HERE WE GO.
I OWN NOTHING BECAUSE IF I DID, THIS WHOLE THING WOULD'VE GONE ANOTHER WAY.
''What is it that you are trying to hide from me?'' Rin questioned.
''It's nothing important, Rin,'' Raven reassured.
''Forgive me mama, but I think it is,'' Rin glared. ''So much so that you were asking Sesshomaru not to tell.''
''Forgive me, I didn't want you to hear about this. We were talking about our honeymoon, darling. I wanted this to be a surprise for you,'' Sesshomaru lied.
''Well, I'll leave the two of you alone to talk, stay in the house. I'll go check on your father,'' Raven excused herself.
''I don't know why, but I feel that you and my mom were talking about something that could make me angry, very angry,'' Rin glared.
''No, no, I swear we weren't. I was planning a spectacular honeymoon. What would be better than doing it with you?'' Sesshomaru smiled.
''You speak like you have never traveled,'' Rin noticed.
''I never have,'' Sesshomaru shared.
''Why?" Rin asked.
''Because I didn't see the point. I had no one I wanted to go with and traveling by yourself seems..lonely,'' Sesshomaru answered.
Rin looked into Sesshomaru's eyes and wondered. Who was this man?
Rin's mother walked into her bedroom to find her husband out of bed and heading out.
''Are you feeling sick?'' She questioned.
''Where's Tohru?'' Mr. Yamamoto asked.
''In the living room, with that friend of his, Kagome's younger brother, why?'' Raven questioned.
''Because he'll have to deal with me right now,'' Mr. Yamamoto answered.
''Dear God, what's wrong?'' Raven wondered.
''I've just spoken with my friend, Captain Midoriya. He's been waiting for Tohru to show up to work for a month. He didn't even go there. He's been fooling me, giving me excuses, and stuff. He made me look like a moron, and I won't forgive him for that,'' Rin's father left Raven in their room.
''But-listen, Jihayo, I didn't know!'' Raven followed after her husband.
''I can't believe you convinced her,'' Tohru Yamamoto chuckled.
''I told you so, Tohru. I know how to work out money from her,'' Souta Higurashi laughed.
''How beautiful,'' Tohru smiled. ''How much?''
''262,310 yen,'' Souta grinned. ''We'll split it.''
''Tohru!'' Admiral yelled out.
''Jihayo, please. I beg you to calm down,'' Raven pleaded.
''You are a liar. But this time this won't stay like this,'' Jihayo warned. ''How dare you make fun of me?''
''Make fun of you-me? When, dad?'' Tohru questioned.
''Don't be cynical!'' Rin's father shouted. ''Captain Midoriya called me, and told me he found you a job a month ago, and you didn't show up even for one day.'' Jihayo slapped his son.
''Jihayo, for god's sake!'' Raven exclaimed.
''How dare you, old bastard. Touch me again! Touch me again!'' Tohru shouted.
''Calm down, both of you,'' Raven begged.
''You are the family's disgrace,'' Mr. Yamamoto told his son.
''What are you? The family's role model? Die. Die!'' Tohru screamed at his father.
''Tohru!'' Raven yelled.
Rin and Sesshomaru ran in after hearing everything.
''I won't tolerate this. Leave my house,'' Admiral ordered.
''I won't leave. I won't leave!'' Tohru rejected.
Admiral Yamamoto suddenly couldn't breathe.
''Daddy, what's wrong? Dad, please!'' Rin cried.
''Relax Tohru,'' Souta said as Tohru paced the hospital waiting room.
''How can I? Now I'm going to be blamed for my dad's heart attack,'' Tohru sighed.
''But you're not to blame, right?'' Souta smirked. ''Look, Tohru, you don't know how to deal with your problems. Good thing you have me.''
''You too? Thanks for coming,'' Tohru sneered.
''It's been a long time since you've left the country, we have to make the most out of this trip, because your brother-in-law is paying for it,'' Souta reminded.
''We have to thank Captain Midoriya that lent us a plan, or else, who knows what would have happened?'' Tohru said.
Sesshomaru came up to Tohru and Souta.
''Everything has been settled in a hotel near the hospital, so we can stay as long as we need.''
