Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 34's

"Surge! Move aside! Move over!" jaken shouted loudly ordering the fox youkai and the cat who were cleaning the floor in front of him to get out of the way. The frog youkai ran as fast as his two short legs could. His hand carried a mountain of scrolls of important documents that he knew, had to be delivered immediately to the workroom of the Western Landlord.

The fox youkai and the cat who were the attendants of the Western Land Palace only shook their heads and ignored him. Jaken who ran and ordered them to step aside was not strange, they had been watching it every day for a year.

"Stop all of you! Don't block my path!" yell at Jaken again. "Sesshoumaru-sama will not be happy if I am the loyal and trusted subordinate is late!"

Always bragging and using the name of Sesshoumaru, the Lord of the West Land. But, if the frog youkai thought all the inhabitants of the Western Land Palace would believe, then he was gravely mistaken. None of them believed it, they all kept doing the job of cleaning the floor.

Upset by the attitude of the youkai in front of him, Jaken then snorted and tried to dodge those in front of him. He did not want to be late, because if he was late, there would definitely be a stone or kick that would float into his head again, "I will report this attitude of yours to Sesshoumaru-sama. I'll make sure you're all punished!" threaten Jaken softly as he made it past the crowd of youkai maids. However, once again, the youkai still did not care

As Jaken had disappeared from before them, some of the maid's youkai halted the task and stuck out a contemptuous tongue, while some chuckled.

"I will report this attitude of yours to Sesshoumaru-sama. I'll make sure you're all punished!" repeat a fox youkai short-haired brown woman imitating Jaken. "You think Sesshoumaru-sama will punish us just for what you said!? You idiot!"

"That's it, Rei," laughed a red-haired female cat youkai as she patted the shoulder of the brown-haired fox youkai. "We all know Sesshoumaru-sama will not punish us, especially," his eyes then focused on the small figure in their crowd cleaning the floor, "When Hime-sama was among us."

"That's right, Rika. " Agreed Rei while laughing out loud, followed by all the youkai that were there. Their eyes were all directed at the small figure that was between them.

Indeed, in the group of youkai servants, there was the figure of a little human girl about eleven years old. The little girl was wearing the same maid outfit as the maid youkai in the Western Land Palace, with long hair as black as the night sky without her star hidden in a white cloth covering her head. The unique fragrance is like the smell of spring, white skin is like snow, lips and cheeks are red like the roses of spring, sharp nose and a pair of big brown eyes that are clear and warm—Jaken is really blind because they do not realize who is among them.

"Rei-nee, Rika-nee, everyone" called the little girl quietly, there was concern on her face. "A-are you sure Sesshoumaru-sama will not punish us?"

The little girl's question instantly also made everyone there speechless, their eyes wide at her.

"Jaken-sama will definitely complain us to Sesshoumaru-sama," the girl continued. Her big brown eyes are so teary. "W-what if Sesshoumaru-sama gets angry and punishes us all? R-Rin doesn't want to... Rin doesn't want you all punished.."

What the little girl said instantly made the youkai maids sigh and smile. How innocent that human girl, in this world, might be the only living thing that believes the word Jaken.

Approaching the little girl, Rei raised a hand touching the little shoulder. "Rin-chan, don't worry," she smiled "Have we all said, never believe what the Jaken Seller said."

"B-but," refuted Rin quickly, his head bowed down. "What if Jaken-sama actually reported it to Sesshoumaru-sama? What if Sesshoumaru-sama is angry? What if Sesshoumaru-sama punishes us?" tanyanya. However, Rei, Rika or whoever answered her, Rin's head suddenly lifted. The worried expression on his face immediately turned into an expression full of determination. "No! Rin doesn't want you guys punished! Let Rin alone accept the punishment later! Let Rin explain to Sesshoumaru-just as if our attitude was blocking Jaken-sama is Rin's request!"

Rin's words again surprised all the servant youkai. A moment later, they smiled again. How kind and charming the human little girl in front of them, always worried and sweet for those who have so low a degree. In such a long life, never did they find someone who could behave like that for them.

"Calm down, Rin-chan," Rei raised both hands hugging Rin. "You don't have to do that. Sesshoumaru-sama will not be angry, he will not punish us," a small smile bloomed on his face. "Particularly you, Rin-chan. He will not punish you. It won't be possible..."

