Goodbyes Hurt Chapter 12

By RulerOfButterflies

Rin was on Sesshoumaru's mind for the rest of the night and into the early morning. The fact that she had kissed him was surprising. She was not one to be so... impulsive. 'Though, I'm sure her fever helped push her along.'

Watching as the sun finally broke over the horizon, he dressed himself, ready to pay a visit to Rin.

Rin herself was having a fitful sleep. Her fever was making her body ache and her head throb. She awoke with the sun and moaned in pain as she sat up. Putting a hand to her head she thought, 'Don't go out in the rain with only a thin yukata on.'

Once her head became slightly clearer, she noticed that she was in her room and, what was more terrifying, that she was wearing a different yukata.

Her cheeks burned with a deep red blush at all the possibilities of how this new yukata appeared on her. She couldn't remember going to her room, let alone remember how this different yukata got on her.

A firm knock resounded in the room and pounded against her head, but as she said, " Come in," Sesshoumaru was already in the room and walking towards her bed.

She couldn't help stop her beating heart from pounding harder and faster. The sun had just risen and Sesshoumaru looked like a god in the golden light, even if he did appear to look dissheveled. Rin's cheeks flushed and her breath caught in her throat.

Sesshoumaru watched with a little curiosity as Rin's cheeks turned a rosy red and her heart beat sped up.

Gathering a little courage, Rin asked softly, " Is there something you need, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

For once, the beast inside him did not pulse at the innocent question. " You are sick."

" Hai," Rin said sheepishly, " gomen, for not listening to you." Looking down at her fidgeting hands as she finished.

Sesshoumaru ignored the apology, especially since he took pleasure in her disobedience. Turning around to leave, he said, " You will not be doing any training for the rest of this week."

Rin watched as he left and shut the door. Letting her body flop back to the bed, she closed her eyes and thought, 'At least now I'll get some sleep.'

Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, could not let his mind rest or let his body relax. He had not forgotten the scene within the dojo between Rin and Kasimati. Surely, Kasimati would be awaiting Rin in the dojo, hence giving him the advantage in catching him off guard.

He quickly made his way down to the dojo, ignoring the bowing servants as he passed them.

As he suspected, Kasimati was in the dojo practicing. Sesshoumaru walked into the dojo, ignoring Kasimati's confused stare and quick bow, he walked towards the sword case and pulled out one that suited him.

Turning to face Kasimati, he asked, " Is that your fighting stance?"

Quickly standing up, Kuramae said, " No, Lord Sesshoumaru." 'Why is he here, where is Rin?'

Shifting uncomfortably under Sesshoumaru's glare, he asked, " Where is Rin-sama, my Lord?"

Without hesitation, Sesshoumaru said, " Rin is ill. She will not be training the rest of the week."

" How did she get sick?" Kuramae asked with concern laced in his voice.

Sesshoumaru watched in anger as he saw Kasimati's brow furrow, concern written clearly all over his fac. 'Why should he be concerned with Rin's welfare?'

Reluctantly, Sesshoumaru gave Kasimati an answer. " Rin is ningen, meaning she is fragile." For some reason, calling Rin fragile just made him feel that much more obligated to protect her... and be with her.

" Hai, ningens are like that." Kuramae said knowingly, while nodding his head.

A moment after the words left his mouth, he was shoved onto the floor with Sesshoumaru towering over him.

" You should know better than to let your guard down, Kasimati." Sesshoumaru said with a small, malicious grin on his face.

'What's gotten into him!' Kuramae thought as he stood and brought his sword at the ready.

Sesshoumaru mercilessly punished Kuramae, letting him feel his anger and deep frustration.(A/N: I'm sorry, I didn't feel like writing a fight scene. Just know that Kuramae get's his butt kicked.) Soon enough, Sesshoumaru tired of playing around with Kasimati. Towering over him with his sword giving Kasimati a ghost's touch, he asked, " What happened between you and Rin yesterday?"

" Nani?" Kuramae said immediately.

Speaking slightly slower with a bit of anger in his voice, he said, " Why were you touching Rin?"

" She fell and I helped her up." Kuramae said with irritation.

Sesshoumaru wanted to ask him why Rin was blushing, but figured he would ask Rin that later. Sending one last glare to Kasimati, he left the dojo. One more minute in his prescence and he would have probably killed Kasimati.

'Are you still denying that you have feelings for her?' 'I'm protecting her.' 'From everyone except yourself.' '...She has no reason to fear me.'