''Thanks, Sesshomaru,'' Tohru smiled.
''You are not staying, Tohru. You and your friend go back home tomorrow. I already bought your plane tickets,'' Sesshomaru informed them.
''But why? Wait-'' Sesshomaru didn't let Tohru finish.
''I am not going to risk you two using this trip as a vacation and provoke more sorrow to the family. Even less when this is happening because of you, Tohru.''
''He's a stubborn old man. It's not my fault!'' Tohru denied. ''He wants me to do something I won't do, I don't want to. I won't be a sailor, I can't. Besides, I've just started a business with Souta.''
''Oh really? How nice, so you'll help me to pay for the expenses,'' Sesshomaru baited.
''Yes, but not right now, there's no cash flowing in. I'll pay eventually, I was saving up money to give it to my dad and help him,'' Tohru quickly responded.
''What kind of business?'' Sesshomaru asked.
''Importation. I lived in Brazil until a month ago so I made some contacts,'' Souta explained.
''What exactly are you 'importing'?'' Sesshomaru questioned.
''Clothes, accessories, handicrafts,'' Souta answered.
''All kinds of stuff,'' Tohru jumped in.
''I hope it goes well, because I warn you I won't give you one more yen, Tohru. Rin doesn't know that I paid off that debt of yours and I am going to keep it that way because I don't want her to feel bad but if you thought your life was going to be solved because I am marrying your sister, you were wrong,'' Sesshomaru growled and left to check on Rin when she entered the room. ''What happened?''
''Nothing, my mama is staying with him. They only allow one person to be with him,'' Rin said.
''What did the doctor say?'' Sesshomaru asked. ''How is Mr. Yamamoto?''
''He regained consciousness, but he's still in intensive care, the doctor says he's in a very delicate state. How could you?'' Rin questioned to Tohru. ''Don't you realize you are killing him? I swear I can't find the words to tell you all you deserve.''
''You can blame me of many things, but you can't blame me because the old man is stubborn. It's not my fault!'' Tohru argued.
''Shut up! Get out! I don't want to see you, get out of here!'' Rin shouted.
''Excuse me,'' Souta followed after his friend.
''I remind you, you have a plane to catch tomorrow morning,'' Sesshomaru reminded. ''Try to calm down, darling. Your father is going to be okay.''
''I don't understand why I have such an irresponsible, insensible brother. He knew perfectly well how ill my dad was, and that if he made him angry, he could die. But he didn't care, because he doesn't care about anything, because he's always been like this,'' Rin whimpered.
''Please, don't be sad,'' Sesshomaru pleaded.
''No, no, he acts that way because my mom has always stood up for him and she made him a useless moron!'' Rin exclaimed.
''Rin..'' Sesshomaru whispered.
''It's not fair. It's not fair that I'm the only one that worries about this family,'' Rin cried.
''Please, relax, honey. You are very angry. I promise you, I will talk with your brother and I'll try to make him see reason,'' Sesshomaru comforted.
''I'm terribly embarrassed, Sesshomaru,'' Rin responded.
''Why?'' Sesshomaru questioned.
''Because you haven't known us for that long and you've already been through many problems. You probably think we are one of the worst families ever,'' Rin answered.
''Every family has it's problems. But the only thing I care about, is you,'' Sesshomaru confessed.
Rin smiled as Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around her.
''Slowly, dad,'' Rin coaxed as she helped her father into his office chair. ''You want to be fast and you just got out of the hospital. There, there. The trip back to Japan was very tiring. You need to rest.''
''No, my girl, I've been in the hospital for a month and I can't stand it anymore,'' Admiral assured.
''Aren't you feeling better?'' Rin asked.
''Well, yes, thanks to you, and your mother of course. It was also nice of Kagome to visit,'' Admiral responded.
''I did wrong to not postpone the wedding. I'd like to wait until you are perfectly fine,'' Rin worried.
''Of course not. That's why we came back to Kamakura today. Because you are getting married tomorrow,'' Rin's father reminded her. ''It has to be the happiest day of your life. Besides, I really want to give you away at the altar. Sesshomaru is a great man, Rin. It shows, how much he loves you. Tell me, are you in love, too?''
