Chapter 3 - The Moon
Idleness was never a trait that Sesshomaru had identified with. It was rare that he was not in some sort of motion, moving toward his goals. Taking steps to becoming the most powerful demon. To destroying whom he considered his enemies. Driven to stand up to the reputation and power of his father, the greatest Inu no Taishō to live. Rest was for the weak. Compassion was for fools. Yet, within the span of a full sun, he had demonstrated both. The thought irritated him, like a pebble in his shoe.
Within the hut, Tanko and Tamia had been busy all night. He could hear them, bustling around, cooking over the fire and wrapping food into small parcels so it would keep. Preparations, clearly for the girl — Rin. He was fairly certain they'd also put together a small bundle of clothing for her as well. Even now, he could hear their muted conversation through the walls, as they worked.
Outside, Sesshomaru stood at the edge of the clearing, beyond the bamboo mat covered door. There was a steep drop off of just beyond his feet, craggy rocks making it treacherous. But the cliff provided an ample view of the valley below, and the next mountain peak beyond. Or rather, it would once the sun tipped its face over the horizon.
His thoughts slid back to the girl. Rin had been uneasy when Sesshomaru made a move to leave her alone, with thr intent to give her time to rest. She'd reached out to grasp his mokomoko as he'd turned away. The sensation of her movement was enough to cause him to automatically draw back, pulling the fur just beyond her reach. Her eyes had been wide, the first glimmer of fear he had seen. Was she remembering the wolves attacking? Did she remember what it had felt like to die? In her former final moments, had she cried for him? Irritated at himself, more than the girl, for entertaining such human thoughts, he pushed them away from his consciousness.
"You need to rest. We will leave when the sun rises."
"Please don't leave me." Rin's voice had dropped to a whisper. "I'm not afraid with you." Her eyes were plaintive, expressing the sorrow of her soul, which she didn't have the words to explain. Profound loneliness was written across her young face. Something pulled at a cord deep within his soul, a place no living being had ever touched. Sesshomaru gazed at her, reading every line of sorrow and pain in her eyes. Hanging at his side, the Tenseiga seemed to thrum with power, although it did not pulse as it had before.
The yokai lord glanced through the cracks in the mat, back into the main room of the hut, where Tanko and Tamia were busy at work talking in hushed whispers. Jaken was nowhere to be seen, likely asleep somewhere outdoors. Slowly his gaze returned to Rin, who still watched him with wide eyes, clutching the blanket to her chin.
It would be improper for him to remain in the room with the girl while she slept. Traveling together, with Jaken, being under his protection was another matter entirely. As a lord, he must be above reproach in any manner — battle or otherwise. There was one solution, that would quell her fear this night… and likely for the rest of her human life.
Taking the two steps to the side of the bed mat, he knelt beside her, one knee on the floor. His gold eyes were serious as they met hers. "I cannot be with you every moment. You will have to accept that." The fear in her eyes intensified, as she absorbed what he spoke. "But, I can leave you with something for the moments that we are not together — a gift." The fear slowly drained from her eyes, as she gazed up at him, uncertainty written deep in their dark depths.
Before he could question himself, or truly consider the consequences of his actions, Sesshomaru closed his eyes. The half moon on his forehead began to glow softly, filling the space between them with a faded milky purple light. Lifting his hand, he placed two fingers against his forehead. A portion of the glow from the moon, seemed to be absorbed into his skin. Opening his eyes again, he took the same two fingers and extended his arm to Rin's forehead. He was careful not to touch her skin with his sharp claws, only the soft pads of his fingertips brushed the skin of her forehead. The glow from his fingertips was transferred to her. He watched as the outline of the half moon glowed against her skin brightly for a moment, before absorbing and vanishing completely into her forehead.
Shifting back and pulling his hand away, his gaze moved to Rin's eyes, which were filled with wonder and unspoken questions.
