Sesshomaru stepped onto the complex. A place he hadn't been in almost 200 years. His ancestral home and an area he had wanted to avoid until now. Jakens eyes glimmered at the site, it being his first time at the Great Inu-Nishi Castle. The very same castle that was built thousands of years ago by Sesshomaru's great grandfather.

"Mi-lord! This is most extraordinary!", Jaken exclaimed.

Sesshomaru said nothing as he passed through the first entrance gate. The castle was as grand as he remembered, rested atop a hill 200 ft above the sea surrounded by the outermost mote. The complex itself contained about a hundred buildings and three stables making it look more of a town. The buildings were either storage or servant quarters. There were Yagura's (towers/turrets) rested on the outer walls as watch towers.

It took Sesshomaru, jaken, and Ah Un a while to reach the main keep. There at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the entrance was the main caretaker, Hideki and General Gen'ichi. Behind them were the hundreds of servants and behind them, his army, the thousands of Inu youkai. All bowed down to pay respect to their lord.

"Hideki, Gen'ichi, you two may rise,'' Sesshomaru said.

The two rose to their feet in a swift an elegant motion

"Honorable Lord Sesshomaru, welcome back to the Western Castle", Hideki greeted.

"Yes My Lord, we are all glad to have you back after all these years", Gen'ichi said.

"We can skip the pleasantries for later", Sesshomaru interrupted.

"Ahh yes right down to business as always", Hideki said.

A stable boy approached Ah Un to take him to the royal stables keeping his head low enough to not warrant a look from his lord.

"Renovations are needed to be done to the Southern gate and Yagura, I've noticed a weak spot in the both of them coming in", sesshomaru started as he walked passed the servants and army. Each row he passed they all poked their heads up almost robotic and went about their business making sure to not get in their Lord's way. He headed up the steps of the castle keep with Hideki, Gen'ichi and Jaken in tow behind him. "Jaken"

"Y-yes Mi-lord!", Jaken exclaimed clearly anxious at the many sights he took in and obviously noting the sheer power his lord dealt.

"You are to get with Hideki and prepare everything that we've discussed " sesshomaru cooly said as he swept through the marble floors and onto the set of stairs leading up to the second floor of the keep. "Hideki I take it that you've started the preparations from the letter that I've sent?"

"Yes my lord…although forgive me but some of these requests are quite peculiar", Hideki inquired.

"Such as?" Sesshomaru raised his brow at this inquiry.

"Well", Hideki started, "such as getting rid of the concubine wing, and that bit about the castle gardens".

"I've no need for such a wing, that can be converted to something else entirely". Sesshomaru said.

"But my lord that is the entire northern wing of the castle, surely you must know how time consuming that may be". Hideki objected.

"Then let the renovation commence immediately".

"Gen-Ichi, make sure the training grounds are well equipped and up to date. These youkai had better be well trained because I shall test them within a fortnight." Sesshomaru said.

"Yes my lord I shall begin at once!", Gen-Ichi said as he bumped his fist to his chest and with a slight bow of his head he walked to the opposite direction towards his men.

Sesshomaru turned to see both Jaken and Hideki. "You two are still here", he stated.

"My lord what of the garden grounds?", Hideki said.

"Replace the oaks with cherry blossoms and add in….", sesshomaru stopped, trying to think of what he was going to say next.

"-daisies!", Jaken interrupted. Sesshomaru glared at Jaken knowing full well that he shouldn't have interrupted his lord and Hideki felt bad for the small toad youkai "Sh-she likes daisies my lord."

Sesshomaru's face went from rigid to soft as he realized.

"Yes, add in daisies"sesshomaru said after a while of awkward silence and walked off. Jaken breathed a sigh of relief and Hideki noted his lord's changed demeanor curiously.

"Ahh lord Sesshomaru", Hideki said. Sesshomaru stopped.

"Any other matters Hideki?"

"You're headed to the direction of your old room, I've taken care of refurbishing your father's chambers to your liking".

"My father's room?", sesshomaru questioned.

