Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha…Not me…Arigatou.

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 61- Surrender

Sango was sleeping for the moment; relief on everyone's faces as they received a much needed break. No one was happier than Miroku who, for the moment, had full use of his hand again.

~*~*~

"Daddy…I'm bored." Stephen whined, yawning and making his eyes water.

Shippo smiled and lay back against the cabin, Stephen curling up into a ball in his lap. Inuyasha fought back fatigue of his own as he awaited Suki and Yasuo's return. He had seen her run off but had made no attempt to get her back, knowing that some things were better left alone.

After waiting for some time, two figures became visible in the night, approaching slowly, one appearing to be carrying the other. Inuyasha sighed in relief and was finally able to sleep, knowing everyone was safe and sound and in his or her rightful place.

~*~*~

"Do you think she will be mad at us?"

Sesshomaru extended his hand to Rin and led her through the doorway to the outside.

"I've asked the maid to tell her. She will not worry."

"Are you sure?"

Sesshomaru held her hand at his side and bent down slowly, placing a lingering kiss upon her lips.

"Trust me."

As he pulled away from her he carefully lifted her in his arm, holding her close against himself and allowing her to sleep until he reached the place where he would soon claim her as his own.

~*~*~

"Are you comfortable?" the great lord asked Rin who was sitting in his lap.

Rin's hands had become sweaty, he could fell, for they were resting or more like, clinging to his leg. Sesshomaru put his head to hers.

"You must brace yourself, for I am about to mark you and it will be painful. I have explained it to you already."

Rin nodded slowly and Sesshomaru saw a tear fall down her cheek. Slowly he reached his hand up and wiped it away as he gently pushed the hair away from her neck and placed a kiss on the area where he would mark her. She trembled slightly as she grasped the materials of his kimono in her hands. She had told him she wanted it but nonetheless he couldn't help but feel bad for her. The pain she would experience wouldn't even come close to the pain she would experience later on.

The searing sting Rin felt as his fangs sank deep into her neck was almost unbearable. She had to bite her lip to stop from screaming but she didn't move. Sesshomaru held the position for a moment longer then stepped and pulled away, licking a small drop of blood off the swollen, violet, moon-shaped bite.

"The mark will leave a scar, and the scar will be an ever constant reminder to you that you are taken. Demons can sense it and will therefore leave you alone. We tai youkai hold a high status here in the western lands and lesser demons would not risk their lives to touch you."

Rin nodded slowly then winced as the scar began to throb.

"And I have forgotten something. With that scar you have also adopted my lifespan."

Rin blinked and looked up at him. She had barely said a word to him.

"Rin…I will need your acceptance to continue with our marriage."

Rin sighed and leaned back against him.

"Hold me."

Sesshomaru seemed confused at first as he lay back against the grass and she curled up beside him. She was scared. He could sense her emotions as his demon blood was trying to overtake his own emotions. As he put his arm around her his own feeling and urges began to go haywire and his eyes drifted in and out of focus. His will and strength triumphed and he was able to comfort her as he had wanted. He would only have to wait a little while longer until she herself could accept it, then he would be accepted as well.

"Is it the thought of adopting my lifespan that bothers you?"

"No…that's not it."

Sesshomaru stroked her hair gently, pulling his fingers through it like a brush.

"Then what is it?" he asked in a fairly sweet yet very seductive tone of voice.

Rin snuggled up against his side and set her head on his shoulder.

"Do what you must with me."

"Rin…"

"I am aware of the risks I am taking…and of the pain. But I am no longer a young child and am plenty old enough to make my own decisions. I love you. Completely and totally…with all my heart, mind, and soul. I have always loved you, since the moment I laid eyes on you. I have agreed to get married by way of demon custom and have given up my human traditions. You have been my shelter and protection for years and I am ready to surrender myself to you."

Sesshomaru could feel her tense as she said those words. He sighed and sat up, climbing on top of her. He looked pained she noticed as he looked her straight in the eyes. She shivered slightly as he ran his claws down her side and she was the Sesshomaru she knew so well fade from his eyes and the demon blood take over. And finally, she succumbed to her beloved demon lord's desires, but she wouldn't have it any other way.

~*~*~

"Miroku. Miroku wake up. Sango needs you again. I think it should be soon."

Kagome shook Miroku's shoulder and waited for the sleeping monk to awake.

"Miroku…" then she got an idea.

"…sex."

"Huh? What? Where?"

Kagome sighed at the sheer stupidity of the comment as Miroku scratched his head then noticed Sango breathing heavily from the futon on the other side of the room.

"Oh…gomen nasai…"

"Think nothing of it. Now get up and go help your wife."

Miroku nodded as he crawled across the floor and grasped her hand, or rather…she grasped his. So hard in fact that he felt all the blood would run to his head and come out his eyes and ears.

"What a morbid thought…" he muttered to himself, cringing in disgust.

