Chapter Five: Bloody Streams

The next morning Rin was up early contemplating what she was going to do about her current situation. Lord Sesshomaru had saved her, yes but that didn't mean he wanted her to remain by his side again. Rin thought of asking but she didn't come out here to travel with them again, but to find her path. However, if Lord Sesshomaru asked her, she wouldn't say no…

Rin looked around the clearing for Sesshomaru and found Jaken sulking in the corner. Rin got up and brushed off her kimono before heading towards the green demon.

The little imp saw this and narrowed his eyes at the woman. He used the staff of two heads and fire scorched the earth an inch in front of Rin's bare feet. She gasped in shock and looked towards him with wide eyes as he glared at her.

"Jaken?! What is the matter with you?" she asked.

"It's Master Jaken to you human! Woman or child, you're still a nuisance to Lord Sesshomaru and myself. I don't want you here Rin!" Jaken shrieked at her. The demon's face turned bright red as he spoke.

Rin nodded her head in understanding, she was a burden for them when she was a child. Always being kidnapped and well, killed. She understood Jaken's feelings, even though he was harsh in his wording…she respected his honesty with her.

"I understand Master Jaken. It wasn't my intention to stay here. I will be leaving now. Have a safe journey." Rin responded calmly.

Jaken was taken back by her response, normally the child Rin would bicker with him about his manners and run off. However, it seemed the human had grown up.

"You aren't going to yell at me human!" He spoke gruffly.

Rin never turned around, "No Master Jaken, it was never my intent to stay."

Rin grabbed her little bag by Au-Un and walked towards the forest.

Sesshomaru

'I nearly lost myself.' the demon thought sourly, 'Over her.'

Shortly after Rin's breathing had evened out, the demon Lord flew away swiftly from the clearing.

He landed by a stream and crouched down to scoop water into his hands to splash his face. Sesshomaru's eyes still had not returned to their usual amber tone. His fangs still protruded out and he couldn't retract them. All in all, the demon Lord looked feral and ready to kill. A frightening site to behold yet a human woman wasn't afraid of him.

'She even reached out for me. A dangerous move in my current state.' He thought.

Sesshomaru gazed at his appearance, slashed his claws into the water angrily before flowing back towards the clearing.

Lord Sesshomaru landed silently. Out of habit his eyes searched for Rin, but she wasn't there.

"Jaken," he said.

"Yes Milord?" he said behind him. Sesshomaru didn't turn around.

"Where is Rin?" he questioned.

"Gone Milord." he stated.

Sesshomaru turned his head over his shoulder to glare at the green demon. Upon seeing his face, Jaken stumbled back in fear. Sesshomaru's eyes glared at him as he groveled.

"Sh-she went E-East Mi-Milord." he stuttered. Jaken's head bowed low, refusing to meet Sesshomaru's eyes.

"Hn." He growled out. Sesshomaru headed in her direction.

"That was terrifying..." He heard the demon whimper.

Rin

The sun was being set as Rin came upon a stream. It was shallow and surrounded by thick bushes for coverage. Rin placed down her bag, and quickly removed her garments before placing one foot in the stream. It was cold but she quickly jumped in.

The water came up to her waist, so she dropped to her knees and began scrubbing the grim from her body with her hands. Rin chose to ignore that ache she felt. Tried hopelessly to remove the memories of her recent encounter with Lord Sesshomaru. Tried not to think about how his breath on her neck made her shiver and caused goosebumps to spread across her skin.

'What am I thinking?!' She thought as her cheeks flushed.

Deny it as she may, the pit of her stomach clinched at the thought of him with his hand on her neck…how close he was to here. As a child, she often was caught in his arms, er arm when she was falling. Somehow last night was different for her. Rin's body responded to his on impulse, but she'd never been that close to him.

"He is truly beautiful," She whispered.

"Who." came a deep voice behind her.

Rin gasped and turned around on her knees in the water.

Lord Sesshomaru stood at the bank of the stream looking down at her. His red eyes never left her onyx ones and for that she was grateful. Rin's thick hair covered her chest and privates, but she was still naked in front of him.

'My Lord?" she questioned quietly.

'Why was he here?!' she mildly panicked.

Lord Sesshomaru's red eyes turned to look behind her in anger.

"Rin. Get out of the water!" He yelled.

It was too late. A knife sliced across her right arm and more came towards her.

Rin quickly ducked under the water as the knives kept coming. In less than a minute, she stopped seeing them enter the water so she came up. Rin looked around wildly as she raced to the bank and quickly threw on her kimono. Lord Sesshomaru remained on the other side of the stream with blood on his hands. Starring venomously at whatever was beneath his feet.

Rin cautiously made her way towards him and looked down. It was a man who attacked her. He had slashes all throughout his body from Sesshomaru's claws, you could hardly tell what his face looked like. The woman turned her head from the carnage and began to walk back to her bag.

Rin was consciously aware that she was losing blood from the slash on her right arm