[AN: Sorry this is...what, months late? Life is crazy and honestly I thought this story was doomed to fail like the last one but all the faves and follows tell me otherwise. I will try to write more if I can, i'm in the middle of moving and my mom just got out of the hospital so it might take a while.]

Rin made it to the palace of the crescent moon which was just as regal as her lord's. It had tall spires with opal colored orbs on them, polished marble flooring, golden archways, a lovely lavender and white color scheme, and a fountain. Rin left Ah-Un to follow her ladyship to the throne room. Rin remembered every inch of this place, how could she not? It was where she died for the second time. Now she was here under more pleasant circumstances. Rin noted a gorgeous tapestry that depicted what she could only assume as their family crest with words written in Japanese so old Rin couldn't read it. Her grand and noble ladyship sat on her throne and instructed her servants to bring something for Rin to sit upon. Quickly they brought a small chair which Rin thanked them for bringing. They seemed a little flustered at her thanking them because they, much like Sesshomaru's workers, did not hear it at all. All the servants bowed deeply and often and called the demoness by her full name with honorifics and title. The title however was not "Lady" but "Empress" or "Queen". She supposed that if Sesshomaru was the prince of the western woods, since she lived so high up, Tsukiakari was the queen. Rin sat there staring up at the woman, awaiting what she would say.

"Tell me Rin, how is your calligraphy?"

"It's going well. I practice every day."

"Very well then. Have you remembered what book I told you to read?"

"Yes my lady, I've read it more than once. It was fascinating!"

"You find our lore and culture interesting, do you? You truly are a strange girl. Fine then. If you've read it as much as you claim to then you'll have no problem with me asking you a few questions. If you get them all right I'll allow you to return just as I promised. However, if you get even one wrong, you have to stay with me another day."

"What about Lord Sesshomaru? Won't he-?"

"That's for me and him to discuss. I'm sure he'll be quite angry but he'll just have to deal with it. I've raised him for hundreds of years, he should learn to never mistrust my judgment. What I say goes and that includes for you too, do you understand?"

"Of course, your ladyship," Rin obeyed, lowering her head to her in complete submission. "I am ready to answer any and all of your questions whenever you are."

"You're so sure of yourself. Let us see if your courage and confidence is warranted."

She did not hold back on the questions she asked, she fired them off right after the answer was given. One after another after another without too much pause. She didn't give Rin's mind any time to think she was forcing her to act on her toes, on her wits. After she felt there had been a sufficient amount of questions asked she sat there silently, contemplating the young woman before her. Rin was on edge only somewhat about whether or not her memory had served her right but she felt assured it did not fail her. She valued herself on having a good memory. Still she wondered about the possibility that she could have slipped up even a little. It was entirely possible she could have had answered one partially correct. However, that wasn't the case, she had given nothing but correct answers. That didn't mean Tsuki was going to let her go so easily.

"It appears you weren't as well versed as you thought you were. You're going to have to stay here with me."

"Could I know which one I got wrong so that way I can be better educated?"

"Self-betterment is a wise path but in this case I think it best if you find that out yourself. Come with me inside and we'll go over the book again."

Rin had no choice in the matter but to do what she was told but she did think about what her lord would do once he found out. They went to a spare room and studied the book over and over and each time they went over it Rin could not find what it is that she got wrong. Eventually Lady Tsuki got bored of all this and asked to be entertained by Rin. Rin only knew of a few methods of entertaining and the one that her lord seemed to favor most was her shamisen playing. Rin was given one and began to play for the lady while she fanned herself slowly. The evening went on like that with Rin playing endless amounts of songs for her or melodies she came up with. As the night came Sesshomaru stood outside again, impatiently awaiting the return of Rin.

He had no sense of time so he wasn't exactly sure how long it had been but his mother had said by the night she'd be back. It was now night and had been so for a while. He waited and waited staring upwards just expecting her to come home at some point but there was no sign of her. The stars were his only company right now besides Jaken who was bored as could be just standing there but being as alert as he could. He let out a loud sleepy yawn. Sesshomaru squinted it looked like but he was really thinking about something and he wasn't at all happy about what he thought was going on. Concerned for her safety and wellbeing Sesshomaru blitzed off into the sky at the speed of light leaving Jaken behind. He tried running after him but there was no way he was going to catch up and Rin had A-Un so he was stuck here. He lamented the fact that his lord left without him so callously. Sesshomaru truly didn't care about Jaken right now and couldn't think of too many times where he did. He was just another servant, only higher.

