Chapter Text
There were stories of the humans living in the north, of how they struggled to survive in the harsh, unforgiving landscape. How over time, they learned to thrive in the cold, adapting their way of life to suit the environment. When temperatures plummeted, they wore thick garments made of fur, built their houses in layers upon layers, and insulated them with wool to keep the warmth in and the cold out. At the heart of every home was an irori - a sunken hearth that would burn throughout the day and night, providing fuel for cooking, warmth for the body, and light for the soul in the darkest of winters.
Threading her way through the thick snow, Rin conjured these images of northern warmth and comfort to keep her moving. The light flurries the evening before had been just what she wished to see for the past three years. She dreamt about it, prayed for it. When nothing came to pass, and winter after winter brought no snow to her home, she begged Sesshomaru to take her to the North, so that she may dip her toes into a fresh layer, to feel its softness between her fingers, and catch individual flakes in their descent to the ground. Sesshomaru had denied her for two winters before he finally relented on the third, so that soon after the new year celebrations marking her 18th year, Rin’s wish finally came true.
After consecutive dry winters, she was taken to the north of the island. She could finally enjoy snow once more, making shapes in the snow, tumbling over hills, catching as many snowflakes as were stars in the night sky. Her beloved Sesshomaru-sama had watched her patiently as she ran around, acting as a child would, but with only him as her companion, she had no reason to hold back on pursuing her own happiness and letting her excitement spill forth.
It was wonderful — everything she had wished for.
But the light dusting and mild cold had not remained that way for long.
Overnight, the temperature plummeted and snow banks grew heavier. By morning, it grew unbearable. Despite the four layers of thick kimono, despite the hay boots, hat and cloak, Rin struggled to keep warm. The air was sharp in her lungs, the cold nipped at her feet, and the chill had robbed her fingertips of any sensation. She had wished to go to a great bridge built between two mountains - a story that a village elder once told her, of how the sunset there would be as magical in winter as the crossing to Heaven itself. So although she did not know the exact location, she had asked Sesshomaru to lead her to the greatest twin mountains around the area, for she wanted to witness the sunset from its peak.
The journey was long and tedious by foot, her supplies having already ran out.
But she would not relinquish her goal so easily. Holding her hay cloak tighter around her, Rin tried her best to keep up with her protector.
She was failing.
Sesshomaru paused in his stride, forcing Rin to stop, lest she crash into him. A tempting prospect.
“You need rest.” Sesshomaru’s words left no room for disagreement.
Rin huffed, her breath creating a puff of air in front of her eyes. “I will rest later, Sesshomaru-sama. Today is the last day of our outing. I want to see the sunset.”
“You are struggling.” It was an observation, not an opinion.
She laughed at that. “Humans have managed through worse weather, Sesshomaru-sama.”
“You are not suited for it.”
The words rang true, so Rin did not say anything in response, and continued to walk past her companion. Her rejection of a break clear, Sesshomaru resumed his position as a leader, and led the way forward.
Sesshomaru was unbothered by the cold. Whether it was the hottest, most humid of summers, or the driest of winters, he remained unperturbed, an otherworldly creature that would not allow the gods of seasons to interfere with his own designs.
He made his own path.
Rin followed.
On the narrow path in the forest, the only sound was the crunch of her own boots on the frozen ground. Her Sesshomaru-sama’s footsteps made no sound. They left no traces in the snow - there were no vestiges of his presence surrounding them - and for being allowed to witness it, to bask in his presence, Rin was grateful.
This journey of theirs had not been the romantic escapade she had envisioned, the convoluted strategies of youkai seduction so carefully concocted by Kagome never quite taking shape.
Her Sesshomaru-sama was an honourable man, so that even in solitude, he never allowed the veil of propriety to be lifted from between them.
She sighed in dejection, a small and icy little puff of air taking shape before her eyes. It dissipated into the surrounding air, floating away, and as her eyes continued to watch it turn into nothing, her sight began to darken at the edges, increasingly so, until her vision of Sesshomaru’s back turned into nothingness.
Was she dying? She hadn’t even kissed him yet.