It was just after the evening meal and Sesshomaru was in a meeting with two Ryuu Youkai soldiers who stood at attention in front of his desk. They had just finished a month watch at the growing port and he was going over the reports they had given him of accounts that had happened on their watch. A familiar quiet knock on the study doors had him glance up as Seraphina entered, a missed sight as he had not seen her for over two days as she kept herself busy and was always asleep by the time he finished his work.

Yuki must have done her hair as four tight braids were on either side while the top sectional been given some volume as it had been braided. The bottom half of her hair had been left down but the top braided half had been pulled back into a bun, held up by her silver clips. Her clothing how ever had him grateful for the desk he sat behind as his hamakas became tented, becoming painfully hard.

She had forgone her tailored hamakas despite the cold weather so her legs flashed through the purple floral printed black kimono that had slits on either side from her upper thighs to the ends that reached just below her ankles. The collar of the kimono had been tailored to sit just off her shoulders to proudly show the pack mark on her neck, the wounds Kabuto had left had scarred though they now reminded him of the only other scar she had that had been cut by ash as the jade pendant that the Sprite Baki had given her gave off a slight glow in the light. The strange laced obi she wore today was purple to match the floral print and was hemmed with white and sleeves fell just past her hands so they were hidden as she carried a tray of tea for him.

Smelling the arousal of both of his shoulders as Seraphina came into view and set the tray down, he growled low. Both soldiers adverted their gaze but a knowing smirk graced her face as her crimson eyes met his, meaning she had dressed that way on purpose. She poured his tea and when she brought it to him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her down to his lap as he set the cup off to the side. She made no sound as she found herself straddling him and tucked her head under his chin as she got comfortable, one hand resting on his chest while her other moved to rest around his waist.

He returned to reading over the soldier's reports, seeing them shift in place from their obvious discomfort as they were still in full silver armor. His hand slid down from her waist to slide under her kimono from the convenient slit of her outfit to grab her ass, noticing that she had forgone her strange undergarments completely. As he kneaded her flesh, knowing the desk hide the movement of his hand and signed his approval of the report he just read then he moved to the next report, her hips shifted against his hard length and heard her breath speed up just a fraction.

'Needy female,' he growled in Inu, knowing that the two soldiers would not understand him and felt her give a slight nod.

Sliding his hand down further, he began to tease her by softly stroking her core and felt her hand around his waist grip his haori. She was quickly becoming wet and seeing both soldier's widen and ears turning red, he knew that they could now smell her arousal. Sliding two fingers into her needy body, a whimper escaped her as he signed off that report and continued onto the next. The hand on his chest slid up to around the back of his neck as he began to slowly move his fingers inside of her and her hips started moving to meet each slow thrust of his hands, grounding herself against his length.

Her hand around his waist moved down between them and he felt her undoing the ties of his hamakas. Feeling himself flinch as her cold fingers wrapped around him, he slid a third digit into her and increased the pace of his fingers. A quiet restrained moan escaped her as her hand around his neck moved to tangle into his hair.

Her hand left his length for a moment before feeling her move the front of her kimono and felt her heated core press against the side of his arousal. His soldiers were becoming increasingly uncomfortable as they waited silently, their eyes focused on the windows behind him. Knowing what his pack mate wanted, he removed his fingers as she rocked her core against him. She did not hesitate to lift herself some and he slid into her as she lowered herself back into his lap, a breathy moan escaping her. It was becoming difficult to focus as she began riding him quickly went through the last few reports and signed them so the soldiers could report in with their immediate supervisor.

"You are dismissed," he growled as he held out the documents and one soldier too the stack of reports and they both silently fled from the room. "Shameless woman."

"You started it..." she murmured against his neck.

"Says the female who knowingly came in half dressed," he growled as he brought his hand up, slick and covered in her juices. "Suck."

Seraphina lifted her head without complaint and drew his fingers into her mouth to remove any trace on them, her crimson eyes locking onto his. Once clean, he brought both hands down to grab her wide hips and took control of her body, increasing the speed that she rode him. Her other hand came to wrap around his neck and kissed him. Plunging his tongue into her mouth, he devoured her as he could taste her juices that he made her clean from his hand, swallowing her loud moans.

