It didn't take long for Sesshomaru to fly them all to the forest where the 2,000 year old magnolia tree demon, Bokuseno, lived. Although, he didn't explain who exactly Bokuseno was to the girls, so when they landed in the thickest forest they had ever seen, they were all left more confused than ever.
"Where are we?" Moroha asked.
"I don't know," Towa said, "but I don't see any signs of life anywhere." She looked up through the darkness of the tree cover. This forest was so thick it blocked out the sun, making the scenery drery and dark.
"You stupid half-whelp," a man's voice boomed and echoed above and around them, "no signs of life, look around you! You're in the middle of a forest! You're completely surrounded by life itself! It's in the very air you're breathing!"
Towa looked around and asked, "Who said that?"
Setsuna pointed to the massive tree in front of them and said, "I think that thing did!"
Bokuseno revealed his face at the front of his trunk and said to the group calmly, his voice booming above them, "It's been a while, Sesshomaru. Welcome."
Moroha gasped and fell over. "Bokuseno is a talking tree demon?!" She bolted upright. "No way! Well hello there lovely wise old tree! We were wondering-"
"If I know where the kyokone root is," he cut her off, "yes I do. In fact Sesshomaru, you also know of the root and where it is. You have been to the tree, and seen it for yourself many years ago, but you have forgotten."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in disgust. He couldn't believe Bokuseno could suggest such a thing. "I, Sesshomaru, have forgotten?"
"Your mother placed a forgetting spell on you long ago," he answered, "if I told you now where the root is, and who is there protecting it, you'd immediately forget we had this entire conversation. If you went to where it is as you are now, you would not even be able to see the place where it resides."
Setsuna asked, impressed, "Our grandmother's spells are that strong?"
Towa asked, confused, "We have a living grandma?"
"I did not come all this way to get the run around," Sesshomaru said, not even attempting to disguise his anger. And Totosai claimed to have forgotten, he thought, he knew exactly where it was and sent me to Bokuseno so I wouldn't kill him. That old coward.
Bokuseno said, "Fine then, it's on the very top of Mount Musubi."
A yellow glow suddenly went across Sesshomaru's eyes first, then engulfed his entire body. Powerful energy glazed his eyes over temporarily. Then, just like that, it was gone just as quickly as it appeared. If any of the girls had blinked they would have missed it. They took a step back and stared at him. He didn't seem any different from a moment earlier.
Meanwhile, Sesshomaru looked the demon tree over once again and asked, "Were we in the middle of having a conversation just now, Bokuseno?"
"You don't remember!?" Towa asked anxiously, "Now that is freaky."
Bokuseno said, "You came all this way because Totosai told you I know where the kuyokone root is."
"Yes," he said, now remembering, "the kuyokone root. Where is it?"
The girl's jaws dropped. They were so focused on the effects of the spell, they all forgotten the name he mentioned, but even if they had remembered, they still had no idea where to look. This was going to be a problem.
"Your mother's forgetting spell has done it's job," he said, "because I told you and you've already forgotten. There is no point is talking in circles."
Moroha slid next to the ancient tree and said, "So if you can't tell Sesshomaru, can you tell me instead and I'll go find this root with Towa and Setsuna here? Huh? What do you say, wise tree Bokuseno?"
"You're Inuyasha's daughter," he answered, "I see. I wasn't talking you, child, step aside." Her face fell.
Sesshomaru asked calmly, "Bakuseno, why did my mother put a forgetting spell on me?"
He explained, "I know everything she wanted you to forget long ago, but there is no point in saying so, because even if I told you right now, you would not remember."
"I see," Sesshomaru said, looking up at the sky. He didn't want to go and search for his mother's mansion floating among the clouds, but it appeared he had no other choice.
Towa asked, "If we can't get to the root, then what will we do?"
Sesshomaru looked at the tree once again. "Bokuseno," he said, "tell the girls where the root is and I will meet them there once I remember everything my mother forced me to forget." He took off to the skies.
"Wait!" Towa called, watching him disappear. He didn't even say goodbye to her or her sister. Her ears drooped under her scarf, she didn't even bother trying to hide it.
Setsuna put her hand on her shoulder. "We'll be okay," she said, "Honestly, I'm surprised he didn't leave us sooner. Now, where did you say the kuyokone root is, Bokuseno?"
