Won't you save me? Saving's what I need

I just want to be by your side

Won't you save me? I don't wanna be

Just drifting through this sea of life.

Suddenly the sky is falling

Could it be too late for me?

And even if I never said I'm sorry

Well I'm wrong, I'm wrong

Baby now you hear my spirit calling

Wondering if she's longing for me?

And then I know

That I can't live without her.

(Hanson – Save me)

Told ya I'm a hopeless romantic. This thing's what I was listening (yes, over and over again, like a maniac) while I wrote this chapter. It just felt so right. It fit in. And who's the one never saying I'm sorry if not the Great Lord himself? Get ready for some serious fluffiness.

CHAPTER 9 - Nature's course

She had woken up alone, in the Lord's huge bed. Silky sheets covered her body and Rin wasn't aware of her whereabouts for a few seconds, just before her mind cleared off the dreams from last night. 'Was that kiss a dream also?' Her eyes opened and closed a few times, until she gained her focus and looked around.

The room was empty. It seemed hollow, without him. She smiled, realizing that the kiss wasn't a dream. Her standing in his bed proved it. She stretched her small body and stood up, noticing that the sun was already above the castle.

"Oh, my! It's noon… I hope he won't be upset with me…" she said for herself, then took a glimpse at her clothes. They were all wrinkled, and badly needed mending. So she ran into her room, to put on another set of clothing.

The blue, silk kimono, with watery patterns was her favorite, and she only wore it on special occasions, or when she was feeling really high spirited. Well, now both were do, so she got behind the dressing panel and took off her clothes, hanging them on the side. She took a glimpse at her own body, remembering how he had pulled her close and sunk her curves into his embrace.

Rin blushed a fiery shade of red at her own thoughts, but could not help pass her fingers over her skin, wondering if he had been aware of those changes that had taken place in her appearance these past years. She looked almost like a woman now, although her body was still slim and her curves weren't as well defined as Kagome's.

Casting away the thought, she carefully put on the kimono, and after her morning routine, she went outside with the undeclared purpose of finding her Lord.

She looked so small, standing there, with her legs under her, on the low bench in the middle of the garden. Cherry trees were beginning to blossom, and the wind periodically blew petals away from them. A few lingered in her black hair, giving her the aspect of a painting. The sun caressed her dark, tanned skin, and that blue kimono was only enhancing her beauty.

He looked at her from high up, where he stood to gaze over The Western Lands. Naraku was still alive, and had the almost completed jewel. But that mattered less now, when Rin was before him. Her peaceful appearance settled his heart. A book was in her hands, and she struggled to go over the first pages.

He realized it wasn't one of his books. Maybe the miko had brought her something to read, from her time. He almost smiled, thinking that it would be a welcomed change in the routine for Rin to read something other that military strategy, weaponry usage and legends!

He watched her frown for few times, as she turned the pages, and her troubled look intrigued him.

"Good… morning, Rin." He said, serene, and her head snapped up to him. She gave Sesshoumaru a wide and sincere smile, fingering the pages of that odd looking book. It was strangely tied and the characters were even. Not hand written, that was for sure. He didn't look in pain anymore, and she again wondered at his amazing capacity to heal.

"Uhm… Good morning, Sesshoumaru-sama." She gave him a look in which he felt he was drowning. She looked as if she would completely take him in with that stare. They both realized it wasn't morning, but for Rin's sake, the demon could have pulled back the sun from the top of the sky. So he pretended it was morning.

"I'm sorry I've slept so late." She said, still drowning him in that look. He didn't like that. The apologizing. Why was she always to please him? Why couldn't she be more like herself, without needlessly worrying that she would upset him? And swiftly came the answer, painfully true: because of him. He had shaped her like this, with his cold stance and perfection.

But he was not perfect! 'No, but I sure act like I were.' He thought. 'How is she to trust herself, if I keep pushing her to be more and more, if I keep telling her that there is more she should be doing, more that she should know?' Rin was so fragile. She was smart, and witty, and joyful… but so fragile!

