InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In a Different Light ❯ Dreams, Visions and Nightmares ( Chapter 31 )

Author's Note: This chapter has been revamped to maintain the continuity from the end of last chapter to this one and to give a little more foreshadowing of possible things to come in this fic's sequel "A House Divided." The sequel is currently floating around in my head, but I haven't put a word of it to paper, yet. I wanted to revise this fic in its entirety, assuring continuity and removing all typos, heehee. We all make mistakes, after all.

What did I add?

At the end of last chapter, I'd forgotten that Sess brushed over his mating mark on Rin, so I had to go back and make her have an appropriate response to the offhanded caress. I then altered this chapter to include mention of Rin's spanking from last chapter, and I added a dream that Sesshomaru has had consistently every night he deigns to sleep since his childhood . . . It's actually more of a nightmare than a dream ^ -

Now, on to the revised fic . . .

This fic is rated NC-17 for a reason, and this chapter is one of them ^ ^. If you have a problem with, or you're not old enough to read about physical acts of a sexual nature, please, don't read any further. You have been warned.

In a Different Light

Chapter 30: Dreams, Visions and Nightmares

Drawn in by Sesshomaru's deep slumber, Rin's mind relaxed and followed her mate into unconsciousness. But, as she'd just woken from a rather long nap and felt energized as opposed to drained from the marking and bonding rituals, she slept for only an hour before again finding herself in the waking world. Sesshomaru seemed to be sleeping soundly by her side, his body buried deeply in the blankets, his arm now wrapped snugly around her waist, pulling her body flush against his, her head resting in the crook of his arm. The fire continued to flicker in the fireplace as the snow continued to fall outside, flashes of white against a dark blue/gray background.

How many times would this happen? She mused to herself. Her, wide awake and he, fast asleep? Him completely open . . . or perhaps even vulnerable . . . to her wandering hands and eyes.

She pressed her nose against his smooth skin just above his chest and inhaled. She could smell herself on him. Beneath his usual scent of pine, spearmint, wind and rain, she could detect something more feminine, more flowery . . . more like her. For years she'd walked around cloaked in his scent-traveling by his side, living in his home, anything and everything she owned having been given to her by him. And now, she'd given a little something to him in return.

She smiled as she turned in his embrace, propping herself up on her elbow. She then reached out and lightly ran her fingertips over the planes of his face, starting at his forehead and working her way down. He shifted slightly, but didn't wake. She traced the ridge of his eyebrows, the slope of his nose, the arch of his cheekbones, the dignified point of his chin, the curve of his supple lips. He looked so . . . unlike himself when he slept.

Her fingertips brushed lightly over his lidded eyes, grazing over his delicate eyelashes, the thin skin twitching in reflex to her exploratory touch. Gone were the cold, gold eyes and the taut lines and muscles that spoke of restrained power and practiced indifference. In his sleep-slackened face, he looked very much like the 19-year-old village boy she accused him of being instead of the great and terrible, demon lord of the Western Lands.

Perhaps . . .

Perhaps that's why she'd found it so easy to lean on Taro, the peasant who'd invited her to his own village's festival. Perhaps there was a part of her that recognized this softer, unseen side in Sesshomaru reflected in Taro. It wasn't Taro she wished to lean upon; it was her lord . . . only her lord, always her lord. She'd silently hoped and prayed that one day he'd reach out to her in the same manner she'd been reaching out to him. In the beginning, she'd laughed at herself while making such obviously inane wishes, and then later, as she'd grown older and her prospects seemed quite dim, she'd fallen into a slight depression.

Things simply weren't as . . . fun as they used to be.

It was Master Sumida who called her on this. She accused her of withdrawing and retreating from the life all around her . . . And she had. The only times she really left her rooms were for meals, lessons and baths. After the whole "you smell" incident, she made a concerted effort to steer clear of any areas Sesshomaru might be-the Great Hall, the library, the balcony, the stable, the garden . . .

Rin sighed, recalling those dismal days. What was it that she'd said?

Oh yeah. Some people were just destined to be unhappy.

But Master Sumida forced her to alter her growing introverted behavior. Instead of restricting their practices to the dojo in the East wing, she often had them do their postures in the garden or led them on walks through the woods only to come to a clearing suitable for their training. She had them climb trees and swim in lakes and rivers. And then she and Master Li began their advanced training with her in temperatures of extreme heat or cold-the warm, wet heat of an enclosed geyser or the dry heat of the sauna; the cold chill of sitting still in rushing water or doing Tai Chi barefoot in the snow.

At first she'd resisted their seemingly unconventional methods, but after awhile she became accustomed to the odd training and began to look forward to it. It did, after all, get her out of her chambers and, sometimes, away from the castle . . . away from Sesshomaru.

But she didn't really want to be away from him. True, she wanted some time to herself every now and then, but above all, she just wanted things to stop feeling so awkward between the two of them.

Rin smiled. And now they had.

As happy as she was to be invited along on this border patrol, there was a part of her that dreaded it. It had been years since she'd traveled with them, and things had changed considerably between the three of them-she, Sesshomaru and Jakken; Ah-Un was the only one she hadn't waged a silent war against. And she had come that close to saying "thank you, but no thank you."

What if . . . what if he wasn't actually going to "patrol the borders?" What if he was sick of her and her "smell" and was planning on abandoning her in some village along the way? What if he was going to pawn her off on the next human male he happened to pass by? What if the next time she got kidnaped he wouldn't come rescue her? What happened if she died again, and he refused to revive her? What if he was just looking for the least messy and the most convenient way of getting rid of her?

So many different "what ifs" had flooded her mind that the only thing that made sense to her, the only thing that would guarantee her safety and her continued presence in Sesshomaru's castle was to say "no."

But Master Sumida convinced her otherwise. "You enjoyed it before, and I'm sure you'll enjoy it, now. Besides, long journeys are an excellent way to reconnect."

At the time, Rin had assumed she meant reconnect with nature or reconnect with the part of herself that loved nature, but, all things considered, perhaps the yogi master had a different type of connection in mind all along.

Hadn't Master Li and Master Sumida bonded together during Master Li's journey to see the Dalai Lama?

She smiled down at her mate. If she hadn't joined him on this year's border patrol, who knows what would've happened?

Well, for starters, she certainly wouldn't be sleeping here. She'd still be across the hall in her own chambers, snuggled amongst her dolls instead of snuggled up by his side.

So, she had yet another thing to thank Master Sumida for.

She turned her attention back to her slumbering mate. He was still just as perfect, just as flawless and divine as that first day she'd seen him . . . How could anyone wish to harm such an innocent-looking creature? Who were these other "lords" that would deny her lord his happiness and a peaceful existence?

She sincerely hoped it didn't come to war, but if it did, she would fight for him, for their lands, for their right to be together. After everything they'd been through, they deserved to live happily ever after. But this was real life and not some epic adventure with memorable characters, sweeping settings, engaging action, and true romance. And things in real life didn't always work out the way they should. She'd seen proof of that already . . .

Enough, she chided herself. The other lords and ladies weren't her concern. Diplomacy was her lord's area, and she trusted him completely to handle the situation appropriately. The only thing she could do was put her best foot forward and not do anything that would poorly reflect on Sesshomaru . . .

Like her language. No matter what they said or did to her, it just wouldn't do for her to call them "bastards" or some other colorful phrase. This was youkai nobility they were talking about, and while such language was acceptable during the course of day-to-day events-lords and ladies ordering their servants about or when addressing their inferiors or close friends--it would be highly frowned upon in such a formal setting. Her tutors had taught her that much.

Jakken had been an immensely bad influence on her in that respect. No one could string expletives together in a coherent sentence more effectively than the little toad.

Rin sniggered. That simply wouldn't do for such a formal event; she'd have to find a more . . . dignified way to express her displeasure with her company or with their actions. She'd have to find some snide remark or some backhanded way of complimenting them; wit was one of her strong points. Or, she could follow her lord's example and simply say nothing, ignoring them.

Yes, she could do that. Be haughty and pretentious, walk around with her nose in the air as if everything smelled bad and everything was beneath her. She could play that role for one night . . . or however long this council meeting was supposed to last.

