Chapter one: Late at Night
Rin woke up with an odd feeling. She sat up on her bed, looking around. Her room was empty and quiet. The dark blue curtains peacefully flowing in the warm summer breeze, moonlight softly drawing the outlines of the furniture. She still could hear crickets outside. But nothing unusual. Nothing strange... And yet...
Rin crawled out of her bed, stepping on the cold floor with her bare feet. She curled her toes, scuttling to the door. She grabbed the handle that was way too high and literally hanged herself on it to push it down. The door opened and Rin stayed still, listening. The palace was silent. Just like it should be in the middle of the night.
No, that's not true...
She left her room, heading toward the opposite end of the broad hall. She'd already knew this palace like it'd be her home. Every possible time she pleaded him to let her stay. It was her birthday yesterday, therefore she had just one single wish. To spend time over here. And her wish was granted.
Rin would never say that to him but she was sad and disappointed when a servant picked her up in her village. Because she knew what it had meant. He was gone once again, travelling.
Rin honestly didn't know why he'd kept travelling so much and what for. She used to ask him but his answers were bland, always the same. There must have been something of great value he was pursuing so, she thought.
She finally was at the gate. Two servants were guarding it. But they knew her as being the only one to be allowed to enter any time, so they moved away. Rin looked up at the door. The handle on it was even higher than in her room. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach it. The room behind it was dark and spacious. Rin stiffened, her heart beating faster. A smile appeared on her face. She could feel his presence. He was back. After almost a month, he was back!
Rin made a couple of steps further, not taking her eyes off the big bed in front of her. She moved closer, looking over the edge.
The demon lord was laying there in the covers, prone, his silver hair spread on the pillows and mattress. Rin watched as his chest was raising and falling regularly. Rarely could she see him deep asleep like this. She was aware her lord hadn't needed to sleep much. Only after great exhaustion or when he suffered some wounds.
This time it was his face revealing the cause of this slumber. The tiredness was written in it, in the circles under his eyes, in the paleness of his skin. The travelling surely was a strenuous thing to do, Rin wondered, but it was obviously necessary.
She was sure he'd visited her after returning home. She could always tell. He was by her bed, touching her face. Not wanting to wake her up, he left.
Rin breathed in with anticipation and happiness. But she didn't want to wake him up as he appeared to be so tired. Still - the desire to talk to him, to touch him, was too much. Rin put her little hand on his forearm, resting on a pillow near his head.
Maybe she didn't have to wake him up, she thought. Just to stay here for a while...
He stirred, though, shifting in the covers. His eyes opened then, slowly, meeting her glare. It took him a second to focus.
"Lord Sesshomaru," she said to greet him, her face beaming with a wide, affectionate smile. Her fears he wouldn't like her waking him up disappeared instantly. The demon lord did quite the opposite.
"Rin..." he said, raising his head, leaning on his left elbow.
"No, you should stay laying," she stopped him. "And you should sleep."
He observed her, the silver hair falling from his shoulders, the tired yellow eyes somehow refreshed with the sight of her. Instead of his regular kimono he wore light-grey night clothes, looking quite different than usual. Rin tried hard to fight her eagerness but it was hopeless. She hadn't seen him for too long.
"Lord Sesshomaru," she repeated, "I'm so happy you're back! How was your journey?"
"Good, thank you, Rin."
The demon lord stretched his right arm almost involuntarily, touching her cheek with the tips of his fingers.
"I hope you are feeling well," he said. She nodded immediately.
"Very well, my lord!"
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there on your birthday," lord Sesshomaru said and Rin shook her head.
"That's fine. Don't worry, my lord."
"I brought you a gift, it's in your room."
"I already have the best gift," she proclaimed. "It's you, back home again."
"I don't quite see it as a gift..." he muttered but she dismissed his objection, her hand still on his forearm. She curled her toes with the coldness from the floor.
"You are shivering," he noticed. "Go back to sleep. We can talk tomorrow."
Rin bit her lip. That wasn't actually what she wanted.
"Can I... sleep here tonight? Please?"
He hesitated for a while, a small crease forming on his forehead, but Rin could see he would give up eventually, just as he always did.
"Of course," he murmured and laid his head back on the pillow, watching her climb the bed up and closing his eyes afterwads. She hid herself under the covers, feeling the night breeze coming from an opened window. He stroked her head lightly, his left arm embracing her as he drifted back to sleep soon. Rin was glad he did for he needed to rest but she also was glad she'd woken him up.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." she whispered to his ear, the only response being a barely audible grunt.
"Welcome home and good night..." she added, leaning against him and closing her eyes as well. His breathing was a soothing sound she loved and preferred to any lullaby. And there couldn't be a safer, more loved place in the world than over here. With him... Rin smiled. It definitely was worth waiting.