Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and the others. Unfortunately!

Koi Otome

(Love of a young lady)

Chapter 2- The Apparition of the Autumn Flower

The morning came with a shy sun that disappeared sometimes behind the white clouds on the Western lands. Birds had already begun to sing and that was the first day of the autumn. Rin awoke with excitement and went to her closet to choose a kimono. What would her lord like to see today? The blue or the orange one? Than she remembered that she had a kimono with some kind of tone of blue yesterday so she picked the orange kimono. She put it on and she went outside.

Sesshoumaru had given her a full closet of kimono for her last birthday. She had almost one hundred kimono, all handsome. Furthermore, they were made of the purest silk of all Japan. Rin had really appreciated this gift because she could please her lord by her beautiful looking.

Rin walked a bit and she saw the wonderful garden of hers. She picked a yellow and orange flower and put it on her ear. She was looking magnificent. She sat on the grass and waited until her lord will come to take her to the dinning room to eat with him. She was as always, she was smiling when she was looking to these amazing nature, all these delicate flowers. Her life was the same as these things. Pure, lovely and innocent. Everything so similar to her. Those characteristics were the purposes that everyone loved this young lady.

Rin was waiting again and again and there was no sign of her lord. The sun was now at it zenith and he was not there. Rin was hungry but she did not think about that. She was worried and scared for her lord. Did anything bad happen to him or he is just teasing me? Rin thought. Rin will not ever pardon her if it was the case of the first situation. She will have failed to serve her lord. Suddenly, she heard some running to her. She turned happily but she only saw the little toad Jaken. She smiled sadly to him and rose to her feet.

"Master Jaken, where is Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked before he could say something.

Jaken stopped in front of her out of breath. She did not know either. Where could he be? He never disappeared like that before. Sesshoumaru always places his business work before everything. Sure that he looked strange since some times but now, he is really out of himself. Jaken thought.

"Where is my lord, master Jaken?" She repeated with a bit of fear in her voice. She truly cared for her lord, Jaken could say.

"I was thinking he would have been here Rin. Can you help me finding him?" She nodded positively "Look around the castle and I will look inside." She nodded once more.

The green toad left her and she turned around to begin her search. She felt so many emotions at the same time that she began to panic. Tears came to her eyes. Rin was feeling like she was a little child once more. How she had really cared for him when she was nine. She surely had failed to protect and serve her lord well. She looked everywhere around the castle with tears. She had finished doing her looking but she did not discourage herself and she ran as she did again the area that Jaken asked her to do so. Not a single clue to find Sesshoumaru. Not any single trace of him.

Rin fell on the grass on her knees and began to cry loud. She had lost him. She truly had lost a part of herself. She felt it inside. But maybe he is just on his borders. Maybe he had sensed demons and he left to protect his lands. Rin found some reassurances in her thoughts. But if it was so he will have told Jaken. Rin was not able to find any good reasons for his departure and continued to sob.

Seimei was going to change the sheets of Rin's bed when she heard a person crying in Rin's garden. Could it be Rin? Seimei let the same pile of laundry on the floor and went closer to the sound she heard. She then saw her. She saw Rin on the ground crying all her heart and she felt sadly for her. How a so lovely lady always so happy was so broken-hearted? She ran to her and she put her arms around her. Did Sesshoumaru have told her what had happen yesterday night? Could he have done this to his Rin? She didn't think so.

"Lady Rin what's wrong?" Seimei said trying to break the tears Rin was doing.

Rin looked at her. She had not known she was there until she had spoken to her. She continued to cry.

"Sesshoumaru-sama disappeared……he is nowhere…..even….Jaken…. had not found him…" She said so joylessly that Seimei had almost forgiven Sesshoumaru's actions toward her. Seimei only wanted to help Rin but she did not know what to do. It had never happen before. Where could her lord be? She took Rin in her arms and brought her to her room. She had to be in a warmer place for the night, Seimei did not want that Rin became sick by Sesshoumaru's fault.

