"That was close.." Rin muttered under her breath as she closed her window and fell carelessly onto her bed just moments before her house phone started to ring.
Rin was quickly at attention and hopped from her bed. It seems as if I cant even take a breather. Rin thought to herself, she had been on her toes all day and was just ready to relax.
"Who is it?" Rin questioned picking up the device and holding it close to her mouth while listening intently.
"Kagome, silly!" Kagome responded cheerfully "Is he still there?" She questioned as Rin heard Inuyasha's loud irritated growl.
"No, my parents just got home" Rin whispered as her parents walked through the door, bowing to them and running quickly back up the stairs to her room.
"Oh... Well, how'd it go!?" Kagome practically begged to know
"Quite" Rin said remorsefully
"Quite?!" Kagome yelled "What do you mean quiet?!"
"Well, Sesshomaru isn't much of a vocalist. He rarely said anything at all, I am so utterly confused Kagome, I don't even know where to begin with this marking thing... What it even means" Rin spoke quietly as she began thinking to herself.
The courting ritual that took place between the inu-youkai breed was a fascinating one indeed. Once the male youkai had found his mate, he marked her with a simple kiss. Rin remembered placing one of her hands on her neck and staring distressfully into her mirror. As she quickly brushed away her hair, the kiss was left lingering from the imprints of his fangs with a small amount of dried blood that had seeped from the wound.
After the male had found his one true mate, one hundred or even a thousand years in time they had began the formal courting rituals. Rin thought to herself, her cheeks blushed a pale pink remembering what Kagome had said about the expectations after the event. She was left without any comfort as she slumped down onto her bed letting her hair fall down gracefully over her shoulder once more before heavily sighing.
She hadn't know any specific details of what was to happen while you were actually going through the courting process.
"Rin!?" Kagome screeched as Rin finally snapped from her trance.
"Sorry, did you say something?" Rin questioned as Kagome eye twitched with irritation.
"I said, if you want I could explain somethings for you?
"That would be wonderful Kagome!" Rin replied letting her bubbly personality shine through.
"Well where would you like me to start?" Kagome asked excitedly
"First, I would like to know why Sesshomaru referred to me as his" Rin hesitated and Kagome's anticipation skyrocketed.
"His what?!" Kagome shouted
"Fiance'" Rin replied peacefully
"You are" Kagome said her temperature slightly elevating from all this excitement. Rin was one of her best friends and now, she was going to be family!
"I do not recall him ever even asking me on a date" Rin sighed
"Rin, courting is dating" Kagome replied
"It is?" Rin questioned
"Mmm! Don't tell me he didn't mention that before he marked you?" Kagome grunted
"Well..." Rin started
"He didn't!" Kagome guessed from the hesitation in her voice
"I'd be surprised if he even said a damn word to her before marking her" Inuyasha remarked
"He told me his name..." Rin replied feeling kind of foolish for letting him get so close to her without even trying to push away.
Kagome fell back onto her bed stuck in a stooper state as Inuyasha took the phone from her.
"You have no clue what you've gotten yourself into" Inuyasha laughed
"I didn't get myself into anything!" Rin growled
"Sit" Kagome said as she caught the phone Inuyasha so willingly let go of as his face met with the floor.
"Don't worry about it Rin. Sesshomaru could change" Kagome said doubtingly. For as long as Kagome had known Sesshomaru there was nothing or no one he had cared about more then his own strength.
"Yeah" Rin said faintly "I'm gonna get some sleep"
"Night" Kagome said as they hung up.
Rin wasn't so sure she had wanted Sesshomaru to change per say, she had just wanted him to open up with her. If she were to consider this whole, mate thing. It would have to be something he would have to be willing to do. Rin told herself.
"I'm not going to worry about this tonight" Rin whispered quietly to herself before slipping into comfy sleepwear. Sesshomaru had told her they were going out tomorrow, if that was true then perhaps he had already planned on opening himself up to her and in that case she needn't worry herself.