"It is called Kizuna." The yokai stood to his feet. Any emotions he may have been feeling, did not reflect in his stoic expression. "I will be able to sense your presence from anywhere I am. You will be able to call me anytime you're in trouble." It was quite a bit more than that, but he wasn't going to elaborate unless it became necessary. For now, it would protect her, and he would always be able to know if she needed him. There was no one else in his world who could benefit from his Kizuna, he had no attachments, he may as well afford his protection to the girl in his care.
Focusing again on her face, she was smiling brightly. Her fingers reached up to touch her forehead where the yokai power had absorbed within her skin. "Oh!" She breathed. "Thank you!"
The wonder in her voice amused him. "Now. Sleep, Rin." Nodding, still smiling, she slumped down and curled up in the blanket. He watched her for a moment, before turning and leaving the room. The bamboo mat fell into place over the door behind him, and he paused in the main room, nodding briefly to the elderly rat couple. "We will be leaving at dawn." They nodded and bowed respectfully, as he swept out the door into the crisp night air.
Outside, Sesshomaru breathed deeply, allowing the cold air to reach the deepest parts of his lungs. The emotions swirling within the hut had been stifling. Both Rin's, and the elderly couple, who he believed were far more interested in the goings on, than they let on. The emotions hovering in the air, had pressed against his skin, as if trying to ascertain his thoughts and intentions.
Pulled from his solitary reverie in the prior events of the night, by a shift in the wind, Sesshomaru's eyes shifted to the sliver of the moon. It was quickly fading as sunlight filtered into the cloudless sky. Soon the sun would peek over the mountaintop, then they could be on their way. Shifting, he turned back toward the hut, as Tanko appeared in the doorway. Tamia followed holding fabric wrapped bundles.
"My Lord. We have provisions for your journey." The implication was clear, they were for the girl, since provisions were not typically something Sesshomaru required.
Inclining his head in a slight nod of approval, the duo moved toward A-un, who stood silently for them as they packed the items into the hidden bags under the dragon's saddle. Jaken came waddling around the corner of the hut, rubbing his bulging eyes and making some quarrelsome noise about something. Again. But it was the door of the hut that drew Sesshomaru's gaze. Rin pulled aside the bamboo screen and stepped outside. As if reacting to her presence, the first rays of sunshine burst over the mountain peaks, bathing the clearing in light.
Her smile was bright as she almost leapt into the clearing. "Lord Sesshomaru! Look at the beautiful yukata Master Tanko gave me to wear!" She spun in a circle, showing off the bright orange, yellow and green colors. Sesshomaru was not necessarily pleased with the color choices… but he had to agree, it was perhaps a wiser choice than putting her in cloth with the dog demon clan print on it. He didn't speak, simply watched as she displayed childlike exuberance and glee at the simple outfit. Did such a small thing, hold such value to her?
Suddenly, his eyes dropped to her feet. They were bare, skipping in the worn dirt. "Geta." He said, turning to the elderly couple. "She needs shoes."
Gasping Rin jumped up and down. "Oh! Please Lord Sesshomaru! I don't want to wear anything on my feet! I love feeling the soft green grass between my toes!"
Sesshomaru glanced down at Rin, a denial of her request on his lips. The joy in her eyes gave him pause. His words died there, never reaching audibility. Pressing his lips together, he turned toward Tanko. "Our time here must be kept confidential." The silent order was clear 'don't talk about Rin'.
Both rats bowed low. "We are blind to your presence my Lord."
Sesshomaru nodded, accepting the response, then turned. "We're going."
And so it begins. The yokai thought to himself. Traveling. The same and familiar, and yet, entirely new and different. Rin squealed in excitement behind him, and raced to catch up. He could hear every pat of her bare feet against the packed dusty soil. Even further behind, Jaken was squawking and making senseless noise about not being left behind.
What sort of life will this be? For the first time, Sesshomaru was uncertain what his future held. Glancing up, he watched as the last glimmers of the moon disappeared behind the blue veil of the sunny sky.