Against My Will

~~A/N~ I'm really glad so many people have reviewed this! I was so afraid people wouldn't like it! Big thanks goes to Heather for being my beta! XD

Mmoirai~ I made Rin almost 17
essie~ ROFL! XD

Thanks to everyone for revieving! *glomps* Hope you enjoy this part!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru pushed himself to his feet and took a deep breath before he held his hand out to Rin. She took it, and he pulled her close and took to the air. Rin snuggled close to him, clutching his clothing as they traveled.

In a few moments Sesshomaru landed and gently detached Rin. She looked around and was surprised to see that Sesshomaru had taken them to a waterfall with a gentle mist creating a rainbow effect around the calm pool surrounding it. The moonlight was bright enough here to see it all so clearly, and it was stunning. Rin stared in awe for a moment, before her eyes fell on Sesshomaru.

He was standing just to the side of the waterfall, and the mist it created was swirling around him, creating an array of color with the moonlight dancing off every curve of his body. Rin was unsure if he was really there; he looked too ethereal to be real. When he spoke her name, she knew that he was there, and that he was granting her request.
She smiled and quickly made her way to his side.

“You will not change your mind?” Sesshomaru asked Rin as their gazes locked.

“No, this is what Rin desires.”

Sesshomaru nodded toward the waterfall and said, “Very well,” and disappeared behind the wall of water; closely followed by Rin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a small cave behind the waterfall that wasn’t very deep, but it was secluded and safe from the rest of the world. Sesshomaru had found it when he was scouting the land some time ago, and had used it for camp when he had been in that area. He found the torch he had placed on the wall and lit it. When Rin appeared at the entrance to the cave Sesshomaru tried to mentally brace himself for what he knew was coming. He took a slow breath and held out his hand to her, which she took and offered him a smile in return. He led her to the far side of the cave, which opened to another room.

It was here that there was a fire pit close to the wall, and a bed on the floor. Glancing around, Sesshomaru was pleased to see that the wood Jaken had cut and stacked was still against the wall; apparently, no one had found this place yet. Letting go of Rin’s hand Sesshomaru started to build a fire as Rin looked around as best she could.

“Sesshomaru-sama has been here before,” Rin commented, knowing that she should not question him about how he always knew of such wonderful places.

“Yes,” Sesshomaru answered her as he sat down next to the fire pit to make sure the timbers caught from the torch he had thrown in the middle.

Rin was surprised that he had answered her, but simply smiled as she settled herself down next to him.

They both watched the fire grow from the timid sparks of light to a blazing fire that illuminated the entire cavern. Rin turned her head slightly and watched the glow from the fire dance on Sesshomaru’s face.

Again, Rin was stunned at how unearthly he looked. He was so stunningly beautiful in the firelight that she had to make sure he was real. She raised her hand and timidly traced the stripe on his cheek that was closest to her with her fingertips. Her slight touch brought Sesshomaru’s eyes away from the bouncing firelight to turn their attention to Rin. She pulled her hand back as he turned his head to see her clearly.

She certainly wasn’t the little girl he had revived nearly ten years ago. She had definitely grown up, and yet, up until that attack, her outlook on life had remained unchanged. Her eyes were the only feature that had changed the least, and even those had new depth to them.

Sesshomaru had hoped that one day Rin would make a fine Lord happy with her by his side as a wife. As much as he liked having Rin around, he knew that she needed to be with human companions, not demons. She was a stunning young woman by all accounts, but she didn’t seem to have any intentions of ever striking out on her own and living a normal life.

Sesshomaru’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he realized at how close Rin had moved to him. Her face was only inches away from his own, and she had a look in her eyes that he had not seen in them before. Lust. He blinked and was tempted to try to move away but knew that it would not serve any useful purpose. Rin’s hand moved to his face again, and she let her fingertips brush over his cheek, then slide down his neck. Sesshomaru caught her gaze right as she pulled herself up and brought her lips to his.

