Chapter 42 - Light

The return journey took all of the night and part of the next morning. Though stoic, Sesshomaru had been injured in the battle when the monster had lashed him with his horn. Likely bruised ribs, by the feel of it. When the sun rose, the pain was gone.

The sun was bright and shining, birds cheerily calling from tree to tree. Sesshomaru and Jaken approached the river where Rin was supposed to wait. She was not in the exact spot where they had left her, it appeared she had moved to a grassy area nearby, where she likely spent the night. The scent of lilacs teased his nose the nearer they came. As the duo crested the hull, Sesshomaru's gold eyes finally found her.

Rin hadn't spied them yet, her voice rose clear and sweet on the wind. For a moment, Sesshomaru stopped, listening to the sound. Clearly a song of her own creation… it was about him. She sat on a boulder, swinging her legs as she sang. Wisely, Jaken remained silent.

"In the mountains and the breeze, in the forest in my dreams. Lord Sesshomaru where are you? Jaken is serving under you too."

She dreams of me? Sesshomaru's curiosity was piqued by the thought. He sidestepped considering what exactly she may be dreaming about, at least for now. "Rin."

The sound of Rin's excited gasp when she heard his voice, secretly thrilled Sesshomaru. It was such raw, genuine emotion. She was the only living being who looked forward to seeing him. Except maybe for Jaken, but Jaken's excitement didn't thrill him… in any way.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" She cried, her smile free and jubilant. Looking at her face, Sesshomaru realized that he was no longer seeing her growth as he had been before. Perhaps he was so used to her presence now that it escaped his notice. In the short time they'd been gone, she seemed taller.

"Let's be off."

"Oh… hurry up." Grumbled Jaken, perhaps irritated with the gentleness in Sesshomaru's tone, or the song that Rin had been humming.

"Coming!" Rin hopped off the boulder and grabbed A-un's reins, racing after them, returning to the happy tune she'd been singing before. "I will wait for you, on my own, please return to me… waiting all along." Rin fell into step just behind Jaken, who had taken residence at his left arm. For the briefest moment, it irritated Sesshomaru. That was where Rin walked. A moment later, A-un's heavy footfalls grew louder, and Jaken squealed as if he'd been squished. Suddenly, Rin's smiling face was at his side.

Now, together again, something felt right. A satisfied peace fell like a curtain across his heart. Any lingering irritation or anger that he had felt regarding the battle with the panthers devas, or his brother, slipped far from his mind.

"I missed you Lord Sesshomaru!" She announced, as if casually talking about the weather. His head turned, looking down at her, perpetually amazed at how freely she shared her innermost emotions. "It was strange sleeping when you weren't here. But A-un kept me safe and warm! He was great company."

Great company? Sesshomaru's eyes lifted to the two headed dragon, a single brow arching. The dragon made a lowing sound, and dropped one of its heads to muzzle the girl affectionately. Laughing, Rin threw her arms around its massive head, and kissed the scaled forehead of the beast.

An unexpected hot stab of irritation hit Sesshomaru in the gut as he watched the affectionate exchange between the dragon, and the girl. It wasn't until that moment that he recognized what it was. It was the same feeling he'd experienced watching Kagome and InuYasha's interactions before.

Jealousy. But what am I jealous of? He eyed A-un with some distain. Certainly, I am not jealous of a mindless beast of burden. Gold eyes shifted to Rin, she was still talking, but he was no longer focused on the words. Her eyes were bright and smiling, her fingers curled affectionately through A-un's thick dark mane. That. That was where the jealousy was pinpointed. The point of contact between Rin and the dragon. But why? He couldn't even begin to comprehend the reasoning. Irritated, he turned away, not wishing to watch anymore.

Consternation replaced the warmth he'd initially felt when returning to fetch Rin. Why do I feel such confusion around her? It made no sense. He'd been around humans before. More often than he'd liked. Human females also. None had affected him in such strange ways. Kizuna. It had to be the bond that they shared. There was no other difference. And yet, he'd felt the stirrings of this before he'd gifted her the Kizuna… for some reason he'd been drawn to her pure soul, and compelled to bring her back to life.

Utterly hopelessly frustrated with his lack of control over these new feelings, Sesshomaru tried to push all thought from his mind. Focusing only on the scents on the wind, and the sky above.

Rin, having been devoid of human contact for a full day, talked almost nonstop during the entirety of the daylight hours. In his attentive silence Sesshomaru listened, and though his gaze wandered, he didn't miss a word she spoke. She talked of all she had done the day while he was gone, and shared a good many of the thoughts she'd had during the hours of silence. She talked about A-un and the softness of his black mane — which irritated Sesshomaru, though he made no comment.

