A few days before…

"I'm bored of waiting! Where is Lord Sesshoumaru?" demanded Marcela as she slammed her palm on the dining table.

Rin continued to sip at her stew, not bothering to lift her head up to attend to another of Marcela's outburst. The household staff had begged her to get rid of Marcela but other than being annoying, the demoness hadn't laid a hand on her nor went against her commands – except for one.

"It's already been five days. I want to see Lord Sesshoumaru!" she wailed.

"Be quiet you insolent fool!" snapped Keane, eyes burning gold with controlled temper. "Your presence certainly does not deserve the Master's attention!"

"Keane…" A gentle warning as Rin looked up at the commotion. Lifting her eyes to the Youkai before her, Rin smiled. "He will be back in another week. I am sure of that. But if you tire of waiting, then you know where the exits are."

Marcela stood up suddenly and with a sweep of her hand, pushed all her food and cutlery off the table before stomping away to her room.

"I am sick of that witch!" said Nahia in exasperation. "My Lady! What are you doing? This is not a job for you!"

Nahia slapped her helping hand away, insisting that she continued with her meal instead of cleaning up Marcela's mess.

"Why do you put up with her?" Nahia demanded.

"I can duel her for you," said Miria gently. "If you so wish."

Rin looked over to where Miria was sitting and smiled. If only it were that simple. Lord Sesshoumaru had better be back by the end of her two week stay or chaos would ensue – Rin was certain of it.

Finishing the last spoonful of her dinner, Rin stood up to dismiss everyone when suddenly she felt herself being pulled backwards; a sharp dagger at her throat.

"Queen Mother!" gasped Keane. By the look on his face, Rin understood that he too had been caught off guard –her scent a common feature of the house that her presence raised no alarm.

"What is this I've been hearing from Marcela?" Lady Elisa gripped her tighter, pulling both her wrists together in a bone-cracking vice. "A ploy by you to drive my suitors away?"

"My Lady! Lady Rin has nothing to do with this!" Keane exclaimed. "She has been nothing but a good host to Marcela in Master's absence."

Rin could feel Lady Elisa's hot breath against her neck, seconds before she was tossed aside to the ground in a burst of anger.

"You dare tell me what to do? You ungrateful servant!" She moved with such speed that she appeared a blur before her hand met Keane's cheek in a sharp slap. "You who pushed my mate away from me?"

Across the room where she was sprawled on the floor, Rin could see that Keane was about to retaliate; claws out and eyes golden fire. If she didn't do something, Lady Elisa might shred him to pieces.

"No! Don't take it out on him!" she screamed, pushing herself to her feet. "It is me you wish to punish."

Lady Elisa looked up; a wry smile curving at the corner of her lips.

"Indeed Rin… indeed. Come, let's take a walk."

/

Sesshoumaru refused to open the scroll given by Adam, choosing to keep it in his pocket until they had crossed into his own lands and the anger he had felt before about his father had dissipated.

Looking over the vast lands dusted by the morning sun, Sesshoumaru felt relieved to be home. How had he managed all those years without Rin?

Turning to his companion, he saw that Jaken was busy stuffing his face with the last of the soft rolls given to them by Adam.

"I was hoping you'd keep at least one of those." His eyes rested on the empty basket. "Rin would have liked it for breakfast."

Jaken swallowed the bread guiltily. "I will personally get her more if it pleases you my Lord!"

"It matters not," he replied, waving away Jaken's insistence. "I should not have left her alone with Marcela."

The toad imp snapped his head up with interest. "Oh? Is that regret I hear my Lord?"

Sesshoumaru's reply was a deathly stare.

"My Lord! I spoke out of line, please forgive me." When he gave no answer, Jaken peeked at him with one eye. "Surely Marcela dare not touch her in a house full of your loyal servants? Even then, Rin has survived countless dangers my Lord!"

She had only survived because he had gotten to her in time, everytime. To his enemies who saw her as his weakness, their attempts to use her as bait was pathetic. But then again, Rin was very good at hiding and surviving – after all, wasn't that what kept her alive before he came into her life?

And now, he couldn't think of a possibility where she would not be in his.

