Sorry for the insanely short chapter and the wait...I had promotion and things to deal with as well as my b-day and father's day which was yesterday. So, belated Father's Day everyone!
Please enjoy this chapter and drop a review if you can!
Chapter 4
And so it begins
"Are you sure that you won't be coming with us this time as well, Jaken-san?" Rin directed her question at Jaken with a sweet expression, apparently unaware of exactly why the retainer was not coming with them. She was drastically confused as to the sudden change, since there had once been a time that Jaken-san had been tailing them anxiously and refused to stay behind, but it seemed that more and more now that Lord Sesshomaru and her had been alone. Not that that was a bad thing, but it just seemed odd that Jaken-san would suddenly change and remain behind.
"Very well Jaken, continue with your work here, you know the consequences if you don't." Jaken nodded almost fearfully, although they all knew that Sesshomaru would do nothing more than either step on Jaken's head or throw a big boulder at his face and crush the poor imp. Or perhaps he'd kill Jaken quickly and then end up reviving him again and resume daily life. Of course, Sesshomaru on the other hand, knew exactly what Jaken was up to and why he was like this; Jaken obviously knew about the situation with Sesshomaru and Rin, but Sesshomaru didn't really mind, as long as Jaken didn't try to do anything to interfere, and of course, he knew well enough not to.
Jaken nodded and scurried off with a, "Return soon Sesshomaru-sama, Rin! Make sure to take care of the beast Ah-Un, eh?" The 'beast' was decidedly offended and butted the imp in the back, hard, so that Jaken hit the ground flat on his face. Jaken picked himself up, still ignoring Rin's hand of help, but it didn't matter for either of them, they were fine that way; that was how she'd grown up, anything different would unnerve her. Jaken shook his fist at the dragon-demon and shouted curses at the 'fool dragon' and Rin tried to get the two to go opposite ways and stop Ah-Un from trying to stop the holder of the staff. Meanwhile, Sesshomaru merely headed east and began to walk away with a simple order that everyone in their group had been hearing for years…and years…and years. "Rin, Ah-Un…come."
"Hai Sesshomaru-sama!" Rin turned and waved to Jaken briefly before running off again. "Bye bye, Jaken-san! I'll miss you!" She waved and ran off after her Lord Sesshomaru, waist length hair flying behind her, tied back at the nape of her neck, skirts flying behind her until she caught up with her lord. Her lord never stopped, even once they were in the secluded areas of the forest, even when he heard the heavier breathing of the other.
"Have you caught up Rin?" His expression was the same as ever, nothing all too new as he didn't even glance back at the young girl, and continued on. Rin smiled as she continued on before deciding that she was tired and climbed onto Ah-Un's back.
"Yes Sesshomaru-sama!" The dog lord didn't reply to this at all and instead just continued to stride forward, not smiling or anything of the sort, merely continuing onwards; his thoughts filled with images and goals, most of them concerning his naïve human companion. Likewise, Rin's mind was filled with admiration and heart bursting love for her lord, love which she just barely restrained, sometimes gripping Ah-Un's reins tighter than she needed to. Love could be such a mysterious and painful force sometimes…and while both hated it at times, they would never give it up.
Day turned into night and the small group stopped for the night. Rin slowly cooked a hare that her lord had caught for her after skinning it and stared into the fire, transfixed on several things at once. In the fire, she saw things flicker into view and then fade away again; the wind mistress Kagura, Kohaku, Sesshomaru's brother Inuyasha, Lady Kagome and Kikyo, Jaken…and Sesshomaru again. There were many images of Sesshomaru that she could see and most were pleasant and peaceful…but then she saw death and failure. She saw herself withering away with age and dying in Sesshomaru-sama's powerful arms…and her eyes blurred and salty tears ran down Rin's youthful face and Sesshomaru instantly worried. He did what he did every night though, nothing more, nothing less, and gently brought Rin's head into his chest and ever so slightly rocked her, his hands in her hair until she slept, and Sesshomaru resolved to find her immortality even sooner.
The day passed by quickly and uneventfully without being attacked by any youkai this was mainly Sesshomaru-sama's doing, or any such thing. Indeed, the day went by so normally, it was inevitable that something would happen eventually, and happen it would. For after all, a prideful demon and a naïve human would always have problems.
So...