Author note: The story is proof read by a close friend o mine - many kisses and hugs. Thanks to the ones who reviewed my story or added it to their fav list.

Disclaimer: I really don't own Inuyasha or any character related to it. I own only Meiya.

Chapter 4. Precious Memories

The press conference was the hardest thing Sesshomaru encountered in his whole life. It was easy for him to put a mask in front of them, openly lying about his affair, but for those reporters believing him was completely different. The worst reporter of all was Naraku Kumo.

Sesshomaru knew him very well; he was one of Rin's admirers. He always praised her work in his articles. Sesshomaru having an affair was taken by Naraku as an open insult to the lovely Rin. Sesshomaru could tell that Naraku really intended to ruin him; he had to do something about it, to stop him meddling in his life.

He must follow a certain order of events; none of these would've happened if it wasn't for his mistress big mouth. All of his problems started with her.

Diligently, he escaped from the mass of reporters following him, going straight to the place where Meiya was. She was watching the news when Sesshomaru slammed the front door open announcing her about his arrival.

She was waiting for him as well; she watched his press conference and she wasn't pleased one bit. He treated her like nothing.

"Sesshomaru, you bastard!" the wound she just inflicted on his cheek wasn't enough to sate her anger. "A delusional woman? This is what I am to you?"

"Takahashi-san, it's true you have an affair with the top model Meiya Saseko?"

"I see that you're here after the big fish but, I am sorry to tell you that you've came here for nothing. I have no affair. The only woman in my heart is my wife Rin."

"But Saseko-san said to too many people that you two are having a relationship and intend to marry her."

"Saseko-san is just a delusional woman. Takahashi corporation sponsorship her once and we had a few work related meetings. But nothing that had happened during those meetings would've led a mentally sane person to such conclusion."

"But she even showed her engagement ring to the whole world."

"I can assure you that I didn't buy her that ring. In my life I have bought just one engagement ring; to my wife Rin."

"But in the day of July 15 you boarded on the same flight, with the same destination."

"My trip was purely business. I never saw her on the flight. I like to believe Saseko-san was there due to work and not because her obsession reached another level; to stalk me. Honestly I am worried. A woman like her spreading false rumors hurts others in the process. The most important damage is the emotional one; friends and even family members read papers and possibly been influenced by it. Not to mention what distress such news can cause to my wife."

"Takahashi-san, the reason you're denying your affair is because of the damages it had on your company, isn't it?" Sesshomaru expected for Naraku wanting to ruin him; that pest of reporter was always well informed.

"You're wrong. As I have mentioned earlier, the emotional distress was very damaging, money bears no importance. I had to come here in front of you and say the truth. I would rather be with my wife than here, but I had no choice. Because of such rumors I had to waste precious time away from her."

"How is your wife?"

"She's still in a coma. I would appreciate it if you pray for her; now she needs all our support. Also, it will be greatly valued if you stop wasting paper on women like Meiya Saseko and instead focus your attention on worthy women."

"Shut up!" the damn woman she didn't only made him lose a lot of money because of her big mouth, she even dared to slap him; he wanted to cut that hand of hers. "Who do you think you are to mess with my life?"

"Who am I?" she was enraged by his words. "Am I not the woman you proposed to a few days ago? The woman you bedded for the last six mounths? How could you deny our relationship and worse, calling me a delusional woman? Was I lying when I said we're engaged?"

"You and your big mouth made me lose millions of dollars in just few hours. Who the hell gave you the right to mend into my affairs?"

"You lost millions? How come?"

"Are you an idiot or do you just pretend to be one? My wife is in a coma and we were happy on an exotic island. The public opinion didn't take it well."

"In my defense, let me tell you that I didn't know about your wife when I talked about us. I found out this morning when I read the papers. How is she?"

Sesshomaru didn't expect Meiya to ask about Rin. "She's not okay. They want me to sign the papers to unplug her from life assistance… Rin is in clinical death."

