Chapter 10

Rin couldn't stop screaming.

Sesshomaru and Jacken had returned to camp hours ago and Kitsune had yet to be revealed. When they had first returned Kitsune had immediately stood and rushed over to Sesshomaru. He had seemed to be a little taken aback by her enthusiasm but had said little in response. She followed him around everywhere and found any excuse to touch him.

Jacken looked on in confusion but whenever he tried to speak with her, Kitsune would dismiss him. Rin could see the hurt on his face every time before he finally relented and left Kitsune alone.

Rin tried to get their attention. In this realm she had found her voice and used it to call to Sesshomaru and Jacken but it was hopeless. Worse yet, Sesshomaru though surprised at first, now appeared to be allowing Kitsune's continued shows of affection. Rin was distraught and her voice was hoarse from her yells. She stayed as close to Sesshomaru as she possibly could without physically stepping into his space in the hopes that he somehow will be able to sense her. Though she could walk right through them all, she found it disconcerting nonetheless. Rin's eyes were swollen from all her tears and she was exhausted. Night had finally fallen and Sesshomaru and Jacken prepared to rest.

Rin gritted her teeth when Kitsune managed to maneuver her sleeping area very close to Sesshomaru's.

Jacken, disgusted beyond belief, snapped at Kitsune "Rin! You forgot to douse the fire."

"Do I look like your servant? You douse it." Kitsune replied back haughtily before she turned towards Sesshomaru again. She froze when she met his curious gaze.

Jacken sputtered indignantly. "It is and always has been part of your duties Rin. What is the matter with you today?"

Kitsune held Sesshomaru's gaze for a moment longer before they narrowed at her suspiciously and she quickly ducked her head. "Of course." Kitsune crawled over to the fire and stared at it with confusion.

Rin looked towards Sesshomaru and his thoughtful gaze had yet to leave Kitsune. Rin smiled with the first stirrings of hope. Though Kitsune may have stolen her essence and her mannerisms, she had failed to take into consideration her personality. Whereas Kitsune was used to being obeyed and giving the orders, Rin had always been obedient if a little defiant every now and then. But she never shirked her duties or responsibilities in the group. Kitsune had no idea what was expected of Rin and with Sesshomaru's very observant skills, she would end up giving herself away.

"Rin!" Jacken snapped again and stomped over to Kitsune. "Why do you act as if you've never doused a fire before? Throw dirt onto it and go to sleep. Where you normally sleep." He said with irritation, not at all liking her open displays of seduction towards Sesshomaru. Unless master encouraged her, Jacken would not allow her to make herself a nuisance.

Kitsune's eyes flashed with anger to Jacken who had already moved away. She leashed her anger and threw dirt onto the fire until she had doused it. She turned and found Sesshomaru still staring at her thoughtfully. She wanted his attention but he was too observant by far. She needed to stop underestimating him. If he discovered her ruse he would definitely kill her.

"Rin!" Jacken snapped at her again. Kitsune glared at the little maggot. She needed to get rid of him soon. He pointed his staff to the opposite of the fire away from Sesshomaru. She assumed that was Rin's usual place. Of course, by the masters feet like a dog. Kitsune tamped down her humiliation and took the place of the human by his feet. She dared not glance at Sesshomaru but she could feel his burning gaze on her. Kitsune seethed as she laid down and tucked her hands underneath her cheek. Jacken quickly adjusted himself and A-Un snorted loudly before settling into sleep.

Kitsune waited for what seemed like hours before she raised her head slightly to look at Sesshomaru. She was shocked to find him still leaning up on one elbow and staring at her just as he had before. Had he not moved in all that time? Kitsune lowered her head and did her best to fall asleep.

Rin, though incorporeal stayed close by Sesshomaru's side. As he stared at Kitsune Rin felt hope rise in her chest. Maybe he was already seeing through her deception. Rin took the opportunity to study Sesshomaru as he studied Kitsune. His long silver hair spilled behind him and she couldn't help but reach out and finally trace the purple slashes on both his cheeks. Rin's fingertips slipped right through him and a sob chocked in her throat. She had been an idiot. She had allowed her pride to get in the way. She promised herself if she ever got out of this entire mess she would dedicate herself to serving him again. She had been so selfish. She loved him so much and ached for him to return that love. She had been making demands upon him that wasn't her right to make. He had saved her life and protected her. In his own way she was sure he loved her. But her selfishness had wanted more. How she wished she had been content to simply be allowed to stay by his side. And now, she wasn't sure if she'd ever be given the chance again.

Rin had never been bold enough to touch him without his permission before, but now she couldn't help herself. She traced the purple crescent moon on his forehead and sighed in disappointment. She couldn't feel him. God how she wished she could feel him. "Sesshomaru." She whispered with heartbreaking tenderness.

Sesshomaru's golden amber eyes widened slightly and he turned his head until he was staring right at her. Rin froze. Did he actually hear her?

"Sesshomaru." She said more loudly. "Sesshomaru please hear me. That person laying over there may look and act like me but she's not me! She's dangerous to you. Please don't let her hurt you. I don't care if I stay this way forever, I just don't want to lose you. Please, Sesshomaru please…hear me!" Rin begged.

