A/N: I did a lot of research about the spread of Steam Engines in Japan, for this chapter... despite the fact that trains are mentioned once. The original Honshu Steam Line expanded to Kyoto in 1877.


1877


Sesshoumaru tried to keep track of Rin's family, but it was hard. Record keeping wasn't good, and contrary to popular belief, he couldn't be everywhere at once.

The last Rin had vastly outlived the first. Despite her heartbreak over Kohaku-san, she had lived until she was old, wrinkled and gray, barely able to move. She raised Sango-chan right, and despite the wishes of others, she never left his home, opting to stay where she made her precious memories.

He did her right, that time, he felt, forging a friendship that would last their lifetime. Though… he half-suspected that Rin knew how lonely he'd have been, had she left. It would have been a very Rin-like thing to do. Sango-chan had grown into a fine young woman, married as well and then… Well, he lost hold of her.

Time shifted, the Shogunate fell out of favor, and the country struggled with the turn back towards Imperialism. Soon almost one hundred years had passed, since he met Hayashida Rin-san, and nearly sixty since she had passed. He was disturbed to think the time had passed so quickly- it was just over halfway into the nineteenth century, and what did he have to show for it?

Humans infested the land now, and youkai had dwindled to a mere handful. He didn't bother to hide himself, but people stayed far away from him, claiming things like curses and Tsukimono-suji, despite the fact that he wasn't a kitsune to begin with.

That day was no exception. He didn't often venture into the realm of humans, because he found it exhausting, but he had things to take care of, and the sooner he did so, the better. Then he could retreat back to the West, hiding in his ancestral lands. Kyoto was bustling, despite the capital being moved elsewhere, and his nose twitched, assaulted by the rancid smells of humankind.

Really, they were disgusting creatures.

Suddenly, someone knocked into him, letting out a small cry as she fell towards the ground. Sesshoumaru had barely felt her, but turned, reaching out to grab her. She latched onto his sleeve, accidentally ripping it, as she yanked to balance herself. "Child, watch-" But his words fell silent as he caught hold of her wrist.

It was Rin staring back at him, no more than a child around ten years of age. It was like the wind had been punched right from his gut.

He minded his claws about her wrist, helping her right herself.

Immediately, she fretted about his ripped sleeve. "Apologies youkai-sama," she blabbered. "I didn't see you and I didn't mean to ruin your sleeve. I-"

"Are you alright?" he asked immediately.

The girl blinked. "I… er… well yes."

"Hn," he grunted, gently pulling his sleeve from her grasp. "Then there is no harm done."

"No harm?" she squeaked. "Surely your garment has been ruined!"

"It is of no consequence," he said to her, unsure why his tone was so gentle. Even if she was a child, there was no point in trying to soothe her. Still, there was a part of him that wanted to reach out, and brush her bangs back, reassuring her that it was fine.

He had missed that familial feeling, he realized.

"Tea!" she blurted suddenly. "At least take some tea! My family own a tea house just a block over- Ito's Tea Home. If you come by, surely my father will apologize."

"With tea," Sesshoumaru asked dryly.

"The best in all of Kyoto, I swear to you!"

"Little girl," he found himself asking. "How is it that you knew I was a youkai?"

"Eh? Doesn't everyone know that?" Well, she wasn't exactly wrong, he supposed. He had a certain look about him, that he couldn't really hide. Despite her uninspired observation, he found his lips twitching the slightest bit. The first Rin had been a quiet child, very unlike this one.

"Perhaps I will stop by tea, then," he said to her.

And the girl beamed at him, her smile wide and bright, and missing a tooth right in the front. "I'm Rin-chan! Thank you, youkai-sama!" And then she found her footing and ran from him.

And he watched her, despite the awkward stares and whispers of those around him. He yearned to go to the tea house, to meet her family and learn about this Rin. He had missed the friendship and family that he had found with the last.

