HERE I AM.

I OWN ZIP.

''Hello. Can I help you?'' Rin greeted Sesshomaru. ''I'm here to see-'' ''You're here to see Admiral Yamamoto? He isn't here!'' Rin interrupted.

''What's going on sweetie?'' Her father called while coming out of his office.

Sesshomaru looked at Rin with a raised eyebrow causing her to blush at being caught in a lie.

''You must be Admiral Yamamoto. It's a pleasure sir. Sesshomaru Takahashi,'' He introduced himself politely.

Rin's father nodded. ''What can I do for you Mr. Takahashi?''

''Daddy you were waiting for Corporal Mai,'' Rin reminded.

''Where is he?'' Admiral asked.

''I don't know. I left him right there on the porch,'' Rin answered.

''Nobody else was here when I arrived,'' Sesshomaru informed her. Rin looked at him with confusion and slight hurt in her eyes. ''And I'm actually here to see Raven Yamamoto. I assume she's your wife?''

''She is. Wait just a moment and I'll bring her down for you,'' The Admiral left the other two alone in silence.

Rin looked back at the front door. Where was Kohaku? Why had he left? He promised.

Sesshomaru saw her fidgeting and decided to break the silence. ''Are you alright?''

''No. I am not,'' Rin answered honestly.

''I apologize if my presence has bothered you,'' Sesshomaru said.

''Oh no. No. It isn't your fault. I promise,'' Rin gave him a slight smile. Sesshomaru couldn't help but give her a smile in return.

''Good morning. May I ask what you need me for?'' Rin's mother Raven entered the living room.

''Good morning ma'am. I'm Sesshomaru Takahashi and I came because my mother asked me to. San Takashi was my mother. She passed away a couple of weeks ago and asked me to come see you,'' Sesshomaru explained. Rin's mother's eyes widened, almost with fear.

''Who is San? You've never spoken about her before dear,'' Admiral pointed out.

''Yes well..we haven't talked in such a long time I just..forgot I suppose,'' Raven's voice was shakey.

''Would it be alright if we spoke in private?'' Sesshomaru asked. Raven nodded and gestured for him to follow her. ''Excuse me Admiral, Miss.''

Rin nodded and waited for her father to leave before hurrying out the door to the garden. She looked everyone for Kohaku but he wasn't here. He left her.

''Rin,'' Kohaku walked out from the side of her house.

''What happened? Where were you?'' Rin questioned angrily.

''I saw that huge guy coming and I panicked,'' Kohaku sighed. ''Who was he?'' He asked with jealously in his voice.

''I don't know! I don't have any idea. He came to see my mother,'' Rin explained.

''Ah. Rinny, maybe it would be better if I came back another day,'' Kohaku suggested.

''No. You have to talk to my dad today, right now. Let's go so he can receive you,'' Rin pulled him back into the house.

''Rin I don't know. He's not gonna be pleased about this,'' Kohaku said.

''Stop. Don't be so negative,'' Rin whispered with frustration.

''Forgive me my love but it's how I am. I'm a realist,'' Kohaku replied.

Rin looked past Kohaku, ''Daddy! Corporal Mai is here. Can you please see him?''

''I'm sorry Corporal but if it's not important could you come back another day?'' Rin's father asked.

''Of course sir. It wasn't that important. I'll come back another day,'' Kohaku saluted before flashing an apologetic look to his girlfriend causing Rin's eyes to fill with unshed tears.

Sesshomaru sat silently while Raven quietly read the letter Sesshomaru's mother had requested be delivered to her.

''You want to marry my daughter?'' Raven finally asked.

''No I do not. I don't know your daughter well enough for that but I wouldn't mind getting to know her and if feelings start to fester then a marriage wouldn't be out of the question and if a marriage does end up taking place then you get your money,'' Sesshomaru explained.

''But if you don't marry my daughter, you don't get any money either,'' Raven reminded.

''That is of no importance to me,'' Sesshomaru retorted.

''Fine. I'll talk to Rin myself,'' Raven offered.

''No. I don't want anyone talking to her. I want her to want to get to know me and marry me. My mother spent all of my life doing everything she could to make me into what she wanted. I wouldn't wish that on anyone else. She has to want me of her own volition or there is no deal. Is that clear?'' Sesshomaru warned.

Rin's mother kept quiet but nodded.

Rin stomped over towards the park that was located directly in the middle of town.

''I thought you wouldn't come to see me,'' Kohaku voiced from his hiding place behind a tree.

''Why didn't you talk to my dad?'' Rin asked angrily.