Instantly the world froze for Sesshomaru. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to shove Rin away and flee from the situation, but Rin had asked for this; she wanted this. He wanted her to be happy, so that meant that he wanted this too. No matter how unwell it made him feel.

He forced his body to move, and returned the kiss to Rin. Her scent spiked and he knew that he had just made her insanely happy. He broke the kiss, and moved away from the fire; Rin had been much too close to it when she kissed him.

“Rin,” Sesshomaru said softly as he stood and nodded toward the bed before he started to walk to it.

Rin scrambled to follow him, yet stopped short of the bed when he sat on the edge of it.

“Sit with me,” Sesshomaru told Rin when he noticed she had knelt by his feet. He was pleased that she hadn’t lost her respect for him, even if he felt none for himself.

Rin smiled and stood up, but before she could move Sesshomaru pulled her into a quick hug before he settled her in his lap with his arms around her; pinning her arms to her side.

“Se-Sesshomaru-sama?” Rin asked, as she tipped her head up to look at him.

Sesshomaru refused to meet her gaze, and instead looked to the fire once more. “There is still no lust within me for you, Rin, but if you are positive you will not change your mind, then this Sesshomaru will do what he can to fulfill your request of him.”


“Rin is positive, she wants this more than anything else. Rin wants to replace the bad images with good ones.”

“What if it does not work?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Then Rin will still know that there is more than just pain from those touches…and the hurtful looks those men wore as… they watched each other,” Rin said with a shudder.

Sesshomaru stiffened as anger flooded him. It hadn’t been enough that those bastards had violated her, but they had watched each other take turns?! Just how sick were those pathetic excuses for life? He was positive he had been too lenient with those bastards now. He should have gouged their eyes out and then torn their throats open to let them die a slow suffocating death when he punctured one of their lungs with their own broken ribs. A small growl escaped him and he saw his vision start to blur red.

Rin wiggled in his lap and all his anger fled, he looked away from the fire and looked down at her. She was trying to get her arms free to comfort him.

“Please, Sesshomaru-sama, forget those men. Rin is grateful that you dispatched them all so they could not hurt anyone else,” She said as she tried to catch his lips again.

Sesshomaru swallowed the lump in his throat and leaned down to allow her to kiss him. He felt Rin smile against his lips, and decided to give in to what she desired. He opened his lips and made his tongue trace her bottom lip. Rin made a surprised sound, but didn’t move away. She tried to get closer to him, but he still had her pinned within his embrace.

Rin opened her lips and mimicked what Sesshomaru had done. Sesshomaru was surprised at how quickly Rin had reacted, but told himself that she had probably denied herself until she could do so no longer. He did not refuse her when she slipped her tongue into his mouth, letting her explore all she wanted until she pulled away, out of breath and smiling.

Sesshomaru was having a harder time than he had imagined he would about having the taste of her in his mouth, and on his lips. He sadly realized that this wasn’t going to get any better either; but it was what she wanted, and he always gave her what she desired.

Rin’s eyes sparkled with newfound pleasure and curiosity as she gazed up at Sesshomaru. She started trying to free her arms again, and Sesshomaru made a quick movement, flipping her onto her back and to the middle of the bed as he hovered above her. Rin was startled at the sudden movement, and was briefly afraid when she realized what position she was in, but the fear was quickly replaced by excitement.

Rin brought her hand up to touch Sesshomaru’s face, but he sat up and caught her hand in his own.

“Rin, if you do not like something, I expect you to voice your opinion. Likewise, if you enjoy something do not hold back about letting it be known,” Sesshomaru said quietly, as he fought the vertigo that had suddenly appeared. He closed his eyes and pressed Rin’s palm to his lips.

Sesshomaru let his hand fall away, and Rin moved her hand to tuck a stray strand of his hair back behind his ear. “Rin will make her opinion known,” she assured Sesshomaru with a smile.

Sesshomaru returned her smile with a small one of his own. He really didn’t want to do this! He felt like he was cheating Rin out of the experience she wanted. She deserved to have someone that wanted to be with her, not feeling ill at the thought of pleasuring her.

