InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In a Different Light ❯ Neither Sight, Sound, Nor Scent ( Chapter 22 )

Author's Note: Just a little friendly warning. This fic is rated NC-17 for a reason, and the end of this chapter is one of them. If you're under the age of 17, or you're uncomfortable with acts of a sexual nature, please don't read any further. You have been warned.

In a Different Light

Chapter 21: Neither Sight, Sound, Nor Scent

Rin spent the night snuggled in Sesshomaru's fur, oblivious to the growing chill in the air and happy to know that they'd soon be back at the castle. In the morning, they woke before sunrise, so she could get in some light practice before beginning with the day's travel. After a successful hour of sword practice, Sesshomaru "rewarded" her by allowing her to rough him up a little. She practiced disarming him, striking him, and her personal favorite, tossing him . . . Of course, he refused to fall on his backside like a proper opponent, but it did give her a great thrill to send him sailing through the air, if only to see him land gracefully on his feet. Leverage, balance and momentum were the key. No matter how large your opponent, if you employed those principles, you could always bring them down.

After running through a couple of escape techniques, Sesshomaru declared that was enough for today. They stopped at the river to quickly refresh themselves, Rin found a few mushrooms to munch on, and then they were off. It was somewhat odd traveling in her training uniform, but since Jakken and Ah-Un had taken the bulk of the supplies, she had little other choice. They'd left only a towel, a water skin, some dried fish, one change of clothing, which she was currently wearing, and some of her more personal effects; all of which, she kept tied around her shoulders, slung down to her back. If she'd had her way, she would've changed back into her kimono from the previous day, but Sesshomaru claimed it stank of humanity-an unpleasant combination of all the odors they'd encountered during the festival last night.

When she asked about the slight sweat she'd worked up during her training, he'd said her "natural" scent was preferable to that manmade stench of food, incense and perfume.

"But I slept beside you all night in that kimono," she pointed out.

"Being so close to the village, I could filter out all similar scents. Out here in the open, those odors are impossible to ignore."

Rin left it at that and continued their travel in quiet. Truthfully, she wasn't as disturbed by her lack of fresh clothing, as she was by the fact they'd taken her new sword with them. True, she wasn't supposed to use it now, and it just would've been another thing to carry, but, still, it was a gift from Sesshomaru . . . Not that he hadn't given her plenty of things in the past, but the sword was special; it was a courtship gift. What if Jakken misplaced it or broke it, or anything else he was apt to do in his bumbling?

Rin sighed. Since she'd already asked her lord where he'd sent Jakken and Ah-Un, and he'd already answered her, the only thing she'd get if she asked again was a bored glare. She sighed again, kicking the leaves beneath her feet, throwing a casual glance up at the sky. It was a clear, blue, cloudless day, the sun nearly at its zenith, which meant they'd been traveling for almost three hours, now. They were still on a forest path, but they'd long since left the Musahsi district and InuYasha's Forest, and so far their travels had been completely uneventful-not a twig out of place, not a rock overturned, nothing.

And it was so quiet without Jakken and Ah-Un . . .

She sighed yet again.

"Are you so bored with my company?" Sesshomaru asked.

She was grateful for the distraction his voice provided and was determined to keep up some form of conversation with him to take her mind off the monotony of the trail. "Not at all," she lied. "I was simply practicing my breathing techniques." She drew in another deep breath and pushed it out, as if to prove her point.

"You know I can tell when you're lying."

Yes, she did know. "So I'm a little bored." She listened to the leaves crunch beneath her bare feet. "With Jakken and Ah-Un not around . . . You must admit you're not the best conversationalist."

"If there is something to be said, I say it."

She sighed again. "I know, I know."

Having nothing else to say, they fell silent.

"Nice weather we're having."

"What?" Rin laughed.

"I am making conversation. You're not from around here, are you?"

"Sesshomaru . . ."

He raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"If you don't have something sensible to say, you should just be silent." She forced her smirk into an overly pleasant smile. How often did she get to use his own words against him?

"Exactly," he nodded.

But she was curious. "Is that how you heard them talking at the festival? 'You're not from around here, are you?'"

"If you call that talking," he replied.

"Well, sometimes it's hard to think of something intelligent to say, so you just say the first thing that comes to your mind."

"One should always think before speaking."

"In the most ideal situations," she agreed. "But, as you implied, sometimes the words just won't come out."

They fell silent again.

"Do you . . . still pick flowers?" he asked.

