DECEMBER
Christmas Eve
RIN
She had just finished pulling down the shutters and locking the shop when a courier motorcycle came to a growling halt behind her.
"Nakamura-san! Nakamura-san! Chotto matte kudasai!" The young courier man bowed apologetically as he thrust a manila envelope under her nose. "Please sign for these. It's my last delivery for the day!"
Scribbling off her signature, Rin accepted the package and was about to casually tuck it in her bag when she saw the stamp and return address.
"No, impossible. It's probably a rejection letter," she tried to reassure herself, trying not to think about the foreign writing on the enveloped addressed to a 'Miss Rin Nakamura'. Clearly the sender wasn't Japanese.
"No, I'm just going to go home, have dinner and – damn it!" The suspense was killing her. Like a child eager to open her presents, Rin ripped the sticky edge of the envelope and poured out its contents. The emblem of Christ Church College and the first words of congratulations in bold was enough to set her stumbling to the ground in shock.
"I... I got it?" Rin swallowed the entire contents of the letter in a single breath; then again, slowly this time. There was no mistake. Rin was one of the lucky eight to have made it into the masters programme and she'd be damn if she didn't accept it right? "This cannot be happening. I was sure I wasn't going to get it. And now the shop... argh!"
Still sitting on her buttom by the side of the road, Rin ignored the passersby and simply brought her knees up under her chin. What was she going to do now? Sesshoumaru had just bought the shop and to leave it for an entire year was truly being ungrateful.
Taking out her phone, Rin dialled the first person that came to her mind. "Hi Professor, it's Rin. I'm so sorry to disturb you but it's about – yes I did! Well of course I'm happy. It's what I've always wanted but I... what? No, you don't have to come here."
Even her professor knew her too well. He'd pre-empt that she would either burn the letters or run away and not send a formal acceptance of the offer. Rin wasn't planning on either of that... she was just going to bury it six feet under...
"Rin! I'm taking a trip down after New Year anyway so don't even think of rejecting the offer. Thank God I told them to send a duplicate copy to me. I wasn't sure if your new address was in operation yet but thanks for updating me. I'll see you in a week!"
Miroku hung up the phone before she could protest so Rin did the next best thing – she unlocked her shop and then curled up behind the doors and cried till her heart could no longer bear the happiness. Perhaps now was a good time to sell the ring Kohaku had returned.
Working out the math in her head, Rin soon found herself staring up at the ceiling, lamenting the cost of childcare and school and what potential idea she could write for her dissertation. The only reason why she had chosen Christ Church College was its large endowment fund for students. That would certainly come in handy –
The loud rap on door almost had her heart leaping out of her throat. "Rin! Are you in there?!"
A quick look at her wrist watch and Rin gulped guiltily. It was almost 9pm... Had she really been daydreaming for so long?
"Sesshoumaru?" She didn't dare to open the door yet, simply allowing the wooden barrier to stand in between them.
"Are you alright? You didn't pick up my calls." A quick look at her phone showed more than 20 missed calls. Had it even vibrated? She didn't notice. "I was so worried Rin..."
Rin didn't answer him straight away, merely leaning her head against the wooden door and trying not to cry. She ought to tell him right? But she didn't want to ruin the day any more than she already did...
"I fell asleep... I'm so sorry..."
"You fell asleep?" The silence on the other side of the door tore at her conscience even more. He knew she was lying . Of course he knew. "Then... can I come in?"
"No!" Too fast. Too guilty. "I mean I'm already coming out. Give me a minute." Stashing her envelope under the till, Rin ran back to the door and let herself out. She didn't even get to apologise for big warm hand closed around her; his reassuring kisses like tiny knives stabbing her heart.
Rin truly felt sick to her stomach.
/ / / /
JANUARY
SESSHOUMARU
On the morning of the new year, Sesshoumaru woke the family up, rousing a sleepy Hiroki into the bath before helping Rin's grandmother in the kitchen. The old lady had slapped his hands with her wooden chopsticks when he offered more than to prepare tea.