Rin had drifted off to sleep that being her last thought.
Sesshomaru however, was still very much awake and lost in thought.
Sesshomaru had remembered the first time he had ever laid eyes on Rin, he had known from the moment he had seen that sweet caring look on her badly beaten face that she was to be his mate.
However, he had to let her go. He couldn't keep putting her life in danger. He had to defeat Naraku. The choice was not an easy one but after he'd seen her lifeless body lying in front of him for a second time, being lead to believe for that brief moment that she was beyond his reach had caused him to realize how foolish he had been to drag her along with him in the first place, nothing, not even his own strength was worth her loss.
He knew leaving her behind was what had to be done.
Thankfully, she hadn't remembered any of it.
Rin had slept peacefully that night, she had a peculiar dream but when she awakened from the loud unsuspecting buzz of her alarm clock it had been lost to her.
"Grr..." Sesshomaru began snarling as he ripped the clock from the wall and threw it to the floor before Rin had a chance to shut it off herself.
"S-Sesshomaru?" Rin said groggily as she sat up slowly and stretched her arms high above her head letting out a small puppy sounding yawn.
"Good your up. Get dressed and we will be on our way" Sesshomaru said wearing his usual stoic mask.
"It's only..." Rin began to say before noticing her alarm clock smashed to pieces "Nevermind"
Rin slowly pushed her covers aside and stood from her bed, her night time shorts slightly risen higher than usual exposing more of her thighs than usual. She quickly went to the bathroom to freshen herself up while Sesshomaru sat on her bed. As she returned from the bathroom Rin pulled out the clothes she was to wear for the day and began to question Sesshomaru.
"Did you really have to break my clock?" Rin questioned. Sure the clock had hurt her sensitive ears as well but it was her only means of waking up.
"Hm" Sesshomaru responded "I will be waking you from now on"
You hadn't even woke me today. Rin thought to herself turning towards him with her clothes in hand.
"Shut your eyes" Rin said cheerfully with a bright smile plastered across her face. Sesshomaru stared at her for a moment as if she had gone mad.
"Please?" Rin asked. She had almost forgotten, male daiyoukai hadn't really liked being told what to do. Sesshomaru had then gently shut his eyes and Rin quickly gotten changed, looking over at Sesshomaru the entire time to make sure he wasn't looking. He was however busy picking up her on her scents, the fear and embarrassment emanating from her body was thickening.
"Done!" Rin said as Sesshomaru opened his eyes and looked over to her.
"Beautiful" Sesshomaru stated as her cheeks tinted pink and she looked away from him. "Let's go then shall we"
Rin nodded as she grabbed her back pack , headed down the stairs, out the door and hurriedly to his car. Where he was already waiting and holding the door open for her.
"Thank you" Rin said smiling softly at him as she climbed and buckled herself in. Today was turning out to be a nice day. Rin thought to herself, a nice day. How ironic. As Sesshomaru got in his car, he heard Rin giggling softly.
"What amuses you?" Sesshomaru asked as Rin looked over to him, her icy blue pools penetrating his golden ones.
"Nothing, Lord Sesshomaru" Rin smiled pulling her hair back into a tight ponytail, revealing the mark on her neck. Strangely, one she had been very proud to show.
"Hm" Sesshomaru said as he started up his car and began to drive off. He was very pleased with the way Rin had been adjusting today, she seemed more herself. Inuyasha had told him that since they had defeated Naraku and followed Kagome back to her era, Rin had seemed more than just a little different although that was to be expected.
As they arrived to school Rin quickly got out of the car and threw her bag over her shoulder and in an instant Sesshomaru was right beside her.
"So could you at least give me a hint to where we are going tonight?" Rin pleaded
"No" Sesshomaru holding firm to his whole 'it's a surprise'. That is, until Rin quickly got in front of him and gave him a small puppy pout, and batting her thick lashes too him. For a moment Sesshomaru could have sworn he even saw tears glazing over her icy eyes.