He could be replaced, Rin could not. It was a sad truth and one Jaken sometimes had to come to grips with which is why he strived to prove his worth every day to his lord. Given how fast he was going he got to his intended destination in no time and was met by her guards. They let him in without him speaking a word because they already knew who he was. He went first to her throne room, that's where she usually liked to be the most but she was not there. He could hear the shamisen playing, he knew it was Rin and not anyone else. He discovered where they were based on his senses, finding his mother sitting on a comfortable chair while Rin was kneeling on the floor. Her fingertips were red from strumming endlessly and so were her knees from sitting on them so long. She turned to him with no surprise on her face, in honesty she was expecting him to show up. His mother looked the same way but she tended to have a static frozen sheet of ice look like he did. He could tell though, because he knew his mother well enough after over 200 years, that she had a certain smugness. As if she was silently saying "I knew you'd come because you care so much."

"Hello my lord," Rin greeted though it sounded like a pan flute it was so weak and low.

"You said she'd be back by now."

"Well we came up with a little wager and she lost. Now she has to stay here until after tomorrow."

"It's alright with me...," Rin tried to convince followed after by a loud growl of her stomach. She placed her hand on it and lightly blushed.

Sesshomaru sharply looked at his mother who kept the same face on, no concern at all in her eyes. "You didn't feed her?"

"I was too busy listening to her wonderful shamisen that I hardly noticed her stomach. I also forget just how much humans have to eat."

"We're going," he clarified directly, now looking towards Rin.

"Ah, Rin you'll stay right there."

Rin was confused on what to do. All her life she had followed her lord's word but now this was someone beyond him, someone even he bowed to. Who was she supposed to listen to? If she left she'd be disrespecting her ladyship if she stayed Sesshomaru would be upset. She just sat there awkwardly holding the instrument in her hands, shifting her eyes between the two.

"My lord, my lady, please don't argue on my account. I'll stay. It's fine with me."

"The problem is solved then. You may be on your way now, my son."

"Rin, up. Now."

Rin dropped the shamisen on the ground gently and rose like she had no willpower of her own, controlled by just his word. She was at his side without thinking because even though it would wound her to see the lady be mad, she did not want to displease her lord no matter what the circumstance. He came first. He always did, he always would. Sesshomaru promptly turned to her, giving a subtle look of disapproval to his mother, and picked Rin up then flew out of there quickly, so his mother could not stop him. He was still able to hear the last words she spoke as he zipped away.

"Do not come crawling back to me later. I tried to protect you both and now you have sealed your doom."

Her words fell on deaf ears for he did not listen but took Rin and Ah-Un back as fast as he could manage. Jaken was happy to see them all return and quickly went to Sesshomaru's side but his mind was concentrated on feeding her. She was given a snack while she waited for dinner to be prepared and what a dinner it was. It was so massive that Rin could hardly finish it all and she went to bed with a full content stomach. Sesshomaru really couldn't believe the nerve of his mother, trying to force Rin to stay somewhere he knew she truly didn't want to be for so long. Not only that but starving her too? She knew better. She kept pushing his buttons over and over and it was beyond annoying to him. He would never let anyone get away with such behavior and she was well aware of that and that this was wrong.

Yet she kept doing it because it was fun to her, to see him overreact to her subtle mistreatment of the one thing he cherished more than anything else in his world. She knew that too, that's exactly why she was doing this. He couldn't stand her and her ploys. He knew damned good and well what she was trying to do. She wanted to pull out as much affection he had for Rin and show it to all eyes including his own, show that he indeed did have a soft spot for her, that he worried over her constantly, make him forget that he was supposed to be an unmovable wall. When it came to people harming Rin he could not help but react, no thought in his mind occurred about how it would portray his weakness to her until it was already too late.