She smiled to herself. He was getting better at this. "When I can find the time," she said. "But, honestly, I'd rather visit them in the garden than pluck them from their homes. They don't last very long after you pick them."

"I suppose not," he replied.

"I hate to think of how many flowers I've killed over the years."

"They are only flowers," he said simply.

"But they're living things," she countered. "Don't all living things have a right to their lives?"

"Within bounds."

"Bounds?" she repeated.

"If it is not causing me harm or impeding my progress, it can continue about its life as it will."

"And if it is?" she asked.

"I will destroy it."

"But . . . couldn't you simply ask it to step aside?"

"I am not unreasonable. If it does not immediately recognize my status and superiority, I offer it a second chance and command it to make way."

Rin sighed and shook her head. "And then if it doesn't, you destroy it."

He nodded.

She sighed again and pushed her hair back from her face. What a dismal discussion they'd touched upon.

"You disapprove of my methods," he stated in his normal flat tone.

Rin shrugged. "It's no blood on my hands," she said simply. "We all do what we think we have to do in order to survive, right?"

He seemed to consider her question for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "I suppose that is the best way to look at things."

Rin nodded. "So, you're okay with stepping all over everything to get your way, and I'm not."

"I do what is necessary," he replied evenly.

"I didn't say that you don't," she replied equally as cool. "But . . . getting back to my flowers, if you want to bring the outdoors indoors, it's best to just replant them in a pot. That's what I do with my favorites."

He gave no reply, neither physical nor verbal. She wasn't sure if it was because he didn't have one, or because she'd changed topics so quickly and maybe he was trying to catch up. Talking wasn't something he did that often, after all . . .

Or . . . perhaps she'd offended him, and he'd decided not to speak to her for the rest of their journey.

"I . . . have noticed several new planters throughout the castle," he finally said.

Good, she thought, he's not angry. "I did that," she put on her best smile. "Well, Master Sumida helped me make the planters, and Master Li helped me replant them. He's very good with plants," she added. "He's got his own little herb garden growing right outside his dojo."

"I see."

"So, I don't pick flowers anymore so much as replant them."

"And trees?" he asked.

"Replant trees?"

He cracked a slight smile. "Climb them," he corrected her. "Do you still climb trees?"

She chuckled to herself. "Stupid me, of course, you wouldn't think I replant trees. But, yes, I still climb trees. Actually, Master Sumida and I went tree climbing a bit before we left to patrol the borders. Her people make their homes in the trees, you know."

"I am aware."

"We climbed the tree, and we just stood and enjoyed the view." She closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, trying to recapture the moment. "It was sooo nice."

Sesshomaru nodded. "I, too, enjoy the view from the treetops."

She smiled up at him. Such a warm, loving smile, compared to the previously cool tone she'd taken with him just minutes before. And simply because he'd said he enjoyed the same thing as her.

He didn't know why he was so . . . bothered by that brief exchange. What she said was true, and what he said was true, also.

"We all do what we think we have to do in order to survive, right?"

"I suppose that is the best way to look at things."

"So, you're okay with stepping all over everything to get your way, and I'm not."

"I do what is necessary."

"I didn't say that you don't."

Such reproach, such recrimination, such . . . rueful resignation in her eyes, in her voice and every word she chose to speak-most obviously noted in her non-too subtle change of topic.

It was a moot point of debate, and she knew this.

He was the demon Lord of the Western Lands, and he had to do everything within his power to protect what was his. That included himself, his lands, his title, his estate, his servants, his swords, and his mate. And everything included killing. Death was the only language some people understood. He knew this, and he had thought he made Rin understand that.

But the attitude she'd assumed with him . . . as if he were an uncultured barbarian, an untrained animal, a . . . monster who "steps on everything that gets in his way."

He scoffed inwardly. What did she know of life? What did she know of war, bloodshed and sacrifice? What did she know of family duty, honor and pride?

Even his great father was not above a little bloodshed every now and then. And for her to presume that made him any less noble . . .

"Sesshomaru?"

He glanced down at his mate, masking his growing disdain.

"Can we stop for a minute?" she asked.

He studied her for a moment. "Are you tired?"

"No, I, uh . . . I need to . . . go to the bathroom," she finished quickly and quietly.

He masked an amused grin, his anger gradually dissipating as he watched her wriggle and squirm as they continued along the path. She must have been holding it for quite some time.

"I waited as long as I could, but . . ."

