Chapter thirteen: Confessions

It had been two weeks since Rin departed from the Eastern mountains, and soon she'd enter the western territories. Oddly enough, she missed the mountain paradise and the moments she'd shared with Lord Sesshomaru. Due to countless rainstorms, Rin found herself staying in one spot more than she'd like. It felt like even the East didn't want her to leave but she knew she must.

Although Rin loved her village family and missed them dearly, she'd already been dreaming about where she would go next. Rin knew she had a bad case of the wanderer's foot.

The demon Lord of the West had not made an appearance in a while and her thoughts would drift to him like clockwork, as well as some interesting questions such as she'd never seen Lord Sesshomaru eat. Did he need to eat?

Rin vaguely remembered his words to her all those years ago, 'I don't eat human food.' But he must eat something right?

As more days passed, Rin finally entered Inuyasha's forest and began quickening her pace. A bright smile broke out on her face as she saw the entrance to the village, flashes of red whooshed in front of her and before she knew it, she was face first into the ground. Quickly, Rin rolled over to the right onto her back as a sword came down where she previously was. Rin got to her feets and quickly pulled out her dagger and went to a defensive pose.

"Rin, you must always be prepared!" scolded Inuyasha.

Rin's eye twitched slightly, "Good to see you too."

"Your reaction time was appropriate though." he grumbled.

"You really are bad with greeting aren't you?" Rin responded, lowering her dagger.

Inuyasha scoffed at her and turned around. Rin quickly jumped onto his back and began pulling at his ears. He then maneuvered her head under his arm and began to rub his fist back and forth over her head. All while Rin kept a firm grip on his ear.

Both were oblivious to the spectacle they were making at the village entrance.

"Inuyasha!" Came Kagome's loud voice. She had her hands on her hips and stared mincingly at both of them.

The pair stopped and looked at her before quickly letting go of each other. Rin smiled sheepishly with her hands behind her back and Inuyasha crossed his arm.

Kagome slowly approached Rin and pulled her into her arms lovingly.

"I've missed you so much." she said softly.

Rin returned the embrace.

"However you reek." she finished in the same sweet voice.

Kagome pulled back, "It's almost diner time. Let's head to the hot spring! Songo is already there. Everyone else can wait to see you. We have so much to catch up on."

Rin smiled brightly and the girls headed off to the hot spring, where Songo was removing her armor.

Rin rushed to her and enveloped her into a loving hug.

"Of Rin how I've missed you!" she said.

Soon they all stripped down and eased into the hot water. Rin let out a sigh of relief as all her muscles relaxed.

Rin talked about various things and her journey into the Eastern mountains. All of the brightly colored creatures and the black screeching creature from the lake but she left out her moments with Lord Sesshomaru.

She wasn't sure why but that felt private to her, even in the company of her most trusted friends. Perhaps it was because she had yet to speak to Lord Sesshomaru about their last encounter and what it meant.

"Rin I've got some news for you!" Said Kagome with a gentle smile.

Rin cocked her head and looked more at her friend, urging her to continue.

"I'm pregnant!" She said proudly.

Rin's eyes bulged out of her head and grabbed Kagome's hands, "That's so wonderful! Congratulations!"

"Thank you! I haven't told Inuyasha yet…" replied Kagome.

Rin shrugged her shoulders, "Surely he must know Kagome. He's a dog demon can't he smell that change in you?"

A deep blush painted the woman's face, "I-I haven't thought of that…He probably does know…"

Songo chimed in, "That's probably why he wanted you to take a rest these few past days."

"Well that's a relief. Still he should've said so, he probably knew before I did. Well, let's head back. Besides, dinner is almost ready." replied Kagome.

Soon the women were headed back towards the village, Kagome walked ahead as Songo hung back to speak with Rin.

"Rin, have you given much thought to marriage?" asked Songo bluntly.

"I-well…Why do you ask?" Rin stuttered.

