Shikon no Go
The Language of the Shikon
A Fanfic in 100 Chapters

DISCLAIMER: This story is based off of "Kendo no Go: A Fanfic in 100 Chapters" by Akai Kitsune. Her story in turn is a parody of "In the Language of Love," a story by Diane Schoemperlen. My thanks and appreciation goes out to Akai Kitsune for letting me borrow her fic idea! "Inuyasha" is the property of Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 93: Quiet

It made sense to Sesshoumaru to place Rin among her own people, but it baffled him that she still preferred to spend time with him. He obliged her, finding his way to the village where his hanyou brother sat and sulked over the miko who left them for the future — though Inuyasha would insist with his dying breath that was not what he was doing.

On one of these trips, Rin caught his sleeve. He gave her an arch look and tried not to realize she was becoming a beautiful young woman.

Sesshoumaru would not be his father.

"I want to visit the place where Kagura died," she said. "Can we go please, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

Ah, who was he to deny that sort of request?

It wasn't that hard to reach the meadow where Kagura died, where the flowers still bloomed.

I am the wind. The free wind.

Rin didn't say anything as she took in the flowers, the small animals darting among the grasses. The years had gifted her with the ability to remain silent, though there were times Sesshoumaru missed her innocent babbling.

"It's so quiet here," Rin finally said. "Is that she chose to die here, Sesshoumaru-sama? Because it was quiet?"

The reality was that her strength most likely had given out around here. The scent of Naraku's miasma had been strongest here when he'd found her, the airy essence that surrounded Kagura was nearly gone.

"Perhaps," he replied.

"Are you sad she died?"

"She was no longer in pain."

"Oh." Rin hugged herself as she gazed about the meadow. "That's important, isn't it? It hurt a lot when I died. I'm glad, then."

It was the most Rin had ever said about the death that Sesshoumaru had resurrected her from. She once commented that it felt like taking a nap, but he knew she'd been devoured by wolves. She had badgered him then, begged him in her childish manner to not forget her. He wouldn't.

Nor had he forgotten Kagura.

Rin filled her arms with flowers and began to laugh as she grabbed one-too-many blooms. A strong breeze blew through the meadow, catching the hem of Rin's yukata and causing some of the flowers to dance away in the wind. Rin reached for one, but it floated out of reach and into the sky.

"Look, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Rin clutched the flowers to her as the runaway bloom sailed away. "Do you suppose Kagura is still with us?"

The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. "Yes, I suppose she is."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is a companion piece to chapter 61, "Remember." The original title of this chapter was "Quiet."