He had promised her once that whenever she needed him she need only call his name. No matter the distance between them, he would find his way to her and remove any fear, sadness, or pain. But she hesitated to use such a power over him. It seemed wrong somehow, to call him to her like a pet. He was the Lord of the West, boundless and free. So even though she knew he would come to her without delay, she resisted calling for him.
But there were times when she was unable to stop herself. Like the day when she fought with Kaede and ran from the village. She ran through the woods calling his name. In no time at all he appeared in front of her and her feet stopped in their tracks.
"Rin, what is the matter?" he asked. His brow drew into a frown as he surveyed her hunched shoulders and the tears running down her cheeks.
The moment he asked all of her concerns evaporated. What did they matter when he was at her side? She shook her head and wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, "It's nothing."
"Rin…" he challenged, his tone firm. He wouldn't allow her to squirm out of an explanation so easily.
She exhaled a weighted sigh and her shoulders fell, "I argued with Kaede. I'm sorry if I worried you."
He was quiet a moment, then said, "Shall I accompany you to the village?"
He had an odd way of phrasing his suggestions. He never issued orders, never made demands. It was always a question, a choice that was hers to make. She wondered sometimes if he was gauging her, testing whether she was ready to leave Kaede's village with him for good. But she had a feeling that even if she demanded to leave with him today he would answer in his firm and patient way, "Not yet".
She fell in step beside him, her fingertips brushing the buttery, soft silk of his long white sleeves. It felt good to be close to him again, to feel the awesome power of his presence next to hers. She never felt safer than when she was by his side, and from the moment she'd chosen to follow him those many years ago she'd never longed to be anywhere else.
It was her destiny, wasn't it, to follow him to the ends of the earth? Why else would they have met on that auspicious day so deep in the forest? Why else would he have come across her body and brought her soul back from the dead? They had been fated to meet, she and him, and she'd known it since that first day.
He drew to a stop at the edge of the village. Kaede had placed several wards around the borders of the village to ward off demons and while they wouldn't have stopped him, Sesshomaru respected their intent enough to not cross them unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Do you wish me to accompany you further?" he asked with a curious tilt of his head. She shook her head and exhaled a soft sigh.
"No, I'll be fine from here."
He acknowledged her decision with a soft "Hm".
"Thank you for coming," she said before stepping away from his side. "Having you here…it makes me feel stronger. Like I can face anything."
He nodded and a hint of a smile briefly crossed his lips, "Until next time, then."
Rin's smile brightened, "Will you return soon to visit me?"
"If that is what you wish," he answered, and she gave a jubilant victory dance before running off in the direction of Kaede's hut.
"Good-Bye, Lord Sesshomaru! See you soon!" she called to him with an excited wave of her hand.
He waited until she was at Kaede's door before leaving. By the time she turned to catch one last glimpse of him, he was gone.