A Demon of a Woman /Sesshomaru Calls\

Chapter 9

Happy to see this change in attitude I sidled up next to her with a hand lain on her back as we walked back to our little camp site.

"And if you are any sign, I bet she was just as beautiful." I commented, returning the smile she beamed at me.

When I woke up the next morning, I came to the shock of finding myself alone.

Jumping up I looked around frantically trying to figure out what was happening.

He said I was to follow him to take care of Rin? Why would he have already left so fast?...I mean, it's not like I wanted to be with him I started correcting my thoughts, I just really care about Rin I guess I got my expectations carried away...I'm better off by myself anyway.

Huffing I leaned back on the tree behind me. Ok, so what's my next strategy? Like I said, I know my life here will start small but I have to go somewhere. First I'll need to build a home for Rhys and I..."that's it!" I snapped myself from my thoughts, pumping my fist into my hand. I'd find a decent area with a few flat acres and build a home

"That's what Ms. Matsumoto?" A small voice piped up from beside me with a tug on the side of my dress.

Startled I looked down at the curious Rin a little wide-eyed.

"Uh...where'd you come from?" I asked slowly.

She just pointed over to the right with a big grin. "I was helping Jaken get A-Un ready to leave!" she giggled. "Now that Lord Sesshomaru is better we must hurry to continue and make up for lost time."

"Continue...lost time...for what?" I asked.

"I don't know, that's just what Jaken said." She giggled and started to run off in circles with her arms out in the air like the first time I met her.

I watched as she ran beyond the trees where the figure of Ah-Un could scarcely be seen through the branches.

"Lost time to find Naraku." A male voice spoke up from behind me.

I spun around to find Sesshomaru walking out from the trees, adorned in a new shirt. It was slightly similar to the one before but with more black detail and purple designs on the sleeves than red.

"Naraku?" I questioned as he walked ahead of me and I stepped in foot to follow.

"All you need to know is that when I leave you are to keep Rin safe." He responded hollowly without explanation.

I ran ahead and stopped by Sesshomaru's side. "What makes you think I can keep Rin any safer than Jaken?" I blurted out, dismayed at the thought that maybe he's figured me out.

He just watched me with a side-long glance before continuing towards Ah-Un.

"Hey! I asked you a question! You could at least say something, you know!" I hollered, feeling the urge to run up behind him and give him a good punch in the shoulder...sounds childish but that's the feeling that came over me. But, thankfully I managed to hold it in cause I didn't want to know just how much angrier he would have gotten.

In that next instant I managed to find myself pinned back to a tree. Déjà vu was quite evident when the position came quite similar to our first meeting, but this time his grip was lighter and there was a hint of a smirk on his usual solemn face.

Still pinned to the tree I kept my gaze steadily on his. After a few minutes of seemingly have a staring contest his golden globes slowly crept closer and closer to mine.

What is he doing?

His face just kept getting closer, but I had no room against the tree to move my head away until finally his chin came to rest against the side of my cheek. Barely grazing my ear I felt my heart beat kick up again, just like the night before, as his lips moved across my lobe. "I think you know why."

His body-his heat, his warmth-was instantly gone from mine and I looked up quickly to find him already next to Ah-Un.

I stood there confused for a few more moments as I tried to collect myself. His body didn't show any further intentions, any notions that he was purposely trying to get close to me and rile me up.

That's just how he operates. He doesn't even realize what he's done to me...no did! He is not doing anything...as a matter of fact he never did anything to begin with. He's just a mangy ole' demon that I need no part of.

Nodding the confirmation of my own thoughts to myself I decided to just forget about Sesshomaru and go on with only one thought, Rin. If it wasn't for Rin I never would have agreed to help and follow her through the woods. If it wasn't for Rin I wouldn't have stayed around to help that damn Sesshomaru. It was only because of her I was willing to stay close to the man...no demon...that tried to kill me.

We spent the next couple days just walking really. We would set up camp through the night, although Sesshomaru usually disappeared. What he was doing I was never really sure.

I had just finished braiding Rin's hair as she had asked and set the crown of flowers I had helped her make atop her head.

Sitting back on my knees I took a look at the finished Rin as she turned toward me. Fingering the flowers now atop her head she smiled brightly up at me and then threw herself into my arms.

I froze in surprise for a moment at the abrupt closeness but soon forgot it and wrapped a gentle arm around her shoulders.

She kept her head buried in my side for a little longer, then sat herself back a bit and looked up at me with her chin propped on my stomach.

"Ms. Matsu-"

"Rin." I said flatly, interrupting her from calling me Ms. Matsumoto. I had told her she didn't have to call me that but she seemed to forget quite easily.

"Corrine." She corrected herself, the words coming out oddly but ending with a smile.

Between the Master Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru it must have been odd not calling to someone formally...do they even have last names? My mind wandered off for a quick second but I brought myself back.

"Yes, Rin." I responded a little lighter.

"Is this what it's like to spend time with your mother?" She asked, catching me off guard.

I could definitely say out of anything I was not expecting that-my body froze in response. I sat there for what seemed like forever trying to figure out what to say, how to respond.

I tried to open my mouth and say something, but then I felt Sesshomaru's presence walking back to our little make-shift camp and hesitated again...this wasn't making it any easier.

"It's just that I cannot remember what it's like to be with my mother...the feeling...is this what it is?" She asked watching me with new hopeful, big eyes.

Looking into those eyes I mustered up whatever I could to answer her. Screw Sesshomaru...I don't care if his presence makes me nervous I think

"Truth is...I don't know what it's like either. I didn't get to spend much time with my mother either." I finally sighed, I couldn't lie to her.

"Why not? Did she die too?"

"No, she's still alive. She didn't want me, so she gave me up." I forced the words out of my mouth.

"But, why? You're her daughter."

"I was different and if I wasn't normal I wasn't hers." I tried to let the words flow out as if it was a simple thing. But it wasn't...I was different from other children, a mistake that couldn't be hers. "But if this is, I like it." I tried to encourage some hope in her and change the subject.

"Me too." She sighed, forgetting all about the conversation and burying her head back into my stomach.

I couldn't help but brush my fingers over the softness of her braids. It was calming to feel her gentle breath slowing down until the rise and fall of her chest became ever so calm.

Soon enough she'd fallen asleep in my arms. And not long after I'd noticed the quiet stillness of Sesshomaru's body where he'd come to lie against a tree.

Deciding to take the opportunity I slowly lifted Rin's body off my lap and gently lay it against the side of the tree I was leaning on. Slowly picking myself up I tried not to make a sound as I crept back into the woods away from everyone.