Hey everyone,
I know… I've been missing for a long time but I do have a very good explanation for myself. Due to my latest er..hem…condition, I've been feeling sick the entire day for like the past month or so. (Is that a big enough hint?) Eating was an ordeal and writing… erm… out of the question. But things are getting better, as you can see, since I'm starting on the story again. I felt so apologetic to have stopped for so long and at such crucial moments of Sessh and Rin's life. (And especially when LiLlady just mentioned in her last review that I update so often 'oops').
Evilbuny
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Stretching slightly at the annoying backache from the continuous tossing and turning the entire night, Rin slowly paced down the stairs. She picked up the familiar sounds of clinks and clanks from the kitchen and figured that her mother was probably already up. She was preparing breakfast.
The girls stopped just round the corner, taking a little peep. There at the stove was Izayoi, just about to heave out the scrambled eggs from the pan. Rin watched as her mother went about her task, looking extremely cool and calm and… normal. It was like nothing happened the night before. That thought instantly brought several images of their argument back in the girl's mind, how her mom had hit her, how they had come clean of their relationship, how Izayoi had retreated back to her room in eerie silence.
She took a deep sigh…. Here goes….
"Ohayo…" She intoned rather meekly as Izayoi's head turned toward her. Rin offered a tiny smile. "Need my help?"
The middle-age mom only paused for the slightest moment, then, a broad smile widened on her face as she shook her head. "No, sweetie, I'm fine. Breakfast's almost ready." She gave a louder laugh. "Why don't you get Sesshy and let's eat together." Rin noticed with an arched brow that her mother was babbling while nervously twisting her fingers. "Sho's not home yet but he'll be soon. He had to work overnight you see." Izayoi was son to run out of topic for conversation when Rin caught hold of her shaking hand.
"Mom, let's not drag this any longer. Don't pretend that nothing is wrong. I've… I've come to learn how terrible that feels like." Izayoi's features softened as she put a gently hand on her daughter's cheek. "Mom, tell me honesty, what do you think… I mean… about last night…"
After a short moment of silence, Izayoi finally took Rin's hand, leading her to the dining chair as both sat down. Lightly, she stroked, running her fingers through the girl's waist long hair as if enjoying its simple sensation of silk. "Rin sweetheart, I guess time has finally caught up with me. It just never crossed my mind that my daughter… my precious daughter… has come to the age where she would find someone… that she could fall in love with someone. It seemed like yesterday when you just graduated from kindergarten." Her hand moved up to caress carefully the side of her cheek which was still slightly bruised. Her heart ached at the sight. "And I even hit you last night. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I've never hit you before."
Rin shook her head, her eyes still apologetic. "No, you were right to hit me. I'm in the wrong and I'm the one who needs to apologize, not you…"
Izayoi continued to stroke the girl's hair as another smile curved up her lips. "Sweetheart, I remembered that when your dad died, we made a pact that we'll never keep any secrets from each other… that we'll always share how we feel. We've always been able to do that."
Rin nodded silently.
"But when I heard what Sesshy said last night, I suddenly realized that it must have really difficult for you to have kept such a huge secret in your heart for so long. It must have been painful." Izayoi's hand lightly patted the girl's shoulder. "It must have been hard on you and Sesshy."
Rin let her head dipped, not answering and then, her eyes lit. She looked up expectantly. "Mom, does this mean… that you don't object Sessh and I being together?"
With the warmest smile, Izayoi nodded. "But Rin, lovers can't live under the same roof as siblings…you know that. So…" She took a deep breath. "We have to move out of here. This is still Sho and Sesshy's house."
The girl's breath caught as she realized the implications behind such an action. "B-But… what about you and uncle? If you move out… You're not marrying uncle?"
Izayoi only chuckled, seemingly light-heartedly. "Well, Sho and I… we love each other and that will never change. Even if we don't have an official wedding, even if I can't be his wife, we can still date, I can still love him and he can still love me. Nothing will change. Moreover, I still have you…"
Rin felt her heart pinch painfully at her mother's words.
Rin's narration
In the end, I did ruin mom's happiness… All these years…She has always been the one who made the sacrifices…. I have always been the one being protected… being loved…
But can I alone give mom the happiness that she deserves?
Izayoi's eyes led her to a tiny ornamented object on the girl's finger. She lifted Rin's hand, singling out the ring. "This must be a present from Sesshy. I can see he has excellent taste. This ring suits you very well. He… he must love you very much…" Her tone was comforted.
The girl blushed, lowering her head, a little shy from the last comment. "He gave it to me during my birthday. H-He told me to always wear it."
