Chapter 9

The next dawned dull, cold and very wet. It had rained for most of the night and the heavy black clouds that hung low over the city threatened yet more rain. The wind had died at some point, but had left a path of destruction in its wake. The once beautiful garden that surrounded Sesshoumaru's home was now a wreck. Leaves and bits of rubbish from overturned trash cans scattered the lush green lawn and many of the weaker trees had been uprooted, now lying with their roots exposed. Although the damage done was not serious, it would take quite some time to put right.

Sesshoumaru cracked an eye open, reminding himself to shut the curtains next time as the dull light was blinding after waking from his peaceful slumber. Lifting an arm to shield his eyes, he sighed softly as he tried to wake himself up. After his eyes had adjusted, he looked around and was stunned to feel a presence at his side. Panic coursed through him as he tried to recall the events of the night before, but it subsided soon enough when he remembered that Rin was staying here as well. Sesshoumaru lowered his gaze to the figure that slept beside him and he couldn't help the wave of affection that he felt for the woman.

At some point during the night she had closed the distance he had put between them and was now beside him, stretched out like a cat and one of her small hands curled around his arm as though she were anchoring him to the bed. She was so close that Sesshoumaru could feel her breath against his arm and as he looked at her, he found himself wondering what to do. He doubted that he could get up without waking her up, but staying in bed when he wasn't tired was not a very good use of time, even if the woman he had been chasing after for so long was in his bed. Suppressing a sigh, he carefully pried her fingers from his arm and was relieved when she sighed softly before rolling over. A small smile crossed Sesshoumaru's face as he watched her as he got out of bed. She could so much like a child sometimes that it amused him. He pulled the covers up over her before disappearing for a shower.

When he returned, Rin was still fast asleep. Smiling slightly, he sat down at his desk to start working for a while before she awoke as he doubted she would let him for very long when she was awake.

After what seemed like an age, Rin finally woke up and Sesshoumaru paused his work to look at her when he heard a soft mumble coming from the bed. She rolled over onto her back, stretching her arms above her head, causing her shirt to ride up and allowing him to see a small stretch of pale skin. Her arms fell back down over her stomach and her brown eyes opened slowly, her hair falling over her shoulders in a tousled manner which was strangely endearing. Sesshoumaru marvelled at how the woman could look so beautiful when she had just woken up. After a moment, she gave him a sleepy smile of greeting before snuggling down further into the covers with the smile still on her lips.

"Good morning," she said in a voice that clearly said she had just woken up.

"Morning," Sesshoumaru replied, fascinated by her as he watched her sit up in bed and stretch.

"How long have you been awake?" Rin asked, propping herself up with pillows and fixing her gaze on the silver haired man at the desk.

"An hour or two."

"Really?" she gasped in surprise. "You should have woken me up!"

Sesshoumaru chose not to reply and shrugged nonchalantly instead. He couldn't find an answer that wouldn't bring about an awkward situation and he definitely wanted to avoid that this early in the morning. It wouldn't do to say that he liked watching her sleep because she looked so beautiful, she would think he was strange and laugh off the intended compliment.

An hour later, Sesshoumaru found himself sitting at the table in the kitchen eating breakfast that Rin had prepared and considered himself very lucky. There was an air of domesticity about the whole scene that would normally have disturbed him, but in this case he was thoroughly enjoying himself. It seemed strange that everything from waking up in the same bed to sharing breakfast just seemed so natural, as though this happened everyday. If Sesshoumaru was totally honest with himself, he would be very happy if this happened everyday.

"So what will we do today?" Rin asked with a smile as she dried the last of the dishes.

"I had nothing planned."

"We'll have to make a plan then!" she said with a vague smile as she sat down opposite him and sipped her coffee. "Do you know how long the rain is supposed to last?"

Sesshoumaru frowned slightly. "I looked it up earlier and they just said indefinitely."

