A Little Fall of Rain by Tal

A Little Fall of Rain

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not the lyrics of "A Little Fall of Rain" from Les Mis, not Sesshoumaru, Kagome, and Rin, or anything else. If I owned either of these, I would not be a poor college student.

A Little Fall of Rain

Kagome smiled weakly up at Sesshoumaru, who actually looked at her horrified and shocked. How she knew that he was displaying those emotions, she didn’t know. Maybe it was all the time she had spent watching him, waiting for him to see what was right in front of him. It hadn’t worked. Still, Kagome hoped.

Suddenly, the pain hit her, and she winced. After the wave passed, she realized she was being held by Sesshoumaru, who was looking at her.

“Don’t you fret, Lord Sesshoumaru.” Kagome told him, trying to make her voice strong for him. “I don’t feel any pain.”

When he made to cover her from the rain that was falling down, she shook her head. “A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now.”

How had it come to this? Just two years ago, she had chosen to stay in the Feudal Era and marry Inuyasha. That had all changed when Inuyasha had been wounded severely in bandit raid on his human night. Bitter and angry at the loss of a leg and one of his arms, he had pushed her away. Worried that Inuyasha would do something horrible, Kagome had contacted Sesshoumaru, hoping that even though they would never be friends, he would at least help his half-brother.

To her surprise, Sesshoumaru had come, and had helped. He had arrived, and goaded Inuyasha into a blazing fury. When the taiyoukai had made a condescending remark about how he had lived three years without an arm, and Inuyasha could not even last a month, the hanyou had sworn he would live, just to spite “the bastard.” Somehow, the Lord of the West had also gotten Inuyasha to agree to move to the Western Lands, in his castle, and Kagome with him.

During the first year of their stay in the Western Lands, Inuyasha had told Kagome that he could not marry her, as he could not protect her, and had fallen into a whirlwind romance with one of the youkai nurses that had helped him back into health. Since she was youkai, Inuyasha did not feel the need to protect her, and it helped that she had the same personality as his old flame, Kikyo. Kagome, hurt, stayed behind as Inuyasha left to be with his new mate’s family.

Desperate to feel needed, Kagome began making herself useful in the castle, taking care of Rin while Sesshoumaru was away, and also looking after some of the other children that lived on the castle grounds. The Western Lord, when he returned from the patrol of his lands, had listened to the reports of the miko and her babysitting, and allowed her to stay.

The second year of their stay, Kagome more than earned her place at the castle. Some rogue youkai had attacked when most of the defenders were away, training, including Lord Sesshoumaru. When she heard the news, she had told the children to stay put, and raced to the walls, grabbing her bow and arrows on the way. She, and she alone, had held off the youkai until the Lord and his men came back.

Kagome didn’t know when she started to fall for the cold-hearted taiyoukai. Maybe it was when he had given her a place of honor at a banquet, and danced with her when no one else would, for fear she would purify them, too. Maybe it was when he carried her to her room after she had fallen asleep, exhausted after a day of playing with the children, and training with the troops. Maybe it was one of a dozen other instances when Sesshoumaru had indicated he might have a heart after all.

She knew he would never look at her in that way. After all, she was human, weak, and always needing to be protected. He had a dozen demonesses always surrounding him at court, all more beautiful than her. Kagome only held comfort that he needed her to protect the children, and she was useful along the walls when any attacks came.

Which brought her here. This time, the attacks were from a large group of rogues, and quite a few were powerful enough to give them some trouble. The Western forces were doing well.

Kagome had thought nothing of it. She had put a barrier around the children for extra protection, as they were already hidden deep within the fortress. Then she had gone to her place along the wall, and shot arrow after arrow into the oncoming horde.

Until one of them had shot an arrow full of poisonous youki at her. It had hit her in the side, and seeing her fall, the defending forces went crazy. Kagome had protected their children for nothing, after all. She had saved their lives, and become well liked in the lands. The horde of youkai was demolished quickly after that.