This is what Rin wants.

Rin requested this.

This will make Rin happy.

You are doing this for Rin’s sake.

You promised her this.

Sesshomaru kept repeating these things to himself as he leaned down and started to place small kisses down Rin’s neck to her shoulder.

Rin tilted her head to encourage him as she made a surprised noise when he let his fangs nip at her but she didn’t pull away; instead she pressed her body up against his.

Sesshomaru forced himself not to pull completely away from the sudden contact; instead he sat back up and ran his clawed fingertips up and down Rin’s sides. She shivered and tried to mimic the movement, but Sesshomaru stopped her from touching him.

Catching both of Rin’s wrists Sesshomaru pinned them above her head. Fear flared within Rin, but she quickly pushed it away.

“Do not try to give pleasure. Focus only on you; and keep your hands here,” Sesshomaru said as he leaned down to kiss Rin’s forehead. She shut her eyes and Sesshomaru felt her relax again and he released her captured wrists.

He hoped she would never realize the whole truth to his request to not touch him. Although Rin was usually sharp of mind, he hoped she would take his words at face value and not see the half-truth he had spoken and demand to know the other half.

Never in his life did he ever want her to touch him in a sexual manner, and the fact that she had tried to had only added to his disgust for the entire situation. Strangely enough, he held no detestation towards Rin herself. No, he still loved the little girl that had, all too quickly, grown into a remarkable woman.

Sesshomaru leaned down again, and started to nip and kiss along the other side of Rin’s neck. Again her head moved, in an unconsciously submissive manner, to allow him full access to her skin.

Sesshomaru realized that he was not going to be able to do this. It was simply too much for him. He was going to have to do something he had never done with Rin before. He was going to shut her out; along with everything else.

His father had once told him of how important it was to clear one’s mind before a battle. How to make a list of objectives and then divide those up into smaller tasks. To focus only on the first step in achieving the objective and nothing else. Lock away all emotions, all distractions, and even the people around you. Then move through the steps and ignore the rest of the world.

Closing his eyes Sesshomaru saw the list of tasks form, and with a heavy heart he locked his mind and closed his heart to the world. He distanced himself from the world and concentrated solely on the task at hand.

Sitting back up he placed a quick kiss on Rin’s partially open mouth before his hands ran down her body eliciting a soft gasp when he stopped at her breasts. His thumbs moved over them until the found what they sought. Through the fabric, he could feel her nipples hardening, and her arousal grew stronger.

Sesshomaru slipped one hand inside her kimono, and the other one worked to loosen the ties that held it shut.

He felt Rin tense momentary as the kimono opened and revealed her body to him and he stopped moving. He felt like he had been slammed into a wall at the sight of her body; his concentration faltered slightly and reality jarred him. He quickly forced the walls of concentration up again, and fixed the broken lock on his emotions.

Rin’s body relaxed when Sesshomaru’s hands again began wandering over her body, igniting trails of fire in their wake. She made various sounds of happiness depending on how the clawed hands moved.

She gasped when Sesshomaru caught one of her nipples in his mouth, as his fingers caught the other one. He teased her gently until she cried out in pleasure. He switched sides and repeated his actions. This time she arched her body into his caresses as she made happy noises.

Sesshomaru noticed that she was starting to have a hard time keeping her hands where he had placed them. She would start to move them and then stop as though realizing what she was doing. Sesshomaru smirked and moved farther down her body.

Rin whimpered when Sesshomaru moved away, but it was cut short when she felt his fingertips trail over her thighs, and stomach.

Sesshomaru trailed his fingers down Rin’s sides and traced expanding circles around her stomach. The closer he got to her center, the more she moaned and writhed underneath his touch.

“Please!” Rin said in a lust-laden voice.

“Please, what?” Sesshomaru asked as he dipped his tongue into her navel.

Rin arched her back and moaned at his touch, “Please... Move… Lower… My Lord!” she rasped out as he continued his slow caresses with his hands and tongue.

