The Life After

6/23/06

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the characters of Inuyasha. I do not own Naraku, Inutaisho, Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, Jakken, Rin, or Ah-Un. Also the song at the end of this chapter does not belong to me either. It is a direct quote from the show. I repeat: the song does NOT belong to me. Rumiko Takahashi is the wonderful creator and owner of said characters, show, and song. I do not make money off of her characters or this story. This Disclaimer applies to this and all following chapters.

Author's Note: Please understand that I wrote this long before I finished watching the show, and as the manga have yet to fully come out in English...I STILL do not know exactly how it ends or if it has indeed ended. I understand now that Kohaku needs the jewel to survive and many other things that I have messed up...but please be kind enough to overlook these mistakes.

Also, if you are looking for the "good" chapters in this, they are Chapters 7, 12, and 19. Which will be posted soon. I am nearly done with the story, but am only putting up this chapter to begin with. However, I do not like to keep any avid readers waiting, so the chapters should be up in two weeks at the very absolute latest.

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Rin had followed Sesshoumaru for many months, Jakken always trailing behind them leading Ah-Un the two-headed dragon. She would never leave Sesshoumaru. As young as she was, she knew she loved him…she would always love him.

Naraku was gone. Defeated. Destroyed. They had nothing to worry about. There was no one in all of Feudal Japan that could match Sesshoumaru's strength; save, perhaps, his half-brother, Inuyasha. With no threat to his domain, Sesshoumaru took his rightful place as Demon Lord of the Western Lands. Rin, Jakken, Ah-Un, and Sesshoumaru were returning to his father's home. Sesshoumaru's father, Inutaisho, had been the undisputed Lord, before him. Inutaisho's strength was far beyond Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's strength. Though they both received their dog demon genes from him, they couldn't even compare to Inutaisho's demon form. Even in his own demon form, Sesshoumaru was barely a speck on Inutaisho's shoulder. Though he had inherited a huge domain from his father, not to mention the respect of many creatures, Sesshoumaru despised many of the things his father had left to him. One of the things he regretted receiving was his sword, Tenseiga. The other, which had accompanied the sword, was his recent compassion for humans. Not all humans, in fact, only one: Rin.

When he had first met Rin he was weak and injured. He ignored her, but still she insisted on trying to help him recover. Though she could not help him, nor did he need help healing, she continued to bring him food and water. He gave in to her useless help and even started to speak with her. She was mute, however, and only smiled at him. He left her as soon as he was well. However, soon after he left her she was returned to his sight. He found her limp body in the forest. She had been killed by wolf demons. Sesshoumaru bent and held her in his arms. Jakken, who had only found him after he was well again, was awed by his master's treatment of the dead human. Sesshoumaru despised humans. However, the dog demon lord drew the Tenseiga. It pulsed in his hand, and he found that he could see the demons of the underworld. He cut through them with the Tenseiga, and Rin opened her eyes in his arms. He set her down softly, and walked away. Jakken squawked his confusion, but Rin merely followed him silently. She hadn't left his side for a moment since; she had even found her voice with him. She would indeed follow him forever, if only he would let her.

The night before they would reach Sesshoumaru's home, Rin was staring up at the stars, tears lining her eyes. She feared that Sesshoumaru would send her away when their journey was through. She knew he was not fond of humans and was happy that he had put up with her as long as he had, but she knew better than to think he would let her stay forever. The stars where whispering, telling of an end, a completion.


“The stars, Rin,” she remembered Sesshoumaru saying to
her, “They tell stories…secrets. You only need to listen.”