"Go and help Rin," she nagged, sending him back into his room where Rin was struggling with her obi.
Leaning against their closed door with a sigh, Sesshoumaru admired Rin from the back, keeping silent until she caught his reflection in her mirror.
"Got kicked out of the kitchen?"
Sesshoumaru gave an irritated huff. "I'm not sure how I feel about this but Kaede Baba says she'll stay and watch over Hiroki until school starts. That's in two days right?"
It had been truly awkward to be sleeping in the room next to an almost centerinarian and not feel guilty about seducing her granddaughter. Rin did have the tendency to get a little loud –which also meant that he had been controlling himself for the past week. The agony of not being able to touch her…
"I think it's nice to have her around. I'm starting to bad leaving Hiroki alone at home for too long because of work," sighed Rin as she pulled back her hair all the way up.
All the more reasons for them to move to that new place, he wanted to say. But Rin looked like she was constantly occupied with thoughts so he didn't dare to bring it up yet. He only wished that she would just trust him enough to share her worries.
"I was thinking… that maybe it would be best if I put Hiroki's name in my Koseki."
The kanzashi she was holding fell abruptly to the floor. "What? I don't… why would you want to do that?"
"I love him and I hate that I can't be the one to send and fetch him from school. Baba won't be around all the time and with you at the shop –"
"You spoke to him didn't you? What did he say?" Her voice sounded weary as though she didn't really want to argue anymore.
"He said yes." Picking up her hair pin, he brought it up, angling her face to look at him. "He wants to take my name as well, if that's alright with you."
He expected a bit more resistance but Rin merely nodded and whispered, "If that is what Hiroki wants."
/ / /
Kaede Baba ended up staying even longer in his apartment ever since Sesshoumaru decided he needed to spend more time in their new house fixing it up in time for Rin's birthday. He hated that he had to leave his little boy at home with the old lady but for a seven year old, Hiroki was extremely cooperative.
"You know, I'm honestly surprised at how things turned out."
The rough low voice of his father's had Sesshoumaru looking up from his task of hammering nails. "What? That I'm fixing a house by myself?"
"I heard that! What am I invisible?" Even from the second floor, his brother's hearing was impeccable.
"Well that too," laughed the oldest Oshiro. "But I meant Rin. Didn't think you'd date a commoner with how your mother brought you up and all. Have you told her yet?"
Sesshoumaru flicked a glance at his father. "I'll tell her when the time comes – not that she would approve anyway." Not that it would matter.
The only reason why Sesshoumaru had stayed with his mother was because of her stature as an heiress and nothing more. Though he was old enough to decide which parent he wanted to stay with, his mother had told him plainly and clearly that she would disinherit him if he chose to live with his father.
"Isn't the kettle calling the pot black?" Sesshoumaru resumed replacing the rotting wood flooring.
"Touché." His father leaned against one of the pillars and sighed. "But I've learnt so much being with Izayoi. And somehow I get the feeling you're learning just as much too. I mean look at you! Buying a house, adopting a child… Didn't think you had a heart in you Sesshoumaru-kun."
Honestly, he didn't think he had it either. But perhaps… "I guess I really do love her Chichi-Ue."
"Then what are you waiting around for? That ring's not going to get onto her fingers on its own you know!"
"Right… about the ring," Sesshoumaru blew out a nervous breath. He wasn't used to asking his father for any favours. "Ano… do you think Izayoi-san would –"
"Of course she would! In fact, why don't I call her now and we can all go look for the perfect ring?" His father slapped his shoulder happily as he dialled his wife and chattered with peppered detail about Sesshoumaru's grand plan to hold a wedding in his newly bought shrine-turned-house up the hill.
/ / /
RIN
After being closed for nearly a week, Rin was back to business; opening the shop and ready to welcome the students on their first day at school. That morning, she had given Sesshoumaru written permission to send Hiroki to school without her for the first time. The boy had gleefully kissed her and wished her luck at her first day back at work and Rin felt her heart break slightly.
