Author's Note: Hi everyone! Yes, I know I made you wait for over three months. Yes, I know I'm a lazy butt. Yes, I know I have disappointed you. Yes, I am very very sorry. And Yes, I will continue to write this story. I reloaded and edited some of the previous chapters, but -ditzy as I am- I accidentally deleted all of my replies to the your questions from those chapters. I am so sorry! But at least I updated right? Please don't kill me. I have a big heart but it's easy to break. Okay enough rambling! Enjoy!
Not Your Beloved
The Michiyo Mansion- located in the middle of an isolated quarter, east of Tokyo- on this particular morning brightly resembled one of Monet's masterpieces. Its 15th century Victorian style construction stood proudly throughout the last six centuries of its lifespan. The red roof stacked upon one another creating a castle-like illusion dated all the way back in mid-evil time. In front, symmetrical to the dark entrance doorway, was a spherical fountain made of gold. On the two sides of the house were well-mowed green grasses covered with buds of virgin flowers, mapping out a beautiful squared garden. The sun was shinning brightly in the middle of the sky by the time that Rin had arrived.
Seems like no one had bother to change the mansion. Rin thought as she gazed at the mansion.
The building looked exactly the same as it was six years before when she left Tokyo. The same 10-level steps, the same white polls that guarded the porch, the same wooden door that smelled like mother earth.
They even have the same golden doorknob still. Rin mused.
It didn't take long for someone to greet Rin at the door after she had push on the doorbell. A young maid bowed to Rin as she asked the guest who Rin was.
"Riari Rin, I am here to see Kagome," said Rin pleasantly.
"Oh yes, please come in, maim!"
The young girl then led Rin pass the entrance hall, the living room, up the north wing, down the mirror-covered hallway, and last, turned to the balcony. There, Rin made out three figures sitting around a porcelain table. All the seats were taken except for one, which were meant for their long-time guest.
"Rin!" Kagome exclaimed when she saw her friend.
"Took you long enough," Sango laughed as Kagome and she went to give Rin a hug.
"Hi girls," Rin laughed, "sorry, you know how Tokyo traffic can be." She let go of her two friends and directed her attention toward the third woman in the group.
It took Rin a while to recognize who the third woman was, but when she did, Rin gasped with shock. No longer the color of black, the old woman's hair was now a shade of fainted gray. The bags underneath her wrinkle eyes indicated many years of suffering and fatigue. Her once full pink lips were now dried and brown. Her skin was saggy and sadly had lost all of its youthful spirit during the last six years without her husband around.
"Izayoi," Rin uttered out the name.
The older woman nodded with a smile, "I was wondering when you would come back to visit us."
Rin could feel tears rising up from the bottom of her heart, but she suppressed them and ran over to give Izayoi the most loving hug since years. The two frail and tender hands touched Rin's back and embraced her body with kindness. Right at that moment, Rin felt at peace. She felt real joy and at home, which was something she never knew she could have grasp since her return to Tokyo.
"You did not expect to visit my house, and not see my mother-in-law, did you, Rin?" Kagome smiled as she took a sit.
"I guess I was too occupied with the anticipation that I forgot," Rin shook her head as she took her own sit between Kagome and Izayoi.
"How have you been?" Izayoi asked Rin.
"Terrific!" Rin said -an automatic answer, which she replied to everyone whom asked her from the past- though she was not exactly in a state where one would label 'terrific'.
"That is good," Sango joined the conversation, "Kagome called me yesterday about your car accident, and we were scared you might get hurt."
"Oh no," Rin waved her hand, "we both were going about 5 miles per hour. It was in a parking lot."
"Where were you at?" Kagome inquired.
"Shikon Elementary."
"Hey! That is where my daughter go to school!" Sango said, "wait… why were you there in the first place?"
Rin knew this question would come up eventually. No matter what, she will eventually have to discuss the issue of Katan. Taking a deep breath, Rin started. "I had to take my son to school. Katan didn't want to miss school for the month that we are going to stay here so my fiancée enrolled him into this school. Caleb say that it was reported to be the number one school in Japan for their education system so I say 'why not?'."
"Who is this Caleb?" Izayoi asked.
"My fiancé," Rin answered easily. She was glad that Izayoi asked her this question for now she could show how she had gotten over Sesshoumaru, and no one would have to act awkward about her past relationship. "Speaking of fiancé, why didn't you guys tell me that Sesshoumaru was in Tokyo?"
"We tried to tell you--" started Sango.
"--but you wouldn't listen," finished Kagome, "remember back at PlayPen when we were in the garden?"
Rin recalled the incident that Kagome was describing, and the answer hit her. "Oh," she made a face.
"Rin, I have a small request," Izayoi said suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"I hope this is not much to ask, but do you think I could see Katan? Before… before it is too late?" Izayoi asked quietly.
"What do you mean it is too late?" Rin questioned.
"I might not live much longer…" said Izayoi as she looked down at her tea.
"Oh please don't say that, mother," Kagome cried as she touched Izayoi's arm.
"I know my days are ending soon," Izayoi insisted, "and I want to see all of my grandchildren before that day come."
Silence followed after Izayoi's demand upon meeting Katan. Rin did not know what to say. She supposed there was no harm for Izayoi in letting Katan meet her. The only problem was what Katan would think. Would he not ask her who Izayoi was? Who Inuyasha was, recognizing their resemblance?
Am I being selfish? Rin asked herself. She nodded deciding that she was. Izayoi had been treating Rin like she was like her own daughter. Furthermore, Rin had promised Izayoi six years before she left Tokyo that Izayoi will get to see her grandson. But… Katan…
Heaving a sigh, Rin looked up at Izayoi and decided at that moment that she would grant Izayoi her last wish. "Yeah, of course. When do you want me to bring him by?"
"Oh any time, Rin, there is no hurry. I just wish that before I close my eyes that I get to see him," Izayoi smiled, "Oh I remember when he was just a baby boy, so fragile and so small. He must have grown a lot since then, huh?"
