A/N: Thanks for sticking with the story so far, enjoy and please leave a review! :) If you are familiar with ballet and I don't do it justice in a description, I apologize ahead of time. I know very little about ballet and did research on trying to describe different moves, but found very little in the way of describing the moves and ended up watching lots of ballet instead... :P
They traveled until the sun started to set, Sesshomaru finding a small clearing in the forest that was nearby a small stream.
"We will camp here for the night. Jaken, start the fire."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Jaken hopped to the task, running around and grabbing firewood while Rin and Ava grabbed their belongings from Ah-Un's back. Sesshomaru left in a flash once again without any word.
Ava sat her bag down against the trunk of a tree near the fire Jaken was creating, turning to Rin who was shaking out her bedroll, "He does that a lot doesn't he? Disappear like that?"
Rin smiled, "Lord Sesshomaru leaves but he always returns."
Ava shook out her bedroll as well, squatting down to pull out some toiletries and her water bottle from her bag, "Do you know where he goes off to?"
"To provide dinner for my pack."
Sesshomaru reappeared with a small doe, seemingly skinned and gutted, clenched in one bloodied hand, Ava and Rin turning to look at him.
Ava blinked a few times, "That was…quick."
"My speed is matched by none. Jaken, take care of cooking the meat."
"Yes my, Lord."
Ava shouldn't have been surprised that Sesshomaru was indeed, so fast and so lethal, he had swooped in to save her on two occasions when no one else could help her in time. Catching and skinning a deer was probably child's play to him. If his senses were as sharp as she imagined, he had probably sniffed out the food and had it in his sights long before he could actually see it.
Sesshomaru noticed the nearly empty water container next to Ava, along with a change of clothes and some other random bottles.
"There is a stream nearby, come, I will show you. Rin, grab your things."
Rin grabbed a few items as Ava scooped up her own, both following Sesshomaru through the woods.
They quickly reached the stream, Sesshomaru gesturing to Rin and Ava, "I will leave you to it."
He turned to leave them with their privacy, but not before Ava felt a large burst of his aura pass through her in a rush. She nearly staggered, watching as Sesshomaru's youkai energy actually took shape beyond the edge of the stream, surrounding the area in what appeared to be a barrier made of a brilliant purple.
She gasped and put a hand on her chest, the warmth of his aura flooding her body similarly to when he had healed her, but the feel of it entering her body was much lighter, though no less intense. It was almost as if he had stroked her skin with a feather, while warming her insides at the same time. Her cheeks heated as she involuntarily clenched her legs together, the sensation strangely erotic.
She was brought from her thoughts when Rin tugged on her sleeve, "Are you alright?"
She swallowed and managed a nod, turning towards the stream as she sat down her items on a small boulder, "I guess we should try and clean off as best as possible. The stream isn't very deep, but still, be careful not to slip."
Rin nodded, both of the women divesting their clothes as Ava clipped her fishtail braid on top of her head, not ready to spend hours with a wet head of hair. She grabbed her poof and bottle of pomegranate body wash and stepped into the cool stream with Rin. She shivered, walking to the stream until it was up to her knees at the deepest point, washing as quickly as possible while Rin did the same with a bar of soap.
Ava looked towards the barrier, "It's kind of pretty, huh Rin?"
Ava pointed to the barrier and Rin scrunched her eyebrows, "The trees? Yeah I guess they are pretty."
Ava shook her head as she rinsed off her arms, "No, Sesshomaru's barrier, the color is pretty."
Rin's brow came together in confusion as she looked to where Ava was pointing, "Barrier? What are you talking about?"
Ava just swallowed and shook her head, "Oh, um…never mind. Let's hurry, I'm freezing. I definitely miss warm baths right about now."
Rin nodded and they finished washing, heading to the shore to their clothing. Rin put on a plain blue yukata to sleep in while Ava grabbed her small hand towel and dried herself as quickly as possible. She pulled on a pair of plain pink sleep shorts and a small white t-shirt, folding up her kimono neatly before grabbing her water bottle to refill it. When they were done, they headed back to the tree line.
Sesshomaru was waiting for them as promised, his spiked armor shoulder leaning against a tree trunk facing away from the stream.
Rin ran up to him, grabbing his hand as she shivered, "Come on, let's go back to the fire, that water was cold!"
"Hn."
And as they started walking, Ava slightly behind the pair, she watched as Sesshomaru's mokomoko snaked around Rin's shoulder, Rin suddenly beaming with happiness as she snuggled into the fur.
Ava wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her forearms, goosebumps prickling her skin. She envied Rin. She knew how warm and comfortable Sesshomaru's mokomoko was.