But in the end, he didn't go. Instead, he took care of his business curtly, and went back home.

He would forever regret it.


With the start of a new era, changes came. The capital of Japan moved, suddenly one couldn't wear swords in public and Imperial power had returned to the throne- this time, the Emperor a human, of all things.

With the slow and gradual disappearance of youkai from the land, Sesshoumaru found himself withdrawing from the public eye, opting to live in solitude. It wasn't anything different than before, he supposed. He still had Ah-Un, and much to his aggravation, Jaken. He had lived this way for centuries, and this time would be no different.

But then the Meiji Era began, and humans moved into his lands and he became annoyed. Not angry, but mildly aggravated. How he had changed over the years. His father was laughing at him from his grave.

Despite that though, he let them settle, telling himself as long as they didn't bother him, he would let them be. Eventually, he became curious though, and decided to visit their pathetic excuse for a village… only to find it a thriving community along the seaside, complete with a trade port and a bustling market. Humans swept by him, offering gentle bows and mutterings of Sesshoumaru-sama. Jaken had ensured that they knew who he was, and that they lived on his land.

And then he came across the tea house, his eyes narrowing at the sign. Ito's Tea Home.

Suddenly, a young girl popped into his mind, her gap-toothed grin spread wide across her face, as she offered him tea. How long ago had that been? He wasn't good with years. Still…

He was unable to stop his feet from moving towards the building, and he entered, brushing aside the curtain at the entrance. The interior was dark and warm, but clean and tidy. He could tell that the tea they served was at least of high quality, just by the smell.

"Such elegance!" a voice said to his right. "Such clothing! You must be our Lord Sesshoumaru-sama," the man said, sliding up to his side. "To think that you would visit our humble little tea house-" He paused to bow, and Sesshoumaru found himself frowning.

He had never liked when Kohaku-san did such a thing, and this time, it was no different.

This time he was a bit older, easily into his thirties. He lacked the tanned skin that he often associated with the boy, and the calloused skin of a warrior. Instead he was paler and thinner, with a slighter frame. Probably because he owned a tea house, instead of fighting youkai for a living.

But there was that tug in his gut, because whenever Sesshoumaru came across the boy, that usually meant that not far behind would be-

Rin turned the corner, carrying a tray full of teacups. He watched carefully as she smiled, serving the table she stood by effortlessly. His eyes traced her form, finding her belly swollen with pregnancy.

"Come, come!" Kohaku-san said to him, shuffling him into the tea house. Sesshoumaru surprised himself by not fighting against it, insteading padding along after the man and into the restaurant proper. "I'm Kohaku Tanaka, and welcome to my tea house!" He was seated in the back corner, away from prying eyes.

The boy left, before he could order though, leaving the daiyoukai to sit there awkwardly. Half of him wanted to leave. It wanted to bolt, to get out, before something terrible happened. He never boded well for the two, and this time, he had thought about leaving them be again.

It was why he had never gone to the tea house in the first place.

But it seemed that the Kami-sama were still cruel, and still had a terrible sense of humor, because it seemed as though the tea house had found him instead.

Rin turned the corner and stopped by his table abruptly, a tray easily slipped underneath her arm. She looked at him without hatred, or even ill intent, instead her eyes shining with curiosity. And he looked back, waiting for her to speak. Finally she did.

"You know, I often wondered if I had imagined it." She set the teacup down on his table, a well-fired cylinder of impressive pottery. The quality of the ceramic spoke to their success as a tea house. "Bumping into youkai-sama," she said, fondness creeping into her voice. She set the teapot down next, the steam escaping from the long spigot. "When I told my father what happened, he laughed at me, thinking I was crazy. 'Really, Rin-chan,' he said, 'A youkai-sama, right on the street? What a wild imagination.' Despite that, he agreed to honor the tea, in the event that you showed up."