A slow smile spread across the demons’ face as he continued his slow tortures for a few more minutes before he moved lower as Rin had requested and settled himself between her knees.

Rin moaned as Sesshomaru’s fingertips brushed over her soft curls that hid her womanhood. The scent of her arousal was still growing stronger, and it was making it harder for Sesshomaru to concentrate on the list in his mind. He just wanted this over with.

Careful of his claws, Sesshomaru slipped one of his fingers into Rin’s body. She tensed at the intrusion but melted at his gentle movements. Sesshomaru moved in slow circles trying his best to ensure he did not cause her any pain. He watched her reactions carefully to assure himself that she was enjoying what he was doing. When she raised her hips to him, he slipped another finger inside her evoking several pleasured sounds from her.

His skilled fingers moved up and down until Rin cried out and her body trembled in pleasure. Those skilled fingers then moved to find her center and upon finding it teased her relentlessly by rubbing in small circles and constantly varying the speed until he knew her body could not take it anymore. Rin’s entire body was trembling and her inner walls had clamped down on his fingers. Rin was breathing rapidly, yet she seemed to be fighting her release.

“Do not fight your body,” Sesshomaru whispered, “let go.”

With a few more caresses Rin cried out and her release washed over her. Every fiber of her being tingled and she thought that even the air felt like fingertips touching her sensitive body. She had her eyes shut tightly, balled her hands into fists, and was shaking almost violently by the power of her orgasm. “Sesshomaru-sama,” she whispered thoughtfully a few minutes later as the last of the tremors left her body.

Sesshomaru had yet to move his fingers and knew that he could finish the night quickly if he made her orgasm again with her body being so overly sensitive now.

“Do you desire more?” Sesshomaru asked quietly.

Before Rin could answer he smelled her desire again, and took that for a “yes.” He pulled his fingers from her body only to replace them in a different position to reveal her rosy center. A series of gasps and moans poured from Rin as he lowered his mouth to taste her essence.

Her hips rose to his touch, and he quickly flicked his tongue over her pink center; again teasing her writhing body. He lowered his mouth to the pink bud that would drive her to the edge if he teased it enough. He alternated between licking and sucking as his fingers thrust gently in and out of the vocal woman. Her body arched and trembled once more as her orgasm reached its crest. With a final thrust of his fingers, her orgasm overtook her body. He pulled away from her trembling body and she cried out his name.

She hadn’t fought against her body this time, or tensed up like she had last time. Her breath was ragged and even without any touch at all she was still writhing and moaning. Obviously, she was enjoying the effects of her orgasm. Lazily, she opened her eyes and rolled her head to bring Sesshomaru into her line of vision. She smiled happily and held her arms up to him.

Taking her invitation, he moved to lie beside her and let her wrap her arms around him as he tugged her kimono shut before he returned the embrace.

Rin was practically purring in the afterglow of the night’s activities and snuggled close to Sesshomaru before she sighed and quickly fell asleep in his arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sesshomaru couldn’t help but gaze at the sleeping woman that he had his arms wrapped around.

She was sound asleep, but a smile was still on her face, and her hands were still clutching the fabric of his haori as though she were wide-awake. Sesshomaru sighed and looked away.

The pain in his heart throbbed and the defenses around his emotions crumbled. All of the feelings he had pushed away and ignored rushed to the surface to make him face what had just happened.

Carefully, Sesshomaru slid out of his haori, making sure not to wake Rin, and walked out of the cave into the moonlight.

Sesshomaru made a quick sweep of the area to make certain there were no uninvited visitors before he settled himself on a stone opposite the cave and leaned against the rocky wall. The rock was cool and soothing on his frayed nerves.

For a few minutes, Sesshomaru gazed unseeing into the clear water of the pool at his feet. It was too much for him to comprehend all at once. The visions, sounds, and smells of the evening thus far bombarded his mind and crashed against his skull.

Sesshomaru let his eyes close and he lifted his head to the sky, letting the weather worn rock caress his back. He was trying to will away the pounding pain that was blooming behind his eyes; and failing.

