Hello xD
I know most of you are expecting an update for Mating Policies (others are expecting Ghost of Me) but I didn't have enough time to write for the past few days. I also planned on updating my ByaRuki fanfics this weekend, but my dog got sick and I had not much time except for taking care of him.
This fic is one of my old SessRin fics, my first fic for them, and is updated on Portuguese, currently ON HIATUS, but this weekend I suddenly felt like revising it and since I had most part of it translated to English, I was like why not? xD
It's an AU, set in Japan, nowadays. It's inspired by some kdramas about second chances at love. So you know… Well, I think I'll leave further explanations for the second AN. See you there.
Again, keep in mind English is not my first language and it's not betaed. So you know…
Engawa is an external corridor in Japanese styled houses.
Fusuma are sliding panels that serve as both doors and walls Japanese styled house. They are usually richly decorated.
Genkan is a place in a Japanese house in which people remove (and put on) their shoes before entering the house.
Disclaimer: Takahashi owns InuYasha, I own this plot and the OCs. All brands and places here mentioned are real and I don't own them.
Warning: OOCness.
Happy reading!
PS I'm (still not) over you
I – Beauty and Beast switch places
"Explain yourself."
The stack containing three newspapers of huge appeal and two tabloid magazines fell with a thud over the CEO of Takahashi Enterprises' oak desk.
Sesshomaru raised his eyes from the profit report he was calmly reading till then, now buried under the pile of different newspapers, just to look at the imponent figure of his father.
"InuTaisho," he murmured, as if demanding an explanation that could not be further delayed.
He never said father while working. He always treated him as formally as he could. He despised the mere idea that people could believe he reached the top only because he was the son of the illustrious and great InuTaisho. He was, above everything, a man that believed in meritocracy. If he were where he was now — on the top — it was because he deserved it. Rather, he earned it.
"I demand an explanation, Sesshomaru."
In silence and not even slightly bothered by the angered — and poorly restrained — tone of his father, he shifted his eyes to the newspapers over his desk.
It read:
SCANDAL: HEIR TO THE TAKAHASHI ENTERPRISES BREAKS UP WITH HIS FIANCEE AFTER LEARNING OF HER PREGNANCY.
If InuTaisho did not know his son so well, he would say his golden eyes widened slightly. Briefly.
"This?" He shrugged. "It is no more than a plain lie thrown by the Nikkan Gendai. Besides, it is old news. Kagura and I already dismissed it once."
InuTaisho raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't seen all of them."
Already sure he could not be any more surprised, Sesshomaru opened one of the most important newspapers of the country. In the first page of Asahi Shimbun it read:
BREAKING: TAKAHASHI ENTERPRISES' STOCKS FALL DOWN.
In the subtitle there were more information:
According to the investors, past and actual scandals of its CEO justify the decision: "company is no longer reliable."
He did not widen his eyes, he did not complain or reacted in a visible way, the only thing the great demon did was closing his strong jaw in a fierce manner.
While Sesshomaru counted long years, he did not seem to be more than 33 human years old, and so he presented his age to anyone who asked: 33, the age of Jesus Christ or any other bullshit people wanted to associate to the mystical number.
However, in that moment, he looked much older. Tiredness took over him.
He had had a horrible night and an even worse morning. For so many years he tried to end the toxic relationship he had with Kagura, but the woman insisted on not giving up on him. Once, she said she was pregnant, then she had a miscarriage — as if yokais were so fragile to the point of losing a pup that way. Pathetic —, then the promises of undying love and a disease that was miraculously cured.
If it was up to him — to his liking — he would have put two holes in her forehead — not that it would kill her — and get rid of her once and for all, but whenever he tried, a huge scandal came up his way and screwed his so dreamed freedom. And there was nothing that Sesshomaru cherished more than the impeccable image of his Company. Perhaps watching the Takahashi Enterprises dominating Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Fewer gave him more satisfaction than watching himself as the powerful CEO of one most known financial companies in Asia; being crowned for the third time in a row as the Entrepreneur of the Year or making an appearance in events in which his company were to be featured for.
However, the scandals got to undermine the respect he and his father took years to achieve. The prestige was now walking far away and if the Takahashi Enterprises could still enjoy from the spotlights,it was because of his father — the great InuTaisho, always the great and magnificent InuTaisho —, promised far better days were coming their way. Also because of the fear Sesshomaru instilled.
Fear, not respect.
While the demon knew fear was one of the bases of any hierarchic relationship, the businessman inside knew that fear inspired betrayal.
And Sesshomaru never forgave betrayals.
The Wall Street Journal Asia, one of the most specialized newspapers in economy,boasted:
TOKYO STOCK EXCHANGE OPENS DOWN. SHARES OF TAKAHASHI CO. FACE AN ABRUPT FALL.
In the subtitle they buried once and for all the image of the young CEO.
Investors warns: Takahashi Enterprises are no long reliable. Members of the director's board are going to ask for the resignation of the actual CEO, Takahashi Sesshomaru.
