(Author's Notes)

Hello again people! Hey, guess what, IMMA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE NOW! Yeah, that's why I've been gone so much, getting ready to leave, college preparations, and a musical that I've been trying to get ready for. And, I got a job! I start work next week, but never fear! Since I have no papers, no school, no project, no nothing school related, my stories will be my number one project now. I'll be free to write more and finish more stories than I've ever had before! So, I'M BAAAACK! XD Anyway, back to the Fanfiction reality, I thought it might be a nice change to dedicate a chapter to another one of my favorite couples from the story! I hope you all enjoy my small little tribute! ^_^

(Story)

It was now evening in the palace. Rin had just finished her visit to the children's center she helped built. Ever since the construction was finished, she'd gone to visit the children there every day. They gladly enjoyed her company and were all very excited about becoming friends with the Lady of the East. Rin was walking through the halls of the palace carrying an armful of wildflowers the children had picked for her. She had just made her way toward the entrance of the courtyard when she almost ran straight into a familiar figure.

"Oh, Sesshomaru! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there" Rin exclaimed as she caught her balance from almost running into him. Sesshomaru quickly grabber her arms to keep her steady.

"That's perfectly fine Rin." Sesshomaru said with the same kind look in his eyes. Rin smile glowed back at him until she glanced over inside the courtyard and noticed a couple other people. Inuyasha and Inu-Taishoi were sitting in a bench toward the edge of a flower garden together, simply talking to each other. Rin then gazed in awe at the two figures standing there.

"Hmm, I wonder how Inuyasha is getting along with Inu-Taishoi. I'd imagine that they'd have a lot to catch up on." Rin asked.

"They do." Sesshomaru replied. Rin placed her attention on Sesshomaru before he continued.

"They've been spending a lot of time together recently. I have no idea what they have been talking about; but, whatever it is, if they want to keep it between themselves…then I won't get involved. Besides, they both seem to be getting along well." Sesshomaru stated as he glanced at the two. Rin then smiled and turned her attention back to them.

"Well, that's good. And I can understand." Rin softly spoke as she got lost in her thoughts. Sesshomaru then turned his attention to Rin as she spoke quietly to him.

"Ever since my family was resurrected, I've been trying to stay on good terms as possible with them and enjoy their time here. I'd hate to have them return from the dead feeling awkward or unwilling to approach me." Rin said as she thought about her family. Sesshomaru then noticed the distant look in her eyes, and lifted his hand, brushing her cheek with his fingers. Rin instantly drew her attention to a smiling Sesshomaru.

"But you don't have to worry about that, Rin. Not now…not ever." Sesshomaru said. Rin glanced at him for a moment, then smiled and leaned in toward him a bit. Careful not to crush the wildflowers she was still holding, Sesshomaru gave her a one armed embrace and a kiss on her forehead. They were then interrupted by something.

Inu-Taishoi began to glow a golden aura around his body as he stood up from the bench. He continued to glow as he turned around to face Inuyasha again. Sesshomaru then kicked his ears in just in time to hear his father say one last thing to his brother.

"I'll be sure to give your love to your mother, son" Inu-Taishoi said in a soft, deep voice. Rin gazed at him in awe while Sesshomaru stared blank faced at him. Then, Inu-Taishoi started to dissolve into little balls of light that were simmering away.

His soul is finally moving on to heaven. It would seem that his time here has finally come to an end.

Sesshomaru then closed his eyes for a moment as he thought about his father's resurrection. He really hadn't spent much time with him. He wasn't sure what he could've said to his father now. Sesshomaru quickly opened his eyes as a thought past his head.

"Father!" Sesshomaru slightly exclaimed. Inu-Taishoi then turned his attention toward his son and walked toward him. He paused in front of Sesshomaru waiting for him to say something. Sesshomaru then did something he'd never done for his father before, not even in his resurrected state. He smiled at his father.

"Thank you father, for helping me realize that I was the fool, and for teaching me to find something worth fighting for…and worth my heart." Sesshomaru sincerely said to his father. Rin slightly gasped at Sesshomaru as she remembered what Sesshomaru said to her when he first kissed.

He told me that…he wanted to tell him. He wanted to tell his father about how he was a fool!

Inu-Taishoi widened his eyes in surprise for a moment. After absorbing what Sesshomaru told him, his lowered his eyes again and smiled back. He then caught something bright out of the corner of his eye. Rin was handing him a bright yellow flower.

"…I've been doing some more research on flowers that grow here. This flower is officially called Adonis Amurensis, but we call it Fukujyusou. It means 'happy' and 'long life'." Rin said as she shyly held the flower out to him.