''Yes, I love him very much,'' Rin lied.
''You don't sound so convinced. Daughter, I don't want you to get married to a man you aren't in love with. If there's no love, it could be tortuous,'' Jihayo warned.
''It's my fault, dad. Perhaps I'll never be able to fall in love,'' Rin sighed.
''Why do you say that?'' Jihayo asked.
''Because all men are-they aren't like you, dad,'' Rin answered.
''Like me?'' Jihayo questioned.
''Yes, like you. You are the best man in the world,'' Rin smiled and kissed her father's cheek.
''You talk like things haven't gone well for you,'' Rin's father noticed.
''No, no, it's not that. The important thing is that I do want to get married. And who's better than Sesshomaru?'' Rin questioned.
''Why? Because he's rich?'' Jihayo asked.
''That's not a bad thing, right?'' Rin questioned.
''No, of course not. But if you are doing it because of that, it would be a mistake sweetie. A mistake you could regret,'' Jihayo warned.
''No, it's not that, dad,'' Rin denied. ''Don't doubt it.''
''I know you may feel uncomfortable because of the money he's loaned us, but I want you to know something so you can relax. Your mom spoke with our accountant, and it looks like our situation is getting better,'' Rin's father shared. ''The next harvest seems promising and we'll be able to pay back Sesshomaru the money he lent us.''
''Really, dad?'' Rin asked.
''Of course. Why would I lie to you? My foreman has deposited the money he got from the sale of the cows. Well, of course that's the money we'll use to buy your trousseau,'' Jihayo responded.
''What are you doing here?'' Rin's mother asked as she stepped into her husband's home office. ''The dressmaker is waiting for you in your bedroom, Rin. You'll get married tomorrow, my girl. It's urgent for your dress to be made. I made magic to organize your wedding and you are here chatting. Hurry up, princess.''
''Go, sweetie. We'll talk later,'' Rin's father promised.
Rin and her mother tensely walked out together.
''What were you talking about with your father?'' Raven asked.
''Is it true that things are going better at the ranch? That everything is okay?'' Rin questioned.
''Did he tell you that?'' Raven asked.
''Yes, because if that's right, maybe I don't have to get married anymore,'' Rin hoped.
''That's what I made your dad believe, so he would keep calm, but the truth is that things are going better, thanks to Sesshomaru, because he paid for all our debts,'' Raven told her.
''What?'' Rin questioned.
''Yes. Not only that, he also gave us the money for the sowing, the fertilizer, the seeds-everything. And of course, your trousseau. Your wedding dress, he also paid for it,'' Raven shared.
''How could you, mom?'' Rin sighed.
''We had no other option. Besides, that was the deal,'' Raven let slip.
''What deal?'' Rin asked. ''What deal, mom?''
''Keep your voice down,'' Raven ordered. ''Do you want your father to find out and die, once and for all?''
''That's what you and Sesshomaru were talking about the other day in the office, right? This is what I couldn't know,'' Rin realized. ''That you and him had an agreement from the beginning.''
''Don't give me that look, Rin, because it was Sesshomaru who offered that, not me. He made that proposal to me!'' Raven shouted.
''What did he propose to you?'' Rin asked.
''Isn't it obvious? Sesshomaru offered to save us from ruin if I pushed you to take him and marry him and in exchange he would give me a lot of money,'' Raven answered with tears in her eyes.
''Sesshomaru wouldn't do that,'' Rin denied. ''I know him and what he's been through..''
''And you think your own mother would?'' Raven asked angrily.
''You did! But I know Sesshomaru wouldn't have suggested something like this!'' Rin defended.
Inuyasha walked out into the living room and noticed Sesshomaru with paperwork on the couch.
''Sesshomaru? When did you return from America?'' Inuyasha questioned.
''Today, very early,'' Sesshomaru responded.
''How's your father-in-law?'' Inuyasha asked.
''Fine, much better,'' Sesshomaru answered.
''Good,'' Inuyasha nodded. ''I'm off to the factory.''
