Chapter 9 - Pox

Things were not good between Rin and Sesshomaru from that day. The scratches on her face served as a constant reminded to herself of the fragile workings of their relationship but also as a humiliation.

For a commanding officer to walk around with such a clear mark of a demon on their face, it was like a branding of disobedience. It was degrading beyond her belief.

General Des seemed to enjoy reminding the captain of her disgrace but so did Tarman, which surprised Rin as he seemed so concerned about it until she mentioned it was Sesshomaru who'd struck her. Then he turned it into a humiliation.

Through it all, she felt the men begin to isolate her, pushing her away from them, not wanting to be related to someone in such an open disgrace. The only people who still kept their respect towards her, where the two brothers and the demon who'd shared the tent with her. She was grateful of their support.

It took seven weeks but the cuts soon healed, even if the middle one scared her face slightly.

The beast responsible for her humiliation kept his distance from her, hardly speaking to her unless to issue orders. Rin huffed as he walked away one day. Same old Sesshomaru.

She rubbed her healed cheek and went to the look outs, hoping to find someone to shout at. Being an officer did have its advantages.

"You there." She said, snapping at two men as they slumped on guard. "Stand up straight and keep your eyes sharp."

"Sorry Captain. It's Corporal Kinma. He's complaining of headaches."

"Really?" Her voice softened as she stepped over to the man. "Corporal how long have you been suffering from these headaches?"

"About three days, sir."

"Any dizziness?"

"Yes sir. When I stand up."

"Been off your food?"

"Yes sir. I can't stomach it."

She narrowed her eyes then reached up to the man's forehead but quickly drew back. "Take him to the infirmary at once!"

"Yes sir."

"And send for Lord Sesshomaru. I'll keep look out until you return."

The men nodded and Kinma was taken away but Rin was cursing in her head. Fever, dizziness, stomach pains and headaches. Damn it, it's the Pox.

Unfortunately Rin was correct. The Pox swept through the camp in a matter of days, crippling any it infected. Those who weren't affected had to work extra hard to make up for the damage to the force but luckily the illness stuck the enemy just as hard meaning they were crippled as well.

Looking at the report as she walked, Rin sighed and closed it down. "Not good." She muttered, heading to the red tent. "Lord Sesshomaru?"

There was a stiff sound from inside. "Enter." Rin walked in and looked at him as he stood by his desk. "Ah, Rin. Is the report I asked for?"

Her eyes stayed on him for a moment then lifted up the scroll. "Yes sir."

He looked at her then nodded. "Bring it here."

Rin's eyes narrowed slightly then stepped over till she was just out of his reach, still holding out the report. "Here you go."

The demon looked at her and Rin couldn't help but notice the pain in his eyes. He slowly reached out his hand and took hold of the report. "Thank you."

The Captain's eyes moved to his arm then up to him. "Sesshomaru… are you… are you feeling alright?"

"Perfectly fine." He moved away from her quickly, turning to his chair but Rin couldn't help but notice how he swayed in the simple motion.

Dizziness.

"That's all." He said as he sat down, he covered his mouth, clearing his throat. "Dismissed."

A cough.

He sat and closed his eyes, head rolled back, breathing in deeply but letting shallow breaths out.

Weak breathing and possible headaches.

As softly as she could, Rin stepped over to him and reached out her hand to the back of his chair, her hand running down to his shoulder. His clothes were damp and his skin warm.

Signs of a fever.

She sighed, stepping over to face him. "Sesshomaru…" she said, trying to be as delicate as she could be. "I think you have the Pox."

He huffed but it sounded more like a cough. "Impossible."

"No it isn't. The Pox is one of the few illnesses that can affect both humans and demons. In fact it hits demons even harder than humans." She put a hand on his forehead. "You have a fever and many of the other symptoms."

"I am not ill Rin."

"Oh stop being so stubborn!" She pushed him away and stared into his eyes. "I know the Pox! I can spot it a mile away and you have it!"

His eyes opened to her. "I… am… not ill!"

She smirked and walked away from him, standing on the other side of his desk. "Alright. If you say so. But I want you to prove it."

"I don't have to prove anything to you."

The smile grew. "Listen, either you prove to me that you are not ill or I go get the doctor and General Des and they will probably take you to the infirmary… where you will be treated with everyone else." She shook her head and shrugged. "And it's not that hard a test. All I ask you to do… is stand up and take ten steps forward without leaning on something. If you can do it… fine, your well and I leave you alone. If not…" She smiled at him. "You have to let tend to you. I won't even ask for you to admit it, just let me help you get better."

He stared at her, holding in a cough then stood up, pushing himself up from his chair. His eyes remained fixed on Rin as she stared at him with a clear smug glow. He let out a breath and leant away from the desk, standing up straight.

