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Chapter 19: Rin's Goodbyes

When Rin woke up the next morning, she almost thought the previous night was a dream. But, a smile came over her when she felt Sesshoumaru still laying in the futon next to her. Shifting herself onto her side, she moved her arms around his waist and rested her head against his shoulder, her brown eyes looking up to his face.

"Good morning, Lord Sesshoumaru-sama." she said with a soft smile on her lips. Her fingers ran along his muscular chest slowly as she cuddled into him. He was gorgeous, just as she'd always thought.

Cloths were laying in lumps all over the floor by the futon, mostly Sesshoumaru's since she'd only been wearing a small kimono. But even that was laid on the floor. The swords Tenseiga and Bakusaiga sat just by the side of the bed, always within reach should the diayoukai need them.

Rins fingers traced one of the muscles along Sesshoumaru's chest, staying cuddled close to him. Her entire body was sore, she did not want to move at all, content with laying there.

The newest development was the mating mark that was now on her right shoulder, at the base of her neck, where her neck met her shoulder. The bite was fresh still, but already healing. She also had a few small cuts along her sides and arms from Sesshoumaru's claws.

It was silent for several moments before Sesshoumaru's golden orbs looked down at the girl cuddled up to her. "Are you hurt Rin?" he asked. He was actually concerned on if he'd hurt her last night or not. His usual self control was pretty nonexistent at some point in the night in his desire to take the girl next to him and claim her as his. He'd never lost control like that before. He'd always been very guarded of himself. But his baser demon nature arose the night before to assert his dominance over the girl while they mated.

She nodded to him, smiling happily. "More than alright, Lord Sesshoumaru." she said. Leaning up to place a gentle kiss on his lips, her arm moving more around his waist and cuddling up to him.

A breath escaped his lips that he had not known he was holding before he started to sit up. The sheets fell down to pool in his lap with his movement. Also, Rin laid back on the futon once he moved, her eyes looking up at him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked.

"Lets go, Rin. Get dressed." was all he said as he moved to stand up, beginning to dress himself again.

She watched him for a moment, a small blush crossing her cheeks when she saw him naked. Yeah, she'd seen him last night, but that was in the heat of the passionate moment. Now seeing him this way, she couldn't help but stare a little. When his words registered to her, she sat up, holding the sheets against her chest softly. "Go where, Lord Sesshoumaru?" she asked curiously.

"Home." was all he answered, adjusting the folds of his clothes as he dressed, his eyes not looking at her.

Blinking to her mate, she tilted her head to one side. "But I am home..."

Then his golden orbs looked over to her, shaking his head. "My mate will not live in a shack in a human village. You will live in my castle. No arguments, lets go." he insisted. He'd never taken her back there before, and even then he wasn't seeming to give her a choice.

She pouted a little bit, loving the idea and not loving it at the same time. "But I have friends here, Lord Sesshoumaru. Tamako-chan is here, she's my friend...and so is Chiyo and Sara, and a lot of people..." she said softly. She was good friends with the monk and the slayers girls, too. This place felt like home.

He watched her for a moment, nodding. "And you will see them. However; a womans place is with the man whom she belongs to. I will not change my mind. Get dressed. Lets go."

Thinking for a moment as Rin looked at him. "Must it be now? I would like to say goodbye to my friends.." she said, giving him the cutest pout she could think of.

His eyes narrowed as he watched her face, not outwardly showing emotion even now. "Fine. You have two days to get things in order here." he said. He was mostly all dressed except his armor and his swords, which still lay to the side of the floor.

A smile crossed her lips before she stood up. Taking an under kimono and gently pulling it on, tying it in front for now before she moved to Sesshoumaru. Leaning up and kissing him softly, she was surprised when he actually kissed her back without hesitation.

His hands found their way to open her kimono again, resting his fingers on her bare sides, which just made her blush. He brought her up close to him as he kissed her deeper, a growl resonating in his throat as he held the girl. Holding her tightly, but not too tightly as he deepened the kiss, almost not knowing what had gotten into him when the girl kissed him like that.

