Author's Notes:

Second to last chapter guys! See additional notes at the bottom.

Rated M for lemon.

Chapter 7

Sesshomaru woke to sunlight filtering into the cave from the opening at the top. He looked over to see Rin had shifted in her sleep, she was now facing him, and she had an odd look on her face looking between her thighs.

"Is something wrong?" Sesshomaru asked propping himself up on an elbow.

Rin jumped and said, "Oh no! It's just that…um….."

"Speak."

"You in your youkai state last night wouldn't allow me to bath and I have a bit of mess between my thighs now…" Rin said with a blush and trailing off at the end.

"Hm."

Sesshomaru pushed the fur away from them, leaned over and pulled Rin to his chest and stood up. He carried her over to the hot spring, carefully walking in, he felt for soft soot under his feet and gently sat Rin down.

He heard her give a soft sigh of content and watched as she leaned back.

"Is there anything else you require?"

"Hm? Oh, in my bag there should be a small satchel of herbs. Can you bring that for me please?"

Sesshomaru left the spring and found the small satchel in her bag. Walking back, he passed the small bag to her waiting hold. Once she had the satchel, Sesshomaru's eyes widen in shock, and quickly grab her wrist. Rin winced out in pain.

Upon further inspection, Sesshomaru saw that Rin had bruising on her wrist. Quickly reaching out, he grabbed her other wrist and saw the same.

"Stand up," Sesshomaru ordered.

"Sesshomaru it's – "

"I will not repeat myself." Sesshomaru stated a bit more loudly.

Sesshomaru heard his mate sigh and she stood up turning her body fully towards him.

Sesshomaru had to hold back the shock of gasp that threatened to escape his mouth. Standing before him, his mate had finger-sized bruises on her wrists and hips. Her bruises varying in color from greenish, yellowish, and blue.

"Turn."

Rin held back a sigh and turned so her husband could examine her.

She also sported more bruises around her lower hips on her backside as well.

Rin turned back in time to see her husband troubled face.

Pulling back, Sesshomaru chastised himself.

"I've hurt you." Sesshomaru stated in a low voice.

Sesshomaru knew there was a possibility that his youkai could damage Rin, but he had thought his youkai would be able to tell the difference from foe to mate. He had thought his mate would be safe with his youkai.

He was completely wrong and now Rin bore the bruises on her body as proof.

This was only their first time rutting and she already bore marks from his youkai rough handling. If this was only their first time…..Sesshomaru knew he could not allow himself to rut his mate again. Sesshomaru started to pull away from Rin but he felt her hands grab onto his arm.

"Hey, don't you do that." His mate said softly, cupping his face in her hands.

"I've hurt you; I've failed you as a mate." Sesshomaru said looking at her bruised hips.

"I have bruises, but it didn't hurt at the time. I didn't even notice these were here until you did."

"My youkai was too rough with you; I cannot allow that to happen again. I will not rut you again."

"Wait…you mean you don't ever want to rut with me again?" Rin asked in shock.

"If it will keep you safe then yes." Sesshomaru stated solemnly.

Rin pulled back in shock and gave her husband a disbelieving look.

"Sesshomaru, get in here with me right now," Rin ordered.

Sesshomaru did not move at first looking away.

Taking a cue from her husband, "I will not repeat myself."

Sesshomaru whipped his head around to look at his mate, raising an eyebrow.

"Please," Rin said in a softer tone.

Sesshomaru did as commanded and entered the hot spring. Rin grabbed his hand and pushed him into a sitting position and then straddled him, pressing her soft center to his soft member. She slowly rocked her hips against his member until she felt him start to harden beneath her.

Sesshomaru stilled her hips, "I will not allow myself to hurt you again." He gritted out through soft pants feeling his cock come to life.

"I am human my lord and you are youkai. It was bound to happen. It did not hurt at the time. You made sure of that." Rin said with a wink.

"You do not give yourself enough credit. Last night, your youkai listened to me. There was a moment where you entered me, but you did not give me time to adjust. I was able to communicate my discomfort and you listened. You stopped and started over again. You heard me."

Sesshomaru studied Rin's face, searching for any deception but seeing none. He only saw love in his mate's shining eyes.

"Truly?" Sesshomaru asked gently rubbing her bruised hips.

Rin brought her bruised wrists up to show her husband.

"This is nothing. Like I said I didn't even notice considering the things your member and moko-moko were doing to me." Rin said with a blush.

"Oh, is that so?" Sesshomaru asked with a smirk on his face, grabbing both of her wrists and laying soft kisses to them.

