It had been three weeks since Rin first moved into the castle and every day was a journey for her. Her lord wasn't always there every day but that was okay with her she could occupy her time with many other things. She came to the gardens often to learn about plant life and in doing so became close to Mozukai. He liked this girl, she was always so cheerful and caring. To him it didn't matter at all that she was human, she was alright in his book. It wasn't just with him that she had a warm reception with, the chef never really got to cook for Lord Sesshomaru much, if at all, so he enjoyed being able to fire up his stove and prepare meals for the young lady. She always gave him so many compliments that it made him look forward to what she would say about her next meal. He never had someone love his food so much.
The handmaids also liked her, Aseru more than Kyushu, who was had a bit of a temper and never did like anyone that much. Aseru made sure Rin looked her very best each and every day, admiring her glowing visage in the mirror as she twirled around in the outfits picked for her. She was a loving person, always full of happiness and with a kind word to spare. The staff weren't at all used to it even after spending this long with her. It was just another day in her new life that she was outside, farther away from the castle. She went to go into the woodlands that she hadn't really ventured into too much before. She had stayed mostly inside the palace where she was within vision of her lord but of course she could not help her inquisitive nature that seemed forever unsated. She left her shoes right near the edge of the forest and then looked behind herself with a cheeky smirk then ran off into the wilds, bounding with arms in the air. She cried out loudly in ecstatic glee at being able to be free to rush through the wooded area without anyone telling her it was unlady like. Her handmaids and Jaken always got on her case about doing such things like getting herself dirty but she was a child of the earth and sky, a daughter of the sea and sun. To be one with the outside world was her goal, aside from being one with someone she loved but that wasn't going to happen.
She let her hair go free of the ornaments that had been placed in it today, allowing them to drop on the ground carelessly as she continued her track to nowhere. She had no destination she only wanted to see where the wind took her. She found a pond and saw toads and frogs bouncing about around it and she copied them, hopping close behind then she dipped her toes in the cool water giggling as the tiny fish tickled her feet. Rin could see not too far away was a hill that seemed to lead to a clearing. She had to see what was beyond that hill, see what was in that clearing. She just had to know. So she ran there as fast as her legs could carry her up and over the hill. In the clearing was a glade full of wildflowers all dancing in the wind just waiting to be plucked by her. She grinned widely at the beautiful display and wanted to pick every color she could find. She went into the glade, bending low to the ground. There was a circlet of trees surrounding the area leaving it exposed and the sunlight beaming through. There were butterflies of all shapes fluttering about and bees buzzing.
It was tranquil to say the least. She sat down upon the grass and just let herself get swept away in the moment of this lovely place. She did what her lord did and just used her senses, trying to heighten them to his level. With her eyes shut she concentrated each sense on a different thing. She could smell the fresh scent of blooming flowers and dirt. She could feel the grasses rubbing against her wrist and fingers as well as small bugs crawling along it, which she didn't mind. She could hear the birds singing in the forest and the light padded paws of animals moving about. She wished she knew what kind of animals they were but she guessed maybe it was a fox since it didn't sound like hooves or sounded big like a bear. She stood still as could be hearing the paws snap branches and rustle leaves and then she made herself concentrate even further until she heard even smaller paws following after. Babies. She wanted to see them but she'd have to be very careful not to surprise or scare the little things.
Using her ears and eyes she sought to locate the animal, carefully making her way through the brush. She stopped herself when she got to a point where she was far enough away to see it but not close enough to frighten it. It was indeed a fox, but a larger one with more than one tail, obviously a demonic fox. It looked so majestic and wise as it snuck around, its ears flicking this way and that making sure each sound wasn't something dangerous. Her kits were right behind her, trotting along. One of them bumped into the other and they started tumbling together in a play fight. Rin couldn't help but giggle at the adorable kits but the noise alerted the vixen to her presence. She turned with sharp yellow eyes at her, narrowing them slightly. She was a stunning creature with red designs around her face like some type of kabuki actress and she was such a brilliant color too. Rin stayed quiet and didn't move at all, just stood there getting stared down by the kitsune. The fox raised one of its slender legs and blinked.
