Got this updated ^^ took me awhile, but I finally got it done!

... and, because I'm hopelessly shallow:

200 favorites

Yaaaay ^^ I'm so happy to have made at least 200 people happy with my stories and I want to give a BIIIG thank you to all of you... but how to do it...? If you've got a suggestion about how I may reward you all, lemme know, I am interested and I might do a contest (no promises) for both my InuYasha and Yullen fans and have the reward being a story of what you want to see... within reason of course.

Enjoy and review if you would ^^

"What the hell is going on here?!"

InuTaisho rounded the corner to open the kitchen door after hearing his youngest son's laughter followed swiftly by a loud thud, his amber eyes widening at the sight of his youngest lying on the floor with a hand over his cheek, Sesshomaru looking practically livid at his younger brother, his fist still across his chest while the woman beside him looked torn between shocked by the sight and on the verge of tears, her hand over her mouth while the other was held to hover over her chest.

"Sesshomaru!" InuTaisho snapped, "what did you do?!"

"What I'm about to finish!" Sesshomaru snarled furiously, reaching for his little brother, his father stopping him.

"No, you're not," the elder demon corrected, holding his eldest back, his arm against his son's chest, "now, care to explain what is going on?"

"He's just pissed cause I found out he's screwing the maid!" InuYasha finally spoke up, his hand sill over his cheek, "and I just thought it was funny!"

"You didn't need to laugh at her!" Sesshomaru snapped, his father's amber eyes turning to look at the young woman watching the whole ordeal, her brown eyes catching his, her lower lip quivering slightly before she swallowed thickly.

"Ex-Excuse me," she murmured, her voice watery as she practically bolted from the kitchen, Sesshomaru feeling his heart break at the sight of her pain, his angered eyes looking towards his little brother.

"Sesshomaru," his father interrupted, the demon looking to the other, "go after her, calm her down."

"But-"

"I will deal with your brother," InuTaisho told him, "and don't worry, I will deal with him."

"Father-"

"She needs you and you know that," the elder pressed, his hand pushing his son to the door, Sesshomaru feeling his shoulders sag as he too turned to his brother.

"I want you to pack your shit and get out here by the evening," the demon hissed at his brother, "you are out of here! Letting you come here was a mistake!"

InuYasha visibly flinched at his brother's anger, the demon slipping out of the room and left the two of them in the kitchen together, InuTaisho watching the retreating back of his eldest before he turned to his youngest.

"So InuYasha," the elder demon approached the half-demon, his voice holding a note of danger, "care to explain just what happened?"

"Rin."

The crying young woman turned to look at the demon following her, her hand desperately trying to wipe away her tears.

"I'm sorry," she sniffed as she cried, "I-I don't know what I was thinking."

"What do you-"

"I-I don't belong here," Rin blurted out, "I-I shouldn't even be a part of your world, I've never belonged here, I don't know why-"

"Rin," Sesshomaru told her, his hand holding her wrist firmly but gently, "stop this-"

"Why?!" she asked him, her tearful eyes looking up at him, "why should I, you know I'm right!"

"No, you're not," the demon shook his head, his hand pulling her in to his chest, the young woman struggling against him for a moment before she collapsed into the comfort of his arms, "you are my world, you belong with me, I want you with me."

"How can I?" the young woman cried, "you saw your own brother laugh at me; you think anyone else will be more understanding?"

"You think I care what anyone else thinks?" the demon told her, her tearstained cheeks cupped in his hands as he tried to look at her, "besides, my father didn't laugh at you, and I wasn't angered by him finding out the truth, I was furious that he hurt you."

"How-How can you think that?" Rin asked him, "I-I've never been born into this world, I barely have a clue how to act in public or-or anything about high class society-"

"What if our roles would be reversed," Sesshomaru suddenly asked her, "what if I had worked for you and our situation was similar? Would you still love me?"

"Of-Of course," the young woman gulped, her voice trying to keep steady, "I-I would always love you-"

"And that is how I feel," the demon whispered softly, his thumb stroking the soft skin of her cheek, "Rin, don't be ashamed of who you are."

"I'm not," she shook her head, "I-I just…" her eyes closed as she took in a deep breath, "I just don't want to tarnish your pride or-or-"

"My reputation is just that," Sesshomaru told her kindly, "mine. I don't want you burdened with the idea that you need to protect it. I am flattered that you think so and I don't care that you were my maid, I care that you are with me and I care that you are happy."

"I wish things were different," the young woman murmured, her head touching his chest, the dog demon smiling softly.

