*Author's Note: I did not expect to have another chapter ready for you so soon but SURPRISE! lol It's a little shorter than I would like but I really wanted to share this with you all before I called it a night. Please remember to leave a review when you can. Happy reading!

Chapter 6

Rin buried her face into Sesshomaru's chest and struggled to control her breathing. His arms held her tightly against him and she nearly cried out when his hands lightly brushed against one of her open wounds. Jacken had attempted to treat her wounds but both of them had been too distracted by the drama that had unfolded before them.

Who was Kitsune? And why did Sesshomaru speak of her with a hint of warmth to his tone? Did he know her? Why did Kitsune place a bounty on her head and want her delivered to her? Wouldn't it be simpler to just have her killed? And why did Sesshomaru speak of Kitsune with warmth to his tone?

Rin sucked in a sharp breath and tried to tap down the rising jealousy within her. She was making too much of things. For all she knew Sesshomaru didn't even know this demon. Perhaps she was an old enemy he had respected? Did they even have a history? And if so why had he never told her...and why did he speak of Kitsune with a hint of warmth to his tone!?

"Rin."

Rin froze when he spoke her name. She knew he waited for her to look up and meet his eyes but she couldn't bare it. She liked being in his arms too much to risk his letting her go. And she knew he would. As soon as she looked into his eyes he would realize how close she was and would gently push her away. But he might as well thrust her from him sharply for the pain that infused her from his rejection would be equally devastating.

How had she allowed things to get this crazy? All she had wanted was to be by his side. To tend to him when he was hurt. To help him with A-Un and Jacken when they got just a little too feisty for his liking. She wanted to do so much for him. He hadn't just saved her life those many years ago when she had been a child...he had saved her sanity. He gave her a goal in life. She wanted to repay him for everything he had ever done for her. She wanted to show him just how much she truly loved him.

Why was he taking her back to the village? Why did he no longer want her by his side? Had she disappointed him? Did she anger him? A million questions buzzed through her mind and she couldn't stop them from torturing her anymore.

"Rin."

Rin felt his fingers grip her chin as he forced her to look up at him. She shut her eyes and held them tightly closed. She felt his sigh against her face and he gently rested his forehead against hers. "Why Rin? Why are defying me at every turn? Even with something so simple as looking at me?"

Rin shook her head as much as his grip on her chin would allow her. She opened her mouth and tried to tell him. She tried to beg him to ask anything of her, anything but to look into his eyes. She wanted to explain that merely looking at him was killing her, because she knew he would only send her away from him and she would never see him again. She didn't want to gaze into his beautiful eyes and know that it would most likely be one among a handful of last moments she would be able to hold in her heart to comfort her in the lonely years ahead she had to face without him.

Yet no matter how hard she tried, no sound escaped her lips.

She felt tears seep from the sides of her closed eyelids and she wanted to scream in frustration. Too much had happened in too short a time for her psyche to handle. She was a fool. How could she expect to saddle him with taking care of a mute. She was so selfish!

Rin felt her breath stutter to a still when she felt his lips tenderly kiss her cheeks and sip her tears. She felt the moistness of his tongue lick the trail her tears had left on her cheeks and he gently kissed her closed eyelids. Rin trembled against him and tried to burrow her body closer to his.

Please don't send me away. I'll die knowing I will never see you again.

Sesshomaru gently kissed the tip of her nose and used his other hand to soothingly rub her back. "Rin. I want you to look at me. I need you to look at me."

Rin felt her heart breaking. She could deny him nothing let alone such a simple request. Though it would cause her agony for years to come, she couldn't help but slowly open her eyes and look into his.

She was so contradictory. As much as she hadn't wanted to look at him so closely, now she couldn't believe she had waited so long before opening her eyes. Was it so wrong to choose to take what memories with her she could? She knew it would probably be more painful later, but for this moment in time she could take this memory with her and it might even keep her warm in the future. This precious feeling of him holding her. She felt...cherished.

Sesshomaru looked at her so sadly. She could barely see him through the tears that clouded her vision. Her breath escaped her in gasps as she cried silently in his arms. Unable to make the pathetic cries she knew desperately sought to escape her.

