A flower that blooms in the darkness

"Mmm, he is! Though I do have to admit I am a bit jealous of him, because he can do something I never could do…" It was true, though she had tried she had eventually realized that Touga was the only one who could ever unlock the “real Sesshomaru.” and he would always be the most important person in his life. No matter how much Sesshomaru might have come or would come to care about her, his number one would always be Touga. And she was okay with that, she had finally allowed herself to accept it. Though it would be a lie and a denial of her true feelings if she said she wasn’t a little bit sad over it… Her true love was Kohaku and yet ever since he died she had begun to develop slight feelings for her life-long protector. However she had confused those feelings for romantic, while she did love Sesshomaru deeply she now began to see that her love for him was like that of a guardian angel to its child, a daughter to its father and despite their age differences… Some might even say, a mother and her child. They were protecting and guiding each other, one physically and the other emotionally but the strength of their bond was equal nevertheless. And just for that she was grateful, that no matter what happened to her on this journey she knew that she would always have a irreplaceable spot in the daiyoukai’s heart. 

"He’s quite the stubborn hard-headed guy though, he couldn’t be honest about his true feelings to save his life! It could get extremely frustrating especially when one can see that the object of his affections returns his feelings, really he’s so shy and closed up its almost ridiculous! But sometimes that’s what makes him so fun to tease~" She giggled again, though this time her laugh sounded a bit more mischievous than before. She couldn’t help it, just thinking of teasing the two would be lovebirds sent her into a fit of giggles, she supposed it was a bit much just to mess around but who thought about that when one was having fun? Besides, ultimately she was helping bring the two of them together. In truth that was why,- though she now understood her feelings- she still flirted with Sesshomaru, just to get a rise out of dear Touga.  But well, those were thoughts for another day.

Glancing back at the task at hand she mimicked the woman’s movements as they prepared to properly feed the flowers. ”Hai! That they do! You’re a very clever woman for figuring that out, I can tell you’ll be a natural at this!” She chirped cheerfully in response at the brunette’s astounding perception on how the more people that watered the flowers, the happier they became! 

Oh, wait… Didn’t she just say she had experience in this? She used to help a friend in a world where flowers were rare? How sad! Rin couldn’t ever imagine living in such a terrible world like that! How did these poor people manage to survive, not knowing the joy of flowers! How did the planet manage to survive? 

A dark cloud of fear began to engulf Rin’s heart as she suddenly got a terrible foreboding feeling just hearing about such a world… Would her world get to a point like that? With the way Shinra just kept on building and building and remaking Japan over she noticed more and more the demolishment of natural life, including plants and flowers. From what Kagome had told her, this country was slowly becoming like her country which from the sounds of it was all smoggy and yucky and barely had any natural life left! Was her home doomed to the same fate? 

No, she had to get those thoughts out of her head! She was here with a very nice lady and they were watering flowers together, be happy, just be happy! It would be no use worrying about it anyways.  

"A world without flowers… That sounds awful! I can’t imagine ever living in a world like that, I don’t think I’d be able to take it! Exactly what kind of world is this that you come from?" Well on the positive side, at least her friend sounded nice, exactly the type of person Rin would love to befriend! 

"I’m pleased to know that even in such dark, desolate place like the world you come from, there’s still a person thats able to appreciate the beauty in flowers. The fact that she’s taking care of some the remaining ones all by herself tells me that like you, she’s a very special person, a kind person. I’d like to meet her someday, then maybe all three of us can water flowers together!" That was it, always look on the bright side and stay positive, that’s what Rin was best at after all! Right now she had managed to make a new friend and even hear about another wonderful lady that was a fellow flower lover, really it was quite wonderful, she just had to concentrate on the good things that came her way today! 

As they began rolling up their sleeves, Rin couldn’t help but notice the scars that marred Tifa’s skin, those weren’t any ordinary scars… No, she’d know those scars from anywhere due to her many travels,  they were battle scars! So, this woman has been fighting a lot too?

There’s so many of them… I wonder just how much she’s been fighting, poor thing…

As soon as she saw the wounds, Rin immediately jumped into action, placing her hands on the brunettes shoulders and loudly announcing, “Ah, you’re hurt! Here, let me heal you!”

Putting her hands on the woman’s scars, Rin closed her eyes and began concentrating her powers. Suddenly green light began surrounding her and it seemed like little specks of light that almost looked like fireflies were forming around her. All the while she shouted these words loudly- 

"HEALING WIND!~"

Something she could never do? Those words brought out another observation though, one Tifa would make time and again in awe of such a positive voice, the switch of her emotions, and return of the girl’s cheery smile. Though the girl spoke many things, the barmaid merely nodded her head, listening whilst the reactions ran loud and grew into a multitude of different feelings. This vibrancy didn’t just come at the hands of youth, Tifa knew better. 

