After All This Time?

Irises ~Rin

The sun was hovering over the tops of the trees when Kaede appears with ingredients to make the famous stew that I always loved. I was able to help Kaede cut and prepare the ingredients to through in the pot as it cooks over the fire.

Once the vegetables were nice and tender, it was ready to eat. Kaede grabs a wooden ladle and scoops some stew to put into two bowls for each of us. I thank her as I take one from her, and she thanks me for helping her.

We finish our food with leftovers to spare. Kaede asks me if I could take the remaining food to Kagome and see if she and Inuyasha wanted some. I happily oblige and filled two bamboo containers of the stew to take to Kagome and Inuyasha. Before I stepped out, I turn to Kaede as she was preparing to put things away.

"Granny Kaede?"

"Yes, young Rin?" She replies as she turns to me.

I smile at her as I place the containers upright on the floor. I walk up to her and gave her a warm embrace. She looked confused at my sudden affection.

"Thank you so much for everything." I spoke softly to her.

Kaede embraces me as well, having a warm smile on her face as she looked at me.

"I'm always going to be here for you, my sweet Rin." Kaede cups her hands onto my cheeks. She might have been smiling on the outside, but I could see the sadness form in her eyes.

She knew what I was doing.

And it looked like this time, she wasn't going to stop it. We embraced once more for a moment longer, then she releases me telling me to make sure to take the stew to Kagome before it got cold. I nod in agreement, picking up the containers by their handles, and push the door open, waving to Kaede as I told her that I would see her soon.

I step outside as the door drops shut behind me. The sky was an orange hue with the sun beginning to hide behind the trees. The view of the sky was beautiful here. I walk and stood in the middle of the bridge over the river and you could see the soybean and rice fields and a mix of old and new houses built around.

I quickly got to Kagome's home, she and Inuyasha were delighted to see me, and Inuyasha was excited that I brought them what was left of Kaede's stew.

"She ain't the greatest cook, but nobody can pass on that stew of hers." Inuyasha comments, filling a bowl with the stew.

Kagome gives him a look that sends chills up his spine.

I giggle at their interaction.

"Well, I helped her make it so it has extra love in it." I said cheerfully.

Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders, sits down against the wall, and starts eating the stew.

Kagome walks up to me closely while Inuyasha was leaning against the wall on the other side of the room.

"Have you thought about what we talked about earlier?" She asks.

I pause for a moment, could she tell I was up to something?

"I'm going to go discuss things first before I make a decision."

Kagome places a hand gently on my left shoulder, over the bandages.

"Make sure this heals properly first before going anywhere, okay?"

She was trying to have me stay longer. My wound had gotten better to the point where I could take care of it myself, but I could tell in her voice that she didn't want me to leave just yet.

I give her a reassuring smile.

"I'm just going to go talk to him if he's still around."

Inuyasha's ears twitch hearing the last bit of our conversation.

"Hey, Rin. Just be careful okay?"

I didn't expect Inuyasha to care so much. I'm even more surprised that he doesn't seem to want to stop me from seeing him.

What's changed?

"Why is it Inuyasha? Both you and Granny Kaede know what I plan to do but neither of you has made attempts to stop me." I ask curiously.

Inuyasha huffs.

"I don't know if I and Kaede have the same reasonings, but mine is just simply accepting the fact that you're grown enough to make your own decisions."

"You too, Kagome? You're not going to stop me either?"

Kagome shakes her head.

"You're sixteen now. Plenty old enough to decide your fate."

I appreciated that everyone had come to terms that I'm grown, even though I almost died by foolishly wondering out on my own. But they know I'll be safe with him.

I hug Kagome before leaving, waving at Inuyasha as I step out the door.

"You better take good care of Rin, Sesshomaru." Inuyasha spoke under his breath.

""

The sun had finally fallen behind the trees as I walk a dirt path that led out of the village into a meadow, the ground covered in blue iris flowers. I walk out to the center of this meadow where I found and stood in front of a lone tall tree and decided to sit under it to figure out what I was going to do and say.

How was I to find him in the night?

Would he come to see me?

I have a distant memory of something he once said to me sometime before he disappeared four years ago.

It was eating at me. I couldn't remember what it was. I wasn't sure why it decided to come to me now.

I took in a breath slowly and released it, trying to clear my mind to focus and concentrate.

-
I remember being in this very spot, in this same meadow with the blue irises dancing in the breeze. I was about to turn thirteen years old, and Lord Sesshomaru had just brought me another beautifully handcrafted silk kimono that was white with a hue of pink at the bottom and ends of the sleeves, with accents and trimmings of gold circles and butterflies. I found it was strange that it was much too big for me at the time though.

I was much more interested in just being with him this time around and I wasn't minding the gift that much, but I still appreciated its beauty nonetheless. I remember a moment of being so close to him, wrapping my arms around his neck, embracing him tightly, giggling with such pure happiness.

But it's around here where my memory begins to become cloudy. I can't remember what happened but I do recall finding small prick marks around my hips, which I later figured out was caused by fingernails, claws specifically.

My memory is blank on how I got them no matter how hard I try to force myself to remember.

I do remember earlier that morning was when I started bleeding for the first time, signaling my arrival into womanhood. I remember Kaede having a talk with me about what it meant now that I entered womanhood but I don't remember much of the specifics of that conversation until I got older.

I never saw Lord Sesshomaru again after that.
-

I let out a frustrated sigh.

Would he tell me what happened that day? The more I had pondered on it before, I was afraid to learn the truth because things began connecting when everyone would refuse to answer my questions and be so vague about it, and I think I know why that's the case--did Sesshomaru hurt me back then and my subconscious is refusing me to remember? Or did he...

I shook those last terrible thoughts out of my head. He would never harm me in such a way, but I needed to hear it from him. I need to know the truth of what happened and figure out how to move forward from it.

The breeze felt chilly on my skin. I watch the dancing irises and they looked as if they were glowing. I look up at the night sky and saw the moon was full and bright. I close my eyes, feeling the wind against my face, letting my hair dance with the breeze.

I breathe softly as I slowly open my eyes, seeing a tall silhouette of a man in front of me. My eyes caught the long, silver hair and golden eyes that glistened under the moonlight.

"Sesshomaru."