Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters.
AN: This is going to be a relatively short story, probably no more than 5 or 6 chapters. I'm still working on my other story but I can't continue until I get this one out of my mind. The characters are OOC.
Rin closed her eyes just as Sesshomaru sliced the demon in half. They had been walking when the snake-like demon popped up in back of Rin. She gasped and jumped out of the way as the tail flew over her shoulder. Afterwards Sesshomaru continued walking as if nothing had happened.
A little while later, Sesshomaru sniffed the air. Why did he still smell the demon that he had killed? It wasn't as strong as when it was alive nor was it the smell of it's dead corpse. It was almost like the snake demon had left a small yet distinct part of it's self behind. Sesshomaru stopped walking and turned to face the small toad and young girl walking behind him.
"Why have you stopped Master?" Jaken asked.
He ignored the toad and focused his cool gaze on Rin.
"W-w-what's wrong Lord Sesshomaru?" she stuttered.
"Where's the wound Rin? I can smell the poison."
Rin lowered her head and looked at the ground. Why did she even think that she could hide anything from him? She had never considered that he would be able to smell the poison. She knew she had been bitten from the moment it had happened. Just as the tail flew over her, Rin had felt a sharp prick on her shoulder. And since she knew that this particular snake demon poisoned its prey by injecting poison stingers from its tail into its victim it wasn't hard to guess what had happened. She hadn't wanted anyone to know but she was kind of glad the truth was out in the open. Her shoulder was throbbing painfully and she had gone cold all over.
"You stupid girl..."
"Jaken shut up." Sesshomaru said interrupting. "Continue on and make sure everything is ready for my return."
"Yes Master." Jaken said as he hurried off.
"Show me the wound."
Rin sat down next to a tree and turned her back to him to show him her shoulder. Sesshomaru inspected the wound. It was beginning to turn black as the poison spread. The fight had been quite some time ago so why hadn't Rin told him. He didn't care. Not really. But Rin belonged to him. Therefore he would decide whether she lived or died.
"Why didn't you mention this?"
Rin closed her eyes, but didn't say anything. She could never tell him. It would only reveal her darkest fear. That one day he'd realize how much of a nuisance she really was and leave her. Rin knew that she'd never survive if her left her, and she didn't mean physically survive. She had fallen in love with the great demon lord and try as she might, she couldn't stop. Unfortunately Rin knew that her love would never be reciprocated. Sesshomaru had made it clear how he felt about humans and demons being together. So she was content to love him from afar.
"Rin, I asked you a question."
"I don't know." she lied.
Sesshomaru knew she was lying, but he returned his attentions to the wound anyway. I'll get to the truth later, he thought.
"He left some stingers in. I'm going to take them out."
Rin gasped in pain as she felt him use one of his clawed fingers to dig out the stingers. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Being weak was another thing she knew Sesshomaru detested. Sesshomaru quickly got the stingers out.
This is distasteful and beneath me. Why am I doing it?
Because it's for Rin, came the simple yet complicated reply in his head.
He could smell the salt from her tears, yet she didn't cry out. Not for the first time Sesshomaru found himself listing the ways she was different from other humans. Her strength was definitely on the top of the list. But he had known that the moment she hadn't show any fear when she first saw him. Instead of running away, she had stay and tried to help him. Not that he needed it.
"It's done. Now I have to heal the wound."
Before she could say anything he unsheathed the Tenseiga and thrust it into the wound.
"Ahhh!!!!" she screamed.
As hard as she tried not to, Rin couldn't hold in her scream as the Tenseiga plunged into her skin. For a sword that didn't kill, it sure did hurt like he||. She closed her eyes and let herself fall against the tree.
"Rin are you okay?" Sesshomaru asked as he turned her to face him.
She stared at him with a blank expression. No she wasn't okay. In order to turn her to face him, he had to touch her. And at that moment, his touch was sending what felt like small jolts of electricity flowing through her body. She could feel her whole body flush. But what was really getting to her was the fact that, whether he knew it or not, his usual expressionless look was gone. Instead there was an expression she had never seen on him before. What was it? Concern? Lust? Or dare she even hope, love? Could her dream of him loving her finally be coming true? Rin knew that deep inside a small part of him cared for her. Why else would he protect her and keep her around? She was a human and he despised humans. The smaller flicker of hope that was always burning inside her soul began growing.
"Master."
From the way he looked at her, Rin knew he was shocked. It wouldn't have been noticeable to anyone else, but she had studied Sesshomaru for so long that she could detect any change in his expression, no matter how small. She knew that it was because she had called him master. In all the years she had been with him, she had never called him master like Jaken did instead she preferred to call him Lord Sesshomaru. But as she thought about it the title of master fit. He owned her, mind, body, and soul. Rin reached up and traced the stripes on his face with her fingertips. He was so beautiful and she loved everything about him. For a second she let herself picture him marking her. His golden eyes would look into hers and she'd see the undeniable love and passion that he felt for her. His silver hair would fall over his shoulders to rest on hers as he lowered his head to kiss her. He'd tell her he loved her and thread his fingers through hers just as.... Rin's thoughts were cut short when Sesshomaru swiped her hand away.
"Do not touch me human." he growled.
He stood up and walked away. The flicker of hope that Rin had quickly vanished. Despite the pain in her heart, she got up and followed behind him. Out the corner of his eye he noticed that she kept pressing the sleeve of her dress against her hand. It was at that moment that he smelt her blood and realized that he must have accidentally cut her when he pushed her hand away. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her, but Sesshomaru knew what that look she had given him meant. It was lust, pure and simple. Not only could he see it on her face, but he could smell it. Reluctantly admitting it to himself, coming from her it was a wonderfully intoxicating smell. That look she gave him mixed together with the smell was enough to make his body began to respond. He wanted to grab her and take her right then and there. Thankfully he regained his senses and put a stop to the thoughts both she and he were having. He was Sesshomaru and she was Rin. A demon lord and a human. Two beings that should never mix. No, it was foolish to even think about going down that road. Rin slowly walked behind Sesshomaru.
Stupid idiot, what where you thinking?
I wasn't. I'm sorry.
He's smart. It isn't going to be hard for him to figure out you have feelings for him. How do you think he's going to respond to that? He's going to leave you. The one thing you fought hard to keep from happening is going to happen. And it's all because you were too weak to control your feelings.
How am I going to stop it?
I don't know. You should have thought about that before you screwed up.
Rin was so deep in thought that she didn't notice a tree root sticking out of the ground. The next thing she knew she found herself sprawled on the ground in a very humiliating position. Sesshomaru didn't look back and for that she was grateful. He probably doesn't want a repeat of what happened earlier, she thought. Rin picked herself up and kept on walking. Neither said anything as they walked back to Sesshomaru's palace. Just as they stepped inside, he turned and looked at her.
"Lord Sesshomaru."
"Rin." he said at the same time.
"You first." she said lowering her head.
"I should have mentioned that there might be some pain when I used the Tenseiga on you."
Rin's head jerked up and she stared at him. She started to say something, but he stopped her.
"Have one of the servants look after that cut on your hand."
He looked at her for a second and then walked away. Rin stood glued to the spot. Was she imagining things or had Sesshomaru just apologized to her?
No, you're not imagining it. He apologized or at least what passes for an apology.
Rin made her way to her room at the other end of the palace. But as she walked, a smile slowly spread across her face. Today had been the most confusing, yet enlightening day of her life. Sesshomaru cared for her, of that she was reasonably certain. So if he had come to care for her then there was a possibility that he could love her. And to Rin's way of thinking, the only thing left to do was make him love her. Or at least die trying.