Koi Otome
(Love of a Young Lady)
Chapter 11 – StayJust Like This

It had been four days now that Rin was staying in bed and she was healing faster than normal. Is it because of Sesshoumaru's mark? She thought but didn't ask her lord. Sesshoumaru was always at her side he never let her out of his gaze. He was being over protective. Even the maids and servants found this behaviour really strange for Sesshoumaru. Sure they had never seen him in love before but this was not the Sesshoumaru they knew. The impeccable icy mask did not exist anymore. He let his emotions viewed by anyone.

Anyone who dared come into Sesshoumaru's room without his permission was immediately kicked out by an angry Sesshoumaru; he was quite easily angered since Rin had become his mate. Rin found his behaviour strange too. She began to fear her lover a bit. Is this how it's supposed to be when you are the mate of a demon? Rin thought. She had so many questions to ask her lord about himself ever since he had been injured. He acted so weird, so unlike the Sesshoumaru she adored and admired. She stayed muted and stared at him for four days he always looked at her with a fire of passion in his eyes. It's not like she didn't love him, it was just too intense for her.

At first, she really loved his amorous look and his tender attention toward her. He was nice and careful to her but something was boring her in his attitude. She let her eyes wonder away from the demon lord she felt exhausted being in the room constantly with a man that she didn't really recognise. She decided that today, she would have to get out of the room quickly or she would surely become insane. She talked softly to her lord without looking at him.

"Sesshoumaru, I need a bath, can you bring me there?"

"I do not think that it is a good idea my love. Your injuries could open once more." Sesshoumaru responded.

"Please, I will be careful, but I really want to bath." She implored him with her beautiful hazelnut eyes.

Sesshoumaru nodded and took her carefully in his arms. She was as light as always for the strong Sesshoumaru and without any efforts he brought her to his bathroom. He gently put his swords on the nearest table and entered into the water with his pretty darling in his arms. He was not wearing his armour since he had return to the Western lands, he didn't want to harm his lady, but he couldn't live without his sword, old habits die hard.

In a short time his haori and her kimono were wet and Rin felt the hot water on her skin and shortly on her wounds and she squeezed Sesshoumaru's clothes to retain a cry of pain. Even after four days, she was not able to control her pain and it looked like they did not want to heal even if the wounds were almost closed.

"Do you wish to get out already and return to our room?" Sesshoumaru asked knowing that his mate felt pain it made him feel as if his heart were being ripped apart.

She quickly looked at him with big eyes. In any case she didn't want to return so soon to their room. They had only left it and she felt so much better being outside of there. She felt Sesshoumaru's clothes on her body even with her heavy kimono she could not move from his arms. She looked at him, will he groan again if I try to get out? Rin thought. Sesshoumaru felt her regard begging him to release her. With a silent sigh he released her softly and left her alone in the water.

He got out of the spring water quietly and replaced his swords back to their place. Without looking at her he spoke aloud.

"I have some business to take care of. If there is anything, you just have to yell for me or to ask the ladies behind this door. Be careful my mate." Sesshoumaru said before leaving Rin alone.

Did I hurt him? Was his feeling hurt? Rin thought sadly. Rin chased these thoughts as she detached the belt of her kimono and slowly removed her wet old kimono. Oh Kami I feel well! She swam a bit and she sat in the warm water. She took the soap and washed herself with pleasure. It had been a long time. She hadn't been this dirty since she was a child, since she was a child. She smiled, remembering all the happy pleasant moments she had past with her lord and how she got dirty when she was picking some flowers for him and his handsome smile he gave her as a thanks.

Ah, memories! Flowers! It was the biggest thing she missed since she had become the prisoner of Sesshoumaru's chamber. She finished rinsing her milky skin hair as she started getting ready to get out of the water when she remembered that the only kimono she had in this room was wet and old.

"Can a lady give me a dry new kimono please?" Rin asked the people behind the door.

She heard some footsteps running and then a little servant approached the water and delicately composed the superb red kimono she had gotten for her birthday. She thanked the little girl took a towel to dry and clean her fresh body. When she got out of the water she felt the resent pain once more but decided to ignore it and be strong.

She looked once more to her wonderful kimono. Sure it was red but with ivory design, the drawings were herons, ivory and white wading birds with long necks long legs and bills. She really had found it special and beauteous when she looked at it for the first time and she had decided to keep it. The attachment for the kimono was ivory too. When she finally put it on, she felt it so soft and warm. She had gotten a good deal when she picked it.

Rin walked a bit in the room and found that her wounds were not hurting her. So, she decided to go into her garden to admire and take care of her favourite place. She walked through it and admired the beauty of the moment. The sun was shining down on her beautiful garden. Even if the winter will arrive soon, the view was admirable. Not a single flower was finer. She went in the middle and began to pick some flowers for her lord. He will surely be happy to see these flowers in our room, Rin thought.

Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru was in his library reading some reports from the East and the South. But, before going to work he had changed his wet clothes for another beautiful and similar white and red haori. He was staring at the scroll on his table and had begun to read it. In both territories, they had killed Naraku's demons and both lords had their mates were injured. Onijuujitsushita had surprised both lords like me he is quite good at surprises. But what is his purpose now that the shikon no tama has disappeared? Sesshoumaru thought.

Kouga's mate was injured in the arm but she had already recovered and was quite angry against this new Naraku. The message was saying that they were doing the decoration for their wedding when the wind changed its direction and then arrows filled the air. The only target of those arrows was Ayame, all the places she had done was full of arrows. Koga was asking Sesshoumaru to keep their alliances against this evil demon.

Why does he attack our mates? Sesshoumaru thought again. He will have to discuss this with Inuyasha, but later. He replaced these scrolls and smelled the air but didn't find Rin's scent like it should be in the spring water. He stood up and walked through there to find nothing but her kimono floating in the water. Has Onijuujitsushita already begun to attack us? He thought worriedly.

He ran into castle as fast as his feet would carry him to pick up her trace when he finally caught it, was going outside. He opened the door and saw his lady in the garden. All his senses became calm and his heart stopped pounding fast as he let out a sigh of relief. No danger was here for the moment. He walked to his lovely flower and sat next to her.

"They are beautiful aren't they?" Rin asked.

"Yes, they are a beauty of nature just like you my love." He responded with his graceful smile.

He kissed her forehead and looked at her with his amazing amber eyes. So captivating and so loveable, Rin thought. She had already forgotten that she found him strange and that she was bored of his embarrassing looks. She loved him that is all. It was maybe that fact that she felt like a burden and a weakness to him that she found him strange toward her.

She grabbed his lips and gave him a passionate kiss. She was and will stay a wild flower and now enclosed in a castle, she was depressed, like a flower tended to die indoors. They finally stopped the kiss Sesshoumaru smelled her fresh and clean scent and he adored it. That was the only female scent that he was able to support and appreciate it. He looked at his precious flower and felt that she had regained some forces and energy. Only being in nature can bring her so much happiness. Sesshoumaru thought.

"I pick up some delicate flowers for you my love." Rin said gently, getting Sesshoumaru out of his thoughts.

He took the little bouquet of magnificent flowers from Rin looked at them. She had chosen the ones that I prefer the most; she is the most intentioned mate for me on this country. Sesshoumaru thought. He smelled them and found that their scent was almost similar to his precious treasure; maybe it was the reason that he loved these flowers so much. He looked at the field in front of him and watched the beauty of the autumn day.

"My lord?" Rin asked.

"This formality does not apply to you anymore Rin, I am you mate now." Sesshoumaru softly said in her ear. "What is it my lady?"

"I've been hiding from you something about lord Kouga and I think this is the right time now to tell you." Rin shyly tried to say.

"You want me to accompany you to his wedding with Ayame, the daughter of the white wolf tribe, which is correct?" Sesshoumaru said with his amazing smile.

"Did you know it since the beginning?" She asked.

"No."

"Will you be at my side there? Will you do me this honour my mate?" She joyfully asked him.

"I will accompany you, after all you are my mate and I have to protect you at all times. Moreover, how could I leave you, my pretty lady, alone with a vast number of demons? I do not want you to be eaten, or touched by lower demon."

Sesshoumaru said before trying to eat her, but he was more kissing her than eating her. She began to laugh and tried to get out of his grasp. She stood up quickly to her feet and began to run. Sesshoumaru looked her and he finally began to chase her. All the pain of Rin's wounds had disappeared and Rin had not noticed it.

In a short time, Sesshoumaru was running next to his mate. Rin was smiling and she was having a hard time breathing, after all she was not a demon witch had better power when Sesshoumaru sensed that she beginning to get tired, he caught her in his arms and jumped on the top of the nearest tree.

Both were smiling and Rin was breathing hardly but she was joyful. She had recovered from her little depression and she loved him so much once more. Sesshoumaru looked at her like always. Love fully your lover. That's the only joy permitted in your life, Sesshoumaru remembered the words of Hatsuyuki. Yes, he will love her from all his heart and even his soul. He will give her all the joy that she needs and he will appreciate every moments passed with her. He promised it to himself.

"I love you so much Rin" Sesshoumaru said kissing her once more.

"Same for me my dear, but promise me something." Rin said with a smooth smile.

"What is it darling?"

"Stay with me, forever." She responded.

Sesshoumaru nodded but he had not understood her request fully. Did he change so much? He wondered. He did not know if he had changed but he liked being free and all these little times passed with her in liberty, in the wildness of the nature, he just loved them.