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“Towa, Setsuna,” Rin called to her daughters. “It’s time for lessons!”
The three year old girls ran from the treeline across the clearing from their small woodland manor. Rin was sitting on a blanket in the garden she had planted near the porch. She patted the space next to her for the girls to sit down.
“What are we learning today, Mama?” Setsuna asked, sitting on her knees beside her mother.
Rin smiled and ran a hand over her daughter’s head, admiring the dark locks that matched her own.
“Today we’re going to learn about flowers. Towa,” Rin called to her eldest, who seemed more interested in examining a large earthworm that could be seen wriggling through the top layer of soil. “Come and sit with us.”
“Aw, Mama,” Towa muttered. She pointed to the ground. “Worm.”
Rin laughed. “I know, earthworms are a very important part of a garden. They help keep the soil healthy so that things can grow.” She took the small knife that she used to harvest plants and cut a sunflower from its stalk. She handed it to Towa. “See? It’s because of those little worms that we have these beautiful flowers.”
Towa giggled and clutched the flower to her chest. She settled beside her twin and held out the flower for Setsuna to smell.
“This is called a sunflower,” Rin explained. “They are a beautiful flower that blooms in the summer. The seeds are edible, too.”
“Edible?” Setsuna asked.
“It means that they’re good to eat,” Rin explained.
Both of the twins’ eyes lit up. Rin smiled; her growing daughters had insatiable appetites, always on the lookout for their next snack.
Thankfully, the forest provided ample food. Despite the circumstances that Zero and Kirinmaru had forced them into – living in hiding, unable to see their friends and family, and living apart from her beloved husband and father of her daughters – Rin was thankful that her children would never suffer the neglect, hunger and loneliness that she experienced as a child.
Lord Sesshomaru chose the perfect home for us. Even if we can’t see our friends and family, we are fortunate to be where we are. She smiled as she watched her girls inspect their sunflower for traces of edible seeds. Our children want for nothing.
“This one,” Rin said, pointing to a chrysanthemum and bringing herself out of her thoughts, “is called a chrysanthemum. It’s a flower associated with royalty.” She plucked two from their stems and placed them behind her daughters’ ears. “A perfect fit for two princesses.”
The girls giggled. “Flowers are wonderful!” Setsuna chirped.
Rin smiled. “They are. You know,” she said, shifting to be closer to the girls. “When your Papa and I traveled together when I was young, he would find the best flower fields for us to pass through just to make me happy. I used to pick flowers for him and sometimes I would make flower crowns for Grandfather Jaken and Ah-Un. Grandfather Jaken looked so funny with flowers around his head!” Rin laughed, remembering how Jaken would always grumble about how silly her flower crowns were but wore them anyway, though she didn’t know if it was to make her happy or to stave off a beating from Sesshomaru.
“Ooh, can we make flower crowns for Grandfather Jaken?!” Towa asked, magenta eyes glittering. Setsuna nodded at her twin in agreement.
Rin sighed. If this was the best way to get the girls to finish their lesson, then so be it.
“Alright. Let’s cut a few and I’ll show you how to make them.”
She cut a few sunflowers, chrysanthemums and dahlias and showed the girls how to puncture and weave the stems together. Towa and Setsuna eagerly set to work making their own. Rin was impressed by how dexterous they were even at such a young age.
It must be a combination of growing up in the forest and demon genetics, she thought. Kagome had explained genetics to her and Sesshomaru during her pregnancy.
“Look!” Towa said when she was finished, proudly displaying her flower crown.
“Me too!” Setsuna piped up.
Rin smiled. “They look wonderful! Grandfather Jaken should be back soon with fish for dinner. I can’t wait to see his reaction.” She couldn’t help but giggle at the thought.
“Fish!” Towa screeched. “Over the fire, right Mama?”
Rin nodded. “Yes. I’ll even add some fresh herbs.”
Setsuna snuggled into her mother’s side. “Mama, did you ever make flower crowns for Papa?”
Rin stroked her daughter’s dark hair. “I did, sometimes. He would often tell me that they suited me better than him and place them on my head himself, but sometimes he would tuck them inside of his armor or tie them to Tenseiga’s sheath until they wilted.” Rin smiled fondly at the memory.
I must have driven him crazy with all of my childish antics back then. But he always indulged me and let me be myself. She felt her lip quiver and bit it softly to keep the girls from noticing. I truly have the best husband. I only wish he could be here with us. I miss him so much.
“Mama, what’s wrong?” Setsuna asked, sitting up straight. “Are you crying?”
Rin turned and hugged Setsuna close. “No, my love. I was just thinking about your Papa.”
Towa came closer and snuggled next to her twin. “When is Papa coming back to visit?”
Rin reached her free arm around and brought both girls to her lap. “Papa will come as soon as he can. He’s working very hard to keep us all safe and comfortable for the time being.” She kissed both of their heads. “But he will always return to us.”
Setsuna looked up at Rin.
“Mama, I want to make a flower crown for Papa.”
“Ooh, let’s!” Towa said, sitting up and clapping her hands.
Rin smiled. “I know Papa would love that, but the flowers won’t last that long,” she explained gently. “When flowers are pulled from the earth, they only stay fresh for a short period of time. Then they wither and die.”
Both girls frowned. “Die?” they asked in unison.
“Yes,” Rin said. “It’s when a spirit leaves its body and goes to the Netherworld until it’s ready to be reborn. Everything dies, eventually. Some things quicker than others.”
The girls were quiet for a few minutes. Rin gave them time to process her words; she tried not to think about the fact that her human lifespan was a moment in time compared to how long her daughters and husband would live. She once made a wish on a shooting star to be with Lord Sesshomaru forever, and had repeated that wish many times over the years. Now, she added her daughters to that list.