In truth, when one came into the bar, it took quite some time, and in many cases a good glass of beer, for any strangers or passerby to unravel enough for indulgence of idle chatter let alone make mention of those they cared about. One might say the same applied for the barmaid, as she was apt in avoiding general questions of the intimate fashion without seeming rude. When Cloud or Barret was mentioned, when Marlene or Denzel might pass by, it was always ‘Oh, he’s doing just fine. Aren’t the kids so polite? Yes, they’re a bit quiet. I’m doing good, would you like another glass?’ Real messages, real interaction was saved for the ones that always came, so rare was the random encounter like fate, like chemistry wanting for a mutual understanding.

And, that was alright. The passerby had other things in mind and Tifa was still learning. But there was one chance encounter, not in her bar, that was much the same in regards to a cheery face and open tone. In an unusual area she was not expecting to end up in, for Tifa she preferred this forest to the Don’s mansion any day. So beautiful and serene, a home for all yet forewarning to those that wished to reap selfishly. At least for the martial artist that was the case. The forewarning came from the dry leaves breaking from their branches, and the rain drops still evident upon the soil. She remembered well. It was within the most small of natural experiences, from the smells and heat and cold and wind. That was where the Lifestream sprung, where the flower girl took charge of a massive army no one but she could hear crying from the ground.

'Can you hear the cries of the planet?' She once asked, in the quiet of the night where they laid by camp fire in a forest similar to the one Tifa spoke to the young girl from. When carmine orbs met with vermilion so dazzling and words soft along that underlying mysticism, she had no answer to give. And there was still that Cetra's smile, proud of the honest in her own voice, and that was where it came from the familiarity. She’s a bit like Aerith, huh? Not just in the flowers alone, but the way she spoke to them. Like it was the most natural thing to her. More importantly, it was in her openness  how simple discussing her friends and reaching out to the helping hand Tifa had offered. These flowers seemed so important to her, and she was still willing for a stranger to touch them. 

However her happiness was short-lived as she realized the shocked and terrified way the young woman was staring at her and deep pit of despair began to rise inside her stomach as her eyes darkened at the sight.  N...No... Had she scared her? Disgusted her? Did she mess everything up? It was like the village all over again! Once they discovered her powers they shunned her, treated her like a freak of nature, like a devil child! Would this woman now think that way of her too? 

It was at times like this where she really hated being a Cetra, despised it! This so-called "Ancient" blood flowing through her veins, it was the bane of her existence, it ruined everything! The lives of her friends, her family! It isolated her and left her all alone, but most of all, it condemned her to a path she didn't want... If it weren't for her being a Cetra, she would be able to live the life of a normal girl, just be an everyday, ordinary girl, but no she couldn't. Because she had a duty as guardian of this planet, that's what being the sole surviving Cetra meant. Protecting this planet and all its living creatures. She would have to face that sooner or later, for she truly didn't have any choice. 

"W-What do you mean...? ...A-Are you alright? You look... Shocked." She asked softly, her voice trembling with every word though, afraid to find out what this kind-hearted woman now thought of her. 

  "Lets just say, it wouldn’t be pretty for him~ ♥" She said this all with a straight smile on her face and even let out a little giggle along with it too! Rin might have been gentle and kind-hearted but she possessed a secret dark side that rivaled even Sesshomaru’s angriest state! Just getting a glimpse of it made most people that came in contact with her uneasy. Who could have thought someone so seemingly pure had a bit of a devilish streak? And she wasn’t even ashamed of it either! 

Running her hand through her own dark locks as a refreshing breeze went by, she looked off into the direction the wind was taking the leaves. Still questioning what Inuyasha could be doing right about now. Despite how furious she was only minutes ago, it’s been getting more and more difficult to stay made at him lately. Gradually understanding why he felt the way he did about Kikyo, or rather still feels the way he does about her. Even after all she’s been through with him, it still bothers her a little. Not as though she doesn’t trust him or anything like that, and she certainly has no intentions of attempting to make him disregard his time with Kikyo. However, hearing about can be upsetting at times. Not only that, but by this point she can sometimes tell if Inuyasha is thinking about her, simply from his facial expression. Whether it be that of a joyful hanyou, or a distraught one.