She felt his thumb brush across her bottom lip and his eyes followed their path. Rin knew she shouldn't, not without permission but she couldn't help herself, she leaned forward and kissed his thumb briefly. Sesshomaru's eyes widened for a moment before he focused on her eyes again. "Rin, you understand don't you? Why you cannot stay with me?"

Rin's tears flowed unchecked and her lips trembled in despair. No! She wanted to scream. Why couldn't she stay with him? Why couldn't she follow him to the ends of the earth like he had promised her she could as a child?

Sesshomaru released her chin and allowed the back of his knuckles to trace the side of her face. "I see the questions in your eyes Rin. I know how much this must pain you. I know a part of you must even feel betrayed by me."

Rin made a low noise in the back of her throat in instant denial that shocked them both, but when she tried to make that noise louder it left her as suddenly as it had come.

"You might not even realize it yet Rin...but this is truly for the best." Sesshomaru continued. "You do not belong in my world. You belong with your own kind."

Rin closed her eyes again in swift denial at his words. "Rin...do not make this difficult. Obey me." Sesshomaru said to her quietly. Rin bit her lip and nodded her head in resignation. As much as she felt the rebellion inside her rise she quickly snuffed it out. What would be the point? She had already proven she could not take care of herself. Her first real foray out on her own and she died. She would do as she was told. She would obey.

Rin opened her eyes once more and gazed into Sesshomru's. She wasn't sure how long they stared into each others eyes. She barely realized when he focused on her lips and very slowly began to lower his head towards hers.

When his lips were within an inch of hers he looked into her eyes again, almost as if asking permission which made Rin want to giggle. Sesshomaru never asked anyone for anything. He always not only demanded obedience but fully expected it.

Sesshomaru closed the space between them and very lightly brushed his lips against hers. Rin's heart nearly stopped. She forced herself to remain absolutely still, terrified any movement or sound from her would break the spell. She wanted it to continue.

His lips touching hers were like butterfly wings. Feather light kisses, over a dozen of them, each heartbreakingly slow. He brushed his lips from side to side against hers as his hands cupped her face.

Rin felt a warm tingling begin in the pit of her stomach and slowly work its way through her system. She couldn't help but sigh against his mouth in pleasure.

Sesshomaru paused at her sigh and kissed her lightly once more before slowly retreating.

Rin's eyes snapped open and she tried to lean forward to recapture the kiss he had taken but he firmly held her still and only leaned forward to lay one light kiss against her forehead. He warmly looked upon her and opened his mouth as if to say something when they heard Jacken in the distance.

"Master! A-Un is packed and we're ready to leave as soon as you are."

Sesshomaru frowned slightly and appeared as if he were debating something. Seemingly having come to a conclusion, he smiled slightly at her and reached down to grasp one of her hands within his own while turning towards Jacken and A-Un. "Ready?"

No. I'll never be ready to leave you. Why are you so willing to let me go?

Rin nodded and returned his smile. Together they walked towards A-Un and Jacken, hands clasped tightly together as he lightly brushed his thumb across the back of her hand.

Jacken scooted aside and Sesshomaru picked her up and placed her onto A-Un's broad back. He jumped up behind her wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her backwards until her back lay against his chest.

Rin smiled to herself sadly and rested within his arms. She thought she fit quite perfectly where she sat when A-Un launched himself into the air and headed back towards Kaede's village. Rin cried silently and let the wind wipe away her fallen tears. She snuggled into Sesshomaru, intent on keeping this moment alive in her memory forever. For as soon as they reached the village, she knew Sesshomaru would leave her and chances were slim she would ever see him again. In her mind it wasn't so much that she didn't belong in his world. She believed in her heart she could adjust to anything for him. She believed that it was a simple case of Sesshomaru not wanting to be a part of her world. And that thought broke something within Rin she didn't even know was there. Something so deep, even within the safety of his arms she suddenly felt adrift.

Sesshomaru appeared to sense her withdrawal and rested his cheek against the top of her head comfortingly as they all flew deep into the night.