A low growl emerged from Sesshomaru's chest. With tremendous strength, he ripped the newspaper with his deadly claws, leaving it tatters. Poison dripped from them, corroding even the desk made of noble wood. As if it was not enough how chaotic his breakup with Kagura was proving to be, with those unnecessary scandals that made his head throb, he still had to deal with the fact that at dawn he would become even more useless than his half-brother, a half-breed.
For the last six years and half, almost seven — he could never forget something that made him wretchedly weak —, at each waxing gibbous, Sesshomaru, the great demon as powerful as his father, would lose all his supernatural traces and become — to his profound disgust — human.
Pathetic.
Golden eyes closed, unaware of his father's intense and watchful stare, he threw the stack of papers aside, barely missing his younger brother.
"Calm there, bully."
"InuYasha!" Both turned to the man that had just entered the office.
"Get out," InuTaisho ordered, without shifting his eyes to look at the younger son. He kept his attention on Sesshomaru, facing him seriously.
"I just..."
"You heard him, half-breed," Sesshomaru hissed between his teeth.
The teasing made InuYasha angry.
"I just came to say that the press is down there and that the council is pressing for an immediate meeting, pedigree."
None of them replied to the teasing. Father and son continued to stare at each other rather intensely.
"If I were you..."
"But you aren't, are you, half-breed?"
At the same time the insult reached his ears, the hanyō got ready to strike back. He did not think through, he just said what he knew to hit his half-brother.
The relationship between Sesshomaru and InuKimi was not one of the best, but if there was something he did not put up with was with those who thought to offend her, no matter how much prone he seemed ready to criticize her himself.
"Son of a bi—
Before he could even finish his sentence, Sesshomaru was over him, his arm pressed against his half-brother's throat. InuYasha dug his claws on his forearm, trying to push him away, unsuccessfully. At least, he managed to make him bleed. Droplets of blood stained his immaculate white dress shirt.
"Enough, both of you! Stop if before I force you to." InuTaisho's low and authoritative voice split up the two immediately, even if they continued to stare at each other distrustfully. They were ready to jump on each other's neck if the need arose.
"Can we discuss it as the civilized men we are? Or will I have to watch my sons fighting like two mangy dogs?"
#
Rin sighed before the school principal. She placed her head between her hands and thought about crying, but she knew it would lead her anywhere.
"I don't know what to do, Kikyo."
The school principal smiled empathically at her.
"His aikido classes didn't work."
"I heard he can defeat even the older boys," she replied with a half chuckle.
They were longtime friends. Kikyo, Kagome, Sango and her. While Kagome got married to the important director of the Takashaki Enterprises, Rin was… — she did not even know how to put it, lover maybe, even though some part of her still clung to their past relationship. It was more than carnal — girlfriend maybe, of the actual CEO, Takahashi Sesshomaru. Sango was engaged to the perverted photographer Miroku and Kikyo was a widow. She was once married to Naraku — former owner of an artistic house, now under the command of Suzuki Onigumo, to whom Rin worked for.
Some speculated that she had murdered her own husband in cold blood — she had never loved him, it is true, even if they had had a son together; the boy was now the same age of her Hiraku —, but the biggest bet lay on the Takahashi brothers. It was believed the for once — and for the first time —, they joined to defeat a common enemy.
A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of Sesshomaru killing someone so coldly. Perhaps it was because Naraku was, just like her son, a hanyō. But if Kikyo, his wife, did not care, why should she?
She was still in Holland, pregnant, when she learned of his mysterious death. Once she worked for the renowned Rijksmuseum and with her Japanese ancestry, it was difficult not to know of the most influencers for the world of arts in her country. Naraku's death was a huge blow for everyone in their midst. Needless to mention how shocking it was to know it was a suicide.
At the time, with her ties seized with her birth land, it was almost impossible to know what the police decided. Homicide or suicide? Sesshomaru being his butcher or not, did not matter that much. It would not be difficult for someone as important as himself to get rid of such accusation and to buy the legal system to his favor.
She shook her head and turned to the topic in hands. To think about Sesshomaru, Naraku and the unfolding of a closed case would add nothing to her.
"What I am to do with him? My baby boy became a bad boy before his time."
"Early adolescence."
"Six years before? He is only six now. He is to be seven soon!" She closed her eyes and breathed through her nose. "He's just a baby… My baby."
"A hanyō baby." Kikyo cut in. "Obviously you know he is stronger than his classmates. And considering his father…"
Rin did not have any more strength to speak, which did not mean that the commentary about Hiraku's father did not make her shiver.
Since she came back to Japan, to make visits to the Principal's room was almost a routine. Hiraku was always in the middle of some fight — he was trouble —, invariably, he ended beating his classmates.
"And it does not help that children keep calling him half-breed, without father, little devil and dumb demon."
Rin frowned. Dumb demon? She did not understand... Hiraku was one of the most brilliant kids of his age. He barely could count, true, he always complained about how much blurry numbers looked to him — to which she believed at first to be myopia, but soon she learned it was dyscalculia —, but he knew how to write and read perfectly. Hiraku would be brilliant in any area of his choosing.
