A/N: chapter 8 : Rin decides to leave Sesshomaru and go home.
Chapter 9: Home Sweet Home
When the sun spread a thin edge over the horizon, Rin took a small bag containing various hygienic items and slithered out the mansion. Sesshomaru had offered her a large amount of money for the trip, but she only took enough for the bus fare and sustenance during the travel.
When she reached the courtyard, Sesshomaru was standing in front of the gate.
"Rin."
She halted when she was at arm distance from him. "Yes, Sesshomaru-sama."
"May I accompany you?"
"No, you may not." She continued to walk past him, with cold strides, on purpose, afraid of being convinced by his indulgence.
He caught her hand and pulled her close. "What have I done to displease you?"
With owl-eyed, on the verge of being convinced, she looked at him. "I love you, Sesshomaru-sama. And please don't follow me. I just need some time alone with my family. That's all."
He gazed at her. His breathing was intermittently intertwined by long deep sighs. "Rin."
She remained quiet. Moisture started to veil the lenses of her eyes. She closed them and reached up. Her lips quivered, hungry for his kiss.
As if he understood, or perhaps pestered by the same hunger, he cupped her cheeks and locked her lips in a passionate kiss.
She gripped his neck and pulled him down closer, deeper into her kiss.
He was never close enough, not until part of his body was united into hers, and stayed there, for eternity.
Despite the insane attraction she had towards him, there was a distance between them that was hard to ignore.
Rin backed away.
Sesshomaru locked her lips tighter and followed her movement, unwilling to end their kiss.
She yielded to his insistence, to her own urge.
And their kiss was never long enough. What kind of cruel joke was fate trying to play on her, making her fall madly in love then forcing her to leave it behind.
But he seemed to be unbelievably disciplined; if only he wasn't so. He loosened her hands around him and finally pulled back. "Have a safe trip, Rin. You'll be late."
She lingered.
After a short moment of silence shared between their eyes, Sesshomaru gradually let Rin's hand go.
"Goodbye, Sesshomaru-sama."
Rin arrived at her town and took the bus into her village. When she got off the bus, she took a long whiff of hometown air and walked down the relaxing country road towards home.
When the door opened, Kaede and Rin got entangled into a long tight hug. The two women spent all day over some familiar home-cooked food and did lots of catching up.
"Kaede-sama, is your surgery healing well? I'm sorry I didn't stay home to take care of you."
"I'm doing well, Rin. I'm old and about to go to my ancestors. You should never borrow such a large amount of money for my surgery and neglect your future."
"Without you, I would have starved on the street. I wouldn't even have a future."
"Rin, you're a wonderful child. Now tell me about your trip."
"Oh, it's a very nice place. My boss was so kind, paid me real well. Food was good. People were nice. I'm glad I went there. But I left as soon as I made the money I need."
"Good, Rin. Good. I'm glad. If you don't have money to pay Lord Asano, you will become his mistress, my child." Kaede shook her head. "You made rash decisions without telling me."
"Only one slight problem, I'm pregnant. I met this guy and he took so good care of me, and I had no idea what took over me."
"Ahh."
"Kaede-sama, please don't be angry at me. I just made a mistake." Rin slumped over in the chair.
Kaede put a hand on Rin's shoulder. "I'm not angry at you, my child. Now, will I get to meet him?"
Rin knelt down in front of Kaede and flopped her face down on Kaede's lap, her arm circling Kaede's waist. "Kaede-sama. Thank you for understanding. I don't think he'll come for me. But I don't think I'll ever fall in love with anyone else beside him, so I don't think I'll want to marry anyone anyway. As long as you forgive me, that's all I need."
Kaede stroke Rin's hair. "How can anyone be angry at you. It's OK, my child. We need a kid running around here anyway. I can't wait to meet my grandchild." Kaede reached down and kissed Rin's head.
Rin's tears seeped down on her adopted mother's lap. The latter patted Rin's head. "Now, now, Rin. Everything will be fine. That child is lucky to have you as a mother."
Rin sobbed. "Thank you, Kaede-sama."
Kaede chuckled.
