Hello xD

Well, it's been a while right? I mean… I've been absent from the fandom and from ffnet as a whole for exactly three years, five months and some days. I'm too lazy to count the exact days haha.

I won't apologize too profusely because there's no apologies enough to say how sorry I am for how long it took me to update. Long short story, I faced a huge crisis of writer's block back in 2018 and I spent a few months unable to write, until I changed fandom and moved into a new account on AO3 and started anew.

That's why you all can see a new nickname here as well. Through my Star Wars stories I recovered my confidence in my writing. I even wanted to come back and write more for my fandoms here on ffnet, but whenever I tried, I couldn't.

I have no words to express how thankful I am for all the reviews, favorites and followers this story continued to get all these years.

So to get back into writing mode, I started translating Mating Policies into Portuguese. It was very interesting, because both languages are very different in their syntaxes and some expressions are totally different, so I had to adapt a few things. And now I'm also thinking of posting both stories, MP and PS both on Wattpad… I'm also nymph_L on Wattpad xD

Well, as for this chapter, it's a bit smaller since I'm still getting the hang of writing with Sesshomaru, Rin, InuKimi, InuTaisho and the whole gang again, but I hope you like it nonetheless. It comes from the heart xD

And I think that will be all for now. This AN is too big already hehe

Nikkan Gendai does exist and it's a Japanese tabloid.

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.

Happy reading!


PS I'm (still not) over you

VI – The Prince Yokai and the Press


Sesshomaru closed his golden eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

A demon as powerful as him rarely ever got tired, but he was completely exhausted. And angry. So very angry. Not only Onigumo flew away before he could get a hold of him, but he also left Kagura in that deplorable state.

If not for Kagome and her powers — as diminished as they were during her pregnancy —, she would be dead right now and with her his only chance to get some answers.

It did not take a genius to realize she had been, in fact, the one responsible for leaking the news of his past relationship with Rin and the existence of Hiraku to the Press, probably with the help — or should he say under the influence? — of that filthy half-breed. However, it seemed clear to Sesshomaru she did not know the extent of Naraku's plans — if she ever knew he was, in fact, Naraku, instead of Suzuki Onigumo.

He was under the impression it was only a miscalculation on her part. Kagura was wicked, but not evil and her harm to him and to his family would only scratch the surface. After all, they had been at that game of them for years. He would taint her image and she would do the same to him and even if he wanted to kill her more times than he could remember, he mostly pitied her for her extreme dependence.

His eyes fluttered open and shifted to the heart monitor. If not for Kagome, Kagura would not have a heart — would not be alive. And Sesshomaru would be damned if he let her die without getting his answers.

He approached her still form and stared at her face. For a brief moment, he almost tore open the skin on his wrist and gave her his blood in order to hasten the healing process, but his father had done that already and if his blood was not enough to wake her, he could not hope his own blood would work much better.

But he needed Kagura to get better — and fast. Naraku was out there — planning only Kami knows what against his family — and she was the only one who could provide any insight into his plans. And in case she could not, her incapacitation only strengthened Naraku. Sesshomaru knew that he aimed to have her dead — for her death would benefit him greatly.

According to his sister-in-law, her body would recover quickly — if it weren't recovered already — but there was very little to say about her mind. It seemed Naraku got a hold of her, insinuated himself deep inside her mind and would not let go.

Kagura was a slave to his wishes.

Sesshomaru could not help but recall his ominous laugh and words.

I win… I won…

He tightened his jaw as he recalled how much of a ruckus that night was. His family was exposed, he was forced to mark Rin in order to keep her safe…

Not that the following morning was much better.

The demon in him rebelled at his inertia. When his father suggested — dared to suggest — he would take Hiraku away from his mother, he should have done something, he should have interrupted him, he should have fought for her.

Instead, he remained in silence.

Pathetic.

The demon had said. Well, the demon was right. He was pathetic. Absolutely, utterly and majestically pathetic.

