Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

...

Month 6 part 1

"Wait, wait wait." Sango said cutting Rin off mid-story. "You're telling me that all of that, getting mad, flying to South America, everything was a big trick?"

Rin laughed happily as she looked down at her ring.

Kagome sighed and shook her head. They were at Rin's while she unpacked and told them what had happened.

"I told you I was going to marry Sesshomaru as soon as he found out he couldn't live without me." She laughed and walked into her bathroom to replace her toothbrush and things.

"And you chose this way because...?" Sango asked.

Rin smiled in absolute rapture, "It was the fastest way. How else do you show a guy he can't live without you except by forcing him to live without you?"

"So you flying to South America?" Kagome asked next as she rubbed her large stomach happily.

"I planned that trip months in advance. I didn't know I would use it for this but they were both together." Rin laughed and hung up her clothes. "Come on, I'm surprised he didn't see through that one. Do you know how long it takes to get a passport and the vacanations and booking the hotels in advance?"

"So you didn't know that he was going to ask you to sign the contract?"

Rin shrugged and began replacing her shoes. "Well, I knew he would do something stupid. I just didn't know when or what. If it had been some other time I would have just gone to Osaka or something. I was just lucky the trip and his stupidity meshed so nicely." She smiled again.

"Do you know what he'll do to you if he ever finds out you tricked him?" Kagome asked knowing about Sesshomaru's temper.

Rin seemed nonpulsed. "Simple fix. He'll never find out. And if he does it will be far too late because he'll be far too in love with me."

"Famous last words." Sango said.

Rin sighed and stuck her hands on her hips and glared at them. "Are either of you going to be happy for me? I am getting married."

"I already said congratulations." Sango said.

Kagome stood up and put a hand on her shoulder. "Of course we're happy for you, swetie. This is wonderful. But you've only known him for, what? 2 months?"

"2 and a half." Rin corrected.

"We just want to make sure you know what you're doing." Kagome said smiling at her.

"I love him, and that's all I need to know." Rin smiled back. "By the way, since you introduced us, will you be my maid of honor?"

Kagome's face went blank for a moment then split into a big smile. "Of course I will!"

"And you'll be a bridesmaid, right Sango?" She asked.

Sango smiled. "Of course."

Rin bounced away as she continued putting up her things. "So enough about me, how are things with you Inuyasha?"

"Not nearly as good." She admitted. "I want things back to how they used to be. When he'd come back from work and kiss me or surprise me with a way too expensive gift." She sighed. "Rin you're an expert as manipulating a Takahashi. What should I do?"

"Me? Oh no." Rin shook her head. "I'm not the master of that, I can only manipulate one. To find out how to manipulate Inuyasha we must go to the real Master. The Sensie that left us all in the dust on manipulating a Takahashi years ago. There is only one." She paused for dramatic effect.

"Izayoi Takahashi."


Izayoi laughed from her end of the phone. "Girls, I would be more than happy to help."

She lounged back on the large deck at the beautiful house overlooking the ocean on the California coastline. The stars sparkled and the ocean sounded mystical in the dead of night. The beach, so busy on other sections, was perfectly clear here at any time of day because this was her beach house and her private beach. Well her and her darling husband's.

"Izayoi, who are you talking to?" Inutaisho asked nibbling on her ear. He was feeling frisky all the time since they had started their around the world vacation. So was she for that matter. For such an older woman, she had a wonderful body and she knew her dearest treated his like a temple.

Call it vanity if you wanted, but Izayoi knew the dangers of middle aged men. She trusted the man who held her heart completely but she didn't trust the bimbos who wouldn't mind being a rich man's mistress. So she kept herself beautiful for him and, she admitted it, her own personal vanity.

"Oh, no one, love. Why don't you go get some of those margarittas and meet me on the beach." she turned her head and kissed him. Just a quick peck that promised more to come.

"Late night swim?" he asked looking hungry though not for food.

"Leave those expensive swim trunks of yours in the room." She winked and he disappeared.

She turned her attention back to the phone. "This just requires a woman's touch girls. Inuyasha is the more hard headed of my boys."

"Wait." Rin inturrupted. "I thought only Inuyasha was your son."

"Well, biologically, yes." Izayoi sat up and untied her wrap. "But I raised both of them and I love them equally. Anyway, back to the point. Inuyasha is much more stubborn. He's like a pit-bull or a snapping turtle. Once he gets his jaws into something he never lets go." She heard the shutting of the front door and knew she was running out of time. "You've made him dig his heels in, Kagome, now the only thing that will get him to give in is himself deciding to give in."