He nodded his assent and watched her disappear off the trail behind a patch of bushes.

Rin cursed. "This would be so much easier if I was wearing a kimono."

He hid another grin and took a moment to scent the area for potential threats. His Rin was such a wonderful oddity-quite bold in some ways and quite reserved in others.

"Yes, I know it smells terrible, but some of our bodies aren't as 'efficient' as others."

He grinned again at his mate's mistake and focused on his senses. There was a human village nearby, a few hundred yards in the distance. They would have to alter their path if they didn't want to pass straight through. And he didn't want to pass straight through. His mate's waste products were one thing, but a whole village of such a smell was another matter entirely. At times like this, he did wish human bodies were as efficient as demon bodies. Demons wasted no part of their meals. Everything was digested or absorbed as a form of nourishment.

"You're not angry with me, are you?"

He raised a questioning eyebrow at his mate who had rejoined him at his side.

"I wasn't trying to insult you," she said. "We just . . . disagree on that particular point. My reluctance to kill doesn't make me weak, and your willingness to kill doesn't make you a monster. We both have lives beyond the battlefield, so to speak."

He focused in on her. "Reluctance as opposed to refusal?"

Rin shrugged. "Well, I have to eat."

He nodded his understanding, and they headed off again around the village.

It was amazing how even without the mark, Rin was able to pick up on his most subtle changes in attitude. He supposed it was because she'd known him for so long-not nearly so long as Jakken, but still she was able to gauge his mood with an almost startling degree of accuracy. On occasion she misspoke or misjudged, but on par, he would daresay no one knew him as well as his Rin. And to say she knew nothing of war or duty or bloodshed wasn't entirely true. War was rampant in this era, and they'd passed through countless battlefields in their travels. He made sure to keep her clear of ongoing struggles, but it was impossible to hide the aftereffects-not that he sought to shelter her from such harsh truths, nor did she shy away from such sights. Quite the contrary, in their early travels she treated them as if they were ordinary and everyday. She still regarded them with a certain sense of detachment, these days, but as they passed through, he always heard her utter some form of prayer, possibly from the teachings of her Master Li.

And as for duty, pride and sacrifice, he could not ask for a more dutiful companion, and was it not she who sacrificed her safety and comfort to come to the aid of a wounded demon and to save the life of yet another? And his Rin was not proud, she was dignified. She possessed both self-assurance and modesty . . . which was better than what he could say for himself.

He cursed himself inwardly. He would have to be more mindful of his thoughts from now on. Surely, Rin would not appreciate such traitorousness from her own mate.

"We all do what we must," he finally concluded.

Rin nodded. "I agree."

Two hours later they broke free of the forest and entered the mountainous terrain-nothing but blue sky, rocky mountains and craggy hills. He offered her his hand to help her up the steeper parts, but she politely declined, saying she could make it on her own.

"I wonder what Jakken and Ah-Un are doing?" she asked.

"Exactly as I told them if they know what is good for them."

"And what did you tell them to do?" she asked.

"I would prefer not to say."

"Oh? A secret mission, is it?"

He stopped, having reached the plateau, and waited for her. "If you wish to call it that."

She stepped up to meet him, then took a moment to glance back down the way they came. She almost seemed to be . . . searching for something. "I hope it's nothing serious," she finally said.

Curious, Sesshomaru scented the area more intently and trained his ears for any sounds out of the ordinary. He sensed nothing, but Rin continued to stare down the peak. "It is not," he answered. "Is there something wrong, Rin?"

She stared up at him then shook her head. "No, not really. Something just feels . . . out of place, I guess."

"I have scanned the area. There is nothing out of the ordinary."

She continued to linger along the edge. "I just feel as if . . . something's following us. It's not a big feeling; it's just a little twinge. But then again, big feelings are just little twinges to me."

He raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Oh, um, remember when those worm-things came and attacked us?"

He nodded.

"I felt that same little twinge before they popped up."

"You can sense youki?"

"No," she shook her head. "Not just youki, any massive disturbance. And I say massive because it has to be fairly large for me to even notice it. Master Li's much more sensitive than I am, so he can detect the slightest disturbance . . . like a pebble dropping into a stream. But I haven't had half the training he has, so it has to be a rockslide for me to even bat an eyelid."

Sesshomaru again scanned. "There is nothing here, Rin. I see nothing, hear nothing, smell nothing, sense nothing. There are no youkai in the area."