I'm coming Rin.

After nearly two weeks of travelling between the two territories – he could only imagine the state of chaos his castle would be, especially now that Marcela was there.

Which was why, he was suspicious when nothing was out of place upon his arrival. No bodies killed, no bags burnt.

But he didn't scent her.

"Rin!" The only thing that mattered.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!"

His relief was short-lived when he realised the face masquerading in Rin's clothes. She barely had time to register his anger when he lifted her off the floor by gripping her neck.

"What are you wearing?" he demanded. "Where is Rin?"

Marcela struggled against his hold, her claws lengthening as she tried to swipe at his hands.

"Sesshoumaru!"

The fact that he had not detected his mother's presence alarmed him. Had he been so focused on Rin that he had dropped his guard? Releasing Marcela, he allowed her to fall to the ground.

"What did you do to Rin?" he asked, silver eyes turning gold as he looked as his mother.

"Why do you always assume I've done something bad?" She pouted. "I simply told her to return to where she belonged."

"And helped yourself to her belongings?" He would deal with them later.

"Where are you going?" his mother demanded. "She left on her own free will."

Sesshoumaru didn't even bother to reply. Storming out towards the stable, he hunted down the one person who would know.

"Miria, where is Rin?" His voice was unhuman; a growl that made Miria back into a corner.

"My Lord…" Her eyes cast down. "We had no say in her decision…"

Sesshoumaru had to breathe in deeply to hold himself back from hurting her. "Where, Miria?"

"Cove Viridian. I tried to stop her, I really did…"

He didn't wait for her to finish her sentence, dissolving into a flash of light, headed towards the West coast.

In less than fifteen minutes, he had already located her in a small cabin at the end of the port; her scent so much more radiant here.

"Rin."

Startled, she slipped her finger on the sharp thorn of the flower, drawing blood. Almost instinctively, he reached for her, taking the bloodied finger to his lips. She had been crouching down in front of a bed of Rins; her nose to the buds, a contented smile on her face.

"Sesshoumaru…" Whatever joy she had with the flowers before melted away; brown eyes pooling with emotions.

Putting her hand on his chest, he brought his lips down on hers, not caring that they were surrounded by milling eyes wanting a slice of the gossip. She belonged to him and no one – not even his own mother was going to take that away from him.

When he finally pulled away, he cupped her face in his hands. "Rin… why did you leave the castle?"

Rin flicked her eyes to their audience; cheeks glowing pink as she led him into her cabin. Only when she closed the door did she speak again.

The tears he had seen earlier were replaced by a flash of fire in her eyes. "You left me. Not a word, not a kiss. You took Jaken and you left! How was I to know where you went or when you'd be back?"

He didn't know why she was suddenly upset. Rin had been left so many times on her own, why was now any different?

"I am back now, so we leave this instance."

"No. I've had enough of you telling me what to do. You do your duty and I will do mine."

Sesshoumaru could feel his eyes turning red with each passing minute. He had rushed here to find her, kiss her, bear his heart to her and she was telling him to leave?

"I know my damn duty. Yours is to be by my side so let's go home," he replied, control in every syllable. Rin truly tested his patience.

"No. I'm staying. I'm happy here." She opened the door for him. "Leave now."

Sesshoumaru growled, baring his fangs in an uncharacteristic show of possessiveness. He should have marked her when he could; his scent so deep under her skin, no one would question him –especially her. What had made his Rin turn on him so suddenly?

Sesshoumaru knew the answer to that.

"I will be back for you Rin. And when I do, I promise I won't hold back."

/

Rin had to bite back her scream of frustrations when he kissed her again before disappearing in a flash of white light. She was about to slam the door shut when she saw a tiny parchment on the floor.

Lord Sesshoumaru had to have dropped it in his haste. Picking it up, Rin saw that it was a very old picture with faces she didn't recognise.

But there was no denying the status of the Daiyoukai standing tall in the corner of the picture. With his white hair tied in a high ponytail, he wore an armour of spikes and carried two swords at his waist; his face bearing the arrogance and power that only an important Youkai could afford.

"Lord Inu no Taisho."

