The next morning
"Rin, wake up." Sesshomaru called as he stood in her doorway.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" It wasn't a dream after all he really is here… "May I have a moment to get ready?"
"Hn." Sesshomaru steps outside.
"All ready, my Lord." Rin states as she steps out of her hut carrying all of her bags. "Where are we headed?"
"The Western Palace." He replies as he walks away from the village. Rin quickly runs to join him, as they reach the Forest of Inuyasha they come across Ungai and his men.
"Stop." Ungai calls to the pair.
"Make way." Sesshomaru responds, halting in front of the group of demon slaying monks.
"Never, Demon. That woman isn't going anywhere with you." Ungai declares as he nods to one of his men to pull Rin 'out of danger'.
"Unhand me now!" Rin proclaims when she gets grabbed.
"Then step away from that demon." Was the reply from the monk.
"Release her or lose that hand." Sesshomaru says with a deadly voice. The man trembles but doesn't release Rin. "Rin, duck." She quickly drops and the man is short a hand. As the blood started to flow down onto Rin's kimono she rolls and comes up at Sesshomaru's side.
"Your group couldn't defeat Lord Sesshomaru 4 years ago so what makes you think you will succeed this time?" Rin questions.
"4 years ago? I don't recall ever facing this demon before." Ungai states searching his memory. "What was the reason last time?"
"I was among several other children that were stolen by Ongokuki." She reminds them all. "I had told the other children not to fear him just because he was a demon. You called me a fool for thinking of demons as allies and friends, just like humans. When you tried to force me to return with you to a human village I called for Lord Sesshomaru for help. He came and after withstanding 2 of your attacks he took me and we left. I went of my own free will."
"Ahhh… I remember you now. I begged you not to go with him but you went anyway and I was curious why." Ungai recalled. "Why did you leave with him?"
"He is my everything." She said with conviction "Will you let us pass?" Ungai moved and ordered his men to let them pass. "My Lord," Rin said getting Sesshomaru's attention, "The path is clear."
"Rin, we are flying." Sesshomaru responded, his mokomoko (tail) rapping around her as he started to fly off. Rin responded by snuggling into his fur. A few minutes pass and Sesshomaru looked at her, the silly woman is asleep. Did she really mean it when she said I was her everything? Has she truly understood that she will become my mate? He pondered as he flew toward his home.
2 hours later
"Rin, we are stopping." Sesshomaru stated to wake her up. She raised her head and smiled at him.
"May I inquire as to the reason?" I hope it is for food I am getting really hungry. Oh that's right I didn't eat anything when I woke up this morning.
"Food." Her stomach has been rumbling for the past half hour. Then let us catch something for our mate. "Wait here."
"Yes my Lord." Rin said, blushing as her stomach growled again. After a half hour Sesshomaru returned with a rabbit and some berries for her.
"Thank you my Lord." She said when she saw what he brought. "May I collect some wood to cook that rabbit?" He nodded. "Would you like some my Lord?" she asked as she started to skin and gut the rabbit. He shook his head no and walked away. After gathering some wood and making a fire she started to cook the rabbit. The berries were consumed while making the fire. After a few minutes she checked the rabbit meat and saw it was ready. She banked the fire and ate quickly as to not delay the trip any longer. "I am ready Lord Sesshomaru." That was so nice of him to get me food. I must find a way to make it up to him.
"Rin, we are leaving." With that said he reached out a hand to her and took off again. This is how we should always travel, hand in hand. Indeed.
Sunset
"Rin, we will be there by noon tomorrow." There is a hot spring over a ways and she can get cleaned up. Indeed. We will need to let her know of our intentions before arriving… How to do that…
"Lord Sesshomaru, is there a river that I can get clean in… I want to look my best when we arrive tomorrow. And to catch some fish for dinner." Is he even listening to me? He doesn't seem to be… "What position will I have in your household?"
"There is a hot spring that way. The river is over there." How to put it… "Your position will be your choice of 2."
"My choice?" What does that mean? Why is he looking at me like that? "What do you mean, my Lord?"
"We will discuss it after your bath and dinner." He suddenly whipped around and snarls "Who are you and what are you doing so near the Western Palace?" The bushes rustled and a young snake demon steps out.
"What business is it of yours?" He hisses at the Western Lord. "I could ask you the same."
"My Lord, I don't think that he knows who you are." Rin stated quietly to Sesshomaru. "My I ask your name sir?"
"I am the Snake demon Khan, human." Khan stares at the woman. "And you are?"
"This is Sesshomaru, a Dog demon, and Lord of the West, and I am Rin, a human as you guessed." She responds with diplomacy. "Now I suggest you answer his question. Lord Sesshomaru doesn't like to be kept waiting." She says with a small smile.
