Chapter 24

Over the next few weeks tensions were high between Rin and Sesshomaru. They picked up Jacken and A-Un from Inuyasha's and Sesshomaru barely uttered a word to her. Both Kagome and Inuyasha had looked extremely worried but Sesshomaru had already begun walking off, leaving Rin little choice but to follow. She had barely had enough time to give Kagome and the children a kiss before she had raced off after the group.

Rin doubted if Sesshomaru would have truly cared if she had followed or not.

Rin still prepared the meals and watched over their campsite but Sesshomaru barely acknowledged her existence.

Except for the nights.

The nights, Sesshomaru would drag her into his arms and make her burn for him. He was nearly ravenous in his need and she relished his unquenchable thirst for her. Every night he waited longer and longer before he seemed to lose the battle with himself and would take her with a fierceness they both longed for. He would take her deep into the woods or wherever he could find a private location where she wouldn't have to worry if Jacken or A-Un heard her passionate cries. Rin ached for those moments. Not only for the pleasure she found in his arms but because it was really the only connection she had with him anymore.

The days were hell. Sesshomaru looked right through her. The times Rin had tried to approach him or talk to him, to try and bridge the gap that lay between them he had been abrupt or dismissive.

Rin had given up trying to speak with him at all.

Jacken was as nice to her as he could be, but as usual without needing to know the details, he surmised if Sesshomaru were upset with her then it must be for a very good reason. With that conclusion set, Jacken turned up his nose at Rin and left her to her own devices, ignoring her as effectively as Sesshomaru himself.

Sesshomaru spent as little time as he could in her company, and though he left her in very secure locations, he would be off with Jacken and A-Un for days at a time. Sometimes in her weakest moments she often wondered if he would even bother to come back for her. Those were the nights Rin cried herself to sleep.

She missed him. Even though they were traveling together and every night he was near and claimed her as his, they may as well have been worlds apart.

That morning Rin sat near an embankment after she had cooked everyone's breakfast and allowed her fingers to gently sway in the small stream. Lost in her own thoughts she faintly heard Sesshomaru approach and looked up at him as his shadow loomed over her.

"Have you eaten?" He asked expressionless.

Rin's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time he had bothered to speak with her in weeks. "I'm not hungry."

Sesshomaru frowned. "You must have nourishment." He turned and called out back to the camp, "Jacken, bring Rin her meal."

Jacken immediately gathered what he could on a small leaf and scampered over quickly to Rin. Before he reached them Sesshomaru had already walked away.

Rin looked after him in confusion when Jacken handed her the fruits he had brought her. "Make sure to eat from now on." He scolded her.

Rin turned to Jacken reluctantly. "I didn't realize I hadn't."

"You didn't eat yesterday either." Jacken informed her grumpily.

Rin shrugged her shoulders. "Wasn't hungry yesterday either."

Jacken turned to leave before he hesitantly turned back towards her. "It upsets master greatly when you don't eat."

"I'm surprised he noticed." Rin said.

Jacken looked at her as if she were a moron. "There isn't anything about you he doesn't notice." And with that he left.

Rin watched as Jaken prepared A-Un for what she assumed was another scouting ahead party, which Rin really only saw as a way for Sesshomaru to not be in her repulsive presence for a while.

With barely a farewell in her general direction they were gone.

Bored and more than a little depressed, Rin sat alone cross legged on the floor as she approached camp and folded up her bedding. Suddenly the scent of old stale blood floated through the air. It took her a minute to realize it was getting closer and her newly developed heightened sense of smell guided her to which direction it was coming from. Quickly looking behind her, Rin shrieked in fright when she came face to face with a blue eyed devil may care wolf demon.

"Koga?" Rin clutched her chest, willing her heartbeat to resume its normal pattern. She glared at Koga accusingly. "You scared me!"

Koga grinned as he crouched beside her. "You actually smelled me?" He said in disbelief before he outrageously sniffed her and grimaced in disgust. "You reek of Sesshomaru."

"So demons keep telling me." Rin said grimly.

"Then stop fucking him and the scent would dissipate." Koga laughed at his joke and at Rin's mortification. "I couldn't believe Kagome when she told me he bound you two together. I just had to see this for myself. A demon and a human. Especially that particular demon who's spent centuries loathing your kind and making no bones about it. Crazy."

