flowers [花] - Sesshomaru x Rin

Chapter 1 - Shibuya [渋谷]

Hi! This is the first time I publish a story written in english. I've always been too scared to do it because I didn't feel confident enough, I still am a little concerned about the typos you may find while reading (if you find any mistakes, please tell me! it will help me learn more about this beautiful language x). Also, this is my first story based on InuYasha, and I'm so excited to read what you guys think of it, so leave a comment if you feel like it and let me know you thoughts about this first chapter (: 

"Rin, are you sure you have everything you need?" – Kohaku asked from downstairs, his voice traveled in the air until it made Rin stop looking at her parents' old anniversary photo.

After hearing Khoaku she gasped and hid the picture between her clothes, to make sure it didn't break while moving the suitcase. Rin closed the last of many bags, she grabbed it and with some struggles she eventually managed to get it down the stairs.

"Rin?" – Kohaku called her once again, moving his gaze onto her.

"Coming! I'm done with these" – and with that said she approached the door; before exiting the house where she grew up she looked around, staring at the empty space around her. She sighed, then closed the door.

Japan is a wide territory, but for Rin going away from her home-town felt like going in such a far place, even if she's just moving to a city that was two hours away from where she was born. Memories are human soul's favorite food, and sometimes the strongest of the poisons. This makes us what we are, in the end: the need to choose happiness even if the faith has different plans for us, because men's lust is stronger than anything else.
Rin eventually accepted what life put on her plate, without flinching if it was hurtful; what made her still hope was that she was sure that some day she would have found the happiness she deserved, like everyone else. Even if she was alone and not that skilled in the every-day life, she was sure that the plan for her future was bright, if only she wanted it to be.

"If you want, I can stay with you when we'll be in your new apartment" – Kohaku says, watching Rin lost in her thoughts while her eyes look at the road.

"Pardon?" – her hand was under her chin, her elbow resting nearby the window.

"You know, I can help you with the furniture, your things... It's a lot of stuff"– he giggled, his hands tight-gripped to the steering wheel.

Rin smiled, her hair tickled her face. "You don't need to stay, it's been two days, you should go home and get some rest"

"Rin, if I didn't want to help you I wouldn't have said that" – Kohaku explained, then moved his gaze for a moment to look at her. His eyebrows arched. "But if you don't want me to be around you... Not a problem, just tell me" – he smiled.

"No, no! That's not what I meant at all" – Rin put a hand forward, as to stop Kohaku's tongue from moving. "It's just that Sango will be waiting for you by the time we will be in Shibuya, your sister will be concerned if you don't go back home"

Kohaku nodded, looking at the road and another sigh left his lips. "Alright... But Monday I'll come pick you up, just to take you to school, give you some advices on the structure and how to arrive there in no time"

Rin smiled once again. "Thank you, Kohaku"

The boy felt his heart pounding, how come a human being could be so kind? This question kept repeating in his head ever since he met her eight years before.

"Kohaku" – Rin called him. "How's... How's my neighborhood? Is it chill? How's people there?"

Kohaku shook his head. "You don't have to worry about it, the place where you will be living in is nice and people is definitely kind and reserved, they won't bother you in any way" – he said, then moved his hand from the change to slightly squeez Rin's that was resting on her knee. "You're going to be safe, Rin"

After almost two hours they finally arrived in Shibuya, a Tokyo ward where Kohaku and his sister lived, and where Rin was about to attend her last year of high school before choosing a university.

She wasn't scared of her new life at all, neither was discouraged by the new city or by the necessity of re-create a new reality for herself. The nostalgia that took her back to her home-town caused her deep pains, that only time could heal.

"Sure, gonna ask her right now, hang on" – Kohaku left his phone, moved his eyes onto Rin who was just placing boxes nearby the sofa. "Rin, Sango and Mirokuwant you to join us for dinner, does it sound good for you?"

