"Rin."
She looked up as she pulled her hair back and fastened it into place. "Yes?"
"I have to go away for a while."
"Oh?"
He sighed softly as he looked out over the sky. "I have to go meet another demon. I'll be gone about a week."
"A week?" She chuckled slightly. "Not trying to run away from me are you?"
He turned back to her. "Why would I? Without you… Tetsusaiga is useless."
She smiled then stood up. "Well… as long as you're coming back. I dunno what I'd do if I wasn't following you." She looked over the forest. "Well… I'll probably find somewhere to spend the week. There's probably a temple or inn I can stay at for a while."
"Humm."
"What?"
He looked up to the sky then blinked. "Try and stay inside the forest. Just so I can find you easier."
She smiled and pulled her hair back down and began running her hand in it again. "Fine. I'll stay in the forest." She looked away. "You stupid dog."
"Stupid human."
Rin blinked and looked up at him as he took to the sky, flying in the air. She smiled at him… and he smiled back before disappearing.
Ok, that's a little scary.
She watched him before he vanished then picked up her bag, keeping her hair down and heading off into the forest. It felt strange… not having Sesshomaru behind her or to be following him herself. The first night without him… she felt herself reaching to her neck a lot and hardly sleeping.
The second night passed in the same way so on the third she found a temple willing to take her in and let her stay the night. But it still fell strange. She wanted to be outside, sleeping by his side… knowing he was there in case anything happened.
It had been nine weeks since they had found Tetsusaiga and she'd seen him use it four times. Each time… demons and humans had wanted to hurt her. He used his father's sword to protect her and keep her safe.
She cried herself to sleep the third, fourth and fifth nights away from him.
Six she just slept, too tired to cry.
Seven… she stayed awake, waiting for him to find her. And he did. As the full moon rose in the sky, Rin saw his ghostly form approach her, walking through the trees. She smiled and held back the wish to run over and hiss him. Or at least hug him.
Instead she waited until he'd sat down next to her. She looked up and smiled. "So you found me."
"Hmm."
Her eyes rolled by reflex but she smiled and lean into his shoulder, closing her eyes and drifting quickly off to sleep. I am so glad your back.
Just on the edge of sleep, as her dreams took over… she felt a hand on her hair and a voice whisper. "I missed you too." Then the hand was lifted and she fell into the arms of sleep.
She slept silently and didn't move at all, she just sat and leant on his arm as he watched the sky. As it began to lightened, the woman stirred and opened her eyes. "Rin…"
She moaned for a moment then realised she was rubbing her head into his shoulder. She blinked and pushed away from him. "Oh… oh I'm sorry, I was sleeping on you again." She rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up but she'd slept a whole week in just one night. She couldn't remember sleeping so hard. "I know you hate it."
"Humm."
Staggering, she slid to her feet. "Right… so… where now? Supreme conquest right."
He sat and looked at her for a moment then sighed, making his way to his feet. "Let's go. There is somewhere I want to take you."
"Where?"
"Just follow me."
"Don't I always?"
He didn't say a word, just went down the road.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Rin blinked as she looked at the building before her. It looked like a dark, damp old bathhouse set into a mountain. She kept her eyes wide as she looked over at Sesshomaru. "Are you sure this is where you wanted to go?"
"Humans… you can never see past what your eyes tell you." He walked over to the door but it was opened for him by a small demon.
The demon bowed at his feet. "Welcome my lord."
"You were expecting us."
"We heard of your approach and have prepared rooms and hot meals for yourself and servant."
Rin blinked. "Servant?" For some reason, it cut Rin pretty deep, even if it was a misunderstanding
Sesshomaru stared at the other beast. "Rin is not my servant. You will not treat her as such." The demon turned back and looked at her. "Rin, come, we are staying here for a while."
"You mean we're staying? How long?"
"A day or two."
"But… what is this place?"