Breaking the kiss, Sesshomaru lifted her up as he stood and he set her on the edge of her desk. Pounding into her, he hit her sweet spot and she let out a cry of pleasure, her head falling back as she clung to him. Angling to hit that spot with each violet thrust into her, she was quickly became a screaming mess as he tortured her. All too soon, he sent her over the edge so violently that she took him with her that all air left him.

Pulling her with him as his knees buckled, he fell back into his seat and that movement jarring him inside her as he swelled within her somehow sent her into another orgasm. Growling as her muscles clenched around his knotted length, he felt her flesh give under his hands and his claws pierced her flesh as she moved her head to rest against his shoulder as they both tried to slow their ragged breathing.

"Lord Sesshomaru...!"

Rin's singing voice faltered as his ward entered the office and narrowed his eyes at the soldiers outside. Their expressions became one of fear he could tell that they had just missed trying to stop the child from entering. He watched as Rin's eyes widen and spun around, slamming the doors closed in the soldier's face and became still as her hands went to cover her ears. Seraphina's head turned slightly to glance behind her, but made no move to lift her head as he heard her hum quietly.

"Are you well?" Sesshomaru murmured quietly.

"Better than I was..." she whispered. "Your claws..."

He pulsed some jaki into her wounds to ease any pain then pulled his hands away from her hips. A sigh escaped her and as his knot receded, he pulled out of her and she carefully slid out of his lap. She went over to the fireplace to use her ashen ability to clean up as he used his poison to clean any remnants of their release before fixing his clothing.

Seraphina glanced his way, he gave her a silent nod and she walked over to Rin and pressed her covered palm against her shoulder. Rin's hands lower from her ears and she turned to look at the foreigner before a wide smile graced her innocent face and lunged at her. He could smell the fear coming Seraphina as Rin's arms wrapped around her waist and her arms moved to not touch the child as she stumbled back a step. Rin's movements had been careful despite her speed and her face tucked against the side of her chest where she wouldn't accidentally touch her skin.

"Does this mean you can be my mama?" Rin asked eagerly and he tensed.

Sesshomaru smelt Seraphina's fear suddenly become overpowered by the salt of tears and got to his feet. Silently walking over to them, he saw her bring one arm up to cover her mouth to muffle the sob while her other hand moved to grab the fabric of her kimono over her heart. Crimson eyes lifted to his as he came around but he only saw overwhelming pain. Another sob escaped her as she closed her eyes, causing her body to shake and it alerted Rin to her distress and she lifted her head up. Innocent doe brown eyes widened and she pulled back, running into Sesshomaru as he had stood behind her in her panic and he brought his hand up to stroke her hair softly.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean..." Rin fell silent with tears of her own spilling over as Seraphina collapsed to her knees, unable to hold back the violent sobs as her chest curled towards her knees and head pressed to the floor. "What did I do wrong...? I didn't touch her skin... "

"This was not due to your abilities messing with her gems," Sesshomaru spoke quietly as he knelt beside the heartbroken female and pulled her into his arms. Her arms wrapped around his neck and buried her face against his neck and he placed his free hand on Rin's head. "Come, Rin."

The crying child nodded silently and followed as he left the study. His soldiers cowered in fear but he ignored them as he led the way through the halls. Yuki knowingly was waiting at the main doors with cloaks for both Seraphina and Rin, helping his ward into hers after draping the other over the woman in his arms. Once outside, he placed his hand on Rin's shoulder and pulled her against his side as he summoned his jaki cloud and ascended into the sky as snow flurries fell.

Reaching the warded cave in the cliff face looking over the ocean, he stepped inside. Crouching down while keeping Seraphina in his arm, he built up some wood into the fire pit and used his poison to set it alight. Then moved to sit on the furred futon and Rin hesitantly sat near them, rubbing her own tears away as she tried to stop crying.

"Seraphina," Sesshomaru murmured softly and lifted her head away from his shoulder.

