AN: Many thanks for the favs, reviews and follows :)
Chapter 8
"Jaken are you alright?" Rin asked walking sedately into the sleeping room. Though outwardly she was the picture of serenity inside fire sped through her veins- her knees trembled.
Jaken was folding some of his clothing quite innocently into one of the lacquered chests they had brought with them.
"I am- the chest was to heavy and I dropped it while trying to move it" he replied looking suitably sheepish.
Rin sighed "Jaken why are you folding garments in the middle of the night?"
Jaken turned to her with a positively innocent look on her face "Because I wished not to disturb you or Sesshoumaru-sama. Besides I am feeling quite energized after that little skirmish with the Incarnation"
Rin resisted the strong urge to roll her eyes "Truly Jaken you are the oddest youkai I've ever met."
The kappa youkai seemed to beam at that "Thank you girl- I will take that as a compliment."
0000 The Next Day 0000
"Come- come Rin time to get up" Jaken bustled into the sleeping room just as predawn light kissed the sky. Rin rolled over in the futon with a groan, burrowing deeper into the softness of the of the fabric.
"Rin if you do not get up, I will find more interesting ways to get you awake" came the dark smooth voice of Sesshoumaru. Rin rolled onto her back and glared at him owlishly. Before with slow insolence she sat up, her long chocolate colored tresses pooling over her thin shoulders. Pale pink sleeping robe she wore was dangerously open. Swiftly Rin tugged the ends together, hastily covering the display of her pale ivory breasts from those hot eyes. Damn him, her face flamed and the anger that had lay so quiet, so content yesterday flared.
"What are you doing in my room?" she snapped. Rising from the futon and busily helping Jaken fold the coverlet.
"I am not in your room- merely at the door" Sesshoumaru replied wickedly. Rin turned to him- indeed his perfect feet didn't even touch the entrance to her room. Swallowing a curse- she turned away from him
"Jaken did you give my soon to be wife her kanzashi?" Sesshoumaru purred as Rin lifted the blankets and placed them in the closet before Jaken shut the sliding door.
"No milord- I do not think Rin would appreciate a gift that was stolen from the Wind Sorceress"
"What?" Rin turned to him in surprise-wondering if she would get a bath before she had to leave. Having the luxury of bathing every day was something that pleased her to no end. Sesshoumaru was as fatisdious as her- even braving the winter streams when they had been on the run to cleanse his body.
Not that Rin was ever the one to look- the young woman stepped on that thought before it could grow any larger.
"I took something from the Wind Sorceress- show it to her Jaken" Sesshoumaru said- reluctantly Jaken returned to an opened chest withdrawing the expensive looking kanzashi. Rin didn't like it instantly
"To gaudy- I would never wear something like that" she said wrinkling her nose. Before turning herself away from him, the pale pink robe was so thin- thin enough that with any kind of strong light it would be nearly transparent.
"See Milord- I told you so "the youkai said casually. Sesshoumaru leaned against the doorframe, studying the two of them with his usual cool reserve.
"Then I will endeavor to do better next time" he turned away "oh and Rin- there will be a few men who will bring up water for you to bathe"
"Glad to know" she spat out "however I did not give you permission to come with me Sesshoumaru-sama. Jaken will be…"
She stopped when a hand caressed her shoulder- "I will go with you Rin. No offense to Jaken's fine ability for selecting the best. But I think it my duty to make sure we find you the best possible koto" his lips brushed the back of her ear. Rin couldn't help it- she shuddered longing to turn around and crush her mouth against his. Instead she nodded- heart pounding hard in her chest.
"Then let us say an hour? I will bring Miki-san to help you dress"
"Oh no please do not. I can dress myself!" she cried turning around to face him. Sad when his hand fell away from her thin shoulder.
"Not in the kimonos we bought at Midori's shop- these are not the one layered kimonos of a poor woman. But the garments of a noble- no a empress."
Just then there was the loud voice of someone announcing their presence at the door.
"That would be your tub and water" he added with a slight smile before turning away to go answer the door.
0000 More than an hour later 0000
"Rin I am coming in" Sesshomaru announced before sliding back the door and striding in. Miki was just finishing up and she bowed to the both of them before exiting. Not before Rin bowed deep to the woman- difficult as it was. For she had never been dressed like this- the kimono she wore was three layers the obi built in with that damned piece of wood that prohibited her from slouching. Her hair had been done into a elegant but old fashioned coif. The most elegant kanzashi of cranes placed within- she even had light makeup on all this after being scrubbed within an inch of her life by Miki. With the embassrasment she felt utterly awakward- the kimono done in all pale pinks was something out of a fairy story. She wasn't what Sesshomaru was making her out to be- she was nothing more then a poor feral child who lost her parents to bandits years ago…
Sesshoumaru clasped her chin delicately, those lovely golden eyes meeting hers "Rin you seem far away"
She smiled wanly at him "I am- the embarrassment of dressing me up like a noblewoman is laughable. Have you seen those getas- why I will be as tall as you in them Sesshoumaru-sama"
He smiled "I like that" his lips brushed hers softly and Rin marveled at him. How could he have such faith in her? What was he trying to do turn a sow's ear into a silk purse?
