This is a light hearted drabble.
It is rated M for content that may be found in future chapters.
Disclaimer: I claim to own nothing. Do with that information what you will.
Freedom Fries - Chapter 28
Rin carefully tucked a piece of curled hair behind her ear before leaning forward to smell a tiger lily on the side of the path the two happened to be on. Dinner had been delicious and it had taken her quite a bit of will power to not shovel it down her throat. She had accomplished this task by watching Sesshomaru like a hawk and mimicking his movements. She had never been one to eat at anything fancier than a restaurant with paper napkins, so the desire not to embarrass herself had been quite high. But she had accomplished the task well.
The pair had then wandered around the downtown area before happening upon a park a few blocks from the Higurashi shrine. There they had simply walked around enjoying the view and each others presence.
"Sesshomaru-sama, did you know that the tiger lily is a symbol of pride and wealth? We had a handful of requests for them at work…" Rin said turning back to her companion with a smile to find him leaned against a tree seemingly deep in thought, his eyes trained on her. "Are you okay?" Rin asked abandoning her flower smelling adventure to check on his welfare.
The young man seemingly broke himself out of a trance before the side of his lip lifted ever so slightly in a smirk. "I'm fine, are you enjoying yourself?" He leaned forward his fingertips twisting the ends of her hair. And there it was, that faint rosy color he had come to adore bleeding softly into her cheeks.
The young girl nodded, smiling up at him as only she could before nervously wetting her bottom lip. "Very much…" She responded.
"Good then this would probably be the best time to ask you…" He said trailing off loving to look of interest that piqued in her eyes.
"You did want to come here to talk about something." Rin acknowledged seemingly remembering that little tidbit.
"Would you like to stay with Inuyasha and me on a more permanent basis when we move out?" He asked watching her carefully to gauge her reaction.
"More permanent?" She asked curiously, a happy grin threatening to consume her face.
"If you are interested of course… We would need housing and you would have to agree to share custody of Inuyasha with me." Sesshomaru said leading Rin out of the garden towards the Higurashi shrine. He carefully led her down the path to what he hoped would soon be their new living quarters, all on the guise of wandering aimlessly.
"I… I'm honored and nothing would make me happier… But why are you bringing it up now? I still have almost a full year until I'll be fifteen and a half…" Rin said curiously, an unwavering smile threatening to break her face in half. The duo continued down the lit path as Sesshomaru trained his eyes on the solar lamps quite pleased with the spacing he and Koga had finally agreed on.
"Kagome's father helped me find a bit of a loophole… If it works properly we could be out of the home in a few weeks… Right after my birthday…" Sesshomaru said coming to a stop in the clearing that held their hopefully would-be new home.
Rin's gaze never left him before her brows furrowed slightly. "But we would have to find a house too…" Rin replied before Sesshomaru gripped her shoulder and spun her around.
"I was hoping you would think this would do. For rent and utilities we just have to maintain the upkeep, it's Higurashi-san's bachelor home."
Rin's eyes widened as she looked to him then back to the house and then back to him to find he was holding out a pink key for her. "You… you're serious?" Rin asked her heart starting to race. "We can move in after your birthday?" Rin asked getting a nod of confirmation from the other teen. "Can… Can I look inside?" She asked almost in awe.
"It's your key Rin you are free to do with it whatever you wish. But I hope you approve. I am indebted to the wolf for much of the work on the inside. He is strangely handy." Sesshomaru replied his lips turning up in a smirk before he had to attempt to pull down his emotionless mask. The smell of salt water was beginning to burn his senses again and he attempted to quiet the confusion and onset panic of his inner youkai. He barely had any time to react before Rin had engulfed him in a big hug, her body pressed against his. Her lips danced upon his cheek before she pulled away the tears streaming down her face.
"Thank you… for everything… I'm going to look inside…" She muttered having not realized the liberties she had taken with her lips and Sesshomaru's person. She quickly jogged to the front door carefully pushing it open. Within a few seconds all Sesshomaru could hear were her sounds of glee. But even then he couldn't quite register it because he stood outside under the moon, red faced, and for once his heart was bare, even though no one was around to see it.