Then the woman in the picture… she had to be his human mate – the one Lord Sesshoumaru hated with all his life. Whoever she was, she had kind, happy eyes filled with laughter as she held a Hanyou child of about five years old in her arms. It had to be Inuyasha. Together, the three of them looked like they belonged together.

And in the middle of the photo was a young gentleman – a human. He had to be about her age when this photo was taken. Black curls on his head and a fashionable moustache adorned his face. This man and Lord Inu no Taisho were friends, judging from the way he had one hand over the shoulder of his two guests; a broad smile for the camera.

Why was Lord Sesshoumaru carrying this picture? Was that why he left without telling her? Circling the face of the young boy in the picture, Rin wondered if he had perhaps been looking for his half-brother.

She wouldn't know. Not after how she kicked him out of the cabin. Rolling up the precious parchment, Rin stepped into the bedroom to keep it safely between her clothes. He might or might not return for it –but for her, there was no returning to the castle any time soon.

Rin didn't have a choice. The Queen Mother had threatened to burn all the human villages in the North if she didn't leave at once. This was a matter of Dog Demon importance, she had said.

"Sesshoumaru would thank me for doing him this favour. You're just a toy – a distraction for him to release his desires once in a while. But when it boils down to it, his father's lands are too big a sacrifice to make for a pet."

Lady Elisa had laughed as she named the tiny villages at the edge of her northern territory.

"I have autonomy over them, so don't think I won't do it Rin. What do you think Sesshoumaru will do? Nothing. He despises humans. And someday when you're old and unattractive, do you think he would still warm your bed?"

That had done it really. Lord Sesshoumaru had kissed her, touched her, slept in her bed but apart from his protection and care, he had never promised her more. She belonged to him as his swords or lands – to do as he pleases.

If she had to grow old and unattractive, then at least she would like to do so happily, with someone who would always love her for who she was, not because she was a possession.

"You look smoking hot when you're deep in thoughts." A naked Youkai waltzed right through the front door, having shifted mid-descent, landing outside in the garden.

"Drake, you know how I feel about you and clothes!" she chided. Rin was forever grateful to the Youkai for letting her use his extra cabin, but he also had the habit of popping by – naked and unannounced whenever he felt like it.

Rin was thankful he hadn't been around when Lord Sesshoumaru was there. The mess that would ensue…

She'd rather not think about it.

"Come on, don't deny you think I look better without them," he teased, reaching for a pair of pants he always had on standby. When he was decent, he came over to tweak her nose, delighted that she was annoyed at him.

"So would you like some tea?" she offered.

"Nope! Today we are going to my dad's for lunch!" His words muffled as he struggled with a shirt over his body. "He's making enough bouillabaisse to feed the town."

"You're exaggerating."

"When raising five boys, you'd better be," he said. "Come on, he's been so excited to see you again."

Rin had to smile. Besides Drake, Anzer was probably the next nicest person she had met since moving to the cabin. Though it had only been a few days, it felt like she truly belonged here. A village where no one cared who you were with or who you wanted to marry.

"Give me a minute," said Rin, rushing to the kitchen to fetch a pair of scissors. When she rushed out into the garden, Drake came up behind her, his tongue clucking in a very seagull-like sound.

"You're bringing roses to my dad?" Drake stared at her in disbelief. "Come on… he's like so old and would totally think that's lame."

She threw an unwanted thorny stalk at him.

"There, that's perfect." Five pink roses. That was all she could afford now to give a man who invited her for lunch.

"Maybe you should try and sell them," said Drake, hooking his arm in hers. "I've never seen those flowers looking more alive than since you came."

"I'll think about it." Drake had a point there. Rin hadn't seen a single flower shop in the market. Perhaps it would fill her time and mind wisely rather than on thoughts of stolen kisses and passionate sighs.

"Drake… can I ask you something?"

"Whatever it is, the answer is yes," he replied; eyes twinkling with mischief. "You know I can't deny you anything Rin."

"Forget it," she said, rolling her eyes at him. They were already at Anzer's house anyway. "I'll ask you again when you're better behaved."

"Good luck with that." Rin looked up to see Anzer smiling at her at the doorway. "Come on in Rin. Oh, for me? That's just so adorable!"