In a few, meager days he had managed to deny his son — for the demon, it did not matter Hiraku was no more than a half-breed, he was his own flesh and blood —, he had hurt Rin — in more ways than he could count —, he had exposed his family — so thoroughly, he would have to give an interview to the Nikkan Gendai to fix that —, he had fucked up with the Takahashi Enterprises — and his head was at stake unless he explained himself very thoroughly —, and he just had lost Naraku — when he thought he had killed him with InuYasha, years before.

He had managed to make Rin angry at him.

And I want you to remove this mark.

Pathetic.

The demon said again.

This time, it was not referring to the fact he had fucked up royally in the last few days. No. It was judging him — harshly — for only visiting Kagura to escape from meeting Rin and his son. The beast knew — he knew — there was no reason to visit his ex. She would not just magically wake up just because he visited her.

Who knew the great Sesshomaru would one day flee from his own family?

He shrugged, ignoring the judgment of the beast inside of him. He would have to face Rin and Hiraku later, whether he wanted it or not. And he would have to explain to her why he could not remove the temporary mark he placed upon her skin.

I beg of you to remove this mark. I don't care what were your reasons in the first place… Just… Just remove it.

He looked at his Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal watch, realizing his time with Kagura — his time alone — was coming to a close. He had an important meeting to attend with the majority shareholders in half an hour. This time, he would have to apologize, whether he liked it or not.

Casting a last glance at her seemingly lifeless form, he closed the door behind him. He gestured for the couple of demon guards to keep a close watch on her before he put on the sunglasses and slid in his navy-blue Rolls-Royce Wraith.

He had only escaped to clear his thoughts; he had a lot to think of and a lot to mull over. But as he drove to the Takahashi Tower, he realized he had, in fact, a long path ahead if he wanted to rebuild his relationship with Rin and build an entirely new one with his son.

#

Her head hurt like hell as the hairdresser pulled her hair into a beautiful and elegant hairdo. Three manicures were attached to her feet and hands, polishing her nails, and panting it with a pearly white color, that would be gone within a day, if she were to wash the dishes and prepare dinner — as she so expected to. The mere remembrance of Sesshomaru's words announcing she was not to return home had her mood darkening.

Close to her, InuKimi and Izayoi were surrounded by a team of professionals discussing which was the best outfit for the interview. Whichever piece Izayoi chose, InuKimi would disagree and whenever Izayoi agreed with her, the devilish woman would change her mind.

Rin's head was buzzing with the sound of their voices. All she wanted was to choose the clothes herself — but when she said she could choose them on her own, she received a shocked and resounding no from both women.

Shrugging, she tuned their voices off.

Kagome was by her side, eating a bowl of açaí — how InuYasha managed to get that in Japan, Rin had no idea, but rich people always had their means. But just like herself, she was distracted, lost in her own mind. When Rin had asked, she merely sighed tiredly and said that as soon as the interview was over, they would have a long talk.

If she were not so tired herself, she would have demanded to know whatever they were hiding from her right now, but she had slept very little last night — in fact, she did not sleep at all. Having spent all night tossing on the bed and reminiscing Hiraku's words, she could not find it in herself to just sleep.

I hate him…

His murmured words, spoken from the bottom of his tiny, innocent heart, had her tossing around, unable to get an ounce of rest.

I hate them…

And to think that Sesshomaru's actions — her own actions — would draw such a strong feeling out of her son.

Part of her wanted to get Hiraku and get the hell out of that house and that wretched country. But then she recalled Sesshomaru's words.

Do not keep me away from my son.

She knew it was stupid of her to accept his apology at face value, but the demon she knew and had come to love usually did not mince with Sesshomaru what you saw was usually what you got. He had never lied to her before and yet… she had hoped so much.

A sigh escaped her lips.

The make-up artist eased the furrow between her brows and proceeded to apply the foundation to her skin. Not used to doll herself too much, Rin found quite strange to have so many people attending to her at once.