"Human," a voice echoed, very feminine and although it seemed ancient and far more powerful than she it also sounded like it was not malicious in the least. The voice seemed to be coming from the fox but its mouth wasn't moving, she only moved her head slightly and used her eyes and body as her language. "Tell me why you smell like a demon hound."
Rin had never had an animal speak to her before but she was not as confused as she must have looked, only intrigued. "It must be because I am always around my Lord Sesshomaru."
"Why does a simple mortal like yourself know of the lord of these woods?"
"When I was a little girl he saved my life using his sword. I had died because of the wolves that attacked my village but he brought me back to life and ever since I have followed him. He had always defended me no matter what comes his way. Do you know him?"
"His name is not a mystery to those who reside here in the forest of the west. Even the trees know his name, for he was around when some were but saplings. I know not what has become of him to make him want a human girl around but it is not my place to question the lord who protects this forest so well. Permit me, my name is Lady Akino. I am a chikyu kitsune yokkai. Let me transform into something more appealing to you."
Lady Akino spun around in a tight circle a couple times creating a whirlwind of leaves around her until from that shape a new one formed. She now took on the form of a grown woman, with a slender form and medium length orange hair. She kept those same striking marks on her and wore a kimono of golds, reds, browns, and oranges with a bit of white at the hems. Rin was amazed by the transformation that happened right before her very eyes and at the fact that she made for a truly beautiful being. Rin gave her best bow to the lady in respect towards her.
"Arise, my child, and let me get a good look at you."
Rin lifted herself from the bowing position and sat there being analyzed by the lady. Her lips smiled in a friendly way at her.
"Aren't you at all afraid of me?"
"No my lady, only afraid of what you might think of me."
"You aren't as plain as other human girls I've seen and you have a pure sensitive soul. You have a deep respect for the earth, the mountains, the ocean, the air, the sky, and animal kind. The lord must think you are special to let you live in his domain and roam around in his forest."
"Oh I don't know...I'm not at all special, just simple Rin. It's enough for me that he has any positive thoughts about me at all. I am appreciative that he lets me stay here and provides for me. It is more than I could ask for."
"The lord is not an easy man to break but it seems you have gotten through to him somehow. I wonder..." She mused with a delighted face, seeming interested in something she was thinking. "No matter. Tell me would you like to play with my children?"
"Oh yes please my lady! They're so cute and very pretty too!"
Her eagerness seemed to make the woman only more pleased and she continued to look so as well as entertained as she watched the mortal woman act more like a common child with her young. The small kits pawed at her feet then jumped back, became brave enough to get close again, then pawed once more. They too seemed amused as could be at this strange new thing called a human. They were still young they had never seen one before. They were having fun with her, running away playfully as they were chased, hiding from her only to spring up giddily when they were found. Rin played with them until it was later in the day and the lady explained that she must feed them, wash them, and get them to sleep soon.
The children all made whining sounds, they could not speak like she did yet. The lady promised them that they could play another time and bid her farewells to Rin. Rin was still full of energy from all that and glad to have made more new friends. She had no idea there were demons in this forest, she hoped they would all be as nice as that one was. Seeing them reminded her of Shippo and yet they were nothing like him at all. He only had one tail though to Rin he was equally as cute as the kits and just as eager to play tricks. After her escapade with the kitsunes she went back to what she had come here for in the first place, picking flowers. The sun was beginning to set and she had better hurry before it became night. Not that she was scared of the darkness, in fact she loved it, but she didn't know what else lurked in here and even if nothing did that would hurt her Sesshomaru would not want her out here all night.
