You took advantage of her. That's the only explanation I can think of."
"She begged me," Sesshomaru said, turning to stare straight into her eyes. "Begged me, mother. With fire in her heart, that I have never seen in anyone before. The way I can only describe as a true mate looks at another."
"How can you sit there and say that?"
"I've done a lot of things in my life that were less than proud, mother," said Sesshomaru, "But the one thing I don't regret is allowing Rin to love me. To come to me, of her own accord, as a grown woman, and make me feel in such a way that I've never felt with anyone. She wanted me as no creature has ever wanted me, and I gave her what she desired."
"Out of pity?"
"Pity? No, not pity" Sesshomaru said. "I love her. In that moment when she confessed her love, Rin was a woman, not the girl you remember. When we made love…" Sesshomaru's eyes filled with tears, shocking even his mother, as Sesshomaru was normally cold and emotionless. "The things she said to me. How I long to hear them again, for the rest of my life. I'd give my life for her, mother," he sighed. "She carries your grandchildren, mother, and yet, you neglect them. Is that what you want? A world where they live, and don't even know who you are? A world where you can never tell them you love them?"
"Of course I want to know them, my son. But oh gods, did it have to be such a tawdry affair?"
"She is my wife," Sesshomaru said firmly. "She is my soul mate, the mate who I shall remain true to, as a dog-demon. I will till the day I die."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Why didn't you ask me?"
His mother sighed deeply. "Did you really understand what you were doing?"
"I am expecting twins, you know."
"That's not what I meant."
"You mean does she really love me? Yes. Do I really love her? Yes. Would we do it again? Yes, as the gods are my witness. I want to spend my life making her happy, tending her wounds, catching her prey, raising our pups. And if you don't want to know your grandchildren, that's a burden I will not be the one to bear."
"No, Sesshomaru. That's not so," Sesshomaru's mother said, her face softening, "I just couldn't see Rin as a daughter in my eyes. But, my son, if what you say is true, then I will believe you. I just need a little time."
When Rin's time had come, she gave birth to twin daughters. Sesshomaru was by her side during the birth, which was unusual for a male mate, but he would not leave her alone during such a cruel and painful process. He held her hand as Kaede and Kagome assisted the birth, and after what seemed like forever, the echoing wails of his daughters. It was, and would always be, the most incredible moment of his life.
Rin cradled their newborn twins to her breast, her voice gently singing to calm their cries, and Sesshomaru simply stared in awe at his beautiful children. He touched and sniffed them gently, embracing his mate as her melodic voice carried through the room.
"You did well, Rin," said Kaede kindly, "And you stayed quite stoic too, Sesshomaru. Far more than Inuyasha, who almost fainted."
"It's true," laughed Kagome, "The poor guy looked so pale when I gave birth. Thankfully, he didn't actually pass out."
"I am not nearly as swayed as my brother," Sesshomaru smiled, "And I thank you, Kagome, and Kaede, for your assistance."
"They are so beautiful, Sesshomaru, and Rin..." said Kagome, "You must be so proud."
"I love you, Sesshomaru," said Rin, "Thank you for being by my side."
"I love you, Rin," said Sesshomaru to his mate, "And I love you, my daughters, my greatest gift I have ever received."
It was on that very same day that Sesshomaru sent word to his mother that Rin had given birth. And it was on that very same day, much to his surprise, his mother arrived at their home to see her grandchildren for the very first time. He was wary at first, but it seemed that rather than to ruin the beauty of their birth, she had wanted to hold and caress them, with love in her voice as she spoke.
"They look like you when you were that age, Sesshomaru," said his mother kindly as she held each twin, "Very beautiful, with fine features. They will make you proud, my son, as I am proud of you. Please forgive me for all I have said before. I am glad to be a part of the lives of my grandchildren, and to you, Rin, my daughter, whom I would like to get to know better."
Rin smiled with a nod, despite her apparent tiredness from the birth. "I'd like that very much."
And from that day on, Sesshomaru knew that his life would be forever changed, and better than he could have ever imagined it to be. His mate by his side, their pups, his friends, and his mother - a family he never knew he wanted, but now could never live without.