"How do I do that?" Kagome asked.

"Go talk to him personally. Tell him what you want. Inuyasha was never one for subtlety. If you want him to know something you have to tell him. Blunt and obvious that's how he works." She pulled her bikini top off and put it on the chair with her wrap.

"Will he understand?" she asked, worried.

"I don't know." She admitted looking at the dark sand as her husband's figure came into view. He had a very fine ass. "But Inuyasha respects somone who fights their own battles and he'll respect you for coming to him. Fight your case. You have to believe in what you're doing. Make him believe it too."

"Okay, I will." she promised.

Izayoi smiled as Inutaisho laid out a big beach blanket. He was so thoughtful. "I have to go, darling."

"Thanks, Izayoi." All three girls said at once.

"Good luck, huney." she hung up and left the balcony. She left her bottom on. Inutaisho would want to remove it himself.


"Congratulations, Rin." Inuyasha said hugging her. Despite his recent troubles with Kagome he liked Rin. She was just so damn sweet.

"Thanks, big brother." She said looking at her ring again. It seemed she was peeking at it every other moment. "You didn't have to take us to dinner you know."

"Nonsense." he smiled. "I want to welcome you to the family. And I might as well invite Sesshomaru while I'm at it."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. "Can we go into the resturaunt now?"

It was the same place where Miroku and Sango finally got together, the best resturaunt he could think of.

Inuyasha nodded and walked in behind him, his arm around Rin's shoulders. "So, Rin, how do you feel about bachelor parties?"

"Inuyasha if I find one speck of stripper glitter on his body I'll come after your skin." She said with a smile.

He laughed. "I'll just have to tell them to wear no glitter."

She laughed with him and they were seated and Inuyasha ordered them some champagne.

"Get whatever you want, Rin. It's all on me." he promised as she opened her menu.

"You're being unusually nice tonight." Sesshomaru commented dryly as he looked at the expensive lobster dish. It may be nothing compared to what Inuyasha had but if he planned something mischevious, as he no doubt was, Sesshomaru was going to make him pay in any way possible.

"You just got engaged." Inuyasha pointed out as their bread waiter brought them some warm loaves and butter. "Should I put on black in mourning and light a candle?"

Sesshomaru glared at him but Rin giggled.

Oh she was going to be so good for him, Inuyasha thought. His brother needed a sense of humor. Bad.

While he discussed plans for a bachelor party he knew Sesshomaru would never go to with Rin, the waiter came to take their orders.

Halfwayd through the appetizers, Inuyasha turned to Rin and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you ready?"

"Isn't that what you should be asking your brother?" she asked back sipping her bubbly drink.

"Yeah but Sesshomaru never does anything without checking 50 times. It's you I'm worried about. You're going to be married to His Highness, The Ice King. This requires intense mental preparation."

Rin laughed. "I'm sure. You know what they say about opposites attracting."

"Yeah but they meant things like magnets. This is more like a snowflake facing lava."

"Why did I change from Ice King to lava?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Who said you changed?" Inuyasha asked back with a smirk as Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. His brother was enjoying this entirely too much.

"Are you saying you're against this?" Rin asked.

"Of course not." Inyuasha scoffed. "I wish you all the best. I'm just concerned that Sesshomaru might develope emotions while with you."

"That would be bad?" Rin smiled.

"Duh. The shock might make his brain explode." Rin laughed as their meal was delivered.

"You know, Inuyasha, you haven't asked about Kagome." Sesshomaru pointed out as he picked up a piece of lobster.

It was Inuyasha's eyes turn to narrow.

"Don't you wish to know how she and the baby are doing?" Sesshomaru stuck the bite in his mouth as Rin's smile faded.

"Guys, don't do this..."

"So how are they?" Inuaysha asked his grip so tight on his own fork that his knuckles had turned white.

"Kagome is alright. She seems sad lately. Maybe it's the hormones."

Inuyasha glared as Sesshomaru smirked in triumph.

"Guys-"

"And the baby is doing well too. I hear it's a bouncing baby boy."

"Guys!"

"Good for them." Inuyasha said through gritted teeth.

"You really should just let her out of the contract, little brother. No point in forcing her to do what she doesn't want to. That will only make her bitter."

"Sesshomaru." Rin pleaded as the warm glow of the evening vanished. But he just kept on talking in that smug voice of his.