Hiroki was growing up too fast. He didn't need her anymore.
But judging by the way he latched on to his soon-to-be legal guardian, Rin wondered if her lack of masculinity had anything to do with it. She hadn't realised how much Hiroki needed a father figure around; thinking she was enough for him was truly selfish on her part.
Sighing, she made a final check of all the shelves and tables before heading to the entrance. She had barely turned the 'closed' sign to 'open' when the glass door was pushed towards her gently.
"Irraishaimase – Kohaku? What are you doing here again?" Behind him was a beautiful long haired lady; eyes cast down and looking extremely fidgety. "Ano… welcome, and who might you be?"
Before the young woman could reply, Kohaku had broken the ice, linking their hands together and shaking them both furiously. "Rin, I'd like you to meet Kikyo. Kikyo, say hello to your new boss."
Not wanting to scare the girl away, Rin slowly pulled her hand back. She didn't hear him wrongly did she?
"I am so indebted to you Nakamura Tenchou! Please take good care of me!" The woman called Kikyo was nearly bent in half; her body remaining in that position until Rin cleared her throat and ordered her to get up.
"Kohaku, can we err talk privately please?" Dragging him by his sleeve, she boxed them inside the store room before giving him a deathly glare. "Just what in the world is going on here?"
With both hands up, Kohaku tried to brush away her annoyance. "I found you a pastry chef. That's what you needed right? Look, she's legit and all, I swear. She just came back from France and she's dying to find a job. The market's shitty so I offered her one here."
Narrowing her eyes, Rin folded her arms and tried not to balk. "You're sleeping with her aren't you?"
"Aww come on Rin! Not every girl I know is – okay, you know what, never mind. If you're not going to take her, I'll find her another place to work in."
He started heading for the door and Rin knew she needed to make her decision quick. It wasn't that she didn't want to hire the girl but the shop had just been renovated and Rin barely had enough to spend on the operating expenses, what more to pay an employee.
"I… I guess I can't really deal with these whole two floors on my own either," she admitted. Plus, with her still undecided about her studies, having someone to potentially take over the shop might be useful.
Satisfied that he had won somewhat, Kohaku dragged them both back out to properly induct the nervous Kikyo. Rin almost broke out in fits when she found out the young woman was only 19 years old.
"What are you a cradle robber?" she hissed, pinching Kohaku's arm. That man had no morals whatsoever!
"Ano… Ano… Tenchou, umm, would you like me to make something? I can make anything you like!" she stammered anxiously as her eyes darted towards the back kitchen.
"I don't suppose you can make traditional Japanese sweets?" At Kikyo's fervent shake of her head, Rin began to ponder over her knowledge of western pastries. "Tell you what. Why don't you look in the kitchen and see what you can make with whatever ingredients you can find. I believe in basics so if you can make something amazing with just sugar, flour, eggs and butter then maybe I'll hire you."
It turned out that you can make quite a lot with just those four ingredients.
"So umm, this is a croissant and this is a quatre-quart." Rin tried to mimic the words but it wasn't easy. It almost made her recall the embarrassing dinner date she had with Sesshoumaru. Eating it however was a different matter.
"This is actually really good!" She hadn't expected that much from such a jittery woman but her palate wouldn't lie. Now, the problem of salary. "So Kikyo, I'm not sure what this idiot told you but I can't pay you much –"
"Tenchou! I am happy to just be paid in food and board. Please accept me! No other shops I've been to are hiring!"
Rin must have looked like she was about to reject the proposition for Kohaku gave her a solemn look that chided her for making Kikyo on the verge of tears. "Ne Rin-chan, why don't we convert the upstairs kitchen into a small living area? I know you wanted to do a pantry anyway right? If we extend it just a little, I'm sure we can make a small but comfortable space for Kikyo." Before she could even say no, he held his hand up to halt her protest. "I'll work on it. It's a freebie."