He wanted to rest his head against his hands, but they smelled like Rin. He bent down and tried to scrub the scent off his fingers, but it refused to come off. It refused to let the secret affair remain secret. It stained his hands and refused to relinquish its hold on him. It marked him and told the world of the deeds he had done.

Curling his hands into fists, he let his claws pierce his skin. He kept his nails imbedded in his palms as his blood trickled through the punctures and slipped down the back of his hands and eventually fell into the pool, leaving crimson swirls in the crystalline water.

With a sigh he uncurled his hands and watched the punctures as they closed. If only he could heal the rest of his injuries that quickly.

He stared down at the water into his reflection. He felt used, dirty, and ugly.

He swiped at the image before him, shattering it into an unrecognizable blur of ripples in the water. He was angry with himself for being so taken with the human girl. Was this why his father had thrown his life away for Izayoi and her unborn child? Had he wanted her happiness above his own?

Was he so like his father that he would ruin himself for the life of a human female?

His shoulders drooped and he felt defeated, exhausted and for the first time in a long time, unsure of himself.

His gaze fell on his bloodied hand. Not only had the scent of Rin’s release not went away, now it was mixed with the smell of his blood. “That was a great idea,” he thought sarcastically.

The fact that he had refused to acknowledge for so long was now the only thing that his mind was able to focus on.

The little girl that he had grown to love was no longer the same person. She had grown up, and become a woman. She deserved to be treated as one, not a child.

It had been wrong to ignore the fact that her needs were changing. He should have addressed this years ago, but his own need to hold onto the child that had taught him to love had held him back. It was his own fault that the situation had come to this.

“Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” he berated himself mentally as he considered smacking his head against the rock behind him to punctuate each word. How could he have been so dim-witted? That was not something to describe Sesshomaru! That was how that damn half-breed was, not him!

For all his outward appearances he looked like a cold, uncaring taiyoukai. Just as he should—how he had been taught to be. He was not to “feel” anything for anyone beside himself. That theory hadn’t worked, though.

It hadn’t worked for his father, either.

Why should he have to live up to something that the great InuTashio couldn’t even do?

Because he had told himself that he would.

He had failed.

He had let his stepmother and father die without any kind words to them, had tried to kill their child on several occasions, and had no other true blood family left. He had Jaken around only because the little imp thought him a hero for saving him and his fellow imps from another demon. He wasn’t a hero. He was a demon. Demons aren’t heroes; they are villains – at least demons like him.

Demons like him kill the heroes, destroy lives without a second thought, and are utterly selfish. Demons like him don’t deserve to be loved or cared about by anyone, especially humans. So, why did Rin love him? Why did Jaken still follow him? Why could he not kill InuYasha?

Did they believe that he was worthy of being loved? To be cherished? To belong? Could it be that, yet again, he was wrong?

Shaking his head, he realized that he had no answers and that all this thinking wasn’t helping him at all. It was only making things worse.

He tried to clear his mind, but it was still in too much turmoil to cooperate, despite his best efforts.

In the commotion, he remembered a conversation he had had with InuYasha some time ago about Rin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Why do you have a human wench travel with you?” InuYasha’s voice had called over the trees of the forest that Sesshomaru had just landed in.

‘Damn!’ Sesshomaru thought. He had been hoping that his troublesome brother would leave him be for once, and not try to start a fight. “Why is that any of your concern, half breed?” He sneered in the direction of InuYasha’s scent.

“Kagome brought it up,” InuYasha’s voice said, closer than last time, “I agreed to ask you about it for her,” InuYasha said as his golden eyes appeared in the shadows of the treetops.

“Still taking orders from women?”

“Feh. Seems that you do too.”

“Where did you hear such nonsense?”

“The villagers. They all say that they’ve seen you in the company of a young female that’s obviously human.”

“Hn.”

“I didn’t hear you refute their accusations, so does that mean that it’s true? Did the great demon Sesshomaru fall for a mere mortal?” InuYasha asked with a sneer.

