A/N: Okay, not too much to say here, except that I'm currently very mad at fanfiction-dot-net. They took down my other story, "Storms", and I'm pretty f---in' pissed about it. Hence the very extremely long delay in updating, which I'm terribly sorry for. But I won't rant here; it would take up too much space. Let's just say that I almost had to buy a new computer mouse because of my insufferable indiscrimination when I threw the nearest random throwable object in my rage. Oh, by the way, if anyone out there was copying, printing, saving my story "Storms" in any way, I would sincerely appreciate if you sent me a copy! I wrote that story a bit carelessly-I uploaded virtually blank documents, and just started typing, without ever thinking to keep a backup copy. I would love you if you did! I doubt anyone did that but if you did then please, please, please, I'm begging you, please send me a copy!

Thanks so much to all readers and reviewers! You're all so wonderful! Yay! You make me so much happier! It was actually all the reviews that kept me from going berserk and totally bashing my computer after they took down my fic! I'm serious, you guys are lifesavers! Thank you so much!

Well, now I'll get to the story and whatnot.

Reminder-... /-/-/-/memory;... +-+-+-+past, not a memory;... /-/-+memory and past;... #(anything after)special pov

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters. I wish I owned Sesshoumaru. Or he could own me, that would work too...-cough cough- ...ahem...
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Chapter 23-If I Die Tomorrow (Mötley Crüe)

If I die tomorrow as the minutes fade away...I can't remember-have I said all I can say?

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"Lord Sesshoumaru, do demons die?" Rin asked curiously.

"Rin, you silly child, why do you ask such stupid questions? Of course demons die! You've seen plenty of them killed before! What, did you FORGET?" Jaken shrieked.

"No, I didn't mean it that way," Rin said a bit irritably. "I meant, do demons get old and just die, or do you have to kill them?"

"Many demons are immortal," Sesshoumaru said shortly before Jaken could reply.

"Many? But some of them really do get old and die?" Rin asked.

"Yes. Though all demons have a lifespan far longer than that of a human, provided that nothing kills them."

"Cool!" Rin exclaimed happily. Jaken blinked a few times, then shrugged lightly and sighed. He had long since given up on trying to understand why any demon, especially Sesshoumaru, would want to keep around such a useless and often annoying little girl. Although he had to admit, she was kind of growing on him as well...

"What happens to demons when they die, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked.

"Their souls go to heaven or hell, and their bodies decompose and fertilize the grass. The animals eat the grass, and the demons eat the animals. It happens to every living thing on this planet."

"Oh, really?" Rin smiled, her eyes wide with wonder. "I never knew! So we're all connected, huh? That's cool!"

Sesshoumaru made no reply to that, already caught up in a memory.

I asked Father that same question...and I acted the same way when he told me the answer...

"So, why is everyone afraid of dying?" Rin asked wonderingly. "I mean, if you're good, then your soul goes to heaven, and no matter whether you're good or bad, your body helps out anyways, so why is it so bad?"

"Uh, Rin, don't ask questions like that," Jaken said nervously.

"Let her be," Sesshoumaru ordered. Jaken shut his beak. Sesshoumaru sighed and closed his eyes, then began to speak quietly.

"People are afraid of death because it leaves things undone. You always leave something behind, something unfinished, something that only you can do or say. Death is something that frightens people because it can't be amended or taken back, and many times it comes so unexpectedly that it can't be prevented. Death is final, unmovable, undoubtedly the end of everything you can say or do or feel. You can no longer see or smell or touch or taste or hear, not unless your spirit hasn't yet reached it's final resting place. Things of this realm are unreachable, unattainable, and eventually your spirit will forget about all of it. But you know, somewhere, that the world goes on without you. The rest of existence doesn't pause for you, the whole of civilization doesn't collapse at your passing. Every single life is a mere whisper, a single thread in a tightly-woven cloth. Your death only disrupts those closest to you, and in time, even they will move on. Nobody likes to think about that, nobody wants it to be that way. Not a single soul in this world can imagine what life would be like without them in it, because that's all they know. They cannot fathom an existence without their presence. They want to believe that the sun cannot rise without their help. And when death comes to take them, their whole belief system comes crashing down around thier ears and leaves them alone and afraid, unsure what to think or do, and unable to go back on it. That's why people are afraid of death-for the ones who are, anyways. A select few have no fear of death-those who have nothing to live for, no unfinished business, no regrets-or perhaps too many regrets. A few have come to peace with knowledge of impending death, a few swallow thier insecurities and brave thier deaths with glory, and a few simply never cared in the first place."

Rin and Jaken gawked at Sesshoumaru as he finished, wondering what had given the dog-demon such profound insight into the workings of the mind of one who was afraid of death, and then one who was not. And idly wondering why he was so talkative as well, for he usually had so little to say. It puzzled them both. Even Ah-Un perked his ears quizzically.

"So, should I be afraid of death?" Rin finally asked. Sesshoumaru tried not to flinch at her question.

"Have you done everything that you ever wished to do, fulfilled every hope and dream that you have?" he asked.

"Well...no," Rin admitted.

"Then you would leave it all unfinished. You would never be able to accomplish everything you wanted to do."

"Are you afraid of death, Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked carefully.

Sesshoumaru stopped, looking up at the sky thoughtfully for a long time. The three behind him stopped as well, awaiting his answer.

"Yes," he finally said, beginning to walk again.

"Why?" Rin whispered, unsure if she really wanted to know, but insatiably curious anyways.

"If I die tomorrow, I wouldn't be able to do or say everything that I wanted to. I have too many things unfinished, and too many other things that I haven't even started yet. And honestly, I don't know what would happen after I die. So yes, it does scare me."

Jaken squawked in surprise at the soft admission, but Rin only pondered quietly for a few minutes.

Sesshoumaru turned back towards the road, mulling over his own thoughts silently.

If I die tomorrow...

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Okay, so this was one of the hardest chapters for me to write, simply because I had originally made Sesshoumaru's little speech a lot longer and had to edit out about two-thirds of it. I would have kept it in there, but then I realized that Sesshoumaru barely ever talks, and even after editing, it was really stretching the limits of his usual character to have him say so much. I mean, he's the type to think a lot and keep to himself, and he's always so quiet. So, having said that, I think I did alright on this chapter, though it was hell to write and yet still didn't turn out as well as some of my other chapters. But there is a point, and hopefully I didn't just ruin everything. So, tell me what you think! Please review, I'm dying to know how you guys feel about my story! You'd make me very happy if you reviewed! Anything is welcome-comments, suggestions, criticism, and yes even flames. My temper is flying high right now so flamers should be aware that I might explode on them, though that won't much matter if you don't read what I reply, so go ahead and flame away! I really want to know what you think, honest! Please, please, please review!