A/N: Hello Again! Guess what? I have a new Chappie for you! Yes, that's right more fun with Sesshy-kun.
Sess: Oh, joy.
ToJ: What's wrong, Sess?
Sess: Nothing, only that I have to put up with you and your illusions that I belong to you. Which, I don't, by the way.
Chapter Five: Decisions, Decisions.
Sesshomaru strolled into his study and uncharacteristically slumped down in his chair. The three day journey to the Den was trying at the least, unbearable at the worst, and the incident with Sumisu that night was weighing heavily on Sesshomaru. He had carried Rin to bed after she had fallen asleep under the tree. But, now he was painfully aware of one thing.
Rin was too old to be without a mate, and she needed one badly. She was fighting her instincts and staying with Sesshomaru, but how long could she sustain such strength? 'No one can control instincts forever. How can she be happy following me? How can I stand her to follow any longer?' His claws tightened on the arms of the chair and he closed his eyes. How long would it be before a suitor took her away? No matter if she was human or not, Rin was a beautiful female.
Her body was as near to perfection as a flawed human could get. Her skin was perfect, pink and supple, while her hair shone midnight black. She was strong, but not muscular. She was petit, but not small. She was soft to the appearance and touch, but firm when angered. And how he loved her touch...
"Enough!" Sesshomaru leapt from the chair and swept out of the study into his main chambers. "Jaken!" If there was time he must get her mated, before his weaknesses were displayed, before someone offered for her hand. He stood in front of his full length mirror in his bedchamber. His eyes were glowing red, and his fangs were extended. "That will not do." The youkai recalled his mask and called for his manservant once again. "Jaken, where the hell are you?"
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru-sama. My apologies, my Lord." The toad demon twisted his hands. 'What do you wish of me, Lord? Shall I draw you a bath before this evening? Can I get you some food? Perhaps you would enjoy a massage?"
"Shut up, Jaken. Stop blathering. You have picked up some of Rin's, how shall I say, lesser qualities." Sesshomaru coldly looked down on the small youkai. "Yes, draw me a bath, but I have something more important to discuss with you." Picking at his claws, the Inuyoukai waited for a response, and not receiving one, continued on. "We need to find a mate for Rin. Preferably a Daimyo." 'And preferably get her away from Sumisu.' Just the idea of that cursed brat getting his hands on any female under his protection made his blood boil.
Sumisu was bound to Sesshomaru's bloodline. There was no way to be rid of him. Long before Inuhiko's death, Sumisu's mother had been friends with Sesshomaru's mother. How that happened was a mystery to Sesshomaru. When Sumisu's mother died in labor, Sesshomaru's mother had infused the child with Sesshomaru's blood moments after he was born. Sumisu had aged like a human until he hit nineteen. Then he had just stopped changing.
Sesshomaru had been young when he had gotten into a fight with Sumisu. It turned out that while Sumisu could be harmed, he could not be killed. He had the endurance of a hanyou, though he was still a simple human. He had no youki or miko energy. Sesshomaru was puzzled by this, until he learned that because it was his blood the human shared, the human would share his lifespan. He would age as Sesshomaru aged, die when he died. Naturally, this pissed him off.
He didn't want him, and didn't need him. But he proved to be indispensable in political treatises. Because Sesshomaru was his life source, he could not die unless Sesshomaru died. So instead of going himself, the Taiyoukai sent the human. If they attacked Sumisu, Sesshomaru would suffer no ill effects. Most often, if some negotiations did fall through and they 'killed' Sumisu, the human would make his way back to the Den and Sesshomaru would defeat his enemies while they were planning their attack on his lands.
There was only one down side to the boy's existence. Sumisu was accustomed to being a slave, but he held sway over all the other slaves because of his personal duties to Sesshomaru. This did not mean he worked anywhere near Sesshomaru at all. When Sumisu was in the Den, he took on the duties of running the household. Rarely were Sumisu and Sesshomaru in the Den at the same time. Part of this was that Sesshomaru returned only for the festival of the Dog Star and for war conferences. Since Sumisu was technically not part of the Inuyoukai clans he was not allowed at the festival, but he routinely organized it so that Sesshomaru could walk in, do his duty as Head of the Clans, and walk out.
"Bring me the list of Daimyos." Sesshomaru removed his outer armor. "Make sure it is a complete canine roster." After setting the armor on its stand in its case, he began to remove his silk robes. One layer after another, flowing robes gathered in a pile at the youkai lord's feet, until he stood clothed in nothing but his pride.
There was a knock at the door. Assuming it was one of his many servants come to help Jaken draw his bath, with his back to the door he called, "Come in." When he heard the small feet he assumed it was a female bringing fragrant oil for his bath. "Just set it down on the bed and be gone." He heard a pause, and saw the bed on his left sink. He inhaled the familiar smell of fields and sunshine. He turned slowly, "Rin?"