For days after that, she had strained her ears to hear the stars. As she lay under the blanket Sesshoumaru had gotten for her, she stared up at the stars, searching for the smallest sound. It was late one night, and she couldn't sleep. She pushed out of the cover and looked around. Jakken was asleep by the fire. He was sitting down; his head leaned against the Two-Headed Staff that he clutched in his hands. Ah-Un's heads snored softly. Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be found. She sighed and wandered over to the lake they were camped beside. The crescent moon was reflected in the rippling waters. Rin sat on the bank and dipped her feet in the water. She could see the stars in the lake, and, leaning back, she stared up at the midnight sky. Rin could almost swear she heard voices whispering, but they didn't make any sense to her, almost as if they were speaking in another language.
“You hear them, don't you?” a quiet voice said behind her.
“I…I don't understand the voices, Lord Sesshoumaru,” Rin said, without even turning around.
“Don't try to understand. That's not important. Just listen. Hear it. Feel it,” Sesshoumaru advised her.
Rin stopped forcing her ears to hear the stars, and, suddenly, she understood, “I hear them!” she bounced up and flew her arms around Sesshoumaru's knees. His eyes widened for a moment, but he gave no visible signs of emotion. “Thank you, Lord Sesshoumaru,” she whispered.
“I did nothing, Rin. It is you who understood.”
She looked up at him, and, for just a second, he smiled. It was gone immediately, and she was left wondering if she'd only imagined it, but he had smiled. The very first time he had smiled back at her.


She heard them, now. Every word. Their wisdom was a gift, a gift from her beloved Sesshoumaru. My Sesshoumaru, she thought to herself. She tugged on her orange, yellow, and green kimono, straightening it.

“Rin!!!” a high-pitched, frantic voice squeaked, “Oh, Rin!!! Where are you?! Oh, do come out Rin! If Lord Sesshoumaru finds out that I have lost you, again, then I will surely suffer a great punishment! Please, Rin!”

Jakken, Rin thought, shaking her head, but not moving from her spot in the thick grass. She put her arms behind her head and let the grass shift beneath her to hold her body. She loved the feel of the night-misted grass against her skin. She could hear the small green demon shuffling through the grass, his wide eyes searching for her.

“Jakken,” an emotionless voice hissed, “What are you looking for?”

Rin sat up, quickly, and stood up just enough to see over the blades of grass. She could see the top of Jakken's staff and Sesshoumaru. The grass barely reached his waist.

“N-Nothing, Lord Sesshoumaru!...I'm just playing with Rin, as you asked,” Jakken stammered.

“Strange. I thought I just heard you calling her…,” Sesshoumaru's voice was still soft and cold. He almost never spoke with feeling, making it hard to tell just how angry he was.

“No! No, m'lord. We were just playing hide-and-seek,” Jakken's staff was shaking ferociously.

“So you know where she is?”

“Of course…”

“Then, where?”

“Uh…um….I…”

Rin knew that Jakken was lost, if she didn't come to his rescue. She rose and pushed through the grass towards the two.

“There!” Jakken was overjoyed when he saw her, “She's right there!” he pointed at her.

Sesshoumaru turned, “Rin,” his eyes shone, briefly.

Was I imagining it? she wondered, Is he really glad to see me?!

Sesshoumaru turned back to his servant, “Do not lie to me, again, Jakken. Next time, you will not be so lucky.”

Jakken gasped, “Y-yes, m'lord.”

“Come, Rin,” Sesshoumaru held out his hand to the child.

Rin took his hand, “Must we leave, Lord Sesshoumaru?” she looked up into his eyes.

“Yes, Rin. It is time to go home,” he answered, gently.

“Mm,” she nodded, and they started off towards the acres of his realm.

Jakken was still standing in the grass, mumbling, incoherently, “He makes it seem as if it's my fault that human child wanders off! As if I could make her stay in one place, she never listens to me! I do far more for him than she ever…,” he looked up, “Lord Sesshoumaru? M'lord...,” he turned to find Rin and Sesshoumaru far off in the distance, “M'lord, wait for me!!!” he raced off after the two.


“So.” Rin looked up. “Were you listening to the stars?” Sesshoumaru continued, as he led her home.

“Yes,” Rin nodded, “I like the stars.”

“As do I. They're quite intelligent,” Sesshoumaru agreed.

“M'lord!!!” Jakken raced up behind them, pulling awkwardly at Ah-Un's reins. He was running too fast and didn't see the tree root. He tripped, fell on his face, and his staff flew out of his hand.

