Chapter 5: First Moons meeting
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The journey of flight ended all too soon as Rin opened her eyes to see the ground rising up to meet them. Not far, she could hear the soft rush of falling water. They had returned to the waterfall.
Her feet touched solid ground and the warmth of her Sesshoumaru-sama left her when he released her hand and silently walked away. Rin glanced about. Everything seemed the same as before, the stream, the green grass, the waterfall a few paces away. Yes, everything seemed the same but...then...in a way....it didn't.
Shrugging, Rin smiled, ran to the stream's edge, then kneeled down on the bank, her knees resting on the sand. The misting spray from the crashing water tickled her face. Sighing happily, she peered down into the clear water, faintly making out her reflection in the dimming light.
She had always found it strange how the waterfall did not disturb and ripple the slowly moving current. No, the waterfall itself seem to merely tease the tiny river, making the Stream of Rainbows think it was falling to create the heavy splash only to slip easily through the water's surface. But the hundreds of rocks on the bank at the base of the waterfall fell privy to the splashing torent, sending the only echoing inkling of falling water in the form of mist and sound.
Rin stood and looked up to the sky, noting the last rays of the setting sun were turning the green leaves a rusty orange. The first star of the evening blinked proudly in the afterglow, twinkling brightly, begging to be wished upon. But Rin did not wish. No. Not yet.
Quietly, she turned to see what her Sesshoumaru-sama was doing. Again, like all the other times, he sat upon the rock, silently gazing upward to the sky, waiting, waiting for the Full Moon.
The Full Moon.
Rin sighed. Sunoo was suppose to see her tonight. Maybe he would find them here.
Maybe.
The waterfall itself seem to flow out of time with the rest of the world. This place felt...sacred. It was sacred to her Sesshoumaru-sama. It belonged to her Sesshoumaru-sama.
What if her protector did not want Sunno to be here? But, he had agreed to Sunoo's terms. He had agreed to allow Sunoo to court her. So she should have no fear that her Sesshoumaru-sama would interfere when Sunoo asked her to be his mate tonight.....Right?
A nevous lump formed in her stomach at the thought. Yes, it was tonight. Tonight was the first Full Moon of their courting and Sunoo was going to propose. He was going to ask her to be his mate for life. Rin delicately placed one hand over her stomach. Those butterflies were fluttering again, but this time her heart fluttered with them. What was she going to say? Honestly, she did not know. In truth, she had not considered what her answer would be, thinking her heart would lead the way. But...what if her heart....chose.....yes? Did she...love him?
Rin sat down on the cooling grass. She needed to think and....feel... some things out. Whenever Sunoo came near, those butterflies returned. Whenever she thought of him, her spirit felt as if it could fly. He made her feel so warm and....loved. She liked that sweet feeling. It warmed her heart, almost made her...whole.
Resting her cheeks in her palms, elbows on her knees, Rin gazed upward to her protector, his frigid demeanor unwavering as he looked skyward to the heavens and emerging starlight. The wind picked up slightly, playing with the tips of his hair while the gold in his eyes began to relfect the speckles of silver.
The darkness of night seemed to rush up to meet them only to hold back as the tip of the moon peeked out from the tops of the trees. Rin knew the moon was emerging, for she could see the silver moonlight enter the depths of his eyes, fading out the stars that had tried to shine before the moons dawn. The full moon was rising as the sun was setting. It was coming early tonight. Soon it's radiance would illuminate everything.
Everything.
Rin straightened and let out a small gasp. What if tonight there was a rainbow? A moons rainbow. It would appear in the stream of rainbows by the waterfall. If a rainbow colored it's way into the splashing spray, something magical was destined to happen.
Rin smiled and calmed. Maybe it would. Maybe Sunoo would find her just as the rainbow emerged. It would be so nice to see it with him. She had never seen one before but Jaken had spoken of seeing the magical hues. The toad youkai had once told her in confidence that Sesshoumaru-sama had entered the water under the moon's-rainbow and bathed beneath the color changing sparkles.
Again, she gazed up to her protector. For the first time in her life, Rin actually looked at his features. The crescent of blue graced his brow. Two fusia streaks lined each cheek, and a hint of red lined just above his dark lashes. The fur lightly danced on his right shoulder in the faint breeze, an elegant flourish to his regal pose. His silver hair darkened to a glowing greyish blue under the moons light as if bowing in humble shade to the greatest silver of all, the night's maiden.