"There are times I do too," the demon agreed softly, "I wish I was a simple businessman or that you might be the princess you should be," his fingers wove through her dark locks at her bashful blush, "but, at the same time, if that were the case, we might never meet, I might never get to fall in love with you, my life still wouldn't have the meaning it does."

"Sesshomaru…"

"Don't belittle or think less of yourself because one idiot couldn't see past the superficial," the demon grinned at her deeper blush, "you are a beautiful, strong, kind young woman. Your heart is the only thing that is more beautiful than you."

"Sesshomaru…"

"I love you, Rin," Sesshomaru told him softly, his lips to her hair, "but I love you more without your self-doubt; I love your confidence, it shows who you really are."

"And who would that be?" Rin asked him, her heart calming from the crying bout.

"The woman I will love for the rest of my life," the demon murmured softly, his fingertips under her chin as his lips pressed softly to hers, her lips curling into a small smile before it fell from her lips, her fingers still wiping from her eyes. "If you need this time for yourself-"

"If I could…"

"Of course," Sesshomaru told her, his arms resultantly letting her slip from them as she turned back to their shared room, the door shutting softly behind her before he turned back to head down the stairs, his body nearly colliding with that of his father.

"How is she?" the elder asked, concern in his eyes while his son's seemed enraged.

"She's still upset about the whole thing," the demon muttered bitterly, "where's my half-brother?"

"Alive," InuTaisho told his son, his tone changing from concern to demanding, "and that's exactly how he's going to stay."

"Not when I get my hands on him-"

"Yes when you go and talk to him," his father corrected, "and that's all you do is talk. I don't want to see any bruises or injuries on my youngest do you understand me?"

"Father-"

"May I go speak to her?" InuTaisho interrupted, his son's jaw tightening at the mention. "I won't mock her for something that I don't see as dishonourable."

"She's in our bedroom," Sesshomaru conceded after a moment, his body moving to let his father pass, his own feet turning to take to his brother's room.

Brown eyes looked up from her lap at the sound of knocking on the bedroom door, her delicate hands folded neatly in her lap as she swallowed her sorrow.

"Yes?"

"It's InuTaisho," the voice carried from the other side of the door, "may I come in?"

"O-Of course," Rin stammered softly, the folds of her dress straightened as the door opened to reveal Sesshomaru's father striding into the room, a soft smile on his lips.

"How are you feeling," he asked kindly, his form moving over to sit beside her.

"Better," she smiled kindly, "I'm sorry about this, this must seem so juvenile."

"This is nothing," the elder dog demon smiled, "when Izayoi was pregnant, she took to locking herself in our room for hours at a time, only coming out for chocolate ice cream." His chest rumbled with a deep chuckle akin to his son's while she laughed lightly, "listen, Rin," he started, his hand encompassing hers, "I'm not about to mock you for this and my son most certainly shouldn't have."

"Even though I was 'the help'?"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of," InuTaisho told her softly, "I think you a beautiful, kind young woman who, if anything, I'm quite impressed with."

"Impressed with me?" Rin asked, her brown eyes confused as she turned to the demon, "why?"

"You're the only person who's managed to turn my eldest son from what he used to be… that cold-hearted demon that sneered at the mere thought of humans and you've gone and turned him into someone that is kinder and gentler, someone that has found love in a human."

"He can't have been that horrible-"

"He loathed his half-brother to the point of mocking his heritage and now he let his brother stay with him without asking for anything," the demon smiled kindly at her, "at least for a little while."

"A little while?" the young woman interrupted softly, "what… what do you mean?"

"Sesshomaru's throwing InuYasha out by this evening," InuTaisho explained, watching as her eyes grew wide, her fingers reaching to touch her lips in thought, "Rin?"

"I-um," she swallowed as she stood up, "I… I'm sorry," she bowed to him, "is-is there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with you," the elder smiled kindly up at her, "and that I hope what my youngest told you hasn't upset you."

"No," Rin shook her head, "I… I'll be okay."

"That's good," InuTaisho grinned as he stood up, "so, why don't you and Sesshomaru join Izayoi and I for dinner on Saturday night?"

"That… that sounds lovely," the young woman smiled kindly, knowing that Izayoi was his second wife and Sesshomaru's step-mother, a woman who was an heiress but from what her demon lover told her, she seemed kind and caring despite his past prejudices, "I'll ask Sesshomaru when I get the chance," her hand extended to the standing demon, her smile widening, "and it was wonderful to meet you."

"Likewise," the demon smiled as he bent down and kissed the back of her hand, "and I look forward to dinner with the two of you."

Rin nodded her agreement as she dismissed herself from the room, the elder demon chuckling as he too left the room, the door closing softly behind him as he took to the kitchen, figuring it couldn't hurt to fix himself a cup of tea while he waited for the household to calm down.