"That's better." Sesshomaru eyes widen open at her statement. "You intended to divorce her anyway. Now you will become a widower and not a divorced man, it's just a slight change in your status. If she would have been alive and knew about us, you would've loose half of your fortune, but she's dead now. Everything goes well for us, honey."

Fury, rage, intention to kill and many other ill feelings seized him. Sesshomaru wanted to put his hands around her throat and strangle the life out of her. How could he have replaced Rin with such a woman?

"You bitch. Who the hell do you think you are? You're nothing! Do you think if you're a top model and show up in magazines you're a better woman than Rin? Rin is more outstanding than you. Rin, a potter, is more loved than you. She's a natural beauty while you're a fake one! Rin is the woman I have married while you're nothing!"

"I am nothing? Let me remind you that you disrespected her for months. And that I am now your fiancee. We're about to get married."

"I break off our engagement! I have no intention of marrying you. It's over!"

To lose such a man wasn't an option. He was rich; he could give her everything she wanted; expensive jewelry, luxury travels, a palace for a house.

"Baby let's talk about it. We love each other. We cannot throw away our past. Remember our time together and you'll know how much you love me. We made a lot of plans together."

But Sesshomaru was adamant. Now he could see her real nature; she was interested only by his money. Suikotsu was right. He shouldn't have had an affair in the first place. Rin loved him no matter what; she was his only woman. Cheating her with a creature like Meiya was the greatest sin.

"Everything is over. I'll never leave Rin. She's my wife; I love only her."

"Too bad you see it too late. Isn't she in clinical death? Maybe you won't leave her, but she will leave you soon; she died after all." She said the words with no remorse. She wanted to twist the knife in his wound.

"You bitch! Do you think this could make me change my mind? Rin's heart is beating; she may be dead to everyone else but to me she's still alive."

"Didn't they tell you she's in clinical death? Didn't they ask you to sign the papers to unplug her from life assistance?"

"Did I ever say I will sign those papers? I won't do it! I won't kill her because it suits your case! My Rin will open her eyes and when she does, I will be there. I'll knee in front of her and beg for forgiveness."

Meiya was losing him. She could see he was determinate to return on Rin's side. She had to find a way to keep him on her side.

"If you leave me I will tell the whole truth. Today you lied about us, but I won't. I will shout aloud that we've been lovers for the past six months, and even tell them you asked the divorce a night before her accident. Also the reason you didn't told her about your affair: you did not wanted her to have any rights at your fortune."

Sesshomaru hated to be threatened. When someone dared to do it he slowly destroyed his enemy. Meiya was playing with fire. His right hand formed a strong grip on her slender neck.

"If you desire your life to shorten then do it. I'll ruin you! No agency will offer you a job, you will end up on the streets and live from the people's mercy." His grip loosened, precious air entering again into her lungs. Sesshomaru turned around leaving her with a violent image.

"What's this?" he asked while holding in his hand a thin supposed to be a tea cup. He was at her apartment and admired the many pots she did until his eyes felt on a hideous object.

"Hey, give it back to me!" Rin took the tea cup off his hands and held the cup tightly to her chest. She was extremely offended by his words. "This cup is very precious to me; it has an emotional value."

"You made that?" he was surprised since he thought of her as a very fine artist. "That thing has a history behind?"

"This is a tea cup, stop calling it a thing. It's a tea cup. A very fine one, I might add." He chuckled at her childish behavior.

"I might not be a potter but I can tell when a thing is badly done. That thing has no form. Even I could have done a better one."

"This thing represents my beginning. From your point of view and for many others may not be perfect or might look horrible, but to me is the most beautiful tea cup."

She took his hand and head to the couch nearby. She sat on it and motioned to him to do the same. "Because I want you to stop calling my first tea cup hideous –"

"I have never said it's hideous."

"But you thought it. Anyway, I would like to tell you the story behind it. Everything started when I was 14 years old. I was coming from school when my hat was blown away by the wind. Let me tell you, Takahashi-san, it was fate that blew away my hat, helped by the wind of course."

"Now you made me curious." He brushed his lips over her hair. "I want to know the story of you becoming a potter."

