Chapter Twenty One

Kagome sat high in the branches of a tree picked by Inuyasha and listened to him recount Diaroku's deceit. Not as emotional as he was when he found out, but he still couldn't hide the pain in his cracking voice. The kids were still finishing dinner and were going to stay with Miroku and Sango until they got back. Kagome tried to leave them with Sesshomaru and Rin but Inuyasha wouldn't have it, now she understood.

"Inuyasha...honey. I'm so sorry...I don't know what else to say except I am so sorry," her heart shattered and she wrapped an arm around his shoulders, leaning her head on him as she'd done many times before.

"We can't tell anyone...I promised Sesshomaru."

"I won't tell...I promise. Are you gonna be okay?"

"Yeah...I will be. Eventually. Sesshomaru is going to take me to see his mother. So I can...speak to our father."

"So what did Diaroku have to say for himself?"

"Not much before Sesshomaru sent him scurrying off."

"Typical," she groaned and Inuyasha chastised her with his eyes.

"Hey Kagome...while we're out here I need to talk to you about something.

"Yeah what's that?"

"You know I always stand beside you. And if you don't like someone I'm behind you 100% but...I've been thinking. Sesshomaru seems like he really does want to start over and I mean, him and Diaroku are really the only family I have left besides you and the kids. Plus there's Rin, and I'm sure that's one reason why he's trying to make amends. Because you know, now, he will always be in our lives. Even if Rin just drags him along and makes him play nice."

"Yes I know but...just because we love Rin, doesn't undo all the bad he's done."

"I know that. But just because he's done bad, doesn't mean he can't and hasn't done a shit ton of good."

"You're right b-"

"No buts. I mean it, Kagome. He's trying. Give him a chance and try too."

"Alright fine. I'll give him a chance. One chance."

...

Sesshomaru lay on his back, sweaty and almost out of breath, with Rin splayed across his chest panting as he stroked her new fur.

"That was lovely," she sat up once she'd regained her breath and twirled a strand of his hair around her finger.

"Yes, it was. Are you sore?"

"Uh Uh," she shook her head with a smile. "I feel refreshed."

"Good...so do I...we should get you cleaned up," he ran a careful finger over one of the slashes on her back. When their climax reached its peak he'd gotten carried away with his claws in her back.

"I don't wanna take a bath," she whined and clung to him tighter.

"Alright, lay on your stomach. I'll go and get a wash bowl."

"That sounds more manageable," she shifted off of him and grinned, nestling into her side of the bed. He chuckled and rolled his eyes at her, sliding out of bed and throwing on his pants loosely. Rin raised an eyebrow and sat up to stare at him as he walked away.

"What is it?," he turned when he felt her eyes on him.

"Oh nothing...it's just...with your pants hanging down like that I Uhm...it's sexy," she blushed.

"Oh," he looked down, suddenly interested in his bare feet, with a little blush of his own. "You're pretty sexy yourself, sitting there with your hair all over the place, flushed...those swollen lips...those beautiful little nipples poking through your robe," he growled and took a step for her, catching himself and closing his eyes.

"No...now is not the time," he said to himself. "I'll be back," he opened his eyes and looked at her. "I need to care for your wounds," he clarified before turning on his heel and bolting out the door. Once down the hallway and ways, Sesshomaru let out a contented sigh and he simply couldn't help the little smile spread across his face. Sesshomaru smiling was so rare that two servants actually *dove* out of his way. Seemingly out of nowhere appeared Amari, her slender arms wrapping around Sesshomaru's waist and catching him off guard. Miroku, Sango and, their son, Ichiro followed closely behind her.

"A-Amari! Sweetheart what are you doing out of bed," his eyes shot to Miroku who gave him a sly smirk, and Sango, who chose to look at the ground.

"Oh we were just out sparring, Ichiro and I. Well then I made him tap out and then kicked Miroku's ass for a little bit. Put Sango to shame and now they said it's time for bed," she shrugged.

"Very good. Keep it up. I'll spar with you tomorrow," he winked.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Those training grounds you have out back are soooooooo cool I can't wait to spar with someone who can put up a fight!"

"Hey!," the trio called in unison and Sesshomaru laughed.

"Don't feel bad, she says the same thing about her own father," he said flippantly.

"Hey, where's Rin?," Sango inquires and Miroku stifled a laugh in his throat.

"She's in bed, thoroughly exhausted from our own sparring, I assure you," he stared dead into Sango's eyes as she blushed from head to toe.

"Say, uncle Sesshu, is that why you're so sweaty? Sparring with Rin?," Amari inquires innocently.

"Yes, it is," he answered as he was walking away and once he was beside Sango, said where only she and Miroku could hear, "she die put up quite a fight, that Rin." Sango balked, Miroku finally released the laugh he'd been holding in, and Sesshomaru walked away with a satisfied smirk spread across his face. He relished in thoroughly embarrassing the demon slayer, earning brownie points with the monk, and fucking his mate senseless. He also gave kudos to Amari for setting up that last one for him...absolutely brilliant. She was a golden child and he'd trained her well. Yes, today was a good day, he decided as he rounded the corner back to his chambers.

"Finally," Rin moaned. "I thought you'd never return," she whined.

"I ran into Amari. She'd been sparring with Ichiro. I guess he couldn't take the heat so the monk stepped in. According to Amari, he's absolutely pathetic in battle. I wouldn't know, I've never wasted my time." He took her by the hand and moved her to lay back down on her stomach.

"So did Sango step in?," Rin raised an eyebrow, amused, as he began peeling her robe back.

"Of course. Got her ass handed to her too, I tell you, that Amari, she's got some spark." He took the rag from the bowl and rung it out before running it over her back.

"Oh yeah she does. I can't wait to get my hands on her now. Sparring with her before was fun but now I'm virtually indestructible!," she exclaimed and he put the finishing touches on her back, replacing her robe. "Like, my back doesn't even hurt! It just feels funny. It's annoying, you know? Like I know my back is flayed open, because I can feel air *inside* of my skin but not the actual pain? Is this how it always feels when you get hurt?," she rambled and Sesshomaru smiled to himself, stretching out beside her.

"Kind of. But trust me if you get a bad injury you'll know it. Most of the time, though, there's no pain involved. Just slows your body down. It really depends on the wound it's hard to describe."

"I think I get it..." she trailed off.

"Come, let's get some rest,"

"No," I don't want rest," I want more of my husband," she purred and ran her hand over him, delighted at the immediate response.

"Well you're in luck, because I want more of my wife as well," he growled before diving on her.

...

Please review :)