(Edited Version)
Several hours later, hours of Sesshomaru guarding Rin and staring at the sky as it reflected off his face, the sun slowly began to peak through the trees. Sunrise, morning had its own smell. It reminded him of Rin, she always smelled like flowers covered in dew during the first hours of morning. She slept comfortably in his arms. At some point he had called Aun over and set her stomach down on the dragon's back.
Aun guided Sesshomaru's steps. He led them back to Kaede's village and away from danger. As the sun rose he heard Rin stirring. She felt Aun beneath her moving, "no," she felt her strength come back, "no…no...no!" She flew off A-Un in one leap and ran as fast as she could. She couldn't tell how much distance they had covered while she slept. She ran as fast as she could towards the mountain. Kohaku I won't let you down. I'm going to save you!
She knew Sesshomaru sense of smell was still blighted and his sight inhibited. She tried to make her footfalls as quiet as possible to avoid his ears. It didn't help, he was on her trail within moments of her leaving the dragon's back. He jumped over her head and grabbed her by the shoulders. She had no more tricks to stop him and knew besides Inuyasha no one stood a chance against him. It didn't stop her from kicking him in the stomach. Both of their eyes widened in surprise, although she felt like it had hit a stone rock and she regretted the action as soon as it was completed for the pain it caused.
"Damn it, Sesshomaru let me go!" She screamed at him as he dragged her back to Aun.
"Rin it is a trap, wherever you go, you go towards a trap," he scolded her, "I will not allow it. Not even for Kohaku." He turned her around so her back faced his chest and held her with one hand on each of her elbows.
Rin removed a knife from her sleeve, it was one Kohaku had given her, made from the teeth of a snake demon. It was not venomous. She sliced through the hand that held her. She heard Sesshomaru hiss, she knew that she had to get away. This time she only made it a few steps before he had her again, his eyes were blazing, near red, she knew she was in trouble. "Why can't you understand?" His eyes blazed red clearing his vision somewhat.
"This Sesshomaru understands you are walking towards a trap and although you have grown in cunning and strength you cannot take on a Bear yokai yourself." His chest was puffing, "I will not lose you Rin."
"Why? Why can't you just let me go?" She grabbed his face and pulled his mouth to hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck. She poured her emotions into the kiss, tasting the inside of his mouth, as she had the night under the full moon.
He pushed her back by the arms, "this can't happen," he said firmly.
"It already did," she caressed his cheek, "let me go, please."
"I can't," his voice lowered to a whisper, he rest his forehead against hers, "it is a trap." He massaged her arms, willing his lips to remain parted from hers, "tell me what happened?"
She shook her head, "I can't. Sesshomaru-sama, forgive me." She touched his wrist where it bled. She regretting harming him. "I'll fix your eyes, but you must promise me, that you will let me go and that you will not follow me until sundown," she could barely breathe. She pressed her mouth into his again, her tongue darted into his mouth.
He pushed her back, "stop."
"Let me have this," she said quietly her hand still on his face, "give me the strength to go into battle."
His lips came down on hers again, tenderly at first then firmly, his hands greedily pulled her waist against his. "Heal my eyes and smell, I will let you go," he broke their embrace.
"You must keep your promise, you must not follow me until this evening." She persisted. She gripped the material of his haori.
"You accuse me of lying?"
"I accuse you of not trusting me, of not believing in me," she pursed her lips, "let me go."
"I do not like this," he snarled. He straightened to his full height. He released her arms.
"You will give me Aun, you killed my horse, I will not make it in time on my own."
"You will stop making demands Rin," Sesshomaru snarled at her, his eyes reverted to their natural gold. "Aun." He called. The two headed dragon lumbered forward, scales glinting in the morning sun. He handed her the reigns.
Rin stood up and looked around, she needed tree root, and silent berries. The cure had to be simple, if it was complicated she would have had to return to Jinenji. She walked around the grove flipping over rocks and inspecting bushes. She found some of what she needed near the trunk of an old pisceas and the other growing near the mouth of what looked like a racoons home. Sesshomaru's eyes followed her. She was amazed that even though he was mostly blind he could still track her. The last thing she needed was from the lake, but she didn't know how far they were from it. Instead she dug in the ground, enjoying the smell of fresh soil. "Found it." She pulled two small stones from the ground and beat them together with the herbs until they became a paste. She placed the paste in her palm and walked towards Sesshomaru. He stood easily head and shoulders over her, "kneel down Sesshomaru-sama."
