Inuyasha©Rumiko Takahashi

Scientific Method

95

Sesshomaru sat on the porch, staring out the gardens. The soft glow from the moon reflected on his white hakama and silver hair. The ethereal image was completed with young Kaede, sitting on his lap and playing with a single flower on her hands.

Their peace was interrupted a few minutes later when Rin, wearing a flowery pink kimono, sat beside the pair. They both glance at her dismissively and then went back to what they were doing. Rin smiled a little and watched two of the most important people in her world for a while.

There was no end to how much she loved them. There was her daughter, of course. No love compared to the one she had for this small being right here.

She has had a few children during her life. She gave her first, youkai mate a hanyou son…but he died. Her mate wasn't as strong as Inuyasha's father and thus did not bestow her hanyou son the immortality a few selected hanyou possessed. His death affected her terribly, but it affected her mate even more. It was a few years later when he died, killed in a senseless war in a place far away. She always thought it was a way of suicide, a way to end his life without taking it himself, and she hated him for it for centuries. Now though… she forgave him. There was no sense in keeping this resentment stored in her chest for someone who was long dead.

Back then she, in her grief, she had a son for a human man. She was searching for anything to hold her to life, to bring her something to live for. It did, her son… but then when the realization that she wasn't aging hit her, then came the sorrow. She thought that she would age since her mate was dead… but she didn't. At first she had been irate but then, as time passed, she accepted her fate calmly. She watched them die, slowly. Still, she didn't regret it. With them she had a fruitful life filled with laughter and joy. It soothed her broken soul.

Then, when they were gone, she felt lonely and lost again, until she found herself needed once again.

She found herself needed by her father figure. He never said it, but the changing of time hit him hard… as did Kagome's departure. Again, he was always secretive about his feelings, but she knew him too well to be deceived. From them on she always stood by his side… and brought him a pair of grandsons again… before she finally had Hojo, and now Kaede. Kaede was her first girl, and she had promised the old woman she would name her first daughter after her. Rin was happy she managed to live up to her promise.

She smiled knowingly.

The same way she knew him, he knew her. It took Sesshomaru little time to figure she was in love with his hanyou brother, Inuyasha, and always prompted her to mate again, but she refused every single time.

She always did.

There were many reasons to… mostly, she was afraid. She was afraid of loving someone again, someone who was supposed to be immortal, and have him die before her. More so, she knew the hanyou's history with Kagome wasn't over…and she knew they would meet with the young miko sometime in the future. She didn't want to be the new Kikyo in their life.

She didn't want to make Kagome go through all that again.

The sounds of footsteps made Rin turn to the end of the hall and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Inuyasha, chest bare, coming towards her. Unknowingly a blush stained her cheeks and she remained frozen where she was until he reached her. He smoothly knelt at her side and gave her a warm kiss on the lips before taking Kaede away and preparing her for bed.

Rin watched how Inuyasha handled Kaede, mesmerized, and watched his body, in a similar fashion, as he walked down the hall again until Sesshomaru cleared his throat. Rin blushed ten times ten and lowered her face and muttered a few things shyly.

"You are happy," Sesshomaru said simply, his eyes once again looking up at the moon.

After a moment Rin managed to collected herself and raised her eyes to the Taiyoukai, "I am," she admitted simply and then sighed, "Why haven't you confessed to Kagome-sama?"

A displeased frown appeared on the pale Taiyoukai's lips before a harsh glance was shot her way, "Do not interfere in my affairs, Rin," demanded Sesshomaru and he shuffled a little where he sat, trying to get more comfortable.

Rin glared, "You meddle in my affairs," she reminded him and dragged herself closer to her father, "and I want you to be happy too."

"This Sesshomaru is fine," growled the stubborn demon.

Rin wasn't having any of that, "Lies!" she accused and grabbed Sesshomaru's wrist tightly, "I thought these years had taught you something, Sesshomaru," she leered angrily making the Taiyoukai's eyes widen in surprise, "You were so sad when she left back then, and here you are, ignoring her and hoping she goes away again. What's wrong with you?"

Sesshomaru growled and pulled his wrist free from her grip, "This is none of your business, Rin!"

"It is!" she cried indignant, "Kagome is family and thanks to your stubborn-dog self she is alone, and sad! She likes you Sesshomaru! Do not be a coward anymore! Tell her how you feel!"

After that, they glared at each other for a long time before Sesshomaru stood, walked away and locked himself in his room.

To be continued...

Yes, Scientific will end in chapter 100!