Flowers In The Snow
Chapter 13: Partings
"Ah! Sesshoumaru-sama, the sea is so beautiful at dawn!" Rin stood in the shallows, her slippers behind her, and let the little waves lap at her bare feet. Sesshoumaru had requested she walk with him to the shore near his palace this morning. It was something he did not often do in the cold of autumn, so she was rather surprised at his request. As a child in summer, she would strip off her kimono and run into the water...the memory made her uneasy now, and the thought of Sesshoumaru-sama looking at her naked body brought a blush to her cheeks. Things indeed had changed.
"How are you feeling these days, Rin?"
"Much better, Sesshoumaru-sama. My fingers are stronger."
"Good."
Rin closed her eyes and let the cool sea breeze blow through her hair. Sesshoumaru watched as the glints of red dawn sun were caught in her hair and sparkled there like rubies. At that moment, watching her bare-foot and wild-haired in the water, he felt he had never seen anything more beautiful in his life. His hand closed around an object in his yukata sleeve. He had been right to bring this, it had always been Rin.
"Rin, I am going away today for a short journey."
"Nani?" Rin opened her brown eyes and looked at him in dismay. "But we just got home!"
"When you were in your death-sleep, you told us that you saw Naraku searching for Souunga...my father's sword. I cannot let this matter rest here, if he should get hold of Souunga and Tenseiga, Naraku could be very troublesome, especially if her gets it into his head to acquire Tessaiga as well. The combined power of the sanshinken could split heaven and earth in two."
"Can I come with you?" Rin said without much hope.
"No, not this time. You are not yet healed. Inuyasha and Jaken will go with me."
Rin stepped out of the waves and shook her feet dry. Her kimono rose over her slender calves as she did so, though she shyly covered as much of her leg as possible. From her modest action, Sesshoumaru knew that Rin had learned what it meant to be a woman, albeit through a terrible ordeal.
"Where are you going?"
"To Toutousai, to ask him about the swords, then on to Naraku."
"I see." Rin slipped on her slippers and flexed her broken but healing fingers. "I cannot go with you now, you are absolutely right. When will you be back?"
"When I have killed Naraku."
"Oh." Rin didn't like the tone of his indefinite answer. She walked over to where he stood and placed her small hands on his shoulders. "Abunai...be careful, Sesshoumaru-sama. I will wait for you."
Sesshoumaru-sama was pleased at her bold action. She was not afraid to touch him or speak to him. To Rin, he was just Sesshoumaru-sama, and he liked that. Her body so close to his was also having a incredible effect on all his youkai senses, he could hear her heart beating steadily, feel her breath on his skin, smell the sea-perfume of her hair mixed with the warm scent of her trust in him.
"Are you still wearing the kotodama rosary Kagome gave you?"
Rin nodded.
Sesshoumaru took a small object out of his left kimono sleeve and held it out to her.
"Take it off and wear this from now on."
Rin took the object in her hands. It was the finest piece of jewellery Rin had ever received from Sesshoumaru. The other trinkets he had given her – coral beads and little silver pins – paled beside this work of art. A string of pearls, each as large as a rose-hip, white as the moon in Mid-Autumn, fastened with a golden clasp and set with a yellow diamond, lay in her hand. It reminded Rin of...Sesshoumaru-sama.
"I...I...Rin can't accept this. It is too fine a kubikazari."
Rin caught her breath and tried to push the necklace back into Sesshoumaru's hands, but the tai-youkai covered her hands with his own and pushed them towards her.
"I will help you fasten it."
There was no room for argument. Sesshoumaru first removed the kotodama rosary from her neck and Rin put it into her sleeve. Then., Sesshoumaru took the necklace from her and put it gently around her neck. Rin held her long hair back to help him and in a second, the necklace was in place.
"The kubikazari has a powerful blessing on it," Sesshoumaru stroked Rin's cheek with his left hand, and she caught his hand in her own and held her face against it. "It will protect you in times of darkness."
"I can feel it, arigatou gozaimasu...arigatou gozaimsu...Rin will look after it."
"Rin," Sesshoumaru took his hand from her cheek and turned to the sea, "You are not to leave this palace, do you understand? You are safe here, and Kagome-sama is going to remain with you. No matter what, you must wait here for me."
Rin was still touching the necklace about her neck, almost in total shock that Sesshoumaru-sama would give her such a fine gift.
"Hai...Sesshoumaru-sama."