The demon was already entering the run down old building. "A demon onsen, a bath house." He explained as Rin entered and the smaller demon took them down the corridors. Rin was shocked. The building was completely different on the inside; rich and luxurious with the most wonderful smells in the air. She could see there was a large screened hot spring just across the garden as they walked towards some rooms. The demon opened a door and bowed to the side. "For the lady."
"Rin, feel free to do as you please while here."
Rin looked at the demon sceptically. "Alright…"
He turned his eyes to her. "I do request that you bathe while we are here."
"You saying I smell?"
"Yes."
She rolled her shoulder a little. "At least you're honest."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Rin stared at the two signs a little longer, trying to determine what they meant.
Demonic.
Humanoid.
She sighed and followed the humanoid sign, walking down the path until the pool came into view, the water steaming softly, flat and calm. With a smile, she put her borrowed towel on the side and undressed from her robe and sliding in silently. The heat was incredible and she just sat for a while, the steam and water washing away her aches, leaning on a rock and just relaxing. No wonder Sesshomaru wanted to stop here… it's pure bliss.
Something else slid into the water, sending ripples across the still pool. Looking over the rock, she almost gasped. "Ah… Lord Sesshomaru!" quickly her arms covered her chest and she sunk back into the water. "What are you doing here?"
The demon looked at her as she tried to hide. "I came to bathe."
She blushed and looked away. "I… I see. Did… did I read the signs wrong?"
"What signs?"
"Come to the pool. Demonic and humanoid. I must be in the wrong one."
"No, this is the right pool. This is the pool for demons who appear human like." He gave a small cough, wading over to her. "Demons have no problems with bathing with the opposite gender."
"I… I see." She tried not to look at him. The only thing he had on was the pendant that stopped him from falling asleep. And the rest of him was difficult not to miss. Even like this… he was so powerful. Rin swallowed again. "Well… I was just about to get out so… I'll…" she gasped loudly as something rough rubbed on her back.
On pure instinct, she twisted away from it but he grabbed her arm and pushed her into the rock, arm twisted behind her back. "Keep still you stupid girl."
"What are you doing?!"
"I am fed up of the smell of blood coming from you." The roughness returned to her skin and she realised he was washing her skin.
Arm behind her back, Rin had no choice but to keep still and allow him.
No… I could break free… easily… but… I don't want to.
It hurt to have him scrubbing at her skin, rubbing so hard it turned red but she kept still, embarrassed and… slightly angry at his lack of understanding. But her mind was rolling in his attention. She almost didn't care when he turned her around and began scrubbing at her neck.
Ha, who's the dog between the two of us? Here I am, feeling like I'm getting my belly rubbed!
With her eyes away, she just crossed her arms across her chest, waiting for him to finish. When he did, Sesshomaru looked over her then reached over to her head, pushing her down quickly into the water, submerging her.
Instantly she stood back up, coughing. "What the hell was that for you horrid old dog!"
He stared at her and cocked his head slightly to the side before leaning forward into her, pressing his face into her neck, taking a deep breath. A grin lit up his lips. "There."
"S…sorry?"
"There it is… your real scent. Not blood… but something sweeter. Much nicer." He leant back and looked into her eyes. After a while he huffed a little. "You're scared."
She laughed once, never taking her eyes from him. "As if. I'm never scared of you."
"Then… what is wrong with your eyes?"
"I'm not scared… I'm uncertain."
"Uncertain?"
"Of what's going to happen next."
The demon smiled at her. "In honesty Rin… so am I."
She smiled at him then leant up and kissed his lips, pulling him into her, no longer caring that he was naked and so was she. In fact… it helped.
He pulled her right into his body and held her tight, his lips keeping tight to hers and when she needed to breathe, moved to her neck and shoulder.
He kept her tight and allowed his hands to move around her. He found a growl in his voice and let it out, smiling at her. "Rin…"
She looked at him, seriously red faced. "Yes?"
"I lied. Demons don't bathe together."