I'm sorry this chapter's so short, but I just needed a closing to the battle, a sort of "draw the line and see what we have left" sort of thing. It's a little... well, a lot... fluffy, I know, but it sets the premises for Sesshoumaru's and Rin's future actions. So that they will be better understood. Like an insight to their thoughts, as it were. I hope you won't be dissapointed.

I repeat, it's just a "transition" chapter, and it pretty much says all it's needed to say.

CHAPTER 8 -Silence

Inuyasha bent to hear Kagome's heartbeat, and felt somewhat relieved that she was still breathing, although faintly. He took a desperate glimpse at the sky above and tried to lift her into his arms. His entire body ached and bled, as his knees refused to sustain the weight. He growled loudly, with frustration and anger. He had to take her to Kaede. The old woman would know how to stop her bleeding.

He tried again, but with the same result.

"No… Kagome… My beautiful Kagome…" was all he could speak out as fear got a strong hold of him and his face fell into the outline of sheer pain. Not a pain of the body, but one stronger, organic, coming from his soul, and ripping him apart. Kagome was bleeding to death in his arms and he couldn't get on his feet to save her.

Two steady, cold arms took Kagome's body from Inuyasha's grip, and the hanyou lifted his head to see his brother. Sesshoumaru's face was firm and Inuyasha wondered how the pure powers passing through his body had affected him. But the main thing was, he could stand, and he could carry Kagome, and as difficult as would have been for him to let her go, he knew that Sesshoumaru would get her home faster. Would get her home.

The afternoon had been cold, and Sango was staring at the blue sky. There were no clouds, only the faint yellow sun was staining the icy appearance of the horizon. She sighed, for the thousand time in the last two days, cursing the moment she had agreed to let Inuyasha go after Kagome by himself. But she knew she could only get in the way. He needed to move fast, and she was human. She would get in his way.

Or at least that was what she had been telling herself, for the last days. She felt guilty, and so did Miroku. The constant worrying, and waiting had brought her nerves to such a tensed condition, that she had snapped at poor Shippo several times today, and could not suffer any other presence around her. All she could think about was Kagome.

'Will she be safe? God help those two brothers. Give them strength and give them faith.'

The air seemed to explode as a ball of light approached in roaring noise. Beside Sango, a tall white figure materialized, holding a broken body into his arms. The taijia's eyes widened and she rushed to Kagome, shouting: "Miroku! Kaede! He came with her!'

Sesshoumaru kneeled, but didn't let go of her, until Kaede joined his position and took a mindful look at the girl.

"Spells… Was she bound with anything?" was what the old woman asked, looking attentively into the youkai's face.

"Yes, a sort of wires that I haven't seen before. Almost invisible, and cutting through her flesh when she used her power." Sesshoumaru promptly responded.

Kaede nodded, and bent to feel her pulse.

"You've done well. It won't be easy, but she'll recover. Bring her inside, Sesshoumaru." The youkai complied, and as soon as he was certain that she would be well cared for, he left for his brother.

The sight of Inuyasha drove a cold shiver down Sesshoumaru's spine. His upper body was covered in injuries, some deeper than others, and a few puncturing his torso, leaving actual holes in his body. Blood was dripping off his arms and clothes… what was left of his clothes. He was barely standing, as if it was only his skin keeping his body together.

His red haori had been ripped apart in several places, and Sesshoumaru could clearly see the wounds on his brother's legs. He frowned and swore death to Naraku. Death by his hands, and a slow one. With a flinch f heart, he approached Inuyasha.

"Will she be okay?" was what the hanyou asked, as soon as he became aware of his brother's presence. Sesshoumaru simply said yes, and watched as Inuyasha collapsed to the ground, losing his conscience. 'He fought to stay awake until he heard this word.' The demon thought, and a reminder of Kagome's love for Inuyasha made his heart beat a little faster.

'A love worth all eternity, although it will die someday, with that human miko. Or… maybe not.' He thought, as he lifted Inuyasha's body and flew away to bring the two wounded lovers together. Who would have thought that he, Sesshoumaru, would fight to keep love's bonds?

'Ironic…' But the pain on his brother's face, his helplessness facing his beloved's wounds, Kagome's pure heart and her fierce will to live all flashed through his mind, and he could not bring himself to despise Inuyasha's show of weakness when he could not carry the girl.

If anything, he admired the hanyou's determination, when faced with this human's endangerment. And the taiyoukai found himself faintly smiling at the thought that that kind of love existed so close to him. It felt… reassuring. There was still hope for human kind, if they could bare such feelings, and draw such power from them.

"Kagome, my child… Where are you?"

'She will be well. And she will see her mother again.'