"I want you to think about something when I am gone. It is something you can only do when I am not around to influence you."
"What is it, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
Sesshoumaru continued looking at the sea, "Knowing that you will one day age and face death, can you bear to live by my side and watch me continue as I am now? And if you continue by my side, in what capacity do you want to continue? As my daughter? Or my companion? Or have you other needs that you think I can meet?"
Rin was blushing before him again. These small gestures of Sesshoumaru...the increased attention he showed her, the way he touched her and spoke to her confused her and yet made her happy. She could not name the feeling it produced in her, she had never known it before.
"The necklace is yours to keep, whatever decision you make," Sesshoumaru turned from the sea to face Rin, "I could never give it to anyone else."
The strange couple on the beach – statuesque tai-youkai and petite human girl – walked back to his palace. Sesshoumaru watched Rin skip over the paving stones that lined the path back, he was pleased at her recovery. Very soon, Rin would be as she used to be before. On the path ahead, Rin paused in her skipping and looked back at Sesshoumaru behind her. The silver-haired dog demon nodded slowly at her to show her he was following. To his surprise, Rin blushed and looked down, her long lashes fluttering against her pink cheeks, before turning from him and running the rest of the way home. Sesshoumaru let a small smile escape his lips and allowed himself to indulge in a sensation which he had come to know only after rescuing Rin: yes, she made him so very happy.
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"Ohayo Myouga-jichan!" the little boy shrieked as the flea youkai leapt into the hut.
"Nami-o...Nami-o..! How good it is to see everyone!" The flea jumped onto the little boy's cheek and sucked till he grew fat.
slap The little boy clapped a hand over the tiny youkai, laughing as he did so.
"Took you long enough to get here, Myouga-jichan" Sango said, putting a bowl of porridge in front of her son, Miru. She turned towards the open door of the hut and yelled, "Miho! This is the third time I've called you in! Oka and Otou are leaving in a few minutes and we want to see you get a good breakfast first so that we know you won't give Kaede-bachan any trouble!"
A little girl of eight ran into the hut, red with good health and exercise. "Gomenasai Oka, I was practising my Ninjado and didn't want to stop. Want to see my Flying Kick?"
Sango laughed, "Not in here, Miho. You can show me later. Now sit down and have your porridge, Myouga-jichan has arrived as scheduled to show us the way to the Palace of the West. Oka and Otou are leaving this morning."
Miho pulled a face, "Must you?"
"Now, Miho, don't argue with your Oka," Miroku said, entering the hut, "Mmm, I smell porridge..."
"Ohayo, Miroku!" Myouga leapt up and down on the table, "It's been a long time!"
"Oka, who is the Lord of the Palace of the West?" the little boy asked, eating his porridge obediently.
"Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's older brother."
"Is he a rich, powerful Lord?"
"I suppose," sighed Sango, "Eat up, don't talk with your mouth full."
"Then why is Inuyasha so poor?"
Miroku and Sango laughed. "Because Inuyasha doesn't care for that kind of thing, children."
"Is he a handsome Lord? Is he tall, powerful and graceful?" Miho asked brightly. Recently, Miho had taken to drawing handsome princes and beautiful princesses with the crayons Kagome had given her.
"Well, mmm...yes, actually." Sango said, avoiding Miroku's eyes. Miroku turned green with jealousy.
"Oka, why is Otou turning green?" Miru asked innocently.
"Does Sesshoumaru-sama have a Beautiful Lady?" Miho persisted.
"Of course, silly!" her brother Miru scolded her, "Handsome Lords always have a Beautiful Lady by their side!"
"How come Sesshoumaru-sama never visits Inuyasha?"
"That's enough," Miroku knew that his children had reached the stage of asking 500 questions in a row. It could get very tiring for all adults concerned. "Myouga, what took you so long to get here? We sent Kirara to get you a week ago!"
"Erm...let's see..." Myouga scratched his head, "Where was I? Oh yes, the poppy fields in the south..." A blissful look crept of Myouga's face. "Poppy seed is almost better than blood..."
"You haven't been eating poppy seeds again, have you, Myouga?" Sango scolded, "You know how dangerous those seeds are!"
"Well, what's an old man to do in his old age...tiny bit of pleasure...such sweet dreams..."
"If we had known you were going to take so long, we would have asked Shippou to bring us instead." Miroku said crossly. "Poppy-seed addiction! Really, Myouga...you should be ashamed of yourself!"