"Mhmm!" Rin said while climbing off of his lap and reaching for the satchel. She started rubbing it along her body, cleaning herself.

"My lord, didn't you say your youkai acts on your baser instincts?"

"Yes."

"Hmm….." Rin said with a small smile on her face.

"Yes?" Sesshomaru pressed.

"It's just that your youkai is actually quite affectionate. You did just say that your youkai acts on your baser instincts so technically that means you-"

Rin was effectively cut off by Sesshomaru's lips when he planted a searing kiss upon her not wanting her to finish her statement.

Sesshomaru pulled back and lightly tracing her marking mate, "Finish your bath. I will procure you additional protein. I am sure you are in need of sustenance after our activities from yesterday."

Raising from the hot spring, Sesshomaru willed his hard cock to softness and dressed. Turning, he found his mate merely staring at him with rosy cheek and she licked her lips.

Sesshomaru tilted his head causing his long silver hair to fall over his shoulder, "Do not stay too long in the spring. I shall return."

Just before he exited, he turned back and said, "Oh, do not dress once you exit the hot spring."

Sesshomaru heard his mate quietly say what as he walked out.

~oOo~

Sesshomaru watched as his young mate happily chewed on her fish and then start eating her rice. When he had returned, he had found his mate had obeyed his command and was still nude, preparing food for herself.

Sesshomaru was not quite sure why but for some reason he did not want Rin to put her yukata back on. Maybe it was his youkai being possessive or maybe it was the fact that he liked seeing her in nothing but her skin. He ran a clawed finger down her back feeling her shudder.

"My lord, you're distracting me from eating," Rin said with a chuckle with her chopsticks to her lips.

"This Sesshomaru cannot help that he finds his mate desirable." Sesshomaru said leaning forward and planting small kisses on her back.

"Well maybe if you allowed me to dress, you wouldn't be so tempted," Rin said cheekily going back to her food.

"Hm." Sesshomaru leaned back so his mate could enjoy her meal.

Rin finished eating, cleaned her bowl, and came to sit down in Sesshomaru's lap with her back to his chest.

Sesshomaru started running his claws through Rin's hair when she asked him an unsuspecting question he did not know how to answer.

"My lord, tell me about a happy memory you have with your mother and father."

Silence filled the space of the cave. Rin could hear the soft swishing from the water of the hot spring.

The silence stretched on until Rin finally turned her head to Sesshomaru asking, "My lord?"

She looked to see Sesshomaru staring ahead at nothing. Feeling that she may have overstepped herself, she softly said, "My apologies my lord. It is not important." And looked back at her hands that she clasped in her lap.

"My father…."

Rin gasped quietly, not moving an inch.

Sesshomaru cleared his throat and started over, "My father was a skilled swordsman. He taught me everything I knew about wielding a sword. Once while training, I….become over-eager and almost cut off my father's arm."

Sesshomaru stopped playing with her hair and dropped his hands to lay on her thighs gently squeezing. He continued rubbing her thighs not speaking for a moment.

"My father should have been angry at me, but he was not. Instead, he laughed. He had the healer fix his arm and we continued as if nothing happened. Later after we finished, he clapped me on the back and said to me, "I may have taught you too well my son"

Sesshomaru then went silent.

"Ironically he would have lost the same arm that I did if I had not failed."

Rin took one of his hands from her thigh and gently squeezed it, tracing her small fingers along his palm trying to offer him comfort.

"It was centuries later when he asked if I had someone to protect and he perished protecting Izayoi."

Rin sat in silence with Sesshomaru, only squeezing his hand.

"I find that I cannot think of one for my mother."

Rin shifted her body she was now kneeling before her lord and rested her hands on her lord's shoulders.

"Sesshomaru, you have to have at least one pleasant memory of your mother."

With Rin pressing on his shoulders, a memory came to mind.

"My heko-obi."

"Your heko-obi?..."

"My mother insisted that I be able to dress myself to the finest and that my heko-obi was always to be perfect. She would spend hours with me practicing until she felt that my heko-obi was perfectly centered and completely symmetrical."

"Oh…." Rin said softly.

Sesshomaru seeing that his mate did not understand, spoke, "It was the most time she spent with me. She usually left me with my tutors and nannies to attend to me. For some reason, she took it upon herself to teach me the skill of dressing in my regal robes."

"Sesshomaru.." Rin said stroking her husband's cheek.

Sesshomaru placed his hand over hers' asking, "And you and your family?"