"Oh yes," Rin said proudly, "you would never guess that he was seven if you look at him now."
"I am not surprise," remarked Kagome, "I remember when he was trying to talk when he was only a few months old…. 'Kagome-sama! Katan wants the pooty pwetty doo-doo'"
All four women started to laugh as Kagome imitate Katan's baby voice. If only they could look at Katan now, 'baby' would be the last thing from their mind.
"Kagome hasn't changed one bit, huh Rin?" Sango laughed.
"Nope," Rin smiled, "oh speaking of change. I noticed a new house on the avenue on my way to your house."
"Beloved," Izayoi said referring to the name of her neighboring mansion.
"Who does that humongous mansion belong to?" inquired Rin.
"Who do you think?" Sango asked Rin back.
"Your?" Rin stared at Sango in shock, "Wow! That is an amazing piece of architect! It has the potential to be my dream house. Actually that just might be it."
"Hah I wish I could call it mine," Sango said, "nah, all of Inu-Youkai land belong to the Michiyo only. No one can build anything on the land. It was written in Inutaisho's will."
"Oh," Rin nodded, "then who is it?"
"Sesshoumaru build that mansion not too long ago after he moved back here," Izayoi explained.
"Oh," Rin nodded -not sure what to say next.
"Good ridden too!" Kagome puffed up her cheeks, "I'm glad Sesshoumaru decided to build a place for his own. It has been years and still Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru fought like 1st graders. I had enough stress dealing with kids at school, I don't need to put up with two more than my own son at home."
Rin was amused. "They still fight to this day, huh?"
"Like dogs," Sango smirked. She then laughed at her own joke, but no one else seemed to get it. "Oh come on guys! Dogs, you know! Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru? Dogs?"
"Sango, you are not funny, stop it," Kagome rolled her eyes at Sango though she was smiling too.
"Have you have gotten over your fear of demons existing in this world, Rin?" Izayoi turned to Rin.
"I tried not to think about it," Rin shrugged.
She would have say that she had gotten over that demon-fright stage, but then she would be lying. Though there were proven facts right in front of her face, Rin could not bring herself to admit that demons were real. Even when she was raising up Katan, and noticed all of his strange habits, Rin would just ignore them, making excuses that it was part of growing up and Katan was special. Now she had realized that she would have to somehow deal with the fact that demons are real.
"You will have to deal with it eventually," said Izayoi, seeming to read Rin's mind.
"I know, but I rather deal with it later," Rin looked away.
"Is that your motto?" Asked Sango.
"Since I was young, yep!" Rin replied, "Don't think about it now, think about it tomorrow."
"Who gave you that lame advice?" Kagome asked with a forced laugh.
"You're being mean today, Kagome," Sango remarked.
"I am not!"
"You are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Are too!"…
Smiling at her friends with loving affection, Rin recalled back during her younger days. It seemed like time had froze for a minute as all of her high school years rushed back into Rin's memory. She had tried to block out everything and everyone from Tokyo since she had left it because of Sesshoumaru, but now she had realized that not everything from Tokyo ended up in disaster. She still had her friends, right? Right.
Remembering back the old days, Rin missed seeing Kagome and Sango fought over little issues, she missed seeing Miroku being perverted and making adultery jokes, she missed Inuyasha's complaints, she missed hating to wake up early everyday for school, she missed the sakura petals which blanket the sidewalks every day in the spring, she missed dancing her heart out after school daily…
I miss you, Tokyo. Rin thought.
--------------------------------------------------
Caleb Klein, CEO of Sephora for the last three years, was a man of business. Graduating from Brown with a commerce major and a sociology minor, Caleb was an extremely well-known and talented businessman- according to all of his partners- and a wealthy and family-guy in the public's eyes (A/N: Brown is one of the 8 Ivy League colleges). However, no one could understand why Caleb would not get marry, have a girlfriend, or even date. It was not because he was picky. No. It was just because Caleb would not allow himself to be caught up in a world of romance because to him, his career was much more important.
It was not until he met Rin that everything started to change. A close friend suggested a professional dater for Caleb on a business party, which Caleb had to attend. To the Sephora's CEO, a call-girl sounded a little bit absurd but he had no choice because the party he was going to require a date. So picking up all of his pride, Caleb dialed the phone number that his friend had given him and everything went from there.
He was somehow mesmerized by Rin's intellect and beauty. He often asked her why she had not go to college and finished her education instead of becoming a call girl, and every single time, her answer would be 'everyone has their own story that they are writing, and going to school is not part of mine.' This answer intrigued Caleb, and it made him coming back for more.
Though he felt a special connection between Rin and himself, Caleb was not sure if it was love or some other types of attraction. At times, he wanted to embrace her tiny form in his arms and whispered lovely words to her, but when he brought himself to do such thing, the reactions he got from Rin was something he did not expect. She became distant and apathy to his touch. On more than one occasion she would just stood up and left saying she was tired or she was not up to do anything.
What could Caleb do? He could not force anything upon her; that was simply not his way. He was restless about their relationship, and finally he decided to propose to Rin hoping that this decision would conclude their standing. If she say no, then he will leave, but if she say yes, then it would make him the happiest man on earth. To Caleb's hope, Rin did say yes and that left him where he is now.
As soon as he had landed on the Japanese's ground, he had to go to a business party in order to meet with the president of PlayPen along with all of the international representatives from the fashion industry. To make things more complicate, Rin -now his official fiancé- had to be stubborn and wanted to go back to the hotel when obviously, Sesshoumaru Michiyo wanted him to stay to discuss their business contract. When he finally convinced Rin to go back to the hotel alone, Sesshoumaru Michiyo had to take him to a bar out of all places and convinced him to take a few drinks. The sweet wine tasted utterly delicious more than any types of alcohol Caleb had tasted before -which was not much- and without any control, Caleb poured them down one cup after another, and before he knew it, he was out cold.
He ended up waking up the next morning, somehow getting back to his hotel room- and forgot everything which Sesshoumaru and him had talked about the night before. Feeling ashamed of himself, Caleb did not know what to do next. To his surprise, however, Sesshoumaru Michiyo called him.
