Love makes life beautiful!

Chapter 2: The visit after battle

"Milord! Milord you really MUST stop and rest! You're going to end up just like your father did if you don't slow down!" cried out a rather obnoxious voice at least obnoxious and annoying to him. However the voice was filled with genuine concern. Jaken, the small imp that served the Lord of the Western Lands, stood in the middle of the battle field sending blazing flames from the staff of two heads he held firmly in his grasp. Bodies were strewn about and many demons had now left the battle field. It was always the same. It always seemed as though some youkai clan was trying to defeat Sesshomaru and his minions. How bothersome and tiring it had grown. Typically the daiyoukai would just step towards them, holding his right index and middle finger up in the air, and with a casual flick of his wrist, a long, glowing, green whip ascended from the tips of his claws and would snap against his enemies, cutting them down and killing them in an instant.

The Killing Perfection would then toss his long mane of silvery hair back and walk back to his dwellings without a backward glance. This time, however, was different. A tribe of mountain lion demons from the Northern Lands had invaded his territory, wanting to completely take over, only this time not only did they have their own army but the help of other demons as well. For four, long days straight the Lord and his army had been engaged in battle. They fought off the mountain lion youkai to the best of their ability. Many casualties were born from the onslaught which in turn angered Sesshomaru increasingly.

They reached the fourth day and the tail end of the battle was drawing near. Most all of the mountain lion tribe had been brought down or completely slaughtered and some had fled the battle in terror. The battle ground was littered with the bodies of the dog demon clan as well as the mountain lions and other youkai that had allied themselves with the mountain lion tribe. Sesshomaru was holding Bakusaiga tightly in his clawed, striped fist, glaring down his remaining attacker. He ruthlessly leaped forward, brandishing the sword and swinging with a fierceness only he himself could constitute.

"You fool," began the daiyoukai as he slashed the tip of Bakusaiga across the massive mountain lion youkai's chest. His eyes were crimson red and the normally straight, amethyst stripes on his cheeks were jagged. He had transformed from his usual calm, and aloof demeanor into his first transformation, looking incredibly terrifying indeed. His fangs had grown at an almost alarming rate, pointed, sharp and glimmering menacingly. Terrible snarls and growls were heard from somewhere deep within his chest. Blood spattered onto the ground from the mountain lion demon's body, but the colossal cat did not fall. Instead, he reached a giant paw towards the daiyoukai and swiped. "Insolence!" hissed the cat demon as Sesshomaru jumped backwards with grace and landed stealthily on his feet.

"You really should just give up now," he stated somewhat arrogantly, pointing his sword straight at the youkai's face. "You're already wounded beyond repair."

"You're one to talk," the youkai hissed back. "You're bleeding just as much as I am. The great Sesshomaru-sama of the Western Lands said to be unbeatable and look at you. I'm tearing you down every time you attack."

Sesshomaru snickered. "Is that so? Come at me then, cat and prove your worth, not that you have any. The more you swipe at me, the more you bleed. Or, perhaps I could just put you out of your misery!" he ululated the last word with emphasis as the great demon lord took off at a swift run, raising his free hand, the claws glowing a baleful green. "Know your place!" Sesshomaru could feel the poison attack pulsating in his hand as he advanced towards the demon.

The cat stood at the ready, preparing for a head-on attack when Sesshomaru took a sharp turn to the left, jumped in the air, ran Bakusaiga's blade across the front of the creature's throat, followed by an attack of him slashing his poison claws across the mountain lion youkai's rough, furry back, injecting the deadly venom into the beast's body. The gargantuan cat yowled, and threw back his head in pain roaring, accentuating that his death was truly near. Blood was pouring from the cat's neck, pooling onto the rocky terrain before him. His screeches stopped and a horrible, gurgling sound emanated from his mouth. Finally, his massive body met the cold, hard ground and the sickening, yellow eyes rolled back into his head. The mountain lion youkai leader moved no more.

The Lord of the Western Lands, landed on his feet, ostentatiously, once more beside the giant cat and gave a sharp kick to the side of it's cut up and bloody head. The demons that were left in battle had already retreated in fear, and the rest were dead except for what was left of Sesshomaru's clan. "Humph," the demon lord huffed, re-sheathing his sword, his red eyes slowly turning back to their warm amber color, and his cheek stripes retained their natural look.