Sesshomaru saw his mate's eyes lowered and she returned to sitting between his thighs.

He allowed her silence as she did for him.

Drawing her knees to her chest and resting her chin on them, she softly spoke out, "My family and I went to the river to catch fish for the festival. My brother fell in and in the process of him falling, my other brother tried to grab onto him, but it didn't help. Then my father reached in to grab my brothers, but they all got tangled and he fell in. My mother stood there laughing and the next thing I knew my father grabbed both me and mother and pulled us in." Rin said and started to chuckle.

Still chucking, Rin added, "So there we all were soaking wet in our yukatas laughing in the river."

Her chuckling died down and Sesshomaru heard her sniffle. Wrapping his arms around her, he squeezed her gently, nuzzling the side of her head.

"They all died a few days later," Rin said so quietly, that if not for his demon hearing Sesshomaru would have missed it.

"Rin…. is actually not my name."

Sesshomaru's eyes widen in surprise.

"After watching my family being killed, I wandered around for days until I stumbled into the village where I met you. I guess I was in a daze and just started walking. They didn't know what to call me when I showed up, they picked Rin because they said I acted so cold for a child."

Sesshomaru absorbed the information as they sat in silence.

"They did not care for me nor I for them, so I didn't bother correcting them."

"Do you remember your true name?" Sesshomaru asked gently.

Sesshomaru was only met with silence.

He felt Rin turn so she could bring her legs to rest over his thighs and leaned against his chest. Moko-moko instinctively came up and wrapped around her, as if to guard her against any danger she felt.

Rin hugged moko-moko to her chest and finally said, "If you don't mind ….. I rather my family only know for now."

"As you wish." Sesshomaru said.

Sesshomaru began stroking his mate's hair to comfort her, hoping that one day she would feel comfortable enough to share more of her family and her name with him.

Sesshomaru thought about the meaning of the name Rin. He knew that there were many ways to write Rin in different characters. Quickly scanning through his memory, he remembered Rin also meant something else other than cold.

"Rin also means jewel." Sesshomaru said tipping Rin's head back so he could look her in the eye.

Rin looked to him in wonder.

Sesshomaru knew that Rin lacked any formal education because she grew up orphaned, so her knowledge of characters was very limited. When he left Rin in the village with the old miko at her request, he asked that Rin be taught basic kanji characters. She most likely was not aware that the name Rin could mean many things.

"Jewel?"

"Yes, which is fitting for you. You are my Rin, my jewel." Sesshomaru said stroking her cheek.

"Wear the name of Rin proudly for you are not cold. You are a jewel to be treasured."

It wasn't until Sesshomaru watched as Rin's eyes teared up and her lower lip tremble that he realized she must have never mourned the loss of her family. If she did wander away after her family was murdered, she was not present if there was a burial for them. Wherever she had come from, they might have all thought she was taken away and never looked for her.

He felt her press her head into his chest and clench her hands into his robe and finally released all the pent-up emotions of years that she had been holding back. The soft wailing of her broken cries could be heard in the deathly silent cave as sobs wracked his mate's body as she finally allowed herself to mourn the loss of her family and her name.

Sesshomaru wrapped her tight in moko-moko and held her until she cried herself to sleep.

~oOo~

"Mmmmm….my lord….ahhh…" Rin moaned out as she rode Sesshomaru's hard member, her hands pressing into his hard chest to help give her leverage.

Sesshomaru sat up to bring his sinful wet mouth to breast feasting on each of them and using his knuckles to stroke her pearl.

"Ah!" His mate called out holding him to her breast and throwing her head back.

Sesshomaru pulled away from his mate, leaning back onto his hands, taking in her beautiful body rocking above him.

Her mouth slightly opening panting, her hair tickling his thighs, her breasts swaying with her movements. She moved her hands to clench onto his shoulders.

Sesshomaru's mouth went back to her breast sucking harshly and pushed his knuckles between her thighs rubbing at her pearl again. He felt her shudder and her rocking increase.

"Oh….oh…..ohhhhhh…..mmmm…" Rin cried out.

Bringing his head up, he cupped Rin's face, "Let go, my mate, let me feel you squeeze my thick cock. Cum my mate."

At his words, Rin came undone, crying out in pleasure and throwing her arms around her husband's neck holding on for dear life as she rode out her release.

Sesshomaru pumped a few more into her body as she spasmed around him finally coming as well. He continued softly thrusting until he felt Rin finally relaxed around him accepting everything he had to give.

Rin leaned forward and placed small kisses on his face finally coming to lips, placing a chaste kiss.

