As a general notice, the word "hanami" (花見) in Japanese means flower viewing.

-Sigh- It seems that I've gotten sick again =( Last week, I had a cold and I was just finally recovering this week when yesterday, I caught something worse. Luckily, I rested a lot last night and am feeling a lot better today; this is why the chapter is a little bit late for being put up (I was hoping for this morning, but afternoon works as well, I suppose).

Interesting things in this chapter! I hope you enjoy it! It's a chapter I've been excited to write for a while.

List of vocab:

Kosode – overcoat; like the idea of a kimono, but isn't made out of silk (not sure on this definition)
Oshiroi – white powder; think geisha
Obi – belt that accompanies an overcoat/kimono
Amezaiku – Japanese candy art; I would highly recommend that you google some videos of this because it's super cool and amazing to watch. Usually, they make animals out of the candy which they mold when the candy is still hot.

When the door slides open, I look up to find that it's not Sesshomaru's face. As soon as I see that the person is someone I don't recognize, I force my head back to the ground.

"You may rise," the voice above me speaks. I do so, keeping my head low, but I'm itching to get a better look at who it is. It's a male voice, deep and rough.

I step to the side, keeping my head bowed, but I do manage to steal a few glances at him before he walks out of my vision. His black hair is untied and falls to his shoulders, a much shorter cut than I've seen on the noblemen here. A long scar cuts across his right eye and cheek. His expression is taciturn, his eyes a navy blue. His eyes catch mine and I switch my focus back to the ground.

"I expect that we shall talk about this more later," he says gruffly. There's no response from Sesshomaru who must still be in the study. He bows once before leaving the room and me behind.

"You may enter," Sesshomaru's voice from the back of the room calls. I enter the study and slide the door shut quietly behind me. I look to the small, cushioned bench where I normally sit and the anticipation drains from me as if someone's pulled a plug. There are eight scrolls this time.

I'm tired, having not slept for very long last night, and hungry too. Itoko kept me working so late on a piece for a foreign diplomat who wanted to take a kimono home for his wife that I didn't get anything for dinner except a half bowl of rice. The pile of scrolls brings the hunger pains to the forefront of my mind. I know now I will be up without food for a long, long time.

I find Sesshomaru sitting at his desk. This time, he is not writing and instead is examining a map, but as is the usual, he doesn't look up at me when I walk in.

"Good evening, milord."

He says nothing. I sigh, a little frustrated. I selfishly want him to look at me, even if it's just for a second. Having thought a little too much about his handsome face these past few days, I want to see if my imagination matches reality.

I try again, prodding him with more questions. "Is there anything wrong with how I smell tonight?"

Bingo. He looks up at me with a slightly bemused expression. Although there's none of the sadness I had dreamt of that night, the reality is still better than what I had imagined. "No, it's acceptable. Begin reading."

"Yes, milord," I say, smiling triumphantly to myself. As I settle myself on the stool, I realize that I have never once finished reading all of the scrolls for him during the previous reading sessions. Perhaps I could weasel my way out of this one… The thought of reading so much while so hungry gives me a headache. I had hoped to be done soon enough that I could have some time to fold some more cranes tonight. The deadline is approaching quickly and I can't afford to lose any more time than I already have.

There's the slightest flick of paper that snaps my attention back to the room. I realize that I've been mulling over my own thoughts for at least a minute now without even opening a scroll. I pull one towards me and untie it. Looking at it, I see that it's another crop report. Oh gods… I think. Crop reports are dreadfully boring and tedious, filled with words that I have to struggle to remember how to pronounce.

Luckily, the report only takes up a third of the scroll and it's not long before I've moved onto the second one. This time, there are only a few deaths reported, both cities having an issue with a small problem with wintertime illnesses as always.

Halfway through the scrolls, I become aware that I'm in danger of dozing off mid-sentence. The complaints seem to go on without end. There's an entire paragraph devoted solely to the fact that for some reason or another, the chickens aren't producing enough eggs. In the middle of reading the fifth scroll, my stomach has had enough and rears its ugly head, growling loudly, waking me instantly.

I'm mortified. I heard it myself. There's no way he didn't hear it. Do I dare look at him? Slowly, I inch my eyes up from the paper and look at him only to see that Sesshomaru's face is still turned downward. Now, even though I dreaded the thought only moments before, I wish that he would look up at me even if it's out of annoyance that my stomach is so loud. Why won't he say anything?!