'Just think Miroku, when all this is over you'll be able to…'

'Just like old times…'

His train of thought was soon interrupted by the shrill and very familiar scream of his wife who lay on the futon beside him. He had all but given up coaching her because no matter what he said whether it was "You're doing good." Or "Push." It always made her squeeze his hand harder. He wasn't sure if it was just a natural reflex or if it was her but he was pretty sure it was the latter.

"I wonder if it will be a boy or a girl. Sango and I really haven't discussed names as of yet."

"Don't worry. Sango's full of 'um." Replied Kagome nonchalantly.

"You guys act…as if I'm…not even here…" Sango panted, biting her lip to stop herself from screaming in pain.

"My dear Sango, there is no way we could mistake your presence. Especially when I know NO ONE but you can squeeze my hand as hard as you do."

"I dunno! Kagome hurt my hand pretty bad!" came Inuyasha's voice from outside as Kagome flushed a bright red.

Trinity giggled and set a new washcloth on Sango's sweaty head as Karlie checked her.

"It's time."

~*~*~

At precisely 3:43 AM by Kagome's watch, Sango gave birth to a handsome baby boy with dark hair and eyes. She fought to stay away as she held him in her arms, Miroku hovering above her. He kissed her forehead gently.

"You did a good job Sango."

Sango groaned slightly and looked up at him.

"I'm sorry about your hand."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure it will be back to being fully functional by tomorrow."

Sango smiled tiredly.

"I've thought of a name."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Miyatsu."

Miroku chuckled and stroked his son's cheek.

"Miyatsu…after my late grandfather. I never thought I'd live to have a son let alone a son named after my grandfather."

Sango reached her hand up and set it on the back of Miroku's head, pulling him down for a kiss right before falling into a much-deserved sleep.

~*~*~

"Se…Sesshomaru…" Rin whimpered, shivering against Sesshomaru's bare chest and opening her eyes to the bright morning sun.

"Rin…" Sesshomaru whispered.

"Are you alright?"

He was soon answered as he felt teardrops rolling down his chest as she began sobbing. It hadn't hurt him as much as it had hurt her. He was aware of that fact. Slowly he wrapped his arm around her and held her close, doing his best to comfort her.

"Rin…"

"No…don't apologize…onegai…"

"But--"

Rin brought a finger up to his lips to hush him.

"Do no speak. The silence is calming."

Sesshomaru sighed and laid his head back against the grass as he listened to the sounds of nature surrounding them. It was a bit unnerving and Sesshomaru had a hard time getting back to sleep. He was tired, but not tired at the same time. The crickets' song should have been somewhat of a lullaby to him…but it wasn't.

Rin knew he wasn't asleep. She could tell by the way he was breathing that he was still very much awake and probably thinking.

"I hope you are not worrying about me. I'll be alright. I promise."

Sesshomaru nodded.

"Our child too…"

Rin's eyes widened at the unexpected news. She sat up straight and pulled her kimono up onto her shoulders.

"H-How do you know I'm--?"

"Well…you wanted it didn't you?"

"W-Well yes…more that you could know but--Oh Sesshomaru!"

"Be careful…" he warned as he was thrown backwards onto the grass again.

"You worry too much."

"Me?"

"Hai."

"Well it's not my fault you humans are reckless."

"Reckless? Well I didn't used to be did I?"

Sesshomaru smiled.

"Even more reckless then than now. Though that is rather hard to fathom."

Rin laid her head in the crook of Sesshomaru's neck as he rubbed her back gently. On the outside he seemed stern and stoic. On the inside too. But to Rin, he was gentle and every delicate touch of his fingers warmed her right up. She felt that she could never be cold again, even if a blizzard were to hit at that precise moment and they were covered in 10 feet of snow.

Sesshomaru slid his hand into Rin's kimono, rubbing her back more effectively. It was soothing and soon Sesshomaru felt her relax in his arms, finally able to rest in peace and now holding his heir within her womb.

"Oh, and Rin?"

"Hai?"

"I promise…next time will be better."

~*~*~ Okay, I know the beginning with the scar thing was probably a bit cliché and I've seen it done before. Forgive me for that but I really wanted to have that incorporated in the story some how. I hope you guys don't find this chapter disgusting or anything. It's chapters like this that caused me to rate it pg-13. Well anyway, I enjoyed writing it and it probably wasn't much of a surprise to you how it turned out. I hope none of you I/K fans or fans of any of the other couples are disappointed because trust me…the fluff you're looking for is coming up in future chapters. I'm going on vacation till Sunday so you probably wont see another update on this unless I decide to type one up while I'm on my grandparent's computer. Till next time, Sayonara and ARIGATOU for all the REALLY AWESOME reviews! I love you all! They definitely make my day! Oh, and happy belated Easter. Lol. ~*~*~ Miyu