“I don’t recall deeming you worthy of knowing my personal life.”

“You have a personal life?”

“You forget your place, hanyo.”

“So did you.”

Sesshomaru glared up at InuYasha, who was still leaning against a tree.

“This Sesshomaru does not need to trifle with you, and idiot villagers.”

“What are you planning on doing with her?”

“Excuse me?”

“What is your reason for letting her tag along for so long? Did you take her as a mate?”

“No.”

“Then why is she with you?”

“She is my property to do with as I please. No one has the right to question my intentions.”

“I didn’t say she wasn’t yours. I asked why you still keep her around when you know the rumors.”

“People that have uttered such rumors in my presence have not lived to speak of the encounter. Pick your words carefully or you shall join their ranks.”

“Look, Sesshomaru, all I’m asking is why does a taiyoukai such as yourself feel compelled to keep such a companion? I know why I myself travel with humans, but I am baffled as to why you keep one in your company.”

“Why do you feel a need to ask?”

“I told you, Kagome told me to ask you about it. I think she’s worried about the girl.”

“The girl will not be harmed.”

“So, you did take a mate.”

“You were told of that already - she is merely my servant.”

“She seems to be quite …uh… personable with you.”

“She is still a child.”

“She won’t be that way much longer, she’s almost an adult.”

“I am fully aware of that.”

“Then why let her tag along? It only makes things more dangerous for you, and her.”

“Do you fear for my safety, InuYasha?”

“Feh. Kagome is worried about the kid; that’s all.

“I will not allow a human to pull me down; that, I assure you.”

“I didn’t think you would, but I don’t believe you. People use Kagome against me more often than I’d admit to, and they will do it to you with Rin as well.”

“Are you offering advice?”

“Just an observation. I don’t expect you to listen to me.”

“Good, then leave.”

With a rustling of leaves InuYasha turned and left the way that he had come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shaking his head, he realized that his brother was right; at least in the sense that Rin was being used to torment him. What no one had realized was that Rin was going to do that of her own free will. She had effectively caged the youkai like the dog demon he was.

Sighing Sesshomaru leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was immediately assaulted with images of Rin’s naked body. He groaned and opened his eyes. He was not going to have any peace for a long time over this. Not until he managed to resolve it.

He reasoned that if maybe he could justify his actions he wouldn’t feel so ill anymore. What reason did he have to pleasure a human wench though?

The only answer he could come up with was that maybe he really did love her as she wanted; he just hadn’t fully realized that yet. Why not? He had lied to himself over less serious issues, so why not a big one like this? Then again, what if that was just another lie.

Why couldn’t he enjoy the sexual aspect of the relationship he held with her. He did act as a lover would. He provided food and clothing for her, and protection as well. Now he fulfilled her lustful desire, so why not think of himself as her lover and truly try to love her as she did him?

A little voice in the back of him mind reminded him not so politely that she was a human, and a commoner at that and was never worthy of someone such as him. Just as politely he reasoned with it that perhaps he was not worthy of a mortal’s love. They did have a limited amount of time to live, and it should be more precious to gain their affections and trust since it was such a limited offer. The little voice held disliked that line of thinking. Perhaps, their love was less that worthy because they had to make a hasty decision as to whom to love. Sesshomaru reasoned that if that were true, then Rin would have had nearly ten years to make up her mind. Never once had she faltered in her love or trust in him. Never had she left his side or made any complaints about the lifestyle they held. The little voice had no argument against this.

Inhaling deeply Sesshomaru went over the reasons to try to love Rin. Not only was she fiercely loyal to him, she obviously loved him. She had not asked to be married, nor did she ask him for a child. She was physically attractive too. Her frame was still small, but she was athletic, and her body was toned and beautiful. There wasn’t really anything to dislike about her. Except the whole idea that he had thought of her as a daughter.

“Damn,” he cursed aloud as he realized that his mind was fighting him again.

Looking up at where he had left Rin he realized that it would be only a few more hours until dawn. He needed to settle his emotions, and quickly.

