Chapter 11: Past Meets Present

The rain drummed all around her in that pungent alleyway. Growing heavier by the second, as it filled the air with an orchestra of tinkering tones that marked their first encounter.

A melody that the astonished girl seemed completely oblivious to, as any awareness Rin had was stolen the moment she laid eyes on the beautiful being sitting amongst the forgotten trash. Still unable to believe the almost sinful juxtaposition that was laid out before her.

And yet, there he was.

Almost as if the shooting star really had granted her wish, since there was practically no other explanation for how such an alluringly mythical creature could have materialized exactly where the light that streaked across the sky had led her.

And truthfully, Rin didn't want to question it. Not after everything she had been through. Since finding him there already seemed too good to be true for a girl that was supposedly cursed to be alone.

Because, although the rain had washed away the remnants of her tears, the scars that had caused them were still as fresh as the day they were cast.

That's why, on shaking legs, Rin slowly made her way towards the angel in a trance.

But, upon closer inspection she noticed that something was off.

From where she was now, his long ivory hair appeared to be dyed at the tips. A splotchy red that continued to pool around him…

"His... his hair isn't dyed…" Her startled mind mouthed the words her lips could no longer say, "He's bleeding out!" Rin realized as a vicious tremble coursed through her once the severity of the situation hit.

But, by then the trembling wouldn't stop. Seizing her body as the colour cued traumatic memories she could barely suppress. Until the only thing she felt was the rain beating down against her. Paralleling the sensation of blood seeping through the floorboards to where she sat paralysed by fear in that dark cellar as the slaughter above her was left to her imagination. Only to find out later that the reality of it all was worse than anything she could have ever imagined. Since no number of sheets could cover up all that red.

And as that memory flashed before her eyes, Rin felt her world tilt. No longer able to support her weight as shallow breaths barely got enough oxygen into her lungs, Rin attempted to grab the closest wall for support. But, before her hand could even graze its surface her foot slip against a glass bottle. Effectively shattering the glass container, and causing the girl to fall into putrid runoff.

Shocking Rin enough to bring her back to reality. Lungs wheezing for air, as she caught her breath while her heart rate steadied.

That is until she clued into the sound of something stirring atop a certain heap of garbage no more than a couple yards away. Realizing much too late that all the ruckus she made had awoken him.

Her heart now clamoring in her chest most instinctually as she looked up to meet a pair of eyes no longer hidden behind magenta painted eyelids.

Causing the little breath she had left to catch in her throat the moment her mute brown eyes met his pale topaz ones in sheer wondrous awe.

But, before she was able to react the angel's entire face morphed almost faster than her human eyes could follow. Contorting so drastically that she wouldn't have been able to recognize him if she hadn't seen the change herself.

In a matter of seconds the beautiful pale amber eyes he had unveiled were encircled by a scarlet red, and the most feral sound she had ever heard in her life tore through the air. That, along with the sight of his transformation and bared fangs causing Rin to jolt backwards through the putrid water in fright as her back hit the wall she had failed to grab onto just moments ago.

The hairs on the back of her neck spiking, as she realized that he was what had made them tense up to begin with.

She had to run.

No other thoughts crossing her mind as her body tried to pull herself up the wall she was against. Shaking legs barley able to balance herself as they quivered uncontrollably, in order to get her out of her completely defenseless position.

But as she stared at him; unable to rip her eyes away from his contorted features, Rin saw something. A glimpse of something heavily guarded behind his feral eyes.

Something she recognized all too well, because she wore that same look every day.

A look that indicated that he too was covered in scars.

And as she stared back into his eyes, seeing the swirl of emotions within them, the previously paralyzing effect he had on her dissipated.

Since despite how he looked she was no longer afraid.

Because in his eyes she saw nothing to be afraid of.

So, instead of running back to civilization as fast as she could. Rin walked forward, towards the undeniable predator before her. Determined to save him, even if he might not be the angel she though he was. Because he needed her help, and she refused to stand by and let anyone else die in front of her. Not when she could make a difference this time and save him.

Thus, as the girl walked towards him, Sesshomaru's yellow orbs stared at her in bewilderment. His hostility melting as the red dissipated from his sclera in shock.

He had hadn't realized there was something else in the presumably deserted alley Tensaiga had dropped him in. Waking up completely when the creature had made its racket. So, as soon as he had pieced that together he had tried to scare it off. Since, as heavily wounded as he was, he wouldn't have been able fight off even so much as a low tier demon in his current condition.