"Rin."
Rin blinked out of her daze. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Why do you wish to stare at me?"
Heat flashed across her face. He had never asked that question before and it had caught her off guard. "I...I am sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama. Forgive me. I guess I didn't know that I was...staring."
The silver reflecting golden gaze lowered from it's current observation to fall on her. Rin swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very warm all over. Then he did the strangest thing. He titlted his head slightly to the side and spoke in the smoothest, warmest tone she had ever heard him use. A hint of curious wonder gracing his expression. "Are you waiting?"
Rin resisted the urge to place a hand over her heart which had now decided to beat loud, low, and hard. "W...waiting?"
He did not say anything else, merely watched her intently. For the first time ever, Rin became uncomfortable under his gaze. Why was he looking at her so intensly? Was he expecting an answer? Yes. Waiting. He must be asking about...Lord Sunoo. If she were waiting on Lord Sunoo or not.
Rin gave a slow nod, giving the only truthful answer she could while transfixed, locked to her Sesshoumaru-sama's gazing amber. "I...I am waiting...for him."
The reply fell from her lips, a stone cast upon the calm waters, a rippling disturbance to the spell of the moment cast upon them.
Her protector blinked once, the sudden warmth cooled, returning once again to it's former indifference only to chill to an icier shade of pale amber. The hint of emotion had vanished before he returned his gaze to the heavens above.
Rin frowned as she watched the inu youkai. Something had changed between them. She could feel it, an imbalance to the way they had been. This difference weathered between them like a silent storm. It played out in the delicate winds of change in their simple everyday harmony. They were growing...apart.
Rin stood and walked back the water's edge. She gazed upward to the cold and lonely moon. It now crested above the tree-line. The full moon in all its pale glory spread its light throughout the land. The bluish luminance iced the leaves, breathing life into the darkness.
A silent wind encircled her body as she looked to the base of the waterfall. She watched the spray in curiosity. Colors began to sparkle within the tiny droplets. First blue, then yellow, red, orange, green and purple. Rin gazed in wonderment at the brilliant display of twinkling hues. They wavered with the falling torent, a delicate and unstable purity of moons light and sacred water. It was the moon's rainbow.
Smiling, Rin made a simple wish. She wished Sunoo were here to see the beauty of this magic with her.
The moment her mind envisioned him, she heard his deep voice whisper close behind. "Rin, I am here."
A bolt of excitement struck her body but Rin contained the shock and turned completely around to see dark blue eyes. Darkened by the night or her, she did not know. Somewhere deep inside, she hoped his irises had darkened for only her.
Standing there in a glow of ivory, He smiled warmly. "The moons rainbow does not even compare to your beauty, fair Rin."
Sunoo kneeled, lowering his right knee to the ground. Resting his left hand on his left knee, he bowed his head slightly while lifting his right hand out to her. "I, Lord Sunoo of the Hakuchou, come before you, Rin, ward of The Great Lord of the Westernlands, to formally request your hand. I ask you sweet Rin..."
He looked up to her, his longing reflected with the silvery moon fathomed within the pools of darkened blue. "I am asking you to be my lifelong mate."
Rin smiled at the beautiful male kneeling before her, returning the warmth he so openly gave. She let her smile soften some as she gazed upon the sweet conviction in his features. Delicately, she reached out, a whisper of a touch to the star then falling to trace the tear streak down his cheek. He blinked once, his hand moving to find hers before she lowered it. She felt his fingers caress the back of her hand. Her heart slowed, a beat of contemplation and anticipation. A feeling moved within her. A familiar flutter evolved into a rich sensation of mutual longing and....undeniable....love.
Her heart had chosen.
"I....."
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Sorry haven't updated in so long. Got in another writing funk. Hope you all enjoyed the little cliffy. Ha! I know, evil authoress.
Review responses:
Yun Fei: I am trying to keep Sess in character as much as I can. Rin is older and has been with him a long time. He would be softer towards her. And now that someone else is trying to make her their mate, those conflicting feelings would effect him some.
Nini4
Happy Hippy
Liz Q.
GreenDragonSpirit
Wakadori Ramen
Joy chan
Orrie
Crimson Youkai Angel