AN: the added chapter is no. 17!! go back, it a lemony lemon!!!

Chapter 18 – Another sort of quest

He was looking at her face much like a defenseless victim would look into the eyes of a hypnotist. She was the same, but so different in so many ways… her white hair was what threw him off track the most. He'd been accustomed to her raven strands mingling with his, and now their hair was the same. He ran his fingers along her naked arm, down to her claws, and trailed his own talons over the back of her hand.

She'd done some damage with those claws. If he hadn't been full youkai, she could have hurt him seriously, the way she just plunged her fingers in his back like that. She wasn't used to her own power, yet. No matter, she will. He wanted to look into her eyes, but she was still asleep. Her eyes hadn't changed that much. Their darkness was a little stained with gold sunlight, but they held the same unmistakable expression as always.

He bent and breathed over her lightly parted mouth, then nuzzled the nape of her neck. Rin moved and turned to one side, with her back to him. He took her into his arms and shaped his body after her still form, pressing against her. She fluttered her eyes open and realized she was being embraced. His arm was around her waist and his chest against her back. She arched her body and stretched a little, turning her head to see him. Sesshoumaru was looking at her calmly. His face was so peaceful that she couldn't help thinking that she was the one who'd brought him that peace. She smiled and he did the same.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, and Rin widened her smile, giggling a little. He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh." Sesshoumaru concluded, and felt a little more at ease. She wasn't in pain or anything. That was good. The last thing he would have wanted was for her to be in pain. He couldn't stand the sight of her eyes filled with tears, the scent of fear or disappointment around her. He realized that she was like his compass. By her mood, he could define his own. From her smile, he could draw strength, and from her tears he drew anger. Anger towards whoever brought her those tears, even if it was himself.

The taiyoukai had found his peace, in the sun stained eyes of this strange being, who ceased to be human long before he'd turned her into a hanyou. He thought she was never fully human anyway. She was so above humanity, yet in a way so different from his own, that she couldn't possibly have lived intensely enough in her human body. She couldn't have possibly been satisfied with that short lifespan, and he himself couldn't have loved her for long enough with her body constantly withering. He wanted forever, wanted to be with her forever.

He turned her body to face him, and shoved his hand in her hair, pulling back. Rin allowed him to draw back her head, and tilt it to one side. Sesshoumaru growled deeply as he bent his head to her neck, and she closed her eyes, her heart pounding inside her chest. She knew what was coming, and she knew she was gonna love every second of it, even if the pain would be undeniably stronger than any other she'd experienced.

He pushed her body down and held her head turned to the side, as he licked her neck a few times, barely holding beck the urge to sink his teeth into her flesh. This had to be made with the proper amount of pressure and of course poison. His fangs stuck in her skin, and she flinched, but didn't push him back. He supported the back of her neck with his other hand, and slightly moved to stand on top of her. His fangs let out just the right amount of poison into the wounds he'd just made on her lower neck, and Rin whimpered, frowning at the sensation. It stung her like a hundred bees had made up their mind to attack her simultaneously.

She felt his hand tightening the grip on the neck, and his breath picking up pace. Sesshoumaru hated the fact that she had to suffer for this. He wanted to stop and kiss her, tell her that he didn't mean to hurt her, tell her that she was the only person he could swear not to hurt, ever. But he couldn't. He had to finish what he'd started, because there could be no half measurements with this. He let the poison drip inside her wounds and mix with her crimson blood.

Rin settled her quivering, and tried to relax, her instincts telling her that it could prove useful if she didn't fight the pain, and just go along with it for a change. Her instincts were right and slowly but steadily she felt the sting grow lighter, although it didn't by any means disappear.

Sesshoumaru saw the poison spreading under her white skin, and forming the pattern. He didn't know what pattern, though, because every female in his family had developed their own specific one, based on their personality, and what they felt at the time they were marked. He waited eagerly, looking at the green poison enter her body, and turn her skin violet from the inside, as it spread. His gold eyes were unmoving, but his warm breath soothed Rin like a balm, better than any word he could tell her, better than any medicine that she could take for the pain she was feeling.

Her eyes shot open and she thought at how much she needed him, how he made her complete, and how she would simply die without him, death from pain and loss, from loneliness and heartache.

She relaxed completely, and Sesshoumaru widened his beautiful eyes when the mark took its final shape. It was the remainder of the moon on his forehead. Her shape completed his into a full moon. He let out a fast breath of surprise and he smiled. He licked her wounds, knowing that it would make the pain easier on her, and kissed her neck. She turned her face to him and smiled.

