Sorry for the delay, I have been busy, busy, busy at work. I still don't own any anime characters, I merely borrow them for my own demented purposes. Don't worry though, I'll have them dry cleaned before I return them. Remember to review! Hell, go back and review every chapter if you want, I like the feedback!

Sesshomaru woke with the first light and looked at the beautiful woman next to him. His wife, she was his wife. He rolled on to his back and stared at the ceiling, he had married a human just as his father had. As a child he had worshipped his father, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine following his father's footsteps in this particular way. He was glad he did

He rolled back to her and stroked her cheek, causing her to mumble incoherently. He felt desire, but she was not ready to begin the day just yet so he simply propped himself up on an elbow and gazed at her for a while. He then let himself out into the garden to mark a tree and contemplate his future as a husband.

Once she did wake up they spent most of the morning in his chambers. Shortly before noon they finally emerged for a walk around the grounds. Within minutes after they entered the gardens Sesshomaru heard his brother and Kohaku speaking just out of sight on the other side of a stand of bamboo.

"...I mean he just got married so he's bound to be in a good mood, today would be a good day to talk to talk to him." Inuyasha was saying to the young man.

"Yeah, but if I were him I wouldn't want to be bothered today. We'll be here for another two days, I can talk to him tomorrow. She's promised to me anyway, it's just a matter of when."

"Are you afraid he's going to make up another reason you two have to wait or that he'll say yes?" There was a long silence Then Inuyasha laughed, "'C'mon Kohaku, she's a virgin too, she won't know it if you suck."

Sesshomaru and Melissa came around the bamboo into view and the pair fell silent, Kohaku still beet red. The four of them exchanged polite greetings. After a few minutes chatter between Inuyasha and the humans Sesshomaru asked Kohaku to join him for lunch, then sent a message to Rin that she was to join them as well.

Lunch was an enjoyable affair. Kohaku was nervous, but Melissa hadn't heard him and she and Rin chatted happily as they ate. Rin and Melissa's joy was infectious and it wasn't long until Kohaku and Sesshomaru relaxed and also enjoyed the meal and conversation.

once the food had been eaten and they were mearly enjoying tea Sesshomaru looked from Rin to Kohaku and announced "There is a reason I wished for both of you to join us. Kohaku, do you know why that is?"

"I guess maybe you overheard me talking to Inuyasha." The boy replied nervously.

"I did overhear part of your conversation. I appreciate you not wanting to disturb me today, however there is no reason to put off the conversation concerning Rin's future with you. I assume you are aware she is now a woman?"

"Yes sir."

Sesshomaru looked at his wide eyed little girl whose face was shining with joy and hope. Where had the years gone? She still looked so young, so innocent. Even with the smell of her blood in the air it was hard to see her as a woman. Then he felt a soft warm hand wrap around his with and encouraging squeeze.

"Rin still seems very young." Rin began to protest but he held up his hand for silence. "You do seem young to me, but I suspect that will always be the case. And you are human, you age much faster than a youkai child." He fell silent again, gazing at the sky in thought.

"Perhaps in the spring would be a good time." He answered at last, nearly a year. Time to steel himself to give her away.

"I was thinking later this summer." Kohaku replied.

"This summer?"

"Before it gets cold, I can keep her warm." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed and Kohaku turned red, "I just mean my house is built well, it won't be as drafty."

"I think we both know what you really meant. However your house is well built. Do you believe you can support her through the winter?"

"Yes."

"But is your work steady in the winter, when travel is difficult?" Sesshomaru questioned. " I suspect the answer is no. In fall I will inspect what you have stored for winter, if you have enough to feed three people-"

"But it will just be me and Kohaku, we're two people!" Rin protested.

"And how long will you remain two? Can you be sure that you, Rin, will not need extra nourishment before the spring returns?" Both kids now blushed brightly. "Kohaku, it is a father's right to decide what expectations a suitor must meet. If you want Rin's hand you will work hard to meet those expectations. If you store away enough food to feed yourself and a pregnant wife through winter then you may wed this fall."

"I'll do it!" Kohaku vowed.

"Very well." Sesshomaru stood and glanced around to see if Granny or Yuki were near. They were, and Granny was beaming at him. "Melissa you may stay and continue to visit if you wish, I must attend to some things."

As he turned to walk away Melissa jumped to her feet and took his hand to stop him. She kissed his cheek and slowly whispered "I am proud of you."

Once he'd left she sat back down and continued talking with Rin and Kohaku. After a while Rin nervously asked if she could be alone with Kohaku, just to talk to him. They never had alone time anymore. Melissa couldn't let them be alone, Sesshomaru had forbidden it until the wedding night and he was her guardian.

