hehe Yomi is one of my favorite 'bad guys' in YuYu although its mostly because when his arrogance gets taken down a notch he takes it with grace ;)

Chapter 12 Yomi

The morning after Sesshomaru and Rin received the invitation from Lord Yomi they left to go visit his castle in the north. Rin waved farewell to Raizen and Yusuke as Sesshomaru lifted them into the sky on his cloud. By evening they were approaching the castle and there was already a group waiting for them in the main courtyard. As they landed a small demon stepped forward and bowed, he reminded Rin a bit of Jaken even if he was a good bit calmer.

"Greetings to you, Lord Sesshomaru, and to your companion. I am Youta, if there is ever anything you need during your stay please do not hesitate to call upon me. Dinner is about to be served, if you will follow me, Lord Yomi is waiting to meet you and your companion." He motioned for them to follow as he headed for the door into the castle.

During the first part of the flight, Sesshomaru had explained to Rin that she was to speak nothing that she did not want overheard, as Lord Yomi could hear everything in his lands. He had also instructed her to not except anything, eat anything or talk to anyone without his being there and his approval. At first Rin was upset by these restrictions but soon gave in when Sesshomaru would not budge on the topic.

"Can I at least talk to Kurama and the others?" Rin sighed.

"Only in my presence. But if that drunken fool touches you again I will remove is arms." Sesshomaru said evenly, and Rin giggled. Chu was a touchy feely kind of person and it had taken several nasty burns from Sesshomaru's poison for him to get the message.

As Youta led them into the castle and down corridors, Sesshomaru did not remove his arm from Rin's back, nor did Rin remove her arm from around Sesshomaru's waist. So that's how they entered the dining hall of the northern castle, with Rin tucked into Sesshomaru's side. As they entered, Lord Yomi stood from the head of the table.

"Lord Sesshomaru, I am honored that you have accepted my invitation, as well as brought your companion. I am, however, surprised to learn that she is a human. To think, you, of all demons, would keep company with a human woman." Lord Yomi said, not impolitely.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "Rin is pack." He stated.

"I see," Lord Yomi said with a smile, "She must be exceptional then."

"Indeed."

Yomi smiled at this response and offered his hand to Rin, intending to escort her to her seat, but was stopped by Sesshomaru's growl.

Rin could not hear it but she could feel the growl, and she saw Lord Yomi lift a brow.

"Oh, have I miss stepped? I was not aware. Is she your intended mate, that not even I may escort her to her seat?" Lord Yomi asked a quizzical look on his face.

"Rin is eligible. She is in my care until her mate is chosen." Sesshomaru stated evenly, but his slight glair remained.

"Hmm..." Lord Yomi looked thoughtful then smiled and motioned to the table. "Shall we eat?"

At the table were all the guys that Kurama had brought, several months ago, to Genkai for training, and they were all glad to see Rin. Chu and Rinku started talking at once. Rin looked up at Sesshomaru, asking. He nodded and she eagerly turned to her friends to catch up with what they had been doing.

"Where is Kurama?" Rin asked at one point.

"He is visiting his family in human world, he will return this evening." Lord Yomi said. "Do you know him?"

Rin looked to Sesshomaru. He nodded.

"Yes, we are friends. I had heard he was here, and that was one of the reasons I wished to come."

Lord Yomi nodded, "Interesting, I am glad to hear that you know so many of my people."

After dinner Lord Yomi led Sesshomaru and Rin to the castle library.

"Lord Sesshomaru, I have a proposition, I know that you are no longer the Lord of the West but you are still alpha of your pack and your son, Lord Raizen, will still follow you in what ever you do." Lord Yomi sat across from Sesshomaru and Rin, as a female demon set out tea. "I have long wanted to make an alliance with the West, and have failed at various times in the past with both you and Lord Raizen."

Rin didn't know where Lord Yomi could be going with this, after all as he had said Sesshomaru was not the Lord of the West, and he knew Sesshomaru had only recently returned to the west after centuries away.

Sesshomaru, however, was starting to suspect what Lord Yomi might be getting at and he didn't seem to like it.

"Rin is an exceptional young woman to have garnered your favor and even be made pack to the dog demons of the West. I would like to form a treaty with you and the West by taking Rin as my mate."

Rin was shocked, to say the least, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Sesshomaru's arm. Sesshomaru, on the other hand, had suspected this was coming, before he could reply, however, the door opened and Kurama walked in.

"Sorry to interrupt, I heard that Lord Sesshomaru and Rin were here." Kurama bowed as he spoke.

"Kurama, excellent timing as always, I was just suggesting an alliance with the West by way of taking Rin as my mate." Lord Yomi said. Kurama was surprised and looked worriedly over at Rin. "Is there a problem, Kurama?"

"No, not at all, it's only that I would never have thought you would want to take a human as your mate." Kurama said calmly.

"You surprise me Kurama, you know I recognize strength in all forms, and a human who has achieved pack status with the Lords of the West can have nothing else." Lord Yomi turned to Sesshomaru and Rin. "I'm sure at this point it is not a matter of finding someone to take her as much as finding someone worthy of Rin's hand. There are few in any world that could match myself as a suitor. I need an heir and have been considering simply growing a clone, but to have a mother such as Rin would honor any heir to my lands." Lord Yomi stood, "Please don't answer right away, think on it, both of you, and give me your answer tomorrow. Youta will show you to your rooms."

Lord Yomi walked out of the library and Youta walked in and bowed.

"Sesshomaru?" Rin said, worry in her voice and eyes, as she looked up at him. Sesshomaru shook his head, signaling for her to be quiet.

They stood to leave but were stopped by Kurama. "Lord Sesshomaru, Rin, please consider carefully the answer you will give Lord Yomi."

Sesshomaru led Rin out into the corridor and followed Youta, who led them to adjacent doors, and motioning to one, "Your room Lord Sesshomaru, and across," Youta motioned to the other door, "Lady Rin's room. Is there anything I can bring you before you retire?"

"No." Sesshomaru said walking Rin into her room, and closing the door.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Sesshomaru sent Rin to prepare for sleep. Gathering her things, Rin went into the attached washroom.

Rin couldn't quiet her mind, she didn't understand how things had turned out like this. She didn't think Sesshomaru would give her to Lord Yomi but what if he did? Sesshomaru had given up his lands in order to wait in the human world for her, so he valued her more then political matters in demon world, right? But then why had they come to demon world, did Sesshomaru want his lands back? Raizen is on the verge of death and even if Yusuke could inherit, would he make a good ruler? Would anyone really follow Yusuke Urameshi? No one could say he wasn't strong but a ruler needs respect and at least some diplomacy, and even if Yusuke could in time get the respect of most demons, he doesn't have an ounce of diplomacy in him and he is unlikely to ever develop any.

Walking out of the washroom, Rin saw Sesshomaru standing by the window looking out; she walked over to him, and looped her arm through his. Sesshomaru pulled Rin into a hug, and she buried her face in his shoulder. She knew he wouldn't talk to her about it, not with Lord Yomi being able to hear every word. Sesshomaru soon sent her to the bed for sleep, but Rin knew he would be in the room all night, watching over her.

Sesshomaru walked over to the bed and looked down at Rin as she slept. Looking at her face calmed him; he could tell she was troubled by Lord Yomi's proposal and in her sleep her worried expression was gone, and he did not wish to see it again. Sesshomaru reached down to brush hair from Rin's face; Rin without waking turned into his touch and reached up to hold onto his hand. Her heart beat slowed even more as she fell into a deeper sleep.

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