She gathered her bouquet of flowers in her hands and then got up from her spot to head on back. Then she saw the most exquisite flower just standing there like it was meant just for her and it wasn't too far away from where she was at. Just one more, that's all and she would go back home after. It was too glorious to pass up and she had never seen anything like it, not even in the gardens or any of her travels. She had no clue what it was but she knew Mozukai would know. He knew everything about everything when it came to flora and he would tell her. It must be a rare type and because it was rare she wanted it even more. She reached to the spot where the flower was and bent over to pick it up, a toothy smile from ear to ear. Wouldn't her lord be amazed at her find? As of right now Sesshomaru was coming back to his castle and immediately sensed the absence of Rin. It was already starting to become nighttime, she couldn't have gone far. He wouldn't even try to pretend like he wasn't a little concerned because he was and Jaken knew it. He vocalized his own thoughts about the matter.
"That silly girl is such a pain, she's always running off somewhere. Why can't she just stay in one place? Now we have to go find her."
"Jaken, quiet."
He gulped hard noting the sharpness of his tone. "Y-y-es m'lord."
Sesshomaru could smell her trail leading to the outside and so that's where he went. It didn't take him long to find the beginning of the edge of his forest and there he found them. Rin's wooden shoes. He wasn't surprised to see them at all but he knew this meant one thing. She went in there and though in the morning this was likely not at all a problem it was different at night. As guarded as his forest was the beings in it did not expect a human and they might find her an easy target, not knowing at all that she wasn't just an average woman who found her way here some way. She'd be all too vulnerable. He didn't like thinking so darkly but his thoughts were confirmed when he heard a shrill cry and his name following after it. Rin and she was in trouble. Jaken knew what this meant and his little legs could not keep up with a speeding demon so he took what small space of time he had and grasped onto Sesshoamru's mokomoko tightly.
What he wasn't expecting at all was for him to turn from man to beast, perhaps, Jaken assumed, it was to look more of a threat, after all as a full demon he was huge. There seemed to be no other reason, Sesshomaru didn't expend his energy to take on this form that much but sometimes if he was pushed to the point of rage he might transform without even realizing it. Jaken hung on for dear life onto Sesshomaru's tail, wailing the whole way about how he should slow down because he'd fall off. There was nothing Sesshomaru heard or paid attention to at all as he raced through the woods. All his senses were focused on her, he didn't care at all if Jaken fell off. He wasn't important to him. He could hear bare feet running and a hurried panicked breath then he heard a thud and a loud cry of pain. He surged even faster. Heaven help anyone who had hurt her. Dignity be damned, he'd snap the bastard in half.
Locating her was simple enough, he knew her scent well but there was another sent that sent him a spiraling in a worse state. Blood. Her blood. Now he was truly enraged, someone had made her spill blood. Someone had hurt his Rin and that someone was dead to him from the moment he heard her scream. He found her crumpled in pain on the ground, touching her leg which looked sore and red, either twisted or broken from her fall. The blood was coming from her face and leg, she had scratched herself it seemed when she tumbled but that didn't matter. What mattered was he could hear something chasing after her and gaining speed. It would have been one thing if she merely hurt herself on accident, his fury could subside then but he was right. Someone meant to hurt her, in his own forest, in his homeland, on his property. That was a big mistake. Rin tried to get up but it hurt her, still she persisted and limped all the way to him, holding tightly to his leg for protection.
Once the entity was revealed, a leopard or some other type of big cat, Sesshomaru lowered his head and growled fiercely at it. It wasn't even a demon at all, just a normal animal that knew no better. Killing an animal for doing what was in its nature to do was beneath him, it would be another matter if it was something else. Even though demons also killed people because it was in them to do so, that was a choice. All Sesshomaru did was scare it off, one lone growl and seeing him was enough to do that to even the mightiest of creatures. Somewhere inside of him he did have a want to end its life anyways, stuck in a demon dog mindset will do that to you, but he was still himself and would not succumb to such things. When it ran away Rin stood there clinging to him still, feeling shame from her actions and that she had done this to herself. Also she felt very stupid for not being able to defend herself but she hadn't a single weapon, though she did throw a good sized rock at it before fleeing.
