Author Note: Finally the end! I had a great time writing this story. I wanted to thank everyone who wrote a review and pushed me for so long to come back and finish this. Sesshomaru and Rin deserved it. Hope everyone likes it. Thanks for all the suggestions with Rin's developing personality. I think she finally was able to find her voice.

Please be sure to check out my other story if you haven't already featuring Sailor Moon characters SerenaxDarien "Levana Ceri (Moon Love)" and leave a review! ^_^

Chapter 25

Rin plowed through the trees, so angry she could spit. She couldn't recall a time she had ever been this angry. She could feel Sesshomaru prowling behind her, and the thrill that shot up her spine just pissed her off even more. Was she a masochist now? Was she supposed to be at his beck and call for the rest of eternity? Their lives were tied together now, she shared his powers and his life span…and if this was what he had in mind for them then he was sadly mistaken. She'd be damned if she was going to meekly allow him to continue dictating to her. She'd been obeying him nearly all her life and what had she really gotten for it? She wasn't any better off now then she had been back at Kaede's village. At least there she had options. She could've gotten married or had children. She could've chosen to continue to study under Kaede. But she couldn't be content with that. Oh no, she just had to insist on being with Sesshomaru again. Bad enough like an idiot she allowed herself to fall in love with him. Now she was barely anything more than a sex toy for him. And the worst part of it was she actually didn't mind that part all that much. The sex was mind boggling. But could she just be happy for once instead of always wanting more? Of course not, because she wanted him to love her too damn it. She knew she could never truly be an equal partner for him, he was much too dominant of a creature for that, and her own submissive personality should've complimented his but she didn't want to be a fucking door mat either.

Rin bristled even more just thinking about it. She should've listened to Kaede. Instead, she had left everything behind for the chance to have something more with Sesshomaru. Anything. She had thought she would've been happy with anything. But the anger churning inside her begged to differ. Sesshomaru had pulled completely away from her emotionally and she was tired. She was tired of being unhappy, she was tired of being dismissed…and most of all she was tired of being in pain.

"Lovely night for a stroll."

Rin gasped and whirled toward Koga who stood leaning negligently beside a tree. Rin glared at him. "How did you get here when I left you back at camp?"

Koga rolled his eyes at her. "Demon, remember? Plus I'm a remarkably good tracker, especially for a wolf. It was easy to figure out which direction you were headed. What was slightly more difficult was making a trail with your scent headed in the opposite direction."

Rin frowned. "Why and how would you do that?"

Koga shrugged. "I swiped your hair ribbon when we were tussling around on the ground. Sesshomaru looked like he was hot on your trail when you stomped away, luckily for me he was trying to keep a healthy distance, so I was able to get between you and lead him in the opposite direction. Managed to snag your ribbon on a stag before it darted away, so that should keep Sesshomaru busy enough. I'm surprised he fell for it to be honest. You must be quite a distracting little thing for him to fall for such a simple ruse."

"I can only assume you went through so much trouble to make sure Sesshomaru wouldn't interrupt us. So what do you want? Really?" Rin asked, already mentally done with the day and it was barely sun up.

Koga laughed, "You are nothing like I remember. What happened to the meek little thing you used to be?"

"She got tired of being walked all over."

Koga grinned, "Yeah, those footsteps all over your back must've been a real nuisance."

Rin narrowed her eyes at him in anger which only made Koga smirk. "Damn, you're almost as hot as Kagome is when she's pissed. You look similar enough, if I close my eyes and pretend would you be up for a quick naked tumble?"

Rin rolled her eyes and turned away.

Koga quickly dashed in front of her, blocking her path. "Okay, okay, can't blame a wolf for trying."

Rin ignored him and tried to walk around him only for Koga to block her path again. Aggravated beyond measure Rin looked down at his feet pointedly before moving around him again. "This game is getting old Rin." He said as he attempted to move and block her path again, only for his feet to remain cemented to the ground. "What the hell?" Koga tried to move his feet again but there was a strong force holding him in place. "Rin c'mon!"

Rin continued walking. She could hear Koga shouting after her "I have a message for you Rin! If you want it you have to come back. I'm serious! No more jokes."

Rin stopped in her tracks. He was truly a pain but she never knew him to be a liar. Reluctantly, Rin walked back to him.