Rin sighed, resuming her reclining position on the bed. She had other things to worry about. Her cycle should start in five days-two days before the council meeting. She normally bled for five days, which meant for three days, she'd pose a tempting target for some of the males. Under normal circumstances, she'd simply be confined to her room with wards and sacred sutras placed all around. But these weren't normal circumstances; she was to be introduced as Sesshomaru's mate at this meeting. She wasn't certain what that would entail, but she was certain Sesshomaru wouldn't want her to miss it under any circumstances.

It would probably look bad if his mate didn't attend a council meeting that he, himself, was hosting.

She sighed again. It was getting a little stuffy in the chamber-the fire, all the blankets, Sesshomaru's body heat.

What she needed was a few moments on the balcony to cool herself down and clear her head.

She pushed the covers back from over her body and wormed her way out of Sesshomaru's grasp. He grunted slightly, his hand reaching towards the spot she had been, but beyond that, he didn't stir. She grabbed her robe and scooted to the edge of the bed, parting the sheer, white curtain. Once her bare feet made contact with the floor, she tied her robe around her and stood.

Thunk!

Rin laughed and glanced up at the bed, hoping her less than graceful fall to the floor had no witness.

Again, her mate made no move.

She laughed softly to herself. No wonder he said it was dangerous to claim a mate out in the open. If she were an attacker, he'd be dead several times over.

Her laughter continued. One moment she was standing, and the next moment she was flat on her ass on the floor. Her thighs shook, her knees wobbled and thunk! Flat on the floor. It was as if her legs refused to support her weight.

She sighed, bringing about an end to her bout of the giggles, reached up and gripped the edge of the bed.

Rin walks to the balcony, take two.

She pulled herself back up on the edge of the bed and sat down. She stood.

Thunk!

This time she greeted the situation with less humor and growled under her breath.

What the hell! When Sesshomaru said she probably wouldn't be able to walk for a few days, she thought that meant she'd be sore and walking would be uncomfortable . . . not impossible!

She, again, gripped the edge of the bed, her hold slipping slightly due to the sheer curtains, then pulled herself to a seated position.

Now, she felt even more stuffy than before. It was quite difficult to move when you couldn't depend on your legs . . .

She slipped her right hand between the folds of her robe, inspecting her left inner thigh by touch . . . Nothing pulled, nothing strained, no spasms . . . Now that she'd tried to move, there was a little cramping but . . .

Muscle exhaustion, Rin half-laughed, half-sighed.

She had . . . "overworked" her inner thigh muscles, she supposed, and now they were demanding rest. She did have to maintain quite a wide stance when he was behind her, and when face-to-face she did wrap her legs around him rather tightly . . . And near the end of their little "encounter," Sesshomaru wasn't particularly "gentle" with her . . . Not that she had any complaints. In fact, she was the one who demanded he treat her a little more . . . roughly.

She believed her exact words, or more precisely, word was "harder."

And then there was the "spanking" he'd given her for being "disobedient."

A slight blush appeared on her cheeks as a tantalizing tingle ran down the length of her spine.

Whatever made him do something like that? Spankings were supposed to be directed from disapproving parents to wayward children. They were meant to discourage certain types of behavior, not promote it. They were supposed to be painful not . . .

She colored more deeply at her train of thought. Well . . . the smack of his palm did sting but . . .

Not in a bad way.

"...Perhaps you'd enjoy that."

Disobedient mate, indeed.

She pulled her legs up on the bed and slid back up to Sesshomaru's side, choosing to sit while her lord took his repose. Yoga had increased her strength, flexibility and endurance levels, but she supposed nothing could completely prepare a female for mating with a full-fledged dog demon.

A sly smile crossed her lips. She could hold the more simple postures, like Mountain or Corpse Pose, for hours at a time if needed be, and she could maintain the more complex poses like Crane, balancing her body's full weight on the palms of her hands for up to eight minutes. She'd equate lovemaking with her lord somewhere among the intermediate poses-the forms themselves weren't that difficult to assume, but it did take a certain amount of stamina to maintain the integrity of the pose. The most she'd ever attempted to hold Full Boat Pose-creating a V-shape with both arms and legs extended-or Warrior II was 20 minutes . . . Sesshomaru and she had gone considerably longer than that.

Rin grinned, casting off her robe, and stretched out by his side, refusing to bury herself in the bedding again. Even with the appropriate stretches, it was apparent her muscles would need a couple of days to recover from their recent . . . exertion. And, seeing as how she was . . . confined to bed, she might as well make good use of that time . . .

When Sesshomaru woke up, of course.

It would be very . . . wrong to . . . do things to him while he slept. After all, he'd never take such liberties with her unconscious form. But he did look quite . . . tempting, bathed in firelight, his hair fanned out beneath him as he slept within the black and white bedding. And how often would she have an opportunity like this?

And he had gotten her all worked up again just to tell her "later" because he was "tired."

Well, she was completely awake, and he didn't seem to mind when she sent her fingers exploring around his face so . . .

What harm could there be in . . . slipping her hands beneath the black satin sheets, running her hands across the flawless planes of his chest, smoothing her palm down the taut muscles of his stomach, twirling her fingertips in the short, silky, silver hairs at the base of his maleness? Could he . . . blame her if her hand slipped a little lower and felt the need to . . . stroke the fleshy, sensitive appendage she found there? Would it be truly wrong to wake him in such a manner?

As her hand crept to the edge of the cover, she took a glance at his sleep-slackened face and immediately thought better of herself. She quickly withdrew her hand and forced it to rest by her side.

Perhaps he would enjoy being awoken in such a manner, but until she had verbal confirmation from him, she wouldn't dare take advantage of his prone position the way one of his enemies would.

She sat up again and scooted herself to the edge of the bed, this time, pulling the curtain back and tying it to the rear poster of the bed. She then slipped down to the floor and crawled across the Oriental rug till she reached the bare hardwood floor, halfway between the bed and the balcony. There, she began Corpse Pose.

She bent her knees with her feet on the floor, and then leaned back on her forearms. From that position, she lifted her pelvis slightly off the floor, tucked it into herself then eased it back onto the floor. Next, she drew in a deep breath, extending her right leg, then her left, pushing through her heels. She exhaled, softening her lower back and groin areas. Afterwards, she used her hands to lift the base of her skull away from her neck, only to later release it in a more relaxed position. Finally, she reached her arms upwards toward the ceiling and rocked from side to side, broadening her shoulders, easing her back ribs and shoulder blades away from her spine. She then let her arms descend to the ground, palmside down, making sure her shoulder blades rested evenly on the hard, but comfortable surface of the floor.

Now . . . relax. Let the tension slip from your body and into the floor. No tension in the face. No tension in the shoulders. Breathe evenly, deeply. No tension in the arms. No tension in the legs. Let your energy flow outward and be at peace . . .

8 8 8

Sesshomaru dreamed. It was the same dream he'd been having since he was a small pup. The same dream that caused him to cry out for his mother when she was alive and even for a few months afterward . . . He could never see himself in this dream, but he knew it was himself and no one else.

The castle was in flames, the sky painted red, black and gray from the fire, smoke and ash. He did not know the cause of the fire or the whereabouts of his father, mother, the household servants or the armed guards.

He was alone.

He stood just outside the castle gates, watching as his childhood home burned to the ground, the scorched earth and blackened grass beneath his feet; the skeletal remains of the trees, stripped of their leaves, flowers and fruit; the flora of the imperial garden reduced to cinders; the collapsing frame of the stables, and the fall of the main house. Flames of red, gold and orange licked at the walls, eating away at the formerly fine structure, the wood hissing and popping before splintering and falling away. The roof collapsed in upon itself, shaking the ground he stood on with the force of the implosion. Shattered glass, broken tiles, the castle's stone walkways reduced to rubble.

He did not want to see this . . . but he was unable to turn away. He could not move, could not speak, could not close his eyes or budge an inch from the spot where he was stationed.