She closed her eyes, trying to concentrate on the sounds around her instead of her own cloudy thoughts — whatever Kagome would tell her, whatever Sesshomaru had to say about that damned mark and whatever Hiraku had to say now he had slept, could and should wait.

And… It seemed InuKimi and Izayoi had finally agreed on a set of clothes.

When the professionals were done with her, she opened her eyes and looked at herself in a mirror, only to find a totally different person.

#

Despite the troubled beginning — despite thoroughly disliking the man who was his father — Hiraku could not say he hated his grandfather, and he certainly liked his grandmother. In fact, he got along just fine with everyone in the Compound. His favorite of them, though, was his uncle — Hiraku hoped he could be as powerful and cool as his uncle when he became an adult.

He was painfully aware that to overcome his uncle — and one day his own father, because Hiraku had every intention of challenging him —, he would have to work his ass off.

And right now, he had to concentrate on bringing his grandfather down, which honestly was proving to be the greatest challenge of his entire life! So far, the only person he had trained with who was more powerful than him was his sensei — and although his sensei did not go exactly easy on him, he was clearly someone whose strengths and weaknesses Hiraku knew. His grandfather, however, was on an entirely different level.

A frustrated growl was born in his throat as he tried to hit the demon in front of him, very unsuccessfully if one might add. No matter what he tried, he did not seem to succeed. His grandfather was too powerful and too quick on his feet. Most of times — no, every single time — his blows landed on thin air or the tatami.

InuTaisho's blows, however, always landed a few inches away from his face. Or his body. Or his hair. And each time he stopped himself, he would correct Hiraku's mistakes and direct him to a great effectiveness. Not that it mattered, for even with proper instruction he continued to try and to fail miserably.

He puffed, completely irritated with himself.

Part of Hiraku wanted to tell his grandfather to take him seriously, but he could not even land a blow with him going easy, he could not even begin to tell what would be of him if the dog demon took him up on his plea.

As frustration took a home in his chest, his movements became even more careless. Right now, he was just throwing punches, completely forgetting that for more precise blows, he had to be in tune with his breathing.

He was so concentrated on the bad feelings welling up inside of his chest that he did not hear the steps approaching the dojo. Nor he smelled his mother. He only saw his grandfather and saw his complete inability to even land a blow on him.

Are you my father?

He only saw his inability to one day defeat his father.

I would hate to be the son of someone who scares my mother.

He only saw his inability to protect his mother.

"That's it for today, pup."

The deep voice coupled with two fingers pressed against his forehead — right over the royal crest — made him stop his frenzied launch of blows and step back. He looked up, only to find InuTaisho smiling easily at him.

"You did well, Hiraku."

His comment had the boy growling. He was so mad at himself. So mad at himself, he could not help feeling utterly ashamed. He was unworthy of the title of his mother's protector.

"But I failed."

A big hand landed on his hair, ruffling it affectionately. He looked up with his golden eyes completely narrowed — how he hated when someone did that. As if his tiny, warning growl meant nothing, InuTaisho merely shrugged, smiling broadly.

"Everyone fails. You have to fail in order to obtain victory." The easy voice had Hiraku breathing deeply. It was not easy to accept such a defeat, but he would try. His grandfather was right. He would win. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but he would win someday. Once again, the hand positioned on his head ruffled his hair before patting his head lightly. The dog demon then inclined towards him as if to confide a secret, "Remind me to tell the stories of your father's failures, one of these days."

"Father." The deep voice echoed in the dojo. If he meant for it to sound reprehensive, Hiraku could not tell. He watched as the man entered the dojo and bowed respectfully, before he approached the tatami. Then those intense golden eyes landed on him. "Hiraku."

"Sesshomaru," InuTaisho acknowledged his presence with a nod. The hand on Hiraku's head moved to the shoulder, nudging him towards his father.

The boy, however, froze on the spot and the furrow on his brows intensified. Everyone in the room had their eyes on him — including his mother, who was just at the entrance of the dojo, a few steps behind the man who was his father.

