Author note: Sorry for the late update. Except my lack of mood I have no excuse.
Like always, the chappie is not revised by a beta - excuse my poor english

Chapter 14 Sick - ha, guess who's sick

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 13

Revealed Lies

Time went by since he had last seen her. It was in Osaka two months ago. Sesshomaru wanted to know what she's doing, if something happened to her in the last two months. He wanted to call her but realized he doesn't have her cell phone number. Of course that he could have asked it from her sister-in-law but refrained himself.

He missed her. Missed to lock his gaze into her doe eyes, mesmerized by their beauty and shines; missed to hear her soft voice.

He was trying his best to focus on the business deal in front of him but his mind was invaded only by her.

"I want to see you Rin." He whispered in the empty room. "What are you doing now?" unable to focus on his more important matters, he tossed aside the sheet papers, preferring to think only at her.

Two months ago he held her into his arms, their lips locked into a kiss, feeling her body under his touch. Sesshomaru wanted to turn back the time, but not with two months but with three years, when he didn't start to look away from her into another woman's direction.

"Rin" he whispered her name again, hoping she will hear him calling for her.

Too tired, he stepped out of his office deciding to return home and sleep, hoping he will dream about her again. His dreams where the only place he could touch her freely, where nothing bad ever happened between the two.

The note he wanted to leave for his secretary he placed it on her desk, and was ready to leave when his eyes fell on the paper on the right. Only one thing made him to pick up the paper from the desk: the image of his wife.

His eyes scanned the short article, and thanked to the kamis who heard his silent pray.

Friday night, the young female pottery artist, Harada Rin, will held another exhibition at Junishi's Co. The event will start at 7 PM.

She was here, in the same town, close to him. Another exhibition where she again will be surrounded by strange people who will assault her with compliments, and maybe some of them will try to flirt with her, like that time –

She was surrounded probably by six people and when one of them was leaving, it was replaced by someone else. They were potters, and painters, all of them members of her world: art.

He wanted to have her all by himself, the men around her to dispose of them. His eyes were carefully watching the dogs who tried to hit on his girlfriend. Moving his eyes from the men to his girl, he watched her cheeks flushed red. In that very moment he wanted to rip their limbs apart.

If he wouldn't have been called five minutes ago, their arms would have been linked together, the swarm of men dissipated all around the small art gallery. Annoyed by the men who with no shame tried to hit on someone else women, Sesshomaru hung up the phone, his steps carrying him where his girl was.

"Sorry it took so long!" her doe eyes locked with his, smiling gently at him, while her arm snaked around his. "Next time I will warn my associates to never bother me during my dates with you." his fingers brushed gently upon her rosy lips, his desire to kiss them growing by the minute.

"It's okay. If the call is important you can take it."

"Nothing is more important than my precious girl." And with only these words he hoped the men to take the hint and find their ways toward another woman; the one in front of them was already taken. "So what did you do while I was temporarily away?"

"Oh, Yamada-san offered to buy five of my potters and he even wants me to make another twenty for his new restaurant."

"Yamada-san is very generous." His eyes fell on the tall blonde man whose eyes never left Rin. Averting his eyes away from her frame, his blue eyes met golden ones instead, which watched him with cold.

"Harada-san is a very talented artist. Having her works in my restaurant will bring me positive points from my clients."

"Indeed she's talented. Anyone will want to work with her."

"I had no idea Harada-san has someone dear in her heart. When – "

"We're dating for five months already. When I have seen her for the first time I knew she will be mine, never intended to give up on her." the question was meant for his Rin; but his desire to monopolize her completely made his jealousy to rise, his grip on her arms tightening. His lips descended, grazing lightly over her temple. With only this delicate move Sesshomaru hoped the men to grasp the meaning. Her lips, he will take a hold of them later, while being alone.

Friday night came, and he was outside Junishi's Co, watching her through the tinted window of his car. More than anything in the world he wanted to have the courage to climb off his car, and enter the front door. This was his plan all along since he found out about her. Once again his gaze felt on the rose bouquet, and said to himself that he would go see her.

His hand gripped the flowers, determinate to give them to her when all the courage he mustered in those mere seconds vanish the same as it came.

It will be proper? It was what he was thinking. Since the courage left him, he now being reduced at nothing else than a coward man, stayed there in the car, his eyes never escaping her from it sight.

All evening he watched her greeting her guests, laughing at their words. When men surrounded her, some of them flirting with her, he almost climbed off of his car, his intention to chase them away. But that action never came. Sadly, he realized he has no right to prey into her life anymore.

His rights ceased to exist the moment he turned his attention to someone else. He cursed the day when that vile woman entered the room, cursed the day when he took her into an intimate embrace.

