Disclaimer: All Inuyasha goodness belongs to the amazing Takahashi-san!

Behind the Curtain

By MissKatt

The Girls' Day

Kagome took a deep breath as she stared at the closed door in front of her. She released it and then took another, and then another. She pursed her lips together and furrowed her brow. Why was she so nervous to do this? She slapped her cheeks and tapped her fist on her palm. Yes, she could do this! It was necessary to her and Sesshoumaru and the future of her family!

Releasing another breath, she outstretched her hand and knocked gently on the door. She heard a soft scuffle of a chair scooting back and waited a few more, what felt like eternity-long, heart beats before the door opened up. She put a brave face on and smiled down at the little girl. "Good morning, Rin-chan!"

"Morning, Kagome-san," She replied, looking around the woman in search for her father. When she didn't see him, she glanced up at the girl again. "Where's papa?"

"He had to work today," Kagome replied, still smiling. "Are you busy?"

She glanced back into her room at her desk. "I was just doing some spelling homework. Why?"

"Well, I was thinking that maybe you and I can have a date together!" She cheered, her nerves making her little jittery.

"Date?" She asked innocently, tilting her head up at the older woman.

"Yeah! You know, getting our nails done, going shopping, getting food, that kind of stuff!" She explained, her smile softening. "I really want to get to know you."

The little girl's brown eyes widened. "Get to know me?"

She nodded. "Yep. Your dad and Jiji always talk about what an amazing little girl you are, so I knew I had to know you too!"

Rin blushed and looked down in embarrassment. "C-can we get ice cream too?"

Kagome laughed. "I'm so happy I'm not the only one who wants ice cream in the winter!" Relief took the tenseness out of her shoulders when Rin smiled at her. "Go get your jacket on, I'll be waiting downstairs in my car, okay?"

"Okay!"

*~~~BTC~~~*

"Hmm, what color do you want, Rin-chan?" Kagome asked as she looked at the assortment of nail polishes presented before them.

"Orange!" She cheered, picking out the brightest color of orange they had. She then sat down at the station next to Kagome and handed the polish to the nail lady. "What about you, Kagome-san?"

"I think this mint color, what do you think?" She asked, smiling when the girl nodded and complimented the color. She was happy Sesshoumaru's daughter was talking to her willingly and not being awkwardly quiet. She had been surprised when the girl openly started talking to her in the car, chatting about school and her friends.

"Do you think papa will think it's pretty?" She asked, watching as the lady started stroking on the polish with expert precision.

She smiled knowingly as her lady started on hers. She was never a fan of fake nails, plus she hated the hassle of taking them off once they grew out. "I think Sesshoumaru will think you're pretty no matter what."

"Like he does you?" She asked, her face suddenly void of emotion.

Kagome nearly choked on her spit. She cleared her throat and looked at the girl. "W-What? What makes you say that?"

Rin kept her focus on her nails. "Papa thinks you're pretty. Isn't that why you've been having sleep overs with him?"

She blushed, even though the girl meant it in the most innocent way. "Umm, I suppose that's true..."

"Mama was pretty," She commented, touching the locket Kagome bought her before returning her hand to the table to be painted. "I look at her picture all the time."

"She was very, very pretty." Kagome agreed, suddenly feeling awkward. She had hoped this conversation wouldn't come up until later in the day, after they had fun and got to know each other better. "Ne, Rin-chan, does it bother you that I am around a lot?" That was the safe way to put it, right?

The youngest Taisho pursed her lips together. "No," She finally said, turning her head to look at the older woman. "You make Papa happy. He smiles a lot when you're around."

"Do you smile when I'm around?" She pushed. She didn't want Rin to say any of this just because her father was happy.

She nodded once. "You're funny. You make funny faces and trip a lot."

Her ears burned in embarrassment when the two nail ladies chuckled. "Y-yeah, I'm a little clumsy," She took a deep breath and asked her next question. "Would it bother you if I lived with you and your papa?"

Rin turned back to her nails as the lady turned the fan on to help dry the paint. "Like, forever?"

The miko held her nails up to her own little fan. "…Mhm." When the girl was silent for a few heartbeats, she turned her saddened blue pools on her nails. This was it, she would turn Kagome down, maybe throw a tantrum and make the situation unbearably hard. She felt her pulse quicken at the thought and furrowed a brow to try and calm it down.

