Moonlight Silhouette
disclaimer: see chap.1(epilogue)
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The sky was tinged violet by the time I got Lord Sesshoumaru back. With the help of Ah-Un I had gotten him onto the oni's back and taken him to the forest clearing.
I lay him on the soft grass and heard a soft moan escape his lips. My tears had dried up. Not out of despair, but instead I was now sure that he wouldn't die. After all how could he? In my eyes Lord Sesshoumaru was almost immortal. After all, he had given me life. He was my protector, wasn't he?
I covered him with a blanket after removing his armour. Then, taking a skin filled with water, I proceeded to clean the blood from his face, half hoping that the cool water would wake him up. He stirred slighty, but did not wake.
Finally, as the deep blanket of the sky began to twinkle with stars I lay next to him and fell asleep.
I woke up confused. The smell of blood seemed to surround me and I was cold. I turned onto my side and at once everything fell into place. I felt a crushing disapointment as I remembered that it hadn't been a dream. "Lord Sesshoumaru?" I whispered tentatively. But he didn't move. I sat up, pulling the blanket over my bare legs. What could have done this to him? His wounds looked like claws had been viciously ripped across his chest. I knew of no demon, or spectre in these parts that could inflict such a serious wound upon my lord.
"Rin.." He muttered, I could see his eyes shift under his lids. I laid my hand on his cheek gently.
"I am here, Sesshoumaru." I said softly. He stirred, eyes still closed. I bent over to brush my lips against his forehead, "I won't leave." I murmered.
"I'm sorry..." He muttered, "Rin?" And his eyelids raised slowly. His eyes looked bleary and for the first time, since the evening I met him, he looked weak. All his sleeping peacefulness was gone as he tried to move and gasped with pain. It pained me to watch him. He tried to shift on to his elbow but collapsed down, trying hard to conceal his pain beneath the usual mask.
But he didn't succeed. I saw the wince pass over his slim features. I wanted to reach out and take his hand, tell him he would be alright. But I felt as though that would only make him feel weaker. Instead I leaned back against the tree and said slowly, "What happened Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He looked closely at me for a moment or two. I could feel his intense gaze burning my face, but the sensation was mixed with another, something like...pleasure. After a searing moment he turned his eyes away and said nothing.
'Lord Sesshoumaru?" I said again.
"I do not have to tell you everything Rin." He said coldly. I pressed my lips together and tried to pretend that his words hadn't stung.
"As you wish, Lord Sesshoumaru." I said, reaching for a cloth and dipping it in the small bowl of water next to me. I gently slid the covers from his bare, heavily bandaged chest. I lifted the blood soaked bandages off and gingerly wiped off the dried blood. Sesshoumaru lay quietly while I tended to his wounds. Finally, when they were cean I lay the old bandages back on. I had now other ones, and my kimono certainly wouldn't be able to handle any more tearing.
"Sesshoumaru, I need to get you somewhere...A village." I said, "Can you smell any close by?"
"There's one, about an hour's journey from here," he said softly. "It's the village where...where my brother dwells.." He turned his face to me, "We are not going there."
"Please, Lord Sesshoumaru!" I cried, "We must!"
"Then you may go alone Rin." He said, "I will not enter the village."
"I'm not leaving you alone, my Lord." I said stubbornly, "Please, you must come to the village. Lady Kagome is kind, she will provide for us!"
"Rin, I know I am injured but that gives you no right to disregard what I say." He said hoarsely, then slumped back. His breathing was laboured and his hand flew to his chest. My eyes filled with tears, he looked so weak, so vulnerable.
"Yes, it does!" I said sharply, "Especially when you life is at stake!" His eyes widened in surprise and I called to Ah-Un. With the Oni's help we were soon sailing over the treetops. Lord Sesshoumaru didn't protest, but said only;
"You will be sorry that you disobeyed me Rin." Somehow, that was a lot more disheartening.
The village had changed since the days of Naraku. It was now full of cheer, and laughter. Lady Kagome had taken over the job as village priestess after Lady Kaede had decided that her heart wasn't up to task. And Inuyasha presided over the peaceful village.
Heads turned as Ah-Un touched down on the dusty roads. A couple mothers drew their children close to them and hurried away. But I disregarded that and leapt off Ah-Un, leading him to the main hut with Sesshoumaru slumped over his back. My Lord had somehow lost consciousness as we were flying. It was partly a relief. He would be utterly mortified if he had seen his brother in his injured state.
"Rin?" A questioning voice called me, I turned and found myself staring into the violet eyes of the monk, Miroku. I hadn't seen him since Naraku's defeat, he appeared more or less unchanged with perhaps the slightest hint of lines around his eyes.
"Houshi-sama!" I cried, "I need your help!"
"It would appear so." Miroku glanced down at my bare legs briefly, then back to my face, "What happened?" His eyes widened as he took in the sight of Sesshoumaru. "Is that-?"
I nodded vigorously, "He's been hurt. All I need is some clean bandages, and somewhere for him to lie. Please." I knew that the monk, as well as Inuyasha and Lady Kagome had no love for Sesshoumaru. In the end Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru worked together, though they tried hard to disguise it. I saw Miroku survey Lord Sesshoumaru calmly. Then he turned to me.
"Of course, Lady Rin. Follow me."
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hope you liked it n.n