However, as much as he felt confident in regard to several things, it always affected him greatly. It did not help that Kagome had let out that his father was extremely smart and that he worked with numbers. Hiraku aspired to be just like his father and having dyscalculia…
Not to mention the fact that he was hanyō, with so little in the world — almost a taboo — and that he had accent. Having lived almost his entire life outside, in the Netherlands to be precise — where she met Sesshomaru and had a torrid romance in the sympathetic and cosmopolitan Amsterdam —, and being less than a year back to Japan it was to be expected that the boy spoke funny.
But to joke about something that affected her boy so greatly… It was too cruel, even for children.
"Rin…" Kikyo dragged her attention back to herself. "You know what I think."
She gulped.
"No…"
"Yes," she was firm. "You cannot hide the truth from him forever. Hiraku deserves to know. Sesshomaru deserves to know."
"He never wanted to have anything with his son."
"You are being irrational."
She sighed.
She knew it. Sesshomaru did not abandon her pregnant. They had an agreement and she even tried to contact him, but… She never got to talk to him. Bit by bit, she settled to live her life in Holland without him.
"These children are rude."
"Rin, you don't live in Netherlands anymore. It's usual to have single mothers there, but here it is still an absurd. You know it!"
"Misogyny slapping me greatly…" She sighed. She hated, for the first time, her birth land. "I pay my own bills. Hiraku has always lived fairly well in Holland. His friends never judged him because of that. Maybe what these children need is some—
"We are talking about Japan, Rin. It's not some country you can pay for your diesel with sex."
"It doesn't work like that!"
"But that's how people think it works. Some mothers think you are bad influence." She cleared her throat. "A prostitute."
Rin stared at her, horrified. She even tried to speak something, anything, but words failed her.
"I-I…"
"Think about our proposal, Rin… I know it's not the best, but… You whether tell him, or… Get yourself a boyfriend. Hiraku needs a male figure in his life more than ever.
#
There were flashes everywhere.
All renowned reporters were at the Press conference summoned by Sesshomaru that afternoon.
The talk with his father and InuYasha was not one of the best. If his memory did not fail him, he had been pressed by both of them like crazy. And if there was something Sesshomaru hated, it was to be pressed.
He was never the hunt. On the contrary. His instincts of Hunter fired wildly every time he was cornered.
The meeting with the council was brief; he did not let anyone speak. The situation shall be resolved, he said. How and when was none of their business. Sesshomaru was not a man whom people demanded explanations.
Now, in front of reporters in the main Auditorium in the Takahashi building, he faced everyone with a half smirk on his lips. There were only two occasions in which he smiled genuinely. One of them was related to be on top and the other…
It was best not to think about it.
His father's ultimatum had irritated him greatly.
You whether apologize publicly or go on a date with a woman, ningen, of my choosing.
InuTaisho knew why Sesshomaru hated humans. He knew that after Rin he did not want to see any ningen woman, even if his life depended on it. And there he was, putting his son between the devil and the deep blue see.
His smirk grew bigger as he heard the reporter of the same tabloid that ruined his reputation that very morning.
"Then, what you mean is that the renowned model Kobayashi Kagura is in a relationship with another man?"
Sesshomaru almost did not manage to disguise the smirk that wanted to take over his lips.
Kagura, that bitch, believed she could ruin his career, but who was the one to end up ruined in the end?
"Kobayashi Kagura has been cheating on me for the last months."
Cheating… the word still brought a bitter taste to his mouth, but Sesshomaru swallowed his pride, aware that it was the best way to deal with the situation. It is… returning the spell to the witch in an even powerful fashion. If Kagura knew how to use the press, the same could be told about him.
He would never admit it loud, but those photos saved his life.
What could be more shocking than the irresistible heir to one of the biggest companies in the East being cheated on by his longtime fiancée?
And even if Kagura did nothing of it, any woman that had the minimum respect for herself would not get caught in a car with a stranger, kissing his face. Certainly not a committed woman.
The rest is history…
All Sesshomaru needed to come up with was a defeated face and let the press fill the gaps with their sensationalist stories. Especially when this guy resembled the hated hanyō that passed away years before. Kagura and Suzuki Onigumo... It seemed his ex-fiancée knew very little how to use her brains.
At first, he thought about letting people believe she was crazy, but from crazy to unfaithful…
He pursed his lips into a thin line. Kagura would barely see what was coming to her…
From the corner of his golden eyes, he looked at his father. InuTaisho stared at him with deep horror. His need to smirk grew.
He did not need to get out on a date with a pathetic human. He solved the problem with Kagura by himself, and look, he did not even need his father's help!
#
Rin looked at the wine the maître brought. Bordeaux always made her recall their trip to France; the sunny afternoons in the Parisian city and the sensation of Sesshomaru's avid lips against hers.
She took a deep breath and walked towards the big windows in the restaurant.
How pompous…
She did not even know why she accepted that dinner in the first place. With a stranger nonetheless.
Oh yeah… Her friends — and what friends she did have — convinced her it would be nice to meet someone. Hiraku needed a male figure in his life, after all.
Well, she could not even think about the remaining option.
The idea of seeing Sesshomaru again — and to actually talk to him — to tell him they had a son together terrified her.
She was a fool. She still loved Sesshomaru and the very thought of being in the same room with the man, demon, she loved without having her feelings returned was simply torture.
Yes.
