Chapter 7 – Goodnight, Time to Dream

"We need to clean her body, Sesshoumaru-sama. If you would allow it, I hope I may accompany you to the river nearby."

She knew not to ask if she could help as she knew that Sesshoumaru would not tolerate her touching Rin. So she just followed the youkai lord as he carried Rin to the river, leaning against Ah-Uhn as she hobbled after him.

Kagome sat at the riverside watching as Sesshoumaru cleaned Rin's body. He gently held her head above the water and bathed her face.

Jaken arrived just in time with silks and clothes for Rin. Sesshoumaru dried Rin tenderly and clothed her.

He carried her back to the tree and sat her back. Using his claws, he started to dig Rin's final resting place and Kagome started to sing.

Goodnight my angel, time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go, no matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an Emerald Bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Goodnight my angel, now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry, and if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart, there will always be a part of me
Someday we'll all be gone, but lullabies go on and on
They never die, that's how you and I will be.

Kagome alternated humming and singing – as and when her emotions let her. As she watched Sesshoumaru wrap Rin in silk, she couldn't help but feel the injustice of forever hiding her sweet innocent face.

Jaken started choking too. He had gathered Rin's favourite flowers and laid it with her in her silk. It was his final gift to his ward. He reached out to touch Rin's hand a final time but was stopped by a growl. Jaken drew back and cried silently.

Kagome went to the old youkai and laid a hand to his shoulder. But Jaken pulled away but he did sit down by Kagome's feet.

Ah-Uhn where bellowing loudly in their grief now. Fire was starting to come out of their mouths. Fearing that Sesshoumaru might not care for such display, she hugged the dragons – absorbing all their bellows of pain. Shushing them and singing to them as much as to Rin.

Sesshoumaru finally laid Rin in her final bed and started covering her. As he did so, Kagome could feel that he was infusing the dirt and soil with his youki. She could feel it building and covering Rin's final bed with protection. No youkai or human who can feel youki will dare defile the place. The invisible mark that Sesshoumaru placed on the area was a mark of a Taiyoukai's beloved firstborn.

Long after Sesshoumaru ordered Jaken back to the castle, Kagome was still humming and singing the song softy to the Taiyoukai who was sitting on Rin's Place by the tree roots.

The mound has been covered by white stones and Rin's favourite flowers. Jaken has taken unto himself that his ward be covered in the white stones – a symbol of purity and innocence, he said. He also planted her favourite flowers around the grave. "So that Rin will not be lonely and have company," said the tearful toad. "She said that flowers always make her happy because they always laugh and play with her. The flowers talk to her."

The sun was fast setting and Kagome is becoming hoarse. But the Taiyoukai still sat unmoving and unblinking in his watch of the mound where Rin lay in. A marble statue guarding his beloved ward. The occasional twitch of his fingers betrayed that there was any life in him.

But still, Kagome kept on singing. It was the least that she could do for the Taiyoukai and his pup. She had nothing to give and therefore, she gave her voice which said it all for her – her sympathy with the lord and her grief for the little girl.

Her final words before her voice finally gave up on her were 'Good night, my angel.. Now it's time to dream..'

She continued humming until she gave way to exhaustion.

A/N:

Lullabye is by Billy Joel

Feed this starving author with reviews please!

If not I will go on strike and will not update for another 10 years!