"Kagome-sama what you're feeling is completely natural! Every girl wants to know that she's number one in her beloved's heart, its just one of the wonders that's part of being a woman!" She smiled softly, her smile filled with a wisdom that was quite beyond her years, but nevertheless rang true. 

"You have every right to know where you stand with Inuyasha-Oji and frankly he's in the wrong for not being clear about his feelings towards you, especially after all you've done for him! But honestly, I think he knows that he's just having trouble moving on, some people can't forget the stains of the past its part of living, but if he's just able to look to the future and truly see what's deep inside his heart, I'm sure he'll find you in its number one spot, I think he's just afraid to know that, afraid to forget about her... It doesn't mean that he loves her more, just that he feels like he can't allow himself to get  on with his life and be happy. I know a couple exactly like you two..." 

Well, maybe not exactly, but the intent was still there. Really, this was a lot like Touga and Sesshomaru's situation. They were both so busy dwelling on the past and pussyfooting around their feelings that they just couldn't be honest to each other about what they felt for the other! It was quite frustrating really, especially since both of them were so shy and unconfident in themselves and the other's feelings, when it was plain as day that they always shared the same feelings! Now if they could just realize it... 

"I think, you need to be honest about what you're feeling Kagome-sama. Tell Inuyasha-Oji how he's making you feel and ask him to confirm his feelings for you, jealousy is not anything one should hide or feel ashamed of, it is just a mark of proof of how much we care for that person, you should embrace it! But also... I think you should let him know that he doesn't have to be afraid, that you love him and that you'll always stay by his side no matter what and that he's a good person that deserves to be happy,  something tells me he needs the reassurance and needs to hear those words."

Though I suppose its becoming common-place these days what with Shinra having taken over the whole country… If they keep it up, pretty soon any natural greenery will be gone and in its place will just be cold, dark smoggy cities… No, I don’t want that! 

Her train of thought broke however by the mysterious man’s next few comments, chasing those dreary, unhappy thoughts away Rin managed to summon up a kind smile as she replied, “Mmm, that’s okay Mister I get told that a lot! Hee-hee, maybe its my natural womanly charm? I heard that tends to make a girl look younger, that or the fact that most of my traveling companions happen to be men, they’ve probably done wonders on my discovery of my feminity.” She teased. 

So he lives in Midgar... The now established capital city of Japan, a city that didn't even exist 10 years ago! The city of pollution and the headquarters of Shinra... She smiled a sad smile at the man, nodding slowly. "Yes, of course it would. I imagine anyone who would live in that city would feel sad, I'm sorry you have to live there Mister." 

Luckily though the man broke the solemn mood just by that one little observation and Rin quickly shifted back to her cheerful, sunny state albeit with a hint of mischief. "Aha-ha, Yes, I tend to get that a lot! Though quite honestly I'm not as innocent as I appear to be, quite far from it actually~" She teased, winking flirtatiously at the man.

 ”…Eh? Now? I really do wish I could but I’m afraid whether its clear of demons or not really isn’t the problem.” Sesshomaru-sama and the others are waiting for me. “You see, I’m on a journey with companions and though I’ve gone off on my own for now I’ll be expected to return to our campsite soon. If I leave for too long or go to far away they’ll be worried and I’d rather not trouble them, I’m terribly sorry! I hope you can understand.” She bowed, disappointment clear in her body language. She really did want to see the garden so, perhaps Aerith will still be around later and once she’s asked Sesshomaru-sama and the the others for permission she could go at night? She hoped so! 

Looking up she noticed that Aerith’s cheeks were tainted with a blush yet again, oh no did she say something weird again? She had been careful not to address her as sama, so why was she blushing? Just as she was about to ask Aerith responded to her own questions which caused Rin to get an even more bewildered look on her face. 

"Money? But why do you need to make up your own form of money? Do you not have any yen?" Was this kind woman poor like her? Rin felt bad even thinking about it! Hey come to think of it… Did she just mention an “our?” Was she traveling with someone too? The last part that she explained was familiar territory for Rin however and immediately she perked up and clapped her hands in understand. “Ah! You mean its a type of shrine? I’ve never heard of a shrine being named something like that before, but I like it its cute!" She giggled.

"Hey now you’re going to embarass me if you keep this up!" Aerith was easily embarassed as it was but this girl had a knack for making her blush several furious shades of red, she was so kind to her, it was almost as if she had a bit of a hero worship going on, Aerith felt that the whole thing was misplaced, she was actually quite jealous of her, to be able to travel freely and have people protect her, she did have that at one point but she always felt like a burden.

