Disclaimer: Don't own anything and I'm not making money from this. :)
Chapter 6
Tears were a displeasing greeter when Sesshomaru regained consciousness. Gentle human hands that stroked his face with a damp cloth, however, made searing wounds seem to vanish. The injured demon feigned sleep for a moment, enjoying Rin's touch against his cold skin. Another teardrop fell against his arm and it was then that he could take her suffering no longer. Eyes cracking, he peered up at the distraught girl. Hands that had just been on him were dipped in a bowl of herbal water, the herbs a means of dilution no doubt. Her eyes were as moist as the cloth that she wrung in her cut and bruised hands. He'd only been out for a few days and she had managed to harm herself.
"How did you get those bruises?" he questioned softly, a phrase from a past so sweet.
Rin's head jerked towards him, the rag hitting the water with a tiny splash. Mouth parted and eyes widened, it appeared that she was unhappy with his reawakening. But the stream of tears that slowly fled her eyes and Rin's whispered, "Lord Sesshomaru," told him another story.
Those damn tears. Carefully, Sesshomaru lifted a clawed hand to Rin's pained face, holding his world in his hands. Unsure and dazed, the girl lifted her hand to press against the back of his, small fingers resting in between his large ones. Sesshomaru was not religious on any level, but surely there was a creed that angels should never cry. Callused hand against her delicate blushing cheek, he inquired, "Well?"
Rin's heart was pumping twice as fast, overjoyed at her Lord's revival. The last thing she wanted was to discuss herself, but if her Lord wished it then it would be done. "I did it myself my Lord. I was upset and-", silence from the demon made her finish with, "-I hit a tree."
He nodded slightly, flicking a final tear from her cheek. Dropping his hand, the youkai looked around the small hut they were in. Inuyasha's village. It didn't take a great sense of smell to recognize the mutt's stench, nor the heavy cloud of perfume that drenched his wench. Refraining from curling his lip he asked, "How long have we been here?"
"Three weeks Sesshomaru-sama."
"How do you feel?" Amber eyes slid from the doorway, boring intently into hers. What if it didn't work? In another week he would know for sure, but until then Sesshomaru would have to take extra precautions.
Rin nodded eagerly in response, saying, "I'm fine my Lord. How do you feel?"
Sesshomaru was already upright, squelching down the burning in his sides. "I'm fine now." One more week and it would all fall into place. Now there was only one thing left to do.
Make Rin his mate.
He had not doubt that she would agree. Rin loved Sesshomaru, just as he loved her. Accustoming her to the life of a demon's lady, on the other hand, would be an ordeal that love would have no part in. The alienation from the demon and human world that she would soon face, the choice of whether or not to bear him half-breeds who would be just as shunned, the attacks that would ensue from the disgruntled demonesses who lost to a mere human. All these trials Rin would have to overcome or die trying. Not that the great Dog Demon would leave her to them. They would do this together as they always did.
The long silent woman spoke aloud, happiness apparent. "Sesshomaru-sama, may I get you anything?"
A firm hand that wrapped around her waist and pulled her close was obviously not what she expected. Blushing furiously, Rin looked away from her Lord, suddenly fascinated with the wood patterns on the walls. The beginning of arousal was taking flight, the smell of her desire spreading across the room.
"Rin." One word was all it took to regain her attention, just as always. The lovely red in her cheeks drove Sesshomaru to insanity, but he drove the impulse to take what was his to its knees. Embarrassed eyes glued to his, hands quivering, the girl seemed terrified. An amusing thought considering she'd seen him transform into a monstrous being, slay a hundred demons with one sweep of his claws, and decapitate a horde of humans for merely standing on the same street as he. The one time he tried for romanticism and Sesshomaru received only apprehension and discomfort.
"What is it my Lord?" Rin's gorgeous eyes were trusting and hopeful, pulse erratic beneath his strong grasp, voice lilting in the most endearing manner. Her chest heaving with shallow breaths, Sesshomaru's self-control was on the edge of plummeting through the space of no return.
Inuyasha prevented such a fall when he burst through the doorway, overly loud voice barking, "Hey, Sesshomaru.."
It wasn't Inuyasha's silence that hurt him, nor the wide eyed priestess perched at his elbow. Rin's knee jerk reaction, however, in which she yanked away from the Dog Demon and stared humiliated at the floor was enough to piss the usually calm demon off.
She was embarrassed of him? She was humiliated to be held by the great Sesshomaru, to be an object of his affections? After all he'd done to protect her, care for her, to make her immortal? A terrible rage took his mind, along with an unusual wound on his heart. Never before had Rin hurt him.
"Leave," the demon snarled. Already the rippling of a transformation was on its way and he did not wish to kill them at the moment.
"My Lord," Rin stammered, pleading with him to understand.
"LEAVE!" It was his turn to snap, fangs bared at the quiet girl.
Wounded expression, Rin quickly nodded and rushed from the dimming room, the other two right behind.
...
Authors Note:
Sorry guys, I just had to mess with y'all a bit. Don't worry, it gets better, and everything is explained in the next chapter. 3
Sincerely,
Angels and Immortals