If there's a prize for rotten judgement
I guess I've already won that
No man is worth the aggravation
That's ancient history, been there, done that!

Sesshoumaru looked down at the girl-woman astride of Ah-Un in front of him. The past four years without her company had been unsurprisingly quiet, but unlike the time before he took her in, Sesshoumaru found himself unable to appreciate the silence. His thoughts lingered on her often, but he had always forced her from his mind. It did not sit well with him that he was thinking so much about a human, even if the human was his Rin.

Who'd'ya think you're kiddin'
He's the Earth and heaven to you
Try to keep it hidden
Honey, we can see right through you
Girl, ya can't conceal it
We know how ya feel and
Who you're thinking of

He had been, not mad, that was too mild an expression, but he hadn't been furious either, if he had been furious there would have been bloodshed. No, the sight of the human holding out flowers to his Rin had made him livid. He had seethed at the sight of the flowers she had once picked for him now being offered to her by a human male. The frosty imperialisms of her response to him had cooled his anger though, and it had warmed his heart when she had explained to Jaken the situation.

She did not want the human's attention. He would not admit to himself that he was relieved.

No chance, no way
I won't say it, no, no

You swoon, you sigh
why deny it, uh-oh

It's too cliche
I won't say I'm in love

I thought my heart had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My head is screaming get a grip, girl
Unless you're dying to cry your heart out
Oh

He had wanted her to return to him a mere moon cycle after he had left her with the wrinkled old priestess, but for her own good, he knew she had to spend time with her own kind. Jaken's voice grated, and without the child to ride it, Ah-Un had become grumpy. Perhaps he should have left them both with Rin, to watch over her, still, he had not turned back then.

He had only returned at all because, apart from the promise that he had made to Rin that he would, and he always kept his word, Sesshoumaru had witnessed a human wedding the autumn just passed, and when he saw the age of the bride, he had realised that Rin would be that age also.

He was her guardian. Until she was fifty she would not be permitted to make independent decisions. This included marriage. Nevertheless, he was glad that such permission from himself had not been required.

Now she was back with him again. He could smell her joy when she had seen him again, and as they rode Ah-Un through the sky, it was not difficult to sense her comfort, even as she rested against his armoured chest, which was sharp, solid and hard. The warm sensation she caused in his chest disquieted him. He had not intended to ever repeat his father's actions.

You keep on denying
Who you are and how you're feeling
Baby, we're not buying
Hon, we saw ya hit the ceiling
Face it like a grown-up
When ya gonna own up
That ya got, got, got it bad

The sun was setting, and Sesshoumaru guided Ah-Un down, knowing the beast preferred to not fly at night. Upon landing, he heard Jaken fall to the ground with a relieved sigh, the imp did not enjoy flying. Rin, on the other hand, jumped down lightly and moved to Ah-Un's heads, hugging each one around the neck and stroking both manes fondly.

Ah-Un relished in the attention, butting its heads against her sides and purring at her, causing her to laugh.

Dismounting himself, Sesshoumaru hid his sigh. He had been far too long without the sound of her laughter. Quickly ordering Jaken to fetch wood, Sesshoumaru sat down just away from the centre of the clearing they had landed in. When Rin knelt before him, politely asking that he excuse her to find her supper, he nodded, knowing her need for sustenance. He had not forgotten in all the years without her, though he felt some discomfort that she did not linger by him longer.

No chance, now way
I won't say it, no, no

Give up, give in
Check the grin you're in love

This scene won't play,
I won't say I'm in love

You're doin flips read our lips
You're in love

You're way off base
I won't say it
Get off my case
I won't say it

Girl, don't be proud
It's O.K. you're in love

Jaken returned with wood and built the fire, and Rin likewise returned with many berries and mushrooms collected in a fold of her yukata, though it seemed she had already made a start on the berries, if that red stain on her lips was any indication. She ate her meal quickly and was soon curled up by his side, just as she had when she was younger, asleep.

Sesshoumaru did not bother to hide as he turned his nose to Rin and breathed deeply as much of her scent as he could. He had missed her scent. It was so sweet, so pure, and there was a hint of flowers about her even when she hadn't picked any. He watched, rapt, as she sighed and pulled his fur closer burying her face in it, and when she moaned his name in her sleep, a new scent reached his nose. Passion and arousal. He witnessed her alternately separating and clenching her legs together as she whimpered his name again.

Another smile crossed his face. Jaken and Ah-Un were asleep also, making him the only one watching. He alone was fortunate enough to enjoy the sight of Rin as she clearly dreamt of him in the most intimate way. Sesshoumaru, as he watched her, began to realise that it had been a long time since he had even thought of Rin as a human, as unworthy of him. She was his Rin, and she wanted to be with him.

Oh
At least out loud,
I won't say I'm in love

Gently, Sesshoumaru drew the sleeping Rin closer to him, unintentionally waking her as he settled her into his lap.

"My Lord?" she asked, as though unsure if she was awake or dreaming still.

"Rin, would you allow me to pup you?" Sesshoumaru asked.

"Even though the child would be a half demon?" Rin answered, surprised, though her hand slid carefully up his chest to the join of his shoulder and neck.

"Even so. I will not die and leave you to the cruelties of humans, as my father did InuYasha and his mother."

Rin smiled and rested her head against his chest where his heart beat. "If it would please you, My Lord, then nothing would make me happier. My everything belongs to you, Lord Sesshoumaru."

Tenderly, he caressed her hair, cheek, and neck before kissing her lips softly.

Laying together with only his large white fur to cover their naked bodies, twined together as they were, Sesshoumaru kissed Rin once more before whispering of his love to her, his now eternal mate. She smiled back at him and, just before she closed her large brown eyes, whispered back: "I love you too, Sesshoumaru."