Before Love Honor

Before Love Honor
By animechick262003
Final Chapter


Sesshomaru walked down the stairway that led to the lower cauldrons of the castle. Months had passed since the final battle with Itaru on the mountain side. Life had resumed as normal, or as much too normal as could be expected after all they had endured. Miyohiko had begun his rule as the new lord of the northern territory, along with the human mate he had chosen and the twins. But of all the news they’d received a cure restoring Miyohiko’s voice had to have been the most exciting and rewarding.

Sesshomaru glanced down towards his arm he wore in a sling. Still after so many months and although he was a youkai and should have healed rapidly, his arm had yet to regain it’s usefulness. Much of this had been as result of the black sludge that had poisoned him slowing his healing abilities, but hopefully all would change in a few weeks according to Aya had continuously treated him. His recuperation had been one of the most excruciating experiences in his life, but he could live with it considering the news he’d received when he woke.

He smiled as he caught sight of Miyohiko who stood outside of a large room with black iron doors. He hadn’t expected to return to the northern lands so suddenly nor had he any desire to considering he had to leave his mate back in the Western land much to her protest. Sesshomaru shook his head thinking back to how fiery Rin had become when he had ordered her to remain behind. She had been more than a bit angry but it was for her on good. Aya had warned him that the child she carried would be born any day, and travel was not healthy so late in her pregnancy, still she had pouted every step of the way up until he left making him feel more than a bit guilty for leaving her. He had to admit he had been reluctant to leave but urgent business required his presence, business that could not wait. Something unforeseen had occurred months earlier and this day would bare the end results, now it was up to him and Miyohiko to decide the final outcome.


“So you have finally arrived,” Miyohiko stated as a smile graced his lips.

“So it seems I have.” Sesshoumaru replied as the two men hugged briefly before turning their attention to the two large doors.

“Well are you ready cousin. It has been awhile since you last lay eyes upon her and as much as we both wish we would have never had to look at her again this, this has demanded that we do so,” Miyohiko replied sending Sesshomaru a sideways glance.

“”Well we have no choice. She made her bed when she betrayed us all. Besides the ruling Youkai counsel has ordered this to be her punishment. It was either this or to be sealed away. I thought she should be sealed away but this was your call, not mine.”

“I know,” Miyohiko began. “Even with all the pain she and my brother have caused I could not sentence her to such a fate.”

“As I would expect from you. After all, you have always been a caring person Miyohiko, but I’m sure everything will be just fine,” Sesshomaru responded placing his free hand on Miyohiko’s Shoulder.

“Well I guess it’s now or never,” Miyohiko stated clasping a blue crystal that hung about his neck and extending it before him.

Both males watched as the dimly lit corridor suddenly darkened with blue hue. Languidly the large double doors began to open until they were introduced to yet another corridor. Miyohiko glanced towards Sesshomaru motioning for him to move forward. Sesshomaru nodded before pressing for the younger youkai giving pursuit.

They walked in silence for a short distance. The wails of a female in obvious pain echoed throughout the second room. It didn’t take long for the two Inu Youkai to reach the area the cries resonated from. Both men paused outside of the large cell. Sesshomaru eyes immediately fell to the golden haired female that lay on the bedding in the center of the cell. He golden locks clung to her forehead. The scent of sweat and blood filled the room. It had been months since he had last seen her, seen Anjera yet she still looked the same with the exception of the scar that Rin had left her with.

Both the men turned their attention to the women who worked feverishly cleaning the small bundles that lay crying.

“Open the cell,” Miyohiko ordered to a medium build male with brown hair and was dressed in a dark green hakama and matching haori. The young man quickly obliged unlocking the gate that led into the quaint room., furnished much like a small home.

It figures, Sesshomaru thought shaking his head. Even with all Anjera had done Miyohiko’s kind heart would not let him give her a fitting punishment, at least not one he felt, she deserved.

“Have you come to take my children from me?” Anjera asked avoiding eye contact with bot the males who now stood only a few feet from her. As the nurse attended her.

“A deal was made. I agreed to spare your life because you carried the heirs of the north within your womb. As part of the agreement you were told that upon the day of their birth that I lord Miyohiko would take control of said heirs and rear them as my own. Did we not make one such agreement?”

“Hai.” The girl responded in low voice.

“Now I shall abide by my word and your sentence shall be that for all the days of your life shall you be locked away in this room. Here until your flame exist no more will you live to ponder what you and my brother did. The young princes will never know of you or my brother. They will be raised with honor and dignity and I will bare them no ill will as they are innocent. I pray that in time you will see the error of your ways and repent for your sins. That is all I wish, lady Anjera. Now if you will please, say your farewells this will be the last time you see the young lords, “Miyohiko stated as both he and Sesshomaru turned to leave the room.