She didn't know what to do or say at the moment so she just kept her mouth shut. She was most likely in trouble for not coming home sooner, at least she thought so by how mad he seemed earlier but he was calmed down now. He rubbed his nose against her softly to assure her he wasn't feeling that way towards her and to comfort her. He licked her ear slightly. She pet his muzzle tenderly and looked into his eyes which looked at her ankle. He lowered himself down until he was lying flat against the ground making her let loose of him. She surmised what he wanted her to do, seeing as it hurt her just to take a single step. Jaken was still holding onto his tail, swirls in his eyes as he was incredibly dizzy. Rin climbed on top of him, feeling his fur all over her. She held onto him but not hard enough to hurt and he walked out of the woods. Jaken eventually let go, he could now keep up.
"My lord...I'm sorry..." she whispered into his ear, still petting him in spite of herself. "I've caused so much trouble for you."
Once towards the edge of the forest he transformed back to himself again which made Rin appear in his arms, holding herself up around the back of his neck. She was now refusing to look at him, blushing despite everything because he was carrying her like a bride. The fact that he was touching her at all made her blood rush. Jaken was given the duty of gathering up her things she had dropped and he went about doing that bitterly crabby the whole time.
"Rin..."
"Don't say it...I know...I should have been more careful. I just...oh it's going to sound really stupid but I wanted the pretty flower."
"You put the lord through all that mess just for a flower?!" Jaken cried out, shaking his staff. "Have you no head on your shoulders girl?"
"I'm sorry..." she relented with a small sad voice causing Sesshomaru to throw a heated glare at Jaken for upsetting her so.
"Your leg...is it broken?"
"I don't think so my lord but I don't think I will be able to walk on it for a while. It was my own fault for being so clumsy."
"It didn't hurt you did it?"
"No...my Lord Sesshomaru please say you'll forgive me for this. It wasn't very smart of me, I know but-"
"You seem to think I'm upset at you," he remarked, looking down at her. "I'm not."
"You better watch yourself more carefully, Rin," Jaken added on, "lest you worry the both of us into an early grave."
"Aww Jaken you do care!" She gleefully presumed.
"Hmph!" He blushed and turned his head to the side, crossing his arms. "I only care about my own life. If you should get hurt it's all over for me."
Rin shook her head at him with a smile. Same old Jaken. Rin took some time to enjoy the fact that she was being held in these muscular caring protective arms. She also thought about how he had saved her and then to how he had tried to make her feel better with nuzzles and licks. It made her feel so fuzzy inside, fuzzy and funny. He must really care a lot to have done that for her. She let herself snuggle into him closer, taking any chance she could get to touch him now before she went back to normal. Her head was settled just a notch under his chin, he could smell her hair. It smelled nice, like water lilies. Subtly sweet and floral. She smelled good too, just her overall scent. It had changed but it was also exactly the same and he could smell it now stronger than ever because of how close she was to him.
They made it back safe and sound and he kept her in his arms the whole way there. He didn't let go of her until they were in her room, where he told Jaken to go find a nurse or something of the sort. Sesshomaru gingerly laid her down on the bed, careful with her leg, letting that down last and very carefully. He wanted to look at it himself before anyone else did but that would require him to expose part of her body. He assured himself it was for her health and nothing else and that it wasn't going to mean anything to him. He slid his hand up her kimono telling her what he was going to do. She nodded her head with her lips pressed together and a blush on her cheeks. He searched around until he found the spot it hurt. She let out a hiss when he touched it.
"There, it hurts there."
He saw that it was bruised, purpling over a red patch. He stroked it as lightly as he could causing her to whimper. He looked up at her, somewhat interested by the noise she made. It sounded very much like a dog to him. Their eyes met and he continued to stroke down her leg causing her breath to hitch.
"M-my lord...?"
"Does it hurt anywhere else?"
"N-no...just in that o-one spot. Thank you...for taking such good care of me. Do you think the nurses can fix it?"
"I'll make sure of it. Lay back, Rin. You need to rest."
She planted herself down upon the bed, resting her head upon the pillow. She kept her one leg arched up still in his hand, part of her kimono having slipped off showing off her entire leg and some of her thigh. She was smooth as butter and as soft as cream. Not a trace of hair anywhere on her. His eyes roamed her leg from her foot all the way upwards then he closed his eyes and shook his head, taking his hand off of her now. He stayed in the room, looking away from her and that single perfectly smooth and creamy leg, until the nurse came in with Jaken. She shooed them both away so she could do her work in peace.
