Author note: As always, the chapter is not revised; please excuse my poor english.
Starting with the previous chapter, the story entered in another phase - one more soft; in conclusion no more drama like in the first 10 chapters.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 12

Catching up

After she made sure he's comfortable and after she had a long talk through phone with her best friend, Rin decided to go to sleep as well. Worried that he might feel sick during the night, she decided to not return to her own room but sleep instead in his room, on the couch.

Around 5 A.M. she woke up, checked him once again, and after she was sure he's well she left his side, returning to her room. Once in her room, she hoped he will think at all these as a dream, and she will not meet him again in the following day.

The moment she stepped in the hotel restaurant, after few more hours of rest, the first person her eyes fell upon were exactly the person she didn't want to meet. Her heart was not yet prepared to talk with the sober Sesshomaru.

The moment he woke up, his mind was invaded with thoughts only about the woman he had meet the night before. He could remember very well, her eyes, how soft her lips were upon his own, how her arms snaked around his neck, in an attempt to bring him closer to her body.

He could remember himself dragging her out the elevator into his room, and lay on his bed waiting for her; the film broke immediately after. His mind void of any memory of any events happened after that. His golden orbs scanned the hotel room, searching for any traces of that woman.

He found none; no earring, lipstick, or any sort of make-up forgot in the bathroom. No lost clothed item left behind while she tried to make her leave before his awakening. Disappointed by the lack of traces, Sesshomaru start wondering if indeed existed a woman; he started doubting his mental sanity.

The woman he was so eagerly searching for must have been an imagination; his subconscious must have taken a hold of his senses and created the woman he craves for: his wife.

Disappointed, he went to shower himself, and maybe he will gain his sanity back.

He was reading the paper, and sipping his black coffee when in the hotel's restaurant entered the same ethereal woman. For a moment he wondered if she's the result of his imagination or she's indeed real.

He locked his gaze into her eyes, trying to figure out reality by imagination. The woman's gaze was fixed on him, her body language disturbing him, and somehow he woke up from his contemplation. The woman in front of his eyes was real, and he knew if he would try to touch her he will feel the softness of her skin under his own, he will feel her warmth.

The woman in front of his very eyes is his wife, his Rin.

Before she could make a step away from him, he stood up from his chair and talked to her, stopping her to run away.

"Rin!" hearing her name, she gave up in doing whatever her mind screamed to do, and stopped in her tracks. Despite her brain's desperate screams that she must run away from him, she turned around, and faced her former husband.

"Sesshomaru." Her voice was low but he could hear it very well. "I didn't expect seeing you here." And by that she didn't meant the same town, or the same hotel but so soon, or late if she will look at the clock on the wall. It was passed 11 AM and she hoped he already left, or he has a business deal to close in.

"I didn't expect to see you either." He stood in front of her, nervous, unable to figure out what he should do next. "Did you eat?" he asked and hoped to get a negative answer.

"Not yet." her answer brought a smile at the corners of his mouth.

"Then why won't you join me. I was about to eat breakfast as well."

"Okay." She didn't want to appear weak in front of him; she wanted him to see her as a strong woman who can stay alone on her feet, and can face the man who once terribly hurt her. Once again she took the façade of a strong woman and faced him.

"What brings you here?" she was enjoying her late breakfast when he decided to break the silence between the two.

"I had to deliver some potteries for a restaurant nearby. I came two days ago. But you?"

"I had to meet with some investors, and the job took more than I expected."

"You always said businesses are unpredictable."

"Yes, they are. The same as the hotel reservations; I had reservations for another hotel but somehow Momo messed it up and ended here."

"I hope you won't get mad on her. I am sure she had no other choice." The poor woman was completely innocent; Rin didn't want her to suffer because of her friend doings.

"Don't worry I won't. In the end she did me a service. Due to her mistake I had the chance to meet with you. Maybe I should give her a raise."

"Yeah, do so. As your secretary I am sure she went through a lot."

"What have you been doing in all this time? All I know is that you were well, Kagome however never filling me with details."

"I am fine. Believe it or not but I was busy since the first day; I had to redecorate my house, to create a small garden, and later I started working again. I even teach pottery to some children. I was so busy that I forgot how time flew by; two years passed very fast."

"I am glad for you." his words were sincere. He was satisfied to know she did not shed tears for a man who didn't deserve. He was happy to know she did not spend the nights like he did; regretting losing the loved one. Unlike him, she seemed to move on, not being stuck to the past. She was stronger than him.