"Yes my lord, you are the Master of the west now.

—

It wasn't like sesshomaru to waltz right back to his home after all that had happened. Memories that sesshomaru was not so fond about we're still felt throughout the castle. Memories that included finding out about his father's "betrayal" to wed a mortal princess. The arguments and fights that he and his father had in his last years before dying. All of the regrets that he felt. All the reasons why he's avoided his home for nearly 200 years. Ever since his half breed brother was born and the day his father died.

Despite sesshomaru being on semi-good terms with his brother now, he couldn't shake off the ill feelings he still has towards his father. It didn't help that he could still smell traces of his father in his chambers. Sesshomaru hopped off the bed and went towards the connecting study to clear his mind. It didn't smell any better here either.

He thought of the event that which triggered his homecoming in the first place. It was a couple months ago on his way to visit Rin at Inuyasha's village.

2 years before

He hadn't seen Rin since her fourteenth name day and decided to finally meet her after dealing with a clan of bat youkai. That in itself had taken a year to deal with and another year to help appoint a new leader. The whole ordeal had been tedious but he gained a whole new clan as allies.

On his way to the village he was stopped by a human. Eighteen years by the look of it. He claimed to wanted to take Rin has a wife but needed Sesshomaru's permission in order to do so given that Rin was his ward.

"Are you mad?" Sesshomaru spat at the human. "She's but a child, now outta my way human".

"B-b-but Lord sesshomaru she is exactly at marrying age,'' the boy said nervously.

Sesshomaru turned to jaken and lifted a brow towards him.

"Well mi-lord, he's right. Rin should now be sixteen years of age!" Jaken said.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened at what he just heard. Rin shouldn't be sixteen already! He had missed her last two namedays due to the troublesome situation with the bats.

"My lord, please Rin...she's lovely and I could provide for her. I could shelter her and she could never want for anything." The boy began again.

"That's enough", sesshomaru said. "Your proposal has been rejected". And with that sesshomaru walked passed him without so much as a look.

Since then there have been several other suitors seeking permission for Rin's hand, humans and demons alike. Sesshomaru wondered if word about Rin being the great Sesshomaru's Ward had warranted the amount of suitors. They definitely come with the intention of seeking power through a marriage or a dowry for Rin from Sesshomaru. This matter will be stomped out entirely.

He finally made it to Inuyasha's village and headed towards the hut that carried his ward's scent. Knocked on the door as a courtesy for the old priestess. Kaede opened the door.

"Ahh Sesshomaru, it's been a while,'' she said.

"Where is-"

"Rin is at the springs just right outside of town,'' Sesshomaru ignored the way he was interrupted by the priestess and dashed away to Rin's location leaving Jaken and Ah Un by the hut.

He missed Rin. That was apparent. He missed her chubby face and the way her tiny nose crinkled while she laughed, the way she babbled on about everything, how she would twirl around a field of flowers without a care in the world. He missed the way she looked at him as if she was his one and only savior. But he'd have a few words with Rin about her suitors and any other potential suitors. He's going to have to tell her how to shut them down immediately instead of having them seek and bother Sesshomaru for her hand.

He made it to the hot springs where Rin's scent was most prominent but caught no sight of her. He thought about walking back towards the hut to wait for her until a couple air bubbles were seen at the top the the lake's surface.

Someone jutted out of the water. A woman with long wavy, brown hair. Her back was turned towards sesshomaru. He turned back to give the woman some privacy. But before he did she tilted her head to look behind her.

What sesshomaru saw wasn't just any ningen woman. It was Rin. A much taller, more feminine version of Rin.

Rin turned completely around to face sesshomaru. He took in the sight of her. Her lashes seemed to have grown much longer and curled upwards effortlessly. Gone was her baby face, instead her chin came to a perfect point and her jaw was prominent as well as her cheekbones.

Despite her long hair covering her breasts, he could tell they were perfectly sized and had a pronounced curve to her hip. His mind ingrained every detail of her well proportioned body. Daresay he thought her to be one of the most beautiful creatures he'd ever laid his eyes on.

