WHEN THE TIME CAME

 The setting sun had  turned into deep crimson colour at the west sky. Some indigo blanket already formed up[ at the east, prepared to cover the earth below once more in an embrace of the night. The wind from the surrounding meadows blew gently bringing fragrant scent of newly blooming flowers and there was a hint of freshest leaves wrapping the evening. The people of the slightly larger village had taken a rest at their their homes, relaxing after their  hard works and replenishing energy for tomorrow’s effort to keep their family going.

No body waljked outside on the street but 2 shadows that leisurely took on their strides toward a small and gentle stream at the outskirt of the huts.

“Be careful, Rin. It’s very slippery here. You can break your ankle over the rocks, exclaimed a soft spoken male voice.

“It’s okay. I come here often, so I know this place well.” A younger girlish laughter fulfilled the air.

Finally, they settled down on two large stones near the banks of the crystal clear water. Both of them got into a peaceful silence for a while., looking at the twinkling stars that started to decorate the night sky above.

“When will you leave?, “ the female opened the conversation.

“In a couple of days I think. I’m so happy to come back. Meet all familiar people and relieved that they are living well and content, no real dangers around.” The man looked at the village direction where he could see  lights emanating from each houses like fireflies in the dark.

“Where will you go?” Any special places?,” asked the girl quite more casually.

Her partner turned and  tried to look at her face. Never before she questioned  him like this and it made him wonder. He knew her for years since they were kids struggling their ways to be able to live in this world after disasters that fell upon them. For some times in the past, he had traveled beside her, fought for her, protected her as best as his young body could. They were bond by fste which was so unkindly crushing them in those difficult moments.

“I’ll leave for Toutousai-sama’s place first. My weapon needs some mending. And then, to any place where my help is needed,” he answered the girl and  turned to gaze at a passing shooting star.

“When will you return here? Your sister often worries about you and the children can’t stop asking to see you again.”

He was able to catch  something in her voice that aroused some strange feeling in his heart.

“I don’t know, Rin. But I’ll try to come back as soon as possible. It’s rather hard to stay away from this place now.” He  said words that made him quiver a little. “What about you? Isn’t it about time for you to follow Sesshoumaru-sama? I believe he would drop by and take you away anytime.”

Suddenly, his companion moved to the rock where he was sitting, placing a soft hand over his . His hand  twitched but he did not attempt to push off those warm fingers over his rough ones. Out of nowhere, he felt calm and sheer joy filled a long empty space deep in his heart.

“It’s not him that I have been waiting all these years. It’s not him that I would follow. I… I would rather have somebody else,” she muttered and scooted back to where she sat before.

The full moon had risen and showered the earth with its gleaming light that washed off the darkest part of the night. He looked at the girl beside him., and  to his surprise, he saw tears rolling down her flushing cheeks glittering like diamonds in the moonlight. An urge that he didn’t have a notion where it came from surged up. He couldn’t stand tears, especially from the one he secretly cared since he didn’t know when. Gathering his bravery, he leaned over and wiped the wet face with his thumb.

She was so lovely in the moonlight, gone was the childish countenance he saw the last time he visited this place, replaced by a sweet more mature complexion with amazing eyes framed  up by locks of silky black strands fell down to her waist. The missing front tooth that always made him laugh long ago was no more, there was a new pearly one sat strong. When he felt her hands reach out to hold him, he was speechless and wondering what he was going to say. But then her voice rang like bells bringing him back to the real world.

“Don’t you feel it? Don’t you know it? It’s you that I have waited, it’s you that I want to be with. I don’t care how you feel about me. Just let me stay by your side…., “. She broke into a sob and laid her head against his chest left him struck dumb with her revelation. He thought he was going to explode with happiness, after all, she shared the same feeling with him. Slowly his hand caressed the midnight hair in his embrace, his chin rested on the top of her head while the other hand  around her protectively.

“Rin, how can I be compared with your dashing lord? I have nothing to offer but mere promise to take good care of you and love you for all my life. What chance do I have against him?”.

“Are you afraid to fight? Will you like to see me wither away like falling sakura? Since the day at the Netherworld, never for once I let you out of my mind!”. The sobs turned into desperate cry breaking the tranquility of the night. Her words hurt his heart and lent him strength to expose what had been buried inside.

“No, Rin. I would fight for you and run into thousands of demons if you want me to. Over these years I have watched you growing and tell myself it is with you that I want to spend my life. I am just too afraid to be rejected for someone much more grandeur and powerful.” His voice sounded painful and miserable since he knew how wrong he was all the time.

“Just take me with you anywhere you go. I can’t stay here without you, please,”she pleaded  with him . A cool breeze blew their hair into the misty air, the flowing stream added the serenity of the moment. The stars above seemed to shine brighter on the two people at the river bank.

“I will, Rin, let’s tell Sango about this. I hope she will support and give us her blessing ,” he settled the matter confidently and full of hope for future’s happiness.

“Kohaku-kun…”

“Rin…”

Their whispers lost in the wind as they walked back to the village hand in hand.

Disclaimer: Kohaku and Rin is Rumiko Takahashi's characters from Inuyasha. How I wish I were as creative as her :)