"Come in."

Rin gently peeked into the room to see an angry Sesshomaru standing with his arms crossed over his chest, his amber eyes narrowed as he watched his brother with slightly drooping ears pack all of his belongings back into his suitcase, the two of them looking up to see her slim form slip into the room.

"How are you feeling?" Sesshomaru asked, his form and eyes softening the moment he saw her, his arms slipping to his sides, his feet striding over to her.

"Better," she told him honestly, her brown eyes turning up to look at him before she turned to InuYasha, the half-demon watching them before he continued on with his actions.

"He's leaving," the demon murmured almost cruelly, his head turning to his younger brother, the amber eyes Rin saw hardening to something almost unrecognizable.

"I… wanted to talk about that," the young woman started, her lover's amber eyes widening as they turned back to her, "but first, can I talk to InuYasha… alone?"

"Are you sure?"

Rin nodded gently, "I'll be fine," she told him, "don't worry."

Sesshomaru looked from her to InuYasha, his jaw tightening before he nodded to her, his shoulders relaxing as he sighed slightly.

"I'll be nearby," he promised, his lips lowering to meet hers chastely before he slid out the door, Rin shutting it before she leaned against it, her back to the door.

"Shouldn't you want me gone?" the half-demon asked, his clothes continually removed from the drawers to slip into his suitcase.

"I want to talk to you about it," Rin told him honestly, her body straightening up as InuYasha slowed his packing to listen to her. "I was the maid," she started, her fear swallowed with courage, "about, eight months ago, I was hired by your brother to be a maid in his household; four months ago, I quit and became closer with him," her determined brown eyes raised to look at his amber ones, "I will tell you now, I am not a gold-digger or pregnant or-or anything like that," she swallowed, "I'm with your brother because I love him, that's all."

"I know you're in a relationship because you have feelings for him," InuYasha pointed out, "and I'm sorry about what I did, that… that shouldn't have happened Rin, I'm so sorry, but… I don't know if he's in the relationship… because of love… I've never known him to feel that way about anyone."

"Neither do I," the young woman confessed softly as she sat down on the half-demon's bed, "but I believe that he does-"

"Because he says so?"

"That's exactly why," she told him strongly, "because I trust him enough to tell me the truth."

"He lies," the half-demon defended, his argument sounding weak on his weary voice.

"So do you," Rin pointed out, "so do I and so does your father."

"Bu I don't lie about my love life."

"Would your brother?" the young woman asked, "would the honourable, prideful demon that you knew pull a stunt like this? Stake his reputation on this?"

"Of cour-"

The half-demon had turned to Rin before his words died on his lips, his shoulders sagging in defeat before he moved over to the bed to sit beside the young woman.

"I know he wouldn't want to tarnish or slander his reputation," the younger admitted softly, "but I also know who he is… was," he corrected, "it's just… hard," InuYasha confessed, his ears drooping lower as his head hung, "it was so hard for me as a kid to get his approval, damn impossible actually. He'd always yell at me, call me a half-breed, insult my mother, hate me," he swallowed thickly, "and then… to find out that he was with you… a human… I don't know. I just found it hard to believe that he had changed enough to… to love even someone like you," he shrugged as he blushed faintly, "I guess I was even a little jealous of you."

"Of me?"

"Yeah," he turned to her, "I was just a little bit hurt that… even after twenty-four years of being his brother, that all it took was just under a year with you for him to finally start being decent to me," he shrugged his shoulders, "guess that's why it was so hard to believe he had changed."

"I think… he did," Rin told him, a soft smile on her lips, "so, how about this; I convince your brother to let you stay here and, in exchange, you don't mock me for my previous occupation and… actually try to live in harmony with your brother."

"No promises?" the half-demon asked, "about the being nice to my brother thing, not to the… maid thing," his eyes looked up at the young woman's, "I am so sorry about that… I just… thought it was a joke played on the world by my elder brother," he sighed deeply, "I shouldn't have laughed at you, I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"Don't make promises you can't keep," the young woman teased with a smile on her lips, "I'm a foster child, I can get pretty creative with what anything can fall under." She grinned to InuYasha as he swallowed, "but first thing's first, you need a place to stay."

The half-demon nodded as he watched Rin slide out the door to an awaiting Sesshomaru, the demon leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, his amber eyes turning to her.

"There's no point in pretending you didn't hear," the young woman told him, "so?"

"I don't want him to stay here," Sesshomaru murmured, his position firm as she stepped in front of him.

"Because he's a half-demon?"

"Because he insulted you," the demon corrected, "his lineage… doesn't matter to me as much anymore."