The ashes in the air burned his lungs. He wanted to cough, but even that was impossible. The cinders from the blaze seared his eyes, rivulets of tears running down his face. The heat from the fire sought to scorch his skin and singe his hair, hot waves rolling over his stationary form, billowing his clothing and blowing his hair. His nostrils were filled with the scent of death, destruction, ruin and decay.

It smelled . . . like his mother's funeral pyre . . . like the human fortress that collapsed upon and killed his father . . . like the flames from the Staff of Heads . . . like that "headman's" remaining property . . . like the village he rescued Rin from . . . like . . . a blaze burning out of control.

It stank of cruelty and retribution.

"Hush."

He felt the gentle caress of cool fingers on his flushed his face. His eyes instinctively turned towards the source of the sensation, only to find nothing there-merely dust in the wind.

He looked back through the gates to find the castle gone.

He'd only looked away for a second, and it was gone. Everything was gone-the house, the gardens, the stables and walkways . . . even the rubble, ashes and ruins . . .

He could move, now; he was finally free. But . . . where would he go? Who could he turn to? There was no one.

No one.

He was alone. All alone.

Determined not to be overcome by indecision, he began walking, counting on the Fates to

lead him on the proper path, opening the doors to his destiny.

But they led him in circles, treading over the same patch of earth over and over again. He was going nowhere. Nothing ever changed, and no one ever came along. The sky was still red, and that scent remained strong in his nose. Dead grass, dead trees, dead flowers . . .

He stopped. He sat down. He thought.

What was wrong with him? He wondered. What was this place? Where was everyone? Where did they go, and why couldn't he have gone with them?

Pointless, his rational mind declared.

True, he responded. He was here, and here was where he was. Everything else was inconsequential. But . . .

His lungs burned, his eyes watered . . . This hurt. This . . . place was hurting him.

"Hush," the same quiet voice as before commanded.

He wanted to wake up. He didn't want to see what was coming next.

As he sat thinking, another scent entered the area. A human scent, the scent of several humans. But . . .

They didn't look human. They were merely a collection of flesh, clothes and bones-moving flesh, clothes and bones. These humans, they were . . . starving, he supposed.

"Stay away," the voice whispered.

Humans were dangerous, his mother had said. They were weak, but they were many. Too many. Spreading like a plague over the lands.

"Kill them," the voice commanded.

And so he did. Lots of them. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. But . . . more remained. Many more remained. All just as thin, just as poorly dressed, just as hungry as the ones before.

But . . . they didn't attack him as he thought they might, these humans. Hungry humans would do anything to get a meal, he'd been told. They would eat anything, including him, but...

"Do not feed them. Stay away."

He growled low in his throat.

But . . . was he growling at the voice or at the humans?

They continued to stare at him, their dark eyes wide in . . . Hope? Wonder? Expectation?

What did they want from him? He was a demon; he owed them nothing.

He had nothing.

"Stay away," the willowy voice came calling again.

But they were everywhere. How could he stay away? Wasn't he "free" to go where he pleased?

He wanted to . . . He wanted . . .

The sky suddenly cleared, and the humans turned their attention to another. They trampled over him, crushed him . . . overlooked him to get to this . . . thing.

Then the "thing" said something to them, and they all started looking at him again.

"Don't listen," the willowy voice commanded.

But . . . there wasn't any talking; the humans simply fell on their faces before him. Some of them crawled to him, trying to touch him.

"Kick them," the voice said. "Keep them away. They are dangerous."

Before he could utter a response, the humans overtook him, and he was the one laying face down in the grass . . . But the grass smelled good-sweet, clean, pure . . .

And then everything began burning again. The earth, the sky, the humans . . . even himself.

They all died. He and the humans. The earth and the sky. Everything.

He felt the blackness calling for him then . . .

"Your father is wrong," Lady Sora said, her long locks blowing in the wind; she and her son sitting in their favorite spot beneath the peach tree within the garden. "It is not a dream; it is a vision. A warning." Her gold eyes were solemn, her slight features severe, the warm air and gentle breeze doing little to melt the iciness inherent in her tone. "I have the sight," she told her young son, "and you have it, too."

The four-year-old squirmed beneath his mother's scrutiny.

"Do they scare you? These visions?"

The boy nodded his small head, his eyes downcast, his hands clenching and unclenching, trying to ease the growing tension.

"Everyone fears what they cannot understand. To overcome these fearsome visions, you must learn to understand them."

"Can't I just sleep with you?" he asked. "They don't come when you're around."

"Because I'm the most natural conduit," she said evenly. "The world would rather show itself through me than through you."

"The world?" he repeated.

"Past, present and future. There is no way be absolutely certain which you are seeing. It could be a memory of the past. It could be a scene from the present. Or . . ." she raised an eyebrow at him, leaving the statement unfinished for her young pup to conclude.

"The future?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes," his mother nodded. "The future. What you're seeing is most likely the future."

"I don't like it," he said softly.

"Nor do I," she responded. "This is my home. I love it more than words can tell."

"And me?" he asked.

"And you?" she asked quizzically.

"Does mother love me?" he asked, tiny fangs peaking out behind his lips.

She huffed quietly. "Such a silly question."

Sesshomaru's conscious mind slowly slipped back to the waking world, his eyes remaining closed, his breath still steady and even. Curious, he thought. A dream? A vision? Or perhaps a combination of the two?

But he had little time to dwell on that. His mate seemed to be having impure thoughts about him, and he was genuinely curious to see if she would act upon them.

A few moments passed then he felt the bedding shift and heard a soft thunk.

Pity, he thought as his consciousness drifted again. He didn't want to . . . dream again, but apparently his body was still in need of rest. Without Rin's thoughts to anchor him to the present, his mind wandered.

8 8 8

"Rin."

Her eyes flew open, and she let out a startled shriek, bolting upright.

Sesshomaru remained unfazed, standing above her in his royal blue robe. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"I was . . . meditating." She yawned, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Meditating?"

She took one look at him looking at her, and she realized she was . . . quite naked. She made no move to cover herself, though. "I was hot," she replied honestly. "It got stuffy, I couldn't sleep . . . I wanted to walk out on the balcony, but I couldn't even stand up. I tried standing, but then I went crashing down on my bottom."

"Bottom?" he repeated.

"Can I say 'bottom?'" she asked. "At this council meeting? Or . . . I should probably shy away from mentioning body parts of any kind, shouldn't I?"

He didn't reply, only stared.

"I don't want to embarrass you," she said. Then she lowered her eyes. "Maybe I shouldn't say anything at all."

He extended his hand to her palmside up. "Come," he said simply. "It is cold, and it is still early yet."

She glanced towards the balcony and noticed that it was quite dark outside, her own reflection mirrored back to her, segmented by the many panes of glass. She couldn't even tell if it was still snowing or not.

She took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Her thighs were still shaky, but they seemed more willing to support her weight now than a few moments . . . no, a few hours ago. The sky was dark grey when she'd lain down in Corpse Pose, and now it was pitch black.

He allowed her to lean on him as they made their way back to the bed. "You are cold."

Rin nodded; she was certain her skin was cool to the touch. "That posture decreases your blood flow, increasing relaxation."

He refused to tell her how much she resembled a dead body, stretched out on the floor the way she was, or how her icy touch reinforced that fact. So much death and pain . . .

But no. He would not think of that. "Sit."

She took a seat on the right edge of the bed and sat silently as he wrapped the white coverlet around her shoulders. She then watched as he walked over to the fireplace and stoked the fire. He added a few pieces of kindling from the mini woodpile stacked neatly by the hearth and continued to tend the fire till it was a roaring blaze. He then returned to sit by her side, wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her to him so her head rested on his shoulder.

"Are you angry I got out of bed?" she asked, glancing upwards. "Will you 'discipline' me again?"

He met her questioning gaze, a lopsided grin on his face. "You may come and go as you please," he said. "You were not wrong, so there is no need for . . . 'discipline.' You should simply be more mindful of where you fall asleep. Your skin is quite cold, and, as I have said, it is unwise for newly mated females to move around too much."

Rin nodded, giving a slightly embarrassed smile. "Muscle exhaustion."

"Is there pain?" he asked.

She shook her head. "And, honestly, I'm not cold, either. I mean, I'm not hot anymore, but I'm not cold, either."

