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Chapter 13 Answers and Lack Thereof

The next morning Sesshomaru instructed Rin to gather her things. She hoped that meant he wasn't going to give her to Lord Yomi and that they would be leaving, but there was still a knot in Rin's stomach.

As they walked to breakfast Rin looked up at her guardian. Sesshomaru, seeing her still worried expression reached up to smooth the line the formed between her brows. Rin's heart lifted a bit more, she smiled up at him and taking his arm they entered the dining room.

Lord Yomi turned to them smiling and nodded a greeting. Kurama and the others were at the table and greeted them loudly. Kurama, although he smiled and greeted them with the others, had a worried look in his eyes. They sat down to eat and Rin talked and laughed with her friends, but all too soon the meal ended and Lord Yomi invited them to the library.

This time Kurama and Youta joined the three for there after meal discussion.

"This is rear but I must say I don't know how you will answer my proposal. With my heightened senses I catch conversations and such to tell me what people are thinking." Lord Yomi smiled.

"I must decline." Sesshomaru answered simply, "Thank you for your hospitality, we will be going now." Sesshomaru stood, quickly followed by Rin. Kurama's eyes grew wide as he held his breath waiting for Lord Yomi's reaction to this rejection.

The atmosphere of the room changed instantly, Lord Yomi was no longer smiling, and his demon energy was filling the room. Rin without thinking put up a shimmering shield around her and Sesshomaru; there were sparks where the demon energy touched the barrier.

"My apologies," Lord Yomi stood, smiling, "I was hoping this would be an opportunity for our lands to come closer to a place of unity." His energy had receded once again, and Rin dropped her shield. "I hope you will reconsider my offer, it still stands."

Before anything else could be said or done Sesshomaru's orb of light enveloped Rin and himself, and shot out of the castle.

Rin hugged Sesshomaru tightly, "Thank you," she whispered into his shoulder.

Rapping his arm around her, Sesshomaru tucked his nose into her hair. "You're welcome, you are worth far more then Lord Yomi deserves." Rin looked up at him and smiled.

"Do you…" Rin looked down embarrassed, "Do you know who you are going to choose for me?"

Sesshomaru smiled. "Perhaps."

"What? Who?" Rin looked up surprised.

"You don't need to worry about that yet, dear one." Sesshomaru said.

"Is it someone I know?" Rin's eyes were big, hoping for hints.

Sesshomaru was silent but his smile remained.

"Is it someone from the West?" Rin was slightly tugging on Sesshomaru's sleeve now.

"I told you not to worry." Sesshomaru looked down at Rin with soft eyes.

"Demon or human?"

Sesshomaru lifting one eyebrow.

"Ok," she said with a note of resignation, "but I'm not worried. I know you'll make sure I'm taken care of." Rin looked away. "It's just... I don't know... the thought that there is someone out there that I'm going to be so close to, closer then I am even with you now. I want to know who they are."

Sesshomaru lifted Rin's chin with his fingers so he could look into her eyes. "Enjoy where you are now, change can come all too quickly sometimes."

In the northern castle

Kurama kept his face blank and breathing even as he waited for Lord Yomi to say something. He knew that no matter the reasoning for it, or the way it was given, the rejection to a mating offer was never entirely without insult, weather intended or not.

"Youta." Lord Yomi said calmly.

"Yes, my lord?" Youta stepped forward.

"Start the preparations for my clone. I don't think Lord Sesshomaru will reconsider."

Youta bowed and left the room.

Kurama wanted to breathe a sigh of relief but dare not.

Sesshomaru and Rin returned to the western castle by mid-afternoon.

Before Lord Yomi's invitation, Rin had made it her custom to read in the library in the evenings, and upon arriving back at the castle Sesshomaru delivered her there. Rin settled in with a book she had started a few days before.

Sesshomaru left Rin to her reading and when to speak to the castle armoire.

The armoire of the WesternCastle was the eldest son of Totosai. Taichi was as his name implied a large man, a head taller then lord Sesshomaru and easily three times his weight. After long centuries working under his father and other crafts men, Taichi was highly respected and sought for his weapons and armor. Sesshomaru however entered the armory for neither weapon nor armor; his interest was in Taichi's less well known metal working skills.

Taichi looked up and, seeing Lord Sesshomaru at his door, quickly straitened and set aside his tools which he had been cleaning.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Taichi bowed low. "How may I be of assistance, my lord?"

"A commission." Sesshomaru walked over to a wall and inspected the swords and other blades that hung on it.

"Yes, my lord. What is it you wish me to make?"

Rin looked up when the library door opened shortly after Sesshomaru left.

"Hi, Yusuke." Rin greeted.

"Hey, Rin. How'd it go in the north?" Yusuke sat across from her on the window seat.

Rin looked down and blushed. Yusuke's eyes got wide at the sight of her pink cheeks. "Well... Lord Yomi..." Rin trialed off.

"What? What did he do?" Yusuke leaned into look at her face.

"Um... he asked Sesshomaru if he..."

"What?" Yusuke was getting irritated.

"He asked Sesshomaru to give me to him as his mate!" Rin practically shouted to get the horrifying statement out.

Yusuke swore, "What did Sesshomaru say? He didn't actually go along with it did he?"

At this Rin smiled and giggled, "No." she whispered.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Well, not so much that, but on the way back I asked Sesshomaru if he had chosen someone for me and he said perhaps but wouldn't tell me anything else, so I think he already chose but I have no idea who. And I know who ever it is will be good, but still it's weird not knowing."

"I bet, anyway don't stress about it. He'll tell you."

"Thanks Yusuke." Rin smiled.

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