Trying not to sigh, Sesshomaru stared out at the large shop window, the streets outside deserted and he had seen no one all morning. Business was slow and he wasn't sure how much longer he could handle this boredom.
He had already reorganised the displays near him in alphabetic order, then by colour and then by size of bottle but he was running out of things to do. Leaning back in his seat, he let out the sigh he'd been holding in and his gaze turned once more to the clock on the wall. But there was nothing he could do to make time go faster.
As his eyes turned once more to the window, it appeared his wish had been granted as suddenly a small collection of white flew past the glass towards the ground.
Horror filling his frame, he ran over and threw the door open, looking up to see if this was a trick but the sky above was the same yet white snow fell from above him, landing on the stone and dirt. As the realisation hit him he turned and ran inside, not caring when something fell behind him as he charged up the stairs to where he found Rin on the ground, leaning on the wall in a heap.
"No." He whimpered, running over to her and kneeling at her side, lifting her head to see her face.
Slowly her eyes opened and her gaze met his, giving him a slight smile. "Sesshomaru." She whispered, her strength clearly being pulled away.
"Rin." He whispered back to her, leaning closer until his brow touched hers.
"Is it snowing?"
"Yes… yes it is." He nodded, tears in his eyes. "I'm… I'm so sorry."
"Don't be." She told him, breathless yet she still had the ability to lift her hand to show him the ring Holly had enchanted for her. The metal was physically trembling as if trying to push something away from her. "I don't know how long I have."
Unwilling to accept what she was implying, instead picking her up off the ground and carrying her into her room, lying her carefully on the bed. As he did, he noticed how pale and cold she was, like she had been months ago when the curse had last taken effect. He stroked her hair gently back and caressed her cheek to try and comfort her. "Anything I can do?" He asked, feeling helpless.
She shook her head a little, shifting closer to him. "No, just stay here."
Glad to obey her request, the demon sighed. "I don't want to lose you Rin."
"We all knew this day would come eventually."
"No. I thought we would find the cure. I thought you would be alright. I thought you would have longer." He let out a sniff then looked away, trying to hold himself together. Finally he looked back, slightly more like the cold faced demon she knew more than the emotional one. "Rin, I wanted to stay with you."
"And you can." She said, pulling him closer. "For as long as I live, you can be with me."
He sniffed softly then moved to sit on the other side of the bed with her and pulled her closer to his shoulder. "I won't let go of you." He promised. "It's okay. I'm with you."
She smiled and wrapped her arm around him, eyes closed while Sesshomaru looked out the window behind the bed to see the snow continue to fall.
After a few minutes of silence and enjoying each other's contact, there was a gentle knock on the door, Kusu and Tarn stepping inside, Tarn covered all over in snow. "Rin." He said, letting out a breath and kneeling beside her, holding her hand. "I saw the snow."
"Looks like you have been running in it." Rin chuckled as she reached out and brushed some from his shoulder.
He gave her a smile. "Yes… as soon as I saw it, I ran home." He sighed, brushing his own hair. "How do you feel?"
"I feel fine. A little tired but… I'm not in pain. I promise."
Tarn shook his head as he lifted her hand to his lips, his eyes screwed shut. "Rin… I'm so sorry." He sniffed, his body trembling. "I promised to save you, I promised to keep you safe. You shouldn't be like this. I promised to save you. I failed."
"No Tarn." She sighed, squeezing his hand tight. "You did save me."
His amethyst eyes looked up at her, tears flooding them. "Rin…"
"You saved me from a life on the street. You gave me a home and a family. You gave me everything."
"Apart from your life." He sniffed, a tear finally falling down his cheek. "I'm so sorry."
The human smiled softly, even if tears were in her own eyes. "Don't be. I had ten years with you. Ten years of learning and magic and adventure and love. I love you Master Tarn, for everything you have done for me."
He smiled at her, gently nodding and kissing her hand once more. "And I you Rin."
With a nod, the human turned her eyes to Kusu who was stood towards the door, a hand to her mouth as she tried not to cry. "Kusu?"
She looked up then walked over to her, taking her hand as Tarn stood and stepped to the side a little. The green haired demoness nodded. "I'm here Rin."
"Thank you for looking after me all this time. You really did a great job. I appreciate everything you have done for me." She smiled a little. "Even you taking my stash of chocolate away."
Kusu chuckled at the memory and nodded, sniffing softly. "I've loved every moment Rin. Even cleaning that Alfoylite blood from your clothes."
"Sorry about that." Rin chuckled herself. "We ended up throwing that dress away at the end of it all."
"It was one of your favourites too."
"Well, you did buy me a new one for my birthday last week." She said then gave a small gasp, glancing at the ring on the hand in Kusu's grasp. "The pink one all covered with sparkles and ribbons. I'm just sorry I never got a chance to wear it."
Kusu gave her a smile as she nodded. "You don't like it, do you?"
Looking into her eyes, Rin smiled and nodded. "Too many bows… and the big gem in the middle was a bit much." She chuckled then inhaled again as pain coursed through her body.
Sesshomaru looked at the ring on her hand, the metal trembling as he wrapped his arm around her neck and held her tighter. "Rin." He whispered, holding her tighter.
For a while, all any of them could do was watch as the metal shook but then, without a sound, the metal band snapped into four parts that fell to the bed. Almost instantly, Rin coughed and fell back slightly, her body shaking, breath suddenly becoming weak and shallow. Without the enchantment to hold it back, the curse was hitting her harder and faster, feeling it full force and the pain she was in clear.
Tarn looked between the girl and the demon in bed with her, his eyes filled with pain and sorrow for the woman in his arms. Slowly he reached out and placed a hand on his assistant's shoulder. "Kusu… come with me." He whispered, pulling her towards the door.
As they left, the younger demon turned to the woman in his arms and brushed her hair away, holding her cheek and feeling her temperature continue to drop, her eyes only just still open, slowly focusing on his. "Sesshomaru?"
"I'm here Rin."
"I'm cold." She whispered, shivering.
Shifting to hold her closer and share his heat with her, Sesshomaru sighed. "I'm here. It's okay."
She blinked a few times then let out a slow breath, leaning her head into his shoulder, tears flowing down her face as she felt him hold her, felt his hands tremble as he held her. Sesshomaru tried to keep himself calm but his own tears were falling down his cheeks and into her hair as he listened. Then, after a few minutes, her breath came to a slow and gradual end.
He let out a deep breath and let her go, looking down into her face but she was still and her eyes closed as if asleep. He blinked the tears away, leaning down and kissing her forehead, whispering some words to her and himself.
After a moment to say his goodbyes, he wiped his eyes and looked towards the door to call Kusu and Tarn back in but then gasped when he saw the creature floating before him.
As soon as he saw it, the beast charged at him, mouth wide and filled with sharp teeth, a loud hissing filling the air as it did. He raised one arm to protect himself from its teeth and the other covered Rin. It was upon him and he could feel the pricks of teeth on his arm as the fangs began to sink in.