He could convince himself over and over that she didn't matter but that would be the most heartless thing he had ever done. It would also not be true and he knew it. She mattered more than life itself and his mother wanted him to play with that emotion he had because the fact that he had any sort of tender feelings at all for a mortal tickled her in a way. He felt sorry for Rin having to deal with such a person who was treated her like a toy. She had so much respect for her that she would do anything to please her, at least to a fault. When it came down to it she would always come to him, answer to him.

That pleased him, that she thought him higher than someone like that, and that no matter what she served him. It was strange to say that she was a servant because she wasn't but she acted like one in the way that she always bowed to him and did whatever he asked of her to do. What was funny was he was also hers, for whatever she asked for she was given or whatever he assumed she might want or need or even take a fancy to he got her without even a blink or reasoning besides Rin would smile. As the next day came Rin was once again proving he would do anything for her. He had already told her it was fine before but she asked again, she asked if Daichi's children could come over that day. He knew they wouldn't be quiet but he still let them come anyways. He wasn't going to be here all day anyhow. The three little ones came up the hill and right on over, all of them properly showing their respects towards Sesshomaru before coming in. Rin was delighted to see them and even more so to show them all the wonders of this place.

They had never been somewhere so huge or luxurious. Sure, they were decently wealthy but nothing like this. Rin showcased each part of the castle to them, explaining what each room was and what she liked to do in there. She introduced them to the staff and let them play around in the gardens with her. She showed off her rare flower not withholding her loving sigh when retelling how her lord got it just for her. Then they asked if they could see the forest too and she saw no reason why not. She would watch over them, Daichi entrusted his children to her, she would not let them come to any harm. The forest was lush and fertile with new life in the form of buds opening up to bloom, animals having children, birds flying after other birds, bucks bounding after does, and butterflies escaping their cocoons to spread their vibrantly colored wings.

Spring was in full affect and there was no more perfect time for both Rin and the others to be here. They rolled around in the grasses, tumbling down hills and into valleys, they tried to catch butterflies or wait for them to land on them, they watched the animals go by and graze, they also played tag and hide and seek as well. Rin was an excellent hider as she knew this forest well. The three begged to see the fox kits but Rin had to make sure it was alright with their mother first. She sought out Lady Akino who was warming herself on a rock while her young were play fighting close beside her. Rin couldn't help her laughter at watching the adorable creatures who she just wanted so badly to scoop up and rub her face into their warm fur. She explained to the half asleep Lady Akino that there were some people who wanted to see her. Lady Akino trusted Rin and besides they were but children. They were all allowed to come and play if they so wished. Her kits were ecstatic having more of these strange beings to be around even if the littlest one was tugging on their ears and tails. Erity cuddled them and kept insisting she wished she could take them home. Often Rin felt the same, they were very cute and lovable.

They all foraged for food in the woods, snacks to keep them going, mostly berries, fish, and Rin found an empty bee's nest full of honey comb. They enjoyed the sweet treat in the warm glow of the afternoon. After they ate the children wanted to play in the stream and rivers. Osamu was the bravest of them all getting his robes all wet as he dived right in. His youngest sister who could not swim yet just splashed playfully on the edge of the river or would waddle around trying to get a frog. Erity was at first hesitant but eventually dipped her toes in only to get dragged down by her brother into the depths. She came hurtling out of the water gasping for air and coughing. She did not look pleased and splashed him in retaliation, which started an all out war. Rin got in their cross fire and didn't care in the moment that her attire was becoming soaked. She noticed it though and took off all her clothes except an under layer, a somewhat thin piece of fabric. Barefoot and reckless she got entangled in their play battle.

Lady Akino was still here, watching her with one eye open, still laying on her rock. Her children were all getting a little splashed too and kept running away to avoid the water. She licked each of them clean and dry just for it to happen all over again. They all exhausted themselves and then collapsed next to the rock, laughing until they all started to fall asleep in the tranquility of nature. Mei was in her lap, Erity was leaning on her shoulder, Osamu was clinging to her arm. The kits all were curled up next to Rin trying to stay warm by her while Lady Akino watched over them all. When it got later on in the evening she woke them all up so they would not stay in the forest long. Rin was glad of that because she was so tired she could of kept sleeping without understanding how late it was. They all said their farewells and exited the forest.