Rin's eyes widened a little bit. For a moment he looked alright but then he slumped slightly in the first step. His legs shook, hands closed into fists, his eyes locked on Rin as she counted in her head.

Two… three… four… five… si

She stopped counting and ran forward, catching him just as he began to fall. He almost sent her to her knees as she held him up and he coughed on her shoulder. He cursed over her ear but she smiled. "See, you are ill. Now, deal's a deal." She pulled his arm over her shoulder and began helping him towards his bedchamber. The cover was already pulled back so she helped him in as he continued to cough.

As his head collapsed backwards onto a pillow, Rin let out a breath. "Right, now, I want the truth. How long you been feeling dizzy?"

He moaned for a moment, covering his face with his hand.

"Sesshomaru I want an answer."

He sighed, lowering his arm but kept his eyes closed. "About two weeks."

"And the headaches?"

"Five days."

"Have you been eating in those five days?"

"No."

"What about the cough?"

"It came on today. With the… fever."

Rin sighed and thought silently. Finally she sighed and nodded. "You've got an average case. A few days of rest and you'll be alright. But I mean rest any… unneeded exercise will just make you worse. All you need is to stay in bed, sleep and rest."

He sighed and Rin could tell he was not happy.

She smiled and reached out to his hand. "I won't tell anyone. I'll be discrete. I know how valuable your reputation is to you."

"Rin…"

"Look, I need to go get you some medicine. I won't be long but if I see you out of this bed there will be hell to pay."

He actually smiled under his hand as she stood up and left but then his eyes closed and his mind drifted off. It was brought back by something on his forehead. "Rin?"

"Hey. Feeling better?"

"You were just here." He looked over at her as she dabbed a damp cloth on his head. "You went to get medicine."

"That was hours ago. It's almost dusk now."

He sighed and tried to move but his whole body was exhausted and he couldn't. "I'm so tired."

"That's because you're letting the Pox take over. Once you stop fighting, recovery is very quick in mild cases like yours."

His eyes turned to her. "How do you know so much about it?"

She sighed as she washed the cloth in a bowl of water. "I… I came down with it as a child."

"I heard the Pox kills human children."

Rin nodded. "Most of the time yes. Even the mildest case in a child can be deadly. I was nine when I got it."

"You were very lucky then." His eyes narrowed on her as she stared into the water. "Rin?"

She swallowed and lowered her head, eyes closed but tears leaked from them. She let out a sob and covered her mouth. "That's right… I'm the lucky one." She cried for a moment, her face becoming redder and redder with each sob. "It should have been me! It should have been me that died! Not him!"

He wasn't able to move but Sesshomaru still managed to reach out his hand and hold her knee. "Rin?"

"The Pox spared me but took my brother! He was only twelve years old!" She cried loudly for a moment, having to almost choke herself on her hand to stop from screaming.

With a sudden burst of energy, the general was able to reach her, grabbing hold and pulled her into his shoulder before collapsing back into the covers and quilts. She screamed and punched him but he knew this wasn't anger that drove her but fear. After a while, she stopped crying and relaxed, panting to get herself back. Even that stopped eventually and she leant away, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's a painful memory."

"You have a brother?"

"Had. Jenic. You would have liked him. He was a lot like you. Stubborn, brave and… just a little bit arrogant."

He lay where he was for a moment as she went back to washing his brow. "I'm sorry."

"It hit my mother very hard. She loves Jenic. And my father had been teaching him how to fight when he became ill. I came down with it a few days later. But when I survived, when I got better he… he passed on."

Sesshomaru thought then closed his eyes. "I don't have any family left."

"Really?"

"My father and brother were both soldiers but… well, it was war. And when my mother's home was invaded she put up a fight."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"It was years ago. It doesn't bother me anymore. But… I do know how you feel."

She smiled, leaning away and reaching over to the cover. "Try and rest Sesshomaru." She said, pulling it over his body. "You need your strength."

With a sigh and slight cough, he closed his eyes and drifted off. Rin sat by his side, mopping his brow and neck as he slept. She didn't move, even when her legs grew numb and she didn't say a word or make a sound. Even if he was ill, he sure looked handsome as he slept.

Knowing he was asleep, she smiled and leant over, very lightly kissed his forehead once. "Get well soon." She whispered, leaning back and standing to go and change the water.

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For the next two days, Rin spent nursing Sesshomaru, mopping his brow and making him drink water to help the cough. She kept anyone else away from him, not letting them near and seeing him sick. The responsibilities were draining but she managed.

One night, Sesshomaru sighed and opened his eyes. His head was clearing and his fever was all but gone. He hadn't gotten out of the bed in two days and body was beginning to feel it. His whole right arm was numb.