Her arms found his neck, wrapping around it slowly as she held the kiss until he leaned back. She only smiled a little, giggling. "Lord Sesshoumaru..." she said in a soft content voice.

Nodding to her, he let her go gently, standing up straight and looking down at her. "Two days. And no short kimono. My mate will dress respectably." he told her before taking his armor and bringing it on, snapping it into place before he picked up his swords.

Rin nodded slowly, gently pulling her robes closed as she hugged herself a little. "Yes Lord Sesshoumaru. I promise. Two days." she told him.

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After Sesshoumaru had left and Rin had gotten dressed, she was walking towards Inuyasha's hut in the forest, a smile plastered on her lips. Her happiness was evident as she walked, nearly skipping down the path. She hadn't seen Kagome in town yet, so she figured they were all still in the hut.

Once she got there, she could smell breakfast that the family had been making. She hadn't eaten yet, really she was too excited to eat. Coming up to the door, she knocked softly at the wood by the reed mat. "Hello?" she called out.

"Come on in, Rin." Kagome's voice was heard from inside.

Rin nodded, moving the reed mat and stepping inside, looking at them. "Morning everyone!" she said happily.

Kagome sat next to Inuyasha while they ate, and Tamako sat across from them. Tamako looked up at her friend, smiling happily. "Morning Rin-chan! How did it go last night?"

The question made the older girl blush. "Umm...good. Can you come talk with me soon?"

Inuyasha blinked a little, looking up at the girl. "What was happening last night?" he asked, looking at Rin. He could smell his brother all over the girl. Which almost made him be able to guess what had happened.

Sniffing the air, Tamako could also smell what her father smell, which only made her grin. "Ohh see! I told you! Uncle Sesshy is not that cold of a fish." she said, nodding a little. "Sure. I was going to go take a morning bath in the springs after I finished breakfast. Would you like to come?" she asked.

Rin nodded to her. "Yes, you did. And I would love to." she said, a blush crossing her cheeks.

Inuyasha scoffed a little. "Yeah right. My brother is an ass." he stated, earning him a nudge from his own mate. Looking down to Kagome, he only smiled. "I'm telling the truth, koi." he said. He'd been so happy when Kagome came back. But their life wasn't exactly 'normal.' Most of the time he could tell something was different about the woman he loved, but he did not question it. The biggest thing that concerned him was the fact that she had not become with child. It'd only taken once to conceive their daughter, but in the years since Kagome had came back, they had definitely had sex way more than once. He did want another pup, and so did Kagome. He wanted to be there while she was pregnant. But, it hadn't happened.

Rolling her eyes, Tamako looked at her father. "Uncle Sesshy isn't that bad, otou. Plus, he's still a maaaan." she said, giggling a little. Finishing up her miso soup before gently putting the bowl to one side, looking at her mother. "Can I go now, okaa?" she asked politely.

Kagome nodded. "Go on ahead. Have fun. But take your sword and be careful." she told her daughter.

Tamako nodded, standing up and taking her sword from its place it had been on the ground, starting to walk out of the hut with Rin.

They were silent on the way to the spring, Tamako knowing her father had good hearing and suspecting he did not want to hear details of the night before, even if he had not already figured out what had happened by the change in Rin's scent.

Once they arrived at the springs, Tamako looked around, making sure they were safe before she rested her sword against the rocks within easy reach. Undressing from her kimono carefully before slowly slipping in. The wounds she had gotten with her fight with Ayame two days ago were all but gone, completely healed up from her demonic blood.

Slipping into the water, Tamako let out a happy sigh as she sat down, looking up at Rin, seeing her do the same. But, she saw the mating mark on Rins shoulders, the cuts on her sides and arms that were all small. She smiled widely, knowing the smaller cuts would heal, but seeing the mating mark just made her grin. "Ohhh I told you! See! Uncle Sesshy loooves you." she said, giggling.

Rin slid into the springs, blushing as she smiled, leaning back against the rock. "Yeah. When he saw me last night, he just got this...look in his eyes. He got jealous! He was jealous, saying he would have no man leering at me and all." she said, closing her eyes halfway at the memory of the night before.

