A/N: I haven't been on this site much being that I have been working towards my goal of becoming a teacher in another country. Hopefully South Korea. :] Anyways enjoy.
Sesshoumaru could smell the plate of food that was just outside his bedroom door. He could smell it but the scent did not affect him. He may have not eaten for ten months, but still the hunger he felt burning in the pit of his stomach was not enough to make him see pass his misery. He thought of her and only her. He was young, too young, to feel this dejected. He remembered the night that he had first kissed her and tasted the strawberry blood on her lips. It was his first kiss as well as hers. Why hadn't he realized it then? How could it be that he had not known? A chill ran down his spine as he thought of her end. A howl of anger left his body as he started scratching at the walls in his chamber as he tore the room thread for thread violently. He hadn't realized the gashes he tore into his own skin. He couldn't smell the salt of his tears because of the metallic scent of his blood. He almost wished that he would bleed to death. His body wracked as a pitiful noise left his mouth. He should not be doing this. He should never cry. He was the western lord. The king of ice and no emotion. He should not feel anything. She was lost to him, his world seemed to be a pit of deep nothingness without her.
'I will feel nothing until you return to me.' he thought drifting into sleep so that he might see her smiling face.
Rin's presence had been in court for three months now and she was eagerly awaiting the day that she would be able to take over and rule her father's land. She had learned to keep to herself, she trusted no one there. She had watched as father's used their daughters in order to attain more lands for themselves. A breath escaped her lips as she walked through a lonely hall. A hand grabbed her from behind and pulled her into an empty room. She smiled expecting to see her old friend. When she realized that who she saw was Yuuriko her face sunk. She made no attempt to hide her feelings on this. Yuuriko in turn showed her full disdain for the girl with every gesture she made.
"I have contracted your hand with Kouga. You will marry him in one month and make him lord of the east and south." Yuuriko smiled as she watched Rin's face turn into one of horror.
"I, beg you, don't make me marry him. You can keep my father's lands for yourself. My only desire is to return to the countryside and live in peace." she said
"You have bigger thoughts in that disgusting half breed head of yours. You are nothing but a whore just like your mother. You think I do not know of your late nights with the western lord. I know and you should be happy that such a respectable man, is willing to have you still." Yuuriko said.
"We do nothing but talk. I swear it. We are friends from childhood." Rin explained she was on her knee's before Yuuriko.
"Well then, why is that every time you enter the room his scent changes as does yours?" she asked.
"I do not know. Maybe because we are friends." Rin struggled, getting a pang in her chest. It hurt like a fire tearing away at her heart.
"The contract has already been signed. The only thing that will save you from this marriage is death. You will mate him and you will bear him pups, is that clear?" Yuuriko said, watching with mirth as tears slid from Rin's eyes.
"I beg you, no." she sobbed sinking to her knees she felt the pain spreading through her entire body.
"It is done." Yuuriko walked away from Rin. Sesshoumaru stepped from the shadows as soon as Yuuriko was well away. Rin's body wracked with sobs as she buried her face in her hands. Sesshoumaru scooped her up in his arms and took her to his chambers where no one was allowed but him. Not even servants came here. If they did Sesshoumaru killed them. He sat her in a chair and wiped her face with a wet cloth. She watched him as he cleaned her face struggling to compose herself. He wiped looked into her eyes and ran a hand through her soft locks.
"I will try and send other offers his way…and if that fails then I will take him to war." Sesshoumaru said.
"I don't want to put your kingdom in any danger." she said slowly through the pain that was raging war inside of her of her very veins.
"My kingdom is incomparable to what you mean to me." he told her, never had he been able to be so open with himself than when he was with her.
"I will not be the cause of a thousand deaths." she said firmly.
"You will not rage war on his kingdom over a woman." she told him. Sesshoumaru was shocked at the tone she had just used with him. The pain had dispersed and was gone now. She breathed in deeply.
"I refuse for him to have you." Sesshoumaru said with anger in his silk voice.
"We can resolve this in a more peaceful manner I hope." she said.
"Let's try this your way and if it does not succeed I will take pleasure in ringing his neck." Sesshoumaru growled at the end of his statement. Rin watched him, she had never seen him so ferocious in their time as friends. Sesshoumaru looked at her eyes and then took her mouth with his wrapping his arms around her. Rin's arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer to her. He was kneeling in front of her, his torso between her clothed legs as he kissed her. She pulled away from him her hands tangled in his hair.
"I cannot…" she told him. She feared what would happen. Her mother had warned her what could happen to her should she mate a demon, and that would only happen if her jewel shattered around her neck.
"I can wait for you." he said to her his eyes on fire like golden embers.
"How long will you wait?" she asked him, her eyes welling with tears.
"As long as it takes." he kissed her knuckles.
"I love you, Sesshoumaru." she said to him before she stood and left his chamber in a hurry leaving him there. As the days passed Sesshoumaru threw beautiful girls in front of Kouga's eyes each failed as Rin was continuously placed in his sight by Lady Yuuriko. She seemed to know of Sesshoumaru's plan. Rin of course did her best to sway his desires to another. Kouga watched her with those electric eyes that Sesshoumaru had grown to hate with a passion. He watched the way Kouga pulled her close whenever they danced during balls. His blue eyes savoring every curve of her body and it made Sesshoumaru want to tear him limb from limb.
"Lady Rin, I have to say you look lovely tonight." he told her.
"Thank you, Lord Kouga. I think that Lady Kaoko, looks extraordinary tonight more so than I." Rin said with a smile. A smile that made Kouga want to drag her to his chambers at once. He wanted to see surrender to him, he wanted to watch her beneath him as she became his. He could control himself for now because he knew that she would be his soon enough. Their wedding only one week away.
Yuuriko knew what Sesshoumaru had been planning with Rin the whole time. She had kept a close eye on the pair as they stole kisses from each other in the dark. She could sometimes smell him on Rin. Although she could also tell that Rin was still as virgin as a babe. Still she could always spit lies into the eastern noble's ear and watch him become wild for her. Rin sat beside him at dinner her eyes always darting to Sesshoumaru. He remained as stoic as a statue, but she knew that later he would hold her and whisper into her ears of what they would have together in the future. Yuuriko snuck into the bed chamber of the eastern lord, he was not asleep but was alone however.
"I have something to tell you." she said.
"You should not be here." he said his deep and rough voice making her a little bit nervous. He was handsome with his strong jaw and black hair, lightly tanned skin, and those glowing eyes.
"It is about Rin and the western lord." Yuuriko threw the bait and he took it.