His speed grew, and by sunset he was at Kaede's hut, placing Inuyasha beside Kagome, whose wrists were bandaged and had stopped bleeding. Sesshoumaru thanked God, satisfied that nobody could read his mind and the relief that went through him. Sango took a long look at the taiyoukai, as Kaede began to clean Inuyasha's injured body.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru smelled the taijia's tears and felt her body pressed against his. He immediately stiffened at the unexpected contact, and remained still.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru! Thank you so much, you have no idea…" she mumbled into his chest, and he momentarily closed his eyes. This human was too close to him, but what did it matter now?

He was already covered in his brother's and the miko's blood, and now the taijia was embracing him. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

"They will recover." was all he said, and pushed the human away. Her eyes were filled with tears of gratitude and relief. Sure he understood her, but he could not simply indulge in this sort of behavior. So he simply nodded, and she did the same, mouthing another silent "Thank you." as he exited the house.

Love was still resting unconscientiously on the floor.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" She had been running like the hounds of hell would have pursued her, and shouting his name over and over. Now, she was standing still at an arm's length from him, breathing heavily, eyes wide open and searching his entire body for… what? Wounds?

Rin's eyes frantic search stopped on his face, and it took no longer than a second for her to say: "Does it hurt badly?" Her voice was so soft, and held so much worry, that Sesshoumaru winced, staring at the small creature who could read his ache. Indeed, he had been in a tremendous amount of pain since the miko had released her power through his body. However, he had had a duty to fulfill.

Now, that duty was fulfilled, and he felt broken. He wanted to rest, and he needed to put this child at ease.

"Not so badly, Rin." He got a chance to say, before finding himself wrapped in another embrace. This was beginning to form a pattern. If either his brother or the miko were to embrace him when they wake up, he would go crazy.

Rin's body pressed against him gave Sesshoumaru a weird feeling of discomfort and release at the same time. He was finally here, with her, and all those strange feelings the miko had unwillingly raised inside him fell into place. Just like the pieces of a broken map, his bits and parts and glimpses of feelings came together, converged and collided, and collapsed into each other, until the taiyoukai had no choice but to close his golden eyes and receive the young woman's embrace, her warmth and her worry.

She had been so worried for him! He had left without any clear explanation, had left her there all alone and longing for him, to pursue what he thought would bring his heart to ease. He had been so horribly mistaken! The miko had taught him that. Ease was something one could only find with others. Mending what he never knew was broken inside of him would be a tough job for this human now holding him tightly. But he knew she was the only one who could do it.

Rin's salty tears of release fell on the demon's armor, as she felt it glide down his body. Soon, the sound of the hard metal hitting the ground reached her ears, and she felt a blistering shiver speed through her entire being as he pulled her close and sinuously curved his arms around her instinctively arching body.

She let out a quick sigh of surprise and disbelief, but allowed him to feel her heartbeat, and her rapid breathing, as she wondered at her own reaction in contact with him. She felt like her body wanted to melt into him. She wanted… no… she needed him closer. And it scared her.

Sesshoumaru's left arm almost instinctively folded around her waist and the right palm rested on the back of the girl's neck, holding her in place. The pain he felt inside his body was still very strong, and at times would send spears through him. He flinched, and Rin gasped at his show of ache.

"Let's get you home." She said, barely aware that her Lord looked at her with different eyes. She was home to him. Holding on to her was all the home he could ever need. But he had no means of telling her such a thing. He had no place telling her such a thing. The differences between them were so enormous, that he could only wonder at the mere fact that he had come across this girl.

"Get me home." He said, with peace in his heart, as he let go of the girl's waist. She slowly pulled away from him and smiled up at his pained face. Her eyes were as clear as the summer sky, but dark as the night. Pools in which he felt he was endangered to lose his immortality. And she smelled like a far away memory, like a ray of light, she smelled like the path towards his imperfection. He was already home.

It was still dark, and he was still asleep. She had never seen him asleep. His face was as motionless as ever, and his arms rested gently, one on his chest, the other beside his body. His white kimono looked the same as the one he had taken off, the one stained with Kagome's blood and Inuyasha's too, with the exception of the armor, which laid forgotten on the field in front of the castle, ever since he had taken it off.

The young girl's arms were bent on the side of the bed, sustaining her chin. She had been seating on the floor, next to his bed for several hours. She had no idea how long it had been since her Lord had fallen asleep, tired, and still aching from Kagome's power. She was asked not to stay and watch him, but she refused to move from his side, even after he had fallen asleep.

Slowly, she had watched as his gold eyes lost focus, as his eyelids pressed down to close the light inside those flaming eyes of his. She had watched how his breath slowly turned deeper and further between, as his body detensed and his features cleared of any forced-on expression.

Somewhere between his falling asleep and her continuous worry for him, she had seen The Demon Lord of The Western Lands for what he meant to her, for what he really was: just another being, in search of what he thought brought him peace. The low and sudden growls during his sleep always came from his chest and throat bringing a cascade of feelings inside the girl beside him.

Her human eyes could distinguish little of the surroundings, and just a bit more of his features, as the night grew deeper and darker, but yet she never closed her eyes, she never moved from the side of his bed. She knew there was no danger threatening him now, but he was still in pain, she could tell, and she would not leave him to deal with it alone. He would never be alone anymore.