He let out a short breath.

"What are you reading this time?" he sat next to her, imitating her position and crossing his own legs under him.

The girl took a quick look at the book, and then returned it to Sesshoumaru.

"Something Kagome-chan gave me the other week. She was worried that you were…" she stopped, not sure if she should let him know of what Kagome had said. It might get her in trouble. Rin wondered if her friend would take much time to recover. Sesshoumaru-sama had told her that she was badly injured, and the hanyou too. She cared for them both, and wanted them to be safe and healthy. But surely Kaede-baba would be the best to take care of those two, and Sango-san too.

"That I was…what?" he inquired.

She looked insecure. "Please don't get upset with her…" He resisted the urge of rolling his eyes back.

"I' won't."

"She was worried that you were keeping me here reading all these…boring books, and that my brain would… atrophy from it." She gave him a shy smile, and he almost laughed. Almost, because he puffed out a smile, and closed his eyes for a second.

Rin couldn't believe his reaction. Something was changed inside him. What had happened there, these last days? What could have changed him so much?

"Yes, I believe that is just the thing one would expect to hear from that woman." He said, deciding that he would never be completely accustomed to her strange personality. If there's nothing more to be said, trust that she would find the exact words to start a riot.

"Pride and prejudice." He simply stated, taking a look on the cover.

"Hai." She nodded joyfully. "It's a little strange to read, because these people talk about our future as if it were past… I guess for them it really is the past. But it still messes with your mind." Rin said, and Sesshoumaru gave her another almost exasperated look.

"Another one of Kagome-chan's phrasings." She said.

"Come on, Sesshoumaru-sama, she's not that odd. Do you even know her? Like, really know her? She's very smart, and knows thing that I bet even you don't…" Rin stopped, frightened. She had really done it this time. Offended him, that is.

Sesshoumaru decided that Rin's mouth was as loose as her imagination, and tried to convince himself that both were assets, and not faults. So he disregarded the sudden rush of blood to his head. Rin didn't say a word, as he got up and extended an arm for her to take.

"Come, Rin." He said, and she remembered the many times he had said that to her. Except now he was offering her his hand. 'Odd.' Was what she thought, but took his arm without ant further thought. But instead of walking off, he stood in front of her, and said the most unusual thing:

"Take off your slippers." Rin stared at him for a moment, nor sure that she had understood him well. He smiled gently at her, and continued: "Take off your slippers and put your feet on mine." Rin was even more stunned.

'She looks so…' but he could not fond the word. (Maybe it was adorable but someone like him does not use such words often. Or at all, if he were to think of it.) Regardless, she did as he asked, and his right arm caught her waist, the other one still holding her palm.

She was at least a head shorter than he was, and so his chin brushed the top of her head when he pulled her to him. Rin was speechless, and could only wonder at the feelings inside of her. She wanted to close her eyes, but he started to lift tem both up in a wide spiral. She felt like she was dancing on air. Litterally.

The ground was slowly parting from her, or she was parting from it, she couldn't tell. Her mind was barely making her aware of anything else other than 'He's taking you away. You're flying with him.' And so, Rin watched as the world became smaller and smaller while she was comfortably caught in the arms of this demon, a perfect embodiment of what she felt every time he would embrace her.

So many times she had felt like the world is shrinking and losing its grandiose appearance when she stood in his arms. Now, it was really happening. The world was shrinking at her feet, and she felt her body light as a feather, carried by the wind. Carried, but not drifting, because he would always be there to shelter her. All she ever wanted rested inside him, and she realized Rin was a fool not to see she loved him.

Her heart suddenly became lighter, as the words took over her mind. 'I love him. I love him. I love you, Sesshoumaru-sama.' Chanted her entire being, and she smiled in content, resting her head on his chest and squeezing his hand. He took a glimpse at her and could not believe such a small creature could make him feel so many things.