"At the top of Mount Musubi," he answered, "it's about 35 kilometeres in that direction." He took his hand and pointed to his right before he added, "You should know there is a barrier around the mountain. When you walk through it, it will show you something or someone you wish to protect, and it'll ask if you're willing to give it up in exchange for the kyokone root, a sword powerful enough to absorb all demon energy. It disguises itself as a flute."
Moroha pondered for a moment and said, "That doesn't sound too bad. I wonder why Sesshomaru's mother wanted him to forget all that."
Setsuna replied, "If we go there ourselves we might find out."
"35 kilometers," Towa repeated, "it'll take us more than a day to get there even on the back of A-Un. We better start moving."
What Towa predicted was true, it took more than a day for them to get to the base of the strangest looking mountain any of them had ever seen. After entering the barrier, they were all transported to different places. Towa walked around modern-day Tokyo, while Setsuna met up with her mother inside the tree of ages. Moroha made it to where a strange young girl laid in a special cocoon. With her help, she flew across the border between the living and the dead and saw her parents before meeting back up with Towa and Setsuna. The three of them met at the top of Mount Musubi.
"Who are you?" Towa asked as she stepped inside the massive tree with Setsuna. She gazed at the pink haired girl in old Chinese clothing.
"My name is Rion," she said, "I am Kirinmaru's daughter. Welcome to Mount Musubi."
Setsuna said, "Kirinmaru's daughter, Rion? The girl Riku told us about before...but he told us you were dead and that your father and aunt have never recovered from your loss." She stared at the little girl, wondering why she couldn't pick up a proper scent."
"You're correct," she explained, "Sesshomaru's second daughter, Setsuna."
Moroha asked, "You know who we are?"
"The tree has told me everything," she replied, "although I am surprised to learn that both the great dog demon and his son Sesshomaru decided to have children with humans." There was an innocence in her voice, but under the surface they could tell she harbored a grudge against part demons like themselves.
Setsuna asked, "Do you have a problem with that?"
"I suppose being part human and part demon is what helped you three move through the barrier so easily," Rion replied calmly, she revealed the root and said, "this is the kyokone root you seek. You may take it if you so desire. That is what you came here for, right?"
Moroha asked, "Why do I get the feeling there's a catch?"
"There is none," she continued, "it is the ultimate weapon. It can absorb and expel unlimited amounts of demonic aura. I don't mind giving it to you three because I believe this root transformed into a sword will kill my father."
"Kill him?" Towa asked nervously, "You want him to die?"
Rion frowned. "I'll be alright with the consequences. I've been dead now for over 600 years. My father can not cope with my loss and has trapped my soul within this tree. With the dream butterfly, my father sleeps near constantly so he can meet me in his dreams."
"He's kept you here all this time?" Towa asked, horrified at the implication.
"For 600 years after your death?" Setsuna asked.
"Talk about an overbearing parent," Moroha said.
Rion confessed, "There is nothing binding me to this plane of existence. I should be free to travel to the afterlife. Please, I beg of you to sever the tie between me and my father and let me pass on in peace."
Overcome by emotion, Towa ran up to her and said, "I'm sorry for all the pain you've-" she stopped herself from falling through her body, "Whoa!" She pulled herself together quickly. "I'm sorry for your suffering! You were forced to spend so many centuries by yourself. You must have been so lonely!"
Setsuna said, "Towa, as sad as this is, remember, she is Kirinmaru's daughter. She might not be on our side like she claims."
Instead of answering her, Rion said, "You truely have a kind heart, Towa."
"We'll get you out of here," Towa said, "I promise!"
Setsuna said, "Wait, don't make false promises! How are we going to-" she froze as her blood blade pulsed in her arm. Her Yukari no Tachikiri shook at the chance to be used. Was this it? Was this her time to shine? A red string of fate appeared before her eyes. "The tread!" she said.
It was almost as if there were a hundred threads before her, all twisting and meeting into one. I have to at least try to cut it and redeem myself, Setsuna thought as she stepped forward to cut them down.
As she swung her naginata, the dream butterfly was cut in half. The cocoon Rion had spent six centuries in instantly turned to ashes. A vessle for her body remained in a wooden puppet.
