Moonlight Silhouette
AN: I guess everyone knows which option's winning :) Now let's just get them there, hmm? And, sorry for the very late update, but I have had a disgustingly huge amount of work in the past few days.
Chapter 11
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The sky was alight with stars that night. More than I had ever seen. I attempted to count them all but kept losing my place. Finally I gave up and instead let my eyes slide to where Lord Sesshoumaru stood. Watching him under the stars brought me back to a night about a week ago. I shut my eyes, remembering the way he had held me. It could have been breathtakingly romantic really.
It was kind of a cycle. There would be some sort of problem, and then we'd end up back where we had started. In this case it seemed too literal. We started with me watching him under the moon and ended there. But now I wanted him even more.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" I said softly, standing up and wrapping the light blanket around my shoulders.
"What is it?" He said calmly. When he turned to me I saw that instead of his usual imperious expression he had a look of slight apprehension. It was barely noticable, hidden under the usual mask.
"Do you mind me travelling with you?" I asked, raising my eyes to his. I knew the answer. If he did mind, I would not be travelling with him. I just needed the reassurance. He took a while before answering.
"I do not mind." He said slowly. "Why do you ask, Rin?"
"I-I don't know." I said lamely, feeling more and more exposed, "I..just know that you don't like humans." Of course he doesn't like humans! I didn't need to point it out again.
He looked at me with an unsettling gaze, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking. I didn't know whether he actually did or not but I tore my eyes away from his anyway.
"Anyway," I said awkwardly, "Good night, my Lord."
As I turned away and began walking I heard him say, in a barely audible voice; "But you are just Rin."
I felt my legs stop moving, but managed to hold in my gasp. I didn't know whether or not he meant for me to hear him, but I turned towards him anyway. He had his back to me, obviously embarrassed. I didn't press him but instead went to where I had been lying.
As I lay on the cool grass and drew the blanket around me I couldn't stop a faint smile coming onto my face. Perhaps there was more hope than I had thought. With that to muse on I shut my eyes and let sleep lace through my thoughts.
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The silence was easy to bear, I was used to it.
He walked a ways ahead of me, leading Ah-Un. I was walking fast, as usual. When I was little my legs would always start to ache. I would have to walk fast and choppily, half running, to keep up with Lord Sesshoumaru's long, graceful strides. But my legs had grown long and muscled from the walking and I didn't have to exert myself as much anymore.
I paused to pluck a delicate pink flower from the side of the path. It reminded me of the bunches of wildflowers I used to pick for Lord Sesshoumaru. I always thought he liked the tiny yellow ones the best.
He was quite a bit ahead of me now. I had to run to catch up to him. Slightly breathless I said, without thinking, "Lord Sesshoumaru, which is your favourite kind of flower?" I begun to laugh as soon as I finished speaking,struck with the absurdity of the question. It felt good to laugh, I realized I hadn't in a long time.
Lord Sesshoumaru didn't laugh. Of course, I didn't expect him too. But I saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly as he listened to my laughter. I held out the pink flower, still giggling. I had forgotten what it was like to be happy in the last few days. He took the flower gingerly and tucked it into his breastplate. I felt a wide grin breaking out onto my face.
For a brief moment I felt like a little girl again, giving flowers to the one I adored. He seemed to be pleased with my happiness. He gave me the look he sometimes gives me, that lets me know he's smiling on the inside. "Joy becomes you, Rin." He murmered. It was such a sweet thing to say, I felt like throwing my arms around him. I restrained myself.
My legs danced along as we continued to walk. I felt so young next to him. Like a toddler with a dirt-smeared face. But I didn't care anymore. I had never been a self-conscious girl anyway.
I never asked where we were going. I knew he wouldn't answer. Sometimes I wished we had a home. Somewhere to return to at the end of a journey. Somewhere with warm beds, where servants would prepare lavish meals and steaming baths...
I let my imagination wander away to luxurious palaces and feather pillows, letting it carry me through the walking. I was barely aware of anything but the path in front of me as I pictured what his home-our home-would look like.
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Less stars this night. Blue-grey whisps of cloud shrouded their sparkling faces. I was shivering, wrapping the blanket tight around my shoulders. To my surprise, Lord Sesshoumaru came over and sat down, leaning his back against the straight tree behind me. I sat too and pulled my knees up, wrapping my arms around them. I pulled my body close to Lord Sesshoumaru. I leant my head against his shoulder and felt my eyes grow heavy with sleep.
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When I woke up he had his arm wrapped around my shoulders, holding me close to him. My hair was wet and the coarse blanket was too. Rain pelted down from the ashen sky. He was watching with narrowed eyes and didn't seem to notice that I had woken up. His bangs hung limply, soaking wet over his eyelids.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?" I said softly. He looked almost startled and hurriedly withdrew his arm.
"Now we can leave." he said, standing. His ragged clothes were soaked through and the rain continued to pelt down on him. I wondered if he was cold. I stood and quickly stowed the blanket away in Ah-Un's pack.
My off-white kimono was plastered to my body within minutes.
"Sit on Ah-Un's back." Lord Sesshoumaru said gently. I climbed onto the slippery saddle, leaving streaks of mud. I huddled up, trying to stay warm. Lord Sesshoumaru walked calmly through the mud. His pelt appeared to be getting heavier and heavier.
"Why don't we find somewhere to stay?" I had to almost yell to be heard. He shot me a look, golden eyes glaring.
Lord Sesshoumaru had never much liked rain.
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