Crimson eyes opened and he could almost feel her pain stab into his chest as he cupped her face. Growling softly, he inquired if he could inform the panicked child of why she had broken down and she gave him a weak nod before burying her face into his silk haori. Carefully tucking her cloak around her better as she trembled, he focused on Rin once more.

"What did I do, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin cried softly as her large doe eyes lifted from Seraphina up to him.

"This was not your doing, Rin. A year ago, a tiger youkai betrayed the youkai village Seraphina had lived in since she was an infant. She lost her pack, her home- everything she held dear within a single night," he spoke as Seraphina let out a whimper as she fought to stop her sobs and Rin's tears started to fall once more. "Those that had entered the village had beaten her within inches of her own life, but it claimed the life of a ryuu hanyou pup growing within her. She was put into a slumber by the sprites who saved her life, but to do so, they used her pup's fading lifeforce to create the gems that continue to heal her now."

"So it was because of what I asked...?"

"Her memories are still very raw," he nodded and saw her shoulders slump sadly. "You did not know, Rin so you cannot blame yourself for her distress."

"Okay," she nodded before crawling closer and curled up against Seraphina's side, carefully wrapping her arms around her waist as she hugged her. "I'm so sorry, Nina."

He felt Seraphina give a slight nod as she acknowledged her words and moved his pelt to wrap around the two females. Rin's eyes lost some of her sadness before laying her head against Seraphina's stomach and closed her eyes. Resting his free hand on his ward's head, he tightened his other arm around Seraphina as her sobs had finally quieted down to whimpers and he rested his head on top of her platinum locks.

The sun had set and the fire was barely burning when Seraphina finally fell completely silent and had cried herself unconscious as her arms fell from around his neck. He caught her arm before it fell onto Rin and his ward slowly pulled away, her expression somber. She crawled off the furred futon and silently tended to the fire, adding more logs to keep the chill out of the cave.

"Speak your thoughts, pup," Sesshomaru spoke as he carefully moved Seraphina to lay beside him, curled up under his pelt and he moved to the edge so he was closer to her as she knelt beside the fire.

"I know that because of the mark on her neck, that she's pack," Rin whispered as she lifted the sleeve of her right wrist to reveal the same mark he had given her the day before, "but what is she to you? My tutor mentions often that one day you'd have to find someone to gain a legitimate heir and that doesn't bother me, because I've been with you long enough to understand. I apologize for barging in, I didn't realize you had finally started to bed her, but does that mean you've mated? If this is her reaction a year later, would she even want a child?"

"The village that raised her did not believe in binding themselves to another, their views were rather open minded so it is something she also learned not to believe in. As of now, it is merely mutual pleasure and she uses her ashen techniques so she does not become pregnant. She has mentioned that she does not know if she would ever wish to even try for another pup after her loss and what her body has gone through."

"What else was injured when she was beaten?"

"If not for the ryuu eyes she has, she would have been blinded and her womb was severely damaged as her pup had sensed what was happening and caused severe damage to her womb in his panic."

"So could she even have a child if she wished for one?"

"The healer that came several days ago also knew ashen sprite abilities and was able to give a visual of her injuries and she mentioned that the scarring to her womb is less than it was so perhaps one day if that was her wish when she finally heals completely."

"If mating was something she believed in, would you?" Rin asked seriously as she looked up at him.

"This one is not sure..."

"You're already learning about her, body and soul, wouldn't that mean you act like mates even if you do not bear each other's mark?"

"You are too smart and nosy," he smirked and she gave him a cheeky smile as she moved to sit beside him.

"Lord Sesshoamru, now that you marked me... would it be okay to call you father?" she asked softly as she focused back on the fire. "I've been with you for so long now and you've always protected and cared for me. You've never forced me to leave your side."

"This one would be honored," he hummed, wrapping his arm around her and tucked her against his side, feeling her arms wrap around his waist before hearing a growl come from Seraphina behind him and realized it was her stomach.

"You've been stuck in meetings and dealing with your work, but she hasn't been coming to meals. I've seen her disappearing into the healer's wing, I think she's been helping Itoshi as well as helping in the kitchens," Rin whispered. "I don't know if she's been eating or not."

"Watch over her, I will hunt," he spoke gently and she nodded as he got to his feet.