Chapter 6: True to her heart?
____________________________________________________________
Last time on the courting of Rin: Her heart had chosen. "I...."
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Rin paused, frozen, gazing into the dark cobalt depths that were waiting in soft patience.
She did not know what had made her break eye contact, but she faltered, slowly looking up from the beautiful male, compelled by some unknown feeling, searching.
Her slow yet momentary search ended when her rising gaze locked with a darkened amber. No longer was her Sesshoumaru-sama sitting on the rock but standing only a few paces away, watching her intently. He seemed to be....waiting.
Unaware, an emotion birthed within their locked gaze, something unearthly, bordering on ethereal. It took her by surprise, embracing, filling the void between them.
Rin held on. She held on to this...feeling, fascinated by the hint of something that she could feel but not entirely see. That hint shimered for only a moment then died, fading into golden ice. The fleeting sensation lasted for only a slow blink of an eye but it was enough to sway her reply.
She looked down to the swan youkai kneeling before her, his long sun kissed hair touched the dark green grass, wings spread apart and outward, their feathers trembling from the wind of the waterfall's spray. His features softened with emotion. Emotion so pure it almost took her breath away.
She smiled calmly, knowing her answer. "Lord Sunoo, I, Rin, ward of Sesshoumaru, Great Lord of the Westernlands, will decline your first spoken request on this first full moon of our courting."
The swan youkai wilted at her reply.
Rin gave him a warmer smile, reaching for him, lightly touching his cheek, tracing the line that ended in a teardrop at his jawline. "But you may ask me again, my love. You may ask me again the next full moon. I will await the morrows sunrise. I will await the chance to see you again."
If at all possible, the cobalt in his gaze darkened almost to a black indigo. He returned her warm smile, closing his eyes and leaning into her touch, resting his cheek in her palm. "Yes...my love. I will see you again on the morrow, my dearest, Rin."
Opening his eyes, he stood. Taking her right hand in his, he brought it to his lips, placing a small soft kiss on her palm. The simple act evoked a tingly sensation. In sweet wonder, she gazed up at him, the warm tingle flowing up her arm all the way to her heart. All thought stopped. All she could see or feel was his spirit, blazing with the inner light of his immortal soul. He was...beautiful. He bent down, his breath a whisper from the heated skin of her cheeks. Breathing caught, her heart....hesitated, anticipating. Soft warm lips brushed against her left cheek then alighted on her temple in a swift quick kiss.
Rin swallowed, making herself breathe as he released her hand, winked, then turned. His wings rustled in the movement, flattening against his back. Facing her protector, he bowed low, his voice, deep and smooth. "Lord Sesshoumaru, your ward has declined my first request."
Her Sesshoumaru-sama raised an elegant brow. "Indeed."
Sunoo straightened. "I will continue our courtship and will ask for her hand again on the next full moon."
The tall inu youkai sniffed indifferently. "Your persistence is noted."
A soft glow lightened around Sunoo as he turned to her once more with a small smile. "Till the morrow, Rin." The glow brightened in intensity till she could no longer make out his form. With a faint gust of wind, the sphere of light rose, ascending to the starlit sky.
Rin stared into the dark heavens, wondering how the pale moonlight had suddenly become so warm. Her gaze fell, descending from the eternal beauty of night, settling on the expressionless inu youkai standing a few paces away. His icy golden stare was fixed on her. Rin did not shiver at his gaze. Instead, she walked toward him, lifting the corners of her mouth, giving him a faint smile. Stopping directly in front of him, she waited. He broke eye contact and silently turned, walking into the forest.
Sighing deeply, Rin followed, her heart heavy with longing for Sunoo. But for the first time since the courting began, she yearned for something else along with it, a need for something she could not explain. It was somewhat confusing. Hopefully, some sleep might help her suffering spirit figure it out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After seeing Rin to her room, Sesshoumaru went to his. It was late and he wanted to get some rest. Before disrobing, he walked to his window and stared at the dark sky. Dawn would come all too soon. All too soon he would be here and Rin would welcome her love with open arms.