"I assume that you slept well?" Asked Sesshoumaru on the other line.
"Y-yes, it was all a blur," laughed Caleb, "I apologize for any inconveniences which I might have caused you."
"Apology excepted," said Sesshoumaru, "Mr. Klein, to cut my purpose of this calling short, I want to continue to discuss PlayPen contract with Sephora."
"Why, of course, yes," Caleb said, "just name the time, Mr. Michiyo."
"Tomorrow afternoon. Three. My office. I assume that you remember the address?"
"Positive," Caleb answered.
"Good."
"Alright. Good bye," Caleb said and hear a click on the line soon after.
Now as he waited for the elevator to go up to Sesshoumaru Michiyo's office, Caleb was beginning to fret. There was something dangerous about this man in whom he was about to face. He knew that what made a great leader is his intellect, manner, and presence, and Sesshoumaru Michiyo had them all. However, there was a twist to all those factors. Sesshoumaru was smart, but it was not only school, but he seemed to be cunning in life as well. Nothing seemed to escape his grasp, and if someone were smart enough to get away with something, he would not get very far from Sesshoumaru's grasp. Secondly, Sesshoumaru was very much a businessman, but he possessed a type of savage manner within his personality, which Caleb was too scared to try to discover. Last but not least, Sesshoumaru's presence was more than influential; one could be miles away and can still feel his chilling gaze looking down upon them.
Caleb knew that the PlayPen president cannot be taken on a lightly term. He had to deal with Sesshoumaru with 100 percent business and seriousness, no jokes what-so-ever.
The elevator made a ding sound as its two-feet thick doors slid open. Stepping out of the elevator, Caleb walked directly toward the door that had the sign "President: Sesshoumaru Michiyo" engraved upon the golden label. Knocking on the door, Caleb stood back and waited for a reply.
'Come in,' Caleb heard.
What greeted Caleb next when he opened the door to Sesshoumaru's office was a room much decorated like the throne room fitted for a king. There, sitting directly opposite to the entrance was Sesshoumaru Michiyo behind his desk. Behind the PlayPen president's chair was an original painting by Michelangelo, and on the painting side were two bronze, twisting candle stands. The room was lavished with Italian furnishing and even the carpet was a material of high standard. Upon the ceiling, which was painted with roman's god and goddesses, hung three crystallize chandeliers to convey the Italian theme.
"Mr. Klein," Sesshoumaru got up from his chair and greeted Caleb Klein, "I am glad that you can make it to this meeting."
"Mr. Michiyo," Caleb bowed, "the pleasure is all mine."
Sesshoumaru gestured Caleb to sit in a chair nearby. Caleb took it. Walking back to his desk, Sesshoumaru took out a folder and handed to the American and immediate started to talk once Caleb had opened the folder.
"Since this is the first time that Sephora had agree to work with us, I will summarize the text for I am sure that you don't remember it from two nights ago. The contract stated that our deal will carry out from the moment you and I signed it to the exact date and time five years from now. You will provide my company with all the equipments and products we need, and in payment, whatever we sell from your company, you will get 60 percent along with your company's name as credit. However, if the stocks are not sold upon our agreement date, Playpen will automatically have the right to collect the stocks which you have shipped to us."
Caleb nodded as he listened to Sesshoumaru and read over the contract in silent. The deal was not exactly all Caleb had wish for. There might be some compromising involved. The contract was in approximation 20 pages long, and Caleb knew that he could not sit in Sesshoumaru's office the entire time while reading it. It was evident that Sesshoumaru was looking forward to Caleb to say something else.
"I need time to think upon this," Caleb said unsurely.
"So you shall."
"And our next appointment?"
"I would like to schedule it over a dinner," said Sesshoumaru, "However, if you would prefer a private meeting, my next available time would be in four weeks."
"In four weeks, I will have to be back in the US."
"Dinner it is," Sesshoumaru confirmed.
Caleb nodded. "And the time?"
"Tonight."
"Tonight!" Caleb repeated as his heart skipped a beat, "Don't you think that is a little bit too soon for me to make a decision."
"I did not mention anything about making a decision Mr. Klein," Sesshoumaru corrected, "This Sesshoumaru is simply asking that this meeting of ours will be a step toward your decision."
Caleb sighed and laughed at himself. Of course, Sesshoumaru Michiyo was not an idiot. "Well that would be marvelous then, Mr. Michiyo."
"Good. Our meeting is over until tonight. I will have my secretary inform you of further information regarding the dinner."
Caleb did not say one thing but bowed to the president of PlayPen and walked out the door with a big smile on his face. Sephora is going to make millions out of this contract if he play his cards right. It was not until when Caleb stepped out of Playpen's doors that he realized how short the meeting was. How did he do that? Caleb pondered. Usually, meetings ranges from half an hour to two, but I was just there more merely fifteen! Is this how Sesshoumaru dealt with all of his clients? What a manipulator! Right at that moment, Caleb took a note that he will have to stay on Sesshoumaru's good side. Messing around with the PlayPen president won't bring him any luck in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------
Shikon Elementary:
Sara pouted her lips in frustration as she looked at Katan, who was sitting next to her. His head was rested on his arms, which were on the desk. Ms. Wu had assigned a group project to summarize the reading unit, which the class has been doing.
"Ooh you are so lucky, Sara!" Misao squealed in Sara's ear when they all found out that Katan would be Sara's partner.
Try unlucky. Sara thought at presence as she looked at Katan's bored face."Sooo what do you want to do, Katan?" she asked.
Lazily, Katan popped up his head, picked up a pencil and circled a portion in the book. Sara squinted her eyes at the text, which Katan had circled. It read 'Pearl Harbor'
"You want to do Pearl Harbor???" Asked Sara as she looked at Katan's unchangeable face.
"…"
"You want to do Pearl Harbor," said Sara as a confirmation.
"…"
"Okay, we will do Pearl Harbor!" Sara nodded and then wrote the choice on a piece of paper.
