"Simply Love Me"
Chapter 6
Kohaku
Sesshoumaru stared at Rin, realizing finally that he couldn't try to hide his feelings from her anymore. No matter how hard he tried, he would always end up with her, this innocent human girl who had changed his life so much. This was just too good to be true, she was here, sweet as ever, in his arms, her eyes full of trust and love for him. Nobody had ever made him feel like this before, like he could do anything he set his heart to. The feeling was so uplifting, he felt like a great weight had been taken off his chest.
"Rin, I-"
She put a finger on his lips, silencing him. "You don't have to say anything. Your actions will say it all."
He nodded mutely, trailing his lean fingers down her delicate cheek, memorizing her lovely features. She closed her eyes, relishing his light touch, a serene smile appearing on her face. Sesshoumaru felt the heated rays of the afternoon sun on his head. He bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead, saying, "We'd better go, Rin. It is almost time for lunch."
Rin's eyes flew open and she nodded. "All right."
He released his hold on her and took her hand in his, directing her out of the water to the rocks where their clothes lay undisturbed. Rin blushed and winked at him when she saw his full naked form when he got out of the water.
"Are you uncomfortable around my nudity, Rin?"
"No, of course not. It was just a shock the first time. But now I'm used to it. You don't have to cover up around me, feel free to take it off anytime." She raked her eyes down his lean muscular body, smiling appreciatively. Who could not resist looking? He was so beautiful, with his finely sculptured face and fabulous body.
Sesshoumaru chuckled, pulling on his robes and tucking his sword back in the hilt. "Whatever have I done to you, Rin?"
"You've just made me a better woman," Rin smiled pleasantly. She peeled off the wet slip covering her body, shivering in the cold air. She felt the heated of his gaze on her and put on her kimono hurriedly. She tied her hair back, grinning.
"We really need to get you a cloak, Rin. You cannot go walking around like this. You will catch a cold for sure." Sesshoumaru came and wrapped his fluff around her, his eyes worried.
"You really worry too much about me, Sesshoumaru. I shall be fine."
"I insist. We will go to the village nearby and buy you one."
"Together?" Sesshoumaru had always preferred to go anywhere alone. This was a surprise to Rin.
"Yes. How else am I going to know what size you wear? I need to pick up Jaken also. I was planning to meet him there this morning, until I was preoccupied with more interesting business." His golden eyes glinted teasingly down at her and she blushed, knowing she was the culprit.
"Wow, this is the first time I get to go shopping with Lord Sesshoumaru! Can we fly, please?" Rin looked up at him excitedly. "I've always wanted to do it with you."
He came and gathered her up in his arms and leapt off the ground, flying high into the fluffy white clouds. The cool wind blew across her moist face and the ribbon in her hair came loose, releasing the dark strands to be blown freely by the wind. Rin cuddled close to Sesshoumaru and laid her head on his chest, listening to his strong steady heartbeat. She sighed in contentment, because it felt so perfect and right, being here with him like this. She never wanted it to end. She inhaled his masculine scent, a mixture of pine trees and a scent of his own. He smelled of the deep forests he so loved to roam in everyday.
As they sped over the green trees, a thought struck Rin. Sesshoumaru, he is like these trees. Strong, hard, and emotionless on the outside, yet through the tough bark, they are the ancients, deep and loving. They seem to do nothing but stand there, acres and acres of them, but they really help the enviorment by giving oxygen, life and us the one of the things we need to live. Maybe that was why he had such a bond with these ancient giants; maybe it was a connection to his past.
They neared the village and Sesshoumaru landed softly at the entrance. He let her down gently. Rin glanced at him and found his face emotionless again. Was this the cold face he showed to the world?
"Come, Rin." His voice was cold and distant now, and he walked ahead of her and she had to run to keep up with his long strides. They entered the bustling village just below the mountains. The shops and streets were filled with snow. People walked here and there, some looking in the shop windows looking for the merchandise. An old peddler woman was begging for a few gold coins. Sesshoumaru continued on to a shop with brightly lit windows. He opened the door for Rin and they stepped inside, surveying all the different colored fabrics and clothing available.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," the old shopkeeper exclaimed, "This is indeed an honor!"
"Rin needs a cloak, Yuuta," Sesshoumaru said to him sternly.
"Ah, yes! Of course, anything for someone close to Sesshoumaru-sama." He grinned widely and hurried to present some colorful fabrics for them. There were bolts of fine silk, furs and draperies in all the colors of the rainbow. Rin looked at them in awe, feeling each fabric carefully. She finally chose a pretty dark green bolt with orange chrysanthemums hand sewn on the bottom with sequins.
"We need one soon."
"Yes, my lord. I will get the seamstresses on it right away. Would you like us to deliver it or will you come get it from us?"
"I will come and get it. When will you be finished?"
"I think in a day or two."
"Thank you for your services. I will come by then." He handed the shopkeeper an obscene amount of gold and walked outside with Rin.
"Oh, look, Sesshoumaru, snow!"
