0000

Sesshoumaru entered the drafty castle with a silent curse, no candles had been lit. The sound of rare birds floating around in the rafters. He would need to hire humans from the village to clean up three of the four wings of the Japanese mansion.

Jaken followed ahead lighting his small staff as a guide to the rooms that had been magically closed off from time and dust. Climbing the stairs to the west wing, the ofuda that had magically sealed the area fell away. The enchanted screen doors opening for him, he found Rin's room relatively clean, her trinkets and such still scattered all around. It had been a few years since they had come back to the castle he realized, it was like looking through a fogged glass of memory. Gingerly stepping over her things, Sesshoumaru laid her on the tall Western bed and wondered had it been this easy for his half brother to fall in love with that reincarnation of the damned priestess Kikyou? Inuyasha's scent was all but gone from this world, he now lingered so many days in the modern world. For a single moment he wondered whether murdering Rin would give her the peace that she had found within the light. The light of death… But then he couldn't kill her not without removing the jewel from her heart first…

When had he become so weak, when had he fallen in love with her? Though he denied it, his heart could no longer hold back the warm human love he felt for this foolish little girl.

A few more months and then he would know… Maybe his bloodlust would be satisfied on the day of her birthday. One beautiful June morning…

Without a further thought he turned and left the room, the screen door closing with a slight thud. If she did not wake tonight, he had a more pleasing way to disturb her dreams…

000

After another long bath and a bevy of orchard fruits later, he had satisfied his appetite and returned to the west wing with new purpose. Now dressed in a deep blue Yukata, he had pulled his hair into a loose braid that fell down his back in a graceful arch. Knocking softly, he peaked into the room after a moment, finding Rin dancing around her room dressed in a light pink kimono he hadn't ever seen her wear before. Her jewelry was scattered all over the floor, she was humming a song. Rin pulled the cover from the floor length mirror and jumped when she saw Sesshoumaru standing at the door. Whirling around she looked around feeling stupid drenched in all the gifts she had received, the pearls hanging down from her hair. Ruby earrings in her ears, jeweled necklaces choking her pale neck.

"May I come in?" he asked, Rin blinked confused and then nodded. Sesshoumaru had never asked her anything… What was going on? He stepped in and an awkward silence descended over the large room, Rin consciously played with her hair.

"Why are you here you neko youkai?" she teased turning around to admire her bejeweled self. Seeing Sesshoumaru's form grow closer in the mirror, Rin wanted to run… Run into his arms and thank him.

He placed both of his hands on her shoulders and whispered in her ear

"I love you"

Rin felt the pearl necklace she was holding tightly, snap, the beads scattering to the woven floor. She turned around and stared at him with wide eyes, her lips moved but no sound came out.

Sesshoumaru laughed seeing the look on her face, it was priceless. He leaned till they touched foreheads "You think that I am lying?"

Rin's pale face suddenly flushed crimson "N-no, it's just…" she trailed off, a bubble of happiness was welling up in her soul.

"You mean you aren't angry at me anymore for taking the Shikon shard?" she asked trying very hard to remain serious in front of him. Batting her eyelashes she grinned, Sesshoumaru's only response was to raise a pale brow.

"Well it depends." He began coolly, returning her wide grin with one of his own. For the first time Rin saw the two canine fangs so clearly.

"On what?" she asked her brown eyes glowing. Sensing that she was driving him into arousal, Rin wanted to separate some space between them. Slowly she backed up and hit the bed, turning slowly she stared at the warm sheets. Bad mental images assaulted her innocent brain, those having to do with her and Sesshoumaru…

A hand to her shoulder made her jump, it was so wrong to play the seductress. Why…. What in the name of all hell was she thinking…

Oh Kami…

Sesshoumaru knew her game well, countless women had played a similar game with him. But none of those women would endure the punishment that Rin would. He was a gentleman through and through; Rin knew that but the look that she was giving him was one of absolute terror. He respected her wish to remain a virgin till her wedding day, it being something that was ingrained into Japanese girls for thousands of generations. His response to her look was to motion to the bed behind Rin.

"So soon my dear?" he questioned coyly, Rin pressed herself up against the post of the canopy bed as Sesshoumaru drew closer. He kissed her sweetly on the forehead and felt that electric current run through her small body.

"I'm not going to ravish you Rin" he said plainly when he saw how she had squeezed her eyes shut.

"B-but I want you to" she replied leaning against his chest, her hands playing with a few strands of his hair that had slipped from the braid. Sesshoumaru kissed the top of her head,

"Now?" he cooed feeling his braid coming loose, silver hair slipping around his shoulders.

"If not now then when?" was her reply

Sesshoumaru kissed her mouth fully, deeply leaving the young woman limp. Slowly undoing the pearls from her hair, dropping them to the floor with ease.

"My promise was not to touch you until after your birthday, until after the contract" Seshoumaru whispered picking up her body and laying her on the bed. Her chocolate brown hair flowing around her body. Jewels glinting in the golden candlelight. She looked so sad and yet happy at the same time.

Tears trailed down the sides of her face, Sesshoumaru kissed her again laying there and removing the necklaces one by one from her neck, taking his time to undo the knots from the jewels. Slowly he dropped them over the edge of the bed, and after twenty minutes he snuggled into the crook of her neck.

"Sleep my dear" he whispered against her collar bone his arms wrapped around her waist, unused to this kind of innocent contact Rin took some time to relax. Sesshoumaru was asleep, and for the first time in a long time she felt like she would rest well tonight.