It was now the evening and many moving flames animated the castle. The soldiers of Sesshoumaru's armies where looking for him. Jaken had found Sesshoumaru's swords and his armour and no Sesshoumaru. He gave the alarm to Sesshoumaru's generals. There was really something strange that was happening here. Could his lord have been kidnapped? Surely not he will prefer to die than to serve anyone. But why his things were there? Jaken cannot find any possible answers.

The night passed slowly for Rin. The week passed. A month passed completely. There was no sign of Sesshoumaru. Rin had lost most of her happiness but still hope the return of her lord. Every times soldiers came from outside of Sesshoumaru's lands she was waiting for good news. But any good new had happened.

Even if the sadness of Rin was huge, she had taken the control of the Western lands as the Lady of the Western Lands. She was doing some business for the estate with Jaken and the soldiers, the servants and everyone had appreciated her courage and determination to do it by replacing their lord.

She was truly a good heart and a good lady. But how long she had to keep this life? She was bored. She did not like business, she liked freedom, nature and Sesshoumaru. She wanted her Sesshoumaru back and talking with him once more. She only wanted to see him smiled again to warm her heart again. To take his hands and said to him that she cares for him, that she…loves him. By real and pure love for the eternity.

The morning had come after Sesshoumaru's departure of his castle and a big sadness haunted him. He had left his woman. How dare he was able of such a thing? He imagined Rin crying and his heart hurt. It hurt him so much that he had almost returned to her. But he cannot or he did not want to face the truth. Yes, he was a coward.

Sesshoumaru was not shocked or surprised to truly think of such a thing. Rin had shown him that everyone can feel such emotions, even the darkest demon. Demons and humans were not that much different after all. Everyone have a kind heart somewhere inside.

He stopped to walked and watched around him. He was heading to the North. -Hatsuyuki-(see at the bottom of the page to know her). He missed her so much. He missed a lot her advice and her presence. But she was not Rin, his love and will have never been. He continued to head to the North. Some energy wanted to bring him there. He followed his instinct and walked throw there.

It took him a month to arrived at the most Northern village of Japan. He looked at what was before a peaceful and wonderful place. Today, he only saw the ruins and the vegetation that was growing on it. He had good memories of this beautiful palace and Hatsuyuki. He walked into this ancient ruins and went to the shrine.

The shrine was again standing in the middle of the village. It had not been destroy, some magical power protected it. Mostly the heart of Hatsuyuki that keep this monument. Sesshoumaru walked inside the shrine and went in front of a statue. It was the first time he saw a statue in that place. He looked to it. His heart stopped. Hatsuyuki! How can she be there?

He came closer to her and saw the sun on her. She had a small black flower in her hand. But the flower was alive. How can a flower be alive on the stone? He approached it and took it. Then, a flashback came to his mind.

- Flashback -

The wonderful garden was almost dead by the end of the autumn but one flower stood there brightening in the middle. The Northern lord, Hatsuyuki was at his side and looked at what he was looking.

"Yes, this flower is eternal, as long as I live Sesshoumaru." She had said with her lovely voice.

Sesshoumaru looked at her but she seems so far from him.

"One day, you will find one, it will be for your lover" She had added.

She had turned around and let him alone in front of the plant. Why she had said this? It had no sense. Hatsuyuki had left him in a deep confusion. When he wanted to ask why, she had already disappeared from his scent.

- End of the flashback-

So, could it be Hatsuyuki who had chosen him a mate. Could she had known the future and saw him with Rin. She already knew. But by this action, he will have to follow an order. He did not care anymore for this. But, did Rin will accept his proposition? Maybe he had to talk with her, but he will not be able to hear her say 'no'. His heart will forever be broken. But forever happy if it was 'yes'.

He let the flower in his hand and turned back. He cannot know what to do. He walked outside the shrine and walked into the forest. He had to think. Think again, think about what? He loves her and by all his heart.

By the way, you surely want to know who is -Hatsuyuki-?

This is the main character of my other story (The Perfect Moon). That story is about Sesshoumaru who is stuck in the North by his injuries. Rin had found Hatsuyuki to heal him. Rin was young. (December 11, 2005, I've decided to drop this story, maybe I will do it one day)

Hatsuyuki will not happen often in this story.

Karite