No matter how much I love the Inuyasha series, as do us all, I have no ownership of anything Inuyasha.(sigh)
Sorry for the shorter chapter but you'll understand once you read it...at least i hope. It seemed like a good place to end the chapter. (Big smile!)
Chapter Four
Both sleep well into the morning the next day. Kagome slips into the room shortly before noon, glancing at the sleeping Sesshoumaru before heading toward the bed.
Rin had shifted in her sleep during the night, lying on her side facing away from Kagome. As Kagome places a hand on her arm to roll her over Rin stirs, waking abruptly. Before she can say anything Kagome raises a finger to her lips, quieting her and glancing at Sesshoumaru across the room. Rin nods, allowing Kagome to help her sit up. As Rin leans back against the headboard Kagome pulls the blanket back, carefully removing the bandages to study Rin's wounds.
After finishing her inspection Kagome smiles.
"You're already almost completely healed." She whispers, glancing at Sesshoumaru. The demon lord continues to sleep on so she continues. "I'll leave the bandages off but you can't go leaping trees or anything." Rin almost laughs and nods. Downstairs Rin can hear Inuyasha growling at something and she chuckles.
"Inuyasha's having some trouble with the oven." She whispers. Kagome chuckles, patting her hand where it rests on the bed.
"I'll be back in a little bit." Rin nods, watching as Kagome slips from the room.
Rin watches Sesshoumaru sleeping for a time, a soft smile on her face before she shifts on the bed, winching slightly.
God i need a bath. She thinks to herself. Slowly she pushes the blankets aside, slipping her legs over the edge of the bed. As she sowly stands she can feel her legs trembling.
Sesshoumaru wakes slowly, his nose picking up the change in Rin's scent, sensing her moving. He wakes quickly, watching as she levers herself to her feet. She stands at the side of the bed, her hands gripping the footboard's post tightly as she trembles.
Rin slides a foot forward slowly, intent on inching her way across the room to the bathroom when her legs suddenly give out. Before she even has time to gasp strong arms slide around her, pulling her against a warm chest. Startled she looks up into a pair of gold eyes.
"Rin?" Sesshoumaru's voice whispers to her. His voice, weakened as she is, still sends shivers down her spine. "Are you all right?" She nods, one ear twitching slightly against his chest. She can hear his heart, the steady beat beneath her ear making her smile slightly, memories of the night they had spent together coming back to her.
"I'm all right."
"Where are you going?" He asks quietly, carefully shifting his arms around her to take her weight off her feet. He slides his arm under her legs, lifting her gently.
"I was going to the bathroom. I desperately need a shower." Even as she says it she can smell her blood and the blood of the slain humans and demons on her. Apparently he can smell it to so he nods, carrying her into the bathroom.
He sets her on the toilet gently, turning to turn the shower on for her as she unbuttons the shirt she was wearing. It hung down almost to her knees, revealing long, slim legs.
She carefully manuevers the shirt off her shoulders, winching slightly as a partially healed wound pulls before dropping the shirt onto the floor. She sees Sesshoumaru turn, studying her naked form before approaching her side.
"Are you strong enough to stand?" He asks quietly. Rin glances at the shower than up at him.
"I may need some help." She says quietly, a slight smile on her face. He simply shakes his head and begins stripping his clothes.
She can tell that he is aroused but he restrains himself as he slides his arms under her, stepping into the shower once more.
Once under the stream of water Rin sighs, Sesshoumaru slowly letting her legs slide down to stand before him in the shower, keeping his arms around her. She leans against him, letting the water cascade down her body to rinse away the blood and sweat. She leans her head back, her ear brushing his shoulder. His hands remain in place around her waist but she can feel his hands twitching slightly as he restrains himself.
"Maybe I should shower by myself, if it's going to be to much for you." She whispers, more out of concern for him. His hands stop thier twitching and after a second he leans his head down, his lips brushing her ear.
"If you want me to leave, i can step out." She chuckles, tipping her head to the side and giving him access to her neck. He growls slightly, the vibrations echoing in her own chest as he leans down further, his lips trailing down her jawbone and skipping to her neck, leaving a trail to her shoulder. He nips the skin there with his teeth and her breath hitches slighlty in her chest.
His hands slide down her belly to her hips, hesitating as his hand gently brushes over one of the many gashes that cover her body. The feel of the wound agianst his palm brings him back to himself and he lifts his head from her shoulder. The low growl in his chest dies and Rin looks up at him, confused.
"What is it?" She asks as his hands trace the jagged wound across her hip, stretching from the front almost all the way around and up to her back.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" He whispered. Rin frowns, turning in his arms slowly.
"What?" He doesn't meet her gaze, staring over her shoulder at the black and white shower curtain.
"I have always protected you in the past. I never let any harm come to you." He says quietly, his hands resting lightly on her hips as if they were slow dancing. "Why didnt' you wait for me?"
Rin stares up at him, confused. Slowly she reaches up, taking his face gently in her hands and turning his face to look at her. His eyes, only moments ago glazed with passion, are now sad.
"Sesshoumaru, when i was that child following you back then, you were my guardian in every way i thought possible, except one. Back then, i knew that you would never accept my heart. You were the guardian of my body." She whispers. She looks at her hands on either side of his face, her claw tips brushing his skin. "Now that i am a demon, i no longer need you as my body guard." The pain from her words instantly reflects in his eyes and he moves as if to release her but she stops him, pulling his face closer to her. "I need you even more. I need you as the guardain of my soul." She takes her hands from his face, holding up her hands before him and showing him her claws. "Now that i am what i am, you have gone from the guardian of my body to the guardian of my heart."