It had grown dark, and Rin was no closer to finding shelter than when she first entered the wood. She could hear the noises of the inhabitants, could feel the eyes of animals, either looking at her as prey or foe. Worse, the pain that throbbed from her ankle was excruciating; she was beginning to feel nauseous and faint. She had to rest… just for a moment. Rin sank to her knees, panting. She crawled to the base of a tree and leaned back her head, hot tears streaking down her dirty cheeks. She was tired, hungry and filthy; How was going to get out of this? How was she going to survive?
"Ah- It hurts…" She bit her lip as she rubbed her ankle, the pain electrifying. She felt strange talking to herself; She closed her eyes, searching for some sort of answer. The only answer that came was to call out and beg for mercy from the higher powers.
"What- What am I going to do?" She whimpered desperately. Maybe a spirit would hear her pleas- The Gods seemed to have abandoned her. "Help me… Please…"
It wouldn't be God or a spirit to come to her aide; Instead, it was a demon. Swiftly landing in front of her, he instantly scrunched up his noise in disgust.
"How revolting."
~.~
Sesshomaru hadn't intended to save her; After all, she was nothing more than a human- and a filthy one at that. He had been sitting at home, the fires crackle putting him into a trance like state. Nothing was out of order, nothing was out of place. Time continued to pass uneventfully.
And then he felt her; a disturbance in his peace. A feeling he hadn't encountered in decades.
Someone had crossed the border.
He had been surprised to see that the daring soul to enter the forbidden area was none other than a human, and a weak girl at that; He had half hoped it was a demon, looking to challenge him, or even a group of villagers coming to seek him out; None of them worth his time, obviously, but a good fight was what he needed to sate his demon appetite.
Instead, he was given this pathetic creature. He could tell from her scent that her injury and the strain she was putting on it was causing her pain; the fool. Did she not realize that if left untreated the limb would become useless? Already the infection was starting to take root.
Yet he watched as she continued on, suffering all the way. He couldn't help but wonder what was driving her in such a fervent manner.
Regardless, she was not worth fighting off. The forest beasts would get to her if her body did not betray her first. Better to let her stay in the woods, die here. The animals would have a meal, and nature would take its course. Things would continue on, just as they always had.
'Unless the girl asks.' He thought. It was a whim, a passing idea- nothing else. 'If she calls for me, then I will save her.'
"Ah- It hurts…"
The dog demon tilted his head to the right, angling to get a better look. She had made her way to a large tree, her fragile body finally getting the best of her.
"Help me…" She half panted, half cried. "Please."
Sesshomaru blinked once. Twice.
That was it; she had called out to him, had she not? He leapt down silently, the girl before him unaware of his presence. Yet he was keenly aware of hers; the stench of her flesh, the dirt and grime. The trace scent of her village… disgusting.
"How revolting." He narrowed his eyes as the startled girl looked up at him.
No, not a girl. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes.
She was a woman.
~.~
She looked up at him, his silver hair shining like the moonlight. She didn't know which she was more startled by- his demonic features, or the pure beauty of them. The mere sight of him was quite literally breath taking.
Was this the answer? Was he here to save her? She tried to formulate a response, tried to get the words to leave her lips, but nothing was coming. She began to feel as if her head was spinning.
"P-please…" She managed out, just before falling at the demons feet.
~.~
Sesshomaru considered the situation for a moment.
This girl had nothing to do with him; worse, she was a woman. Human men had tried to best him in battle; a foolish attempt, but he understood their motive. Children were loud and irritating. When they were not fussing they were laughing or fighting. Annoying. Yet he hated women the most.
He had seen the way his father, the great dog demon himself had fallen into a human woman trap. They used their bodies, used their limited wits and fragile states to worm their way into mens hearts and lives. Just like she had done.
Seduced his father. Bore him a half breed mutt.
Killed him.
Yes, he hated human women.
He is a great demon; standing and status unmatched; feared by all, respected to almost a god like rank.
So why should he help this pathetic creature lying at his feet?
As he looked at her, the only thing he could think was 'why not?'