The last three days have been hell.

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No Mass. He's upset as I ran off when he… confessed.

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No Sesshomaru. He's mad at me for trying to escape.

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I've no one to talk to. Just the numbness of being on my own. The only two I could think of as friends… both hate me. I don't even know why I'm worried about Sesshomaru's opinion of me, I'm his slave. As he said, he can do anything to me and I'd be powerless to stop him.

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All he has to do is speak and I have to obey.

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Bet Jaken is really happy at the moment. I've been burying myself in my work, working harder and longer than before. I just want something to keep my mind away from them.

But… there is something else wrong with me.

I don't understand it myself but… it's been growing.

I'm becoming more and more worried about it.

It comes and goes without warning and…

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Dam it, I tripped over that step again!

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Oh no.

Not now.

Not here. Come on…

MOVE!

Come on… move!

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I can't. It's taken over again. Dam it. It'll pass, it always does but… until it does… I can't move.

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Oh no…

"What are you playing at human?"

I don't know that voice.

"Get up!"

I can't. I can't even talk.

"Didn't you hear me? Get up!"

I can't!

"I'll get Jaken, see if he can't beat some sense into that body of yours."

I would if I could but I can't!

"You know, why should Jaken get all the fun?"

That doesn't sound…

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Ah.

Oh my god…

That… that hurt.

That hurt more than anything…

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If I could, I would have screamed!

Oww.

Oh please, please stop.

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Ah! AH! AHHHHHHH!

That's not one person…

There's three of them now, laughing.

If I could move I'd run… but I can't. I'm still stuck.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

That… that broke the skin… I'm bleeding…

If they don't stop…

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They're going to kill me.

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That… that was… was some kind of… blade.

I can feel my blood, rushing out of me, pooling around my body.

I can move again. Not that I could but I collapsed onto my back, a relief and pain filling me. It might be three or four people attacking me but there was about ten stood around me, watching. It was clear they were demons now. The glow in their eyes…

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"You know, I think this little snack has been walking around here for long enough, don't you think?"

That's right…

Demons eat humans.

Once I was dead… they were going to eat me.

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Is that a blade? Or her claw?

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She's going to kill me.

It's coming. It's crashing down. Ready to kill me. It's going to…

Everyone gasped.

Even I did.

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Sesshomaru.

He was growling, holding the demoness's wrist while she knelt at his feet in agony.

Then…

Then he let go, allowing them all to run away. I moved to sit up but my wound and other injuries wouldn't allow me. My lungs hurt as I tried to breathe.

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They must have broken some ribs, it's so painful.

But there was one soft unharmed place.

The place his hand was. On my cheek.

If he spoke I don't know. If he ordered me I don't know. Or maybe my body just gave up.

But I blacked out.

~#~

It was like floating in a bath. Still, silent, weightless and dark. Then it was like having a fish in that water, disturbing the water around me.

It tickled. It… it flicked and brushed around me.

And the longer it went on, the more annoying it became.

It was actually becoming painful!

It nipped at my side, breaking the peace more and more.

Shit, this thing is trying to wake me up!

No. No not this time. This time I'm just going to float. I'm going to float forever in the dark and peace.

NO! No you are not going to wake me up!

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Light… light right in front of me… breaking apart this dark…

No. No I don't want to…

But I have no choice.

That pain is still at my side, forcing me back into the light.

I raise my hand to cover the itch but I can't reach it, there is something moving across it. That's what I hold…

And as my eyes open… it moves away and returns a second later, continuing to press at my side.

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I'm holding the sleeve of a man's shirt, the wearer wiping a cloth at my side.

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That's right… I was hurt, stabbed in the side.

And this man was wiping away the blood… That's what the pain is, him tending to it.

My head is so dizzy… what's his name again?

I know I know it. I know who this man is.

No, he's not a man… he's a demon. And his name is…

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Master?

No…

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My lord?

I think so but…

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Sesshomaru.

That's it. That's his name. Sesshomaru.

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He looks so serious, staring at my belly where it hurt. His hand was moving over the most painful part of my body but now I could tell that everything from the neck down was hurting me. I'd been badly beaten.

I reached out for the demon as he turned away from my eyes. I found my voice. "Sesshomaru."

He came back but went to look at my side, his hands wet. "This shouldn't have happened."

What does he mean?

"You are a strong human, Rin. You could have out run those pathetic demon's easily. You know Jaken is the only one allowed to beat you… he knows when to stop. So why allow those to do this to you?"

Is that right?

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Yes, it is. I remember now. "I couldn't move."

"What do you mean?"

"I couldn't move. I… I tried. But I couldn't. It's happened before."

"When?"

"Five times, over the last three days."