Koga glared at her. "Can you remove whatever hocus pocus shit you did to my feet?"

After a lengthy pause, Koga felt the force leave his feet and instantly jumped up and down and ran in place for a bit. "I really don't like feeling or being tied down."

"Then get to the point." Rin snapped.

Koga studied her for a moment. His somber gaze was what caught Rin's attention. Very different from the carefree rascal she often knew him to be. "I made an extra stop before I came to find you." He said.

Rin raised an eyebrow in query.

"Kagome had a letter she wanted delivered to Kaede."

At the mention of her name Rin excitedly stepped toward him. "Kaede? You saw her? How is she? Is she taking her medicines?"

Koga shook his head at her. "For someone who seemed so desperate to get away from that human village, you certainly ask a lot of questions about your former guardian."

"Kaede was very kind to me. My desire to leave had nothing to do with my love for her." Rin defended.

Koga nodded. "That's what Kaede told me. Of course, that was after she used her stupid magic to have me restrained."

Rin giggled. "Kaede managed to capture you? I'm shocked you managed to get away. Despite her relationship with Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, she has a very low tolerance for demons."

"I noticed. The only thing that saved me from getting skinned was Kagome's letter."

"What did the letter say?" Rin asked nervously.

Koga cocked his head. "Not sure. The hag wasn't very forthcoming. But Kagome's letter must've said something decent about me, because the woman trusted me to deliver a message to you."

"Message? What message?"

"First, she wanted me to make sure you needed the message. If you did, then I was to deliver it, but if you were happy with Sesshomaru, then I was to keep it to myself."

"What was the message?" Rin asked again impatiently.

"You're not happy Rin. A blind man can see that. And the only reason I care is because Kagome cares. It's odd enough Sesshomaru keeps you as a pet, but to take you on as a mate as he has is bizarre. And you're not even a true mate."

"What the hell does that mean?" Rin demanded offended.

"It means little human, though his stench is all over you and his powers reside within you…you're both miserable."

Rin suddenly felt an intense urge to cry and bit her lip to keep herself from crying. Koga had been in their company for less than twenty minutes and he could tell.

"Y'know…a wolf can smell sadness. It's pretty pungent. We're passionate demon's by nature and feel everything acutely more than anyone else. I've known pain…especially the rejection of a mate." Koga said quietly then he shocked Rin when he unexpectedly patted her shoulder with his hand, albeit awkwardly in comfort. When she could only stare at him in surprise he cleared his throat before stepping back uncomfortably. Rin felt a tiny grin touch her lips. So, that was what Kagome must have seen within him. A heart.

"Let me cut to the chase. Kaede has been working with Kagome for years on a potion to allow the user safe passage between this world and Kagome's human world. Kaede has finally perfected the potion and even tested the potion on herself. She has seen the wonders of Kagome's world and wishes to give you access to it."

Rin was speechless. She had known of Kaede's work on that exact potion. To her knowledge, only Kagome and Inuyasha had been able to safely use the drinking well to travel between worlds. "She was able to use it?"

"Yeah and Kagome went with her. Now, both Kagome and Kaede want you to have it."

"Why would I use it?"

"Freedom." He answered simply.

Rin knew what leaving through the portal would entail. Sesshomaru would not be able to follow her. He wouldn't be able to find her, or drag her back.

"Think of it Rin. A chance to start over. Independence. Where your past wouldn't matter…" Rin could hear the longing in Koga's voice. She glanced at him and he seemed far away in thought. "Freedom, Rin. Escape. You can't say it doesn't appeal to you."

Before Rin could even think, she felt a tug on her connection with Sesshomaru. Surprised, Rin glanced in the direction it had come from. She had never felt him use their connection before. Her hold on his powers were growing. She could feel him. He had found the stag and was greatly irritated he had been duped. He assumed she herself had dispensed the ploy. It didn't even occur to him Koga would be so foolish as to challenge his claim on her, even in so small a way. Through their connection, he knew exactly where she was and was quickly headed their way.

Koga alertly studied her and she knew the moment he realized Sesshomaru was on his way to them. Koga quickly pulled Rin close to his chest and whirled them into a tornado and sped them away.