Rin looked thoughtful for a moment and Sesshoumaru suddenly wondered if she wanted to go home. He was slightly surprised when he realised that he didn't want her to go. He wanted her to stay here with him so that he could wake up like this everyday.

"Well, we should probably get some fresh food then," Rin said with a smile.

Expecting her to request to be taken home, Sesshoumaru stared at her in surprise for a moment. "Fresh food?"

"You don't really have a lot of food in this house, you know," she said seriously, eyeing him like a mother about to scold her child. "I get the impression that you and your brother don't eat very well."

"We eat whatever happens to be around."

"Well you won't be eating tinned food and ready meals while I'm here. So, let's go shopping."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

By the time they returned to the house, Sesshoumaru was suddenly realising what a married life would feel like. There had been few people out and about for fear of being caught in the rain, but the few people that were out smiled as they watched Rin drag Sesshoumaru from one shop to another, buying everything she thought necessary for the time they would spend together. It was at that time that he realised what a husband must feel like when out shopping with his wife.

"I'm glad we got back before the rain started," Rin said with a small smile as she looked out the window at the rain that had started to fall.

"Indeed."

Rin turned around and smiled as she saw Sesshoumaru putting various foods away in the kitchen. "I'll help you."

While the pair worked to put everything away, Rin thought over the day so far. It was still early, but she had thoroughly enjoyed herself. She thought that spending time alone with Sesshoumaru would have been awkward, but it definitely wasn't. Although he didn't speak much, he listened to what she had to say and she found herself returning to her bubbly, cheerful nature. Although it not even been a full day, she was already wishing that the typhoon threat would last forever so she could stay with him.

"What're you working on?" Rin asked from the bed as she watched Sesshoumaru working at his desk once more.

"Just some work my father sent me."

Deciding to use his obvious distraction to her advantage, Rin put aside the book she had been reading and got to her feet quietly. She advanced on him, knowing that he wouldn't spot her. Standing behind him, Rin watched his hand writing elegantly across a sheet of paper although she couldn't read what was written. She leaned forward so that she almost touched him, but not quite and smirked when he jumped as he felt her breath against his skin.

"What're you doing?" he asked, his hand pausing its movements.

"I'm curious," Rin replied sweetly, leaning further forward.

Sesshoumaru turned in his chair slightly to look up her, but his eyes widened in shock as he found himself staring straight at her breasts. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly before looking up to see her smiling down at him.

"You shouldn't creep up on people like that," he said seriously, trying to ignore the memory of her voluptuous chest.

"You didn't seem too surprised," Rin countered with a vague smile.

When she didn't get a response, Rin leaned forward more to look at the papers on the desk. She ignored the way Sesshoumaru stiffened in his seat as her shoulder brushed his and concealed her smile expertly behind her calm mask. Her eyes widened as she looked at the papers and she stepped back to stare at him in surprise.

"You're doing work for your father's company?" she exclaimed.

"That much is obvious."

"But you're still at university."

"I'm 25, Rin," Sesshoumaru said with exaggerated patience. "I think I'm old enough to be able to handle studies and work."

Rin stared at him and took another step away from him, before sitting down heavily on the bed, not sure what to say. As she let the information sink in, she felt like she'd been hit by a tonne of bricks as she realised that this man was definitely out of her league. That he came from a wealthy family never concerned her, he was the same as the next person, but the fact that he was that much older than her explained why she sometimes felt so small and insignificant when in his company.

"You seem surprised?" he questioned, eyes narrowing as he watched her struggle with something.

"I thought you were the same age as the others," Rin said with a faint smile.

"You seem to single yourself out with such words."

"I'm younger than they are."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened. "How old are you?"

"20."

It was now Sesshoumaru's turn to be surprised. He knew that she was younger than him, but a five year difference was more than he expected. Rin seemed far too mature to be younger than all her friends, however, as he looked at her, he realised that there was a lot about her that he didn't know about.

"You are younger than I thought," he said quietly, looking at her thoughtfully.