"Perhaps you do not feel the cold, but you are cold."

"My blood just needs to start circulating again. It's just because I stayed in that pose so long. It's a recuperative pose; you're only supposed to stay in it for five minutes or so to recover from the more physically demanding postures . . . It probably wasn't the smartest thing to fall asleep in Corpse Pose."

"Corpse Pose," he repeated haltingly. How appropriate, he thought.

"There's still something bothering you," she said. There was a clear sense of worry, no, not worry . . . concern emanating from his end of the connection.

He gave a slight nod. That vision . . . that dream . . . those scents . . . "Your scent has changed."

Rin smiled. "I smell like you."

He gave a small smile as well. "Yes . . . and no."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean 'and no?'"

"There is a great . . . force within you, my Rin-ancient, powerful and untouched. It was not there when we retired for the evening. You are . . . changing."

"Changing?" she repeated. "I'm not changing; I'm still me . . . aren't I?"

"Previously, I could only detect you as one would detect any human-by sight, by sound, by scent. But now I can sense your life force as I would any youkai, miko, monk or priest."

"I don't have any holy powers," Rin insisted. "I'm not ordained. And if I did have any holy powers, I'd feel a natural . . . repulsion and attraction towards you. Like Master Li said, 'What is clean instinctively wishes to purify that which is not.' I'd be drawn to you only to destroy you. I don't want to destroy you," she laughed. "And my attraction to you . . ."

He gave her a light squeeze in an attempt to quell her rambling and ease his own suspicions. "I did not say the power was holy in nature; I merely stated that it was detectable to my demonic senses like that of mikos, monks and priests."

"Oh."

"I can also see your aura. You radiate power, my Rin. What is it that monk did to you?"

Rin shrugged. "He awakened my inner powers. Given time and the proper training, these are abilities I would've developed naturally on my own. When I see Master Sumida again, I'm going to ask her if there's some sort of . . . test I can do to see what I'm truly capable of. I mean, Master Li could move mountains with the power of his chi, so . . ."

"And why did he do this for you?" he asked. The hungry eyes of those humans . . .

"Humans are dangerous . . . Stay away."

"The only path to immortality for a human is to acquire knowledge, pass on that knowledge and be remembered for it. He wanted to be immortal, so he passed on his teachings to me. He imagined I'd use them appropriately."

"Appropriately?"

A slight blush colored her cheeks. "He thought I was a . . . favored slave of yours, and I'd use my powers to escape and be free of you, spreading his teachings wherever I went."

"Spreading like a plague."

"And you never corrected him?" he asked.

"Not at first," she said. "But after we came back from patrolling the borders, I had to say something. A mate is not a slave, after all."

"Have I ever treated you like a slave?"

"No," she shook her head. "It's just . . . I didn't know exactly what I was to you in the beginning. I didn't know why I was here; I was just glad that I was."

He was alone. All alone.

"You were a companion," he said simply.

"I suppose that's true. There were times I didn't feel we were very companionable, though."

He stopped. He stood. He thought.

"Then this . . . change in yourself was not unexpected?"

She, again, shook her head.

"He . . . they did not harm you or manipulate you into accepting this . . . gift?"

"No. I agreed to it of my own free will." She felt some of his unease dissipate. "There's something else . . ."

He shook his head. "No. For now, there is nothing else. This Sesshomaru is satisfied. If you are well, all is well."

There was still something bothering him . . . something deep-seated, well-concealed. She could sense it quite clearly before, but now . . .

She took one look in those soft amber eyes and . . . She had to respond. He looked so sad.

She smiled at him, nuzzling her nose in the soft silk of his robe where his arm met with his body. Distract him, she thought immediately. Distract him from . . . whatever it was, the same way he distracted you from thoughts of your own mortality and eventually leaving him. "What color is it?" she asked.

"Color?" he repeated.

"My aura. There are different colors. What color is mine?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Can you not see for yourself?"

She slipped a hand from beneath the coverlet and stared at it, turning it over in front of her face. "No . . . I don't see anything different."

"It is pink," he replied. "A soft, glowing pink."

"Health, happiness and love . . . According to Master Sumida, that's what pink means." She snuggled closer against him. "Just as I developed a slight spiritual awareness through my training with Master Li and Master Sumida, I suppose I'll have to learn to see auras."

Health, happiness and love . . .

Death, destruction, ruin and decay.

Sweet, innocent, pure . . .

"I suppose."

She felt his hand creep from her waist, up her back to her left shoulder. Some of the sadness remained in his eyes, but there were the beginnings of something else as well . . . She had a sense of what he was planning, but decided not to think too much about it.

"You know, my Rin, I was quite aware of your presence beside me on the bed." He slipped the coverlet down her left shoulder, exposing her fair flesh to his gaze. He'd wanted her to touch him so badly . . . anything . . . anything to take away that pain.

"You were sleeping," she said.

"I was resting," he corrected her. "But I was quite aware of your thoughts towards me. We share a connection, now, remember?" And I need you. So badly.

Rin swallowed hard as he nudged her hair back with the tip of his nose, uncovering the mark he'd made in the crook of her neck. "Why didn't you say something, then?"

"I was hoping you would do something to elicit a pronounced response from me."

"I didn't want to take advantage of you," she laughed.

"Nonsense," he breathed hotly into her ear. "Do you truly think you could 'take advantage of' this Sesshomaru?"

They looked at him with . . . Hope? Wonder? Expectation?

A sudden shock of sensation shot down her spine as he lightly brushed his fingertips over the mark he'd made on her. "Wh-what did you do?"

"The same as I did before." He made another pass of his fingers over his mark of the crescent moon. Rin gasped, a warm wetness settling between her thighs.

"My mark responds to my touch," he said softly, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the sensitive juncture.

She shrugged out of the white coverlet, exposing more of her body to his view, as his tongue traced circles around the blue moon, his hand gently massaging the muscles of her right shoulder. "Sess . . ."

He trailed wet kisses up her neck to suck on the lobe of her ear. "You may do the same to me."

She noticed a certain . . . huskiness to his voice, giving audible proof to the desire she felt coming from him. More than mere desire . . . need.

"Touch me," he said. "Touch your mark on my body."

She turned slightly towards him, slipping her right hand between the folds of his robe, at last coming into contact with the heated flesh beneath the cool silk.

A low growl worked its way up the back of his throat as he felt her fingertips caress the contours of her mark. In the scrolls he had read, he learned of the many functions and benefits of the mating mark, though he was not certain how . . . potent its affects would be in each respect.

The first and main purpose of the mark was to lay claim on a particular mate, identifying her or him as belonging to a specific youkai. In the case of nobility, it marked them with their symbol of office-in his case, the blue crescent moon-and their scent. With lower youkai, it left a permanent scent trail on the marked mate and appeared as nothing more than two puncture wounds.

The mark also served as a beacon, a distress call. If the marked mate ever needed the other, she or he would simply touch the mark on his or her neck. This would completely open the connection present between the two mates, and then what one felt, the other would feel. Whether they needed rescue or simply desired the companionship of their partner, the other would heed the call of the mark.

During mating, the connection automatically opened. After all, it was through that specific act that the mark was created.

A final benefit of the mark was enhanced sexual pleasure. If the connection between the pair was strong, the enjoyment they felt at the touch of the other could be . . . immeasurable. The solicitous partner would lightly caress his or her mark on the body of their partner, and the sensations produced would be highly pleasurable. But because Rin and he had bonded as well as mated, the sensations were just shy of orgasmic. So, if they were to last for any significant amount of time, a bit of . . . caution would be necessary.

A typical mating mark could be used to instantly arouse the mate, speeding up the mating process; to further excite the mate, bringing them to the brink and back again; or to completely satisfy the mate when mating was out of the question. And, seeing as how it was proving to be... quite effective, Sesshomaru intended to master each of the three techniques.

"Gods," Rin moaned. "What are you doing to me?"

Sesshomaru smirked, past unpleasantness now forgotten. His mate was completely bare to his gaze, save for the coverlet bunched at her backside, but he had yet to touch her anywhere below her shoulders. Yes, this new technique was quite effective. Should she desire intercourse with him, (as he sincerely hoped) they were both very prepared for the experience, and it had barely taken a minute.

