My fingers ran through her dark locks. She had grown out her hair since wandering the wilderness with me. Her hair still stuck out in random places like it did when she was a child, even though she tried to tame it brushing and bathing regularly. She'd always been one to let nature take over. Her brashness and compassion had compelled me to her during her younger years, but now her kindness and openness shone through.
She had been my companion for the past year when she decided to start traveling by my side yet again. Kaede had deemed it Rin's decision to live in the human or demon world. Ultimately, Rin chose to wander with me when she turned 15 years old. Little did either of us know what else her decision would lead to. She had lived to the village for 7 years and learned a great deal in herbs and medicines. Enough so, that another village wished her to act as their midwife. That is what prompted Rin to ask if she could travel with me again. She did not want to live the ordinary life of a human where she went to and from village to village assisting with births. Rin wanted to explore and learn more about the world. She inquired about regional areas and their home remedies when she stocked up on supplies in villages. She wished to compile a book of information to give to other healers. It would be her contribution to the world.
I never went into a village with her but she cheerfully summarized her findings to me. She would take samples of the local flora and preserve them in her book and draw their leaves and flowers. Jaken has been less enthused about her research and consistently undermined it. I released him to my mother's service after three months of their bickering. Rin adamantly defended her passion for the healing arts while Jaken called her notes futile and idiotic since they tended to humans that did not care for her. It struck a nerve in the girl and I could not let it continue.
Within a month of Jaken leaving, Rin and I became more aware of each other's presence. I would catch her watching me with her dark eyes. Sometimes I would ask her what she was thinking and her cheeks would blush innocently. "Nothing, milord," she would respond before turning to look at a sunset. At this point, I would watch the way her eye glistened in the pinks and oranges of the setting sun over the horizon. Her eyes betrayed her thoughts though. She would lose herself in the beauty and I in her. Ron came to my shoulders now instead of my knees. Her body had definite curves to demonstrate her hips and breasts. I was not opposed to the human form like I used to be when I saw Rin. Her lips were heart-shaped and a delicate pink shade. I would myself staring at her more and more since it was only the two of us now.
"How many sunsets do you think we'll have together?" She eventually asked. She sat on a slope watching the sunset. Her arms hanging her knees as she sat. Her black hair trussed in the wind and obscured her face from me, but I could smell the salty tears forming and walked swiftly to lean down beside her. She turned her head instantly and I could see her lower lip trembling. Her perception of time was vastly different from mine. She had a limited number, while mine were infinite. There was always an understanding she would pass before far before I. I tried not to think of the passing of time, but even I knew her life was a moment in my eternity.
"There will be no sunset without you." I hear myself say looking into her large doe like eyes before leaning closer. I take a lock of her hair and caress her face. She leaned into my touch and lightly bites her soft lips. There was no thought to my next actions, the way I pulled her lips to mine and cupped the base of her neck to pull her closer. Rin did not pull back or move for a moment. When I opened my eyes, her brown eyes were wide in shock before a smile and laugh escaped her mouth. I released my hold on her neck. "If this is not what you want, we will not speak of it again," I say. I begin to rise out of my crouched position. The beautiful woman shakes her head before whispering, "This is all I have ever wanted." She caresses my right cheek and pulls me down for a kiss. Under that sunset, we released the passion we'd felt for the past few months. Even now I would catch her staring as we walked side by side and she would blush innocently.
In the last week, she had been acting oddly. She appeared distracted and avoided unnecessary conversation. She had even slept on Au Un's back the past three days while reviewing her notes. These behaviors came after visiting another village for supplies. I presumed she heard startling news or decided to focus on her book. I did not deem it necessary to approach the topic unless it became more of an issue.
I watched her tidy her herbs in the saddlebag for the fifth time in the last hour before saying something. "Rin, come here," I said and gestured to the spot beside me as I lay against the tree. She turns and glances briefly at the patchy of grass. She does not make eye contact, but walks over and lays down facing away from me. Her head rests on my thigh. "You're distracted. What is going on?" I asked as I let my hand run through her hair. She freezes at the words and glances at my eyes. Her eyes become wide and teary.
"Sesshoumaru sama," Rin whispered softly. She did not use my title unless we were with others now that we were lovers. "I don't know how to tell you this." She blinked away tears brimming at the corners. "You can tell this Sesshoumaru anything." I encourage her to continue. She bites her lip and sits up, so she is facing me. She will not make eye contact though. Tears run down her face as she grabs a fistful of her kimono in her lap. "I-I am with child. I couldn't remember the last time I bled, so I went to consult another healer and they confirmed my suspicions." She choked and more tears fell. "I was taking my daily tea to prevent it, but something must have slipped up... there are ways of getting rid of these unwanted pregnancies, but I can't do that. I just can't do it." Her arms went possessively around her stomach. I watched as she continued to cry as I absorbed the information. A child...? Her child and mine. A cursed demon and human bonded through a child. I stared at her thin frame. In months she would be glowing and round with my child. A sense of calm overcomes me.
"Rin," I say and bring my hand under her chin to look at me. "There is no need for these tears." She watches me and her breathing begins to slow. "You hate hanyous and humans. I can't expect you to care for it. I can leave and raise it by myself. No one will know it's yours." She says quickly. She bunches the fabric of her kimono anxiously and more tears drip down into her lap.
"Look at me, Rin." I order. Her face is red and swollen from crying, but she could not be more beautiful. "Any child of this union will be cared for. You are the only being I care for in this world, this child will be the second being I care for because it is a part of you." I bring her into my lap and hold my hand to her stomach. Her eyes leave mine to rest on my hand before she intertwines her fingers with mine. A smile rests on her lips. "I love you." She whispers and meets my eyes again. "And I you," I say and kiss her lightly.