Back and this chapter may be a little less romantic and more onto the plot or the finding of the last stone, I hope.
Review Corner
Angels heart 1622: lol hugs back, no problem, sorry this took so long.
Bluediamond-hime: Aww glad u liked it; yeah that's Otaku for you, hehe. Enjoy this one!
Wolfygirl13: I am updating lol glad you liked Otaku's little comments, if you notice he does that a lot. Anyway this one is pretty long hope you like it!
Dark Inu fan: that's true, Sesshomaru isn't the type, but he isn't the type either really to ask where they were going either.
Birdie5897: Lol thanks glad you liked this one, hope you enjoy this one with the dream! And you know how I love stopping at horrible places.
Maryann15: glad you like it! Read on!
(Divider)
Soft winds from the east gently blew across Sesshomaru's right cheek as the demon growled slightly angered that he had to awaken. Without opening his eyes he roughly turned over to his right and began to relax into slumber again when another wind moved across his skin moving his hair from his face. Thus the small leaves above his resting spot were ruffled as sunlight glimmered from where the leaves had been blocking the unwanted light.
Giving up he rubbed his left eye and began to slowly sit up but was startled slightly when a small pink rose fell a top his nose. It fell almost immediately after touching his skin but it caught his attention as he looked up to see Rin asleep on a high tree branch her left hand open. He saw a few spare rose pedals decorating her small hand; he assumed that she had dropped the rose on accident in her sleep.
But he opened his eyes wider as he felt something fall off his head as he whirled around quickly to see that a small rose crown had fallen to the ground where he had been sleeping. With the smallest smirk Sesshomaru looked back up to see a replica of the crown atop Rin's dark mane of hair. So she must have awakened earlier and made each of them a crown of flowers. He picked up the one that was meant for him gently as the pedals tickled his flesh; they were of the softest pink he had ever seen. He always knew that Rin was the woman to find beautiful flowers but Sesshomaru had never seen ones such as these before.
"Do you like it?" Sesshomaru turned his head upward as he heard Rin's lazy voice to see her looking down upon him. There was a soft grin atop her lips as she dangled her arms over the branch; Sesshomaru said nothing as he looked back at the crown. Then he gently placed it on his head as he lay back onto the tree's trunk before closing his eyes, he smirked as he heard Rin's gleeful giggles.
Rin watched happily as she looked over her lord seeing the out-of-place flower crown a top of his head. She knew that he didn't like it, he never did like wearing her crowns but at least he didn't squash it or try to burn it like Jaken usually did. She began kicking her legs lightly up and down as her eyes traveled up her lord's legs and to his shoulders to his silvery head before shrugging and deciding to climb down.
Of course getting down was harder then getting up she realized as her smaller legs barely reached the braches that she had used to get up here. Giving an angered sigh Rin decided that the best way was to jump from branch to branch. It couldn't be that difficult, she had seen Sesshomaru and his younger brother do it all the time. Of course they were demon and half-demon while she was only human. But with strong determination Rin moved from one branch as she reached her legs as far as they would go before letting go.
But after her fingers left the safety of the higher branch Rin noted her mistake. She hadn't noticed that the branch under her was a skinny one, and a skinny one wouldn't be able to hold her weight. And just as she predicted the branch snapped just as her weight hit it full force, with a scream of surprise and horror Rin began to tumble down the tree's height.
When she thought that she was about to hit the floor the falling stopped as she was quickly wrenched into two strong arms. Moving her as if she were a load of hay Sesshomaru easily held her tightly to his chest as he gracefully descended to the ground and then let his feet slowly fall from under him. As he sank to his knees with her still in his arms, Rin opened her eyes as she looked around to see that she was alright.
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru," Rin smiled as she looked up at Sesshomaru, the dog demon merely nodded as he let her gently down. Rin smile widened as she moved forward so their noses practically touched as her fingers caressed the flowers atop his head. "These colors don't look good on you," she observed as she took it off him and held it in her lap as she moved back to where Sesshomaru had put her.
