Notes:

I need to address a mistake from the previous chapter. As I mentioned I am from the US so some of the terms I used are western. In the last chapter, I wrote that Miroku put his hand on the shaking doorknob. That was a complete mistake on my part. The castle that the Inu family lives in is based on Himeji castle (we will explore that later in the story) and they do not have western-style doors. It should have read shoji door instead. In one of the other chapters I wrote Sesshomaru had a shoji door and wanted to clarify that.

If you are not following me on Twitter, please consider doing so. I have been posting sneak peeks to the newest chapters as I am working on them. As such, things from what I post may change a little to when I finally post it.

/EG08172218

Now that we got that out of the way, time for a very much need conversation between the Inu family and Rin. We get some answers but we will also get a few more questions that will be answered later on.

Enough talk and enjoy!

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Interludes and Examinations

The princess's chambers were in complete devastation.

Toga shook his head looking towards the side of the room that was now completely exposed. The great ruler heard the shoji door slide open and heard his human mate gasp out.

The next few moments were complete chaos. Various members of the castle staff came running in and out. The guards were assessing the damage to the exposed wall. Voices speaking over each other. Izayoi, Sango, and Kaede checking on both Miroku and Kagome who were knocked unconscienced from being thrown. Inuyasha was sitting up but was completely dazed.

Toga called out to the nearest guard, "Get Daisuke here, he and his men can work on the wall."

"Yes, my lord!" The guard called out and quickly ran out to track down the head builder.

Toga then turned his attention back to his mate, Kimi. He was kneeling behind her propping her up who had to keep in direct contact with both Sesshomaru and Rin to keep the princess in her induced sleep.

"How long can you keep her under?" Toga asked, pressing his forehead to his mate's shoulder.

"Maybe another five minutes, 10 tops." Kimi weakly answered.

Kimi took deep breaths, after being thrown against the wall, her head was spinning. It was taking everything she had to keep the princess in her sleep.

"Princess!"

Both Toga and Kimi looked to see Maiko rushing forward and fell to her knees beside Sesshomaru.

Maiko reached forward but pulled back when Sesshomaru growled.

"Sesshomaru, this is Maiko, Rin's personal servant who has loyally been serving her since she was a child. You can trust her."

Sesshomaru merely regarded the human woman with minimum interest, turning back to his unconscious mate who was limp in his arms, her head resting against his broad chest.

The great demon lord then turned to Maiko, "My dear it's best you do not touch either of them. We had to put her under, and we do not know how much time we have until she wakes up."

Maiko sat back and nodded.

Kimi then spoke, "Sesshomaru, is there a reason why the princess was trying to rut with you right before we put her under?"

Sesshomaru's only answer was a stoic look.

Kimi fixed him a hard glare, rephrasing her question, "Sesshomaru you wouldn't…. I don't know…happen to have a sexual encounter with the princess recently have you?"

Sesshomaru only glared back at his mother.

"Damnit Sesshomaru!What did you do?!" Kimi hissed out, finally losing her patience.

"I did what I needed to! You denied me the right to see my mate last month with no explanation! Then father comes back telling me my mate is having her coming of age presentation! The very thought of suitors touching and fawning over my mate angered me. I needed her to remember who she was promised to." Sesshomaru shot back while cradling his mate to his chest, his eyes flashing red.

"What did you do?" Kimi asked again.

"I asked Kagome to create a spell for me to have a physical form in the fog and called the princess to me."

"By the gods….." Kimi growled out.

Composing herself Kimi asked, "Did she find … release?"

"Yes."

"Did you?"

"… Not in the fog."

Kimi sighed, closing her eyes. Feeling herself weakening, she pushed on.

"Did anything happen after she released?"

Kimi watched an odd expression cross her son's face.

"Something did happen…you need to tell me." Kimi urged.

Sesshomaru sighed, looking at his mate's unconscious face.

"Afterwards she glowed."

"Glowed?" Toga asked.

"Yes, her entire body glowed. It was a bright white light, it was so bright, I had to close my eyes." Sesshomaru answered thinking back to that night.

"Ok, did you say anything to her afterward?" Kimi asked.