"I didn't say it was a demon," she said simply. "And can't demons mask their auras, anyway?"

He nodded. "But even so, given the current direction of the wind, if there were something trailing us from behind, I could smell it. You can mask your aura, but you can only cover your scent. If there was something amiss, I could smell it."

Rin nodded, but continued to stare down the hillside.

"Come along," he said. "We are wasting time."

She threw one final glance over her shoulder, then followed in her lord's footsteps.

A few hours later, the sun set and Sesshomaru decided they should make camp for the night. Even on mountains, there is forest land, and they found an ideal spot in a clearing amidst the trees. There were several rocks around, so they didn't have to sit on the cold ground, and all the trees provided excellent cover for their campfire. It was odd actually watching him build a fire-digging a pit, gathering wood and lighting it on fire by banging two rocks together-but without Jakken around, who else was going to do it?

She could . . . if you gave her an hour or two, but her lord simply wasn't that patient. She needed fire to keep herself warm during the increasingly cold nights, and as much as he liked to stress self-sufficiency, he clearly wasn't in the mood to sit around and watch her take hours to finish a task he could easily complete in a matter of minutes. As there were no nearby rivers and she'd eaten the last of the fish during the day's travel, he even went out and caught her a rabbit for dinner.

Since Jakken had taken the knife with him, along with the bulk of their cooking supplies, Sesshomaru even cleaned it for her with his claws. She then speared it through with a stick and stuck it near the fire. She rose from her crouching position, took a seat beside him on the boulder, and sighed. She wasn't sure how good unseasoned rabbit would taste, but it was better than nothing . . . and, considering all he'd done, it was definitely a Stage Two activity. So now, she had a sword, some tea and a rabbit . . .Oh! And her new sheath for Master Li's sword. It was easier to carry the blade at her hip than on her thigh.

"One more day till we meet back up with the others, right?"

Sesshomaru nodded, the fine features of his face enhanced by the flickering flames of the fire. The red and gold fiery tongues lapped at the sides of his face and beneath his chin, creating a colorful contrast against the amber of his eyes. They were sitting side-by-side on a boulder a few feet away from the fire, but he seemed miles away.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked.

"Do you have any awareness of that presence you said you sensed earlier today?"

She shook her head. "No. Why? Do you sense something, now?"

"No. I do not sense it now, and I did not sense it before."

"Then I'm sure it's nothing to worry about," she said. "Maybe it was just a spirit, the passing of some great mystic entity-like a priest or a miko. When the powerful ones die, a great deal of energy is released, you know."

"Perhaps."

She turned the rabbit around so it could cook on the other side. He turned his attention to the flames in the pit.

"You know what happens in two weeks, don't you?" she asked.

He gave a slight nod. "We will return to the castle, and I will mark you as my mate. Two days later I will host a council meeting at which point I will introduce you to the other lords and ladies."

"What!"

"Yes, I suppose I neglected to tell you about the council meeting. The other lords and ladies will gather, we'll discuss matters relevant to our realms, and you shall be introduced as my mate."

"So soon?" she asked.

"It is of little importance. It is merely a formality paid out of politeness to the other lords and ladies of the land. No one likes to be the last to know, so they will all be told at the same time."

"Will they like me?" she asked uncertainly.

He turned to greet her with a slight smile, holding her gaze with his own. "It does not matter."

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"

"I have chosen, and I will not be swayed. Their opinions will have no effect on my decision."

Rin swallowed hard. "They won't like me."

"As I have said, it does not matter. You are already mine, and I will not forsake you." He continued to hold her gaze as a big, bright smile spread across her face.

She couldn't help it. She simply couldn't help the way he made her feel, the way he made her want to respond to him. What would she do without him to keep her safe and sane? "Se-sesshomaru?" She raised a tentative hand to the side of his face but didn't touch him.

He gave an acknowledging glance to her hand, then inclined his head slightly, keeping his eyes trained on hers.

She placed the palm of her right hand flat against his left cheek, starting slightly when he drew in a sudden but silent intake of breath. She gave a nervous giggle at her unwarranted cowardice, then gradually calmed herself as she allowed the tips of her fingers to trail slowly downward towards his lower lip.

He didn't move, didn't speak, didn't take his eyes off her for one minute.

Sensing no chance of rejection, she lightly trailed her index finger over his lower lip, then sent it down past his chin, curling her fingers underneath, brushing the back of her hand along his jawline.

