InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Botanist and the Beast ❯ Chapter 3: Pieces of Your Heart ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I don't own, Sesshou, Rin and all other inu char's, “Me and Charlie Talking” is a song by Miranda Lambert I don't own it either, I barely own a beat to hell Dodge. Takahashi Rumiko, Miranda: I don't think the van is worth fighting over...

 

The Botanist and the Beast

Chapter 3: Pieces of Your Heart

 

Dear Alice,

You missed our last croquette game. I have enclosed an envelope, postage paid, please mail me your head, and I'll see you next month.

-The Queen of Hearts

 

Traveling in the feudal era is slow going, even with Ah-Un, it was nothing more than a protracted march from one place to the next and I was self conscious of everything. In the field researchers don't have the luxury of a toilet often, and so I was used to making due in the woods, but knowing that I was traveling with a Inu-yokai who's sense of smell was probably twenty times better than mine made be nervous and I longed for the unembarrassed and practiced ease in which Rin settled into daily life on the road.

 

The first night out I hung back, watching what was obviously a routine with the four companions. (Though having two heads I counted Ah-Un as one entity.) Jaken unsaddled Ah-Un and lowered the beast's pack to the ground. Rin gathered firewood and then Jaken easily started a fire with a flame from his staff. Ah-Un drew near them and sat the three travelers formed a circle around the fire and Rin and Jaken settled into a comfortable banter as Rin drew some roots, berries and mushrooms she had gathered along the train from her kimono and began to assemble them into a meal. Sesshomaru sat apart from the group eyes drooped staring at nothing as he leaned against his tree and I marveled that he managed to make the pose appear regal.

 

I had been sitting away from the group, lingering at the edge of the clearing. Until I realized Rin was going to eat her foraged meal cold and then I approached them pulling a pot from Ah-Un's pack. Moving to the fire I brought forth a sack of rice, some herbs from my medicine bag and a dried fish I had salvaged from the village. Pouring the remaining water from my canteen into the pot I began to cook and moments later an enticing aroma soon filled the clearing. Even Jaken eyed the pot with greedy interest. For the fist time since we had left the castle I spoke, “Rin may I please have your mushrooms and roots for the stew?” she nodded eagerly and began to prattle about how delicious my cooking always was and about various food items that can be found in the direction we where headed.

 

Putting a content smile on my features I tuned her out and continued my task until the rice was cooked and the broth was thick. I went to Ah-Un's pack again and retrieved three bowls and chopsticks. Spooning equal portions into each I offered the first to Rin and the second to Jaken. Suddenly, it was as if we where sharing a meal in my little hut, and nothing had ever happened. Rin and Jaken bantered back and forth, Jaken complained that his portion was smaller and the food was horrible as he devoured every morsel and I argued with him as Rin defended my cooking and berated the toad for his inconsiderate behavior.

 

After, Rin leaned lazily against Ah-Un's side and Jaken sat cross-legged, his arms folded staring into the fire; the two-headed staff balanced in the crook of his arm. I gathered the dishes, kettle, water bottles and a change of cloths from Ah-Un's bundle. I strode to the river, not sparing a glance from the path at the thoughtful Yokai as I passed. If everyone else is ignoring him then so shall I, after all they know him best.

 

The water was frigid. I filled the kettle and my water bottles. Then I bathed and dress quickly before hurriedly washing the dishes and returning to the group. Setting the kettle to boil I put the other items away and noticed that both Rin and Jaken where drifting to sleep. When the water boiled I made tea, recovered my medicine bag and with her tea in hand I went to Rin's side.

 

“Rin,” I said softly, shaking the dozing child awake, “I need to look and your wound dear, and you need to drink your tea.” She nodded sleepily taking the tea from me and drinking it down as I opened the front of her kimono and gently pealed back the bandages.

 

The wound was heeling more quickly than I was used to and I was pleased at how well it looked. “You are going to have quite an interesting scar to explain to your husband some day, Hotaru.” I said as I methodically cleaned and redressed the injury. Rin giggled.

 

“I'm never going to get married Donella-sama.” She said cheerfully.

 

“Never say never, dear heart, fate has a way of turning your life upside down, and love is a flower that can blossom in even the harshest of environments.” I said with a conviction that I did not feel closing her kimono and laying her back against Ah-Un and covering her with a blanket.

 

“Donella-sama, what's love like? Have you ever been in love?” The child goes for the jugular doesn't she? I thought about her question for a while before answering.

 

“Love and death are the only things that can stretch through the length of eternity. You can love many people, and each one takes a piece of your heart with them wherever they go.” I sighed, “I loved a man once, he was proud and strong, and now he's dead and I'm, he took that piece of my heart with him to the grave and I'm still learning how to live without it…” I trailed off sadly as I fought my melancholy. “You can never get those pieces of you heart back. When love is over it can leave you stronger and weaker, but I know I would do it again if I could.” I finished and the child peeked up at me with thoughtful, sleepy eyes.

 

“Why would you want to hurt yourself again?” I smiled.

 

“Because, even though it hurts sometimes, and I miss him a lot, I'm better because I loved him and I have a lot of happy memories.”

 

“What was he like, the man you loved.” I chuckled leaning back against the dragon and slipping under the blanket next to her. “Adrian.” I breathed the name like a pray thinking back to his quiet speech and soft smile. “Adrian was always trying to defend people who where too stupid or too weak to do it for themselves. He used to take me to rallies and fundraisers for all these causes no one cared about. He spent his holidays giving coats and food to the homeless while the rest of us where at parties. He didn't talk much, but when he did it was always well said and carried a lot of importance. People admired him and even the ones he fought respected him. He worked hard to make me less cynical and more caring. Whenever he was around I felt like the whole world was a better place. He had so much hope and faith in the goodness of others it was infectious.” I paused thoughtfully sorting through my memories of that brief and happy time, working past the grief and anger I continued, “His one failing was that when he decided a path was the right one he would give everything he had to see its end even if he was the only one who believed in it. We argued a lot about his need to save those who didn't want saving but he made me think about how fragile and hard life is for everyone, and he convinced me that when we can, we should help.”

 

“He sounds very kind.” Rin mumbled into my side and I wrapped my arm around her and closed my tired eyes.

 

“Oh he was very kind, and smart and incredibly foolish.” I whispered.

 

“What happened to him?” So persistent, child you don't realize how much that question hurts.

 

“He died, a long time ago.” The pain in my voice was raw, even to my own ears, and being the insightful child she was Rin said, “Donella-sama, please sing me a song,” and so I sang `Me and Charlie Talking' and thought of my past as the child at my side drifted to sleep, and eventually, I went there too.

 

 

Author's Note: I don't really like this chapter, but I needed to transition… Any suggestions about improvements are welcome.