Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha! Wahhh! *tears*
Author's Note: Gomen nasai, everyone, for taking so long with this chapter. It's a bit shorter than usual, but you'll all have to deal with it! Sorry! ^_^ I got the meanings of flowers from a florist's website. It's quite interesting… Lot's of thanks to AcidBlood1134, totally-wicked, and Thunk for reviewing! Please continue reviewing, minna-san! I've gotten 33 reviews! I'm so happy that ya'll like my story! I need at least 3 more for this chapter! Anyway, enjoy the story!
The Course of True Love Ne'er Did Run Smooth…
Chapter 15
Kagome and Rin were sitting happily on an elegant cherry-wood bench in the garden, chatting animatedly about all kinds of things. It was late morning, and the sun was beating relentlessly on top of their identically colored black hair. Rin was receiving an impromptu lesson on the meanings and histories of various types of flowers that the two girls had picked from the garden, which were now spread over their laps and the remaining space of the bench for Rin to examine.
"Ferns represent magic. Violets are for modesty. White carnations stand for sweet innocence. Lilies are for beauty and cattails are for peace and prosperity. Heathers stand for admiration or protection. Irises stand for hope. Chrysanthemums stand for truth, and daises symbolize purity and loyal love. There are many different meanings for roses, depending on the color, but most stand for love and happiness." Kagome explained in a sing-song, lecturing voice as she pointed to each type of flower that she named.
Rin looked down at the flowers in her lap, and nodded wisely in understanding, then asked, "Kagome-chan, what kind of flowers are these?" She pointed at a cluster of delicate forget-me-nots lying in her lap. Kagome picked them up and looked at them. "They're called forget-me-nots," she paused and blushed, saying softly, "They represent true love."
"Oooh!" Rin squealed, not noticing her friend's sudden embarrassment, "Rin wants to pick some of these flowers for Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin loves Sesshoumaru-same sooooo much!" She giggled, and looked at Kagome, as if looking for approval.
Kagome smiled indulgently at the small girl, and said gently, "Rin, I don't think your love for Sesshoumaru is the same kind of love that this flower stands for. You see- " The miko stopped, unable to explain the difference between true love and a child's pure devotion. She thought to herself, "Who am I that I can judge whether Rin's love is true? I haven't even ever had a relationship with anyone (except Inuyasha), so how do I explain what true love is to this innocent, pure girl?"
Rin frowned thoughtfully, then pouted, "But Kagome-chan, I really do love Sesshoumaru-sama! If that's not true love, then what is?"
Kagome took a deep breath, and tried to explain from her own experience. "Well, Rin-chan, it's like this." She thought about her feelings for Inuyasha, who was the closest she ever had to a real boyfriend. (Hojo didn't count; he was too naïve to even be able to feel true love for anyone.) "When you truly love somebody, it's like your whole life revolves around that one person. You feel as if your heart will burst if that person just smiles at you, and you feel like the world is ending when that person is mad at you. You'll give up everything important to you just to spend time with the one you love. You'll do anything to protect him, to save his life, even if it means sacrificing your own. True love isn't common, this kind of thing doesn't happen everyday. It takes trust, loyalty, friendship, and deep bonds to form true love. And once it begins, it's like a rushing waterfall. Nothing can stop it. You'll love him forever, even if it's unrequited."
Kagome poured her heart and soul into her words, thinking of Inuyasha. Rin looked up at her with solemn, round, wide eyes. "Really, Kagome-chan?" Kagome nodded silently, then shook her head to clear her thoughts.
"Well, Rin-chan, since you really want to pick flowers for Sesshoumaru, we better go and pick some roses, ne?" She smiled brightly, deliberately steering the subject towards safer shores. The two girls got up and walked down the stone path, towards a patch of roses that were growing in the center of the garden. Rin soon forgot their previous conversation, though Kagome's own words continued to ring over and over in her ears. True love? What was true love? The young budding priestess would soon find out for herself.
In the shadows of the tall oaks trees, a dark figure was standing behind the thick tree trunk. He had been hiding there all along. Sesshoumaru had a thoughtful look on his face as he pondered the girl's conversation. His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips, trying out the two words that his mouth hadn't uttered together in over a century.
"True…love…"