The Demon's Love

XIII

Kael had to get away. Had he stayed in Naevia's presence any longer he would have taken her right then and there, regardless if Rin, Lucretia, Jaken, and Ah-Un being present.

Kael shook his head. He couldn't take this anymore. He was going out of his mind. He admitted that there was definitely something going on between Naevia and him that was more than just lust. Ok, much more than lust, but he refused to believe that it was love. He had decided long ago that he would never allow himself to love.

'But it's too late, and you know it.' Said a small voice in the back of his head.

Kael's nails dug into his palm as he tried to control his frustration. It was not love. It was not love! He was not capable of love… Was he?

'No, this Kael does not love.'

And yet he couldn't help but feel like he was lying to himself. If he didn't love, why did he feel like he did? Why was he willing to risk his life for his companions, Rin and Naevia especially. Why did he feel like he couldn't be complete without them?

He decided to think this through one step at a time, starting with Rin. Ok, he did care for her, that much he was sure of, though he refused to use the word love… for now. She was like a daughter to him. It was strange how she had unexpectedly just dropped into his life. Being the Lord of the Western Lands, he knew that one day he would need an heir. Since Rin was human, she couldn't possibly take over, due to her short life span. He would need to find a mate and have a true heir someday.

Which brought his thoughts back to Naevia. Truth be told, he had never considered having a mate. Technically, one wasn't needed for him to have an heir; after all, his father hadn't been mated to his mother, yet it had been him and not Inuyasha that had inherited the Western Lands. He could just find a powerful demoness who would want her child to one day be the Lord or Lady of the Western Lands. That way he wouldn't need to eternally bond himself to someone. Kael had always seen this as something he had to do, rather than something he wanted to do, but now he was having second thoughts. He was actually considering having a mate.

'No, I don't love!'

Yet his mind returned back to the kiss he and Naevia had shared. Damn it, that foolish move had been his undoing. At first he had merely been trying to prove that he wasn't afraid to love, but then his emotions and desire had taken over, and he ended up revealing a part of himself that he had been hiding from everyone, even himself.

'Why?' he shouted in his head, though his outward appearance made him appear calm. 'Why am I feeling this way? Love is a weakness!'

If he were smart, he would kill Naevia and Rin so his emotions wouldn't bother him. That would be the smart thing to do, remove any distractions. But he would never be able to harm them. He would rather die than see them hurt.

Kael froze as those last few thoughts flew through his mind. But as hard as he tried, he couldn't deny the fact that it was true. Damn it, this was why he saw love as a weakness. He would die for them. That was weakness.

Kael growled in anger and punched a nearby tree, completely snapping it in half and knocking the roots clear out of the ground. He hadn't wanted this, but he couldn't deny the truth, not anymore. He thought he was incapable of love, but he was wrong. He finally admitted it to himself. Kael, the Lord of the Western Lands, loved Rin like a daughter. Kael, the Lord of the Western Lands was in love with Naevia.

'I didn't want this, but it has happened.'

Yes, it had really happened. He had unwillingly fallen in love. And the thing that really confused him was that he liked it. How could something that felt like a weakness feel so good, make him feel so alive? He knew that he would never let this feeling go, nor would he ever let go of the ones that brought on this feeling. But right now he was just frustrated that he had allowed his emotions to beat him. He felt like killing something, anything. He just needed something to take his frustration out on.

Apparently his angry outburst had caught the attention of someone else in the forest, because a few moments later a large bear-demon came storming over to Kael, wondering why a tree had just snapped in half.

"Hey, what are you doing in my forest?" the demon demanded.

Kael smirked slightly. 'Hello something.'

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Naevia couldn't hide her smirk when Kael came back. Although he still had on his emotionless mask, she knew that he was frustrated. She was getting very good at seeing through his little act, though she wasn't as good as Rin… yet.

"Back so soon, Sesshy?" she teased.

Kael glared at her. "Do not call me that."

Naevia snickered. "Whatever you say, Fluffy."

"Naevia." He growled in warning.

"What's wrong with Fluffy?"

'She got that name from Rin.' Thought Kael in annoyance. "This Kael does not wish to be referred to by such a name."

"'This Kael' needs to lighten up." Naevia insisted. "Stop being so serious all the time."

Kael wasn't in the mood for this. He was mentally exhausted from arguing with himself. "I do not wish to be disturbed now." He said, walking under the shade of a tree and leaning against it.

Naevia shrugged. "Whatever you say, your majesty."