Distant memories came to her mind, memories from her childhood, from a certain day when an orphan little girl in search of flowers came across a beautiful wounded creature with cascading white hair, stained with his own blood. She had looked upon the fascinating creature with such stun! He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in her entire life. And his tragedy was so alluring, she realized it now.

She did not know it then, but now she did. It had been his tragedy that called to her. This surreal being, of such immense beauty and power laid there wounded, on the edge of his two embodiments, ready to fall into the depth of his own blood.

A distant memory… His red eyes shot at her. He looked like a cornered beast, for a second. Then, his golden orbs resumed their almost human appearance, and he simply ignored her. Much like then, she stood next to him, waiting for the odd creature to move. Only now, she knew he would never flash his eyes red at her, he would never ignore her like he did then.

She placed a timid hand onto his. 'You were always so alone…' Her small hand was like a doll's, on arm. Her fingers ran across his wrist and felt the softer skin that his scars had left. She knew they were there, she knew they were purple markings of his high rank, but she had always seen them as marks of his solitude.

To Rin, her Lord was marked to be alone, to be untouchable and distant. To be different. To stand out, but to be forever hidden. She felt pain in her heart when she saw how lonely he was. She hurt inside with every cold word that came from his mouth, with every mask of distance he put on, with every moment he refused to share a glimpse of emotion with her… with anybody.

But he looked so peaceful now… She could barely see his face, as darkness embraced them both, silent and so deep. Beneath his skin there was a heart, there were feelings and questions, it was worry and struggle, and it was… life. But he had closed it inside, he had made a prison out of his body, a beautiful perfect prison for his soul.

'A golden cage is still a cage, Sesshoumaru-sama.' She thought, as sadness dripped from her midnight eyes onto his alabaster skin. Her delicate face was covered with a veil of pain weaved by her heart, at the sight of his still form.

"Nobody ever cried for me before you, Rin." Her eyes widened, but other that that, she made no movement. His hand closed on hers and her palm completely disappeared into his. A small sigh sneaked out from her throat.

The demon could clearly see the girl's troubled face, and he could sense her sadness. Tears were still sparkling in her dark eyes, but she wasn't releasing them anymore. It looked like she was struggling not to.

'Again, she closes herself to me. Let your feelings out, Rin, you're human.' He thought, and slowly lifted his other arm to touch her cheek. She was still, and he could only think of getting her to say something. Her breath was reaching his arm, burning his skin. The fire this human held inside wasn't a metaphor. She was literally burning up. He traced the line of her jaw down to her neck and placed his palm there.

Rin shuddered. She could feel her entire body burning up under his touch, but she wasn't able to move. His motion under her chin and down her neck was hypnotizing; she never wanted his hand to leave her skin. She was breathing heavily, and dared look him in the eyes.

The raging demon was gone. Nothing on his face could make you suspect that he was not an angel. The gold eyes melted through her skin and dug into her heart. They were wide open and pinning her to the ground. It was impossible to escape their gaze. The emptiness was gone, chased away by honey stained sunlight.

Slowly, she moved her body and stood up. His hand left her neck when she put a knee on the edge of the bed, leaning over him. Her heart was pounding like mad in her chest, she was absolutely certain that he could hear it! She was almost brainwashed, not knowing what she was doing, not listening to other voice than her body's, screaming for his closeness.

He caught the back of her neck and gently pulled her to him, until the girl leaned further down. His eyes were still locked onto her, and she could feel his breath on her face, coming closer and closer, until her own eyes closed. A soft kiss brushed her forehead, and the scent of his hair reached her nose. Her head rested on his chest, as his other arm searched for her waist and pulled her closer, until their bodies met.

The silence of their embrace was more meaningful than any word. There were simply no words to be used. It was only them, and their embrace. Sesshoumaru slightly turned his body on a side, and cradled the girl closer, entangling his long, elegant fingers in her raven hair. Her heartbeat rhythmically hit his chest, and he trusted she was too lost in her emotions to notice the storm inside him.

She was just a human girl… Who had done what no other being even thought possible. Sesshoumaru learned not to think so little of human girls, as the one in his arms stained his silk kimono with tears of her past worry, and present bliss. She was overwhelmed, and she could no longer contain her feelings. They poured out of her in continuous streams on salty water. She wept silently on the demon's chest for as long as it took the dawn to spear the night.

Then, she was asleep.

The peace inside him was unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was simply… there. She was everything, at that moment. She was frozen in time, captured by memories and asleep in his arms. She was there, and he found that he needed nothing more.

F L U F F Y

Yes, it is true! Mea culpa! Deep down inside, I'm a hopeless romantic! Hopeless. And I love Rin, she's the cutest thing ever! Doesn't she deserve some lovin' from the greatest taiyoukai of all time? Plus... he's hot!