Rated K

Stylized writing in this story.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

One of the wonderful things about the connection with Rin and Sesshomaru is the ever popular slooooow buuuurn. A slow burn romance is a romance between a couple that takes a looooooooong time to build and they usually stay as friends for an extended period of time while growing through changes in the stages of their relationship before something leaps their romance forward. This is a very popular form of storytelling in fanfiction and even more popular in the sessrin fandom. Slow burns take their time like the slow burning wick of dynamite; it takes its time as it keeps its audience in anticipation, with a little hint here and a little nudge there, right before getting to the big -BOOM!- that puts everything in place.

At least that is what I think happened with Sesshomaru and Rin. I don't think romantic intent was on any of their minds for a long time, and I personally don't think that they ever would have done so much as brush one's hand against another unless Rin made the first move.

Can you imagine Sesshomaru actually willing to touch ANYONE?

This is why I am convinced that if (and when) romance starts to take place, Rin is the one to initiate it, be it the way she would gently glide her fingers against his claws as she accepts one of his many gifts, or the way her hair would tease his watchful gaze in the wind as he would barely be able feel the silk-like tresses before allowing them to slip from his touch as she takes off in a field of flowers at running speed.

Rin would be in her own perfect little world when Sesshomaru would visit her. He would see her at the end of each crescent moon cycle (because fanfiction), and there would always be a gift in his hand. Rin appreciates everything that he gives her, but the best gift he could ever give her was his time.

They would usually spend an afternoon together as they go on their long and secluded walks. By the age of ten, she would go on and on about the responsibilities that she had been given, or share the new songs that Kagome would teach her. There would be one song in particular that would get stuck in her head, and it was a little tune about raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens. He would always listen and would remain the silent one through the years before the day that Rin would ask to hear about the adventures he had been on since their departure. He would confess that things are quite dull in those days, since he didn't usually venture any longer than a day's travel from her. Even though that kind of distance was way farther than a human would be able to travel, he would have no idea how this unknowing confession would cause Rin's heart would grow even that much more fonder for him.

Something… something was just a little different after that, but neither of them could really put a finger on it.

Throughout time, their talks would evolve from childish singing to divulging into her education. As she would enter her pre-teen years, she would speak of her extensive human knowledge, as well as her desire to explore other cultures as she hears more of Kagome's stories of her home from another time. Sesshomaru would have grown more of a voice by this point, mentioning a time or two where he explored and found unique secrets of the unknown world. Rin's eyes would sparkle at the images that she would dream up in her mind of what it would be like to explore the world with Sesshomaru. He would continue to toss the idea of distant traveling around while mentioning to bring back the most unique thing he could find for her. She would smile for him, appreciating the thought, but the idea of him going without her would send an uncomfortable feeling through her. He dangles the idea of travel above her like a fisherman would with bait on a hook, and she would itch to take it. The very idea would cause some aching deep within her. Sure, she always loved the things that he would bring her, but he would still struggle to understand that the one thing that she would ever want from him is his time.

In his entire lifetime, Sesshomaru never cared for any type of affection, let alone something as trite as touch. He never even considered the idea of yearning for something so trivial and unnecessary. Why would he? Who would dare? He is not so weak as to care for such a sentiment. He just never understood…

…until he understood.

He would never know the warmth of a loving hand until the day of the spring solstice, in her thirteenth year, when she was lazily playing with a large bouquet of wildflowers she had picked. The day would be warm and the skies would be clear. Humming the familiar tune of her favorite things, she would be in her own little world as she would leisurely put a flower behind Sesshomaru's ear. Though this would be the first time she had ever gotten this close to his face, she would do so as if it were something she had done her entire life.

Her touch would be so light and airy, as the brush of her thumb could be felt upon his flesh. It is here that it finally clicks that she is, indeed, very real, and growing at a rapid speed. He had known the pathetic fate of humankind, for it did not take long for humans to grow and die. That was never something he'd care enough to even consider before, but the sudden sensation of her electrifying touch proved that merely seeing her with eyes alone was no longer enough for a demon who had always craved his solitude.

And maybe…. just maybe… there might even be some sort of aridity inside him for just a little more.

