Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 35's

Sesshoumaru continued walking with his slow footsteps towards the eastern pavilion within the Western Land Palace. It did not matter the slightest bit the youkai within the palace who immediately bowed their heads saluted when they saw their master.

Name no naka

Sesshoumaru's sharp ears can hear clearly a melodious sound like the clink of a bell that is backing a song. Although her face remained expressionless, her heart could feel both cuteness as well as interest in the song she heard. It seems, the owner of the voice will never be tired or tired of singing strange songs that he wrote himself.

Kaze no naka

Entering the garden in the eastern pavilion, Sesshoumaru's eyes instantly captured the wide array of colors that now surrounded him. Red, yellow, blue, jinga, white - dozens of types of flowers bloom so beautifully filled the garden. His nose clearly smelled the smell of spring. Concentrating his mind, he managed to catch a smell again; a smell identical to spring itself, yet he knew not. Smelling that smell, he felt like spring in spring. It smells nice and it is very pleasant.

Yume no naka's

Stepping foot into the garden, Sesshoumaru's golden eyes instantly caught the figure of the owner of the smell and sound; a twelve-year-old little girl. The girl was sitting in the middle of the blossoming flowers so beautifully arranging the flower crown. Wearing a simple white western-symbol, with hair as black as the sky without stars, skin as white as snow, nose pointed, lips hungrier, and, big clear brown eyes and shining full of innocence—in the middle of the flower garden, he looks like one of the flowers themselves.

Sesshoumaru-sama doko ni iru

Jakken - sama wo shita naete

There was a warmth in the heart that the inuyoukai felt when he heard his name slide out of that stumpy mouth. The feeling of a very foreign warm was not hated at all, in fact, very liked. The warm feeling he was feeling right now, Sesshoumaru had never clearly known its meaning. However, he knew of one thing, that feeling was a feeling he always felt when he saw the human girl in front of him now.

Watashi wa hitori de machimashou

Sesshoumaru - samomodori wo

The warm feeling he felt grew stronger, spreading filled every niche of his heart. He seemed to want to smile—something that was not at all his nature, the inuyoukai ruler of the western lands.

Awaiting him.

The girl was waiting for him, would wait and always wait for his return.

"Ri."

An emotionless calm and heavy voice that called out her name, made the human girl smear her head at Sesshoumaru. Seeing him, at once, Rin immediately stood up. His two unrequited little legs immediately moved as fast as he could get close to the inuyoukai, his big brown eyes sparkling with happiness, a wide smile adorning his beautiful face. "Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Sesshoumaru did not move in the slightest, he remained standing on the spot with an expressionless face. His golden eyes continued to follow the figure of the human girl. Rin is starting to grow up. When she first met, the girl was still very small, her height only reaching her knees. Now, the girl's height had reached her waist. In a few more years, he would definitely grow again, pass through his waist, reach his chest, reach his shoulders.

The humans.

Humans have a very fast pace of organization than youkai like him. The girl in front of him would change and keep changing. However, looking at the girl, she also knew one thing; innocence, the twinkle of happiness in those clear brown eyes, and most importantly, her smile, because he will always take care of her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" opening both hands, Rin quickly hugged Sesshoumaru's waist. Raising his head at the inuyoukai, the smile on his face became wider and wider. "When are you coming home, Sesshoumaru-sama? Howwasyourjourney? Is the Eastern Land fun? Is spring in the East more beautiful than the West? Are the cherry blossoms there blooming? Apa—"

"Rin." cut Sesshumaru softly with his voice that remained flat, though inwardly, he felt quite funny. The little girl in front of him never changed, that is; never scared and full of curiosity.

Rin immediately let go of her embrace and raised her hands shut her mouth. His face that was staring at Sesshoumaru instantly turned timid, "M-sorry, Sesshoumaru-sama.. Rin didn't mean to be disrespectful..."

Rin's expression only made Sesshoumaru close his eyes. He doesn't like. That timid expression, no matter how small, Sesshoumaru did not like it. He doesn't want Rin to be afraid of him, he just wants the girl to smile and laugh for him. Opening his eyes, he immediately carried the little girl carefully so that his armor did not hurt the fragile body.

Shocked by Sesshoumaru's sudden sling, Rin immediately placed her two small hands on the inuyoukai's shoulders. The fear on the face immediately disappeared, replaced in confusion, and as he looked at the handsome face in front of him again - looking at the golden eyes that were now looking at him gently, a feeling of joy filled his heart. Sesshoumaru was not bothered by his endless questions, Ssshoumaru was not angry with him.

"Sesshoumaru-sama," raised his small right hand, Rin walked down the handsome face of the inuyoukai in front of him gently. A big smile filled his face again. "Rin forgot to say it, 'Okaeri', Rin is glad Sesshoumaru-sama has finally come home.."

Those very simple words as well as that smile, once again, managed to make that foreign warmth fill Sesshoumaru's heart. The little hand that touched his face was so different from his rough and cold hand, it was so soft and warm.

