Her mind went blank as soon as she realized it's Him. He returned and he was even more beautiful than she remembered. An otherworldly tall figure with sharp amber eyes, and beautifully sculpted jawline, looking up and down at her like he wasn't sure who he saw.
And he truly wasn't sure at first. Her smell was almost the same, slightly changed, slightly matured like a ripe fruit. However instead of a child he remembered, there was a young thin woman with dark long hair that looked like the finest silk, only her eyes, those deep brown innocent jewels remained the same. For a second he didn't know how to react, how to address her, how should he approach, but then and just then he saw the man that was clinging to her arm.
Not completely sure why but he felt an instant protectiveness overcome him and let his eyes glue to the point this man touched Rin's hands. He didn't like how his scent mingled with hers, didn't like how he slightly pulled her closer like he had to protect Rin from Him. From HIM.
Sesshomaru took a step forward and Rin's lips parted in disbelief.
He moved! So this wasn't just a cruel game her mind was playing with her, he really was here!
"Rin" his deep baritone sent shivers down her spine. Oh, Kami, how long was since she last heard his voice? Was it always this strong, this masculine? However when Rin noticed his hand moving to grab the Bakusaiga, she realized he must've seen Mazaru as danger.
"Quickly my Lady, get behind me! That's a very dangerous demon there !" The samurai broke the silence and tried to push Rin out of the reach.
"Sesshomaru-sama!" She finally spoke and ripped out of her wrists of Mazaru's grasp. With a couple of steps she closed the distance between them. "Sesshomaru-sama, you're back!" She repeated when the Daiyoukai still held his palm on the sword, eyes focused on the other man. " It's okay, he's just Nobunaga-san, he's a friend" she explained.
The Inuyoukai's eyes finally turned to her face again, and now that she was much more closer he could see the old Rin in her again. It wasn't completely gone, she was just all grown up. He felt like he was gone longer than he intended, sadly reminded to the fact that humans have shorter lifespans. For him it seemed like a couple of months but it must've been years judging by how much Rin has changed. From this distance his nose was filled with her floral-fruity scent again and couldn't help but let a surprised sigh out by the fact how much he liked it already.
" I can make tea if you have time! I have so many questions! " her excitement was just like the old times when he returned to her on their travels. It seemed familiar. She made him feel at ease.
" So it's you" Mazaru spoke from behind her. When did he come this close? " You are the Lord of the Western Lands, you are the one who initiated the war… Sesshomaru the Inuyoukai" this man clearly knew a lot of things about demon politics even though he hated them with all his heart. Sesshomaru didn't even answer him. He didn't seem worthy of his attention. " My Lady, I must depart now, but I don't like you near him" he told her "So I'll return soon" it felt like the last sentence was addressed more to the Youkai than to Rin.
"Hai, Nobunaga-san, don't worry he would never hurt me, he is my savior I told you about. Please take care on your journey !" She bowed to him respectfully.
" Like always my Lady, like always!"
Sesshomaru's eyes followed his figure until he became as small as a dot in the distance. Just when he wasn't able to see him he turned his attention back to the young girl.
" So, tea?"
He nodded.
He was just the way she remembered, not very talkative but patiently answered all her questions even the silliest ones. His royal presence filled the tiny hut in seconds, it was like a god that roamed the earth. She still had hard time believing her Lord truly was there in her home, drinking the tea she ceremoniously served to him. Rin felt her heart flutter and her face warmed up as she blushed. She never considered herself shy but every time their eyes met there was something swirling in his looks he gave her she couldn't riddle out. It made her incapable of holding the eye contact.
" Why was that man clinging to your arm?" He asked her all of the sudden.
" Oh, he wasn't clinging I guess… He was just saying goodbye, you see he was wounded when Inuyasha found him and Kaede let him stay until he recovered " her voice was a tiny bit shaky, speaking to him about another man somehow made her uncomfortable.
