"How is it that they give us all of these gifts, a horse to carry them with and a pull along wagon, and I still have to carry everything while you carry the light load?" Sesshomaru asked, a hand holding the reins of the horse while he balanced a basket and a box on his other arm.
I stopped and made a face at him. "Because you bounce when you walk, and Rin's trying to sleep, not go on a bumpy ride."
He stopped as well and scoffed lightly under his breath. "I do not bounce."
"Have you ever watched yourself walk, or even stopped to notice that the world doesn't move up and down normally?" I taunted, walking away again. Rin mumbled something in her sleep and cuddled down closer to my shoulder. I gently propped her up higher on my hip and continued on.
"Besides," I continued, speaking with a hushed tone, "You're much stronger than me and you probably would have just thrown her over you shoulder and let her dangle like that."
Something pressed against my knees, sweeping my feet out from under me. At the same time I was lifted up into the air. I turned down toward Sesshomaru's laughing body and glowered. "You are such a show off."
He rested his forearm across my lap, his muscular arm and shoulder balancing my weight and Rin's with ease. "What can I say?" He asked, pride mixing with his laughter. "I sweep women off their feet all the time."
"You're bouncing again." I said looking up and forward, making a low punch at his ego.
He stopped walking, causing the horse to nicker in frustration. "You do realize that I have full advantage of you right now?" He asked mischievously, tracing a long finger up my thigh.
My face exploded in a wash of heat. "H-hey, stop that!" I stumbled out, as he playfully bit at my other leg. "That's completely uncalled for and unfair."
"Life is never fair." He chuckled, tracing patterns on my thigh.
"I have a sleeping kid up here and you think its right to be doing that?" I demanded, but I laid a hand over his, stilling his moving fingers.
He sighed, resting his forehead against my leg. "I suppose you're right."
"Haven't you noticed yet? I'm always right."
With a snort, Sesshomaru continued walking, laughing quietly under his breath. I could feel him trying to walk smoothly, reducing the bounce. I dropped my head down to face our hands together. I twined mine around his, exploring the many small cuts and indents of his long fingers. "How is it that your hair is longer than mine?" I asked, pinching his skin lightly.
"Two reasons. One, I'm a demon, so things like hair and nails grow much faster than a humans. Which is a result of how we heal so fast. Two, cutting my hair is a pain. It always dulls any blade I use. Also, it looks good."
"I suppose." I sighed, gently swinging my feet in the air.
"Why do you do that?" He asked suddenly.
"Swing my feet?" I asked curiously, giggling quietly.
"No. Point your toes."
I tilted my head, leaning forward as if to view my feet. I hadn't noticed it before but felt the normal stretch of muscles going through my feet. "I don't know." I admitted. "I didn't even realize I was doing it. It just feels natural."
He fell silent for a moment, obviously contemplating something as his focus shifted from his movements and he resumed his bouncing walk. "Can I ask you something that you'll promise to answer truthfully?"
"Of course." I answered automatically, hoping to ease his mind.
"How come you never look me in the eye?"
I blinked, completely thrown off by his question. No one had ever mentioned my not looking them in the eyes.
Most of the people you've ever known knew you were blind, a voice nagged in my head. I had always just assumed that I was looking people in the eyes when I focused on them. Why had no one ever mentioned it?
"Why do you think?" I mumbled, looking away from him so he couldn't see the thoughts that ran across my face.
"I have several theories. One, I'm so good looking that your humbled by my handsomeness." I snorted. "Or, you truly can't see me. But I don't get it, because I have seen you focus on things sometimes and you always know what direction to look in."
"What would you say if the answer was yes?" I asked quietly.
"I would want to stay by your side. Be your eyes for you."
"And what if I didn't want that? What if people have been trying to do that for me for years without taking my opinion in the matter?"
"So it's true." He said softly, realization in his tone.
"Put me down." I asked quietly. When my feet touched the ground I continued walking, head down as Rin let out a light snore in my ear. Sesshomaru followed quietly, the horse's muted steps the only indication of his movements. He stayed silent, giving me a chance to tell my story.