A scream from Rin broke his thoughts and he wasn't sure how to react as she hid her body and splashed back into the water.

"Rin", sesshomaru said unsure of what else to say to the woman trying to shielding herself. Rin's head whipped right out of the water as soon as she heard his voice.

"Oh! Lord sesshomaru it's you! I thought you might have been another one trying to get a peek while I bathe", Rin said in a hurried tone. As soon as she motioned to get out of the water sesshomaru turned with his back towards her to give her the privacy to dress.

Although the damage had been done. He's seen every bit of this new mature Rin and his brain refuses to rid itself of the image. He recalled the way the water ran down her body like a waterfall. His ears twitched with every rustle of fabric she caused by dressing.

"There are those that have watched you bathe?", sesshomaru inquired.

"Yes my lord, although there hasn't been much since Inuyasha-san drove them away"

"I see"

"Okay my lord, I'm decent", Rin said.

Sesshomaru turned and noted her plain sky blue kimono. The fabric clung right to her body due to the dampness. She wrung out her hair into the lake and headed towards sesshomaru. He knew that she was meaning to embrace him like she always did when when we visited after a long absence.

She brought her hands around his neck, something that she wasn't able to do with her previous height and pressed into his body. "I missed you,'' she said. This embrace was longer than the others whereas they would be sweet and short enough to not embarrass or disrespect her lord. He took in her scent and inhaled deeply. He didn't dislike the way their bodies were pressed up against each other and knew that if he wasn't wearing his armor he'd feel her breasts.

She let go after a while and grabbed ahold of his hand. Together they headed towards Inuyasha's village with her leading with her hand on his and he just right behind. She asked about his travels and he explained the situation about the bat Youkai to her and she talked about her life in the village. It got easier to talk to Rin after all these years and silently thanked Kagome and the elder priestess for teaching Rin proper grammar and speech. She spoke eloquently yet he could still hear her old traits that made Rin, Rin. They got closer to Inuyasha's village and the conversation died down. They walked silently side by side.

"Rin"

"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?"

"We must talk about another matter but that can wait until tomorrow".

"You mean, you'll be staying till tomorrow?", Rin questioned. Sesshomaru gave a quick nod. She grinned and ran up the hill to where the hut was to greet Jaken and Ah Un

Later that day Kaede invited Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and Shippō over for dinner to welcome sesshomaru and his companions despite sesshomaru not taking part in the dinner whatsoever excluding the usual banter between him and Inuyasha.

The Next Day

Sesshomaru woke up feeling a slight pressure on his right thigh and realized Rin fell asleep on top of him. He usually stayed in the woods for an overnight visit however Rin fell asleep after a while last night and rested her head on his shoulder. Afraid to wake the poor girl he let her be and laid her in a more comfortable position on his lap. This warranted a look from all three ladies in the hut but he didn't care. As soon as they left and the old priestess retired to her room he sat back against the wall and drifted off as well.

Rin blinked a couple times.

"Good morning my lord", Rin said with a yawn.

"I'll be waiting at noon in the forest clearing near the village", sesshomaru said and left the hut.

Rin went about her day as usual starting with her normal cleaning routines. She was a lot more giddy at the thought of seeing her lord for a second day. As far as the matter he wanted to discuss, she was pretty sure it had something to do with the troublesome suitors that came her way at times. Rin wasn't the type to flat out reject someone as they poured their heart out to her. Her only scapegoat was to put the pressure on her Lord. By letting them know that they must seek permission from her Youkai lord she was able to go about her daily life nearly uninterrupted. However she never thought that some would actually go and seek him out.

She felt bad for having her lord do the dirty work of rejecting their proposal for her. They were just so goddamn persistent. Of course Rin had thought about settling down and be a normal human girl for once. But the thought of choosing a husband seemed odd. Amongst her pursuers there weren't any that lived up to the one man in her life that she loved looked up to to the most. And the more the suitors came the more she thought about her Lord in a way that wasn't like the love she'd known as a child anymore. In fact there were times when Rin would dream of Sesshomaru asking her to be his wife himself. Although Rin chopped up her dreams and feelings to just missing him. Rin didn't want for much but to be able to see her Lord and learn to grow into a proper woman and eventually be of use to him. In what way Rin was unsure of.

