Consequences

Rin could feel something warm. 

‘Rin, wake up Rin,’ A loud, high voice.

Jaken?

She could think the words but they weren’t coming out. 

‘Lord Sesshomaru, forgive me, I swear, she is fine.  Thank goodness you are f—ouch!  Please don’t kill me!’

Her eyes fluttered open.

She stared blankly at Jaken, whose face was alarmingly close and twisted in worry.  She turned her head and saw Lord Sesshomaru sitting in a corner of the room, leaning against the wall.  His eyes appeared to be shut but they fluttered open and watched her.

She swallowed.

Alive.

Rin is alive.

She opened her mouth but her throat was raw from screaming.

And that was when she realized her dry her mouth.  She wanted—needed—water but could not find the means to speak what she wanted.

Jaken hovered over her and then glanced over at Lord Sesshomaru-sama.

He watched her.

She gulped and closed her eyes. 

She was so happy to be alive.  Happy she was not dead. 

Happy to see him again.

‘Leave us Jaken.’

The little imp practically fled out of the room.

Lord Sesshomaru stood. 

He slowly made his way over to where she lay, and for a moment she was not sure what he would do.  He stood over her, simply watching her.

And then he very carefully sat beside her.  He gently stroked her hair, then reached behind her.  He lifted a cup to his lips, and then leaned down to her.

He pressed cool lips against hers, and her mouth opened.  She felt refreshing water pour in, and she greedily swallowed.

Again he watched her, his face completely flat and devoid of emotion, but he stroked her hair.  Then he raised the cup to his lips, and again leaned down as if to kiss her.

He did this several times, each time stopping to stroke her hair and watch her.

By the time the cup was empty she was crying.  Every time he looked at her she felt as if he were trying to communicate to her.

As if he were punishing her for running off.  Punishing her for being caught.  Punishing her for leaving.

She opened and shut her mouth but he merely brushed away an errant tear.  And then he leaned in and whispered in her ear, ‘You have this night to consider…and choose…if you wish to follow me.’ 

His right hand slid beneath the layers of fabric separating them and her eyes widened as his long fingers caressed the delicate folds between her thighs.

‘If you choose to remain…’ He slid his hand away, and she let free a gasp, ‘…then you and I will never meet again.’

He paused for several moments, letting this sink in.

To never see Lord Sesshomaru again?

She did not want to even think of such things.  When she thought he had left…and when she thought she would never see him, in that dark place…even now it made fresh tears fall.

‘….Should you choose to follow me….’He grabbed her thigh, not at all gentle, and his nails slowly dug into her thigh until she cried out in pain ‘…..then do not think I will let you go Rin.  You will submit to me, and me only.  Understand that I am allowing you to choose whether or not to be free.  Think of this tonight, as you lay here, recovering from the foolishness of your actions.’

He rose, and without any hurry in his steps, quietly left the room.

Alone, Rin finally found the strength to move her arms.  She covered her face with her hands.  And she wept.