His eyes drooped somewhat, but remained keenly focused on her and the attention she was paying him.

She bit her lower lip, stifling the low chuckle that wanted to ensue from the back of her throat. She then sent her hand to cup the back of his neck and tease the tendrils of fine hair she found at his nape. At that point she noticed his eyes darkened from their usually golden hue to a more burnished color, something between bronze and copper. And that getting to be all-too-familiar rumbling noise returned to his chest. The last thing she wanted to do was spoil the mood by talking, but considering the fact she couldn't get any closer to him without impaling herself on the spikes of his armor, and she had no idea how to go about getting him out of it . . .

"Will you . . ." Didn't she say she'd never ask him to do this?

He raised a quizzical eyebrow at her.

"Will you . . ." She extended her left hand and tapped on his chest plate. "Take this off for me?" She sounded more as if she was questioning herself than questioning him . . . and she hated herself for it.

But the knot in her chest relaxed, when he gave a slight nod. "On one condition."

"Condition? What condition?"

He gave her a mischievous grin. "Do not let your dinner burn."

"Huh?" She followed his gaze to the rabbit roasting by the fireside. The side closest to the fire was almost completely black. "Dammit!" She yanked the stick out of the ground and began blowing on it. "Ohhhhh, look at this." She took a little bite, then promptly spat it out.

Sesshomaru repressed a chuckle.

"This is horrible." She picked at the meat from the other side of the rabbit and stuck bite-sized pieces into her mouth. "Burnt and bland."

As she ate, Sesshomaru stood and removed his sash, swords and armor. Apparently, there was a strap on each side, and once loosened, he simply pulled it off over his head.

"That's not what I was talking about," Rin said.

He raised an expectant eyebrow at her, his hand resting on the ties of his hakama.

"No!" She flushed a brilliant shade of red. "I mean, no, that's not what I was talking about." Though it was an honest mistake. She supposed that statement could be taken any number of ways, including that's not all she wanted him to take off.

He remained standing, his gaze still fixed on her.

"Two weeks from now, I mean. I wasn't talking about getting back to the castle and all that." She tore off a bit of rabbit and nibbled on it. "My cycle starts again in two weeks. I wasn't sure if you remembered or not."

Sesshomaru nodded. "I had forgotten."

Rin nodded her understanding.

"That means you will be fertile next week."

She nodded again.

"I will keep this in mind as we make our way back. We may have to move more quickly than anticipated." He resumed his seat beside her. "We will discuss this further once Jakken and Ah-Un have rejoined us."

She smiled and gave a nod in understanding.

He nodded in return.

"Would you like some?" She tore off another bit of rabbit and offered it to him. "It doesn't taste very good, but it's . . ."

Before she could finish her sentence, he wrapped his lips around the rabbit and her fingers. She groaned low in her throat as she felt the smooth texture of his tongue sweep over the tips of her forefinger and thumb, licking them clean of both the meat and juices. A pool of liquid heat settled between her thighs when he allowed her thumb to slip free but kept her index finger suckled in the warm, wet interior of his mouth.

Rin swallowed hard. "Would you . . . like some more?"

He released her finger then licked his lips. "Yes. But not of the rabbit."

Rin laughed, her cheeks burning bright red. "How did I know you were going to say that?"

"Because you know me so well," he said simply.

She set the remainder of the rabbit aside and turned her attention back to her mate. "Can I . . . sit in your lap?" she asked.

"If you wish."

She stood then sat herself back down, her side pressed firmly against the warm, solid mass of his torso. She wrapped her right arm around his shoulders, sending the hand to gently scratch at the nape of his neck while she ran the forefinger of her left hand along his lower lip. He shifted slightly beneath her, settling his right hand on her upper thigh.

"Comfortable?" His breath was warm against the tip of her finger.

"I'm getting there."

His golden eyes again burned bronze, and the low rumbling returned to his chest. She leaned in close. "I do believe despite what InuYasha says, I am doing it right."

He ran his hand up and down her outer thigh. "My brother is an idiot to be ignored."

"He is funny, though."

Sesshomaru scoffed. "His brand of humor is for the coarse and unrefined."

Rin laughed, mischief gleaming in her bright, brown eyes. "Can I call you 'Fluffy?'" she asked.

"Not if you expect me to answer."

"Even if I do this?" She leaned in and pressed her lips to his.

"No," his voice sounding somewhat gruff.