Not understanding Rei's words, Rin distanced himself from the fox's youkai embrace and looked at him straight. "You sure, Rei-nee?" tanyakanya.

"Yes," Rika replied suddenly accompanied by a nod of all the other maid youkai. "We won't all accept the slightest punishment, Rin-chan."

Despite his lack of faith, Rin eventually decides to believe the youkai's words. Nodding his head quickly, a smile instantly flashed on his beautiful face—smile as beautiful and as warm as spring.

All the youkai maids who saw the smile could only smile back. There was warmth felt in their hearts.

Rin's.

The human little girl who is so strange and charming. A year since the girl had lived in this Western Land Palace, she had managed to change the atmosphere of the palace that was usually so cold and dark to be so warm and bright. The little girl was very light-handed, she always inspired herself to help everything, be it cleaning the palace, cleaning the bathroom, cleaning the garden, helping in the kitchen, etc, even help take care of the mounts in the palace. Although she has a very high status, namely; the girl under the guardianship of Youkai The Lord of the West Land, Sesshoumaru, and the indirect adopted daughter of the Former Ruler of the West Land, Inukimi, he had never looked down on all the lower-level workers the Western Land Palace had. He still always gave them all his dazzling smiles and laughter. They all adored and loved the little girl, only they could not say it out loud, for they were lowly youkai who were unappointed. But, if they were to risk their lives for him, they would gladly do so.

"Rin-sama." Call out the voice of a woman suddenly and make Rin, Rei, Rika as well as the others turn their heads staring at the source of the voice.

Seeing who the owner of the voice was, Rei, Rika and all the youkai maids who were there immediately bowed their heads in salute. There is fear in their hearts, because it is no secret that the woman who owns the voice never likes those who have a close relationship with Rin. Not with Rin. The girl cheerfully immediately ran up to the woman while laughing. "Left-sama!"

Left, the short-haired lady inuyoukai smiled at Rin's reaction. Not weeding the opportunity, Rin hugged the inuyoukai leg tightly and laughed. "When will Kiri-sama go home? Rin thinks Kiri-sama will be home tomorrow, as Jaken-sama says Kiri-sama and Kira-sama went to see the Northern Land Ruler. Then, has Kira-sama also come home? Where is Kira-sama now?"

Rin's constant questioning made Kiri's smile widen, slowly, he bowed and returned the embrace of the small body. "Does that mean, you don't like my presence here, Rin-sama?" ask back.

Staring to the left, Rin immediately shook his head with a wide smile. "No. Rin has always liked the presence of Kiri-sama."

Rin's reply instantly made Kiri laugh a little. Warming up the small body, he immediately carried it with one hand. His golden eyes then looked at the human girl intently, a frown appearing on her forehead, "Why are you dressed like this again, Rin-sama? And most importantly, why else would you do such a lowly job? Inukimi-sama would be furious if she knew that."

Rin did not say anything hearing Kiri's question, bowing her head down, she avoided the inuyoukai's eye gaze.

Turning his head, Left golden eyes then stared intently at the servant youkai in front of him. "And you!" his slow tone suddenly shot up. Anger was emanating from his aura. "How dare you allow Rin-sama to do your work! Realize your position!"

"M-I'm sorry, servant, I'm sorry servant all, Kiri-sama." All the youkai helpers who were there immediately lowered their heads worshipping apologetically, their bodies instantly trembling in fear. The left was one of the inuyoukai with a high status in the western lands, and he had the power to punish them if he wanted to.

"Left-sama!" rin shouted suddenly stopping Kiri, his hands immediately touching the cheeks of the inuyoukai, while his eyes became teary. "It's not their fault! Rin is forcing her to help! If Kiri-sama is angry, just get angry at Rin, don't get angry or punish them! Just punish Rin!"

Rin's request and expression, left Kiri stunned. He never liked the expression on the face of a little girl in his carry like this—himself just wanted the human girl to always smile. Sighing, his face softened again. "Alright, Rin-sama, the servant will not punish them times," the tone of the Left voice sharpened with great emphasis. "If I see you doing such a lowly duty again, I will punish them all severely."

Rin's eyes widened to the left. However, he did not dare to say anything, resignedly, he was finally only able to nod his head slowly. "good. Rin understood. Rin promised, therefore, don't punish them."