If I can’t be with them forever, let me raise them happily and well. Let them grow into strong women and always remember how much their mother loves them, and will always love them even beyond death.
“Maybe...maybe we can send one to Papa?” Towa suggested.
Setsuna’s eyes glittered. “How would we send it?”
Towa thought.
“We could put it in the river! The river will know how to find Papa.”
Rin laughed. “That’s a very good idea, Towa. I’ll cut some more flowers and the two of you can weave them into a crown for Papa.”
Rin cut a few more flowers and set them in front of the girls. They immediately set to work, taking turns in their weaving. Rin was amazed at how well the girls worked together. They truly are each two halves of a whole.
“Is it pretty, Mama?” Setsuna asked when they were finished.
Rin smiled and kissed them both on the forehead. “It looks fit for a forest king! Papa is going to love it.” She stood up and offered a hand to each girl. “Shall we take it to the river now, before Grandfather Jaken gets back with dinner?”
The girls squealed and jumped up, carrying the crown between them and taking care not to damage it. Rin followed behind them as they walked the short distance to the river behind the manor. They met Jaken coming back with a catch of fish.
“Grandfather!” They squealed. Jaken braced himself for a tackle, but noticed the crown suspended between the girls.
“What is that?” he asked.
“A flower crown for Papa!” Setsuna said proudly.
“Just like Mama used to make!” Towa added.
Jaken rolled his eyes. “Oh, my. I remember those days. Your mother would cover the entire world in flowers if you let her.”
Rin laughed. “They made crowns for you too, Master Jaken. They’re waiting for you on the blanket in the garden.”
“Whaa?” Jaken gasped. “Ahh...there’s no escaping the power of flowers in this family.”
Jaken looked exasperated, but Rin knew he would wear the crowns anyway. He lived to make the girls happy, and she knew that it wasn’t just for her and Sesshomaru’s sake. When he had brought her to the forest after the twins’ birth, he had promised her that he would love them as if they were his very own grandchildren. He had been incredibly hands-on in their care when Sesshomaru was away, paying close attention as she showed him how to change them and burp them. He had helped prepare soft foods for them during their weaning, and would always indulge in their silly games even though they frequently ended with him being tackled or tied up with something. And he would dutifully take on the task of bedtime duty on nights when Rin needed time to herself to be alone with her thoughts, a small moment for emotional release where she could cry and let out her feelings of sadness and loneliness and anger and grief for the life that their family could have had, should have had if it were not for Zero and her vindictive jealousy.
The girls should be growing up with their cousin and with Miroku and Sango’s children. They should have gotten to know Kaede as their grandmother and Kagome and Inuyasha as their aunt and uncle. Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha’s relationship had improved so much over the last few years, and they probably would have grown even closer if all of this hadn’t happened. Lord Sesshomaru and I would always be together, just as we were in the year between our wedding and the girls’ birth. These were feelings she tried to conceal from the girls as much as possible; her priority was making sure that they were happy and content. There was no reason to sadden or frighten them, or make them yearn for a life their parents couldn’t give. At least not right now.
She was also grateful for the nights Jaken took over bedtime watch during Sesshomaru’s visits so that she and her lord could steal away for some much-needed private time to themselves. Their time together was short, but they always made the most of it, holding nothing back as they shared their bodies and their hearts with each other.
Presently, she followed the girls to a bend in the river where the current picked up speed. Jaken followed behind them.
“This is a good spot,” Towa said.
“Mhmm,” Setsuna agreed.
“Good job, girls,” Rin praised them. “The river will know where to send it to Papa.”
She helped the girls wade into the shallow end, close enough for them to drop the crown into the current but far enough away so that they wouldn’t be caught in it themselves. She stood beside them as they each took one end of the crown in their small hands.
“Ready?” Towa asked.
“Ready!” Setsuna chirped.
“One...two...THREE!” They chanted together, then gently tossed the flower crown into the current. They waved to it as it floated downstream.
“We love you, Papa!” Towa called.
“Come and visit us soon!” Setsuna echoed.
Rin smiled. “We will wait for you, Lord Sesshomaru,” she said softly.
They were all quiet for a few moments as they watched the flower crown begin its journey down the river. Jaken cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
“It’s time for dinner, girls. Come and help me set up the fire pit.”
Towa grinned “Coming, Grandfather!”
She bounded after Jaken. Setsuna and Rin turned slowly to follow behind.
“Mama,” Setsuna said, stopping short and looking up at her mother. “You’re really crying this time. Is it because you miss Papa? ”
Rin sighed and knelt down, chastising herself for failing to hold back her tears in front of her daughter. The very last thing she wanted was to burden the girls with her sorrow and pain. She hugged Setsuna tightly to her chest. She’s just as perceptive as her father.
“I love you, my sweet girl. You and Towa are my whole world. Your Papa feels the same way, too. I – I always want you to remember that Mama and Papa love you so much. We would do anything to keep you happy and safe.” She kissed Setsuna’s cheek. “Never forget that, Setsuna.”
Setsuna pulled back from her mother. She reached out with a tiny thumb and brushed a tear away from Rin’s cheek.
“Don’t cry, Mama. Your tears are prickly, like thorns.”
Rin gave a small laugh and ran the back of her fingers along Setsuna's cheek.
“Tears are healthy, Setsuna. After all, rain is what makes flowers grow.”
Setsuna considered her words, then smiled. “You’re my favorite flower, Mama.”
Rin picked Setsuna up and brought her face towards her. She let their noses touch.
“I love you so much, sweet girl. If I could, I would pick every flower in the world just for you.”
Setsuna snuggled into Rin’s chest and rested her head against her shoulder.
“You’re the best flower of all, Mama.” She wrapped her arms around Rin’s neck. “You’re enough.”