This is yet another story that was inspired by a writing table that LWDSR is currently hosting (^_^)
I do not own Inuyasha.
It was strange how one who had only known darkness could be so full of light.
The girl who loomed in the forefront of his mind had never seen the sunrise in all its glory, the majesty of a full moon or even the simple beauty of a wildflower in full bloom. And yet . . . She was so full of light, of wonder, of sheer joy. How was that possible?
It was baffling.
It was captivating.
It was perplexing.
It was inspiring.
It was Rin.
Born blind and practically abandoned because of it, Rin had never bemoaned the cruelty that had been inflicted on her, never detested the harshness of her fate.
As the daughter of a noble family, she only had value as a concubine. No one would want a wife whose flaw was so painfully obvious. She had been a source of shame to them, subject to abuse and neglect with only a sympathetic aunt to look after her. Her life had never been easy. So how was it she was able to smile as though she had never known a bad day in her life?
How could she be so warm?
She was so different from him, his opposite in every way.
He too had known only darkness. But the darkness that haunted him was very different from the one that haunted her. He had known nothing but battle for as long as he could remember. The feel of his claws ripping through his enemy, the sound of his whip tearing the flesh form his opponent's bones, the complete depravity that took place in a fight for one's life was like a soothing balm to his damaged soul.
He lived for the fight. He didn't really know how to do much else. So then why was he so drawn to one who was so unsuited to him?
Sesshomaru, Lord of the West, lingered on these thoughts as he made his way to Rin's rooms. He had acquired her as his concubine earlier that week, but he had known from the moment that he saw her, that he would claim her - if for no other reason than that she showed no fear of him. He had stood before her covered in the blood of those he had so ruthlessly slaughtered, eyes red, claws extended . . . and she had shown no fear. It didn't take him long to discovered her weakness. She had been so foolish leaving herself open to attack the way she did. He found that her insolence angered him, her kindness intrigued him and her weakness humbled him.
Why would one such as she be so kind to one such as him?
There had been moments on his many visits to her, when he had caught her squinting hard into the distance, trying desperately to see what was before her. And there were others, when he had found a small, sad smile on her lips and tears shining brightly in her eyes. But they were only moments, glimpses into the frustration she hid so well.
He wanted to show her the light. Just once, he wanted to show her the clarity that she had shown him, but he was lost as to how to go about it.
As he slid open the door to Rin's room, he found her sitting in the middle of a large futon, her head turned toward the door. A single, solitary candle in her hand was the only source of light in the room. Sesshomaru walked to the edge of the futon and stood staring down at the girl who had become his beacon, his personal source of light.
She knew it was him, just as she always knew when he was near. As Sesshomaru knelt on the futon in front of her, a small smirk graced his lips. How could he ever hope to show her the light when he had been incapable of finding it on his own?
He leaned forward and blew out the candle.
Perhaps they could find the light together.