Sesshomaru thought, "Yes, I told her she pleased me."

"What were your exact words, think Sesshomaru." Kimi pressed.

"You have pleased this Sesshomaru, my mate."

Kimi grimaced in pain, turning to Toga, "I only have a few more moments. You know what to do."

Toga nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Sesshomaru, this is why we didn't allow you to go last month. We know how possessive you get. We were concerned you would do something like this. Despite us not sending you, you still managed to find a way to have a sexual liaison with her! There were preparations we needed to take to ensure the bonding and the mental link would go smoothly. She wasn't ready!"

Kimi stopped, taking a deep breath, her strength fading each minute.

"Your actions, Sesshomaru….you unknowingly started the soul bond with her when you brought her to climax."

"But-"

"No buts Sesshomaru, you started the soul bond with her, and then you cut off the process before it could finish."

"Servant, has the princess displayed any signs of physical discomfort during the trip here?" Kimi asked, not bothering with the name of the human woman.

"Um…yes, I noticed she kept clutching her stomach during the past few days here. Today it seemed her head was bothering her as well."

"Sesshomaru, have you felt any pain in your stomach or head?" Kimi asked turning to her son.

"Before when you called me, I felt a ripping sensation in my stomach. Four days ago, I felt a pain in my chest."

"Four days….the same time she had her nightmare." Toga said looking at Kimi.

"What nightmare?" Sesshomaru asked, eyes narrowing at his parents.

Toga knowing that Sesshomaru could very well blow up upon any further news regarding the distressed state his mate was in, quickly answered, "We do not know. Kimi, you were saying?"

"After your encounter with the princess, you sent her back?" Kimi asked, knowing that Toga was distracting their son.

Sesshomaru nodded.

Kimi thought for a moment, "The bright light you saw must have been her soul reacting to you as her mate, both sides of her accepted you which could be why she reacted the way she did when she saw you now. She was willing to rut with you in front of us to finish the bonding."

"But if Rin knows she is marrying Sesshomaru, why did she scream and attack Inuyasha? Remember, she yelled out "not mate" when Inuyasha approached her." Izayoi said. She had joined the conversation once she saw that everyone else was regaining consciousness and Kaede was checking them over.

Toga said, "That can't be right, she knows she is marrying Sesshomaru, it was in the letter we sent."

"Excuse me, but do you mean the letter you sent to her father two moons ago?" Maiko asked.

"Yes, that letter," Toga answered.

"I do not believe she ever saw that letter, I found it hidden away. I actually stole the letter and it's in one of my trunks." Maiko said with a sad look on her face.

The entire Inu family gasped, Toga asking in shock, "Surely her parents would have told her?!"

"Actually, that would make sense," Inuyasha said now joining the conversation as well.

Inuyasha walked with a small limp and shook his head. His ears were still ringing from the explosion. Once he saw that Kaede was attending to his mate, he made his way to his parents.

"What do you mean?" Izayoi asked.

"When I was saying goodbye to her, I mentioned I had a brother, and she was completely surprised to hear that. I was going to ask how she could not know I had a brother when she is to marry him but then father called me."

"You didn't think to tell us this on the way home!?" Toga asked in shock.

"It must have slipped my mind! In the carriage ride back to the ship, you brought up how her parents still had not told her the truth and you were mad. I'm sorry father." Inuyasha said looking away.

"It's not your fault, son...the responsibility of telling Rin who she was marrying did not fall on us." Toga sighed out.

Toga turned back to Maiko, "Think, do you ever recall Rin or her parents saying Sesshomaru's name in regard to her engagement?"

Maiko sat and thought back to all the conversations she had with the princess leading up to their departure.

Shaking her head, the servant answered, "No, she never talked about her upcoming marriage. Towards the end, her relationship with her parents was…..strenuous."

Sesshomaru holding Rin to him, quietly said, "That would explain something she said that night…"

"What?" Kimi asked.

Sesshomaru answered, "Her exact words were "I can't". I thought it was simply because she was nervous but…if she was under the impression, she was to marry Inuyasha…."

"Then she thought she was cheating on her future husband." Kimi finished.

