After All This Time?

The Delay

Rin walks through the sleeping village while her Lord and Granny Kaede have their private discussion in her hut. She stops and finds herself a spot to sit, resting on the lower end of a hill that rolls down into the river. She looks to the night sky, bringing her knees to her chest, and wraps her arms around them as she twiddles her thumbs in a circular motion.

She sighs harshly as she waits.

"I'm sure everything will be just fine." She thought out loud.

She hears the wind whistling around her and she starts to whistle in response, which leads her to make a melodic tune; a lullaby she sang to the children when she would play and care for them.

She hears the taps of footsteps behind her and turns her head over her shoulder to see her precious Lord at the top of the hill. She grins and pushes herself up to her feet, making her way up the hill to greet him.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" She waves to him.

However, when she approaches him, her smile fades away when she notices the coldness in his eyes.

He blinks slowly, refusing to make eye contact with her.

"You can return now."

She grew concerned by his sudden change of behavior towards her, and her eyes express this.

"Did--did something happen with Kaede?"

He turns around, having his back towards her.

"It's getting late. You should go home and get some rest."

He began to walk away but his kimono sleeve was being pulled by both of Rin's hands. He turns his head to her as the glassy look in her eyes captures him.

"Lord Sesshomaru... please... please don't go.... don't go and leave me alone again!" her voice and hands were trembling. Her hands held onto his sleeve tighter, not wanting to let him go.

She had feared that he was angered by the old woman and was going to leave without her in the middle of the night. She didn't want her Lord to leave her behind. She didn't want to lose him again--possibly forever.

He was taken aback to hear the fear in her voice. His eyes narrow and soften looking at the sadness in her eyes. He didn't want to worry her or upset her unnecessarily. He was not going to, nor had the desire to, leave the village just yet--not without her.

He turns around fully facing her.

"I have no intentions of going anywhere, Rin. I will remain here when you wake up." He spoke lowly but soft.

"You promise?" Her tears were forming in the corners of her brown eyes.

He nods.

"Of course."

She exhales harshly and releases his sleeve, allowing him to take a step back. She wipes away the water in her eyes with the back of her hand. Sesshomaru lifts his hand out to her, palm side up. She blinks and looks at him curiously and she gently places her hand on top of his hand without a second thought nor a hint of hesitation.

He pulls her to his side and he wraps his arm around her back, holding her close to him.

"Hold on to me."

When she blinks, he lifts off the ground suddenly and glides into the air, causing her to shut her eyes and tightly wrap her arms around his torso. Sesshomaru tightens his hold on her just enough to have her feel safe. He would never dare to drop her under any circumstances.

After securing herself onto him, she opens her eyes to see the tops of the huts passing below them.

She was in awe.