Rin skidded to a halt by the huge silver head. SesshoMaru's eyes where closed but she could feel, as well as hear, the warm gusts of air as he breathed through his large open mouth. Tentatively the girl reached out and touched the soft fur of his mussel. "SesshoMaru?"

SesshoMaru slowly opened his large red eyes, blinking several times trying to bring the girl into focus as the poison from his many wounds coursed through his system. His head felt cloudy and his chest burned like it was on fire as he forced himself to draw air into his lungs. He said her name, but to her human ears it was only a faint whimper. Rin choked on a sob as she fell to her knees, hugging the great dog's cheek. Burying her face in his silver fur, she pleaded with whoever was listening. "Please, no."

A soft breeze lifted her hair as it moved around the dog demon. When it stilled once more SesshoMaru was laying in his human form with his head cradled in his woman's arms. He weakly reached up with his hand and wiped away the tears she was crying. He studied her beloved face, his golden eyes reflecting his true feelings for the first time in his life. "Don't cry Rin."

She looked down at him, biting her lip to keep it from trembling as she tried to do as he said. She jumped and gave a startled gasp when she felt something bump her shoulder. Turning around she saw the dark brown eyes of Kin. She had forgotten about the horse until that moment. Suddenly she had an idea. Grabbing hold of his rains she pulled him closer then struggled to get SesshoMaru up. "Rin what?"

"I'm not about to let you die out here in some dark field. I'm taking you home."

"Rin stop this." SesshoMaru's voice was quite but firm.

"No!" She looked down at him; her love, and determination shinning in her deep brown eyes. "I can't, please."

SesshoMaru nodded; putting his arm around her shoulders he did his best to help her get him to his feet. Then leaning heavily on her he was able to walk the few steps to the horse's side. Kin knelt down making it easier for the injured demon lord to mount. Once SesshoMaru was settled, Rin fitted herself behind him wrapping her arms around his waist taking hold of the rains. Gently pulling back she signaled the horse to stand, even with the added weight of an extra passenger Kin easily got to his feet. Without any further couching animal turned toward the Western Palace at a dead run.

SesshoMaru gritted his teeth against the pain that shot through him with every jarring step. He felt as Rin's arms tightened around him gently as she rested her head on his back. Even in his venom fogged mind he easily heard her whispered, "Hang on."

By the time Kin reached the palace courtyard the sun was already hanging brightly in the sky. The horse was breathing heavily, as foamy white patches of sweat coated his neck, chest, and legs. He halted and weakly collapsed to his knees. Rin held onto unconscious SesshoMaru as best she could to keep him from falling.

"Master Jaken!" Rin shouted, as she pulled herself and her burden from the exhausted animal's back. Silently she thanked the creature for his unwavering loyalty, even as she called out for Jaken again. "Lord SesshoMaru's been hurt, I need your help. Jaken!"

Jaken ran out of the castle hesitating only a moment when his large frogy eyes met the carnage before him. "What happened girl?"

"There was a huge snake, SesshoMaru saved me, but he's hurt." Rin shifted that tall demon in question around until he laid flat on the flagstone path. "I afraid he is dying. You have to do something."

Jaken quickly took stock of his lord's wounds. SesshoMaru was covered in sweat and blood; his chest had two deep puncture wounds just above his heart, but somehow the powerful demon still managed to draw breath. Judging from the way he looked though Jaken wasn't sure how much longer that would be the case. "We need to get him inside."

"No," SesshoMaru was barely able to open his eyes but his voice still carried a note of authority.

Rin reached down gently caressing his striped cheek. "SesshoMaru, we need care for your wounds."

His golden eyes shone with the fever that gripped him as he looked into the chocolate brown gaze he loved. He shook his head, "It's too late, for that Rin. Please, I…"

He swallowed hard his throat was so dry. "I want to die where I first understood. Please, my love, help me."

Rin didn't trust her voice so she simply nodded. Turning to Jaken she asked with her eyes what she couldn't with her words. Jaken looked from his master to the woman and back before nodding. Together, they were able to lift the dying man up and carry him where he wanted to go. Once they reached the spot before the white roses in the north garden, Jaken laid his master down. Rin sat next to him, cradling his head in her lap, tenderly brushing his bangs from his face. Sitting there with him like that she felt a strange sensation of peace come over her, and she smiled down at her love.

SesshoMaru watched her a minute before his own smile came to his lips, a true smile one filled with warmth and love. "We are back where we started. You smiled at me that day too, do you remember."

Rin nodded, a tear falling from her eye to his cheek. He touched the spot then looked at his wet fingers. "I yelled at you, told you to leave me alone, but you just kept coming back. It seems I have always tried to push you away from me."

"I'll always come back."

His smile grew as the warmth of her words filled him. He turned to look at the roses, his senses where fading, even this close he could barely smell the flowers' perfume. "I think I started to fall in love with you the first time you smiled. It wasn't always the same feeling as it is now, am not entirely sure when it changed really, but I think it was on the day I gave you these. Do you remember that too?"

Again she nodded her heart breaking even as it was filled with joy at his words. He loved her, gods, how had she ever doubted it? "It was my birthday, I was so happy."

He turned back to her; his golden eyes were starting to glaze over. "You pricked your finger on a thorn, and I couldn't stop myself from kissing your hand, though I really wanted to kiss your lips, I..."

SesshoMaru's voice faded, his eyes started to close. Rin grabbed hold of his shoulders shaking him. "No, no SesshoMaru. Don't go."

He forced his eyes open once more to look at her. "Just one kiss Rin, one real kiss before I die."

Rin wanted to tell him that he wasn't going to die, that they would have years of kisses, but she could feel him slipping away from her. She cupped his cold cheeks in her hands, as she bent down and angled her lips over his. She let all her love into this first and last bittersweet kiss.

SesshoMaru lifted his hand to touch her silky soft hair as he returned her kiss. She tasted of tears and heartbreak, but to him he'd never known anything better. Too soon the kiss ended and she looked down at him. He smiled at her, the last of his strength ebbing, "I love you Rin."

The world seemed to slow to a crawl as she watched the light from SesshoMaru's golden eyes leave as he closed them for good. His slender hand fell limply from her hair, and his chest shuddered as his last breath left his body. Rin bent down again pressing her lips to his closed eyes. "I will always love you, my Lord, my love, my SesshoMaru."