Extremely sorry for the long wait, I started this chapter a week or so ago but don't know why it took so long to finish. I also went away for a bit and that was quite refreshing. Anways, I'm back so on with it.

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Disclaimer in first chapter.

Chapter 22:

Sesshomaru picked out a letter from the mail pile addressed to him. He tore the envelope open and recognized the handwriting immediately. This wasn't the first letter he received from this particular sender. He sighed before crumpling the contents and tossing it in the nearby trash with the envelope. It was the morning, and InuTaisho passed him by with a cup of coffee. The elder demon noticed the envelope in the trashcan with the address facing up, causing him to pause briefly when he read the sender's name.

'InuKimi…?' He read. "Aren't you going to read it?" His father probed.

"I'm not interested." He earned a flat reply from his son.

"How long has this been going on? Have you not responded to any of them?"

"No. Maybe less than a year now?"

"T-that long?" InuTaisho backpedaled. "And you've just been ignoring them all this time?" Sesshomaru's expressionless apathetic face was evidence enough and InuTaisho had no comeback for him. His son really bewildered him sometimes. He should be getting ready for work soon. Perhaps he can call InuKimi later on. He had no idea his ex-wife was trying to get in contact with him.

When InuTaisho got a moment, he curiously called InuKimi that evening. It had been a long while since they spoke with each other. Both of them were successful and walked their own paths so never found the time or need to reach out.

"This is rather unexpected." InuKimi answered the phone.

"I know right. I didn't think you'd ever care about being in Sesshomaru's life again."

"…He finally told you?"

"No, I happen to catch him."

InuKimi softly exhaled on the other end. "He refuses to give in. I can't blame him."

"Do you really want to patch things up with him?" InuTaisho tested.

"Yes."

The man thought about it for a moment. "Why don't you stop by one day? You'll have a chance to meet his mate as well. Our boy is so grown up."

"…he has a mate?" Not surprisingly, this was news to InuKimi.

"Right, of course you wouldn't have knowledge of that. Izayoi and I only found out about it not too long ago as well, but it seems they've been serious for a few years now."

"I see…" The woman had mixed feelings. In reality she didn't know how to feel. She knew Sesshomaru and his personality well, so it was all the more difficult to believe he was serious about anyone. She always presumed that like herself, he would marry to simply consummate a custom and produce an heir without many deep feelings involved. "Very well. I'll accept the invitation and visit tomorrow afternoon."

"Sounds good."

"Oh and one more thing—keep it a secret from Sesshomaru."

"Eh? Why not?"

"You and I both know how he will react if he knows."

"Right…"

Inuyasha's laughter could be heard down the hall as they entered the house. "I told you he'd end up winning—you put your bets on the wrong guy."

"Whatever. So, you were right by mere chance." Sesshomaru rolled his eyes.

"Was not. You just don't wanna admit your defeat." Inu pointed out with a grin.

"Hey you two." They were soon greeted by their father as they removed their shoes and such. "We have a guest." The pair looked at each other wordlessly before following InuTaisho to the guest room to find Izayoi with another long silver haired woman, InuKimi. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, both internally gasped at the sight for different reasons. Inuyasha was appalled to see the random—but beautiful— woman from the grocery store at his house. Sesshomaru, on the other hand was mildly irritated to see his mother at his house now, when he clearly wasn't interested in getting along.

"Who…" The hanyo involuntarily let out before he was interrupted by his mate.

"Mother…" Sesshomaru acknowledged "What are you doing here?" Inuyasha visibly turned his body towards him in utter shock.

'Sess-Sesshomaru's mother?!' The teen turned back to study InuKimi once more. 'Well that explained a lot…they literally looked like they can be twins, the hair, the markings, the aura surrounding them—and not to mention they were both the most captivating demons he'd ever met. At least now we knew where his mate got his looks again.'

However, now he suddenly felt pressured! This was the first time he was meeting Sesshomaru's biological mother, i.e. a parent. He needed to make a good impression especially if InuKimi was anything like Sesshomaru, the high maintenance type.

Inuyasha noticeably stuttered as he said his hello. "H-hello, nice to m-meet you."

"Nice to see you in the flesh, son." InuKimi told Sesshomaru, almost as if she didn't hear Inuyasha at all.

"You didn't answer my question." Sesshomaru reminded.

"What answer would you like to hear?"

"On second thought, I don't have time for this, if you won't answer directly." Sesshomaru was ready to leave the room with his mate, as he clutched his wrist. "Come on Inuyasha."

InuKimi finally turned her attention to Inuyasha. She had recognized him immediately as the half-breed from the grocery mart. Pregnant half-breed. The woman was still amazed that Sesshomaru would choose a half-breed over a pure demon as she studied him top to bottom. Meanwhile, Inuyasha swallowed hard as he waited for a reaction from her. It was difficult to judge her with her reserved exposure.