There was something different about Kael. He seemed to have accepted something. Had something she had said gotten through to him? She hoped so. She was eager to feel his lips against hers again… and hopefully something a bit more.

'You've got a dirty mind, Naevia.' She thought to herself. 'But you can't help it that you're in love. If only he would feel about me the way I feel about him.'

She looked over at Rin, who was chasing Lucretia. 'But Rin believes that he loves me. How I wish that were true. That demon has stolen my heart.' She laughed at the irony. 'I finally get my heart back just to have it stolen again.'

That wasn't exactly true though. She'd feelings for Kael for a long time. It was strange how it happened. At first she had admired his strength and had simply planned to use him to kill Naraku, but somewhere along the line she had fallen in love with him.

'Why must my life be so damn difficult?'

"Lady Naevia, are you ok?" asked Rin. "You look like there's something wrong."

Naevia just smiled and shook her head. "I'm fine, just thinking."

Rin smiled. "About Lord Kael?"

Naevia snickered. "You don't miss a beat, do you?"

Rin giggled. "You and Lord Kael would be perfect together. Rin can't wait until you two get married."

Naevia blushed and shooed the girl away. "Go play with your own boyfriend."

"Ok!"

Naevia watched her run off again. She wondered what it was like to be a child. Naevia had the misfortune of being born at the age of 17. She would never know the joys of being a child.

Frowning, she cursed Naraku's name again. He didn't care about her when he gave her life. She was just a pawn. He never gave her anything but pain. Naevia was so happy to be away from him. Well, she wasn't completely away from him, and wouldn't be until he was dead. True, she may be free from being his slave, but Naraku would want revenge on her and Lucretia for stealing Akago. It wouldn't truly be over until he was dead.

'Don't think about that bastard now!' she scolded herself. 'Just focus on the here and now.' She glanced at Kael. 'And the one you want to be with.'

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Rin couldn't get to sleep. She was feeling restless. It was strange, she wasn't normally one to worry. She had two days left to confess her feelings to Lucretia before the week was up. She wondered what Kael would say or do if she didn't confess by then. Probably nothing, but she had made a deal, and she was going to stick to it.

'Besides, Rin wants to tell him.' She thought, glancing at the sleeping Lucretia and blushing. 'Perhaps a walk will clear Rin's head.' She walked over to Jaken and gently poked him awake. "Master Jaken, Rin is going for a walk. She won't go far. Is that ok?"

Jaken, still half asleep, just rolled over and mumbled, "Sure, whatever."

"Thank you. Rin will be back soon."

"Yes, that's nice."

Not even thinking about the dangers she could run into, Rin wonder away from the others. She just needed some time to think. She eventually came to a cliff that had a fabulous view of the forest. Rin sat down with her legs hanging over the side and just enjoyed the sight before her.

"Wow, the forest is beautiful!" she said. "Rin could sit here forever." She frowned. "Rin just wishes Lucretia was here with her."

She blushed at the thought. She wondered how she was going to confess. She wished she could tell him here, over this beautiful view.

'Oh Lucretia, Rin loves you. She just wishes she could tell you.'

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Lucretia woke some time during the night. He immediately noticed that something was wrong. After a few seconds he realized that Rin was gone.

'Rin!'

He panicked. Where did she go? Did something happen to her? Did a demon get her?

'Calm down.' He told himself. 'If any demon had come anywhere near here, Kael would have known. Maybe Rin just went to find a late night snack, or perhaps she went to the bathroom. I wish she would have woken me up though.'

Deciding that it was better to be safe than sorry, he took up his sickle and went to look for her. It would have been easier to track her down if he had a demon's senses, but he was still able to pick up her trail; he was a demon slayer after all, so he knew how to track.

He followed her trail until he found something else to follow. It sounded like singing. It was definitely Rin's voice, but he had never heard her sing before. She had a good singing voice, and he followed it over to the cliff Rin was sitting on. He stopped here and just listened to her sing, not wanting to interrupt her.

"Pure has become impure. Impure has now become pure. Evil has now become good. Good has become evil. To live is to die. To die is to live. Saint Hakushin beneath the earth. Mount Hakuray will return to Hijiri."

Once her song was finished, almost as if she sensed he was there, Rin turned to Lucretia. She blushed when she saw him staring at her. "Oh, Lucretia, I thought you were sleeping." She said.

"I was." he said, approaching her. "But I woke up and saw that you were gone. I got worried, so I came looking for you."

