((AN: Hey all, I'm back with another short story! ^.^ I want to thank you guys very much for your patience as I try to come up with new ideas for this little series, and for watching and sticking with me, those that can.
I'm still binging quite nicely through the old Inuyasha show (as of this post I'm about at the end of the Band of Seven arc in season 5), and a past episode featuring Sesshomaru's group meeting Koga's has given me a bit of inspiration for this one.
I could be wrong as there are episodes coming up that I probably haven't seen at all yet, but it didn't seem that Rin ever got much closure regarding her fear of the wolf demons. I like to think though that because Koga is a good friend of the main group, they eventually get the chance for a talk to acknowledge the events, and so I wanted to imagine it here (it was also fun trying my hand at writing Koga; he's one of those characters that I didn't care much for when I first watched the show, and now as I'm watching through it all with new eyes, I actually find him a fun character). It made for a nice little dive into her thoughts on old fears as well. With of course the added bonus of a sweet conversation between her and Sesshomaru. ^.^ Because I'm a hopeless romantic and my shipper heart must be sated. xP
I decided to put this event around the early stages of her pregnancy, because we need more of those moments. Plus it gave me a chance for a brief humorous segway into a fun headcanon regarding her cravings. xP
Do enjoy, and I hope to be around sooner for another one! ^.^))
Old Fears
It wasn't very often that Rin found herself pondering about how fate worked. She was a young woman whose feet had always wandered more than her mind...but her thoughts couldn't help but be drawn that way one peaceful evening as she was sitting out by the stone beside Kaede's hut, humming quietly as she worked on a bit of sewing for Sango's little ones (whom she was watching for a few hours), and occasionally ran a hand over her own pregnant belly.
She had finally started to show a bump, though it was still fairly hidden under her kimono; every time she looked at it and felt it, she would also feel her heart fill with warmth. There was something about finally seeing the evidence of her and Lord Sesshomaru's bond, their child, growing within her...it was real, no longer hard to believe, and she wondered how much happier she could possibly be...how things had seemed to turn out this way. And not just for herself...but for every one of the friends she'd made.
I hope I can be a good mother, Rin thought as she glanced up toward where Kin'u and Gyukoto were having a play sword-fight with branches they'd found. I know those two give me a bit of practice, not to mention the younger kids in the village that like to follow Granny and Lady Kagome around. But mine will be a half-demon...there will be a lot more to learn about that...yet it's not like I won't have help. And in this place...they won't grow up in fear.
Rin's thoughts then turned to the memories that she could never be rid of, no matter how time seemed to heal the scars. Her village had been defenseless...they had foolishly thought that they were safe from the ravage of the wars, being so far into the dense woods...but bandits and demons respectively had eradicated the numbers.
The former were still often the perpetrators of her nightmares. The latter, not as much...after all, she'd had some minimal contact with members of the wolf demon tribes since, as her in-laws and their friends were amiable companions with them. Still...sometimes, hearing the howls in the darkness of the night still made her tremble, and the places where she was bitten would twinge, as if the nerves themselves remembered. Whenever the wolf demons were nearby, she would try her best to just stay out of their way, often observing their interactions with a stronger presence (Inuyasha or Sesshomaru) between herself and them.
Letting out a relaxing sigh, she continued on with her sewing. After a minute, though, her ear caught a bit of conversation going on just up the hill from the house. A couple of the village men were carrying a log between them and chatting, just loudly enough that she could overhear. They more than likely wouldn't see her, being upward on the other side of the building.
"I'm not sure what to think of all these demons coming around here to visit. The young priestess has a lot of odd friends."
"Get over it already. We have a lot of protection here, can't look a gift horse in the mouth. Besides, it's just the one new demon. The one in the wolf furs."
"Eh, still gives me the creeps."
Rin's brow furrowed, and she paused in her work. Wolf furs? It couldn't possibly be…
She barely heard the sound of rapid footsteps stopping nearby. And then, just as she turned her head, a new voice called from the other side of the path. "Well, well! If it ain't the little morsels!"
Abruptly, the twins stopped their playing to gape happily at the new arrival.
"It's the wolf man!"
"Koga! Hi!"
