tampered | Log; Complete

When; July 27th
Rating; G
Characters; Rin (

loyalward) and Sesshoumaru (

coldmoonlight)
Summary; The long-awaited reunion between demon and ward.
Log;

The moment Rin had found out that her Lord Sesshoumaru was in the City, she'd wanted to jump and shout for joy - she could not remember feeling so happy in a very, very long time. She felt like throwing the flowers she'd been picking to the ground, and pelting through the grass, and then past the metal and concrete of the City towards him - all to have her find him for once. Weeks had turned into months as she'd waited patiently, and a niggling doubt had begun to grow at the back of the child's mind, taunting her that perhaps he would not come, he would not find her in this strange place...

But her doubts had been unfounded, and he'd come after all, just as he always did! And Rin managed to control herself, though her feet itched to flee in search of him. He had told her to wait, and so she would wait. So much had she missed him that she instinctively took his orders to remain where she was literally, and froze completely, standing still in the middle of the gardens. Even her chest seemed to rise and fall slowly, as though she was struggling to keep breathing to a minimum to stay as silent and motionless as possible.

Yet she was unable to stop a wide smile from growing on her face, and by her sides her small hands curled into tiny fists from glee - for all her efforts to stay immobile. He was really here! Somehow, she knew everything would be all right at last.

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"I have read the information made available to those who come to this place." He knew of the restrictions, the odd turns of events, the dead who were not dead. He knew that the City presented a danger to his ward through its very nature, as well as the nature of those who resided within its circumference.

Sesshoumaru was pleased that Rin had looked after herself. He was pleased that she had found allies. It would not have been proper for her to be left alone for so long as she'd estimated, not when she had not chosen such a life.

"Your friends. Describe them to me."

She nodded; of course Sesshoumaru-sama would already know everything a person needed to know about this place. How could she have thought any different? "First I stayed with Miroku and Sango! The monk, and Kohaku's sister - who travel with--" Rin stopped herself hastily, before she said the name of the half-brother her lord hated so much. "Who travel with Kagome-san," she quickly corrected herself.

"But then I stayed with Kimimaro-chan! He's a demon, and he's very kind and very strong, and he helped to protect me. And then I've talked with lots of people, and lots of demons, and some vampires, which I think are a sort of demon. Ah, and Walter-san, a very kind man, is teaching me to read and write!" At this her smile grew wider, and she stopped herself from adding that she was only learning to be of better service to her lord in the future.

The inu youkai considered her words in silence for a few moments. A mental inventory of those she had named was soon made. Rin had been exposed to a great deal without his guidance--for his stewardship did encompass guidance, as rare as his overt exhibition of it was. No child in his care would practice disgraceful behavior, regardless of species.

"I will speak with those you have mentioned, save the monk and the taijiya. There is nothing to be said between us. This 'Walter' ... what does he teach you to read and write?"

"We're only just beginning, Sesshoumaru-sama. But I've been trying to read some stories! Stories like the ones I used to hear when I was younger," Rin paused for a moment, her gaze flicking to the ground for the first time, and she was glad that she had said 'when I was younger' instead of 'from my mother'.

Yet sure enough, when she looked up again there was a smile on her face. "I'm learning because I want to be able to help you when you build your empire, Lord Sesshoumaru! And then Master Jaken won't say I'm not doing anything!"

Sesshoumaru snorted in what passed for amusement, unconcerned with whether or not Rin could read the gesture. The child was perceptive; it was one of the traits that had won her his favor. Let her think what she would of his mood. "Jaken is a fool."

At last, the golden eyes that had beheld the death of so many turned back to Rin. Sesshoumaru merely looked at her for a time. He had nearly lost her again. Inexcusable. No fault could be laid at anyone's feet, but still, it troubled him. "Do you wish to go back, Rin?"

Rin almost giggled when her lord spoke of Master Jaken in that way, but decided it wouldn't be respectful, and she didn't want to disappoint him. Instead she bit her lip in time to stop the noise, and toyed with the few odd flowers she was still clutching in her hands by way of distraction.

She was thrown by the next question asked of her, though. He was asking her for... what she wished? Rin blinked, face blank - and then laughed a little, as though the answer was obvious. "Only if you want to go back, my lord. As long as Rin is with Sesshoumaru-sama, she's happy."

"We will remain until a way to return opens." His expression darkened as he raised his eyes to their surroundings and murmured, "This place is not ours. We are not meant to be here."

The mood passed, clouds blown away by a strong wind, and Sesshoumaru again appeared as unconcerned as if he had never known fear or disappointment or doubt. "Continue as you have done with your friends, provided they are suitable companionship for one in your position."

The girl nodded wordlessly in agreement. She couldn't explain it, but she had felt something wasn't right about the City since she had arrived. And she worried for all the dangers there were here, worried that she would get herself into trouble and be an inconvenient burden for her lord.

But she could see that Sesshoumaru-sama wasn't worried, and she was delighted to hear she could keep the new friends she'd made. "Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru!" He was so generous to her. Then gasped as she remembered, and quickly held out her hand to him - the few flowers she had been picking before he'd arrived were clutched tightly in it. "Ah, I picked lots of flowers whilst I was waiting for you, but I couldn't give them to you before now!"

He accepted the flowers without argument, plucking them delicately from her hands with claws that had killed thousands as easily as she had gathered the little blossoms. Her tiny sachet was left to rest in his lap as his arm returned to its place resting on his knee.

"You have done well," he told her. It was more praise than he usually offered, but he was feeling generous in light of the circumstances.

Sesshoumaru sat in silence after that, apparently without intention of leaving, of making further observation, or of dismissing his ward. There was much he had to think on, and the gardens offered some relief from the stench of the City.

"T-Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru," Rin managed to stutter out polite words of gratitude, and she almost (but not quite) blushed. It was so rare to hear him speak like that of her, she felt her entire body swell with a wild, proud joy.

Still glowing in the aftermath of the compliment, she cautiously shifted even closer to her lord. For a moment she held her breath, as though summoning up the courage for some great feat. Then, gently, she rested her head on the side of his body. She felt comforted and safe to know that he wasn't an illusion, that it was her Sesshoumaru-sama sitting next to her, real and whole and warm and safe.

She didn't move, but lay there quite still, content to simply bask in his silent presence.

No one was there to see them, but a moment passed before Sesshoumaru lowered his arm and brushed a light, comforting touch over her hair. Then his arm settled again where it had been, as if he had never moved.

Sesshoumaru was not pleased that they had been brought here, but Rin was safe with him, and that would suffice for the time being.

Log; Complete

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