He said nothing, as she sat in the seat opposite without asking. She reached out, lifting the lid and stirring the tea gently. Finally, she placed the lid back on and grasping the pot gently in her hands, delicately poured out a cup for him. "But then you never came." She motioned to the cup, waiting for him to pick it up.

Sesshoumaru looked at her, really looked at her. This Rin wasn't much different than the others. Younger than Kohaku, likely into her twenties. Skin pale and perfect, her finely boned face a tad rounder than her other incarnations- likely due to carrying a child. Her hair was shorter though, cut around her chin and unable to be pinned up.

"How is it you wound up here, of all places?" he asked, instead of giving her a reason. He could tell that his dancing around the topic annoyed her slightly, but she didn't push it further.

"My father wanted to open a second location, and the land out here was cheap. We didn't know until we moved here, that a youkai lorded over it."

"They sold my land?" He had always assumed that humans had just settled there, albeit without permission.

"Would you have stopped it?" she asked, her eyes flashing. Well, no, probably not. He wanted not for money and taking matters into his own hands sounded like more of a headache than he would have wanted. But again, words didn't come naturally to him, and for one of the few times in his life, he actually felt awkward. "I suppose not," she said. "That would be far beneath you."

Her words surprised him. "You speak to me as though you know me, Ito-san," he said, referencing the name of the tea house. The original had been her father's, it was the logical conclusion.

"Ah, that would be Tanaka-san, my lord," she said to him. "I do believe that my husband introduced himself at least." She rubbed at her belly absently as she continued. "But what is there to know? You Lords are all the same, be it youkai or human."

"We are not the same," Sesshoumaru said quickly, and Rin paused to look at him with amusement. Finally, she motioned to the cup that he held in his hand.

"Best drink it while it's still hot, you know. Nothing worse than lukewarm tea, and it's not like anyone else drinks that rubbish around here."

Before Sesshoumaru could properly reply, Rin hoisted herself to her feet, and left him.

Married to Kohaku-san for a third time in a row, pregnant, glowing and happy. His father's words floated through his head again, causing him to frown. They say that the Kami-sama bless those that are good, with someone just for them. He didn't pretend to know what the Kami-sama were thinking, but it was clear that Kohaku-san was the good one here.

It had taken three lifetimes to finally admit it, but the boy deserved her.

But then, he remembered something else. Even if we stray from that person, we are given as many chances as we need to find them again.

He supposed that the two had never truly had a happy ending, but…

Sesshoumaru was rather disturbed by the idea that perhaps Kohaku wasn't the one for her. He wasn't a fool, he had long since come to terms with how he properly felt. But Rin had always been a naive little girl, and he wasn't a good match, no matter what the kami-sama wished for. The situation had always proposed the boy as a better choice, and so…

He sighed, his fingers curling around the mug. What had happened in the past wasn't relevant anymore, and this time around, she was already married, with a child on the way. He lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip, pausing the moment that the tea hit his tongue. Dan Cong Oolong, a rare blend that was only sourced from the mainland. He regarded his cup carefully, his eyes narrowed. It was his favorite, preferring it far more than any other blend, despite it's rather bitter taste.

It's not like anyone else drinks that rubbish around here.

A dash of milk, and no sugar, stirred gently. How had Rin known?


He told himself that it was because the tea house had his favorite tea.

Of course, he also had some at his home. And, being incredibly picky about how it is brewed, he preferred to make it himself. Truly, he had only taken the cup that Rin had provided the day before, out of propriety.

Then he told himself it was because Rin could apparently brew it perfectly.

Kohaku-san was pleased, but surprised to see his Lord show up the next day, shuffling him with a smile and frenzied hand motions. "I must say, Sesshoumaru-sama, I had not thought you'd come by again!"

Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to answer, but Rin turned the corner of the entrance, resting a tray along her hip. "I assured him that our tea is the best," she said, smirking. Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at her shrewdly. Yes, she had, when she was a child. "Seems that he agrees."