Rin watched as, without any fear of the demon whatsoever, the girls ran up to him. She stood up as well, but stayed where she was, just watching...even after so long, she couldn't find the will to order her feet to move toward one of the wolves.
"Hey now, who gave you two permission to grow up so fast, huh?" the canid demon grinned down at the little humans, who giggled.
"Yeah, we've gotten pretty big!" Kin'u smiled proudly.
"Bet you can't lift us anymore," Gyokuto challenged.
"Oh yeah, you wanna bet, huh? Here, grab on," he smirked and bent over to allow them to each grab his upper arm. Once they were holding tight, he stood up again and raised his arms with little effort, snorting as the girls kicked their legs beneath them and laughed with genuine mirth. "See that? Light as a feather!" the wolf demon crowed (although she swore that she heard a grunt in there somewhere).
As he let them down and ruffled their hair, Rin smiled at the heartwarming sight of the demon being so playful around the little ones; in her logical mind, she knew that she no longer had anything to fear from Koga. It was hard to see that this was the same man who had coldly ordered his wolves to kill and eat to their hearts' content in her old village. She'd told that part of her story to Kagome and the others, and they'd comforted her, saying how changed he and the wolf tribe had been since.
Even so...old fears had a habit of lingering, and Rin was starting to feel her nerves tightening, ready to call out for her husband if she suspected so much as one wrong move from the visitor. She knew how fast he was, even without the Shikon Jewel shards empowering his legs...would she even have time to call out for help…?
"Lady Rin, did you see who's here?" Gyokuto called, bringing her thoughts back into focus, and her eyes again met those of the smiling and excited twins.
"I do see!" she replied with a chuckle. "Why don't you two go back inside for a moment, and see if Granny needs help."
"Aw, we wanna play with him!" Kin'u complained as her sister frowned.
"Now now, listen to your caretaker; I'll be out here still," the wolf chuckled.
The youngsters sighed and relented, giggling as they raced each other back toward the hut. As they did, Koga sent a friendly grin in Rin's direction, raising a hand in greeting. "Hey, long time no see. Rin, right? Sesshomaru's girl?"
"That's right," she nodded back, a polite half-smile on her lip. I can at least be friendly. "And you're Koga; it's a surprise to see you again. What brings you here?"
"Eh, nothin' big," he shrugged and stepped closer, leaning his back on the edge of the hut and crossing his arms. "Kinda felt like comin' around, seein' some old friends again. Heh, Inuyasha's still fun to rile up...and these pups are too darn cute to pass up," he jerked a thumb at the entrance in which they were hiding and eavesdropping...though not very well as they could hear them giggling. "Where're their parents, anyway?"
"Their little brother Hisui is sick, so I'm watching them while they fetch some medicine; Granny Kaede is out of the herbs they need," Rin answered evenly. "They're no trouble at all. Just...rambunctious."
"That's the word for it," he smirked and tilted his head a little. "I hear you're havin' one of those."
"Oh, yes," Rin chuckled softly, placing her hand on her midsection. "I can hardly wait to meet them...Lord Sesshomaru can't either, I think."
"He's the father, huh?" Koga blinked.
The young woman giggled, trying to remain mirthful as she sat down again, and gave him a tiny smirk. "I know what you're going to say. It's weird that such a demon married a human, and all that."
"Pfffffeehh…" the wolf demon sighed in some resignation, looking up and letting his head fall backward on the wall, seeming reminiscent. "It's not like I'm one to judge. There was a time I was hell-bent on making Kagome my wife."
"Really?" Rin blinked, looking up at him in genuine surprise. "She's never told me that part of her stories."
"Heh; probably because it was always one-sided anyway," Koga smirked, letting out a quiet sigh. "What can I say, I like a spitfire, whether they're human or not. And also, she chose to be kind when I knew she was afraid, the first time we met. A girl like that really changes a guy. But, if she's happy with the mutt, I won't interfere anymore. Ayame would kill me if I tried," he added with a mutter.
Rin hummed a chuckle; it seemed she was always learning new things about her friends. And it was a little more soothing for her fears, to see Koga in a more light-hearted way than her nightmares depicted, and more like the others saw him.