Sesshoumaru had come as soon after the battle as he could to find the miko that he had grown somewhat fond of. He was horrified to see the arrow, still stuck deep in her side, and her miko powers fading. She muttered some nonsense when he saw her, and when she had winced, he went to hold her. No one like this honorable miko should die alone, the Western Lord thought. He made to shield her from the falling rain, but she shook her head.

Kagome smiled at Sesshoumaru as best as she could. “You’re here… That’s all I need to know. You will keep me safe. And you will keep me close. And rain will make the flowers grow.”

Flowers. Oh Kami, what about Rin? Kagome felt sorry for Sesshoumaru, having to tell the little girl that she would not be there to help pick flowers anymore.

The taiyoukai also had that thought running through his mind, but sternly ordered it from his mind. “But you will live, miko, this Sesshoumaru demands it. I will use Tensaiga…”

Before he could fully state his attentions, he felt Kagome grasp at him with little strength. She used to be much stronger, he thought faintly in the back of his head.

“Just hold me now, and let it be. Shelter me, comfort me.” Kagome felt the pain spreading, but did not alert the taiyoukai. Besides, it was probably better this way. She could not bring dishonor to him with her unsuitable love, if she were not around.

Sesshoumaru felt, for the first time, the stirrings of panic. “You could live a hundred years, miko, if I could show you how. I won’t desert you now.” He would find some way for her to live, because Rin needed her. His subject’s children needed her. He could now safely say that he needed her to keep him sane with her fiery temper and refusal to play by the boring rules.

“The rain can’t hurt me now, and it will wash away what’s past.” It would wash away all her unrequited feelings, all of Kagome’s failures with Inuyasha and the others.

“And you will keep me safe and close. I’ll sleep in your embrace at last.” Kagome felt the pain fade away. Either her nerves or her brain were shutting down.

Kagome turned her gaze to the clouds, feeling the rain on her face, and lifting her hand as if to catch one gray storm cloud. “You know, the rain that brings you here is heavens-blessed,” Kagome was grateful that she would not be alone as she went. As her hand fell, she didn't feel Sesshoumaru catch it.

Maybe it was her eyesight fading, or maybe the sky was clearing. Still, Kagome felt a sense of peace. “The skies begin to clear, and I’m at rest. I’m a breath away from you. I think I’m at home, although I’ve come so far.” Maybe death made Kagome more poetic, she really didn’t know.

“So don’t you fret, Lord Sesshoumaru, I don’t feel any pain. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now.” Because he would fret, she just knew. He always wanted to protect those under his care, and he thought the rain was hurting her, he would do something ridiculous, she just knew.

“Shush, Kagome,” Sesshoumaru realized it was the only time he had ever called her by name. “You won’t feel any pain. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt you now. I’m here.” He vaguely wondered if perhaps the rain was addling his mind, for him to be so panicked over this miko’s death.

“That’s all I need to know,” Kagome smiled. Still, even as her sight faded and she felt her breathing start to labor, she had to know. “And you will keep me safe. And you will keep me close?”

Sesshoumaru was almost angry she was doubting him now. “This Sesshoumaru will stay with you until you are sleeping.”

Ah, he had made a promise. He would keep it, then. Kagome was happy she would not die alone, as he always kept his promises. One more thing, she had to tell him, he had to pass it on to Rin. The girl would understand.

“And rain,” Kagome wished she could talk more, but her voice did not want to work properly.

Sesshoumaru frowned. Was she still going on about this? Still, she was struggling to speak what could be her last words. “And rain,” he dutifully repeated, trying to etch them in his mind.

“Will make the flowers,” Kagome hoped he would pass it on. Her eyes closed against he will.

“Will make the flowers…” Sesshoumaru repeated, before he noticed Kagome was not breathing anymore, and her usually wonderful scent was being overcome with the foulness that is death. “Grow,” He finished her sentence, knowing that was what she would say.

He didn’t understand. Why would she waste her last words on something stupid like rain making the flowers grow? Everyone knew that, anyway. Why couldn’t she say something… more meaningful?

***

Later that night, after he used Tensaiga, only to find out that the sword could only make her vanish, not heal her, he walked amongst his grieving castle.