He complied, he felt that feeling again, the one where his chest tightened, and breathing became labored. What was this girl doing to him? He felt her small fingers rub the paste under his nose. She was gentle and deliberate. "Close your eyes," she instructed, "I have to put this on your eye-lids." He complied again, but now that his smell was coming back, he could smell the sweet herbs under his nose but he could smell how close she was to him. She smelled of the earth and berries, he felt a fire in his stomach again, he couldn't explain it. He felt her fingers over his eyes, she placed the paste on the right and then on the left, "there." She whispered, her lips were dangerously close to his and her hand rested on his cheek, she stroked the stripes on his cheeks.
When his eyes opened, he saw her face, a face he hadn't seen in almost a year not since…he wouldn't let his mind go there. Deep brown moon shaped eyes, full lips. "your stomach is better now," he commented not moving his face. "Rin, why do you continue this?"
She didn't know the answer herself, "what," her voice quieted. He took her hand in his and removed it from his face.
He stood quickly before he gave in to her eyes, he could ask himself why these feelings were happening. Why did holding her hand take his breath away. When had it started? When had his emotions towards her changed from a doting father to something he did not want to admit. "You touch my face as though we are intimate."
She hung her head, her cheeks flushed. "Why did you return?"
"We must speak, after you have completed your task," he told her. This time it was his hand that caressed her. He feathered it through her hair by the nape of her neck.
Rin nodded her head, her lips trembled at his touch against her skin, "I have to go, remember your promise. Do not follow me until tonight." She wanted to explore what was happening closer but there was no time. She moved closer to him, "we can't."
His mouth was close to hers, his bottom lip brushed past hers, he pulled her close to him, she went rigid. Their mouths met in warmth, "Rin," he lay his crescent moon against her forehead, "don't die." He placed her right hand over his heart, he felt something stirring inside of him, something yearning to keep her with him, "don't die."
"Believe in me," she whispered.
"I do," he released her, "go."
Rin climbed onto A-Un's back, "go Aun, hurry!" What was she thinking? She kissed him again? What started as an innocent game when she was fifteen somehow persisted. That first kiss she planted as a dare haunted her. She had let her mouth fall on his to satisfy her friends, but then it grew into something else. Everything started changing until that night a year before beneath the full moon. Before, she wanted to be close to him because it felt like a father who cradled her and kept her safe. Now she wanted something else from him. She cursed not having anyone to talk to about her feelings, or what was happening. Kaede told her she was ready to wed when she was fourteen, but Rin wanted to wander the world like she had as a child. She had enough of humans, and of Yokai.
"Hurry Aun," she said again. She thought of what she had done, how her lips felt against his. She touched her mouth and shook her head. She spent the last year trying to put the thought of him out of her head. She knew that he was too proud to ever have a real relationship with her. "Why did I kiss him again Aun?" That first kiss was so stupid, it was a dare from Kohaku and her friend Satsu, then it happened again one day when she went swimming.
Rin was fifteen, at least she thought she was. She knew that she was around seven seasons old when her family was killed. She didn't count the cycles of the moon until that fateful day, nearing the end of the summer when she found the collapsed Dai-yokai in the forest. She knew that she was nearing her eighth season then. They traveled together for nearly a year before he deposited her with Kaede. Their parting had been bitter, but over time she learned to adjust to life in the village. She made friends with Satsu and Kohaku visited often. It wasn't until Kagome-sama returned that she bullied Rin into choosing a birthday. At the age of eleven she had run up to Sesshomaru-sama and asked, "when is Rin's birthday?"
"Birthday?" The dai-yokai questioned the little girl.
"Kagome-sama says everyone has one. She celebrates hers, in her time, does Rin have a birthday?"
"Everyone has a birthday silly girl," Jaken scolded her.
"When is Sesshomaru-sama's birthday?" Rin asked him.
"The first new moon of winter," he replied quietly.
"When is Jaken-sama's birthday?"
Jaken rocked on his heels thinking, "the third halfmoon of spring."
"When is Rin's?" She asked.
"How would we know?" Jaken smarted off.
Sesshomaru flicked the imp in the head with his whip.