Rin would have offered to walk the three home but she was not allowed close to the village. They explained to her that they could make it on their own, they knew the way. Rin made sure they made it by watching them from afar until she could not see them anymore. Three figures that were barely visible entered the tiny village and then she knew they were home safe and sound. Rin sighed with joy at all her day had brought her and thought about the children and if one day she'd like to have some. However as she thought about it came the question of who the father would be. She knew who she wished it could be but that would never come to pass. He was the only one though she would allow to be inside of her, to claim her, to take her coveted maidenhood. He was the one who stole her heart and she would give it to no other.

If she could not be with him then she feared she would never get to experience the wonders of motherhood. She would have to live out that fantasy with those three but she did want some of her own, ones that would have white hair. She knew it could not be that way so she tried not to think about it. The stars were starting to pop into existence in the night sky and from up here they were so clear to see. She recalled how Kagome taught her about constellations, shapes in the stars. She tried to find them tonight and as she looked up into the night she saw the moon beginning to rise. She was not the only one. Sesshomaru was on his way back from the southern part of the globe where he had a meeting concerning creatures crossing the great southern oceans into Sesshomaru's lands. The small beach that was by his home was co-owned by the southern lord, at least when it came to the body of water. The sand itself was more or less part of the earth and therefore was technically Sesshomaru's property.

The southern lord had a pleasant temperament, not at all getting riled up or letting things bother him much. He was like the water he inhabited, going with the flow, calm, peaceful. Though there were times where he was not he tried his best to find that perfect balance. Of all of them Sesshomaru was strangely the closest with him because of the owned properties forcing themselves to become close. He was an agreeable man, a bit mousy, always wanted what was right for everyone, and tended to drop arguments often because he didn't like to argue. Given this their meeting went well, they shook hands and were on their way. Even their servants were on good terms, he had a female who almost looked like a seahorse and both she and Jaken liked each other well enough to always greet the other when meeting.

All in all a stress free day and he looked forward to coming home and seeing that smiling face greeting him, feel her warm presence, look into those sweet loving brown eyes. However, he did not expect to see her outside and in the state that she was in. She was still wet, not soaking because the sun had dried her up, but her hair stayed wet the longest since it was so thick and there was so much of it. Her kimono was not as wet but it stuck to her body like glue. She was just standing there, on the edge of his forest, staring up at the sky with awe. He saw what it was that she was looking at with such captivation and wonder. Sesshomaru's eyes flicked toward the sky and stuck there focused on that object. The moon, it was rising into the sky and as it rose further and further it was turning from a dark grey that shimmered to a glowing ruby red.

His eye was stuck on it, the red orb reflecting in his eyes until it looked like his eyes were two red circles. He could hear and feel his heart pulsating first just a bit faster then deep like a bass drum, pounding faster and faster until it's all he heard. It was a maddening sound, his own heart, beating in his ears and all around him. His breathing suddenly shifted from his usual relaxed status to short and rapid, more like panting. His pupils got dilated and small, still red by the light, his whole form seemed to be red. Everything seemed red. He felt a rush of adrenalin in his body like nothing he ever felt in his life, his blood was whooshing throughout his veins so rapidly it almost hurt. There was a rich wonderful aroma in the air that was intoxicating, his nose breathed it in deeply causing his breathing to become ragged. His mouth felt a sensation he had felt before, his canines were enlarging and his eyes burned, they were changing. He was changing.

Jaken was now noticing his master's sudden disturbing metamorphosis. It looked as if he was turning into a full demon. He was twitching or trembling so hard it almost looked like convulsions and through those ragged breaths were low growls. He looked so fearsome it caused Jaken to gulp. What had set his lord off so much that he was transforming like this? Sesshomaru's attention went from the moon in the sky to the woman looking at it, all else red except her creating a glow of red around her. His senses were honed in on her and then he realized just what that decadent smell was that was driving him to insanity. It was her scent, her normal usual smell she always had and it was causing him to feel strange. He felt this urge rise inside of him, this heat grow inside of him, and it was all forcing him towards her.