"That young kitsune whelp? His nose couldn't sniff out the Palace of the West when it is filled with all that perfume from the village girls!"
"Mmm, I smell porridge..." A whirl of red and green burst into the hut. Sixteen year old Shippou plonked himself down at the table and helped himself to a large bowl of porridge. Myouga the flea looked disapprovingly at him, and said, "Ohayo Shippou, and how were the village girls this morning?"
"Ohayo Shippou-chan!" Sango said cheerfully. "As you can see, Myouga is here at last, we are going to the West today. We leave our children and the village in your care!"
"He certainly took his time about it!" Shippou said, flicking Myouga off the table, "I told you you should have let me bring you. My otou told me all about the Palace in the West, he has been there before. I could bring you there and protect you as well!"
"You'd get lost, you young whelp!" Myouga scolded, jumping back on the table.
"I would not, old man!"
"That's right, Shippou is the cleverest, strongest youkai in the world!" said Miho and Miru in unison. Shippou winked at them.
"Kirara! We're ready to go!" Sango called to her cat.
"Meeep!" squeaked Kirara obediently.
"Now don't you kids give Kaede-bachan a hard time!" Sango said. "Miho, you are to take care of your younger brother, you hear me?"
"Hai, Oka!"
"And Shippou, if you try anything funny with the village girls when we're gone, don't expect us to fix the mess for you when we come back!"
"Me?" Shippou said, grinning. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"We'll let Souten-oneesama know you've been cheating on her!" Miru piped up brightly.
Shippou immediately sobered up. Of all his on-again-off-again girlfriends, the thunder demoness Souten was the only one he respected and feared enough to actually keep in line for. More than once had he felt the sharp sting of her lightning bolt on his behind. He never understood why Miho and Miru were so fond of Souten, each time she visited, they were all over her, even abandoning Kagome and Sango for her. He suspected it had something to do with her Acorn Whirl attack which were pretty delicious snacks if roasted on one of her lighting bolts...
Miroku finished his porridge and glanced over the scene of domestic bliss in his house. His beautiful wife and two children, his friends Shippou and Myouga...what more could a man want in life? This had all been possible only after Naraku had been defeated, no way was he going to let Naraku take it all away again. He couldn't lose all of this...No, Naraku wouldn't come back, he and Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru would defeat him again just like the first time...He couldn't lose all of this...
"Well, nice seeing you kids" Myouga said, hopping up and down...
"Sango..." Miroku said suddenly, sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Anata?" Sango said, looking up from packing.
"Otouto!" Miho yelled as Miroku crashed to the floor, clutching his right hand.
"Stay away!" Shippou grabbed Miho and Miru and dragged them to the side.
"Sango..."
"Anata!"
"What's happening? What's happening?" Myouga leapt up and down in distress. A cry came from the village, followed by several explosions and more cries.
"It's Kaede-baba! I smell youkai!" Shippou cried. Miho and Miru were white and frightened, clinging to the kitsune for comfort.
"Get away and hide!" Sango yelled, "All of you!" Miroku lay in her arms, in mortal agony as he felt the flesh on his right palm splitting open. He couldn't lose all of this...
"I-will-fight-too..."
"No!"
"If he's going to give kazaana back to me, he should
know what he's in for!"
"Your kazaana has returned? Oh dear...oh dear..." Myouga leapt up and down, "This can mean only one thing..."
Miroku staggered to his feet, his wife supporting him. Shippou had already unsheathed his dagger and Miho and Miru were clutching short blades.
"What are you doing?" Sango said, her face pinched with
distress, "Children I told you to go and hide!"
"We're
taijiya, Oka...we want to fight too..." Miho said bravely.
"You don't understand, this is not a normal youkai!" Sango nearly screamed at them. "Go and hide!"
Sango and Shippou leapt out of the hut, closely followed by Miroku and Myouga. Outside, what had been a peaceful village morning was completely destroyed. Villagers ran about screaming as the the earth heaved and cracked under their feet. Something was emerging from the ground under their feet. Additionally, above them a plague of enormous eagle youkai, not unlike the evil winged monsters of the defeated bird-princess Abi-Hime, swooped around the village, belching fire and ash. Kaede and a group of villagers were firing arrows and throwing spears at any youkai as fast as they could but their number was just too many. The eagle youkai swooped and screamed, knocking weapons out of villager's hands.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango's enormous bone-boomering cut a deadly swathe in the mass of eagles. Bird wings and blood fell onto the village.