Sesshoumaru turned back to Kohaku-san, to find the man's eyes positively shining. "Then you are always welcome, Sesshoumaru-sama! Please, please, come in!"

He was seated in the same booth as the day before, and within a few moments, there was Rin, her trusty tray held with a careful hand. This time though, the tea wasn't yet brewed, the tin of leaves topping platter, next to a teapot. She sat across him, gently lowering herself into the chair. "There's no need to brew it personally," he said to her.

But Rin tutted, setting about to do exactly that. She opened the tin, pinched a few of the leaves and dropped them into the cup. "Nonsense. The only reason you came back is because of the tea that I brewed."

"How did you know?" The words slipped before he could stop them, and she paused, before pouring the water into the cup.

"My father was a tea master; he taught me everything that I know."

"That doesn't answer my question," he said coolly, but Rin made no move to explain further.

They sat there quietly as the tea brewed. Eventually, she poured it into the cup. Next that followed was a tiny amount of milk, and then a spoon to stir it gently. When she deemed it perfectly, she held the cup out to Sesshoumaru, who took it quietly.

"Why was it that you never came?" she finally asked. She didn't seem angry, merely curious, her eyes glittering and her cheeks warmed with a rosy glow.

"There was no need," he answered, sipping at the tea. Just as the day before, it was perfectly to his taste. That bothered him more than he would like to have admitted. "Clothing is easily procured, and nothing was lost."

"And you never once thought about the child?" At that, his gaze met her face, confused. "I spent a whole month thinking that I had offended you, by offering something as lowly as tea. Of course my parents didn't believe a word that I said, but I knew."

He had never thought of such a thing, or how it might affect a child. Part of him felt foolish.

"It's no matter," she said with a wave. "I eventually got over it."

"And then you met Kohaku-san?"

Rin smiled at the mention of his name, wide and easy. "My father picked him," she said. "At first the idea of a husband terrified me, but Kohaku-kun charmed me with his warm smile and infectious personality. He was one of my father's students."

"And so, a tea house," he said, looking around them.

"My father had always wanted to open a second location, so it was the natural choice."

"And so you picked my lands."

Rin shrugged. "The village was lacking in decent food and drink. Not to mention we're only a day's trip from Kyoto. Of course, we haven't visited in awhile."

Sesshoumaru hummed gently, motioning to her stomach. "Because of the child."

"I swear, this one is as energetic as Kohaku-kun. He'll be just like his father."

"He?"

"Oh, I just know."

His lips quirked into a small, tiny little smirk, and Rin beamed at him. He lifted his teacup and said, "Then may the kami-sama bring you good fortune and the healthiest of children."

Rin smiled back.


Twice a week, he took tea at the little tea house.

And twice a week, he chatted with both Rin and Kohaku.

And over the months, they became friends.


"Kohaku-san, a taijiya?" he asked her, sipping from his teacup.

"It's ridiculous, I know! If I hadn't broken my arm, I likely wouldn't have met Rin!" the man replied with a laugh. That day, he shared tea with not only Rin, but the boy as well. And he found it welcome company.

"Yes, my husband, a mighty taijiya," Rin sighed with boredom. "The man who can't even kill a spider, and has to come and get me-"

"Rin-chan!" he said, nearly spitting out his tea with embarrassment.

And then Sesshoumaru laughed, honestly laughed, causing the both of them to look at him warily. Rin raised an eyebrow and Kohaku paled. But he assured them that nothing was wrong, and to continue their bantering.

It was odd to find comfort it in, but he did.

….

"Kyoto?" Sesshoumaru hissed, his fingers tightening around the cup in his hand.

Rin waved off his concern. "It's not that far."

"Rin-san, you're pregnant," he said.

She rolled her eyes, frowning. "Yes, remind me of the obvious, cow that I am."

His immediate response would have been to deny that she was such a thing, but he caught the words as soon as he thought them. Instead, he said, "You shouldn't travel so far. Trust me, I know from experience."

