Moonlight Silhouette

(refer to prologue for disclaimer, etc)

Chapter Three

I felt the eyes of the villagers on me as Miroku led us down a curving path. Since I was being led by the monk no one seemed too concerned though. I heard the cries of a few curious children rising from behind me; "Mommy, is that a dragon?" "Look at that demon mommy!".

But soon enough Miroku came to a halt in front of one of the larger wooden huts. I let go of Ah-Un and muttered a few words to him. "Could you help me?" I asked softly, breaking the swelling silence.

"Of course." He said and crossed behind me. I was sure I felt his hand graze my bare thigh as he walked by, but I thought nothing of it. I turned to help him get Lord Sesshoumaru down.

"All right there, Lady Rin?" He asked cheerfully as we each supported one side of Lord Sesshoumaru.

"I'm sure Lord Sesshoumaru would kill himself if he saw himself right now." I countered.

"Hmm." He walked through the curtain covering the door and into the small hut. With Miroku's help I got Sesshoumaru lying on a bamboo mat. Miroku brought blankets, water and bandages, then left to go find Lady Kagome.

"Sesshoumaru..." I murmered, smoothing the hair from his face. He stirred in his sleep but didn't wake. I began to peel off the old bandages and clean his wounds. They were healing much faster than a human's would, but not fast enough. There were still deep, nasty-looking gashes running all down his chest. I wiped away all the dried blood with the cloth. As I began to unroll the bandages I heard Lady Kagome's voice outside.

"Sesshoumaru's in there, Miroku? Are you serious?"

"I saw him, you'd better go in there Kagome." The curtains billowed and Kagome came bustling in.

She still had long dark hair that swirled around her waist, she looked much older though. Still beautiful. I remember wishing that one day I would be as lovely as Lady Kagome. The most noticable change in her appearance though was her stomach. She looked ready to burst with child.

"Rin!" She cried, "Oh, dear!" her eyes flicked up and down the length of my body, taking in the wide expanse of bare leg, to the torn and bloodstained kimono. I saw her eyes linger on my hair, still matted with blood, and the dirt on my face. Then she looked to Sesshoumaru, lying on the mat, and the pile of bandages.

I bowed, "Thank you for seeing me Lady Kagome." I said sweetly.

"Dear, you look a sight! Let me stay here with Sesshoumaru. Miroku will take you to Sango. She'll get you cleaned up." Lady Kagome kneeled next to Sesshoumaru and began to inspect his wounds. "How did this happen?" She asked, meeting my eyes.

"I don't know. I found him." I said, "Are you sure you'll be okay? I mean, what if he wakes up?" Lady Kagome laughed slightly.

"Don't worry about me Rin, I can handle it." She smiled reassuringly at me and almost all my worries disappeared as I followed Miroku out.

"Rin!" Lady Sango looked surprised, "You've grown!" She exclaimed. She took my hand, "Come on, we'll talk." She smiled gently and led me into the bath house. Sango was wearing a loose, white kimono, her hair fell down her back, long and wavy. Her face was the same as it had always been. The slightly narrow eyes, the full lips, the line of dark violet drawn across her upper eyelid, the porcelain skin, she still looked so familiar.

I eagerly shed my tattered kimono and enveloped myself in the hot, soapy water. Lady Sango sat on the edge of the tub with her feet dangling in the water. "How's Sesshoumaru? I mean, I now he's hurt now and all, but how has he been?" I remembered Sango being much more reserved than Lady Kagome. But now she seemed like a different person, cheerful and talkative.

"Pretty much the same as usual." I scrubbed at my hair, seeing the blood wash away into the large tub. "He wanders around, barely stopping to rest. It's as if he's looking for something. Only, I don't know what."

"Hmm. To me, Sesshoumaru always seemed like a...mystery. I didn't know much about him. He seemed so evil, but then there was a flash of, well, non-evilness, that sometimes showed." She gave me a sidelong glance, smiling, "When he was rescueing you, Rin."

"You think so?"

"Of course. Rin, Don't you know? I think Lord Sesshoumaru loves you more than anything on this earth. And I don't even think there is anything else on this earth that he loves. Maybe himself." She giggled. Seeing my look of doubt she continued, "How could you think otherwise?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Part of me wanted to tell Lady Sango all about my feelings for Sesshoumaru. I had thought that I would never tell another soul but there was something about Sango, I felt like she would understand. I hadn't had a a mother figure in my life since my own died. It was as if I had a pent up river of feelings that I wanted to let run free, as I never could with my Lord.

Sango was looking at me questioningly, "What is it Rin?" I swallowed.

"Sometimes-sometimes I wish Lord Sesshoumaru loved me." I said softly, staring into the depths of the foamy water. I heard a soft rustle as Sango stood. She began to comb through my hair with her fingers, untangling it. I felt tears spring to my eyes.

"It's alright, Rin." She said softly, "Everyone falls in love." She took the a strange bottle from next to the tub and squirted some sweet-smelling liquid into her hands, then began to work it into my hair.

"But not everyone falls in love with...someone so..unattainable." I sighed, leaning back. Sango was silent for a long time.

"Maybe he's not so unattainable. After all, both Inuyasha's father and Inuyasha had a thing for humans, why not Sesshoumaru?" She laughed. I smiled tentatively.

"I'd better get out soon." I said, "If Lord Sesshoumaru wakes and he sees where he is..Well, he wasn't too pleased with me for even suggesting that we come here." I said. Sango quickly rinsed my hair and gave me a kimono to wear. Then, she escorted me down the path to the hut where Lord Sesshoumaru was. She drew back the curtain and entered quietly with me behind her.

Lord Sesshoumaru was lying on the mat, still asleep. Lady Kagome was sitting next to him, reading something. He had clean bandages on and a peaceful expression on his face. Lady Kagome smiled up at us, slowly getting to her feet.

"I was going to try and wake him, but I lost my nerve." She said apolegetically. "I can only imagine how unhappy he would be. Why don't you try, Rin?" I nodded, a little bit afraid of what Lord Sesshoumaru would say. Or do.