''Inuyasha,'' Sesshomaru called. ''I don't want things between us to be like this. This month that I've been away I've given a lot of thought, we're brothers, and we've been friends for many years. The truth is, it hurts me we are growing apart like this.''
''That's the first time you've said something like that to me. This Rin does seem to have a good influence on you,'' Inuyasha smirked. ''Yes, it hurts me, too.''
''Forgive me if I made you feel bad,'' Sesshomaru said.
''No, forgive me. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did,'' Inuyasha shrugged.
''You are the only brother I've got,'' Sesshomaru said. ''My wedding is tomorrow, and you are my only guest.''
''That's because you decided not to tell anyone at the ranch or mom and dad,'' Inuyasha reminded.
''I prefer it this way. I don't want anyone's opinion on this,'' Sesshomaru explained.
''You should have invited Father Ocha at least,'' Inuyasha suggested.
''Yes, I'd have liked him to get me married, but it's better this way,'' Sesshomaru tried to convince himself.
''I think you didn't invite him because Father Ocha is the only one that can make you realize the mistake you are making,'' Inuyasha guessed.
''...''
''You sold me, mama,'' Rin whimpered. ''You sold me. Your own daughter.''
''Understand me. We were about to lose everything, and I was desperate. Sesshomaru took advantage of that, princess,'' Raven responded.
''But Sesshomaru..he..he said..'' Rin shook her head in denial.
''What did you want me to do?'' Raven questioned.
''To tell him no!'' Rin yelled.
''Lower your voice!'' Raven hissed.
''He's a hypocrite. All this time he pretended he loved me. He tells me that, when I'm no more than a filthy business for him,'' Rin cried.
''If I agreed, it was to save you from that god damn sailor too,'' Raven argued.
''Don't you dare say that, because this doesn't compare to Kohaku's mistake, because this, mother, this is much worse. How can you do this to me?'' Rin questioned.
''Let me explain something, sweetie. Sesshomaru is not faking anything. He's madly in love with you, and he thinks you took him for the same reason. And I warn you. Don't you dare tell him any of this, because you already may have realized one of his conditions was that you didn't know about this. Your dad even less,'' Raven explained.
''Disgusting,'' Rin whispered. ''You make me sick, mom.''
''It's time for your wedding dress fitting,'' Raven smiled and pulled her daughter towards the stairs.
Rin stared into space as everyone planned her wedding for her and put a dress on her.
'He bought me. He bought me. All men are the same. No, Sesshomaru is worse than Kohaku. Kohaku, why did you cheat me?'
''I already organized our honeymoon around Europe. First we'll go to Madrid, then Barcelona. From there, we'll go to Paris. Do you want to go to Italy too?'' Sesshomaru asked.
Rin held back her tears. ''Whatever you want.''
''Why do you keep saying the same thing to me? Don't you realize I only want to please you?'' Sesshomaru held Rin's face in his hands.
''Yes, thanks a lot,'' Rin responded.
''Honey, why are you so serious with me today? So inexpressive. We are getting married tomorrow, and I feel you are putting a barrier between us, and however much I try, I can't break it. Is there something worrying you?'' Sesshomaru asked.
''My dad. I'm sad because of him,'' Rin lied.
''But you are not going to abandon him, we'll stay here in Kamakura. You'll be able to see him as many times as you want,'' Sesshomaru reminded.
''Yes, but he's very sick,'' Rin responded.
''Yes. I understand, but please, try to make an effort. Be more loving with me, okay? Like before? I don't want you worrying about anything.''
Sesshomaru pulled Rin in for a deep kiss but Rin quickly pushed him away and ran into her house.
''Where are you going, Rin?'' Raven called as her daughter ran past her. ''Rin, what happened? What happened, Sesshomaru?''
''Nothing, ma'am. Excuse me, I'm leaving,'' Sesshomaru sighed.
''It's just Rin came in here running. Did you have a fight?'' Raven asked.
''No. See you later, ma'am,'' Sesshomaru bowed.
''I'll walk you out,'' Raven offered. ''Did you have an argument?''
''No,'' Sesshomaru reassured.
''Then what happened?'' Raven asked.
''I don't know, maybe I was too effusive,'' Sesshomaru guessed.