Just… a touch- any touch- be it the way their skin would almost meet as they would walk side by side, or maybe if he were lucky, he would experience another blessed brush of her thumb to his cheek.

Just a touch to make sure she was still real….

To make sure she was, indeed, still living… still breathing….

Just to make sure she was okay.

But he would never voluntarily touch her.

No.

But she would.

It would be around the sixth year of her life in the village. It would be in the evening, at a time of merriment, yet in a secluded area. Sesshomaru would not be one for crowds, and Rin would know this. She would set a special place for them at a distance from the crowds, yet close enough to watch the light shows of fireworks and festival poppers. The colorful lights would shine vibrantly in the sky as they would sit beside one another beneath the sheen of the crescent moon. Without breaking her gaze from the light show ahead, she would intertwine her left arm around his right, and thread her fingers between his, locking their hands in the most gentle embrace.

Such action causes pause. Never had she been so bold as to give more than a tap to the shoulder. The warmth would be what throws him off the most, but he would not falter. He would feel her take in a deep breath and gently exhale while settling the weight of her body against his in a comfortable fashion. It is at this time that he starts to feel the soothing lull of her heartbeat through her fingertips, and it would send a brand new sensation through him. The soft rhythm would sooth him to almost a meditative state, feeling at peace through her touch with the knowledge that she is safe, right there, with him. She would lean her head against his shoulder, gently humming a familiar tune reminiscent of words about packages tied up with string. Such a sound would envelop his eardrums while she draws lazy circles on top of his hand with her thumb. They would stay like that for the duration of the light show, and perhaps even longer. Neither of the two had ever felt so…. content until this moment. Perhaps they fell asleep like this. He would allow her touch for as long as she desired.

That would be the extent of direct contact for a long while, yet as time would string by, she would sprinkle more of her touch, be it the gentle tug of his sleeve as she galvanted in wheat fields, or her delicate fingers as she would straighten the straggles of his hair that would get tangled in the ridges of his armor. Her touch would always be feather-like and instantaneous, but it would never be enough. There would be a twinge deep within the strong willed demon as they would grow even closer with time.

If he wasn't aware of her growth before, he definitely would as her teen years would progress. It would seem as though she were very happy around her own kind. Other humans would start to notice her, especially the males. The very idea of any human male scent would be enough to irritate the demon lord for days at a time, so one could imagine the esteemed pleasure of Lord Sesshomaru observing the audacity of those disgusting human males as they pursue her.

But none of them ever seemed to matter to her.

No matter how many young men would stand around her and try for her affection, she would always happily break from the crowd when she would see Sesshomaru just beyond the horizon. There would be the tiniest bit of pride as he would watch her run towards him with glee.

By now their talks would have dwindled to nothing more than a few comments in the entirety of their one afternoon a month, but nothing would really need to be said. They are content to just enjoy each other's company and catch up on the mundane life of the human village…

Until night would fall and it would be time for him to leave. This is when the goodbye's would gradually stretch with every visit. Sesshomaru would find himself not parting ways until well into the nights of the near empty moon. It is unknown when the farewells started to become somber and sad, but it would start to become just that much more difficult for Rin every time she would watch him take his leave. He would even bide his time as he would slowly yet surely venture onward for another month of lord knows what, and Rin would have to bear, yet another month of human life, unable to feel completely at peace.

How could she when it was never a guarantee that he would return to her?

Yet somehow he always did.

Their first kiss would be in the rain (because Sesshomaru and Rin are basically the hallmark movie couple of the Inuyasha fandom at this point). They would be on their usual walk. Rin would guide Sesshomaru to their usual spot, a spot that she would only visit when he visits her. It would be her sixteenth year as Autumn makes its way, and by now the road to their usual destination would have become warn with the tracks of time gone by. A storm would roll in, and it would be a bad one. It would be a surprising turn of events, as it would force his visit short. It would be wise for him to beat the storm before his next stop and he would offer to escort her back with the promise of bringing her back something nice as an apology for leaving so soon…

But she would stop in her tracks as she would shake her head, "No."

She wouldn't want to go back.

Kissing would never have occurred to Sesshomaru as a form of touching. Truth be told, he wouldn't have seen a whole lot of action with an absent father and a scolding tempered mother. There was no time for affection, there was always battle.

Battle.

