Chapter Four: Are you afraid?

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru flew high above the trees to his camp with Rin snuggled between his arms. His fluffy Momoko was wrapped around her body and face to protect her from the harsh winds.

Gently his feet landed on the grass and Jaken hastily approached him.

"My Lord!" The toad shouted.

Sesshomaru stepped on him and continued to walk over to Au-Un. He crouched down to where Au-Un was on the ground and leaned Rin's body against the large dragon.

"My Lord!" the toad yelled.

Sesshomaru shot him a venomous glare to silence the toad. Nightfall was not far behind.

"Jaken. Go find firewood." He ordered.

"Yes M-My Lord." Jaken shuffled his feet, "Who-is that woman?"

"Rin." He responded.

Jaken gasped slightly and looked back and forth between the woman and Sesshomaru before hurrying into the forest.

Jaken

"Oh my Lord, why is that human here.." the toad mumbled sullenly.

Despite Rin saving his life when she was younger, Jaken never liked the girl. Often wished Lord Sesshomaru would get rid of her. Jaken was a glorified babysitter for her and his Lord always put the human before him. Hatred for the girl only grew as she did. Jaken despised her arrogance, her annoying songs, and how troublesome she was to them both.

Jaken's green face turned red as he kicked rocks.

"OWWWW" he yelled when he kicked a big one.

'I want her gone.' he thought before journeying off farther into the woods.

Sesshomaru

Hours later, the fire was dimming. Jaken was far back snoring loudly in the background as he kept watched over the group.

Sesshomaru stared at the moon as he leaned back against the tree. His thoughts were elsewhere tonight as he glanced back at the sleeping woman. Rin had not stirred since he brought her.

The demon leaned propped up his leg and closed his eyes as he thought back to the events of that night, when he was close to her in her hut. He felt his fangs enlarge at the mere thought of her body pressed against his own. How sweet she smelled as she clung onto him.

Lord sesshomaru didn't notice that a certain woman had awoken as he battled with his yokai.

Rin

Rin groggily opened her eyes and sat up. There wasn't much light except the stars and the moon.

'How did I get here?' she pondered.

The events that transpired earlier came back to her. Rin sat up suddenly and looked around half-blind in the dark. She heard snoring and ran her hand over the scaly bed she'd been laying on.

'Au-Un' she whispered.

Far off to the left, she noticed a white blob. The woman got to her feet and made her way over to the tree and saw her Lord's face in the moonlight. Sesshomaru's smooth face was scrunched up with his eyes closed and the creases on his forehead looked strained. Overall, he looked to be in pain but from what she couldn't fathom.

Rin got closer and dropped to her knees in front of him, she wanted to touch him but in his current state she thought it best not too. Rin vividly remembers how he acted when she found him hurt in the forest all those years ago.

"My Lord?" she whispered.

He didn't respond.

"Lord Sesshomaru" she said louder.

Annoyed, Rin leaned closer to him, "Sesshomaru" she said. Rin reached her hand towards him slowly.

Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open as he clasped his clawed hand around her wrist. Rin wasn't frightened but concerned at his behavior.

His golden eyes were blood red when he opened them and his teeth were snarling at her. In one motion, he yanked her wrist and Rin was pulled mere inches from his face.

Rin could tell his mind was elsewhere as his other hand reached up to wrap around her throat. His grip wasn't rough but she couldn't move from where he held her..she was staring directly into his eyes. Those dark, glowing red eyes.

"Are you okay my Lord?" she whispered as if she was talking about the weather.

The demon Lord could feel her heartbeat through her neck.

Sesshomaru turned her face sideways and he brought his face to her neck slowly. She gasped lightly as the closeness, she could feel his cool breath on her skin. Goosebumps spread throughout her body and all of her hair stood up at this unfamiliar sensation.

He growled as she lifted her hand up towards the one holding her neck. Her small fingers wrapped around his wrist and traced the stripped marking there. A bold attempt to calm him somewhat.

"Are you hurt anywhere my Lord?" she asked quietly.

"You are not afraid?" he asked. His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine as his breath tickled her neck.

"Should I be?" Rin asked.

Sesshomaru growled at her question.

After a few minutes Rin responded, "No I am not afraid."

"Why? I could very well devour you Rin." he said through his teeth.

'Is he testing?' Rin thought, 'He wants to see if I'm afraid of him? I could never tell what he's thinking..'

She sighed, "Take it or leave it. My life was always yours, my lord. I am not afraid of you. I never have been."

Sesshomaru released her neck and leaned back against the tree.

Rin remained frozen and Sesshomaru didn't look at her. The Lord turned his face upwards towards the stars.

"Go to sleep Rin." He said.

Rin snapped out of her trance and smiled up at him.

"Yes my Lord." She uttered.

Rin went back to Au-Un and let sleep find her.