"When did Sesshomaru-sama find Rin?"
She remembered the flash of annoyance that crossed his face. Sesshomaru was adamant that she found him, not the other way around. For once he didn't correct her, "the last full moon of summer," he answered her quietly.
"Then that will be Rin's birthday! Rin is twelve then," she ran off to tell Kagome-sama.
Those times were so simple, it was the days leading up to her sixteenth birthday that had become more complicated. Why, oh, why she ever let Satsu and Kohaku convince her to kiss Sesshomaru-sama was beyond her. The last encounter before things became, well different was not the word, strained couldn't explain it, just not the same happened the month before Rin would turn sixteen. Kagome-sama gave her something called a bathing suit, she brought one for Satsu and some of the other girls. She told them it was more comfortable to swim in. Rin's was magenta, it reminded her of Sesshomaru-sama's stripes on his face. It was one whole piece but there were mesh openings around her stomach that showed her navel.
"You look hot," Kagome-sama told her.
"I am hot, the temperature is very high," the sun was beating down on her skin. She was typically fairly pale skinned until the summer months came. Then her tone darkened.
"That's not what I mean," Kagome-sama laughed at her. "I mean you look attractive. He's coming today isn't he?"
"At sunset as usual, although I shouldn't wear this when he comes," Rin fingered the thick strap on her shoulder.
"No you should," Kagome laughed at her.
"Why?"
"You two, you think I don't know about that 'innocent' kiss?" Kagome rolled her eyes.
Rin flushed, "I didn't mean too. Well I did meant too, but he didn't return it, and it was just a dare."
"Uh-huh," Kagome tapped her lips, "well if I were you, I would keep it on."
Rin sighed, "I'm going swimming now," she said and walked away. The village was blessed with two sources of water. A flowing river to the west of the main part of the village and a lake that was near Inuyasha's forest. Rin met up with Satsu who wore a black swimsuit similar to her own. They grasped hands and ran to the lake laughing. Inuyasha sat high in a tree limb with his back turned. He and Kagome had set hours in the summer for the women and men to use the lake, always at separate times. There was always some man or teenage boy that tried to take a peek, which was why he sat with his back turned in the tree. Especially on days like today.
"Do you think Hideki will try to come spy on us again?" Rin laughed as she ran into the water with Satsu.
"No, Inuyasha and Kohaku pummeled him last time," Satsu swam out to the middle of the lake.
Rin followed her, using breast strokes to get there. They both took big breaths of air and swam into the center of the lake. There were other young girls and a few little boys with their mothers enjoying the cool of the water. Rin swam up with a smooth rock in her hand, she and Satsu laughed and played in the water, splashing each other and giggling, until they both wanted to lounge in the sun.
In the center of the lake there were several large rocks, big enough to rest on. Rin swam out towards them and pulled herself onto the rock. She helped Satsu out. Satsu was a gorgeous girl, with curves Rin could only dream of. Satsu's body was full and she was easily the talk of the village. She had many suitors knocking on her door, none that she was interested in. Rin's body was another story completely. It was flatter and stronger. Three years of training with Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango and Kohaku had made her leaner and stronger. Her breasts were tiny pathetic things that were the size of apples. Rin had few prospects, but most were terrified of the demon Lord who came to visit her.
Rin lay on her back with her knees bent on the stones. She and Satsu talked idly about life in the village and places they wanted to see. Rin told her the many places she saw while travelling with Sesshomaru-sama. "If you could go back to any place where would you go?" Satsu asked her.
"Mt. Hakerei, it was peaceful there," she said. The mountain in the mist was like a dream. She failed to mention that was also one of the many places she had been kidnapped. They both stopped talking and enjoyed the warmth of summer as it dried them out. Rin covered her eyes to blot out the sun with her arm and let her mind drift. She didn't pay attention when she heard small children and other women running out of the lake. She barely noticed a pair of feet land next to her on the rock.
"Rin?" The voice was tenor, commanding and sounded flustered.
"Huh?" She answered not registering the voice.
She felt something soft cover her. She pushed it off annoyed finally opening her eyes, Sesshomaru's haori lay next to her in a pile where she had shoved it. She sat up staring at him. He was in just his under layer, his armor was on the side of the lake. His swords were still strapped to his chest. She never noticed before how lean he was. "Cover yourself." He put the white haori with the red sakura flowers back on her.