"Class," Ms. Wu stood in front of the classroom as she announced, "when you are done deciding with what you and your partner want to do, please handed the paper to me along with your name and your partner's name, and then you can leave the classroom. Please remember to work on your project this weekend because it is due on Monday."
Hastily, everyone started to fill out their paper as fast as possible and rushed to Ms. Wu to hand her their paper. Katan and Sara, meanwhile, packed up their belongings together and was the first to walk out the door as they handed their teacher their paper.
"When do you want to get together to do our project, Katan?" Sara asked.
"…"
"We could do it at my house, Kaguya wouldn't mind and daddy is always out of the house, plus Sara doubt he cares," Sara rambled.
"…"
"Oh my goodness," Sara exclaimed, "would you please say something to Sara? It is hard to be with someone like you."
"Then don't," replied Katan reasonably as he walked away from his classmate.
"But Sara can't," Sara ran after Katan and caught up to him, "you are Sara's partner in this project. We need to work together. Americans know all about togetherness, don't they? After all, your country is called The United States."
"Fine," Katan suddenly turned around to face Sara, "if I agreed to work with you in this project, would you promise me to stop talking to me after this whole entire deal is done? You are quite annoying."
Sara gasped. "Well, you are a butthole!" she shouted and pointed her index finger at Katan's face, "A big, mean, stinky butt!!!"
Katan rolled his eyes and shook his head. He started to walk away again. "I will come over to your house tonight. Adios." And with that, Katan started to walk faster away and soon he was out of sight.
"Wait!" Sara started. But you don't even know where I live. Looking after Katan, Sara was surprised to notice at the way Katan walk. "How strange?" Sara told herself, "He walked just like daddy."
"WHAT LIKE DADDY?!"
"Oh goodness, Misao!" Sara jumped when Misao suddenly appeared behind her,
"you scared Sara!"
"What like daddy?" Asked Misao again.
"Oh, I was just surprise at the way Katan walk. It looks a lot like my daddy's," Sara pointed out.
"Hmm strange indeed," Misao nodded, "anyways, are you coming over to watch Hello Kitty with me tonight?"
"No, sorry, Katan and I have that project to do," Sara smiled apologetically, "maybe tomorrow, neh?"
"Alright. My mom is here so I have to go, but I will see you tomorrow."
"Okay, bye!"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Beloved Mansion:
If there were one word to describe the Beloved mansion, it would simply be beloved. Though he continually told himself over the years that it was more for his privacy, Sesshoumaru knew that deep inside it was out of adoration for Sara that he had decided to built Beloved in the first place. The child was multi talented and a big star now, but when she was little, Sara had stage fright. She would not perform or practice in front of anyone beside Sesshoumaru whether it was ballet, piano, recitation of poems, or even reading out loud from a book. To most people, they would never -in their life- built a mansion the size of a castle in order to please a four-year-old girl, but Sesshoumaru was different. He did not know whether it was his pride of Sara or just his own pride that made him agree to built a real house for his daughter when she asked him for a 'little castle fit for a princess' as her 4th birthday present. Either way he was glad to do so because after the construction of Beloved was complete, Sara got over her stage fright.
There was no address number for the mansion. Most people know the building by its exterior resemblance of Paris's Versailles and its name: Beloved, Youkai Avenue, District 26, Tokyo. The whole entire mansion -including the front and back lawns- ran the equivalent to four football fields. All around the perimeter, bushes of green scattered behind the metal fence to monitor intruders with their concealed cameras hiding within each and every one of the greens. Starting as one entered through the 10-feet golden gate, one would literally be entering through a king's palace.
Well trimmed grass, flowers that were arranged by their different shades all located in straight columns that spelled out the word "Beloved" as one walked up to it to examine their tantalizing fragrance, replica of famous statues like Venus De Milo, Cerberus, Angel of Flame stood erectly on the two sides of the path leading to the mansion.
However, a visitor cannot enter the mansion without stopping himself to examine the architecture and workmanship of the enormous water fountain located perpendicular to Beloved's main door. Carvings of little angels and Greek gods and goddesses were pasted upon the marble exterior of the fountain. How little yet so marvelous they seemed! It was the work of a diligent artist as one can tell from the little details concerning the fingernails of Athena and Ares to the curves upon the clothes that the angels were wearing. Inside the black marble border contained the three feet deep well containing nothing but distilled water. Clear as crystal the water were; from below, they fuzzed up like heated H2O up to the surface from the blow out pumps at the bottom. From down at the bottom of the pool of water, were six different lights changing color simultaneously with one another into the five different colors: purple, blue, gold, green, and red. However, in the middle of the fountain was something else different from rest of Beloved, but somehow it seemed to fit with the name of the mansion.
Sesshoumaru, himself, didn't even know what that beautiful yet oddly strange statue that act as a sprout meant. Sara, who told them she woke up from a dream seeing this vision, gave the model to Sesshoumaru and the architecture. Particularly amazed by the child's creativity, the architecture insist on putting Sara's model as the center piece of the front lawn, and Sesshoumaru had no problem with it.
Sara convinced her father to let her be with their architecture to coach him through what exactly she had wanted for her statue to look like, and Sesshoumaru obliged thinking that it would kill the child's time. Sara, with a mind of a genius, instructed the architect to make the statue out of pure silver- that was extremely rare that the statue would be durable. Only one statue in the world was made out of pure silver that hasn't got destroyed over hundreds of years. However, Sara insisted that she wanted the statue to be pure silver made. Next, she told the architecture to paint nothing on the silver except the eyes of the statue, which she wanted to be bright red because it was her favorite color. What came next was sheer fabric. Sara told the architecture to draped the fabric over the statue and then left it in a hypermagenta-aragonite-extract freezer. (A/N: I made that thing up! Don't quote me on this.) After six month, he had taken it back and to his surprise, the fabric had somehow become part of the statue! It draped upon the figurines like glue and resemblance the milk's texture with its opaque and shiny appearance. The architecture then finished the rest of installing the pumped in the statue and brought it back to the mansion.