"You won't be successful you know" she murmured, as he kissed the corner of her lips. Gently- almost reverently
"Successful at what?" he crooned, slidinging down in front of her till their knees touched. Rin tightened her grip in the folds of the silk kimono- as he continued to teasingly kiss her.
"Making me a lady- I'm nothing more than a hoyden and content to remain so" she whispered, utterly distracted by the taste of his mouth. The scent of amber that swirled around him- mixing with the scent of peony oil that Miki had applied to Rin's neck and wrists. With a soft whimper Rin gave in, snaking her arms around his neck and crushing her mouth against his. No longer caring for the teasingly chaste kiss that he was lavishing her with.
What Rin was to distracted to notice (and rightly so) was that Sesshoumaru was dressed at the height of men's fashion as she was. His haori like her kimono embroidered with thick gold thread and printed with cranes. All in shades of soft powder blue- a perfect contrast to Rin's pastel pinks. His hair to was tied up tightly and Rin's eager hands sought the tie that held it so. Before that wealth of shimmering silver hair escaped, Rin's fingers tangling helplessly into those silken tresses. Tugging as the kiss grew increasingly dark and deep, the heavy cotton layers of the kimono suddenly to hot. To tight- she wanted them off.
"Ahem" there came a cough from the door, with something like a groan Sesshomaru broke the kiss. Not turning around
"What Jaken?" he snapped voice thick with lust.
"I believe it is time for the two of you to depart"
0000
They took a hired carriage to the merchant side of Edo- a part of the large city was that was slightly less opulent but still well to do. The denizens of said neighborhood having no fear of being robbed or pick-pocketed in the narrow streets. Here the shops here were tightly clustered together- bright signs and pennants wafting in the soft spring breeze. It was unseasonably warm to today and Rin was glad for it for it lifted her spirits.
As they stepped from the carriage Rin turned to him "Sesshoumaru-sama what of the ah- charm at my neck?" she asked, slipping her arm into his with a practiced ease she did not know she possessed.
"I believe that we shall be keeping it. No doubt the reincarnation of the priestess will come for it sooner than later, just until then we must protect it. I am thinking that you are nearly better now- I smell it in your scent."
Heat suddenly sufficed her cheeks "M-my scent?" she lowered her voice from the crowds in the street
Sesshoumaru stopped walking and turned fully to her, "Oh yes- do you think I am an inu-youkai for nothing?"
Rin's mouth worked soundlessly, speechless for one of the few times in her life. "I didn't think"
"Think what? That I wasn't aware of you on that level Rin. I've told you time and time again- that it is only you who interests me now"
The mortal girl worried her lower lip "That may be so but does that eager interest, mean love?" she asked softly looking at him boldly in his eyes. A secretive smile seemed to touch his lips then, as if he were reveling in a joke that he only knew.
He bent till he was nearly nose to nose with her "Do my actions leave you in any doubt of my feelings?"
Rin's lashes fluttered "This whole thing has been a dream Sesshoumaru-sama. I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up and still be sleeping on that thin pallet in the wilderness."
A hot heat flashed in his eyes "Nothing like that will ever happen again…" he murmured. Before he moved to whisper in her ear, speaking so low that she almost didn't hear it as a particularly loud cart went by.
"I love you Rin"
Rin eyes widened and a joy, a hope that she did not know existed in her rose up. Sesshoumaru straightened looking down at her with sparkling eyes. A slow lazy smile gathering on his lips "not only that, it is Sesshoumaru now Rin. No more 'Lord' anymore, you and I are equals."
Rin felt emotion choking in her throat "I'm..." she trailed off tears spilling down her cheeks. Tenderly he wiped a few away- a slight furrow in his brow.
"I thought you would be happy at my declaration" Sesshoumaru began, gathering her tears on his fingertips before bringing them to his lips. Rin felt her cheeks heat to a painful decree. He was a wicked, dirty inu-youkai.
"I am so terribly happy that is why I am crying... But you musn't tease me so" she said grinding her finger in his chest, smiling through her tears. To her shock Sesshoumaru laughed
"There is more to come- " he caught her hand in his, before placing a gentle kiss on her fingertips "but first let us go purchase that koto"
00000