"But you? I have seen your pictures few times in magazine's businesses. All that I could figure out from those is that you neglect your meals like you did before us."

"I was caught up in work I didn't even realize I forgot about lunch. But I had a lot of businesses dinners so I had ate eventually. But I am surprised you knew about it only by watching some pictures."

"I used to look after you so it became like a sixth sense to me. Because of it I noticed a lot of things, and not all were pleasant." He said nothing at all; he knew about what things she's referring to. "I need to leave Sesshomaru. Please take care of you!"

Their meeting lasted less than he wanted but was happy nonetheless for seeing her. In the time away from him she returned to her old self, her eyes holding their shines from the past. After two years away from him, she was able to smile again, and wished him at the departure only well.

Letting her go was the good decision.

"Yes Momo!" Sesshomaru was browsing through the files of the future business deal when the sound of his phone office interrupted him.

"Your sister-in-law is here."

"Let her in." in the last a year and a half she was a dull pain into his ribs, always bothered him at this time of the day. It was lunch time, the time of the day when she always visited him.

But in this day, opposed with the previous days, he wanted to see her too; he had a lot of things to share with her. Like she listen his thoughts, Kagome opened the door of his office, letting herself in, and closed the door behind her.

"Hope you aren't busy." He casted his eyes from her person on the box she held and sighed. She came to feed him, a lot. "I brought five different dishes, and only yours favorite."

"I am not a horse to eat that much."

"You're a man who works a lot and needs a lot of energy. You need plenty food to replenish your energy. We don't want you to get sick do we?"

"An illness is the last thing I want right now. Please make yourself comfortable!"

"How was Osaka?" Kagome asked while she opened the bentos and filled his plate. She knew the details from Rin, however she wanted to know the man's side of story as well.

"You know already how it was. Stop pretending innocent."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Whatever you think I did, it's not true."

"You're a horrible liar. At first I wondered what could have possible went wrong with my hotel reservation, but after I have seen her I knew immediately. You knew she was in Osaka, and you changed my reservation; you wanted us to meet. Can you deny?"

"Guilty. I see no point in denying. So, after you heard my confession, how was in Osaka? How she seemed to you?"

"Despite your schemes, thank you. I needed to see her, see if she's well and if staying away from me did her any good. She's fine, she's smiling. She can watch me now without hatred in her eyes. She's back. Away from me she became her old she: bright, funny, warm."

"And you, how are you feeling after you have seen her? Inuyasha was worried that you might suffer a breakdown after."

"Tell him to not worry. After seeing her I am at ease. For years I regretted the decision of letting her go; I always said I should have fought for her more, but now I know it was the right decision. Rin deserved to become the woman she always was; she couldn't have done it on my side. If she's happy, even if she's away from me, then I am happy too."

"You really love her. Hearing you know I know to you she's your only one; too bad you realized it after you lost her."

"I am a fool ain't I? But now let's let this aside. Why did you tell her I ignore my meals? Why did you worry her with my foolishness?"

"I told her no such thing." The one who told me about that it was herself. The last part however she kept it to herself. He didn't need to know the secret behind the lunches she brought them every day.

"Kagome-chan, I have a favor to ask you."

"Rin, how are you doing? It's been a month since the last time you called me. I thought something happened to you. I was about to drive till Arita to make sure you're well."

"I am well Kagome-chan. Please do not worry about me. And if something will happen you will be the first to know. I promise you."

"If you are saying you're okay then I will take the risk and believe you. I will smack you hard if you dared to lie to me."

"I appreciate your concern. But I need a favor Kagome-chan. Please tell me you will do it? You're the only one who can help me with this; I have no one else."

"I will do anything to help you. Just tell me what and I will do it."

"Thank you Kagome-chan! You're my savior. What I need it's you to bring every day Sesshomaru's lunch."

"Rin-chan, are you serious?"

"Very. I have seen several photos of him after the divorce and I have noticed that he lost weight. I am sure that he started ignoring his meals. I had a tough fight with him during breakfast; I almost chunked the food down his throat. He doesn't like to eat in the morning. Beside, I am sure he's busy with work that he even forgets about his lunch. Probably the only meal he has is dinner."

"Rin-chan. if you show concern about him, then why did you divorce him? Showing such concern means that you still love him."

"Sesshomaru and I had to separate. We couldn't live together anymore. I hate him for what he did to me, but the love I felt for him cannot suddenly disappear. He was my first love, a love I will never forget. Even if I will want to ignore him completely, I cannot do it. Even if we aren't together anymore I don't want him to revert back at his bad eating habits. I want him to be healthy and to have – "

"Rin, what happened? Are you okay?"