Now, Sesshoumaru stood below the six feet tall statue staring at its marvelous features. A maiden with long hair dressed in a kimono, as Sara had explained to Sesshoumaru when he first saw her picture. When one first saw the picture, he did not notice anything wrong with it behind the elegant woman, her long draped kimono, her index finger raising upon her mouth telling one to be quiet upon entering the mansion, her fragile hand holding onto the lantern, which act as the place where the water poured out from. No. Nothing was wrong about her. However, as a statue, it suggested a different meaning.
The bright crimson eyes of the maiden behind the sheer fabric that was hovering over her head altered the maiden's expression- turning her from an elegant woman to an obsessive creature. The water which poured out of the maiden's lantern looked out of place, yet when the water from below turned red, everything make sense. The crimson liquid of the water, which matched the intensity of the maiden's eyes, suggest none other than blood! The index finger upon the maiden's lip, at first suggested the idea of peace, now turned into a twisted evil idea about keeping a secret of which was not to be known.
Sesshoumaru had once asked Sara about whether or not if she knew what her statue was suggesting, but the child just shrugged after blankly staring at the fountain at night for 30 seconds. After a while, the Beloved Mansion's owner ignored the statue and go on with his life as normal.
"Welcome home, Lord Sesshoumaru," Jakken cried -though he was, at present, the manager of Sesshoumaru's company, he still wanted to live with his one and only master. As a result, Jakken resided in Beloved as the job of head servant in Sesshoumaru's home.
"Where is Kaguya?" Sesshoumaru demanded as he took off his coat and dropped it on the green youkai's head, covering his whole entire small body.
"She is somewhere in her wing, milord," Jakken answered through the muffle of Sesshoumaru's outerwear.
Sesshoumaru climbed up the red carpet covered stairs. Walking a long path through the house, Sesshoumaru took no effort in trying to smell out Kaguya for he already predict where she would be. Indeed, he was right.
Sitting on her little chair behind her Victorian accessory's top, Kaguya was concentrating upon writing something. Sesshoumaru took a look at her room. It was the same as the last time he had seen it, three weeks ago, except for two suitcases that were on the bed.
"My plane is leaving to Australia in two hours," Kaguya said softly without turning away from her writing.
Sesshoumaru said nothing but to take a sit on her bed as he started to examine her room again.
There was some ruffling of folding paper before Kaguya stood up. She then walked over to where Sesshoumaru was sitting with an envelope in her small hands.
"I took some time to write you this," Kaguya handed him the envelope, "I don't expect you to understand it, but I would feel better knowing that you read it."
"I'll read it," Sesshoumaru said shortly.
Kaguya nodded and closed her eyes and sat down right next to Sesshoumaru. "Where have I gone wrong in this relationship, Lord Sesshoumaru? Can you just tell me that?"
Sesshoumaru shook his head. "You haven't gone wrong once."
"Then tell me what I am missing?"
"Nothing."
"Then why do you not love me?"
"…"
Kaguya's hand tightened into a fist. She was trying to restrain from crying, but the hot tears were just flowing out like a waterfall; there was no way of stopping them. Was this what she had lived for? Running away from home with a man that she thought would make her happy and now crawling back to her proud and rich father's feet like a desperate mouse pleading for its life? Oh what terrible and harsh words her father would say?
"You have ashamed our family's name!" Her father would say. "Go back to Japan and apologize to Sesshoumaru! I don't want waste in my house." Or her father might say. "That is what you get for being a push-over. Stand up for what you believe in! No wonder why Sesshoumaru Michiyo left you!"
Oh the shame and ignominy that society will pound upon her weak body. Tears kept pouring out of her violet's eyes as Kaguya think of all of the humiliation that she will have deal with. She felt cold, alone, weak, but mostly desperate. What will she do from now on? How will she live her life knowing that she cannot let go of Sesshoumaru? When will she find peace?
"I have no right to hurt you," Sesshoumaru said suddenly.
"What?" Kaguya asked, still mesmerizing over her thoughts, and turned to Sesshoumaru.
A palm placed gently behind her head, and Sesshoumaru lips kissed upon her watery eyes. The warmth and love Kazuya felt then could be none mistaken than a sign of giving in. Oh how she wished for this moment to last for an eternity! To feel Sesshoumaru hand caressed her hair, to feel Sesshoumaru touched her face, to feel his lips upon her eyes, her nose, her lips.
Kaguya was in shock as Sesshoumaru pushed her gently down on the bed. His hands skillfully undoing her kimono and so quickly stripping her down to nothing but her undergarments. Hand in hand, Sesshoumaru rolled on top of Kaguya as he concentrated on her angelic face. Kaguya felt herself blushing as she touched Sesshoumaru blouse and started to unbutton his shirts. She slid the white shirts off and then moved toward his leather belt. There and then while the sun is falling from the horizon, Kaguya felt being loved more than ever this time as Sesshoumaru kiss her and made her whole seemingly for the first time in their relationship. The intensity of his eyes gazing into her was enough to make her happy. However, this time there was something more that he was seeing in her, no, through her. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes immediately right before Kaguya could think of anything else and plunged himself deep inside her. That… was enough to make the exotic Australian forget all things which she was thinking of before.
Kaguya back arched and she buckled beneath Sesshoumaru. After a couple seconds of doing so, her body fell back upon the bed again, exhausted.
"Sesshoumaru sama," Kaguya whispered as Sesshoumaru lay down next to her afterward. She wiped a strand of hair away from Sesshoumaru's glistening forehead.
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes as he leaned close to Kaguya and kissed her eyelids. "Would you stay?" he asked while whispering back into her ears, staring deeply into her eyes.
Kaguya was quiet. Of course, she wanted to stay! Why would he even consider her not staying after that moment which they had shared? But… would this happen again? Does she have to pack up her suitcase every single time for Sesshoumaru to run back to her? No. This will not happen again.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, I love you," Kaguya said slowly, "but I don't want to stay."
Sesshoumaru bit his lower lip and closed his eyes again. "I see."
