A New Beginning

Rin couldn't believe what was happening to her. Earlier that evening, (had it only been about an hour?) she had awoken from a dream similar as to what was going on with her right now. That was what had made her take that moonlit dip, her arousal getting to be too much for her.

Now, all she could do was cling to Sesshomaru's waist, hidden in the folds of his haori, hiding her face against his chest, as he carried her towards his bedroom. She hoped that no one would see them. It would not be fitting for his reputation.

The Lord Of The Western Lands, The Great Tai Youkai, himself, carrying his charge...his NAKED charge, into his bedroom?! What would people think???

Sesshomaru could sense Rin's misgivings, but there was no way that he was going to turn back now. As soon as he entered his living quarters, he shut the door behind him, and placed Rin upon her feet. Shrugging out of his haori, he wrapped her within it, tilting her head up towards his and kissing her lips, hoping to convey what he felt as he hugged her close to him.

"Rin...speak to me. Tell me what is bothering you?"

"My Lord...it's just that...are you sure of your actions? What if someone had seen...I mean, what about your reputation? I'm...merely a human. I'm...your...charge." she spoke in a low, trailing voice.

"Is that all there is? Nothing more?" He asked, the corners of his mouth lightly tweaking in mirth.

"What more should there be?" She quipped back, staring up into his face, noticing that he'd found something to be amusing.

Now he did chuckle. Only Rin could make him do this. Through their years together, she had mellowed him, somewhat. He tightened his arms around her and rested his chin upon her head, in an open gesture of affection, love and trust.

Of coarse, Sesshomaru would never do any such things in front of an audience, or even if he had the slightest inkling that they could be seen, though, and Rin knew it, too.

"Rin...I do not care what others may think. You have gained a fine reputation among the people that live within my lands, human or Youkai. You are NOT an outcast. Far from it. Even more so, many humans have come to look upon you as the only person that can reason with me when deemed necessary between inter-human, Hanyou, and Youkai relations, special requests, or treaties that need particular specifications from one party to another. Have you not noticed that I require more and more of your services, as these demands become even more tedious as time goes by? There are times that your insight astounds even me."

Pausing, he continued:

"No, Rin, if anything, our coming together has probably been expected for quite some time now. I would not be surprised if it has not even been looked forward to. I was just too blinded by my own stubborness to really see everything that was exactly how it should be. As I have said, I do not care what others may think, and you should not, either."

Rin sighed, burrowing herself aginst his chest, once again thinking that there were times that she could truly not comprehend him.

"Rin."

She did not move.

"Rin." Sesshomaru said a bit more forcefuly, making her submit to his gaze.

"I want you. It is time." He murmurred as he started rubbing her back, not wanting to frighten her.

"Mmmyy Lllordd?" She stuttered.

"No. Do not call me by my title when we are alone. For you, and you alone, call me by my given name. Sesshomaru."

"Doesn't Inuyasha call you by your given name? I won't be the ONLY one, now will I?" Rin giggled as she pointed this out to him.

"He calls me that, yes, among OTHER things. By the grace of all that's holy, do not remind me of my Baka brother when I am about to make love to you." He growled, affectionately swatting a finger on the tip of her nose, letting her know, by Inu-Youkai standards that he was still her Alpha Male, just before he let her wiggle herself away from his embrace. He watched her through hooded eyes, wondering what she had in mind.

Rin playfully shrieked as he made a grab for her, managing to slowly distance herself by going around the large, dark red cherry wood conference table that he had in his living quarters, where he would entertain his special guests, or family members, such as his mother or Inuyasha and Kagome, completely knowing full well that it was in vain.

"So...you wish to play, do you, even at this late hour?" He growled mockingly, his Youkai content with what it knew would follow. The chase was on.

Rin laughed as he lunged to the right, while she went left, her eyes never leaving him. She knew that he was having just as much fun as she was, by the look that he bestowed upon her. A hungry, predatory glint in his eyes that promised retribution of a very pleasurable kind. For the both of them.

How many times did he chase her around that table, she couldn't tell, but she was starting to tire, and he knew it, too, by the triumphant growl that he let out.