He gritted his teeth and sternly told himself that not only is Rin not his blood daughter, they also have no relationship other than she is his to do with as he pleases. Sex is just that. If she doesn’t like it then she can leave.

As much as it pained him to think of sending Rin away, he threatened himself with it. It was her fault that he was even thinking like this right now anyway. He would try to see her in this new light, as it was a change he had to accept; no matter how much he disliked it.

Standing up, he made his way back inside the cave. At first, the scent of Rin made him nauseous, but he forced himself to become accustomed to it. Slowly, the ill feelings went away as he looked as her still sleeping figure wrapped in his haori. That was his woman now, and he would try his best to keep her happy. At least, that was his plan.

Sesshomaru sat looking at Rin for awhile more before he knelt down next to her and gently shook her awake.

“Rin, you must wake up now.” He said softly.

Hearing his voice Rin’s eyes slowly opened and she smiled up at her Lord. “Is it morning already Sesshomaru-sama?”

“Not quite, but there are matters to attend to.”

Pushing herself into a sitting position she asked, “What is it that Rin is to do?”

Sesshomaru couldn’t help but stare at her for a minute before answering her. She looked amazingly sexy wrapped in his haori that was much too big for her. Her soft curves melted into the silk fabric that enveloped her. Pulling his gaze away from her Sesshomaru said, “You need to wash, then we are returning to camp. Jaken will worry if we are not there when he wakes.”

“Yes, Sesshomaru-sama.” Rin answered hastily and blushed remembering the night’s activities.

Quickly she untangled herself from his haori and made a move to place it back on him. Sesshomaru stopped her, and took it from her small hands. Leaning down he placed a chaste kiss on her lips and wrapped his arm around her waist. He escorted her out to the water and then sat down with his back once again against the cool rocks.

Almost shyly Rin slid to the rocky ground and dipped her feet into the water. She found it surprisingly warm to the touch. Turning her head towards Sesshomaru she gasped, “My
Lord! Its warm!”

“Yes, Rin, the surrounding rocks keep it that way even when the air is cold or night falls.”

“Oh! How splendid!” She exclaimed as she turned back around and gracefully slipped out of her kimono and into the water with a slight splash.

Sesshomaru’s eyes never wandered from her slim figure now dappled with droplets of water. She still had her back to him, but he knew that she knew he was still watching her. He had always turned away before, but now things were different; Very different.

Not that it had ever mattered, with his keen senses he always knew what her every move was. When she washed her hair, her back, or her legs, he always knew just never saw, until now.

He watched as her soft hands moved over her delicate shoulders and down her slim arms leaving them sparkling with water droplets. He watched as the water rolled off her hair, down her back, and back into the pool around her waist. Her hands disappeared underneath the water and then after a short time she too disappeared under the water only to reemerge with a splash and a grin. As she peeked over the edge of the pool, her eyes met with a golden gaze and she blushed.

Never taking his eyes away from hers Sesshomaru rose from his spot, walked the few steps to the ledge, and held Rin’s kimono up for her to step into that she had dropped when she slid into the water. Still blushing furiously at knowing his gaze was still on her naked body Rin climbed out of the water and shivered in the chilly air. Quickly, Sesshomaru wrapped the kimono around her and guided her back to the cave where the fire was still glowing brightly.

Sitting in front of the fire Rin dried her hair and let the flames heat her chilled body. When she was completely dry she was surprised by Sesshomaru wrapping his haori around her once again. “My lord...” Rin started, intending on asking him why he was doing such an odd thing. Before she could finish her thought Sesshomaru had put out the fire, scooped her up into his arms, and took to the skies.

Moving so quickly in the night air she realized that Sesshomaru had given her his haori so that she would keep warm on their way back to camp. At first, she worried that he might get cold, but not once on the journey did his skin ever become chilled. It stayed warm to her touch.