"Your friends sound wonderful, you should never make them worry about you more then they need to, why don’t we go and check on them together? I don’t really have much else to do today since I sold most of the flowers that I brought with me." She was interested in meeting the ones that protected this beautiful and very happy girl, anyone who spent time with someone like her had to be wonderful in many ways, she just saw nothing that could be negative in this situation. "You really are a wonderful girl, you make me feel so special when I don’t really do anything that amazing, you know that Rin?"

She began to realize that she really was liking this girl, she wanted to see her smile more and more, she hadn’t felt this way since….I haven’t felt like this around someone since I was with Tifa. That was quite a shock to the cetra, was she really falling for her? This was something that made her a bit nervous and at the same time a bit happy.

"But I don’t make up the currency it’s simply what money is called, isn’t it?" The flower girl was a bit confused by Rin’s reaction, and she was even more confused by whatever it was a yen was, did they make their own currency up here? Or maybe it was simply a different name for gil that was only used out here. Pulling out a small piece she held it out to her, "You see, a gil." Was this child as poor as she was? She hated to think of that, she seemed so happy. Then again, most people are happier with what they get and with little pleasures when they are poor, it’s the one thing we have that is an advantage over the rich snobs of the world.

"Well no not a shrine." She had heard of shrines before but this was nothing like that, "It might have been one once, but this church has been abandoned for a very long time, it’s also my home, since Meteor destroyed my actual house, I just couldn’t stand being seperated from my flowers, so when the church survived I fixed up what I could and moved in there….after…." Could she explain that she had actually died and come back? If this girl didn’t even know about gil would she know about the lifestream, or Meteor, or Holy? "Well since something bad happened." She figured that would be generic enough not to push too many more questions.

(✿)-"Ah! Sumimasen Aerith-chan, I don't mean to embarrass you, I just can't help saying what's true!" That was for sure, once Rin got good vibes from someone she immediately would get attached and couldn't help always pointing out their very special qualities that they themselves might not be aware of, she would have to be more careful about that.

"Mmm, they are wonderful! Though some of them can be quite eccentric and a handful." She chuckled softly, that didn't matter to her though, her companions were her family now, the only family she has since her parents and adoptive family perished and she treasured them greatly. "Really? That sounds like a wonderful idea! Oh, I'm sure they would love you Aerith-chan! I can't wait to introduce you to them, let me lead the way!" She began walking in front of the brunette, guiding her by the hand through the forest to where Sesshomaru and the others were at, but letting go and immediately blushing once again at Aerith's sudden compliment. "O-Oh no Aerith-chan I'm really not all that wonderful , really! I'm just doing what anyone should, everyone should make those around them feel special, especially when they're as kind and sweet as you Aerith-chan! You're the truly wonderful girl, not me!"

Embarrassment turned to confusion however once Aerith explained to her what Gil was and even showed her a piece! This was most definitely not the yen that Rin was used to. "Um... But money's called Yen not Gil, I don't know what this coin is but its definitely not yen, I think it might be counterfeit money..." Maybe that's what happened? Someone had tricked the girl into thinking this Gil thing was really valid money when it wasn't? Did she get caught up in a fraud? Poor girl, Rin was always street-smart so stuff like this could never happen to her, still she felt so sorry for the people it did happen to, especially ones as nice as Aerith-chan!

Something told her though that perhaps there was more to this story than simple money fraud as Aerith began to explain to her what a church was and how it was significant to her, as soon as she uttered that word Rin ignored everything else and immediately jumped to attention, shock strewn across her face. "D-Did you say Meteor?!" She looked like she had seen a ghost... No... It couldn't be... It just couldn't! Meteor had already landed? And it destroyed Aerith-chan's home? How was that possible, shouldn't she have felt it if it did?! When did Naraku manage to summon it already? Was she too late..?

"Aerith-chan, what exactly do you mean by "Meteor" when and where did it hit? Where exactly do you live? Please, tell me everything!"

"Hai! Sesshomaru-sama!" It was just like the old days, back when she was a child he would call and she would follow obediently after him, her small form always in his shadow and never far off. Now it was different, now she was a full grown woman and instead of trailing behind him like a little duckling now she walked side-by side him as a true equal. That calling was just what she needed after this though, for it signified to her that some things would never change. 

Walking by his side Rin couldn’t help but sneak in glances at her beloved Lord, all while cracking up while doing so, her normal, bubbly demeanor was definitely back that much one was able to tell. 

"Ne, ne, Sesshomaru-sama! Guess what I’m thinking~!"

"What is it Rin?" he asked. He wasn’t about to guess. He never like guessing games.

"I think Sesshomaru-sama is really kind! The kindest demon there is!"