She knew.
He never loved her.
It did not matter he said the words while they made love in Versailles. Exchanged vows of undying love in the heat of sex were null. It was just that… sex, desire… Lust.
He said so himself when they broke up and Rin knew he did not even to. Sesshomaru grew distant little by little and when they were back to Holland came the confession.
I have never loved you. Demons are incapable of love.
Fool, naïve and silly Rin would probably have said something as foolish as I can love you for both of us, but he had already left, saving what little remained of her dignity.
Weeks later came the sudden waves of morning sickness and the confirmation of what she already suspected: she was pregnant.
She tried to contact him, obviously, but Sesshomaru did not answer. It was impossible to reach him. She tried one last time as she woke up — and to her profound despair — and realized she was completely transformed.
In her eagerness to reach the mirror, she cut her hand with a glass, but the wound was healed within seconds. Facing the reflecting surface, Rin screamed in horror.
Instead of her raven hair, there was silvery tresses. Cinnamon eyes gave way to golden orbs and long claws pierced her skin as she thought herself with little care.
She tried to contact him desperately and it was with surprise that she noticed he actually answered her, the usually deep voice heavy with sleep — something uncommon for the lover that need so little sleep. However, instead of the expected hello there was no word. The call went dead and she could not reach him anymore.
Rin closed her eyes as she recalled how much she cried that day. Sesshomaru was the only one who could answer her question and tell her why she looked like an inu daiyokai, but he did not answer her.
He never did.
With each passing day, she gave up.
After a while, she learned that at each waxing gibbous, she would get to transform into a full demon. She did not know the real reason behind it, but she speculated that it was somehow related to the fact that she needed strength to protect her child in the absence of their alpha. As she saw Hiraku becoming a human for the first time, she was sure of it.
Whenever Hiraku became human, Rin became yokai.
The canonical similarity to Sesshomaru made her cry herself to sleep several nights, till she woke up in the next day and realized she was human again. At each passing moon, she grew used to this new fact. In the end, she was grateful she could transform whenever her son needed her the most.
She knew that even human, she would draw forces everywhere to protect Hiraku if the need arose, but she felt safer knowing she was as stronger as Sesshomaru when her son was in his weakest days.
Nevertheless, to be so alike to her ex-lover made the process of forgetting him — so hard already — even painful and complicated. Of course, he was not her last, but he was certainly the only one she loved.
She sighed.
No.
She was there to give herself a new chance at love. Perhaps it worked this time.
Rin looked at herself in the windows and praised herself. Sango did an excellent job with the make up and the hairdo. Kikyo was on point with the dress.
The magenta color highlighted her slightly tanned skin.
Magenta...
The same color of Sesshomaru's markings. They spread to his royal cheekbones, wrists, his powerful biceps and the hips she loved to wrap her legs around whenever they made love.
Cinnamon eyes widened at the thought.
No.
She could not do it.
Did she really think she was fooling someone besides herself? She could not meet another man. Not today. Not now. Certainly not in the same Japan in which Sesshomaru lived and stamped covers of newspapers and magazines alike, be it as the businessman of the year or his epic scandals.
Hiraku did not need a male figure in his life. What he needed was to be away from that misogynistic country that blamed her for being a single mother — something her son could not be blamed for.
Her friends would have to forgive her.
Rin would go back to Europe. Her loved and sweet Amsterdam where nobody judged her for being who she was. Where the memories of Sesshomaru were sweet and not bitter as they were in Japan. Where everything would remain platonic and she would probably never run into him.
Shaking her head, she turned on her heels and walked to the exit, without realizing that accompanied by the maître, the haughty man she did not expect to meet had just passed by her.
#
Sesshomaru stared at the restaurant doors in which he was to meet the human chosen by his father. Surprisingly, he did not expect his father to arrange the meeting right away.
Human…
He wanted to know what InuTaisho had in his head to believe he would accept to go out with a human for more than once.
There was a single reason why he accepted that meeting — date — and it was because he would hate to apologize for his council. He had already done it to the Press and — happily — destroyed Kagura's career. He would simply not go as low as to apologize to the old hags.
Obviously, no one expected him to speak so badly of Kagura, but he was sure no one would believe his ex-lover in case she tried another scandal. The advantages of being man, rich and handsome in Japan…
But his father, the great and ethical InuTaisho gave him an ultimatum. He whether accepted the date to the human, or he would give him out himself to the Press, saying his eldest lied about his fiancée. Sesshomaru knew it would be the end of his career.
He was cornered once again.
The only human he had ever had a relationship and could put up with was Rin, the one he had a torrid romance back in Holland for two years.
And he got rid of her as well. He frowned at the thought that different from the others, he did not break up with Rin because he was tired of her. On the contrary, he became too much attached to her.
Passion…
Love...
The inu daiyokai that used to arouse overwhelming passion in others, suffered just the opposite with Rin. He closed his golden eyes at the remembrance of her succulent lips against his; of her soft skin and the responsive body under his... And finally, her smile… The smile he had fallen madly in love with.
Being such a master at manipulating others, Sesshomaru knew quite well the everlasting and disastrous effects love could have over someone. It gave power to the loved one... And he could not, under any circumstance, let any woman have such effect over him.
