I am supposed to be studying for an exam, but I needed a break and then I wrote this. It is one of the prompts of screamigbdodo on Tumblr.

I know they are supposed to be no touching, but I decided that for the sake of this story that it meant no sex.

Prompts:

1.- Trying to understand the nuances of each other's heritage.

2.- And understands that it doesn't define the other in the end.

S

Summary: Sesshomaru's youkai traditions of a wedding are very different than Rin's. He plans to steal her away the night before as his father had done long ago to his mother. Rin's ningen customs require that they do not see each other until the ceremony.

Rin is sixteen fyi. Very mature and ready to be a bride back in feudal Japan. I also basically googled Japanese Shinto weddings/traditional weddings for context later in the story.

I own nothing.

Enjoy!

Sesshomaru did not understand why there was such a fuss by the ningen women during the day as he tried to fulfill one of his own traditions the night before the wedding. His brother's wife was the most adamant about him staying away from the house. He was not allowed to be near it. However, he had his own tradition that he had to fulfill which was in contradiction with the ningen women's wishes. A tradition that his mother had told him his father had done when they married because it was custom, it was tradition, and it was expected.

Sesshomaru got up after the monk, Kohaku, and even the teenage fox youkai had fallen asleep from the sweet sake that Jaken had ensured that was brought to the village. It was meant for youkai. It was sweet and it was to Sesshomaru's liking.

Inuyasha hiccoughed and stared at him bleary eyed. "Umm…Sesshomaru…where are you going?" Was slurred out. Sesshomaru gave Jaken a look and Jaken, bleary-eyed himself, poured Inuyasha another bowl and then one for himself. "Hehe! Banzai!" Inuyasha tipped the bowl back and fell backwards onto the floor and fell asleep.

Sesshomaru was not intoxicated, he was clear minded and sober. As a daiyoukai he would have needed at least two barrels if not four to feel the effects of the sake that his younger, half-demon brother and the ningens clearly felt, or even a low ranking demon like Jaken or fox demon.

He left them be in the monk's house and walked to the old miko's house. Rin's sweet scent of cheery blossoms and pine needles calling to him. He saw a few villagers stare at him earlier that day as he had forgone his armour as Rin insisted she would clean and polish it for the ceremony. He obliged her and felt pride that his future wife wished to clean and care for his armour. However, his swords were still on his hip, it kept the village children away, except for the taijiya and monk's children. They had no fear of him whatsoever.

None of the villagers had seen him without his armour before. Nor would they again after the wedding tomorrow. He was merely obliging his bride.

The house was dark as he approached but his eyes were quite adept as seeing in the darkness. He pulled back the curtain and he could see the taijiya and her brood of children sleeping in he corner. The two mikos sleeping soundly beside each other. He looked to the extension which normally served as Inuyasha and Kagome's quarters. He nodded to himself and soundlessly made his way to the curtain to draw it back and steal his bride.

Yes, that was his family's tradition. The groom stole the bride away the night before the wedding. He knew his duties. There were expectations of him by his mother that he at least perform this one tradition. On his father had performed. His mother had already relented to all of Rin's customs that the old miko insisted upon with the support of everyone else that came to see Rin as family. Inuyasha was the loudest voice of them all.

But in this one regard, this one tradition, Sesshomaru would have his way. His eyes caught his armour and saw that it glinted in the moonlight. Rin had done a perfect job in cleaning his armour.

He looked down at his sleeping betrothed. Her long dark hair was no longer wild as it once was when she was a child. Long even tresses haloed out above her head. Her head was supported by a pillow that was much comfier than the standard supports. He had sent her a new pillow every year for the past eight years. He quietly knelt down and cupped her face.

Rin stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked at him in surprise. Then she frowned. Before she could speak he lifted her up and carried her out of her room. Her mouth hung open at a loss for words as he quietly and quickly carried her out of the house.

He didn't celebrate his success yet as they were still in the village. He took off into the night sky and Rin squeaked and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sesshomaru!" She had dropped the title as they were alone. He did not give her any response but could feel her pout without seeing it.