"Your mate, the Lady of the West, wished for my presence, my Lord." He held out a scroll to Sesshomaru. Rin's face falls.
"The current Lady is my mother, not my mate." Sesshomaru states, making Rin look up happily. "Now go about your business." He states with dismissal in his voice. Khan leaves with a questioning glance towards Rin.
"Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin looks at Sesshomaru, "May I finish what I was doing, my Lord?" Upon seeing his nod she turns toward her pack and pulls out a new kimono and her hair brush. She then bows to Sesshomaru and heads off to the hot spring, with Sesshomaru following to sit facing away from her but close enough to know she is in no danger.
Not realizing he had followed her she whispers, "Thank you, my love." So low that he barely heard it. So she does want us. When can we have her? I want her now! Calm yourself, we will take her when she wants it not just us. His eyes which were glowing red and teal went back to the gold as he calmed down, his demon side relaxing. His eyes widen when he hears Rin start singing a song she made up while following him before Naraku's defeat.
"In the mountains, In the forest,
In the breezes, and in my dreams
Lord Sesshomaru, where are you?"
"How long must I wait for you? Don't you know how much I love you? How much I missed you?" She mutters under her breath. "Stupid Rin, I don't even know if he thinks of me like that… I am almost 15 and still he looks at me like a child." She softly cries. "Will this be an unrequited love? Will I pine for him for the rest of my human life." She huffs, "He doesn't even like humans so why would he be interested in me. I have scars everywhere and he deserves someone flawless, someone who doesn't have to cower behind him when danger arrives. He will probably doesn't care for me other than as his ward…" She argues with herself. "He will see me as an adult soon enough, and who knows he might want me," she snorts, "Want me? Why would he want a scarred human, that can't defend herself if anyone comes by with anything more than a branch? Or is a human man. Or wolves. Or anything remotely strong." She starts to cry. "I really am pathetic." She sighs, "But I still love him. What am I going to do?"
Her words hit home with him and he starts to see how conflicted she is about him. What are we going to do? She sounds like she doesn't want to be with us, she just talked herself out of being with us. No she didn't she just argued with herself and is confused, with the proper wording she will be ours forever… Did you just space out on me? Huh… oh just recalled her words, 'I NEVER WANT TO GO BACK TO A HUMAN VILLAGE' we made her stay in one for 3 years and she might just resent us for that. She is getting out. I hope she doesn't re-SHE IS GETTING OUT… MOVE. He snaps out of it and moves at demon speed to where she left him, collecting wood for a fire and some berries for her on his way. "Lord Sesshomaru." He hears from the way of the hot spring, knowing what she wants he simply waits until she is closer to him. She was checking to see if she was heading the right way.
"Rin." He calls as he smells her coming toward the campsite.
"Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." She comes into the clearing with her wet black hair flowing down her back. Her old kimono has been washed and she spreads it out to dry on a tree branch. "Which way was the river, My Lord." He simply points off to the right. "Thank you." She stops and looks at him, "Would you like some fish?" She asks.
"You know I don't eat human food so why do you keep offering it to me?" He inquires.
"It is polite, my Lord." She responds with a smile. "I don't want to seem rude by not offering some to you when I am getting something."
"Hn." He looks away from her smile knowing it would widen and not trusting himself to not smile in return. About five minutes later she returns with 2 medium sized fish. She takes a thin branch she sees and impales both fish on it. She then starts a fire and starts to cook the fish. When both are golden brown she pulls them off the fire and starts to devour them quickly. Upon finishing she sees the berries that Sesshomaru gathered for her and eats them as well.
"My Lord, what position will I have in your household? You said it was one of two choices." She reminds him. "What are the choices?" She starts to worry that he wouldn't answer her question when the minutes pass after she asks.
"Mate or ward." His monotone voice suddenly full of uncertainty. She looks at him and sees something unidentified in his gaze. Did he just say what I think he just said? Did he just tell me to choose between being his mate or remaining his ward?
"Who's mate?" She asked, wanting to be sure, but she had hope in her eyes for what his answer would be. Please be his not someone else's, I couldn't stand to be put with someone other than him.
"Mine." Please say yes! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE SAY YES! Stop shouting at me she can't hear you. He hears a gasp of shock and smells her immediate arousal. Does that mean yes?
"My lord, are you sure you want a pathetic human like me as your mate?" She hears him growl and looks away in disappointment that he didn't really want her to be his mate. "I-"
"DON'T EVER CALL YOURSELF PATHETIC AGAIN." He states with a venom in his voice. "You are not pathetic, Rin, and I won't have you calling yourself pathetic ever again." He looks at her as she seems to be shocked and with a softer tone says, "As for you being human, there is nothing about you and I mean NOTHING about you that displeases me." He stops and says, "Well what is your response?"
Hahaha Cliffhanger.