I would hate to be the son of someone who scares my mother.

He clenched his fists as the scent of that man placed upon his mother hit his sensitive nose. The easiness on his chest completely vanished as he shifted his attention back to his sire.

"You were absent from the meeting today," Sesshomaru said, watching his son intensely, even though he spoke to InuTaisho. His expression denounced nothing, but he was proud of what he saw. Even though the boy did not win, he certainly deserved some points for trying — even if he tried in a foolish fashion.

InuTaisho shrugged, hand still positioned over Hiraku's tiny shoulders.

"Of course. I was busy training with my grandson. We did have a great time, didn't we, Hiraku-chan?"

Before he could ruffle Hiraku's hair again, the boy stepped away and combed his silvery tresses. Rin almost smiled. She did not need to see his face to know he was annoyed at best. He simply hated when someone ruffled his hair so many times — mainly if was someone he did not trust completely in front of someone he trusted even less.

InuTaisho did not seem fazed by the act. He smiled easily and fondly at Hiraku and then tightened the obi at his waist, before shifting his attention to Rin.

"Go with your mother, Hiraku-chan. I need to talk to your father."

Rin outstretched her hand for him to take, smiling kindly, but he completely ignored her as he walked towards the exit of the dojo.

"He's not my father!" His loud and childish voice echoed throughout the dojo. Rin stared at him, completely mortified. The smile on InuTaisho's face vanished and Sesshomaru's jaw tightened. His stare was quite intense. As he passed right before the tall dog demon to leave the dojo, he turned to look at his mother over his shoulder, "I hate him! I hate you!"

As he left, stomping on his feet, Rin followed him — or tried to.

Sesshomaru's clawed hand leaned on her arm, preventing her from leaving the dojo.

"Not now." Her cinnamon eyes were brimmed with tears. "I need to talk to him. And he needs to finish his homework."

She tried to disentangle herself, but it only made him tighten his grasp.

"We will both talk to him."

#

When they both managed to catch up with Hiraku, they were in front of a drawing room. Rin's heart was beating madly on her chest as she recalled his words.

I hate you.

Last afternoon, as his grandmother talked to him and held him — as Rin so wanted to hold her baby boy again —, he said he hated he hated both of them.

I hate them.

Sesshomaru's eyes were serious as he called his son.

"Hiraku."

The boy did not look up at them, but the way his ears flattened on the top of his head indicated he had heard them loud and clear.

"We will talk."

"I don't want to talk to you."

He did not need to say anything else to have Rin's heart shattered. She did not know what to do to win back his love and to ease the suffering in his tiny and innocent heart.

"Hiraku… Please, wait."

The boy did not even bother to hear her words. He just pretended his mother did not talk to him at all. With his tiny fists clenched, he headed towards — wherever he was headed, he just wanted to be far away from his mother and… whatever that man was, for he was not his father.

"Hiraku!"

Once again, he pretended he did not hear what his mother said. He had never been a disobedient child, but all of sudden he decided he did not want to obey anymore. He did not want to hear whatever excuses she had to make for his sire.

"Come back."

Sesshomaru's imperious and commanding voice echoed in the corridors. Hiraku looked at him over his shoulder as if challenging him.

"Come back, Hiraku," the dog demon said again, emphasizing his son's name. "Now."

There was no movement from the child's part. He continued to stare at them over his shoulder with very judging golden eyes — eyes so alike his sire's —, now completely narrowed.

"Apologize to your mother."

"Sesshomaru…" Rin whispered. Her voice had a hint of indecision. May be that was not the best time to talk to Hiraku. Or the best way. It was too much information and all too quickly. Obviously, he would be confused and angry and resentful.

She would be in his place, too.

This time, the demon was the one to stare at her coldly. Rin swallowed and wetted her lips. There was hint of warning in his eyes she could not face head on. Moreover, she knew he was in his rights to talk to Hiraku.

She just… She hoped he would not hurt him.