When Rin opened her eyes, the sound of a waterfall invaded her ears and the sight was amazing. She had no idea how long is had been since Sesshoumaru-sama had lifted her into the air. No words were said between the two, because neither felt the need for them. Their touch sufficed, and no word could ever describe feeling.

The forest was clearing into the path of a river, and over a rocky cliff poured a waterfall. Trees surrounded the water's flow, and left just a small portion of grass on either side of the stream. Brightly colored, luxurious flowers bloomed everywhere, like an explosion.

The smell was surreal, and butterflies either rested their wings, melting into the petals, or wondering about the blooms. Rays of warm light were kissing the delicate flowers, and drops of water splashed from the river cooled the leaves. It was so beautiful she could cry. She felt herself descending, and soon she was on the ground, barefoot, afraid to move because she would kill the grass.

She looked at him astounded, and then moved her eyes to the heavenly sight before her. She could feel drops of water splashed on her skin, and could hear a bird singing the saddest song she'd ever listened to.

'Of course.' She thought. 'You can't be happy in a place like this. It's so perfect that you can only feel sad, that you may only cry at the beauty of it, wondering what have you done so wonderful that Nature would bless you with the sight of it.'

Her eyes wouldn't move from the flowers, from the butterflies flapping their wings open and closed. She thought that even if she blinked, the sight would disappear, like a dream reached by the cruel light of dawn. So she widened her eyes, sharpening her senses, and listening to the bird's sad song.

He didn't want to disturb her, so he stood behind her, waiting for a reaction, and wondering if it would be the same as his, when he had first come across this place. Humans saw things differently, and he did not expect Rin to perceive it as he did. Still, he hoped she could appreciate it.

By the look of her, she did. He took a step towards her. Rin was facing the river and had her back to him.

"It's so sad…" she whispered, and he remained there, shocked. He did not expect her to see it that way. That had been his thought exactly. This human was deeper than he had given her credit for.

Slowly, he made his way in front of her, and saw her watery eyes wander from one flower to another, from the waterfall to the trees. He felt her emotion, her heart crying from the beauty before her as she realized how quickly all of these things would die, at the end of summer.

…and then, how they will bloom once again next spring, for nobody in particular. Just for the joy of being alive. Just for the sake of being kissed by the sun, and wet by the water, and accidentally found by a demon, and willingly shared with a human.

She ripped her gaze off the scenery and caught his eyes. He looked like a dream.

"Thank you." Her dark eyes were wide open, her lips parted softly and breathing shallow. A constant shiver passed through her body as she stared up at his honey eyes, those perfect pools of immortality. She merely took half a step to him, and his palm cupped her small face.

She never thought she would be hearing him say those words, the words that saved her soul from drowning into her own desperate love.

"I want to kiss you, Rin. Will you let me?" She was shocked, and her entire body was pierced with a hot spear that seemed to shatter inside her soul and turn into cold water. It spilled inside her and flooded her being. She simply nodded yes, afraid that her voice would be to unsteady for him to make out anything from her answer.

Leaning towards her took a lifetime for Sesshoumaru. His touch on her face hurt like an open wound. He burnt with the need of tasting her softly parted lips, his soul called to her and all he longed for was to hold her forever. And his forever was truly forever.

Rin pressed her eyelids together, certain that she could not take in the emotion pouring out of his eyes, but as soon as his breath reached her lips, she shot her eyes open, positive this time that she could never live another day of her life without seeing his sunlight gaze.

He slowly touched her lips with his, and she let out a small sigh, as if detensing from a long time in which she had been holding her breath. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. His other arm tenderly pulled her closer by the waist and his fingers ran gradually up and down her spine, gently pressing her skin.

They were barely touching, and he opened his mouth a bit more, to catch hers. He held that touch for a few seconds, for as long as it took Rin to adjust, and meet him. And so she did, when she moved her lips rather insecure over his.