" So every man you heal says goodbye to you like he did?" His eyebrow rose in disbelief.
" No! Of course not! " she replied with a higher tone " He just kinda became attached to me I think " she was at loss of words.
"Attached how?"
" He wanted to marry me…" she sighed " Even Kaede said it would be a splendid match, and that at my age I should already have some responsible for me."
" Hn."
" But I declined " when he gave her a look she continued " I wasn't sure if I would see you again, my Lord! I couldn't leave! I had to wait for you as you told me to! " Tears appeared in her eyes again now dangerously close to falling.
" This Sesshomaru upset you." It wasn't even a question it was a statement.
" No, my Lord, how could you ever? You would never upset me with anything you do! I'm just overjoyed by your return! " her reassuring smile made the Youkai let go of the thought but for not long.
"But do you wish to marry?" His immediate question made her gasp.
" I don't know my Lord" she answered honestly " Do you wish me to be married off?" She felt an uneasy feeling growing inside her guts. So she was a burden after all. Of course it would be easier for her Lord to go on with his life back in the palace, and traveling with her seemed pointless now that Naraku was dealt with.
And just now how could he even answer this question? Did he want her to be wed? He wasn't sure. He never thought about this before.
" It's your choice" After all he did never tell her what to do, he did never command her nor did ever deny her anything.
And if it was so, then why she felt wounded by his answer?
And why did he feel like he was carrying something heavy on his back?
"SESSHOMARU, you bastard!" Inuyasha pushed the hanging door to the right and rushed inside. " You left us to clean up you mess!"
" Inuyasha, calm down!" Kagome came in and looked at the others sitting on the tatami.
" What's going on, Inuyasha?" Rin stood up and stepped close to her angry friend.
" This arrogant bastard vanished, that's what's going on! " he grimaced and turned to his half brother. " You'll pay for this!" His hands held up the Tessaiga in no time.
" Inuyasha! There's no point for you to spar with him now!" The young miko was tired and felt dirty from all the travel, all she wanted to do was to sit down, and have a bath maybe.
" How could you say that, Kagome?! And you…" he pointed his claw to the Youkai still sitting with absolutely no emotions on his face" you are just an old dog, nothing more."
"But Inuyasha!" Rin was shocked by the hanyou's tone. Not like they were ever kind to eachother but calling him a mere dog was just way out of line.
" What now?! He came to pee on his territory again as soon as he found out about Mazaru! " he shouted " And left us there to deal with the demon horde his army lured out of the forest."
" If you value your pathetic life , you'll shout you mouth, halfbreed" Sesshomaru threatened him with his well known indifference and pushed his brother out if the way as he exited the miko's home.
Rin immediately ran after the Youkai but could only catch up to him when he reached the edge of the forest. He was leaving again.
" Will you come soon?" Her sadness was crystal clear. He had to push away the awakening guilt as soon as it appeared though.
The Daiyoukai nodded again and flew away, his mind full with confusion. It was true he rushed back to Rin when his pathetic halfbreed brother and his ningen friends were telling him why they travelled so far to the easter border. Maybe it was the way the hanyou's mate told the monk about the samurai affection for Rin. Maybe they wanted him to hear it. It didn't matter anymore, he was glad he came back because he sure didn't like this Nobunaga.
He had to go back to the western lands to attend the meetings with the council now that the war was over, but he knew he would return within a week this time.
So when he did, he was greeted by the biggest and purest smile he ever saw. His visits became more frequent and most of the times he didn't even announce his presence to her until she realized he's been watching her from a distance.
The spring season was really warming up now, the nature awoke, forest animals started showing themselves and the birds sang along. It was Rin's favorite season of the year, spring was always like a big opportunity for a fresh start. And experiencing the beauty of the life with Him by her side again, it was truly satisfying.
She was sweetly humming while assorting the freshly collected herbs for Kaede. Her Lord kept her company again, not a word was said, but the harmony was just ideal between them.