"Do I have to call you mama?"

Her head snapped back to the girl, her mouth falling open. "W-what?"

Rin turned her big brown eyes on the stunned girl. "If you live with me and papa, do I have to call you mama?"

"No!" She blurted out quickly, ignoring the strange looks she received. Turning to the girl, she grabbed her little hands in hers and looked at her seriously. "No, not ever, Rin-chan. I promise that I'm not trying to take your mama's place. Your mom will always be your mom. I could never, and don't ever, want to replace her, okay?" When the girl's eyes filled up with tears, she felt her own pooling.

"However, I want to be here for you as you grow up. I want to help you with girl problems like hair, makeup, and even boys," They shared a watery laugh when the little girl made a face of disgust. "I want to be there when your papa will have no idea how to relate to you. I-is that okay?"

Rin sniffled loudly, tears slipping down her cheeks as she realized her mom wouldn't be there to help her through any of it. She nodded quickly and stood from her chair to hug Kagome tightly. Her tears increased when she felt Kagome stroke her hair before placing a kiss to her temple. She hadn't realized how much she missed a mother's embrace until then. Sure, she had Baba, but that was her grandma, not a mother.

Kagome pulled back after a minute and cupped Rin's cheeks, using her thumbs to wipe her tears away. They smiled at each other and gave a soft laugh before Kagome wiped her own tears away, fixing her makeup as she did. "Well, how about no more tears today?" When the girl nodded in agreement, she grinned as she stood from her chair. "So, ready for food and ice cream?"

"Yep! Can we get ramen?!" She asked excitedly.

"Oh boy, you are your uncle's niece, aren't you?" She teased.

Rin grinned. "Yeah! Ramen is the best! Come on, Kagome, pleeease?" She begged.

The lack of honorific was not missed. "How could I possibly say no?" She asked, smiling as she held the door open for Rin, ignoring the small group of reporters waiting for them. She wasn't surprised that they had learned of their location so soon. However, she was happily surprised to see there weren't as many as the hospital visits.

"You can't!" She cheered and then grabbed Kagome's hand with her own, smiling as she walked down the street towards their destination.

She balked at gesture, but quickly overcame her shock and wrapped her fingers around her hand, smiling contently as they walked hand-in-hand to the ramen shop.

*~~~BTC~~~*

Sesshoumaru sat on the couch in the living room, eyes on the news as he watched the reporters talk about a picture taken that day of his intended and daughter. The picture of the two holding hands warmed his heart. He hoped this meant that their day went well together. Honestly, he had been nervous that his daughter would reject Kagome all together.

Hearing the garage open, he turned off the TV and stood from the couch. Making his way to the door, he opened it to see Kagome going to lift a sleeping Rin out of the backseat. In a rush of speed, he beat her too it, picking her up and holding her against his chest so her head was on his shoulder.

Closing the door, he looked at Kagome and her furrowed brow. "You do not need to be lifting anything heavy in your state."

She rolled her eyes. "She's hardly heavy, Sessh."

"No lifting." He repeated and followed her into the house, carrying Rin upstairs and to her room. After changing her into pajamas and tucking her into bed for the night, he went back downstairs to see his intended walking towards the couch with a fresh cup of green tea. "Do you feel alright?"

She smiled at him as he sat down next to her. "Yeah, I just had a little rush earlier in the day," At the worried glint in his eye, she elaborated. "I was nervous to talk to Rin about everything. There was a moment where I was really scared she was going to say no."

"And?" He pressed, lifting his arm so she could nestle into his side.

She smiled up at him after taking a sip. "She said it's okay. We cried in the nail salon together," She blushed in embarrassment. "Glad the reporters didn't see that."

He rubbed her shoulder through her sweater, relieved at what she had said. "What were you crying about?"

"We were just being girls," She laughed. "I told her I wasn't trying to replace her mom, but wanted to be there for everything you can't be," When he narrowed his eyes at her, she gave him a deadpanned expression. "Are you going to show her how to use a tampon?" She laughed as his face paled a few shades before he looked away. "Exactly!"

"So, she is truly okay with it?" He asked, choosing not to comment on her question.

"I think so, yeah. She was more worried about having to call me mom, I think. I told her she doesn't ever have to if she doesn't want to."

"I see. That is good, then." He nuzzled her hair. "Thank you for taking her out."