"The wind blew away my hat. Of course I went after it; it was my favorite hat after all. I jumped over the fence and walked until I came in the right of a building. I pick up my hat and when I lifted up my eyes I was mesmerized. Inside that building was an old man with magical hands. I saw him how he took some clay, put it on the wheel and transform it in a potter. His hands barely moved."

"So you have fallen in love with an old man?" he loved to tease her. Her tiny fist made contact with his shoulder when the question left his lips; she just punched him.

"The nerve of this man" she was thinking.

"I did not fall in love with an old man. I just loved how a human being can transform a piece of clay into a very beautiful pot. In that moment I wanted my hands to give life to something like that too."

"Sorry for my mistake. Go on!"

"I was so mesmerized by what that old man did, that I even forgot to move or stop ogling. After he finished the pot, the old man saw me. He asked 'what are you doing here?' Like a robot programmed to answer questions I blurted out the answer 'I was watching you while working. I want to learn too.' "

"And you did that thing?"

"Not so right away. He accepted me as his apprentice but I didn't started working until I learn how to prepare the clay. To most people it's just clay, but for a fine product you need to prepare it throughfully. I think it took me almost two weeks to obtain a fine clay to work with. When I made the perfect clay he allowed me to do my first pot. Days I have watched him working, watching carefully his hands movements, thinking my hands will move the same as his and I would have a perfect product, but when I tried it was a disaster. When I saw how my tea cup looks like I wanted to throw it away, but Sensei stopped me. His words touched my heart and gave me hope for the future."

"What did he said?"

"He said: 'Now you may not be able to work well but with time you shall improve. No matter how many pots you do, the first one is the most important because it represent your beginning.' "

Sesshomaru was staring at the "trophies" she gained during the last years. Her beginning - she liked to call them. Her first tea cup was in the middle, sided by two pictures: one with them on their first date – the beginning of their romance; and another one with their wedding day – the beginning of their life together.

A shelf up were pictures with her wearing her middle school uniform, her high school uniform and another picture with her at her first exhibition. She immortalized precious memories and he was between them. A wave of guilt washed over him; she treasured him while he threw everything away for a woman who didn't even deserve him.

No, he doesn't do this to ease his consciousness. Signing the papers would be very easy, just a flick of his pen. But the pain of losing her, to bury her six feet underground was unbearable. The thought of not feeling her warm skin, nor seeing her smile was killing him.

Why did this have to happen for him to see how important Rin was? It was a question Sesshomaru asked himself since the day he saw her laying on the bed, a tube stuck down her throat. It was the punishment for his sins. And how they expect him to give his agreement? No, he won't. As long as her heart is still beating he won't sign the papers.

"Takahashi-san, did you take a decision?" Kikyo gave him enough time to reflect on it. "I know it's not an easy decision but Rin won't wake up ever again. Keeping her connected to life assistance won't do her any good."

Sesshomaru wanted to kill the doctor. Why the hell didn't she give him hope? Why the hell didn't she try to find a way to save his Rin? Weren't the two of them friends?

"I won't unplug her from life assistance, so don't waste your time anymore. Her heart is beating so she's alive."

"Sesshomaru, I explained you why her heart is still beating. She won't – "

"Get out! No matter what you say, it won't change my mind. My Rin will wake up; I shall be watched by her kind, brown eyes again. My Rin will return to me!"

No one could talk with him; he refused listening to them. How can they think that unplugging her is the best for Rin. If I would do it she won't be with me anymore. My Rin would be gone forever.

"Rin, sweetheart please woke up! I would accept any punishment… just wake up."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

After an exhausting day at school Rin returned home. She was about to unlocked the front door when her tired, sleepy eyes felt upon a piece of paper stuck on her door. She unfolded the paper and read the short message in it.

Go in your bedroom and put on the dress you'll find on your bed.

She recognized the handwriting; she wondered what her silver-haired lover plans this time. She did what he said. On the bed she found a strapless black gown. Before putting the dress on she went to shower chasing the sleep away. She was about to dress when she noticed another white envelop resting on the bed. She was going to open it, but then changed her mind.