"Oh, thank you for worrying about Rin, but Rin is fine."

He chuckled. "Yes, I can see that." He sat down next to her. "What was that song you were singing?"

Rin blushed again. "Oh, just a song Rin heard at Mount Hakuray."

Lucretia smiled. "I liked it. You have a lovely singing voice."

Rin giggled. "Thank you."

She was blushing again. Even in the dark, Lucretia noticed the color in her cheeks. "You don't have to be embarrassed." He told her. "I like listening to you sing."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. You should sing more often."

Rin frowned. "Master Jaken said that it's annoying when Rin sings."

Lucretia rolled his eyes. "Rin, everything is annoying to Jaken."

Rin laughed. "That's true. Master Jaken needs to have more fun. He's too grumpy. He needs a hug. Rin will go give him one!"

'I don't think that'll change his mood.' "Well at least wait until he wakes up, or else he'll be extra grumpy. Speaking of which, you should be asleep now too. Why are you out here by yourself?"

"Rin was just thinking."

"What were you thinking about?"

"Things."

"What kind of things?"

"Just things."

'We're not getting anywhere.' "Anything I can do to help?"

Rin giggled. 'Not unless you can help Rin tell you that she loves you.' "No, Rin can handle it. She just wanted some time to herself to think for a bit."

"Oh. Do you want me to leave?"

He began to get up. Rin grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. "No, Rin wants you to stay. Will you?"

He nodded. "Anything for you, Rin."

They were silent for a few moments before Rin spoke again. "Lucretia, what do you think of Rin?"

Lucretia didn't understand the question. "What do you mean?"

She shook her head. "Never mind, it's nothing." She looked back at the view of the forest. "It's so pretty here, isn't it Lucretia?"

He nodded again. "Yeah."

"Rin was just sitting here, looking at the view, and she suddenly felt like singing. That's kind of silly, isn't it?"

"Of course not. You should sing whenever you feel like it."

Rin smiled. "Do you want to hear Rin sing some more?"

He nodded. "I would like that very much."

"Ok then. Rin will sing for you." She looked back out over the cliff and began singing.

"Quietly awakening…

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you…

Unable to move forward across 'just a little more' distance.

The way I see before me is always blocked.

Every time the days I want to see you but can't pile up,

My strong heartbeat turns into heartbreak.

If there is such a thing as 'eternity',

I want to believe, even if I have to take the long way.

Although I know that I've been hurt before because I'm clumsy

I won't stop; I won't give in to anyone.

I think of you

and that alone is enough

to make the tears start to flow now

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you…

Thinking of you made me cry, so my eyes

they were filled with tears, and all I've got,

is my will to be with you again.

I've known all too well about pretending to be strong.

But since then, my doubts have vanished.

There's definitely things I want to show you

and so many words I want to hear

I want to see all sides of you, when you laugh and cry

so I'll stop waiting

and seize my 'chance'.

I think of you

and that alone is enough

to make my heart grow stronger.

My distant voice can't reach you now, but so that someday

it definitely will…

Thinking of you made me cry, so many times

the only thing that made me strong was you,

and I have my will to be with you someday…

I wake from my sleep and face the day,

But I have the hope to reach you someday,

I cannot go on take other steps,

'cause my way's not easy to go.

No, even I do really wanna see you,

I need to take my time,

spend some days alone, being by myself, will be all I do.

If, doesn't exist an everlasting love, in which I could believe,

I got hurt because, I was very awkward

know it but I don't want no losing, no!

I think of you,

and I feel like that alone is enough

to make my heart grow stronger.

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you…

Thinking of you made me cry, so my eyes

they were filled with tears, and all I've got,

is my will to be with you again.

I felt like I was so independent, then I kept the words, and I want you to know,

you are the one who made me smile when it summed up, too, for a face.

I waste more time, then, go to take the chance to say these things to you,

when the day will come, I'll be strong enough

my quest for peace allowed,

no chance to sound.

I think of you

and that alone is enough

to make my heart grow stronger.

My distant voice can't reach you now, but so that someday

it definitely will…

Thinking of you made me cry, so many times

the only thing that made me strong was you,

and I have my will to be with you someday…

I think of you,

and I feel like that alone is enough

to make my heart grow stronger.

I always, always wish

that these fleeting thoughts

would reach you…

Thinking of you made me cry, so my eyes

they were filled with tears, and all I've got,

is my will to be with you again.