It appeared it wasn't broken at all but there was a minor fracture and she would have to be bed ridden for at least a week and a half. Rin sighed in anguish at having to be stuck in one place but what choice did she have? It was the only way to get better. She did as she was told and didn't move out of bed, she was helped by her handmaids to the bathroom and for anything else she needed. She was still fed three meals a day, something hearty to get her strength back. Mozukai would often come to her window and talk to her to keep her company. He even gave her some chrysanthemums and peonies as a get well gift. She told him about the flower she had seen, a bit forlornly too as she hadn't been able to even get it thanks to the panther.
"Sounds like ye found a truly unique one. It sounds like the night's lover."
"The night's lover? That sounds so mysterious and magical! Tell me more please."
"Not much I can tell seeing as it's so hard to find. I'm honestly in shock there was one growing so close! I wish I had found it meself. Could have made a fetching piece to this garden. Ah well, not one to regret things out of my hands. At least you're safe, milady. That's all that matters."
"You're very caring, Mozukai and it feels genuine, which is good. I was starting to believe everyone just acted like they liked me but it seems like some of them really do."
"A'course we do! You're a clever, funny, and considerate lady. Who could not learn to like you?"
"I'm sure there are some who don't... it can't be helped, being what I am."
"Never you mind them, milady. They would keep their mouths shut lest they get their tongues removed. I think they only think it but would never say it. Still it's not something to worry your pretty head over. Some people are always going to be judgmental."
"But you aren't."
"A'na miss. How could I be? My mom was half human herself, it would be backwards of me to hate ye or even dislike ye."
"Could you please tell me more about the night's lover? As much as you can."
"Let's see...I've heard it blooms every one hundred years, that it's bluer than the sky and the flecks upon it look almost like stars. It has a faint smell, nothing too pungent, almost like an incense. That's all I know though I have heard a tale that if it is given to you by someone that you will have an everlasting bond with them."
"Oh I wish I had grabbed it when I had the chance!" Rin lamented with aggravation.
"It's better that ye didn't, one moment of ignorant bliss could have gotten ye in a lot worse a shape than now. Alright milady, I think that's about all the time I can give ye. Get well soon so you can stroll through here once again. The plants miss ye."
"The plants have feelings? Or are you just speaking about yourself?"
"Ah...well...yes and yes..." He let out a single nervous chuckle then went on his way.
Rin was becoming much better as the days went on, being visited by Jaken for a status report almost daily. She would always ask why Sesshomaru didn't come instead and it was always the same thing. He was busy. He must really be because he seemed concerned enough to ask about her but couldn't make it to her. The workers in the kitchens were outside plucking some vegetables and grains for Rin when they encountered Sesshomaru coming back. They all bowed to him, bidding him a welcome home. He asked them what they were feeding her during this time and they were only too glad to tell him everything. He gave them a bit of advice, since he knew Rin more than anyone else, and told them to also pack in more proteins. She really needed that, and a rich brothy mushroom soup. She had an acute fondness for mushrooms.
The chef whipped up something right away that would please her pallet better so when it was time for lunch she was presented with a rice platter filled with beef, chicken, and pork in thick strips. Some of it was undercooked on purpose, the redder the center the better it was for her but not too red of course. She was a demure lady and a mortal one at that. She was also given a miso soup on the side, with plenty of mushrooms in it. She poked one, skewing it on her chopstick, then looked at it. She thought mushrooms to be delectable, she grew to love them since she foraged for them often when she was smaller. She was humming happily at the taste when she got a visitor and one she had been wanting to see for a while. Sesshomaru. He had been wanting to see how she was doing this whole time and now he had a chance. She looked joyed to see him, instantly sitting up in her bed and smiling.
"How is your leg?"
"Much better, thank you. Where have you been?"
