The moon was full, its cool light draped over the silent complex. It caught in the rainwater pooled on leaves, making the gardens full of shining diamonds, as though some of the stars had fallen onto the plants.
Sesshoumaru sat under the awnings, observing the scene before him. Two figures stood out in the landscape of pearls, searching for the blossoms that only opened at night. The sounds of their laughter, regardless of the half-hearted attempts to keep it hushed, drifted clearly to him through the air.
Apparently they had found what they sought for there was an audible gasp and a flurry of activity. He felt the smallest of smiles cross his face. The excited joy they both exhibited still managed to amuse him.
There was a sudden streak of movement, and the smaller figure burst into view, running across the distance to him. She struggled up beside him, accepting his hand to help her up.
Once next to him, she smiled, that bright smile so like her mother's but for the points of her small fangs. "We found them, papa!" she exclaimed proudly, displaying the pale blooms in her little hands.
Sesshoumaru watched her as she arranged the flowers, her dark head bent so that he could not help but recall the past. When she looked back up at him, amber eyes glowing with pride, he touched her head affectionately. "Are you satisfied now?" he asked, watching as she yawned loudly. "You should have been asleep hours ago."
She shrugged, looking at her mother as she approached them. "Mama says that she used to be up later than this at my age," she chirped.
Sesshoumaru looked at Rin, brow raised. "And what compelled you to disclose that information?" he asked.
Rin smirked, standing before him in the moonlight. "She asked, and I could not lie. It is a skill I never managed to learn."
"I should hope not."
As Rin sat next to him, casually placing her hand over his, Sesshoumaru felt a gentle tug on his empty sleeve. Turning to his daughter, he found her sliding into his lap and reaching up for his hair. He tipped his head indulgently, allowing her to pull the heavy locks over his shoulders, and smiled when she giggled at the pale curtain around her.
Taking a handful, she wove one of the flowers into it, grinning in apparent appreciation of the effect. She leaned back. "Papa's hair is pretty with flowers, isn't it?" she asked Rin.
Sesshoumaru cast his glance sideways, catching Rin's eyes as she laughed. "Yes, it is very pretty, but you don't think he really needs them, do you?"
"But he likes flowers!" she challenged, looking back up at Sesshoumaru with her brows drawn together so that the pale crescent on her forehead wrinkled. "Don't you?"
He thought of the faint creases he had recently noticed when Rin smiled, the way the seasons seemed to fly past him like leaves on the wind. Wrapping his arm around his daughter, he kissed her forehead while picking her up to return her to her room.
"Yes," he answered, looking over her head at Rin and holding her steady, warm gaze. "I like them very much."
And that's a wrap folks! I hope this little itty bitty epilogue was enough to bring the story to a satisfactory close. Thank you so much for all the support! Hopefully I'll be able to formulate my ideas into another story soon, so please keep an eye open!
Also, to all those who have reviewed and have written their own stories, I have a little favor to ask. I do want to be able to return the reviewing favor, but some people have more than one story and my brain kinda shuts down and goes "oh no, decision!" So please give me a heads up on what you want me to read so that I can make good on my promise and all that!