He looked at their surroundings and found a suitable place for what he had in mind. He, unfortunately, had to hear the stories of his mother and father's first night. The tradition that had been in place for several generations by then. He landed in the vast field surrounded by trees. It was secluded and far away enough from the village that Inuyasha in his drunken stupor would not find them easily.

"Rin, I have come to steal you away for the night." Sesshomaru informed Rin and set her down on the ground. Her hands fisted in his kimono as she stared up at him. She stood there and she seemed to be shaking. He wondered if she was cold and so wrapped his arms around her. His long kimono sleeves blocking out the chill of the night. He could hear the rhythm of her hear beating erratically and her cheeks were a bright pink. "Are you unsure of this Sesshomaru?" He asked her and tried to not sound like a wounded dog.

"No…but…but why are you…why did you take me from Lady Kaede's?" Rin asked softly. She looked genuinely confused.

"We are to lay together tonight. It is a family custom of mine to steal the bride away the night before the wedding." Sesshomaru explained gently and cupped Rin's face. This was his custom and his final test. A groom that stole his bride away without the family knowing was a worthy addition to the family.

He watched as Rin's eyes widened in shock. He had anticipated several scenarios, perhaps several fantasies, but shock was never one of them. He wondered if his ningen bride ever heard of his custom. He guessed not as she stared at him and her mouth dropped.

Rin shook her head, closing her mouth, and the frowned at him again. An expression he was not accustomed to seeing on Rin's face. "Sesshomaru! In my customs the bride and groom aren't supposed to see each other for twenty-four hours at least!"

"That is a ridiculous tradition. The real union happens the night before. My mother expects this one tradition to be maintained." He growled out softly.

"You promised Lady Kaede and Kagome that you would see me at the ceremony. You lied to them!" She hissed out. A tone he was unaccustomed to hearing from Rin.

He would not force her. He sighed, letting go of her, he turned around and sat on the ground, Mokomoko curling around him. This was a problem in itself, his mother would be disappointed, and he would surely be teased for failing to bed his bride the night before their wedding. He failed to steal his bride would be what was spread or that he favoured the ningen ways like his father had at the end of his life. Sesshomaru rested his chin in his palm, elbow on his knee. It was a conundrum in itself. Obey his mother and not be a laughing stalk or obey the ningen women and be a laughing stalk to his mother. He could hear her taunts already: My darling son, Sesshomaru, you really are your father's son. She would raise her long sleeve and hide her smirk, her mirthless stare and fake laugh ringing in his ears.

He heard her sigh softly and sit beside him and leaned against his Mokomoko since it blocked her from sitting against him. "Sesshomaru, can we talk about our traditions?" Rin asked quietly.

He shifted Mokomoko and brought her against his side and let it curl around her. "Hn." He gave her a glance and Rin smiled up at him and pressed against his side. For a woman not willing to lay with him, Rin was pressed against him nice and snug. Sesshomaru waited for what felt like an eternity as Rin hummed softly to herself.

She looked up at the stars and he could see her drawing out a pattern, he knew the one she was drawing. He had told her the name of that particular collection of stars when after her second death and revival she could not sleep. He had pointed to each star and let her find each one and then told her it was the Great Dog Demon, his father. It was probably the only time he was ever that kind to Rin, but her nightmares were because of his failure. He owed her for his lack of care. They had sat together that night too, but not as close, just close enough to feel relaxed in each other's presence.

"There is the Great Dog Demon." Rin smiled and looked to him. He turned his face to hers and he stared into warm brown eyes that held his gaze unafraid. Only love and admiration were held in their depths. They had been through so much together despite Rin's sixteen years. She had flourished over the years in the village. The old miko had raised a lady. Rin had been educated by everyone from writing and reading to philosophy and meditation to archery, hunting, and even how to wield a blade. Gone was the girl who roamed the wilds happily singing songs about him while picking flowers.

