Waving, Rin watched as Kaito vanished from his morning visit then turned away to her embroidery. She sat and worked for a while but then lifted her head and smiled. "I know you're there."

There was silence then the demon from the day before appeared from behind the rocks. He nodded a little. "Rin."

Rin stood, smiling. "Hello again." She chuckled at his half drowned appearance. "Come on over. I'll get you a towel." She vanished into the house and returned with a cloth, handing it over to the demon as he sat against the wall. "Here you go."

Once again he took a while to reach a decision then took the offered towel. As he sat drying himself off, Rin sat and carried on with her work. But there was a difference between today and the day before. They were sat closer together.

Rin could almost feel his arm moving against hers while she passed the thread though the cloth. However, gradually, as time went on, her hand slowed down until they came to a complete stop. She just sat there, her eyes drifting shut, hands folded on her lap still holding the needle and thread.

When she next opened her eyes, she was lying on her side again and resting her head on the demon's knee. His hand was on her forehead, stone still, just sitting there.

She smiled to herself and closed her eyes again. Silence appeared to be this demons way and she liked it. Unlike Kaito who was just constantly jumping around both physically and emotionally, this stranger was slow and constant.

Her heart beat was normal but each stroke was firm and loud, crashing against her chest with a force she didn't completely understand.

"How did you hurt me?" She asked eventually.

He sighed, running his fingers down her hair. "I didn't realise how important you were."

"Is that why I forgot?"

"I fear so. My arrogance led you to want this fate. A want to forget and be free of me. I am sorry Rin."

For some reason, sadness flooded her at his words, spoken so softly, almost whispered like a secret. To hear him apologise forced her to close her eyes as water filled within them. She didn't want to cry but the tears just came. As they trickled down her cheeks, the demons hand move to them, wiping them away.

"I'm so sorry Rin." He said again, his voice even softer, further away.

She sniffed and closed her hand around his trousers, burying herself in the fabric, wanting to hide her true self away.

It hurt.

It hurt so much.

"Was it always like this?" She asked, sniffing and wiping her eyes. "Did I always feel this way?"

"I fear that you did. And I made it worse by choosing to ignore you for my own pride. I shouldn't have."

She cried a few more minutes then rolled onto her other side, her head now pressed into his chest. "Please, make it stop."

The demon was silent.

"Please!" She begged, more tears falling down her face. "Make it stop! Please just… make it stop."

This demon had hurt her before and because of that pain she had chosen to forget him. She had drunk the dragon tea and ran away with the ocean lord Kaito to hide from him. But here she was, lying on his knee, crying her lungs out with a throbbing pain in her chest and stomach but her mind drew a blank as to why.

He moved his hand down her hair, as if trying to sooth her. It worked for a while as Rin's tears slowed and she just felt his hand.

"I'm sorry Rin. This is all my fault."

Her head felt light all of a sudden and she closed eyes, resting her head on him. The sadness appeared to have passed but she was still feeling empty. "Tell me how we met."

The stranger took a breath and shifted to get comfortable. "You were a little girl. Stubborn and fearless. I was in the forest near your home, injured. You tried to help me."

Rin smiled. "That does sound like me."

"You have changed very little in ways of your personality."

She shifted against him, listening to his voice. "Please continue."

So he did. He told her everything he knew. How she had been attacked, how she had been revived and how he had taken her under his protection.

Then she asked for more stories and he complied. Some she was able to add to, having small memories. Some were new, things that happened without her. And some she didn't remember at all.

But she just lay there, resting her head on him and listening to his voice while his hand trailed down her hair.

As one story came to an end, the demon stopped moving his hand and took a deep breath. "It's getting late. Kaito will be returning soon."

"Will you come back tomorrow? And tell me more stories?"

The demon looked down and caught her eyes. For the longest time they just stared at each other. He looked away first. "I will."

As he moved, Rin shifted back to her knees, allowing him room to stand and walk towards the barrier, his head down and eyes away from her.

A/N: Well, those few of you who have seen this on story on DevinatART will know that this is as far as I have got. I was trying to tease it out, make you lot wait and water but now I see there isn't much point to that, you will keep braying for blood if I don't.

Thanks to everyone who has written reviews, I really apprciate them. They make it all worth while.

Life is very busy at the moment but the next chapter should be... when ever you guys want it.

Anyway, don't forget to review and hold on hope. SL