Kimi then realized in shock, "Oh god…..we have been sending you to talk to her in fog and she thought she was marrying Inuyasha this whole time….."

"That would explain the sudden change in her mood. Why she couldn't eat, even the day after her presentation. She seemed…..desponded." Maiko said.

"We all caused this to happen." Toga sighed out.

All eyes turned towards the unconscious form of the princess who was resting against Sesshomaru. All now realizing the severity of Rin's inner turmoil and the sudden downward spiral of her health.

"Sesshomaru, I only have a few more moments….you need to finish the bonding process soon otherwise we might see another….event…soon…..if possible sometime within the next day…." Kimi then passed out, falling against Toga who was ready to catch her.

"Shhh, rest my mate. We'll take care of it from here." Toga said looking towards Izayoi.

Toga turned back to Sesshomaru, "Can you sense if she is waking?"

Sesshomaru gently caressed Rin's face, "I can't feel anything from her yet."

"Inuyasha, can you take Kimi back to our room? She needs to rest." Toga asked picking up Kimi and handing her off to Inuyasha.

Turning back to everyone else in the room, Toga added, "Everyone leave. When the princess wakes, I want to minizine her reaction, and having an audience will not help. Maiko you can stay. I'm sure your mistress will need to see a familiar face once she wakes up. Izayoi stay as well."

"Dear, maybe it's best if we move to another room? If she wakes up and sees all this…." Izayoi gently said.

Looking around the princess's room that was now in shambles, "I agree." Toga said.

"We can bring her to bring my room for now." Sesshomaru said.

Toga nodded and bent down to help Sesshomaru handle Rin but had to pull back when the iridescent protective field from earlier appeared and Rin whimpered at his touch and began fidgeting.

Once Toga stepped away, the protective field disappeared, Rin relaxing in Sesshomaru's arms.

Toga and Sesshomaru looked at each other in surprise. Both have never seen anything like this before.

'Even in her unconscienced state, she does not want another male touching her…...' Toga thought. Toga inwardly smiled though, both sides of the princess had truly accepted Sesshomaru as her mate then.

Carefully balancing Rin in his arms, Sesshomaru stood, and the family made their way out of the princess's devastated room.

~oOo~

Sesshomaru tried unsuccessfully to lay the princess down on his futon by herself but each time he let her go, she would whimper, and the protective field would start forming around her. Sesshomaru finally gave up and sat cross-legged on his futon adjusting Rin to lay with her head resting against his chest, her legs over his thigh. Once he was comfortable, he felt Rin start to stir.

"Father, she is waking," Sesshomaru called out.

His father was pacing the room. Izayoi was sitting nearby along with Maiko. They were all waiting for Rin and for whatever may happen.

Rin gave a small whimper and her eyes fluttered open.

While waiting for Rin to wake up, Sesshomaru took the time to study his mate. He felt how light she was in his arms while carrying her. Once they had this mess sorted out, he would see she was properly fed. He had also noticed that she had deep bags under her eyes from lack of sleep.

"Father, why does my mate look exhausted?" Sesshomaru asked while walking to his room.

Toga answered, "All we know is that on the third day of her voyage here, she had a nightmare. Once she wakes, we need to find out what it was. Whatever it was…it contributed to what happened."

Sesshomaru inwardly sighed, his mate finally reached their home, and this was not the homecoming he was expecting for her. Sesshomaru then remembered he left Jaken and the two-headed dragon behind in his haste. He shook his head but knew his trusted vassal would make his way back.

Sesshomaru watched as his little mate moaned, pressing her hand to her head, and looked around.

Rin tried speaking but ending up coughing.

Izayoi quickly ran to the nearby table which had a pitcher of water and poured the princess a glass. Sesshomaru took the glass from his stepmother and tipped the glass to Rin's lips, and she greedily drank it down.

Once she seemed satisfied, she pushed the glass away and it was at this point, she seemed to realize who she was sitting on and gasped.

Sesshomaru's watched as her eyes widen in shock and then turn to fear, she tried to climb out of his lap but had no strength, he then quietly heard her say, "Please release me, I should not be sitting with you."