Just as I'm about to continue, the door to Sesshomaru's study slides open and a voice calls in a squawk, "Sesshomaru-sama!" Jaken comes bustling into view a few moments later. He's carrying a scroll of paper in his hand so tiny that it must be from a messenger bird. When he spots me, I can see him visibly shake with irritation. "You, girl! What are you doing here? You have no business here!"

"Good evening, Master Jaken," I say with a barely stifled giggle. His agitation only makes me laugh harder.

"Rise and bow when you speak to your superiors, you wench!"

"She is the new reader," a voice from within the room speaks to the green imp. Jaken's face pales at Sesshomaru's words.

Jaken stares up at me, wide-eyed and sputtering. "S-she… this… this insolent girl is your reader? What about the other girl? She at least knew her place!"

"What have you brought for me?" Sesshomaru interrupts Jaken before he can begin a rant. The toad demon eyes me suspiciously.

"I'm not a spy," I respond indignantly.

"Continue," Lord Sesshomaru says, his voice beginning to sound wearied from the discourse.

Jaken clears his croaky voice before beginning self-importantly, "It is a message from one of our allies, milord."

"Bring it here." Sesshomaru looks over it briefly and then sets it aside, an action which causes Jaken's eyes to bulge.

"But sir, it said that a reply was expectedly immediate—" One look from Sesshomaru quells Jaken's complaints. Sesshomaru stares at him for a moment before saying something that I can't hear.

"W-what?! His eyes bulge so large that I think they're about to pop out of his head. His head snaps to my direction. "B-but…!"

I have no clue what Sesshomaru just told Jaken, but when Sesshomaru's head is turned back towards the map and Jaken is staring at me with disdain in his eyes, I stick my tongue out at him. He seems to be trying his best to not explode, his face turning a dark green. "Yes, milord, of course. Right away." He grumbles the entire way to the door. Something about 'filthy humans' and 'troublesome wenches'.

"Who exactly is Lord Jaken?" I ask when he's left the room. "An advisor?"

"An assistant of sorts. Continue with the reading."

Time passes at a crawl before I finally reach the last scroll. Wearily, I unroll it. I'm disappointed to see that it's filled from top to bottom with miniscule handwriting written in such a narrow hand that the words run together. My voice has turned monotone from exhaustion by now, and I begin slowly:

"From the Eastern Inuyoukai Lands: Lady Shima is pregnant with her fifth child. According to the midwife, it is believed to be another son. The humans of the province are overjoyed at the news and wish to hold a festival in her honor. They have requested His Lordship's attendance." I giggle a little to myself. A baby shower? I can't imagine Sesshomaru at a festival filled with humans.

Just as I'm about to continue, however, there are three raps outside the study. Sesshomaru crosses the room to the door and returns with a tray of food. Immediately upon sight my mouth begins to water. There's a bowl of steamed rice with miso soup and several rice cakes. Why, gods, is he torturing me like this?

I'm straightening my robe and forcing myself to focus on the reading when he walks over and sets the tray on the table in front of my stool. "Milord?" I ask, confused. Did he mean this to be… for me?

"Eat and finish the scrolls."

I look up to him, my eyes shining with gratitude and a bright smile spreading across my face. "Thank you, milord…" The hunger pains are screaming for nourishment and it takes all of the composure I can muster to not shovel all the food down my throat in one bite.

"The sound of your stomach was highly distracting."

I blush in embarrassment, but Sesshomaru's back is now turned towards me. I realize that this must be what Jaken was complaining about. Had Sesshomaru sent him down to the kitchens to make a maid get me food? I pick up the pair of blue porcelain chopsticks that lie on the tray and start eating. The food is well-made if a little plain. Either way, I don't care; I'm starving and right now, it takes like heaven.

After I've scarfed down nearly every scrap of food on the tray save for the rice cakes, I look up at Sesshomaru. I've eaten nearly everything without even offering him any part of it.

"Would you like some?" I ask. He doesn't respond. I take the plate in hand and approach his desk. His gaze shifts from the maps in front of him to my face. "Here," I say as I extend the plate. "Have you eaten anything lately?"