Because Hiraku was clearly doing that only because he had been hurt. He felt cornered, like a wild animal caught in the lights.

Hiraku did not lower his head, but he fought the need with every fiber in his being. His entire tiny body was seized with a shiver, but he held himself and his emotions tightly and stared at his sire with his chin up; he refused to show how scared he was of that tone.

He had learned — and quite soon if he might add — that wearing his emotions openly could be his defeat, or so his aikido sensei kept saying during their trainings. Never show you are afraid or insecure, for it will be your downfall, he would say something like that.

"Sit." Sesshomaru's gave him no room for contestations. His voice was strong, decided and controlling. "Apologize to your mother."

"Why?" he managed to say as he sat on a zabuton. Rin sat in front of him, beside Sesshomaru. He was so tall and so broad that even in a seiza position he seemed rather intimidating sitting beside his mother.

His stare was firm and narrowed. Sesshomaru hated explaining himself, but he also hated apologizing and that's what he did last night — and even if he knew it would take Rin years to fully forgive him — if she ever did —, he knew it was necessary for their relationship and — he would never admit it aloud — his own peace of mind. It would not be his end if he started now, very belated he knew, fixing his mistakes.

"Because she's not at fault."

#

"Three, two, one..." the photographer said as he took the last picture. "Great. It was great!"

Rin was almost blinded by the flashes. She did not exactly hate photos, but she was not used to all that special lightening. Her head hurt, even if she knew it was not totally related to that damned photoshoot.

If she spent last night awake, rolling around in the bed, thinking about her interaction with Sesshomaru, tonight she would think about their earlier interaction with Hiraku.

Suddenly, she felt weak on the knees.

She wanted to get some rest — she needed to. It was just too much to deal with all at once. In the Compound, under the common agreement with the Nikkan Gendai, Hiraku was doing his homework. He would not be bothered by anyone. Sesshomaru made them guarantee they would not harass the child under any circumstances.

She was partly relieved.

Rin sighed and looked down, to the engagement ring that adorned her finger. It felt heavy. The family hairloom that once belong to Sesshomaru's mother and then to Izayoi and then to Kagome, now graced her hand. She could only hope that not for long.

She hoped that all that had happened in the last few hours were just a dream. She wanted to go back, to look at the reporters and say that she would not get married to Sesshomaru.

My grandson will not be affected by your childish decisions.

However harshly he had acted, InuTaisho was right. She could not let Hiraku be even more affected by the poor decisions of his parents. And maybe… Maybe it would be good for him to live there, in the Compound. Hiraku would finally be left alone in school, for he would have a father. He would learn how to live together with him. He would learn how to respect him. And he would learn how to love him.

That initial rejection would not last long, she was aware of that. What she knew would not go away so quickly was the anger — resentment, which was way worse — that he felt for his mother. Now she knew she had screwed up for having hiding information concerning Sesshomaru from Hiraku.

She should have told him the truth, in the several opportunities she had had. But she had opted for the silence. She had acted cowardly. And now she would pay for that.

"Closer…" She heard only part of what Miroku said and felt Sesshomaru touching her hand, pulling her closer in a very chaste manner.

She sighed in relief, for she thought briefly that he would pull her by the waist.

But that relief was short lived, for even if he did not pull her closer, he moved closer himself.

She raised her face to stare at him and got lost in his golden eyes. They were usually indifferent and detached, but now… looking closely, they seemed to almost… warm up?

Rin bit her bottom lip, mulling over what he said the night before. His apology.

Everything happened so... so… quickly.

Forgive me for having abandoned you… What I did was... Unforgivable...

Did he really mean these words? Should she believe him? Could she?

And then there was that request in that low, hoarse voice. There was so Much despair in his words. So much… fear. Something she never expected to hear on her previous lover's voice.

Do not keep me away from you… Do not keep me away from my son…

No matter what she told herself, she believed these words.

She believed each one of them with all her heart. She wanted to believe. Her heart begged her to. Even if she told him she did not believe him, she knew he was being sincere. And even if she doubted him, she had to believe.