All his father ever talked about was battle.

Sesshomaru grew up through many decades that were devoted to strength and the utmost respect for battle. His father was the strongest in the land. It is only natural for a boy to desire to walk in his father's footsteps.

But then to be carelessly slaughtered…. because of a human, no less… One of the world's strongest demons to ever roam was killed because of a human.

A human woman.

And a human woman is who Sesshomaru would be looking to now, with thundering clouds rolling in as it would threaten to drench them in a downpour with the smell of moisture in the air.

She would not want to say goodbye. Not yet. He would only have been there a mere hour at best. It would be here that she would admit that, even though she had appreciated everything that he had ever gotten her, nothing could ever be quite as precious to her like his time.

His time?

Why would they have to go at the pace of his time?

He would have all the time in the world.

It would be she who would be losing time. It would be she who would age. It would be she that would have to grow old and die incredibly young-

He wouldn't be able to think of things like that.

He would push that thought as far from his mind as it would go.

It would be she who would lose a battle with time.

A battle

Sesshomaru understands battle.

It turns out that it is also she that would have to make the next move against the game of chess that is time.

He would then ask what she wanted.

Silence is what would come, both befuddled as to what to say. His silence would be deafening for her. She wouldn't be able to stand it anymore.

So she would show him.

She would inch closer to him; he would not falter. He watches her with such intensity as her scent grows closer and closer. Inches away from his face, she would delicately trace her gentle nails up against the sharp looking markings upon his warm cheeks.

He would then quickly grab her arm in shock.

Her eyes would bulge with a gasp at his sudden grip of her wrist. Her stomach would flip in nervousness at his knee jerk reaction, but both of their nerves would fall as his hand would guide hers to…. cup his face within her hand.

Feeling her touch would instantly cause him to calm. She would watch with wide eyes as his gaze softens as he closes his eyes with a gentle inhale. She could swear that she would hear a soft rumble from deep within him as he leans his face into her touch. The warmth of his presence would fill the space around them and-

-BOOM!- would go the thunder.

The rain would come crashing down right as her lips touch his. Her eyes would flutter shut as she would gently lean into his strong stature. The echo of his heartbeat would then suddenly thump through him. Such intensity from this new sensation would cause him to become statuesque, for this… this thing that she does to him… this...

This is what killed his father.

At last... he would finally begin to understand.

She would part from him, eyes squeezed shut, slightly afraid of what kind of repercussion this would bring, but her eyes would open to find a frozen demon lord in his stance.

She would have no voice.

"What was that?" He would ask.

Rin's response would be mixed with confusion and trepidation. "You've… never experienced a kiss?"

He responds fully as he would then touch his lips to hers. His speed would cause her to gasp, and the gasp would push him away. Luckily she would grab a hold of him before he could go too far. "Was that not correct?" He would ask innocently.

"You- you… meant to do that?" Rin would be so perplexed.

"I thought that was what you wanted."

He would watch her blink in hurried confusion before she would ask her question. "Is that what… you want?" She can start to feel her clothing stick to her body as they stand in the soaking rain.

"I want…." That's a vague question, and unfortunately, he isn't quite adept to being able to correctly express his emotions. He, too, was starting to feel the discomfort of the thunderstorm above their heads. "I want to be dry."

The surprise of his response would cause an even more confused chuckle to slip from her lips. "Me too," she would say in a defeated sigh and a sad smile. "Come on, I'm sure everyone is worried about us." She would finally break her gaze to walk past him to head back.

But he would have to stop her.

He would just have to.

He would grasp her swaying hand to stop her in her tracks, which would cause her whiplash. Turning around, she would have no time to react as he would swiftly pull her back close to him, this time with his claws gently tracing the shape of her cheek, just like she had done to him. She sharply inhales right before he touches his lips to hers again. He repeated her actions to the tee, but this... kiss would linger within the little hidden meadow filled with raindrops on roses.

He would hope that this is what she wanted, and he would be lucky enough to succeed.

But such an action comes with a dire price, for he would be unlucky enough to crave her touch for all of eternity.

O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

This is just the ramblings of me (your humble tumblr SessRin fan). I was just talking about slow burn romances and I accidently turned my rant into a SessRin fluff piece, so I thought I'd share.