Cela a commencé en Hiver- It started in the Winter by kaoruhana
Acte Un: De Se Réveiller en Hiver
Before I start- this story has two main inspirations- the Rite of Spring ballet by Stravinsky and a fanart created by Mitsje. I do not own either (nor do I own Inuyasha or the Tokyo Ballet). And a heads up- Najinsky did the coreography, Stravinsky did the music for the ballet! All chapter titles are in French!
Acte I- De Se Réveiller en Hiver- To Wake up in the Winter
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A cup of warm coffee, espresso actually, was brought to a dainty mouth and then placed back down on the dark wooden table in the coffee shop as the male realized the cup was empty. The elegant male thought and reminisced as he pulled out his laptop to begin some pressing work. The warm aroma of coffee wafting within the coffee shop made him think of many things, one of them being the performance that he had recently attended. Being a patron of the arts was something that he prided himself on and to be able to see wonderful performances that came from these artful collaborations made his investment in the world of dance and theater worthwhile. He was the Sesshomaru Taisho, now Satoshi Takeda, and was the sole reason that the Tokyo Ballet even continued to exist, and the reasons why on the hundredth anniversary of Le Sacre du Printemps- The Rite of Spring by Stravinsky- they were performing it to an Asian audience. He had wanted to do this reenactment for the audience of Japan and Asia- this was a three week-long performance that was appearing here in Tokyo, in Seoul, and in Hong Kong. Being a demon, and one as old as he was, he had been given the opportunity to see most of these famous European Arts when they were created. He had been in Paris, had seen Stravinsky’s piece the day it was performed in 1913, and knew then and there that he was watching something phenomenal. It reminded him of reality- nothing was ever known or set in stone but at the end somehow, you learned your fate and accepted it. He too had accepted his fate just like the sacrifice in Le Sacre du Printemps.
Taking another sip of coffee, Sesshomaru opened his e-mail smiling gently as the image of his ward appeared on his laptop screen. He had adopted her when one of the ballerina’s in the Tokyo Ballet Company had found herself pregnant and wishing to continue her career. Rin was a joy to be around and he enjoyed her childishness. The thought made him think of another Rin, from another time, who had been his ward before. She had grown up, married, had children and died peacefully in her sleep of old age. He had missed her truly but fate gave him a chance to see her again, this time in the form of a daimyo’s daughter thirty years after her first death. That Rin had been forced to wed a prince- one of Tokugawa’s sons- and had visited his castle one day during her travels with her husband. He had thanked fate for the first time in his life and promised to watch over Rin’s soul from afar. It was only two years after that that Rin died, this time by honorably protecting her son when the castle they inhabited fell under siege. Sesshomaru had gone into mourning and no one understood why until her soul appeared again five years later. And so the cycle continued, and Sesshomaru came to appreciate it. Rin’s soul changed all the time but it was still there and waiting for him when it occupied it’s next body. Every other cycle she would be born as a little girl. She was once the daughter of one of his servants, she was once the only daughter of a man known as a manslayer, and other times she was the seamstress who sought employment in his castle, or a ballerina who needed a patron.
That particular reincarnation was the incarnation of Rin that haunted Sesshomaru the most. She had been a dancer, a Japanese ballerina that found herself in Germany at the turn of the century. Unable to find a decent job, she had moved to Paris and it was there that Sesshomaru saw her again. She was huddling on a park bench by the Champs Elysees wearing rags, her eyes looking haunted and her body starved for food. He agreed to take her in, provide for her, and give her a place to stay as long as she never gave up on her dreams. And so he watched as she emerged onto the Parisian ballet scene and found herself performing in the infamous piece by Najinsky. There was a reason that Le Sacre du Printemps called to him so. It was Rin’s triumphing moment- the culminating first moment for her to shine and show the world what she was. And in that moment she had danced and shone and finally gained the recognition and respect she needed- albeit not in the best of ways.
That Rin had died at the age of ninety-two in Rome in the year 1986. He had waited and waited for the new incarnation and had all but given up hope when he’d heard about his ballerina five years ago. It had been twenty-one years since the old Rin had died when he encountered the new one- the longest gap between Rin’s incarnation cycles. He had taken in his ballerina’s baby simply because he’d remembered why children were so innocent and special. The entire time the ballerina was pregnant all he could think was: What if the child was like Rin? And oddly enough, his intuition and instinct had lead him to the correct conclusion. When the girl was born, the ballerina refused to name her which he was glad for. Rin Taisho- finally another incarnation of Rin as his ward- finally became a part of his life again after that moment.
“Excuse me sir?” The waiter’s voice pulled him out of his recollections. The young man was nervous and seemed hesitant but Sesshomaru brushed it off waiting to see what he had to say. “I’m sorry, the waitress before happened to get a few orders mixed up- did you order the Mocha Latte or the Ginger infused green tea?”
