Disclaimer: Inuyasha is Copyright of Takahashi Rumiko

Nothing Without The Other

Chapter 17

Sesshoumaru stood a small distance from the great Goshinboku, quietly watching Rin as she gave yet more of her attention to the baby girl in her arms. She seemed to be spending every waking moment with Kagome's child and he wondered why the mother offered no protest. It put him at ill ease. It was as if Kagome was helping Rin discover her motherly instincts, planting the idea of having children of her own. Rin went right along and as three days passed, he saw a new brightness in her eyes. Rin wanted children, and he had a nagging feeling she would require his assistance in the matter.

Instead of being pleased that she had chosen him, he was simply not sure how he felt about the situation.

Inuyasha approached and stood beside him, joining him as he watched Rin sit under the tree he had once been pinned to. Instead of being flooded with painful memories, he could only hear his daughter's precious laughter. He smirked and looked up at his brother. Rin and Rei made a pretty picture, but he wondered how Sesshoumaru felt about it.

"I see you still prefer watching to action," Inuyasha teased.

Sesshoumaru tucked his hands in his sleeves. "My actions or inactions toward Rin are none of your business."

"Keh, you're testy today. Could it be because Rin is in heat? Even with youki running through her human blood you still resist her."

He resisted the urge to pummel Inuyasha into the ground. "Quite the contrary, Inuyasha. I have no reason to resist what is mine. It is you who makes me testy."

Inuyasha glanced up at his brother for a moment. "You've just confirmed my suspicions. Kagome and Rin have been whispering and giggling quite a bit, so I assumed something was going on between you two. But gossip is the least of your worries."

"And what should be worrying this Sesshoumaru?" He asked haughtily, though he was truly curious about what the hanyou thought could be troubling him in the future.

"I'd say you are the thing that stands between Rin's happiness and your own. You hate humans, you hate hanyous, even those related to you. How can you possibly give Rin what she wants?"

"The last time you underestimated me, Inuyasha, I stepped through a barrier you believed me incapable of passing."

"Keh, so you're trying to tell me you don't hate humans or hanyous anymore?"

"Hate is an inappropriate word to use. I simply considered them pests and nuisances. And as far as my relations go, I did hate you Inuyasha. You and your mother were responsible for Chichi-ue's death."

"Nani? Responsible? He chose to protect us, to give his life for us and we're at fault? You are so full of shit, Sesshoumaru!"

Rin looked up at Inuyasha as he continued to yell at his brother. She met Sesshoumaru's surprisingly calm eyes and tried not to feel hurt when she gathered what they were talking about. But when his eyes seemed to soften when theirs met, she found herself feeling a bit at ease.

Sesshoumaru turned to face Inuyasha. "Yes, little brother, I blamed you, even hated you, for Chichi-ue's death. To die for such weak creatures..I did not understand then as I understand now."

"Nani? If that's how you feel, you can leave and go fu-"

Sesshoumaru punched him in the face, effectively silencing him. He leaned forward, his expression touched with annoyance, and held Inuyasha's wrist firmly when he would have reached for Tetsusaiga. When he spoke, he kept his voice low so Rin would not hear him.

"I understand why Chichi-ue willingly gave his life to save you and your mother. I understand why anyone would give his or her life for the ones they love. It would therefore be pointless to say I still hate you. I will not further dishonor Chichi-ue's choice."

Inuyasha resisted the urge to growl and instead fixed Sesshoumaru with a fierce gaze, trying to comprehend what he was insinuating. "And who wised you up to the obvious?"

Sesshoumaru released his brother and turned calmly, setting his watchful gaze on Rin once more. She had stood to her feet and watched them with evident worry on her face. His eyes softened once more before he turned his head to glance back at Inuyasha.

"Do you not have eyes, Inuyasha?" He didn't wait for a response. "I am having a counsel meeting in three weeks to formerly announce Chichi-ue's heirs and ever growing family. I expect you there."

Inuyasha nodded his understanding. "Thanks, Sesshoumaru, and be careful," he added when his brother began walking toward Rin. "You may not hate me, but I can tell you're not sure about having your own pups yet, especially hanyou ones. I wouldn't look into Rei's eyes if I were you."

"This Sesshoumaru will risk it."

"Keh, don't say I didn't warn you," he turned and left them alone.

Sesshoumaru joined Rin under the tree and stared at her for a short moment before he spoke. "Why don't you sit."

Rin frowned at him, but sat down slowly, mindful of the child in her arms. "What was that about, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Nothing," he said, looking up at Goshinboku.

"He was yelling at you about your father, about his death," she reminded him.

"Hai, he was."

"It sounded as though you still blame him."

"This Sesshoumaru was simply explaining the very opposite of that statement."

Rin pulled on his obi, drawing his attention before she spoke. "So you don't blame him anymore? You don't hate him?"

He kneeled down so they were eye level. "No Rin, I do not."

She smiled so brightly he wondered why he did not go blind from the intensity. He sat besides her, enjoying the shade of the tree. It was a relatively cool, but sunny morning. They had made the short trip to the Bone Eater's Well in anticipation for the monk and taijiya's arrival since it seemed to be a customary meeting point, though he knew not why. Still, it was a perfect day to be outside. Birds singing in the trees, butterflies seemingly dancing to the melody, and a small woman cradling a child.