"And why not?" Rin pressed, her fingers reaching to touch his deep blue V-neck t-shirt.

"I… I can't hate whatever children you would give me," Sesshomaru told her softly, his arms surrounding her slim waist, "and I hated my brother as I thought humans were weak, pathetic creatures," his finger stroked her cheek, "I've never been so glad to be wrong."

"If you can prove to your brother what you're saying to me is true, you and him… might end this sibling rivalry, or at least, just for a bit," she smiled kindly up at him, "give him a second chance… please?"

"A few moments ago, you were crying about what he said about you," the demon murmured, "what changed?"

"I don't want to be the reason you despise your brother," Rin told him, "besides, he's promised to do anything to make it up to me."

"So I've heard," the elder smirked, "and just what do you plan on doing about that offer?"

"I'll come up with something," she smiled, "but what about him staying here?"

"Only if he behaves himself," Sesshomaru conceded after a moment, "and only if he swears never to mock you again, if he does-"

"You can throw me out."

Both heads turned to look at the half-demon that stood by his door, a bashful smile on his lips as he shuffled almost uncomfortably.

"I take that as your acceptance to the rules?" the demon asked, his body moving from the young woman to stand in front of his brother.

"Yeah," the younger brother nodded, his amber eyes looking towards Rin, "and I am so sorry for laughing at you, Rin, that should never had happened… I should've respected you more."

"Thank you," Rin smiled kindly at him, her demon lover feeling his own lips curl slightly.

"And um… since we're being honest," InuYasha told them, slowly backing from his brother, "I should tell you that Kagome… took your birth control pills."

"Kagome… and I take it you helped," the young woman said after a minute of silence between the three of them, Sesshomaru stared at the younger wide-eyed, his own anger threatening to snap in a heartbeat.

"Just – she – uh…" the half-demon swallowed at the too calm voice Rin spoke with, "sort of."

"Oh… okay," Rin continued to smile as she looked up at the demon, "he's your brother Sesshomaru, you can deal with him."

"Don't worry about moving out," Sesshomaru whispered dangerously, "your next home is going to be in the ground!"

The young woman jumped slightly at the scream that left from InuYasha's lips before he turned and bolted down the hall, his elder brother hot on his heels as though they were juveniles, Rin watching wide-eyed for a moment before she giggled lightly, her feet taking her down the stairs out to the hall, her eyes catching the sight of Sesshomaru's father sitting in the living room with a cup of tea in his hand and a knowing smile on his lips.

"Everything sorted out?" he asked her calmly as she stepped down to meet him.

"I think so," she told him as her head tilted to the pattering feet on the floor above them, "did they always do that?"

"Like an old record," he grinned, "they played the same tune day in and day out as kids."

"I see," Rin smiled, "more tea?"

"If you don't mind," InuTaisho smiled as Rin nodded, retreating to the kitchen to return with the tea pot, the brown liquid refilling the cup, "thank you."

"You're welcome," the young woman smiled kindly as she poured her own cup of tea, "I take it your lunch with InuYasha is out."

"Oh yes, that's what I came over for."

Rin giggled kindly, "then while the two boys chase their tails, would you like to join me for lunch on the patio?"

"That sounds quite lovely," the elder dog demon told her, "what were you planning on making."

"Just a sandwich platter, nothing fancy," she told him as she stood to make their meal.

"I'm hardly a picky eater," he called after her, "just tell me when to come outside."

Both Rin InuTaisho enjoyed their food by the backyard, the two soon joined by the brothers, InuYasha seemingly undamaged as he kept his distance from the elder brother, Sesshomaru shooting the younger death glares every chance he got, a sharp elbow jab from Rin causing him to cease, much to the others' amusement.

"That was a tiring day."

Rin looked over at him with laughing eyes as she slipped to curl beside the demon that had all but flopped onto the bed, his arms reaching to pull her closer to him, his father having long since departed and InuYasha taking to lock himself in his room out of fear of his brother.

"It's over," she told him happily, "and I'm excited to meet Izayoi on Saturday."

"You'll like her," the demon smiled kindly, his lips pressing to the crown of her hair, "and can I assume you're feeling better and less self-conscious about your previous profession."

"I'm still… a little nervous about others finding out about it," Rin confessed softly, "and I won't be broadcasting it wherever I go," her brown eyes turned to look up at him, "but I think I can live with your family knowing, if you can."

"As I have said a thousand times now and will say a thousand times more," his lips brushed against hers, "I care not what other people think so long as you're with me."

Reviews? BTW... I found i freaky that at exactly half the chapters, the sequel has exactly half the reviews of the original O.o