"What is that?" Moroha asked, "What is happening?"
Rion's energy burst out of the puppet as she quickly inhabited it and slowly came back to life. Her skin turned flesh colored. Her eyes opened and looked alive. "It's time I decide my own fate!" she said, forcing herself upright out of the ashes, "And I choose to go down my own path!"
She stood up and used the kyokone root to absorb the demon energy of the barrier, locking her inside. Just like that, it was gone.
"Lady Towa," Rion said happily, "let me present to you, the kyuokone root." As she showed it to her, it turned into a flute. "When you channel your energy into it, it'll turn into the sanseiken."
"The sanseiken?" Towa asked, taking it from her.
Moroha said, jumping up with excitement, "Great! Now we can all leave the mountain together, just like I originally promised."
Together they headed off the mountain.
Meanwhile, in the skies, even transformed in his true dog form, it took days for Sesshomaru to find his mother's mansion. He always hated having to track her down. Even her scent was alusive to the point where when she wasn't home, it was almost impossible for him to find her. At least this time she was home, otherwise he'd have no idea where she could have gone.
He landed on her grand entrance steps and transformed back into his humanoid form to greet her. As usual, she sat regally on her throne as if she were expecting him to arrive.
"Sesshomaru," she said, "my pup, it's my understanding you wish for a spell to be removed."
"Why is it I have a forgetting spell cast on me in the first place, Mother?" he asked hastily, meeting her at the top of the steps.
She rested her head on her arm up against her armrest coyly and replied calmly, "Hmn, I've always wondered if this day would come. Before you get too upset, you should know it was your father's idea."
Of course it was. There were times Sesshomaru wondered if his father wanted to torture him. "Will you remove it?" he asked.
"Your father did say that if you ever figured out this spell was cast on you, and if you asked for it to be taken off of you, that it was fate for it to be broken," she answered, then stood up gracefully, "very well then, I will, but you're going to be very angry once it's gone." She stood in front of him and drew a star in the air. "Make my Sesshomaru forget these uttered words, the history, and sight of the mountain, and have him redirect his mind whenever someone mentions, Mount Musubi." Her energy engulfed him and quickly dissipated once again.
"I feel no different," he said.
She sat back down on her throne gracefully and said, "Tell me, Sesshomaru, what is it you seek to remember?"
"Totosai claims one of your grandpups should use the root of the kuyokone tree as a sword in order to absorb demon energy properly," Sesshomaru answered, "where is it located?"
"The kuyokone root," she said, "I know you're aware that's at the top of Mount Musubi."
It all came back to Sesshomaru. He remembered everything as soon as his mother said the name of that mountain. No wonder his parents wanted him to forget. It was less painful when he did not know what he had forgotten.
After Rion was murdered at the hands of a half demon, Sesshomaru's father took him back to his mansion in the western lands to get healed. Once he woke up, now fully recovered from his grave injuries, he heard their entire conversation.
"Kirinmaru is likely going to bury his daughter," his mother said, "we should pay our respects to the poor little girl."
His father nodded in agreement and replied, "I'll admit I was so angry with Zero for putting such a horrid curse on Sesshomaru, I didn't ask where he plans to bury her. Can you seek him out to see where he's headed?" He took some strands of loose hair from Kirinmaru he had laying on him and gave it to her.
She nodded. With her hand she drew a small circle in the air around the strand of hair, and images of Kirinmaru flying through the sky appeared before them. He held Rion's dead body in his arms.
Sesshomaru's mother said, "That's odd. It looks as though her soul is still trapped within her body. She's much too young to have any true regrets or an extra purpose in this world. Kirinmaru must be making it impossible for her to pass on freely."
"Where is he taking her?" Toga asked.
"It appears he's headed to the mountains in the south," she answered, "if we leave now we can intercept him."
Sesshomaru stood up and asked, "Can I go too? I want to see Rion again." His father gave him a pained smile. Clearly he still did not fully understand death.
Together the three of them transformed into their dog forms. Sesshomaru having just learned how to fly, would not be able to keep up with their pace, nor reach the heights in the sky his parents could. His mother picked him up by his scruff and placed him on his father's back, between his shoulder blades. He walked in a circle to pat down his father's fluff and layed in it comfortably. Together they flew to where Kirinmaru was headed just as he landed at the top of Mount Musubi, then transformed back into their humanoid forms.
