Moonlight Silhouette
(for disclaimer, etc, see first chapter)
Thank you all SO much for your reviews! They're what's motivating me to keep making this fic better n.n
Chapter Four
I knelt next to Lord Sesshoumaru and smoothed his hair back from his face. Then I took a cloth and dipped it in the cold water. I was about to bring it to his brow when he stirred and muttered my name.
"I'm right here, my Lord. Please, wake up?' I said it a lot more timidly than I should have, but I saw his eyelids slowly begin to raise and then he took in his surroundings.
"Where have you taken me?" He said icily. I turned and saw Lady Kagome and Sango backing out of the hut.
"It's alright my Lord." I said,"We can leave as soon as you are well." He struggled to get up but then slumped back over. "Please don't be angry with me." I said softly, almost pleading. He didn't respond for a long time. I felt the silence fill the hut, thrumming against the walls. Finally he spoke.
"I am no measly human, Rin. I can heal without the help of these people." He spoke firmly but I could hear the tiniest hint of doubt in his voice. I gently drew back one of the bandages, exposing one of the deep gashes.
"Have you seen these wounds my Lord?" My voice was edged with frustration. "Can't you just admit it, just this once, that you need help!" I saw his golden eyes widen slightly. He stared at me coolly for a moment.
"Don't talk to me like that Rin." He said stonily. Each word seemed to be punctuated with barely concealed anger. "I alone decide who will help me."
"Fine." I said, throwing down the cloth. "Then I won't." I stood and stalked out of the hut. He said nothing. I had no intention of actually leaving. No, I was not bold enough for that. But it seemed as if something had awakened in me when I told him how I really felt. I wanted to test these new boundaries, see if he really cared that much. See what I could get away with.
"What is it Rin?" Lady Kagome asked. I turned to her and Lady Sango, feeling my cheeks grow warm.
"He is so annoying!" I cried, "Why can't he just be...normal!" Sango placed an arm around my shoulders.
"Calm yourself Rin. We all know Sesshoumaru's nature. You're going to have to be patient with him."
"I've been patient with him forever!" I cried, I knew I was being unreasonable, but I couldn't stop. It was as if a fiery beast inside me had found it's way free of it's shackles.
"He's been patient with you too Rin." Lady Kagome said gently. "And he needs you now."
I took a deep breath, harnessing this new creature roaring inside my head. "Right, Lady Kagome. I'll go back in." I said firmly.
"I'm sorry for being unreasonable Lord Sesshoumaru." I said gently. Then I knelt next to him and brushed my lips to his forehead. He looked slightly disconcerted as I leaned back.
"It's alright Rin." He said calmly. "But as soon as I am healed we are leaving."
"Of course, my Lord." I bowed my head. "I haven't seen Inuyasha yet." I added. I knew that Lord Sesshoumaru would never ask about his half-brother, but I also knew that he wanted to know. Lord Sessoumaru said nothing. "Are you hungry, my Lord?" I asked. "Thirsty?"
"No, Rin." He said.
"Well, can you tell me what happened?"
"No, Rin."
"Why not?" I felt some of the old frustration lace itself back into my voice; the beast stirring,
"Because it does not concern you." He said, as if that ended the matter.
"But I care about you! So it does!" I cried.
"Do you wish to start this again Rin?" He said evenly. I didn't respond. He held me in his gaze for a moment, then his molten gold eyes flashed away.
"Are you sure you're not thirsty, my Lord?" I muttered after a moment. I could feel the tension weighing in the air. There had never been tension like this before-it was like waiting for an attack.
"I'm not a feeble invalid. I'll tell you when I'm thirsty." He said coldly. I felt unbidden tears spring to my eyes. I hated it when he spoke to me like this. As if I was an object without feelings. I hated feeling this way also. As if my soul had been rubbed raw and everything I felt was a hundred times sharper.
"Please don't be angry my Lord." I said. I took his hand, and held it tightly. He arched an eyebrow.
"You are very sentimental today Rin." He said, but did not withdraw his hand. I didn't say anything. I just sat there, holding his hand. I thought about what Lady Kagome and Lady Sango had said, about Sesshoumaru's nature. And about what I had learned of him over the many years I had been with him.
"I'm sorry, Lord Sesshoumaru. For being so..for everything." I said, letting a tear fall. He looked at me clearly.
"It is alright Rin." He said, "Do not worry yours-" He was cut off as he began coughing. It was a terrible cough, dry, hacking and sputtering. I had never seen Lord Sesshoumaru act with such abandon before. He wrenched his hand from mine and clasped it over his mouth as his body heaved with the coughs. I helped him into a sitting position, feeling his warm skin beneath my hands.
When he finally stopped coughing, and withdrew his hand, I saw blood running down the slim fingers. He hastily wiped it away on a cloth, but I saw it.
"Lord Sesshoumaru! You've been poisoned!" I cried.
"It is nothing." He said hoarsely. But suddenly, his wounds made sense. He had been attacked with poison claws. But the only demon I knew with that ability was Lord Sesshoumaru himself.
"Just wait here, my Lord!" I cried, springing to my feet, "I'll go ask Lady Kagome for an antidote!"
For once, he didn't argue.
A/N: Hmm, not as long as I would have liked, but it felt like that was a good place to end it. Hope you enjoyed!
Next chapter: A certain half-dog demon makes an appearance, Rin discovers that some things are better left unsaid, and the tension kicks up another notch!