"You know she's been trading sleeping places frequently lately. I'm not a doctor so I wouldn't know for sure but isn't all that stress unhealthy for both her and the baby." He smirked.

"Sesshomaru!" Rin cried but it was too late because Inuyasha was on his feet throwing his expensive pasta on Sesshomaru's suit.

"Fuck you, bastard!" He growled and left the resturaunt.

"Why would you do that?" Rin said her face unhappy. "He was being nice."

Sesshomaru leaned back as three waiters appeared with napkins. "He was baiting me so I did the same to him. He just happened to take the bait and I didn't."

"That wasn't nice." She stood up. "I'm going home. I'll...call you later." she turned and left the resturaunt.


Kagome sighed. "Sesshomaru, when I asked you to talk to him I didn't mean for you to piss him off more."

"Sorry." He said emotionlessly.

She sighed again. "No you're not. You just want me to talk to Rin for you."

He looked at her without speaking and she rolled her eyes. "I will, okay. I promise. "

"Thank you." He took a bite of the pasta he had ordered. He had agreed to meet Kagome at this bistro mainly because she had passed it, smelled the food, and wanted it so badly she had walked inside before she had realized what had happened.

She took a large bite of her meatball footlong and tried to control her drool. For some reason Italian food was even more delicious than usual. She blamed her son.

She wanted nothing more than to think of a name for him but Inyasha deserved an imput so for now he was just her son. He was also apparently an aspiring gymnist judging by the summersaults and cartwheels he enjoyed performing in her womb.

"So why did you call me here?" he asked lowering his fork and patting his mouth. Kagome often found it funny how vein Sesshomaru was. He cared for his skin as if the fate of teh world depended on it and his hair like the fate of the universe depended on it. She was sure his hair was softer than hers.

"Well, I need a bit of a favor."

"If it's about your baby shower the answer is no." he said immediatly.

Kagome laughed. "Rin talked to you about that then?"

"She invited me. I told her it was for girls but she insisted."

"You're going?" Kagome asked in shock and she knew the answer when he didn't respond. She giggled and he glared. "Don't worry. It's not about that."

"Then what is it?" He took another bite.

"I need you to take me shopping."

Sesshomaru blinked at her. "Rin has to drag me to take her shopping." He said at last. "Why would I take you?"

"Two reasons." Kagome smiled licking some sauce off her finger. "One: For the stuff I need I don't have enough money. And Two: you owe me for introducing you to Rin."

He raised an eyebrow then closed his eyes. "Very well. What do you need?"

Kagome smiled in triumph.


"Hello?" Inuyasha said after clicking the speaker button on his phone. He was in the middle of paperwork and didn't see the name but wasn't surprised when Miroku's voice came through.

"The Ikamura case is over with. He owes you a hundred fifty grand."

"Nice. What happened?"

"Oh, some bull about not knowing he was hacking our files. Like you could do it without knowing. Anyway, judge ruled in our favor. He asked how your mother was doing."

Inuyasha smiled and signed his name and moved the paper to the side. "SHe's great. I hear she's in California now. Are you still at the courthouse?"

"No, I just left. Turning onto Main Street now."

"Darn, wanted to ask him if his wife was tired of him yet."

Miroku laughed. Their conversations had been slightly strained lately. Each of them were tip-toeing around mentioning their argument. When Miroku had returned to work the next day, Kagome's file had been taken away from his files and neither man mentioned anything about it. Inuyasha would never admit it but Miroku's friendship meant a lot to him and he didn't want to risk it over this.

"I heard Rin is mad at Sesshomaru." Miroku said.

"Yeah, she is. Been engaged two weeks and he's already screwing things up."

"Mr. Takahashi, Ms. Higurashi is waiting for you." His secretaries words made his heart skip a beat.

"Uh...Send her in."

"Right away, sir."

"I should go." Miroku said having heard the short conversation.

"Talk to you later." Inuyasha turned the phone off right as his doors opened.

Somewhere she had found a nice business suit. The butter-cream pants fluttered as she walked and the matching jacket was cut in a way that minamized the buldge of her stomach. Her under shirt was a bright salmon that dipped low enough to show her enlarged cleavage. Her hair was up and her make-up was subtle. She looked calm and steady, almost like a warrior ready for battle.

"Kagome." Inuyasha said trying to look as calm as she did though his heart was racing in his chest and butteflies were holding races in his stomach.

"Inuyasha." She greated just as formally and sat down, with a little difficulty due to her stomach.

His son.