I took a deep breath and let it out gently with a sigh. "What if you were like me? What if you sought Independence but your own body denied you of it? Since I was blinded, I have had old friends, family friends and strangers who originally would give me a second glance try to offer me their help. I didn't want their help but they gave it anyway. And as soon as they touch me, my mind was overwhelmed with their thoughts. What they showed as sympathy was only a cover for their pity and disgust. Most of them were trying to show off to girls they were courting. 'If I offer to help the blind freak, there's no way she will not tell her father what a good and helpful man I am.' I heard such thoughts like that until I became one of the head women of my village. Then, they all looked at me with awe and wonder at how such a young girl could be so gifted and powerful. I Hated It!"
The scream interrupted Rin's sleep and she groggily looked about. I shhed and cooed her back to sleep and walked on in silence as Sesshomaru took everything I had said in.
"So you want to be treated like a normal human." It wasn't a question.
"Obviously." I sighed, turning my head back to him. "But no one has ever bothered to look at the world through my eyes. Or, lack there of."
The steps of the horse stopped again, and when I turned back Rin was gently pulled from my arms. She grumbled something before settling back to sleep atop a pile of blankets on the wagon.
I heard no indication of his location, but felt his warmth in front of me, a tall wall of protecting warmth. "Have I not done so, as of yet?" He asked softly, looking down at me. "I have always known you couldn't see, ever since the moment we met. But you were trying so hard to hide it, so I didn't say anything. And as I watched you, I will admit I only kept you on for the humor of watching you stumble around. But I also watched the way you treated Rin, bantered with Jaken and took care of Ah-Un. I think I might have fallen under your spell that day at the Grotto. I swear, you were like an angel come to earth that I alone could have glimpsed."
Slowly, hesitantly, he reached a hand out and twined it around my waist. Just as slowly he pulled me closer until our bodies were pressing against the other. "I don't know how I've waited so long. That a mere, blind little human could have affected me so." His other hand traced the curve of my neck, gently tracing nails across me skin. Suddenly, his grip tightened behind my neck, holding me in place. His breath was hot against my cheek as he leaned down closer to me. "How did you do it?" He whispered.
My heart was racing as his strong arms held me close. My body burned every where he touched yet I still wanted more. "I could have asked the same of you." I said gently, raising my hands and exploring the lines of his face.
"Mmm." He grumbled softly, pulling me closer despite our already close proximity. He removed his hand from the back of my neck, tilting my head up so that our foreheads met.
I knew he was looking into my eyes, but I couldn't tell where his were. Desperately I looked about, willing myself to finally see.
He chuckled gently and took one of my hands in his. He gently placed my finger tips against his closed eyelids. I raised my other hand, feeling his other and willed my eyes to find my hands. His eyes opened slowly under my fingers and when I moved them to the edges of his temples he chuckled again, sounding happier than ever. "I finally get to look you in the eyes." He whispered, his lips not a finger width from my own. "What beautiful eyes you have, my beauty."
I giggled, pulling back slightly, but suddenly his lips were against mine. They gently pulled me back, deepening the kiss. Something stirred in my chest, jumping for joy as I took his face in my hands. His hand twined in my hair, pushing me closer, while the other pressed against my lower back.
When I pulled back for air he growled lightly and pulled me back, deepening the kiss with renewed need. I giggled, returning the need with willing desire.
Outside of us, a gentle breeze started up, lifting and twining our hair around and around. The breeze grew through, and turned from a gentle breeze to a thrashing wind. The horse nickered loudly, panic making him prance nervously. The sound of trees falling followed as the wind grew, but Sesshomaru and I were lost in each other, not aware of anything but each other.
As abruptly as it started, the wind died, as did the crashing of trees. From across the field, a slow, rumbling growl started up. At its peak it changed to a challenging yell that finally pulled us from our daze. The person yelling started to run, his footsteps light and fast against the ground.
Sesshomaru tensed up against me and stepped around so that he was between me and the attacker.
"Akime!" The runner yelled, a growl mixed with his words.
Wait, that voice. No way. Could it be…? "Kouga?"