Left smiled satisfied hearing Rin's promise. The Inuyoukai knew, this threat would definitely make the little girl obey what she said. No one could deny how strange the human girl was. Always full of curiosity, nimble, light hands, never hate, always appreciate the other, kind, innocent, warm and always smiling or laughing—with his attitude like that, in approximately three months in this palace, the human girl had managed to win the hearts of all the palace residents, be it lowly or high youkai. However, the strangest thing about the girl was probably the way she looked. In his eyes, humans and youkai made no difference, as did the difference in status. All beings were aligned, in fact, as well as the small beasts that lived around the forest of the Western Land Palace. If he saw the animals were injured or in danger, with great worry, he would run to help them no matter what. To all those around this Western Land Palace, that girl must be an angel.

"Come, Rin-sama," asked Kiri later. "We go to your room to change the clothes you deserve to wear," her eyes then turned to Rei and Rika. "You two follow us, help Rin-sama change his clothes."

Rei and Rika immediately bowed to answer "Understand.". Following Kiri who immediately walked towards Rin's room without caring for them while holding the little girl, the two of them could only gulp down. When Inukimi left the Western Land Palace to wander, she left her two personal guards, Kiri and Kira to look after the little girl. And although never said it, all the palace residents knew that the two brothers loved the little girl very much.

Mysteries.

Man in the midst of the youkai, man who is raised, protected and loved by youkai. The existence of Rin in the Palace of the West Land may indeed be a mystery never answered by anyone. He is the only human being who can capture the hearts and attention of youkai so easily, even the attention of Sesshoumaru, the Youkai Lord of the Western Land who is famous for hating humans.

....xoxOx....

"Takeru-sama, agree to the deal you offered him, Sesshoumaru-sama," Kira reported as she looked at Sesshoumaru, the Inuyoukai Lord of the Western Land who was sitting on top of the tatami reading the scroll of documents on her desk. He was the only one who reported himself, because it was no secret that the inuyoukai in front of him never liked more than one person who reported the results of their duties. "There will be no youkai under his rule that will set foot into the West. And if there is, the West can kill him without seeking the North's consent."

"Improve the deal to all the youkai clans under the rule of the western lands," Sesshoumaru did not move the slightest bit of his gaze from the scrolls of documents he read. "No need to ask for my approval anymore. Directly kill, if it finds an intruder from the North."

"good. I understand." Reply Kira quickly while bowing her body.

Western and Northern relations have always been well established. However, ever since Takeru succeeded his father as the Lord of the Northern Lands, the relationship had changed slightly. Takeru is a very ambitious snake youkai. Since he led the North, there have been several clashes between the youkai clan under his leadership and the youkai clan under the leadership of the west. Although it never showed it clearly, everyone knew, Takeru was intent on conquering the west.

By the time Inukimi was still the Lord of the West, Takeru had secretly and carefully attacked the west. Inukimi is not a bad ruler, just a lazy and careless attitude that always causes youkai snake can take advantage of the conditions to attack. However, as Sesshoumaru replaced his mother, conditions soon changed. The strength, the ability to lead, the intelligence in politics and the knowledge of the new Western Land Ruler, in a matter of days, Takeru did not dare to attack the west anymore, he became unmoved. In Sesshoumaru's short reign, the West became increasingly powerful and widespread. There are no more how many youkai clans who have always been neutral happily join the West, become part of the West. Among the four regions, the West is the strongest now. Looking for a western problem is suicide.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Forgive me for being late!" accompanied by the sound of that shout, the door of the West Land Ruler's study room opened wide. With his hand still holding a stack of documents, Jaken ran in. "I'm sorry servant! This is the document you want!"

"Shut up, Jaken." Sesshoumaru's orders slowly remained without turning his eyes away from what he read.

"Okay, I'll be quiet." Answer Jaken immediately. Slowly, while passing by Kira, the frog youkai placed the documents in his hand on Sesshoumaru's desk.

Kira just squinted her golden eyes at Jaken. He never understood why Sesshoumaru had let such a lowly and useless youkai be in the Western Land Palace, if only he were the Lord of the western Land himself, he would have already driven him away all the way, or perhaps, he had already eliminated her from this world.

"Both of you, get out. Leave me alone." Sesshoumaru's orders were then with his flat voice emotionless.

Raising his head and bowing his head in salute, without saying anything more, Kira and Jaken immediately obeyed the rule. However, just as they were about to step foot out of the space, the inuyoukai of the Western Land Ruler suddenly stopped them. "Jaken," he called flat.