Now a woman sat beside him, who was willing to leave with him and be his wife for as long as she lived. They both knew the consequences of their choices. The hardships they would face together. What their future children would face.

He mentally promised to cherish this woman beside him for as long as the forces of nature, life, heaven, or hell allowed him to have her. So, he was left only with confusion as to why their customs were so different when it came to marriage practices.

He must've looked quizzical despite not making a face. Rin was able to read every twitch of his lips, eyes, and nose, as well as the slight movements in his brow, the veins that subtly throbbed in annoyance in his temple or neck, or the changes in his eyes. Yes, she knew him best and no one else would probably either. A small ache in his heart grew at the dark thoughts. Rin's finite existence in his longer one would always haunt him. He already grieved for her once and that was before he even truly lived for her. Before he truly loved her. He cared and loved her platonically as a friend back then. She was not just a ward to him.

Rin pressed her cheek against his shoulder and laced their fingers together. "You'll be in big trouble with Inuyasha as well, should he find out." Rin teased lightly.

"It is not his business what we do." Sesshomaru tersely replied but squeezed her hand gently. He liked the feel of her hand enveloped by his. Their hands fitted perfectly together.

"Hm? Really? He is giving me away tomorrow." Rin replied.

"I do not understand your concepts of a wedding. That is not how we youkai perform weddings." Sesshomaru looked up at the stars and saw the Great Dog Demon in them. "Tell me what are ningen weddings like?" Father. Would you have had a wedding like this with Izayoi?

"Well, first the bride and groom don't see each other until the ceremony." Rin said and Sesshomaru gave her a pointed look. She smiled and continued, pressing her cheek against his shoulder, "Everyone important to us gathers at the shinto…but you and I will go to the hill. Miroku has agreed to perform the ceremony for us. No priest has agreed." She laughed softly at that and Sesshomaru huffed softly, chest rising and then falling. Rin continued with a soft smile on her face, "You and I will drink three times from three different sized sake cups, Inuyasha and Kagome will do the same, as will your mother and Kaede since your father is dead and my parents are long dead, they will serve the role of the second couple."

"Why do they have to drink from the cups with us?" Sesshomaru did not like the idea of sharing drink with everyone else. Rin's eyes glittered in the darkness of the night.

"It's custom, ningen custom!" Rin smiled. "When Sango and Miroku got married, Inuyasha and Kaede drank for Miroku and Kohaku and I drank for Sango, though we took tiny sips."

Sesshomaru did not know that fact and as much as he knew that Rin loved him, he felt a twang of jealously for Rin doing something with the taijiya boy. However, they were only eight and eleven back then. Letting children drink sake was something he thought was foolish. Had he known back then he would have punched Inuyasha square in the jaw.

Rin laughed softly beside and kissed his cheek. "Do not brood. Kohaku is our dear friend. Now, the sake cups represent different things, and that is why they are different sizes. This is the san san ku do and the cups are called the sakazuki. These are our marriage vows. The first cup and three sips represent the couples doing the drinking, the second up represents flaws of hatred, passion, and ignorance, and finally the last cup and sips represents freedom from the three flaws. But there is one last thing we do before we are officially married!" Rin smiled

"Lay together?" Sesshomaru asked her.

She shook her head, "You have that on the brain! No, we give the small tree twigs, the sakaki, to God. That's it, we will be married then." Rin finished with another kiss to his cheek.

Sesshomaru cupped her face and kissed her gently. Lips fitting against hers and moving gently across. She sighed into the kiss and he took the moment to dive in with his tongue. She pulled away with a light blush and Sesshomaru felt like he won until she spoke again. "What do youkai do for weddings?"

"Youkai do not have such elaborate weddings." Sesshomaru told her. He did not know much about them as he never had been married before or been a part of one. Only the logistics of the wedding his mother had wanted for him.

"But kidnapping the bride is a tradition?" Rin asked curiously.

"Yes, it is. Or mother says it is." Sesshomaru huffed a bit. "This one has never been to one."