"I am…"

"Don't say that. Don't apologize, Sesshoumaru. This proves I will always be yours, no matter what. I love you." Her soft whispered words went straight into his heart. He sighed.

"You do know that it goes both ways, Rin." She nodded, and he reached for the small mirror on the table beside their bed.

Rin had the same reaction as he did, at the sight of her violet marking.

"Figures." She said, and he raised his eyebrows for a moment. Then, she raised her hands in front of her eyes, and looked at them mindfully.

"You know, this new body has its perks. I feel all sorts of things I didn't use to feel, before. Like now, I could feel your amusement, even if all you did was raise those eyebrows. And your scent, it's so much more powerful, so distinct from any other. I don't think I could ever forget it, even if we were to be separated for a hundred years. It's so strange… But I like it. I actually love it." She giggled, and he passed his hand through her white hair.

"I look funny with this hair."

"No, you look Rin."

"I look Rin? Don't you mean, like Rin?"

"No. I mean you look Rin."

"A league of my own, huh?"

"Of course." He answered, and they both smiled at each other.

:---:

"Do you think this should go… like… higher up?" Kagome looked at herself in the mirror, and couldn't make out the way she should be dressed. Her wedding dress wasn't that easy to fit on.

Her mom had insisted that she would buy it, and Kagome allowed her to do so, since they couldn't get her through the well, and Souta either. So she was gonna have her wedding in Sengoku Jidai without her mother. They cried for en entire night, before Kagome decided to have her wedding at home.

But her mother wouldn't hear of it, she wanted her daughter to be married in the place she'd called home for the last few years. She knew Kagome belonged there, and the best proof was that the well allowed her passage even after the Shikon was completed and back in her body. She wanted Kagome to be happy, even if she wasn't gonna see her getting married.

Rin pulled by the laces, and eyed the dress carefully. The amount of skin left uncovered was unsettling to Kagome. The corset cupped her breasts and lifted them, but they seemed bigger with this dress, and she couldn't get over the sight, thinking that she wasn't gonna make an entrance dressed like that. Everyone would stare at her.

"Everyone is gonna stare at you anyway, Kagome-chan! You're the bride." Rin said, and took a rapid look to Kagome's chest.

"I think you look very nice." Kagome widened her eyes, and tried to smile. She could picture Inuyasha's jaw dropping at the sight. The corset was being followed by a long, flowing skirt made of uneven straps on silk and veils which looked like a fairy's wings. The small pearls glittered as Kagome turned to face Rin.

"Well I don't have the time to get another one. Neither do I have the money… So I guess this will do." She shrugged her shoulders and they both laughed.

"Inuyasha won't be able to speak when he sees you… for a change." Rin said, and Kagome couldn't agree more.

"Yeah, he and every other guest at the wedding. I hope it's not too much…"

"Oh, don't worry, Kagome-chan. You're beautiful."

"Arigato, Rin-chan."

They hugged and Kagome smiled at the sight of Rin's mark. She'd seen it before, since the day Sesshoumaru had marked her, but she still couldn't help looking at it every occasion she had. It stated so unmistakably Rin's belonging to him!

"I guess we're both soon going to be very much married, Rin-chan."

"Beat you to it…" Rin smiled, and Kagome shook her head.

"Is that jerk still pushing you around? Cuz I'll kick his sorry ass if he keeps treating you like that, Rin-chan!"

Rin waved her hand at Kagome.

"Don't worry, he's settled down. I think he was just unable to express himself properly. You know, he's had it pretty hard all his life. Even if it might not seem that way." They both went serious, and Kagome frowned, dropping her chin.

"Yeah, Inuyasha too. What a pair, huh?" They eyed each other for a moment, and then Kagome smiled.

"We're just what they needed, Rin-chan. Let's try to mend things with these two. Agreed?"

Rin nodded happily.

"Alright. From now on, we're on a different sort of quest. Making Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru act like real brothers." Rin nodded again.

"This might take a while." Kagome said wistfully, as she heard Inuyasha's voice from outside the house.

"Leave me the hell alone, Sesshoumaru, I won't give up the sword! It doesn't matter it's my wedding, what the hell does that have to do with anything? And get the hell away from me, you're too close!"

"Fine. But Kagome-san is not going to appreciate your wearing Tessaiga. And do not say I haven't warned you against it." Sesshoumaru's cold voice pieced through the air.