"Why do you say that?" Sesshomaru gently asked, carefully bringing her back to his chest.

He noticed that she did not struggle against his hold.

"Because I've been promised to another."

"To my brother Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru asked, tipping Rin's chin up to look him in the eye.

He felt Rin's body stiffen, her eyes watering, "Yes…."

Toga who had been watching the exchange hung his head in shame but also felt anger at King Ishida. Her father was supposed to show her the letter, if he had this whole mess could have been avoided.

Toga looked towards Izayoi who also looked upset as he.

Izayoi stepped forward and gently took Rin's shaking hand, "My dear Rin….we have made a grave error and we ask for your forgiveness."

Rin with sad eyes, looked confusedly between Toga and Izayoi, asking "What do you mean?"

Izayoi sighed in disappointment, "Princess, you are not marrying our son Inuyasha. You are marrying Sesshomaru."

Everyone in the room watched as Rin's face went from sadness to shock.

"But…..but you said…that night in the gardens…you said our son…." Rin said in a small voice.

"I did say our son because Sesshomaru is my son. Even though I did not give birth to him, I call him my son." Izayoi said realizing she had used the wrong words that night when speaking to the princess about her upcoming marriage.

Toga then stepped forward, "Arina, we had assumed you saw the letter I sent your father. In that letter, it specifically stated your marriage to Sesshomaru and not Inuyasha. We are truly sorry that you were under the impression that you were to marry Inuyasha."

Toga and Izayoi then both bowed to the princess in a sign of deep respect, both trying to convey their deepest apologies.

"So….I'm to marry…..you?" Rin asked, her voice containing a tiny tendril of hope, turning back to Sesshomaru now.

Sesshomaru was pleased to see that his mate's eyes seemed a bit brighter now.

"Yes, you were promised to this Sesshomaru and no other long ago." Sesshomaru said running a clawed hand through her long locks, inhaling her sweet scent.

Sesshomaru was then surprised when Rin's sobbed out, clutching onto his silk robes, burying her face into his chest.

"Does this still upset you?" Sesshomaru asked, wrapping her in moko-moko. He thought this news would ease her troubled mind, not the reaction she was having now.

"…No…..I'm…..just….." Rin choked out, barely being able to speak between her sobs.

"She is happy my lord, " Maiko softly called out.

The loyal servant watched the exchange between her mistress and lord Sesshomaru and felt relief knowing that the princess's troubled mind was at ease. Having served the princess for over seven years now, the servant knew how to read the princess. Maiko also had tears in her eyes as well, seeing how sincere lord Sesshomaru was in treating her princess.

Sesshomaru looked towards his father, who nodded in agreement with a small smile on his face.

Sesshomaru quietly said, "Oh…" and gently rubbed his mate's back.

Toga held back a chuckle, Sesshomaru still had some ways to go in understanding human emotions.

The family stayed quiet as Rin's sobs ceased, giving her time to absorb the information.

"You haven't reached out to me since my presentation night…." Rin said, pulling back from Sesshomaru's chest, her eyes red from crying. She sniffled, waiting on an answer.

"This Sesshomaru must also ask for your forgiveness, when you were traveling by sea, I could not reach out. The water for some reason causes interference, it dampens our abilities."

Rin only nodded, resting against Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru could feel the exhaustion radiating off of her body, "You need to sleep. Your servant tells us you haven't slept in four days."

The entire Inu family become alarmed when Rin suddenly pushed away from Sesshomaru, wildly shaking her head, "NO! Please…..every time I close my eyes all I see is…..Don't make me sleep, please!"

Sesshomaru's face hardened, asked, "What do you see?"

Rin closed her eyes, breathing hard, "…..Red eyes…." She whimpered out.

Sesshomaru growled, his head snapping towards his father.

Both daiyoukais' now understood Rin's torment and fear of sleeping.

"Naraku..." Toga whispered, damning the spider demon's existence to hell.

Sesshomaru now seeing red, had to calm himself, asked, "What did he do to you?"

Rin refused to answer, hiding her face in his silk robes.

"Mate, you need to tell me. What. Did. He. Do." Sesshomaru asked in a deep growl.