He soothed her, stroking the back of her head. "I am merely making up for the times when you felt I was . . . less than companionable."

She moaned again, continuing to trace her fingers over the mark on his chest.

Yes, he was quite ready to satisfy her in any capacity she may desire, the fire in his loins burning hotly, his manhood rigid with anticipation.

"Stop."

Sesshomaru ceased his motions, a disappointed groan escaping from his parted lips. Purely instinctive, he assured himself. While the male claimed dominance over the whole of the relationship once the female agreed to become his, he was always submissive to his mate's needs . . . with the exception of the occasional battle for dominance. After all, if the female was displeased with his performance, it could jeopardize the continuation of his line. No mating meant no offspring. No offspring meant his line died with him. And everyone recalled that dark period in demon history.

He stared at her as she seemed to recollect herself, his amber gaze glued to her brown eyes, his left eyebrow raised in a silent question.

She drew in a deep breath and pushed it out. "I owe you two," she said.

His eyebrow remained quirked.

"I had three . . . You only had one . . . so, I owe you two."

So, his mate wished to try her hand . . . or possibly other parts . . . at pleasing him.

His eyebrow lowered, his face taking on its usual stoic appearance, save for an almost imperceptible quirk of his lips. "Agreeable."

Rin smiled, slipping completely free of the coverlet, crawling to the center of the mattress. "Will you . . . lay down for me?"

He inclined his head slightly, positioning himself at the top of the bed, his long legs stretched out before him, his back flat against mattress.

Sweet. Clean. Pure.

She straddled him across his hips, pressing her heated core just above his erect member, the tented fabric of his robe brushing against her backside. She then unfastened the knot in his belt, pushing the top half of his kimono open, exposing his bare chest to her gaze. There, on his right pec she made mental note of her mark on him-the outline of a red rose encircled by a solid, blue crescent moon.

Rin smirked inwardly. If her mark had the same effect on him that his mark had on her, she was certain she'd be able to repay his favors to her from earlier in the evening.

She smiled down at him, smoothing his bangs back from his forehead.

"What is it you are thinking, my Rin?"

She trailed her fingers down the side of his face, bringing her upper body to rest on his, brushing her lips against his. "How handsome you are," she said between kisses. "How happy you've made me," she caressed his left ear between her index and middle fingers. "And how desperately I want you."

A low growl emanated from Sesshomaru's chest, its vibrations further stimulating her hardened nipples as it worked its way through her. He reached up, cupping the back of her neck, forcing her mouth to maintain its contact with his. He parted his lips, sending his tongue out to taste his mate as his thumb lightly brushed over the mark at the base of her neck.

Rin moaned, rubbing her wet core against the fabric of his robe, the heat of his body radiating through the fine silk. This was exactly what he needed. She made him forget himself so quickly.

The Western lord thrust slightly upward, his clothed erection sliding along the crease of her backside. She moaned again, arching her back, reaching behind her to stroke him over the slightly damp silk.

"Rin . . ."

Was there a more erotic sound, Rin wondered, than the sound of her name as it passed through her lover's lips in a ragged, husky tone?

She lifted herself off him, and slowly made her way down his body, stopping to lightly circle her fingertips over the mark above his heart, pushing his robe further open as she went.

Sesshomaru growled, his eyes flashing briefly red as his mate situated herself between his parted thighs, her warm palm wrapped around his turgid length, her soft lips pressing wet kisses around his heated groin.

Control, he reminded himself, digging his claws into the palm of his hand. You will control yourself. You are not an animal. You are not a slave to your instincts.

But all rational thoughts went out the door when Rin wrapped her lips around his aching member, surrounding his tip in warm, wet heat as her right hand stroked him, her long, lean fingers squeezing and pulling, her tongue teasing him in the most delightfully torturous ways.

"Stay away. They are dangerous."

He growled low in his throat . . . But was he growling at the voice or at the humans?

His hand slipped down to grasp the back of her head, fisting his fingers in her hair.

Rin took more of him into her mouth, bobbing her head as her hand continued its stimulation, creeping lower to caress his sac.

Red. Sesshomaru's entire world went red as an irresistible force shook him, his claws and fangs lengthening, his rational mind clouded with lust as he watched his mate swallow him again and again, her lips contracting tightly around him as her hand worked furiously up and down his long length.

He began to move with her, pushing his hips off the bed, thrusting himself into the warm, wet cavern of her mouth. If there was anything more stimulating than Rin's actions, it was those delightful little moans she made, her moist mouth and tight throat sending shockwaves of vibration along his highly excited male member.

Rin didn't notice the slight changes in her lord's appearance; her attention was focused on features . . . other than his face. However, she could sense her mate's escalating arousal. His movements had become more erratic, more desperate. His hold on her had tightened, his breathing ragged, his pulse rapid and all intelligible speech had ceased, his communication with her reduced to guttural grunts, groans and growls.

How she loved to see her lord in such a natural state, free of all counterfeit, pretension, and facade.

She expected him to finish quite soon, now. But she didn't expect the manner in which he'd come to completion.

Sesshomaru growled loudly, clenching her hair tightly within his claws and forced her head down on his shaft as he thrust forward, climaxing violently, blissfully, mercilessly down the back of her throat.

"Do not feed them. Stay away."

"Kick them," the voice said. "Keep them away."

"Kill them."

Rin coughed and sputtered, caught off guard by the suddenness of his reaction, his phallus buried deeply in her mouth, his scorching seed sliding down her throat as she attempted to breathe and swallow at the same time.

The demon lord slowly came back to himself, releasing his hold on her hair, his eyes returning to their normally golden state. His senses were slow to interpret the scene as it settled upon him, but he immediately sat up when he caught sight of his mate crouching near the foot of the bed, coughing while clutching her throat. "Rin?"

No. What had he done?

She waved away the edge of concern she heard in his tone. "It's okay," she said. "I'm okay."

Her lord frowned.

What did they want from him? He was a demon; he owed them nothing.

He had nothing.

"Really," she insisted, giving a few more coughs then drawing in a deep breath. "You just took me by surprise." A bright blush colored her already flushed face. "I've just never . . . swallowed it before. I usually just get out of the way."

Sesshomaru continued to frown. That was his fault. Through the lust-induced fog in his brain, he had a quite clear picture of his actions. He had lost control.

. . . A blaze burning out of control.

He had forced her head down in his lap. He forcibly held her head in place as he thrust up into her. And he had forced her to drink every drop of his seed, making sure his tip touched the back of her throat before he released into her mouth. He . . .

. . . truly was an animal.

Never, in all his years, had his body betrayed him in such a brutally carnal fashion.

He wanted release. He wanted to escape. He wanted to forget. But . . . he didn't want to hurt her.

Had this been some . . . random female he had decided to bed down with for the evening, he would've thought little of his lapse in control, thinking that the demon bitch should be grateful for the gift of his seed. He had never finished inside any of his previous partners in any way, shape or form, regardless of whether the female was in heat or not. The last thing he needed was a bunch of bastard sons and daughters running around, after all.

But this was not some . . . random female. This was Rin. His Rin. His lifemate.

And he had . . . hurt her.

His lungs burned, his eyes watered . . .

Rin couldn't see his aura, but she could detect the sudden downturn in his general mood. Dark, heavy, contemplative . . . self-reproaching. His jaw was tense, his brow furrowed, his eyes... downcast?

While rubbing her throat, she inadvertently passed her fingers over his mark on her neck, gaining his full attention. "Whatever it is you're thinking, stop it."

His eyes, again, fell to the ground.

She crawled over his leg to kneel by his side and rested her head on his right shoulder.

"I . . . this Sesshomaru . . ." What could he say? There were no words to appropriately atone for his base behavior. He was hesitant to use the word rape . . . but what other term described a forcible act of sex.

. . . A blaze burning out of control.

She slipped her left arm around his waist and placed her right palm over his heart, stimulating her mark on him.