"Am I allowed to bathe, or do I need to wait until your youkai is satisfied?" Rin said in a pant with an amused look on her face, hair clinging to her face.

"Wait a moment, stay like this." Sesshomaru answered running his hands along her hips and to her bottom to give a playful squeeze.

Sesshomaru took in her body, seeing that the bruises were fading, only light bluish marks now visible.

It had been seven sunsets now since they made this cave their temporary home. They decided that tomorrow she would go back to the village. She was sure that Kaede would be needing her assistance soon and to be honest she missed the village.

Sesshomaru rubbing her thighs that were still straddling him, said, "Wrap your legs around me."

Rin wrapped her legs her husband as commanded and soon felt herself being lifted in the air.

Sesshomaru walked them back to the hot spring and deposited Rin to sit on the edge of the spring and slowly pulled his still hard cock from her entrance.

"You're still hard…." Rin said quietly.

"You have can have me again if you need to," Rin stated keeping her thighs open for him.

Sesshomaru looked to see his seed slowly ease out of her body. He watched as Rin shifted with a blush on her face, seeing him stare so openly at her sex.

"I am fine, it only needs to come down. It will take a few moments." Sesshomaru said as he offered his hand to her.

They both walked to the deeper end of the spring with Sesshomaru drawing Rin to his chest.

He watched as Rin played with the water, her hands waving back and forth in the causing ripples around them. She was also softly humming to herself. He recognized it as a song he heard her sing a long time while she was waiting for him to gather her while he was away.

Finally deciding to reveal to Rin what he smelled this morning, Sesshomaru softly whispered in his mate's ear, "Your body has accepted my seed."

He saw her stop all motion and her breath hitch.

"You mean?..." Sesshomaru heard his mate whisper.

"You are with child."

Sesshomaru was not surprised at the fact that she was carrying his child. He lost count of how many times he rutted his mate since bringing her here. He kept her nude at all times which only resulted in him taking her as many times as her body would allow. At one point, she barely got out the words, "Keep going, I just need to rest my eyes." And then promptly passed out with him still thrusting inside her. With no objections, he merely turned her onto her stomach and found release.

Rin turned around with tears in her eyes and threw her arms around her husband.

"You're sure?" Rin asked, clenching onto his shoulders.

"Yes."

Sesshomaru recounted to his mate how his morning started.

As Sesshomaru entered the cave, he noticed an unusual smell. It smelled of Sakura trees but also earthy. Lowering the bucket and fish down that he had just procured for his mate, Sesshomaru walked around the cave sniffing for the cause of this new smell. His nose led him to his sleeping mate.

Sesshomaru gently pulled the furs from her body causing Rin to roll to her back, causing one arm to rest over her head and the other to fall to her stomach. Quietly sniffing, Sesshomaru knew the smell was emitting from his mate. Very quietly and gently Sesshomaru pulled Rin by her legs to bring her closer to his nose. Gently he pushed her thighs up and took a deep inhale of her womanhood.

'Strange, her heady scent is still the same.' Sesshomaru thought pushing her thighs closed.

Sesshomaru continued staring at her body and heard his inner beast growl out, 'Smell mate again.'

Looking at Rin's body, he studied her. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. She was not sick or complaining of feel ill. Having a hunch, Sesshomaru laid down next to Rin's body and placed his large warm hand over her smooth stomach.

He gently caressed it and then hovered his nose to her soft belly, taking a deep inhale.

There!

Sesshomaru pulled back, eyes widening. Needing to confirm once again, he pressed his nose fully to her stomach and took another deep inhale.

Life.

Her body had accepted his seed.

Her body was now nurturing and growing their offspring.

His mate was pregnant.

Sesshomaru felt his heart swell at this new information.

When he had come back from his small trip, the enclosed cave must have amplified their child's scent. He had also not stepped outside the cave for a few days because on his last outing, he had procured enough water to last Rin for a few days. Stepping outside the cave gave him time to clear his senses and that must have been why it was strong when he came back.

So lost in his thought, he had not noticed Rin had woke up and was stroking his cheek.

"Good morning," Rin said with a yawn.

Sesshomaru stared at her.

"Is everything ok?" Rin asked when he didn't speak.

He quickly answered her by claiming her mouth in a searing kiss and then starting trailing kisses down her neck stopping to suck at the marking mate that was now healing.

"You certainly are eager this morning," Rin said giggling while pushing his robes from his shoulders wanting to feel his skin.

Which lead to her straddling him and now them sitting in the hot spring.