Sesshomaru paused, glancing back towards the female who now sat on the side of her bedding glaring at them through narrowed eyes. Was it wise to let a creature so dangerous keep her life? He couldn’t help but feel uneasy over his younger cousin’s choice in doing so but the counsel had given him the choice of extinguishing her flame or life confinement, Miyohiko had chosen confinement for the wench.


Looking at her at that moment her cold, emotionless green eyes, nothing registered in their depths. Did the younger youkai really expect something that had killed for the pleasure of it to feel remorse, looking at her that moment Sesshomaru knew that to be impossible. She would never feel remorse, not her… so indifferent, unfeeling, and uncaring there was no way. He would simply have to trust Miyohiko’s decision and pray she never got out, because if she did, there would be held to pay.

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A Day had passed since his trip to the Northern lands. Sesshomaru smiled coming to and stop outside of the door that led to the chamber he shared with his mate, the chamber he shared with Rin. Slowly he moved forward walking into the dimly lit room. Much to the protest of Miyohiko he had traveled all night to be at her side after all Aya had said their child would be born any day and there was no way he was going to miss that, but even more he didn’t want to spend another second away from her.

Even when he was with her he longed for he. How a creature such as her managed to evoke emotions so deep was beyond him but he love the feeling her presence brought. Quickly he removed his armor before making his way towards the bed gazing down on her as she slept. He lowered himself ever so slowly, easily sliding beneath the covers beside her. He smiled watching as she wiggled slightly but not rousing as the sound of two heart beats touched his ears.

He stroked her cheek gently with his knuckle, staring at her exposed neck, the mark he’d given her months before solidifying there love in plain sight. How ironic it was that he had taken a mate from a race he deemed, inferior, weak, unworthy of his love or compassion. He had thought his father foolish sacrificing everything for a single woman, a human woman but most of all a single word. A word with a meaning he couldn’t understand until he found her. Now everything was clear, now he understood how his father could walk away. How he could be ridiculed, laughed at and mocked and still hold his head up. For the first time he was understood what it meant to be loved, and to feel love but most of all to give love.

He let his eyes roam over her peacefully sleeping form, coming to rest on her rounded abdomen. Slowly he brought his free hand to rest stop her stomach. Not only had she bestowed upon him love but she would give him and heir as well, a son to be exact, he thought smiling.

“You will indeed be a strong one,” He whispered feeling the child’s gentle movements beneath his palm.

“Don’t wake him,” Rin stated in a groggy voice. “You know he gets excited when you do that. Which means no rest fro me because he moves for hours.”

“And good morning to you too,” Sesshomaru whispered in and amused tone placing a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Good morning,” Rin replied letting out a deep yawn. “Have you been here long, watching me?” She questioned reaching forward and tucking a strand of silver hair that’s had fallen across his shoulders behind his ear.

“Only a few minutes,” He responded trailing his finger over her bottom lips.

“Why do you insist on watching me sleep? You must find my sleeping face is horrible.” Rin giggled smiling at him as she gazed up into his amber eyes.

“Actually I find your sleeping face breathtaking. You are as beautiful asleep as you are awake, my love.”

“You only say that to make me feel better. I’m huge,” Rin replied

“I say it because it’s true.”


Rin gazed up into the face of the handsome Inu Youkai. Never in a life time would she have imagined finding a more complete happiness. On a quest to find a love that ad been lost to her , she found her place. She found friends and the man that she would love for all eternity and for the first time in a long time she finally found a place to belong. Stilt her had been one thing that had bugged hr since the battle on the mountain. Even as Sesshomaru smiled at her she knew that if they hoped to have and complete life together it would have to be addressed.

“Is something wrong Rin?” Sesshomaru asked his brown forming a knot as he stared down on her.

Rin smiled at the Inu Youkai. He was her life now. He was the man she loved and would always love but she needed to know if her suspicions held merit.

‘Sess I’ve wanted to ask you something.” Rin stated bringing her gaze up to meet his once more.

“What is it?” he asked brushing aside a strand of her blue hair.

“It’s about my brother-”

“Rin-”


“I know you said you couldn’t tell me what was spoken on the mountain.” Rin interjected quickly before he could cut her off as he often did when they addressed the subject. “But I really need you to answer my questions Sesshomaru, please. Will you answer me?”


Sesshomaru watched her a moment. He had hoped they could move forward without her inquiring of that day but it looked as though she would not rest until she knew the answer, until she knew everything, he thought ring from the bedding beside her and walking towards the window gazing out at the rising sun.

