I just couldn't wait to release this new chapter because I get how you guys feel with now it's getting interesting now! Ok, here we go with chapter 10 and it's exactly when Sesshomaru and Rin are meeting! Let's go!
It was Rin's scent for certain, but it was mixed along with another scent that Sesshomaru didn't recognize. Sesshomaru quickly hid behind the waterfall at the head of the cliff, his hand ready on Bakusaiga.
Two figures emerged on one side of the river and stopped where Sesshomaru has stood just a moment ago. Sesshomaru's eyes fixed on the young woman standing near the water, and altogether his hand dropped from his sword.
Rin? Can it be? Sesshomaru thought. She's changed from what I remember. Judging by her clothes Jaken was right when he mentioned that she was off training to be a priestess. The boy on the other hand is not human. A shikigami I presume. What is Rin doing by this spring though? I'll wait and observe.
Sesshomaru's eyes were wide as he stared out at where he saw Rin along with Kotoma.
"What do you think of my master's spring?" Kotoma asked.
Rin glanced down at the water, having no idea that her former lord had just been touched that very spring only a moment ago.
"It's beautiful," she said, putting her hand into the water. "Completely pure."
The powers of the spring have no affect on her, Sesshomaru thought, recalling how the spring had nearly burned all of his hand. But she's a priestess now, so she must be immune to it's powers.
Rin stood up and faced Kotoma. "Why take me here though? I asked to meet your master, not to see a purifying spring."
His master? The creator of the spring? Sesshomaru wondered.
Kotoma calmly took out a small bottle and put some water from the spring inside it before handing it to Rin.
"This will protect you in times of danger," he said. "If you should ever have need of it's powers..."
Sesshomaru glared down at the child. Water? Does he mean to say that a little WATER could protect Rin?!
Sesshomaru sailed down from behind the waterfall in an instant and landed just barely beside Rin.
"Who is your answer?" he asked, the usual coldness on his face.
Rin gasped upon his sudden figure. Was it...? Could it really be...? Lord Sesshomaru was right next to her in the flesh! His hair still long and silver, his armor suited to him perfectly, his golden demonic eyes, his noble and handsome face! Could it all really be true that he was standing there next to her!? Rin's eyes didn't wander away from his face for even a moment! She looked at him with the same childish wonder that she had had before and still she gazed upon him as if he were a god. The feelings in her heart quickly spread over her body and the hand in which she held her bow because to shake with nervousness.
Sesshomaru on the other hand was as cool as before, his eyes never leaving Kotoma. He too was aware of Rin's prescience though.
Kotoma had already passed the bottle to Rin though, and so he stepped back.
"My master does not wish to see you yet, priestess," Kotoma said, yet his eyes stayed focused with awareness on Sesshomaru. "Until then consider this water his gift to you for it's powers will only have affect for either a demon or the wicked at heart. Use it well." And then Kotoma transformed into a streak of light and sailed away from them through the sky. Sesshomaru didn't sail after him.
"Lord...Sesshomaru..." Rin said, finally finding her voice.
Sesshomaru turned to her and looked directly at her face. It had changed so since the last time he'd seen her.
"You are well I see," he said.
It took almost all Rin had not to burst out crying at her Lord's sudden return. Never had she expected to meet him at that time though! She'd thought that she'd never be able to lay eyes on her lord ever again and yet here he was!
She kept her composure though and nodded. "Yes," she replied, not saying anymore. She avoided eye-contact however. She felt that she couldn't look him in the eyes just then. Something felt different, and she wasn't sure what. Perhaps it was the sudden meeting with him or the anticipation and fear for what he was going to say. She didn't know.
"And you are planning on becoming a priestess?"
Rin got a hold of herself. "Uh, yes! That is, I was headed to the Temple where Lady Kikyo trained many years ago! That is the place where all priestesses must train to gain their title."
"And you wish to gain this title?"
Rin looked down. "I-I..." She didn't continue further because she didn't know what to say.
Sesshomaru looked down at her and wondered what she could be thinking. It bothered him a little that it seemed that things between Rin and him have changed. Of course he hadn't expected that they wouldn't since he knew full well that he hadn't seen his ward in over two years.
"You have not met with Jaken then?" he asked.
Rin looked up at last. "No, why? I haven't seen Master Jaken at all."
"I see," Sesshomaru said. "Then you haven't received my gift."
Rin cocked her head to the side. "Gift?"
"I intended to give it to you on my next visit to the village."
Rin gasped, her eyes wide. "Y-you were coming to my birthday celebration next week, Lord Sesshomaru?" It was the first time she had said his name since they'd met. To both their ears it sounded foreign.
Sesshomaru turned. "If you are going to be a priestess, it wouldn't be suited," he said. "I shall tell Jaken to stop searching for you, now that you have been found."
Rin stepped forward. "Wait Lord Sesshomaru!"
Sesshomaru stopped walking but he didn't turn around.
Rin paused for a minute. "Y-you had Master Jaken looking for me?"
Sesshomaru chose not to answer her question. "My empire is set, Rin," he said. Hearing her name being said by his voice was something that sent a chill through Rin. "There is no reason for me to be kept away. I would have come to your celebration this year but that too is not necessary now. If you are to become a priestess then there is no need for..."
"Do you mean to say that I can't see you anymore Lord Sesshomaru?!" Rin yelled, tears in her eyes.
Sesshomaru flinched, an aching feeling forming over his chest for the second time. He turned back to face Rin, and only then did he notice the tears on her face.
Rin could no longer hold back. So Lord Sesshomaru really won't see me anymore! I won't ever again get to be with my lord! I was the one who chose this path to become a priestess and yet...I never would have done it if I had known that it would keep me away from Lord Sesshomaru! Why!? Why?!
Sesshomaru stepped forward and then put his right hand upon her left cheek, wiping away a tear.
"Did you not expect that?" he asked, his face like a statue. On the inside though, he was also pained.
Rin shook her head. "My lord, I never expected to see you again...I-I only thought to move on with life if I never did see you again..."
Sesshomaru pulled his hand away. "It was from those two years I didn't see you, is that correct?" he asked.
Rin nodded.
Sesshomaru looked up past Rin. "Rin," he said after a while, causing her to look up again. "If you should want to continue on this road of becoming a priestess, it will be for the best. I will not stand in your way if that is what you decide. If you should never want to see me..."
"Please don't ever say that, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin exclaimed. "I could never stop wanting to see you!" More tears flowed from her eyes but she continued to look up. "Lord Sesshomaru, have you grown to despise me as you do other humans that you wouldn't want to see me anymore?" At this her voice cracked and she clasped her face in her hands.
Sesshomaru's eyes widened and he too gasped. Once Rin had calmed down though, he continued. "Then if you should want to see me again, you may always expect me from now on."
Rin looked up at him. "Huh?"
Sesshomaru looked down on her, for the first time showing a slight hint of sympathy in his eyes. "Every night of the full moon, expect me to come to you. Never think that you have been abandoned."
And then without another word, he finally sailed off towards the sky, leaving Rin alone. He cast one more glace back at her, and saw a new ray of hope in her young face that immediately eliminated the pain he had felt earlier.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru," whispered Rin and then she shed one last tear before regaining her composure and heading back into the forest. Her thoughts remained on the next night of the full moon.
WHEW! I can tell you right now that that was NOT easy to write, especially since I had to pause so many times and see if I could imagine Sesshomaru saying those words. I actually could imagine him like that so I hope that it satisfies all of you as well. I'll be introducing Kohaku and Shippo in the next chapter so stay tuned for more lovable characters!
Please continue with the reviews/favourites/follows with this story! Thanks for the support!