''Effusive?'' Raven echoed. ''You are coming to have dinner with us like always, right?''
''Yes, see you tonight. Excuse me.''
Sesshomaru let himself out leaving Raven to stare after where her daughter ran off to.
At the same time, elsewhere.
''What are you doing in my house?'' Momo questioned.
''It's not the first time,'' Tohru reminded her.
''No one said you could come in,'' Momo retorted.
''I have money, I'll pay you,'' Tohru said.
''I thought I made it clear I want nothing to do with you,'' Momo frowned.
''Please, forget about what happened. Let it go,'' Tohru pleaded.
''What do you want? What are you here for?'' Momo asked. ''What do you want? What is it?''
''I want to be with you,'' Tohru answered.
''No,'' Momo rejected.
''I miss you. I miss those lips,'' Tohru grabbed Momo by her waist.
''No, I have no time. I was just leaving, what do you want?'' Momo questioned.
''Stay, just for a while. I want to hold you,'' Tohru begged.
''Don't you understand? Leave, already!'' Momo yelled. ''Leave, I don't want to have anything to do with you, leave.''
''Do you want me to force you?'' Tohru threatened.
''What? Force what?'' Momo shouted angrily against him.
''Let Momo go,'' Shippo ordered as he stepped out of her room.
''Oh, you were with a client. Look, why don't you wait outside?'' Tohru suggested.
''I'm not a client. I'm her boyfriend,'' Shippo lied. ''So leave before I smash your face.''
''And I warn you, he's in the Navy too,'' Momo warned. ''So, leave. I saw him fighting and I swear you don't want that to happen. So, leave.''
''What are you waiting for?'' Shippo questioned.
''Do you know who I am?'' Tohru asked.
''Yes. Sure. An idiot,'' Shippo retorted.
''And you're in the Navy. And my dad is Jihayo Yamamoto, the admiral. I can get you suspended very easily,'' Tohru threatened. ''But I think you're good and I wouldn't want that. Help me, help you. Leave.''
''Your daddy isn't here. He's on a trip, isn't he?'' Shippo questioned. ''So, there's no one to help you.''
''The admiral is back in Kamakura. He returned today with his family,'' Tohru informed.
''You don't scare me. And if you bother Momo, you'll have a bad time,'' Shippo growled.
''My love, I won't be back for dinner,'' Tohru walked out and left Momo and Shippo alone.
''Shippo, you are my hero. No one has ever stood up for me like that before,'' Momo smiled before pulling Shippo down to her level for a kiss.
After a mere second Shippo realized what was happening and kissed her back.
''What happened with Sesshomaru, Rin?'' Raven questioned.
''I can't, mama, I can't. After I found out what you did, I can't stand him touching me, getting close to me, kissing me,'' Rin cried.
''I am the one that can't stand your nonsense,'' Raven hissed as she grabbed her daughter by the shoulders. ''Do you want Sesshomaru to find out the truth and take back what he gave us, huh? Your father was in the hospital for over three weeks and who paid the bills, Rin? You want your father to find out about what we did, our scam, huh? And die of sadness?''
''No, no, no,'' Rin whimpered.
''And so? So, princess? Your fiance is a very good man. Everything he's done, he did it for you and your love, sweetie,'' Raven tried to convince her daughter.
''He bought me, mama! Sesshomaru bought me as if I were an object. I'm such a fool. I felt guilty and sad because I thought I was tricking him, when actually you had planned this together from the start. I was the one fooled here, your own daughter, mama, me!'' Rin shouted.
''Stop! Don't be so dramatic,'' Raven sneered.
''If I ever thought that one day I could love Sesshomaru, now I know I can only hate him,'' Rin whispered, her voice filled with rage and heartbreak.
''Well, I'm sorry for you. It's too late to change your mind, princess. Tomorrow, whether you like it or not, you have to-''
''Don't worry. Relax. I'll marry him, but I'll hate him. And the price he'll pay for buying me will be a lot higher!'' Rin promised. ''Every second, every minute I spend next to Sesshomaru, I'll make him pay for what he's done.''
''I've never heard you speak like that before. But, you're wrong, Rin! Sesshomaru loves you!'' Raven exclaimed.