Their kiss deepened as seconds passed by, and she finally got back the ability to move. Her heart was still pounding inside her chest, but she had come accustomed to it. Her body was slightly shivering, but she raised an arm and placed her palm on the back of his neck, pulling him to her. Her other arm went under his and caught his shoulder from behind, to sustain her body. She was still not sure her knees wouldn't just fail her.

The sky was crying on her in silent, watery drops, and she felt the kiss deeper and deeper inside. At first it seemed a little awkward, and for a moment, he even stopped the circling movement inside her mouth. He was so patient! The girl stood still for a few seconds, then tried to imitate his movement, and made up her own, lightly pressing her lips over his.

She felt a lazy smile of delight from him and she was utterly astonished. Was she the one doing this? Was she the one caught in his arms, kissed by him?

Sesshoumaru didn't intend for this kiss to take place, when he had brought her here. He hadn't made any plan, he didn't need to. Rin was always there. He only wanted to show her this place, thinking that her human senses would find joy in taking it in. But she proved deeper than he had thought. Her sad gaze told him that her heart was as far from a simple human's as his own was.

In that moment, he felt like she understood him, like she was the only one who could ever understand him. The sadness on the world's beauty had always been so unmistakable to him, and yet every human saw it so joyful. He couldn't understand why humans were so quick to see happiness everywhere. Even when there was none.

This girl saw the sadness, and the hope. She understood his feelings.

The sky was crying on them, in silent, watery drops, and he realized it was raining. The soft droplets landed on their hair and shoulders, and the granted kiss of forever ended with a sigh, when he pulled away from her only an inch.

She lightly bit her bottom lip when he gazed down at her, but dared not say a word.

"You'll be soaked." He said, and she took a deep breath before responding.

"So will you."

The rain intensified, and the soft drops turned into larger, heavier ones, as the roar of rain and wind came from the river and woods. Everywhere, plants were beginning to bend under the weight of the water pouring on them, and the butterflies caught in the rain fell helplessly on the grass, with heir fragile wings crushed by the fast and heavy drops.

Rin watched in helpless horror as the small delicate creatures fell like leaves beside the flowers they had been sitting on not ten minutes ago. The change was abrupt, and she couldn't help but feeling a tremendous loss press on chest. The miracle that stood there a few moments ago was now devoured by this cruel act of nature, the very nature who gave it life in the first place. It seemed so wrong…

The storm had started so suddenly, that not even Sesshoumaru had noticed it. Or, maybe he would have, if his senses wouldn't have been caught in this human girl.

"No…" was all she said, looking at the poor dead butterflies, and she cringed to his clothing, hiding her face in his chest.

"No…"

He lifted her in his arms and flew as fast as he could back to the castle. There he laid a shivering Rin on her soft bed. Her hair and face were soaking wet and dripping with water. Her lips were pale and she was obviously very cold. But her face… her face was so sad that it hurt him. He pulled out a large cloth from her closet and wiped her face dry.

A solitary tear rolled down her cheek as she remembered the death of those sparkling moments in time. Wind was roaring outside and rain continued to pour down violently. Thunders and lightning filled the air, and the dark, low clouds covered the once bright blue sky.

She held her arms around the waist, and shivered.

"Rin, we need to take you out of these clothes." He said, slowly, and her eyes gave him a melancholic gaze. She simply unfolded her kimono as she stood up, dropping it to the floor. Sesshoumaru lifted the cloth in front of her, not wanting the sight of her body to drive him to some senseless act.

So he didn't even get a glimpse of her naked shivering body. He only wrapped her in the cloth and handed her another one to dry her long hair. She was unmoving and very silent. He wondered if he had done something wrong. But Rin was still having trouble matching the thrill of their kiss with the storm so suddenly born afterwards.

It was like a punishment. It was like Nature got mad seeing her so blissfully wrapped in his embrace. 'Nature was just jealous.' She thought, and faintly smiled up at the one she loved. Her smile eased his heart, and he softly brushed her cheek.

