He drew her out of the water, his golden eyes pinning her. She was standing on the grassy bank, and he still hadn't relinquished his hold on her hand. Her eyes were level with his, and she had the same pale skin as him. His silver hair cascaded down his back as he rubbed his thumb over her hand.
"Ryoko." Sesshomaru whispered her name.
Bella pulled her hand away from Sesshomaru. She knew she would have bumped into him eventually, why was she so startled at this minute? It was the nostalgia, the memories perhaps, that she associated with him. Not the affection; that was long gone ; waned away just like the moons she had spent waiting for him. She had finally decided to take matters into her own hands.
"I knew it was you, even though you've changed." Sesshomary said.
"I haven't changed." Ryoko said. "Not in the slightest."
"You've become...older. More serious. There is a depth in your eyes that was lacking before. Your hands seem more capable."
Bella flinched. She had forgotten how observant he tended to be. "I am not Ryoko anymore. She died in that fire, with Akio. I am Bella now."
"You will always be Ryoko to me. The beautiful dragon." Bella flinched, yet again.
"I let you live, Sesshomaru . You did me a favour, actually. If you hadn't reneged, I would not have done so much for myself; acquired so much power." Bella flexed her arm, scars catching the rays of the light. Sesshomaru's expressionless eyes glinted with guilt and regret.
"You are hurt, Ryoko, let me help you. Ah Un will bear you to a camp." Sesshomaru reached out to grab her shoulder like he had done so many winters back.
Bella slapped his hand away. Then she slapped him sharply across the face. A drop of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth, as his head swung to one side. His hands clenched. He did nothing. Bella slapped him again. A mark appeared on his face.
Bella walked backwards into the water.
"I would rather die than accept help from you, Sesshomaru." The water rose up to her torso, to her neck, and finally her eyes. That was the last thing Sesshomaru saw, her violet eyes peering at him over the water before the ripples closed over her head.
Bella waited until Sesshomaru left the bank. He had stood there, staring over the water for ages; aeons it seemed. Every ounce of her fibre was screaming to forgive him, but she kept herself strong. When she was sure he left, she emerged, dripping water from her clothes.
"Damn it." She groaned.
She got a fire ready; twigs and sticks and leaves, piled into a huddle. She struck two stones today and let the sticks catch the sparks, and soon, a fire was crackling merrily. She removed the outer layers of her clothing, and let them dry while she sat in a kimono, watching the lake.
She placed a mechanism of sticks over the fire so that her clthes could dry without burning up and pulled up her kimono so it didn't lap her ankles anymore. She was hungry, and she wanted fish. She placed one leg into the water, wincing at the cold-which set a shiver of goose-pimples over her.
Bella heard a scampering behind her. She turned, ready to face an attacker, but it was that tiny girl she had seen with Sesshomaru-Rin. Rin held a fish on a leaf in her hands, like a looked over her shoulder, and she saw Sesshomaru sitting against a tree, his eyes closed. A strange expression crossed her face, and she accepted the fish from Rin.
"Arigato, Rin." She accepted with a smile. Rin bowed happily and ran into the water, splashing around, with that toad like creature, Jaken, prancing around her, begging her to be careful, otherise Master Sesshomaru would have hs head.
She walked over to Sesshomaru. His eyes were closed and his ears twitched. There was a drop of dried blood-he hadn't wiped it away.
She tore a strip of her kimono and gently dabbed Sesshomaru's mouth with it. He opened his eyes in surprise at the contact of the soft fabric with his skin, and clutched her hand, nails digging into her wrist.
Bella met his gaze. I'm sorry.
He released her hand and faced her, offering his head, his mouth.
"It's done." She wrapped up the strip of cloth and placed it next to her. But Sesshomaru didn't move. He stayed like that, his head forward.
Bella placed a hand on his cheek. She leaned forward and kissed him on the side of the mouth, where he bled.
"I guess I'm still your Ryoko." She said with a rueful smile, before his lips met hers again."