"You live here as well?" InuKimi finally mouthed. The teen blinked when he registered the question was directed towards him.

"Uh…actually—"

"This is my stepson, Izayoi's son, Inuyasha." InuTaisho introduced at last.

"Ah." The woman uttered. Every stare from her was keeping Inuyasha on edge until she partially smiled, but it didn't seem like a genuine kind smile… Or so he thought. "I think we should get to know each other but some other time. Right now, I was hoping to spend some time with my son."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes, not taking her seriously. Inuyasha understood where she was coming from, she probably hadn't seen him for years. "You've long gone your own way, why pretend to care now?"

"That may have been true but I've been trying to reach you for a while now."

"I don't see how you can provide me with anything at this point." The demon prince deadpanned and Inuyasha elbowed him with a face conveying 'you're being rude.'

"That's very cold."

"I must inherit that from you." InuKimi actually smiled proudly at that, to the hanyo's surprise.

"Very well. I'll leave for now. Do think about it son, I only want to talk." She stated as she stood up. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Eh? Are you sure?" InuTaisho stepped forward.

"Yes, I've overstayed my welcome." InuKimi declared as she made her way to the door.

As soon as she was out, the teen glared at Sesshomaru again. "Rude!"

"Whatever."

"That was your mom!" The hanyo reminded.

"My mom is not the same as yours. Don't fall for her tricks."

"Hey, hey, don't be too mean now. Give her a chance." InuTaisho patted his shoulder as he exited the room as well with Izayoi.

"I thought you lived with dad for most of your life so how would you know? Dad's right, give her a chance. Maybe she wants to be involved in your life."

"Quite late for that."

"Damn bro can't you just lighten up?" Inu taunted and his mate shook his head.

Inuyasha was lazing in his room when he heard a knock on his door. "Yeah!"

InuTaisho poked his head through the door, holding his phone in his free hand. "Hey, InuKimi wanted to speak with you."

The hanyo was laying on his bed but immediately sat up when he processed that. "H-huh? Me?" He reiterated as he watched his father bring the phone over to him. His dad was just as appalled and simply shrugged.

"Hello?" The teen greeted.

"Inuyasha-kun, was it? Hello."

"Yeah, um, dad said you wanted to talk to me?"

"That's correct. I left quite quickly last time, so I was wondering if you wanted to go on a little date with me? We can get to know eachother and you can tell me more about Sesshomaru since he isn't being very talkative."

Aside from the minor nerves, Inuyasha thought that was a brilliant idea. Maybe this way, he can convince Sesshomaru to trust her as well once he got to know her better. His mate was currently attending a conference so he'll make do for now.

"Yeah, he doesn't waste his breath much. Where do you want to meet up?"

"There's a café I have in mind, for starters."

"Okay!" The hanyo jumped at the opportunity and hung up after taking down the name and address.

"You made it." InuKimi was already seated on one of the café tables outside under the parasol.

"Hi, I hope you didn't wait long."

"Not at all. Why don't you order something first and then have a seat?"

"Mh." Inu nodded and went inside real quick to order a latte. InuKimi settled in her seat further as she watched Inuyasha return after five minutes with a latte.

"So, how long have you two been an item?" His stepmother began.

"Mh… a few years now." Was the straightforward response but InuKimi's continuous stare forced him to keep talking. "He was pretty hard at first, I mean it all started from an accident anyway but then we became brothers and…" He rambled.

"That's all?"

"Eh?"

"Where did you meet? You seem younger than him."

"Uh…that was a unique situation," He awkwardly scratched his cheek as he scrambled for the right words. "Basically, a friend and I were checking out this bar one evening after school and…that's where I ran into him."

InuKimi appeared as if she was digesting that. "And he approached you?" There was a layer of disbelief in her tone as she posed that question. Inuyasha pushed the instinctive feeling of disdain from her aside as he replied. "No, he helped me out, 'cause he happened to be the only one there. Afterwards we were introduced as brothers." The teen quickly added the time lapse to avoid any sexy details from their first night slipping from his mouth.

"I see…"

"…I heard you've been trying to reach Sesshomaru…" Inuyasha change the subject instead.

"Yes." She sighed, breaking her poker face. "It's been almost a year now but he clearly isn't interested."

"Don't give up, you know how stubborn and stone-hearted Sesshomaru can be. But I swear, he'll eventually give in—he's weak to earnest persistence. Hehe trust me I would know." He proudly pointed to himself.

"What makes you so confident?"

"Because, he had a huge problem with me too—maybe it was the personality differences but look at us now. I can help you."

The silverette studied him some more and realized that even after the obvious interrogating tone, he was smiling sincerely at her, willing to help. She could see why Sesshomaru would be allured by that naivety and purity.