"I will go change my garments also." She nodded, and followed him with her eyes, as he exited the room. As soon as the door was closed behind him, she laid back on her bed and stared at the ceiling.

The images of falling butterflies flashed in front of her dark eyes, as if they were carved into the ceiling above her. But then, mixed feelings came to Rin when she recalled the freedom born along his slow, rhythmical movements inside her mouth. Nobody had ever touched her like that, and nobody ever would.

His touch had left her with a burning sensation on the lips and in the stomach. What she had been feeling before, that was nothing compared to this. 'Good God, how can I survive all of it?' She wondered how her body will be able to keep that rushing stream of feelings inside. Sesshoumaru's kiss was still running through her veins, like a different type of blood, like a different type of air.

She was fully clothed in a dry kimono, when she heard a knock on the door.

"Yes." She said, and expected to see him in the doorframe. However, it wasn't him. It was Akito, her personal maid.

"Akito." Rin said, looking a little odd. The girl was only a year or two older that herself, and had a beautiful pale skin and gold hair, which she always wore tied up.

"Good afternoon, miss. Lord Sesshoumaru sent me to see if there was anything you needed." Her blue eyes waited for Rin to speak.

"Oh… no thank you, Akito. I'm fine. It's just…" Rin took a look at her beautiful, now drenched in rainwater, blue kimono. She took it off the bed and gave it to Akito.

"Please see what you can do for it to be wearable again, will you? I really like it, and I've been caught in the rain wearing it. I'm afraid it's ruined." Her eyes were so sad, that the young maid swore she would do the impossible to get it fixed.

She smiled at Rin, and noticed the more mature look on her face. It was a slight change, but she detected it.

"Of course, miss. You will have it back in perfect condition."

"Thank you so much, Akito. You may retire." Rin sent her a reassuring smile, and the girl bowed before exiting the room. Afterwards, Rin began drying and combing her hair.

The Lord of The Western Lands took a short time to regain his usual appearance, and now he was watching the storm outside as it raveled his lands. It had been dry, the last weeks, and rain was welcomed for the forest and crops. But as much as he struggled to find the useful part of rain, he just could not release the memory of Rin's desperate face when she saw the butterflies die, so harshly brought down by the heavy drops.

A small pain caught his heart making him attentive. There was something he had forgotten. There was something he did not want to remember, and the great taiyoukai of the West shoved the feeling deeper and deeper in the back of his heart, and hid the squirming thought deep inside his mind.

However, they were both still there, and painfully he had to surrender to their blistering truth. Compared to him, his Rin was like the butterflies murdered by the cruel wrath of nature's course. Her life was going to end in flames just as sudden as it had blossomed.

A sharp pain caught his chest and even as the demon refused to let it take over his body, a pair of midnight eyes crying a single tear invaded his vision. Everything blurred, and his eyes stung. A terrible fear plunged its claw inside his chest and he shivered.

'No. She won't die.' He was arguing with nature, and was well aware of it. He was denying reality, something he had never done before. All because of her.

The claw ripped at his chest, as he refused to let go of his resolve.

'I will find a way.'

GUILTY! The "take off your slippers and put your feet on mine" scene was so Superman-like! But I thought "Hey! he can fly, right? What the hell?" And the view must be wonderful. Okay now, the only reason I'm writing at this stupidly high speed is because of the reviews. If you like it, I'll keep writing it. It's that simple.

So, bottom line is, I LOVE REVIEWS! Send them. Loads. ITADAKIMASU! And yes, that means I feed on them... for my inspiration! Geez...

Oh, and I hope you weren't too badly thrown off by the kissing scene. I just didn't want to say "And then they kissed."Like that's all!Remember your first kiss? Okay... maybe the first was a little off, but this one should be perfect, ne? Otherwise, what would we read these things for? So beware, I like details! There will be more. Wait 'till I get to the other happy couple.

And please don't flame me because of the Hanson song. I know they're out like a light, but I love this song. What can I do?