They arrived quickly back to the camp to find their dinner roasting above the fire. Ava scooted her bedroll to the fire rather hastily, plopping down on it and putting her hands out to the fire to warm up. It didn't take long before she was toasty again, hugging her knees to her chest as she rested her cheek against one leg. Rin scooted next to her, assuming a similar position as she watched Ava.
"Your sleeping clothes look funny, kind of like Lady Kagome's."
Ava couldn't help but crack a smile, "That makes sense, we are both from similar…cultures."
Ava wasn't sure she should try explaining a time warp to a young child.
"Oh, ok."
Ava noticed Rin's hair was quite disheveled as she snuggled into Sesshomaru's mokomoko, so she reached into her bag behind her to grab her brush.
Sesshomaru sat across from the fire, leaning against a tree, one arm draped across a bent knee, the other straightened in front of him, his armor in a pile next to him, and his swords sitting alongside his body. He watched with half-lidded eyes the exchanges between Rin and Ava.
Ava suddenly opened her legs and patted between them, "Come on Rin, sit here and I'll brush your hair."
"Ok!"
Rin plopped down between Ava's leg, playing with one end of Sesshomaru's mokomoko that she had drug across her lap while Ava started gently brushing out Rin's long, dark locks.
The mokomoko was draped across one of Ava's bare legs, tickling her skin. She smiled, humming as she brushed Rin's hair.
Suddenly Rin jumped up, clasping her hands together as she dropped the mokomoko. Sesshomaru immediately called it back to his side to avoid Rin stomping on it.
"You promised you would show me one of these dances you spoke of and teach me!"
Ava nearly groaned, she was tired and just wanted to eat and fall asleep, but she didn't want to say no to the little girl. She pulled herself up, putting her silk slippers back on as she smoothed out her clothes.
"Alright, here are a few basic ballet positions."
And she began to show Rin the varying ballet positions, Rin emulating to the best of her ability. She helped correct her stances, teaching her about posture and how to gracefully extend her arms.
After quite a bit of time had passed, Jaken announced the food was ready.
Rin huffed, "Your dancing is really difficult. I can't turn my feet like you."
Ava sat down, grabbing the proffered food Jaken had extended to her with a smile and thanks, "It is difficult, Rin, but I believe anything worth your time is probably going to be difficult. When you put your mind to something and you work hard it, you get to be really good and it fills you with great pride. See, watch, I use these basic moves I taught you, I put them together with a few dance moves, and after years of practice, I can do this."
Ava placed her food down, standing as she danced lightly on her feet, incorporating the basic moves she had taught Rin, bending over at the waist to extend one leg up and behind her into a split so that she was perpendicular to the ground, gracefully coming back to first position.
Sesshomaru nearly choked on his food, and Jaken dropped his on the ground.
Ava turned her head to look at the two demons with a brow of confusion, before shrugging her shoulders and sitting down to eat.
"Lady Ava that was amazing. How can you bend like that?!"
Ava took a few bites of food before answering, "Practice, years and years of practice. In ballet, it is crucial to be extremely flexible. Nearly every morning I wake up and I stretch so that I will always stay limber."
Rin's eyes lit up as she sat eating her food, admiring Ava without any further words.
Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was watching Ava with darkened amber eyes, never before having seen a woman move with such flexibility before, finding it strangely alluring.
The next day the group woke, ate a quick breakfast of the deer meat, and departed for the day. They traveled much like the previous day, until at about mid-afternoon, Sesshomaru came to a sudden stop. The group halted behind him, no one daring to speak as they could feel the tension in the air. Suddenly, Sesshomaru's hand was around Tokijin as he unsheathed the sword.
A hissing sound was heard ahead of them, to which Sesshomaru responded with his own menacing growl, "Move in for an attack and you will regret it."
Ava gripped Rin's hand and tugged Rin behind her, backing towards Ah-Un and away from the hissing voice ahead of them, "Deliciousssss…I sssense human females…"
And out of the tree line ahead of them slithered an 8 foot tall black snack, a Shikon jewel at the center of its head.
Sesshomaru crouched, Tokijin crackling with energy, "You have been warned, demon."
Ava watched intently as Sesshomaru leaped into the air, his silver mane flowing behind him, yellow electricity sparking from his sword. She swallowed in anticipation at seeing him in action, something thrilling her insides at watching him engage in battle.
She watched his sword descend on the snake, cutting right through the center of its head, the Shikon jewel popping out and landing on the ground nearby. The snake fell to the ground, its body twitching in death.
Perhaps it was the show of strength, the absolute perfection in which he fought, or his capability as a leader and male to protect his pack, but whatever it was, it had Ava suddenly hot, bothered, and confused.
What in the world is wrong with me?