The question threw her off her train of thought. Songo was always respectful of her decision not to marry and was always blunt but it's still strange she'd bring this up to her.

Songo scratched her neck sheepishly, "Well...Kahaku has missed you terribly. You know how he cares for you Rin. I don't wish to force anything on you but you want to keep traveling, yes? He is always traveling from place to place…It is dangerous work but he could protect you and you know how to protect yourself too. I don't want you to be blindsided-"

"Rin!" shouted a voice from the distance.

Rin saw the very man they were speaking of, approaching at a fast pace. Kahaku was indeed handsome and strong but he'd always be nothing more than a friend to her.

Kahaku pulled her into an embrace, "Welcome home!"

Rin abruptly pulled back and smiled tightly at him, "Thank you Kahaku."

A red tint covered his cheeks as he smiled down at her, "Dinner's ready, come on."

Kahaku grabbed her hand and Rin quickly pulled it out of his grasp as if he'd stung her.

"I-Uh forgot something in the spring you go on ahead. I'll be there shortly." Said Rin.

"Oh I can go with you." replied Kahaku.

"No, it's fine. See you soon." Rin said before turning back the way she came.

Rin sat down on a rock at the base of the spring and dangled her feet into the warm water.

She leaned down to lay on her back and groaned loudly.

Rin loved Kahaku but not in the way he did apparently. Rin didn't want to give him any false hope and it was startling how forward he was with his actions. Rin looked back on their previous encounters and realized that this wasn't a new thing. He often blushed in her presence and took her hand in his. Yet she had failed to realize it went farther than familial affections and that was ignorant of her.

Rin stumbled on ways to mitigate the situation. She wasn't cruel, she couldn't merely ignore him but she could to an extent keep her distance and hopefully he'd understand without needing further explanations.

However, Songo mentioned not wanting her to be blindsided and for that she is grateful. Songo also asked for her thoughts on marriage when she knew very well that answer, was he planning to propose?

Rin gritted her teeth together and quickly banished that thought.

'I need food and rest. I'm too exhausted to think.'

As Rin approached Kagome's hut and went around the back of it. Everyone was smiling and laughing. Everyone was here. Inuyasha, Kagome, Songo, Shippo, Miroku, and Kahaku.

As Rin came closer she got many greetings and received more hugs from the group.

Kagome stood and motioned Rin to follow her into the hut.

Once inside, Kagome pulled out a black kimono with silver flower petals at the bottom.

"Here. Your clothes are dirty, I got this for you a while back." She said, holding up the beautiful kimono.

The materials felt like silk in her hands, "Thank you Kagome."

"Of course, I'll be outside. Go on and change."

Rin quickly put the kimono on and was astonished at how Kagome got her size perfectly. Rin smiled brightly and exited the hut and continued talking with everyone about her adventures until she couldn't talk anymore.

Rin stood and bid everyone goodnight before heading back to her own hut a ways off.

"Rin! Wait!"

Rin turned and saw Kahaku not far behind her.

"Can we talk for a moment?" he asked.

Rin shook her head, "I'm very tired. Perhaps tomorrow?"

Rin turned and began walking and suddenly Kahaku grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his arms.

Rin put her hands on his chest and pushed lightly but he kept his grip, "Kahaku-."

"Marry me Rin." he stated quickly. His eyes held such a gentleness as he gazed down at her.

Rin turned her head to the right, not meeting his eyes, "Kahaku. Let go of me now."

"Not until you answer me…" He uttered.

This made the woman very angry. Rin placed her hand under his neck and grabbed his jaw and pushed him a ways back.

"I told you to let me go." she said sternly.

Startled at how coldly she looked at him, he took a step forward with pleading eyes.

"No." she said roughly.

Kahaku's eyes widened and he looked down at his feet.

"No one will care for you as much as I. I love you Rin. I want to marry you." he said tenderly.

Rin didn't budge, "My answer is no. I do not care for you in the way you care for me. I'm sorry."