Sesshoumaru desperately wanted to leave.

Inuyasha was right. The idea of pups, hanyou pups, did not put him at ease. He had no apprehensions, he realized that now, but only worried of how difficult life could be for them. Inuyasha was a clear product of that. His pups would have better advantages, coupled with much more difficult disadvantages. Being heirs of a powerful lineage would bring many expectations. It left him to wonder if a hanyou could handle his territories and keep it under tight control as those before him had done.

He did not want to doubt his pups before they were born, but it was something to consider sooner rather than later. He might have to find himself requesting a sword not only for Rin, but for future pups as well. It might be necessary to seal their blood as his father had done Inuyasha's.

Was he even ready for pups?

"Sesshoumaru-sama, what are you thinking about?"

He looked down at Rin. "Nothing."

"Liar. I can always tell when you're thinking of something important," she explained.

"This Sesshoumaru portrays nothing but a stoic expression."

"Hai, your expression his flawless, but your body is tense."

"Clever thing," he told her with a small smile, but decided not to reveal his thoughts. "Tell me, why does the child sleep so much?"

She shrugged. "Its what they do. Sleep and eat. Kagome-chan tells me the human body does the most work while it sleeps, so I imagine it is a growing process."

"Hnn."

"Would you like to hold her?" She sat up on her knees and faced him directly.

"Iie."

"Come on, Sesshoumaru-sama. She's your niece."

"Let the child sleep. Besides, my armor could hurt her."

"Oh look! She's waking up," obviously ignoring his comment.

Sesshoumaru looked down at Rei, not knowing he would regret it later, as she slowly opened her eyes. She stretched her little arms and legs lazily, mouth wide open in a yawn. When her eyes focused on Rin, her lips immediately curled into a smile. She waved her arms in excitement, making, he assumed, little noises of joy. Rin leaned down, her eyes bright and happy, to let Rei touch the stars on her forehead.

Rin looked back up at Sesshoumaru with a smile. "She's a clever one. Kagome-chan says she is already so interested in things that stand out. Whenever she gets a new outfit, or something simple like that, Rei always notices."

He peered down for a closer look and caught the baby's attention. Her entire body went still, and she seemed to stare at him in wide-eyed fascination. Then she suddenly went into a fit of giggles and stretched her arms out toward him. Rin shifted closer to him and held Rei out a little, surprised when Sesshoumaru leaned his face toward her. Rei's tiny fingers grasped at the stripes on his cheek as if trying to pull them off. Then she reached for the crescent moon on his forehead and ending up tugging on his bangs instead.

Rin laughed and untangled Rei's finger from Sesshoumaru's hair. "She does that quite a bit to Inuyasha. I'm sorry, I should have warned you."

Sesshoumaru sat up a little, equally fascinated by the child as she was with him. "It's alright."

"I think she likes you," she said when the child giggled again.

"Is that so?" He brushed his finger across the baby's cheek with a gentleness that surprised him. She wrapped her hand around his finger and waved it in the air along with her arms in obvious enjoyment. Then she fixed both her hands around it and brought it to her mouth.

Sesshoumaru pulled his finger away with less ease than he expected. Her tiny grip was firm and it was clear to him that she wanted to continue sucking his finger. When her face scrunched up and she began to cry, he immediately felt guilty. He looked up at Rin in surprised confusion.

"Have I hurt her? Why does she want to eat my finger?"

Rin laughed and pulled the girl closer to her. "She doesn't want to eat your finger, that's just her way of telling you she's hungry. That and the tears."

Sesshoumaru was helping Rin to her feet just as Inuyasha appeared with Miroku by his side. Rin quickly went to them and, after a short reunion, disappeared to join Kagome and Sango. He approached the men with his usual casualness and raised his eyebrow when he noticed the strange looks they were giving him.

"Oh no," Miroku said. "She was able to conquer even the great Sesshoumaru? There is no hope for the male race, no hope at all."

"What is this foolishness?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

"You looked at her, you looked into her eyes!" Inuyasha accused him. "I warned you Sesshoumaru. Now she'll have you wrapped around her finger for the rest of your life."

He was too appalled by the ridiculousness of Inuyasha's words to respond. How could a hanyou brat possibly bend him to her will? Not even Rin had that power over him. And how the hell did his brother know he looked at her?

Miroku shook his head sadly. "He doesn't even realize what's happened to him. But it's there, even through that cold expression I can see it there. You face is brighter, as if you've just realized your purpose in life."

"He has a purpose, alright. Spoiling Rei with all his power." Inuyasha would have laughed, but he really felt bad for his brother.

"I'm curious," Sesshoumaru crossed his arms over his chest. "How do you come up with all this nonsense just by looking at me?"

"Because we have also fallen under Rei's spell and we know the signs," Miroku admitted. "You know I brought Rei more gifts than I did for Inuyasha's sons? She can't even use half the toys I've bought! Doesn't matter though, I would do anything to make that little angel smile."

