Till The End Of Time [Inuyasha Fanfiction ]
Chapter 82's

Akihiko looked at Rin who was running around hugging Sesshoumaru full of laughter. He also saw how the two inuyoukai hands returned the embrace tightly.

Akihiko's two fingers clenched tightly together, but, he couldn't do anything either. All he could do now was; see.

"He won't love you, Akihiko-sama." Tsubasa's calm and flat voice suddenly sounded. He who sat quietly beside Akihiko could clearly read the facial expression of the ruler of the southern land.

Akihiko did not reply to Tsubasa's words. His two eyes were still staring at the figure of the human girl on the stage with a single smile on his face. Rin won't love him, she knows. But can you stop loving that girl?

Singing and dancing, beauty and innocence, smiles and laughter, gentleness and kindness, then warmth and happiness. All who formed the girl–Akihiko knew, she would not be able to forget him for the rest of her life.

Loving Rin is easy, knowing her for a few days, Akihiko has fallen in love, and day by day, the love is getting bigger. However, to forget that love that had blossomed, he did not know how to do so.

Tsubasa said nothing more. He could only stare at Akihiko with a broken heart. He clearly remembered those sky blue eyes shining so gently and lovingly upon seeing the human girl singing and dancing.

Tsubasa knew, Akihiko also realized, the human girl would not look at him. Forever, in those brown eyes there was only the figure of Sesshoumaru from the west. He loved her, even though he knew the human girl would not love him.

The world is so funny, she never thought Akihiko would be like her. The love that was so expected, Akihiko would not have it. Just like herself, the love that Tsubasa hoped for would also never have her.–love that clapped one hand for good.

....xoxOx....

Night has arrived, in Rin's room, Kagome helps Rin put on her kimono again after finishing checking the human girl's health.

Staring at Rin lekat, a wide smile then adorned the beautiful face of Kagome.

"Why are you staring at Rin like this, Kagome-sama?" ask Rin slowly.

Kagome's smile was widening. "I didn't know what I saw today, Rin-chan."

"You mean?" ryn asked confusedly.

"Look at you singing and dancing with Sesshoumaru playing shakuhachi" replied Sango who was there with an equally wide smile.

"Yes," interrupted Kagome quickly with sparkling eyes. "You two are really like paintings, Rin-chan. It's beautiful."

Kagome remembers vividly, in the cherry blossom garden on stage. The figure of Rin who sings and dances freely with Sesshoumaru who blows shakuhachi. Human and youkai, but, they are so harmonious, so beautiful–perfect without flaw.

Rin's face flushed to hear Kagome's praise. Down, she was silent, but a smile spread across her pretty face.

"But, it's completely unexpected that Big Brother can play shakuhachi that well. It turns out that he has a high artistic soul." Kagome continued. Who would have thought that an inuyoukai with an expressionless flat face that was only chasing strength turned out to have such a hidden skill?

Kagome's words made Rin lift her head and laugh out loud. "Sesshoumaru-sama is not only an expert at playing shakuhachi, Kagome-sama. He also plays koto. Then, you are right, Sesshoumaru-sama does have a high artistic soul, because he is also very good at painting."

Rin's explanation took Kagome and Sango by surprise. They could not imagine what Sesshoumaru would look like playing koto. Then, painting?–they couldn't imagine it either.

"Ugh, why is Inuyasha so different from Brother, huh?" muttered Kagome slowly remembered Inuyasha who had no art soul at all.

"I heard it, Kagome!!!" inuyasha shouted outside Rin's room with Miroku, Kira and Kiri.

Kagome paid no heed to Inuyasha's screams. He just sighed. "And Shiro is also very similar to Inuyasha. I don't think the kid will have the art soul either."

"Castrian soul is better than art soul, Kagome!!!" yell Inuyasha again. Outside Rin's room, he folded both hands on his chest full of annoyance. What is the use of being able to play an instrument or paint?– can swing a useful sword!!

"You're wrong, Inuyasha." laughed Miroku who saw Inuyasha's annoyed facial expression. He hit the shoulder of the inuanyou's spirit. "The soul of art is necessary to conquer the hearts of women."

"I'm worried about Mamoru's future with such a father." Sango muttered softly in despair hearing Miroku's laughter.

Rin and Kagome who heard Sango's words can only laugh. However, their laughter came to a halt as soon as they heard Inuysha's scream outside. "What do you need here!!?"

"Hamba comes to meet, Rin-sama." Reply to the soft voice of a woman suddenly.

Rin, Kagome and Sango in the room could clearly hear the woman's voice, and they also knew the owner of the voice; tsubasa.

Opening the room door, Rin finds Tsubasa standing not far in front of her with Inuyasha holding her back. "Tsubasa-sama?"

"Can I have four eyes with you, Rin-sama?"

....xoxOx....

Sesshoumaru stared at the night sky within the forest not far from the southern land palace. His golden eyes could see a two-headed dragon youkai flying down towards him–Ah-un.

Overjoyed at seeing Sesshoumaru, Ah-un who landed in front of the inuyoukai did not stop neighing with happiness and wagging her tail.

"Finally, this dragon arrived as well" said Inukimi, who did not know when he had been behind Sesshoumaru slowly. A smile adorned his face. "You've prepared all the preparations for returning west, haven't you, Sesshoumaru?"

Sesshoumaru did not say anything, he did not even turn his head in the slightest to the former ruler of the western land.

"After returning west. What are you gonna do, Sesshoumaru?" inukimi asked again not to care.

Sesshoumaru remained silent, but, a moment later, he replied. "Something this Sesshoumaru must do."

"Oh?" inukimi exclaims quietly. However, the smile on his face grew wider. "What do you have to do?"