Not a full demon. Not a human.
Sesshomaru would rather die to admit he was in love.
Before he could lose himself to such human and useless feelings, he broke up with her. He did it in the best of fashions, so respectable… More respect he would regard his own father with, but he did not meet with her anymore.
She even tried to reach him, but once Takahashi Sesshomaru decided for something, it was final.
Honestly, her attempts were little and sparse. In the last time, he even answered her. It took him a little to identify the telephone ringing — which was weird for someone with his hearing —, but as soon as he took up, so drunk with sleep — also uncommon to him —, he noticed the absence of his powerful claws. The tresses that brushed his hand were not silvery, but of a rich brown.
In a jump, without bothering with his nudity, Sesshomaru walked to the restroom where, to his complete horror, he found a disparaging figure staring back at him.
Instead of the powerful demon, there lay a human before the mirror.
He closed his eyes and breathed deep through his nose.
The supernatural happening of this day would repeat itself at each waxing gibbous moon during the next seven years.
And that was the last time he got closer to a human. He never touched other anymore; they were all fragile, pathetic. Even the demonesses with which he had a relationship looked pale closer to Rin. The sex, even the most savage and primitive, could not compare to a night of slow and sensual lovemaking with Rin.
He clenched his jaw. He was thinking too much about a story he was done with long ago. More than should be appropriate.
In the mirror placed in the lift, he checked his appearance one last time and, satisfied with himself, he turned around in time to see the doors opening.
The Aronia de Takazawa, located in Minato, was booked only for him and his date. One of the most expensive French-Japanese restaurant in Tokyo. Only his father could come up with such idea — one that was bound to leave him with more memories than he bargained for.
From where he was he could listen to the French music filling his hears. Parole, Parole echoed melodically, and he could almost feel in his lips the amazing taste of the bordeaux he shared with Rin in their summer trip to the wonderful Versailles, whether they made love for hours on the sheets of the hotel, or they sated her morbid curiosity she harbored for museums.
Accompanied by the maître, he walked to the table where he would meet the human chosen by his father; zero expectations.
However, before he could step ahead, a woman wearing a silky magenta dress, low in height, nude shoulders and long raven hair, falling to her back in beautiful waves, passed by him towards the exit; head hung low.
He could not see her face, but it would not be necessary.
Her scent was unmistakable. Especially for having something of his mixed up in her. Even after so many years.
Rin...
#
His first thought as soon as he entered his navy-blue Rolls-Royce Wrait was that he was mad. Completely mad for two reasons: that woman could not be Rin and he was following a woman in a taxi that was not Rin.
He could only be hallucinating.
Ueno Rin, the woman he had a fling back in Holland, still lived in Amsterdam. He would know in case she moved to Japan. Not that he minded, of course, but the last time he checked, she still lived comfortably in the European country.
However, how could he explain the scent she gave off? That unique mixture of scents, his and hers, even after so long they saw each other… since they touched each other. Curiosity took over him and before he could realize it, he was in his car, following the taxi that headed to the suburb, opposite direction from his penthouse in Minami-Azabu.
He gritted his teeth as he saw the taxi coming to a halt close to a small, peeling-walled building, in which garden some cherry blossom made a carpet for Rin to step over. Then… In fact, she was back to Japan. It bothered him more than should be appropriate to know she was back and he had no idea of it.
Or, in truth, he was bothered for not knowing before.
He watched her waving to the cabby and walking towards the small entrance of the building. He turned off the engine of his car and followed her in to a reasonable distance. He did not want to be noticed. He could not risk to.
Pocketing his hands, he watched her producing her keys from the small handbag she carried — and he quickly realized it was one of the luxury bags he gifted her with back in Florence, Italy, during their trip to around Europe —, her mobile phone still in hands.
"I... I am here, Kagome." There was a sigh and long pause. A nod. "He is great!" There was another pause, her voice came out forced. "Of course I'm not lying! Why would I?" Then her tone was a bit desperate and angry. "I-I gotta go, Kagome. Catch you later. Love you."
From where he was, Sesshomaru could listen to his sister-in-law cries. She was desperate for Rin to keep talking to her. He also heard everything they said before.
So... Rin, just like him, accepted — was forced — to have a date with someone her friends arranged. And it seemed, this someone was he himself.
Part of him wanted to roar with rage and tell them she belonged to him. Even after so many years. Even after the break up he so wished for. Needed. The other half was content, extremely content, for being her partner that night. Even after being rejected.
Did Rin know…?
Did she know it was him?
No.
If she knew, she would never agree with that date.
It made him question himself if his father knew who Rin was and her importance.
No.
Rin was not important. Not anymore.
Without realizing, he took two steps towards her, hands still in his pockets.
"Hello?" she said, looking over her shoulder.
Sesshomaru hid behind a tree watching as she shook her head and resumed her steps towards the building.
However, she was interrupted by a child that ran to her, wrapping small arms around her legs.
"Hiraku!" She laughed, and her laugh, like old times, was still contagious. Not really bothered about dirtying the silky dress or even tearing it apart, she kneeled in front of the child that looked so much like him and brought him to a hug. "Did you miss me?"