At that, Rin smirked. "What, do you have little pups running around that I don't know about?" Before he could retort, she laughed at him, and he sighed. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she continued with. "How often do they open a steam train line?" Her eyes shone with excitement.

And he knew that Kohaku-san woudn't be able to say no to that face. And neither could he.

"Then I will accompany you both." She froze and so did he. He wasn't sure why he had offered, he shouldn't have offered. But he did, and it was too late, and Rin stood from her end of the table. Before he could stop her, she threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," she breathed, pulling back. "Kohaku-san will be thrilled. I daresay that he idolizes you."

He wanted to sink into her warmth, but instead he pulled away properly. What had he gotten himself into?


They arrived in Kyoto with little trouble. It wasn't a hard trip really, but Sesshoumaru-sama had brought Ah-Un to help. Despite the age of the dragon, he seemed thankful for the exercise, easily hauling the two humans, as Sesshoumaru followed behind.

Sesshoumaru finds out that the American that oversaw the construction of the railway, has been invited for tea at her father's establishment. He has little want for anything political in nature, but he decides to go anyway, if only to keep an eye on the two kids.

Kohaku-san was so cheerful about any and everything, that he found it hard to believe that the boy had grown up there. Rin waddled beside him slowly, Kohaku doubling back every other step to check on her. She wasn't close to her due date, but she was close enough for that initial dread to settle in his stomach, but… this time there was her family here. She wasn't alone.

The original Ito's Tea Home was larger and much older, subtle wear and tear tugging at the building. The inside was warm and cozy though, and he instantly felt at home. He could see the appeal of such a place, and why it was popular. Combined with decent food and good tea, it was a treasure.

Ito-san himself looked like Rin, tall and thin, but the same round and rosy cheeks that she had. Her mother was a slight woman, short, but he could tell that she was a fiesty woman, just by the way that she looked at him- Warily, with a shrewd and narrowed glare.

For the first time in his life, Sesshoumaru might have considered himself scared.

Rin went up to them, hugging each, and then pulling back said, "Remember youkai-sama from my childhood?" Her father managed to nod, causing Rin to smile widely and motion to Sesshoumaru. "He's finally come for his cup of tea!"


Kohaku had become such a steadfast friend over the months, it felt odd to share tea alone with Rin. But her father had whisked him away to go serve the guest of honor proper tea, leaving them behind.

"Odd, that he would pick Kohaku-san over you. You brew better tea."

"Ah, about that," Rin started, sitting down next to him. "It seems that Americans find it odd to see a woman working. He didn't want to risk offending Crowford-san."

"So he risks offending him with sub-par tea?"

"Well, American's don't drink it much, so I doubt he'll notice the difference." Rin laughed at her joke. A server brought them a tray that held a tea set, and two types of leaves. The moment Rin pinched them between her fingers, he could tell it was the special blend of Oolong.

"Your father has this blend too?"

"You enjoy tea, but we wouldn't be showing you our best if it wasn't your favorite," she said simply.

"You still haven't explained to me how you knew-"

"Does it matter?" Rin looked at him inquisitively.

Yes, it did matter. There were too many things that he didn't know, that he didn't quite understand. And the more he thought about them, the more it bothered him. As old as he was, there will still things that mystified him. And of course, his father's famous words.

But as always, she didn't explain, instead going about making his tea. The moment that she handed him the cup, she groaned, moving to rub at her stomach. "Ugh, I can't wait until this baby is born," she mumbled. "I'm fat, ugly, and everything hurts."

"You are the farthest thing from ugly," he said immediately, his cup near his lips. Rin cocked her head to the side, looking at him. Well, that wasn't what he had meant to say. "What I mean to say is that pregnancy suits you."

At that, she laughed. "Kohaku-kun says the same thing. It's a damn lie, but appreciated nonetheless."

