Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha but I do have my words! Muhahahaha!


Tahki spent the rest of the day with Sesshomaru and the children. InuYasha agreed to direct the men about the construction because he knew that Sesshomaru needed a good distraction and Tahki certainly was a good one. InuYasha made sure that there was extra room made in the building that they were doing because he had the feeling that this was not going to be used all the time. He had a feeling that Tahki was not going to be staying here long after Kanna and Kohaku come back. But he was worried about them because they have been gone longer than expected.

Kagome brought him and the workers lunch and they talked for a bit.

"Have you heard anything from Kohaku and Kanna?" InuYasha asked.

"You know, I haven't. I wonder what is taking them so long. They were just going to get the things from the house that they were living in and then come right back."

"She shouldn't have gone. With her being in her condition, Sesshomaru should have just went instead."

"I know but you know how she is trying to be independent now. She really loves being able to do things on her own and of her free will InuYasha."

"I know."

"In fact, in a lot of ways she reminds me of you."

"What does that mean?"

"That means that at times you do whatever you want and not think of the main objective."

"You are gonna get it Kagome!" InuYasha said as he started to get up. Kagome screamed and ran away with him chasing her. The soldiers looked up at them and shook their heads. They couldn't believe the way that their Lord and Lord InuYasha were acting since they got there.

Sesshomaru looked around the forest because he could hear Kagome screaming. Then he understood when he could hear his brother yelling after her telling her that he was not like that. He couldn't believe sometimes the way that he acted but he still loved him in his own little way. Rin and Shippo were having fun playing in the forest. They currently were playing hide and seek. And so far Shippo hadn't found Rin. Even though she was not that far away from him. But he promised her that he would not use his nose in the hunt either.

"Sesshomaru, I think that it is time that you speak to Rin about possible suitors." Tahki said. Sesshomaru looked at her and just shook his head.

"She is far too young to be thinking of that at this time."

"Sesshomaru please. Look at the way that her and Shippo now play. They are playing more of an adult version of hide and seek. Plus, I have seen the way that Lord Sota looks at her and the way that she looks at him."

Sesshomaru looked at Rin and thought about it.

"Rin can you come over here please." Sesshomaru called out.

"Sesshomaru would you like me to leave you with your daughter?" Tahki asked.

"No."

Rin and Shippo ran over to them.

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama, what is it?" Rin asked.

"I was wondering something. I was wondering if you wanted to start thinking of being courted by someone?" Sesshomaru asked.

Rin and Shippo looked at each other and then back at Sesshomaru.

"I have been thinking about it. I just did not know if you thought that I was ready yet or not." Rin said.

"Is this true that you and Sota have been exchanging glances?"

"Yes Sesshomaru-sama. We have. I have to tell you the truth though." Rin said as she sat down next to Tahki. Shippo started to move away from Sesshomaru as well.

"What truth?" Sesshomaru asked.

Rin looked at Tahki and she nodded to her and smiled.

"What is going on here?" Sesshomaru demanded.

Rin looked at him. There was no emotion on her face or in her eyes. He had taught her too well on how to do that.

"Sesshomaru-sama, I have been being court by someone already. And no it is not Shippo because we are just friends and that is it. And he understands this and respects this. Sesshomaru-sama, I have been courting Sota for some time now behind your back. We have basically only talked during those times and each one of those times we are getting closer and closer." Rin said confidently.

"Sota. Interesting boy and a human no less. Do you love him Rin?"

"I do not know as of yet because we have not been able to do the normal ways of courting. He said that he is going to be staying here with Kagome and InuYasha from now on. He is not going back to his time. He also said that his mother is going to close things up at the shrine and then come back as well."

"Rin, does he understand that you are my daughter?"

"Of course and that is the reason he has not come up to you and requested to court me as of yet because of the fact that he is Kagome's younger brother, that he is slightly older than me, that he is human, and that he is scared of you." Rin said quickly.

"He is scared of me? By Kami I have changed so much and he is still scared of me."