"Feh! Suddenly you're acting brotherly. What the fuck's that all about? Like I can't damn take care of my own business… I don't need your help!" Inuyasha mumbled as he moved away from Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai growled and wanted to punch his brother in the face. But he didn't want to upset Kagome. So he ignored the invectives coming out Inuyasha's mouth and just turned away from him.

Kagome stood in the doorframe, looking at Inuyasha walking to the foyer they'd installed on the field next to the house. Sesshoumaru looked at her inexpressively.

"What was that all about?" Kagome asked.

Sesshoumaru momentarily looked over Kagome's shoulder, at Rin, who was smiling at him.

Looking back to Kagome, Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows.

"Is that appropriate for a bride?" he stared at her half naked breasts, and Kagome went red.

"I knew it! Everyone will stare!" she moaned.

"Sesshoumaru, if you could ask me that, then everyone will stare! Is it that bad?" Kagome said, a little concerned. Rin was waiting for his answer a little amused. She was interested in how honest he would be, because it really was a little inappropriate, but that didn't matter. Sesshoumaru was always painfully honest.

"If you can live with it, I do not see why I should be asked such a thing."

"Oh come on!" Rin said, giving Kagome a look, then back at him.

"Look at her! She's beautiful! So what if it's not what we usually wear? It's what she wears, and Kagome was never as boring as we were, Sesshoumaru. Didn't you say she wore those uncovering garments just to get on everyone's nerves?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes as if warning Rin not to reveal what he said in private. He wasn't accustomed to acting out in the presence of anyone but Rin, and it proved tricky for him to get accustomed to being relaxed. But he was well on his way…

"It is… unusual, but not entirely unappealing." Was all he said, before turning to leave, and the girls remained in the doorframe, looking at his back. After a while, Rin burst into laughter.

"Well, that was a compliment, in case you hadn't noticed, Kagome-chan!"

"Uh-huh." Kagome said, a little confused. She sighed, and turned to face Rin.

"Not entirely unappealing…" Rin imitated Sesshoumaru's voice and they both laughed. She knew he could still hear them, because she heard him say "It is still indecent." at her mockery. Rin decided that being a hanyou was more fun than she'd thought.

As soon as Kagome was fully dressed and all the details sorted out, Rin rushed to everyone to ask them to take their seats. The chairs were set on the grass in front of the wooden foyer, decorated with field flowers. It wasn't that much of a crowd. Only Kaede, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, Sesshoumaru, Kouga and Ayame. Those two would end up poking their eyes out, Rin thought.

The demons were obviously in love with each other by now, but Kouga didn't care to admit to it. Ever since he'd given up on Kagome, he became friends with her, much to Inuyasha's desperation, and Ayame often talked to the miko in regards of how to get Kouga to come clean with his feelings. They were both wolf demons and that was bound to bring Kouga and Ayame closer, in time. So Kagome advised Ayame to be patient, because if Kouga had feelings for her, he would finally confess. That hadn't happened yet, though. Maybe that was the reason he looked so troubled.

Kagome walked down the aisle behind Rin, who posted as her bridesmaid, and as soon as the young girl moved away to take her place, Inuyasha could see Kagome. His face literally lit up, and his eyes widened considerably as he stared at her. The first thing he saw was that glowing face, and her dark beautiful eyes. She was radiant, and he couldn't believe how lucky he was. Her dress… her dress! Inuyasha hadn't seen her wear such a provocative outfit, and it seemed strange to him that she should choose to wear one for a wedding dress. But who was he to argue? Kagome looked stunning, and he was enjoying the view. By the time she took her place by his side, facing the priest, Inuyasha was having trouble with looking forward. He wanted to stare at her all the time.

"Eyes forward, Inuyasha." Kagome said, and smiled while she did just what she'd asked him to do. He complied with a slightly embarrassed smile, and took her hand. He didn't care to let go of her anymore, even if he could. Life was simply hollow without her.

The End.

:---:

A.N. Aaaaawww… Cries… cries… cries…. It's oveeeer… I can't believe I actually put an end to it, I'm so sad… I know it's short but I didn't wanna drag it for much longer. I simply said all I wanted to. I'm sorry it took so long, I was actually halfway through it when I left town for a few days, and had to postpone updating. Sorry. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it and thank you so much for all your beautiful and encouraging reviews, I couldn't have done it without you. Really. Really really.

I'm starting college soon and I don't know if I'll have the time, but I think I'll do a sequel on this one. I've got some ideas. Anyway, thanks again for supporting me all this time, and one last bye-bye with this fic. Kissez!

Bye-bye!

:---: