I've seen enough cyber bullying on the internet worldwide against SesshXOlderRin fans, and it only encourages me more to think of new stories of them! They make a great couple! In this one, while it is a sort of AU in the past, its another experiment that just popped into my brain to see where it would go since the last one got interesting reviews...so here's an experimental fairytale one-shot...please rate and review, be kind, honest, and if you do want to argue (please don't do it on the public page with no evidence, or facts, or disrespect to the original creator!) be understanding and professional with your criticism. Sorry it is too long!

The mighty Sesshomaru of the western lands, stood looking over the procession of veiled litters as they were carried one by one by strong demon servants into his mother's castle. Being a dog demon he could smell different types of scents of the occupants of the litters and the servants trailing behind them.

He wrinkled his nose in disgust at some smells and the audacity of his meddling mother's plans, this time she had gone too far!

It was bad enough that she had put him into a position of power early after his father's death, and didn't let him have much of a childhood to enjoy as his half brother did while in exile.

He kept in contact with him behind his mother's back as they grew up to not only look after Inuyasha, but because watching the young pup grow and play was the only source of any fond childhood memories he could allow himself to be content with. Inuyasha was now married and lived farther away as a guardian samurai of a small village in Endo with his new human wife Kagome, and they were expecting their third child. It still secretly baffled Sesshomaru that Kagome and the other villagers were accepting of a half-dog demon exiled lesser lord living among them as their protector.

There were days that Sesshomaru found himself envious of his younger half-brother due to the fact that he grew up with more independence with less expectations and responsibilities, being able to choose his own path, companions, and his own wife.

Growling lowly to himself in frustration out of the demands of his mother and titled duties, he could find solitude from his problems in the gardens of the estate. It was quiet and reminded him of the peaceful moments of nature when he traveled. His mother still didn't understand why he insisted on traveling by foot with only one or two servants at a time, those journeys outside the palace walls in the wilderness were his own personal freedom for the short extent of time that was offered. Once he was away from prying eyes he would have the opportunity to change into his true monstrous dog form to stretch his legs, and the servants were always ordered to not disturb or interfere with any demon when he/she were in their animal form.

When he needed a moment to escape his troubles, he transformed into his other form, a smaller-sized lap puppy.

...

Lady Rin sighed as she adjusted her outer red kimono robes nervously, she had no idea why she was sent on this expedition. She did have a title as a lady, but she had been hidden away with her guardian the elderly Kaede during the wars to be protected and raised in the countryside.

She had loved it there! With all the animals, the flowers she would pick to arrange in their simple hut, the fresh herbs from the garden they grew, and the many quiet places where she could go freely to read, sing, paint, and dance with her human and demon friends at the village.

Here, she was expected to dress in more layers, act with high manners, and not even smile! How do these ladies in the other rooms around her even stand it?

She quietly reached over to her single wooden chest to grab her only ornamental hair comb to help pull her hair back from her face but leave it still flowing down her back. It felt much better with less pressure on her head. Glancing around inside her chest she spotted the small lyre that Kaede helped her make a year ago out of some rods and string. One of the girls at the village, Kagome, used to teach her to sing and play. As she put her ear to the curved wood to tune the strings to the chords she wanted, her thoughts drifted to her guardian and loved ones.

She missed Kaede and her friends back home, and she hoped she would get to see everyone again. But Lady Inukimi herself wanted Rin to make an appearance and become groomed up to be a true lady, she was chosen to represent her region considering there wasn't anyone else of noble background there.

She still had no idea why the lady dog demon chose her, but she knew it would help her neighbors and friends back home since a sum was being paid to keep her here. Her friends, Sango and Kagome, would need the extra funds since they were having more children on the way. They had argued with her about throwing her life away for their life comforts, but they knew that her mind was made up. She knew everyone in the village either regarded her as strange or delightful. The majority found her strange enough that she would help little demons if they were injured or befriend them. While this did make Rin appear more daring and lovely, she didn't flaunt it and didn't want to marry until she truly fell in love like her friends had. She also knew it wouldn't be wise to argue

Rin didn't admit it to anyone, but she wasn't truly looking forward to meeting the famous lord Sesshomaru. She had heard many stories from the other maidens and demonesses gossip about him in private, but she didn't want to believe such rumors that only told of his exploits and attractive features instead of his personality. She did often wonder what he would be like passed a serious exterior? Would he be like his highly sophisticated mother with wavering emotions? Would he snarl and perform good deeds like Kagome's husband, Inuyasha? Or worse, be a pervert enjoying the samples of various women before finally settling down to one woman, like Sango's monk husband Miroku?

She shivered at the thought of a powerful dog demon thinking about seducing her to his bed without a thought of love or marriage in mind. Although, she did hear that Sesshomaru wasn't too favorable to humans, according to the demonesses behind their fans, which did cause her to be both cautious and relieved. Rin didn't want to be chosen, she just wanted to bring honor to her adopted home and friends and leave, there wasn't really a reason for her to stay.

However, she when she did think about it, she would miss some of the kind servants that treated her nicely since she arrived, and the gardens were exquisitely wonderful with the stream and pond she loved to escape to in the morning when the guards had their backs turned. She would dance and silently laugh on the soft grass with her bare feet, she always wanted to sing, but feared the others would awake and hear her. She didn't want more privileges taken away.

Rin reflected on how much the dancing and singing in the fields of flowers compared to the dancing and silent joy she experienced alone in the palace gardens, missing home more she brought tears to her eyes as she slide the lyre onto her lap to pluck a few strings gently with her nimble fingers. Glancing quickly to see is there were shadows surrounding her from the other curtained rooms she softly started humming before plucking more notes to begin softly singing.

...

Sesshomaru had transformed into his smaller animal form when the rest of the servants left the gardens. He hid behind a flowering bush on the ground to hid his scent and sight from anyone before doing his own exploration.

He took a deep breathe through his pointed nose before shaking his long fur and long flowing tail, it felt great to stretch out his limbs even if it was temporary. He would sometimes even fly around on a cloud when in this form or curl up in one of a garden's trees to relax while listening to a koi fish quietly swim in the pond.

Then the young lord's fluffy ears picked up the sounds of soft music being played somewhere in the palace he tilted his head to the side to lift his ear to listen better. The instrument almost sounded like a rustic harp that gave way to simple yet ancient sounds that could calm any force against nature. The voice that followed the interment perfectly was soft and smooth with feminine features that coaxed him against his better judgment to investigate. Was it a lovely bird demon performer his mother had acquired? It had to be something out of the ordinary for its voice and talent to sound so inviting? He inwardly shrugged and decided that he would sate his curiosity.

Sesshomau glanced around following his ears, since he couldn't use his nose to identify the sounds, as he carefully navigated through the palace hallways to avoid the servants and advisors walking about before tea time. He shifted behind large objects and plants to remain undetected, knowing a few of the spineless fools would fearfully report to his mother of his doings. But his determination for finding the angelic voice that accompanied the stringed instrument grew as he ventured on. By the time he eluded a couple of palace guards, he found the spot that he made him instantly disappointed for two reasons: 1) the music had stopped as soon as he had gotten there, and 2) he was looking at a long row of curtained tents of dark red colors. These were the curtained areas that his mother was housing the ladies! Curse his luck of curiosity! He wasn't going anywhere near a bunch of pampered females that smelled funny and painted their faces to look like glass dolls. He growled at the thought of his mother putting this upon him, how dare she rule the majority of his life!

"Look! A cute puppy!" a young feminine voice whined behind him, causing him to abruptly turn around and raise the hackles on his fur as he snarled.

The hallways was now filled with a group of ladies wearing colorful and expensive kimonos, some of them looked human, but he could smell that they were demons by blood. While they did appear beautiful, he wasn't moved at all by any of their looks since they all seemed to emanate a sense of danger and deceit.

One of them smirked and raised her fan over her head, "And here I thought I would be bored to death, how kind of someone to send out a 'plaything' to us!"

Sesshomaru glared as they continued to talk as they surrounded him, some trying to poke at him with their fans and parasols.

"...he doesn't look too skinny, he would make a tasty treat..."

"...no! he's too cute! Lets just play with him till he bleeds!"

"...I love his tail! I could make a fine pillow out of it..."

"...too bad Rin isn't here to join in the fun, lets make her watch us play with its bloody paws and ears to see if she would cry..."

"...I always get a kick out of seeing her cry! She whimpers like a puppy herself!"

"...I wonder what kind of sounds he would make if he whimpers..."

When a long pale hand reached out towards his tail to snatch it, but Sesshomaru was faster and sank his smaller fangs into her knuckles.

The wind demoness howled in pain as she retched her hand away, her eyes glaring down at him as he lowly growled.

"I WILL DESTROY YOU! You pathetic mutt!"

Sesshomaru knew that if he revealed himself it would only encourage these ladies to pounce on him for different reasons, and even if he turned into his monstrous form they would be able to recognize him as well. He only had one option left before the crazy demoness' fan came down to cause a small whirlwind towards him. Run away and don't look back!

He jumped and quickly avoided the wind sorceress' powers, and snapped at the hands of the other females that tried to grab him as he ran around the tents. Some of the ladies started to run after him, while a few of the other stayed to sympathize the demoness' wound or taunt her that a puppy outsmarted her.

To avoid the crazy females, he ducked into a few of the stalls to run through them before coming into contact with something soft yet hard.

...

Rin sighed as she walked farther away from the calamity of females yelling and clawing at one another behind their tents, now she was really thankful hers was further away from the demonesses' side. If those females didn't have someone to pick on they would usually turn on each other. She couldn't understand why they would allow their vanity and petty reasons to make their thoughts grumpy and rude towards her in particular. She had been picked up by her maid, a brown dog demon named Yuki, to take her to the hairdresser since it was her turn. She regretted that she had to stop her playing but knew she would try again later.

Retiring to her own tent, Rin tugged at the ribbon adjusting her long dark hair tightly into an elaborated bun on her head. She had had her guardian adjust her hair before every morning and it was never uncomfortable, but the monkey hairdresser here at the palace made her scalp feel like she could go bald any moment. She was really tempted to rip the offending ribbon, even if it was pretty, to redesign her hair herself!

She was about to reach her fingers through the long sleeves to rub her temples to rid herself of a headache when she heard a series of shrieks and screams reach from the other occupants in the other stalls. What was going on?

Her question was answered when a small ball of white fluff burst through the small opening flap of the silk, making fast contact into her lap. Rin fell over to the floor and by instinct grabbed hold of the ball of soft fur to keep it from running away.

...

Sesshomaru felt dizzy from the impact into the human woman's arms, he had been in such a hurry to avoid the demonesses that he hadn't noticed where he was going for a split second. That second was all that it took for him to not notice himself connecting with a human lady. If it was in his character he would have rolled his eyes at the predicament he was in.

"Aawww, you alright puppy?" I soft feminine voice asked as small cool hands tightened around his smaller body to try and stop his squirming.

An irritated Sesshomaru turned his head to the side intending to snap his jaws and growl at the female who dared to hold him, a powerful lord, captive from his escape. But as soon as he saw the wide dark eyes of the innocent young woman smiling down at him, all thoughts and intentions of escaping fled from his mind.

She...was...beautiful...

So youthful, and yet a certain mature light that shined from her eyes, and a warm glow seemed to cover her entire face that drew him in.

She wasn't wearing any paint on her face, and her hair had been tousled after he had run into her causing it to fall away from the elaborate style of bright combs holding it in place by letting dark brown curls cascade down her back and over her shoulders like a waterfall. Taking a quick breathe with his puppy nose, he realized that this female didn't even wear any perfumes or oils to make herself appeal to his sensitive nose. Her scent was naturally lovely and sweet with hints of herbs and wildflowers.

He had never seen a female, let alone a human woman, in his mother's court without styled hair, painted faces, or smelly perfume to make themselves appear exotic and desirable. This female lady didn't seem to need anything to enhance her natural beauty.

Her smile was brilliant and warm as she lightened her grip on his long fur and began to use her left hand to stroke the fur starting at his neck before trailing it down his back to his tail. Her other gentle hand lightly petted him over the crescent moon on his forehead casing him to almost groan out loud like he would in his humanoid form.

She parted her pink tinted lips to speak, "You poor boy, were all those silly ladies trying to smother you?"

Sesshomaru's mind seemed to return to reality at the mention of the other atrocious females who tried to hit him or chase him, he turned his head away from the wonderful petting to glance in the direction where he came from to lowly growl.

The woman holding him started to giggle behind her free hand, the soft musical merriment brought the dog demon's attention back to her with wide red eyes.

"I don't blame you boy, they can be difficult when they want to be."

She sighed sadly looking away to the side, "I don't know why they don't like me, they say I smell too much like the outdoors, but I love being outside. I know I'm not as pretty as them, but I don't understand why they like to poke fun at me for it?"

The sadness in her sweet voice and on her gentle face made Sesshomaru upset, which surprised him a second later.

The only emotions towards others he had were towards his mother and half-brother, the other stiff members of the court and the followers in his army didn't truly cause him to feel emotions towards them out of sympathy or guilt. He had thought that his mother had worked him hard to remove any emotions as he grew up to not care about others around him. Duty was one thing, personal thoughts and emotions were another.

Yet, this one young woman's sorrow seemed to make him want to somehow comfort her or find those who had done her wrong to punish them for making her smile melt to his displeasure.

His lowly growls must have gotten louder because she immediately returned her attention back to him with her brows rising.

"What's wrong puppy?"

She started to scratch the back of his ears, causing Sesshomaru's hind leg to kick in enjoyment despite his shock. He had never been treated this way in his animal forms, nor his humanoid form, and he was surprised that he really liked it.

The human lady kept on talking as she reached all his itchy spots with her nails.

"I'm sorry boy, I should be as Lady Kaede always taught me, stay positive even when I'm in an unhappy place. I wish I could leave this room to play in the gardens with you, but I'm told I have to stay here to see if the Lady Mother and Lord Sesshomaru find me acceptable as a bride. I don't think he'll choose me, I'm not like these other demonesses, I'm just another human orphan who was sent for by Lady Inukimi, I still don't know why...it doesn't matter I guess. I might change too many things around here if I was in charge of it...and it would mean less time to read, sing, paint, or explore outside. Why, I was already reading and drawing maps for master Miroku and Lady Sango back home to help them in their travels. They've been to so many exotic places...

You should see the wildflowers on the way here though, I was able to convince the maid to pick some for me to carry here, I have them pressed down in one of my books if you want to see it. They smell so sweet, I'll treasure them always...I'll stop talking, I'm not the best company, but I am glad to have met you puppy."

Sesshomaru found himself not breathing as she gave him a wide and bright smile, "Thank you so much, you helped cure me of my homesickness!"

Without hesitation she gently held him up to her eye level to lightly placed a kiss on his crescent moon forehead.

Sesshomaru's mind went completely blank for the next few moments as she continued to smile sweetly at him. He had never been shown this much affection, let alone physical contact with a female before like this. He was barely kissed on the cheek by his own mother. This lady's affections seemed sincere, but why did her affection cause him to feel funny in his stomach and dizzy in his mind?

"Lady Rin? Lady Rin, the dressmaker will see you now-Oh my lady!" Her maid had returned and found her lady in disarray and hugging a fluffy white puppy. Lord Sesshomaru found himself shocked still hoping that he wouldn't be seen by the maid at looked like one of his mother's. Why would his mother send in one of her personal maids to watch and care for this human girl? What was his mother planning?

"Yuki-chan! I'm so sorry, I fell down and the hair combs fell out, I'll fix it really!" Rin's face blushed as she kept her back facing the entrance where Yuki was to the puppy deeper within her outer robe.

The dog demon maid sighed as she shook her head to smile gently at the young woman, "Honestly Rin-san, we'll be late enough as it is! We don't have time to return to the hair dresser, she's finishing up the last of the ladies as it is! And what about your face and skin, we'll need to oil them as soon as possible or Lady Inukimi will be upset!"

Sesshomaru noticed that the young lady, Rin, gave her maid a sheepish smile over her shoulder before pulling the front of her robe over his head to hide him better.

Rin spoke up to try and come up with a solution for the maid to leave till Yuki started sniffing the air with her nose.

"I-I, I'll fix my own hair Yuki-chan! I've...what is it?"

"Someone's here Rin-san, and they smell of the royal family..."

Rin's eyebrows rose, "what?"

Sesshomaru froze under the thick robe as he realized that not only could his mother's maid recognize his scent, but his long tail was sticking out on the other side!

Yuki looked at the white puff of fur that seemed to curl around Rin's knees, she raised her eyebrows and used the same motherly voice she used on her own children when they were but young pups.

"Lady Rin, you will release whoever is under your robe."

Rin sighed, she did like Yuki as a second mother and friend, but she could be a pain sometimes when it came to directing her. She turned herself around on her knees to lower her head slightly in shame as opened one side of the robe to reveal the puppy's head.

Sesshomaru didn't know how to react to the situation, so he glared up at Yuki-san is hopes that she would not reveal his true identity.

"I'm sorry Yuki-san, I-I found him after the other ladies were poking fun at him and chasing him around the tents! H-he ran into me and he looked really upset, s-so I tried to calm him, and then we became friends-a-and..."

Yuki stopped listening to Rin's rambling as her black eyebrows lifted to give the "puppy" a questioning look. Having been a maid to the Inu family household for many years before even lord Sesshomau's mother became lady of the household, she would recognize lord Sesshomaru in any of his forms. She had had her moments of scolding the young lord when he was but a little pup who frightened his own share of nannies over the years. She knew lord Sesshomaru in all of his forms, but she was surprised that the normally secluded dog was now seeking a human female before his mother started the opening ceremony in the great hall.

She noticed that Sesshomaru's puppy face was snarling and then started to growl at her in Inu language.

"(growl) You will obey this Sesshomaru, no mention this to anyone! Lady blameless, tells the truth!"The puppy in Rin's lap growled in authority.

"What this, milord?"Yuki growled and gave lowered yip at the end of her sentence.

Rin's eyes grew wide, "You understand him? That's amazing Yuki-san! What did he say?"

Yuki lifted her gaze back to Rin's curious expression, "You don't know who this is, Rin-san?"

Rin's brows knit together in confusion, "No, who does he belong to? He's very tame and friendly."

Yuki lifted a suggestive brow at the idea of someone referring to Sesshomaru as 'tame and friendly', what had he done to the sweet lady?

Sesshomaru lowered his growls at Yuki as he resettled himself fully onto lady Rin's lap at a better angle so that not only was in he in a position to protect her, it indicated that he was refusing to leave where he was sitting. He was upset enough that someone was interrupting him from fully enjoying himself in this lady's company, even if she did treat him like a puppy.

Yuki calmed her face to keep herself from revealing that the lord of the estate was indeed seating himself as a small dog on a human lady's lap. She realized that Sesshomaru was now not only in a compromising position that could harm both reputations, but also be chastised and teased later by his overbearing mother.

She never in her long life ever told a lie, but she wouldn't mind watching the headstrong lord squirm a bit.

"Why, he's lady Inukimi's... puppy I believe, Rin-san."

Rin nodded, "Oh! I see, what is his name?"

Sesshomaru tensed as he glanced up at a now very smug Yuki, oh kami...

"Why...I do believe her pet name for him is...Fluffy."

Sesshomaru growled loudly, standing in Rin's lap to gash his teeth at her. How dare she bring up that hateful childhood name that his mother would call him when he was a baby. He loathed that pet anem she gave him more than anything else!

"Ssshhh, its ok...Fluffy...Yuki's a nice person, please, she's very kind to me." Rin's sweet voice and soft hands tended to him in attempt to calm him down.

For the first time in his long life, Lord Sesshomaru of the western lands, was embarrassed.

Humiliation wasn't something that he was used to, even with a frightfully crazy mother ruling the majority of his life. But that terrible pet name, that he swore would never leave the palace walls as long as he lived, was now the title that his new interest was calling him. His life felt like it was ending faster than he was used to.

Rin seemed to sense his mood dropping with his head as if he were ready to whine in annoyance for how life was unfair to him.

"Aaaawww, there there puppy, if you don't like the name...Fluffy...just tell Yuki-san and she'll tell me ok?"

Sesshomaru's eyes widen and stared in wonder at the now heavenly being before him, she was able to understand as well as sympathize what he wanted even without knowing who he was or even speak his Inu language.

She was becoming even more lovely to him by the minute.

Yuki's brows lifted at the sight before her of the young lord in the puppy form gazing up at the smiling human lady in wonder as if he had found a buried treasure.

She clapped her hands to try and get their attention, "How about we discuss this with him after the ceremony, Rin-san, I'm sure his- Lady Inukimi is worried looking for him. I'll take him to her, then finish your hair when I get back?"

Rin looked up slightly sad that she wouldn't be seeing the new puppy friend she made, "Would Lady Inukimi even mind? He is hers afterall..."

Yuki smiled kindly at the young lady she was coming to adore as if she were one of her own daughters, she was very considerate of everyone around her.

"I'll see what I can do, come along now,...Fluffy!"

Sesshomaru turned his head to lightly growl at Yuki, but stopped when he felt Rin's soft lips lightly press onto the moon on his forehead again. As she smiled down at him, he felt as if his heart wouldn't stop beating so fast he might faint dead away. This weak and simple human woman made him feel weaker than even a battle with a dragon demon.

"I'll miss you..Fluf-I mean, puppy...we'll figure out what you want to be called soon. Alright?"

The young lord found himself wanting to protest, why should he leave? Why should he want to stay? Why did leaving her for only a brief time seem almost painful?

While he was silently contemplating with himself, Yuki surprised him by lifting him up by the scruff of his neck to carry him out like one of her own pups.

Before he could verbally protest as he watched Rin smile warmly at him and wave with her little hand, Yuki had already used her demon speed to quickly take him to the other side of the castle.

…

So what do you all think? Should I continue this?