It had started to snow adroitly outside, and Rin twirled around outside the shops, her expression full of joy and sunshine it tugged at Sesshoumaru's heart. He stood there, watching her lovely form dancing with the snowflakes, her nose upturned to the skies.
A door opened at a shop across the street and out walked a tall man in his early adulthood. He wore a ragged scarf around his neck and he was dressed in simple clothes. His hair was long and pulled into a tight ponytail. He had a light dusting of freckles on his nose and across his cheeks. Sesshoumaru glanced in his direction, sensing something familiar with him.
The man suddenly looked to where Sesshoumaru and Rin were standing, and started to gape at them openly. He strode towards them determinedly, stopping a few feet from away.
"Rin? Is that you?" The young man's eyes widened, taking in her appearance.
"Ko-Kohaku?" Rin's face lighted up even more and she gave a cry, clapping her hands in delight.
"Rin!" He ran up to her and swept her up in his arms, spinning her feet off the ground, laughing joyously. "It's really you!" He suddenly gave her a not so brotherly kiss sound on the mouth, rendering her and Sesshoumaru speechless. Rin went rigid in his arms, her eyes wide in shock. Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened at Kohaku's action and he bared his teeth at the embracing two.
Kohaku pulled her away from him a moment later, smiling down at her pale face. "How I've missed you all these years, Rin. Did you know that I thought of you everyday?"
"Y-you did?" Rin touched her lips absent mindedly, her hair disheveled from his fervent hold.
"Yes, and you've so much. You're still the beautiful little girl I knew back then. We have lots of catching up to do, Rin." He laid a warm hand on her cold cheek, his eyes sincere with his strong feelings for her. She smiled nervously at him and turned to Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru, you remember Kohaku, don't you?"
She ran up to Sesshoumaru and clasped his arm, leaning her head against him. Kohaku frowned at her slightly, confused. "Well, it is certainly nice to meet you again, Sesshoumaru-sama. How have you been all these years?" He bowed low and Sesshoumaru nodded stiffly at him.
"I have been well."
"That is good to hear. My sister speaks very highly of you, my lord."
"We have to go," Sesshoumaru said curtly. "I trust we shall see you tonight at the palace?"
"Oh," Kohaku looked a bit offended by his abruptness. "I'll be there. It was nice to meet you, and Rin too."
"Come, Rin." He pivoted around and walked away with Rin trailing after him, waving back at Kohaku.
She yelled back at him, "I'll see you tonight!"
Kohaku stood there in the middle of the streets, under the falling snow. I will win your heart, Rin, he thought. And nothing will stop me from it.
Chapter 6
Kohaku
Sesshoumaru stared at Rin, realizing finally that he couldn't try to hide his feelings from her anymore. No matter how hard he tried, he would always end up with her, this innocent human girl who had changed his life so much. This was just too good to be true, she was here, sweet as ever, in his arms, her eyes full of trust and love for him. Nobody had ever made him feel like this before, like he could do anything he set his heart to. The feeling was so uplifting, he felt like a great weight had been taken off his chest.
"Rin, I-"
She put a finger on his lips, silencing him. "You don't have to say anything. Your actions will say it all."
He nodded mutely, trailing his lean fingers down her delicate cheek, memorizing her lovely features. She closed her eyes, relishing his light touch, a serene smile appearing on her face. Sesshoumaru felt the heated rays of the afternoon sun on his head. He bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead, saying, "We'd better go, Rin. It is almost time for lunch."
Rin's eyes flew open and she nodded. "All right."
He released his hold on her and took her hand in his, directing her out of the water to the rocks where their clothes lay undisturbed. Rin blushed and winked at him when she saw his full naked form when he got out of the water.
"Are you uncomfortable around my nudity, Rin?"
"No, of course not. It was just a shock the first time. But now I'm used to it. You don't have to cover up around me, feel free to take it off anytime." She raked her eyes down his lean muscular body, smiling appreciatively. Who could not resist looking? He was so beautiful, with his finely sculptured face and fabulous body.
Sesshoumaru chuckled, pulling on his robes and tucking his sword back in the hilt. "Whatever have I done to you, Rin?"
"You've just made me a better woman," Rin smiled pleasantly. She peeled off the wet slip covering her body, shivering in the cold air. She felt the heated of his gaze on her and put on her kimono hurriedly. She tied her hair back, grinning.
"We really need to get you a cloak, Rin. You cannot go walking around like this. You will catch a cold for sure." Sesshoumaru came and wrapped his fluff around her, his eyes worried.
"You really worry too much about me, Sesshoumaru. I shall be fine."
"I insist. We will go to the village nearby and buy you one."
"Together?" Sesshoumaru had always preferred to go anywhere alone. This was a surprise to Rin.
"Yes. How else am I going to know what size you wear? I need to pick up Jaken also. I was planning to meet him there this morning, until I was preoccupied with more interesting business." His golden eyes glinted teasingly down at her and she blushed, knowing she was the culprit.
"Wow, this is the first time I get to go shopping with Lord Sesshoumaru! Can we fly, please?" Rin looked up at him excitedly. "I've always wanted to do it with you."