"I don't want to stay," Kaguya repeated, "at first because I really don't think you cared about me. But… Sesshoumaru sama, I am deeply in love with you and it hurts me to hear you utter out a different woman's name instead of mine. How did you expect me to react? Jealousy is an ugly trait, and I am not a woman of envy but when someone you love dearly loved another. How did you expect me to react?"
"…"
"So it's all up to you," Kaguya sniffed, "I won't stay if you are not please with me. But I will forever be by your side and loyal to you, if you would just let me."
"I--" Sesshoumaru paused as he looked at the envelope that Kaguya had given him earlier. He went over to Kaguya's desk and throw the envelope on the desk, abandoning it, "I want you to stay… with me." He decided.
No words could express her joy at the moment. Her lips perked up into a smile brighter than sunshine, Kaguya started to laughed as she shook her head in disbelieve.
Sesshoumaru reached over and kissed the woman passionately, more so than he had intended to. This new feeling that was devouring him was something new. It was not love, it was not lust, but whatever it was, the youkai liked it. Kaguya, once again, reminded him of Sara's situation.
Sara was his only intimate family left, his only bloodline after his son had died. Then Rin had turned on him, and Kaguya was now the only next-to-perfect woman in his life. Hang on to what you have, Inutaisho would always say. His father words were right, perhaps it was time for him to move on… Perhaps his new feeling was 'hope'. Hope for the better in life, hope that Kaguya will be able to replace Rin-who had betray him, hope that Sara will finally have a mother figure, and hope that he may be able to forget Rin…
After this, I, Sesshoumaru, have stomped and smashed your heart until billions of particles. Thoughts of Rin suddenly darken over his mind. He then remembered about the dinner, and turned to Kaguya. "I have dinner with the Sephora CEO tonight. Would you mind accompany this Sesshoumaru?"
"Dinner?" Kaguya asked suspiciously, "Dinner as in 'leaving-you-in-the-bathroom' kind of dinner?"
"No," Sesshoumaru replied, "a real dinner."
Kaguya blushed at this. Sesshoumaru can be so charming at times and she bet anything he know it all too well, too.
-----------------------------------------------
Hotel:
"Dinner?" Rin's jaw dropped, "Dinner? As in eating? You, me, the PlayPen president, in ONE table? Together?"
"Yes," Caleb nodded slowly, "I believe that the last time I check, people don't sit in opposite corner with one another in different tables while they supposedly are having dinner together."
"I--I can't go," Rin's eyes widen as she started to pace back and forth in the hotel suite, "I am tired."
"Maybe I didn't make myself clear," Caleb said, "this is a friendly dinner, Rin. I need you to come with me. By the way, that was a terrible lie. If you are tired, you would be so alert right now."
"You just don't get it, Caleb," Rin cried, "I hate that guy! I can't stand his guts! And why do you businessmen call a dinner friendly when it's not even close to being friendly. All you talk about is business this and business that. Beside, I assured you, if this is a friendly dinner date, it would be any where close to be friendly if I was to come."
"What is wrong with you?" Caleb asked suddenly, "Why are you acting so strange?"
"W-what do you mean?" Rin said as she blinked furiously.
"Rin, you have been on your toes ever since we have gotten here," Caleb pointed out, "you barely sleep. You continuously denied my affection lately. Whenever I have time off, you don't want to spend time with me--"
"Nonsense!" Rin rebutted, "I love to be with you."
"Then why won't you go with me tonight to dinner?" Caleb asked.
"B-because! I told you, I don't like that Michiyo guy!" Rin exclaimed.
"So you hate him more than you would like to spent time with me?" Caleb asked again.
"Don't push me into a corner like that with your lawyer method," Rin pointed her finger at her fiancé, "you know that I love to be with you, Caleb, but--- but I honestly don't like this guy."
"Another word, you are saying you put your hatred against Sesshoumaru Michiyo over your love for me?" Caleb asked rhetorically.
"Oh lord!" Rin cried out in frustration. She kicked the wall and started to punch it as she cursed at the inanimate thing. Lately, kicking and talking to objects that can't argue back with her seemed to help Rin a lot with her constant anxieties.
Caleb, after several days, had gotten used to Rin's method of stress relief. He waited patiently as she hurt herself with the wall and then he watched her sitting down on the sofa across from him with her arms crossed stubbornly.
"So what shall it be?" Asked Caleb calmly.
"I won't like it, but I am doing it for you," Rin pouted, "just to prove to you that I care about you more than I hate Sesshoumaru."
Caleb shook his head and blasted out laughing, "Fantastic. Now you want me to go and call a ride for Katan to go to his friend's house for a project?"
"Yeah," Rin sighed, "Katan will give the direction to the driver."
"Do you know where he is going?"
"No," Rin shrugged, "but I know him well enough to know that he is responsible and can take care of himself though."
"That may be true, but as for me, I will go and ask to make sure," Caleb said and stood up to go. He turned around halfway to Katan's room, "Oh I forgot to tell you, we are going to a French restaurant. I bought a dress for you, it's on the bed."
"Let me guess, Sesshoumaru chose the eating place?" Rin asked as she raised one of her brows.
"Yeah. How do you know?" Caleb asked.
Hmm just like him. Thought Rin. "Sesshoumaru likes exotic food." Rin replied. Just like how he likes his women.
He dates women like they are fashion trend. One day they were in, and another day they were out. All of Sesshoumaru's ex-girlfriends, since Rin had known him, had either been exchange students or they are of different racial ethnicity than Japanese. Rin was the only Japanese that was with Sesshoumaru, but then again, it was a forced engagement deal anyways.
--------------------------------------------
Beloved:
"Sara?" Kaguya knocked on the door of Sara's bedroom.
"Come in!" Sara called back, "How do I look?" the little girl asked Kaguya.
"Why, you look absolutely adorable! What is the occasion?" Asked Kaguya.
"Sara has a guest! But it is nothing special; we're just working on a project together," Sara smiled. It was true. The occasion was nothing big for her, but it was an excuse for her to wear the new Vera Wang dress, which she had received several days ago.