"They always tell me I changed Lord Sesshomaru, too," she smiled and thoughtfully rubbed her small bump. "I never thought he was really bad though. I guess...Kagome and I are like that. We wanna see the best in others we meet. Even demons."
"Guess so," Koga hummed back, regarding her for a beat of silence. His smirk fell, and his brow rose a little. "Y'know, I've talked at length with the others. I never got a chance to talk to you much. I kinda wanted to this time."
Rin's brow furrowed a little, and she looked back at him, surprised to see solemnity in a face that was always proud or snide otherwise. She sat up straighter, still keeping a protective hand over her belly. "What about?" she inquired cautiously, meeting his eyes.
"Well...I know ya prefer to keep your space when me and my comrades are around. You put on a brave smile, but I can smell your fear even now, lookin' at me. Normally I'd dismiss that, after all, humans tend to be uneasy around us anyway...but my wolves tell me that they already killed you once."
He paused, calmly waiting for her reply. She didn't really know what to say to that...what exactly was he expecting from her? Confirmation on his suspicions, or even stranger yet, forgiveness?
"...Yes, they did," was all she could let out, with a light nod. Her gaze broke away from him, to the ground. "It was Lord Sesshomaru who brought me back."
"I see," he sighed, and raised a hand to run through the front of his messy fringe. There was another long pause of quiet, where she only watched him carefully, and where he was searching his mind for something else to say. But what could he say? As much practice as she had reading the moods of those too proud to show how they felt, what surprised her was that he actually looked disturbed.
"...I ain't good at stuff like this," he finally confessed, lowering his hand again. "See...time was, we would devour humans no problem. That's how it always was. Then we met Kagome and her friends...we all fought together...and we learned...I learned...that maybe it wasn't worth it to hurt humans. It's a real jarring thing, ya know, feelin' pity and sadness and hurt for the ones you used to think of as no more than prey...guess that's what happens when ya get to know one of 'em. But I embraced it just the same. We don't hunt humans anymore."
He turned his head again to meet her eyes. "So, I thought it'd be a good idea to think of something to make it up to you, but...what exactly do you say? 'Sorry you died, didn't know you'd come back'? If I were in your position, I doubt any kinda apology would make you stop bein' afraid...would it?"
Rin was certainly taken aback. She blinked, trying to piece it together in her mind that the wolf demon was seeking some sort of reconciliation, from her of all people. "To be honest, I didn't think you cared that much for your actions in the past," she pointed out. "Least of all toward me; I'm barely more than an acquaintance. A...strange coincidence for you if anything."
"Well you're right, I don't care what I did long ago," he pointed out with a scoff and a little shrug. "It just...doesn't sit right with me, somehow, not sayin' anything to ya, after knowing about it. All I can really give is my word that it won't happen again. I won't expect forgiveness; not like we deserved it."
I can see that he was hesitant about even bringing this up, Rin realized. I wonder how much of this is his own decision, and how much of it that maybe Kagome and Inuyasha put up to him...nonetheless, I can see he's trying. And that matters...he should know that.
"I know that you've changed," Rin nodded, her gaze turned back down to her lap. "And I know that I shouldn't be afraid of you anymore. Really, human bandits still scare me more than demons do," she pointed out with a light chuckle. "...And it was your wolves that did it, not you directly...you didn't know I was there, I don't think. You were probably just feeding them."
Koga blinked for a second, fairly surprised that the girl could see it from his point of view. "That's a pretty matter-of-fact observation."
Rin shrugged with a short grin. "I'm a weird one, so they always say. I'm not phased much by blood. Plus, those villagers barely tolerated me...so I find it hard to mourn them. My fear...was for me."
He hummed. "Well, even so, about your observation, my wolves and not me...the thing is...as the leader, I gotta take responsibility for the actions of my people," he pointed out, his own gaze to the ground. "I gave the orders. What they do reflects on me. It's as if I had done in that whole entire village myself, and thus you."
"I suppose," Rin nodded her agreement, then lifted her head and smiled. "To be honest, I think I forgave you long ago. When you and Lord Sesshomaru met, and a bunch of demons attacked. You saved me from one. I was surprised that you would...but that kinda makes things even, doesn't it? A life for a life?"