Izayoi's feminine laughter rang out. "He's just as sweet and romantic as his father then." She heaved a contented sigh. "Well, go on now and wake Sesshoumaru up for breakfast. The food's getting cold."
With a clipped nod, Rin swung out of her chair and just about to head for the stairs when a figure standing there caused her to let out a soft gasp. It was Sesshoumaru. Elegantly, the boy came down the remaining steps as he greeted in his deep voice. "Good morning aunty. There's no need to wake me. I've already roused."
"You're terrible, Sessh. You've been eave-dropping on us all this while?" The girl pointed a finger at him jokingly. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed at her with pretended fury. "I do no such dishonorable things. I was merely coming down to have my breakfast and did not wish to disturb your conversation." He argued with wit and Rin's grin turned into a chuckle.
"Thus, you do know of the latest development then." She placed her hand into Sesshoumaru's when he beckoned for it. Then lovingly, they strode to the dining table to meet Izayoi.
"Arigato, Izayoi-san, for your understanding and blessing." The boy offered most politely as the middle aged mom scrutinized him for the first time, not as her future son, but as her future son-in-law.
"Sesshoumaru…" Izayoi lifted a finger rather seriously. "Now that I've leaving my most precious daughter in your hands, make sure you treat her well. If you ever bully her, or she comes to me crying, I'm not going to let you off easy."
The boy chuckled deeply. "Hai, I will remember that, Izayoi-san."
"Great! Let's eat and then, when Sho comes home, we'll let him in on the latest outcome of our discussion." Izayoi was just about to sit when everything around seemed to get blurrier, dimmer then brighter, then again. Her head began to spin wildly out of control and then… she dropped to the ground.
"MOM!"
"Aunty!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
At the hospital
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rin collapsed onto the chair nearest to the examination room. She buried her face in her hands, sobbing. "It's all my fault that mom fainted. It's all my fault!"
Sesshoumaru hurried to her side, kneeling down in front of her and took both her hands into his own gently. "Hey, it's not your fault. Shh…" He reached to stroke her cheek, wanting to sooth her, letting his fingers brush away some of the tears. Her hazels were still tingling with reminiscence of fluid when they met his ambers. He could sense her intense anxiety. "Izayoi-san will be alright, don't worry. This hospital belongs to our family. We have the best doctors here."
A set of heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor and the two looked up, only to find Inu-no-Taisho hurrying in their direction. Sesshoumaru stood up as his father reached their side. "How's Yoi, Sesshoumaru?"
"She's still in the examination room." He replied coolly, not knowing when it would be the perfect time to let him on the new information.
The Taisho took Rin's hand gently, bringing her up to her feet into a hug. "Rin, I'm sure it's nothing serious. Yoi will be fine. Don't worry."
The girl nodded, an apparent nervous expression on her face. She too had the same concerns. When would it be the best time to tell uncle about Sesshoumaru and me? Now that he's so worried about mom, how will he react if we told him about us, and about how mom has decided not to marry him? Will it be too overwhelming?
The doors of the examination room flung open, a group of nurses exiting followed by the doctor. Rin's thoughts came to a cease as she scurried over, together with Inu-no-Taisho and Sesshoumaru.
"How's she, Hika-san?" The Taisho spoke as if to a long time friend and the doctor too greeted with a respectable bow.
"Taisho-san, Izayoi-san is alright. She's just a little anemic and probably fainted due to fatigue." He intoned rather professionally, at the same time, removing the synthetic gloves on his hands. "But she has to take more care of her body from now on, since she's pregnant."
"Pregnant?" The Taisho's own ambers twinkled with unbidden excitement. Rin gasped in shock as the boy beside her kept his silence, noting down the reactions of both his dad and his girl.
"Oh, you mean you don't know?" The doctor looked surprised. "She's already in her twelfth week of gestation. Congratulations!" He shook the Taisho's hand briefly, then a nurse came up behind them.
"Mr Taisho, we need you to follow us to fill in some details about the patient. This way please." She gestured with utmost courtesy.
"Dad, I'll go with you. Rin, keep aunty company first, will you?" Sesshoumaru suggested and the girl simply nodded. She knew that most probably, he would take that private time to reveal to his dad more of what really happened.
The Taisho rounded his hand on his boy's shoulders, both moving towards the information office as Rin turned the knob gently to enter the ward.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At the information counter
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Watching silently as his dad went about the various forms, the boy was at the same time taking the chance to prepare his speech mentally. As the Taisho stood up, Sesshoumaru took in a breath of courage.
"Dad, I have something important to tell you."
Inu-no-Taisho instantly sensed the seriousness in the tone of his son. Sesshoumaru was not his usual self that day. He placed a warm hand on his shoulder, patting it. "What is it?"