"When I will return I want to have to whom to return to."

"Rin, do you – "

"Now I am not strong enough to face him, my wounds aren't healed yet. But when only the scar will remain I need to face him. If he will continue like this I am afraid I won't have what to confront by that time."

"I understand Rin-chan. Until you will return I will take care of him.

"So, I have heard you confused her with a stranger." Hearing her words, Sesshomaru choked with the food, his mind at the mercy of those memories. He held her in his arms, their mouths locked into a kiss, several of them; his lips knowing her touch again.

"She told you about it?"

"Yeah, and she even mentioned something about you wanting to sleep with her. Actually with a stranger who proved to be her but that's not important anymore."

"Why women cannot keep a secret?"

"And how is to fall asleep before commence*?"

Sesshomaru refused answering her; instead he focused on his lunch.

Osaka's events brought him hope. The woman who once refused and loathed his touch was now accepting him. It was early but he knew he still has hope left.

"Well, what do you think?" Rin was standing in the middle of her new home, her best male friend on her side, admiring his work. "Never thought we will renovate so fast but we did it. Do you like how it looks like?"

Her eyes were scanning each corner of her home, a smile gracing her features. "Yep, everything it's okay. But are you sure Jakotsu-san won't mind? I mean it was his place."

The man embraced her, his lips descending, kissing her head. "Don't worry. Jakotsu was the one who offered you this place. Since he's moving in with me he doesn't have a need for this place anymore. Also he didn't want to rent it to anyone. When he heard you return he practically begged me to convince you to live here."

"Are you sure? I was pretty sure he doesn't like me." Rin couldn't believe his words; she very well knew the other man was often jealous on her due to Bankotsu special attention for her. Every time she met him, he returned her kindness with deadly glares, refusing to even speak with her, not even greeting her.

"I will never lie to you Rin-chan. Jakotsu wanted you to move in this apartment. Maybe he didn't like you in the beginning but now when he knows you aren't a treat to him he started liking you to no end. He's even capable to take revenge on the ones who hurt you."

Leaving her friend side, she jumped like a child on the red couch, motioning to her friend to join her. "I am glad to be back in Tokyo. Do you remember our first day here?"

"Of course I do. You were alike a scary cat. You were lucky to have me!"

"Wow" the black-haired teenager's eyes were glued on the tall buildings surrounding her. "I have never seen such buildings. How could they even build these? They are huge?"

"Rin, watch where are you walking?" She bumped into a man, almost falling off her feet. "Look ahead of you and not above." He reprimanded the small girl, feeling sorry for his words after seeing her teary eyes. "Are you hurt?" he asked her knowing she didn't started crying because of his words.

"I hurt my nose." her voice was shaky, barely keeping from crying. The hand he removed it, inspecting her wounded nose closely. A second, two second, three second, and he snapped.

"Hey you!" his anger was directed towards the man she previously bumped in "You bumped into her intentionally didn't you? Aren't you ashamed? Don't you think you should apologize? You hurt her nose, and by tomorrow she will have a bruise."

"Bankotsu, please stop! It's not his fault but mine." She was afraid for his safety. The other man was taller and stronger than her friend.

"It's not your fault. It's his; he shouldn't have bump into a delicate girl like you and hurt you like he did. Apologize right now and here you abuser!" Around them a circle was formed, passengers stopping by to see the conflict. "A man should protect women, not hurt them."

"She bumped into me. She's the one who should apologize. If she got hurt then she's at fault." The stranger broke the silence, his words fueling Bankotsu's anger.

"So you won't apologize."

"Exactly."

Without warning, Bankotsu jumped forward, his fist meeting his opponent face, putting him to the ground, a small thread of blood dripping from the man's nose. Terrified by what he had done, her senses took a hold of her body; Rin grabbed her friend hand, running from the crime scene.

"Let me go, I didn't finish with him!" but she never let him go, but run and run until they were safe.

"I was afraid for days after that. I thought he will search for us to take his revenge." Rin was snuggling closer to his body, to his warmth.

"It's a pity he didn't. I wanted to smack his face more." His lips descended again kissing her forehead, his eyes however filled with worry. "What are you gonna do with him? Are you gonna see him?"

"It's been a month since I have seen him. Maybe I won't meet him tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow but one day I will. And when the day will come I will be ready. Ready to start a new chapter of my life."

Author note: *commence - commencer - I used the verb in french; which is the equivalent of to start / to begin in english

Chapter 13 Revealed lies