“Unlike many other creatures,” the youkai stopped, but did not turn.

Rin, however, did turn. With worry and concern in her eyes, she let go of the dog demon lord's hand and picked up Jakken's staff. Jakken stared up at her from the ground. He looked angry that she was helping him, and, seeing the funny scowl on his frogish face, she giggled, “Master Jakken is silly,” she held out his staff.

“Silly?!” Jakken muttered, pushing himself up. He scoffed, as he brushed himself off. Then he grabbed the staff sharply out of her hand, “Hmph!” He picked up Ah-Un's reins again, the dragons' heads lowing softly.

Rin tried, uselessly, to stop her laughing, but she couldn't. Accepting that she had annoyed Jakken, she returned to Sesshoumaru's side and took his hand, again. Sesshoumaru hadn't looked at any of this; he hadn't needed to. He knew exactly what had transpired. Even now, he did not look down at her, though she stared questioningly up at him. Swiftly, Sesshoumaru began to walk on. Rin hardly missed a step and was instantly matching his stride with three or four steps of her own. Jakken had been about to start grumbling again, but he thought better of it and set off with the two of them, though several steps behind.

After a moment, Rin spoke, “I like it here…with Lord Sesshoumaru and Master Jakken. I am happy…,” she was unsure of how to make her request. He had never promised to let her stay with him, for any amount of time. When he had used his Tenseiga to bring her back to life, he had said nothing. It was her own choice to follow him. Now she was almost certain he would not want her company any longer.

“What is it to be happy, Rin?” Sesshoumaru asked, breaking her thoughts.

“Huh?” She stopped and looked at him. Her hand was still clutched in his, and he stopped, as well.

“What is…happy?”

“Happy? Well…,” she bit her lip, pondering, “I suppose it is good things. Like being with Master Jakken and you, my lord. It is listening to the stars and the babbling brook. It is your favorite food and your favorite place. Happy is all of those things squished together, and how they make you feel,” she said.

“Feel?” he whispered, “Do I, Lord Sesshoumaru, feel?”

“Everyone feels, Lord Sesshoumaru!” Rin giggled, and Sesshoumaru was startled that she had heard him.

“I suppose they must,” Sesshoumaru agreed, wondering if he was feeling something right then, for the intelligent girl, “And you are…happy? Staying with me?”

“Very happy, my lord. I don't ever want to leave.”

“I never want you to leave, either, Rin.” Her eyes shone, brightly. “Know that you are not a prisoner, here. Should you choose to go, I will not stop you. Though I. . .,” he struggled with the word, “enjoy…your company and find pleasure in being with you. Also, know that you are always welcome among us, should you ever choose to leave,” Sesshoumaru did not look at her. It seemed like he was having great difficulty saying these things to her.

Rin looked backwards and saw that Jakken was still trailing behind with Ah-Un. She was glad, because Sesshoumaru was always more open with her when the small demon was not around. Jakken was slowly catching up, however, and Rin knew that he was about to slip back into his calm, stoic silence. She turned back to Sesshoumaru, “Can I always stay with you?” she finally gained the courage to ask. It was times like these, when she was certain her lord loved her, as she loved him. There was silence for a moment. Rin was frightened of his answer, but knew that whatever he chose would be the right answer.

“If you so choose,” he replied, “Of course.”

Jakken had finally caught up enough to hear, “Wh-what?!” his jaw dropped, and he jogged the last distance between them, “B-but…Lord Sesshoumaru!…”

“You wouldn't have a problem with that, would you Jakken?” he interrupted.

“I…,” Jakken sighed, “No, m'lord.”

Rin was beaming, “I will never leave your side, Lord Sesshoumaru!” she decided. This time she was certain that a smile had played on the demon's lips.

As they continued to his castle Rin began to sing a song she had made for him during their travels, “In the mountains; in the breeze. In the forest; in my dreams. Lord Sesshoumaru, where are you? Jakken is serving under you, too. I will wait for you on my own. Please return to me, waiting all alone.”