"Wow…" Rin gasped as the dog clan's palace came into view. At the edge of the forest, there was a dirt trail that connected with a cobblestone road that curved like a maze throughout the grounds around the palace. Sesshomaru's feet thudded softly against the rocky road, then began to clunk loudly as he crossed a bridge that arched over a large stream. Within moments, he had entered into the palace grounds, thudding again on the cobblestone as he headed toward his clan's healer.

"Milord, you are the head of the dog clan, are you not?" Rin asked.

"I am more of a second-in-command," Sesshomaru replied. "My father is the head."

"Your father must be quite a demon."

"He is," the young lord said. "Certainly even you have heard of Lord Inutaisho."

The girl gasped, her eyes wide and her mouth agape. "Lord Inutaisho?! He is your father?!"

"Indeed."

Everyone in the Western lands, human and demon alike, knew of Inutaisho, the Great Dog Lord. It was rumored that in his true form he was taller than Mount Fuji and that in his humanoid guise he was equally as fearsome. Though the humans in his lands knew of his kindness, they all still feared him, feared his power.

Rin gulped. If she stayed in the palace for very long, she would undoubtedly cross paths with the Dog Lord. A stream of fear jolted down her spine, and she wondered when she would be able to leave.

She glanced up at Sesshomaru and another emotion washed over her, one she couldn't quite recognize. Truly, she just feared meeting the legendary Inutaisho. She didn't actually want to leave. More precisely, she didn't want to leave Sesshomaru. The young lord had showed her a great deal of kindness by bringing her to a healer.

Examining him closer, she took note that he was quite beautiful for a man. Unconsciously, she traced the magenta stripes on his cheeks with her fingers, and he flushed slightly.

"What is it?" Sesshomaru blurted.

Rin jerked her hand back, realizing her actions and stammered, "I, uh, though it was makeup."

"No," the lord stated simply.

Rin began to speak again, but was cut off by a rather loud catcall. Sesshomaru turned toward the sound, coming face-to-face with one of his cousins who had teased him earlier that day.

"What's this, Sessho?" the older dog teased, fluffing his curly silver hair. He looked as though he had just woken up from a nap. "Finally found a sweet little human to call your own?"

"Toji," Sesshomaru warned, "I'm in no mood for you."

"Nah, she's more your type, right?" the other man, Toji, said with a large grin.

"Go to hell."

"My, you're testy today, runt."

"Then leave me alone!"

All the while, Rin was shooting glances from Sesshomaru to Toji back to Sesshomaru again as they continued to taunt each other in such an informal manner. She really didn't know what to make of it. The cool, stern young lord who she met only moments before had morphed into a regular young demon.

Before long, another demon walked up to the group, a she-demon with long, light-blue hair. She too had spoken with Sesshomaru earlier that day. Upon spotting Rin, she cheered, "Yay! Our baby boy's gonna be a man tonight!"

"What?!" Sesshomaru sputtered. "I… I am not!!" After a moment he added, "And who says I'm not already?!"

"Oh, please!" the she-dog replied. "You wouldn't let a woman touch you with a ten foot pole. It's kinda obvious."

"S-Shut up, Eclispe!" Sesshomaru exclaimed.

Rin, who had been holding in laughter, suddenly exploded into a fit of giggles. She liked Sesshomaru and his family more and more every minute. They acted almost like Rin's friends from her village.

The demon woman, Eclipse, smiled at Rin. "Be careful with Sessho. He bruises like a spring peach."

Rin laughed even harder and Sesshomaru yelled, "I do not!"

His demonkin were laughing with Rin as Sesshomaru stomped away, gripping Rin tightly to his chest. "I'm taking her to the healer. Don't you dare breathe a word of this to father!"

As the young lord stormed off with Rin, Toji said, "Aw, his daddy'll be so proud!"

"He's out of his meeting now, isn't he?" Eclipse asked innocently.

Toji grinned, "Oh yeah…"

Both demons were smirking as they began a search for Inutaisho.

……………….

"So," Rin giggled, "you bruise like a peach?"

"No. I. Don't," Sesshomaru growled, emphasizing each word. "Those were my cousins."

"It's good that you have relatives like them."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is. Being a lord is a lot of responsibility, but you're able to cut loose with your family," Rin said.

"They're annoying," the young lord snarled. "They're always badgering me to… what?"

Rin was laughing.

"What?" Sesshomaru asked again.

"You… you said badger…" she stuttered, pealing into a fit of laughs.

"You need the healer immediately. You must've hit your head."

………………..

That's all for now. Reviews, please?