“The tea.” Sesshomaru replied his eyes narrowing a little in distaste. It was annoying to have to repeat his order but he did see the waitress who took his order run out the door earlier after she’d received a call from the hospital. Still, he wondered who had ordered the mocha, a suitable choice for the January chill. He didn’t have to wait long before finding out since the woman behind him soon answered his question. Shaking off his curiosity he opened his e-mail again; he would figure out the mystery of the voice later.
An hour later, Sesshomaru shut the lid of his laptop and packed it back up. It was time to pick up Rin from school and take her home so that he could begin working from there with her. He stood up to leave and caught a glimpse of the voice that had intrigued him earlier. At the sight, he dropped his laptop bag and the tea cup in his hands. The sudden sounds caught the attention of a number of people within the establishment but he brushed off their glances and instead walked the three steps towards the face that was as surprised to see him as he was to see her.
“Miko.” The endearment sounded strange on his tongue after not having used it in nearly three centuries. It was highly uncharacteristic of him to have dropped things or shown his emotions but he couldn’t’ care less. He had never thought he’d see this particular human female again even if Inuyasha had warned him about it.
“I-Sesshomaru?” The latter word left her mouth in a whisper and Sesshomaru was infinitely grateful for it. Sesshomaru was dead- had been dead for a long time- and people would think her crazy for mistaking him with Satoshi Takeda.
“Come.” It was a silent command but one that he needed to give. He couldn’t keep Rin waiting but at the same time he wasn’t leaving this miko so soon after he found her. The miko only nodded, quickly fishing around and paying for her order before she hastily packed her things and followed him out the door. He led the way to a sleek silver car- not a foreign but a Japanese brand- which made Kagome smile a little. It only seemed right that he was still very nationalistic in his own way. It wasn’t until she was in the car that she realized the gravity of what had just occurred.
“We will discuss your appearance at my house.” He began commanding her silently as he began to drive to Rin’s school.
“I-uh, all right.” And Kagome really didn’t know what to say beyond that. She was just as surprised as he was at this recent turn of events. She knew that Sesshomaru had to know she was from the future. She had made Inuyasha promise to tell his brother because she only thought it fair for her former ally to know. But still, telling him and seeing him were two different things. She was however snapped out of her musings and incredibly surprised when they stopped outside a school. That surprise only increased when a little girl approached the vehicle and climbed in. Kagome nearly had a heart attack when a girl so resembling Rin climbed into the backseat.
“Calm yourself.” Sesshomaru stated knowing why Kagome had reacted as she had. She nodded though her fingers refused to relax from their tight grip on the armrest.
Kagome wasn’t naïve, she knew that things had obviously changed for the man next to her. Five hundred years were more than enough time for most people to learn and adapt and she knew that Sesshomaru had. He still kept his long silver hair- she had to ask him later how he passed that off- but his markings were hidden. At that thought, she had to bite her lip before she shed tears; not tears for Sesshomaru but tears for what history and his legacy had been reduced to. As she chanced another glance at the backseat she wondered how much the one little girl had changed him. She knew that the girl behind her wasn’t that Rin but she could feel the old wisdom in the child’s eyes. Perhaps, she mused, the little girl was like her- a reincarnation of an old soul that was meant to do something- in this case help an old demon to love.
“Home!” The sudden shout startled Kagome but Sesshomaru who had been used to Rin’s exuberant shout for years brushed it off. He couldn’t help but be amused though at the sight of the miko clutching her chest in fear. To think, she had faced Naraku and rid the world of evil but a little girl managed to scare her.
His home was simple- the old castle was still there but it was just an old property now. It was his “ancestral land” and he only visited it on extended holidays. This home was a simple Japanese home- a small driveway for his car, a tiny genkan, three bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. It was two stories but even then it barely lived up to the opulent standards he could afford. As Kagome looked at it, she realized that this was perfect for him. He’d always preferred elegance over opulence, cleanliness to brashness. It only made sense that a simple home with tasteful furnishings was where he lived. She stepped out of the vehicle when he did and waited awkwardly and patiently to the side as he opened the door to his residence. The little girl ran inside happily and Kagome followed her.
“Rin.” At the soft but strict command, the little girl stopped halfway to the staircase. “No running in this house.” She nodded, feeling a little chastised but knowing he was right nonetheless and resumed her trek to her room. Meanwhile Kagome shuffled her feet waiting for him to say something. In the time since she’d last seen him she had matured a little. Oh, she was still a little too emotional at times but she had learned to control her anger. And her manners had improved partly because she had grown into a young woman.
“Come, take a seat.” Following Sesshomaru to the living room Kagome took the indicated seat noting that the room seemed right for a man like him. Polished cherry wood sofas with white cushions reminded her of the platform beds that had surged in popularity recently. A low table sat in the middle with tatami mats acting as the only furnishing. A painted screen sat behind her, it was of a large white inu. She didn’t have to guess to know who it was, something told her it was Sesshomaru in all his glory.
