"What's wrong?" Rin asked as she noticed Kikyou's head snapped around.
"N…Nothing, I think…" Kikyou said uneasily. She was sure she heard the door creak open, but perhaps it was just her imagination.
"Well, come on there, let's go pick some flowers!" the energetic child took the priestess's hand and pulled her towards the exit.
Kikyou smiled as she felt the warmth evaporating from the child's small palm, she had long forgotten how nice it is to feel. The miko followed the girl out the doors and out the castle. It was amazing how the young child could always carry a brilliant smile.
"Does Lady Kikyou want to close her eyes?" Rin asked, "I have a surprise for you."
Kikyou was surprised at this request but she still slowly shut her eyelids, doubting if she could really trust this girl. She felt as if she couldn't trust anyone anymore.
When Rin saw Kikyou close her eyes, she muffled a giggle and gripped onto the priestess's hand tightly. Still slightly pulling the unsure woman, Rin led her carefully through the castle's front gates and to a surprise for this special person.
Kikyou didn't know how to act. This was just like the time when her father introduced her to her master. She was very glad at the chance to be trained as a miko at that time, but she knew that deep down, she still felt a strain in her heart. She knew the priestesses carried many responsibilities and was never always to show love or anger, she was wondering if she was good enough. Perhaps that was what drove her to perfection. She had to use all her spare time, not to have fun, but to train. She trained from dawn to dust, never stopping for a snack or a rest. Never had she even complain one bit, and of course the training did her good. She was the most powerful priestess ever known, people praised her and demons feared her, but yet, her heart was not content, because she was missing a very important part of life, freedom.
Kikyou felt her throat tighten again. But she swallowed hard and squeezed her hands into fists. She was not going to cry, not again. Rin noticed this, "What is the matter, beautiful priestess?"
Kikyou just shock her head fiercely, knowing that if she spoke, shewould break.
"Oh, okay, then," the girl shrugged and continued her journey.
Soon she gasped and shouted happily, "We're here, Lady Kikyou!"
Kikyou slowly opened her eyes, not knowing exactly what to expect. But as her vision focused, she too, gasped. Fields and fields of wild flowers pink, purple, orange, red, white... and every possibly colour encircled the hills. It reminded her so much of the strange room she had been in.
Suddenly, Kikyou asked, "Rin, do you know about the room that had lots and flowers just like this?"
Rin frowned in thought, but she then she smiled big, "Oh! Do you mean that room with the magical swing and the soft grassy carpet?"
"Yes! Do you know whose room that might be?" Kikyou questioned eagerly.
"I'm sorry, Rin doesn't know," Rin gazed down at her feet as if she did something wrong, "Lord Sesshomaru wouldn't tell me."
"Oh…" Kikyou sighed in disappointment, "That's okay, Rin."
"Really?" Rin's face lit up once again, "Does that mean Lady Kikyou would still pick flowers with Rin?"
"Of course," Kikyou put on a fake smile, "You can cover the left and I'll cover the right."
"Yes, ma'am!" Rin laughed and ran to her left.
Kikyou smiled again as she watched the sweet child ran into the flower bed and grabbed handfuls of flowers. As she moved on, she probably dropped half of them behind. Kikyou laughed at this.
"Come on, Lady Kikyou!" Rin shouted.
Kikyou giggled again and ran after the child. She too, ran like the wild wind. The breeze brushed through her black hair and miko outfit, making them flow behind her. She was indeed very grateful for the encounter with the magical chamber, now she could feel the happiness of freedom, the freedom she never had before.