Chapter 11 - Frozen in the storm

Rin grunted again as she struggled with her hair, trying to tie it with the new red ribbon. As a General she needed to look her best all the time but this ribbon was almost pure silk and constantly slipping. This was the fourth time today she'd had to fight it.

Gods, where's Sesshomaru when I…

She stopped, cutting off the thought. She was not going to go asking Sesshomaru for help. She was still angry at him. Any thought of him caring about her as himself had been quickly extinguished.

He'd forced himself on her for a kiss once that month.

He'd asked her to share his bed three times, blaming the cold weather.

He'd bitten her neck so hard it bled when she argued with him which was also becoming more common.

And, just two days ago, he'd forbidden her from going to the front. She wanted to help the rest of the men. She wanted to help them out there where they were most at risk. She wanted to give them food and provisions and show she wasn't afraid to fight.

That, apparently, was the job of a Lieutenant, a rank she happened to miss!

That was another thing she was cross at him about.

Des had died four months ago, killed while checking on another stronghold. Colonel Tarman was meant to be promoted and she would have been made a Colonel.

But NO!

He had found a way to make her a General!

The reasonability she could cope with, as could the paperwork, the respect and even the stupid ribbon.

She hated what he had done to Tarman. She had no idea how long he had waited for the chance to become a general. Most high ranking positions in the army were taken by demons so there was very little chance of them dying. Opportunities like this were very rare and Sesshomaru had over looked a man who'd been at his side for her.

Oh it made her burn.

She tied her hair up the best she could and looked outside. The ground was covered in a thin layer of ice and snow and the sky was a constant black churning of clouds, preparing to snow. She grinned, hatching a plan. "Perfect."

Quickly she grabbed her sword and the long white fur cloak she'd been given, tying it around her neck for warmth. Without pausing she hurried to the forts entrance and looked at the small battalion as it prepared to leave for the front. She walked up to the lieutenant as he prepared to leave. "Lieutenant."

The man bowed his head in respect. "General. Can I help you sir?"

"You're going to the front correct?"

"Yes sir. This is the weekly supply shipment."

"Good. You can stand down, I'm taking it this time."

"But sir…."

"That's an order. Go get yourself warmed up."

She grinned, looking at the men and the cart they were guarding. "Right men, let's move out."

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Where is she! Sesshomaru hissed to himself, walking from tent to tent, looking for the other General. The storm was horrid, clouding everyone's vision, locking out his senses and covering all tracks.

This is ridiculous! Where the hell could she be?

He stopped in his tracks and thought, looking up at the snow. I just want to be sure she's alright in this storm. Is that so much to ask for?

As he walked, his mind went back to their last argument and he smiled. She really cared about the other men. She'd do anything to look after them.

So human. So female. So… Rin.

As he stepped into the next tent, he blinked, looking at the two men in the tent. Both were Lieutenants but one of them wasn't meant to be there. "What are you doing here?"

"Sir."

"You were meant to be on delivery to the front." His mind was sharper than the human's. He'd already worked it out.

The lieutenant nodded. "Yes sir but General Rin said he would take the shipment."

"And you let him!"

"It was an order sir."

He growled and turned quickly, heading to the gate at a run. "You there, when did the supply shipment leave?"

"About two hours ago, just before the storm hit. We've yet to hear word of its arrival but with this storm, they might not have sent a messenger."

With another growl, the demon opened the wooden gates and stepped out, walking in the freezing cold down the path they would have taken but his senses were nulled by the weather. Snow was the worst thing for a demon; it was too cold for his sense of smell, tracks were blown away or buried, his hearing was knocked by the wind and his speed was useless on such an unpredictable surface as snow.

He was reduced to near human standards. He cursed Rin and her stubbornness. He cursed her and her arrogance.

He cursed until he ran out of things to curse and just found himself thinking of her. Her smile, her eyes, her laugh… everything about her.

The snow was up to his knees and still coming. It was getting colder and darker. It wasn't his own health he was worried about, it was Rin's. There was no way Rin wouldn't have sent a messenger, even if in this snow. They might have been held up but he would have intercepted them by now.

So she hadn't sent a messenger.

Which meant she hadn't arrived.

Or worse.

He cursed again and put on a new level of speed, eyes sharp for any movements in the blizzard. He was almost half way to the front, with path being half cut off by the mountain and half cut off by the forest. This was the worst part of the journey. This was where there was a higher chance of ambush.

His eyes narrowed as he saw an unusual shape in the road, half covered by the snow. No. He ran over as fast as he could to the shape, brushing the snow off. It was one of his men, dead long before the snow had taken over. Looking down the path, he saw more of the shapes, vanishing under the snow. Even their blood was gone, hidden in the white.

As he stood, fearing that one was Rin, he saw something move. By the forest, leant on a tree. His instinct took over, thinking it was a danger but then he heard a cough and a voice. "Come on, ssssstay with me."

Running over, he looked as the general shook the man leant on it. "Rin."

She looked at up, her face was dark pink and snow hung to every strand of hair. Her eyes were narrow and glassy. "Sesssssshomaru." She looked back at the man. "He… he needdds helpp. He's bbbaddddly hurt."

Kneeling, Sesshomaru put a hand to the man's neck, checking for a pulse. "Rin, he's dead."

"Bbbbuttt… he wassss taaallkking. Heee hass a son and wife backkkk home."

He looked at her as she bent over, rubbing her arms. Eyes wide, he stood and grabbed hold of her, pulling her off her feet to his chest. "I have to get you somewhere warm."

"Weeee should bbburry them."

"The snow will do that for us. You're my first concern. You're frozen."