"I don't eat human food."

I feel my face fall a little. "Then… what do you eat, milord? I can go down to the kitchens myself and get you whatever you prefer."

He turns the question on me instead of replying. "Did not you eat before coming to read?"

"No, milord."

"Why is that?"

"Itoko-san, the seamstress, had to keep me late. There was a lot of work to be done, and by the time we finished, there wasn't much food left."

"If this happens again on a night you're to read, tell Fumino. She will get more food for you."

I pause, surprised. "What?"

"I can't have the readings constantly being interrupted by the sounds of your stomach, understand?"

I nod my head.

"Now continue the readings."

I leave the plate of rice cakes on the corner of his desk and return to the stool. The rest of the scroll is uninteresting and when I finish it, I feel like jumping for joy. It's late into the night and my eyelids are sagging with exhaustion. Now that my stomach is full, every muscle in my body aches for sleep.

Before I rise to sleep, though, I notice Sesshomaru's penetrating gaze boring into me. "What is it, Sesshomaru-sama?" I ask, confused and a little disturbed by the intensity of his looks. "Is there something else you need done?"

"Why did you come here?"

"I'm supposed to read to you once a week, aren't I?"

"Here, this estate."

"I… I wanted my freedom."

"And are you free here doing servant's work?"

"It's no worse than what I would have to do back in my village. The chains they put on me there put me in far deeper servitude than I ever have to face here. Besides, here, I can leave anytime I want. There's no one here to tie me down and try to stop me."

"Anytime you want?"

"Yes, milord. Why do you ask?"

It's several moments before he responds and turns his gaze back towards the maps. "You may go, now."

"Will that be all?"

A small "hn" is all I receive in way of a reply.

"Good night, milord," I say as I bow. Someday soon, it'll be his turn to answer the questions I have for him.

When I reach the servants' quarters, I hesitate. Somewhere in my brain, I know that there are cranes to be made, but for some reason, I don't feel the urgency anymore. Tonight has been a long night. Isn't it right for me just to go to bed instead? Part of me knows that I should be folding each crane with care, full of wishes for Kohaku, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to go the room and start. Instead, I walk to the sleeping quarters, crawl into my futon, and fall asleep within seconds.

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´-`°¤,¸.•*´¯)

As the days pass, the talk of the winter festival grows louder and more frequent. Apparently it's in less than one week's time. The girls now talk of nothing else at meal times, each wondering whether or not they've found the perfect comb to match their kosode. Even Fumino seemed to be somewhat excited, though well within its means. I heard her mention on one occasion that she "thought it would be pleasant" to participate in the festivities.

As for myself, well, I hadn't even considered whether or not I was going to go. I had brought no proper kosode with me, thinking that there wouldn't ever be need for one. When I had packed, I packed light for the journey. Still, if I were to stay in on the day of the festival, it would mean that I would have peace and quiet while everyone was gone. I could fold for as long as my fingers would hold up. My total is now at around three hundred, but with an entire day to myself, I could surely make another five hundred.

A letter from Mika arrives full of concern. Why hadn't I responded? Was everything all right? Perhaps her previous letter hadn't reached my hands. She'd write again soon, she promised. Maybe Lord Sesshomaru could even find it in his heart to let me come back to visit Shiramura, even if it's just for a few days. Everyone would be so happy to see me.

Work has been getting better, even if the weather is growing bitterer. I've noticed that Itoko has been letting me go a little earlier than usual so I've been able to eat dinner every night this past week. I can't help but wonder if this is something of Sesshomaru's doing. Quickly, it's already the night for me to read to him again. However, as I'm bathing before going up the stairs to his study, Fumino walks into the bath house to tell me that Sesshomaru is not at the estate. He left the previous morning to go take care of business in other lands.

For some reason, I'm slightly crestfallen at the news. I had been hoping to continue our (one-sided) conversation from last time, but apparently that won't be happening, at least not for tonight. I sigh as I gather my clothes up from the bath house and begin my walk back to the servants' quarters. Everyone has said that he leaves for weeks at a time. When will he be back next?

The halls in the servants' quarters are completely dark except for the moon which shines dully through the paper windows. I guess I should be happy. No reading means that I can spend more time making paper cranes, right? The count has reached about 600 at this point, but I can feel my spirit waning. Each time I go to fold the cranes, my heart no longer feels urged on to completely the task.

Suddenly, something taps me lightly on the shoulder. I yelp in surprise and drop everything that I'm carrying. I spin around but see no one in the darkness. "W-who's there?" I say, my voice shaking. To my surprise, it's Minako who steps out of the shadows. "Minako-san…?"

"I'm sorry," she murmurs in her soft voice. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just wanted to ask Rin-san something, if you don't mind."

Puzzled, I consent. "Of course. What is it?"

"Are you going to the festival?"

I hesitate, a little puzzled by her choice of question. The night out of the castle sounded like a lot of fun to me, but I could probably finish the thousand cranes if I didn't go. "I wasn't planning on it. I don't even really have anything to wear."

"Akahito… I… we wanted to show you our thanks for not telling Sesshomaru."

"It's nothing," I reply. What was there to be gained from telling him about the two of them? They had been nothing but nice to me.

"It means a lot, still," she says. She's fumbling with her robes now, crumpling and loosening the folds in turn. What had happened to her when she was so young to make her this way? From the way Akahito spoke of her, I don't think that this is her true nature. "There's something that I wanted to lend to you if you were going to the festival… a way of saying thanks. Come?" she asks as she begins to turn down one of the hallways. Interest awakened, I follow her a short ways to what I know to be a trunk room.

"My mother's things are mostly still with my grandfather, but I do have a few of her things still here. She slides a vast wooden trunk concealed by a thick wool blanket and lifts its lid. It's too dark for me to see what's inside, but I guess her half-demon eyes can see well enough. Finally, she lifts from the trunk a thick fold of fabric and places it into my hands.

"Minako-san," I say, a little awestruck. I can't even see the details of the kosode I'm holding, but I can tell it's far finer than anything I've ever held, save perhaps the pieces that I've helped Itoko with. At any rate, it's much nicer than the cotton ones the other maids were planning on wearing. "I can't. There's no need to thank me."

"It's only for one night. Akahito and I both agreed that you should go and have some fun. Please, use it," she says with a small smile.

"I'll think about it, Minako-san. Are you not going?"

She smiles, a trace of sadness in her eyes. "My time is better spent here, Rin. Thank you for your concern, though." She slides the trunk back into its place and drapes the blanket over it once more. "Just return it when you're done, okay?"

I nod. "Of course. You should get some sleep. It's your day off, isn't it?"

She smiles. "Yes, but I never need much sleep. I'm a hanyou, remember?"

"Good night," I say as I leave the room.

"Sleep well," she replies in a whisper.

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On the morning of the festival, the servants' quarters are abuzz with excitement. There are chains of maids doing each other's hair while others covertly apply dabs of kohl they've bought in Saido onto their eyes. I notice that it's the hanyou who are trying their best to fit in. I watch as the fox-eared girls tie scarves around their heads. One maid with pale blue skin paints oshiroi on thickly, changing her complexion to a snow white. Apparently most of the male servants are going too. Everyone is in a state of anticipation. Even Kyoko, the taciturn human maid I met on my first day, can be seen with a reserved smile on her face. It's not until later that I learn that some of the servants are kept inside to finish the chores as punishment for various wrongdoings.

Eri runs to me, panting, asking me if I could find it in my heart to help them get ready. Once I've helped Tsukiko and Eri into their kosode and fixed their hair, inserting the various combs and pins into their proper places, I manage to slip away, talking about getting ready myself. They insist on helping me dress, but I wave them off and tell them that I'm taking Ume to the festival instead later so I won't need their help right now. Eri frowns in disappointment and starts to protest, but Tsukiko grabs her arm and leads her towards the gates, saying that she wants to be one of the first ones there. In the early afternoon, the first of several carts arrive to take the servants to Saido. Apparently it was tradition for each of the servants going to chip in a little so they could afford this luxury instead of walking and ruining the few nice clothes that they have.

As I'm walking back to the room to start making cranes, a maid younger than myself rushes up to me and says that Itoko needs me immediately. I sigh in frustration. Perhaps she won't take too long this time. I have work that I need to be doing and people have been distracting me from it all morning.