Toga asked, "Kirinmaru, what are you doing with Rion's soul?"
"As someone who's never lost your pup I don't expect you to understand," Kirinmaru said hastily, "this is the best I can offer my daughter." He used his power to erect a barrier around the entire mountain.
Sesshomaru's mother asked, "And what are you planning to do to her?"
"Rion will stay on Mount Musubi and protect the kuyokone tree until I find a proper vessel for her body," he answered.
"You're going to trap her soul here!?" Sesshomaru asked angrily.
Rion's soul came out of her body and sat on the spirit cocoon her father created for her. "Sesshomaru!" she said happily, "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried when you I saw all those humans attacking you." She held up her hand, just as they always had whenever they greeted each other. Sesshomaru held up his as well, but her fingers went through his. She really was dead.
Toga kneeled down to her level and asked, "Rion, is being trapped within this tree, waiting for someone your father deems worthy to host your soul, truly what you desire?"
She hesitated. Kirinmaru nodded but she couldn't put what she wanted into words. "I-"
"Don't confuse her!" Kirinmaru said hastily, "She's too young to understand! She doesn't know what she wants!"
"Let her go!" Sesshomaru demanded. His eyes turned red as he rage consumed him. "She's here because you're too much of a coward to let her go, not because she wants to be here forever!"
Kirinmaru glared at Toga and demanded, "Don't make me teach your brat a lesson."
With that, Sesshomaru was knocked out by his father. When he woke up, he was back at his parent's mansion and didn't remember anything ever happening at Mount Musubi.
Now as a grown man standing before his mother, Sesshomaru said, "Rion is still trapped within that tree on top of Mount Musubi, isn't she?" His felt his rage rising once again.
"As far as I understand, she is," his mother answered calmly, "after your father knocked you out, we both tried to convince Kirinmaru he was only imprisoning his daughter and making her suffer with his dream fantasies. He would not listen to reason. Your father knew your anger would only consume you, so he decided it would be best if you forgot. Kirinmaru suggested you should forget Rion entirely, but I personally deemed that to be too cruel. Your father suggested I make you forget Mount Musubi instead."
Sesshomaru turned to fly away. He had sent his daughters into a trap without realizing it, all because of the spell his mother put on him. If he had remembered Mount Musubi, he would have attempted to free Rion himself centuries ago and perhaps this entire debacle he had caught himself in never would have happened.
As walked toward the grand steps to leave, his mother said, "The dream butterfly is holding your pup back from her true potential."
He left without acknowledging her words, but he knew she was right. He had wondered all along if that was why she struggled with her newfound abilities. He went to the base of Mount Musubi first to find his daughters, but they had already moved on. He looked up at the mountain and instantly recognized it. He had flown over the range before, many times over the centuries. He hadn't seen that specific odd mountain in over 600 years. Bokuseno was right, his mother's spell was so powerful he hadn't seen Mount Musubi for six centuries despite having flown over it many times.
As for his daughters and Moroha, their scents were all over it. As was the scent of graveyard soil and a moving corpse, not unlike Kikyo from years earlier. He followed their trail to the south, back towards the sacred tree. He appeared behind all four of them, Rion included.
Her eyes lit up as she gasped, "Little Sesshomaru! Look at you! You've grown up! Wow, you look so much like your mother!" She held her hand up to press against his, just like they always did when they were growing up together. He held his hand up to her.
"You two know each other personally?" Towa asked.
Moroha asked, "Did you just call him 'little Sesshomaru?'" She stared at Rion in shock.
Rion nodded and explained, "We were best friends a long time ago, back when I was still alive. Our fathers would be off fighting all the time, so we would have fun together to stay occupied."
Sesshomaru didn't know what to feel. At least she was free from the mountain, but despite her appearance, she was still dead. She never got a chance to grow up. Instead a sadness came from within him. Sesshomaru examined his hand as she pulled away. His completely engulfed hers now. When they were little his hand was always slightly larger, and she promised one day she would catch up. Of course it never happened.
Rion paused as she saw his signature sour expression and asked, "What's the matter, Sesshomaru? Aren't you happy to see me again?"
