Chapter 56 - Adult
Firelight cast dancing shadows across the walls of the cavern, and sparks flew into the air like fairy dust, whirling until they winked out of existence. Outside the cave, white flashes could be seen in the distance, as the storm blew across the mountain. The sound of the rain was muted now, within the thick rock walls of the cavern.
Exhausted, Jaken slumped against the wall, his beak open as he drooled in his sleep. Similarly, A-un was already deeply slumbering, where Sesshomaru had ordered them to lie down. The combined heavy snores and sounds of breathing, rivaled the crackling of the fire. Sesshomaru remained awake, leaning against the wall of solid rock as his gold eyes gazed unseeing into the fire. The flickering light made it appear that his irises glowed.
Where are you Naraku?
The sound of barefeet on the floor, drew Sesshomaru's attention from the flames and his own internal thoughts. He turned to see Rin stepping carefully around A-un's heads that were strewn across the floor. Raising her gaze to his, she smiled as she moved over to where he sat.
"I feel so much better now. Thank you Lord Sesshomaru." Once she was beside him, Sesshomaru reached out with his hand to touch her cheek. His initial intent had been to ensure that she wasn't running a fever - which thankfully, she was not. But once his fingertips came into contact with her soft skin, he found it difficult to withdraw his hand. Rin's eyes softened, her lips pulling into a smile as she tilted her head into the gentleness of his touch. For a moment, their gazes locked, and time seemed to stand still. Though he'd closed his mind to her, Sesshomaru could have sworn that the path had opened again... it was as if Rin could see to his very soul."I'm okay." She murmured, for his ears alone. "I promise."
Sesshomaru inhaled sharply, his chest contracting in an odd, but not painful, way. That same oddness filled his throat agian, as it had after he'd rescued her, making it impossible to speak. Rin didn't seem to care that he couldn't speak, her smile brightened. Slowly, as if afraid she would spook him, she lifted her hands and cupped his cheeks. It was an oddly intimate gesture... one he'd never experienced before. Inkimi had never been prone to gestures of emotion, or adoration in any way. Toga had hugged his son, often in fact, before their separation. But this, was quite unlike that. In that moment of connection, Sesshomaru didn't see Rin as the young girl who stood before him. It was as if she had been transformed. Her face was the same... but different. The youthful fullness of her cheeks was gone, her eyes no longer too large for her face. In that moment, he saw the woman she would become. Dark lashes fringing alluringly dark eyes above equally full lips. Sesshomaru's heart skipped in a strange way, he remained frozen and stunned, unable to look away.
"Lord Sesshomaru." The figure before him murmured... but it wasn't in Rin's childlike voice of adoration. It was huskier, almost sultry. He'd heard similar tones before, from other females - but it had never enticed him in the least. But hearing it from this strangely adult Rin's lips... made his heart race. Blinking, Sesshomaru pulled back from her touch ever so slightly, the image of the adult Rin vanished. The Rin he knew, the wide faced young girl, remained, gazing up at him with innocent eyes. "Lord Sesshomaru?" She repeated, this time a concerned question. It sounded familiar - and yet completely nothing like, the adult Rin.
Slowly, not wanting to startle her, he withdrew his hand from her face, and grasped her wrists gently, pulling her hands away from his skin as well. The image of the adult Rin lingered in his mind. "You should rest." He said gently, turning his face away, confusion swirling anew in his mind.
"Okay!" Rin said in her easy compliant way. With a happy sound, she sank down to the cave floor beside him and snuggled into the softness of his mokomoko. Though she hadn't asked permission, he permitted it. The night was cold and wet, she probably could use all the warmth possible.
With a sigh, Sesshomaru leaned back against the cave wall and closed his eyes. The image of the adult Rin teased him again, floating like a ghost in his mind. Lord Sesshomaru, the woman murmured. With a sound of frustration, he opened his eyes. What is this new type of torture? HIs eyes wandered down to where she curled against the softness of his fur. Is it some sort of... precongnition? Is this what Rin will look like, in the future? In his chest, his heart skipped. Will she look at me that way?
It was different than the juveline worship he saw in her eyes now. It was... deeper. Intense. He tried to set the image far from his mind, but he was unable to. Somewhere in his heart, he knew that if this is what Rin was to become, his soul would be entirely lost. Any shred of control he retained over these strange new emotions he'd felt since Rin had entered his life, that control would be entirely and completely washed away. The thought simultanously thrilled and terrified him. I cannot lose myself to a human. I refuse. It will destroy everything I've worked for all my life. And yet, sitting here beside the child version, this tiny human girl. He couldn't deny that his soul longed for something... more. Something he didn't even have words for.