"Well, what if I do this?" She kissed him again, softly but assuredly, her mouth slanting over his, her tongue timidly sweeping out to taste his lower lip. He opened his mouth to oblige her, meeting her in a warm, wet embrace that left them both short of breath.

"No," he breathed hotly against her parted lips.

"I think you're weakening. By the end of the night, you will let me call you 'Fluffy,' and you will answer."

"Preposterous."

One kiss led to another, which led to cuddling and caressing and clothing coming off.

"Can I, now?"

"No."

Kisses on the lips turned to nibbles on the neck, which led to tongues trailing down bare body parts.

"Now?" She looked up from between Sesshomaru's parted thighs, her mouth mere inches from his highly excited male member.

He choked out some unintelligible reply somewhere between a grunt, a growl and a groan.

She ran her hand slowly down his stiff shaft, darting her tongue out to lick his tip. "Would you like me to finish, Fluffy?"

His jaw clenched tightly, his eyes squeezed closed.

She repeated the process. "Fluffy?"

He growled low in his throat.

"A growl is not an acceptable reply." She reached down and caressed his male sac with the tips of her fingers, his staff still in her right hand. "Fluffy?"

"Yes!" He barked out.

Rin smiled and satisfied her mate's desire to feel her lips wrapped around his most intimate area. His climax came quickly, and she scooted off to the side, helping him along with her hand as he spilled his scorching seed into the grass. She then stood and pressed a kiss to the crescent moon on his forehead.

"You know I was only teasing." She stroked the damp strands of his silver hair. "I would never demean my lord by calling him such a ridiculous name." She kissed his forehead again. "Only your brother would think of such a thing."

He gradually recovered himself and reached up to rub slow circles in her lower back. "You will pay for that, my Rin."

"Oh?"

He brought them both down to the ground, covering her bare body with his.

"Sesshomaru!"

"No." He kissed his way across her collarbone down to her left breast. "You have abused your power, so you must pay the price."

"Price?" She half-laughed, half-moaned.

"For the remainder of the night," he pulled her nipple into the moist cavern of his mouth, teasing the nub with the tip of his tongue, "you will refer to this Sesshomaru as 'master.'"

She laughed out loud. "No!"

He worked his way back up to her neck, nibbling and suckling on the warm, smooth flesh. "You will," he insisted softly.

"You forget. You've already pleasured me once this evening. I . . ." Her protest was cut off by a particularly pleasant jolt of sensation as he rubbed one of his thighs between her legs.

"You were saying?"

She drew in a sharp breath of air. "I . . . don't need . . . another one."

He licked her outer ear. "But you want one. Your body cannot lie to me."

Rin sighed. "By the gods, Sesshomaru . . ."

He sat up and pulled her to him, her back against his chest. "We will get nowhere as long as you refuse to follow my commands."

Within a matter of minutes, he broke down her resistance, brought on her second orgasm, and had her screaming "Master" loud enough for everyone in the four territories to hear.

He smirked against the side of her neck. "Good girl."

Rin laughed, her face still flushed and damp. "'Master,' indeed."

He nuzzled his nose in the crook of her neck. "And if this Sesshomaru ever hears you utter anything that remotely resembles . . . 'Fluffy' . . ."

"I'll get more of the same?" she asked impishly.

He nipped at her neck.

"Oww . . ."

"Worse." He kissed the minor bite mark and licked the wound away.

After a few more minutes wrapped in his embrace, Rin crawled away and pulled on her clothes. He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You can't feel the cold," she said, "but I can."

He nodded his understanding, then stood and pulled on his hakama and haori. It was the most practical thing to do. One never knew what could happen in the middle of the night, and it wouldn't do for him to be caught off guard.

"Even the armor?" Rin asked.

He nodded his reply.

Rin shrugged and followed his example, tying her sword back at her hip. They then settled down at the base of a tree before the fire, and Rin drifted off snuggled into the fur of his pelt. Sesshomaru watched her sleep. Fluffy, indeed.

A few hours later, Rin awoke and tried to push herself free of him.

"What are you doing?" he asked softly.

"I have to go the bathroom." Her voice was still laden with sleep.

He nodded and stood.

"You're not going with me," she laughed, stumbling to her feet, rubbing her eyes. "Nobody wants to watch anybody go to the bathroom. That's just disgusting."

He nodded his understanding and resumed his seat. "Do not go far."

"We're the only ones up here," she said. "What could happen?"