He sighed again and went to move his arm but it was being held down. Rin was lying on the bed, curled up as small as she could be, using her own arm as a pillow. She looked exhausted. With a small grin, he reached out with his left arm and placed his hand on her head but the simple movement made her stir and in a few seconds she was looking up at him, distantly and blurry eyed.

"Sess…homaru?"

He nodded as he removed his hand. "You fell asleep, Rin."

"Did I?" She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"I can't blame you, you've been up for the last two nights without sleep."

"It's the middle of the night." She moaned, rubbing her shoulder. "I should head back to my tent."

As she stood up, the general reached up quickly and held her hand. "Wait…"

"What is it?"

He stared up at her, thinking over his next words carefully. "Stay."

"What?"

"You can stay here."

Her eyes widened slightly but an amused smile grew. "Won't people talk?"

"Who cares what people say? I don't want you walking the camp at this time of night." He tightened his grip on her hand. "Just stay."

She stared at him for a moment, thinking over the possibilities and options. Slowly, she knelt down, sitting looking at him. "This is a bad idea."

Using her hand, he pulled her closer to the bed. "It's not like I'm in any condition to do anything to you." He chuckled but it changed into a cough. Rin frowned at his words, not trusting him but he kept hold of her and she really wasn't in the mood to walk all the way down the fort in the dark to her tent. This was really the only option.

She let out a sigh then pulled the cover away, sliding her shoes off and climbing in, as far from him as she could reach. The bed was reasonable large, made up of about twenty different pillows and over six sheets. It more than big enough for two people to sleep in and still keep away from each other but Sesshomaru had set himself in the middle, leaving Rin at the edge.

Head on a pillow, Rin looked at him as he looked at her. his gaze was disturbing so she rolled over so her back was to him. "Goodnight." She said and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight Rin."

Even the idea of sharing a bed with her commander wasn't enough to keep her awake. She very quickly fell into a dreamless sleep, ignorant of Sesshomaru behind her who watched until he too fell asleep only to be woken a few hours later when something pressed into his chest.

In her sleep, Rin had rolled over and grabbed hold of him, sleeping with her arms tucked under her chin and her head resting on him.

He smiled and pulled the covers closer.

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Rin could not stop apologising when she woke up with her head still on the man's chest and her hair down over her face.

She didn't know it was Sesshomaru who had freed her hair but he soon helped get it back under control. In the nick of time too, just as he finished, Jaken came in with the lord's breakfast on a large tray. He was a little shocked by the Lord sat up in bed with Rin before him. The demon set his eyes on the imp. "Put it down and leave."

"Yesss my lord." He bowed and scampered away.

Rin smiled as she turned to look at him. "You seem much better today."

"I feel much better."

"Any dizziness? Headaches? Coughing?"

"No, I feel much better."

The smile grew as she stood up, holding her hand down. "Ready for another test?"

He took her hand. He didn't need it to stand up but it felt nice to have contact. "Easily."

"Ten steps." She nodded towards the main area of his tent. Quickly and steadily, Sesshomaru took the ten steps, turned around and walked back. Rin grinned. "Fully cured I'd say."

He looked to the floor, cold faced. "Good."

"Well, I will get back to my normal duties… then." Rin swallowed and tried to avert her eyes as he took off his shirt, dropping it to the floor. "Umm… excuse me. I'll just be going." Quickly she turned around and walked away, blushing madly.

"Rin…"

She looked back very carefully but he already had another shirt on and was buttoning it up. "Yes… sir?" She added, aware that Jaken had reappeared as he helped the demon prepare for the day.

He stared at her for a moment as he pulled the shirt down strength. "Thank you."

She huffed softly. "Well, it was nothing. Anyone would have done it."

The cool and calmness in his eyes was so disturbing but so entrancing as he walked over and held her cheek, one finger touching the scar. "It wasn't 'nothing'. It was beyond your duty."

Rin stared up to him and blinked. "Well, I just… wanted you to get better."

"And thanks to you I have." He leant down slowly and kissed her lips for just a moment. "Thank you."

Redder than before, Rin just stood there as he leant away and walked out of the tent, leaving her with a very blank faced imp. As her eyes focused once more, the imp broke out of his trance and began wagging a finger at the 'man'. "Now… now don't you go thinking anything about that you human! That was nothing. Lord Sesshomaru was just showing his gratitude. He's a demon and don't you forget it! Why I remember when…"

Rin didn't listen to him. Her mind was blank but one thought.

His eyes were so calm.

With a blink, the thought exploded.

Every time he's kissed me before, his eyes have been angry or worried or possessive, when he was under the influence. He can't be taken seriously at those times. There's nothing in those. But… but they were calm. Like I could see right into his heart. That was really him. Just him. Pure and simple. He kissed me… as himself.

Her hand covered her mouth and her head lowered. As her fingers trailed over the touch, she smiled. Maybe there was something more in him than just a beast.