''You still dare to defend him? You're just like him, or worse.''
Rin's mother slapped her across the face.
''Princess. I want you to understand, I want the best for you,'' Raven said.
''Get out of my room. I don't want you to talk to me, I don't want to hear a word from you,'' Rin told her.
''You have to be calm, Rin,'' Raven tried.
Rin stood up from her bed and threw open her bedroom door.
''If you really want me to marry the worst man in my entire life tomorrow, you better stay away from me. Because I can still change my mind, mama. Leave me alone! Leave! Leave me alone!''
''Forgive yourself,'' Raven whispered.
''Forgive yourself, mother, because I never will!'' Rin cried.
''You two looked like you were having a good time until Momo had to leave for work,'' Kohaku teased.
''I hate her working there. She became my girlfriend five minutes ago and I'm already jealous,'' Shippo sighed. ''But did you hear what Tohru said? Rin is back!''
Kohaku grinned. ''I'm going to get her back early tomorrow. I'm gonna have a lot of explaining to do though. I can't wait to finally see her again.''
''I want to apologize for how I behaved this morning. I suppose I'm not used to these feelings so I just let all of them out at once,'' Sesshomaru found Rin alone outside in the garden and took the chance to apologize.
''No, I apologize,'' Rin found herself replying.
''I know you love me, Rin, but you are not in love with me yet. Maybe everybody's right and it's a mistake to get married so soon. We should have gotten to know each other better first. But, still, it wouldn't make a difference. Kamakura's people are very narrow-minded and they care about public opinion,'' Sesshomaru said.
''The saying goes, 'The smaller the town, the bigger the gossip.','' Rin recited bitterly.
''That's right. We're sitting here, completely aware that next door, there are people concerned about what we do. That's why we can't do what we really want to. I'm not the way I want to be when I come over to your house. It's my first time feeling this way and I want to really show you what you mean to me but I don't feel free enough to tell you how I feel, what I feel about you. That's why I want to get married soon, because I know that once we're together, there will be no walls, fears, or prejudice. And then I will be able to show you how much I love you,'' Sesshomaru explained. ''And I'm sure someday you will love me too.''
Rin looked away from Sesshomaru so he wouldn't see her tears.
'Lies. It's all lies Rin. Don't be fooled again. He's lying to you. He thinks I'm an idiot.'
Rin's mother and father interrupted her thoughts.
''Sesshomaru, it's time for you to go and don't even think of coming here tomorrow. It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding,'' Raven smiled causing Rin to roll her eyes.
''Don't worry, ma'am. Admiral, till tomorrow,'' Sesshomaru shook his hand.
''Till tomorrow,'' Rin's father replied.
''Honey, see you,'' Sesshomaru smiled.
''Goodbye,'' Rin responded coldly and watched Sesshomaru leave.
''No,no, how can I explain to you how happy I feel inside?'' Raven exclaimed.
''Sweetie? Are you happy?'' Admiral Yamamoto asked Rin.
''Oh, yes, Daddy, very,'' Rin lied and excused herself. ''I'm gonna go, I should get my clothes together for my honeymoon. Good night daddy, mom.''
''Jihayo, I feel incredibly happy,'' Raven smiled.
''I would feel better if I saw her happier,'' Jihayo muttered.
''Can't you tell she's very happy?'' Raven questioned. ''She chose a great man, Jihayo.''
''Yes, he is,'' Jihayo agreed.
''Excellent man,'' Raven smirked.
The day had officially arrived.
Rin held her tears back as she looked at herself in the mirror. She never would have imagined she would feel this way while wearing a wedding dress.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Kagome entered her room.
''Oh friend, you look beautiful! I guess you're nervous, right?'' Kagome supposed.
''Fear,'' Rin whimpered. ''What I feel is fear.''
''Yes, I can imagine. But I'm sure he will make you happy. You'll see. Your dad is waiting. We have to go to the church,'' Kagome smiled.
Rin blinked away her tears and grabbed hold of her bouquet.
''Sure.''
TA-DA! A LONG ONE TODAY. REVIEWS PEOPLE, REVIEWS.
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