"L-yes!" jaken replied quickly with sparkling eyes. A feeling of pride filled his heart. Sesshoumaru must have asked him to help finish his work, because after all, he was the trusted subordinate of the inuyoukai.

"Call Rin here."

Sesshoumaru's orders instantly made the happiness in Jaken's heart disappear, replaced by selflessness, jealousy and disappointment. Rin again! The human girl had always been the center of attention of her master. He still remembers, a year ago, when Rin was kidnapped by Inukimi, until when Sesshoumaru accepted the position of Lord of the West Land, he did not care about it at all, in fact it can be said, he seemed forgotten. The inuyoukai's treatment of her arriving at the Western Land Palace after a two-week journey to serve her has remained unchanged. This is very different from Rin, who is now treated like a princess. How unfair is life! However, he certainly did not dare to say it all. He could not imagine the punishment Sesshoumaru would give him if he conveyed all the grievances in his heart.

"b-good. I understand." Reply Jaken gently while bowing his body once more and closing the shoji door of the West Land Ruler's den.

Kira who saw Jaken's disappointment did not care for the frog's youkai in the least. How foolish it would be if, he thought Sesshoumaru wanted to ask for his help. The Inuyoukai admitted, The ruler of the Western Land is now an impeccably perfect ruler. He could control such a vast area of his power so well and organized—a figure of a leader he respected and admired.

Stepping her feet, Kira walked slowly followed by Jaken who was still grumbling behind, because their goal was now the same. After traveling for a few days from west to north, and north to west, she wanted to see the warm smile that she knew, she would definitely be given the human little girl she loved - Rin's smile.

Passing through the garden on the east side of the western land palace, he headed towards the Western Red Pavilion. The red pavilion on the east side of the Western Land Palace was the most beautiful pavilion present in the entire area of Japan that was so vast. Built using sturdy wood, beautifully carved and painted red, this Pavilion has since been the location of the bedroom of the Ruler of the Land of the West—located Sesshoumaru room, and also Rin now.

Since Rin had been living in the Palace of the West Land, Sesshoumaru had given the girl a room next to her bedroom. Actually many were confused and did not understand, why give a human a room in that beautiful pavilion, but, out of fear, no one dared to ask.

Not saying anything, Kira opened it and walked in followed by Jaken. Rin's room is a very beautiful and large room. The room itself consists of several rooms, namely the bedroom, study room, bathroom and the leading room where guests wait-room where they are now. The longest beautiful paintings on the red walls of the rooms, tatami floors are also the best quality tatami, not to mention the luxurious and magnificent furniture available. Anyone who entered the room would immediately think that it was a princess room.

"Where is Rin, Kiri-sama?" jaken asked as he looked at Kiri who was sitting on the tatami floor quietly.

Left did not answer Jaken's question, it could even be said that he ignored it. As for Kira, she just slowly sat down next to her twin sister. No answer, he knows where Rin is. The little girl was in her bedroom accompanied by two youkai maids, maybe she was changing her clothes, she said, his absence and his twin sister must have made Rin again decide to help the workers of the West Land Palace again.

Jaken who was unconcerned by Kiri became annoyed. Not caring for the two inuyoukai beside him, he immediately shouted loudly calling Rin's name. "Rin! Where are you little girl!?"

"Rin' here, Jaken-sama!" Accompanied by Rin's voice, the girl's bedroom door suddenly opened.

The two Inuyoukai twin brothers who were there immediately smiled upon seeing the little girl, especially Kiri. Seeing Rin's appearance, he felt quite satisfied. The clothes of the maids who had been attached to his body, have now been replaced with a twelve-layer kimono of the finest silk in white with a symbol of western land power. Long hair as black as the starless night sky that had been covered, had now decomposed with a red ribbon that tied the bangs next to it. His bare feet were now covered with a pair of white tabi. That appearance—that's the appearance of Rin's shoes and everything.

"Kira-sama!" rin shouted happily when he saw Kira. Running as fast as she could, she approached Kira and Kiri with a big smile on her face. "Kira-sama, Kira-sama came to see Rin, huh? Thank ye. Rin is so happy!"

Rin's words and smile made Kira laugh. Looking at her twin sister's face, Kiri took out a small package from inside her kimono sleeve and handed it to Rin. "For you, Rin-sama." said Kiri and Kira simultaneously later.