"Mom!" the boy said happily, burying his nose in her hair. Rin ran her finger in his silvery tresses, and moved uncomfortably as she noticed how he moved the ears on the top of his head, his senses suddenly on alert mode. "Who is there?"
"You should be sleeping, Hiraku," she said as they removed their shoes on the genkan area and put on their slippers together.
The babysitter, a neighbor that usually took care of Hiraku whenever she needed to leave during the night, looked lost. Her eyes were bloodshot with her incessant crying.
Hiraku moved his nose in total discomfort. He hated the smell of tears.
When she looked up and noticed him, she could not help but run to him and hug him as if her life depended on it. "Hiraku, you little devil!" She tightened her hold, making the six-year-old boy look at his mother with widened eyes — that surely indicated he needed a hand — and making Rin laugh.
"I was so worried, Rin-dono, I was almost calling the police!"
"Hiraku!"
Rin's voice, however, did not make the boy wish to get rid of the babysitter anymore. On the contrary, he moved behind her legs, trying to hide himself from what he knew was to come. "You were downstairs without Sara's consent?"
There was no answer for a short time.
"He was on bed at eight as always, Rin-dono."
"Hiraku."
"I..." He looked down, unable to face his mother. "I used the window," he admitted in a low voice, his golden eyes glued on the floor before the reproving sound that left his mother's lips. "I was bored and Sara-chan was sleeping so I…" He looked up as he said with so much confidence it almost threw her off. "I think I should just greet you and make you company."
"Using the window?"
"I used the tree," he admitted with a frown.
Rin threw her hands up in a signal of utter despair.
Hiraku's frown grew deeper. What was the problem with using the tree? It was perfectly safe, and he was a great climber.
"Two weeks without your XBOX, Hiraku."
He stood silent for a moment, blinking in utter confusion.
"You already took my XBOX."
Rin let out a deep sigh. She was running out of options.
"Then no television and your favorite books. You were reading The Secret Chamber, were you not? You can only go back in the holidays."
"Mom!"
"Don't go mom on me. Or you are going to stay a week without sweets!"
The boy suddenly grew pale. Even if he was used to say he hated sweets, she knew his weak spots. He loved matcha mochi. He ate it almost every day and later said he despised day, exactly like his father.
Like father, like son.
"Now, on to the bed and don't you ever jump the window anymore. Two floors, Hiraku, two floors!"
Sara watched everything in silence. Nonetheless, she could not deny she was having fun with their interaction. Hiraku was not a bad boy, he was just easily bored. He was an explorer, just like his mother.
"Thank you, Sara-san." She smiled at the neighbor and opened her purse. "How much do I owe you?"
"Please, Rin-dono. You know I love Hiraku-chan," she said, messing his hair. He took her hand off with a death glare. He simply hated when people saw fit to mess with his hair and his ears.
"I insist." She accompanied her to the door and placed some yens on her hand, thanking the younger woman profusely. "Now…" She turned back to the sulky boy on her toes. "I thought someone was already sleeping soundly."
"There was someone following you," he retorted while they walked to the smaller room in the apartment. "I know there was."
"My love, the entrance was clear. There was no one there." Rin pulled the covers to his chin and kissed his cheeks lovingly.
"Mom, there was someone." He was upset. He simply hated with his mother did not listen to him. "I heard it. It was someone strong. It could hurt you."
Rin lifted an eyebrow.
"And what could you do, my hero?"
"Protect you," he replied as if it was the most obvious question. He would not let anyone harm his mother. Whoever it was.
Her cinnamon eyes became soft before the innocent confession.
"This is my duty, Hiraku," she said, running her fingers through his silvery bangs. The strands were as silky as the hair of her ex-lover. Hiraku was exactly like his father. There was no need for a paternity test. Never. The only traces that belonged to Rin were the little nose and the curious glint in his eyes. Maybe the genuine smile — when he felt like smiling, which to be honest, happened in rare occasions. The rest, from the silvery hair and golden eyes, to the sulky temper and haughty stance all belonged to Sesshomaru. With a hint of smile, she noticed her son yawning. "Good night, Hiraku. I love you."
"Hn."
The answer so typical of his father made Rin roll her eyes and turn off the lights with a sigh.
Maybe, if Hiraku was not so alike Sesshomaru, and more like her, she would not have so much headache with him. Headache she knew was far from ending.
#
"Since when?"
"Good morning for you too, Sesshomaru," InuTaisho replied as he turned on the lights on the engawason was sitting against the fusuma, looking as terrible as ever. He wrinkled his nose uncomfortably at the strong smell of rum. "How much did you drink?"
There was no answer from his eldest son, but he noticed it was lot. It was almost day, which meant he spent the night drinking.
"How was the date? Bad I assume." He extended his hand for Sesshomaru to take, but was completely ignored. Shrugging, he walked on the engawa towards the kitchen, where the slid the shōji doors open and motioned for him to enter.
As an answer, there was a low grunt.
He stared at him and turned on the coffee pot to heat the coffee from last day. It was not the best he could offer, but it was all he had in the moment. With the current condition of his son, it was obvious the drink affected him differently from what it would as an yokai. Coffee would not be that bad to relieve that hangover that would not have hit him in the first place, if he were not in such a frail state.