Sending Kikyo off for her first task for the day, Rin then got around to make her morning coffee and offered one to Kohaku as they refilled the shelves with sweets and toys together.
"So, why are you so persistent to get her to work here?" With Kohaku, there always had to be a deviant angle to it. And by his nervous laughter, Rin knew she wasn't far off the mark.
"Remember that girl I told you about? The one who wanted us to be serious?" At Rin's opened mouth, he nodded. "Yupp that's the one. I know she's all shy and nervous but she's honestly straightforward and level headed once you get to know her."
Rin didn't doubt that. But this coming from Kohaku, Rin was actually surprised to know he cared for this woman. "So is this you trying to be serious with her?"
"Well… I sorta got her fired from her last job…"
Rin couldn't believe men and their lust sometimes. "If I catch you in between her legs anywhere in this shop, I'm flaying you first than her. I mean it Kohaku!" She threw a packet of sweets at his head, just in case it didn't sink in.
Hours later after the last customer had left, Rin and Kohaku found themselves alone in the shop once again. Offering him a cup of tea, Rin slumped over the table and groaned at how much harder it was running a shop twice the size as her previous one.
"Ne Kohaku, how much do you think this is worth?" asked Rin, pulling out the ring from her pocket. She didn't know why she carried it around all the time but somehow the weight of the box gave her some sort of security.
"I'm not going to answer that Rin. But if you know anything about diamonds, that's a five carat you're holding."
Rin had no clue what that meant but as she held it up against the light, the diamond sure sparkled bright. Would it be enough to pay for her expenses in the UK?
"See, I'm a little torn right now." She poured out her worries about the scholarship and her acceptance to study overseas. "If I leave Hiroki here I know he will be taken care of. But how can I? And I don't even dare to ask Sensei to come with me. He just started taking over his father's clinic and I don't think it's fair for him to just up and go like that!"
To her surprise, Kohaku grabbed her hands with his in an effort to keep them still. She hadn't realised how much she was waving them around frantically. "Look Rin, I think you just need to talk to him about it. As for the ring, the choice is really yours."
In her frenzied state of mind, Rin didn't even notice the front door opening, only realising it too late when the towering figure came into view behind Kohaku; the shock and disappointment so clear in his eyes.
"Sesshoumaru… no wait! This isn't what it looks like!"
/ / / /
SESSHOUMARU
He had thought of surprising her by dropping by the shop since he was in the neighbourhood but all that came to a standstill the moment he saw her sitting across the table with a man he thought would never have dared to step into her space.
But the true moment of despair came when he saw them laughing and her animated reaction to something Kohaku had said. Not only that, he managed to catch bits of their conversation about a ring and then witnessed them holding hands.
"Sesshoumaru!" Her footsteps had quickened into a run but he continued walking away as fast as he could. It wasn't that he didn't want to hear her explanation. Unlike Rin, Sesshoumaru wasn't the type to jump blindly to conclusions. He was sure there was a valid reason for the misunderstanding but the thought of Rin in a state of panic and running after him made him surprisingly... happy.
Maybe he had a sadistic streak in him.
"Sesshoumaru, please… stop running." Rin had stopped; one hand leaning against a lamppost as she tried to catch her breath. "I'm so sorry for not telling you… things just happened so fast… he's just helping… nothing weird happening…"
Her erratic burst of phrases weren't making much sense. Taking pity on her, he turned and waited for her to calm down. "How long has he been coming around?"
She didn't come close, but remained quite a distance away as though afraid he would lash at her. "A few weeks before Christmas."
"Was that why you forgot about dinner?" Had she been in the shop with him all day and got… distracted? The guilt on her face wasn't reassuring.
"No… it's not like that. Remember I told you about the scholarship? I received it on Christmas Eve." Her lashes lifted but she didn't look at him straight in the eye. "That ring you saw was mine. Kohaku was just returning it to me. We were discussing whether to sell it so I can pay for school… and stuff."