Rin gave a happy squeal and jumped up from the hot spring pumping her arms in the air.

Sesshomaru immediately stood making sure Rin would not hurt herself, hovering closely behind her.

"We need to celebrate my lord!"

He watched as Rin made to move out the spring but stopped when he wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her to sit back down.

"Rest, we will have time for that later. Let us enjoy what time we have left here in this cave until we return to the world." Sesshomaru said gently cupping his mate's face.

He saw Rin relax her face, her eyes shining bright, "Forgive me, my lord. You are correct."

She then leaned forward pressing her hands to his chest and placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Thank you, my lord."

"For what?" Sesshomaru inquired.

"For this," Rin said taking his hand and placing it over her soft belly.

Sesshomaru opened his mouth, stating, "There is-"

Rin cut him off, "I know, I know. There is no need for thanks, but I still want to say thank you. We are going to be a family of three soon. I couldn't ask for anything more."

"Hm."

They sat in silence with Sesshomaru's arms wrapped around his young mate, hands gently massaging her belly.

"Is there anything you require?" Sesshomaru asked while resting his head on top of her head that she had tucked under his chin.

"Just you by my side, Lord Sesshomaru."

"Then that is where this Sesshomaru will remain."

~oOo~

~The Next Day~

The lone owl watched as the youkai and human stepped out of the cave while they had been tucked away from the world. For some reason, the couple intrigued the owl and he decided that he needed to continue to observe them. Although he was not privy to their wedding ceremony, the owl knew they had married by human custom by the beautiful gown he had seen the human wearing one night. By demon custom, she most likely bore the mark of her mate and also smelled of his pheromones.

Now the owl could smell that the human was carrying the youkai's child. It was not very strong, but he did have a very strong sense of smell. He needed to in order to be able to find small prey after all. He watched the youkai check the surrounding area and allowed his mate to walk ahead. The human just chatted away happily while her mate remained silent. The owl could tell that the youkai was on high alert for any danger. The youkai need not fear though, this area was empty and only small wildlife was present in this forest.

Any foe that would try to take on this youkai would only meet death though. The owl knew who the youkai was. He was the great daiyoukai of the western lands, Sesshomaru.

The owl had to admit that he was surprised to see that the great Sesshomaru took a human for a mate. He had heard rumors that the great Sesshomaru would never take a mate. That the great Sesshomaru looked down upon humans. That the great Sesshomaru had wandered the lands for centuries completely alone, not needing anyone.

Now here was the great Sesshomaru protecting his human mate who was carrying their offspring.

Who would have thought that all it took to deconstruct the great daiyoukai of the western lands Sesshomaru was a small human woman?

The owl blinked its large dark eyes and watched as the lone couple continued on their trek.

Finding its fill of adventure for the day, the owl took the sky heading home to its mate and their awaiting offspring.

'I'll check on them in a few moons from now.'

The little owl flew into the cloudless blue sky, not noticing that the great daiyoukai of the west had stopped in his tracks to observe his flight.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin called softly, looking towards the sky.

Sesshomaru watched the owl disappear and turned back to his mate, "Let us go home Rin."

Rin's smiled at her lord, her husband, "Yes my lord!"

~oOo~

Author's Notes:

I had tears in my eyes when I wrote the scene with Rin talking about her family and finally grieved. I imagined that Rin may not have cried at her family's death, the shock of everything left her mute. She later mentions to Kohaku that she still had nightmares about her family being killed during the Inuyasha series. Rin most likely suffered from PTSD that left her voiceless. She very well could had numbed herself as well.

Now the name Rin, I looked it up and depending on what characters are used to spell it, the name Rin does mean various things. Cold is one of them and looking further into I came across jewel. I could see Sesshomaru thinking that Rin is his jewel. I wanted to leave the scene with a bit of happiness hence Sesshomaru calling her his treasured jewel.

As for Sesshomaru and Toga. I don't know they would have acted as father and son. Sesshomaru is a badass when it comes to fighting and using his swords and so was Toga thus, I can see Sesshomaru learning everything from Toga regarding swords.

For how Sesshomaru dresses, I could totally see Inukimi teaching Sesshomaru all about looking regal. I looked up Sesshomaru clothes and according to one site, his heko-obi is actually tied in a more feminine style with how big the bow is. That is something I could see Inukimi doing.

I had to throw in Rin being pregnant. I can picture Sesshomaru humping Rin like crazy once they become intimate so of course she would get pregnant right away!

Next and final chapter is the epilogue!