She threw it off, "no, I'm swimming, besides there are no men here, except you, and it's the women's time to swim and it's not sunset! Why are you here?"
"You are not dressed modestly, even for swimming," he pushed the haori back on her.
Satsu sat up, entertained by the arguing. Sesshomaru turned his eyes on her in a fury. She dusted off her legs and said, "I think I should go home," she jumped into the water and swam away.
"Hey Satsu!" Rin called her, "come back! You made everyone leave you're such a grouch!" She yelled at Sesshomaru. She stood up and threw his haori in the water. She enjoyed watching the anger rise in his eyes. "You know what are you going to do when I am naked with a husband having sex?"
If it was possible for him to pale, he did. He took a step towards her. She saw his hand coming and dashed into the water. She dove head first into the lake and swam deep into the water. She hid behind the bottom of the boulder. She saw a streak of light, and Sesshomaru was under the water. Rin smiled watching him. She knew she had to remain still, he couldn't smell her under water, but he would hear her. She felt her chest burning, begging for air. She gazed at his shape, wow, she thought. He was chiseled, defined, he had taken off his inner layer and his shoes. She saw his striped feet again and giggled. The noise was too much she swam for air.
She knew he saw her. She darted for the top grabbed a loose bamboo branch and dove back down. He was on her with tail. She tried to outrun him, but he was just as fast in the water as he was out of the water. She felt a hand grip her waist and hoist her out of the water. As soon as they were back on the rocks, she tried to get out of his grip, "I'm trying to swim!" She pushed back on his chest.
"Oi! Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha called from the edge of the lake, "it's time for the ladies to swim, not you!"
"Bakusaiga!" Sesshomaru swung at Inuyasha. The waves of green energy sent Inuyasha flying. He was protected by Tetsusaiga's barrier.
In the moment of distraction, Rin slipped out of his grip, using the wetness between them to wiggle loose. She dove into the water again, bamboo branch still in hand. She barely heard Sesshomaru curse then dive in after her. She found some weeds to hide behind. She pushed the bamboo shoot up until she blew it clean of water and breathed slowly. She watched him search for her. His white hair float in the water, rippling around him. She lusted after his muscular stomach. It flexed as he swam in the water. For the first time she saw him without his bulky mokomoko. So he can control its appearance, she laughed giving away her location again. In a flash she was back on the rock in his arms. "Get dressed," he scolded her.
"No," she flicked water in Sesshomaru's face.
He closed his eyes before the water droplets got in his eyes.
"I made you blink," she chuckled, "now let me go."
"What are you wearing?" He asked her. His eyes took on a red sheen she hadn't seen before.
"It's called a swimsuit. Kagome-sama says all the girls wear one in her time. Do you like it?" She blushed cursing herself for saying it.
His nose came to her neck, sniffing her skin. His nose ran up her throat until his lips were very close to her own, "it is not modest."
Rin broke out in goosebumps. "There are no men here," she tried to get out of his grip, "except you."
"I am not a man," he said quietly, his nose brushed over hers again giving her goosebumps. "Someone might see you."
"Is that a problem?" Rin couldn't believe she was flirting, it was the first time she knew she was flirting with him.
"It could be," his lips brushed past hers, nearly landing on them.
"Well, then it's good I have my Dai-yokai to protect me," she touched his face as it neared hers, "Sesshomaru-sama?" That was when the butterflies started, her stomach fluttered, her heart pounded. She didn't understand what he was doing with his nose and why he kept running it up the length of her neck. Her lips trembled the closer his nose came to her mouth.
"You may tempt someone," he said quietly. She had never heard his voice take on that pitch before.
"Tempt?" The question nearly died on her mouth as his lips waited millimeters from her own.
She had hoped that he would move his mouth closer to hers. Instead he threw her into the water. She squeaked a protest, flopping on her back then swimming to the surface, "you're mean!" She yelled at him.
He flew back to the edge of the lake and sat down with his back turned. He threw his wet clothes at Jaken to dry. Rin tread in the water annoyed that he left her alone. "Just for that I'm walking back to my hut like this," she said under her breath. The words were regretted instantly, she was swallowed in a white light and deposited seconds later at the entrance of her hut by a very wet and grumpy dog demon.
As Rin rode on Aun she blushed recalling the memory. What's happening between us?