Whew, got it done ^^

Hope you all like it ^^

The sun was unusually bright for being such a horrid day, the occupants in black suits and dresses wearing sunglasses or shading their eyes from the blinding light as they stepped from their vehicles, Sesshomaru no different from the rest as he stepped out of his black vehicle for his brother's funeral, a nagging sensation in his heart as he looked about at the other mourners, half business men who had worked with the young man briefly while others were their friends, both joint and separate though there were few in the latter category, what was once hers had been his and his hers. Amber eyes caught sight of a slim woman stepping out of a black car driven by one of his father's loyal servants, her body bowing to her in thanks while her arms wrapped protectively over a small infant, the child seemingly awake, but quiet.

His lungs inhaled a deep breath of air as he stepped over towards the woman, his senses catching the smell of sadness and tears, her eyes, while made-up, were evidence of many sleepless nights and crying, the red puffiness around her chocolate irises telling him she was suffering. Her hair was done up neatly in a simple ponytail and her neck and ears were adorned with small pearls, the child in her arms dressed in a black dress with a black satin bow around her waist, her amber irises looking at things with tired eyes.

"How have you been?" Sesshomaru asked quietly as he approached her, her own tired eyes looked up at him, her lips slipping into a small smile.

"As can be expected," she told him softly, her arms adjusting the baby.

"You look tired," he continued, "have you slept well?"

"Not really," she confessed, "after I finish my crying for the night, she starts up. She just wants her mommy, I think she know that she won't come, but I don't think she understands why."

"She's an infant," the dog demon sighed, "she won't understand for a while yet."

"That's not something I'm looking forward to," she murmured sadly, her head shaking slightly to clear any negative thoughts, "so, how are you?"

"I guess I'm okay," he admitted, turning to walk towards the church with the young woman next to him, "I try not to think about it too much."

"Yeah," she sighed, "so, is Kagura with you today?"

The dog demon shook his head, "no, she and my brother didn't get along too well so, we agreed it was alright if she decided not to come."

"I see," Rin told him, looking for a conversation she could strike up that made their situation less awkward and took her mind off the funeral, her heart lifting at the sight of InuYasha's parents walking towards them.

"Rin," Izayoi called to her hoarsely, her eyes faring no better than Rin's while she looked to have less sleep than the young woman, "how are you?"

"Izayoi, hello," the young woman smiled, "I'm alright, given everything. And you?"

The elder's lower lip quivered slightly before she steadied herself and nodded, Rin watching the older woman's reactions to her question, the eyes lingering on her grandchild.

"Would you like to hold Aimi," Rin asked her calmly, "she's a little heavy though."

"I'd love too," she whispered her arms outstretched for the child, the young woman handing her over gently, Izayoi talking and cooing softly to the baby while she told the other three she'd meet them inside, them nodding before walking up the hill to the church.

"Thank you for that," InuTaisho told her softly as Rin walked between the two men, "she's been having it rough."

"She would be," Rin told him, looking from one to the other, "I think we all are."

Both sets of amber eyes met each other before the simultaneously nodded at each other, the trio walking in silence before Rin caught sight of the other woman, the young woman telling them she would have a few words with Kagome's mother, excusing herself from them, Sesshomaru and his father left together alone.

"Sesshomaru," his father began, the tension heightening slightly at the sound of his voice, "I heard from the lawyer Kagome and InuYasha hired that it was their desire for both you and Rin to care for Aimi."

"Yes, that is true," the younger told his father.

"I've also been informed that you have certain…reservations about the entire thing."

"Again, that is true," Sesshomaru admitted, "but, given the current situation-"

"I am burying my youngest son today and your only brother," his father interrupted, her hand on his eldest son's shoulder, "something no father should ever have to do, to any child. I would appreciate it if we held off as long as possible with regards to my granddaughter and your niece and godchild."

"I understand, father," Sesshomaru agreed, "it's a difficult day for the rest of us as well."

"And they won't be getting any easier I'm afraid," InuTaisho muttered, looking at all the mourners, "for any of us."

"Mrs. Higurashi," Rin murmured once she had approached the elder woman, her head turning in Rin's direction, a smile put on for the young woman.

"Rin, hello," the woman smiled, "how have you been?"

"I've been well," the young woman smiled, "and yourself?"

"I've been better," she admitted, her eyes looking around Rin in curiosity, "where's Aimi?"

"She's being held hostage by her other grandmother," the young woman teased, "but I'll hand her over to you once Izayoi's done."

Mrs. Higurashi nodded and followed her son inside the cooler building, Rin slipping in behind them, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the building, several other mourners milling around in black suits and dresses, talking and chatting to others, the young woman's heart sinking as painful memories slipped to the forefront of her mind. Memories of an eight-year-old Rin walking around and looking up at all her relatives and family friends, her little body dressed in a black velvet dress, the adults silencing as she walked up to them, her brown eyes confused and crying, the whispers as she left words and phrases of how poor the little girl was, several of them crying after telling her how much she reminded them of her mother or father or brothers.

"Rin?"

