ToJ: Don't get too angry at me, dear reviewers. I already have enough trouble on my hands trying to keep Sesshomaru calm.

Sess: Kill the presumptuous bitch. She's trying to own me! Failing, but she's still trying!

Patience

Chapter 11: The Council

The sun had set, and with the setting of the sun came the male youkai of the pack with a large kill for the Mating Feast. The giant boar roasted over a bonfire while the females danced and the males sang. Rin sat properly attired for court, and looked entirely out of place. The smell of cedar hung on her no more, and she longed for it. Instead, the overwhelming smell of wolf and roasting flesh pervaded her senses and she longed for home.

'Home. Sesshomaru is Home. Without him, I will always be lost.' She sighed and took her eyes away from the feast before her, and turned them down to examine her smooth white hands. They were not often this clean, nor was she accustomed to the makeup she had been wearing for what seemed an eternity. 'I can't wait to be allowed my yukata again. Then perhaps I can set about leaving and returning to Sesshomaru…even if I can never be anything more than a nuisance to him, I want to be near him. No, I need to be. I need his scent, I need his warmth. I need his youki.' Her eyes began to tingle, and a lone tear trickled silently down her face, disturbing her milky façade.

"Hey, Rin! Are you ready to do this?" Kouga had walked up to her and crouched at her side, his tail swishing back and forth, disturbing the dust at his feet. His eyes searched the girl's face, and he noted that she'd been crying. 'Not a good sign.'

She looked up at him, her eyes liquid brown and full of a deep sadness that Kouga knew would never leave her after this day. "Hai, Kouga-sama, I am prepared to do what I must."

"Alright then. Stand and I'll begin the ceremony." He waited for her to rise and proceeded to the mouth of the cave, where a raised slab of outcropping rock cut in from the right side. He let loose a howl and all festivities stopped. His call was returned and he gestured for Rin to come forward.

"Today we have gained a sister. Now let us finish what began over a week ago. Hakaku, come forward." The crowd of youkai parted, and Hakaku appeared for the first time since Rin had seen him when she arrived at the Wolf Den. He was clothed in new furs, with his mow hawked hair standing at attention, and a new ornate necklace about his neck made of small seashells and some obsidian chips. Under his arm he carried another bundle of furs, and in his hand he carried a katana. He stopped right in front of Kouga and turned to Rin. Kouga pulled a bladder from his side full of water. "Rin, do you willfully leave your old tribe and your old ways and bond with your new tribe, the Northern Ookami?

"Yes, Kouga-sama, I do."

Kouga uncorked the bladder and splashed water onto a rag and handed it to Rin. "Remove your mask." Rin took the cloth and wiped away the make-up of the court.

"Rin, your betrothed brings you the garments of your new tribe. Do you accept your duty to wear them with pride?

Hakaku extended the furs, and Rin reached out and took them. "Yes, Lord Kouga. I do."

Kouga smiled. "Good. Put them on."

Rin's hands shook as she undid the ties on her robes. She let the silk slip to the ground and stood naked in front of the tribe. She unfolded the furs, and Hakaku reached out to help her put them on. The furs were a dark brown, like Kouga's, and the simple tunic was short and showed a good deal of her long, thin legs. The belt was woven and had a loop for a sword. A necklace was placed around her neck, a large opal set in silver. Hakaku tied her leggings on and put on her sandals. When all this was done, he bowed and turned back to Kouga.

Kouga nodded. "You look well in our clothing, Sister. Yet, you are an unarmed human. You will need to defend yourself. Have you any knowledge of weaponry?"

She cocked her eyebrow. "Yes, Lord Kouga."

"Then you will accept this sword. Use it well. It is only a human instrument, but it is better than nothing." With that, Hakaku handed Rin the sword. She bowed, took it, and slipped it into the loop that had been made for that purpose.

Kouga bowed to the crowd. "I give my consent to this match. Hakaku, make your mark."

Hakaku leaned in and grazed his teeth across her neck, pausing for only a moment. In that moment, all hell broke loose.

Sesshomaru arrived at the edge of the crowd just after Hakaku had put his head down to Rin's neck, and let loose a long, enraged howl. His eyes turned red and wild, and his fangs elongated. He flew forward and knocked Hakaku to the side, turning to look frantically for a mark. There, on Rin's alabaster shoulder, lay a drop of blood.

Sesshomaru's heart skipped a beat. 'Kami no. I was too late!' He rounded on Hakaku, who lay stunned in the dust, shaking off the sudden attack from the Taiyoukai. "This Sesshomaru must kill you." His hand glowed and he swiped at Hakaku, who rolled in the dust and dodged the attack. Sesshomaru leapt at Hakaku, who threw up his arm to shield himself.

"Sesshomaru, you fool!" Kouga's voice rang out across the crowd. "How could you give your mate as a Bond?"

Sesshomaru stopped and turned to face Kouga, Hakaku held aloft at arm's length. "You would contest my will, Wolf Turd?"

Kouga grimaced. "Yes. If the girl has been marked, it will be in violation of our treaty if you kill my man." Sesshomaru let Hakaku drop to the ground.

Sesshomaru's appearance returned to normal, and blood dripped from his hand as he dug his own dokkasu into his palm. Rin finally saw an opening to run to him, and she did.

Sesshomaru looked down at the young woman who clung so tightly to his side. Her attire was in horrible contrast to what he had hoped to see. He had hoped to see her crying and resisting the ceremony, calling out to him in anguish. He had hoped to be her savior once more. Instead he was greeted by the sight of her in skins and reeking of wolf. He could feel his heart shattering. His soul strained to the brink, and his resolve crumbled. He turned her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers in a bitter-sweet kiss, then he let go of her to examine her mark.

Meanwhile, Hakaku wiped his blood away from his injured lip.