Rin sighed and looked away from him, examining her hands with a sudden great interest and couldn't help feeling a wave of disappointment wash over her a she thought over what she had just learnt. It had taken a lot of thought and courage for her to finally decide to let him into her life, even if only a little bit. Now, as she thought about it in greater detail, it had been a rash decision when she knew so little about him. With her age revealed, she was willing to bet that she was right back at square one and that Sesshoumaru probably wanted nothing to do with her at all now.

Sesshoumaru could almost see the wheels in her mind turning as she sat on the bed staring at her hands. It was true that he was slightly surprised by the revelation of her age, but I definitely didn't change how he felt about her. Age gaps meant very little to him and he decided that regardless of her age, he would still try and win her heart. As a frown creased her brow, he realised that he should probably let her know that her age didn't matter.

Rising to his feet, he crossed the room quietly until he was standing in front of her. Sesshoumaru smirked slightly as he saw her looking up at him in bewilderment. Her eyes followed him as he knelt down in front of her, taking her small hands in his larger ones. For a moment he was silent as he looked down at their clasped hands, before he lifted one hand up to cup her cheek gently as his thumb caress the skin beneath his fingers.

"Rin…" He said quietly, lifting his gaze to look into her eyes.

"Yes?" she replied just as quietly, unable to look away.

"Age means nothing."

Seeing that she was struggling to find a response, Sesshoumaru's hand drifted down from her cheek to her neck. He smirked as he heard her sharp intake of breath as his fingers brushed the nape of her neck before pulling her towards him causing her to fall off the bed and into his arms. She gasped as she felt arms wrap around her, pulling her close against his broad chest. Not sure what to do, Rin froze in place for a moment. Eventually, she felt her breathing return to normal and she closed her eyes, lifting her hands and tangled her fingers in the fabric of his shirt. It felt so natural and so good to be held like this by this man. She smiled to herself and burrowed deeper into his embrace, but soon whimpered softly when she felt him move back slightly to look down at her. Rin returned his gaze steadily and allowed herself to be manoeuvred onto the bed until she was lying on her back and him stretched out beside her, his fingers playing with her hair.

"Do you remember," he started, looking down at her flushed face with satisfaction. "What I said to you the last time you were here?"

Rin looked up at him, trying in vain to get her mind to work but failed miserably as his hand moved back to her neck, caressing the soft skin. She suddenly felt very exposed in her low cut black shirt as she saw his gaze linger on her chest before rising to her face.

"I said that I would cherish you…" She inhaled sharply as she felt his lips brush her own. "… adore you…" This time she gasped when those same lips landed on her neck, placing gentle kisses down the elegant column. "… love you."

Sesshoumaru lifted his hand to pull the shirt off her shoulder as he continued to place kisses against her soft skin. Rin sighed softly as she felt a hand slid down to her waist and slowly inch it's way up under her shirt until he suddenly stopped everything and looked up into her eyes seriously.

"I meant every word of it, Rin."

There was a look in his eyes that made Rin know that he spoke the truth and she felt joy well up within her. It took him by surprise when her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him down until his face was buried in her cleavage as she wept into his shoulder. Having his face between her breasts was something he would have enjoyed at any other time, but he frowned as he felt tears dampen his shirt.

"You're not supposed to cry when I tell you that I love you," he said in mock upset when they finally parted. "I should be the one crying because you don't love me."

Rin managed a tearful smile and wrapped her arms around his shoulders again. "But I do love you," she whispered into his ear.

Sesshoumaru pulled back in shock to look at her, sure that he had heard her wrong. When all he saw was a smiling female, he knew that he had finally won her over. Grinning at her, he leaned down and captured her lips with the lust he had been keeping in check for so long and he was delighted when she responded with matching passion. As he let his hand continue its journey up beneath her shirt, he couldn't help but smile. He had never expected to find love when he started at the university, but as he looked down at the woman beside him, he knew that this was the beginning of a wonderful future.