"What did you need?" he asked looking down at his paper work as she began organizing it into a pile. Actually he was just throwing things on top of each other but he couldn't see straight enough to even read the words on them.

"I've come to talk to you about our contract."

"You're not getting out. I told you that." Inuyasha said firmly.

"Will you at least listen to me?" Kagome asked. He looked back up at her and saw her hands folded neatly in her lap. She looked so calm and conposed, so opposite from how he felt.

He wanted to leap up and shake some sense into her and at the same time draw her into his arms and kiss her. He wanted to touch his son, to feel him, to ask how he was and snatch him away so Kagome couldn't steal him. Kami if Kagome didn't get to the point soon he might just beg her to come back.

"Why should I?" He asked as he leaned back in his leather chair. He struggled to look as cool as her. "You agreed to the terms."

"That was then. Times change and the things we want change and the things I want changed."

"Well the thing I want hasn't changed." he said his eyes getting dark.

Oh, Kagome loved it when he looked like that. Like a panther about to pounce, savoring the meal to come. Kami if she couldn't get him to break she just might beg for him to take her back.

"I still want my heir. Want it or not that is my baby in there. I'll pay you to carry it the rest of your term. A bonus for delivery and of course I'll pay your hospital bills."

"Inuyasha I don't want to just be a surrogate. I want to be his mother."

"Then-"

"And I still want you to be his father."

"Then why do you want out!" He demanded slamming his fist on the desk, his control finally snapping.

"Why did you want me out?" She snapped back.

"I never said I wanted you out." Inuyasha said through clenched teeth. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

"You did." Kagome said firmly still in control of her temper. "At the resturaunt when I was making plans you got angry. Like you didn't want me in."

Inuyasha opened his mouth but no response came out. That had been exactly what he had been thinking that night. Somehow Kagome deciding where the baby room should be and the fact that he realized she had been staying with him in his room the entire time had made him uncomfortable. He wanted the easy sex back because it was just that, easy. Kagome had begun to complicate things and, he grudgingly admitted, he was scared of it. He had wanted a surrogate not a girlfriend and yet it seemed that was exactly what he was getting. That had scared him and he had reacted badly but he had not wanted to scare her away.

"That doesn't mean you can get out!" He cried.

"Please."

The softly spoken word nearly destroyed him. Had she yelled at him, he could have yelled back. If she raised her hand against him, well he couldn't fight back but he could hold her off. Had she continued with her stupid logical explanations he could have torn them apart as the business man he was.

But she said, almost to quietly to hear, that one damned word. Her eyes were sad now, pleading even as she looked at her hands in her lap which were shaking slightly.

There was no defense for that evil little word. It was an evil little mind-fuck that tore all the answers from his brain.

Even just looking at her like that, sad and withdrawal, was making him calm down. How could he be mad at her when she looked so damned innocent. And as he calmed down the other half of his brain began to be heard over the testosterone fueled half.

Why was he fighting so hard to keep her in the contract she so objected to? What was the point of holding her to it if it would only make her hate him? Make her bitter? What was the point?

"Fine." he said quietly looking dwon at his lap.

"What?" Kagome asked her eyes watery. He hadn't asid what she thought he said, had he? Surely not because he would never give in so quickly.

"I said fine. I'll...I'll let you out. Neither party want in, the contracts null and void." he opened his desk drawer and pulled out her file. From inside he took out their contract. She watched as he turned around in his chair and she heard the unmistakeable sound of a shredder.

He leaned back in his chair but didn't turn around. "I still want partial custody. We can...We can iron out the details later."

There was a moment of silence when neither of them spoke or even moved.

Inuyasha continued his view of the city, scanning surroundings so familiar to him he could have described them with his eyes closed. He didn't hear Kagome get up or walk over but he did feel her touch his shoulder however he didn't turn around.

"I want you to take me to dinner." she said at last.

He looked up at her in shock.

"Not a business dinner, a real dinner. Candles, wine, music, the works. I want you to take me to a movie, I hate horror movies though, so none of those. I want to move back in, back in your house, in your room, in your life. I want that ugly mustard yellow room to be the babies room. And I want you to feel this."

Before he could react, Kagome unbottoned her jacket and lifted her blouse, revealing her stomach which was much larger than the fancy tailored suit made it appear.

"Kagome, what-"

He stopped when she grabbed his hand and laid it on her stomach.

"What are you-" He tried again and once again stopped.

He gasped in a staggered breath and his eyes got wide and in an instant his whole world shifted.