His inner demon was chanting in a dark way her name over and over. He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head but could not suppress it or these feelings. Not anymore. He felt this need inside his legs, tugging at his tendons and veins, to run over to her and ravage her. The thought caused him to shake his head again and bark out no to himself. Yet she was all he saw, all he smelled, all that was on his mind, her name was screaming inside of him. He was possessed by this hunger to have her and only her. It wasn't normal, it wasn't at all like himself, and it only further shook Jaken by Sesshomaru was doing something more odd than all of the other things he was doing. His eyes were letting down tears and in the lighting it looked like he was crying blood.

"Get. Rin. Out. Of. Here!" his possessed sounding voice commanded, all feral and crazed.

"Ah uh...w-w-where should I t-t-take her my lord?" Jaken stuttered, now shaking too because of fear. He had not seen him like this to the point where it looked like he could not control it.

"NOW!" He roared at him causing the toad demon to jump and scurry away as quick as his little legs could take him. He knew of one place Rin would be safe, back at the village where Kagome and Inuyasha stayed. She would be protected there, she knew people there, and she had a home there too. It was the right place to send her. Sesshomaru backed away one foot at a time which took all his willpower because he wanted to lunge at her and do things to her that were unspeakable and yet his mind spoke them without hesitation. It used up all his strength both inner and outer but he ran away from her though every bit of him wanted to go in the opposite direction, back to her. His body wanted her desperately and his inner self was going out of his mind with the need for her.

The lust he felt that occurred all the sudden was trying its best to take over him but he was not about to let it win. It didn't matter how long it would take he would send her away and once he was done feeling this she could come back and he could ignore it, act like it hadn't even happened. He would not ask why it was for her, he would not ask why it had happened at all, he would not ask why it occurred all the sudden when it never had for two hundred years. None of that would be questioned, all would go back to the way it once was, just the two of them together as nothing more than companions.

Until then for her safety he would make her leave even though he knew she would not want to, she might even fight Jaken on it, ask him why, beg to stay. She must be given no choice, it had to be done. He must do what his mother did for him and send her far as he could until the monster that lurked inside of him died down. He now thought of his mother, what she had done to protect him from the truth of what his father turned into, the man he was would have given way to a beast and Sesshomaru would have been too young to understand. He could have even gotten hurt easily. He also thought of his mother's warnings and how he had wronged her in his actions. He thought of those final haunting words she had told him.

She wasn't keeping Rin just to mess with him, she was keeping her to make sure she would be safe. She knew more than anyone what this was all like and she had warned him multiple times about it, given him time to decide, and yet he ignored her each time. He also ignored the signs that it was going to happen this time around. His sudden want to touch her, to be near her, her smell being wonderful to him, and he had indeed sealed his doom way before his mother had told him so by tasting her blood. That, he told himself, was why it was her. He had her blood in his system and that was enough to trick his mind into thinking of her as a potential mate even though she was Rin. He refused to acknowledge any other potential reasons why Rin, he let himself believe that was it. It was just her blood, it caused a reaction in him and from then on he was done for. The blood moon would now be in full affect and poor Rin, she would now be his victim.

No, he would not let that happen, not to his innocent demure lovely perfect Rin. He would not corrupt her, not watch the horror in her eyes as she saw what he had become, not have her hate him, not have her run away from him, not have him accidently hurt her, and above all even if she wouldn't be scared he did not want to force himself on her. He did not even want to do this in the most basic sense, he tried to tell himself he felt nothing for her that it was the magnetic pull of the moon working its malignant magic on him. It could have easily been someone else but by accident it was her and now they both had to suffer. When Jaken came to her and explained rapidly what she must do Rin stood there confused as could be.

"Go back to the village? But...why? Does my lord not want me around anymore?"

"It doesn't matter why, girl! He expressly told me to send you there and I don't know for how long so don't ask. It's for your own good so stop yip yapping and start going."

"Lord Sesshomaru told you to send me away...?"

