I don't own them.

How had it come to this? Sesshomaru wondered as he listened to the humans conversing over rice and unagi. He had fully intended to politely refuse Taro's invitation. Damn it all to hell, he should know better than to look at his daughter in situations like these. One look at those puppy eyes and he turned to putty.

It was just so wrong, the great Inu youkai, Sesshomaru, giving in to every whim of a human child. And yet, would he change it even if he could? He knew the answer. As frustrating as it could be she was his daughter. His baby girl.

Right now his baby girl was hanging on every word Kenji said. The young man seemed sincere and honorable. But how could he be sure? What a man pretends to be and what he truely is can be so different. If that boy so much as laid a dishonorable finger on Rin...

Right now the young man was making it impossible to think he could be anything but honorable. In fact, there was a certain innocence to his behavior, granted he was still very young himself. This boy, like Rin, was acting less like a battle hardened warrior and more like a love struck puppy. And Sesshomaru didn't like that at all.

Actually these humans weren't all that bad. Had it not been for the constant distraction he might actually have enjoyed this conversation he was having, or trying to have, with Taro. This human had an unusually deep understanding of battle tatics and strategy.

There was a lull in the conversation. Both men looked over at their children.

"Your daughter is what, fifteen?"

"fourteen."

"May I ask how long she has been in your care?"

"She came in to my life seven years ago. And Kenji, how long have you had him? Sesshomaru asked.

"You smelled the difference did you? He has been my son since birth. My sister in law died in child birth and my wife had a daughter the year before. She offered to feed Kenji. My brother knew his son was in good hands. He followed his wife to the after life. Kenji knows all about it."

Sesshomaru said nothing. They both just watched to two teens talking and laughing.

"They grow up so fast." Taro mused half thinking to himself. "It must seem even faster for you, having her for such a short time. And when you yourself age slowly."

Sesshomaru nodded slightly while watching Rin. She still looked so young but every one he knew spoke of her as though she were a grown woman. He still saw a child when he looked at her. But even as his heart saw a child he knew she was reaching adulthood. Soon he would have to find her a good husband.

"Your daughter, she is at home with her mother?" Sesshomaru asked.

"No. Her husband. I gave her up about six months ago. I will warn you now, giving that girl up to some young man will be the hardest thing you'll ever do. I didn't want to give my Miki up but it was time for her to start a family and live her own life. She told me two months ago I will be a grandfather next year."

Both men were quiet for some time, Taro only speaking to wish his eldest son good night, Makoto thought it wise to always turn in early, the early bird gets the worm.

Eventually Taro ask Sesshomaru about his swords, all fine looking weapons. This led to a very serious disscussion about swords and proper sword maintence. Sesshomaru had sensed no dishonor in the man Rin was speaking with so allowed his focus to be on the conversation at hand. He did not see Kenji and Rin whisper excitedly together then slip away.

About 10 minutes later they slipped out of a very dimly lit room with their hands clamped over their mouths. Rin tucked some thing into her sleeve as they hurried down the hall way. Once out of ear shot they burst in to hysterics, laughing so hard they had to hold one another to keep from falling over.

"I... can't wait...to see...his face!" Rin replied gasping for breath between laughs.

"I know!" Kenji replied laughing equally as hard. Rin buried her face against Kenji's chest, muffling her laughter. After a few minute Kenji calmed down and stared at the girl in his arms. She looked up at him.

"Oh! Make sure you drink a lot of water just before you go to bed to night." Kenji told Rin.

"Why?"

"To make sure you wake up early. Earlier than him."

"How is drinking water going to... Oh, I see!" Then the two laughed a little more.

When Rin calmed down she looked back up to see Kenji staring at her.

"What?" She asked. She could tell there was something on his mind.

"Um... May I ask you a personal question?"

"I guess so. What is it?"

"Are you promised to someone?"

"No. Are you?" She asked nervously, hoping he wasn't.

"No, I'm not either." He replied.

"We better get back. Daddy will notice me gone, that wouldn't be good." Rin replied stepping back and breaking the embrace. Kenji nodded and they started walking down the hall.

"Rin?"

"Yes?"

"May I hold your hand?" Rin stared at Kenji for a moment then smiled and held her hand out to him. He smiled back as he wrapped his own hand around it and they continued walking.

They rounded a corner and ran into Sesshomaru. The dog youkai stared down at the two teenagers. Rin yanked her hand away from Kenji's but not before her daddy saw them holding hands.

"What is going on here?" He demanded cooley, giving the young man a murderous glare.

"Nothing Daddy." Rin replied.