To InuTaisho, it was a surprise to find his oldest, for the first time, as a human. Needless to say, Sesshomaru made him swear on Izayoi's nonexistent tomb he would never tell that to InuYasha.
That insufferable half-breed would never leave him alone.
He was even tempted to tell, but he decided that maybe it was not the smartest idea, considering that both had no idea what has happening to Sesshomaru.
Now, however, he knew. The sides of his mouth curved up ever so slightly. Perhaps it was time for InuYasha to know that his brother of high pedigree would take, just like him, a human façade once a month.
He shook his head as he gave Sesshomaru his coffee. He did not have time to think about exposing his oldest. They had to talk and if they were to talk about that, he needed Sesshomaru awake.
Honestly, he did not imagine himself having his conversation so soon. He did not expect to have this conversation at all. If things run as smoothly as he expected and planned, Rin and he would talk about it alone. And his son would learn by himself why he became a human each waxing gibbous.
"When?"
"Three months," he replied bringing the cup to his lips. "I expect you to knock on the door next time."
"I did not enter the house."
"Whatever."
There was silence again. Sesshomaru leaned against one of the cabinets and inhaled the smell the coffee gave out. The scent was much weaker without his supernatural senses. The taste, however, was more palatable and addictive.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
InuTaisho was the one to keep silent now. His son's voice, usually deep, was filled with an emotion he could not get closer to comprehend, and that somewhat stunned him.
He never thought Rin was so important.
"It wasn't my secret to tell."
If Sesshomaru were expressive as InuYasha, he would obviously have scoffed. Instead, he remained quiet, as if musing on his own.
"I assume Rin-san did not tell you this."
There was glare directed at him. It was filled with anger, hate maybe.
"He…" he started and took a sip of his coffee. The taste was actually quite bad now that he thought about it. "Hiraku is a smart kid. More than average."
"A hanyō."
"His mother is human... You know how it works."
If looks could kill...
To be very honest, if there was someone surprised it was InuTaisho. Never, in his long life, he expected that his son that was so prone to hate humans — and proud for doing so — would take one for a lover for two years. Would be so careless to the point of get one pregnant. Would father a half-breed as he so called half-blood.
Sesshomaru stayed silent again. He wondered why Rin never reached him. He questioned himself why his father never told him, when he knew about it. This story of it wasn't my secret to tell was bullshit.
Utter, despicable and plain bullshit!
Now he understood why she had his scent even after so many years.
Rin carried his son for months. He snorted. A hanyō. Sesshomaru hated hanyōs. Since always. Since InuYasha's birth. He still hated his very existence, he merely learned to put up with him.
And his son, his firstborn, the heir to all he had, was a hanyō.
Ironic.
"Rin tried to reach you," he replied, as if reading his son's thoughts. "But you never answered, nor called back. She gave up."
"Since when she is back to Japan?"
"You two didn't talk?" The answer was obvious, but he felt like asking nonetheless. He sighed. "Six months ago. I met the boy in his school some of these days, three or four months ago. He had gotten in a fight with the older boys…" He laughed warmly at the remembrance. "It seems they insulted Rin-san and he was revolted. He is good at it... Good at fighting."
Before Sesshomaru could get a hold of himself, he asked, "What kind of insult?"
"The boys call him a bunch of things. Half-breed, without father, dumb demon," he said watching the expression, or lack thereof, in Sesshomaru's face. Before the confused glint in his son's brown eyes, he completed, "He has dyscalculia. But he is a brilliant kid. He learned how to write and read when he was three and is well ahead of his class."
Sesshomaru did not utter a word. His father gave him more information than he bargained for. He was not interested in them. He was not interested in the boy.
Or was he?
He spent a good part of his night on Rin's veranda, watching her. Firstly, he was focused on the child, he could barely believe it was his son.
A son.
But the similarities were gigantic. And not only in the appearance. There were other inu dayokais out there and even though he knew Rin did not get together with any of them, he could never now. But the way he boy seemed so keen to protect his mother, how he retorted, too clever and cheeky for someone his age.
Even the way he slept was like him.
It was impossible to remain impassible at the words they exchanged and how Rin seemed to take care of his son. Love overflowed her still youthful features. How old as she now? 28... 29? No more than thirty, he believed.
Intrigued, he followed her to her own room, in time to see her slipping out of the silky dress. His mouth watered before the sight of her nude breasts. They were slightly bigger and rounder than he remembered, the nipples bristling with the sudden contact with the icy air in the room; she wore a tiny underwear that got lost in between her firm buttocks.
He was unbelievably hard by the time she turned to him — even if she did not see him — and his golden eyes, so full of desire, landed on the scar on her creamy belly.
It was not big, but it was not that small either.
He knew very little of hanyō pregnancies, but he knew Izayoi almost died on childbirth. His eyes got darker at the possibility of losing Rin in such situation. He was so very careful, he always was. With Rin such care was redoubled. He could not remember a time in which he forgot to take the necessary precautions.