"Really?" Rin pouted. "No one has been kind to you. Weddings are always fun, there is always a feast afterwards. And I chose all of the fruit for you and Lady Mother tomorrow. Kagome was so surprised to know that you ate fruit. I think she thought you ate raw meat." She giggled the last part. "What else happens?"

"Mother says that the families come together after the groom brings the bride back. The bride's family admonishes the groom and the bride is to act ashamed of lying with her groom the night before the wedding. The groom's family then offers gifts to the bride's family, to buy forgiveness and to assure their families have a good relationship once more. An elder, respected by both families draws up the contract between the families. There is usually a gathering of members of each household to eat together." Sesshomaru explained and then he heard a sound he did not expect from Rin.

A snort.

He turned to her and saw her hiding her face, but he could see her trembling beside him in silent laughter. "That is a youkai wedding." He stated drily.

Rin tossed her head back and laughed. He caught the back of her head and stared into her brown eyes. "Sorry." She apologized with a large smile on her face. A smile brighter than the sun were it out.

He stared into her eyes, "You are not sorry, Rin. You laughed at this one's customs." He admonished her.

She pouted, "You kidnapped me and ignored this one's customs." She countered.

He realized she had a point. They both had customs that were specific to their culture and heritage. They needed to find common ground and forget their differences. He could not lay with her as it dishonoured her customs. He mulled ideas in his mind quickly.

It was Rin who came up with a solution quickly. She laid down on the grass beside him and looked up at him with a smile. "Lay beside me." He obeyed his betrothed and laid down on his side beside her, his hand reached out and grabbed her hip and pulled her closer. She nodded and put a hand on his. "Our custom. The groom still steals the bride, but they talk all night and lay beside each other under the stars. They share their hopes and dreams. They discuss their fears, but most importantly they talk about what they love about the other. They can share stories about family traditions and silly stories too." Rin closed her eyes and smiled at him.

He leaned down and pressed his lips to her brow. "This Sesshomaru like his Rin's new customs. It is balance and harmony."

Rin opened her eyes slowly and cupped his cheek. "I can't wait to be your wife." She smiled sweetly at him.

"This one will be pleased to be your husband." He kissed her nose and down to her lips. He pulled back when he felt Rin's tongue sweep out against the seam of his lips. He smirked at her. "Rin, this one hopes that we may have many years together."

"I fear growing old." Rin's eyes watered and he stroked her cheek and brushed the tears away with his thumb, she caught his wrist and kissed his palm. "I fear you will grow to hate your decision."

He shook his head. "That could never happen." Rin smiled through her tears and nodded. "We will count every day and I shall treasure them until I find you in every subsequent life." He added.

"You are a romantic." Rin laughed softly and he captured her lips.

"This Sesshomaru is no romantic, he speaks only promises and truths to his Rin." Sesshomaru laid down on his back and pulled her to rest her head on his chest. "Rin?" He called to her after a few silent moments that were comfortable between.

"Yes?" Rin asked and rested her chin on his chest, fingers playing with the hem of his kimono.

"Tell me," he looked directly into those sweet brown eyes, "what are your hopes of our union."

She smiled and closed her eyes, he rubbed her back slowly knowing by the next night they would be bare, and he could dance his claws along her soft flesh, "I imagine us having children despite your aversion to hanyous."

"You will bear me children. They will be the finest hanyous." Sesshomaru interrupted her. She cracked open an eye and smirked.

They talked, more like Rin talked and Sesshomaru would answer or prompt more questions from her, until Rin fell asleep hours later before the darkness of the night became darker still before the new dawn approached. It was always darkest before dawn.

He knew they would both be reprimanded once he brought her back to the village. But for now, as he looked upon the sleeping beauty in his arms, he was content in the new tradition.

He supposed if they were to have daughters one day this would be a better tradition. If he loved his children as much as he loved Rin then he would hunt the groom out if they had a youkai tradition. He could accept this balanced and harmonized tradition of theirs more easily.

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