"I hope that you can find happiness in the next life, my Lord." Rin said as she smiled at him. Inu-Taishoi smiled back and grasped the flower. He then stretched out his fingers and kept Rin's hand on the flower. Rin stared at him, wondering what he was doing. Inu-Taishoi only gazed back with all of the kindness he could muster.

"…And I hope that you can live long and find happiness in this life…my daughter." He said as he squeezed Rin's hand. Rin felt the happiness rise from her stomach. For him to call her his daughter…was true acceptance and love. She was honored to receive such a notion from him. They continued smiling as he let go of Rin's hand, still holding onto the flower. He turned around for one last glance at Inuyahsa. He stood behind him, smiling and proud. Inu-Taishoi then turned back to his once cold son now warmly embracing a human he'd come to love.

Inu-Taishoi then felt the warmth return to his body again. He felt his spirit lift as he continued to dissolve into golden orbs. He closed his eyes as he felt the blissful sensation enter him. Before he completely disappeared, he pressed the flower to his nose and took in the sweet scent. It may have been a simple flower to most; but to him, at this moment, it was a symbol of fulfilling a life and starting a new one. He saw the world disappear as he passed on.

When he opened his eyes again, he was back in the white space. He glanced around and saw nothing but white. He then turned back to his hand and, much to his amazement, the flower was still in his hand. He gazed at it in awe when he was interrupted by something.

"…Dearest." A voice cooed. Inu-Taishoi turned around behind him and gazed upon a familiar figure. He saw a beautiful young woman with long dark hair and wearing a simple light pink kimono with a green vine pattern wrapping around it. Her brown eyes were relaxed and her smile kind. Inu-Taishoi felt a lump in his throat and tightness in his chest.

"…Izayoi." He softly spoke. He slowly walked toward her until he was right in front of her. She just continued to stand there and smile at him.

"…I've been waiting for you my dearest. I told them that I wouldn't pass until I found you again." She softly said. He just stood there, speechless, and let the tingle come to his fingertips. He wanted to reach out to her, touch her…know that it was her for sure. But, she decided to make the first move. She lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek. At that instant, the whiteness disappeared, and a field full of flowers surrounded by trees took its place. Inu-Taishoi glanced around in shock.

"W-wha…what just happened?" he exclaimed.

"People who have truly passed on come here, to their own personal heaven, where they can find peace. I knew my son would place himself in good hands in the world…but heaven didn't exist for me unless I saw you again." She explained as she continued to caress his check with her thumb. Her pretty face may have been smiling and happy, but her eyes showed another message. He got lost in a trance as he tried to read the message from her eyes.

If this isn't your heaven, then that's fine. But…I really do want you to stay my dearest. Please…don't leave me again.

Inu-Taishoi couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. He instantly tore off his armor and thrusted himself upon her. He wrapped his arms around the small of her back and quickly ran his other hand through her soft hair. He locked his own lips with hers in a fierce yet sincere kiss. Instead of backing away, Izayoi cupped his face with both of her hands and pulled them even closer to each other. For so long, they had been apart. For so long, they missed each other's touches, kisses, and love. Now, as their lips celebrated, their kisses never seemed sweeter and so full of meaning and passion.

Inu-Taishoi then began leading her toward the ground. She got the message, and lay down in a bed of flowers. He broke away for a moment to take her sight in. With her dark hair spread across the flowers, her perfect body in the kimono, and her sweet face shining in the sun…she looked like a goddess in his eyes. She was so beautiful it made him start to cry. Izayoi got a look of concern on her face.

"Dearest…what's wrong?" She gently asked as she reached up a hand and cupped his cheek again. He then lifted his own hand and clenched it.

"Nothing love…I just…" He began to explain. He then leaned forward a bit and hovered over her.

"…I was able to find heaven with you." He started as he kissed her hand.

"…And I'm never going to leave you again. I swear it upon my soul!" He said as he lowered himself a bit.

"…I love you too much to leave you again." He gently whispered in her ear. As these words entered her ears, Izayoi then started to feel tears swell up in her eyes. This was all too good to be true. She had searched and waited in that blank world, alone and sad. Surly there was no possible way that all of that could have changed within a few moments! Happily, reality hit her when their lips met again. He broke away and turned his attention toward her neck. Izayoi spoke as they broke away.

"I'm glad…that I love a man as wonderful as you. I love you so much my dearest!" She whispered as serenity came over her for the first time in an age. Inu-Taishoi felt the clenching of her hands on his kimono, and felt this own hand clench the grass and flowers he was holding. He couldn't even remember if he still had hold of the yellow flower. In any case, the flower had held true to its meaning. With another kiss, he sealed a life with his one and only again, and they were there to remain in that happy state for all of eternity.

(Author's Notes)

Please review and tell me what you thought of the chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions. :)