It is the Season of Dawning.
The noble youkai does not seem to notice the change in the air as dead comes to life. Or the opening of buds, or the greening grasses. He looks and acts as he always does, as he always has. Impassive, steady, strong. Years after the malevolence of his foe was slain, the world has settled back into peace. It is not unwelcome.
The child is no longer child, a woman in the eyes of her kind. Eyes still shine with innocence, and she still marvels at the beauty of flowers. She has adopted many of his ways, and bears no desire to do anything but follow her Lord. She is unusual, but if her flesh were cut she would still bleed human. It is a nagging thought.
The other ward retains many of his mannerisms, as well. Appearance unchanged, holding his tongue when it comes to the woman-child is one thing he has learned. He observes and sees what the rest ignore, or do not see themselves. It troubles him, but he is unvoiced. A forbidden subject, he knows sagely without telling. It is impossible.
Together the three unlikely companions go on with the endless wandering of the lands. Each quietly ponders what's left there is to be seen. Something more. Something higher. Perhaps the search is vain. He wants power. They want only to follow him.
Sesshoumaru stops them. Rin says not a word, but the youkai hears her hunger. He sees it in her eyes that she is grateful, and she goes to gather food, leaving Jaken the task of starting a fire. It is one the imp does not appreciate.
He has raised her, but she is not a daughter to him. He would never allow his own to learn what she knows.
Rin returns, smiling and with what he finds to be mushrooms. She kneels by the small blaze Jaken has made, and hums while she prepares the meal for herself and her friend. The toad grumbles, and she laughs at him. She is so different than at the beginning, but still she is exactly the same.
The youkai is silent, but inside him something catches and begins to burn.
It is the Season of Dawning.
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Notes: I tried people! I really did. Obviously I just need to STAY AWAY from this sort of thing. I've had no time to write, but I really wanted to try this. AkaVertigo's Tempest in a Teacup inspired me! The line: -Iroh does not think of her as a daughter because if he had a daughter he would never let her learn what Katara knows.- to be exact. So that similar one I used in mine sort of belongs to him or her. PLEASE REVIEW!