Sesshomaru looked away from her then, she had called him by his title this morning, and it seemed that she was back to that. Before when she had been young Sesshomaru had thought her to be a simple child, but now when she went through maturity and womanhood she had gotten incredibly confusing with her actions. At times she would hug him like she did last night and Sesshomaru had the thought that she saw him as more then a protector. And other times she treated him with respect as if he were a king, not near her rank which she wasn't. But Rin was special, he didn't know if she realized that yet but he wanted to treat her with kindness that no one had shown him.
Now he didn't know what she thought of him, he knew for certain that he no longer looked at her like a child or that of an annoyance only to be in his way. But he couldn't think of that now not when Rin had gotten so good at reading his every thought. He could no longer hide anything from her watchful gaze. "Well we're up so should we continue?" Rin asked as she bounced up from her knees to her feet as Sesshomaru stood as well just at a much slower pace. Rin pulled the right side of her hair behind her ear as she took a flower from Sesshomaru's crown and put it behind her ear as the light pink decorated her dark colored hair.
"Does this look good Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked as she grinned at him, the dog demon smiled ever so slightly as he made a curt nod to her question. "He means Rin that you are dazzling to the eyes and any man would love to be in Sesshomaru's position. What with such a beautiful woman always by his side," Otaku praised as Rin turned a hot red.
"Oh that's not true at all Otaku!" Rin quickly denied as Otaku huffed and was about to argue when Sesshomaru came up next to Rin and rested his hand on one side of her hip. "It's true Rin, and for once I agree with Otaku," Sesshomaru whispered into Rin's left ear looking down into Rin's dark eyes as her blush heightened against her skin. "If you say so," she whispered as her bangs covered her eyes and she hoped her blush. Rin then blinked in confusion when Sesshomaru lifted his hand off her hip and started to walk a head of her as if he had merely meant to tell her to hurry up.
"Uh...Lord Sesshomaru, where are we going?" Rin called as she hurried up to his side, "We're going to the east of Japan, is that not where Rain said the last stone would be?" he asked as Rin nodded remembering the swan speak to them the day before on their journey to the East coast of Japan. They were already closing in since the wind had started to pick up; Sesshomaru had told her that it was air that the waves of the water were making. He also said that the closer they got the stronger the winds.
"How far now Sesshomaru?" Otaku asked after about five minutes of walking, "We still have a bout half a day's time left, but that's only if Rin rides on my back there," Sesshomaru replied as Rin then stood in front of him. "Then let's do that, the sooner we get there the sooner we get the last stone," Rin stated determination in her eyes as Sesshomaru nodded while turning and bending down so she could climb on him.
Gently so not to scratch his skin when she usually got on quickly Rin wrapped her hands around his neck so she could climb on before letting her legs rest on either side of his hips. There he took a hold of both her legs and hoisted her the rest of the way up as her hands moved to his shoulders. That way she couldn't accidentally pull onto his neck and cutting off his air supply.
Once both were comfortable Sesshomaru took off making sure not to go at his fullest speed for Rin's sake. He had never tried going full speed with her on his back and he didn't know how much she could take. After about four hours of jumping across the distance now thinning to the ocean Rin's chocolate eyes glimmered.
"I can smell the ocean!" she cried happily twitching her nose at the smell that was refreshing and also foreign to her. Sesshomaru spared a glance back at her smiling face before turning back and sure enough after another large jump the ocean appeared before them.
The blazing dark blue color took Rin a back, she had never seen an ocean before, and it was breathtaking to say in the least. "Beautiful...Otaku can you see it?" Rin asked, she knew that he could but she wanted to share her excitement with another.
"Yes I can..." Otaku breathed as Rin imagined his own eyes searching greedily over the scenery. "Have you seen an ocean before?" Rin asked the sword. "Yes I have, but not this ocean, I must say this one is much more beautiful," Otaku replied as Rin giggled and nodded while turning back to stare longer at the sheer length of the ocean's spread.
"Have you seen this ocean before Lord Sesshomaru?" Otaku asked as Sesshomaru only nodded still intent on getting to the shore. With graceful ease Sesshomaru landed on the coast line of the ocean's bay. Rin was gently set down as the sand tickled her toes as she giggled before kicking up some sand and kneeling down. She took more sand into her hands as it gently filtered of out her fingers.