"Please-e-e, just a hint my Lord" Rin begged
"R-Rin" Sesshomaru growled and thought momentarily about it as Rin slumped down and then stood beside him once more. "Stars"
Rin looked over to him and expression of overjoy on her face
"Oh my Lord! Starts!? How wonderful!" Rin shouted with glee as he began to press on. She followed closely beside him. They could hear everyone in the halls whispering about them, but one thing in particular stood out to Rin.
"If there a couple, why are they not holding hands?"
Rin had wondered that herself but she hadn't wanted to impose on Sesshomaru or make him feel uncomfortable in anyway. After all, he was a very impassive in nature.
"Hello Rin! Rin's boyfriend" Naomi said putting emphasis on the word boyfriend. "Wow, thats a nice mark you got there" Naomi said examining it and then checking out Sesshomaru from head to toe.
"Thanks" Rin said smiling and waving her head around as if to show herself off.
"Come Rin" Sesshomaru said passing up Naomi as Rin waved 'bye' to her friend.
"What is it Sesshomaru? Are you mad?" Rin questioned getting the feeling he was some what irritated.
"No, I simply do not wish to be around your friend. She wreaks of wolf" Sesshomaru stated. Did he mean Momiji? Rin questioned herself as they arrived at her class.
It seemed as if the day had only just begun and already it was lunch time. Rin stood from her chair and groaned lightly as Sesshomaru grabbed her back pack and threw it around his left arm.
"I dread lunch today" Rin murmured under her breath as they began walking towards the cafeteria.
"Hm?" Sesshomaru said squinting his eyes lightly as if to imply a question but Rin hadn't taken any notice until it was to late to bail from the dreaded situation.
Momiji had stood directly in front of Rin as Sesshomaru let out a grisly growl.
"Quiet dog breath" Momiji threatened as Sesshomaru's eyes turned crimson and he felt ready to tare his throat out. "I've just come to apologize to my dearest Rin"
Rin quickly grabbed Sesshomarus large clawed hand and intertwined their fingers. Sesshomaru was shocked for a moment and his eyes returned to normal.
"I forgive you" Rin began "But that does not mean we can be such close friends as we once were"
"I see" Momiji said sorrowfully "I will never give up on you Rin, and if you ever need me I will always be here for you"
Rin nodded as Momiji snarled at Sesshomaru and ran off.
"I forbid you to see him" Sesshomaru stated as Rin looked over to him and gave him her the same sweet smile she had that first day he'd met her. The memory she no longer poses at his own fault.
"I promise" Rin said opening her eyes and gently untangled their fingers, dropping his hand.
As they went to the lunch room Sesshomaru and Rin had decided to sit at a new table, once farther away from the rest of the crowd.
"Is this a nice spot?" Rin asked taking a seat
"Hm" Sesshomaru responded setting her bag down as he began to walk off.
"Where are you going?" Rin questioned
"To get your lunch" Sesshomaru responded. Rin could have sworn she told Sesshomaru she had forgotten her lunch money during second period but it seemed as if he wasn't going to accept that.
"Thank you" Rin said as Sesshomaru ignored her and kept walking.
"What are you doing over here?!" Naomi yelled angrily
"Sesshomaru and I do not feel comfortable sitting at a table with Momiji anymore since his little outburst yesterday. I'm sorry" Rin responded to her
"So your just going to ditch me?" Naomi pouted
"I guess you could sit here?" Rin offered insincerely
"Maybe I'll just switch off days, I'll text Momiji and let him know I'm not coming back" Naomi said cheerfully pushing Rin over and sitting next to her as Sesshomaru arrived back with Rin's food.
"Here" Sesshomaru said sitting on the other side of the table obviously avoiding Naomi.
