So... it's been awhile. Don't hate me! Hate college level Calculus! That's the real issue here! XD. Anyway, a chappie for all of youz! Especially, Taraah36 who was kind enough to review my drabble series Of Moons and Suns! :) Thus this chapter is dedicated to her! All plot and original characters are mine! Everybody else isn't!

“Talking”
'Thinking'
:Youki mind connection:
:Actual inu speak translated:

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Watari gaped openly at the exquisite palace before him, a fortress made of stone like he had never seen, a glorious candescent white that shimmered in the near twilight. Two giant dogs laid near the entrance, their stony appearance only intensified by ruby red inscribed glares that threatened all who came within walking distance of the gate. Gardens grew beautiful blooms, some he had never seen before or imagined flowers could even possibly look like, and other plants that looked so treacherous he took hold of Nishi's hand to make sure she did not wander away into their clutches.

“Welcome to the Western Palace,” Jaken announced, obviously proud of his master's home. Nishi let herself be partially dragged by Watari as she silently admired her surroundings. Tendrils of energy wrapped around her, as the denizens of the fortress curiously tried to recognize the little hanyou by the signature of her youki. She pushed them away gently, reaching for the beacon of energy coming from within the castle walls.

$%#

Sesshoumaru briefly looked up from a treaty as the guardian statues entrance alerted him of three people entering his gates. A tiny youki nudged his own curiously, obviously a pup's, and he linked with it, obviously startling the receiver.

:You know this Sesshoumaru, pup?: A flurry of emotions escaped through the mental link, surprise being the most prominent.

:Sesshoumaru-sama? Kaa spoke much of you.: Sadness came with those words, and he wondered just who this was. Just then an image flashed to mind of a young woman who would exactly like her, if he hadn't failed her and let her perish in some village.

:Rin.: He murmured, forgetting that he was still connected to his mysterious guest.

:So you do remember Kaa-san.: Sesshoumaru's eyes widened comically as he broke the mental bond and gracefully rushed to the foyer to meet this pup, this child of his Rin.

$%$

“You didn't have to do that,” Rin spoke to the guard outside her cell. Neither of them had spoken since the alpha Ookami with a superiority complex, Moujuu she believed his name was, had left. Shinji snorted, turning to face the imprisoned woman.

“It was foolish to lie to him,” Shinji spoke to her, softly. “Even it was to protect your pup.” There was no battle like one with a mother protecting her offspring, his own kaa-san having perished in such a fashion.

“I did not lie, I don't know where she is. I don't know if she's safe...” Rin trailed off, closing her eyes tightly, willing the tears away. She breathed a small Buddhist prayer for the safety of her family, Jaken included.

Shinji's heart twinged for her, but said nothing to comfort. The walls had many ears, and all of them led to Moujuu. “What is your name, onna?” He asked after a moment, mainly because he was tired of calling her ningen or onna.

“Rin, and yours?”

“I am called Shinji.” Rin nodded, gazing into the face of the youkai who helped spare her life. She gave him a bright smile, and he returned with a shy one of his own. “I will have food brought to you, Rin-san. You must be hungry.” In truth, she was starving; hunger like when she was orphaned had been gnawing at her belly for the last couple of hours.

“Thank you, Shinji-san.”

#$%

Muzan let lose a fierce growl as she read the letter her brother, Enjou, had just sent her. The raid on the village had been unsuccessful, as the body of her wretched cousin's mongrel halfbreed spawn had not been found in the rubble, and on top of that ookami scent had been found on the grounds. Opening the door to call for the worthless kuma youkai who was supposed to be serving her, she was surprised to Sesshoumaru flash by, towards the entrance.

'Is someone here?' Muzan wondered curiously, before snarling. 'It has better not be some other trying to infringe on my right to be lady!' Quickly, she followed behind Sesshoumaru into the main room. A toad youkai was squawking at one of the guards, demanding to see his lord, and the guard refusing to let him, or the human and halfbreed pair behind him in.

#%$%

“Sesshoumaru-sama will be most displeased when you don't let his retainer, this Jaken, in!”

“Sesshoumaru-sama will be most displeased if I let these-” he cast a cold eye on the two silent orphans, the female pup hiding behind the older human male's legs. “-vagrants in his castle.”

“Sesshoumaru-sama can speak for himself.” The western lord announced, waltzing into the foyer. “Who are they Jaken?” Sesshoumaru made eye contact with the little hanyou, who gazed at him with awe and child-like curiosity.

“The boy is Watari, and the girl is Nisshouken, and they are Rin's, Sesshoumaru-sama.” Jaken reported worriedly, hoping his lord would not turn them away, the thought never occurring to him before.

“Rin.” Sesshoumaru breathed, a half-growl, half-whisper. Jaken nodded in conformation, but then grimaced. “Where is she, Jaken?” Jaken shook his head no, with a grimace on his features. Sesshoumaru shut his eyes, damning himself with the inability to save her, for what seemed like the millionth time. With a small growl, he beckoned the little pup forward, and she shyly made her way in front of her brother's, he figured, legs. She quietly gave him a responding yip, recognizing him as an alpha male.

#$%#

'Just who the hell is Rin?!' Muzan grumbled angrily in her mind, but she too stood silent along with the rest of the house, waiting for the manor's master's decision. Staring at the pup, which she knew was a hanyou – disgusting – a gasp caught in her throat as she recognized his scent, the scent of her dead cousin mixed with a human.

It was the wretched mongrel that they had been trying to kill.

Alive.

Right in front of her future mate and lord.

#$#

:Pup: Sesshoumaru called her closer, and she came within arm's distance of him, nibbling shyly on the tip of her claw. He picked her up, scenting her as discreetly as possible, finding the scent of ripe plums and meadows with an overlying scent of forget-me-nots and berries, of Rin.

“What am I to call you, little one?” Sesshoumaru asked softly, hoping his voice wouldn't crack as his inner self cried tears of joy and sadness that he could not shed.

“My name is Nisshouken, but I am called Nishi.” West. Her name was the very thing he ordained himself to protect. She was Rin's, a living reminder of the Rin he had lost, and a way to redeem himself for failing her.

“Nishi,” He spoke aloud not only to the pup but to his court, “You, and your brother, are welcomed to the Western lands under the protection of this Sesshoumaru-sama.” He turned to his shocked house and staff. “Naihou,” The kuma youkai made her way to the front of the crowd. “Take them to Rin's room, the one next to my own.” This warranted another round of gasps and some low murmurs, but he silenced them with a death glare.

“Jaken,” The kappa stood at attention. “Follow me to my study, we have things to speak of.”

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Yay! Chapter 8 is up! I decided to screw school work this weekend! Down with AP Biology and Calculus! Yay with fanfic! (P.S Next chap dedicated to the first person who can tell me where this title is from!)

So yes, Sesshoumaru has met Nishi! Woo! SESS/RIN STILL HASN'T HAPPENED! I know, I am aware, and I'll say what I've been saying for the last eight chapters – stay tuned for next time!

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