"Are you kidding me? We had so much fun! We ate ramen and had ice cream, then we went shopping and stopped by Kikyou's house to invite Souta to stay with us. They were both really excited about it." She told him before taking another sip of her tea. "You sure you don't mind him staying here with us?"

He shook his head. "I know how much your brother means to you, Kagome."

"Yeah, but, you don't know him and you're going to be his father figure. Are you okay with that?"

"It will give me practice for our son."

She couldn't help but laugh, "You're so sure!"

"I am," He nodded. "But still, it was you who said Kikyou would not want Souta to stay with her for long."

Kagome sighed. "It's true. I know she loves Souta, but I know her. She's going to want a family of her own and not have to worry about raising her brother as well."

"But you do not mind?" He asked, truly curious.

"Not at all. Souta and I have always been close." She commented with a small smile.

"Hn," They rested in a comfortable silence for a second before he changed the subject. "I received a call from Officer Ryura today at work."

"Oh?" She asked, looking up at him again. She frowned when his golden orbs stared seriously into hers. "What's wrong?"

"It seems Kanna wishes to speak with you." He stated, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I told him I would talk to you about it."

She frowned at him, her mind reeling with what she could possibly want from her. "Did he say what she wanted to talk about?"

"She would not say." He responded. "Kagome, do not feel obligated to speak with her; you do not have to."

Cerulean eyes fell on her white coffee mug. "I know I don't have to, but I'm curious as to why she wants to speak to me."

"I am curious as well, but I do not want her anywhere near you." Sesshoumaru stated with glare. "I do not want you to go talk to her."

She blinked as she glanced up at him once again. "Sesshoumaru, what is she going to do to me in handcuffs with a bunch of cops and guards around me?" When he opened his mouth, she cut him off as she pulled away from him. "Don't forget that she still saved my life."

"And attempted to end mine." He growled, his lip lifting in the corner.

"I know that, but she still saved mine. She could have let Naraku kill me and she didn't."

"So she could stab me instead." His anger was rising as she continued to argue with him about this. Was she mad? Was she really so forgiving?

"Have you forgotten that I'm pregnant? By her saving me, she saved both me and the unborn son you're so sure I'm carrying!" She huffed as she got to her feet and put one hand on her hip, the other still holding her tea.

"Yes, and she attempted to leave the pup without a father!" He snarled, standing up as well so he could glare down at her.

"What good would the father be if both the mother and pup were dead!?" She shouted as she felt her chest begin to tighten, the familiar flutter of her heart beat warning her to calm the fuck down. Did she listen? Nope. "Why are you being so strict about this?! I have every right to go see her!"

"And I have every right to stop you!" He countered. His lip lifted in another snarl, but quickly lowered back down when he noticed her breathing pattern change. Was she going to fall into an attack right now? He had never experienced her going through one before, how was he supposed to stop it?

"You don't! I can-mmf!" She blinked in shock when his lips were suddenly on hers, his arms wrapped around her. She felt him pull his head back to rest his forehead against hers. "W-what was that for?" She asked grumpily, too stubborn to be nice.

"Calm down." Sesshoumaru ordered, his tone gentle. He dipped his head to her neck, his lips resting against her pulse point. His arms tightened when he felt how fast her pulse was racing, her skin thrumming against his lips like it was trying to repel them.

Understanding what was happening, she relaxed in his hold and closed her eyes, her hand tightening its hold on her cup. "Thank you," She murmured, taking in slow, deep breaths. "Sorry I got so worked up."

"I do not ever want to be the cause of your anxiety." He stated firmly, loosening his hold on her so he could look down into her face. "If you wish to see her, then I will accompany you."

Her eyes softened. "You can't take any more days off from work, Sessh."

His brow furrowed at her. "I do not trust her."

"I know," She commented, setting her cup down on the coffee table so she could cup his angular face in her hands. "But I will be safe. I'm sure Officer Ryura will be there as well as other armed people. I will be okay, my King; I promise."

He stared down into her endless blue eyes before sighing softly. "Fine," He finally relented. "But you will call me once you are done, yes?"

"Yes," She agreed, rising up on her toes to kiss him. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru."

He returned the kiss before pulling away from her so he could hand her the cup of tea. "If anything happens…"

"Nothing will, but if it does, I will purify her myself." She said, giving him a confident grin as she began to follow him upstairs.

"Fair enough." He responded as he led her upstairs to their room.