Chapter Nine is still in the works, I outlined a brief chapter and then trashed it completely because it wasn't going where I wanted it to. So in other words I'm still trying to beat some sense into chapter nine. I already finished the new outline, I just have to flesh everything out. Unfortunately, classes have started once again. Science Research is a must for my AP Chem class, add AP English, AP Psychology and my only non AP class, PreCalculus and I have a pretty busy schedule not including extracurricular activies. Block Scheduling stinks, people, only four classes a day, 90 minutes per class, but you lose a couple of weeks of class. I have sixteen weeks to complete a college level course because AP exams start May 10. And my chem teachers says we shouldn't cram, but he insits we waste two months on science research-which noone wants to do. Time is going to be a luxary. But i promise to work on this as often as I can...even if i have to write everything on paper and type it up at a later date.

Mate 'māt n. 1: companion 2: subordinate officer of a ship 3: one of a pair vb. mat•ed; mat•ing 1: fit together 2: come together as a pair 3: copulate
Webster's American English Dictionary

A Brief Interlude II

Kagome stared at her husbands backside, it was still early in the evening, but Inuyasha decided to go to bed because it was the night of the new moon, and he'd assumed his ningen appearance. She reached out and touched a strand of black hair, knowing that in the morning it would be the familiar silvery white, "Inuyasha, you awake?"

"What do you want, Kagome?" he asked not turning around.

"Sesshoumaru really cares for Rin doesn't he, I mean he took time off from work just to be with her while she was sick. It was really sweet of him." The strand of hair that she was playing with suddenly slid from her fingers as Inuyasha turned to stare at her, a scowl on his face.

"More like he was trying to ease his guilty conscience. He still can't forget that he used Rin as a means to an end and so he constantly does things to appease his guilt. Like getting her all those gifts, all Rin has to do is look at something for more than two seconds and he'll buy it for her. Not because he loves her, he's never done anything out of love, but because he still feels like he's using her like he's taken away some of her happiness and condemned her to live a life that is no longer hers." Inuyasha didn't bother to mask his irritation at his brother, each word laced with contempt.

"But he must care for her to some extent, he cares about her happiness and wellbeing enough to feel guilty about it. Maybe given enough time the feelings can evolve into love, you can never be sure."

"This isn't some fairytale romance, Kagome, where the hero realizes his love for the heroine after she does some selfless act of kindness. Sesshoumaru's not going to wake up one day and realize his undying love for Rin. There are no heroes or heroines in this story; real life isn't a fairy tale. It's never going to happen, it's not in his nature and even if Sesshoumaru were to grow to love Rin he'd never allow himself to acknowledge the feeling. I know it's hard for you to understand but your just going to have to learn to accept the fact that Rin will probably never receive anything more from Sesshoumaru than she already has."

"But-"

"No Kagome, you don't understand Sesshoumaru, all he cares about is his pride, his honor, and his status in Dad's company nothing else. He married Rin because no other option presented itself, if there'd been a youkai who'd actually lived up to his standards Rin wouldn't be in the position she's in now. What do you think will happen after she dies, he's completed the only task given to him: find a mate. He'll chose another mate, a youkai this time, but he'll be able to search for a suitable one at his leisure. Rin's his wife not his mate, he married but I doubt that any children will ever result from that loveless marriage. He doesn't want any filthy hanyou to call him Chichiue, or to be associated with another hanyou," Inuyasha muttered almost bitterly.

"How could he do that to Rin? I can't accept that Inuyasha, I mean he can't be that heartless." Kagome refused to give hope.

"Kagome, youkai don't usually mate for the same reasons that ningens do, they do it to secure an alliance or to produce offspring so the species doesn't die out-rarely do youkai mate out of love. Sesshoumaru and Rin have been married for years but Rin's never gotten pregnant has she? I doubt it has anything to do with Sesshoumaru's virility and it can't be because Rin's a ningen, I'm proof that ningens and youkai can reproduce. In this aspect Sesshoumaru's failed, he's failed one of his duties in taking a mate-he hasn't sired any pups to carry on the family and species, hanyou or not."

"So Rin can never have a family, I know she wants one seeing how her own died when she was still young."

"No, she won't, not with Sesshoumaru at least. And she can't betray him, she's too loyal to him and even if she did everyone would know right away that it wasn't Sesshoumaru's pup. No youkai who values his life will ever approach the mate of the feared Sesshoumaru. And of course taking a human lover is out of the question. She'll never have any pups or children of her own Kagome."

"So she's just an ornament for him, something to put on a shelf while he does what he wants?" she asked in disbelief.

"Not really, Sesshoumaru will at least honor her title as his wife and mate, he'll never be unfaithful to her but that is the most she can ever expect from him. Also this union has benefits for the company."

"Benefits? What do you mean benefits?"

"Many ningens who could be great assets to the company are unsure of becoming associates with Father because they know of Sesshoumaru's apparent loathing of ningens, thus they fear that he may ignore them or destroy their businesses after he takes Father's place. Now that he's taken a human for a mate they feel that they can chance an agreement with the company."

"So it was just a political type marriage?"

" You need to remember that Rin willingly offered herself up to Sesshoumaru, she knew the consequences of helping him with his problem, and she still offered. I doubt she did it out of love. She probably did it because she's too kind-hearted and because Sesshoumaru is one of her closest friends and she didn't want to see him suffer. She knew, Kagome, she knew."

"She's loyal to Sesshoumaru, and would give up her life for him, but I still can't help but feel sorry for her."

"I know Kagome, I feel the same. I can't help but feel a little guilty, to know that you're with child and that Rin will never have the chance to have her own pups to care for."

"What's the difference Inuyasha, why do you say child and not pup like you do for Rin?"

"Think about it Kagome. I'm a hanyou. You're a ningen. Anything I sire will only be a quarter youkai. I can't exactly call it a pup when it'll be mostly human, can I?"

"Oh."

"Now go to sleep. You need the rest."

"Inuyasha?"

"What now?"

"Who took Sesshoumaru's place while he was in Tokyo?"

Inuyasha nearly fell out of the bed at the sudden comment, honestly he did not know how she made those mental jumps. "Jaken, at first he wasn't aware of it but later he found out. Now got to sleep."

"Goodnight Inuyasha."

"Feh," Inuyasha rolled over, his back to her once more. "Goodnight Kagome."

My song will ride the wind
Far, far away to your side.
Someday two skies will become one,
And I'll be able to return to you.

Sakamoto Maaya and Steve Conte - Garden of Everything