"Yes! He's doing this because he has to, I don't think he wants to. Just nevermind just do as he says!"

Rin was at first deeply wounded but tried not to be. She tried to focus not on the fact that she was being pushed away but for what reason. For her own good? There must be something happening that was going to get her in trouble or hurt. She wondered if it had anything to do with the cherry tree village or if that was something else. It could be a war, he was gone often meeting with the rest of the four corners. Perhaps the reason they were talking was because there was going to be a huge battle. If that was the reason then she understood she must go and go now before things got too heated. Her lord knew what was right for her and would only do things to make sure she was taken care of, that's why he sent her with Kaede in the first place. He did not want to exactly but he felt it had to be done. This must be the same reason, even Jaken said so, he didn't want to but it was necessary. That meant to her that he would always want her beside him but there were just times where it couldn't be and those were in times of high danger.

Rin did as she was told without further question, obeying her lord's commands no matter what. She got Ah-Un and saddled up, tugging on his reigns to get him to go skyward. Jaken watched her ascend without a single goodbye or see you later or anything. She just was off into the night without even a single turn of the head back. Rin rode on into the night without a wave or word and in that moment she seemed to Jaken the most adult he had ever witnessed her being. Sesshomaru could just about see her fleeting figure atop the dragon, flying far out of his reach. His felt this, not losing his arm to his half-brother, was his weakest moment. Not only that but he felt heart broken seeing her go, all sides of him wanted her to stay there and sing for him, play for him, stare at him, smile at him. He would miss her so much that it would hurt but it was for the best. If she stayed she would be trapped and she would see how the moon had turned him into a slave to his own depravity. He would sooner kill himself, an act so shameful no one would forgive him for it, than have her see that part of him.

This seedy, unsightly, immoral, corrupt, foul, dirty, ugly part of him that he wished had not come to the surface. It wasn't his own personality nor was it his fault, it was the sheer force of the curse that was this season and nothing more. He let out an unconscious whimper at seeing her leave then covered his mouth and sighed in aggravation. He wanted to run after her but he would not. He had to be chained down lest he track her down and take her wherever she stood. Iron bars couldn't hold him nor chains of the purest metal, he could break through it all and this blasted seasonal change would have made him stronger. Still something must be done to stop him from pursuing her. At that moment he wished he had some sort of binding spell or perhaps even the enchanted necklace Inuyasha wore to stop him. He'd take anything at this point.

There was nothing he could do but stay where he was and wait for this to go away, wait and pray for him not to lose focus and wake up realizing he had done something awful. His willpower was a godsend and he trusted in it to still himself from chasing after her like she was his prey. He hoped it was enough, it had to be. There was no other way. When Rin landed, she sought to find Kagome to tell her she had returned. Kagome peeked her head out of the door and seemed surprised to see Rin there so late in the night. Rin explained that something had happened where it was no longer safe for her there and she must stay here. She wasn't sure for how long. Kagome held her in her arms and told her she was of course welcomed there and that if she needed anything to let her know.

Rin found her old hut just the way she left it, cold, drafty, but no longer leaky thanks to Kohaku. She shed her fine clothing and transferred into the plain cotton kimonos she wore, feeling like she was a lizard shedding her old skin. Now this was to be her life again, a life without him. She just hoped it wouldn't be too long before he came back to get her like last time. She wanted to be with him and it made her sad that she couldn't be. Kagome felt something was off, something didn't feel right, and it left her looking puzzled as she entered her bedroom. Inuyasha was awoken by all the sounds and was leaning up in their bed, yawning loudly.

"Who was at the door?"

"It was Rin, she's back now but only for a little while. She said something dangerous has happened back at Sesshomaru's home so she had to be here. Something about it doesn't feel so simple."

"What color is the moon outside?" Inuyasha asked, now sitting up and alert, ears moving like they were listening in to something.

"It's um...," Kagome hummed looking outside, "Oh wow it's red! That's strange."

"That explains it then."

"Explains what? Tell me, is it something...bad?"