"Sire! Sire!" cried the little imp as he ran towards Sesshomaru. The demon lord's kimono had been soaked with blood, his fur he held over his shoulder was also bleeding and there were various cuts and wounds on Sesshomaru's body. "You're covered in blood and wounds, Milord!" Jaken exclaimed as he ran up to the great dog demon.

Sesshomaru glared down ferociously at Jaken who instantly bowed, begging his master for forgiveness. "I don't need you to state the obvious, Jaken," the daiyoukai stated coldly and he began to ascend towards his palace, taking care to step on the little imp youkai as he went. "Besides that, I have to be leaving soon anyway. It's almost nightfall and I have a trip to make."

"Oh but in that condition Milord!? You're bleeding more profusely than usual! Are you certain it is safe to travel!?" Jaken inquired in his predictable, squawking tone. And going to see that human girl again no less! Ugh! I thought we were rid of Rin when we left her at that human village but noooooo. Sesshomaru-sama insists that he has to see her every month! The nerve of that girl taking my lord away from his home, especially when he's as badly injured as he is!

"Jaken," came Sesshomaru's commanding voice. "Go back into the palace and get the wrapped package from my chambers."

"Aye, Milord," Jaken obliged, bowing his head, clutching the staff of the skulls tightly in his fist as he made a mad dash for the palace.

Sesshomaru stood outside of his dwellings, feeling the wind blowing through his hair and his fur. He leaned his head back, closing his golden orbs and breathed in the air. The scent of all the demons' blood had filled the air and sifted through his keen sense of smell. What was left of Sesshomaru's clan slowly began making their way towards their ruler for obvious, further instruction. "Go now, the battle is finished," he told them with a flick of his wrist and pointed towards their place of residence surrounding his palace.

The inuyoukai nodded their heads in agreement, quietly thanking their lord, bowing and then turning and heading back towards their homes, most likely eager for their wives and wards to tend to their wounds. Sesshomaru could see his fur was bleeding out of the corner of his eye and inside he winced followed by a slight pang of wanting his wounds tended to. He quickly brushed it off. I, Sesshomaru, do not need anybody touching my wounds. The daiyoukai thought arrogantly. "Humph, ridiculous," he huffed, sticking his nose in the air.

"The task has been done, Sesshomaru-sama! I've brought you exactly what you asked for!" came Jaken's high-pitched, bellowing as he ran from the front of the palace back to Sesshomaru. However, not as elegantly as the great demon lord. Jaken in his own clumsiness tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face about 2 feet from Sesshomaru, dropping the wrapped package as he went. "I'm so sorry, Milord!" Jaken apologized, scrambling to his feet and bowing multiple times. He ran and retrieved the fallen article and handed it to Sesshomaru. "Here it is, Master Sesshomaru. Are you certain you should really leave right now?" he questioned again, only to feel a hard fist meet the top of his head, leaving a nice-sized lump on it.

Sesshomaru tossed his head and turned his back towards the imp demon. "These are but mere flesh will accompany me to Rin's village and you'll not speak a word about this battle nor my wounds. I'll not hear another word about it, understood Jaken?"

Jaken sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Yes, Milord."

No matter what kind of condition he was in, Sesshomaru wasn't about to let Jaken, what was left of his clan or Rin especially, know that he was in pain. The demon lord ignored the intense throbbing in his side, putting all other matters out of his head except for one. Seeing Rin. "I'm going to fly," he told the little imp who squealed and jumped onto the tail end of Sesshomaru's trailing fur. He ignored the blood that was spattering from his wounds and instead took to the air. It was nearing twilight and if he hurried, he'd reach the village by morning. He had promised Rin the last time he'd saw her that he would come back on the first day of the new month. It was nearing that day so quickly already and he had no time to lose.