"Actually, before Izayoi-san fainted this morning, she told us that she has decided not to remarry. She has decided not to marry you." His rich tone was still composed and unhurried but the Taisho was nothing but bemused and clouded.
"What? Is this a joke, Sesshy? How's that possible?" The middle-aged man briefly recalled how intimately they had bid each other farewell the last time. He laughed. "You got me there for a sec… But I'm not really in for jokes today, my boy. It's already been like a roller-coaster so far."
He peered at the cold expressions of his son, punched him teasingly but it was not returned. Sesshoumaru took in another deep breath. "It is possible… dad… because… Rin and I are in love and Izayoi-san wishes to give us her blessing. Thus, she has decided not to complicate matters and decided not to marry you."
The Taisho's brows arched up to their max upon what he heard, startled and at a lost of words. He merely stared at the boy, looking for all signs that this was purely another attempt of a joke but he couldn't find any at all. Sesshoumaru, he had never joked in his life and this time, he certainly didn't look like he was. He was as serious as he ever had been.
Slowly, the Taisho moved into deep thoughts, his finger rubbing at his chin, sequencing the events that could have happened at home in his mind, then, forming his reply. "So, after Yoi found out about you and Rin, she made the decision not to marry me so that Rin does not have to become your sister…in name that is…" He concluded rather solemnly, though not agitated in any way. He was completely calm, yet resolute.
Sesshoumaru nodded, then a troubled expression on his face, he spoke. "Marry her, dad. I'll move out. I can live on my own...but I'll never give Rin up." The Taisho's eyes lit with slight amusement at the change of stance by his son. "The baby needs a father, a family, isn't it, dad?"
Inu-no-Taisho smiled as he eyed his son. After a moment of silence, he simply squeezed Sesshoumaru's shoulders, shaking his head. "Don't be silly, boy. Without you, we wouldn't be a family."
Seeing that Sesshoumaru was giving him a half shocked half confused look, the Taisho simply chuckled, heading back to the ward. Well, at the very least, he had made an impression on his oh-so-solemn son. That had to be put down in record.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At the ward
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Rin placed a soft hand on her mom as Izayoi's fingers twitched. Slowly, her eyes opened and peered as if blurrily around for a moment before her vision landed on her daughter. She struggled to get up and was given a helping hand.
"Where am I? Where's this place?"
"Mom, you're at the hospital. You fainted just now at home and Sessh and I brought you here." Rin combed away the loose strands of her mother's hair; Izayoi smiling back at her drowsily.
"Oh dear, I fainted?"
Rin nodded. "Mom, the doctor says that you're 12 weeks pregnant."
Even as she announced the news, the girl noticed that her mother wasn't the least surprised. She knew.
"You already knew, didn't you?"
After a short pause, Izayoi finally nodded.
"And you still made a decision not to marry uncle….because of me." Rin bit her lips, a giant surge of guilt welling inside her. She scrunched her fist, causing the sheets to turn into a rumpled ball. "Mom, marry uncle. Please. I'll move out alone. You don't have a make such a big sacrifice, especially when there's another new baby to consider about. The baby needs a home, with mom and dad… I know how it feels like… especially when dad passed away. I-I don't wish that it suffers like me."
Izayoi stroked the girl's hair, listening intently and then, her lips curved into a smile again. "Sho can always adopt the baby when it's born. Then, he would still be the father and I can still be it's mother. We don't have to get married. Moreover, to me, nothing is more important than my precious daughter's happiness."
Before the girl could make a reply, a thunderous roar echoed through the room from the doorway.
"ENOUGH OF THIS NONSENSE! ALL OF YOU!"
It was the Taisho himself and he looked rather agitated, his face flashed crimson and purple. Heaving out an audible frustrated sigh, he stormed into the ward straight for Izayoi's bed, Sesshoumaru following behind in silence. When Rin met his eyes, she could tell… that the boy didn't have an answer too.
"This is all so ridiculous! Nonsense! Outrageous!" The Taisho's hands flung wildly, angrily in the air. Everyone gulped. No one had seen him flare like this before. "Who on earth made a decreed that siblings-in-name who are not related by blood can't like each other, fall in love or even get married? What are all of you afraid of?" He stared down at Izayoi, red still cruising in his eyes. "Yoi, what are you afraid of, my social status as the Inu-family heir? Or how everyone else will look and say about all this, especially those irritating bothersome magazines? Those are all SHIT!" He apparently calmed down a bit, taking some soothing breaths and folding his long sleeved shirt up.