The wolf demon was surprised that he could recall that day. "You might be right." He glanced over at her again. "Still, I think maybe you forgive a bit too easily."
"I don't think so," Rin's head shook, and her smile returned. "It's like I said...I wanna see the good in those I meet, even if they've unwittingly done me harm. There are some I can't forgive...but I can see you sincerely keeping to your promise, not returning to your old ways. Yes, I'll admit, I'm still unnerved around wolves, but that's just something I can barely help...anyone would be if they've been killed once. It's gotten better though, thanks to our friends. And you coming to talk to me...it really does help. So...I thank you for that, Koga."
He blinked for a second, and then let out a loud, snorting laugh. She could see some self-conscious color on his face. "Sheesh, what is it with the Dog Clan and finding these women that are so pure-hearted? I'm starting to get jealous."
"They're lucky, I suppose," she retorted with a bit of a smirk, which made him bark another laugh.
"Hah! You're a spunky one too, Rin; I like that." He kicked off from the wall, facing her with his arms still crossed. "Still though; I know ya got Sesshomaru and Inuyasha lookin' out for ya already, but hey...if there's anything at all that you or your future family might need from the wolf tribe, I'll be all over it, and that's a promise."
"There's no need to make such a promise," she politely waved him off. "But...I do appreciate it. I'm sure Lord Sesshomaru would too, in his own way."
"Hey, the less angry I can make him, the better," he chuckled. "Anyway, I'll be on my way here soon. Just wanted to say hi."
"Aw, you can stay and play with the girls while I get this done, if you'd still like," she picked up her sewing project to show him; funnily enough, it was a stuffed toy that resembled a dog that they'd ripped apart. "I know they love you to pieces."
"Hopefully not like that," he snickered upon seeing the toy, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, their mother is a demon slayer. Maybe one or both will grow to follow in her footsteps."
"Yeah, better watch out, Koga!" Gyokuto crowed as she came running back out and grabbed his arm.
"We'll get you if you're bad!" Kin'u added, grabbing his other side.
"Well, ain't that peachy," the wolf demon sighed, nevertheless sporting a toothy grin as he sat with the twins, an ever-watchful Rin still sitting comfortably...and now, much more easily than she ever did before with him there.
It wasn't long before Sango and Miroku came to gather their children, stopping with some pleasant surprise to see Koga there too. They had a lively chat together, which pleased Rin to listen to now that she was more at ease, and soon the wolf tribe leader was well on his way back, and life in the village could continue as normal.
As the sun started setting that night, the young woman took a step out into the fresh air, breathing deeply the scent of the wildflowers on the cool breeze and reflecting on the day's events. It's good to feel at peace. I should stop asking myself how long it will last.
"Rin."
It was then that her husband arrived making barely a sound, but for the gentle way he spoke her name. She let out a little gasp as she turned around to see him standing just beside the rock, ever ephemeral as he walked out of the dusk shadows, and ran up to him.
"Lord Sesshomaru; I didn't expect to see you this late in the day," she smiled warmly and reached up to rest her hands on the front of his spiked armor.
He raised a hand to brush his thumb over her cheek in return. "I had wanted to check in on you," he relayed, glancing at their surroundings briefly. "The smell of wolves has been lingering around the village for much of the day until now."
Ever my protective lord husband, she thought with a sigh of bliss as she leaned into his touch. And now, a protective father as well. "Yes...Koga had come to visit with the others."
"He gave you no trouble, I trust," he wondered as he withdrew his hand, letting his fingers comb to the ends of her hair strands. "You still tend to be uneasy around his ilk."
She stepped back slightly as well, and there was something proud in the way she grinned. "Actually...I do not think I'll be so much anymore. He and I had an amiable conversation."
By the slight rise in the center of his brow, Rin could tell that he was a little surprised at that. "Hm. This I would hear." He then turned slowly on his heels, back towards the edge of the woods, and gestured for her with an inclination of his head. "Come for a walk with me, if you are able."
She did so (once she told Kaede so that she wouldn't worry), and she was still very much able to catch up easily with his stride, even though two of her steps equaled one of his. Her heart raced pleasantly as she walked beside him on the path; these days, Sesshomaru tended to stay away from the village for longer periods than he used to, so it was rare that they could find some time to spend alone together.