Noon came by quicker and she gathered the lunch that she packed and bid Kaede farewell before rushing off to their usual meeting place in the woods.

He was there. Sitting against the base of a tree while Jaken brushed Ah Un's mane. The two headed dragons heads perked up when it sensed Rin. It was sights such as these that made her miss the times where she would travel the country with her lord and companions as a child.

The clearing was filled with flowers which made it Rin's favorite spot especially to meet with her lord. She picked a daisy and twirled it in her hands before putting it in her hair before sitting near sesshomaru.

"Jaken take Ah Un and find some food for him"

"Yes mi-lord!" And with that Jaken left the clearing pulling on Ah Un's reigns

"What did you want to talk about my Lord", Rin said shyly.

"I'm sure you already know Rin", sesshomaru said calmly.

"Yes...I'm so sorry my lord. It just didn't know how to reject them", Rin panicked feeling horribly bad for putting sesshomaru in such a position.

"If you wish to take someone as a husband then so be it and if not you must say no firmly", sesshomaru said.

"And if they refuse my answer?"

"Well that's where I come in", sesshomaru smirked in her direction. She giggled a bit. They sat there in content silence before she broke it.

"What if I don't wish to marry?", Rin whispered.

"Then you don't have to", sesshomaru assured.

"Thank you my lord", she said. She bit her bottom lip and sesshomaru couldn't help the way her lips looked. His thoughts overtook him and he was brought back to the moment he saw Rin nude in the lake. Her body shimmered and all he could think about was her. He cocked his head to the sight to try to forget the image all together. Rin unpacked her bento and nibbled on the rice balls she made this morning.

"Rin"

"Hmm?"

"What is your wish?"

"My wish is to be with you my lord", Rin said as she beamed a gorgeous smile his direction.

"I see", sesshomaru said. He got up after she finished eating and helped her up as well. Her hands were still tiny in his. They were marked with tiny scratches and slightly calloused due to field work and chores. Rin knee she was about to bid farewell to her until the next time they saw one another.

"May I ask for a favor my lord?"

"You may"

"Well ...a month from now Kohaku is to be wed. The whole town is throwing a big celebration. Would you attend with me?" Rin asked.

Sesshomaru thought about it for a moment. He tended to stay away from human celebrations. The last one he attended was his brother's wedding to the priestess Kagome and that ordeal was intolerable. However Rin looked up at in with such anticipation. She smelled of nervousness at his potential rejection. There was no way for him to say no to her face. And it was a simple request.

"Very well", sesshomaru said.

"Oh thank you my lord!", Rin jumped and without thinking she placed a kiss on his cheek. Their eyes both widened at her action. Rin has never done such a thing to her lord before. Hugging was one thing that took years for sesshomaru to even accept but kissing was something else entirely. He didn't say a word.

"I'll be leaving Rin", sesshomaru said. Rin let go of the breath that she held fully expecting a full lecture.

"Until next month my Lord don't forget!", Rin hollered across the clearing when he was on the other side. Sesshomaru disappeared into the forest and when he was away enough he touched the spot in the check where she kissed him. The kiss was unexpected but he didn't dislike the act. Now that he had some distance he let his mind wander back to a naked Rin.

Sesshomaru came to realize the beauty that Rin was and understood fully well why she had as many suitors as she did. For even he became entranced in her beauty. She was no longer a child and sesshomaru's youkai could sense it. He hadn't been with a woman in centuries, he chalked up his unexpected uneasiness towards his longtime ward as his body craving for female touch again. His sexual desires had been long gone as he fulfilled his needs when he was younger but something about Rin made him feel his desires again. He'd have to keep his cravings deep within them until he was alone with his thoughts again. He'd see her within a month and that was more than enough time to settle his thoughts.