"Sesshomaru's reaction"

Rin knew that such acts would be punishable by death to the servants. Why should she be any different? It was true she loved Sesshomaru more than anyone or thing, but she doubted he felt the same. I have deserved whatever act of punishment he sees fit, she told herself courageously though still wild with fright. After an hour or so of sitting in the shadows, silently crying to herself, Rin dozed off.

She awoke with a startle as she heard the soft yet heavy footsteps of her master coming down the hall. She was just about ready to jump out and greet him when she remembered her reason for being in the closet. The sound of the bedroom door broke into her thoughts.

"Rin?" Sesshomaru's voice called out to her. Though it may have seemed that there was always coldness or anger in the youkai's voice, Rin could tell the difference. It was obvious that he knew of the day's mishaps.

Never not answering Sesshomaru's calls before, the young girl climbed from out of the closet despite her attempt to hide. Not being able to look him in the eyes, she stared down at her toes. "Hai, Sesshomaru-sama?" she did a slight bow.

"What were you doing the closet?" he asked her.

'Why must he torture me by dragging this out?' she thought to herself, but replied, "I...I dropped a barrette and was looking for it..."

Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow, showing that in no way did he believe her lie. "So you're saying that you missed dinner and your evening lesson with Jaken because you were searching for a barrette?" 'Why is she lying to me,' Sesshomaru thought puzzled, 'This isn't like her.' "One more chance Rin, what were you doing?

Rin collapsed to her knees as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru. I didn't mean to invade your privacy or break the figurine. P-please don't kill me. I'll leave the mansion if that's what you want," she sobbed.

Sesshomaru was taken aback by Rin's last statements. He'd expected the tears (humans cried so easily, especially the girls), but the idea that he'd kill her? It never entered his mind, and it angered him a little more that she, of all people, thought such lowly of him. It was just a figurine; he could get another one easily. His original was to come in here, yell at her a little for going into his room, and then forbid her to leave her room until the following evening as a punishment. This reaction from Rin kind of changed things though.

"Rin, come here- closer," he said to the trembling girl.

Hesitantly, Rin stepped within arms length of Sesshomaru. She closed her eyes shut as he lifted his hand and brought it to her chin, tilting it up slightly.

"Look at me," he commanded but as soon as he saw the sadness in her eyes(from letting him down by going into his room and from fear of the punishment), he wished he hadn't. Something inside Sesshomaru stirred as he felt her fear towards him. He knew she'd never really feared him before so this was a first.

Unable to take it any longer, he let go of her and turned to leave her room. "You are not to leave the room until I say so," he told her on his way out, "hmph! Even if I had the desire to kill you, the Tenseiga only brings back the dead and slays the living dead, remember?"

Rin watched with confusion and relief as Sesshomaru left. He wasn't going to kill her after all, but still why did he make that remark? She knew he had other swords, plus his poison claws could prove to be very lethal. She thought back to when their eyes met. There was the normal coldness visible in his, but a flicker of something else maybe...or something stronger...like...No way, she shook the idea out of her head knowing how crazy it would be for Sesshomaru to actually share her feelings.

In a much happier mood, she began to sing a song from her childhood, waiting until Lord Sesshomaru came back to get her:

Nama no naka

Mori no naka

Kaze no naka

Yume no naka

Sesshomaru-sama doko ni iru

Jaken-sama wo shita naete

Watashi wa hitori de machimashou

Sesshomaru-sama omodori wo