My Days With Lord Sesshomaru

“I’m not a kid anymore!” Rin sulked as she passed the sacred tree.

“Now, now, Rin…Lord Sesshomaru has sent you an abundance of gifts over the years.” As he trailed behind her, Master Jaken’s voice, usually stern, was softer than usual.

“Keyword Master Jaken. Sent.” Rin’s sharp tongue delivered a stinging rebuke.

The fact that Lord Sesshomaru left me in Kaede village was bad enough, she thought. But he never came back for me.

Almost inaudibly she muttered, "He hasn’t visited me even a single time in the last six and a half years...."

Yes, the extravagant gifts were a clear sign that I was still on his mind. But how could he just abandon me like that? She thought to herself as she continued pacing around the tree.

“Was I that much of a nuisance?” With a heavy sigh, Rin slid down the rough bark of the tree, and onto the ground.

“Well, Rin…I can totally understand his decision of leaving you behind. But me? His most humble and trusted follower? I think not.”

Rin blocked out Jaken’s endless chatter as she thought about what to do next. “Is it time to just move on with my life?” She mumbled to herself with a heavy ache in her heart. “I really miss him…”

With a stick, she scratched the image of Lord Sesshomaru into the dirt. Despite its lack of resemblance to his graceful form, she captured the essence of the crescent moon on his forehead, his flowing hair, and the stripes on his cheeks.

Rin, with her knees drawn to her chest, absentmindedly rotated the stick between her fingers. “I just don’t get it…” she groaned, oblivious to Lady Kaede’s footsteps echoing nearby.

Lady Kaede peeked down at the poorly drawn figure in the soil. “Is that supposed to be Lord Sesshomaru?” She giggled as she pointed at the drawing.

“Maybe.” Rin blushed and patted down on the image until it faded into the soil. Her cheek rested on her knees, and she sighed a mournful sigh, a stark contrast to her typically joyful demeanor.

“What has you so down, child?” Lady Kaede held her hand to Rin’s forehead. “Is it this heat?”

Rin swatted away Lady Kaede’s hands and puffed out her cheeks. “I’m not a child anymore.”

Lady Kaede giggled out, “Oh right…you’ll be eighteen years old in about 11 days, right? Same time as the Summer Solstice Festival…”

Lady Kaede straightened out her back and glanced upwards towards the sacred tree. “You know, Rin…the sacred tree has been around for centuries. According to legend, the tree’s spiritual energy peaks around the Summer Solstice. I reckon now would be a splendid opportunity to make a wish. You never know, it may come true…”

Rin sat up abruptly and clasped her hands together, a silent prayer on her lips. With her eyes tightly shut, she thought to herself, “Please let me see Lord Sesshomaru at least one more time!”

Lady Kaede’s smile was gentle as she looked at the pair. “Rin, there is a lot of work to do to prepare for the festival…Why don’t you come help? It will help take your mind off your worries.”

She glanced down at Master Jaken. “You too little demon…We can use all the help that we can get.”

“That’s Master Jaken to you!” He waved his staff wildly, and the sound of their laughter echoed as they walked away.

“Lady Kaede wasn’t kidding. It’s especially hot today.”

Rin wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on her forehead. She spent most of the day picking the herbs that Lady Kaede had requested for the Summer Solstice.

“I think that’s enough for today.” Rin muttered to herself. She yearned for a refreshing dip, eagerly anticipating the chill of the water against her skin. There was a small, hidden lagoon she was familiar with nearby.

“Master Jaken, I’m going for a dip in the lagoon. Holler out if someone is coming by.”

“Yeah, yeah…” Master Jaken muttered with his eyes shut. The growing bubble from his nose was a telltale sign he was teetering on the edge of sleep.

With a tender smile, she whispered, “I guess you earned some sleep after all of your hard work too...”

Rin took a look around the lagoon, making sure there were no prying eyes. She dipped her hands in the water and found it to be the perfect temperature. Without delay, she undressed and delicately placed her kimono on a tree branch, taking care to keep it clean. Lord Sesshomaru had gifted it to her after all.

“I must be swift, as Master Jaken isn’t exactly vigilant.”

She stepped into the water, enjoying the refreshing coolness as she splashed it over her arms and legs. The water trickled down her skin as it cascaded over her bare torso and legs. The tranquility was so strong that she became oblivious to her surroundings.

“Rin?” A voice called out to her close by. She was so caught up in the water’s effects that she didn’t notice the voice was much deeper than Jaken’s.

“Master Jaken? “I’ll be right there...” Rin looked back, her words hanging in the air as the weight of the situation crashed down on her.

Staring back at her were the familiar golden eyes she had longed for. After so long, he was a sight to behold. His long white hair cascaded down his back as he stood tall and refined, dressed in his familiar white kimono and fur pelt.

“L-L-L-Lord Sesshomaru!?” Rin shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Lord Sesshomaru had always been a man of few words. But something seemed different today. His eyes widened as he turned sharply and walked the other way.

“W-wait! Please don’t go!” Rin pleaded desperately.

“I won’t. Get dressed.” Lord Sesshomaru continued walking off without another word.

Rin dressed herself in a hurry. “Is this real?” She pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. “Maybe I’m just imagining things, but were his ears blushing?”

She ran after him as fast as her legs could go. As she approached him, she ws mezmerized by his long flowing hair and broad shoulders. He was even more stunning when you saw him up close.

“Lord Sesshomaru…” she whispered almost out of breath. “Is it really you?”

He turned to face her, his gaze faltering just before it met hers. “Rin,” he said, his cheeks flushed with a delicate pink with a blush he seemed to be fighting back.

“I was right…” she thought to herself. She felt a wave of self-consciousness as the heat began to rise in her cheeks.

Lord Sesshomaru reached out towards her and placed his hand on her forehead. “Are you feeling unwell? Your cheeks are red.”

“Y-yes! I’m totally fine!” She could feel her heart pounding out of her chest. “What are you doing here, Lord Sesshomaru?”

“Isn’t it your birthday soon?...” He paused. “I thought we could spend it together.”

Rin stood there speechless before crying out, “Thank you, Sacred Tree!!!!”