He growled as he stood and walked away.

"That should not be happening."

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"Drink this."

"What is it?"

"Medicine."

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"God! That's fowl! Is it really medicine?"

"It will help you heal."

Well anything that tastes that bad must be good for you. Wait… what is he doing now? His hand is on my shoulder while he's… just sitting there.

"Go to sleep Rin."

And I'm out again.

~#~

It's dark now, outside and in. it takes a moment but my eyes settle and I can see the outlines of things. I wonder where Sesshomaru is.

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Ah, found him.

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Leaning on my shoulder, asleep.

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Wow. He looks amazing even asleep. I can feel his heart, beating into my shoulder. He's breathing is so slow and so shallow… I hope he's ok.

No, he doesn't look in pain.

In fact he looks… peaceful. Maybe even happy. He looks…

He twitched…

His eyes just… twitched.

Just for a second… like he was having a bad dream.

Would it be wrong… would I wake him if I…

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His skin's so smooth… and cold…

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Maybe that's me. Maybe I'm the one who's cold.

But he's settled back down.

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I'm glad I didn't wake him.

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I'm smiling.

I'm smiling and I feel… happy.

I don't think many people get to see him like this.

Almost feels wrong, seeing him asleep and watching him dream.

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I wonder what demons dream about?

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I've just got to touch his skin again. I just need to feel that…

Oh crap.

Those eyes… they almost glow in the dark.

"I'm so sorry my lord."

Oh crap, oh crap. He caught me.

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And closed his eyes again?

"It's fine Rin."

Fine? I was touching his skin! That has got to be against some kind of demon human law. Maybe… maybe he's still dreaming. Maybe he didn't wake up, just opened his eyes.

Well, better not push my luck….

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"Why are you moving away, Rin?"

"I… I thought you'd want your space."

"Nonsense."

Thank goodness I had my hands up by my chin or I'd be in his chest!

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"My lord… are you asleep?"

"No Rin, I do not sleep."

Maybe I'm the one asleep.

If I am, and this is all a dream… that means I can do anything I want…

"You were earlier. You were even dreaming."

"Huf. I do not sleep and I do not dream. But some bad thoughts had entered my mind… your touch soothed them away."

"Did they really? That's nice."

His eyes cracked and I smiled. He is so handsome… in that moody, mystery type of way. "Why did you run away?"

"I… I got a message from home. I wanted to try and see them again."

"I understand that. I was referring to you running away from Mass."

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Even in the dark I could feel my face glowing. "Umm… I…"

"He confessed his love for you… and you ran away from him."

"How do you know that?"

"Nothing happens in this place that I do not know about."

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"So why did you run?"

Why did I run? I've been asking myself the same thing for days… and I only just worked out the answer. "I don't love him."

"I see."

"But why do you ask?"

"Because I care."

"What?"

"I care about you."

Care? Sesshomaru… care's about me?

"Why?"

Yikes!

What…

Oh my god! He is so strong!

In less than a second he rolled me onto my back, his hands on my shoulders, not harming me but still a very strong grip. He's staring into me and I can see every fleck of gold in his eyes. They are by far the most amazing thing about him.

"Is it impossible for you to think that I just do? I care about you, Rin, because I admire you. You are hardworking, loyal and fearless, refusing to give up. You have been here over a year and a half. Yet your heart is as strong as the day you came here when I found you fighting the poison. Any other human would have broken by now. Especially with the appalling way the others have treated you." he lowered his eyes, unable to meet mine. "Do you know the amount of times I have heard you cry… and wanted to go to your side? Just to hold you in my arms and say you will be alright? And the pain in me when that… other gets to hold you instead?"

He's jealous… of Mass? Why would he be jealous of Mass?

He let out a deep breath, bringing me back to his eyes. He stared at me for a moment then blinked. "Would you run if I said I loved you?"

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Would I?

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I opened my mouth and spoke the truth.

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"No."

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He didn't move more than to blink.

"I love you Rin."

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And I smiled.

He stroked my cheek and brushed my hair from my eyes.

He took a deep breath and steadied his lips onto mine, holding them there, still and silent. I only kissed him once… but that once had been enough. My opinion of the perfect kiss had been sealed in that moment. And now I was having another…

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It feels like having an ice cube on my lips but it's so wonderful.

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Aww, Sesshomaru don't…

Oh my… I just licked my lips with him watching.

Well… at least he licked his as well.

Then he sighed, shifting his body and… placing his head on my chest, his hand on my shoulder, his eyes closed.

"Goodnight Rin."

I guess I was staying where I was for the night.

A/N: I'm Waiting 202A *glare* I mean it, no more cake batter if you don't review.

By the way, getting close to the end now!