Disclaimer: Don't own.

… but it is on my wish list…

He slid the door to Rin's room open to find the miko tending to her. All eyes rested on him as he stepped over the threshold into the dark room. "Sesshoumaru-sama?" He heard his ward call out to him for the third time that night.

" Rin . . ." he uttered her name softly for the first time in months. In doing so, he had finally accepted the fact that Rin was leaving him, no matter what he did. He turned to Kagome, before speaking. "Miko, leave us. This Sesshoumaru will tend to her." He could see the indecision in her eyes, before Rin placed a small hand over the miko's. Kagome smiled sadly at her, before turning to Sesshoumaru, and giving him a small nod. He waited patiently while the miko gathered her things, and left. The shouji door slid closed with a click that resounded with such finality, that Sesshoumaru had to take a minute to regain his composure. He peered around the room. There were two lanterns that lit the room. One on a small writing desk opposite the futon, and another hung to the right beside the door. Finally his gaze rested upon the lithe form that was sprawled across the futon. She reeked of illness. Her robe clung to her, and her skin was deathly pale. There was a light sheen of sweat that covered her skin. Her wet ebony tresses clung to her temples.

"Sesshoumaru-sama . . ." she murmured before trying to pull herself to a sitting position. He was immediately by her side. She clutched at his forearms as she tried to catch her breath. "Rin, be still. You are not well."

She slipped her arms around his waist, and buried her face in his chest. "It's ok, Sesshoumaru-sama. I know that I'm dying. You need not worry about me. I have died before my lord. Death is not a new experience."

He knew that she was trying to comfort him, but instead her words evoked a feeling of guilt and loss deep within him. " Rin . . . this Sesshou . . . I apologize for my inability to save you. You are my ward, yet I am unable to save you from a mere disease." He said the last two words with such bitterness, that he felt Rin squeeze his waist gently trying to comfort him.

" I know my lord has done everything in his power to save me. If the fates have decided it is my time to leave, then I shall step down gracefully. The only thing that I shall truly regret is leaving my lord," Rin whispered as she smoothly stroked the silver hair that rested upon his back.

" The fates are cruel."

" No, my lord they are not. They spared me, when my village was attacked by bandits. They sent the ookami to take my life, only to allow me to be born again by your hands. They allowed me to meet you, and to be with you, and for that I am truly grateful. I was saved by your hands, and I would gladly die now in your arms. The only thing I hope for is that my lord will keep a memory of me inside a small corner of his benevolent heart, and touch upon it from time to time, and remember his Rin. His Rin, who loved him dearly with every living fiber of her being," her voice started to crack as she uttered the last sentence.

He could now smell the tears as they rolled down her delicate face. He felt the wetness forming on his haori, but none of it mattered. All that mattered at to him at this point was having Rin in arms. He closed his arms around her, and pulled her as tightly against him as possible, without causing her any discomfort.

" Rin, tell me, do you have any unfinished business? Any unfulfilled wishes? Anything at all, name it, and it shall be done."

" Anything my lord?"

" Hai, anything Rin. Just ask, and it will be done. Anything you want, and it will be yours." He felt Rin pushing at his chest, and he released her. She pulled back, and looked up at him. He could still see the tears shining in her eyes. She brought a hand to his face, and caressed it gently, lovingly. He could see the indecision in her eyes. Whatever it was that she wished to say, would surely be her deepest desire. She smiled a small sad smile, before making up her mind, and speaking.

" The only thing that I want, my lord, is to be yours."

" Mine?" One of Sesshoumaru's elegant eyebrows arched, before he could stop himself.

" Hai, my lord. Yours."

" But Rin, you are already mine. You have been mine, since the moment you took your first breath a second time."

" No, my lord. I am not yours. Though you have claimed me in words, you have yet to claim me in person. Therefore, I am not yours."

He could see the longing in her eyes, and he knew what she was trying to say. He had known from the moment she first spoke. Actually, he had known for a long time. Since her illness had begun, she had looked at him with the same deep longing in her eyes. He knew she had wanted to be his for a long time, but until her illness had surfaced, he had never really given it any real thought. Now, it was time. He would either crush what was left of her spirit, or elate her with his decision. He was unsure which it would be.

" You wish to be mine Rin?" He questioned lightly, wanting to make sure that there was no misunderstanding between the two of them.

" Hai, my lord. I wish to be yours. If only for one night, I want to be yours, if you would allow it."

He peered down at her. There was no longer any trace of the small urchin that he had experimented with the Tensaiga upon. The years had melted away all her adolescent features, and left her a refined, and beautiful woman. His beautiful woman. He had made up his mind.

" I would allow it."

He saw her face light up with a smile as she waited for him to make the next move. This would be the first, and last time he would ever have her. He would take his time. The world could wait while he had his fill of Rin. He tenderly stroked her hair, before pulling her towards him. He leaned over, and placed a chaste kiss upon her parched lips. He felt her shiver from the soft contact. He lapped at her lips with his tongue, moistening them, before he captured them in a searing kiss. He felt her snake her arms around his neck, and locked them at the base of his head.

With a small purr resonating from his chest, he pulled her tightly against him. Chest to chest, body to body, lips to lips, heart to heart. There wasn't a sliver of space between them. He poured his soul into the kiss. Tonight, there would only be him, and her. One male, one female, celebrating the love that they shared. For this one night, nothing else would matter.

Sniff

WAHHHHHHHH!

It's sooo sad!

Review…

… and if I have enough…

… I'll add a lemon…

Mwaahahahahaha!

queenofhearts14 grows horns