"Didn't you court Kagome when you two first met?" Rin reminded him not appreciative of his less than complimentary if highly accurate observation.

"No, I kidnapped her because I needed her to find the jewel shards of the Shikon no Tama. The mercenary in me was more concerned with that than what a babe she was."

"But you noticed regardless." Rin insisted.

"Of course I did. What red blooded wolf wouldn't? I'm not blind." Koga comically smacked his lips together as if eating a succulent piece of meat. "A body like that wasted on a fucking mutt. I had hoped she'd come to her senses but then she had to go and have his litter."

"Well at least you draw the line at home wrecker." Rin replied with a smirk at his reference to Inuyasha.

"Hey I would happily take Kagome off of Inuyasha's hands. He doesn't scare me. But she seems to be attached to the pups and since they aren't mine I'd have to eat them. I think she'd take that a little personally."

Unsure if he was being his usual forthright self or telling a joke Rin thought it best to move on. "Why do you reek of old blood? Don't you bathe?" Rin changed the subject.

Koga stood from where he crouched next to her and struck a pose. "It's my new gear. I ripped it from the back of the new pack leader after he banished me."

Rin checked out his black and silver armor, shoulder plates and brown wolf pelt he wore. "Y-you mean literally?" Rin asked in shock.

"Couldn't let them banish me without taking his hide and showing them all I could've stayed if I wanted to."

"Why did you get banished?" Rin asked trying desperately not to think about the body that pelt used to be attached to.

Koga growled in frustration before he plopped back onto the ground next to her. "Ayame wanted pups of her own and I refused." He said referring to his estranged wife.

"Don't you want pups of your own?" Rin asked.

"I want Kagome to give me my pups." He said stubbornly.

Rin shook her head at him. "Kagome is happily married with children of her own. And a husband whom she adores."

"Fucking mutt. Why settle for a dog when you can have a beast?" Koga said while wriggling his eyebrows.

Rin laughed for the first time in weeks. "You don't really love her. You only want her because you can't have her." She said confidently.

Koga grinned boyishly. "Maybe. Now that I'm a lone wolf I find I have plenty of time on my hands so I figured I'd pass the time by being a tick under Inuyasha's collar for a time."

"And yet here you are." Rin said with a knowing smile.

Koga shrugged. "What can I say? The mutt wouldn't stop growling at me."

"He has a name you know." Rin said.

"He's a mutt. Mutt's don't deserve to be named. Anyway, Kagome thought it best to give me guard dog duty and stop ruffling the mutt's fur."

"Guard dog?" Rin asked in bewilderment.

"I don't have a pack anymore Rin. The banishment gives Ayame free reign to choose a new mate. I'm dead to them. Need to keep busy."

"You're lonely?" Rin asked partially amazed.

Koga narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm here because Kagome wanted me to watch out for you. Neither she nor the fucking mutt were comfortable with your last goodbye. Kagome wants me to take care of you. Inuyasha I'm pretty sure wants Sesshomaru to kill me because he encouraged me a little too enthusiastically to check up on you."

Rin lifted her chin. True she was miserable but she didn't need anyone else to know about it. "I'm fine. I don't need a guard."

"Then think of me as a stray that won't go away." Koga fell backward and interlaced his fingers behind his head with a contented sigh.

Rin inched away from him while sniffing delicately. "You really need to bathe."

"Don't like water." Koga said without opening his eyes.

Rin closed her eyes and wished he'd just take a bath.

"What the fuck!?" Koga suddenly yelled.

Rin opened her eyes and couldn't prevent the loud burst of laughter that escaped her. Koga sat before her drenched from head to foot in water and smelling of roses. Rin laughed gleefully and bent forward holding her sides. He looked beyond offended but sparkly clean.

Koga immediately rolled all over the floor, creating a dust cloud and making himself smell like the earth again. Koga knocked into Rin and they sprawled against each other in the dirt with Koga ending up on top of Rin. Smiling down at her he settled himself more comfortably atop her, thoroughly enjoying himself. "Well I could certainly get used to this."

Rin blinked and suddenly Koga leaped from her and agilely landed on his feet a few feet from her, barely missing the razor-sharp claws that slashed the air above Rin where he had been a few scant seconds before. The whisper of movement, of claws tearing through wind had been Koga's only warning. His instincts and sense of imminent danger alone saved his life.