"Sesshomaru-sama," Rin spoke with a soft voice " did you think about me while you were gone?" She glanced over her shoulder to see the Youkai. His relaxed face didn't even move an inch, but one of his amber eyes opened just to met Rin's curious ones. He observed her figure as she was with her back to him, almost on all fours, focusing on her work. Her soft womanly curves were easily seen through the thick kimono, her neck was long, thin, her skin lightly tanned and immaculate, her hands soft and small with elegant long fingers. Her shoulders were small and the whole body seemed so fragile, it called his protective inner demon out.
Not like he was interested in ningen women, he was just an instinctive observer, while his inner mind only wanted to protect her forever.
Why was he still drawn to her after all this time spent separately?
"Hn" Then he closed his ambers again.
"Because many things made me think of You a lot" she claimed.
Brutal honesty was one of Rin's unique traits that made her so much better than other women. A proper lady would never be allowed to declare such things, but Rin always did as she pleased and it was very uplifting.
His ear twitched which meant he was listening but it was so subtle that someone not used to his minimalist interactions wouldn't even be able to notice. She could always read him. That's what made her feel special.
" When the sky was so clear at night that the stars seemed within reach it always reminded me of the times when we were flying so high I thought we are in another world " For someone who didn't know them it could've seemed that the girl was talking to herself but in the reality he was listening to every word she said. And those memories were flashing through his mind as well. " Or when the early morning light shined so brightly on the first snow it was similar to your hair color " she sighed. Yes, it sounded pathetic as she said it out loud, but inside her heart these thoughts kept her alive. " Tell me, my Lord, did you have something that reminded you of me in those years?" Rin stopped what she was doing to turn halfway around facing the Youkai.
"Please tell me something!"
"This Sesshomaru has a perfect memory."
" Of course you have, my Lord…" she was clearly disappointed by the answer, and Sesshomaru felt a slight discomfort as she looked away embarrassed.
The Great Lord of the Wester Lands was excellent in everything, some even said he was matchless but when the small chitchat came to the table, he had his issues. Although he was sure he should say something, anything to encourage Rin.
" It …" Whatever his sentence was, it got cut off by a cheerful call.
"My Lady Rin!" Mazaru hurried to the couple with a large smile and dimples on his cheek.
" Nobunaga-san?!" She jumped up in disbelief. This time the samurai lord wasn't alone , five of his troops escorted him. He knew very well that he was disturbing a private moment but couldn't be happier about it. Mazaru truly believed she would be gone by the time he made it back.
"Hai Lady Rin, just as I promised, I came back" he responded with a well intended message. " Would you come to see what I brought you? Our carriage it's just by the road " The samurai only appeared a minute ago but he was already touching Rin's wrist.
Sesshomaru opened his eyes the moment he sensed him coming their way, in fact he could smell him long ago but it never crossed his mind that he would have the audacity to disturb his alone time with Rin. This samurai clearly didn't fear the Youkai. He must've seen a rival in him, but for what reason, Sesshomaru couldn't riddle out. He was not romantically attracted to Rin after all.
" Maybe later, gomene, Sesshomaru-sama keeps me company now" she tried to refuse him as politely as she could, but he seemed to be determined.
" I beg you my Lady, I have been waiting so long to see you again, I'm sure your ward doesn't mind if I kidnap you for a short time" Mazaru met Sesshoumaru's eyes and it was a clear challenge. He didn't like the samurai, but couldn't tell Rin not to go.
It was after all and always will be her decision.
She looked at him hoping he'll come up with an excuse why she couldn't accompany him at the carriages but the Youkai turned his back to her, his arms crossed at his chest.
"See? He doesn't care" Mazaru added.
"My Lord..?" Rin tried to take a step closer to the inuyokai but it was cut short by his emotionless voice.
" Do as you wish" he spoke and started leaving in the opposite direction.
So Rin went with Mazaru because her Lord clearly didn't wish for her company.