Sesshomaru shuddered inwardly, his waning erection returning full force. No, he chided himself. He didn't deserve to reap any further enjoyment from this encounter with his mate. He had already done more than enough.

He did not want to see this . . .

She, again, stimulated his mark, passing her fingertips over the diminutive petals of the rose and around the arc of the blue moon. "Sess," she said softly. "Don't you want me anymore?"

Too much, it seemed. If he lost control this once, chances were he'd lose it again . . . Possibly in a worse way than before. He simply couldn't trust himself with her at the moment.

"It's my fault, isn't it?" she asked. "I went too fast, pushed you too far."

"No," he said softly. "If there is blame to be had, it is mine and mine alone."

"But everything's fine. Like I said, you just caught me off guard. I wasn't prepared for that type of . . . reaction. But now that I know . . ."

"It will not happen again."

"But I didn't really mind," she said. "I want to be close to you. I want to . . . give you pleasure," she giggled. "Like you do for me."

He sighed inwardly. "Understandable . . . But it is not the same. You cannot hurt me, but I . . ."

"Kill them."

"You would never hurt me," she said stoutly.

"You were--"

She cut him off. "I'm not some little porcelain doll that's going to break if you get a little rough with me. I'm practically indestructible, now, remember? And even if I wasn't, need I remind you of all the ordeals I've lived through? I am a rough and tumble kind of girl."

The words hung in the air for a moment, then Rin's face suddenly went red and she bit her lower lip. "I mean . . ."

Sesshomaru allowed himself a rare chuckle.

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm not that kind of girl."

"Oh?" he raised an eyebrow at her. "Pity."

They looked at him with . . . Hope? Wonder? Expectation?

Rin laughed. "You're teasing me!"

"Am I?"

She looked up at him, her cheek pressed to his shoulder, a gentle smile on her lips, warmth radiating from her deep, brown eyes. "Yes. You are."

"I . . ."

"You didn't hurt me," she said. "I'd just like a little forewarning next time."

"Your throat?" he said softly.

"It was a little sore, but it's just a tickle, now. I think . . . I think my new powers let me heal faster."

"It will not happen again."

"Oh? Didn't you like it?"

And so he did. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. But . . . more remained. Many more remained. All just as thin, just as poorly dressed, just as hungry as the ones before.

"It is not a matter of like or dislike. There are things that are simply not . . . proper. I... forced myself upon you."

Rin laughed. "No, you didn't."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You were a little more . . . aggressive than you have been." A sly smile crept across her pink lips. "But I . . . like that. I . . . want to know what you like. Teach me. Like before."

"It is not the same."

"No?"

"No. Things went too far. I will not abuse our relationship, nor your trust, in so base a manner. If you do not enjoy yourself, I do not enjoy myself. "

His lungs burned, his eyes watered . . . it hurt. This . . . place hurt him.

She, again, stimulated her mark on his chest. Sesshomaru drew in a deep, ragged breath.

"It is not abuse; it was perfectly natural, and I enjoyed doing it." Her soft palm trailed down the hard contours of his upper body, "If you can't do those sorts of things with your mate, who can you do them with?"

Sesshomaru struggled to remain rational, ignoring his mate's intoxicating aroma and seductive touches. She, indeed, was a fast learner. "I am . . . stronger than you. I should be . . . stronger than you, more careful."

She nipped at his right ear. "I don't want you to be careful; I want you to be you. I want you to enjoy yourself. I want you to enjoy me. I want you to love me."

"And me?"

The Western lord repressed a growl as her hand crept dangerously close to his hardened member. "Rin . . ."

She caressed his scalp with the tips of her nails as she spoke softly into his ear. "You didn't hurt me. You will not hurt me. And there's no reason we can't both enjoy ourselves." She trailed kisses along his jawline. "As you're so fond of saying, relax . . ."

He could taste himself on her as the tips of their tongues touched, adding fuel to the fire in his loins.

But, no. They should stop; he should stop. What if . . .

She wrapped her arms around his neck and swung herself around to sit on his lap, her warm core resting on his right thigh. "How many reassurances must I give you?"

He let loose a low growl, inaudible to human ears, as she plunged both her hands into his flowing mane, massaging his scalp with the caress of her nails and fingertips. "Your safety is not a matter I take lightly."

"I am safe with you," she said. "Look," her tone reminded him of one that an adult would use to address a slow-witted, simple-minded child. "I know who you are, and I know what you are. I know, and as you've said, demons aren't always gentle . . . even when they'd like to be. I appreciate your efforts to control yourself when you're with me, but they're not altogether necessary anymore." She slid her left hand from around his neck, down his chest, lightly grazing her mark, and over the ridged plane of his abs. "Aggression is just part of your nature, my mate, and it's fruitless to fight against nature. I like it when you let go. I like seeing, sensing how much you want me, how much you need me, how much you . . ." she placed an open-mouthed kiss on his lips as her left hand crept a little lower. "Love me," she concluded.

Yes, he did love her, didn't he? Even if he refused to tell her so again.

That is where his control problem laid. The emotions he felt for her clouded his reason, overrode his rational mind, leaving him at the mercy of his instincts. If she was in danger, his instincts demanded that he protect her. If she was injured, instinct demanded that he care for her. If she was wronged, instinct demanded that he avenge her. And . . . if she was aroused, instinct demanded that he take her-any way that he could.

He had felt something similar for Mitsuko, but it was nowhere near this strong, this certain, this . . . overpowering.

"You don't have to say you love me, just show me," she said softly. An impish grin spread across her fine features. "Again . . . and again and again and--"

He silenced her words with a kiss, grasping her around the waist, pulling her flush against him, sandwiching his swollen member between their two bare bodies.

He had been over-thinking things. She was not a child. She knew what she wanted; she knew what she was asking. She wanted him to 'let go,' to . . . enjoy himself while with her. And why shouldn't he be able to do that?

She trusted him, wanted him . . . loved him. But, he had to be sure.

Rin moaned as he rubbed slow circles into her lower back, pressing a warm, wet kiss to his mark in the crook of her neck.

"Is this what you wish, my Rin?"

"Yesss . . . please . . ."

He again felt his demon nature rise, his eyes bleeding slightly red. "Look at me." His voice was gruff, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath.

Rin smiled, slightly surprised, though not alarmed by the lines of scarlet obscuring the molten bronze of his gaze.

"This is what you do to me." He lifted his lengthening claws to her face, baring the tips of his fangs to her as he carefully caressed her right cheek, lightly scraping but not breaking her delicate flesh.

She shuddered, shifting in his lap, rubbing her thighs together, accidentally . . . or perhaps intentionally brushing against his erection.

"So you do enjoy this." He lightly trailed his claws down the side of her neck, barely making contact with the crescent moon at its base.

Her right hand tightly gripped his left shoulder as her left remained trapped between their pressed flesh.

He gave a gentle nip to her left shoulder, drawing blood, then quickly licked the offending wound away. "These fangs," he spoke huskily into her ear, "could cause you . . . a great deal of pain, my Rin." He nipped her earlobe, again tending to the wound with his tongue.

"I know," she replied breathily.

"And these claws," he carefully scraped them down the length of her spine, "could easily rend you to pieces."

She let loose a shaky sigh.

"You are either quite fearless . . . or quite foolish . . . for wishing such a feral beast to appear." He nuzzled his nose against her pulse point and found no fear, no apprehension, no doubt, only desire-pure, simple, undisguised desire.

"My lord is not a beast," she replied. "He is a gentleman of the highest caliber and a lord without equal." She slipped her left hand free of its confinement and raised it to brush back the hair on the side of his face and lightly caress his right ear. She then followed the contours of his broadening stripes to cup his right cheek. "And as such," she continued, "he deserves the utmost obedience and respect from his lifemate. Your lady hears your call, my lord, and wishes to satisfy you in every possible way."

He tightened his hold on her, forcing the flesh of her thigh to press more intently against his aching member. "If that is your wish, my lady."

"It is," she said. "It always has been."

Enough. She has seen the risks, she knows the possible consequences, and she is still more than willing. Take her.

With a low growl, he shoved her out of his lap, flipped her onto her knees and assumed his position behind her.

"Stop!"