"Sho…" Izayoi reached out for his hand and it was given to her as he sat down beside her bed. "I-I was worried how it'll affect you and the kids. I don't want to put in a difficult position. At the same time, I don't wish that our children have to be forced into consequence which they do not deserve."
The Taisho did not once leave her eyes even when she had finished what she had to say. "So, then, you made a decision like that, forcing me into a consequence which I do not deserve, not forgetting that the kids will be put in a difficult position too?" He tested her wittily and seeing the troubled and confused expression on her face, he sealed a light kiss on her temple. "Remember that I've said before, I'll protect you, take care of you from now onward, give you all the happiness you deserve…" He flashed a broad comforting smile. "And that includes Rin and also, Sesshoumaru." He teasingly rubbed the edge of Izayoi's chin seeing that she had also smiled at last. "Our children have reached an age which they could fall in love… and perhaps their choices are not what we had hoped them to be… but well…" He let off a hearty chuckle. "At least we should heave a sigh of relief that they are not real siblings by blood."
Izayoi's tears rained down as she moved in to hug him. At the other corner of the room, as Rin's heart turned from shocked, to touched, to greatly moved, she fixed her eyes on the boy a distance away at the closed door. Sesshoumaru, he did not look up throughout his father's speech. He had directed his glance to the ground, listening and in thoughts.
When at last, he lifted his chin and their eyes finally met, the young lovers merely took a long moment just looking, appreciating the complete change in mood and in their immediate future. Swallowing a small lump in her throat as her own tears rolled down her cheeks, Rin started toward him, hesitantly at first, then becoming firmer and surer as she went. Sesshoumaru did likewise and they met half way and she felt his strong arms circled around her tightly. That was their first fearless hug in public, and only when he had thoroughly enjoyed the moment, Sesshoumaru released her and pulled back a little.
He tilted the girl's chin so that he could see her clearly. Her cheeks were red, hot. She was blushing. She tried to look away, a little embarrassed but Sesshoumaru stopped her by the strength of his hold. Gently, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead, then when he felt that Rin had relented, he slowly tilted her face more…until their lips were just an inch apart.
The girl swallowed. Sesshoumaru was going to kiss her… in front of their parents….
Somehow, she closed her eyes the moment his lips touched hers, forgetting everything, everyone around her, feeling only the firmness of his kiss, giving her all the assurance that she ever needed… assurance of their future together from this moment onward.
Rin's narration
For as long as I live… I will never forget what happened this day… how our fate has been changed… never…
Quietly, Izayoi gave a slight nudge to the Taisho, signaling him to release her from his embrace. Her eyes beckoned him to look back at the intimate sight behind them. He turned, saw and turned back. As silently as he could, the Taisho chuckled, sucking his lips and nodding in an entertained manner to himself.
"Our darlings, Sho, don't they just look so perfect for each other?"
"I didn't know that my son had also inherited my taste in women. Rin does resemble you in many ways you know?"
"Look at them…They're so made for each other…now why did we never realize that? We must be blind."
"So are we…made for each other…I mean…"
"Oh Sho, I forgot to tell you…" She whispered something into his ears. His eyes blew up.
"What?" He only mouthed that shout, his voice unheard. "They what?"
Izayoi only nodded, eyeing him all the time. "Yap, hotel." She then whispered some more into his ears.
"And you don't think that's their first time?"
Izayoi shook her head and the Taisho gave more thoughts to that last comment. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, their rooms are just next to each other… I guess they could easily…"
Izayoi gave a knowing nod once again. The Taisho's eyes narrowed.
"They are supposed to wait till they're thirty…before they…Or when they get married…" He mouthed that bit soundlessly.
"You certainly didn't…" Izayoi giggled, her hand moved to her slight belly, running along the curve. "Like father like son…"
"Sesshoumaru…" Inu-no-Taisho made sure his voice could be heard this time.
At that, the boy released his latest embrace on Rin, trailing down only to hold her hand in his.
"Come with me. I need to speak with you." The Taisho stood up, headed toward the door and nodding, Sesshoumaru followed. And even as he started walking, he didn't let go of Rin' hand, until he really had to. He flashed her an elegant grin, lightly tickled the inside of her palm before loosening it and leaving the room.
Rin smiled back in response, only turned to face Izayoi when both men were gone.
"They are very charming boys, aren't they, sweetie?"
The girl nodded, her smile turning into a giggle. "Well, most of the time…most of the time…"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hey there again,
I've intended to write more but well, that's all I can manage for now. I had wanted it to be longer because I wanted the next chapter to be the last and then followed the epilogue. But now, I guess it'll take a few more short chapters before the fic comes to an end.
Thanks everyone, for supporting it for so long and thank you for all those who took time to review. I can never say thanks enough.