"Sorry… I got distracted with other topics and forgot your question," Inutaisho said, inhaling the coffee. At least the smell was still good, "some children think Rin is a…" he seemed to look for the right words for a moment, "a whore for not being married."
Sesshomaru closed his eyes before the mere idea of anyone calling Rin such names. Children none the less. He would have growled if he could.
"Of course they don't know what they are saying, they're children, but they hear it from their parents and Hiraku hates it when they talk about his mother, so invariably he ends up getting in some fight and breaking one arm or another trying to protect Rin's honor."
He opened his brown eyes and stared at his father. A rather weird, foreign like sensation that he identified as pride took upon his chest. The boy had more of him than he believed at first. Without realized, his lips curved up ever so lightly.
"Dearest, who is there?"
Izayoi's voice echoed in the corridors, forcing both men to turn to the origin of the sound. InuTaisho placed his cup on the sink and walked towards his wife. He approached her and kissed her forehead, his fingers caressing her cheeks in small movements.
"Sesshomaru came to a talk between father and son." His voice was smooth and low. Almost a whisper. "Go back to bed, it's too early. I shall join you soon, my love."
"Yes..." she replied, too sleepy to complain. "Kiss Sesshomaru for me, okay?"
InuTaisho nodded and walked back to the kitchen, but as soon as he entered the room, he found it empty, the shōji doors to the engawa opened.
#
It was a sunny Saturday afternoon.
And even if Rin had put Hiraku on punishment for his bad behavior on the school, she decided to take him to watch Finding Dory. To be honest, she was more thrilled than him. And since she had already taken from him everything he liked…
If she were to be honest with herself, she would admit she was rather dragging Hiraku along with her to watch the animation she was ashamed to go alone to watch.
They had great fun in the cinema and Hiraku ate so much popcorn his lips were bursting because of the salt. How he was complaining about the huge row in the lady's restroom. He did not want to go the restroom with his mother. He was a big boy now, he was old enough to go the gentlemen's room by himself. His mother was the one dragging him along.
"Nope! No way, little mister! I'm not letting you do there alone!"
"But, mom!"
"Don't start mom on me!" She would like to know when and where Hiraku learned that 'but mom', lately it seemed to be his preferred sentence. Rin looked at her son and watched how he rubbed his eyes with the back of his still chubby left hand, while she held onto his right. "If you cooperate with mom, we can go home earlier and still take an afternoon nap."
"I am not sleepy! And I am an adult, I don't take afternoon naps."
Chuckling, Rin kneeled in front of the child and cleaned the sides of mouth, smeared with chocolate, with a napkin. Then she did what she knew would have Hiraku glaring at her for the rest of their lives. She squeezed his cheeks and showered him with kisses.
"Mother!"
"Okay, my preferred adult! I promise to leave you alone if you take a selfie with me."
"No."
"Yes."
"Mother, no!"
"Please?" Rin begged, pouting.
"Okay... but you can't ask for more!"
"Only one?" She was still pouting.
"One one," he conceded, too much embarrassed with everyone watching them in the corridors of the mall.
With her Iphone 5S in hands, Rin pulled him by the little shoulders and readied them for the photo. Hiraku still had the same expression of boredom on his childlike — chubby, not that she ever say it to him, he was an adult after all — face, while she smiled big, knowing how hard-headed her son was.
However, before she could take the picture, a haughty figure, standing tall before them made her lower the mobile phone and raise her eyes. The person before her had her blood freezing in her veins.
"Sesshomaru..."
A/N – That's all for today, kids!
I sincerely hope you enjoyed this first chapter. Even with the lack of SessRin interaction. Sorry xD It's necessary for the plot! And I do intend on have a thicker plot for this fic, so fear not, it shall have more chapters, unlike Mating Policies and Mirrored Pleasures that were all short stories.
Well, let's to the further and due explanations. When I started this fic I hadn't read DarkPhoenix168's fic, in which SessRin's child has dyslexia… But I didn't think about changing because when I came up with the idea it was because one of my friend has dyscalculia and I work in a place where several people has dyscalculia. I like to put in my stories things that surrounds my day, so it's easier to write about them and considering that Sesshomaru runs in a Major Bank Corporation, I thought it'd be very fitting. However, I think the least I can do is explain myself.
Also, I'm aware it sounds cliché the idea of them changing places… I mean Rin becoming a demon and Sesshomaru becoming a human once in a month, but I also came up with this idea and I thought it would play a good role in the future plot that doesn't concern only their relationship. So if you have seen it in other fanfics and think it's too cliché, I'm sorry… but bear with me and I promise I'll make it a good reading xD
For those expecting me to update my story Ghost of Me, I'm gonna update in January, when I expect to have finished The Duke's Lover (I'll take the whole December to write and finish TDL), but fear not, for I'll have PS I'm (still not) over you updated once a week, for I have almost ten chapter written for this fic.
It felt weird not to work with InuKimi, but instead we have lots of InuTaisho. I hope I did a good job with him. Please tell me if I'm going in the right direction.
Hiraku means "to open/to support/to expand", but it can also mean "pioneer and to enlighten", it was with the last two meanings that I came up with the name for my character.
Now would you mind reviewing it for me? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Take care,
Velvetsins.