Words

Rin knew that he had been watching her for a good while. Sesshoumaru had not approached her for the entire time she had been gardening. She could feel his familiar youki nearby, causing her hair to stand up on end. She couldn't feel the youki of other demons, but she could always feel his. Kagome had even suggested that it was because they were connected through Tenseiga. She'll probably never know.

She sat back on her haunches and dusted the dirt off her hands.

"How long are you going to stand there watching me?"

Silence was his reply.

Rin sighed. "If you would like gardening lessons, all you have to do is ask."

"Do not be foolish." He appeared beside her.

Rin gave a half smirk. "Is there anything I can help you with my Lord?"

Sesshoumaru frowned. "Walk with me."

Rin stood and brushed off the dirt from her apron.

They walked through the vast gardens in relative silence.

"You are angry with me."

Rin couldn't stand to look at him. She gritted her teeth. "Yes."

"Explain."

Rin took a deep breath trying to calm down, yet before she realized it words poured from her mouth.

"You abandoned me! You said you would come back to see if I had made my decision to go with you or stay, but you made the decision for me!" She fought the tears welling up in her eyes. "If I was such a burden, then you should not have given me such false hope of you ever returning!"

Sesshoumaru stopped and stared at her. She covered her face as she lost the battle to contain her tears. He tugged on her forearms to pull her hands away from her face.

"Rin."

She jerked out of his grasp.

"No! Look I admit I was jealous of Katsurou. I mean, you took him in and made him your family with very little effort. I just...I…You are my only family, but it has become clear that you do not feel the same way. I thought you cared about me. Maybe I was only just an obligation; a sad abused orphan that you took pity on." Rin rambled as she sobbed.

Sesshoumaru could not stand to hear anymore. He pulled her to his chest and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his head on top of hers. The feel of her warmth, the beating of her heart, reassured him that she was alive and well. He would never forget the feeling of hopelessness and soul-rending regret as he held her dead body in his arms; and he would never forget when he brought her back to life and her eyes opened and looked at him. If only he could use words to convey his feelings toward her.

"You have said many things, but even you do not believe what you have suggested. This Sesshoumaru has many regrets, and not speaking to you on this matter is among them."

Rin clenched her fist in his kimono. He was right, she didn't mean half of what she said. "Why?"

"The old woman had told me that it would be in your best interest if I were to stop visiting. My presence made the villagers distrust you. She had been rather adamant that you were happy there. Why would she deceive this Sesshoumaru?"

Anger welled up in her again. "You are such an idiot! You should have spoken to me! I tolerated life there, but I did not want that life by any means. I refuse to be just some villager's wife. I wish to be more!" She wiped the tears from her face. "Kaede-sama didn't approve of you, so it is not surprising that she persuaded you to leave me alone."

Regret and shame filled him for having been deceived. This seemed to be a reoccuring problem.

"I am sorry, Rin." He said quietly.

She took a deep breath, and let the tension drain from her body. She might be angry, but she would forgive him.

"You may not be family by blood, but you will always be mine." Sesshoumaru rumbled into her ear.

Rin smiled and wrapped her arms around him, finally returning the embrace.