Rin nodded, got up and untied her hair from the messy bun that kept it on topof his head. "If I don't bother too much, sure"

Kohaku smiled, got his phone back near his ear and kept talking to his sister, he eventually left and while he was outside Rin made sure to put her parents' photo on the wall unit that was placed on the fireplace.

She got out of the apartment and reached to Kohaku who was waiting patiently. She got on the car and put her keys in her purse; after a few minutes they arrived to Kohaku's place, and Sango and Miroku's house looked pretty crowded that night.
"Rin!" – Sango hugged the girl, pulling her in a tight embrace before letting her inside, where Miroku and two other people were talking friendly.

Sango looked at Rin while she observed the two guests, then grabbed her hand in a gasp. "Damn, I have to introduce you to these two!" – and then dragged her to the sofa.

"Inuyasha, Kagome, this is one of my dearest friend" – Sango moved back as to show Rin to her guests, who seemed pretty happy to meet her.

"You're Rin!" – the girl said, her eyes were dark but a sparkle shined so bright in them. "Sango talked about you so many times, not to mention Kohaku" –Rin turned her face as to meet Kohaku's, but he wasn't listening – she felt almost glad, she knew that he would've been so embarrassed to hear that. "My name's Kagome, I'm so nice to meet you". Rin smiled and then presented herself.
The guy who was sitting next to Kagome was such a character in Rin's opinion: his hair was of a bright grey, it almost reflected light, it was not that short, pretty long for a man, and his eyes were so strange. He looked at herwith a little smile, he still was holding Kagome's hand, and by that Rin understood that the two were a couple.
He left Kagome's hand for what felt like seconds to shake Rin's, then with a deep voice said: "I'm Inuyasha, my pleasure" – and then looked at Kagome as to ask her to sit and hold his hand again.
Miroku entered the living-room to invite all the guests into the dining-room, where the dinner took place. There was such a nice atmosphere and all of them were so kind to Rin, always having some regard for her, asking questions about school, life in general and, of course, her feelings about the new city. 

"So far I've been enjoying being here, I hope I'll get along with this new life as soon as possible" – she smiled, then Sango took her hand and caught her attention.

"You're the welcome here, Rin. Whenever you want" – she said, and Rin felt her heart pounding for the positive vibes that everyone was sending her.

The dinner was over by 11:00 PM, and Kohaku insisted to give Rin a drive back home, but she denied, explaining that she was overwhelmed and pretty exhausted by the long time she spent in the car. She was sure that a little walk wouldn't be so bad. She also mentioned that Kohaku needed to get some rest, after all the work he had done during the past few days.
Sango's house wasn't that far from Rin's, so she managed to get there in less than 15 minutes.

Before opening the gate to her garden, she stopped to look atthe house right next to hers. The flowers were so beautiful and well cared of, in general everything was healthy and the smell was amazing. She wondered who took care of the garden and she wished hers looked as good – it only had some aromatic plants that were left there by the previous owner, and they didn't look that good.
  
She opened the gate, and as soon as she turned back to the garden, she saw aman standing not that far just cutting off some branches off a rose bush, to shape it. He must be the owner, Rin thought to herself.
  
She got closer to the door and was about to open it, when the neighbor that she was looking at seconds before turned to meet her eyes; he eventually stopped and then kept cutting the branches.
Rin couldn't see his face properly, but as soon as she was inside her apartment she started to think about how beautiful that garden was. The next day, she stopped by to take another look at the amazing flowers, this time the owner wasn't around, so she spent more time just looking at the wonderful job he had done.

After a couple of minutes, Rin saw him on the porch and he saw her standing, just staring at his garden like she hadn't seen one before. Rin noticed his white hair, tied in a bun. Do everyone in this town have those kind of hair?, she thought to herself. After awhile she felt his eyes burn all over her face, she blushed and just wasn't brave enough to look at him, so she walked away, hoping he wasn't still looking at her.