Moroha said, "Oh, that look on his face? It never changes, that's just how he always is." She crossed her arms.
"It's from an old curse," Sesshomaru said, "it makes no difference now."
Concerned, Setsuna asked, "A curse?"
"You have a curse on you?" Towa asked, surprised.
"That's a surprise," Moroha said, looking him over carefully, "how did that happen?" From the stories her father would tell her, he always seemed like the biggest and baddest demon ever. How could someone so powerful get a curse put on him?
Rion looked him over. She could sense he was different now. He used to smile, and laugh with her all the time, but now he clearly couldn't. "It must have been the happiness curse," she said, "my aunt told me about it once."
Sesshomaru admitted, "It was her doing."
Rion gasped, while the rest of the girls were more confused than ever. Towa asked, "What are you talking about? What's a happiness curse?"
Rion answered, "The victim can never feel true happiness or any postive emotions really. They're all trapped deep within the soul. Only negative emotions are allowed to surface and be truly felt. Sesshomaru, maybe I can convince Aunt Zero to break the curse she put on you."
Moroha said, "He can never be happy?" She paused and muttered under her breath, "That explains a lot...actually."
Yeah, it does, Setsuna thought. She remembered all the times he came by to visit her only for a few moments over the years. Even as a little girl she could see something in his eyes, a slight light perhaps, but he never appeared to be pleased with her. Even when he gave her gifts, or told her he was proud of her for learning a new skillset, it was always as if something was missing within him. For all those years she secretly blamed herself, but now knowing he had a curse on him the entire time, it changed everything.
"Rion!" Riku said happily as he suddenly caught up to all of them, "I see you've been saved from Mount Musubi." He stopped and glanced at Sesshomaru. He knew of the forgetting spell, but nothing happened. He must have had it removed, Riku thought. "Rion, I think it's best if you travel with me."
"Riku!" she replied, "It's been so long since I've seen you!"
"That it has."
"I'd love to walk with you," she said happily, "bye Sesshomaru, bye Towa, Setsuna, Moroha. We'll see each other again soon, I promise." She waved as she walked away with Riku.
As the two of them disappeared down the trail, Sesshomaru said quickly, "Towa, the sword. Give it to me." He extended out his hand, expecing her to hand it over without question.
"Why?" she asked, stepping backwards.
"It's cursed," he explained quickly, "if you use it you'll die and leave your body behind for Rion to take over."
Setsuna gasped, "What?"
Towa asked, "But why would Rion curse the sword she gave me? She's so nice!"
"Kirinmaru cursed it long ago," he explained, "after she died he could not cope with her passing and trapped her soul within Mount Musubi. All this time he's been waiting for someone he deemed worthy to give the sword. It'll wear away your soul until there is nothing left. Give it to me and I'll melt it."
Moroha asked, "But if Towa dies, can't you just bring her back to life with the tenseiga?"
Sesshomaru, getting irritated with their constant questions instead of blindly following to his orders, answered hastily, "The tenseiga brings someone back to life by cutting down the minions of the underworld who aim to take the soul away. If Towa loses her soul she will stop existing. The tenseiga cannot save her at that point."
"But what if this sword can get rid of Mother's curse?" she asked.
Setsuna scoffed. "Are you stupid? Didn't you hear him? That thing is going to kill you! Get rid of it already!" She tried to pry the sword from her sister's hands.
"Let go of it!" Towa demanded, pulling it away from her, "I just want to try and save Mother with it and then I'll destroy it myself, I swear!"
Sesshomaru grabbed both their hands and stopped their tug of war over it. He pulled them apart and said, "Towa, attempt to break your mother's curse at your own risk." He turned to his other daughter, "Setsuna, the dream butterfly curse is holding you back. Do you wish for it to be gone?"
Towa said, horrified, "But won't that kill Mother?"
Setsuna asked, "How much time will we have if the dream butterfly is taken away from her?"
"I don't know," he answered, "but you'll finally be able to harness your power properly with time."
She asked, "Is the dream butterfly holding me back that much? Is that why I didn't cut the right string with Rion?" He nodded, although unaware she had cut a red string from Rion, he realized that must have been the reason why she could leave the mountain. She said, "Then yes. I promise to save Mother."
