Rin slowly opened her eyes, awakened by the sound of someone calling her name and shaking her. She looked up, and as her vision cleared, Nanashi came into view. Rin coughed up a little bit of water. "Nanashi…is that…you?" she asked, still trying to catch her breath. "Rin, are you okay?" he asked, a slight hint of worry in his voice. Rin continued to shiver violently from the fierce, cold wind that was blowing and hitting her bare, wet skin that had been revealed when her yukata ripped. Nanashi took her into his arms and held her tightly.
"Did you…save me?" she asked curiously, her teeth still chattering a little. Nanashi gave no reply, knowing that she already knew what it would be. "Thank you, Nanashi," she said, nuzzling her head against his shoulder. He flinched a little, but kept holding onto her. "Do you think you can walk?" he asked. Rin tried to stand, but as soon as she did, her hands flew down and gripped her leg in pain, and she fell back into Nanashi's arms.
"I'm sorry…for being such a burden," Rin said. Nanashi smiled slightly and picked her up easily. "No, it's fine," he said, "But how did you end up falling? Was it your own stupidity?"
The expression on his face, although clearly showing rudeness and sarcasm, was only a cover-up. "What is this…feeling?" Nanashi asked himself, looking down into Rin's face, "It's like I have such a special connection with this girl, but…there's something…else."
"Nanashi?" Rin asked again, bringing him back to reality. "Yeah?" he asked. "I was attacked…by a demon," she said. "What?" he asked. "You asked what happened to me, and I was attacked by a demon," Rin replied. Nanashi ran his eyes up and down her slender form very quickly. "Doesn't look like it to me. It just looks like you fell out of your own foolishness," he replied. "Well, you are hurt," he said, scooping Rin up into his arms. He stood up, still gently cradling her in his arms.
"Thank you for helping me, Nanashi," she said. He looked down at her, an annoyed expression on his face. He opened his mouth to answer, but silenced himself quickly. He started with his long strides so that they would reach his home once again. Rin looked at the ground, and the speed that they passed over it was almost dizzying. As she stared, her eyes slowly closed, and she drifted off into a sleep-like state.
When Rin awoke, not knowing how long it had been, she realized that she was inside. She looked to the corner at the right of her and saw Nanashi sitting, leaning his head against the wall, and he too was asleep. The cuts and scrape on her body had been bandaged, including the large gash she had across her back. Her leg, even though it felt much better, was still very painful and she wasn't sure if it would carry weight.
She groaned a little, awakening Nanashi. She looked over at her, his expression showing thanks at first, but then it subsided into its usual, neutral self. "I see you're finally awake," he said blandly. Rin sat up a little and smiled slightly. "It's just a bad sprain. You'll be able to travel again in a few days," he said, a whisper of grimness in his voice. Rin crawled over to him, flinching a little as she moved on her injured leg. She leaned her head on his arm, and put hers around his shoulder.
Nanashi looked down at her, a very confused looked on his face. "I was so afraid…thank you so much for helping me. I thought I was a goner," she said. Nanashi blinked and slowly, almost reluctantly put an arm around her. "It was fine…nothing at all," he replied. He simply watched Rin for a moment until he felt a few tears wet his shirt. Rin's grip on him tightened, and she began to cry. "Rin what's…what's wrong?" he asked, wondering if he head offended her. "Nothing…everything's fine, Nanashi…all except for one thing," she said. "I'm never leaving you…my Sesshomaru-sama."
[A/N: OOOOOOOOOooooooooooooh…she pissed him off good…and just when in what getting deep, too. I love doing that to you, my faithful little reviewers. Now, quickly, hit the little 'submit review button and you'll get more!]