Inukimi's question this time made Sesshoumaru turn his back to face the inuyoukai who gave birth to him. "Make everything clear, Mother."

Sesshoumaru did not reply to Inukimi directly. He stared at the former ruler of the western land for a moment and then raised his head upwards. "This Jesshoumaru wants to give everything Rin should get."

"Oh??" inukimi exclaimed again though in fact, he did not understand the words of his son.

"Rin is human. Despite growing up in the youkai world, Rin is human. Therefore, this Sesshoumaru wants to do it according to human tradition."

Sesshoumaru's explanation made Inukimi's eyes widen. He doesn't seem to believe what he hears.

Lowering his head, Sesshoumaru looked back at Inukimi. "This Jesshoumaru wants Rin to be as happy as she should be."

....xoxOx....

"What do you want to talk about with Rin, Tsubasa-sama?" rin asked with a smile. Both of his eyes looked at the friendly Tsubasa who was sitting in front.

In this room right now, there are only two of them; Rin and Tsubasa. The human girl kindly accepted the request of the beloved concubine of the ruler of the southern land who wanted to talk alone without caring about the protests of Inuyasha, Kira, Kiri and the others.

Tsubasa looked back at Rin in silence. He did not know this human girl was innocent or stupid, but, this hime from the west was completely without vigilance.

"Rin-sama," call Tsubasa later. His face was flat without emotion, as was his voice. "Hamba wants you to rethink your decision to reject the position of southern Kisaki."

Rin was silent at Tsubasa's words. Both of his eyes were wide in surprise. However, a moment later he stared at the puzzled youkai bird in front of him. "Why?"

"Because you'll be happier in the south. Being the southern Kisaki, Akihiko-sama will give you everything. Servants will also help you; you will be the most respected woman in Japan."

Rin did not reply to Tsubasa's words anymore. Silently, he looked at Tsubasa who continued to speak.

"What the west can give, the south will give. Don't reject Akihiko-sama's offer, be Kisaki from the south. Akihiko-sama loves you!"

"What about your love?" rina asked suddenly. Her clear brown eyes were not moved from Tsubasa's face.

Rin's question made Tsubasa stunned. Secretly, he did not know what to say.

"You love Akihiko-sama, don't you, Tsubasa-sama?" ask Rin again. "Rin can see it from the way you look at Akihiko-sama."

"Akihiko-sama loves you." Quick reply Tsubasa.

"But, Rin loves Sesshoumaru-sama!" rin shouted suddenly. Both of his eyes shone seriously without a doubt.

Tsubasa was speechless looking at Rin's facial expression. The two clear eyes that were looking at him seriously made him fixate.

"Can you stop loving Akihiko-sama if anyone loves you, Tsubasa-sama?"

"H-servant." replied Tsubasa stammeringly. But he could not find the strength to answer.

The sad smiling face of Akihiko who was looking gently at the human girl was reflected in Tsubasa–'s mind making her heart feel very sick.

Why could she throw away her pride and come ask this human girl to become a south kisaki?–that's because she knew Akihiko would be happy. Because the wolf youkai will be happy. For that, he will learn to satisfy himself just by being next to the man he loves–even though the woman is not him.

Therefore, stop loving Akihiko? How'd he do it? No matter who loved her, Tsubasa knew that she would never be able to take her eyes off the daiyoukai. Ever since he was saved when he was just a little bird, Akihiko has been his world.

"You can't, can you, Tsubasa-sama?" ask Rin again. A small smile adorned her beautiful face. "Rin is also like you, Rin can't stop loving Sesshoumaru-sama."

Tsubasa's love, Rin knows. He had already heard about the story of a little bird who turned into a powerful youkai in order to return the favor to the ruler of the southern lands who saved his life. Then, when they met, when he saw the eyes of the youkai bird staring at the ruler of the southern land, Rin realized–not return the favor. What makes the bird a strong youkai is not return, but; love.

Slowly, Rin approached Tsubasa. Not caring for the surprised expression of the bird's youkai, he raised both hands and hugged her tightly. "Love you–Rin understand."

Just like Tsubasa's love for Akihiko, so too is Rin's love for Sesshoumaru. The love of those who expect happiness for their loved ones, the love of those who will already satisfy themselves by being next to the man they love.

Rin's words stunned Tsubasa. Warm embrace, understanding speech. Tsubasa's heart ached even more.

Love is a useless feeling. Love is something that makes you weak and lost. Love is weakness.

Love in a youkai world is something that is not necessary. In his entire life, no one has ever understood his love. However, today, from the mouth of the human girl he hated, he heard the word–understand.

Slowly, with trembling hands, Tsubasa raised both her hands to return Rin's warm embrace. Unstoppable, her tears dripping down her cheeks.

Why is she crying? Tsubasa doesn't know. The pain that ripped the heart became more and more, however, in every pain that existed, a new feeling emerged so strongly; a feeling of relief.

Her cute love, her useless love, her stupid love and her sincere love this human girl understands completely.

....xoxOx....

Sesshoumaru stood still motionlessly at Rin and Tsubasa's talk. Hearing the human girl's confession of love for the umpteenth time, she could only attempt to control the heartbeat and smile that almost filled her face.

Loved like that, how warm Sesshoumaru's heart felt. Beyond anything, the human girl wanted to be by his side and would not stop loving him.

The eyes of Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku and Sango who were staring at Rin's room moved staring at Sesshoumaru. They didn't say anything, but inwardly, they guessed what the inuyoukai's feelings were after hearing the confession of love from the human girl.

The silent Sesshoumaru then turned his head to Kagome. "Miko, follow this Sesshoumaru, someone wants this Sesshoumaru to ask."

....xoxOx....