Put the dress on and then read the message inside. A soft smile formed on her lips. He really wanted to play games tonight. Eager to know what the message inside is she dressed rapidly.

A black limo is waiting you downstairs. After you get in, open the box you will find on the seat.

She did what she was told to. She saw the car waiting her and she climb on. She closed the door behind her. The driver started the engine and asked "Where m'am?"

She had no idea where she had to go; her silver-haired monster could have at least told her. When she thought she lost all hope, she finally saw the box he wanted her to open. Rin opened the box hoping she would find the answer pretty fast; she was shocked to see another box inside.

She took the new box and open it; inside another box. She was tired, the driver wanted to know where to, but he was in the mood to play games. She was pissed; she promised herself to beat the hell out of him when she will meet him.

If you want to know where you need to go, open the last box. Finally her torture would end. She opened the last box. Go to Shinjuku, she muttered the words scribbled inside.

"Okay m'am" said the driver and drove. The ride didn't take long. Now her only problem was she had no idea where she had to go from there on. She was in Shinjuku but where he wanted her to come was unknown.

"A flower for the young lady?" a young boy approached her. "This red rose perfectly fits you, my young lady." She was about to refuse when the boy disappeared as fast as he appeared, but not before finding herself holding a red rose between her fingers.

"When did he give me the – "she stopped. Around the rose steam a ribbon was tied. She untied the ribbon and read the hidden message. Your next destination is Keio Plaza Hotel, floor ten, room 634 – the door is open.

She arrived there fast due to two reasons: to know why so much bother and to beat him up; he picked the wrong time to play with her.

It was a déjà-vu; on the hotel door she found another note stuck on it. Follow the rose petals trail.

Red rose petals were scattered around the floor. If before she thought too many roses lost their lives, entering the bedroom totally changed her mind A huge mass of rose petals were scattered onto the floor and bed – a huge mass murder of roses.

Her fingers picked up the pink note off the bed and read it Open the black box. Her heart stopped when her eyes scanned the black, velvet box. "Is he proposing me?" tears treated to flow over her face. Her fingers were trembling while opening the lid of the box. If she's right, inside she would find a ring.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and opened the box –

"What's this? The box is empty. Sesshomaru Takahashi, do you think I would say YES if you give me no ring? I want my ring, you silver-haired monster." She was furious; she really had high expectation. She wanted to throw the box when her eyes caught the message hidden inside.

My lovely Rin, come to the top floor.

It was the most romantic scene; he was in the middle of a heart made from solely light candles waiting for her. He was wearing a black suit; he smiled when his eyes scanned her slim form.

"You're late." He said and stretched his hand towards her. Her anger, her tiredness vanished in the thin air the moment she saw him. She knew what he would asked her and she couldn't stop her tears flowing.

Rin took his stretched hand. "My adorable Rin, I thought you would never come." A light kiss pressed on her forehead.

"The traffic was awful."

He kneeled; her heart beats were faster. Between his fingers he was holding a delicate, diamond ring. His left hand took hers, the question leaving his lips:

"Harada Rin would you make me the honor of becoming my wife? I vow to love you for the rest of my life, my adorable Rin."

"Yes." Her eyes were flooded by tears. Her lover, soon-to-be-husband rested the engagement band on her ring finger. Gently, he took her fingers to his lips, playing light kisses over them.

"My adorable Rin…mine to be forever."

Sesshomaru's hand held hers while precious memories played into his mind. And then he felt it, a light squeeze. He was brought back from his memories.

"Rin, if you hear me please squeeze my hand again!" his eyes were watching her attentively. A light move of her fingers caught his eyes. The light pressure upon his hand seeded hope into his crying heart.

Author note: My biorhythm is still in negative - I struggled to finish this chapter. Personaly I am not happy how I approached the idea of this chapter but I did not want to wait more days until I would have been in positive again.

Reviews are welcomed, even the constructive ones.