"Attending to business matters. Has everyone been giving you the help you need?"
"Oh yes everyone is always helpful to me, my bandages are changed daily, I'm fed often, and all in all I think your staff here do an amazing job. Today's food is more delicious than ever. How did they know I love mushrooms?"
"I let them know," Sesshomaru explained, walking towards her then spotting the flowers in the vase right by her window. "Who gave you those?"
"Mozukai, he picked them for me, as a get well gift. They're very nice but...I still wish I had gotten the night's lover. It's fine I suppose...it's just a flower."
"Hm."
Rin lifted another piece of food to her mouth and began chewing, looking at her vase as well. She lifted the bowl of soup to her mouth, blew on it, then downed it in one go. A droplet of liquid escaped her lips and was dripping down her face. Sesshomaru leaned forward and wiped it away with a single swipe of his finger. He seemed to be thinking something then excused himself. Rin called out farewell to him, wishing he would come back soon. She'd be better though in a just two days, she could walk by his side then. It had been after lunch was entirely done that she received another visit from Sesshomaru, only this time he was holding something in his hand. Rin let out a loud gasp and a squeal as she saw what it was. In his hand was a lone, dark blue, white freckled flower, opened up to receive the sun's light.
"Oh my Lord Sesshomaru...you...you got it for me...I..." Rin sniffled, trying not to get emotional but she did.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm happy, that's all. You didn't have to do that but you did. Thank you."
He handed it to her and she claimed it, looking at it fondly. She smelled it and let the petals tickle her nose. Her cheeks went red as a rose bush thinking about what Mozukai said about this flower. Once it was given to you by someone you had an unbreakable bond with them. She wasn't sure if that bond meant friendship or...much more. He wasn't specific. It would be only friendship between them of course but for a moment she entertained the thought of something else. She knew he didn't know anything when it came to florals, he only knew she wanted it. Indeed that was true, he had no reason to be knowledgeable in that field, however he did know some things. He knew of berries, herbs, spices, things like that and he knew of this legendary blossom. All he really needed to know though is that she seemed distraught over not having it so he went back into the forest and found it for her. It was all worth it in the end to him to see her look as thrilled as she did now. She took in another sniff then looked at him through lowered eyelashes. It was a look full of love for him, tender affections she could not speak.
She could not tell him just what this meant to her even if it was the smallest and most inexpensive thing he had ever given to her. She was holding it and treasuring it like it was the most magnificent object ever seen. He could have given her a rose made of rubies with a gilded stem and she would have liked this more. It was so simple and yet it made her want to cry with joy. That he went out of his way to get her this just because he knew she liked it so much. It wasn't some silk kimono, it was a golden comb, it wasn't a jade necklace. No those were things he assumed she liked or might want to have, things most women would swoon over. Yet she was in love with him all the more over this. The way she was looking at him was strange...a tentative look of adulation and something he couldn't at all place. He was stuck on those eyes of hers, twinkling at him, looking at him like he truly was some heavenly being, like he was perfection incarnate, like he was the crowning jewel of her life.
"I don't know what to say... besides thank you. I want a separate vase for it and I want to put it right here on my nightstand so whenever I wake up and turn I can see it."
"I'll see to it one gets sent here. You really like it that much?"
"I love it. I'll cherish it for as long as I live."
"I've given you better things than that...why is this so important?"
"It means a lot to me because you didn't buy it, you didn't get it from the store, and you didn't just think it was something any girl might want. You knew it was something I desired, something that only I could appreciate. You're truly wonderful, my lord. Truly. How can I repay you?"
"No need for that. When you get better don't go into the woods at night and not so far either."
"You mean I can still go?"
"No part of this place is off limits to you, including there. Just try to stay out of harm's way."
"I will! Oh guess what? When I went into the forest last I met someone. I met a fox demon, Lady Akino. Do you know of her?"
"We've crossed paths," he answered straightforwardly. "Her kind have made a home there for eons."
"Your forest is gorgeous, my lord, it's no wonder so many want to live there. Even I would. I feel...at home there...and here. I feel this is where I'm meant to be, with you...and um...with Jaken and A-Un too..." She shyly added on with a weak smile.