The young woman turned around at the sound of her name, her eyes lingering in the sight of her friend and her husband, Sango looking as solemn as the rest of the funeral goers while her husband nodded out of courtesy to Rin, the brown eyed woman walking towards them in a hug.

"Hey," Rin murmured, the other woman pressing her close to the other body, "how are you?"

"We should be asking you that," Sango sighed, "we're doing alright."

"That's good," her brown eyes looked around the two of them, two small little girls clinging onto their father's pant legs, "hey guys."

Both girls nodded at her, their dresses identical as were the bows on their heads, their parents smiling down at them.

"Now you two promise to be on your best behavior," Sango murmured to her children, the girls nodding once more.

"I hope Aimi will be okay with this," Rin murmured, "she's a good girl, but this is all different for her."

"She'll be fine," Miroku told her, "Kagome and InuYasha took her to a dinner once, quietest kid you'd ever see."

"I've had other experiences," the young woman murmured smiling slightly, Sango looking at her in confusion.

"Such as?"

"Kagome brought her to one of my concerts once, about a month ago," Rin looked up at her friends, still smiling softly, "barely hit the first note before Aimi started wailing. Poor Kagome, she was so embarrassed when I went to talk to her after the concert; apparently, her little girl doesn't like classical music, or piano."

The couple chuckled lightly at her words, kind memories lighting up smiles on their faces before they told her they'd see her later, the two of them taking their children by their hands, Rin feeling a stab of sadness rush through her, sadness for Aimi.

"Rin?"

The young woman turned at the sound of her name for what felt like the umpteenth time that day, Izayoi holding the infant tenderly out to her.

"Thanks Izayoi," Rin smiled, the tiny half-demon snuggled into her arms, her amber eyes looking around at the crowds, Rin's heart breaking at the thought that the little girl just wanted her mother.

"Rin," the young woman asked again, brown eyes turning to her elder, "would you mind sitting with us? I know you're not part of the family but-"

"I'd be honoured," Rin smiled, her hand on the woman's arm while they walked among the pews, the woman taking solace in her company.

They were quickly accompanied by Izayoi's husband and step son, Sesshomaru and InuTaisho settling themselves on either side of the women, Sesshomaru next to Rin and InuTaisho next to his wife. The service started as soon as the rest of the mourners settled in their seats, a few clutching handkerchiefs and sniffling while others looked to be on the verge of tears and others wearing a mask of concentration and calm.

The young baby in Rin's arms was behaved as the angel's should, calling out only one and moving when she saw the photograph of her parents, reaching for them before Rin gently shushed her, the small whimpering ceasing as she looked up at her godmother, her dog-eared head leaning on the woman's chest. The speeches were beautiful and honest, a few chuckles and even more tears fell from their words, Sesshomaru's amber eyes darting from the speakers to the babe in Rin's arms, mildly impressed at the silence and calmness she displayed, though her own chubby face displayed what looked like sadness, his heart unnecessarily going out to the poor little girl.

It felt like an eternity before they were out in the sun once more, the two coffins moved to their graves, the final resting place of Aimi's parents, white roses displayed over the lids, the mourners having moved off to the Takahashi household, Rin left with the baby in her arm looking over the coffin of her best friend, her hand touching the lid gently.

"I'll take care of her Kagome," she murmured, tears slipping down her face as she begged herself to regain her composure, "I promise, I'll take care of her like you would."

A hand on her back startled her, her head turning to see Sesshomaru standing beside her, his amber eyes softer as he looked on at his little brother, his jaw twitching slightly.

"Come on," he murmured, Rin trying to slow her tears in front of him, "Totosai's got the car waiting for you, I'll go with you."

"Alright," she sighed softly before nodding at her two friends, "goodbye you two, like I said, I'll take care of her."

Sesshomaru watched her as she left with the babe cradled safely in her arms, her hands wiping tears off her cheeks, his eyes turning from the young woman to where his brother lay, his hand too, touching the lacquered wood.

"So will I, little brother."

"Ms. Rin?"

The young woman looked up from her plate, the sandwich barely touched as was her drink, her stomach feeling as though it was churning.

"Yes?" she asked quietly, looking up at the demon talking to her, his hand on her shoulder before her brown eyes glanced over at the baby in her grandmother's arms, Mrs. Higurashi looked content for what Rin would assume was the first time in days.

"Would you mind meeting me in the study for a few minutes, it's about Aimi's guardianship."

Rin looked back to the baby once more, her plate removed from her lap to the side table, the glass following close behind it.

"Alright, sure," she agreed quietly, her slim form following beside him, Sesshomaru glancing around the room before he led her towards the second floor, the dark mahogany door at the end of the hall held open for her before he slipped inside it and shut in behind them, Rin mildly surprised at the three men in black suits she had not seen at the funeral, the woman standing by them one recognizable to her.

"Hello, Ms. Yamashita," Rin bowed politely before Sesshomaru pulled out a chair in front of the desk for her, the young woman thanking him as she sat down.

"Hello again Ms. Oshiro," the lawyer replied, "I'm sorry not to make this day any better for you."