"Perhaps you should listen to him," he said quietly. "Kohaku-san isn't wrong very often."

"He's my husband. Three-quarters of our marriage is overt flattery." She had meant it as a joke, but there was an odd tinge to her words.

"Are you happy?" he found himself asking, placing his teacup back on the table. "Kohaku-kun treats you well, and there's not much that I could do to change that."

"Of course I'm happy," she said to him, "but it's not myself that I worry about."

That caused him to regard her carefully. "There is no reason to worry about me," he said quietly.

"You should worry about your own life, instead of mine, Sesshoumaru-sama," she replied, with a sad smile, "Youkai might live for a long time, but they still only live once."

He paused, suddenly disturbed. Rin looked at him like she knew, and there was a part of him that wanted to panic. But it would make sense, he surmised. Otherwise, how would she had known about his tea? Aside from it being a lucky guess.

He complained about the Kami-sama being cruel, but it seemed that this time around, their cruelty knew no bounds. Before he could respond properly though, she reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling it to her.

"Here, feel," she said softly, pressing his hand against her swollen belly. He'd listened to her give birth, and even helped deliver her last one, but never had he felt the child in her womb. He minded his claws, and then he felt it, the subtle kick against his hand.

"It's amazing what life offers us," she said fondly. "Husbands, children, happiness. And then there is you, all alone. What path do you wish to follow, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

He didn't answer, and she didn't expect him to. Instead, he kept his hand on her belly, marveling at the little life that kicked at his palm.


For the first time, Rin's child didn't survive.

And neither did Rin.


He lit the incense, setting it upon her grave. And then one, for her little boy. He didn't press his hands together in prayer though, finding it useless. Praying to the dead didn't do anything. Even praying to the living didn't do anything, because despite asking for the Kami-sama's favor, they had turned their backs on him.

Perhaps it was because Rin was doomed to be unhappy in every life.

Perhaps it was because he let her be that way.

"You don't seem the type to pray," a voice said from behind him. Perhaps his senses were getting worse with age, or perhaps Kohaku had completed more of his taijiya training than he had let on.

"Does it look like I'm praying?"

At that, the boy laughed. "Ah, no, but still. Odd to find you here."

"I come here every year," he said quietly, finally looking to Kohaku-san.

He wasn't a boy anymore though. He wasn't old either, barely gray in his hair, with the faintest of wrinkles around his mouth. But like always, he was struck by how much time had passed, and how he hadn't noticed.

"She knew, you know," Kohaku said. Sesshoumaru didn't need for him to explain what he was talking about. She had always known who he was, from the moment that he met her as a little girl, to the day that she breathed her last. The spark of recognition. The tea. Her odd advice.

That was the day that he had realized it, the day that she asked him what path he wished for. Not the one that he chose, but the one that he longed for. The one that he ignored.

And because of that, Rin had died again.

"And you realized it too," Kohaku continued with.

"She married you." The words came out harsher than he wanted, but the boy didn't mind. He sighed. "She talked to you about it?"

"Of course she did," he said, sounding hurt. "I was her husband, she told me everything. She loved me, but she loved you too, and she felt guilty about it."

"And what about it, Kohaku-san? How did you feel about it?"

Kohaku smiled sadly, and the silence stretched between them, the incense on her grave burning lower and lower. Finally, he spoke. "I told you to find her again, and to not let her go. How long will you wait?" Sesshoumaru froze, looking to Kohaku. But he only looked at him with pity, before reaching out out grasping his shoulder in a gentle squeeze. "It's alright, you know."

More, and more familiar words. Once again, Kohaku had asked him to watch over her, and just like Rin, he had known. The world worked in the weirdest of ways.

"This will be the last time," Sesshoumaru finally said. "I will find her next time, and I will never let her go."

And then Kohaku smiled.


A/N: I will remind you that there is a bright light, at the end of the tunnel. We're just not even halfway there yet.