Rin had barely managed to yelp in surprise when they suddenly stopped and Koga released her. Disoriented, Rin looked around slowly and realized they were actually in front of the old drinking well, the portal between worlds. Shocked, Rin could only stare. Koga simply shrugged, "Wind can travel very fast. I can cover quite a bit of distance in a short amount of time if I put my mind to it."

Rin felt another tug and could feel Sesshomaru's anger. He knew she was with Koga and despite the great distance Koga had placed between them she could feel Sesshomaru covering that distance quickly. "I think he's actually going to kill you this time." She warned.

Koga rolled his eyes. "He isn't the first to try. I can take care of myself. The potion Kaede gave me has an expiration date. You have to make a decision now."

"Then the answer is no."

Koga rolled his eyes. "Okay so maybe I lied a little bit. You don't have to decide now, but you do have to make your decision tonight. It's only good for 24 hours and it took me some time to find you. So you have until the sun sets."

"Then why did you lie?" Rin asked with annoyance.

"I have a flair for the dramatic. I'm only the delivery boy here. I'm not planning on staying and getting killed by Sesshomaru."

"I'm shocked to hear you even admit that Sesshomaru could defeat you."

"I said kill darling, not defeat. If it was a fair fight I could take him. But in this boxing match I'm completely outclassed and in the wrong weight category."

Rin looked at him oddly. "What?"

Koga rolled his eyes. "Kagome's little brother sent me a square mirror he calls a cellphone and he put a lot of boxing video's from his world into it. Whenever the square mirror goes black I just have to send it back to him to recharge. I think he calls it an ipad."

When Rin continued to look at him strangely Koga shook his head quickly. "Never mind, that's neither here nor there. Just know that I, despite what some may think, like a little danger but I'm not suicidal."

Rin crossed her arms over her chest. "Then you'll probably not want to be here when Sesshomaru gets here."

"I'm trying to help you here." Koga defended.

Rin bristled in anger. "No, Kaede and Kagome are trying to save me. You are just obeying Kagome like you always do, it has nothing to do with actually helping me. Because as usual, everyone wants to make decisions for me. I don't need rescuing from Sesshomaru. I need everyone to stop trying to run my life."

Koga grinned at her. "Then why don't you step up and take control of your life? No demon worth the name can truly take a mate they don't respect. You might be only human but you still have the right to demand your place by his side. You want your mate? You want his respect? Take it." With a grand whirl Koga sped away just as Sesshomaru cleared the nearby trees and walked towards her while scanning the area.

Rin looked down at her clenched fist and realized Koga had left her the potion.

Sesshomaru prowled the area. "Where's Koga?"

"He's gone." Rin said simply.

Sesshomaru paced with barely restrained aggression. "I'll deal with him later." Visibly trying to control his temper, Sesshomaru glanced in her direction, "We should be heading back to camp." Sesshomaru said resolutely and turned fully expecting her to follow him.

Rin snorted in disgust and walked the opposite way.

Sesshomaru called out to her but she ignored him and continued on her way. Sesshomaru reluctantly followed Rin quietly as she marched. He wondered briefly if she ever planned on returning to camp. It was getting dark. Though he knew he could easily protect her and none but the most foolish or daring would try to approach her knowing he was in the area she could still potentially trip or fall. As graceful as Rin could be at times she could also be equally as clumsy. He'd learned over the years that human eyesight at night was nonexistent. What if she fell into a ravine and broke her ankle? He didn't have Kagome's healing powers. Though Rin was beginning to use their connection more easily to access his powers, he wasn't sure if she could call on his regeneration by command, or if it would work quickly enough on its own. If it worked at all. Humans were frail by nature. Did she even realize how far from camp they were already? Why hadn't she turned back yet?

A painful thought nearly stopped Sesshomaru in his tracks. There was no hesitation to her stride. What if she had finally decided to leave him? True, he could and would force her compliance to return with him but he didn't want her to not want to return.

Sesshomaru continued to follow her and was dismayed at how quickly darkness surrounded them. Just as he was about to call out to her he realized she had already stopped. Rin stared out into the darkness and stood completely still. Sesshomaru watched her silently when she suddenly spoke into the darkness. "Should I apologize?"

Sesshomaru frowned but said nothing.