A bit of mischievousness crept into her once she knew they were away from the village's eyes and ears, and she walked a little ahead of him, adopting an innocent pose while the shine of her eyes spoke quite the opposite. She giggled, and he recognized her tone as light, airy, and inviting. "Does the great and powerful demon come to save me from wolves, only to lead me away for his own wicked intent?"
Eager thing, he smirked inwardly at her playful demeanor. He had easily accepted feeling flattered at Rin's flirtations, when he wouldn't bend an inch for anyone else...her devotion was sincere, her heart clamoring against her ribcage for him alone...and he found that a little still-wicked part of him enjoyed indulging his wife, knowing the effect he had on her. At that moment, Rin's seeming boost of confidence was like a small challenge that he deigned to answer.
Without much warning, he had stopped and caught her by surprise, snatching both of her wrists in one hand and holding them above her head. She let out a gasp and a little yelp as she was pulled so that her back was to his front. He sensed no fear in her still; only shock, accompanied by the sweet and pleasant aroma of her ardor rising. She probably thought that he'd politely brush off her attempt, as he more often did.
Never for long. She too is wicked.
"An intent to tease this demon," he rumbled a warning in her ear as his other hand cupped her chin, fingers feeling the heat on her face, "Is courting danger."
She let out a breathy chuckle, lifting her head to catch a glimpse of the shine in his golden eyes. Her limbs tensed in his grip, but she didn't struggle. "I faced an old fear today, my lord...I feel very brazen," she hummed quietly, the tempting gleam still in her soft eyes, "I shall brave your danger."
"Mm; impetuous and fearless, as expected of this Sesshomaru's lady," Rin felt an amused grin in his words as his fingers brushed down her skin from cheek to neck to clavicle, ever so gently skimming the tips of his claws without breaking even a fraction of the surface. He was reveling in the way her blood raced.
But, he then decided that was enough for the moment. He did have a destination in mind that evening, after all.
He dropped his hand and stood up straight again, releasing her wrists. "However; it is inadvisable to brave danger whilst hungry." Without much more preamble, he sauntered past her, ignoring her curious (and slightly disappointed) look at his back. "I have earlier found a peach tree that still has some ripe ones. Do not dawdle."
"Peaches?!" Rin gasped with excitement, forgetting all about her previous mood as her eyes brightened considerably and her mouth started to water, dashing off after him again. I hadn't even KNOWN that I was hungry until he mentioned it.
It didn't take long in the walk for them to find the tree. It was fairly large, but growing in a less conspicuous part of the grove. Rin was grinning widely as she raced up to it, spying the treasured fruits. Once at the base, she immediately kicked off her sandals and tied back her sleeves, hopping quickly to hang onto one of the low-hanging branches in preparation for a climb. He knew that she had still held onto her talent for navigating the wilderness, but he hadn't seen her do something like this in a while.
"Are you certain that you should be doing that?" Sesshomaru asked with what sounded like nonchalant curiosity as he came up and watched her practically vault up onto the branch, though she knew that if she fell, he was well-prepared to catch her.
"It's fine, Lord Sesshomaru," Rin assured him with a smile, then turned her head to eye some of the large, ripe fruits with almost predatory focus. She stood up and balanced on the branch, reaching to fill her arms with them with a grunt. "Besides...I feel I should be moving around while I can, until I grow too large to do so."
"Are your hunger pangs manageable?" His eyes stayed completely focused on her movements as he listened.
"Y-yes," she huffed as she continued to try to gather what she could carry, and without having to climb any further. "I haven't had many cravings...I suppose my diet has been well-balanced. Though, there is one that has me curious. It will sound crazy, though, but there is no other way I can describe it."
"Go on."
She adopted a pose that mimicked a fearsome demon, the fingers of one hand crooked into the semblance of claws while her other arm cradled the peaches. "I crave the essence of my slain enemies."
She could hear the confusion in the silent, unblinking stare he gave. "Do elaborate, unless that is another attempt at humor."