Moping, Jaken followed, apparently displeased with his lot in life, relegated to servant, instead of honored singular vassal. Hoping for attention, which he was decidedly lacking, the imp lagged behind Sesshomaru and Rin a significant distance. Though, it did not seem to grant him the effect he so desired. Instead, Rin became more candid with her comments and questions, without the judgmental imp so close.

"May I ask you something, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin finally asked, after a brief uncharacteristic lapse into silence. Without reply, the yokai tilted his head to look down at her, silently giving his permission. "Well… I was wondering. Why did you bring me with you?"

The question took Sesshomaru back for a moment. How is it that her mind found the very questions I myself struggle with? What could he say, when he did not even know the answer. Glancing at her again, he found her innocent brown eyes looking up at him with expectation.

"I only bring those who are service to me." There! A satisfactory answer that required no explanation. For the briefest of moments, Sesshomaru was very pleased with himself.

"Oh." Rin murmured softly, almost in wonder. "I see." Her eyes dropped to the grass beneath their feet as they walked for several moments. Then, they returned to look at him again. "What service do I provide to you? Lord Sesshomaru."

Damn. He should have realized she wouldn't accept that answer without further explanation. For a moment, he stopped walking and glanced behind, Jaken was so far back that he was not even visible amidst the rolling grasses. The wind teased his hair and mokomoko as he considered her question, more seriously this time.

Looking down at Rin, who had paused by his side, his gold eyes met her brown ones. That unspoken something that had no name, jumped between them again, not for the first time. Hardly aware of himself, Sesshomaru slowly dropped to one knee, so that their eyes were on the same level. For a moment, they both were silent, lost as their very souls seemed to connect. In that moment, speech seemed stolen from him. Finally, the words came to him, but his voice felt strange, as if it had not been used in a long time.

"You provide light. Where only darkness had been before."

Rin's eyes widened, her mouth a small "o" as she absorbed his words. Though neither of them had even remotely touched, he felt moved to his core by some unseen force.

"Like the moon?" She whispered, her voice filled with awe, her hands clasped together. The ghost of a smile tilted the corners of his gold eyes.

Distantly, Sesshomaru heard Jaken huffing as he climbed the grassy knoll just beyond sight. The yokai pulled his gaze from hers, not without difficulty, quickly feeling the loss of such a connection. Standing, he glanced back once more to where Jaken was struggling.

"Hurry up Jaken."

The imp wheezed. "Eughh… I'm… coming… my Lord…"

Rin was introspective the rest of the day, smiling as she walked, even humming a little… but not nearly as talkative as she had been. Leaving Sesshomaru to wonder, if her earlier exuberance had been nervousness to ask him such a bold question.

Night fell around them. The sky remained nearly cloudless, only small wisps of clouds floated on the endless blue. Brightness shone down from a million stars and the rising red moon. The red color caught Sesshomaru's attention, though he was rarely superstitious, a red moon was always an indication of darkness to come. His mind shifted almost automatically into defensive strategy. As if responding, the wind shifted as well, bringing a scent to his nose. His eyes narrowed imperceptibly.

Rin should not be here.

Sesshomaru's eyes found her, standing to the side in the midst of the wide field that they had been crossing. In silence she stood, gazing adoringly up at the moon as it rose above her. It was at that moment that Sesshomaru heard a low rumble, Rin's eyes widened.

Had he forgotten to stop to allow Rin time to eat today? Despite his lapse, it was a perfect opportunity to move her somewhere safe, temporarily away from his side.

"Rin."

"Yes?" She turned to him. "What is it my Lord?"

"If you're hungry, you must fend for yourself." A lie, but a convenient one.

"Alright! I'm off!"

Turning, Sesshomaru barked his next order with much more force. "Jaken." The imp leapt up from where he'd been sitting. "Go with Rin. Do not leave her side."

"Whaa… don't sent me awayyyy my Lord!" The imp begged falling to his knees. Sesshomaru turned his gaze to Jaken, eyes sharp.

"Do not question me, Jaken."

Shuddering and wincing away from an expected blow, Jaken nodded. "Y-yes my Lord." Hurriedly, he grabbed A-un's reins, and led the beast along with Rin already perched in the saddle.

"See you soon, Lord Sesshomaru!" She cried, waving her arm high in the air as the dragon carried her into the darkness.