Chapter 49 - Comfort

The duo walked in silence. The majestic yokai lord and the small human girl. The bright moon highlighted their path through the tall swaying grasses.

Sesshomaru's mind was entirely engulfed with torrents of thoughts, and feelings. Mostly his own. Though, if his own mind had not been so loud, he would have heard Rin's thoughts as well. They hovered there, on the fringes behind his tornadic angst. He was not conscious on where they were going — only that his feet were carrying them distinctly farther away from the prying eyes of InuYasha and Kagome.

They know. Naraku knows. Everyone knows. They know. What happens now? Surely the humans won't approve of a human girl traveling under my protection. They'll insist she returns to the world of humans. They'll take her. His gold eyes narrowed as images swam before his eyes — humans insisting that Rin return to their village. Over my dead body.

The feeling of something gently tugging at his hakimono, nearly had Sesshomaru jump out of his skin. Sharply he turned to the left, ready to slash whatever danger threatened them now. But there was no danger. He found himself looking down at Rin's upturned face, her dark eyes were tight with concern.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" Her small hand held a fistful of the fabric of his hankimono sleeve, where his left arm would have been. She didn't release him, instead she leaned closer. "What's the matter?"

It wasn't until that moment that it dawned on Sesshomaru, the gateway between their minds was still open. He'd had no thought to close it. Is she hearing my thoughts? As I heard hers? Concern trickled into his mind like dark clouds. The darkness of his thoughts, were nowhere fit for a child… things he certainly didn't want Rin to see.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Sesshomaru forced his whirling thoughts to cease. When the dust settled, he could finally see it. The light that came from Rin. It had been pushed back by his own anxieties, though now stilled, he could see it again. Before he could consider leaving it open to her… or how beautiful, soothing and warm her presence was in his mind, Sesshomaru quickly slammed the door between them shut. Instantly casting his mind back into darkness and solitude.

Opening his eyes, he let out a shuddering breath. In some ways, it was harder to close her from his mind, than it was to battle Naraku. The absence of her, was deafening. To assure himself, that he had only closed her access to his thoughts and not lost her, Sesshomaru looked down to where she still stood by his side. Her eyes were still on him, the concern had vanished, all that was left was a seriousness. One he rarely saw in her.

"I heard you call for me." She said finally, her fingers lightly traced the dog clan design on the fabric, her eyes lingering on the crimson flowers. "You called my name over and over. At first… I thought I was imagining it, because I wanted to see you again so badly." With a deep sigh, she looked back up at him. "But it was louder, just before I fell and went to sleep. I could almost see your face." Her fingers lifted from the fabric and twitched, although their minds were no longer open to each other, somehow he was certain she was imagining touching his cheek "I wasn't imagining it, was I? Lord Sesshomaru?"

What can I say? Sesshomaru pulled his eyes from her pleading gaze. It wasn't easy for him to admit, but at least no one else was near to hear. "I called you."

From the corner of his eye, he saw her dark head nod once. "I thought so."

She's far too old for her age. She's seen too much. It has aged her soul. Turning, Sesshomaru knelt on one knee before her, their eyes level now. "You wondered if I would come for you." It was a statement, not a question. Briefly her eyes widened, perhaps the realization that they'd shared consciousness, finally dawning on her. Then her eyes dropped to the ground.

"I wasn't sure…"

Pain lanced his chest. How can she not know? Sesshomaru had taken great lengths to avoid being too near Rin, since his conversation with Bokuseno, about Kizuna. But, for this moment, he set that resolution aside. Gently he reached out and lifted her chin with his thumb, guiding her gaze back up to his. Tears made her eyes shine in the moonlight, furthering the anguish he felt deep in his chest. She'd been so afraid… not of death. For Rin didn't fear dying, the way HE feared her dying. She was afraid that she wasn't important enough, for him to come for her.

"I will always come for you. Until the day comes that you no longer want me to."

Rin blinked as if dazed, a single tear slid down her pale cheek. "Always?" His thumb shifted, as if of its own accord, to wipe the salty moisture from her skin.

Sesshomaru couldn't respond, something was tight in his throat. As if the emotions he refused to acknowledge were choking him. Instead, he nodded, a tiny slight nod. Rin's lips tilted in a reflective smile. He pulled away, rising to his feet again. Still unable to form words, he offered her his right hand, which she slid her much smaller palm into.

Just to give her some comfort, just for a moment.

They began walking again, heading toward where he and Jaken had left A-un so many hours ago. In silence, alone, without the prying eyes of any other living creature, they walked hand in hand.

"I'll always want you, Lord Sesshomaru." Rin whispered as they walked, almost too softly to be heard. But he heard it, with his heart.