He said nothing and Rin turned around.

As she took a few steps he said, "Is this about Lord Sesshomaru? Is that why you left the village to search for a demon who hasn't even come back for you in years? I wanted to propose much sooner but you left before I could. Now that you're back you want to even consider me."

Rin didn't stop walking but said loud enough for him to hear, "I won't be staying very long."

Kahaku did not follow her after that as soon as Rin entered her hut, she laid down on her pallet. She was very annoyed by Kahaku's behavior and didn't like it one bit. He reminded her of others who'd proposed to her didn't take 'no' well. She didn't want to hurt him but he wouldn't see to reason.

She'd explain to him many times growing up how she didn't wish to marry anyone and how annoyed she was with various proposals and yet…he does the same thing? Has he thought this entire time she was waiting for Sesshomaru to return and take her with him. For a while, yes, that indeed was true but he was her companion and up until recently he was something more. Regardless, she didn't leave with the notion of finding him...he found her.

Rin was agitated, so much so she couldn't sleep. It was like her exhaustion left her and was replaced with irritation. She threw the blanket off her and sat up, her thoughts were scrambled.

Rin heard something outside and was quickly to her feet with her dagger raised and pointed at the door.

It was silent for a moment and Rin opened the door at lighting speed only to have her wrist caught in a clawed hand.

"My Lord?" Rin said with shock.

Sesshomaru stared down at her and released her wrist. Rin lowered her dagger and took a step closer to him and gripped his front armor with her hand. She leaned her head onto her hand and sighed.

"Why are you awake?" He asked.

"I was unable to sleep. Care for a walk my Lord?" she said looking up at him.

Sesshomaru stared at her and Rin felt as if he was peering into her soul.

Sesshomaru grabbed her hips, lifted her from the ground, and flew up slowly.

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru hadn't seen Rin in days but he could feel how unwell she was. He took her to the meadow past the forest and she began to smile at the fireflies that hovered above the small pond of water.

She wore an onyx Kimono made of soft material, it hugged her body and accented the dark features of her hair and eyes. She was a beautiful sight as she skipped over to where he sat down. She dropped down to her knees between his extended ones.

"Thank you for bringing me here." She said sweetly.

Sessshomaru stared at her and saw how tired she was. Her eyes looked dazed and bags began to gather under her round eyes.

He raised his hand to her cheek and studied her face for a few moments. Rin placed her hand over his and leaned more into his hand.

"Something's bothering you," he said slowly.

Rin smiled lightly, "It's odd being here again my Lord."

"Are you not happy here?" he asked.

"I'm happy to see everyone again but…I won't be here for very long." She muttered.

"Where will you go then?"

"I'm not sure, any suggestions?"

Sesshomaru remained quiet for a moment and thought back on the many places he'd ventured to these past years.

"The sea," he said finally.

"I was thinking that as well or the territories in the North." she said softly.

Sesshomaru looked at her strangely, "Why the North."

Rin shrugged her shoulders, "Never been there."

They continued talking about different places, she asked many questions about his travels and what he'd seen. Rin could barely keep her eyes open by the end of it.

She laid down on the grassy field and closed her eyes. Once her breathing even out, he knew she was fast asleep. The demon rose to his feet and placed his hands under her shoulders and thighs, he lifted her effortlessly. Green light began to envelope them as he transported outside the door of her hut. He walked in quietly and laid her on her bed.

He rose to his feet again and began to leave.

"Stay." she whispered.

It was so dark that he knew she couldn't see him. Even so, he wouldn't refuse her request.

He pulled the strings of his armor and quietly removed it before heading over to where she was. He leaned against the wall behind her bed and sat down there.

"That can't be comfortable." she mumbled.

"You can't even see me," he responded.

"I can see your eyes, my Lord," she said smartly, "I asked you to stay with me, not guard me from the corner."

'This woman…truly tests my limits.' he thought sourly.