"Sesshomaru-sama, we ought to be going now. Jaken-sama is waiting," Rin said softly. She lightly touched the water with the tips of her fingers after contemplating her future life with Sesshomaru and the ongoing visions of the mysterious maden named Tatiana for nearly half an hour. The unusual fish danced around the ripples of water, and swam so close by her that she felt their rough skin against her hand. When she looked back, she saw that Sesshomaru's eyes were shut; features softened as if he were having a sweet dream, and decided not to disturb him. The air about them grew rigid and cold as the sky turned into a deep shade of violet. When she cautiously stepped closer to him, she observed fresh scratch marks on his left side of his marble cheek. Though she sees them daily, Rin worried terribly for him, but she didn't know what to do, so, she hesitantly built a fire and started walking back towards Jaken.
"Rin, will you be leaving me here tonight?" Sesshoumaru suddenly muttered.
Rin was so startled that she froze for a short while. When she finally came back to her senses, she softly replied, "I did not want to disturb you from your sleep, Sesshomaru-sama."
"Then let's walk back to Jaken. I do not wish for him to worry too much."
Rin replied with the over-used phrase as she quickly put out the fire,
"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama."
But as Rin stepped aside for Sesshomaru to pass by, He beckoned for her with his slinder fingers, a gesture that she has not and figured that she would not ever witness again in her life.
"Rin, come and walk beside me."
Even more stunned than before, but acting involuntarily to his commands, Rin stumbled over and stood behind, but very close, to Sesshomaru.
"No, beside me, Rin, here." Sesshomaru turned around and took her hand. His skin felt cold against her skin, but her shiver was from the sudden warmth that Sesshomaru was pouring into her heart. She could not understand Sesshomaru's actions, and her blush took a deeper shade of scarlet as he pulled her by her side, so close that she felt their shoulders touch.
"Are you cold, Rin?"
"I am very well, thank you," Rin replied quietly, but Sesshomaru stopped in his tracks, let go of her hand, took off his silk coat, and placed it gently on her shoulders.
"I can't afford to have you catch a cold, now, can I?" Sesshoumaru said softly, his features still cold and expressionless. Rin's heart skipped a beat.
They resumed into their positions with Rin's hand in Sesshomaru's and began walking once more, in silence. Rin's mind was filled with nothing but Sesshomaru's hand holding hers, his shoulder touching hers, and his wonderful demonic scent flowing into her nose, leaving a tingling sensation in every part of her body. She had absolutely no idea for what reason Sesshomaru was treating her with so much care, and so much warmth, but she loved it.
"Rin, do you have feelings towards me?" Sesshomaru asked in a tender tone, though his face was still frozen into the same blank expression as before, but his hand held hers tighter.
Rin thought immediately of Tatiana. She did not want to tell him how dearly she truly loves him and how hurt she was when she saw Sesshomaru with Tatiana, but following requests was a part of her daily life. She wanted this priceless moment to last forever, be frozen in time; however it could be preserved, and did not want to ruin it by thinking of Tatiana. She tilted her head back to look at the stars, asking them for an answer.