"Thank you" Rin said again as she began eating
"Hm" Sesshomaru replied as Mokomoko began rubbing gently against Rin's free hand under the table. Rin looked up to Sesshomaru in surprise as she slurped a noodle into her mouth.
Rin was still no better at sensing the way Lord Sesshomaru had felt but it was clear to her that he was trying to show her some affection.
"So are you two a serious item?" Naomi asked hopefully
"We have been serious" Sesshomaru responded as Naomi looked at him puzzled and felt her hope slowly set fire to itself and burn alive.
"You have? It doesn't seem like it" Naomi replied
"Well, we only just met Naomi. What do you expect?" Rin giggled lightly as she responded
"Well when Akio first marked Kiyomi. Akio at least seemed interested" Naomi said almost spitefully
Rin set her food aside and sighed heavily. She hadn't known exactly what to say to her and was thankful for the bell signaling that lunch was over.
"Well, it was nice having lunch with you" Rin said smiling weakly as Naomi got up and nodded to her before simply walking off.
"What was that?" Sesshomaru raised a brow to her as she looked over to him sliding out of her seat as Mokomoko slowly fell away from her.
"What was what?" Rin asked
"Don't play dumb, Rin" Sesshomaru demanded
"It was nothing. I don't know what your talking about" Rin said looking away from him.
"Next time she offends you, say something or I will" Sesshomaru said clearly sensing the her hurt feelings that were now mixing with embarrassment.
Rin nodded in understatement as they began walking towards her next class. Rin hadn't understood why she had been so hurt by Naomi's words, sure Sesshomaru hadn't been as affectionate as she would have liked but that was fine. She enjoyed it much more when he surprised her with affections rather than being showed with them like Momiji had once tried to do, that was just to much. Although she doubted if it were coming from Sesshomaru, that she would mind much.
Thankfully the rest of the school day passed by quickly and she was able to push all the thoughts from earlier to the back of her mind in order to make room for the excitement that was now surging throughout her whole body.
"I'm ready for my surprise!" Rin shouted as they approached his car.
"Surprises" Sesshomaru corrected her as he held the door open for her
Rin smiled largely as she got in and buckled up. Surprises? Rin questioned herself.
"You didn't tell me we were doing multiple things" Rin said as Sesshomaru got in and began to start the car.
"I told you we were going out, not where or for how long" Sesshomaru responded. That was true. Rin thought to herself.
Only a half hour later they had arrived at the mall and Rin was indeed surprised.
"The mall?" Rin questioned
"Yes. I decided I should get you some new outfits" Sesshomaru said as Rin looked over to him confusedly
"I don't want you to spend money on me Lord Sesshomaru" Rin said as he looked over to her and raised a brow
"I will spend my money on you regardless if you come in or not" Sesshomaru said parking and getting out of his car as Rin followed
"Well, thank you" Rin said bowing her head lightly to him as they began walking into the mall.
"Hm" Sesshomaru replied
They had been in almost every single store together, and Sesshomaru had helped her pick out every outfit she had bought but as he headed towards a kimono store he gave Rin different instructions.
"You may go find food" Sesshomaru spoke softly handing her money. Rin nodded and turned away from him and was on her way to find a good place to eat at.
"Rin!" A familiar voice called out as she turned around to see Kagome and Inuyasha coming towards her.
"Kagome! Inuyasha!" Rin shouted joyously running over to greet them.
"What are you doing here?" Kagome asked
"Sesshomaru brought me, we've been shopping for clothes since school let out. I was just on my way to get some food, would you guys like to join me?" Rin asked
"Definitely" Inuyasha accepted eagerly as Kagome laughed
"Oh don't sound so eager Inuyasha, I don't starve you" Kagome said
"Yeah right, you eat everything in sight Kagome" Inuyasha argued as Kagome narrowed her eyes towards him
"Sit" Kagome said grabbing Rin's hand and leading them away from the loud thud and cracking floor
"Cruel Kagome" Rin said giggling softly
"Call it hormones" Kagome replied as Rin was forced to ask
"Do you ever get the feeling Inuyasha doesn't really love you?"