The emotions she held during the whole day ended when all the visitors – friends, and artists – left her exhibition. During the four hours of the event, she felt like a rare animal, exposed to the people's eyes. She sighed in relief when all ended.

She locked the door behind her, made a mental note to return the key tomorrow, and stopped in her tracks when her eyes fell on his frame. He was standing beside his car, holding a bouquet of flowers, his eyes never leaving her.

She expected to see him tonight; she never told him about her return in town; however she was assured by Kagome that by now he must know about it, and about her exhibition. When her eyes never found him during those hours, her heart felt heavy, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Never thought he was outside, waiting for her.

"Sesshomaru!" slowly, but certainty her steps carried her towards him, her impulse being to touch him, to make sure he's real, not a creation of her imagination. "You came?" she stopped right in front of him, waiting for him to open his mouth, assuring her of his real presence.

"I came, Rin!" he wanted to hold her into his arms, to breathe her sweet fragrance in. "I am here for hours – "

"Why didn't you come in?" Don't you know I wanted you to come?

"I thought that maybe you don't want me here. So I decided to wait, and give you these flowers." She stretched her hands to receive them, their sweet aroma attacking her sense of smell. My favorites.

"You should have came in. I wouldn't have minded."

"Are you heading home?"

"Yes." Will you give me a ride? The question however was left unspoken.

"I can take you home. It's dangerous for a woman to be outside during such late hours." Rin smiled at his offer, happy for not being disappointed.

The car ride, to Sesshomaru's displeasure was short, cursing in his mind for her not choosing a faraway place to live. He stopped the engine, his being already missing her. The few minutes they spent in his car were silent, none of them saying a word.

"Thank you for the ride!" she was the one to break the silence, her eyes scanning him, ready to catch each of his expression. "You seem like you want to tell me something; why don't you come upstairs and chat more?" the way he was right now, Rin knew he won't make the first step; it was upsetting. He was the one who wronged her in the first place; he should be the first to fix it. But only tonight she will open his door to him; the next will be up to him.

"I will. I thought if I would invite myself will bother you."

"You worry too much; it's so unlike you." both of them climbed off the car, entered the building, heading to her new apartment.

"Your place is nice." His eyes roomed over the space, clearly decorated to her liking; it was so much like Rin: warm, welcomed, tranquil. "How did you find this place?"

"Thanks. Actually, it was rented to me by a friend. He recently moved with his lover; because this place it's the first place he stayed in Tokyo he didn't want to give up on it. So, he asked me to move in here. I was in need by a place anyway. Green tea?"

"Yeah. When did you return?"

"A month ago. I got more job offers from Tokyo and was forced to return. I was busy since then. How did you spend your time since we have seen each other in Osaka?" Rin poured the hot liquid into his cup. She joined him soon after.

"I was busy too. I couldn't even take a day off."

"How about your private life? Any woman in your life?"

"I had no woman after you." he watched her expression, clearly not convinced by his statement. "Really, was no woman after you. I couldn't be with a woman. I was afraid I will destroy another woman, like I did to you."

"Oh…You know, I am part guilty as well; I knew all along and kept silent. I suspected you since that woman answered your phone, got my confirmation when your clothes reeked her perfume. It's my fault for saying nothing. I hesitated that night but I should have said something when I had physical evidence. I should have thrown those photos in your face and yell at you. Through my silence I allowed you to hurt me."

"It's not your fault. Please don't take the blame upon you, not even a tiny part. It's entirely my fault."

"But it's true. I allowed you and that woman to hurt me. If I should have said something, my pain wouldn't have been so great. A day like my birthday probably wouldn't have existed. I hesitated making a decision, and ended up being hurt. Yes, you're guilty for having that affair but I am guilty for keeping silent."

"Who would have thought we will talk so calm about what happened. After your accident I wondered why you kept silent and not created a hell out of a scandal. I got the answer when you had…" Sesshomaru stopped, his amber eyes watching her instead. By her expression he realized she knew what he intended to say. "Sorry! The point is now I know why you said nothing."

"Sorry, I shouldn't have done that."

"Yeah that…The last time I have seen you I wanted to tell you something but you left so fast that I had no other chance. I want to apologize for what I did to you, and for what I said to you. In that day I called you a whore. I am so sorry! I should have known you will never stoop to my level. My judgment was clouded at that time, and said hurtful things to you."

"What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about Bankotsu. I have found out the truth few months after we separated."

Sesshomaru couldn't believe what he's seeing? Months ago he let go of his Rin, hoping she will find happiness by another man side; her friend Bankotsu. But no, she didn't choose to stay to that man's side, but return to her home town. He wondered why would she return home when here in Tokyo was the man who made her smile.