Detestation wound its way into his blood, a loathing bordering on hatred. How dare that...that... low youkai filth...touch his ward in such a way. How dare he stand so close to her small form. And how dare he...kiss her...his...Rin.
The dog demon paused, suddenly realizing what emotion had kindled its way into his heart. He growled low, a new, yet familiar anger welling up. The anger seethed, rising, making him tremble. No. He was not his father. He would never, never...take...a...human as his... ...mate. He would never lower himself to that disgusting notion. Rin was his ward, his human ward. If the swan lord wanted a lowly human as a mate then that was the hakuchou's affair. Soon he would never be inconvenienced with her presense again. Soon he would never be bothered by her sickingly sweet sentiments, her silly gestures, or her...ridiculous....angelic...smile.
The last image of Rin's beauty lingered in his mind.
The mounting rage in his blood diminished, draining out of his spirit.
No. He would never see her...smile...again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rin yawned while approaching her bed. It was so very late. She really needed some rest. Stopping by the bed, she began to untie her kimono. Setting the garment on the bed, she reached for her night robe. In mid reach, she paused, her fingers tingled. Curious, she drew her hand back, turning it over to look at her palm. A small pink blemish stained her skin. Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed. Her eyes widened at the sweet smell, a fragrance close to the fruity wiff of cherrys but with more of a dark sugary tinge.
Puzzled, she stared at the pinkish blotch on her skin. This is where Sunoo had kissed her, making her skin tingle. The strange sensation slowly ebbed away, but the delicate scent remained. Shrugging, Rin reached for her night robe, dressed, then slipped into her bed, smiling. Tomorrow was going to be another wonderful day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the darkness before the dawn, Sesshoumaru woke, opening his eyes. Something was wrong. He could sense it. Rising from his bed, he walked to the window. Looking out, he noticed the first rays of the rising sun. The land seemed peaceful, quiet.
Puzzled, he turned, strolling quietly to the door that separated Rin's room from his. He stoppped before the solid wooden door, listening.
A moment later, he heard Rin get out of bed, a few bare footfalls on the floor before they faltered. Her breathing caught, then began again, laboring in hard jerky exhales. She let out a whine which lowered to a moan.
Concerned, he reached to open the door, but stopped, listening. Directly, he heard a light thud as if Rin had fallen. Fearing for his ward, he grasped the handle. It did not budge. It was locked. Another low moan struck his sensitive ears, a moan that rose in pitch, cresting to a wail of pain.
He growled, gripped the handle, broke the lock, then pulled the door open.
Light, brighter than the sun, blasted forth, burning his vision, blinding him. He squinted, nearly closing his eyes at the searing intrusion, holding up his right arm in an attempt to shield his vision from the onslaught. The light burst forth, covering everything, raining sparkles thoughout the room. Some of the specs of stars fell on him, yet they did not burn.
He took an almost blind step forward. "Rin?!"
She did not answer.
The invading light faded somewhat, the sparkles melted out of existence. His full sight slowly returned, healing quickly. Details came into focus as the brightness lessened, receding to the center of the room. Lowering his arm, he blinked once, his vision clearing, diverting to the pulsating source of light a few paces away.
He froze, staring in shock. "No...Rin."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Ooooo, cliffy. ^_^.
Reveiw responses: Thank you so much for the reviews! love to hear
from ya!
Nini4
Yun Fei: looks can be deceiving. *winks*
YoukaiLover80
SANACHAN
aNiMePeRfEcT
kt
InuYaksa
Joy-chan
TheCat
GhostDragon
Lugia-mew
Tsume Yamagata: thanks for drawing my attention to that little detail. ^_^
Jabba1
Happy Hippi
Peace Angel
Dragon Faere
Goddess of the cheesburgers i