As soon as I get to the sewing room, however, it's clear that Itoko will need me for at least another hour. Someone had been in the sewing room without permission and apparently had ripped the kimono that was to be a gift for the diplomat's wife. The damage is apparent, the tear spreading from armpit to knee. The gift is supposed to be taken tomorrow, so there's no chance that it can wait. I hurry through the work, but Itoko makes me redo it twice before she finds it acceptable. I rush out of the room as soon as I'm finished and head to the storage room. Finally, I can start the cranes. I lift up the tatami mat, ready to work, when a rush of panic squeezes my heart.

Where are they?

They're gone. The stack of paper remains, but the cranes I've already made, all six hundred of them, have disappeared from the underneath the mat. I know this is the right spot. My palms begin to sweat and I start tearing up the other mats, but nothing's there. Where are they? All my cranes, all my hard work, gone. They had been here only last night. My chest thickens with fear. As far as I knew, the only other person that knows about this hiding spot is Akahito, but surely he wouldn't do anything like this…

I run upstairs, trying to calm my unsteady heartbeat. When I rap at Akahito's door, no one answers. Where the hell is he? I only remember then that Akahito said that when Sesshomaru is gone, he too is often sent away from the castle. I curse and pound on the tatami mats. Who could have done this and why? My hopes at having Kohaku are now dashed. There's no way I can make a thousand before the marriage takes place if it hasn't already. I feel weak in my legs. There's nothing left to do now, is there?

I return to the storage room and take out the stack of papers, but my motivation which had already been waning is now entirely gone. Setting down the paper, hopeless, I remember the kosode that Minako gave to me to borrow. Maybe I should just go ahead and go to the festival. It would help me take my mind off of things at the least.

I head to where my own small trunk is and lift the latch. Resting on top is the kosode which in daylight is far more beautiful than I could have ever guessed. The top of the overcoat starts off in a snow white silk, but as the material progresses, it fades into a charcoal grey before mixing into a midnight black at the hem. Large flowers in shades of emerald and rose-pink are sewn into the material. I realize that this would suit Minako perfectly, the green accentuating her bright eyes and the black matching her hair. She must look very much like her mother for the kosode to fit so perfectly.

I bathe quickly and dress myself in the robe. Though it may not be made for me, the finery of it certainly makes me look as if I am quite pretty. The sleeves and hem are too long, but with some adjusting, I make it work all right. Pulling my mother's pearl hair comb from my trunk, I work it into my wet hair. I grab my leather satchel and tuck inside my robes. Thinking about the lightness of my coin purse makes me a little nauseous. How am I supposed to buy more paper now?

Pushing the thoughts out of my head, I rush to the stables. Tonight, Shunya the stable boy is gone, probably on his way to the festival himself, so I have to saddle Ume on my own. Pulling myself up in a formal outfit is a lot harder than I thought and it takes me a solid five minute of squirming and wriggling to get myself on top of her. The sky is already beginning to be tinted with fading oranges and dark yellows. Perhaps I can still get there in time to have a proper dinner.

(¯`*•.¸,¤°´-`°¤,¸.•*´¯)

By the time I arrive, the sun has just set and twilight makes the evening sky glow a dark cerulean. It's not hard to find where the festival is being held on the edge of town; hundreds of colored lanterns line the street, the candles inside them burning brightly. The sight of the people and festivities does lighten my heart and lets my mind focus on something other than the missing paper cranes. Stages have been erected all up and down the way, actors with wild masks performing plays to laughing and cheering crowds. Food vendors too have set up shop, each enticing customers with red-bean cakes and mandarin candies. My mouth begins to water and I look through the crowd, hoping to see someone I know.

It's not long before I spot Tsukiko and Eri waving from a distant stand where an elderly man is calling to the crowds, claiming that he can read people's futures. Eri has her hand outstretched by the time I reach them, giggling as the psychic traces the lines on her palm.

"You, my dear," he begins in a wavering voice, "shall live a long life. I do see children in your future."

"How many!" Eri chimes excitedly.

Tsukiko snorts in derision and leans to me. "A total fraud. We're servants, which he apparently can't see. It's not like we'll ever have children of our own."

"Two girls, twins," he says, and Eri laughs in delight.

"I've always wanted to have a pair of girls for kids. Wouldn't that be wonderful, Rin?"