Receiving the package, Rin opened it slowly. His brown eyes instantly sparkled and a wide smile instantly flashed across his face as he looked at what it contained— candy.

"The candy is very famous in the North. And because you always liked something sweet. Servant and twin brother servants buy it in the hope that you will like it, Rin-sama." Left was slowly staring at Rin.

Closing his eyes while nodding his head, Rin immediately opened both hands and jumped to hug the two inuyoukai in front of him. "Thank you, Kiri-sama, Kira-sama! Rin was so happy! Thank you, Kiri-sama and Kira-sama did not forget Rin despite being on duty! Thank you!"

Kiri and Kira smiled seeing and hearing Rin's thanks. Raising her hand, Kiri returned the human girl's embrace, while Kira gently stroked the girl's hair. What a naive girl. Forgetting? How could they both forget about it? The little girl who always smiles and laughs for them, the little girl who can bring warmth into their hearts. In this Western Land Palace, after knowing him, who could forget him?

Jaken who saw the incident in front of him grumbled inwardly. Again he was forgotten. He actually never understood why everyone in the palace liked Rin so much that it was completely useless. Not only Kiri and Kira, all high and low-ranking youkai or maids in the palace always bring gifts for the little girl if returning from their journey. No matter it was candy, dolls, kimonos, paintings sometimes even gold and gems.

Shaking his head to disperse what was in his mind, Jaken then again shouted loudly. "Rin! Sesshoumaru-sama called out to you! Hurry up to meet him in his study!"

Jaken's screams immediately made Rin turn her head to look at the frog's youkai. His two eyes widened, his face instantly turning deathly pale. Fear filled his heart. Sesshoumaru-sama called out to him? Has Jaken really reported on her attitude, Rei, Rika as well as the others who blocked the frog youkai from delivering the documents just now?

....xoxOx....

Sesshoumaru put down the scroll of documents he read as he clearly sensed Rin walking closer to his study. His face remained expressionless, calm and cold, however, something was bothering his mind. Although it was still far away, he could clearly feel the fear and unease emitted by Rin's normally cheerful and blissful aura. Dislike felt the heart of the inuyoukai, why does Rin feel afraid and anxious? Who made him feel that feeling?

The closer Rin is to her study, the more clearly Sesshoumaru can feel the child's fear and anxiety. His heartbeat was so fast, and although it was faint, he could smell the salty tears that he knew the little girl was desperately holding. Groaning softly, his eyes turned blood red. Who would dare to make that little girl like that!? He won't forgive her! Whatever the cause, his life ends today!

Aware of what was on his mind, Sesshoumaru was instantly stunned. His two blood-red eyes quickly returned to gold. Confusion filled his heart, though his face was still emotionless. Why else would he think like that? Why is it that when it comes to Rin, she can never control herself or her feelings? In the past, when he turned on and followed the little girl, he had never felt anything like this. However, since Rin lived with him in this palace, these feelings often attacked him. What really happened to him?

Upon arriving at the front door of the study, Rin gulped. Not making a sound or knocking on the door, the girl desperately tried to gather all the courage to step foot into the room. Sesshoumaru who could sense all that, obviously did not like it. Terrified. That feeling of weakness and uselessness, he did not want to feel it. Not as long as he's around!

"Come in, Rin." Sesshoumaru's orders are short.

"Yes." Yeah." Rin's reply was quick. His hand immediately opened the shoji door in front of him and walked in.

Seeing Rin walking in silence, Sesshoumaru carefully observed the appearance of the little girl. The twelve-layer luxurious kimono was western-symboled, tabi on the legs, the ribbon in the hair-appearance did indeed clearly show the high status of the girl within this Western Land Palace. That style of clothing was the style of clothing that Inukimi directly ordered Rin to wear. And Sesshoumaru knew that the little girl didn't really like her that much. First because it makes him unable to move freely, second because Rin basically does not like luxury. If asked to choose, the girl would definitely want to wear a simple kimono or even a kosode and go barefoot. She remains as lavishly dressed as she is now is actually to keep Inukimi's feelings to herself.

Rin who saw Sesshoumaru looking at him, became increasingly fearful and agitated. He lowered his head down, refusing to look into those golden eyes.

"Rin, come here." Sesshoumaru's Order. His voice became increasingly heavy and deep, as well as his increasingly sharp eyes. He doesn't like it! Rin was scared and agitated at him? Rin wouldn't look at his face? Is that girl afraid of him now? Nah! He won't allow it! Whoever fears him, he doesn't care. Rin is the only one he cares about. Forever, he did not want the girl to be afraid of him!