"Why would you ask that?" Kagome stared mortifyingly at her
"Well, something this girl said to me today" Rin began "She said that Lord Sesshomaru hadn't really seemed interested in me... Do you think that is because maybe he really isn't? Maybe he is... Uh, I don't know"
Kagome began breathing regularly once again.
"You nearly gave me a heart attack Rin, you could have just asked about the mating thing or specifically about you and Sesshomaru. I have been through enough worrying with Inuyasha" Kagome replied
"Sorry... Wait, what do you mean?" Rin asked
"First, I will answer you this. If Sesshomaru had any other intentions with you, he would have merely done as he pleased. He is taking the time to court you Rin, that is something a youkai of his status does not normally do. Look at his father for example, mating with his mother and lusting for Inuyasha's" Kagome replied and hesitated giving Rin the opportunity to speak.
"So once you are mated it truly means nothing?" Rin sighed heavily
"That was not at all my point" Kagome squeaked
"But if Inuyasha's father had chosen another women over his mate... It must mean, nothing" Rin replied
"Sesshomaru's mother was not my fathers intended mate" Inuyasha interrupted "She and my father merely procreated in order for my father to have a successor"
Normally this should have set someones mind at ease, but Rins mind was not so easily rested. Sesshomaru himself would also one day require a successor and Rin being a hanyou was incapable of giving him a suitable one. However, she decided to stay quiet.
"Rin" Sesshomaru spoke with a calming baritone
"Yes my Lord" Rin said
"Have you eaten?" Sesshomaru questioned as she shook her head
"No, I am not hungry" Rin replied holding her hand out to him to give him back his money.
"Keep it" Sesshomaru said firmly as she nodded and put in in her pocket. She had all of a sudden felt very uneasy around him but tried her best to hide it.
However, Inuyasha had smelt the uneasy feelings generating from Rins scent which without a doubt meant that Sesshomaru had.
"Come" Sesshomaru said beginning to walk away as Rin looked over to both Inuyasha and Kagome.
"I will talk to you guys later" Rin said unsettlingly as she then turned away from them and ran after Sesshomaru.
"What did you do Kagome?" Inuyasha grunted
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked
"Rin wreaked of uneasy and unsettling feelings" Inuyasha replied
As Rin and Sesshomaru arrived to his car, Rin quickly opened the door for herself and got in leaving Sesshomaru standing there in question. As he went around and got in his car he looked over to the hanyou, who had been looking down into her lap. She was becoming detached. Sesshomaru thought to himself.
"What ails you Rin?" Sesshomaru asked
"Nothing my Lord" Rin replied without hesitation
Rin had stared out the window at the darkened sky as Sesshomaru began to drive off towards her house. The ride was quiet and neither of them made any attempts to further discuss Rin's distress.
"Time for your second surprise" Sesshomaru said as they pulled up to her house hoping to get some kind of reaction out of her like the one he had earlier received, but it was actually more counter productive as Rin pulled her hair down letting in fall in front of her mark.
"What is it?" Rin asked dully as she got out of the car
Sesshomaru was at her side in an instant as he grabbed her hand roughly and clasped it tightly in his own. Rin looked up to him her cheeks blushing a bright red.
"A walk through the stars" Sesshomaru responded as Rin smiled
"Could I ask you something?" Rin tried gathering up the courage to ask him about all of the doubts running through her mind
"Hm" Sesshomaru responded
"Nevermind" Rin said "It's not important"
"If you were thinking on it so heavily, it must be. But if you wish to think more on it, so be it" Sesshomaru began "But know this...I will do my best to see to your needs. You require reassurance. Physical and verbal and I am attempting to provide this to you now. I am not a warm being or a very verbal one, but I am trying. Be patient with me Rin?"