Sesshomaru crouched protectively over Rin while keeping his eyes firmly on the intruder. Immediately sensing he was reacting on pure instinct, Rin slowly shifted only to have Sesshomaru growl at her in warning without taking his eyes from his target. Comfortingly, Rin gently placed her hand on his chest. She could feel Sesshomaru trying to calm himself, his breathing labored as he shook under her hand in restraint. He slowly stood and pulled Rin up and behind him. Rin carefully circled his wrist with her fingers, instinctively letting him feel her skin against his. The contact appeared to appease him somewhat as he turned his hand in the light circle of her fingers and gently rubbed the pulse at Rin's wrist with his middle finger. Rin's breath caught in her throat at the hidden caress. She wasn't even sure he was aware of what he had done.

Koga watched the entire byplay and snorted in disbelief before rolling his eyes.

At the sound, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed threateningly on the wolf who merely shrugged dismissively. "Are you really going to blame me for copping a feel? Your little human grew up very nicely." He baited Sesshomaru with a gleaming smile.

Sesshomaru's irises blazed red and he dove at the laughing wolf. Koga spun and turned into a whirling tornado, managing to easily dodge Sesshomaru before he settled back into his human form, balancing himself on the balls of his feet in case Sesshomaru attacked him again. The only thing Koga really had on the legendary demon was his speed. Plus, Sesshomaru was acting impulsively, not with his usual cold logic which gave Koga a thrilling opportunity he just couldn't pass up. The blood rushed in his veins as excitement poured through him. He loved a challenge and what better way to test his skills than against this impressive demon feared by all?

Sesshomaru snarled menacingly and dove for the wolf again. Using the same tactics, Koga spun again and turned into a whirlwind to get himself to safety. Sesshomaru was a little more in control of himself by this point and stopped the wind with a wave of his hand, slowing Koga's transformation down by seconds, giving him just enough time to grab the wolf by his bushy tail and hauled him back towards him.

Koga yelped and tried to defend himself but Sesshomaru's lengthened claws came down with deadly accuracy and would've ripped his guts open if Rin hadn't intervened. She clapped her hands together, the loud echo hitting both combatants at the same time as a powerful burst of energy hit them both squarely in the chests, blowing them away from one another.

Stunned, Rin looked down at her hands in surprise. That was new. She really needed to master these powers.

Sesshomaru quickly redirected the energy from the blow and hovered over the ground before he landed lightly on his feet while Koga slammed into a nearby tree with a groan. Sesshomaru only had eyes for the wolf and would have gone after him again if Rin had not closed her eyes and teleported herself to stand firmly in front of Koga as he shook his head, trying to regain his senses.

Sesshomaru spared her a brief glance before he quietly ordered "Move."

"No." Rin said firmly with a catch in her voice.

Sesshomaru glared at her and made a move to go around her but Rin stepped with him, staying firmly between the two. Sesshomaru growled at Rin, furious with her disobedience and she couldn't stop herself from flinching involuntarily.

"Calm down Fido. I wasn't moving in on your mate." Koga said grouchily as he stood but wisely stayed behind Rin. Unwittingly, Koga gave Rin a quick perusal from behind and couldn't help the admiring whistle. "Damn she looks as good from behind as she feels from the front." He complimented recklessly.

Sesshomaru visibly bristled and took a threatening step towards Koga pushing Rin backwards. Rin immediately threw herself into Sesshomaru's arms and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Sesshomaru stop! Koga doesn't mean anything by it."

Koga whooped in delight. "I don't mean anything by it? You can't be that innocently adorable can you? I'm disappointed in you Fido. Believe me Rin, I mean it when I say if you were my bitch you'd stay naked and beneath me all day and night."

Rin gasped in outrage and glared at him over her shoulder but he laughed as he gave the couple some space. "What? And here I thought Kagome was the babe. Is there some type of gene in humans that makes their women hot?"

Taking a deep breath, Sesshomaru painstakingly calmed himself and called upon his infinite reserve of patience that seemed to desert him with anything involving Rin. "Why are you here wolf?" Sesshomaru finally asked. He allowed himself to enjoy the feel of Rin wrapped around him before he firmly extricated himself from her arms. He ignored the hurt that emanated from her as she quickly let him go. He almost reached out to pull her back into his arms again but refrained. To his vast annoyance, Koga watched them both intently and his intelligent eyes missed nothing.