"You like being with me?"
"I love being with my lord. I want to be nowhere else," She honestly told him, not looking away this time, just holding his gaze. "So I'm glad you took me here...without you I feel...incomplete. I don't think you feel the same way but the fact that you want me around at all is comforting."
"Rin..."
She felt him cup her cheek and just settle his eyes right on hers. If only he wasn't so accursedly persistent in hiding the truth of his feelings. He would tell her outright that she was utterly wrong. Without her something was missing from his life, a part of him was gone that could not be replaced. How could he make his tongue use those words? It was beneath him to admit that he was half a person without her, that just as he made her more demon she made him more human. That she was the light of his life and if she was ever snuffed out he'd wander eternity with a pain inside of him such as none other. It was unlike him to tell her that he too was incomplete until she was by him. He could not say all that he truly felt, always felt not just now. He could never say it so he just sighed, silently wishing she might understand because he just couldn't tell her. He often wondered if one day his nature would push her away but it only seemed to bring her closer.
"You...you're so warm my lord...and yet everyone thinks you are cold."
He stroked her cheek softly then let go of it slowly. As much as he wanted to linger there he did have things to attend to and besides he really should stop. It was becoming a habit, a vice of his, he felt he had to touch her every time he saw her face. It was just...her skin it felt so good. It smelled, it looked...He shook away all feeling and all thought. He thought something might be wrong with him, even at all harboring those kinds of thoughts at all but he whisked them away, pushed them out of his mind until he was convinced he had never even fathomed it. The only thing he should be thinking about when concerned to her is how she was doing and what she needed. That was it. He took off but as he got to her door frame he looked back again. She was twirling the night's lover in her hand wistfully then smelling it again only to let out a long happy breath of air.
Even he knew it didn't smell like much but she kept smelling it anyways. Maybe she could smell him on it. Did she like his scent then? No. He tuned that out. None of that. Yet even when he closed the door she didn't leave his mind and he was trying his hardest to shove her away and an inner voice was aggressively forcing him to stop doing that. That it was heartless of him to not have her in his head because like it or not even if he'd never say it out loud he cared for her more than the entire world. All else could go to hell because Rin was an angel from heaven and he felt bliss only when near her. No! He snapped at himself for even ruminating on that. Sure, he would admit he did feel contentment by her side, a happiness that went all about him that he never felt before. Yes, that much was true. Calling it bliss though was a bit much and her an angel? She was certainly untainted and virtuous but saying she was an angel was taking it too far.
It didn't matter how he pulled ideas away something pushed them back in. He thought of how when she rode on top of him in his dog demon form he could feel her warmth on him and when he carried her how she felt, how she smelled, how she held onto him. He still wanted her touch but the moment he confessed that in his head he rattled his brain about until it was gone. He felt irritable and kept telling part of his mind to be quiet but it wouldn't be. He had to concentrate and he couldn't. Finally after a lot of whittling down of his inner self he was at last able to get some work done. His last lingering thought was why he had gotten her that flower. It was beyond the fact that she had wanted it, there was another deeply seeded reason, a reason that spouted out from a feeling he never had before at least not in this regard. When he saw those flowers in the vase from Mozukai and the way she was so friendly with him and how she liked those flowers so much it sparked something in him.
He got the flower for a reason he chose to chase away, that he wanted to one up the man who dared give her anything that made her smile. He knew he meant well, he was only trying to be kind to her, it was now in his job description and as a florist what could he give her besides that? Yet it didn't click in his head at the moment and when he heard of the flower she wanted more he got it immediately. He would not be bested when it came to pleasing Rin. As soon as that popped up in his head he erased it but it still lingered there like the smoke after a fire was put out, teasing him, taunting him, reminding him that he had let himself get jealous. If he let it continue it would ask him why. He knew the answer but never admitted to it, he only focused on the task at hand. He knew why, it was because it was Rin and that's what bothered him enough to shut down that part of his mind...for now...but not for long.