He watched as she left the light of the campsite, his scent still clinging to her. He listened to the sound of dried leaves crunching beneath her feet. She cursed the darkness, then he heard her curse again for not wearing a kimono. He chuckled to himself and fought the urge to wrinkle his nose at the pungent odor of his mate's waste. She was right. Watching her produce such a foul product would definitely be disgusting.

He took a moment to stand and stoke the campfire to keep it from burning down. Rin had already complained of the cold once, and he didn't wish her to fall ill because of it. If she were to come down with a severe sickness before the bonding rite, that could complicate matters. Certainly, Tenseiga could revive her if she died, but it wouldn't cure the sickness, so it was best to keep her healthy and whole.

He allowed a small smile to spring to his face. He couldn't imagine her as anything but.

He threw a furtive glance in the direction Rin had left, then settled back down at the base of the tree. What was taking her so long? Surely, it didn't take that long to relieve yourself.

He trained his ears to listen for any sign of her return-the rustling of fabric, the crunch of leaves, her cursing beneath her breath or humming a pleasant tune . . . But there was nothing.

He then scented the air, pulling in a deep breath, letting it filter through his sensitive nose. He could smell her . . . around the campsite . . . the scent trail she left behind . . . But . . .

He drew in another breath.

This couldn't be right. His nose must be missing something.

He drew in another breath and another and another.

This wasn't happening. Scents don't just disappear. People don't just disappear.

He rose to his feet, keeping his appearance as calm as usual, following the scent of his mate's trail. She left the clearing and wandered between the forest trees. They had made their camp off the forest path, so there was no preset pathway for her to tread upon. He followed her scent for a few more feet, then came to a patch of bushes where she relieved herself.

The odor was still pungent and strong, fresh. Her scent, while concentrated in that area, was nowhere else to be found.

She didn't climb a tree. She didn't continue walking away from the campsite. She didn't turn around and return to the campsite. He didn't hear her fall. He didn't hear her scream. He didn't sense any other presences in the area.

He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He didn't hear anything out of the ordinary. He didn't smell anything out of the ordinary. He didn't sense any youki at all! They were the only two people on the entire mountain!

So, where was his mate? Where did she go? And why couldn't he sense her?

"Is there something wrong, Rin?"

"No, not really. Something just feels . . . out of place, I guess."

"There is nothing here, Rin. I see nothing, hear nothing, smell nothing, sense nothing. There are no youkai in the area."

"I didn't say it was a demon."

Rin . . .

"Do you have any awareness of that presence you said you sensed earlier today?"

She shook her head. "No. Why? Do you sense something, now?"

"No. I do not sense it now, and I did not sense it before."

"Then I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."

He clenched his hand into a fist, his claws dripping poison, his eyes glowing a violent shade of red. "Rin."

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Commentary Corner: A few people had a few questions, and I thought everyone might benefit from the answers :D

Sessy-Sama:

In my warped little imagination and for the purpose of this fic, the marking ritual and the bonding ritual are two separate things. Marking is to identify the two partners as mates and to link their minds and bodies in shared pleasure and pain. Bonding is what permanently links the two mates' souls together, ensuring that they'll be together throughout all eternity; and as Sess remembered there are two bonding rituals-one just for humans, and one that would work for a human or a demon mate.

Rosie B:

Rin still likes InuYasha; she just didn't appreciate his parting comment to her . . . As if she isn't insecure enough in the bedroom department. Hehe . . . but as you read in this chapter, Rin isn't as clueless as InuYasha might think she is.

lala:

No, InuYasha wasn't aware of his demon instincts, concerning the births of his pups. Just keep in mind the way he was raised. He was only with his human mother for a short time before she died. After that, he was treated as an outcast by humans and demons alike, so who'd really be there to teach him these things? Of course, we could assume that Myoga shows up-but only after the fact. He does have a way of doing that, after all.

Pan-Chan 42:

Sess does have a sense of humor, as I've attempted to demonstrate. But InuYasha wasn't just taking a shot at him, he was taking a shot at Rin-"Maybe Rin isn't doing it right." And we should all remember how Sess responds to aspersions cast on his mate . . . So, in my opinion, Sess let Inu off easy.

So, MANY THANKS to all of you who continue to read and review. Why am I writing this (aside from my own twisted enjoyment) if it isn't for people to read and enjoy?

Next chapter we'll find out what happened to Rin . . .

Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I hope I didn't disappoint.

theMaven :)