"The sand is so soft," she whispered as she stroked along side the sand before standing, "We have to come back Sesshomaru, when this is over and swim, can you swim?" she asked and by the small smile on her lips Sesshomaru noted that she didn't notice that she forgot his title. He smiled back slightly at that, it was a start; he wanted her to use his name as easily as calling him by his title was to her.
"Yes Rin, we will come back," he replied as Rin took a step closer as she stood on the tips of her toes. "Do you promise?" she asked him making sure to flutter her eyelashes and make her eyes larger then usual, the baby face she called it. It never failed when she wanted something but she hadn't noted that her face now was a woman's rather then a child's. The flutter of her lashes now was that of a flirt and her eyes growing larger only intensified the color of her eyes making it hard to resist for Sesshomaru.
He smiled down at her before resting a clawed hand on her head, "I promise," he answered as Rin cried out in happiness before taking him into a fast hug.
"Oh thank you Sesshomaru!" she cried as she whirled out of his arms and started to skip lightly forward near the water's edge. "Oh I'll have to tell Kagome and ask to borrow one of her suit things she uses for swimming. And I should ask if any of her other travelers know how to swim, that would be so wonderful. Then we could..." she continued on about things she would do on her visit here once this journey had ended. Even though the way she talked about Kagome meant that he would face his half brother again Sesshomaru was glad that that meant Rin wouldn't be leaving any time soon.
Since becoming a woman Sesshomaru had gotten increasingly worried about her telling him that she wanted to find a village to live in. Get married and have children, most human women seemed to have that dream of settling down with a family. Surprisingly Rin hadn't brought up the subject; she was already turning twenty-two soon. Already she was past the ripe years of marriage to a normal woman's life. Actually she was close to becoming a spinster.
Even though the thought pained him to let her go he knew that he had no right taking that dream away from her. No matter how much he wanted her with him, she could have another life that would make her happy. A life with laughing children, ones with her eyes and same smile...
He shook his head lightly erasing those thoughts; he didn't need to think about her children that she would have. The thought only brought him down, he should cherish the moment like these that he had with her. "Rin, don't go too deep," Sesshomaru called from his post at the ocean's shore as Rin turned back but nodded and smiled back at him.
He nearly grinned back at the sight of her, by gods she was beautiful, and it wasn't just physical beauty it was also that her entire soul was breathtaking. She was kind and giving even if it wasn't necessary and she always wanted him happy along with others. She would make a wonderful wife to a man someday; he pulled his smile down from his lips. It curved downward into a sneer as he shook the thoughts away again; he had no idea why that thought kept returning to him. Was it a sign of some kind? Speaking of strange thoughts he also vaguely remembered past dreams with her in it, but not of her marrying another man. But of her with him, forever, in his dreams he watched her get older and older. But other times she never aged, and then there was another that had him looking away from her.
One dream that he had had only two nights ago had shook him to his core, it was a dream of him kissing her. There was nothing around them or anything that looked like the real world. He remembered it like it was happening right now, he had said nothing and either had she. The next moment they were in each others arms and his lips aggressively on top of hers. His hunger for her taste had driven him mad in it; nothing that might make the moment end entered his mind.
It was just the taste and feel of her lips that he knew in the dream; she was as soft as she looked even though she had never kissed another man. Sesshomaru couldn't help but note how much of a kisser she was. She had moved her chin upward to catch more of his lips with her as her head turned to the side making the kiss more passionate.
His hand had gently cupped her cheek as he kissed her harder nearly slamming his lips against hers. His demon desires were taking over his mind but he made sure to push them back, he wanted to be gentle with her. Treat her with great care rather then just feast off her, making sure not to scare her he let his tongue lightly trace her lower lip. She shivered slightly in his arms and at first he thought that she was afraid but then she merely followed his actions with her own tongue.
The small action had his pulse racing and his blood boiling, he pulled back to allow her air but her hands just grasped his face gently before kissing him. With their lips together again Sesshomaru felt the hunger inside him intensify. His tongue traveled along her lips once more before he gently pressed it inward wanting to taste her fully as she obliged with pleasure. He was even certain that he had heard her purr as his tongue danced with hers inside her mouth. Wrapping his hands around her waist Sesshomaru pulled her up against him as he growled before slanting his head to get deeper inside. Her head was pushed back slightly as she moaned and allowed his entry as his growl of frustration changed to pleasure as well.