If few days ago he had no idea why, his mind by now already figured out the answer. Few feet away from him, in a private lounge, was Bankotsu in the company of another person. From the distance Sesshomaru saw them, he could clearly tell that those two persons were more than just friends; friends don't kiss each other on their mouth.

He took her away from me, played her how he wanted and now he left her for someone else. That bastard! How does he dare mess with Rin after he strained her away from me? I will kill you.

With this intention in mind, Sesshomaru strode towards his target, grabbing him by his collar shirt, his right fist punching the man straight into his face. Blood sipped from the man's nose, staining the white shirt with crimson liquid.

"What the heck?" Bankotsu asked, unknown to him why such violence occurred.

"You bastard! You whispered vile words into her ear, took her into your bed, made her to divorce me, and after all these you left her. If you took her away from me why didn't you make her happy? I will kill you for what have you done!" He was ready to hit his opponent again when a voice stopped him.

"Ok honey, I think you should stop." Sesshomaru averted his gaze from the fallen man to the person who spoke, realizing to his horror the person who stopped him is the same with the one the fallen man was kissing, and worse, to his horror Sesshomaru realized the person is not a she but a he.

Sesshomaru felt enraged.

"You cheated her with a man? I really am gonna kill you."

"Honey, you will kill none. It's no need to make damages for nothing. Why don't you take a seat over there?" Sesshomaru is not gonna kill him now but after he will listen their words. Few minutes pays no matter. "Oh honey, are you okay? Where you hit hard? Let me help you stand. Jakotsu will take good care of you."

Few moments later, Sesshomaru and Bankotsu stared at each other, none of them saying something. The other man however was watching them both, wondering if they started a staring competition. Worse, none of them were blinking.

"Ok honey, don't you think you have something to say to this silver-haired hottie here?"

"Jakotsu, I have nothing to say to him."

"Really? I think you do, and you know very well what I am talking about."

"I will never tell him about that. If he wants to know then he should figure out by himself."

"And how can he when you and your darling keep the secret? He was lie for weeks before the divorce, and other several after the divorce. I think it's time for him to know the truth. Because I want to avoid pointless deaths I will be the one telling him – your darling secret."

"What are you two talking about?" Sesshomaru listen their words, their meaning having no sense to him.

"What I am talking about is the affair honey here had with your darling. The truth is – "

"Jakotsu, keep your mouth shut!"

"They had none." Bankotsu sank into the soft cushions, disappointed by his lover's decision. "Honey here and Rin-chan had no affair. Your darling wanted you to have a taste of your own medicine so she asked honey to play the lover's part."

"They entered in love hotels, they exchanged love messages; I saw them with my own eyes."

"True, they did all that. Your darling intentionally let her phone for you to see, and when your attention was elsewhere, she took out her other phone, saying to Bankotsu what to do – to send her those cheesy messages. And in the hotel room all they did was talking, or playing cards. They never did something which crossed the line."

Sesshomaru wanted to be true. Looking again at the man, he remembered the adoration he held for the female, how he was warned once. Sesshomaru found it hard to believe the man who adored his Rin more than his own life didn't lay his hands on her.

"And you want me to believe this story? He said he never touched Rin but did you believed him? He adores Rin; she is his precious girl. He told me himself."

"I know what Rin is to honey. They grew up together, and they were taught to love each other as real siblings. Rin is Bankotsu's precious little sister. Beside Bankotsu is gay, and Rin knows perfectly well. This was the reason why Bankotsu was chosen as her fake lover – he won't lay his hands on her. Darling, you were played."

"I was shocked to find out that your lover is actually gay. When I first find out I wanted to drive till Arita and asked you if it's true; if you faked an affair."

"It's true." She had seen herself forced to admit her scheme. Mentally she blamed her gay friends for not warning her. "I faked it. I wanted so much to punish you, to feel the pain I went through, and I planned such a scheme. Looking back, I am ashamed by myself."

"Don't be. I truly deserve it. I needed an experience like that to understand what I caused to you; how my actions brought you pain. Due to that act I can now say I understand your pain."

"Sorry. I was so filled with hatred that I hadn't think straight anymore. I am not like that anymore; I will never wish for someone to know a great pain as my own."

"I know. I can tell only by watching you. Your eyes are the same when we first met. The you from now is different from the you two years ago. Two years I regretted letting you go but seeing you I can tell you it was the good decision. Letting you go was the good decision."

"Time healed my wounds. What's left is a scar which always will be part of me."

"Rin – " if he need to beg her he's willing to do it. Sesshomaru still wanted her, to be around her, to see more of her laugh. "Can I see you again? Can we still take lunches together, at least as friends?" he did not care what part he will occupy in her heart. Being around her was enough for a man like him.

"Yes. We can see each other another time too." he smiled at her words, thanking to the kamis who brought her back into his life.