"Because if I'm supposed to apologize for the thousandth time to get you to stop being so cruel to me then you're in for a long wait." She said firmly, her tone more than her words surprising him. Anger echoed in her voice as she continued. "I'm not sorry and I take back every time I said sorry to you before. Apologies imply I did something wrong or that I won't do something again. And I'm sick of being miserable over something I would do again and again in a heartbeat." Rin turned until she was facing him. "Do you realize even as a child you never permitted me to walk alone in the woods." Rin suddenly grinned to herself. "It's funny really. What comes as second nature to you, you have no patience for it in others."

"What is that?" Sesshomaru inquired encouragingly when she didn't say anything more. Rin's shoulders shook infinitesimally but it was enough to make Sesshomaru step closer to her. "Rin?"

The rays of the setting sun slowly filtered in through the trees as Rin lifted her head to look at Sesshomaru. His breath caught in his throat at the wells of tears that filled her wide eyes. "You can deny it all you want but I know you. I know how protective you are of those you care for. You risk yourself without thought for others."

Sesshomaru shook his head. "Don't delude yourself. I'm a powerful demon Rin. I'm never at risk."

"Maybe."

Not sure where she was going with this Sesshomaru shook his head. "Get to your point Rin." He said more gruffly then he had intended. And by the flinch she barely covered he knew he had hurt her. Again.

Unable to bear her pain Sesshomaru immediately cupped her face in his hands and caught her lips beneath his own and moaned when he felt her tiny nails scrape the nape of his neck. He would've deepened the kiss but Rin wrenched herself out of his arms before he could.

Surprised, Sesshomaru reached to pull her back but she shied away from his hands. "Stop it!" She yelled putting her hands up defensively.

Sesshomaru took a step back so as not to crowd her, not liking the bit of fear he could hear lacing her words. "Rin, are you afraid of me?" He asked dreading the answer.

"Yes."

Sesshomaru's heart shattered at her words.

"I can't think when you're touching me. You make my body burn for you in a way I never thought possible. I'm addicted to your taste and I count the seconds for when I can feel your breath against my skin."

Sesshomaru took a step towards her again but stopped when she immediately took two steps back.

"Yes I'm afraid of you. I'm terrified to drown in you. You take me in the dark like a dirty secret then leave me as if you can't wait to get away from me. I love you. I'm weak enough to take any crumb of affection I can get from you, even when it makes me feel like your whore."

Sesshomaru was stunned. Very gently he touched her through their connection and in an instant was bombarded with her overwhelming feelings of disgust, humiliation, fury and above all shame. He had been so furious with her for risking her life. He couldn't stand the thought of her hurt. The thought of her death, of ever losing her filled him with fear, an emotion he was only recently becoming intimately acquainted with.

His response had been predictable, retreat and assess. As powerful as he was, he never blindly went into battle. Yet in his attempt to control himself he had inadvertently made her feel worthless. In all his centuries, Sesshomaru had never felt such intense remorse. Sesshomaru ignored her flinch and grasped her by the shoulders. "Look at me Rin."

Responding to the implicit command in his voice that would not be denied, Rin raised her eyes and locked with Sesshomaru's. "Don't ever call yourself that again." His voice was so low and menacing Rin felt a chill race up her spine.

Taking a deep breath, Rin gathered her courage to ask the question she'd been biting back all this time. "Why is it okay for you to risk yourself for me yet you can't forgive me for doing the same for you?"

"It's not a risk for me Rin." He snapped. The mere thought of her endangering herself on his behalf enraged him. "I'm not so weak that I require protection from a human."

"No, you're not weak. You're stupid!" Rin snapped back.

Shock held him immobile as Rin angrily poked him in the chest and forced him to take a step back. "I didn't nearly get myself killed because I thought you were weak or because I thought you were incapable of taking care of me. I did what I did because I love you. Love makes me want to protect you whether you want it to or not."

"I don't want or need it." Sesshomaru growled.

"Well too bad because you have it. I've loved you for as far back as I could remember. I can't just shut it off."

Sesshomaru scoffed. "You keep using love as the excuse for what you did."

"It's not an excuse!"

"You betrayed me!"Sesshomaru roared at her. "You doubted me. You were willing to die and leave me."

"Because I love yo-"

"That's not love!" Sesshomaru cut her off. "That's fear Rin. Fear of a life with me."

Rin's mouth fell open in surprise.

