Chapter 30: Rain and Rivers

Kaori woke up and was given a quick kiss on the cheek before she was told the get dressed. Her "pillow" disappeared and was suddenly awakened when her head hit the floor.

"Huh? Sesshomaru?" Kaori asked, sitting up and rubbing her head.

"Clumsy girl," she heard him sigh before he left the hut. Kaori glared at the door before she got her clothes out. She was halfway through dressing when she heard someone open the door of the hut. Out of instinct, she grabbed her jewellery box and threw it at the intruder. It turned out to be her husband who glared at her as she box fell to the floor after impacting with his head.

"Sesshomaru, I am so sorry!" Kaori, dropping to the floor and picking up the jewellery that fell out.

"It was an instinct," he told her, helping with gathering the fallen jewellery. He didn't find her locket in any of the jewellery and wondered where it went. "Where is your locket?"

"I'm wearing it," Kaori said. She had a top on, but nothing on the bottom. Her eyes went wide and quickly finished dressing. Sesshomaru put the jewellery back in the box and into her backpack as she finished.

"Do you wish to go to the tree today?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Sure. It looks like a beautiful day, though I thought I heard yesterday it was supposed to rain today," Kaori said, putting her dirty clothes into her backpack. She brought a compact umbrella out just in case it started raining. She didn't want to bring the entire bag with her, so she zipped up the pockets and went outside.

A nice breeze blew by and Kaori took a deep breath of fresh air. She really hoped it wouldn't rain. Sesshomaru started walking towards the tree and Kaori followed almost immediately afterwards. They got to the tree and Sesshomaru leaped to a tree branch while Kaori stayed on the ground, looking up at the tree's beauty. Some snow lingered on some branches, but spring seemed to be arriving fairly quickly that year. A few blossoms were forming on the tree, but not as much as there would be in the spring. Or the day Sesshomaru proposed to her. She smiled up at him as he rested against the trunk of the tree on a branch. His arms were crossed in front of his chest with his eyes closed. His fluffy boa was flying in the wind, but not too much. Kaori felt a droplet on her arm and looked up. Surprisingly, dark clouds rolling in were ruining the sunny day. Kaori got the umbrella up in time for the downpour. Sesshomaru was nearly drowned by the sudden rush of water on him and saw Kaori was dry under an odd item.

"What is that?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Umbrella," Kaori told him.

"It keeps you dry, huh?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Yeah," Kaori said. A whip of lightning was seen in the distance and large boom of thunder. Kaori jumped at the thunder, but regained a calm pose lifting the umbrella over Sesshomaru head. "Let's head back."

Sesshomaru moved out of the protection of the umbrella and walked ahead. Kaori rolled her eyes. One of these days, his honour would get him in trouble. His hair was nearly sticking to his body while Kaori's feet were only getting wet.

They were crossing a river that was near the village, when Kaori looked up the river. She could have sworn she heard something crack. Sesshomaru also stopped and looked up the river. Another crack was heard, louder this time.

"I think something's going on up there," Kaori said.

"Nothing that concerns us," Sesshomaru said, continuing to walk. Kaori took one step and a huge crack was heard and her foot fell into a hole now in the bridge. She was shocked. It wasn't a bridge they were crossing on. It was a dam. And it was breaking!

Sesshomaru turned to find Kaori's foot stuck in the dam. He got her hand and helped her out of the hole. She thanked him, but her umbrella was lost into the river. She smiled until they both heard a long, loud crack and Kaori saw between them the dam was breaking. Her grip accidentally loosened and the dam broke. She fell into the water as Sesshomaru tried to catch her hand or arm. He failed to catch her and was about to go after her until the entire dam broke, sending him into the strong current. He got to land almost immediately with his strength, but he was worried about Kaori. If she wasn't as strong as him, she most likely fall over the waterfall down the river or drown, neither he wanted.

As he finally found somewhere safe from the raging waters, he collapsed. Just fighting the current to get to land had taken a lot out of him. As his world went black, he silently knew Kaori wouldn't be fine.

Kaori tried to find the current, but she wasn't strong enough. She was being pushed down river until she felt a hand grab her wrist. She was nearly blacking out and as soon as she was laid on the ground, she blacked out. Her saviour's eyes went wide, but he carried her to his hut near the mountains. Poor girl was drenched and cold. The saviour laid her on furs and started a fire while her stripped her of her wet clothes and hung them out to dry. She wore odd under garments, but they were not wet, so he did not remove them. He just hoped the poor girl would survive. He wanted information of Sesshomaru when she awoke.