"Sesshomaru-sama you are still the same Taiyoukai that has ruled for so long. He is scared mostly of your feelings towards me. He does not want to interfere with something that you hold dear to your heart. He understands that you would protect me with everything in your power. But you don't understand that he would do the same for me as well."

Sesshomaru looked around the forest and saw that there was no sound around them. That it seemed like the forest itself was waiting for his answer on letting her to court and on how he would feel on losing yet another thing that he holds dear to him.

"Rin, I will deal with this at a later time. For now, please do not go behind my back any further when it comes to young Lord Sota. That is not wise and it might make people wonder how I have raised you."

"So you are not mad at me or him because we went behind your back?"

"No. No matter what the reason, I am finding it hard to be mad at you or him. Now go and play some more before we go back and make dinner." Sesshomaru said. Rin went up to him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you father." Rin said softly in his ear. So soft that Shippo could not hear her. She kissed his cheek and was off screaming and laughing with Shippo. Sesshomaru just looked at her amazed at how grown up she really was.

"Sesshomaru, thank you for allowing me to sit here." Tahki said.

"I did not know if I would need you assistance on this one. She is already a woman now and to see and hear her talk of someone that I know little of is amazing. She is really such a lady now and I suppose that I should stop treating her like a child."

"Sesshomaru, she is always going to be your little girl. There is nothing that is going to change that. Even though she is but a mere human and not of your blood, she might as well be because of the love that you have for her. You would protect her and have protected her from many things that have sought her out to kill her. Do not be ashamed at what she has brought out in you. You just need to understand that your father was the same way with his two sons. And now you are just like him. Protecting the one that you love." Tahki said.

He looked at her and for the first time in his life, he understood fully on what his father meant when he told him the true meaning of love. Because that is what he felt for Rin. His daughter. And when she called him father, his heart skipped a beat. He was so happy that she let her guard down and called him father instead of Sesshomaru-sama.

"Tahki I feel that I have known you my whole life because of the way that you just talked to me. I know that you know nothing of my father and my mother or InuYasha's mother. But just now, you sounded like you knew everything and that you knew exactly the right words to say to me. Do you have the gift of sight like my mother?"

"No Sesshomaru. I am just a mere demon and that is it. I just know that your father would be proud of you right now. You are a great Lord and you have held great fear over many on these lands. You have experienced hatred, pain, loathing, sadness, and depression. But you have also experienced happiness, love, laughter and joy. That is what life is all about Sesshomaru, experiencing all of those things and still being able to take your next breath and live life further."

"You truly are an amazing woman aren't you Tahki."

"No Sesshomaru, I just know what I am talking about. Come now, let's get these children back to the house so I can fix dinner and you can clean them up." Tahki said getting up off the ground.

Sesshomaru quickly went over and helped her. She took his hand and smiled as they went and looked for the children. It was not long to find them because you could hear them laughing in a grove where a small pond was. There was fish swimming all around the pond and the crickets were starting to sing their song. Tahki told them that it was time to go back to the house to clean up for dinner. All 4 of them walked silently back to the house and prepared dinner.

After dinner Tahki helped Rin with her bath while Shippo and Sesshomaru played with Ares a little. The little fire cat was starting to get big. Sesshomaru often wondered what Rin was feeding him because of this. But Sesshomaru could see that the little cat was also starting to become domesticated. Which was a good thing considering that Rin was the cat's master. When Rin came out, Ares ran after her and jumped into her arms.

"I have missed you mother." Ares mewed to her.

"I know little one. By gosh you are getting big Ares, I am going to have to stop giving you meat!" Rin said laughing.

"I think not! You have now raised me on that and I would like some right now if you don't mind." Ares said to her. She laughed and went into the kitchen and prepared his dinner.

Sesshomaru watched her interact with the kitten and shook it off. He sent Shippo to the bath next. Shippo was reluctant because he wanted to continue to play with the kitten but Sesshomaru insisted.

"Shippo. I will make sure that he is still awake when you come out of the bath." Rin said cheerfully from her spot where Ares was eating.