"You have to remember how you met Rin, what she did to make you take pity upon her and resurrect her when she died," Inuyasha reminded him. "Little girls have awful powers that make our fatherly and protective instincts kick in."

"Hai," Miroku agreed. "I'd rip any man to pieces who would dare harm Rei."

Sesshoumaru reluctantly recalled the day he met Rin. She had come to him fearlessly, spent time in search for food for him even though she needed it more than he did. She had taken a most violent beating stealing fish for him. And that smile she had given him when he asked what had happened to her face...Inuyasha, bumbling fool that he was, could not have been more correct. He had pitied her, he had protected her, and it had almost been instinctive to do so. He had always wondered when exactly Rin had infested her way into his heart, and now he knew.

And just moments ago, he had been infested by a girl not old enough to even feed herself.

Miroku shook his head. "There may be hope for you, though."

Sesshoumaru looked to the monk eagerly, feeling overwhelmingly foolish for needed answers from creatures so inferior to him. But he had been conquered by a baby, so how much lower could he go?

"Have you held her?"

"Iie."

"Better not have!" Inuyasha added with a small growl. Sesshoumaru may not hate him, but he did not trust his brother to handle his baby.

"Good, this is good!" Miroku's eyes gleamed with excited. "Don't hold her, don't let her touch you, don't even look at her again!"

"Keh, he's a lost cause, Miroku. Don't bother. He's going to take Rin as his mate and she'll probably give him a million daughters."

"Oh?" Miroku expression suddenly turned grim. "You are a lost cause then. Last time I saw Rin, you were both at odds. Now you've lost yourself to her. There is no hope for you. When Rin's belly grows with child, you'll understand why."

"I've had enough of this nonsense," Sesshoumaru said, feeling more than annoyed by being analyzed so much. "Whatever happens from this point on happens because it must."

"Brave approach," Miroku told him.

"Keh, I'm way too hungry to waste any more time on this conversation. You coming Miroku?"

"Hai, Inuyasha, but wait for me!" He chased after him, leaving Sesshoumaru alone.

He was doomed, he realized with a small ounce of regret, and there was nothing he could do but accept it. Inuyasha and Miroku may try to fight against the inevitable, but Sesshoumaru was too smart for that. He would not see much of his niece, that much he knew, so he would have no problem fulfilling his purpose as her uncle. Spoiling her, he believed Inuyasha had called it. He would have to figure out what exactly that meant.

"Sesshoumaru-sama."

He turned to face Rin and was glad, for some odd reason, that she did not have Rei with her. "What is it?"

"Where did Inuyasha and Miroku go?"

"They headed in the direction of his home," he watched her carefully and took a small step toward her.

She huffed out a breath in annoyance and placed her hands on her hips. "They sure are taking their time getting the baskets Kagome-chan prepared."

"Let them take all the time they need," he advised her, closing the space between them.

Rin looked up at him with a deep blush on her face and knew what was about to happen even before she caught that lustful glint in his eyes. He placed his hand on the back of her neck and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. She clung to his shoulders in fear that her legs would give, as he slowly began to assault her mouth. He was gentle this time, and patient. His fangs scrapped against her lips but his tongue seemed to lessen the pain. He waited for her to open his mouth and supported her with both his hands when he leaned her back to provide him with better access. And when he finally broke the kiss, he caressed her back and pressed his forehead to hers, giving her the moment to catch her breathe.

"Perhaps they should hurry," he brushed his finger over her lips. "The sooner the day, the week, is over, the sooner we can return to the Western Lands."

Rin leaned against him and closed her eyes. "Lets go now," she whispered.

A small smile graced his lips before he reluctantly released her. "Go back to your friends, Rin."

She began to pout, but when his expression went firm she turned and left him.

Was he really ready for pups? Maybe.

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Shampoo-chan: Stupid college! Anyway, no worries, take your time. And thank you again for doing me the honor of translating it. )

Anyone who blushes: I'd stop reading now, if I were you, because the blushing isn't going to stop. This story will probably be in constant threat of being removed, lol. You have been warned.

Tiger5913: Maybe more than a week..but..there will be more, smaller, scenes of "saucy" activity. Remember, Eiji is still in the picture and he will continue to cause trouble until he's gone.

bluediamond-hime: Those two are still pretty clueless (apprehensive, even) about admitting their feelings, especially Sesshoumaru. You'll find out why soon enough.

DPM: Well, chocolate is bad for dogs. But getting your leg cut off, swinging swords, and generally going into dangerous battle is also probably bad for dogs as well. Never stopped Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru, so I guess we can assume their youki and/or demon blood prevents any dangerous effects chocolate may have on them. I think I was eating brownies when I wrote that chapter, lol, I don't remember. That might be where it came from, heheh.

liberatedmysterygirl: I'd be the first to say I don't update fast enough, but college is a real ass kicker if you're putting in effort. I do what I can when I get the time, which is generally the weekend because I don't go out much. All I can do is be consistent and update the same time every time.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful reviews, as always, I really appreciated them. This is my most reviewed story so far, nearly reaching 200, and I can hardly believe it. I'm glad everyone is enjoying it and I hope I continue to do a good job, because I'm trying! Until next weekend, jane!

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