And then they had pulled away as he looked into her dark eyes, they were dimmed slightly as if she were asleep but he recognized that dazed look to be desire. He had nearly kissed her again but that was when the dream had ended and he had been uncomfortable for the entire day.
"Nice dream lover boy," Sesshomaru heard Otaku as the sword made a lip smacking sound, controlling his anger Sesshomaru saw that Rin had left Otaku on the beach. She was now chasing after a small fish that had caught her eye. "It was you wasn't it?" he asked angrily as Otaku snickered.
"Well I couldn't resist, your mind was the one who started it, you were in each others arms so I decided to spice it up a little," Otaku reasoned. "Besides I didn't make the dream happen, it was just the connection between you and Rin. I put the same dream scenery in her head and she responded as she did in your dream. I must say you rattled her a great deal, she was flushed the entire day," Otaku chuckled as Sesshomaru sighed and controlled the urge to kick the sword into the ocean.
"You're lucky to say in the least that Rin seems to like you and that we need you for our journey. If you weren't needed I would get rid of you, personally," Sesshomaru threatened through narrowed eyes as Otaku laughed nervously in return. Looking back at Rin Sesshomaru called her back in, "Rin, come back now," he ordered as Rin looked up from glaring at the fish she was trying to catch, "Yes my lord!" Rin called as she set her face into that of a soldier's before coming back up to meet him at the shore line.
"We're heading out now," he said as Rin nodded but then her smile faded, "You're not going to swim there are you milord?" Rin asked in horror, he had already run so far to get here. "No Rin, Rain will be flying the two of you," Otaku butted in as the golden stone on his sheath began to glow a bright yellow.
And within a breath's time the large swan was seated in front of the couple his wings neatly tucked on either side of him. Fluttering his feathers slightly Rain shook his mighty head before looking down upon them. "Well what are you waiting for? We don't have all day for you two to stand there," Rain urged as Sesshomaru took Rin by the back of her knees and shoulders as he jumped up and over to fall gently onto Rain's back.
Trying to find a place to sit Sesshomaru let his long legs rest on either side of the swan's shoulder blades as his feet dangled and barely reached halfway down the swan's shoulder length. Then he placed Rin in front of him as she set her legs to the side of her so they wouldn't dangle like Sesshomaru's were. Holding Otaku protectively in her hands Rin rested slightly against Sesshomaru's chest but made sure that it wasn't as if she were a sleep against him. "Are we ready?" Rain asked turning his head so one eye could spot them. Sesshomaru made a curt nod as the swan turned its large head back and unfolded its enormous wings before beginning to flap them. Standing on his webbed feet Rain began to run as his wings flapped and beat the air faster as they started to rise into the air.
"Hold on tight," Rain advised as Sesshomaru held onto his feathers as Rin followed suit as Rain began to take flight his head pointing straight up as his body began to line up to his head. Rin gave a small gasp as her fingers gave out and she fell back against Sesshomaru's chest.
His right hand let go of Rain's feathers as it grasped her waist protectively and held her there as Rain continued climbing higher and higher. Wind pushed up on Rin as she felt her cheeks begin to grow cold from the dropping temperature. Her hair was flying all around her head and surprisingly got no where near Sesshomaru's face as he held her tightly to his chest.
After a time Rain started to slow down as the swan directed his head and soon his body to move straight forward rather then upward as Rin fell slightly down into Sesshomaru's lap. Her cheeks began to flush at the position but at the same time hoped that she didn't have to get up from him. She felt safe here, almost like his body calmed and comforted her. He made no move to push her off as she relaxed seeing that he would not have her off him.
Sesshomaru nearly groaned in pleasure at having her so close to his body, her legs caressed his own and her back was pressed up firmly to his chest. His hand was around her waist and resting at her hip, it was as soft as in his dream her skin, he could feel the slight curve of her.
She seemed comfortable and to be truthful to himself Sesshomaru had to admit that he rather liked her here on him. She felt as if it were meant, the both of them like this, as if her body was made to fit so well in his.
Tightening his hand on her hip he placed his chin lightly a top her mane of dark brown hair. "Are you alright?" he asked her gently as he felt her head nod in response. "Though now that I think about it, I'm kind of tired I think I'll..." she trailed off as her body went limp in his arms and he realized that she had fallen asleep.