"Very well. I'll take your word for it." The demon smiled. "Would you like to come to my house? And we can chat further?"

"Is that okay?" The hanyo sipped his latte, not questioning her motives at all.

"Of course. I can also use some help moving some things around."

"Okay!" They finished their drinks and moved on.

"Come in." InuKimi invited.

"Pardon the intrusion." Inuyasha entered and glanced around. "So, what did you need help with?" The teen curiously asked, as he rotated his face towards her but was met with a palm three inches away from his face. "Wha—" He was suddenly silenced by a glow emitting from her hand that seemed to suck all his senses out of him. He found himself standing paralyzed, in a trance, subconsciously there but physically lacking all control of his body. Inuyasha stood before her lifelessly, with his eyes open.

InuKimi sneered at her easy accomplishment and commanded him to take a seat on the couch in the great room after her. Against his otherwise will, the hanyo slowly trudged towards the sofa and calmly sat down. InuKimi called her one and only son but to no surprise no one answered. The demon shook her head inherently amused as she then confiscated her hostage's cellphone and dialed the same person.

"What is it?" Sesshomaru answered emotionlessly.

"I called you just now." InuKimi softly spoke.

Sesshomaru was silent on the other line as he re-assessed the situation. "Why do you have his phone?" He finally growled when he realized he didn't have the wrong number.

"We had a little date. Come pick him up."

"Why couldn't he call me himself?" He decided to ignore the 'date' aspect for now.

"You'll find out when you get here. It's ×××× street." She boldly hung up right after.

Needless to say, Sesshomaru the prince demon himself, was there in a blink of an eye—fuming no less …and with a terrible gut feeling.

The silverette son knocked on the door and was led in by the butler. He barged into the room with a stern look.

"Come son, have a seat. I have tea prepared." His mother nonchalantly pointed to three cups of tea on the low table in front of her and Sesshomaru noticed Inuyasha's cup was untouched. He also found it odd that the usually loud teen didn't acknowledge him enter at all and had his gaze lowered with hands calmly on his lap.

'What lies has she been telling him?' It only added fuel to his fire. "No thanks. Come on Inuyasha." He stepped forward to grab his mate's wrist and pull him up, however the teen hardly budged. Sesshomaru felt like he was pulling on a dead weight and turned to face him with astonishment. "What..."

"He only follows my commands." InuKimi claimed.

"What did you do to him?!" Her son glowered, fists already clenching tightly.

"Now now son, let's not get hasty." She sipped from her tea leisurely. "Have a seat first. This was the only way to get you here. The sooner you cooperate the sooner he can be free. After all I don't know what type of affect this magic has on the baby." Sesshomaru was barring his teeth by this point, gaze unwavering and would have already pounced the demon had it not been his mother. How dare she endanger his mate and his unborn child like this?!

Grudgingly, he sat down next to Inuyasha's soulless body.

"Live with me, Sesshomaru. I miss you." Her son didn't bother responding.

"You have some nerve." Sesshomaru said instead.

Inuyasha snapped out of his trance with a chill running down his spine. He blinked and recognized his mate right beside him. His first instinct was to cower towards him, even hide behind him if he could but they were sitting on the sofa. He also quite quickly registered InuKimi and glared at her. How could she after he trsuted her like that? No wonder Sesshomaru was cynical.

"You're crazy lady!" The hanyo didn't hold back as he pointed directly at her.

"I told you." Sesshomaru uttered beside him as the teen then felt his stomach to make sure everything was okay. "We're leaving." The elder stood up and Inuyasha didn't need to be told twice. InuKimi silently watched the two leave as she sipped her tea, admitting her defeat for now.

"Are you two alright?" The demon prince asked when they came outside.

"Yeah." At his reassurance, the elder planted an arm over his shoulder protectively and led him towards the car.

"What was that about?" The hanyo asked puzzled once he got settled in the car.

"She's desperate and emotionless." Inuyasha had no words for that. "That aside, care to explain to me what you were doing with her without even informing me? A date she said?"

"Urk." Inuyasha felt busted. "She said she just wanted to talk. That she missed you..."

"You're too naive. I would punish you if you weren't pregnant. But this is the last time. Don't go anywhere without me."

The younger sighed at the command. "There you go again."

Sesshomaru gave him a serious look.

"Okay, okay." The teen surrendered. "By the way, how did you know I was here?"

"She called."

"Eh? Then did you guys talk while I was out? You were sitting on the couch."

The demon didn't respond immediately before muttering a "Not much."

To Be Continued…

Obviously not Sesshomaru. Lol. Sorry again for the long wait. Hopefully the next chapter wont take so long. We're also nearing the end of this fic soon.

Thanks for reading!