But, Rin was quick, not only in speed, but with her wits, too. As Sesshomaru lunged for her again, nearly catching her this time, he did the unthinkable. He had somehow caught his hakama on a chair arm, which caused him to take a tumble, along with said chair falling on top of his legs, effectively pinning them for several seconds.

Those very few seconds were all that Rin needed. Even though the image in her mind wanted to make her laugh, she knew that she had to take advantage of this opportunity.

She ran as fast as her legs could carry her out of the large double doors that looked over her garden. That very same garden that she knew so well. Hiding places were everywhere and many were downwind from that over-sensitive nose of his. Rin knew only all to well what she had just done, concerning her beloved Youkai. Since it seemed that he really did want to play, then it was time they played by her rules, for a little while, at least, she thought, running down the stone steps that she knew by heart, slightly shuddering. Because, knowing Inu-Youkai ways, she had just let herself become Sesshomaru's prey.

'What...IN HELL...just happened?' Sesshomaru thought to himself as he flung the chair back onto it's legs. Getting up, he noticed his double doors had been flung open, and Rin was nowhere to be seen.

"THAT MINX!!! HOW DARE SHE!!!" Sesshomaru roared.

Then, very surprisingly, he laughed. Not a chuckle, but a full-fledged LAUGH.

"After all of these years, I truly should have known. Rin...how you are going to become the perfect mate for me, that is, when I get my hands on you. Only you could know exactly the true Youkai way of our mating rituals. You, and of coarse, Kagome. You've been taught well, very well, indeed."

His Youkai, deep in side of him, rumbled in agreement. Before, he'd been playfully chasing her, graciously letting her be the dominant one . Now, a true hunt was on. The very best kind, for that matter.

THE MATING HUNT!

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Rin knew that if she kept on his haori, and stayed downwind of him, he would have a harder time finding her. As she stepped into the shallow end of her pool, washing away as much of her scent as she could from her feet and legs, a shiver of anticipation ran down her spine. Her lord had just let out one HELL of a loud howl.

'So, it's begun.' Rin thought, giggling.

"Well, my Lord, come and get me." She whispered as she delved deeply within her garden.

Sesshomaru stepped out onto his balcony, staring out into the night. It was still fairly early, even with everything that had transpired. Maybe between half-past midnight and one in the morning. Enough time to hunt Rin down, mate with her, and make all of the necessary preparations to wed her by the day after tomorrow, he mused.

He shook his head, as if to clear it, wondering which Kami had played with his life, making all of these changes. A wedding with Rin. He knew that would please her. And by human standards would make her Lady Of The Western Lands. No Youkai would even dare ask him if he was doing the right thing. They knew that to challenge him would mean their deaths.

And as for the humans, well, what he had told Rin earlier had been true. She had been accepted so many years gone by, that he wouldn't be surprised if some of the elders, ones that were bolder because of their age, asked him outright what he'd been waiting or stalling for, these past moons. He sighed...what had he been waiting for? He'd seen the happiness that the Miko had brought to his brother, not that he truly deserved it because of all of his stupidity. Especially because of what he'd put her through because of that BITCH Kikyo.

He harbored no more ill-will against her now, though, for his brazen sister-in-law had explained everything to him. Kagome and Rin had so many things in common. It was uncanny. If he didn't know better, since he'd found out the truth of Kagome's origins, he would have sworn that Rin was an earlier reincarnation of her.

Speaking of which, he had given her ENOUGH time to hide. Time, yes, it was time. Time to start the hunt.

Looking up at the moon, The Lord Of the Western lands let out a blood-curdeling howl.


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Sorry sweeties. My computer is starting to act up on me. I gotta make this chapter short. Just as I was getting to the good part, too. DAMN!

The lemon's there, I swear. Just gimme some time. I'm starting to think that it may have something to do with my server.

Until later, 'cause I have EVERY intention on finishing this today, tomorrow at the latest. I won't have time later this week.

Thank you for the reviews. VERY VERY APPRECIATED!!!

Actually, if truth be told, that's the only reason why I write.

I WANNA KNOW WHAT YOU, THE PEOPLE, THE READERS THINK!!! I WANNA KNOW WHAT YOU, THE READERS, WANT!!!


If YOU'RE HAPPY, THEN I'M HAPPY!!! GOT IT? Thanks. So I'm off to continue this story.

Until later. JA NE.