I smile and nod my head, but I'm not really paying attention. The stand next to this one is performing amazaiku and the thought of the sweet taffy makes my mouth water in desire.

"Rin, you should get your fortune told!"

I bring my attention back to Eri and Tsukiko. "I don't have very much money with me…"

"Don't worry," Tsukiko says as she opens up her own wallet. "I'll pay for you. I'm interested to see what you have in your future." She winks and drops a copper mon in the elderly man's palm.

I hesitate. Even if this guy is a quack, I've never been fond of fortune tellers of any sort. Something about them always seems too suspicious.

"Come here, dear, it's all right. Just put your hand in mine." Eri nods me forward, so I do as he says, and he brings my palm close to his face. After a long, silent minute, he looks up at me with a fearful expression. "The flowers, don't go near the flowers."

I look at him, confused and a little scared. "The flowers? What do you mean?"

"Snakes hide in tall grass. Don't go where you can't see."

"Ojii-san, I don't understand."

"Red on white makes pink." His voice is trembling uncontrollably now and his eyes are wild. I'm about to ask him more questions when Tsukiko grabs my arm and pulls me away.

"Ignore him," Tsukiko says as she leads me back into the throng of people. "He's mad."

"Don't worry, Rin. It's just a trick to make it seem interesting. More people will come if he looks mad." Eri smiles, but it doesn't comfort me much. Something about his voice changed when he spoke to me. It wasn't like when he told Eri's fortune at all.

Eri, apparently seeing that I was still unsettled, changes the topic. "Rin, you look so beautiful! Where in the world did you get that kosode? It's absolutely stunning."

"Yes, where in the world did you find something like that? It must have cost you a small fortune," Tsukiko says, her head tilted to the side. I hear a hint of sarcasm in her voice and her words from the last time when we were in Saido echo in my head. Did she seriously think that Sesshomaru bedded me and then gave me this in payment?

"It was my mothers," I say lamely.

"Well it looks beautiful on you," Eri says. "We should get some candy, don't you think?" She jumps excitedly to the amazaiku stall where the man is currently making a dragon for a young boy. Tsukiko, on the other hand, seems bored by the prospect and tells us she's going to keep looking around. I, of course, decide to stay with Eri.

On display around the candy stall are samples of the craftsman's work. I see dogs, foxes along with cats and pandas. Eri rushes to the front of the onlookers and orders a rabbit. The craftsman's hands slide nimbly over the hot candy, molding it and shaping it with small metal tools. I'm amazed by how deftly he works. Once he paints a pink nose and ears on the rabbit and hands it to Eri, she immediately turns to me. "What are you going to get?"

Looking around the lines of animals, something catches my eye. It's a white, dog-like creature, but it has fierce red eyes and a strangely familiar purple crescent moon on its forehead. It's not like the other cute puppies on display. It's fierce with visible fangs and long claws. I point to it. "What is that?"

Eri follows my gaze. "Oh, that? It looks like it's supposed to be Lord Sesshomaru's true form."

"True form?"

"Mhm," she replies as she nibbles on her sugar rabbit. "Really powerful demons have a true form."

"Is that what his looks like?"

She shrugs. "People say that if you actually do see Lord Sesshomaru's true form, it's likely the last thing you'll ever see."

"So what'll it be?" the craftsman asks. "Do you want that one?"

"Sure," I say and drop the coins into his hand. A few minutes later, I have my own sugar treat on a stick on hand. Eri says she's going to find Tsukiko, but I decide to stay behind. There are several other food shops around and my stomach is already grumbling for more. I spot a noodle shop with steam rising in clouds above it and decide that it's where I'm going to eat. I decide to save the candy for later and tuck the small sugar figurine inside my robes.

After downing an entire bowl of noodles, I feel full enough to burst. The lights and sound and crowd are starting to make me a little nauseous, so I take a step out of the main street for a breath of fresh air.

"Rin? Is that you?" a shadow calls to me from somewhere I can't see. It's a male voice, a voice all too familiar to me that's calling to me. My breath catches in my throat and my hands grow cold with anxiety. It can't be… can it?

"Kohaku?"

A figure steps out of the darkness. The light brown eyes, the hair tied back into a ponytail, and the cheeks spotted with freckles all tell me that it's indeed him. My throat closes as I rush into his arms and he laughs, stroking my hair.