"Who is it?" Kaguya asked.
"His name is Katan, Riari Katan. I want daddy to meet him, Sara thinks he will be in for a treat!"
"And how is that?" smiled Kaguya.
"Oh you'll see! He said he would be here at 8. You know what strange? Sara doesn't even know how he knew our house phone number."
"Maybe he looked in the phone book," Kaguya guessed, "but, honey, I am afraid your father won't be able to meet your new friend."
"How come?" Asked Sara.
"He and I are going to dinner tonight alone and--"
"You mean daddy is putting you in front of Sara?!"
"Well--"
"That is absurd! He has never taken you out on a personal date before. He would never do that!" Sara shouted.
"Sara, hush down," Kaguya said calmly, "he always will put you first, but tonight--"
"No! I want daddy to stay home! Besides, I bet he would love to spend time with me more than you any day," Sara gave Kaguya a dirty look before she ran out of the room.
"Oh Sara…" Kaguya looked after the child in despair.
No one knew that Sara had found out that Kaguya was not her real mother when she was three. However, because everyone kept pretending that Kaguya was Sara's mother, the child's disapproval for her and Sesshoumaru's relationship was beneath consent. Sara had once told Kaguya when she was four that she would tolerated her "semi-step-mother", as Sara would called her from time to time, but she will never allow her father to be engage -and even less, marry- to Kaguya.
"Daddy?" Sara asked while leaning beside the door to Sesshoumaru's room.
Turning his head to the little figure at his door, Sesshoumaru turned his head back to the mirror. "What is it?"
"Kaguya said you love her more than you love Sara," Sara pouted. Sure! It's a little exaggeration, but wasn't that what Kaguya was hinting to her?
"What?"
"Yeah," Sara made herself look like she was about to cry. "She said you are taking her out to dinner tonight instead of Sara because you love her more."
At this, Sesshoumaru could not help but to chuckle. "Do you honestly believe that?"
"No, but you are going to dinner with her."
"Yes," Sesshoumaru mused as he took Sara hand and sat her down his lap, "but it is a business dinner. Kaguya and I are just finding sometime together. It is like shooting two birds with one stone."
"-shooting two birds with one stone… I know daddy. But Sara wants you to meet with Sara's friend."
"Your friend will always stick around, my business meeting won't. That's the end of our discussion. Now run along."
Sara pouted stubbornly as she looked at Sesshoumaru, "But daddy loves Sara right?"
Sesshoumaru nodded as he patted his daughter's cheek.
"How much?!" Sara smiled.
"Like a fat kid love ice cream," Sesshoumaru whispered in the little girl's ear. It was at these times when Sesshoumaru will let go of his guard, which was not to his liking, but Sara was special.
At this, all of Sara's fear and anger went away. Ever since she was little, Sesshoumaru has always put her first and she was not going to let Kaguya take her place nor anyone else.
"You're funny, daddy!" Sara laughed as she ran out the door.
"Sara?" Sesshoumaru called before the little girl left.
"Yeah?"
"I would appreciated if you would start being kind to Kaguya from now on."
"What?" Sara was in shock. Why would her father ever think of that idea? "Why?" she asked.
"Because as my daughter, you are to respect all those whom I have consideration for, understood?"
"Y-yes, sir," Sara said slowly. She stoop her shoulders as she left the room.
"Good night," Sesshoumaru said as he passed the child.
"Oh Sesshoumaru-sama, there you are," Kaguya came from the opposite of the hallway, "I've been waiting for you. It is almost 7:30."
"Since when have this Sesshoumaru been late?"
"Never, but this will be your first time if you don't hurry," Kaguya giggled.
Wrapping her arms around Sesshoumaru's elbow, the couple walked downstairs leaving the lone Sara standing in the middle of the empty hallway.
"Daddy…"
-----------------------------------------------
Bon Appetite:
"Reservation for Michiyo Sesshoumaru?"
"Yes," said Caleb Klein as he handed the desk clerk the card.
"Oui, monsieur," nodded the clerk. He then waved a bus boy over.
"This way, please," said the bus boy as he directed Rin and Caleb toward a private corner in the restaurant. "Would you like to wait for Michiyo-sama to get here before ordering?"
"Yes, thank you," Caleb replied.
"Not me!" Rin abruptly said. "I want the menu, please."
"Where is your manner, Rin?" Caleb asked his fiancé in embarrassment.
"Hey I agree to go with you to dinner, didn't I?" Rin snapped, "Now let me eat my food. Since when did you have a problem with me eating?"
"Since you're are blatantly trying to make my business meeting a joke, now wait 'til Sesshoumaru Michiyo get here."
"And what is he going to do if he saw me eating like a pig when he come, huh? If Sesshoumaru is all that professional, that jerk will disregard the distraction of your date and concentrate on your contract--"
"--Unless his date is the distraction to the contract itself," a chilling voice interrupted Rin.
"Mr. Michiyo," Caleb stood up quickly as he came to shook hand with Sesshoumaru, "excuse my fiancé, she's--"
"A nuisance?" Sesshoumaru finished with a mocking expression toward Rin, "I can understand."
"Why I gonna--" Rin started.
"Have you met Kaguya?" Sesshoumaru asked suddenly as he turned to Caleb Klein, ignoring Rin.
Just at that moment, the beautiful Kaguya appeared behind Sesshoumaru in her blue kimono. She smiled gently at Caleb as the two shook hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Klein," Kaguya said.
"Nice to meet you," Caleb smiled back, "this is my fiancé, Rin Riari."
Rin poked her head from behind Caleb and received the shock of her life, "Hey you're the weird purple-haired lady I've met in the bathroom!" Rin blurted out.
Kaguya covered her mouth as she chuckled in amusement, "Well hello there! We meet again; I guess this world is smaller than I thought. It is good to see you again."
"You two knew each other?" Sesshoumaru asked. If he was in shock, he was not at all showing a hint of it, according to Rin's observation.