A butterfly came out of Setsuna's chest at that moment, as if on cue. She had seen it a several times throughout her life, but was surprised by it every time. Sesshomaru didn't even draw his sword, he used his claws to kill it. Towa couldn't believe it, it was that easy the entire time?
For Setsuna there was no immediate difference. She wondered if her mother could feel what had just happened between them.
Moroha said, "Whoop-dee-do! Now, are we all going to get on A-Un and fly over to the sacred tree and save Rin and bring this whole nightmare to an end or what?"
"No," Sesshomaru said quickly.
"Uh..." Towa said nervously, "why not?" She didn't understand, wasn't that the entire point of them going on this journey?
"Enough time has passed for Zero to find us," he said, "if we fly she'll only spot us sooner. We go on foot." Flying alone he could get the tree near instantly from where they were, making it difficult for Zero to track him down. But A-Un was not a speed flyer, so having the three girls in the air wasn't much faster than walking. He had not forgotten his rage aimed at Kirinmaru and Zero for imprisoning Rion's soul for six centuries. If either one of them would show their faces to him on the way to Rin, he would not hesitate to kill them-even if it meant taking Rin's life.
Setsuna asked, "We're walking?" Sesshomaru turned away from them and set off without hesitation.
Towa asked nervously, "Is that really such a good idea? Tonight is the full moon." She glanced at her sister anxiously.
"I'm aware," he said, "that is not a hinderance." He remembered the first time the moon turned full after the twins were born. At sunset, Towa's hair turned black, her fangs and dog ears disappeared, and she smelled entirely human. Then, the next morning at sunrise, she was half demon once again. At that same moment, Setsuna was the one who's hair turned black, and she became human for the day until sunset. He had to go all the way to Bokuseno to ask what had happened to his daughters. He learned from him that all half demons had a period of time where they became human, and each of theirs just so happened to be the night of the full moon, and then the day after the full moon. It made him wonder when Inuyasha changed, and how after all these centuries he never noticed.
As they walked and the day turned to night, Towa became human. Sesshomaru watched her transform to look almost identical to Rin. He didn't admit it out loud, but it made him miss everything about her. Her voice, her soft skin, how she always fiddled with her obi like a child, and how she was so ready protect the girls no matter what. 10 years wasn't long for a demon like Sesshomaru, but he knew for mortals that was a big portion of their lives. He also understood it was a long time for his daughters, only being 14 themselves, as it was most of their lived existence.
Setsuna's pace slowed as the sunset quickly turned to twilight. Her legs were getting heavy, as were her eyelids.
"Setsuna?" Towa asked, "Are you okay?"
"I am," she answered, "I just...everything is so heavy all of a sudden...the darkness and the moonlight feels so...inviting..." She couldn't walk anymore, but her body kept moving forward anyway. She shut her eyes as the darkness of the night welcomed her.
Sesshomaru caught her in midair and held her in his arms. He placed her head on the side of his fluff, and her feet stuck out passed his armor.
Moroha said, "Wow, she must be really tired after not getting to sleep for an entire decade."
Towa thought her father would place Setsuna on A-Un for him to carry, but instead he walked on with her in his arms. He's always been so distant, she thought to herself, I forgot how often we used to cuddle back when we were little. Still, it looks so weird to see him carrying Setsuna like that.
Distracted, Towa stepped forward onto the uneven path and tripped, landing square on her hands and knees. "Ah!" she yelped in pain. She got up and rubbed the dirt out of the scrapes on her palms and knees. "I hate being human," she whined, then kicked a rock only to feel the repruccions through her whole leg. "Even kicking rocks hurts! Moroha, how do you stand it?"
"Hey," she said, "I'm only 3/4 human. That's not the same thing as what you are right now."
Towa groaned. As she continued to rub the dirt out of her scrapes, she reminded herself that she didn't hate her mother, not at all. Yet at the same time she couldn't help but wonder why her father fell love with a human woman to make her half demon instead of a real demon like him. Even as they walked, tiredness began to overcome her.
It wasn't long before Sesshomaru stopped just off the path and sat down under a tree, his fur wrapped around him and Setsuna. Towa didn't hesitate to curl up on his fluff and sleep beside her father and sister. Moroha on the otherhand stopped herself. She decided to cuddle up with Towa, making sure not to touch Sesshomaru. When she was little she had heard stories about the awful things he had done to her own father, but he didn't seem so bad now.