Sesshomaru growled, his throbbing member placed just outside her warm, welcoming walls, his hand tightly grasping her right hip. "What game are you playing?" he ground out. "I am in no mood to be toyed with."

"Face-to-face," she said quickly. "I wish to be face-to-face with you. I want to see you."

He stared down at his mate-the arch of her back, the swell of her hips, the curve of her behind, her long, dark locks falling over her pale flesh and softly rounded shoulders.

"Please?"

He caught sight of her large, brown eyes peering over her left shoulder at him and felt some of his demon nature recede. Her eyes were too loving, too trusting, too hopeful to be denied. He released his hold on her hip and allowed her to roll over.

She smiled up at him. It was as if she was extending every possible nonverbal invitation to descend upon her and enter her intimately. Her thighs were spread wide in welcome, exposing her moist, pink interior and nest of damp, dark curls. Her lean arms opened in embrace as she rested them upon her elbows, her hands palmside up, her long fingers flexing. And her ample bosom simply begged for his attention with their perky peaks-bountiful mounds of cream-colored flesh topped with brown sugar.

His mouth watered as his loins tightened. "Rin . . ."

Her sly smile morphed into a seductive grin. "Come."

And he did. Over and over and over again. She never seemed to tire, and he never tired of her. In the beginning his touches were tender, his thrusts deep, deliberate and slow, his hand positioned above her left shoulder, his lips, teeth and tongue nipping, sucking and licking along the right side of her neck as he ruggedly whispered words of praise and devotion. But as the early morning hours wore on and his mate's arousal continued to call out for him, his caresses became rougher, his words more . . . provocative, more licentious.

And Rin loved every minute of it.

Just as he would come down from one climax, she'd brush her fingers over her mark returning him to full arousal. She, for her part, needed little incentive to continue their lovemaking, but occasionally he would brush a finger or a thumb or a nose, fang or tongue over the, now, most sensitive spot on her body.

As orgasm built upon orgasm, her lord became more aggressive, more demanding, more desperate and eager. His eyes took on the most . . . entrancing color of red as his razor sharp claws carefully caressed the front and sides of her body. She shivered from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, though, heeding Sesshomaru's previous words of warning, she kept perfectly still, her only movements coming from her mouth when she opened it to moan, whimper, sigh or beg.

In the early stages of their love play, he seemed to be open to her advances, to her positioning with small alterations on his part. On her back: her legs spread wide, one leg raised, both legs raised, both legs wrapped tightly around his waist. On his lap: kneeling as she straddled his thighs, her feet flat on the bed as he knelt beneath her, her long legs wrapped around his waist as he cradled her bottom in the palm of his hand. Him, on his back, her straddling him: riding him, writhing upon him, hip to hip, torso to torso. But later, her lord took complete dominance of the situation.

He stopped calling her by name and began calling her "bitch." And she was his bitch, wasn't she? The alpha female of their little pack.

Yes . . . she liked that.

He began giving her commands: lick, touch, suck, stroke . . . beg. And she did beg. More of him. She would do anything to have more of him.

But as his arousal rose, his stripes broadened and his eyes blazed red, his commands came quicker than she was able to comply. When that happened, he stopped asking . . . or demanding as the case may be . . . and practically tossed her around into the position he desired.

And it was good. So very good.

He took her on her hands and knees, pushing hard, deep and fast into her warm, wet interior. He grabbed her hip and forced her back to meet his thrusts. He grabbed her hair, forcing an arch in her back, deepening the penetration. He pushed her head down onto the mattress, her posterior high in the air. He forced her flat on the mattress, his body heat pressed flush against hers. Again, on his lap, only this time from behind: her on her knees, straddling his thighs; her on her feet, springing up and down in time to the silent commands of his hand.

He brought them both down to their sides as he spooned her from behind, squeezing her breasts, nipping at her neck, violently rubbing the excited little nub nestled between her thighs. Rin moaned and screamed as he lifted her leg, deepening the penetration. He rested it atop his, tilting her hips back, changing the angle of penetration. He then pushed her leg back to its place, silently insisting that she cross her ankles, tightening her walls, increasing the intensity of the pleasurable friction for both of them.

Still, she wanted more.

He tugged her to the edge of the bed and took her the way he'd taken her during their first coupling-both of them on their knees, she bent over the bed while he thrust into her from behind.

"Yessss," Rin hissed. "Take me . . . teach me . . . show me whose bitch I am!"

He answered her challenge by clamping his fangs down on her neck, reaffirming his claim on her as he continued to drive into her slick, hot, tight interior.

Rin screamed as he brushed his tongue over his mark again and again, miniature orgasms rippling through her body as his hot, hard member stretched her, filled her, stoking the pit of her desire, making her itch and burn for him all the more.

"Please . . ." she groaned. "Gods, Sess . . . ohhhhh . . . please . . ."

He continued to tease her mark with the tip of his tongue, his fangs still buried in her sweet flesh as his aching erection hit home with her each and every time.

"Yesssss . . ." Close. So very close . . . Yes, there were several little tremors currently coursing through her, and she and her lord had reached completion several times already, but there was a bigger one, a better one, the best one of their current coupling just around the corner.

And she wanted it with every breath in her body.

The demon lord, sensing his mate's approaching peak and seeking his own release, reached his clawed hand down and brutally assaulted her center of pleasure as he shook her body with the power of his thrusts.

Rin shrieked. The fall was long, hard and fast. Explosive. Every muscle in her body tensed then relaxed as the irresistible wave of sensation overtook her, buoying her up then dragging her back down, every nerve awakened and receptive only to go numb and dull. Her fingers and toes tingled, her lower lip trembled, her dazed eyes shut tight in attempt to hold in the wonderful white light that crept into her vision. She felt her stomach muscles contract as her womb opened wide and squeezed closed, her inner walls fluttering as her lord's member pulsed and jerked within her, filling her with his scorching spend, his seed reaching deep within her body.

The entire experience left her wet with sweat, sticky with his fluids and very pleased with both of their behavior.

Sesshomaru temporarily rested the weight of his torso atop her then pushed himself backwards to sit on the Oriental rug that covered the floor beneath their bed. Rin sank down to the floor as well, resting her bare back against the bedside.

"Feeling better now?" she asked.

He gave a slight nod. "Are you well?" His shoulders were slumped, but his head was high; his left leg was stretched out before him, his elbow resting in the crook of his bent right leg, the sole of his clawed foot flat against his left inner thigh, his lower arm draped across his calf. His silver hair clung to his damp flesh, his heavily lidded eyes-now their normally golden color-regarded her gently with a combination of concern and . . . wonder?

"Perfect," she smiled warmly. "I am a little . . . hungry, though."

These humans, they were . . . starving, he supposed.

He pushed the grim thought from his head and gave a dry chuckle. "I wonder why?"

A wry grin spread across her rosy lips. "Well, it's not entirely my fault."

He inclined his head slightly. "I suppose not. Still, you've proven to be quite . . . insatiable, my Rin."

"Oh?" she said. "Don't you mean 'my bitch?'"

"They are dangerous."

The Lord of the Western Lands did not blush. As old, as knowledgeable, as experienced as he was, there was nothing for him to be embarrassed about . . . with the possible exception of his hanyou half-brother. But, if he was the type to give sway to such emotions, he would have colored slightly at Rin's comment. While widely regarded as an insult in the human world, in the canine youkai community there was no higher compliment, nor prestigious position for a female. While the alpha male ran the pack or family, as the case may be, his bitch, the alpha female, ran him.

Before he could utter a response, the humans overtook him, and he was the one laying face down in the grass . . .

It was one thing to tell Rin that her pleasure would always come before his, but this new declaration extended beyond the bedchamber. For a male to declare a female "his bitch," was to admit his submission to her in all things.

For him, Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, one of the most powerful demons in Japan, to admit submission to anyone, let alone a human female, was not only completely out of character, it was nothing short of miraculous. Yet, that was the way of things; his youkai nature had chosen.

How his lord father, Toga, InuTaisho of all Japan, dealt so easily with such things was beyond him. His father was undisputedly superior to him in power and was hailed as the greatest taiyoukai in all the lands; Izayoi was nothing short of a pampered noble, possessing no remarkable power of any sort. How his father was able to remain so confident despite his confession of submission to the simple, human female . . .

