Title: Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
Author: landofthekwt
Rating: PG-13
Prompt: Ray of Sunshine (Inuyasha FanFic #205)
Genre: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
Word Count:415
Pairing: Sesshoumaru + Rin
Warning: too much sunshine
Summary: Sesshoumaru is struck with wonder as Rin revives
He found he could not restrain himself. Despite all of his training, Rin's revival had caused him to visibly flinch. He felt something which had never felt before in his life: wonder.
She seemed to have an ineffable quality about her that affected him. A moment before he felt so low that Hell seemed like a picnic stop to him. Yet the tears would not come.
The sorrow had been tinged for anger at his mother for knowing that Rin would die and anger within himself for placing Rin in danger to strengthen his weapon
Jaken had to cry for him because he could not. His mother was so like him that she could not tell if he was sad or not. They were trained to restrain their emotions not to express them or interpret what others were feeling.
Wonder gave way to joy. Joy that Rin was alive. She had opened her eyes and had told him that she was fine. Even in her present state she was more expressive than he was. Though groggy from return from death she still managed a half-smile as he held her tenderly.
Mother queried Jaken about this unexpected development. Sesshoumaru looked different. She had never seen him act this way before. Was he happy? Jaken answered that for Sesshoumaru to act so animated he must be exultant.
Sesshoumaru did not care. He was lost in Rin's eyes. For some reason her mere presence brought sunlight to an otherwise dull life. Without her swords or power meant nothing.
His mother was right. He had learned a valuable lesson, but not the one she thought he should be learning. Rin's death had not taught him compassion Kagura had taught him that. It had not him fear of death. Death still had no meaning to him.
It had taught him that he could not bear to be without her. He had risked death to bring her back because she was the most important thing in his life. It made him angry that she had to die for him to learn that. He must never risk her life again. The rewards were not worth it and the consequences were too great.
His soul had stirred when she revived. When her eyes opened he had been filled with the wonder of life. She rekindled in him a light which illuminated the darkness of his heart and made him see that the life of this small girl was the most important thing in the world.