Daybreak was rapidly approaching as the daiyoukai found himself back in familiar territory that was Rin's village. However today the sun could not be seen in the cloudy sky and thunder gently rumbled through the heavens above. Hmm, I smell rain in the air. Sesshomaru landed elegantly in the forest just outside of Rin's village and sat down against a tree. The flight had been long and he'd only just ended battle, not giving himself any time to recuperate, but he had promised Rin. Even the great dog demon lord had to admit that this battle really had taken a lot of out of him. Even he became tired at times it would seem. "Jaken," began Sesshomaru as the little imp hopped down from the great demon lord's fur. "You are to go Rin and Kaede's hut and escort her here to me. I wish not to see anybody else but her. When you bring her back here, you are to leave us in peace."

"Ah! Wha-but, Sire!" Jaken began in protest, his free hand balled into a tight fist, his giant, protruding eyes staring fixedly and quite shocked at the daiyoukai who sat before him.

"You'll do as I say, Jaken and there will be no argument about it," Sesshomaru told him firmly, raising a fist in warning.

"Yes, Milord. I'm sorry for complaining! It'll never happen again. I'll go fetch Rin for you right away!" Jaken dashed off to the village, heading straight for her hut. "Rin! RINNNN!" the little imp youkai called out. "Insolent child, Sesshomaru-sama is waiting for you!"

"Oh!" exclaimed a voice from behind the slab of bamboo that was Kaede's door. "Is that you, Master Jaken!?"

"Yes it is, now hurry up! You must not keep our Lord waiting any longer than he has to!" Jaken exploded.

"I'll be right there!" Rin called from behind the door. She peeked her head out and gazed down at the imp, obvious frustration and irritation emanating from him. "Oh Master Jaken it's wonderful to see you!" Rin exclaimed happily, leaning down to pick the little imp in her arms and hug him tightly.

"You silly girl! Let me down right this minute!" Jaken screeched, failing and wiggling in Rin's arms.

Rin laughed and set the little youkai down. "Oh Jaken, you never change do you?" She continued to laugh as she followed the imp to where Sesshomaru would be waiting for her. How strange that he didn't come to directly to her hut this time and sent only Jaken. Rin shrugged her delicate shoulders and smoothed down the front of her butterfly kimono. It was her favorite one that Sesshomaru had brought her months ago, and she wanted to wear it just for him. As the two walked over the bridge that led towards the forest, a voice called from behind them.

"Yo! Sesshomaru is here, isn't he?" a familiar voice sounded and Rin and Jaken turned around to see Inuyasha standing at the end of the small bridge, his arms folded across his chest and looking moody.

"Yes he is, but he doesn't want to be bothered by the likes of you!" Jaken told him, waving his staff wildly about.

"Keh, I wasn't planning on visiting him. I could just smell his disgusting stench in the air," Inuyasha stated arrogantly. Along with the scent of his blood...he must have been wounded in some way. I can't help but wonder what the hell's going on?

"Well I'm sure he can't stand your horrific smell anymore than you can stand his!" Jaken shot back. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take Rin to my master!"

"I'm sorry," smiled Rin at the hanyou. "I'll see you later, Inuyasha!" she waved happily and chased after Jaken. She followed him, her heart pounding significantly heavily in her chest with excitement at seeing him, apprehensiveness of what they may end up discussing and fear of what she might find out given they do talk. Rin remembered Kagome's words from the previous day, and she had spent a lot of the night thinking about what the miko had told her. Rin knew that the wise priestess was right. The young girl would tell him how she felt. There was no holding back now. Rin was broken from her train of sentiments when she realized that Jaken had been leading them into the forest. "Um, Jaken? Is Sesshomaru-sama waiting for me in here?" she questioned, confused as the daiyoukai never usually had them meet in the forest but usually in the village. Something must be going on.

"Yes he is waiting for you," Jaken told the girl impatiently. "And as soon as we get there, I have to leave you two alone!"

"Oh, my! Well...I'm sorry, Master Jaken," Rin apologized, but her heart continued throbbing ever more faster. He wants to be alone with me? What could this mean?

Jaken stopped abruptly and scowled up at the lovely, young woman. However she wasn't looking at him. Her eyes were fixated on the picture of perfection leaning against a tree, his face turned upward towards the sky giving her a perfect, profile view. "Sesshomaru-sama," Rin spoke softly as she slowly made her way towards him. He turned his head towards her warm, gentle voice and their eyes met.