Sesshomaru scoffed inwardly. No wonder his father's challengers thought he had grown weak.

Death, destruction, ruin and decay . . .

"Did I say something wrong?" Rin asked. "I was only teasing."

He gave a slight nod. "I know. Nothing is wrong."

Before he could utter a response, the humans overtook him, and he was the one laying face down in the grass . . .

To claim a female as your mate, or even your lifemate did not necessarily make her the male's bitch. It could take months, years, decades, even centuries for a female to attain such a high status of esteem in the eyes of the male. A bitch commanded respect, loyalty, devotion and adoration.

And Rin had certainly earned all of those things from him in only 11 short years, making his word choice appropriate, if somewhat . . . embarrassing for him.

He had never had a bitch before, and his youkai nature was practically screaming at him. It wanted him to fall flat on his face at her feet and beg for her favor.

But the Lord of the Western Lands did not beg for anyone.

Rin smiled at him, lightly running the fingers of her right hand through her tousled locks. "What are you thinking?"

He let his eyes rove over her lovely form-her bright eyes, her lean curves, the invitingly warm glow of her aura . . . How he would love to lose himself in her embrace, yet again.

Her smile took on an almost . . . lecherous quality. Perhaps his Rin was a demon-a succubus of some sort.

"Is there something you want?" Her tone was light, teasing, but her eyes held no trace of mischief.

Sesshomaru repressed a low growl.

On your knees, his blood demanded. Beg for it. It is worth the possible humiliation if she rewards you the way you know she will.

Her brown eyes darkened from chestnut to mahogany. He could clearly see himself, as well as the flames burning in the fireplace reflected in them. He felt himself harden, the fire in her eyes igniting the flames of his own desire.

"Sesshomaru?"

The term "bitch" also held a blatantly sexual connotation. Bitches were made for breeding as the saying went.

He let loose a close-mouthed growl inaudible to human ears. You know you want to beg for it. Show your submission, and she'll reward you.

He was the one laying face down in the grass . . .

Breaking his gaze with his mate, his eyes bled red around the edges and turned towards the floor, his upper body leaning slightly as his hand made contact with the brightly printed rug beneath him.

Crawl to her. She'll love it. She'll love you for it. You know you want her approval, her favor . . . And there's only one way to get it.

The Western lord growled again, finding the combined call of his demon blood and the alluring scent of his mate's arousal too strong to ignore.

. . . The humans overtook him, and he was the one laying face down in the grass . . . But the grass smelled good--

He . . . crawled to her side, head down, eyes lowered, his mind set on one thing and one thing only.

Rin sat silently, slightly stunned by the sight of her noble lord down on all fours . . . or three, as this case had it, his silver mane hanging over his shoulders, creating a curtain of silky hair around his finely sculpted face. She found the image strangely satisfying and . . . seductive.

When Sesshomaru reached her, he remained on his hand and knees, a low, comforting growl rumbling through his chest as he lightly nuzzled his nose beneath her chin.

Sweet, clean, pure . . .

Rin squeezed her eyes shut, enjoying the sensation of his warm breath blowing against her throat as he continued to run his nose along the underside of her jawline.

He felt a rise in his mate's arousal as he traded his nose for his lips and then his tongue and teeth. But both his hand and knees remained planted firmly on the ground. He could not touch her more intimately until she touched him first.

Rin drew in a shaky breath as both her mark and her womanhood tingled with anticipation. "You want me again." It was not a question; it was a simple statement of fact.

"Yesss . . ."

She reached out, her hand cupping the left side of his face as her thumb lightly brushed over the broadening stripes along his cheek. She then urged his chin upward, causing him to meet her gaze before she brought his mouth to hers.

This was the nonverbal equivalent of "Good boy. Now, come claim your reward."

And he did. Several times. Over and over again during the next three days. Neither of them ventured outside of their chambers, choosing to have their meals brought up to them and to bathe one another with their tongues as opposed to journeying downstairs to the bathhouse. Rin remained receptive to each and every one of his advances, and he never failed to please his "blushing bride." They only stopped to eat and drink and when Rin had to run across the hall to use the chamber pot.

But, at the end of the three days, Sesshomaru finally forced himself to leave her side. There was a council meeting in four days, after all, and new mate or not, he had to be prepared for the topics that would undoubtedly come up. He had to be up on the current events in all of the territories, and he also had to make sure the arrangements were complete for his visiting guests-food, lodging and . . . entertainment.

He loathed to think about that aspect of the gathering, but it was part of his duties as the host. There would be music, dancing, drinks, a tale or two would be told, and, of course, courtesans. Some of the lords and their sons simply couldn't do without their company for a night or two.

8 8 8

With all the . . . excitement of the past three days, Rin forgot to mention her little problem to Sesshomaru. Her cycle was slated to start within the next two days, and with several unfamiliar youkai lords and their families staying under their roof, complications were bound to arise. As soon as her lord had time for her, she'd have to bring this to his attention. She was certain he'd know how to handle the situation. But, for the time being, having regained the use of her legs, she was on her way to bathe and then train with Master Sumida.

She wondered how the seiyuuki youkai was handling the recent death of Master Li, and if the yogi master would have any definite answers regarding the limitations/benefits of her burgeoning powers. But first, she had to clean up.

As much as Sesshomaru appreciated their combined scents, by human standards, she "reeked to high heaven." And he promised her there would be a surprise waiting for her when she finished her bath.

Rin smiled. She liked surprises.

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Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took so long. I know I said that this was going to be the last chapter, but I've been working so much over the past two weeks, I've barely had time to sit down and write (work bad; money good ^ ^). So, instead of making you wait another two weeks for the rest of this chapter, I've decided to break it into two and post this half, now, and the rest of it after I've gotten it written.

So, to answer one reviewer's question: No, I don't have any of this written down ahead of time and just post it when I feel like it. As soon as a chapter is completed, I post it. I'm fairly quiet in real life, but I'm quite prolific on paper. And, as they say "God is in the details," so I try to put in as many details as I can to make my fantasy world as real as possible.

Ophelia Revived (love the name, by the way), you ARE anal retentive, lol. I did quite a bit of research for this not-so-little fanfic. While I do practice yoga, I'm in no way a yogi master, nor am I a Buddhist, a Taoist or a master of Tai Chi Chu'an (though I did take a semester of Tai Chi in college ^ ^). I've also never visited the Japanese countryside, the castle of a lord, nor a bathhouse. Some details, I made sure were truthfully portrayed to add a realistic touch the piece; other details I felt weren't as important. Yes, I know they sleep on futons in Japan. But this fanfic wasn't meant to be an historic romance, I've written it as a piece of women's fiction with some romantic elements. And I don't mean to offend anybody, but futons simply aren't as romantic as four-poster beds with sheer white curtains. So, in this instance, I sacrificed realism for the sake of setting the mood. If you have to justify Sess' possession of a wrought iron, four-poster bed, pretend it was a gift to his father from a foreign (meaning Western-gaijin) lord.

If anyone is curious as to what women's fiction is, it always deals with a female protagonist who has to struggle against some obstacle(s) in order to obtain her goal. Throughout the story, the main character grows and evolves through her encounters with other characters, and she always ends up stronger than when she began. In the case of this fanfic, Rin's goal is to remain by Sesshomaru's side. While striving towards this goal, she encounters and conquers, several obstacles in their relationship, in specific, and in her life, in general.

Will there be a sequel? Because so many wonderful reviewers have asked for it, yes. I think I'm going to call it "Daughters of the West." It will be less about Sess and Rin's relationship and more about their relationship with their, as yet unborn, pups. I imagine while Sess is okay with siring hanyou pups with Rin, he wouldn't be so understanding if any of his offspring wanted to mate with anyone who was less than full youkai. I'll probably set the stage for the sequel in the second half of this chapter. In case you haven't guessed, because this is a meeting of all the lords, Zinan, the Lord of the North will be there, and so will his human mate, Yori, and their two children.

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

theMaven :)