Even more so now that they would get married.

She felt firm and warm fingers moving over her face, removing a strand of raven hair from her cinnamon eyes and then touch her chin in a very delicate caress. She closed her eyes when she felt them move tantalizing closer to her lower lip, preventing her from biting them in her nervousness.

"Perfect! Hmmm almost perfect!" Miroku corrected himself but gave them thumbs up and smiled broadly. "Now, to make it absolutely perfect, we only need a kiss."

Rin inhaled deeply at that suggestion. She was partly facing Sesshomaru, staring into his eyes intensely. When she heard those words, she shifted her attention to the vast gardens in the Compound and kept her eyes there for a long time.

Soon, Sesshomaru brought his fingers to her chin, angling her face closer to him. Rin swallowed, too afraid of his next actions. But he merely brushed his lips against her forehead in such a featherlike touch that she got startled.

And relieved.

Both seemed too tense. Everyone noticed that. The entire staff of Nikkan Gendai noticed that the atmosphere was not the best among the couple. Which was not surprising at all. Being married to Sango, Miroku knew some of the details of that family drama.

When Rin stared back at him, too startled because of the suddenly flash, he winked at her and blew her a kiss. She shook her head in disapproval, but smiled nonetheless.

Satisfied for breaking the tense atmosphere, Miroku made sure that everyone paid attention to her high-end clothes in the photos he took. She was certainly beautiful in that Oscar de La Renta salmon trapeze dress and in those expensive white Louboutin. Her long raven hair fell over one of her shoulders in a romantic braid decorated with some seasonal flowers.

The demon's clothing matched hers. Sesshomaru dressed a double-breasted Ralph Lauren blazer, with white slacks. The Rotonde de Cartier Astrotourbillon Carbon Crystal watch drew his entire attention when the yokai moved his wrist to check the hour; golden eyes completely focused on the journalist.

He had no idea who had chosen those clothes, but whoever did it certainly put great effort into it. Their clothes conveyed a message and for a photographer as experienced as Miroku, it was clear they wanted everyone to shift their attention to how composed, elegant and traditional the couple looked.

That interview, after all, was their attempt to quell the rumors about Hiraku's birth. And only a fool would have diminished the importance of clothing when conveying such message.

By his side, Ayame got ready for the questions she would ask soon. That was undoubtedly the interview of her life and that tense atmosphere was killing her. She could see that Rin woman was feeling misplaced and nervous while the CEO of the Takahashi Enterprises seemed indifferent, as always.

She cleared her throat. She would rather die than having that interview failing. That would be the big hit in her career, and she would be damned if she did not deliver the most memorable interview ever.

"Shall we get started?"

#

"Wait! He... Sesshomaru... What?"

Match completely forgotten, InuKimi threw her head back and laughed. Her silvery tresses danced in the wind as her body shook with mirth. It took her a while to come back to her senses; it had been a while since she last had such a good laugh at someone else's expense.

Her own son's expense.

InuTaisho shook his head as he watched his previous mate disapprovingly. He could not help but click his tongue to catch her attention.

If he decided to call her to a match, it was because he had an important matter to discuss with her, not to have her laughing at their son's misfortune.

"And you complain to this day that he doesn't tell you anything."

InuKimi rolled her eyes.

She had forgotten how very proper her ex-mate was. She did not miss it the tiniest bit. This very aura of companionship and total understanding without a bit of fun was too much to her liking.

"I forgot how boring you are, InuTaisho."

He merely smiled.

It infuriated InuKimi. She hated how he always behaved as if he was the good, understanding parent while she was the wicked mother who did not love her son enough, just because she enjoyed having some fun at her beloved pup's expense.

"Oh please, get off your high horse, will you? I know you laughed too when you found it out. There's no way in hell you didn't."

InuTaisho seized the opportunity to move his black pieces — or at least he tried. She clicked her tongue and stared at him with those intense golden eyes narrowed.

He smiled again.