Unable to bear the pressure he felt, tears were rushing down Rin's cheeks. On her knees, she immediately stuck her forehead on the tatami floor and apologized. "I'm sorry Rin, Sesshoumaru-sama! It's not Rei's fault, Rika or anyone! Rin asks them to stop Jaken-sama! Rin ruled them! So just law Rin! Don't punish the others! It was Rin's fault alone!"

Rin's words made Sesshoumaru stunned for a moment. However, a second later he soon realized what Rin had meant. Again the little girl protected the youkai workers in this palace. Not told by anyone, Sesshoumaru actually knew Rin's habit of helping them, be it cleaning the palace, cooking to help take care of the palace mounts. That habit made them familiar, and from that familiarity, the girl always had her own initiative to bear the blame of all of them—something that could have been exploited by lowly youkai. Although, no one dared to do it until now, because everyone would know, it was death that they would face if they did so.

Sesshoumaru never revealed and ordered the girl to stop doing her strange habit. Rin is an agile and energetic girl, commanding her to sit quietly and be served, definitely not something she can do. She doesn't want to curb Rin, forever, she wants the girl to always be who she really is—the girl who is always free, agile, cheerful with a smile on her face. However, that did not mean he liked the human girl who mingled with everything there was. The Inuyoukai actually do not like the closeness that it intertwines with anyone, be it Inukimi, Kiri, Kira, the youkai high or low. Deep in his heart, though he never admitted it, he did not want the girl to get along with anyone. She was alone, she wanted the girl to just present her beautiful smile to herself.

"Rin," called Sesshoumaru again with his voice fixed flat. "Thank your head."

Not a person who could go against his master's orders, Rin immediately raised his head and looked at Sesshoumaru. His two little hands wiped away the tears that just kept flowing down the pipip.

The girl who never cried for herself, no matter how sick, sad and suffering she was. However, for others, tears always flowed profusely. Rin's attitude is definitely one of the puzzles in Sesshoumaru's heart.

"I didn't call you here to discuss the matter."

What he heard instantly also made Rin's tears stop flowing. His two brown eyes immediately stared at the inuyoukai that was full of confusion.

Picking up a small parcel on his desk, Sesshoumaru walked up to the girl. Crouching in front of him, he handed the parcel over. With the confusion still lingering in his heart, slowly, Rin opened it. Both of his eyes immediately widened when he saw what was inside—a golden comb with huge pearls adorned his surroundings.

"That's the gift your mother sent you." Clearly Sesshoumaru saw Rin's puzzled expression.

Instantly, Rin's widened eyes became more and more widened. A gift from Mother? A gift from Inukimi who left the Western Land Palace to wander two months ago? Staring at the golden comb, a wide smile full of happiness filled his face. Inukimi didn't forget it! His beloved mother still noticed him even though he was not by his side now.

Not knowing why, seeing Rin's smile, seeing how happy the little girl would be the gift from Inukimi, Sesshoumaru could not help but a small growl that suddenly shot out of her mouth. Why is Rin smiling just for that worthless golden comb? Giving Rin a gift, does her mother think that the golden comb is comparable to the beautiful smile of the little girl?! Rin's smile-was her mother munching to snatch that smile from her?!

"S-Sesshoumaru-san..." Hearing Sesshoumaru's small growl, Rin raised his head to look at the inuyoukai again. Confusion and fear enveloped him. The face in front of him was still expressionless, but not with his golden eyes. He could clearly see the dislike emitted. Does Sesshoumaru not like him getting a gift from Inukimi? Didn't Inukimi send a gift to Sesshoumaru? Or perhaps, could it be that Sesshoumaru really wanted the gift? For after all it was a gift from his mother.

Can feel Rin's confusion and fear, Sesshoumaru immediately closed his eyes. Although strange, he knew, the human girl was the only living thing that could always read her feelings. No matter how he hid his feelings, once he looked into his golden eyes alone, everything in his mind would be readable to the little girl as if reading an open book.

"Rin doesn't need it," Rin said suddenly in a loud voice, making Sesshoumaru re-open his eyes. Handing the comb over to the inuyoukai, Rin again let out his voice loudly. "Rin doesn't need it, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin doesn't need anything! Whoever delivered this gift must be wrong! Mother must have sent him for Sesshoumaru-sama, not for Rin!"

