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AN: Thank you for all the reviews! This is kinda short since I'm suffering from senioritis and really want to finish a drawing.
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Fluffy's twin: You are welcome! Kagura is a wench!
Fractured blue: Thank you for your lovely comment, and it is true Inuyasha has no character development when it comes to this lovely couple… I wish they put in more… And thanks for adding my story to your fav list!
Smilez4ever: indeed I made our favorite demon so very evil… (Insert extremely evil laugh here). Thank you again for the review!
Jerseygrl246: ah you reviewed again! (dances) thank you for the comment!
AttackingHentaiChibisLoveFluff: thank you for the tears of joy… there shall be more fluff to come (another evil laugh inserted here)
And everyone else, I am thank you to the ends of the earth for reviewing once again!
On with the story!
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Morning dawned too early for Rin though she slept soundly, she had not slept enough. A gentle hand touched her shoulder and instantly fire spread through her veins, chocolate brown eyes flashing open.
"Rin it's time to awaken." The dulcet tones of Sesshoumaru's voice flitted around her dulled brain.
Sitting up she yawned and muttered "Ohayo"
Sesshoumaru was already gone, leaving Jaken to stare oddly at her…
"Why is your face red, child?"
Rin blinked a few times "W-what?"
"You're 'blushing' aren't you." Jaken said the word a little foreign to his tongue.
"I am not! It's just a very warm morning." She replied hastily, her red cheeks burning an even deeper crimson.
Jaken turned back to his basket where a few wild onions and two dead hares lay within.
"There will be rabbit stew in a few hours, you should go out with Sesshoumaru, I've asked him to go pick some berries."
Rin's mouth fell open "Sesshoumaru-sama picking berries like some forest maiden!"
"Indeed, he is very fond of them. And since it is such a warm morning as you said. It would be nice if the two of you went out together."
Rin eyed Jaken warily "But Sesshoumaru-sama is already gone"
"No he is not, he is by the creek waiting for you to come. Here take this." Jaken handed her a basket and Rin hurried off clumsy donning her sandals.
"I'm sorry!" she cried when she found the full demon basking in the warm sun. His eyes were closed and sitting there he seemed like an angel that had come to rest for a brief moment.
"No need, it is a beautiful day" he said pleasantly standing.
He was in a very good mood today, his expressionless face brighter. Rin wondered what had happened to him in the scant hours she had been asleep…
"You are going to hold the basket my dear, I will pick the berries" Sesshoumaru said in a very businesslike tone.
Rin blinked "W-why?"
Stupid question…
"That's fine" she corrected quickly before he could open his mouth to reply.
He seemed unruffled by her slip; Rin knew that he was a little sore when it came to missing his arm. But she respected him the same even if he had one, besides it enhanced his mystery… His allure…
She shook her head to brush the thoughts away, walking about three feet behind Sesshoumaru. Rin really didn't want to get too close, he might do something irrational like last night…
Stop thinking about it! The sensible part of her brain cried, while her other half was swooning because he had such a perfect behind.
Now swirly eyed- she stumbled behind Sesshoumaru making little strangled noises because she couldn't breathe. He turned his hair whipping around him to see that Rin had developed a noticeable twitch and was at least five or six feet behind him.
Mortal women where the oddest creatures on this earth, with a sigh he walked over and placed both hands on her shoulders.
"Ahhh… Sesshoumaru-sama is that you?" she cried in a dazed fashion.
"Indeed it is." He replied calmly
"If you don't snap out of that haze I am going to kiss you." He stated a moment later, tipping her chin slightly to the side.
That seemed to wake Rin up somewhat, her eyes returned to normal and she had gone very, very still.
"I-I'm fine now" she said.
He let go of her "Is it the heat that is making you so silly?" he purred
Rin nodded quickly.
"Oh"
With that he turned and began to walk again, Rin was now fully aware of her surroundings. Her momentary lapse into the mindset of not caring if she bore Sesshoumaru's children was gone. Determined to overcome her silly attraction she had harbored since a young age, she ran up to the demon and walked beside him.
"Back to reality are we?"
"Yes, I think I'm a little feverish" she began as Sesshoumaru steered her north into the forest, following his keen sense of smell.
As they continued to walk in silence the forest began to grow thick, falling into shade, the scorching heat of the morning gave way to the relief of temperatures that were twenty degrees cooler. So Rin's excuse was gone, she just had to be more careful…
"Here we are" pushing back a bit of thick bush to reveal a small glade, a paths of warm sunlight illuminating thick glossy leaves of black raspberry bushes.
Rin stepped through first and plopped into the thick, healthy green grass. Sesshoumaru walked over and sat beside her,
"Judging from the sun it is almost afternoon, Jaken will have already cooked that delicious stew…"
Rin nodded not looking at him, she had lost her nerve again…
"What do you plan on doing with all this fruit?" she hastily began standing up and picking some raspberries.
"Making jelly, Jaken is a fine cook for a demon…"
"Jelly?" her brow rose turning to him with a look of shock.
"What has happened to the both of you?"
Sesshoumaru returned her look with one of his own "Why are you acting so childish? The jewel shards are of no interest to me, and my obsession with my father's sword has faded. It has been years since Naraku has been at the height of his power. And now his power, along with his life force weakens… There is nothing left of that old life, the world is nearly at peace again."
Rin had never heard him speak so candidly before, the berry that she held between her fingers popped, staining her fingers with dark juice. She couldn't believe her ears…
So many years of wandering, gazing into his eyes and seeing nothing but the soulless hunger that threatened to devour her; that lust of power that seemed insatiable…
And now it was over… everything was over…
But what was left now?