It seemed that years did not make her less alert to her surroundings. If possible, it made her even hawk-eyed whenever playing go. Honestly, he could play go all he wanted with Sesshomaru — and even Izayoi, even though she did not enjoy the game very much; needless to say, InuYasha lacked the concentration for a decent match —, but no one could compare to his previous mate. InuKimi's slyness made the match very enjoyable.

He smiled sheepishly and placed both hands on his thighs.

"I did." He cleared his throat. "Internally, of course."

The former Lady of the West shook her head, a smirk all too noticeable on her eternally beautiful features.

"When did you find out?"

InuTaisho inclined his head, his furrowed brows were an indicative he was recalling when he first caught Sesshomaru transformed into a human a couple of years before. He did not know he could be this shocked before.

"Hmmm…" He touched his chin, pensively. "Three years ago… give it or take? His first transformation took place almost seven years ago."

It was truly a sight to behold. His proud son — so prone to hate humans — taking on the façade of one. If there was something the millennia taught the dog demon it was that sometimes one had to eat crow in order to act humbler.

Not that Sesshomaru acted any humbler so far…

"You don't seem surprised," he said after watching her expression carefully.

"Because, dear InuTaisho, it was kind of obvious."

The demon furrowed his brows. InuKimi merely shrugged and moved the piece forward, one he should have discarded a while ago, if he was paying any attention to their match.

"How come?"

It sounded kind of obvious once he found out about the existence of his grandson, but not before that. So InuKimi could only be bluffing — which, he knew, was not above her; actually, quite in character.

"Mother nature is just perfect, dear ex-mate…" she said thoughtlessly, which made InuTaisho tighten his jaw. He simply hated how she always managed to bring up his choices — which she considered to be a mistake and a sin — in the middle of an innocent conversation. "She's a human, and she got pregnant from a daiyoukai." She shrugged. "She needed to protect her pup. I can't see fitter alternative than to weaken the father and strengthen the mother."

He folded his arms at his chest.

Well, he could have said Izayoi also got pregnant from a daiyoukai and she did not start transforming into a yokai.

"I never said she became a yokai whenever Sesshomaru becomes human."

"It was obvious, wasn't it?" She itched to touch a piece he was taking too long to discard. Her movement did not go unnoticed by InuTaisho who easily did what she had in mind, blocking her easy path to a quick victory. The boyish smile on his face made her hate him with all her mischievous heart. "If he loses his powers, it must go somewhere else. And don't you dare compare my son to your…" She stopped herself before she could say something she would regret — not that she would lie by calling a half-breed a half-breed. "…Son."

She took a deep breath before continuing:

"Your son is already a hanyo and it's part of their nature to lose their powers once a month. But it's not for Sesshomaru. If he loses his powers, it's because it's gone somewhere. In this case…" She discarded another piece, a small and easy smirk took upon her beautiful features. "Rin's human body."

With that, she rose from her zabuton and headed to the door, leaving behind a very stunned InuTaisho.

"Where are you going?"

InuKimi sighed, clawed hands positioned over the shoji doors. The smirk on her face only got bigger as her ex-mate's confusion intensified. She rolled her eyes when he stared at the board and closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

She could barely control her need to laugh.

If he were Sesshomaru, he would have growled. Like a pup deprived of his favorite toy. InuTaisho merely narrowed his eyes.

"You cheated."

InuKimi's purple lips stretched into the biggest grin ever.

"Like father, like son. You're as slow-witted as Sesshomaru. Bye, bye, InuTaisho. Feel free to come to me whenever you feel like losing."

#

Rin hated that they had given her a card with the expected answers for all expected questions for that interview, taking from her the chance to come up with answers herself. She hated it even more that Sesshomaru took away from her the chance to answer most questions, for pride's sake or for being a control freak, she did not know.

But despite that, she could not help but feel amazed. He handled the interview smoothly and when he did not wish to answer some kind of question, such as when the journalist asked when he learned of Hiraku's existence and if he enjoyed being a father, he always managed to dodge them politely and in a clever way. It felt like he was very used to that kind of situation and very at ease.