That night, Sesshomaru watched his daughters and niece as they slept. He couldn't help but remember back to when Rin was still pregnant with them. He had built a mansion for her to live in comfortably as a human, something he never cared for, but he knew she needed someplace to rest every night.
One day, Rin sat upright against the wall of the room and said, "Close the doors, Master Jaken. The scent of the plum blossoms outside is too strong." She waved a fan at her face.
"Are you alright, Rin?" Sesshomaru asked as Jaken shut the doors and left them alone. She looked so much paler than usual.
"I'm fine," she insisted, managing a smile, "I don't think I have anything else left to throw up." She placed the bucket in her other hand away from herself and patted her pregnant belly. Although she hadn't been overly ill throughout the entire pregnancy, those few days in a row she could barely hold anything down.
Is she happy even now? Sesshomaru asked himself, She's been so ill lately, how is that possible?
Rin asked, "Sesshomaru, can I ask you about your relationship with your mother? I was so little the last time I saw her. Kohaku and Master Jaken told me a bit about her before, but I want to hear about her from you."
"What is it you want to know?"
"You both seem so..." she hesitated, not wanting to insult either of them, "distant. I don't expect you to be sentimental or anything, but I've been wondering if the distance between you two is because you're demons, or if your curse has anything to do it."
He knew her line of questioning was leading somewhere, but he couldn't figure out where. That was one thing he learned while living with a her. A human mind seemed to wander so much to things he didn't think mattered. "My mother has always been a stoic," he answered, "from what my father told me long ago, she has always been that way. Why do you ask?"
Rin asked without skipping a beat, "Is love considered a positive emotion?"
Sesshomaru stared at her blankly as he attempted to put her thought process together in his mind. Was she afraid he didn't properly love her because of Zero's old curse? That couldn't be possible. He gave her everything he could think of, new fabrics, kosodes, a place to live, plenty of food to eat, why would she think he didn't love her?
"I'm asking because I want our twins to be loved, Sesshomaru," she said, looking away from him, "and I'll admit even now after I've known you for most of my life, I can't figure out why you've fallen in love with me." She refused to look him in the eyes but she could feel his boring into the back of her head. She continued, "I can't provide much for you. If anything, when I was little I proved to be a huge hinderance by always getting kidnapped and dragging you into needless battles."
"Don't sell yourself so short," he said, a hint of urgency in his voice, "when we first met you insisted on visiting me repeatedly, even after I told you to mind your business. Once you returned covered in bruises. It was so odd for such a young mortal girl, so I asked you a simple question, and you smiled at me. I knew it was genuine. To this day I don't understand how a small question such could cause you to show such happiness."
Rin finally met his eyes. Now she was the curious one. "Back then it had been a long time since anyone cared enough about me to ask me anything," she admitted, "it's why I lost my voice." She touched her throat as she remembered how awful it was to be mute. "No one ever asked me anything after I watched my family die, so I stopped speaking. But you asked me how I ended up getting to hurt that day." She paused. "Oh, I never did tell you how I got hurt, did I? I was fishing from the reservoir to get you some food, and the villagers saw me stealing, so they attacked me and told me never to do it again."
They attacked an orphan getting food, he thought, and they say demons are merciless and cruel.
Rin added, "I'm so glad you saved me."
"When you chose to follow me instead of returning to the human village, I decided to see how happy you could become," he answered, "now I get to see it every day." He paused. "Rin, why did you start this line of questioning?"
She confessed, "Because part of me has been worried you won't be able to love our children because of the curse that demon Zero put on you. Promise me you'll always show them love. You have to at least try. Promise me you'll love them long after I'm gone."
He couldn't help but look away. He hated when she spoke of her own death. He knew it would one day come for real, and he knew it would be the worst day of his life. "You needn't worry so much, Rin."
"Promise me, Sesshomaru," she insisted.
Sesshomaru finally looked into her begging eyes and whispered, "I promise to show them love in every way I can."
Sesshomaru glanced down at his 14-year-old daughters one more time. This must have been what Rin meant, to show them love despite not being able to truly feel it himself. He could still witness it between all three girls. No matter what they claimed they felt for each other, he could see the truth they refused to speak.