"Sesshoumaru-sama!" call Rin again with a smile that still expands on the face. "Rin wants to convey to Sesshoumaru-sama! The orchid Rin planted has already flowered! Rin wants to show it to Sesshoumaru-sama. Sesshoumaru-sama wants to see it, right?"

Sesshoumaru nodded slowly and got a reply to Rin's sweet laughter. "Then, let's go see her together, Sesshoumaru-sama!"

Stepping foot, Sesshoumaru immediately walked towards the place where he knew the orchid flower Rin was referring to. He did not let down the human girl, and it made her laugh again with happiness, because, Rin had always liked her; their closeness.

Once upon a time, when Rin was just starting to follow the inuyoukai, the touch, sling and hug between them was something very rare. However, since that day, one year ago, when Rin asked the question can he embrace the inuyoukai. Touch, slinging and hugging become something they often do. Sesshoumaru often holds Rin, while Rin often hugs Seshoumaru, even though, only when they are alone, far from the sight of others.

Rin did not understand why it could happen, but he never asked the inuyoukai, because it was all not important. Importantly, touching, slinging and hugging was something the girl loved very much, something she had always expected.

As they arrived in front of the Angrek flower that Rin was referring to, Sesshoumaru's golden eyes caught dozens of well-planted and beautifully blooming angrek flowers.

"Beautiful, right, Sesshoumaru-sama?" ask Rin slowly.

Sesshoumaru's praise made Rin's face glow red. Bowing his head down, he desperately held back the laughter that wanted to slide out. 'Excellent work, Rin.', how short a compliment that made him happy. For the inuyoukai, he although a little, now, has been useful.

Commendations.

To Sesshoumaru, that compliment was actually something that the human girl deserved. A year after he handed the park over to her, Rin has managed to transform it from an ordinary garden into the most beautiful garden ever. Rin had a pair of green hands; the hands of life. No matter what flower it is planted with, it will definitely grow very fast, well and bloom beautifully.

Staring at Rin again, Sesshoumaru again observed the girl. The simple code of western emblems, and the bare feet, if Inukimi saw Rin's figure like this, she would definitely not be happy. But, Sesshoumaru did not care. Free from the heavy twelve-layer kimono, tabi and sandals, a very simple figure, yet still unmatchedly beautiful, that was the real Rin.

Raising his head slowly, Rin gave a small smile looking at Sesshoumaru. "Sesshoumaru-sama, after returning from the east this time, Sesshoumaru-sama is not going anywhere anymore, right? In the near future.."

Remaining silent a thousand languages, Sesshoumaru nodded his head slowly in response. He's not going anywhere again for a year. He would go through the rest of spring, summer, autumn and winter at the Western Land Palace, undergoing all his duties as a ruler as well as paying attention to Rin's education.

Yep. Rin Education. A year ago, too, since he gave this garden to Rin. Several youkai from various places suddenly came to the Western Land Palace, and they were all youkai directly instructed by Inukimi to educate Rin. From manners, how to read and write, ikebana, music, dancing, general knowledge, youkai history, even politics—all of it is taught to Rin. Sesshoumaru did not mind that, because he did want Rin to be more educated than anyone, and the girl herself was also very interested in it all. His great curiosity, always makes him ask questions and study hard. However, of all that, which is rather unexpected maybe Rin always gets perfect grades from all the lessons. Though always innocent and naive, the youkai who taught him admitted that Rin was actually a very clever boy.

Busy with lessons and also take care of the park that became Rin's daily activities, although strange and unacceptable to anyone, it did not keep the human girl from the lowly youkai in the Palace of the West Land. On the sidelines of his busy life, he can still take the time to help and blend with them secretly. Kiri and Kira have given up on keeping the girl away from the lowly youkai, and Sesshoumaru himself, despite his dislike, allows Rin to do as he pleases, as he does not want the girl to grieve.

"really? Sesshoumaru-sama isn't going anywhere?" rin asked cheerfully excitedly. "Sisa spring, then summer, autumn and winter this year, we will go through it again like last year, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumaru nodded his head slowly. Same as last year, they will pass this year like last year.

The rest of spring, they will pass together. Sesshoumaru would take care of all his duties as usual, then by the time he had free time, he would have spent that time in this garden, sitting down enjoying the spring with Rin. Rin would tell her what she was going through that day, arranging flowers, reading and writing poetry together, and sometimes, the little girl would play the shamisen, sing and dance for him if you are sure enough to master it.

For Summer, at the beginning of the season, Sesshoumaru will sit in the garden staring at the figure of Rin who began to plant and bloom the summer flowers. And when the flowers had bloomed, she would again hear all the little girl's stories, let her string flowers, read and write poetry poems together, hear the shamisen being picked, and let her do it, singing and dancing are like spring again. Then, at night, they would sit together, staring at the stars or the moon while hearing the sound of an infection enjoying the summer.

Autumn, like early summer, Sesshoumaru will again see the figure of Rin planting and blooming autumn flowers, as well as what they will do later when the flowers have bloomed, it stays the same as spring and summer. Different from autumn with spring and heat is the place where they enjoy it. They will sit under the marple trees at the end of the garden, where the leaves have turned red and fallen. At times, he would be able to see the little human girl running, jumping full of laughter to catch the fallen marple leaves.