"KITSUNE-BI!" Shippou let out a blast of fox-fire at the eagles. No longer was his fox fire the weak illusory form of his childhood, it was a powerful hot fire that clung and maddened. Enraged and burning, the eagle-youkai screamed and retreated.
The earth shook and cracked again and Sango and Shippou fell to the floor. "It's an earthquake!" Shippou gasped.
"Run to Inuyasha forest!" Kaede commanded. "Get out of this place!"
The earth shook and houses and people disappeared into the earth.
"Okaa!" Sango turned at the sound of her childrens' voices. Miho was holding Miru by the hand, expertly fighting a eagle-youkai that was trying to attack them.
"Hiraikotsu!" Sango took out the youkai attacking her children and several others as well.
"Run to Inuyasha forest!" Kaede yelled again. "The birds cannot attack us with the trees overhead!"
"You make a run for it! I'll hold them off!" Still white with pain from the re-opening of his Kazaana, Miroku crawled to a sheltered place and unbound his rosary. "I don't know if you're from Naraku or not, but take this....KA-ZAA-NA!" Shrieking, the birds were sucked into Miroku's open palm, beads of sweat appeared on Miroku's forehead from the effort of the kazaana.
"NO!"
Miroku was tackled by Sango and Shippou.
"They've got the villagers!" Shippou yelled, pointing to the eagles. "You can't absorb them!"
Miroku looked up and saw it was true, the birds were carrying away live and dead bodies of villagers.
"Let's run to the forest, the birds can't get us there and the ground feels like it's going to give way." Sango looked around for her children.
"OKAAASAN! OTOUTO!"
Sango's heart stopped. Miroku looked up.
"Miho! Miru!" They watched as two enormous eagles flew away with their children in their claws.
"HIRAIKOTSU!" Sango leapt into action, but the two eagles swerved, avoiding the boomerang.
"RAAAAAWWWRR!" Kirara leapt into the sky, in hot pursuit of the two children. The fire-cat was attacked by two enormous eagles but she bit them dead in the sky. Their bodies dropped to earth.
"Kirara! Bring back my children!" Sango screamed.
Kirara flew as fast as he could after Miho and Miru. The two children were screaming their lungs out, as were the other live villagers taken by the other eagles. Miroku saw the fire-cat losing the chase and at that moment made a decision.
"Sango, go and fetch Inuyasha and Kagome!" he called to his wife.
"ANATA!" Sango screamed as she saw Miroku dash into the open and offer himself to an enormous eagle-youkai.
Her husband smiled at her as he was lifted into the sky.
"Let's go!" Shippou grabbed Sango and flipped her over his shoulder, dashing with her into Inuyasha forest.
A group of weeping, cowering villagers were hiding under some fallen logs in a thicket, among them, Kaede-bachan. Pitiful cries of "Nesan! Oka!" could be heard. Nearly three quarters of the village had been taken by the eagles, whether alive or dead.
"Let me go! I want to follow my children!" Sango thrashed in Shippou's arms. The kitsune teen was surprisingly tough with Sango. He gave the taijiya a hard slap on the face and she gasped.
"Sango! Miroku gave you a task...you were to fetch Inuyasha and Kagome!" Shippou suddenly looked surprisingly grown up for his sixteen years. Sango buried her head in his shoulder and wept.
"Pull yourself together Sango," Kaede said gently. Shippou noticed the old woman had been badly wounded, her arm was bleeding profusely. "Miroku was right, we need Inuyasha to deal with this. Naraku is back and this is serious."
"Meeep! Meeeep!" And exhausted Kirara ran into the thicket and hid in Sango's arms. The taijiya buried her face in her pet's fur.
"Where are they taking our relatives and friends?" asked a villager in a frightened voice.
"To the Black Palace" answered Kaede gravely.
"What?"
Kaede-bachan pulled back the leaves that hung thickly around them and pointed grimly to the distance. The villagers crowded around the opening curiously. Against the blue sky and just beyond the fields of the village rose a towering monster of a castle. It was black and clouded with red fog, and the eagles could be seen flying to its topmost turret. Just the sight of it caused the villagers to tremble.
"Th-The Black Palace? Where d-did it come from?" Shippou said in a small voice.
Kaede sat down and tightened the tourniquet on her arm. "Didn't you feel that earthquake? That accursed Palace rose right out of the ground...from hell."
