I love to hear from my readers but lately all I've been getting for feedback is "Publish the next chapter hurry!" It's kind of depressing. I mean it's like no matter how the story goes all that matters is the next chapter. It's not that I don't appreciate that you want the next chapter I just would like a little more feedback on how this is going.

Chapter 12

Reflections

Koga paced angrily around his estate. His pack was inside caring for the wounded and resting. He swung and destroyed a tree. How dare she? How dare my bride, my perfect little doll, find some other men to protect her. Wasn't I enough? Wasn't my pack enough? With each new question Koga ran further from the estate and a few more trees met a sudden end. Father was right. Mates taken from outside the clan must be controlled. I've been lenient until now but now… Rin it's time for you to come home, Even if I have to break you to do it.

Sesshomaru's inner demon purred at Rin's declaration. She is perfect. Sesshomaru was inclined to agree . Rin came with a beautiful scent, a powerful heritage, and enemies to vanquish. She comes with other benefits as well.

At his demon's reminder, Sesshomaru looked down at Rin's near naked appearance and was pleased with the simple beauty that was in his arms. He especially loved the contrast of her black fur(and feathers) to his pure white. She brought out emotions that he'd never known he'd had, a playfulness he'd never known he was capable of-

"Kami! What time is it? I have to get home or father will worry!"

And near constant amusement. Sesshomaru thought as Rin redoubled her efforts to escape.

"Calm yourself mmmmate. This Sesshomaru will take you home soon."

"Could that Sesshomaru take me home now?"

"It is only 2 o'clock mmmmate and I find myself reluctant to let you go."

Rin's eyes widened as Sesshomaru flipped her under him. Any protest was lost as his mouth claimed hers.

An hour later Sesshomaru had had his fill of teasing his mate. Her skin was flushed, her hair was a mess, and her body was limp except for the rise and fall of her chest. Clothes were but a memory, and hickies as well as bite marks littered her skin. Her ears twitched as he lay there, and her tails laid limp against the bed. Sesshomaru licked his lips at the decadent picture she made, sprawled across his bed. Honestly he was far from finished, and he longed to continue, but the poor girl was probably about to faint, and she really needed to eat before then. Besides, Sesshomaru thought as he stroked a stray hair behind her ear, I have the rest of our lives to ravish her.

Slowly he left the bed, still reluctant to leave Rin's warm soft body, and went to the nearby bathroom to get a washcloth wet with warm water. When he arrived back in the room he watched for a moment as a dazed and still weak Rin tried to escape the room. Her legs were shaking and her knees didn't seem to be able to take her weight well. Just as she stumbled for the third time he moved to scoop her up in his arms and carry her back to bed, where he washed her with the wet cloth.

Rin whined in protest and glared at Sesshomaru as he chuckled at her distress. "I will bring you something to eat mate. Try to relax until then, you'll be able to run away soon enough."

Sesshomaru moved across the room to his closet where he pulled out one of his dress shirts. He walked back over to Rin and gently maneuvered her limp arms into the sleeves before buttoning it up just enough so that it wouldn't fall off. Afterwards, he laid her back onto the pillows and left to get some food.

Rin had some time to think on her own at last, and Sesshomaru was the main thing on her mind. She had been running since she was young. Fear was her constant companion and caution her steadfast knight, even friends couldn't know the real her because what they didn't know they couldn't tell even by accident. She had to act like someone was watching her every move and be aware of everything. For example, she knew her current best friends were strong enough to handle themselves in a fight. Ayame was a wolf demon the very definition of tough and tenacious. Rin had seen her in a fight during the summer before her first year. Rin had watched as Ayame had used her claws and speed against two larger opponents. Soon they laid unconscious at her feet and Rin moved on from the interesting spectacle. Later, Ayame had found her at the school and had given Rin her notebook that Ayame had found as she was walking away from the fight.

"So, you saw that fight huh?" Ayame sheepishly kicked the ground. "I'm usually not that violent those two were…." Her face seemed to briefly tighten into a snarl before relaxing again, "Anyway, I'm Ayame and I hope you don't think too badly of me." She stood there awkwardly as Rin grabbed her notebook without speaking. Ayame sighed and started to walk away only to feel a slight tug on the back of her shirt. When she turned Rin shoved a book in her face and Ayame had to pull back a little to read the words hastily written on the paper.

You were very cool!

It was the start of a long and happy friendship.

But as strong as Ayame was, she was a bit of a blabber mouth. If she had known Rin's secret someone somewhere would have found her, and fairly quickly. Jakotsu was a bit different. He was verbosely quiet; it was weird. Both of her friends could be loud and talkative, but while Ayame tended not to not have a filter, Jak seemed to talk a lot without giving any real information. It was the behavior of one who was used to keeping secrets. There were rumors that he was part of a gang that graduated just before she arrived at the school. Jak never responded to these rumors but because of them, no one messed with him. Jak was kind of mysterious, even to Rin, he didn't seem to have a group outside of Rin and Ayame. When Rin saw him at school without one of the two by his side he seemed, quiet and withdrawn. As though the people around him were an experiment, a boring experiment that he was considering scrapping altogether. When people did talk to him he was cold and Rin could see it was more than the rumors that fueled people's fear of he was with his friends he was completely different. Rin had seen the startled look on people's faces whenever they witnessed the 180 Jak made when she greeted him or he saw her in the hallway.

Overall, her friends were examples of the strength Rin wished that she herself had. They were able to be themselves because their strength and would crush anyone who spoke against them. Rin felt that maybe if she herself were that strong then she and her father wouldn't have to run, or make deals with evil wolves. Maybe if she was as strong as the people had feared, she wouldn't constantly be afraid.

Maybe Sesshomaru could offer her that freedom.

Sesshomaru was a strong and well known demon with a family of strong well known demons to stand at his side. Surely he was stronger than Koga and his wolves, he could protect her, right? Rin sighed, the real question was, was Rin cruel enough to drag someone else into this world of ever present paranoia and fear?