Then, for winter, the season that Sesshoumaru likes the most. A season where only the strong can live, a season where there are no flowers blooming. Rin will build a snow doll for him. Rin will not be allowed to play the shamisen or dance this season in the park, because the inuyoukai do not want the girl to be cold. Wrapped in a thick kimono, the little girl would always sit next to him, covered in her mokomoko to keep her warm. Only singing and making and reciting poetry together would they do to fill their daily lives, and that was a bit rare, for winter was the season they would enjoy in peaceful silence.

"Rin is so happy, Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin is very happy to be able to enjoy all the seasons again with Sesshoumaru-sama like last year!" opening her hands, Rin immediately hugged Sesshoumaru's neck and buried her face in her mokomokos while laughing.

Rin's embrace made Sesshoumaru close his eyes. Inhaling Rin's smell, feeling the sensation of spring in spring, she felt very comfortable. This little girl hugged him like this, not knowing why, always felt so right.

"Ri." Call Sesshoumaru then. His eyes opened again, and he slowly put the little girl's bare feet back on the ground. Releasing his arms, Rin stared at the inuyoukai as it began to take something out from inside his kimono arm and handed something to him, namely; cherry blossom seeds.

"S-Sesshoumaru-sama, this.."

"Sakura flowers in the east are quite beautiful. However, I'm sure you can grow even more beautiful sakura in this garden."

Rin's mouth opened open in shock at what Sesshoumaru said. Receiving it, the girl stared fixedly at the cherry blossom seedlings in her hands. Tears flowed down her cheeks, unparalleled happiness filled her little heart, so to breathe she found it hard. Sesshoumaru-sama brought her cherry blossom seeds from her journey, does this mean, Sesshoumaru-sama thought about it during her trip? A question suddenly flashed through his mind, a question he had long wanted to ask the inuyoukai since the day he was left in the human village.

Rin's right hand was then lifted tightly grasping the hakama Sesshoumaru, his face still full of tears staring at that inuyoukai face. His cheeks that always glow reddish like a rose getting reddened, the, his facial expression that was usually always full of happiness and smile turned into a timid facial expression an expression that was very worrisome and had never seen Sesshoumaru all this time.

Swallowing his saliva and gathering all his courage, Rin immediately closed his eyes firmly. "S-Sesshoumaru-sama, do you miss Rin? As long as Rin is not on the side, does Sesshoumru-sama miss Rin, as Rin always misses Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Sesshoumaru's golden eyes widened at the question Rin asked him. Staring at the figure of Rin who was still blindfolded waiting for his answer, for the first time, he did not know what to answer. Taking a short breath, the inuyoukai then closed his eyes and answered the question with an answer he always gave the girl.

"Don't ask anything useless."

Sesshoumaru's reply immediately made Rin open her eyes. His facial expression immediately changed, he quickly lowered his head back down. Don't know why? His heart suddenly felt very sick with the answer he got. Disillusioned. There was an unstoppable feeling of disappointment that now filled his heart. He was sad, Sesshoumaru did not miss him, he was there or not beside, for the inuyoukai, everything was the same.

Sesshoumaru could feel the sadness and disappointment of Rin's heart very clearly, and he did not care for her. Raising his hand, he quickly pulled the body of the little girl closer to him. Looping his hands around the girl's waist and bending down, he immediately hugged her tightly.

Longs.

Did he miss Rin during their separation? Sesshoumaru never knew. Because honestly, he himself actually never understood, what a feeling of longing was. He did not want to lie to the little girl, he who did not know what it was to miss, would not be able to answer the girl's question. During his journey, during their separation, how he felt about the girl, he did not understand, however, he knew enough of one thing, namely; whenever the girl was not there beside him, he did not understand, he will always think about it. Thinking of her pleasant smell, thinking of her melodious voice like the clink of a bell, thinking of her warm touch, thinking of her dazzling smile. It would never disappear for a second from his mind, and when they met again, he would always want to smell it, hear the sound, see the smile, see the smile, hugging and feeling the warmth of that little body—ingin she always be by his side.

"S-Sesshoumaru-sama.." Rin is very surprised by Sesshoumaru's sudden embrace, because, this is the first time Sesshoumaru has embraced her like this. During this time, he was the one who hugged her often, not the inuyoukai. That Inyoukai just always held her, not hugged her. However, feeling the warmth of the body even longer, Rin immediately threw away the confusion in her heart. Raising his hand slowly, he returned the hug and smiled slightly.

'Did Sesshoumaru-sama miss Rin?'

The question came back to Rin's mind. The question was answered by Sesshoumaru with an answer that has really become his trademark. But, that inuyoukai attitude now, may it, right? Can he think that the inuyoukai that were so precious to him actually missed him so much when they separated? Not knowing why, without being answered again, an answer appeared in his heart. The answer that instantly made tears of happiness flow down and laughed loosely while tightening his embrace.

'yes. This Sesshoumaru also missed Rin.'

....xoxOx....