Her barrier around the children did not dissipate with her death, but only upon Sesshoumaru’s approaching it. It spoke of her power, and loyalty to the Lord of the West, and the whole castle grieved the loss of the miko, especially the children. The fact Tensaiga had made the body disappear, and they could not even honor her with a proper burial, made the hurt even worse.

“Lord Sesshoumaru?” Rin came into his bedroom, eyes red from crying, and very much a mess.

Sesshoumaru did not reply from his position on the chair, but did tilt his head slightly. Rin knew that meant he was listening. “What… what were… her last words?” Rin sniffled when thinking about it.

Sighing heavily, Sesshoumaru wondered the same question. Then again, maybe Rin could answer that. Kagome and the child had shared a special bond. “Will you tell me the meaning behind them, if you know?” He asked, as he wished his curiosity got the better of him.

Rin nodded furiously. “Oh, yes, Lord Sesshoumaru! What were they?”

“And rain will make the flowers grow.”

The girl blinked as her mind digested the words. What… Oh! “Lord Sesshoumaru, come quick!”

“Rin,” Lord Sesshoumaru rumbled warningly.

“No, Lord Sesshoumaru, I know what she was trying to say! Come on!” Rin was allowed to pull at her lord’s hand then, and she led them to the room Kagome had stayed in. Outside the door, a small shrine had been set up already, no doubt by some of the castle residents, and candles had already been lit.

Rin opened the door, and her excited face changed. She bowed, solemnly, in the direction of the shrine, and moved carefully through the room to the miko’s desk. Sesshoumaru followed, wondering what was going on.

The girl reached up, and took a wooden cylinder that held paper flowers off the desk. “Look, Lord Sesshoumaru, flowers! Lady Kagome showed me this one day.”

Sesshoumaru gently plucked the paper flowers off the cylinder, and observed the letters on the cylinder. “Rin.”

Rin realized her cue. “My lord, the cylinder is a treasure box that will only unlock with the proper pass word. I believe Lady Kagome already gave it to you.”

The taiyoukai was not Lord of the West for nothing. He quickly moved the cylinders so that the arrow beneath the top of the cylinder pointed down to a column that said “RAINGROW,” and watched with fascination as the cylinder unlocked, and a small diary fell out.

Rin left the room silently as her Lord read. She did not tell her Lord the other meaning of Kagome’s last words, but he would figure it out, eventually. And eventually, she, too, would get over Kagome’s death, and let the unpleasant experience make her grow.

Left amongst the miko’s possessions, Lord Sesshoumaru read of the miko’s origins in the future. He read of how she had a premonition of her death in the past and awakening in her own time. He read of her precautions, how she left this behind, and was working on a way to make a barrier that would only go down with Sesshoumaru’s presence, and how much power that took.

Sesshoumaru also read of her love for him, and was devastated. She had hidden it well, and had mourned that it would come to nothing but heartbreak, a feeling she knew all too well, after Inuyasha.

For the first time in many years, Sesshoumaru grieved. He would have accepted her suit, if she had asked. His court had adored her, and she was much more powerful than any demoness around. He was somewhat fond of her, and he realized now that maybe he could have grown to love her. Now, he could not.

When his sorrow had mainly past, he glanced once more into the diary, seeking out one specific part, and then went to find Rin.

***

“Rin, come.”

“What are we doing, Lord Sesshoumaru?”

“Planting flowers. This rain will only last so long.”

Rin smiled. He would figure out the full meaning later, but for now, it was close. Maybe he would grow to the point where his second chance would be much better than his first. Maybe he would take this lesson to heart for the future.

Right now, she would settle on planting some flowers in a little fall of rain.

***

Author's Note: The song from Les Miserables, "A Little Fall of Rain" burrowed its way into my mind, and my muse took that and decided that it would be wonderful to set it to a Sess/Kag pairing. I barely made alterations to the lyrics, and only so it would semi-fit the character of Sesshoumaru and how it would sound in a conversation. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Hope you enjoyed. If you did, please leave a review.  This is also posted on ff.net.