"He…..pinned me down…..he said he wanted to look at what he was denied…..he….hurt me…..and…..he wanted….more….Please, please do not make me talk about it anymore!" Rin sobbed out.

Sesshomaru hearing his distraught mate pleas began breathing hard, his eyes turning red and his youki flaring around him.

Toga could feel his son's demonic aura spreading, the room began to tremble. The next thing to happen made Toga step back quickly calling out, "Izayo, Maiko get behind me!"

Both human women quickly did as told.

Before him, Toga watched as Sesshomaru's youki was growing because Rin's iridescent field started to merge with Sesshomaru.

"What's happening?" Izayoi asked watching in amazement.

"I do not know…somehow their powers are combining. We need to calm them down." Toga said.

Toga firmly called out to his son, "Sesshomaru….son…you need to calm down…..you're upsetting your mate."

Nothing happened.

Toga withdrew Tessaiga, hoping the sword would be his last resort.

"SESSHOMARU!"

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed between red and amber and he shook his head, his father's voice snapping him out of it. The field surrounding both youkai and the human woman disappeared.

"Shhhh…" Sesshomaru said, gently rubbing his sobbing mate's back.

"I'm so tired….please…" Rin cried.

"I can take you to the fog, you will be safe there. I will stay with you. No one can hurt there." Sesshomaru said gently cupping Rin's face and wiping away her tears.

"You'll stay with me?" Rin asked with hope in her voice.

"Yes, I won't leave you."

Izayoi then spoke up, "I'll have Kaede prepare a sleeping aid." And quickly exited the room taking Maiko with her.

"Sleeping aid?" Rin asked.

"It will help you sleep; Your body needs rest and the sleeping draught will help you stay asleep and heal." Sesshomaru said, standing up with Rin in his arms.

Toga stepped forward and turn down the blankets on the futon.

Sesshomaru set Rin down gently preparing to let her go but Rin quickly clung to him, "Please don't leave me."

Sesshomaru grasped her hands, kissing her knuckles, "I'm not leaving you; I merely wish to remove my outer layers to be more comfortable. I will lay with you; I need to have direct contact with you to bring you into the fog with me."

Maiko then returned with a sleeping yukata for Rin.

"Here princess, Izayoi provided this for you since our trunks are still not here yet."

Rin hesitantly let go of Sesshomaru and nodded.

Toga turned to give the princess privacy and called Sesshomaru over to him.

"You are sure to call her into the fog with you without your mother's help?"

Sesshomaru nodded while stripping down, "Yes, mother has trained me the past few months in case something ever happened with my future mate."

Toga and Sesshomaru's attention was suddenly pulled back to Rin when she cried out in pain, bent over clutching her stomach. Sesshomaru then fell to his knees feeling the same pain from earlier rip through his stomach again. Sesshomaru growled and his fingers digging into the mat under him.

Kimi suddenly appeared with Izayoi, being supported by Inuyasha.

Toga rushed forward taking Kimi by the waist, "What are you doing here? You should be resting."

"I could feel their distress, quick get Sesshomaru over to Rin now," Kimi said.

Inuyasha rushed forward and hoisted Sesshomaru from the ground and got him to Rin.

The pair's pain subsided once Sesshomaru cradled Rin to his chest.

Toga quietly asked Kimi, "What's happening?"

"They need to finish bonding. Once the princess has rested for a few hours, they need to complete the process. They can't even be away from each other for a few feet without being in pain at this point." Kimi said while making her way to the couple.

"Dear princess, my name is Inukimi but you can call me Kimi or mother. Whichever you prefer. I'm Sesshomaru's mother."

Rin feeling better once in Sesshomaru's arms, weakly nodded.

"I'm going to help you go to asleep, I will act as a bridge between you and Sesshomaru since your mental link has not formed yet."

"Mental link?" Rin asked, her small hands holding onto Sesshomaru's robe.

"Yes, once mated to an Inuyoukai, the couples form a mental link. We can talk to each other in our minds. If one is ever in danger, the other will know. It's much stronger in the inuyoukai females than the males. I have a connection with the entire family. Toga on the other hand only has a connection between me and Izayoi."