"Alright! I will be out soon!" Shippo said tearing down the hall to his room to gather his things. The door slammed shut to the hot spring, which made both Tahki and Sesshomaru cover their ears. Rin laughed and Ares sat down in her lap. She couldn't believe how quickly he ate. He must have been hungry.

Tahki looked around and then noticed that there was supposed to be two fire cats running around the house. And all she saw was Ares.

"Sesshomaru, where is Kirara?" Tahki asked.

"I do not know. I have the feeling that Sango called to her and she went to where they were. I am sure that she is fine." Sesshomaru said.

"I am still worried." Tahki said taking up Ares bowl that was practically licked clean. She went into the kitchen and washed up the dishes. She could hear Shippo in the hot spring, Rin, Sesshomaru and Ares were playing in the living room. She really did like this house and how things were going. Although upon returning from the forest with Sesshomaru and the children, she glanced at the building that was going on and InuYasha smiled at her. He didn't do that before because she still thought that he was rather upset at her for not backing down while he challenged Shippo that one night. But now it seemed that he did not give it a second thought. Which actually made her happy. She did not want to think that she dishonored Kanna and Kohaku by doing that.

Tahki was standing by the sink when Rin came in with Ares in her hands.

"I am heading off to bed. Shippo is still sleeping in my room so he can see Ares there. But I am beat. This has been a very busy day. I just wanted to tell you goodnight Tahki." Rin said to her.

"Sleep well Rin." Tahki said as she bent over slightly and gave the girl a hug and a kiss on the forehead.

"And good night to you Ares." She added as she petted his ears. He purred and then went back and cuddled further into Rin.

After Rin left, Tahki went in the hot spring to make sure that Shippo was fine. She did not enter the building but opened the door slightly and asked him if things were fine and he told her yes. She informed him that Rin was now in their room sleeping and to be quiet upon entering. He said ok and she left for the gardens. They had not been touched for a few days and she didn't want the weeds to get a hold of them.

"You know that you can do that when there is sufficient light out."

Tahki turned around and Sesshomaru stood there. He handed her a cup of tea and she took it.

"Thank you but I should have done it earlier. I guess that you are right thought. The sun is setting quickly now and soon there will be nothing but darkness with the stars to guide people home."

"Come and sit with me and watch the sun set." Sesshomaru said taking her hand and leading her to the bench. The bench that has been used so much lately.

"Thank you. I guess that sitting in the forest was not enough for one day." Tahki said jokingly. Sesshomaru smiled and she took the sight in and burned it in her memory.

His pale face looking at her. The sun setting behind her head and the various rays of colored light touching his face. The reds, oranges, blues, purples, greens and finally the yellows dancing across his face. His golden eyes closed slightly as the corners of his mouth went up to meet his eyes. His bright white teeth showing slightly, the fangs now prominently hanging out, the redness of his stripes on his cheeks getting redder or maybe it was just her eyes that saw that. But the softness of his face was one that she wanted to go and touch and feel and explore.

And she did. Her hand seemed like it had a mind of it's own. She went and touched his face, first on the lining of his jaw, the curve that it made around his face. Then she went up and touched the curving of his ears and how soft they felt with the layer of soft fur that covered them. Then she went down one of the stripes on his cheek as it made it's way down by his nose and stopped. Then she went and touched the tip of his nose and up to his insignia on his forehead. The first quarter moon was there in bright blue color. Shining brightly for all to see, yet the skin was still the same, soft and inviting. Then it went around his eyebrow and down another stripe on his cheek. That was when she found her finger on his lips. Going around the outside of them, moving the way that they did. His smile was now gone and she noticed this. She quickly moved her hand away and turned to the sunset to avoid his glare if there was one.

He put his hand on her shoulder and brought her closer to him. She leaned on his chest as he wrapped an arm around her, the other still holding the cup of tea. They sat quietly there on the bench as the sun set quietly in the sky. Its partner the moon was making an appearance on the other side of them and the brightness that it shone them was amazing. It was like the sun that night because you could see everything around them in the gardens, the flowers, the colors, and the scents. And finally you could see Sesshomaru kissing Tahki passionately as they held onto their cups of tea.