She could send the youkai guards, Granny, and Yuki out of the room though. Then she sat on the opposite end of the room with her back to them, allowing them to have a whispered conversation. She glanced over her shoulder every now an then just to make sure they behaved. They sat holding hands with their heads together whispering to each other. They were so adorable. It seemed strange to her that they would be married at the end of the year, Rin was only 13!

she glanced over her shoulder once more when she heard Rin giggle. Rin grinned at Kohaku then leaned forward and briefly placed her lips against his. Kohaku turned blood red and she turned back around smiling. She knew she had probably just witnessed their very first kiss.

Melissa was foraging in the woods for her lunch when a two travelers spotted her. "Hey there beautiful, whatcha doing?" One of them asked as they walked up behind her.

Melissa glanced over her shoulder and quickly gathered up the roots she'd dug before she turned to face them. "I get lunch."

"Gobu roots? You don't have to dig in the dirt for roots, pretty thing like you. My buddy and I were about to stop for lunch, why don't you join us?"

"No, thank you. I need to get back to husband." Melissa replied turning away.

One of them grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving, "Husband? What kind of husband would make a precious thing like you dig for roots? You don't have to lie to us, we won't hurt you. C'mon, join us for lunch, we won't bite."

"Let go!"

"C'mon, why ya gotta be like that, sweetheart?"

"I not you sweetheart. Let go!" She yelled trying to pull her arm away.

"Release her at once." Sesshomaru ordered walking toward them.

"Mind your own business, we're just talking to the girl. It doesn't concern you."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed by a fraction, "I am afraid it does as that is my wife you are manhandling."

That man holding Melissa's arm looked rapidly from one to the other, "Wait, she belongs to you?"

"Yes. She does"

He released her and held up his hands, "We're sorry, we thought she was alone. We had no idea she belonged to someone, we'll be on our way." Both men quickly retreated and Melissa turned to go back to camp. She seemed irritated. Of course se had right to be, those men had no business laying hands on his wife! They were fortunate he let them live.

Jaken greeted them happily when they returned but Melissa paid him no mind. She threw her roots down by the fire and rounded on Sesshomaru, "I not property!"

Sesshomaru froze and looked at her, confusion hidden behind schooled features, "What?"

"I not property! I am person!"

"When did I ever say you were property?"

"Just now! You tell men I belong to you!"

"You are my wife."

"I am American, I belong to me!"

"I know you are an American, and that the women of your country enjoy the freedoms and privileges awarded to men by other countries. However you now live in Japan, you belong to me."

"No! I belong to me! I am American, I always belong to me!" she stated, shaking a finger in his face..

"I know that you were born an American, and I have made it a point to try and respect your culture, your need for independence. To respect your opinions and beliefs. But we are not in your country, this is mine. By law a woman belongs to a man, if not her father then her husband or a guardian."

He did not understand what she yelled next, but she was beginning to be very irritating. "Why do you act like this? As though..." He stopped mid stream as it hit him. "Do you have enough tampons?"

"What?"

"I was planning to continue to the southwest, but the town is a couple of days away. If you will need more tampons before then we will make a detour to a closer village to the north."

"I not bleed!" She screamed before he finished speaking balling her fists in rage as angry tears came to her eyes.

"Your irrational anger suggests that you will shortly! Melissa, stop this at once!" He ordered seizing her wrists as she attempted to push him. She pulled away and yelled something in English. He didn't know what it meant, but he had heard it enough to know in what context it was used, "No, my dear, Faku yu!"

Her eyes went wide and her mouth fell in open in shock at what he'd just said to her. Then she screamed at him again, this time holding up her fist with one finger extended. He knew it was a crude gesture, but she was being impossible, so he returned it. She turned and stormed off from the campsite, he stormed off in the other direction. Little Jaken meekly slinked out of the bush he'd hidden in and continued peeling her gobu roots.

Melissa cried in frustration and anger as she stormed down the game trail, not paying attention when it split in two. Or when it began to disappear. She came to a small clearing and paced around in agitation then sat down and cried.

She was PMSing, she knew it. It was the only explanation for her to be so angry over such a small thing. And she knew the law, as much as she hated it he was right, she was his. And he had always respected her, gave her freedom. He never even forced himself on her as was his right when she wasn't in the mood. He had not deserved her blowing up at him like that, but she knew he'd forgive her.

Mopping her eyes she stood to go apologize then stopped and looked around, which way had she come from? She sighed and plopped back down, she'd have to wait for him to come for her. Something wet hit her cheek. She looked up in panic as a bolt of lightning split the sky and more rain began to fall.