“Inuyasha told me you were from the future.” The statement didn’t surprise Kagome and so he continued. “I must admit however, that I had not expected to run into you.”
“I didn’t expect it either.” Kagome answered playing with her hands and looking down at the floor as she babbled in her nervousness. “Honestly, I’ve changed from the girl you met all those years ago. And I’ve grown as well. I waited two years- I hoped that someone would find me. And no one did, so I moved on. I have a job now, I have a new life here.” There was a silence after her statement and Kagome didn’t know what to make of it. Did that mean Sesshomaru cared about what she said?
“How long has it been?” He asked slowly.
“Ten years.” Kagome answered reflecting back on the time since she had come back. A sudden thought occurred to her, one that she realized she should have thought of before. What did Sesshomaru do? He was in Tokyo, in a modest home, making a decent wage. This was completely different from what she pictured him as- some business mogul who lived in a penthouse skyscraper and looked down on the rest of society. And that had her thinking- what exactly was Sesshomaru’s job? The area that she found him in was the artsy area of Tokyo- the place where dancers, actors, painters, stage managers, etc. usually met up. So what was he doing there? She wondered if he was working in that field and if so why the two of them hadn’t run into each other yet.
“What do you do?” It was a simple question but one that obviously required an answer from Sesshomaru.
“Satoshi Takeda.” He replied watching her eyes widen. He knew that he didn’t have to say more than that since his name was quite synonymous both within and outside the arts world. He had worked hard to get to where he was and he was proud of the reputation his name held. But he was curious about her-what did she do? Taking a sip, he put his cup of tea down and regarded her stoically.
“And your occupation?” The question was simple and if Kagome didn’t know any better she would think he was insulting her. It was said indifferently but she saw the crease near his eyes and had to smile as she realized he was curious. How often had she seen that same look in the early days of their shard-hunting alliance. Shaking her head, she realized he was still waiting for her answer.
“I’m working to be a stage manager. I manage a small community theater in Ginza.” He nodded as the two sipped their tea in silence.
Kagome thought that there might be more to talk about, more to say but at the same time she was grateful for their reprieve. It gave her time to think about things. She hadn’t expected to run into Sesshomaru so her conversation was lacking simply because she had no idea what to say. What did one say to people like him? As she sipped her tea it also gave her time to notice the subtle differences in him. He was still stoic and had a commanding personality but she realized that it had mellowed down. He was inviting her to his house, he had made her tea, he had-dare she say it- become humble. As she regarded him, there was a sound of a scuffle upstairs before things quieted.
“Excuse me. I must go check on Rin.” Kagome nodded watching him walk away and wondering what to do in the time given to her. She knew that Sesshomaru was just as surprised as she was at seeing her and realizing how close their circles ran but what was she going to do about it? As much as it surprised her to admit it, she wanted to see him again. By the time he came back five minutes later she was a nervous wreck. She thought she had buried the past behind her, she thought she had moved on- but it was obvious that she hadn’t. And apparently the past was much closer to her than she had dared to imagine. Sesshomaru grabbed his keys nodding to her when he came into the room noting her distress. He knew she was as surprised as he was. But what was she distressed about? He decided to forego the topic and instead focus on other things.
“Come, I will take you home.” Kagome stood on shaky legs following him out the door surprised when Rin came as well. The little girl looked up at her and smiled softly before they left the house.
“Hello, I’m Rin. It’s nice to meet you.” Kagome nodded trying to formulate a response. As she looked at the little girl though she realized that this wasn’t her Rin but a new one. Just like she had been given the chance to be Kagome, not Kikyo, so too did this Rin deserve a chance to be someone different. Smiling, she addressed the girl who had greeted her feeling a little more at ease with the situation she found herself in.
“I’m Kagome, it’s nice to meet you too Rin.”
The car ride was silent and when they pulled up to the shrine Kagome got out. Rin was curious, she had never seen her father bring a stranger home before unless it was to talk about business. And she just knew that this had something to do with his past- a past that he wasn’t going to tell her about anytime soon. Kagome and Sesshomaru on their parts were lost in their thoughts as they tried to understand the sudden appearance of the other. For Kagome, a part of her still was unsure. What was she to do now that she found Sesshomaru? She turned to Sesshomaru feeling her nervousness appear once again.
“Will we see each other again?” She asked not having left for the stairs yet and wringing her hands. Sesshomaru regarded her silently, his citrine eyes glowing as he thought about what to tell her. Finally, he inclined his head in a nod- he supposed it wouldn’t hurt to see an old acquaintance and have an actual conversation for once.
“We will see.”
And as the car drove off Kagome wondered what his last statement really meant. When she made her way to her house, her mother greeted her at the door and noticed the change in her daughter. Kagome was subdued today but there was an odd glow in her daughter’s eyes, happiness in her aura that hadn’t been there since the well closed. She chose to let Kagome tell her about it and smiled. Perhaps her daughter was finally able to get the happiness she deserved a decade later.