"Where were you?" I say as tears threaten to spill over. I push a closed fist into his chest, wishing that I could punch him, but I'm too happy and relieved to see him. "I missed you so much."

"Shh," he murmurs. "I'm here for you now, Rin-chan. Come on, let's go somewhere more private so we can talk." Even though we are on a side street, there are plenty of people staring at the scene I'm making. I nod into his chest.

He leads me from the dirty town streets onto the fields which lay on just the other side of the festival. He's wearing his plain purple, sleeveless robe and matching, loose-fitting pants. He's holding my hand in his, a feeling that I hadn't experienced in months. The touch, so familiar, finally lets my heart rest.

"How have you been? You look beautiful in that kosode," he says as we walk. I can still hardly believe that he's here, right in front of my eyes.

"I've been missing you."

His expression turns a little sad. "I missed you too, Rin. Is it true that you're working at Lord Sesshomaru's castle?"

"Yes, but all this time I've been waiting for you to come back to me. What took you so long?"

He sighs, running his hands through his hair. "It's been almost two months since you left. I wanted to come for you, but I couldn't… A lot is going on."

"I know," I say bitterly. "I've heard of your recent engagement."

"It's not that, Rin. Look, don't worry about me for a second. I want to know what's been going on with you. Working for a demon, Rin? Surely you could have found something more suitable. Why did you run away in the first place?"

I sigh. "I couldn't take being in Shiramura anymore. Everything there was a cage. You didn't want me there anymore, so why should I have stayed?"

He stops and looks at me, his gaze intent. "I never wanted you to go, though. You have to understand that. I always want you by my side."

My heart flutters unevenly in my chest. Is he saying what I think he means?

"You don't mean that," I retort, pulling away from him. "You say it, but you don't mean it like that. You told me yourself. You think of me like a sister. Mika is the one you want."

"No, Rin. I broke off the engagement. I came here so that I could tell you and take you back with me. I want to be with you. Mika… she's not who I thought she was." My mouth goes dry. This has to be a dream, it simply has to be. I didn't even finish the cranes. How could my wish be coming true without them? But it's all too real. The sounds, the smell, it's overwhelming.

Kohaku walks to where I stand, a smile on his face. "It's you, Rin. It's always been you." He presses his lips to mine, but I don't feel the warmth I expect. I press my mouth to his harder, hungry for the desire that should be there, but there's something that's distracting me. The smell of flowers is erupting around me, and it's a moment before I realize that it's identical to the smell of the pink perfume in the glass vial. Each second it seems to be growing stronger. I break the kiss, looking around. Where is the smell coming from? I look down at the ground, and in the moonlight I can see small blossoms of white flowers that I hadn't noticed before. Before my very eyes, they are changing, growing, blooming in the moonlight.

Don't go near the flowers. My heart skips a beat.

I look back to Kohaku's face, but it's not Kohaku anymore. His eyes have morphed into thin red slits, his nose as flat as a snake's. A long tongue protrudes from his mouth and his teeth are sharp. I scream and try to move, but some force is keeping me pinned to the spot. His hair falls out of his ponytail and curls around him, his features growing more and more feminine.

This must've been what the old man was talking about. I open my mouth and try to scream again, but now even my tongue has gone numb. I'm paralyzed as vines from the ground wrap around my ankles, anchoring me to the spot.

"Don't you like the perfume?" the demon hisses. "It's so sweet, isn't it?" I know without having to ask though that it's Koyako, the woman who sold me the vile pink perfume which had made Sesshomaru and Akahito nauseous. "It's made of dreams of happiness. I can create a world for you, whatever you want, show your deepest desires." Mist fills the air around me, clouding my vision in a thick white fog. My head begins to feel light and I can't make my thoughts focus.

"It's all right," the demon's voice, no longer a hiss but a woman's lullaby, sings to me. "You can sleep now, little Rin. Now is the time to rest…" her voice fades to silence, and out of the fog, Kohaku steps into the view again.

"See, Rin? It's all right."

My heart is skipping erratically, but the sound of Kohaku's words soothes me. Kohaku is someone I can trust, someone I can believe. Something warm trickles down my arms. I look and see that streams of read blood are now dripping from my fingers, turning the white flowers at my feet pink. The more blood they drink, the larger the blossoms grow. I start to become frightened again, a whimpering growing in my chest.