"You know you are not to wander off by your self in these kinds of places."

"I'm not by myself Daddy."

"It is late. Jaken is waiting for you in the dining room, the two of you are to go up to our room now."

"We were only talking Daddy, thats all." Rin told her father.

"Go to our room. I will not hurt this boy tonight." Sesshomaru told his daughter. He waited untill he could no longer hear her foot steps then held up a menacing hand, the claws glowing with green poison.

"If I ever find out you have done anything to dishonor my daughter I assure you, you will not live to regret it."

"I would never dishonor Rin, sir." Kenji replied.

Sesshomaru turned to walk down the hall way.

"Sesshomaru-sama..." He turned and stared at the boy with an utterly unreadable face. "Um, sir I ... Never mind sir. Good night."

When Sesshomaru returned to the room Rin was drinking her second large cup of water. She immediately jumped to her feet. "What happened? You didn't hurt Kenji did you? I swear we didn't do anything bad!"

"Do not worry Rin. I left the boy in one piece. Jaken, leave." Sesshomaru waited until he couldn't hear the imp any longer then sat on the floor and motioned for Rin to sit beside him.

"Rin, we must talk about something important. Do you remember when you asked me where babies come from?"

"Yes Daddy. And it's ok, I know the truth."

"You do?" He asked, wondering what she had heard and where.

"Yeah. The whole magic garden thing was kinda far-fetched Daddy. I asked Aunt Kagome. I figured since she had a baby she must know where they came from. She told me what happens when a man and a woman get married."

"Rin, some men will not wait until marriage. Some men will tell an innocent young girl the things she wants to hear, will make her believe he cares, take her innocence, and leave her alone to deal with the consequences. Some men are very good at this. Promise me you will not let a man touch you until your wedding night. No matter what he may say."

"I promise Daddy."

"Good girl. Remember Rin, I just want you to be happy. And to be safe. keep your daggers with you at all times and if a man ever tries to touch you tell me right away."

"I will Daddy." Rin replied hugging her father.

Sesshomaru embraced his little girl then told her it was time to sleep. Once she had lain down he found Jaken and sent him to watch Rin. Her safety ensured Sesshomaru went down stairs and got a flask of sake. He saw Kenji telling his own father good night and heading up the stairs.

The next morning his little girl woke up sooner than normal to answer nature then they all went down to breakfast. Rin sat near Kenji and they both kept exchanging smiles. He knew they were up to something, but what?

Then Rin's face broke into a huge grin and she grabbed Kenji's shoulder while pointing. Laughter filled the dining room and Sesshomaru saw Makoto walking sleepily through the door.

Slowly Makoto became aware that the laughter was directed at him. He looked down at his clothing and saw nothing out of the ordinary. Then her felt his hair and found that to be in order. Finally he picked up a metal object and looked upon his image, he saw his eye lids adorned by purple and his lips painted bright red.

"G'mornin Ma'am." One warrior greeted through tears of laughter.

Makoto scanned the room untill her saw Kenji sitting with Rin. He lunged at his brother and Kenji ran for his life! Makoto caught him and the two duked it out untill Taro showed up and restored order.

Taro looked from one son to the other, struggling not to crack even a little smile at Makoto's appearance. He ordered them to wait for him upstairs. He returned with a bucket of water and a cloth in one hand and a bamboo cane in the other.

Sesshomaru had a little discussion with Rin about how she used her make up and she promised never to use it like that again. He told her if she did she would never be permitted to wear make up again.

Later Rin went to the stable to spend time with Ah 'Un before they left and found Kenji tending to Hannako. He looked up and smiled warmly at Rin.

"So what happened last night?" He asked her.

"He wanted to have 'the talk' with me." Rin replied rolling her eyes.

"He didn't tell you when you were 11 or 12?"

"No. I had to find out the facts of life by asking my aunt. He wanted to make sure I knew where babies came from and told me not to let a man touch me until my wedding night."

"Well he's right!" Kenji replied. "No man has a right to touch a woman unless he is willing to devote his entire life to her!" He brushed Hannako for a few more minutes then turned back to Rin.

"Rin, I love you." He said softly. He hoped she would return his feelings.

Rin turned to him with stars in her eyes. "You do?!"

He nodded. "Yes Rin." She threw her self into his arms and hugged him tightly. He held her tightly and stroked her back. Then he leaned his head forward and pressed his lips to hers. She parted her lips, inviting him to explore her mouth with his toungue. His tongue carressed hers and moved over the roof of her mouth. He held her tighter and explored her, savoring her taste. Finally they drew apart and she laid her haed on his shoulder.