InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Naraku's Expiriment ❯ Rin's Garden ( Chapter 16 )

Chapter 16 ~ Rin's Garden

 

“So where is this garden, Rin?” Autumn asked, as they wandered through the castle.

 

“We're almost there,” she said. Then, after a moment's hesitation she said, “I love you Autumn-san.”

 

Autumn's eyes widened and she almost laughed. The only thing that kept her from doing so was the fact that it would've hurt Rin's feelings. She had forgotten what little kids were like. They were so sweet and kind, still shielded from the horrors of the world loving someone for something as small as giving them a sweet piece of candy.

 

“Thanks Rin, I love you too.”

 

Rin squealed in delight and took off running, catching Autumn by surprise. Autumn had to chase after Rin shouting cries of `slow down!' and panicked everytime the girl disappeared around a bend. Finally Rin came to a stop outside of a heavy oak door. She waited a few moments for suspense and then opened the door. Autumn stared around in shock. There were gorgeous flowers everywhere in every shade of the rainbow. And the smell was… heavenly.

 

“Rin,” she asked slowly. “Did you plant all these flowers?”

 

“Hai,” she said. “All of them. Rin tends them too, with Sesshoumaru-sama's help.”

 

I can't believe it. Sesshoumaru gardens?! Autumn turned her attention back to Rin. Oh dear, what was she up to now?

 

Rin was, in fact, crawling under a low hanging cherry blossom branch and slowly disappearing from sight, clearly expecting Autumn to follow, which she did, getting leaves and petals in her hair as a result. It turned out to lead to a secret path composed entirely of bushes and vines. It reminded her of a scene out of a My Neighbor Totoro movie she had seen as a child.

 

Did the little girl do all of this, because if she did, she's a genius.

 

The path lead to a small clearing with a pond filled with brightly colored koi. There was also a little waterfall, Autumn supposed was supoosed to bring good luck. She was at a loss for words just because of the sheer beauty of it. “Rin…I don't know what to say,” Autumn said, unable to stop looking around.

 

Rin grinned, “This is Rin's thinking place.” She crawled over to the pond and dangled her fingers in the water saying, “Here fishy, fishy…”

 

Autumn lay on the ground, staring up at the sakura blossoms overhead. With the petals falling around them, Autumn couldn't help but feel that they were trapped in a pink tinted winter wonderland. She was starting to doze off when she heard Rin ask, “Are you Rin's new mommy?”

 

Autumn's eyes snapped open, “What?”

 

Rin seemed to wonder if she'd overstepped her bounds. Perhaps it was an issue that occurred frequently with Sesshoumaru. “Are you Rin's new mommy?” she repeated carefully, leaving plenty of room for argument.

 

“I don't know, Rin. Do you want me to be?”

 

“Yes!” No hesitation.

 

“Do you love Sesshoumaru?”

 

“Yes!” Again, No hesitation.

 

“What about Jaken?”

 

Rin thought for a moment but said, to Autumn's surprise, “Jaken-sama can be mean, but Rin loves him any-how. Now, will you be Rin's mommy?”

 

Autumn sighed. “I will be, but only if it's all right with Sesshoumaru.” And of course, it probably won't be, she added silently.

 

“It will be all right if you're married with Sesshoumaru!”

 

“I don't think that's possible, Rin,” Autumn said.

 

“Why not?”

 

Autumn took a deep breath. “First of all, he's so much older than I am. Second of all, he's a demon, I'm a hanyou. I'm under the impression that he doesn't like half-breeds.”

 

“Half-breeds?”

 

“Inuyasha,” Autumn said.

 

“Oh.” Her face fell a little. “Sesshoumaru-sama doesn't like Inuyasha.”

 

“I'm just like him, Rin. I don't think he'd be very happy if he was stuck with me.”

 

“OK.” Rin looked like she might cry.

 

“Hey, but we'll have some fun for a little while, right?” Autumn asked, trying to cheer her up.

 

“Hai,” Rin said sleepily. “Fun.” Then she curled up next to Autumn and fell asleep. Autumn realized that she was tired herself, and the two of them slept with the pink petals cascading around them.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

When Autumn woke up, Rin was sitting on her chest, doing something to her head.

 

“Um, Rin? What are you doing?”

 

“Playing with the ears!” she said happily. “Fuzzy little ears.”

 

I must've become a hanyou again as I slept, she thought. Examining a strand of her hair she saw the tell-tale silver streaks and knew that it was true.

 

“RIN!”

 

“Sesshoumaru-sama!” Rin shouted with pure joy. She grabbed Autumn's hand and took off running.

 

Sesshoumaru turned out to be waiting in one of the main hallways. “You're a hanyou again,” he said.

 

Autumn nodded slightly, giving him a what's in to ya? face.

 

“And you've been in Rin's garden.”

 

“How did you know?”

 

Without a word, he reached forward slightly and plucked a petal from her hair.

 

“Rin showed her the flowers and Rin's fishies! Then she played with the kitty ears!”

 

Sesshoumaru sighed. “Do not get attached to her, Rin. She will be leaving soon.”

 

Rin looked as though she'd just been slapped. “What? Why?”

 

“Do not contradict me, Rin.” He did not take his gold eyes from Autumn. She swallowed, not liking that look. Naraku gave that look her when he threatened to kill her and Inuyasha gave her that look when he tried to cut the shikon shard from her flesh with the tetsusaiga.

 

Rin stood her ground. “Can she stay?”

 

Sesshoumaru gave her a frown, which was rare. “Go to your room. I wish to speak with the hanyou…alone.”

 

Rin looked up at him, uncertain, but nodded and went on her way.

 

The last word stung Autumn like a blow. Alone…alone?! He's sending the girl away? Ohmigod! This is NOT good!!! She struggled to quell her fear as she watched Rin disappear. When she turned back around, the silver haired youkai was gone.