"It works between humans and inuyoukai?" Rin asked.

"It's not as strong with humans, he can sense her and her emotions, but she can't answer back if he tries to speak to her."

"So it would be the same with us?" Rin asked looking towards Sesshomaru.

"Well…. you're... different but we believe the mental link should be the same as Toga's and I," Kimi said in hesitation.

Kimi saw that Rin was going to ask what she meant but Kaede suddenly entered.

"Here child, drink this. One for Sesshomaru as well." Kaede said handing over two small cups with steaming liquid.

The pair quickly did as command and Maiko stepped forward, "Princess let's at least you get you to your hadajuban so you are more comfortable."

Maiko quickly pulled Rin's kimono from her body to minimize the loss of contact between the youkai and human woman so neither would experience any pain.

While this was going on, everyone exited the room leaving only Kimi behind with Sesshomaru and Rin.

Maiko cupped Rin's cheek, "You'll be ok now. I'll be here when you wake." And left the room.

"Sesshomaru lay here and tuck Rin to your chest," Kimi instructed.

The Inu demoness moved to the head of the futon and Sesshomaru laid down, drawing his little mate close to him. Once Rin was comfortable, Kimi placed a hand on both their foreheads, closed her eyes, and concentrated on the fog. After a few minutes, Kimi opened her eyes to see both Sesshomaru and Rin fast asleep.

'Sesshomaru, can you hear me?'

'Yes, mother.'

'I'll give her until late evening to rest but then we will need to wake her. The bonding ceremony needs to be completed; we need to stop the pain that you are both experiencing.'

'Yes mother,'

'Take care of her.'

~oOo~

Rin opened her eyes and saw Sesshomaru staring down at her. They were at the God Tree, her nestled in his lap. He was currently running his fingers through her hair. The long furry pelt was wrapped around her.

"What is this?" Rin asked, gently running her fingers through the fur pelt.

"It is moko-moko, " Sesshomaru answered.

"…..But what is it?" Rin asked again when she felt moko-moko tickle her fingers causing her to giggle.

After much thought, Sesshomaru finally answered, "Think of it as an extension of my youki."

"I see…" Rin answered but in reality, she still didn't understand.

Rin looked at Sesshomaru again and studied his face.

She wanted to ask her question but was afraid.

"Speak what is on your mind." Sesshomaru said gently running his clawed fingers down her cheek.

"Um….do you...love…..me?"

"Yes," Sesshomaru answered without hesitation.

Rin nodded looking down at her hands.

"Do not fret, you are not obligated to tell me how you feel." Sesshomaru said gently, resuming his gentle movements in her hair.

"Sleep, you are safe, and I will watch over you."

Rin snuggled into Sesshomaru's chest and finally allowed her exhausted body to rest, her body falling into a deep sleep within a few seconds of Sesshomaru's last statement.

~oOo~

Toga helped Kimi back to their bedroom with Izayoi leading the way. Once all three were in the safety of their room, Toga sat Kimi down and collapsed next to her sighing.

Toga commanded two guards outside Sesshomaru's room with strict instructions that no one was allowed to enter except himself or either of his wives.

"Gods, could this day have gone any worse?" Toga said.

Izayoi came to sit next to Kimi, helping her get comfortable. Kimi was still weak from earlier using all her strength to help subdue Rin.

Suddenly the room was flooded with a bright light causing all occupants to cover their eyes.

"It actually could have gone much worse, my dear beast king." A new feminine voice spoke.

Toga opened his eyes and gasped, quickly dropping to one knee with his head bowed. Both of his wives quickly averting their eyes and bowing at the waist.

"Toga, Izayoi, InuKimi, it's time we have a talk regarding Rin's half-demon, half-goddess nature." The all-powerful goddess Amaterasu said.

~oOo~

Notes:

So I'm assuming everyone picked up the clues on Rin being a half-demon but did anyone expect the other part of what she is!?

For anybody who does not know who Amaterasu is, according to Japanese mythology, she is the celestial sun goddess. The royal family currently sitting on the throne claim to be direct descents from her.

Leave a comment to let me know what you think and what your theories are regarding Rin!