"That's alright," Rin murmured, "unfortunately, I think the only thing that can make this day better is if those two walk through the doors, but I learned a long time ago that that doesn't happen."

The woman nodded sagely at her words, her lips in a thin line while she looked over at the other men, Sesshomaru taking a seat behind the desk, his hands on the desk while his fingers interlocked, his manner suddenly business-like.

"With regards to Aimi's guardianship," he began almost sternly, "my lawyers have drawn up a contract for you to sign, you and Ms. Yamashita may look through it as you please."

One of the men handed her a small staple pamphlet of white papers and a large pen, Rin looking from the men to Sesshomaru before her eyes cast towards the paper, her delicate hand touching the white sheets before bringing it towards her, her brown eyes looking over the words written down on the papers. It was Ms. Yamashita who gently took the paper from Rin and looked it over thoroughly, the room silent as she flipped through the paper.

"Mr. Takahashi," she started, her voice as stern as the dog demon's, "the bulk of this contract involves financial components, mainly that she cannot use the baby for funds."

Rin looked from the woman to the demon, her still red eyes feeling as though she was about to cry once more, her breaths calming her.

"Unfortunately," he murmured, "I cannot vouch for Ms. Oshiro's character, these are just precautions."

"Be that as it may," the sandy blonde continued, "I would prefer that the clauses are removed, for her sake."

Sesshomaru seemed to twitch at her words, her eyes flickering from one to the other, his jaw twitching slightly.

"If it makes it better," he murmured, "we can shorten the length of the contract to about six months and see how it goes from there."

The lawyer looked from Rin to Sesshomaru, the young woman looking composed and trying to steady herself.

"Ms. Rin," the elder woman asked, her voice tentative, "is this alright with you?"

The young woman looked at Sesshomaru for a moment before she nodded slowly, the other going through the remainder of the contract.

"Now, this clause about marriage," she continued, her eyes piercing, "if this is to come into effect, then I wish for you to remove the statement that the child will go to the marriage."

Sesshomaru looked up at her, "may I ask why?"

"It was stipulated in their will that the baby go to both godparents," she informed them, "I think that we would need to reassess everything if that situation should happen."

The dog demon felt his jaw twitch, her amber eyes flicking to his lawyers, nodding slowly at them, one of them taking the paper and jotting down a few notes on the paper, the woman reading the scrawl and nodding at her satisfaction.

"If that's everything-"

"Not quite," the lawyer told him, her manicured hand reaching in and taking out a slip of paper, "InuYasha and Kagome have also granted her guardians some funds for financial support."

"I don't need it," Rin murmured, her voice speaking up for the first time, "I don't need or want the money."

"If that's the case," the young woman told her, fishing out a second sheet of paper and placing it on the table, "than I ask you two to sign this."

"What is it?"

"It's a form that states that the money intended for you would go to Aimi's trust fund," the elder woman told the two of them softly, the pen placed across the sheet, Rin reading quickly up and down it before she took the pen and slowly signed her name in a tidy signature, the paper handed to the demon across from her, Sesshomaru reading the paper slowly before he too, signed in an elegant scrawl, the paper handed back to the lawyer who slipped it into her black purse, thanking the two of them.

"I trust the forms will be fixed as soon as you can," she told him curtly, "when they are, I trust that you will call me."

Sesshomaru nodded at her words, "of course."

"In that case, I'll be on my way, Ms. Oshiro, Mr. Takahashi," she nodded to both of them, "till next time."

Rin and Sesshomaru both watched her leave, the dog demon gesturing to his own lawyers to follow suit, the three men taking after her through the door, Rin remained rooted to the chair.

"Ms. Oshiro," the demon murmured, her brown eyes looking over at him, the piercing amber ones softening slightly, "I hope that you weren't offended by anything, it was not my intention."

"I know," she murmured, her thumbs twiddling nervously, her voice gentle, "I know it wasn't your intention, but… I'm not interested in money or benefits, I-I just-" her voice began to crack, while tears began to slip down her face, her hand to mouth in an attempt to quell her sobs, "I just want what's best for Aimi."

Sesshomaru watched as she tried to quiet her crying, the hand that wasn't to her mouth wrapped around her waist, her body shuddering as she inhaled to steady herself. Slowly, the demon stood and walked over to her, his hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, his fingers handing her a tissue, she accepting with a soft thank you.

"There is a part in the contract that states that you and I will have to live together in order to care for her," he murmured, his thumb rubbing her shoulder, "I took into account want you said about your house and since Aimi's already there, it would make more sense to raise her there, provided you would be comfortable with it."

Rin sniffled, but nodded slowly, her tearful eyes looking up at him, "are you sure-that you're alright with this?"

The dog demon nodded, "as you said, my brother left her in my care, it would be disgraceful to disregard what he wished."

The young woman nodded at his words before she wiped her face, her tears steadying as she did.

"Sesshomaru," she whispered as she stood, "do you think… we can make this work?"

Amber eyes looked up and down her before he met her eyes, his own soft and concealing his sorrow.

"I don't know," he replied, "I just, don't know."

Sooo... yeah... reviews?