"I'm here on behalf of your loving sister in-law. She was worried about Rin." Koga volunteered.

"Rin is fine. Leave." Sesshomaru ordered.

Koga's never dying grin deepened. "'Fraid not Fido. Wolves don't do too well on their own and since I no longer have a pack I can either annoy you or that fucking mutt of a brother you have. Kagome thought my mouth wouldn't get me in as much trouble here as it would with her mutt throwing his temper tantrums."

"You take your life in your hands here as well wolf." Sesshomaru warned dangerously.

Koga shrugged good naturedly. "More fun here anyway. Nothing but pups running amok there. Besides, Kagome asked me to keep an eye on Rin and I can deny her nothing."

"Rin doesn't need you watching her at all." Sesshomaru growled.

"Why do you insist on taking all of life's pleasures from me? It won't be a hardship to watch her, believe me." He said with a leer at Rin.

Rin glared at Koga. "If you persist in being a pain in the neck I'm going to insist that you leave."

Koga returned her glare in full measure. "I'm not your bitch. You don't order me around. I go where I damn well please."

As the two continued to bicker Sesshomaru's stepped back and observed them both closely. He knew Koga for all his faults had remained a close friend to Kagome, much to Inuyasha's annoyance. And though the wolf would claim otherwise, he was very loyal to her family and had gone into battle to cover Inuyasha's back on many occasions. Still, he hadn't been aware Koga and Rin had spent any time together, but judging from their familiarity with each other he could see that was the case.

Sesshomaru studied Rin carefully as she and Koga continued their bickering. She was comfortable around Koga. Secure enough to chastise him openly and even cared enough about the rogue to protect him. Sesshomaru hated the gnawing feeling deep in his gut, and much to his disgust he suspected it could be jealousy.

Sesshomaru was still quite angry with Rin. He had learned at a young age to trust nothing in this world. Everyone was out for their own gain. He hadn't even realized how much he had come to trust her until she betrayed him. He knew her reasons well. She had wanted to save him and selflessly sacrifice herself in the process. In his lifetime, no one had ever questioned his strength or power. He was feared, loathed and envied throughout the lands. Even if other demons decided to join forces against him, he was confident it would all be for naught. Their demise would be inevitable, for there was no one more powerful than he.

Yet his own mate had no confidence in his abilities. No faith in his strength. No trust in his power. A demon who couldn't protect his own mate was no demon at all. With her betrayal she had shaken everything he knew to be true. He always knew she was his only true weakness, he just hadn't realized her doubt in him would affect him so harshly.

"So, demon king," Koga said to Sesshomaru. "Well, not really king since you refuse to take the throne. But you're not a prince either. Court jester might be more fitting, since I have yet to see a bigger fool than you, especially in the treatment of your mate. Is it because she's human you treat her so poorly? A female demon would've flambéed you by now."

Sesshomaru glared at Koga. "You're trying my patience."

Koga childishly stuck his tongue out at Sesshomaru right before he leaned in and gave Rin a quick kiss on the cheek.

Snapping his teeth together Sesshomaru would've attacked Koga again if Rin hadn't immediately stepped solidly between them.

"Enough!" Rin glared at Koga. "If you insist on goading him I'm not going to stop him next time he wants to rip your teeth out through your ears." She snapped. Then she turned and glared at Sesshomaru. "And you stop being so easily baited. Utilize that restraint you've proven to be so damned proud of." She yelled before she stomped off into the woods.

Koga whistled under his breath. "That is one pissed off female." Koga good naturedly wrapped his arm around Sesshomaru's neck and hit him in the chest playfully.

Sesshomaru bared his teeth at Koga who wisely took a step back with a laugh before he gestured between the two of them. "You and me…I see a great friendship in our future."

"I knew wolves were color blind but that's taking it a bit far." Sesshomaru replied drily.

Koga hooted in laughter. "Was that a joke? Did the great Sesshomaru crack a funny?"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes on the wolf demon. "Steer clear of Rin." He said before turning and walking into the woods after Rin.

Koga grinned. This was going to be so much more fun than he thought.