Disclaimer: Maybe in my next life I will own InuYasha.
I am so glad you folks are enjoying reading my story as much as I am enjoying writing it!
Something tickled Sesshomaru's nose. Perhaps an insect. Absently he swatted at the intruder and rolled onto his back, slowly opening his eyes. Early morning sunlight streamed into the room and he was confused. His ceiling most certainly did not have paintings of lightning bugs and wild flowers. His brow wrinkled in confusion. Suddenly, from beside him on the deep mattress came a a sleepy sigh and a shift of movement. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and felt his heart slam against his ribs like a bird flying into a wall. A spill of black hair on the white pillow beside him, the sweet scent of flowers and sated female.
Laying on her side, her back to him, was Rin. He was in her room! The memories came back to him in a maddening rush. For perhaps the first time in his life, Sesshomaru felt his cheeks flush. A soft linen sheet covered the curve of her hip, leaving her back, shoulders and neck exposed to his gaze. He began to wonder. Why did he feel no guilt, no shame, no remorse? Not even a trace of disgust colored his feelings. Somehow it seemed the most natural thing to wake up at Rin's side, to feel the sleepy warmth radiating from her skin.
Slowly he rolled back onto his side, rising up on one elbow to better see her. Gently so as not to wake her, Sesshomaru captured the length of Rin's hair and pulled it back from over her shoulder. She slept with one arm folded beneath her head as she did when they travelled. Her face was peaceful, serene. Sesshomaru wasn't ready to have her wake just yet. He rose from the bed, never disturbing her slumber. He knew once she did wake she would be tender and in need of another warm bath. Their clothing was scattered about the room. Rin's from her haste to enjoying her evening bath and his in their eagerness touch, skin to skin. As much as he wanted, Sesshomaru knew he could not linger here for long. Undoubtedly Jaken was already searching frantically for him and there was no need for his vassil to be privy to this aspect of his lord's new life.
Fate, however, seemed to have other plans for him. As he gathered his clothing, carefully slipping on the still damp garments, Rin's door flew open and slammed against the wall. Instinctively, Sesshomaru's hand went to Toukijin, ready to destroy whomever it was that dared to enter the chamber uninvited. From the bed, Rin bolted upright with a scream of surprise. In a flurry of motion and shouting, Jaken came rushing into the room, shouting that the lord was missing only to spot the missing lord and notice Rin's obvious state of undress which brought him up short.
"M-me lord?" Jaken squeaked, his already large eyes seeming to grow impossibly larger.
With a gasp, Rin drew the sheet to cover herself, a blush coloring her face and throat. Sesshomaru never had a greater urge to smote his vassil than he did in that moment. How in hell was he going to explain this? A steely glint came to his eye. He did not have to explain anything to anyone. This was his hall and he was lord and master here. Sheathing Toukijin, Sesshomaru gave Jaken a dark scowl which sent the humble servant scampering from the room. It did not, however, send him very far. He stood just outside the doorway, his back to the room.
Sesshomaru grimmaced. He had to get Jaken away and whatever small task it took to do it would have to take some time. His eyes went to the chilled water in the bath. It might buy him enough time to speak with Rin and return to his own chambers. Nervously, Rin sat in the middle of the massive bed, tucking her hair behind her ears and twisting her fingers in her lap.
"Jaken," he snapped, "Send for another bath to be brought here to Rin's room. Immediately."
"A-aye, me lord." the shaking vassil nodded, never turning to face his lord and starting down the hall.
"And Jaken?"
This time the toad-like servant did look to his lord, who now stood in the doorway. Sesshomaru's eyes made Jaken shiver.
"You will not speak of what you saw in this room. If you do, you will die."
With that, Sesshomaru stepped back into the room, slamming the door behind him. Jaken moved as fast as his short legs could carry him. It made no sense! What was his lord doing in that girl's room so early in the morning? Clearly she had been sleeping! And he did see his lord's hand on Toukijin when he entered. Perhaps...could Lord Sesshomaru have been about to rid himself of the troublesome creature! Jaken shook his head, frowning in thought. No, that was impossible. Lord Sesshomaru would simply send Rin away if he wished her gone. Something just didn't seem right about what he had stumbled into.
Rin had slipped quietly from the bed and wrapped a delicate blue kimono around herself, watching her lord and Jaken's exchange. She hugged herself with shaking arms. Her eyes strayed to the rumpled bed, thinking perhaps last night had been another powerful dream. But the evidence was there, loudly proclaiming itself. Droplets of blood on the pristine whiteness of the sheets. She had lain with her lord. They had mated and he had remained with her throughout the night. She felt his presence still in the room, the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on her. Tearing her eyes from the bed, Rin met Sesshomaru's unwavering gaze.
"I will not say I am sorry," he said softly, "To say I am sorry would mean I regret what we have done. And this Sesshomaru feels no regret. Hate me if you will, Rin, for what I did but know this. It was the first time, yes, but it shall not be the last. When I freed you from your debt, you were no longer my servant. When I claimed you last night, you became my mate. As you know, what is this Sesshomaru's, he keeps."
It was no proclamation of his undying love but for Rin it was close enough. A tremulous smile danced on her lips as she nodded. Yes, she was his to keep. She would have it no other way. Moving as swiftly as only a demon lord could Sesshomaru was before her, pulling her into his arms and tasting of her sweetness once again. He enjoyed her uninhibited response, her joy in his taking just what he wanted from her.
"Where you go, my lord, I will follow." she murmured against him mouth, pulling back only slightly at the soft knock at her door.
"That will be your bath, Rin. Take as much time as you wish. My time today will once again be occupied with trivial matters. If you like, take Ah-Un and venture the fields. Do not go far. Keep within sight of the great hall, understood?"
Rin nodded, resting her head against her lord's chest for a moment longer before stepping from his arms and bidding the servants entrance. The bath from the previous evening was quickly removed and a fresh one put in its place. No one spoke a word and Sesshomaru slipped from the room quietly. From the inky shadows of the hall, one shade moved. Fiery eyes gleemed with malice, first looking to Rin's closed door and then to the inu-youkai lord's. Slow, raspy breaths echoed in the depths of the hallway. Anger and hatred rolled off the form.
"May the fates give me the opporunity to sever the fragile thread of their bond!" a singsong voice floated through the air before the shadow was once against swallowed by the darkness.