As for she, she dreaded any question that came her way. She was afraid she would be too honest and would let them know any detail that could led them to be even more harassed — both her son and hers.

"Do you believe this union will drive the stocks of the Takahashi Enterprises up?" Ayame finally dared to ask about the big white elephant in the room after more neutral and mechanical questions.

"Perhaps," Sesshomaru conceded calmly, making Rin stare at him with narrowed eyes. He took her hand between his and brushed his lips over her knuckles in a very gallantly gesture. Naturally, Miroku did not lose that tiny interaction, capturing them with his lenses. "But that wasn't the main reason for our union."

"And what would be?" she asked, her eyes completely focused on Rin's frame and every tiny movement her body made.

She seemed too anxious. Bothered even with the possible answers — and untrue answers — Sesshomaru would give them. With her heart on the verge of leaving her chest, she wetted her lips and said, "We've decided it was time for us to give Hiraku a family."

And once she felt his eyes on hers and a glimmer of surprise on those golden pools, she added, "Our son will always come first."

"Oh…" Ayame titled her head lightly as if she did not buy that answer at all. It seemed too obvious of an answer. Even a bit unnatural. There was more she—they—were not telling. She was sure there were and she would find out. "What about love? Do you love each other?"

There was a deafening and uncomfortable silence for a few seconds. The majestic room they prepared to hold the interview in the Takahashi Compound felt small even before the anxious and curious stared that fell upon them. One of the photographer's assistant had his mouth hanging open, his face did not hide his surprise as he fixed the illumination. Miroku looked at the camera on his hands, dear God, he would give his soul to record that next answer. Sadly, the Takahashi family did not agree for a video interview.

Rin felt her heart quickening—she could only hope her poor heart would hang on until the next day, until the end of that interview. She wetted her lips more than once, thinking of what answer she should come up with. Her hand was still between Sesshomaru's and it was with a startle that she saw him moving it once again towards his lips.

A shiver ran up her spine as he bestowed it with a brief kiss.

"I fell in love with Rin when I met her seven years ago in Amsterdam."

Rin's eyes widened softly at his confession. Of course Sesshomaru was lying. She had no doubt of that.

But her heart… oh the traitorous thing, it simply wished he wasn't.

She bit her bottom lip and tried to remove her hand from his grasp discreetly. However, he held onto it tightly and while the cameras flashed around them, he stared at her with an intensity she had come to expect from him, and whispered something she did not hear—that no one heard—, but she could read upon his lips.

"I'm still in love with you."


A/N – Well, I think that's all for today.

If this story still has any readers left out there, I'd love to know what you guys thought of this chapter.

Lots of things happened on it. But it's more like a transition chapter, and nothing really impactful happened. You know… Just bits of information here and there and a scene between InuTaisho and InuKimi, which is by far my favorite in this whole story. And that explains a bit of what happened to Sesshomaru and Rin, but not much hehe

Also, some of you may notice that last chapter I said they would give an interview for Vanity Fair and in this chapter I changed for Nikkan Gendai. I'm sorry, but I thought it best to keep a known Japanese tabloid for the interview. They're aiming for a more traditional public within Japan, so it's best to use the national press for it, right?

As for how Sesshomaru will handle the things in the Takahashi Enterprise, you guys will know about it in the next chapter.

Ah, I also have some news for you guys. I wrote last year, for the InuYashaPjct, a project within the Brazilian community aimed for increasing the numbers of InuYasha stories in Brazil, a three-chapter side story for PS I'm still not over you, called Colourful Wishes. It's set during the Tanabata Matsuri and a few chapters in the future into this story.

Let's see if I can post the first chapter later this week xD

Well, now I think that's all. I hope you guys liked this chapter.

If any reader is still there, I'd love to know your opinion.

See you soon. Not promise when, but I can promise that it won't take three years again. Sorry xD