On the edge of his bed sat the shocked girl, her face red and her eyes trained on the floor. "Sesshomaru-sama," she said breathlessly, "I came to ask you a question. But, you are obviously...busy." She stood and bowed. "I guess I'll just go now." She began to move towards the door when she noticed Sesshomaru's eyes flashing red.
A low rumble resounded around the room. "Who told you to MOVE?" Turning quickly he strode over to Rin, who stood shaking near to the door, but not daring to go through it. Sesshomaru inhaled her scent and was saddened by the tinge of fear that it held. "Are you afraid of me, Rin?"
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama. I would be a fool not to be afraid of someone as great as you when you are angered." She bowed again. "Please do not be angry at me Sesshomaru-sama. You have never been angry at me before. What did I do?" She looked at Sesshomaru, her eyes lingered on his hips, and blushed again. "If there is some way I can atone for it..."
Sesshomaru noticed a spike in Rin's scent. 'Is she offering herself to me?' His blood began to rush to a certain part of his anatomy that he wasn't willing to let Rin observe. He turned around abruptly. "Rin, give me my robe." He held out his hand and she placed a silken article of clothing in his hand, briefly touching his hand to hers. He wasn't prepared for what he did next. He grabbed her wrist. His voice went soft. "Stay here a while." Her eyes met his and they lingered for a moment. Then his voice hardened as he turned his eyes away. "I have something to speak to you about."
He put the robe on and sat on the bed. "Come here, Rin." He gestured for her to sit next to him. "Do you want to be mated?"
Her mouth twisted into a slight frown, "I don't have any aversion to it. I mean, I am pretty old not to be either mated or married." She kept her eyes fixed on her lap. "But, Sesshy," Sesshomaru arched his eyebrows, "Can I at least choose who and where and when?"
Sesshomaru reached out and drew her underneath his chin. "Yes, Rin, you just say the word and I'll mate you to the best I can find."
Rin sighed and closed her eyes. 'But Sesshomaru, you are the best.'
"Now, Rin, I have things to do. Go back to your chambers. Have Aki come to me if you need anything. Goodnight, Rin."
"Goodnight, Sesshy."
With that, Rin fell asleep.
Sesshomaru sighed and stroked her hair. She was not used to sleeping by herself. Neither was he, anymore. 'Perhaps, just for tonight she can stay here. With me, where she belongs.' Sesshomaru picked the girl up, turned back the covers, and laid her down. As he gently drew the downy comforter around her, he kissed her forehead softly. Then he shook his head and strode to the anti-chamber where he would take his bath.
The room was just like a bath house. The cedar interior gave off a strong aroma as the steam rose from the heated pool of water. Sesshomaru waved the last remaining frog youkai out of the room and sealed the door. He took a bucket full of water and stood in the trough that ran to the drain and poured it over himself, washing away all the impurities before he got into the bath.
Sesshomaru sighed as he sunk into the hot water, feeling all his cramped muscles unwind. Tomorrow he would have to take a more ritualized bath, but for right now he wanted to just relax and enjoy it his way. He would worry about the ritual tomorrow, but for tonight all he wanted to do was think about how it would be if he could mate a human. But he had seen what happens when an Alpha mates with a human. Father and Haru were a perfect example.
While he was brooding, there came a knock at the door.
"Come in." Sesshomaru heard the door open and immediately smelled a problem; Kouga. "Hmm. I sense that your conference with Sumisu did not go as planned. Do not Stand behind me, Kouga. You know how it bothers me. Join me if you like."
"Heh. I think I shall. Why did you send me that thing instead of a decent emissary? Can I not be trusted?"
Silence.
The wolf prince walked to the trough, silken robe having been discarded at the door, and poured a bucket of hot water over his head rather unceremoniously. "Come on, Sess. You can't tell me you're that mad at me? I only want what's best for my pack. I won't agree to just give you martial aid from the northern lands when I won't get anything in return. What guarantee do I have that you will take care of my troops?"
"This Lord Sesshomaru had always made sure that all allies receive the same benefits as my own forces. I would be a sorry warlord if I did anything else." Sesshomaru watched as Kouga sank into the bathing pool. "What would convince you of my sincerity?"
Kouga smiled and stretched. "Now that's what I'm talking about, Fluffy, old buddy."
A low growl resounded in the chamber, "Do not call me that, Wolf turd."
"Ok, ok! Sorry. Anyway, I was thinking that perhaps we could arrange a marriage. That would make your people my people and vice versa. Not technically joining our domains, but giving us each a responsibility to the other." Kouga watched as Sesshomaru blandly thought it over.
"You know," Sesshomaru looked Kouga in the eyes, "I think that should be rather satisfactory. I actually have just the female that will suit our purposes." Then he smiled.
A/N: Yeah, right now I KNOW it looks like Rin is a "Fluff Brain"(tee-hee!) but her character will develop. I don't think Sesshy could really be in love with someone who wasn't very bright. Right Sess?
Sess: Yes.