"If you're a demon like him in his situation then yes. The blood moon has very little effect on half breeds like me. I feel a strange warm sensation that's easily ignored and nothing else but for him...it marks the peak mating season of them. They can't resist it and all of them go crazy because of it. I learned about it from Myoga of all people."

"Mating season? Like with animals? But what does that have to do with Rin...oh...oh no! You don't think he...?"

"No, he didn't do anything to her and that's why she's here because he's trying to distance himself from her. He doesn't want to give into that need because it's her. He's being so damned prideful though, it's obvious he wouldn't be hounding after her if he didn't consider her mate material. He won't admit it because they mate for life and he is probably refusing that knowledge."

"They mate for life? But didn't your father...um...leave his original wife?"

"My pops was never in love with her I don't think. Besides he's one out of a million. It usually never works out that way. Dog demons and even filthy wolf demons are all the same, we're loyal to our pack. Even a half breed like me is. Once we establish the pack we don't leave them, we provide for them, take care of them, fight with them, and once we find our mate we live and die for only them. If he admits that he sees her as a potential mate then he's admitting to feelings he doesn't want to feel. It's not just him being horny for whatever girl is in the area. Their breed never mate with humans, they're so hell bent on keeping a noble pure bloodline. Dad was really the first and it looks like the apple don't fall far from the tree."

Kagome put her curled fist under her lip in concentration. This was quite a lot to take in but now she could understand Sesshomaru more. He, as he always had done, was protecting her. If they went mad because of it who knows what he might do in that sort of state and he'd hate himself if he did it to Rin. Not because she was human but because of who she was. Now Kagome was faced with what to do with all this information. She felt she should tell Rin but that was between her and Sesshomaru. Besides she was sent here to live away from the horrible truth and Kagome didn't want to ruin the image of her dearly loved lord to her. She didn't like keeping secrets though and this was a big one. Sesshomaru would have to reveal it himself. Trouble was he wasn't going to, he would be admitting desire towards her and not only that, something far far deeper.

"I feel bad for both of them but I feel more sorry for him," She explained, getting into the bed, "he doesn't understand why he feels this way and he doesn't want to. Poor Rin too...she has no idea...and the thing is she would like to know it. If she did she would realize her love for him wasn't in vain."

"Eh. I don't feel bad for the guy at all. He had this coming to him for a long time. He had his nose stuck up in the air thinking he was better than me and his dad for being with a human. Well the tables have turned, haven't they?"

"Still...I wonder what will come of all this...I can only hope for Rin's sake they will become closer because of this road bump. Though with a man like that, who knows? Maybe it will all just stay the same. If he cares about her at all, the way I'm sure he does, then he will tell her. He can only lie for so long."

"You misjudge his ability to lie. He's been doing it to himself his whole life with Rin. Now is no different. He'd rather die a liar than live with the truth, that he has anything deeper than friendship with a mortal. Trust me Kagome, it's not going anywhere with those two."

"Maybe...and maybe it will be exactly like us...the trials and tribulations will only strengthen their bond and just like him you were stubborn to admit your feelings too. Now look at us, married and with five kids...and one more on the way."

"I doubt they'll end up like that. I can't imagine it. Let's stop talking about it, okay? I'm tired as hell."

"Alright. I'm tired too so let's get to bed. Goodnight Inuyasha."

"Night."

"Say goodnight to the baby," Kagome requested, rubbing her stomach with a content expression.

He turned over and faced her, smiling warmly as she stroked over the place where their child was growing. He placed his hand on top of her stomach and kissed it with all his love for both her and their son or daughter, it was still undetermined. "Goodnight kiddo."

Yes he really couldn't imagine his half-brother being like this, being all lovey dovey with a woman or cuddling her as she lay in bed with his child but what did he know? He at one point couldn't imagine himself with Kagome but that changed quickly. Kagome however had confidence in the two. Her own love had taken forever and a day to come to fruition and they had gone over so many troubles to get here. Perhaps for them it was just the same. Kagome looked out the window as she drifted into to sleep, her hut in perfect view of Rin's. She could see her staring out into the night, looking at that crimson sphere and into those stars, waiting as she always did, for her lord to return to her waiting all alone.