Sesshomaru's eyes scanned the terrain before him and glanced behind only to continually look back to the spot slightly to his left. The wind had blown and he could've sworn he had heard a voice on the wind, a faint whisper that had called his name. His pointy ears twitched as he strained to listen for more but he could hear nothing. His instincts were screaming at him something was amiss and he rarely if ever ignored them. He glanced back towards where Rin slept. Something was definitely off. He just couldn't figure out what. But he was patient and confident in his abilities. Soon the answers would reveal themselves to him. In the meantime he felt he should keep a closer eye on Rin. He wasn't sure if the danger he sensed was directed at her or coming from her. He hoped it wasn't coming from her. He prayed he had not done the unthinkable and pushed her into hating him enough to wish his destruction. He wasn't positive he'd have the willpower to defend himself against her as he should. If anyone in this world deserved her hatred to him it would be Rin.

Sesshomaru was uncomfortable with the emotion she stirred within him. He preferred the company of his own thoughts and his pursuit of knowledge. He knew he felt protective of her and in the past he would care for the child as if she was his own. But now when he looked at her he found it very hard to see the young child she had once been. On her sixteenth birthday he had realized she had become a woman. A very beautiful and tempting creature. His thoughts at the time had shocked him. When she had thrown herself into his arms as was her usual manner he had felt her lush curves mold to him perfectly. The instant flare of lust had troubled him more than he wanted to admit. Not sure how to deal with the new feelings she had stirred, he had come up with some excuse and had departed her company immediately. He had hoped the distance and time would help him bury whatever it was she had unknowingly unleashed. He couldn't afford to be out of control. His abilities were too great to be provoked by emotions such as anger, or lust.

Sesshomaru was not a demon prone to emotion. He had always seen his father's love for Inuyasha's mother as a weakness. He had blamed his father's death on his infatuation with that human woman. Sesshomaru as well as other yokai had the ability to turn off their emotions like a switch. If they so choose they could be ruthless and never feel remorse. Many yokai chose to bask in greed and anger. In all his years, Sesshomaru had found that the deeper a yokai allowed emotions to lead him, the easier it was to dispose of them. Sesshomaru always relied on his dispassionate nature. It kept him from making mistakes and made him a more merciless killer when necessary. The times he had allowed his temper to win, he would lose time and hardly remember anything he did. He had wiped out villages of humans, and had even destroyed covens of yokai by the thousands before he finally awoke from his rage.

When he had returned for Rin only to find her gone, he had had to leash his temper with Kaede. Her one responsibility had been to care for Rin and she had failed. He had nearly killed the old woman without a thought to the consequences which was very unlike him. The thought of Rin in danger had terrified him. It was the first time in his long life he had tasted fear. And it had been for Rin. Inuyasha and Kagome had great affection for Kaede, and if he had succeeded in killing her than he would've caused a war between himself and his younger sibling. Which would have been a shame as he and Inuyasha had developed a standing truce, thanks mostly to Kagome and their children.

Sesshomaru and his younger brother Inuyasha had had a very rocky relationship. He wasn't exactly sure when it happened but he found himself often willing to offer his younger sibling and his growing family protection whenever he could. Kagome was a beautiful human who could literally make his brother fall to his knees in worship to her. They had two young children that Kagome insisted Sesshomaru visit often. At first he had thought merely to indulge his brother's wife, but to his horror he had found himself enchanted with his tiny niece and nephew. Both had inherited the demon dog ears from their father, his niece Chieko had inherited her mother's beauty and her father's determination. Of the two, she was the most calm and showed wisdom well beyond her years. She was content to simply sit in Sesshomaru's lap and they could sit for hours in comfortable silence. Kichirou on the other hand was wild and would often get himself into trouble. Both Kagome and Inuyasha had their hands full keeping their son from killing himself with his adventures. Kichirou drove his father crazy by constantly saying he wanted to be as powerful as his uncle Sesshomaru. Kagome found Inuyasha's jealousy humorous but Sesshomaru found himself not wanting to encourage his nephew's belief that Inuyasha was the weaker of the two. He had his strengths as well and Sesshomaru would tell the boy of his father's adventures and of their battles both together and against each other. Despite his attempts, Kichirou would sniff at his father's accomplishments and wanted to model himself only after Sesshomaru. When Sesshomaru had explained that Inuyasha had wounded him gravely on more than one occasion Kichirou would simply laugh and say his father had gotten lucky.

Sesshomaru grinned to himself thinking of his niece and nephew. He suddenly felt an incredible need to see them again. Kagome had a very calming influence and she and Rin were great friends. Perhaps a visit would do Rin a great deal of good. Plus, he could check in on his brother. He had become a powerful demon in his own right, despite his human half. Maybe, Sesshomaru acknowledged, because of his human half.

Sesshomaru frowned at his next thought. Perhaps the real reason he wanted to visit was to ask his sibling for advice, as grating as that was. Inuyasha had married a human female and appeared to be incredibly happy. Inuyasha had no trouble dealing with his emotions and Sesshomaru realized that more often than not, it was Inuyasha's harmony with them that gave him even greater strength. Sesshomaru needed to rein in his emotions and Inuyasha might be able to shed some light on Sesshomaru's sudden and very possessive feelings towards Rin.

Sesshomaru for an instant felt butterfly wings on his cheeks. The touch was very faint but there nonetheless. He glanced back to the spot slightly to his left where the faint voice had been carried away by the wind. He allowed his senses to flare out and he searched for the elusive voice and touch again but to no avail. Sesshomaru frowned and looked back towards Rin's sleeping area.

Something was definitely amiss.