As they made a soft landing in a tree near the camp Sesshomaru made a quick sweep of the area and noted that Jaken had not moved from when thy had left. Sitting Rin gently on the ground next to her bedroll he turned and started to move away when Rin’s small hand reached for his. The instant she touched him he stilled. “Rin,” he said in a low voice to not wake Jaken.

“Would it be possible for Rin to sleep next to you again tonight?” she whispered with her eyes upturned to where his would be if he was turned the other way.

Suddenly, he pulled on her hand and she stumbled forward at the unexpected movement. She nearly fell on the ground, but she managed to keep her feet under her. Startled as she was, she voiced no complaint, but did lose her grasp on Sesshomaru. She realized that he was again looking at her and blushed. Then she remembered his haori, and took it back off, again trying to put it back on him. This time he seemed amused that she was trying to put it on him since he was so much taller than she was. He made one swift movement and it disappeared from Rin’s hands and settled back on his body. He was momentarily thrown off balance by the thick scent of Rin on his clothing. He knew it was only a matter of time until their scents were bound to each other. Inwardly he sighed and moved to sit under the tree across from Jaken. Rin followed closely behind him, and when he was settled she sat down next to him and smiled.

“Sleep now, Rin,” Sesshomaru said, “tomorrow we are leaving.”

“Yes, my lord,” Rin said as she snuggled up to his arm and closed her eyes.

Sesshomaru closed his eyes; he but did not sleep. Instead, he monitored Rin for when she actually fell asleep. He knew it would be too cold for her to sleep like this for long and he knew she would freeze to death before she would disturb him to move to retrieve a blanket for herself.

With a sigh Sesshomaru carefully lifted Rin and placed her in his lap. Though she did not wake, she welcomed the heat of his body and instinctively tried to get closer to it. Her hands snaked into the edge of his haori and she buried her face into his shoulder. Letting his hand rest on her back he decided that she would not freeze and fell asleep himself.

When the first rays of sunlight hit the trio Jaken was first to rise, and he was surprised to find Rin cuddled close to Sesshomaru, both appeared to be fast asleep.

“Hm, long night I suppose,” Jaken muttered under his breath. No sooner had the words slipped from his mouth a tree branch fell directly on top of him. With a startled yelp, he squirmed out from underneath it. He knew that he had not seen Sesshomaru move; yet the branch was cut cleanly.

His yelp had startled Rin awake. She was surprised to find herself tangled together with Sesshomaru. She did not remember climbing into his lap, nor asking to be this close to him. Yet, she was, and he had his hand on her back, keeping her close to him. She moved her head and looked up at him. By all accounts, he would have been asleep, but she knew that since she had moved he was awake as well. “My Lord?” she asked quietly

Without opening his eyes he whispered, “Sleep, Rin,”

“Yes, My Lord,” she replied and leaned against him once more listening to his even breathing until her eyes shut and she again fell asleep.

Only after she was sound asleep again did Sesshomaru open his eyes. He sent a glare at Jaken who was cleaning up the campsite. Jaken trembled when he felt Sesshomaru’s icy glare on him. Swallowing his fear he turned to Sesshomaru and said, “ Lord Sesshomaru, please forgive the earlier indiscretions.”

A low growl filled the air, and Jaken jumped back as he trembled in fear. “You are in no position to question my motives, nor my decisions. Do not do it again,” Sesshomaru said only loud enough for Jaken’s demonic ears to pick up.

“Y-Yes, My Lord!” Jaken stuttered as he stumbled over his own feet and nearly tripped over the branch that had fallen earlier.

“Jaken, do not disturb me again until I am ready to leave.” Sesshomaru said as he raised his free hand to place it atop Rin’s head and pull her closer to him. The hand he rested on her back had not moved. Sesshomaru’s eyes slid shut once again, freeing Jaken of their promise of pain. As Jaken glanced at the “sleeping” pair he could not help but wonder just what had happened the night before to have things come to this. He hoped that he would get to ask Sesshomaru later in the day when Rin was not underfoot.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~A/N ~ i hope you like the story so far ^_^ please leave me reviews! <3