“I don’t want to lose you, Rin.” He stated standing so that his back was to her.


“You will not lose me but I need you to tell me if my suspicions are correct. Will you answer me please my love?”


“Hai, if it is what you want.” He replied simply turning to face her .

“You knew my brother before that day on the mountain didn’t you?” Rin asked watching as his face went from being filled with expression to blank.

“There is no point in lying, yes, yes I knew you brother before that day.” He answered

“You met him in battle, didn’t you?” Rin asked


“Yes, we met in battle.”

“And it was you who claimed his life, wasn’t it? That’s what he asked you not to tell me wasn’t it. He didn’t want you to tell me that am I right Sess?”

“Hai.”


“Tell me, tell me how your paths crossed. I want to know.”

“Rin I don’t think I should…”

“Tell me?” Rin asked her voice had become pleading. Sesshomaru glanced towards her they had come that far there was no turning back. If he was going to lose her he was going to lose her but she had asked and he would tell.

“There was and gentle clan of owl youkai who ruled over a small territory in the south. The lord of those Youkai was named Lord Goho. Lord Goho had a son and his son fell in love with a human girl. Well shortly after the affair the girl became pregnant with his child. The boy planned to take the girl and flee but before the plans could be carried out her father found out and set a trap for the youkai prince, killing him, Afterwards he slaughtered the girl , his daughter and the unborn child.

Well Lord Goho was outraged his only son had been slain for nothing more than loving a human, but the owls were not warriors and since he and my uncle were old friends He sought our help in revenging his son’s death. The job was we were to go in and kill Lord Fuji Moro’s son Gen and escape. Well Lord Fuji Moro heard that we were coming and began to amass a large army but that didn’t detour us. He had committed a crime and would have to pay the price and eye for and eye. Itaru, Miyohiko and myself all went in that night. We succeeded in fulfilling are bargain, killing the young man, but as I was leaving the scene, a young man, the leader of the swordsmen found me in the forest.

I asked him to back down, but he said it was a matter of honor, that he had to redeem himself, and he challenged me. Damn code of honor would not permit me to walk away, a challenge, a challenge had been issued and I was obliged to take him up on it. And so we engaged one another. Your brother was one the most skilled swordsman I had encountered, still only one of us could walk away.


That day on the mountain your brother told me, that nothing, nothing should come before love, not even honor. That If I loved you I would keep what append between us a secret and never tell you or I would lose you. I don’t want that Rin. I don’t want a life without you in it. “Sesshomaru finished bringing his gaze up to meet that of Rins. What he found amazed him. He had expected her to be angry, to lash out, to say that she hate him, instead he found a warm eyes and a equally warm smile.

He watched as she flung the covers aside. Slowly she flung her long legs over the bedside, dropping them to the floor. Bit by bit she made her way towards him until she stood directly in front of him. She reached up caressing his face as she gazed up into his eyes.

“I knew , I wasn’t sure but I knew for sometime that you may have been the one. I didn’t want you suffering because of it,” Rin stated.

‘How, how did you know?”


“I had a dream with you covered in blood. And my brother I saw him dying. I didn’t think much of it until I saw your expression on the mountain top when you saw him. That expression. I hadn’t wanted to think much of it then but it bugged me for some time. I figured if it worried me so then it must have been as painful if not more so for you having to hold such a burden that is why I asked you to tell me. So you could relieve yourself of the guilt.


I am not angry with you. I know my brother well. Even if you had tried to walk away that night, he would not have allowed you to do so. His love of honor would not have permitted him to allow you to do so. Before Love Honor, that is what he always told me. Honor was everything to him then, but it cost so much. So it would be reasonable that two people so much alike paths would cross at some point. I wish you no ill will nor do I harbor any hidden grudge against you, my love. I forgive you Sesshomaru.

I forgive that person you were. But I see something in you I never had the chance to see in him, so from this day forward we will start anew. Nothing will come before love again, not even honor. I forfeit my honor. I renounce all pledges I made to seek the life of the one who killed my brother because it is not worth me losing it all. Honor is not worth the love I have with you,” Rin finished bringing her head to rest on his chest.

“Rin” He whispered pulling her close to him.


Sesshomaru held onto her tightly. He’d spent years of his life trying to find that something that was so precious, the one thing that was worth dying for and now he’d finally found it but it wasn’t honor as he’d thought, it was something far more precious. It was love.

“I love you Sesshomaru.”

“And I you, Rin.”


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Finally, Finally I have finished this fic. Yea…Yea. Thanks to all of the wonderful fans who have followed this fic from the start to finish. I hope the chapter wasn’t disappointing. As always please review.


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