Chapter 12: A Purpose That Seeds Emotion

When the angel had first spoken to her, Rin couldn't help but marvel at the soft timbre cords that traveled towards her ears. His voice captivating her as its rich baritones flowed into an intricate harmony; distracting her until the mention of a single word anchored her back to reality. Effectively morphing Rin's innocent wonder into the disturbingly familiar feeling that pooled within her chest the moment 'death' was mentioned.

Her eyes immediately seeking his, begging him to tell her what to do in order to help.

Since, she didn't know what else she could do. Rin had already tied the little material she had on hand around the worst of his injuries. Applying an even amount of pressure to the wound that was continuing to lose blood at an alarming rate. But, despite her best efforts that wasn't enough and as she realized that the eerie sensation of panic started to course through her trembling body.

Though, as she looked into his eyes pleading for some kind of direction, all she could see was a flicker of something soothing the sharped edges of his cold guarded glare. The texture within his irises changing from the thrashing waters, into an almost less frigid lull as they stared back into hers.

But, just like that, the moment ended sooner than it should have as his eyelids began to struggle against an invisible weight. Resulting in Rin reacting faster than her mind could register, as she quickly shifted from where she was in order to carefully catch the angel's head it in the crook of her neck.

"No!... No no no! He passed out! What do I do?!" Rin begged, knowing no one would hear her mind's voice, but still desperately calling out anyways. Eyes growing wider as the laboured breathing against her skin sent a shiver down her spine. Which, was only partially due to the man so entangled in her personal space, and instead mostly from his freezing face against her delicate neck. Shocking Rin into realizing that it wasn't just his skin, but really his entire body that was ice cold...

"He's lost too much blood!" Rin wanted to scream, as the little warmth he had left was progressively bleeding out of him faster than she had initially imagined.

Finally making her realize she had to get him out of the rain.

But, how?

How was she supposed to carry a man almost twice her size?

She didn't know what to do, she didn't have the time to go looking for help, and she clearly couldn't just sit there and think.

She had to do something. Now.

Because, if not, he was going to die… and she would end up losing yet another person because of how disgustingly weak she was.

And her heart wouldn't be able to bare that.

Not again. Not after having lost those it had cared for the most because of her cowardice. Leaving her riddled with regret, struggling only to simply exist for the past three years because she couldn't throw away the life her brothers had given theirs for.

Even though she no longer had anything tying her to it.

That is, until now…

Because now she had a purpose.

"I have to save him."

That's how Sesshomaru awoke to the sound of rain.

His eyes opening to an evening sky that hid behind a cloak of turbulent clouds through the poorly boarded up window beside him.

Rain trickling through its shattered panes, and hitting the cement flooring as a slow realization washed over him.

He was alive.

A notion that was almost too hard to believe since Sesshomaru more than expected to die amongst the pungent waste he remembered passing out in, as the chilling rain paired with the injuries he had sustained in battle threatened to drag him to hell.

Yet, instead, here he was. Alive and warm. Wrapped in a thin blanket with a cup of water set beside the pathetic sword that was still in his possession as the storming weather outside indicated he had somehow cheated death for a second time that day.

"Because…" He paused, as his gaze locked onto the human that sat just a few feet away.

Because of that human.

Because she saved him…

The dramatic contrast of his current situation making it clear that the girl must have gotten him out of the rain while he was unconscious. Since, rather than being in some miserable alleyway, he was now propped up against the wall of a building while the girl that had dragged him there slept soundlessly in a chair with her head placed over her scraped arms on the paper littered table in the corner of the room. Completely drenched.

Her mane sprawled all around her as the small droplets of water that clung to her glossy locks dripped onto the cement in slow beats.

Yet, the only thing covering her was the water clogged jacket she had used on him still evidently stained with his blood.

The entire scene before him finally soaking in, and making the demon turn away to look out the window again as he tried to analyze the mix of emotion starting to well up inside him until his focus was suddenly pulled away to the aching twinge at his ribs.

The pain accumulating significantly as he attempted to shift slightly, only to find that he was still unable to move. But, unlike before, the pain almost felt muted for some reason. So, weakly pulling the blanket that hid the worst of his injuries, Sesshomaru was almost taken aback when his eyes met the haphazardly bandaged bounds situated above his clothes that had taken the place of the gouged and ripped flesh he thought he would see.

And all of a sudden that mix of emotion he couldn't put a name to hit harder than it had before. The feeling having no way to express itself other than in the words he said next.

"What a stupid human." He whispered.

Because, at this rate she would be the one to die.

Apparently the girl had found the time to bandage his wounds, but couldn't be bothered to prioritize her own wellbeing as the scrapes on her arms were left unattended and she fell asleep soaking wet in a building with no warmth while the darkness descending would more than likely freeze her frail human flesh because she gave away the only blanket she had to a demon.

And he didn't understand why.

The insect could have just left him to die in that alley, and gone back to whatever slum it lived in. But, instead it tended for his wounds… and saved him.

Yet, why did it matter to her whether he lived or died?

He was certain this human didn't know him. And if she had he would have suspected ulterior motives were the reason. But, by how frightened she was in the alleyway when he had tried to scare her off the first time, he would bet his last arm that she had never seen a demon in her life.

This human wasn't part of his world. Not by a long shot. She had no spiritual power, and after seeing how clumsy and terrified the fawn was he could rule out any type of demon slayer.

So, Sesshomaru circled back to his question.

Why had the human saved him?

But, as he tried to search for an answer, his eyes were drawn back to the girl shivering in her sleep.

And with that the demon found himself in an internal struggle. A struggle that fought against the very principles of his being as a ridiculous though crossed his mind.

But, eventually the side he would never care to admit won by assuring the demon that he was only doing such things in order to repay his debt. As he outright refused to admit that the moment he looked into her eyes and saw them so full of concern for a demon that could snap her pathetic human neck with no guilt or reason replayed in his mind on a loop.

Because, no one had ever looked at him like that. No one.

He was used to humans, and demons alike looking at him in horror as they anticipated what would happen to them should they incur his wrath. Or, just as frequently, the look of jealous distain as they thought of the overwhelming power he possess that they could only wish to obtain.

But, not once had anyone looked at him with the emotions that this human wore.

And so, not wanting to dwell on it anymore, as he had already decided on his next course of action while reassuring himself that it was just because he hated feeling as if he had received anything from a being so clearly beneath him. Sesshomaru used what little demonic power he had left to manipulate the fur pelt he wore, ordering it to lift the blanket he was given until his extended pelt was able to drape the thin material over the sleeping girl's frame.

Because, he didn't need any more of her help.

Which is what he told himself, as he called his fur back before hesitating and moving it towards the cup that sat beside him instead. Knowing that there was no way the human had done anything malicious to its contents.

Not after everything she had done to save his life.

AN- You strangers on the internet are so sweet! Thank you for all the support (I really needed it hahaha), Reviews, Favourites, and Follows! I love my story, and I have SO many ideas swimming in my head that I just haven't gotten to yet. That's why I really appreciate all the interest and support, because I know it's a slow burn. But yeah :) I want to tell it my way!