"Shhh, shhh," Kohaku hushes me. "Don't look at that. Nothing is wrong, I promise. I'm here for you, Rin. I'll be here for you forever."

His words calm me again, and I don't notice the blood anymore. All I can focus is on the one word which keeps echoing in my ears.

"Forever?"

"Forever," he repeats, his eyes soft and sweet. He wraps me up in his arms and kisses me. I feel my knees go weak, my arms limp. All I can see and think and feel is Kohaku. Kohaku is here. It has to be all right. Everything… is all right…

The world fades to focus in on him, and I shut my eyes. It's impolite to stare at someone while they're kissing you, isn't it? Somewhere, I can feel something piercing my chest, driving a hole through my soul. Is this what love feels like? It's a little painful, and I can feel my limbs going cold, but here with you, Kohaku. I'm at peace.

I sigh and lean into him, my soul at rest. Slowly, the last of my energy leaves my body and everything goes black.

Well, that's the chapter! And yes, if you're wondering, this demon/monster thing is very similar to the one from the original series which ensnares Inuyasha right after Kikyou's death.

Expect some Sesshomaru POV next chapter (probably, I haven't fully decided yet). I had originally chosen to make the story a completely Rin-POV story, but seeing as what I'm going to have to do next chapter, I'm not sure I'll be able to do that without it being Sesshomaru's POV ;P

As always, a big thanks to everyone who has left a review! Your words of encouragement and tips on what to make better are incredibly important to me, so please review if you have a chance!

To the reviewers of the previous chapter:

SessRinz – I'm so happy that you like it so much. Akahito is such an attractive person, isn't he? It's hard for me not to fall in love with him myself *-* I wanted to make Rin a more complicated character for sure, and I thought it would be very interesting to put her in a later-life situation. It makes me very glad to hear that you like it. Thank you so much for the review!

Songhi – Thank you so much for the suggestions! I'll definitely go back and fix that, hopefully today if I have time. I did rush through the editing process and that was a section I was having trouble with. You make some incredible points and I'll be sure to fix that. Thank you so much for letting me know. You give great feedback =) The scene with Sesshomaru was meant to be purely a dream scene. You make a great point about the combination of dreams (how we idealize the person) and what he'll actually start to do for her. I think that in the end, she'll grow to like Sesshomaru through a combination of those two ways. Thank you again for your review! Your feedback is incredibly helpful =)

Kibachow – You're definitely right about the reading not being enough, so you can expect some other methods for sure ;D And yes, Kohaku too will be making a reappearance. You're spot onto what things will be changing! Thank you very much for reviewing! You're definitely thinking in the right way.

December Sapphire – Haha I'm so glad to hear that you liked the twists. You're so right about the gorgeous part, hahaha. You made me laugh with your review. Of course there will be romantic fluffy scenes! How could we ever live without them? There will be more Akahito and Minako to come for sure. I have a very interesting story in plan for them ;D I hope that you enjoyed this chapter as well! Thank you for reviewing as always =)

sotam – Hahaha very much so! She will have to indeed. Thank you for taking the time to review!

princess-myu – I hope that you liked the latest chapter =) In time, they will definitely fall in love. Thank you very much for leaving a review!

Lady Shenzuki – What?! You never seem like you're complaining! I'm happy to hear that you liked the chapter, and I hope you enjoyed this one as well. =) Thank you as always for taking the time to review!

StoriedFabric – Sorry, there wasn't too much Sesshomaru in this chapter either, but next one I can promise you some more! It definitely would not fit Sesshomaru's character to have a concubine, you're right. I thought it was also a good way to show how little the other servants understand him if they think he would do that. The perfume turned out to be a little more than a fail, didn't it? You'll learn more about it next chapter =) I hope you enjoyed the update! Thank you as always for taking the time to review =)

Mirraz – Wow! You left so many compliments! It makes me so happy to hear that you like it so well . Whatever mistakes there are, please let me know either by PM or review! I'm working on going back and polishing up the chapters, but I still miss a lot, especially when I'm editing too quickly. I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! Thank you very much for taking the time to leave your reviews!