Sesshomaru grabbed the Shikon jewel, wrapping it in a cloth and depositing it inside of his kimono before turning back to his huddled group. His nose twitched as his sights set on Ava, her cheeks flushed and her scent laced with hints of arousal.
A low, approving rumble vibrated his chest as he sheathed Tokijin, his pride swelling at his future mate's reaction to his slaying of an enemy, "We will move on from here, scavenger demons will be after the remains shortly. We will travel further until I find a suitable place to make camp."
They pushed on for another hour, until suddenly, the sky opened and a torrential downpour started beating down on them.
Sesshomaru growled in frustration, clenching his fists, "Jaken, take Rin on Ah-Un and follow."
Ava gasped when Sesshomaru grabbed her suddenly and tightly around the waist, his cloud forming underneath him as they rose into the air. When they started to rise higher and the rain pelted her harder, she gripped onto the front of his kimono, dipping her head down towards the crook of his arm to try and shield her eyes from the rain obscuring her vision. She felt his mokomoko wrap around her shoulders securely to provide some relief from the pouring rain, his arm still tight around her waist.
Sesshomaru dipped his head down towards Ava's ear, "The rain will make it harder to track Ko Kira, until it stops, we cannot move on or I risk losing his trail."
Ava nodded in understanding, a loud crack of thunder nearby causing her grip to tighten on his kimono and her head to dip lower, burying in his chest as she pressed her body closer to his. She felt his clawed hand on her waist flex and then grip her tighter, a light rumble vibrating his chest as she felt the light caress of his aura snake around her.
Like before, it warmed her insides and sent a heat searing between her legs.
She realized they were back on solid ground when the rain no longer pelted her and the wind had stopped whipping past her, but she hadn't quite been able to let Sesshomaru go.
Never in my life have I felt something like this. My God I'm practically going to hump his leg if I don't let go of him.
She peeked her eyes opened, his hand still firm around her waist, her eyelashes wet with rain drops as she managed to peer up at him. His eyes were smoldering, and at the moment, she realized that with his superb senses he could probably smell her reaction to him.
Bravely, she managed with a soft whisper, "Are you aware the effect your aura has on me?"
She watched the corner of his mouth tilt into a smirk.
His hand gripped her tighter at the waist, the tips of his claws digging slightly into the small of her back, his head dipping down towards her as his lips brushed her ear, his voice low and rich, "Highly."
And then he purposely pushed out his youkai aura in a burst, creating a barrier around the cave he had landed them in. He released Ava wearily as Rin and Jaken ran into the shelter of the cave, moving to grab Rin and Ava's bags off of Ah-Un's back.
Ava's hands were clenching the neckline of her kimono, the large burst of his energy for the barrier creation made her clench her jaw in frustration, the ache between her legs building. She stood still for a few moments, unable to move from her spot until Rin was tugging on her sleeve, her hair and kimono just as drenched as Ava's.
"Lady Ava, are you alright?"
Ava glanced towards Sesshomaru's back and then looked down at Rin, nodding, "I'm fine. How about we get out of these wet clothes before we get sick, ok?"
"Ok!"
Ava opened her bag, glad it was waterproof, and pulled out the dark blue kimono that Usagi had packed for her. Rin was next to her groaning, pulling her clothes out of her satchel, "All my clothes and bedding got wet."
Rin held up a damp yukata to make her point.
"Alright, well take everything out and we will lay it out by the fire to dry overnight. I'll give you something of mine to wear to bed."
"Ok!"
Rin laid her things out next to the fire Jaken had made while Ava pulled out the shirt and shorts she had worn the night before to give to Rin. Ava looked around the cave for the first time, noting that it was decently tall, at least nine feet or so, and seemed to be pretty deep.
She grabbed the clothes and nodded towards the back of the cave at Rin, "Come on, let's head back there to change."
Rin followed her as they quickly divested themselves of the soaked clothing, both drying off with the hand towel that Ava had as they slipped into their dry clothing. The shirt was really big on Rin, but she had her put on the shorts just in case, helping her tie a knot in them to keep them on her.
Rin smiled, "Thank you Lady Ava!"
Ava, not having a clue how to tie an obi, was left wrapped in her midnight blue kimono with her white obi hanging in her hand, "Uh, Rin, any idea how to tie one of these things?"
Rin scrunched up her nose, her eyes looking saddened, "No, Rin does not know how to tie an obi."
Ava nodded and sighed, "It's alright, I guess I'll improvise."
She managed to wrap the obi around her twice, tying it off at the corner in a small knot much like she would have done a robe, keeping it slightly loose so it wasn't uncomfortable to sleep in.