Rin stuck her tongue out at Drake. Anzer was fawning over the flowers!

"You're such an angel. I keep telling Drake you're too good for him. He doesn't believe me," said Anzer absently as he put the stalks in water. "Alright children to the table. I have some bread… but I can't promise the loaf's still whole. Your brothers were in the kitchen a second ago."

As warned, the loaf of bread had morsels torn off at various parts, leaving the bread hollowed like emmental cheese.

"You see? Couldn't even be bothered to use a knife!" Anzer fretted as the culprits swarmed into the dining room at the smell of the soup served in the middle of the table.

Rin had briefly seen them the last time she was in the market when Drake and his brothers landed in front of her. At least they were all fully clothed this time.

"Everyone, this is Rin," said Anzer before turning to her. "And these are my wonderful eggs of pain – Gregory, Anthony, Nicolas, Wyatt and of course the baby – Drake."

Rin wanted to laugh. The five men were smiling at her but she could see that their eyes were transfixed on the steaming pot of stew before them.

"Nice to meet you," she replied. "But perhaps we should start? We don't wish the soup to be cold."

Just as they were in Youkai form, the five brothers fought over their food, creating a ruckus as they discussed who had the largest piece of fish or the most number of clams in their bowl.

Anzer turned to her lazily. "You see, they have no manners, not even in front of guests."

Rin didn't hold back her laugh. "No, that's quite alright. I'm actually very happy to be here."

Rin had never been to a family meal before but she loved it. The meals in the castle had been just as crowded but the atmosphere was different. While conversations flowed, Lord Sesshoumaru's presence at the head of the table always provided that slight note of tension.

Rin missed it, missed him.

"So tell me Rin, how did you come to be in Lord Sesshoumaru's service?" asked Anzer.

The Youkais suddenly went silent; all eyes on her.

"Oh… no, let's not talk about that. It's really long and boring," she insisted. "Tell me, what do you think if I start a small flower business in the market?"

The table erupted in a chaos of suggestions – each brother wanting to contribute an idea. Anzer would interject with sudden shouts for order but then the drama would continue with mussels and clam shells being thrown everywhere as the brothers chatted away.

Rin was almost drained by the end of lunch, sipping at her tea quietly while the brothers decided to play their version of hide and seek in the rooftop.

"I should have made that damn omelette." Anzer was laughing as he joined Rin at the table. "How am I going to find a wife with all that racket?"

Rin smiled. She could tell he loved them. A Noble Youkai loving those Youkais like his own sons.

"Better hope she has five equally rambunctious daughters then," said Rin, covering her giggles with a hand.

Anzer raised his tea cup in salute.

"Well, let's clean up then. Knowing the boys, it would take them hours to find each other. I swear I am always discovering a new secret stash up there with the many holes they create."

Rin couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy at the endearing way he spoke of his sons. She wanted that too. Already, she was an old maid by human standards. In a few years time, no one would want to marry her.

Maybe she should see to adopt. Anzer seemed to have done fine.

Carrying the empty bowls to the kitchen, she set it in the sink and admired the warmth of the place. She could see that Anzer spent a lot of time here – his tools and fishing gear stacked near the back entrance. Unlike most kitchens, he had also set up a cozy corner complete with a rocking chair by the side of the window. Overlooking the sea, it was indeed a serene place where he no doubt spent his time reading or thinking.

"Thank you for the meal Anzer. It was a pleasure to be here."

"Me too my dear. Perhaps next time when Lord Sesshoumaru visits, you should invite him here."

Rin felt the hairs on her arm bristle at the mention of his name. Gosh did the rumours spread fast! No more kissing in the public!

"He might be too… austere for your boys," she replied. "But, I'll try."

Anzer smiled before turning his face upwards to shout at his boys to come down. Whoever was last down had to do the dishes.

Rin was almost knocked over by the swift flashes of white as the seagulls shifted before her. Knowing fully well the naked state they were going to be in, Rin turned towards the door.

/

NB: Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far! I will be taking a short break but I'll update again once I'm back in June! Meantime, reviews are welcomed!