"Jaken," the demon lord spoke up. "Leave us."

"Aye, Milord," the little imp agreed most reluctantly and bowed his head, backing out of the forest and disappearing from view.

Rin made her way over to the great dog demon and her brown eyes widened at the sight of his wounds. She placed her hands over her mouth, gasping. "Oh Sesshomaru-sama...what happened to you? You're covered in cuts and bruises and blood!"

"I'm apologize to have come to you in a state such as this, Rin. If it repulses you, I'll take my leave," affirmed Sesshomaru, his golden eyes never leaving Rin's. He couldn't help but feel a strong relief fall into place in his heart at seeing her. She looked so happy and healthy. Her scent was refreshing to breathe in and if he would've been anybody else, the demon lord would have smiled at her presence.

Rin fell to her knees beside her Lord and gently took his face in her hands. He winced ever so slightly but did not pull away as she looked over his wounds. "You've been in battle, haven't you?" the girl stated knowingly. "Your kimono is soaked with blood."

"Do not worry about it, Rin. I'm fine now. The bleeding has stopped anyway. These are just flesh wounds that will go away in the matter of a day," he told her reassuringly. The great dog demon rose slowly to his feet leaving the girl sitting on the forest floor. He walked towards some brush and looked up at the sky once more. "Rin?" he began.

"Yes, My Lord?" she replied softly, gazing at him as he turned his back, his long locks of hair flowing behind him as he walked.

"Hmm," the great demon lord hummed, reaching into his kimono and pulling out a small, wrapped package. He handed it to the girl, clearly embarrassed and not knowing what to say. He always became like this whenever he brought gifts for Rin, even after all these years.

"For me?" Rin asked him, her bright eyes dancing. "Thank you, Sesshomaru-sama." He watched the girl untie the package with delicate fingers and watched her eyes light up as they fell onto the gift he'd so carefully picked out for her. It was a glass orb and inside was a frozen flower, filled with vibrancy of yellow and orange hues. "Oh it's beautiful Sesshomaru-sama. Thank you so much!" the girl gasped happily. She could tell he really put some thought into this gift and that in itself meant a lot to her.

"I felt it suited you. It reminded me of the sunshine and the sunshine reminds me of you," he told her. "I'm glad that you like it."

"Oh I love it. I promise to take good care of it," Rin acceded, admiring the gift she held gently in her hands. "I've never seen such a beautiful flower."

"I hope you have been faring well here," the daiyoukai interrupted softly, still not quite sure on what to say to really express these strange feelings he'd began having about her just a couple of years ago. Within this past year, the feelings had intensified. Every demon or human woman who'd tried to take his hand or become his mistress, he'd ended up turning away. The only one on his mind was Rin. He no interest in bedding another woman, be she demon or human. He had no desire to bare offspring with another. Sesshomaru truly had become like his father. What would the court say when he returned if Rin was accompanying him? If he took Rin for his wife? But then he remembered the ferocious battle he'd just been engaged in the day previous and thought about Rin's safety once more. No, I cannot ask her to come back with me. It would be wrong. She would be put in danger and I will not allow that to happen to her again. I will not lose her the way I almost did years ago.

"Um, things have been okay I suppose," the young woman replied softly, staring down at the soft, green grass below her bare feet. "Kagome has taught me a lot about medicinal herbs and I sometimes help her collect them. I also help her brew them if somebody is injured or sick. I've accompanied her on trips, watched her fight and perform purification against youkai that might attack the village, so I've grown pretty close to her," Rin blurted out, not really sure what might be appropriate to speak about. Her usual nervousness had taken over.

"Rin, I want to ask you a simple question," Sesshomaru began, still not turning to face her. His head was still upturned towards the sky. "Are you happy here?"

"Wha-what?" Rin stammered, certainly not expecting this question from Sesshomaru of all people. "I, well...I suppose it's alright here. I mean, I-I..."

"Say what it is you want to say," the daiyoukai demanded gently.

A/N: Another long chapter! A very fast update! You guys are lucky! Plz Review!

Words: 3,477
Updated: 22/02/2015