A Demon's Journey: Love Beyond Time

Chapitre 8: Jealousy

As the days passed, the encounter with Hiroto lingered in her mind, an uninvited specter haunting her thoughts. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face, his warm smile, and the way he had looked at her with such familiarity. Though she had resolved to focus on her new life, the feelings that had arisen were difficult to shake.

Rin, oblivious to the inner turmoil, continued to enjoy their adventures. She spent her days collecting flowers and chasing after butterflies, her laughter filling the air like music. Jaken, as usual, complained about their travels, but he remained devoted to Rin, offering her advice and scolding her whenever she strayed too far. Sesshomaru, however, was quieter than usual.

She had noticed it, the way his golden eyes would narrow whenever she mentioned Hiroto or the village. It was subtle, but undeniable. There was a tension in the air whenever she and Sesshomaru were together, a tension that felt like it was crackling with unspoken words.

One evening, as they set up camp in a clearing surrounded by tall trees, she caught him watching her. She was sitting on a fallen log, carving a piece of wood into a small figure for Rin, who had fallen asleep next to A-Un. The sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor, and she felt the weight of Sesshomaru's gaze upon her.

Why does he look at me like that? She tried to ignore the flutter in her chest. She had decided to move on, to focus on her current life, yet the pull of the past was still strong.

As if sensing her thoughts, Sesshomaru moved closer, the air growing thick with unspoken words. "Are you not yet tired of this village?" he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

She looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. "You spend too much time thinking of it. This Hiroto... Do you wish to see him again?"

The sudden heat in his voice caught her off guard. There was a flicker of something in his gaze—was it jealousy? She blinked, momentarily taken aback. "I don't wish to see him again, Sesshomaru. It was just... a surprise, that's all. He reminded me of my past, of someone I lost."

A shadow passed over Sesshomaru's face, a fleeting glimpse of emotion that quickly vanished behind his stoic mask. "You seem fascinated by him."

She felt her heart quicken, a mixture of frustration and confusion swirling within her. "I'm not fascinated! It's just—" She stopped herself, realizing how defensive she sounded. "It's just strange to see someone who looks like him. I thought I had moved on."

"Yet you do not act like it," Sesshomaru replied, his voice colder now, the tension palpable. "You linger on memories of the past as if they hold some power over you."

"Is that what you think?" she shot back, her patience wearing thin. "You don't understand! He was a part of my life, and he means something to me. It's not easy to just forget someone you loved!"

The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, and for a moment, they both stood in silence, the weight of their words hanging heavy in the air.

Finally, Sesshomaru turned away, his back to her, the tension in his shoulders rigid. "Love is a weakness," he said softly, almost to himself. "Do not let it distract you from your true purpose here."

Is that what this is about? She felt a pang of disappointment at his words. "It's not a weakness, Sesshomaru. It's a part of being human—or demon, for that matter."

He turned back, his eyes flashing with an intensity that took her breath away. "You are not human anymore. You do not belong to that world."

"But I was human once," she countered, her voice steadier now, determined to stand her ground. "Those memories are part of me, and I can't simply erase them."

"I do not expect you to erase them. But you must learn to focus on the present." His gaze bore into hers, a silent challenge reflected in his eyes. "You have a future here. With me."

The air grew thick with unspoken feelings as they locked eyes. There was a truth hanging between them, one she could no longer ignore. With me. The phrase echoed in her mind, a declaration and a question all at once.

But before she could respond, the moment was interrupted by the sound of rustling leaves. Rin stirred, yawning sleepily as she sat up and stretched. "What are you two talking about?" she asked innocently, her bright eyes bouncing between them.

"Nothing important," Sesshomaru replied curtly, his voice returning to its usual cool detachment.

Rin looked at her with wide, curious eyes, clearly sensing the tension. "Are you okay, Nezuko? You look a little... upset."

She forced a smile, the warmth of Rin's concern easing the storm inside her. "I'm fine, Rin. Just a little tired."

As Rin climbed to her feet, she glanced back at Sesshomaru, who seemed to have retreated into his usual stoicism. The air between them still felt charged, and she could sense that the conversation wasn't over.

That night, as she lay beneath the stars, her thoughts swirled around the day's events. Why was Sesshomaru acting like this? A part of her wanted to believe that his jealousy stemmed from something deeper, something more than mere annoyance. But the other part couldn't shake the fear that it was just his nature—guarded, solitary, and unwilling to let anyone in.

She turned over, staring up at the vast expanse of the night sky. What did I want? She closed her eyes, the memories of her past life brushing against her consciousness like a gentle whisper. Could I ever truly let go?

A soft rustle broke her thoughts, and she opened her eyes to see Sesshomaru standing at the edge of the clearing, looking out into the darkness. There was a stillness about him, a tension that spoke volumes, and she felt a pull to reach out to him.

"Sesshomaru?" she called softly, unsure if he would respond.

He turned slightly, his golden eyes catching the faint light of the moon. "What is it?"

"About what we talked about earlier..." She hesitated, searching for the right words. "I don't want you to think I'm not committed to this world. I am. It's just... hard sometimes."

He remained silent, and she took a breath, gathering her courage. "I don't want to lose you either. Not to the past or to anything else."

For a moment, she thought he might turn away again, but instead, he stepped closer, the tension between them palpable. "You do not understand," he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. "I do not wish to lose you either."

Her heart raced, the weight of his words settling over her like a warm blanket. "Then let's figure this out together," she suggested, her voice steady. "We can both learn to move forward."

For the first time, she saw a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, as if the fortress he had built around himself was beginning to crack. "You do not need to feel bound to the past. It serves no purpose."

"But I can't just forget," she countered softly, reaching out to him, her fingers brushing against his arm. "I'm still figuring out who I am in this world, who I can be. And I want you to be part of that journey."

The silence stretched between them, charged with emotions unspoken, and she held her breath, wondering if he would pull away or step closer.

Finally, he nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. "Very well," he said, his voice low but resolute. "We shall move forward together."

With that, the tension in the air shifted. She could feel the connection between them deepening, the barriers slowly dissolving as they stood in the quiet of the night, their hearts beating in unison beneath the vast sky.

They had both faced their pasts, and now it was time to embrace the future together, whatever it might hold.