He came and gathered her up in his arms and leapt off the ground, flying high into the fluffy white clouds. The cool wind blew across her moist face and the ribbon in her hair came loose, releasing the dark strands to be blown freely by the wind. Rin cuddled close to Sesshoumaru and laid her head on his chest, listening to his strong steady heartbeat. She sighed in contentment, because it felt so perfect and right, being here with him like this. She never wanted it to end. She inhaled his masculine scent, a mixture of pine trees and a scent of his own. He smelled of the deep forests he so loved to roam in everyday.
As they sped over the green trees, a thought struck Rin. Sesshoumaru, he is like these trees. Strong, hard, and emotionless on the outside, yet through the tough bark, they are the ancients, deep and loving. They seem to do nothing but stand there, acres and acres of them, but they really help the enviorment by giving oxygen, life and us the one of the things we need to live. Maybe that was why he had such a bond with these ancient giants; maybe it was a connection to his past.
They neared the village and Sesshoumaru landed softly at the entrance. He let her down gently. Rin glanced at him and found his face emotionless again. Was this the cold face he showed to the world?
"Come, Rin." His voice was cold and distant now, and he walked ahead of her and she had to run to keep up with his long strides. They entered the bustling village just below the mountains. The shops and streets were filled with snow. People walked here and there, some looking in the shop windows looking for the merchandise. An old peddler woman was begging for a few gold coins. Sesshoumaru continued on to a shop with brightly lit windows. He opened the door for Rin and they stepped inside, surveying all the different colored fabrics and clothing available.
"Sesshoumaru-sama," the old shopkeeper exclaimed, "This is indeed an honor!"
"Rin needs a cloak, Yuuta," Sesshoumaru said to him sternly.
"Ah, yes! Of course, anything for someone close to Sesshoumaru-sama." He grinned widely and hurried to present some colorful fabrics for them. There were bolts of fine silk, furs and draperies in all the colors of the rainbow. Rin looked at them in awe, feeling each fabric carefully. She finally chose a pretty dark green bolt with orange chrysanthemums hand sewn on the bottom with sequins.
"We need one soon."
"Yes, my lord. I will get the seamstresses on it right away. Would you like us to deliver it or will you come get it from us?"
"I will come and get it. When will you be finished?"
"I think in a day or two."
"Thank you for your services. I will come by then." He handed the shopkeeper an obscene amount of gold and walked outside with Rin.
"Oh, look, Sesshoumaru, snow!"
It had started to snow adroitly outside, and Rin twirled around outside the shops, her expression full of joy and sunshine it tugged at Sesshoumaru's heart. He stood there, watching her lovely form dancing with the snowflakes, her nose upturned to the skies.
A door opened at a shop across the street and out walked a tall man in his early adulthood. He wore a ragged scarf around his neck and he was dressed in simple clothes. His hair was long and pulled into a tight ponytail. He had a light dusting of freckles on his nose and across his cheeks. Sesshoumaru glanced in his direction, sensing something familiar with him.
The man suddenly looked to where Sesshoumaru and Rin were standing, and started to gape at them openly. He strode towards them determinedly, stopping a few feet from away.
"Rin? Is that you?" The young man's eyes widened, taking in her appearance.
"Ko-Kohaku?" Rin's face lighted up even more and she gave a cry, clapping her hands in delight.
"Rin!" He ran up to her and swept her up in his arms, spinning her feet off the ground, laughing joyously. "It's really you!" He suddenly gave her a not so brotherly kiss sound on the mouth, rendering her and Sesshoumaru speechless. Rin went rigid in his arms, her eyes wide in shock. Sesshoumaru's eyes darkened at Kohaku's action and he bared his teeth at the embracing two.
Kohaku pulled her away from him a moment later, smiling down at her pale face. "How I've missed you all these years, Rin. Did you know that I thought of you everyday?"
"Y-you did?" Rin touched her lips absent mindedly, her hair disheveled from his fervent hold.
"Yes, and you've so much. You're still the beautiful little girl I knew back then. We have lots of catching up to do, Rin." He laid a warm hand on her cold cheek, his eyes sincere with his strong feelings for her. She smiled nervously at him and turned to Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru, you remember Kohaku, don't you?"
She ran up to Sesshoumaru and clasped his arm, leaning her head against him. Kohaku frowned at her slightly, confused. "Well, it is certainly nice to meet you again, Sesshoumaru-sama. How have you been all these years?" He bowed low and Sesshoumaru nodded stiffly at him.
"I have been well."
"That is good to hear. My sister speaks very highly of you, my lord."
"We have to go," Sesshoumaru said curtly. "I trust we shall see you tonight at the palace?"
"Oh," Kohaku looked a bit offended by his abruptness. "I'll be there. It was nice to meet you, and Rin too."
"Come, Rin." He pivoted around and walked away with Rin trailing after him, waving back at Kohaku.
She yelled back at him, "I'll see you tonight!"
Kohaku stood there in the middle of the streets, under the falling snow. I will win your heart, Rin, he thought. And nothing will stop me from it.