''I wanted to but you heard him,'' Kohaku defended.

''When he asked if it was important you should have said yes. Why? You don't think our relationship is important?'' Rin hurtfully questioned.

Kohaku frowned. ''Of course I do. You are the most important thing in the world to me. I'm just not in a hurry to stop seeing you.''

''Again with this Kohaku? I told you that my father is a good man who respects my decisions. What he cares about most is my happiness. Besides, he won't deny us when he finds out how in love I am with you and that you are the man I'm going to marry,'' Rin smiled.

Kohaku returned her smile, ''Fine. First thing tomorrow I'll come back and talk to him.''

''I don't know if I believe you. You keep making up these excuses no matter what I say. Maybe it would be better if I talk to my dad first so you won't have this to worry about anymore,'' Rin suggested. ''I should go. It isn't correct for us to be seen together. Not yet anyway.''

''Of course my life,'' Kohaku chuckled.

''I do have to go. Kagome is waiting for me. I'll see you again tonight?'' Rin asked. Kohaku nodded.

''Tonight, my love.''

''Tonight.''

''Kagome! You look beautiful! I love your dress,'' Rin smiled at her best friend.

''Thanks. It's one of the dresses my husband bought me in Paris,'' Kagome had a smile of her own.

''Aww. So do you think you two will be having kids soon?'' Rin asked.

Kagome frowned. ''No I don't think so. I think we'll probably wait a few..years I guess.''

''What? But you always wanted to have kids right after you got married. You said you wanted to come back from your honeymoon already pregnant with your first child,'' Rin reminded.

''Yes. I did say that but Naraku says we should wait and enjoy our time together, you know?'' Kagome shrugged. ''But tell me, how are things going with Kohaku?''

''Fine. It's all the same. He still hasn't talked to my dad. I'll be so glad when our situation changes and we don't have to hide anymore. We'll finally be man and wife,'' Rin smiled. ''Have children of our own. That's what I want the most.''

''Why are you in such a hurry, Rin? You could wait a little while before you get married. I understand you're in love but don't be foolish. You may not know Kohaku as well as you think you do. Marriage isn't all it's made out to be,'' Kagome sighed.

''I don't know how you could say that to me when you just got married to the love of your life,'' Rin pointed out.

''Look, Rin..it's just, the love that you and I always dreamed of, it doesn't exist,'' While Kagome was smiling, her eyes looked so sad.

''That's not true,'' Rin denied.

''Oh, my friend. The problem is you and I are just too romantic for this world,'' Kagome said.

''Kagome? Tell me something, do you regret getting married?'' Rin questioned.

''No of course not! Naraku is a good man. He takes care of me, looks after me, buys me whatever I ask for and..he loves me,'' Kagome answered.

''Are you sure? You don't have anything you need to tell me or..?'' Rin asked.

''I'm sure,'' Kagome gave her a small smile.

''My love! You're just in time, dinner is ready. Dominya? Will you set the table please?'' Kagome smiled and reached out to her husband, Naraku Onigumo but he pushed her away.

''Kagome. I didn't get married so a maid could bring me my food. That's your job.''

''Right. Of course my love. I'm sorry, I'll take care of it,'' Kagome grimaced before heading to the kitchen.

''Don't let it happen again or I won't be so nice next time,'' Naraku threatened.

Kagome nodded. ''Yes Naraku. I know.''

Rin stood waiting for Kohaku on their beach they frequented when she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around her torso and lift her up.

''Ahhh!'' She screamed before she turned to look at Kohaku. ''Oh my love! You scared me!'' Rin let out a laugh.

''Come. Let's sit down. I've been thinking and I wanted to ask you..if it comes down to it and your parents don't accept us so we have no other option, would you run away with me?'' Kohaku asked.

''That's dangerous Kohaku. My father was a Captain in the Navy and though he's retired he still has a lot of connections. They would find us!'' Rin warned.

''We could go far away. We wouldn't have a big house or anything but we could be happy. Married. Together,'' Kohaku suggested.

''You think it's going to come to that?'' Rin questioned.

''I don't know but I can't loose you if it comes down to it. What do you say?'' Kohaku asked.

''Yes,'' Rin smiled.

Kohaku grinned before pulling her to him for a deep kiss that she gladly returned.

Raven watched with anger as her daughter shamelessly kissed that worthless boy.

She was not going to allow her daughter to ruin the family with her foolishness.

TA-DA! LONG CHAPTER. MEH. REVIEWS PEOPLE, REVIEWS.

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