Not realizing that it had only been a tiny human no larger than five-foot something. Though, as pathetic as it was, considering that almost anything was a threat to him. Even a human as weak as this one was a potential risk.

That's why, when the bug had scurried away from him in fright, Sesshomaru thought he had succeeded in scaring it off. Thinking that he would be able relax and attempt to mend his wounds in peace.

But instead, he was almost completely taken aback when it didn't.

Because, instead of running off, the human started walking towards him with an odd look in its eyes.

And so, Sesshomaru got ready to engage it in combat. Raising his hand in order to summon a poison whip since it wouldn't run. But, instantly regretting it as the minuscule action caused a wave of pain to course through him.

"Damn it." Sesshomaru cursed, reaching his hand to where the pain had flared up the most, and seeing that his entire palm was now drenched in blood.

He was bleeding out, and at this rate he was quite certain it would be fatal if he didn't do something about it soon. But, just as he was starting to understand the peril he was in, another wave of pain coursed through him. This time making his head rollback as his vision doubled.

Then suddenly a cacophony of splashes were made as, he could only assume, the human ran to him. Kneeling on the trash beside him, and successfully invading his personal space as the female stated stripping. Taking off its brown jacket to reveal a tight white camisole that quickly turned see through as the heaving rain hit it.

"What is this insect doing?!" He thought, as a horrific feeling arose within him. Making the demon unable to react sufficiently as the effect of either the extensive amount of blood he had lost at this point, or the questionable activity the human girl in front of him was displaying caught him off guard. Because, the next thing he knew, the human had taken the opportunity to snake her arms around him. Causing a flash of red to start manifesting in his eyes as his disgust swelled, fueled by his absolute hatred of humans.

Baring his fangs to the girl again, Sesshomaru got ready to lacerate her windpipe

That is, until he caught a glimpse of her face.

The girl was biting her lower lip, trembling as the arms she snaked around him tied her brown jacket around the wound. Looking at his injury with pleadingly desperate eyes that mystified him.

"I don't understand… what is she doing?" Sesshomaru thought all over again. Already feeling his eyelids growing heavy, as the pain overwhelmed his senses now that the adrenaline from earlier was seeping out of his bloodstream.

There was nothing he could do anymore, other than succumb to the darkness that beckoned to him once more. But, with that came complete unawareness. Meaning, the blood loss would more than likely finish him off as the rain would hinder his body's attempt to repair itself.

And with that in mind, even though he had nothing to lose, what he did next surprised him.

He spoke.

"Your efforts are wasted." He stated, as the lowly human continued to invade his personal space. Almost as if she knew he could do nothing about it. Applying pressure to his wound as her jacket was tied around it in an attempt to make up for the absence of proper bandaging.

Was she deaf? How could she not understand? His blood was already soaking through the fabric she had wrapped around him.

"My death does not concern yo-"

His half-finished sentence immediately prompting the girl's head to almost bash against his nose before he jerked back. Shocked by how close she was to him, as she looked into his eyes with an expression of complete terror.

A look he should have been all too familiar with. If not for the fact that this one was entirely different. Because she wasn't afraid of him… It was as if she feared…

"Oh." The demon thought, as understanding dawned on him. "She intends to save me." Sesshomaru stated, repeating the foreign words in his mind as he realized the girl didn't fear him, but instead feared for him.

What an odd human.

It… didn't want him to die.

And so, before the darkness descended he almost wanted to tell her that she would have to get them out of the rain if she really wanted to save his life. Though, she would have to it herself. Which would probably be impossible for such a tiny human like her.

But, the words didn't escape his lips as he was already too far-gone. His fate now up to the gods.

"Or more accurately a human girl." He thought ironically. Holding no hope that he would wake up again, as the Tensaiga saving him was already a miracle in itself.

Though a small part of him, that would only admit such mortifying thoughts now that he was about to embark on his journey to hell, started to reflect. Because, although he hadn't died in battle, or achieved anything he thought he was supposed to…

"It's almost peaceful knowing this girl wanted to save me." He thought, as he remembered the look on the human's face when he stated he would more than likely die here. "I don't think anyone has ever looked at me like that before." Sesshomaru realized, finally understanding why it had taken him so long to grasp the human's intent to save him to begin with.

It was because he had never known what compassion looked like until now.

AN- (WARNING): I am probably going to end up editing the shit out of this chapter eventually x ! Should be good enough for now though ;)