"It isn't!" she laughed self-consciously and turned her eyes up again to the tree. "Really, it is confusing to me too! See, I know that is what you sustain yourself on...and sometimes I imagine you fighting and get this urge to do the same thing to someone...steal their soul, or something. Not that I would, of course, but still a most curious urge."
"Their yoki, not their soul," he evenly corrected. "The natural energy that a demon exerts, the source of their powers." He hummed thoughtfully. "Fascinating. I suppose I have more to learn about this process than I realize; but I do know that humans cannot absorb demon energy, let alone hunger for it."
"Well," Rin relayed as she carefully set herself down on the branch, finally full of as many ripe peaches as she could find, which came to six. "Lady Kagome tells me that the hunger pangs are not for my hunger, but for the child's. A way to tell me that they wish to eat something specific. Is that not interesting?" she smiled brightly, shifting her arms so that her hand pressed softly on her stomach. "Only so far grown, and already they know to tell me what they want! In a way. So that particular one might be something indicative of demons or half-demons."
His head tilted slightly at this information. "The child's hunger...I have a speculation, then. Perhaps they will also have the ability to absorb demon energy."
If it was at all possible, her eyes lit up more at this revelation. "Oh, how wonderful! They will already be so much like you!"
"Perhaps so," he softly agreed, and there was a thoughtful pause before he returned his gaze to her. "Are you able to come down from there?"
That was when Rin blinked and looked around at where she was, sending him a slightly embarrassed grin. "...Not without dropping the peaches, I'm afraid."
Without another word, he rose up and plucked her off of the branch and into his arms, as easily as plucking another of the succulent fruits, before floating back down to a soft landing on the soil.
"Thank you, my lord," Rin self-consciously giggled; she noticed that he didn't set her down again right away. Her body nestled a little into his mokomoko-covered shoulder, as always happy to see small evidences of his care in his actions. "Had I known we were going to be gathering fruit, I'd have brought a basket."
"I hadn't known either, until I heard the faint rumblings of your stomach on the way," he hummed before sitting down at the edge of the tree for a spell, letting her down beside him on his fur. "Eat. And tell me what the wolf had said to you."
She nodded, and began picking at the skin of the first peach. "It was strange. Normally, Koga is content to avoid me as much as I do him...he senses my fear. But...today, he actually sought me out with the intent to...apologize. For my death at the teeth of his wolves."
"Is that so?" Sesshomaru hummed and set his gaze thoughtfully on the darkening sky ahead of him. "From what I have seen of that one, he is about as stubborn as Inuyasha, and has his pride as a full demon. An apology to a human would not come naturally."
"That is what I had thought too," Rin agreed, pausing for a few bites before continuing. "Facing such actions, and wishing to make amends for them...it takes courage. I feel he might have been somewhat coerced, but...I also felt that he was sincere. Maybe he had also been truly bothered about it. But...he did come to say it, nevertheless."
"And you forgave him?"
She nodded, smiling wistfully. "I saw no reason not to. From what I've heard, he'd been trying to be good for a long time. That really matters. And when I saw that...I couldn't be scared either. Not anymore. And he's even offered the aid of the wolf demon tribe to our family, should we need."
"Not that we will need it," Sesshomaru shrugged one shoulder.
Rin smiled and continued to eat through her peaches. I imagine it is appreciated, though. He didn't say that we WON'T take them up on it.
Another few moments of silence passed while Rin busily ate, managing to finish two more peaches in a short amount of time. "You say that it takes courage to apologize," her husband thoughtfully intoned, breaking the quiet. "It also takes courage to look the origins of your fears in the eyes and forgive them such sins."
She turned her head to look up at him, and he was giving her a soft glance from the corner of his eye, his lip upturned in one of his rare smiles. She could feel warmth spilling from her heart at his intonation: he was proud of her.
"To hear that from you is an honor, Lord Sesshomaru," she smiled brightly, and he saw a familiar band of color forming on her cheeks. He couldn't help but raise his hand and cup her face in his palm to feel the warmth, listening to her heart pick up its pace as she nestled appreciatively into it.
"Mm," she sighed happily, raising her hand to place over his. "It's rather funny...when I forgave him, he told me he was jealous of the Dog Clan finding women like me and Lady Kagome."