"I… I… I'm…"

"Just hold onto me."

"Don't… don't you dare… dooo annnything."

"What makes you think I won't?"

She chuckled for a moment then went silence.

Sesshomaru looked down at her. "Rin? Rin come on, keep talking to me." He shook her in his arms, digging his claws into her. "Rin."

"D…don't do that. It hurts."

"Well, if you stop talking again I'll do it again. Now, tell me, what are the best ways to find an enemy's weakness?"

As she began reciting the list, the demon looked over the mountain. This kind of mountain was that often would have a cave in it. That would do. He scanned it for the signs of it, looking for the signs of one. The snow was making it hard but as the storm eased for a moment, his acute eyes picked up the outline of darkness.

Only half listening to Rin, he began the climb, jumping from ledge to ledge. The cave wasn't very deep but it was out of the wind and snow free.

He sighed and put Rin down by the wall.

"…cold. Cold. Soo cold. I… I'm so…"

"It's alright Rin." He looked at her then took his cloak off, wrapping it as tightly as he could around her. He looked at her face. Her lips were blue and she was shivering all over. He was actually wishing he'd paid more attention to his father's survival classes when he had been learning to fight.

He had no need to worry about it for himself but right now it was all he wished he knew. How to look after a human in these conditions.

Suddenly Rin curled up a little more becoming stiff, falling to the side and shaking move violently. "Rin?" She's going into shock. He grabbed hold of her and pulled her into him. "Come on, got to get you warm.

She shook and shivered but he held her as tight as he could. "Come on. Come on Rin stay with me. Wake up."

Her shivering grew more violent but slowly calmed as he rubbed her back. Finally she settled back down but she was still shivering and unconscious. He looked at her and sighed. He'd have to do it. Risk or no risk he had to get her warm. As quickly as he could, he pulled her armour away, dropping it to the floor and pulled her tunic to the side slightly, revealing her skin. He tried not to look as he placed his hand over her heart and closed his eyes.

His body grew cool but he could deal with it. He just had to wait, concentrate and…

"Sesshomaru?"

He opened his eyes and looked up at her. Her face had more colour and her eyes were clearer. "Rin."

Her hand lifted to his face, holding his cheek. "You're cold."

Lowering his head, he sighed, still keeping his hand on her. "Don't worry about me. I can deal with this."

"But…"

"You were going into shock. I had to get you warm."

"How?" She said in a daze then looked at his hand on her bare skin. "What are you doing?"

His eyes moved away from her. "I'm giving you some of my body heat. You need it more than I do."

"But…"

"Don't worry about me Rin. Try and rest." He said with the best smile he could manage. He would never admit it but was actually in a serious amount of pain. What he was doing, giving her his energy, was draining him. He would soon be suffering like Rin had been.

But he still didn't take his hand from her chest. He had to keep her safe. His warmth would keep her safe in this storm. He'd put up with the pain.

"Sesshomaru! Sesshomaru! Wake up!"

He snapped his eyes open and took a deep breath. Rin was lying over him, looking better but still shivering and a little blue. "Rin?"

"You passed out." She said, wrapping her arms around him. "What happened?"

"I… I… I must have given you too much of my heat."

"So you were putting yourself in danger?"

"Don't worry about it. You're alright now?"

She nodded and kept hold of him. "Sesshomaru."

Her body almost gave back the heat he'd given as she lay on his chest, his cloak and fur spreading over them both, warming them. Why hadn't he thought of this before? He pulled her closer to his shoulder, his arms wrapped around her, lying on his side, hands as tight as they could be.

Rin almost fought against the discomfort of his grip but she grabbed hold of him and held him as tight as she could. There was nothing but survival in her mind. And Sesshomaru was her best chance. She held him as tight as she could, trying to keep both herself and him warm.

"Rin… the storm's stopped."

With a tired moan, Rin looked over at the mouth of the cave then at Sesshomaru as he held her tight. "It's dark."

"We could head back now. I could find the way."

"What about those men? The ones who died in the ambush?"

He blinked, suddenly remembering the others. "You were attacked?"

"About twenty of them. They got off with the supplies. I'm sorry I failed."

"Don't be sorry. You were worried about the men." His arms closed around her a little more. "Right now I'm not even mad about you disobeying me."

"Really?"

"Rin, you could have died in that storm. If I hadn't found you…"

She gave a rude sound. "So you still think I need your…" She gasped as he leant into her neck and nipped her ear, whispering for her to hush. "Why?"

"Because right now I want you to be quite."

"Why you…"

"Just keep still and quiet."

Rin took a deep breath and pulled her head into his chest. "You know, I really don't understand you. The influence…"

"For heaven's sake Rin, call it what it is. It's the mating season."

Rin blushed and buried herself deeper into him. "I prefer the influence. But it should have ended months ago."

The demon took a moment, rubbing her hair in his hand. "I know Rin."

"But you're still under its control."

He paused for even longer this time and his hands fell still. "Apart from that first time… I'm haven't been."

"You might think that but…"

"I know that Rin. Every advance I have made towards you… I have wanted to do myself. I have not been under… 'the influence' as you call it."

Rin fell still. "But… but you're always so… rough."

"I'm a demon. That's how we are."

"But… what you're saying…"

"Rin, I care about you. I always have. I only want to protect you."

On his chest, Rin looked away then closed her eyes, holding him tight with the cold. She didn't say another word for the rest of the night. Her mind span over his words but it came down to one simple question;

Why would any demon, specifically one as powerful and respected as Sesshomaru have any feelings towards me? Especially romantic ones.

She rolled her mind over and closed her eyes, holding as tight as she could to the only warmth she had.