The pair emerged, Ava taking their wet clothes and laying them out on the stone floor next to Rin's other wet clothing. She pulled out her bedroll near the fire, glancing around and noticing that Sesshomaru was no longer present and Ah-Un was at the mouth of the cave, blocking most of the entrance and keeping out drafts of rain. Jaken was perched on a small boulder next to the fire, drying off.
Ava and Rin sat on the bedroll near the fire to dry their hair out. Ava worked on untying the braid while Rin brushed her own hair, both of their locks rather soaked. Ava finally shook her hair free, the golden blonde strands all in waves from the fishtail braid.
They sat for a while, making small talk, Jaken actually quiet and not squawking obscenities. Rin finally laid back on the bedroll, and with an internal groan, Ava realized she was going to have to do the right thing and give Rin her bedroll for the night.
She curled her legs under her, trying to stay on her small square of bedroll that Rin hadn't occupied in order to stay off the cold stone as long as possible. She played with her strands of hair, trying to dry out sections near the fire.
She felt a prickle at her senses and looked towards the mouth of the cave, Sesshomaru walking in with two skinned rabbits. Jaken immediately jumped into action, taking the rabbits and putting them on skewers over the fire.
The section Jaken had set up the fire in was a relatively small area, so the group was huddled closer than they had been the night before. Sesshomaru sat down to Ava's right, leaning against a boulder. She turned her head, noticing that he didn't look the least bit wet from the rain. She ran her eyes from the tip of his head to his shoes, and nothing looked anything but perfect on him.
She scoffed, "How in the world are you dry?"
Jaken nearly squawked, wanting to tell her not to address Sesshomaru so informally, but with a quick and narrowed glance from his Lord, he shut his mouth.
"My youkai energy serves many purposes, one of which to keep me clean at all times. It would not do smelling like a wet dog."
Ava couldn't help but chuckle at the imagery of a soaking wet white dog, "That's pretty useful. Speaking of youkai energy," she turned her head to glance at Rin, who had dozed off momentarily, "why can I see your barrier and Rin can't?"
"Rin is human, her eyes cannot see certain supernatural elements. You, however, as we have determined, are not entirely human. Your ability to see youkai energy physically manifest reinforces the idea that you could be a Tennyo."
"Oh. Well, can you really tell if I am a Tennyo? I don't feel like I'm any different…do I smell differently than a human?"
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he inhaled, her sweet, fruity scent laced with the smell of the sky invading his senses, "You smell like no other; human, miko, hanyou, demon, or otherwise. I've nothing else to compare your scent to."
"I wish there was someone I could ask that would be able to tell me. I mean, I don't want to wake up one day with horns coming out of my head."
Sesshomaru's lip lifted in a rare small smile, "I sincerely doubt that would happen. But if you are truly a Tennyo, I would imagine visiting a holy temple to attempt to speak with the Kamis would be your best choice. We can stop at one tomorrow, if you wish."
Ava's eyes lit up, "That would be amazing! At least it's worth a shot. Thank you!"
Jaken interrupted with their food, Rin waking up to eat with them as well. They all ate in silence, and when they finished, Ava got up to grab her backpack to use as a pillow.
When she went to sit on her small square of bedroll, Rin had already stretched out and wrapped herself in the covers. Ava sighed, sitting her backpack on the ground before lowering herself to the cool stone floor, fluffing the backpack to try and get comfortable. She watched Jaken hop off to curl up against Ah-Un's tail, and she started wondering if the dragon would share some body heat with her as well.
She laid on her back for a few minutes, before the cold of the stone seeped into her bones so much she tossed to her side, facing towards Rin and away from Sesshomaru. She tried to force herself to sleep, but the cold combined with the hardness of the stone digging into her hip was making it nearly impossible.
She felt a tickle at her hand and then the warmth of soft fur wrap around her wrist, tugging on her lightly. She turned back over onto her back, following the mokomoko with her eyes up to its owner.
"Come here."
She swallowed, wondering what he wanted. She pushed herself to her knees and scooted next to him, "Um, yes?"
His armor lay next to him on his right side, along with his swords, his hair flowing around his shoulders and his kimono looser than usual at the waist.
She felt his mokomoko snake up behind her and push her closer towards him, his left arm opening up, "Come, lay down."
Her heart started beating harder and her mouth went dry, but with another slight shove of his mokomoko, she slowly brought herself to stretch out next to his reclining figure, her head near the crook of his arm.
His mokomoko moved to cradled along her back and the entire length of her body, his arm coming around her shoulders to hold her tighter against him, forcing her head onto his chest above his heart. "Thank you."
She swallowed and inhaled, his woodsy, spicy scent, comforting her and making her want to burrow her nose in his clothes. She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing when a low rumbling began to emit from Sesshomaru's chest. It rolled through her body and the rumbling, along with the sound of his heartbeat, lulled her to sleep.