"Kagome has always said love is trust. She's a powerful priestess but she trusts Inuyasha to protect their family. Just as he trusts her to keep the children and herself safe."

Rin paused as she let that sink in. "You think I don't trust you to protect me?"

"Your actions prove you don't." Sesshomaru said grimly.

Rin's eyes widened as it finally dawned on her. Sesshomaru's only real experience with love was through his family. Kagome and Inuyasha, even the children speak of love and trust with the same breath. By her willing to sacrifice herself for him, in his mind she didn't trust him enough to protect them. And if she didn't trust him then she couldn't love him.

"Sesshomaru, you don't trust me either." She said gently. "I have your powers within me. I can fight with you, help protect you but you would never allow it."

"You don't know how to use them."

"You could teach me." Rin insisted.

"Even if I spent the rest of our lives together teaching you, I've already had centuries to master my abilities. You will never be my equal even with constant study. The point is mute since I can easily protect us both without you." He said confidently.

"I need to learn. If I can't fight beside you at the least I want to know how to protect myself so you're not distracted, even if only on the sidelines." Rin said, trying to appeal to his strategic side.

Sesshomaru considered her for a moment.

"Trust goes both ways. I'll trust you to protect us if you can trust me to stay safe."

"Fine." Sesshomaru agreed grumpily.

Feeling a little lightheaded from winning this much Rin decided to go for broke. "No more leaving me alone after you've had your way with me."

"We both have our ways." Sesshomaru said to her meaningfully, making her blush at how she had pretty much had her way with him last night. "Still, I don't want to feel like a who-" Rin stopped when Sesshomaru glowered at her. "I-I don't want to feel that way." She corrected.

"You're mine Rin. To do with as I please…just as I am yours." Sesshomaru said while gently brushing strands of her hair from her face.

Stupefied, Rin blinked. "What did you say?"

Seemingly struggling for words Sesshomaru grimaced before continuing. "You're my mate. Our souls are tied. I want your laughter and innocence. I want your passion. I find myself very territorial where you are concerned. Obsession, possession…these words pale when compared towards my need for you."

Hesitantly, Rin quietly breathed her next question as hope bloomed in her chest. "Are you saying you love me too?"

"I can't breathe without you." Sesshomaru said sincerely.

"The words. I want to hear the words." Rin begged him as joy threatened to burst through her.

"Don't you hear me?" Sesshomaru said as he pulled her close and finally released the firm hold he had on their connection so she could feel what he was feeling.

Rin was swamped with desire. His desire for her. His need. Not just for her body but for her. Her smile, her touch, her insatiable curiosity for the world around her. The way she would brush her hair from her face or the way she and Jacken would bicker. Her obvious love for his family and her compassion for all living things. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in all his travels. It went beyond words. He wasn't kidding. His very existence was dependent on hers now.

"Sesshomaru I-,"

"Listen to me Rin." Sesshomaru cut her off as he gently nipped at her lips. Rin gasped, giving him the opening he wanted and he immediately swept his tongue into the depths of her mouth. She suckled him and moaned. Sesshomaru let his hands trail down her spine and grip her butt as he lifted her against his chest. Rin automatically wrapped her legs around his waist as they continued to devour one another.

They fell to the grass and the potion landed a few feet away forgotten. They tore at the other's clothes and took the other to the heights of joy and back. Afterward, they lay together under the stars when Sesshomaru spotted the potion. "What's that?"

"Rin glanced at it then shrugged. "Nothing important."

Sesshomaru grinned. "Is that the potion Kagome and Kaede have been working on?"

Rin sat up in surprise. "You knew about it?"

Sesshomaru laughed. "There's very little about that Inuyasha hadn't complained to me about. And even if you had used it, I could've easily followed you."

"No way. I know it would have been impossible."

"Inuyasha can traverse the worlds easily."

"Well yes but-"

"And he and I share the same blood. It wasn't that far of a stretch to have Jacken concoct his own remedy for me."

"Jacken can do that?" Rin said, surprised Jacken knew how to work potions.

"What? Did you think I kept him around for his looks?"

Rin laughed brightly before diving back into Sesshomaru's arms. "I love you Sesshomaru."

"I love you, mate." Sesshomaru said back to Rin as she fell asleep in his arms.

The End.