He smirked inwardly, knowing that she could have a quick wit. "What did you retort?"
"That you were lucky."
"Tch," the demon snorted, further dipping his fingers into her hair to smooth it down. "You are brazen today."
"Yes," she grinned, giggling at the ticklish way his claws skimmed her scalp. "But, I know I am very lucky too. What could it have been, other than very good luck that you were brought to my forest that day, to end up saving me?"
I have been suspecting for some time now that it was not luck, Sesshomaru mused, glancing down at where Tenseiga lay at his hip. Rin had been such an instrumental part of the changes in his heart, his soul...had his father's fang meant to deposit him somewhere to meet the one he'd vow to protect? Even now he could never be sure. But looking at her...the how and why of it all ceased to matter.
With a hum, the young woman looked down at the remaining peaches in her lap. "I think I shall save the rest of these...I'm full now. Thank you again for bringing me here. Are you sure you don't want one?"
She was expecting him to refuse as usual, but to her surprise, he reached to take one, turning it over in his hand before placing it in his sleeve. "Perhaps for later. If Jaken is not hungry when I find him."
Perhaps he DOES eat a little sometimes...how good can demon essence taste anyway? Rin thought with a smile, knowing she'd probably never know the answer.
Then, for the first time, she noticed that she hadn't seen either hide or claw of the smaller imp demon. She looked around and blinked. "Huh, where is Master Jaken, now that you mention him?"
"I gave him a task," he answered almost nonchalantly, though he again lifted the side of his lip and met her curious gaze with his own, his motives betrayed in the way he peered under his eyelids. "Until dawn."
Rin caught the meaning instantly, her face flushing brightly. She could feel the fur wrapping around her as he leaned forward, and she felt a soft grin cross her face, looking up at him. "I knew it, you did have wicked intentions," she playfully accused.
A deep chuckle echoed from his chest as he began removing his armor, a task she found interesting to watch, as the pieces seemed a part of him as his fur. Each one was easily there or gone with a dismissive wave of his hand, which then took her wrist, his thumb caressing and pressing to her palm. The other was inching along her obi, tugging at it. The peaches rolled to the side on the ground, forgotten for the time being.
"And escape is futile, my lady. Shall this Sesshomaru test your courage, or shall he be merciful?"
She was biting back a suddenly needy moan as she felt his breath on the skin of her throat. How easily I miss this...even after days without seeing him. He must have missed me too; rarely does he indulge me this much. "I beg you have mercy, oh lord of demons," she breathed, and she felt him hiding a smirk on her skin.
"This will be slow. I will savor your scent before your taste."
The young woman easily found herself feeling warm all over, and not just from the rush of her blood, but that of him surrounding her, only a fraction of his unfathomable strength holding her there. She let out uncontrolled giggling whimpers as lips, tongue, and fangs brushed lazily along the pulse point of her neck.
As his fingers pulled on her kimono to reveal her body, however, she felt him pausing when they reached the now-noticeable bump on her abdomen. He turned his head down to look, and she watched him regard the spot on her belly, his palm splaying there and pausing, thoughtful.
It struck him, just how fearless she really was. There beneath his hand was their child...a half-demon child, peacefully resting and sated with her latest meal, unknowing yet of the world they would see...a world that wouldn't easily accept it, just as much of the world hadn't easily accepted the love of its parents. Rin knew of the dangers that came from this choice...treading the line between worlds. The depth of the anguish that may someday face her.
Yet, when he looked up at her again, her eyes were filled with no trace of doubt for what she held, or fear. Just love. Just happiness. One of her hands rested over his, and the other drifted across the stripes on one cheek.
"How lucky I am," she hummed again, quiet, smiling, peaceful. "To have been caught by such a demon."
Is it possible...that she could be, in ways, more fearless than I?
Rin watched his gaze on hers for a moment, discerning the short pang of solemnity that crossed it...then, his head lowered back to hers, and a most tender kiss was shared between them. He felt her relaxing again in his fur, her body heat searing him in beautiful ways, savoring the lingering taste of peaches on her lips for a long time, until they could sink completely into their stolen moment in the night.
Someday there will be nothing that she cannot face.