Believe. La la la la la la…

Believe. La la la la la la…

Believe. La la la la la la…"

Rin finished her song and turned to Lucretia with a look of longing in her eyes. She couldn't hold herself back any longer and she threw herself at the demon slayer, burrowing her face in his chest, nearly knocking them off the cliff in the process.

"Rin?" said Lucretia in surprise. He was confused by her behavior. This was so unlike her.

"That song was for you, Lucretia." She said. "Just for you."

Lucretia was confused. "Rin… what do you mean?"

Rin's grip on his shirt tightened as she looked up into his eyes. "Rin loves you, Lucretia. Rin really, really loves you."

Lucretia was taken aback. She loved him? Did he hear her right? Yes, he was sure he did. She didn't even need to tell him, her eyes said it all.

His mind was yelling at him to say something, anything. But all he could manage to say was her name again. "Rin…"

"It's true!" Rin cried, interrupting him. "Master Jaken says that Rin is too young to know what love is, but Rin knows, she knows! She may be young, but Rin loves you!"

She buried her face in his chest again as she hugged him. Lucretia hugged her back, stroking her hair as he tried to think of something to say. "Rin, I… you really mean that?"

She nodded. "Yes, Rin does." She looked back up at him. "Does Lucretia love Rin?"

Lucretia knew what she was talking about. She didn't mean that she loved him in a brotherly way or in a friendship way. She love loved him. And she wanted to know if he returned her feelings.

Suddenly he remembered what Kael had said to him about having his blessings. The demon lord had known of Rin's feelings back then. That was why he had been curious about how he felt about Rin, and why he gave him his blessings.

But then what Rin had told him about Jaken saying that they were too young came to him. Perhaps they were young, but so what? That didn't change the way he felt. And he did return her feelings, in the same way. Ages be damned, he loved her.

He looked into her hopeful eyes and smiled. "Yes, I do."

Rin's face lit up with joy as she hugged him tightly. "Yay! You've made Rin so happy! Rin loves you! Rin loves you! Rin loves you!"

She nearly knocked them over the cliff again. "Whoa, Rin, maybe we should move away from this cliff before we fall off."

Rin nodded, but refused to let go. Lucretia had to pull them both up to their feet as he tried to keep his balance. It didn't look like Rin was going to let go any time soon. He didn't mind though.

Suddenly a thought struck him. "Rin, is this why you were out here thinking?"

Rin nodded. "Yes, Rin wanted to tell you, but she was nervous."

Lucretia chuckled. "Well, you were bravery than me, confessing first." He frowned. "Although, I don't deserve to be loved by you."

Rin just hugged him tighter. "No, Lucretia, no blaming yourself anymore. Rin loves you, and that's that. Ok?"

Lucretia sighed and smiled. "Ok, anything for you."

Rin loosened her grip, but still kept a tight hold on him. "Lucretia, my Lucretia." She looked up at him hopefully. "When we grow up, can we get married?"

Lucretia stopped walking and looked at her in surprise. "Rin, we're a little young to think about that."

"So, Rin still loves you and wants to marry you. Would you marry Rin?"

Lucretia considered it. He could easily see himself spending the rest of his life with Rin, having a family with her. But still, they were just kids. But truth be told, he would like to marry Rin when they grew up. After all, people that were younger than them have been betrothed, and not always because they loved each other.

"Sure Rin, when we grow up, we'll get married." He said, although he still planned on officially asking her when they were the proper age.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"YAY! Rin loves you so much! Rin is so very happy!"

Lucretia winced as she shouted her joy. "Rin, I'm glad you're happy, so am I, but you don't want to attract any demons, do you?" he asked seriously, though he was grinning.

"You'll protect me, won't you?"

He nodded. "With my life."

(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)-(-)

Unbeknownst to the two of them, they were being watched. Up in the sky, on Naevia's giant feather, was Kael and the wind-demon herself.

"Well now, isn't that cute?" said Naevia. "They really do make an adorable couple." She looked at Kael and smirked. "Just think, in a few years you'll be walking her down the aisle."

Kael growled. "I would prefer not to think about that now. I gave them my blessings, but I will not think of a wedding yet."

Naevia chuckled. "Oh please, just look at them. If that isn't the perfect couple, I don't know what is." She grinned mischievously. "And think about how they'll be in a few years, when 'other' feelings start affecting them." She openly laughed now. "You'll be a grandpa in about 10 years."

Kael growled, but didn't say anything.