Sesshoumaru's face remained calm, but, he was completely unable to shake off the feeling of shock in his heart. Wrongly? His mother sent a gift not to Rin, but to him? Gold comb for women? If that was true, then at their next meeting, he would make a calculation with the inuyoukai that gave birth to it, because it was an insult. However, most importantly, where could the little girl think like that?

"I don't need it." Reply Sesshoumaru calmly.

"Eh?" rin was surprised and confused.

Not caring for Rin's response, Sesshomaru stood up and walked towards his desk. He could feel the girl's confusion. Sitting at his desk, he looked back at the girl. "Cabin."

Saying nothing, with confusion still lingering in his heart, Rin immediately stood up and walked over to Sesshoumaru. Sitting in front of the work desk, facing the inuyoukai, the two brown eyes stared straight at him.

Sesshoumaru again picked up a small box on his desk and handed it to Rin. Increasingly puzzled, the girl opened it, and as she saw what it contained, her eyes widened and lifted looking at the surprised inuyoukai in front of her.

"The Garden of the East Pavilion of the Western Land Palace felt very empty. I want that in the next season and the next, the park will not be empty anymore" Sesshumaru said calmly without taking his eyes off Rin. "Can you do that?"

Rin's wide-eyed, widened to hear Sesshoumaru's question. However, in an instant, an extremely beautiful wide smile flashed across her face, accompanied by tears flowing down profusely. Nodding his head, he immediately hugged the box tightly in his hand. "Yes! Aye! Rin will do it! Rin will!"

Rin's tears of joy, making Sesshoumaru raise his hand to wipe away the tears. Her hands moved slowly, carefully and gently for fear of injuring the girl's skin with her sharp claws. There was a warmth that his heart felt, touching the face in front of it. Removing her tears, how much she felt that what she was doing now really was something that was right and deserved.

Rin pressed her cheek against Sesshoumaru's palm and chuckled. "Rin will grow it Sesshoumaru-sama. Rin will make the garden of the East Pavilium of the Palace of the West Land the most beautiful garden in the whole world. It was Rin's job alone..."

Flower seeds.

What Sesshoumaru gave her was a flower seedling. The Inuyoukai wanted him to grow flowers in the garden of the Eastern Pavilium. The park where his room is—tamannya. How happy he was now, because finally, for the first time, he could do something for his inuyoukai that was so important to him

Rin's smile, laughter and happiness. How Sesshoumaru liked that view. When did he like all of that? He knew no more, and also, to him, the answer was also unimportant, for now, in his heart, there was satisfaction and pride. What she gave, namely; flower seeds, managed to make the girl smile wider and happier than the smile when she got the gift of a golden comb from Inukimi. Most importantly, though, Rin will be planting flowers in her garden from tomorrow on her own. The little girl will no longer mingle with the lowly youkai, helping them, because she already has her own duties.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," call Rin slowly. His eyes opened again, staring full of inuyoukai warmth in front of him. "b-can? Can Rin hug Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Rin's sudden question left Sesshoumaru stunned for a moment. He doesn't seem to believe what he hears. During this time, Rin always hugged others freely, however, the girl very rarely hugged him—something she did not like, although never expressed. And now, he asked if he could hug her? This girl in front of him was really strange.

"Eh." That was the answer Sesshoumaru gave later with a small nod.

Not wasting any more time when he heard the answer he got, Rin immediately stood up and jumped through Sesshoumaru's desk. His two hands immediately wrapped around the inuyoukai's neck while laughing. He felt like he was dreaming today! How happy he is! Sesshoumaru-sama allowed her to hug him? Something he had always wanted to do, but did not dare, because he knew, it was impolite for a subordinate to hug his superior. But, now, that inuyoukai had allowed her, she could hug him!

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama," whispered Rin slowly. "Thank you for entrusting the garden of the Eastern Pavilium to Rin. Rin promised, Rin will definitely grow the most beautiful flowers for you..."

Sesshomaru's hand slowly moved back the embrace. Rin's words made him smile a little without realizing it. The most beautiful flowers for her? That girl really doesn't know anything. In fact, he already had it, the most beautiful flower in the world. There is only one flower in the world, the flower that he cannot possibly let go of, the flower that is now in his arms - the most beautiful flower named; Rin.

....xoxOx....