Moving her so her head rested on his shoulder he looked over her face to see her eyes closed and her lips slightly parted to let in air. Checking Sesshomaru saw the normal rise and fall of her chest as she took in breathes, thankful that she hadn't strangely died Sesshomaru returned her to her previous position.
"You should get some rest too Sesshomaru, this is going to be a long flight," Rain stated looking slightly back at the dog demon as he was about to deny the advice but did feel a little weary.
Without another word Sesshomaru closed his eyes as he rested his left cheek against Rin's hair his eyes fastened shut. "Thanks Otaku," Rain whispered with a small chuckle as Otaku joined in. "Don't worry about it, he was more then willingly, probably hopes he'll have some fun with Rin in it," the sword replied as Rain raised one brow.
"Well you see, it all started one night when..."
(Divider)
Rin opened her chocolate orbs slowly but blinked in surprise when total darkness met her eyes, but they adjusted as she noticed that it was just night sky.
"Rain...?" Rin whispered as the swan softly honked in response, "How long has it been?" she asked as Rain turned to look at her. "It's the same day that we left, just night. We still have a long way to go, I would think about another two days or so," Rain replied.
"Alright, and are you ok with continuing on? You're not tired yet?" Rin asked uneasily as Rain chuckled. "Don't worry about me Rin, I've flown for much longer times, I've lasted over a week non-stop flying before," he reassured as Rin nodded in response before moving her head to look at Sesshomaru.
But then thought better of it when she felt something start to slide off her head, moving back to her position she pushed whatever was slipping back up on her head. Her fingers met with Sesshomaru's chin as she lightly pushed his head back onto hers. It seemed that he had fallen asleep too; smiling to herself she rested back against his chest as she closed her eyes once more into slumber.
A few moments later Sesshomaru's eyes opened as he pushed his cheek lightly off Rin's head to look around, it was night already. "Go back to sleep Sesshomaru, we still have a long way to go," Rain stated as Sesshomaru yawned before looking down at Rin still asleep.
"Sweet girl isn't she?" Rain asked but his voice was soft as if talking to himself, Sesshomaru looked down before moving Rin's body to lay her next to him. He moved over to the right as he sat Indian style as he let Rin's body stretch out. "...yes she is," he answered the swan as it honked back in response.
"She just woke up a few minutes ago, you just missed her," Otaku chimed in as Sesshomaru covered his hand with his sleeve as he took a hold of the sheath to place it off Rin's body. "Oh...he's a smart one Otaku, making sure his flesh does not touch you," Rain praised as he chuckled slightly as Sesshomaru looked up to the swan's head.
"That's one of Otaku's main weaknesses, he cannot shock or kill someone wielding him if he cannot make contact with his skin," Rain explained. "But it's much harder to wield my power with a covered hand," Otaku added with a whine. "True," Rain agreed but still chuckled at the sword's childlikeness.
"How much longer do we have?" Sesshomaru asked ignoring the voice whining at his feet. "It's about another's day flight, but we'll get there," he comforted in a mocking way as Sesshomaru glared at the back of the swan's head. "But like I said, you need rest, who knows when we might hit trouble," Rain added as Sesshomaru turned down to Rin. A small fear hit his chest at the thought of Rin being part of the trouble. His hand unconsciously traveled from his knee to her left hand as he squeezed it gently.
"Just can't keep your hands off her can you?" Otaku asked with a smirk obvious in his voice, Sesshomaru said nothing but let his hand rest against Rin's anyway. Giving up on staying awake Sesshomaru laid on his side facing Rin's sleeping form as he brought her hand up. Resting it level to his chest Sesshomaru guided his fingers through hers until they were both grasping each others.
Then he let his eyes drift close as his head filled with images that he didn't recognize but knew that sleep was coming faster then usual. That was good, maybe now he would have another good dream. Wait when did dreams with Rin in it be considered a good dream...?
(Divider)
Darn that wasn't much farther along the line of action, sorry everyone. But next time there will be more action, since the next stone is coming!
er body sivered slightly in his arms and at first he had thought that she was afraid but she followed the action hehehehh