"Yeah, we met in the bathroom where--" Rin started and then grinned mischievously at Sesshoumaru, "--where she told me that her boyfriend was fooling around with other women leaving her crying in the bathroom! Reminded you of something, Mister Michiyo?"
"No," Sesshoumaru replied coldly after a short pause, "I have no idea what you are talking about Miss Riari considering that I'm not Kaguya's 'boyfriend' as you have made a reference to my relationship with Kaguya."
"Not anymore, anyways," Kaguya started to giggle as she lifted her left hand to cover her mouth.
Automatically Rin noticed something sparkle on Kaguya's ring finger.
WHY… THAT RING IS--!!!
"Congratulation!" Caleb laughed as he shook Sesshoumaru's hand again, "I am guessing this is recent?"
"Yes, quite!" Kaguya said happily, "Just on our way here, actually, that is why we're late. If you know Sesshoumaru like I do, you would know that he is always on time."
"Yeah, I know all about that," Rin said quietly.
"What's that?" Kaguya asked.
"Nothing! You ring is beautiful. It is--" Rin said as she examined the well crafted ring. Her tone changed however when she looked at the diamond that was encrusted on the white platinum gold's surface, "It is…pink."
"Thanks," Kaguya smiled, "it is a darling. Sesshoumaru-sama said he specifically had it made to reflect my personality." (A/N: If they just made up earlier the same day, how could Sesshoumaru had a customized ring made for Kaguya by the end of the night? Hmmm, seems impossible? We'll see.)
Sure… if your personality is like mine-- Rin paused her thought as she looked at the ring again more intensively this time.
"It is a wonderful piece of jewel," remarked Caleb, "pink diamonds are extremely rare."
While Caleb and Kaguya marveled at the ring, Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru to see her staring back at her.
Pink diamonds…rare…window…pink diamonds…Christmas…rare…pink diamonds…
The significant of the pink diamond did not fully hit Rin until she looked at Sesshoumaru.
That day when Sesshoumaru and I went shopping for Christmas and I looked into the mirror of a jewelry boutique. That was the day when I saw the pink diamond necklace. I didn't have enough money to buy it, and Sesshoumaru and I didn't know each other very well at that time. Not only that, I hated his gut so I figured nothing will come out of it. But… as unconcerned as you seem…Sesshoumaru… You got it for me… on Valentine's Day. And that same night… we…
Rin's lips were trembling as she stared at the apathy expression on Sesshoumaru's face.
Are you enjoying this moment right now, Sesshoumaru? Rin thought.
"E-excuse me," Rin took a deep breath as she managed to smile at Caleb and Kaguya before walking to the bathroom. Not again. Geez, why does this always have to happen whenever I'm around him?
His brain commanded his body to stay put, but his heart told him to chase after her, to grabbed her vulnerable body into his embrace, to tell her who that ring truly belonged to, to touched her face and kissed her ripe lips…but…
She is a betrayer.
Sesshoumaru told himself as he saw Rin running again. Sesshoumaru made a fist with his hands as he looked after Rin.
Be bitter…stay bitter…
Comments and Replies:
C: I got kind of confused when Sesshomaru was thinking at the end of the story about Rin naming her NEW son after his dead one that they had. I had to read it several times to actually understand that part.lol but i finally did when i read the Q&A's at the bottom. How in the world can he think that his son is dead..and since they are twins, wouldnt Kagome or Inuyasha know about them? they were there afterall and they took care of Katan.shouldnt they know that there were two?? Sesshomaru couldnt have just walked out the hospital with a baby and no one know about it.. and if Sesshy though Katan is dead then that would mean he did die at some point. If so, then how did he come back to life(is did he die for a minute or two and then start breatheing again later?
R: Yes. This is my fault. Like I said, I have edited some of the previous chapters to fit the situation at hand. The thing was that my original-original chapter 1 included the explaination but somehow, I must have deleted that part on accident before posting it up. Anyways, it's there now, so you can go back and read it if you want. Oh and yes, Inuyasha and the gang do know about the twins. However, Rin and Sesshoumaru both asked them to keep quiet about the child that each of them is raising because they don't want the other to find out that the baby is still alive.
C: Is Rin sara's mother?
R: Yes.
C: I do rather like the whole spin of things with the new story lines destination but the drama seems to be to soap-operaish with its ovious outcomes and twists, soon im waiting for sesshoumarus evil twin to appear or somthing rather bland instead then the complexities of betrayl which may i say comes up alot. Sesshoumaru is a dog demon we all know, but to use the subject of betrayl so frequently distracts the readers from the other points the story tries to convey.
R: First of all, I want to thank you for writing me such a considerate commentary. I appreciate your input and I understand your position. However, this fanfiction is under the "drama" and "romance" genre. Drama comes in many different type, but I also understand that "soap-opera", as you have called it, to be a factor of drama as well. Therefore I do not think that it is irrelevent for me to put twists within my fanfiction. As far as the betrayal factor of the story goes, I did it for a particular and personal reason, and I shall not further comment upon that subject.
C: And why have not Sesshoumaru know that Katan is his son?I mean, he saw him playing with Sara, he must have seen the resemblence!!
R: Katan had a cap on, as I deliberately included in the setting. You just gotta read more carefully haha.
C: I idk why people are taking fanfictions seriously. They're complaining about this being cliche about that being out of character..jesus this is a fanfiction
R: It's a psychology thing, my friend. As normal humans, we could not help to point out the imperfection of everything we see and hear because it makes us feel better one way or another. Either it is that, or people just have their own opinions and they would like to share it with the world, and that is okay because it is good to have opinions in this world. Sure! I don't like critisim, no one does, but I do appreciate them nonetheless.
C: I wonder if we will c Kaguya anymore??
R: Well, what do you think now after reading this chapter? lol.
C: Chapter 13: "I would be looking forward to that day. I will not die until the day that I see my grandson's face again." Does that mean she is going to die in one of the chapters?
R: Hmmm I'll let you ponder on that q? yourself.
Chapter 5 Will be Updated Sometimes in March/April.
-Whenever I can find time to write-
