Disclaimer: Must we really go through this again? Everyone already knows that I don't Inuyasha, and I'm definitely not capable of creating such a masterpiece.

A.N. I'm really really really sorry about not writing sooner. I'm planning for this to be the last chapter, and I'll make it extra long. Thank all of you for your support, and I know how frustrating it is to have a story not be finished and please please please forgive me!!! ~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~***~~~~~

Trudging through the brush, the tall demon lord allowed himself to pant as he made his way home. No creature watched as the demon picked his way over tree roots and uprooted boulders. Not even the limp form on his back stirred when he cursed the cold night air. Sesshoumaru's wound was bleeding again but he would not stop until he'd reached the palace gates. Rin was not able to stop him either. Halfway through the night she'd tripped, quite ungracefully, over a small rock and would not get up. Her anger at the tainted man had left her empty. Sesshoumaru had lifted her onto his back and carried her most of the way.

His constant cursing was not directed specifically at the nature around him, for he was used to the twists, and had loved every minute of it, much to the surprise to his minions. It was very much directed at his own hormonal imbalance. Rin's chest was pressed firmly to his back, and he could not help but shiver at the feel of her hardened nipples drilling into his skin, a delightful present from the chill. Nor could he shake the warmth that was permeating through him from having her legs wrapped around his waist. He absently stroked her arm and closed his eyes in order to concentrate on her heartbeat. Her breath was whispering over his neck and her hair flowed dream-like around him. It was driving him insane.

Before dawn broke light over the forest, the tall golden gates of the palace appeared. Jaken waited dutifully at the door, hopping impatiently from one foot to the other, all the while muttering to himself. "Lord Sesshou."

"Quiet Jaken. She's asleep!" Sesshoumaru snapped at the lowly toad. He walked passed the cowering servant and into the house. He made his way to his bedroom and laid Rin down on the silk sheets. Sesshoumaru lifted her enough to pull the sheets out from under her and then tucked them around her. Knowing that she would sleep a while he started to leave the room.

"Sesshoumaru." Her whispered voice caressed his already flustered skin like a nurturing hand. Turning around again he noticed her pouted lips moving gently in her sleep. "Don't leave me alone again.." The innocence of the statement was enough to draw him back to the side of the bed. He kneeled on the floor. Cautiously reaching out, he smoothed his hand over her cheek. His thumb brushed those pouted lips and his mouth watered. He wanted to kiss her. Not just on the cheek or the hand or her forehead.. He wanted to really kiss her. "Stay with me, Sesshoumaru."

The request had been a little louder. He watched her face and only through deep concentration did he see that she was watching him through her eyelashes. Rin's hand lifted off the mattress and gently touched his cheek. "Please?" He nodded and stood up to close the door. Only then did he allow himself to actually look at his room. The bed was covered in black silk, including the bedding and the canopy curtains. The bed itself took up most of the room. His walls held one mirror and a mounted sword. The other furniture consisted of two tables, curved into strange designs.

Sesshoumaru took off his shirt and placed it on one of the tables. He glanced back at the bed to see Rin staring at him. Soon after, he crawled into the other side of the big bed. He allowed himself to relax; it was because Rin had asked him to stay, not because he wanted to. Sleep was about to consume him when a soft heat slipped over his stomach. His eyes opened to see Rin curl up close to him, her arm encircling him and he head resting on his shoulder. She was asleep. His muscles tensed and but he put an arm around her in return. 'Too close.' It was going to be a very long day.

Silence was the first thing that Rin noticed. The second was the fact that she was curled around a naked male body. 'Okay don't panic..' She slowly lifted her head to find Sesshoumaru's sleeping face, relaxed in a smile. Panic was not a choice. She tilted her head further and pressed her lips against his. 'He's asleep. this will probably be your last chance.' She did not expect his mouth to kiss her back. Her eyes watched his, but he showed no sign of waking up, yet his mouth was now kissing her to breathlessness. Throwing away all pretenses, she closed her eyes and let him do as he pleased. Heaven was real, and it was ruled by a demon.

Rin shifted to get comfortable. Her eyes met Sesshoumaru's golden ones. She tore away from him. "I.. I.. I.. mmmm." He wouldn't let her finish. Their mouths were once again fused together. His tongue lapped calmly at her lips until she let them part, and let him enter. He grazed her flesh with his fangs and grinned when she shivered. Their skin was flushed by the time he let her go again. Sesshoumaru's voice was soft as he whispered, "Now. what was your excuse?"

Rin stared at him, her eyes huge and her cheeks pink. "My excuse? I.. I've wanted to do that. I'm sorry Sesshoumaru. I shouldn't have, but.."

"But?" He echoed. He watched her climb out of the bed and was grateful. If she'd stayed there he would not have the capacity to hold a conversation.

"I don't know. Drop it ok?" She ran out of the room and left him staring after her.

The palace was huge. Gardens peaked through every window and filled the air with the sweet smell of jasmine. No one walked the halls, which gave the illusion of an empty house, but she heard the sounds of servants rushing through secret passageways. She counted a total of fifty bedrooms, but there could have been more. The hallways were carpeted with bamboo mats, but it just seemed to fit. She hadn't seen Sesshoumaru since she'd stormed out of his bedroom that morning. She hoped he had taken her suggestion and had dropped what had happened. She could still taste him.

A sound from an open door caught her attention. Sesshoumaru was standing in the middle of an empty room. His torso was still bare, and she noticed what she'd missed the night before and in the morning. He was still bleeding. She crossed over the threshold and walked to him silently. "Let me help you." She saw gratitude mixed with pain in his eyes, yet he said nothing. Her patient hands unwrapped the useless gauze. Blood seeped onto her hands once it was free to flow. She traced the wound with her fingertip and froze when he flinched. "Don't move." She took the bloody rags and went to the room she'd seen earlier that had medicine and other supplies. Gathering what she needed, she returned to him. He was staring down at his stomach.

She pressed her lips to the middle of the gash. She didn't mind the blood that coated her lips. She then cleaned and treated the wound, finishing up with covering him in new gauze. Sesshoumaru circled her wrists and lifted his fingertip to wipe his blood off her mouth. "I love you Rin."

Rin dropped the supplies. The crashing fell on deaf ears as they stared at each other. "Sesshoumaru?" He nodded and brushed her hair behind her ear. This wasn't a reaction that he'd expected. "I love you Rin."

Tears filled her eyes and spilled over her cheeks. "I love you too Sesshoumaru. I didn't think you'd ever accept me." She fell into his arms and they held each other. Sesshoumaru did not need to accept the fact that a human held his heart, or that he held the human's. He just knew it was right. And it was about time he'd done something RIGHT in his life.

THE END!!!