AN: I wasn't really sure how to follow up the last chapter. There wasn't really much thought behind that and I apologize for such an inadequate chapter. Hopefully this one will be better :)

Chapter 10

True to her word, Izayoi didn't mention wedding preparations. Rin was able to focus on her life with her little family and began to ponder her future. Truthfully, she looked forward to being Mrs Sesshoumaru Takahashi, but she wasn't entirely sure if he was looking forward to it as much as she was. It bothered her, but she didn't allow herself to linger on that thought for too long.

Several days later, Rin was seated in her office at work when her phone rang. Having had a bad morning, she looked up from her work, pen poised over a sheet of paper, and glared at the phone. For several moments, she glared at the offending apparatus with a glare worthy of Sesshoumaru himself, almost as though she were willing it to stop with just her gaze. After not succeeding, she sighing irritably and picked up the receiver.

"Yes?"

"I've just had an urgent delivery, would you like me to bring it in?" her secretary asked tentatively, knowing how hectic Rin's morning had been.

"Please."

After putting the phone down, she looked back at the papers in front of her and put her signature at the bottom of several sheets of paper before looking up to see her secretary coming through the door. The woman placed an envelope on the desk and retreated hastily. With a sigh, Rin reached for it and opened it carelessly, pulling the papers out and spreading them across her desk.

Her eyes widened as they flicked across the papers. She leaned back in her chair with another sigh, rubbing her eyes as she did so. Not knowing what to do, she picked up the papers and her jacket as she left. Within moments she had left the building and was making her way towards her car.

Shortly after, she had pulled into the car park beside Sesshoumaru's own car. Rin made her way across the car park towards the doors of the building, pulling her jacket over her shoulders as she went. The receptionist looked up when she heard the clicking of heels on the tiled floor. She frowned when she recognised the woman striding towards her purposefully. Her black skirt swayed as she walked and her white blouse hugging her figure under her jacket. So this was Sesshoumaru's wife? She didn't seem very special. The receptionist glared at Rin and ignored her for several minutes before deciding to help her.

"Can I help you?" she asked Rin in an icy tone.

"I'd like to know what floor Sesshoumaru Takahashi's office is on please," Rin asked politely, trying to ignore her thumping heart.

"I'm afraid he's too busy to see visitors at the moment."

Rin closed her eyes and was about to respond when a voice called her name. Turning around, she saw Inuyasha walking into the building. He walked towards her with a smile and led her away towards the elevators, much to the receptionist's irritation.

"You here to Sesshoumaru?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Be careful," Inuyasha warned. "He's not in the best of moods."

Rin shrugged. "Neither am I."

Inuyasha laughed and patted her shoulder. "That's why you're a perfect match for each other."

Inuyasha led her to Sesshoumaru's office and held the door open for her. She thanked him and walked into the office. His secretary nodded politely at her and motioned for her to go inside. Thanking her, Rin knocked gently on the door and pushed it open when she heard a deep voice mutter something from the other side. She closed it behind her and walked up to the desk where Sesshoumaru sat, not noticing her presence. When he finally looked up, his eyes widened as he saw her.

"Rin," he said quietly, getting to his feet and walked around to stand beside her. "What are you doing here?"

She paused and looked out the window behind his desk for a moment before looking up to meet his piercing amber gaze. All the emotions she had felt before leaving her office hit her full force. Much to Sesshoumaru's surprise, tears started to gather in her eyes as she clutched an envelope tightly.

"What's the matter?" he asked urgently, his hands coming up to hold her shoulders gently.

Rin shook her head blindly, tears streaming down her face as she held out the envelope. "That."

Not knowing what was going on, Sesshoumaru took the envelope and led Rin to the sofa where they sat down as he read through the papers. They sat in silence for several minutes. When he looked up, he saw Rin's eyes still were still full of tears and he was at a loss for what to say.

"Rin…" he started, unsure how to continue.

"What if he tries to take her away?" she asked in a whisper so low he wasn't sure he heard her right.

"He only wants to see her. He is her biological father after all."

"Will you come with me?"

"Of course."

Rin nodded and sighed, allowing herself to be drawn into a comforting embrace by Sesshoumaru. Akiko's biological father wanted to see her. It was difficult for Rin to let the information sink in when the main thought in her head was if he would take away her daughter. She allowed her tears to fall unchecked as Sesshoumaru held her close.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

True to his word, Sesshoumaru accompanied Rin when she met Akiko's biological father. The meeting had been arranged for a secluded park where they could meet privately. Rin had dressed the little girl in her prettiest dress and made sure to put the yellow flower Sesshoumaru had given her in her hair like she requested. The child was now accustomed to living with Sesshoumaru and took great pleasure in spending time with him. Rin smiled as she watched the girl run up to her "husband" and ask excitedly if he liked her dress, she grinned when he said he did.

Now they sat on a bench in the park waiting patiently for the unknown man to appear. Akiko soon grew bored and begged Sesshoumaru to push her on the swings. He agreed and they disappeared, leaving Rin to watch on with a smile. A voice caught her attention after a while.

"Are you Rin?" a polite male voice asked.

"Yes, I am," she said, turning to look at the tall male who had arrived.

"I'm Oshiro Hiten," he said extending a hand.

Rin smiled and shook his hand politely, acutely aware of his gaze sweeping up and down her. Turning around, she saw Sesshoumaru walking over to her where he set the girl down before sitting on the bench previously vacated by Rin after nodding at the man. Hiten nodded a greeting at him, but his gaze was drawn to the little girl who stood clutching Rin's hand. Said woman knelt down beside the girl.

"Aki, there's someone I'd like you to meet," she said quietly.

"Who?" the girl asked excitedly, looking from Rin to Sesshoumaru expectantly.

"This is Hiten," Rin gestured to the tall man who looked down at them. "He's your father."

There was silence for a moment as everyone in the small group let the information sink in. Sesshoumaru leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, watching the scene with interest. Rin chewed her lip nervously as she waited for a reaction that never seemed to come while Hiten knelt down in front of Akiko and smiled slightly.

"Hello Akiko," he said gently.

The girl stared at him for a moment before shaking her head.

"He's not my dad," she said, frowning at Hiten.

Rin sighed. "Yes Aki, he is."

"No he's not," she repeated stubbornly.

Rin frowned, not sure what to say. "Aki…"

"That's my dad!" Akiko said, pointing at Sesshoumaru and moved to stand next to him, her small hand gripping his shirt sleeve.

The group stared at the little girl in surprise. Sesshoumaru's jaw would have dropped had he been a lesser man, but as it was he merely looked intently at the girl. Rin gaped. Akiko had never said anything like that before.

"It's alright," Hiten said, standing up with a vague smile. "I thought something like this would happen. I'm just glad she's well looked after. She'll understand when she's older."

Rin nodded dumbly as she watched Akiko move closer to Sesshoumaru and wrap both her small arms around his neck. After a moment, Sesshoumaru picked her up and sat her on his knee, an arm holding her in place. Hiten smiled and nodded at Sesshoumaru and Rin before taking his leave. All in all, the meeting had been anti-climatic. Rin was pleased that the man had not tried to take her daughter from her, but in a way she felt sorry for him. It must've been hard to be rejected by his own child. Still, both she and Sesshoumaru had been left with something to think about. What will they do now that Akiko had so obstinately declared him to be her father?