Tamako shifted to sit next to her friend, looking up at her, smiling. "Sooo? How was it? Did it hurt?" she asked curiously. She was a teenage girl after all, and her body so wanted her to mate with Kouga now that she was of age. But, she had questions, ones she didn't feel comfortable talking to her mother about. She knew the basics about sex, but not the intimate details.

Thinking for a moment, Rin shook her head. "No. I mean, well, at first yeah. Because at first it hurts for a woman. Thats just the way its supposed to be for us. But..." she said, her voice trailing off for a moment before looking down at the younger girl. "But, after that, it felt so amazing. Everything I'd heard about sex was so wrong, Tamako-chan. Some girls speak as though its a horrid thing they hate doing, but they know they must. But...with Lord Sesshoumaru...kami it was amazing." she told her, blushing deeply.

Nodding, listening to her story, Tamako bit her bottom lip. "Was he rough? Or gentle?"

Thinking for a moment, Rin shrugged. "A little of both. He was so gentle at first, but...once I got used to it, he stopped being so gentle. I still think he might have held back because I'm a human. But, it was still amazing." she said, looking at her friend. "Don't worry Tamako. I was nervous too. But...when it actually happens, its great. I'm sure Kouga-kun won't hurt you, he loves you." she assured.

Nodding, Tamako smiled as she leaned down into the water, closing her eyes halfway. "Yeah. I know he won't. But you know, I've heard those same girls talk about how they hate sex and dread it...that the man just..takes what he wants." she said, shuddering at the thought.

"That must be a human thing. Because Lord Sesshoumaru was definitely not like that." she told him, looking up at her slowly. "I don't think all husbands are like that, human or not. Just the ones that speak of it are. Its really not a bad thing." she insisted.

Tamako nodded again, smiling. "I'm glad. I know Kouga wouldn't hurt me. I'm just nervous is all. I mean, the other day in the spur of the moment I wasn't. Maybe I just over think things while not in the moment." she said, shrugging.

"Maybe..." Rin muttered, sighing a little and looking down at the water. "But...Lord Sesshoumaru wants me to go with him." she admitted.

This drew Tamako's attention. Looking to her friend and blinking. "Go with him where?"

"To his castle. He says that his mate will not live in a hut in a human village." she told her, looking towards her slowly. "He promises I'll be able to come back to visit. But...but he wants me with him. He says a womans place is by the man whom she belongs to. And he's right. A new wife always moves away to live with her husband. Its the way things are."

Tamako pouted slowly, her ears dropping. "But...but I'll miss you, Rin-chan..." she said slowly. Rin had been one of her best friends throughout her life here. She couldn't imagine life without her best friend.

Nodding in agreement. "I'll miss you too. But, I have to go with Lord Sesshoumaru. And when you mate with Kouga, you will have to go with him to his den. Its the way things are. But it'll be okay Tamako. I will come to visit." she said, smiling softly.

The younger girl just nodded a bit, glancing up at her. "I know." she said with a sigh, looking down at the water. "I'm looking forward to it, and nervous at the same time."

"Yeah I feel the same way. It'll be different. But, it'll be with our mates, and I'm sure both of them will make sure we're safe and happy." she said slowly. "It'll be okay, Tamako-chan. We'll still see each other. Maybe you can come to the castle and see it. I'm so excited to see the castle!"

Smiling, Tamako looked towards her, leaning her head back against the rock. "That would be cool. I just wish telephones were invented.." she said with a sigh.

"Tele-ph-nes?" Rin asked curiously, her head tilting to one side.

Nodding, she giggled. "Yeah. Oh I forget you didn't see the time in which I was born. Well, you know I was born in Tokyo...in the future, and came back through the well with my Otou. Well, telephones are these things that you can talk to people over long distances. Just pick it up and dial a number, and get the person you're looking for."

"Oohh! That sounds cool!" Rin said happily, nodding. "Mm...yeah, I wish tel-i-phns were around too."

"Mmhm...it'll take a few hundred years though." Tamako said with a pout.

"But, we'll still stay in contact. There is still letters and visits and stuff." Rin pointed out.

With that, the girls leaned down to enjoy the rest of their bath, chit chatting about various things about men, the new castle, and other things as they usually did.

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