Sorry for taking so long to write the chapter. I have been very busy and writer blocks didn't show me mercy. And again, the chapter did not go as planned. The story was written itself and did not go to the point where I wanted it to go.

Sorry for not able to reply to the reviews one on one like I used to. However, since what you guys really waiting for is the story itself which I finally update, I hope it made up for it. Thanks for the reviews. Don't forgot to review again. :D Goodnight.

CHAPTER 8

Word conts: 500

They traveled in silence. The wind was cold, but Sesshomaru's fur firmly wrapped around Rin, protected her from the chilly air.

Looking at her who clung to him as if he would disappear if she let go somehow made his heart swell with warmth. She no longer feared him.

But why did she fear him?

What could be the reason?

He looked back at the events since last night. She flung into his embrace the moment they reunited; she stayed by his side, his presence was her comfort. Then suddenly she changed. She refused to look at him.

Avoided him.

Why?

She was hiding something from him.

What could it be?

Could the demons harm her in a way she did not wish for him to know?

He looked down at the girl who was still deep in thought.

Had they tainted her innocence?

The furious wrath toward the culprit demons threatened to explode. He wanted to kill them all over again.

She was kidnapped for a day until late into the night; her attire was torn and tattered when he found her.

He did not smell any mating scent on her, but the water could have washed them all away. She smelled of herbs and skin care products; she must have been bathed in them the night before. His nostrils flared in disgust at the memory, she reeked of that demon, Izanagi's scent. He had been all over her judging from the scent that lingered on her body.

Sesshomaru's jaw tightened, his eyes bled red for a millisecond. The wrath in his chest had nowhere to go.

Had the demon violated her?

But how would he ask her such question?

Would she think herself dirty?

Shameful?

To him, she would always be pure no matter what happens.

If she were another woman, he would simply ask her "Has the men violated you?" or simply not concern himself with it.

But this was Rin. His Rin whom he treated with delicate care.

Who he swore to protect.

Had he failed to protect her?

He felt Rin's body tense and looked down. She looked up at him questioningly and he realized his jaw had been jagged, his eyes had turned red from anger, threatening to transform into his true form.

"Why did you fear me?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Rin gasped, her eyes widened in shock.

"What made you think so, my lord?" she exclaimed.

He looked down at her, his silent gaze on his expressionless face told her, 'you have been avoiding me'.

"It's not because I feared you Lord Sesshomaru, the reason why I've been acting so… strange." She averted her eyes to his chest. She knew she had worried him and she must clear the misunderstanding immediately. "It's just… woman's problems." She chose her words carefully.

"Did they…" he trialed of, hesitating.

He never hesitated.

It took Rin a few seconds but she could interpret his meaning.

"No!" she exclaimed. "They did not rape me!"

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Sunday, January 19, 2014