So, she discussed her options with her ex-husband and not him. Did she truly think she could just make a decision without consulting him?
"I've heard enough. I didn't know that's how things were between us Rin." He tried not to let his disappointment show but honestly, he didn't care anymore right now. Turning towards his parked car, Sesshoumaru chose to walk away –
Desperate arms wound tight around his waist as Rin launched herself at him from the back. "No! Don't go!" She tried to explain in her soft, hurried voice how Kohaku wanted to repay her back for his past mistakes. "And he didn't come alone today. He brought his girlfriend with him, a young woman, who's going to help me in the shop. So please Sesshoumaru… don't hate me."
As if he could. "Perhaps I'm an idiot for loving you this much Rin. But if you want this relationship to work, you have to meet me halfway." His hands moved over hers and tightened.
When they returned to the shop, the first thing Kohaku did was to hide behind the thin frame of a woman Sesshoumaru didn't recognise.
"Please don't hit me!" he squealed when Sesshoumaru took a step forward.
"I would but you've done justice to this interior so I'll give it a pass for today," said Sesshoumaru in his deadpan voice before turning his attention to the equally quivering woman trying to hide Kohaku. "You must be the new girl. I'm Oshiro Sesshoumaru and I technically own this shop."
"Ah! Oshiro Shachou! Douzo yoroshiku onegaishimasu!" The girl bowed politely before snapping back up. "I'm Tachibana Kikyo. I'm here to help Nakamura-san as her pastry chef."
Sesshoumaru was surprised at the formal speech of the young girl – what an opposite contrast to that lame excuse of a man still seeking refuge behind her. What ever did she even see in him?
Well now wasn't that the question of the year, seeing that Rin too had once been in love with this man. "So Kohaku, why are you here? I thought I made it clear you were not to come back ever again?"
"Technically you said to stay away from Hiroki." He squealed when Sesshoumaru took a threatening step forward. "Wait! I'm seriously not up to no good! It's just as Rin probably explained. I'm here to cleanse my karma and hopefully get to see my boy once in a while."
Sesshoumaru didn't know if he had the patience anymore. Rin lighting his short fuse was one but this man…
"Ano Shachou, before you say anything, please hear me out!" Kikyo bowed low before looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Kohaku and I are thinking of getting married but… we might not get the chance to have our own children. It was me who wanted him to treasure his own son more. So please, if you want to be angry, I am the one to blame!"
Okay now he was definitely going to have a migraine with these three. "Kohaku, let me be upfront about this. I'm only telling you because you are Hiroki's biological father but I am currently in the process of adding Hiroki into my Koseki. He has chosen to adopt my family name."
There was no surprise on the man's face, only resignation. "That is the best for him isn't it? Then I suppose I've got this all wrong." He flicked an apologetic look at Rin. "Umm, Oshiro-san, I would like to come here and see Hiroki-kun and get to know him, as a friend if not as his father. Will you allow it?"
"Let's start with supervised visitations only here in this shop. If Hiroki doesn't feel comfortable at any time, I'll take him away."
"I can work with that," said Kohaku with a small smile. "Thank you both. I'm truly grateful for it. I won't mess it up again, I promise!"
Sesshoumaru was going to have to hold him to that because there was no way he'd lose either of his precious love to this man – not even by a sliver.
/ / / /
RIN
Today was her birthday.
But Sesshoumaru didn't say anything about it that morning when they woke up so she assumed it had slipped past his mind. After all, he seemed to remember it was five days from his own birthdate but didn't seem to remember if it was before or after the 16th January.
Worst of all, her own son seemed to have forgotten! He had kissed her as he always did every morning and wished her a good day at work before leaving hand in hand with Sesshoumaru to school.
Feeling a tad cranky, Rin snapped at her new pastry chef's morning greeting; nearly sending the girl running into the kitchen in fright.
"What do you want Kikyo?" It was too early for any serious talk. First Rin needed coffee – two cups preferably.
"Uh, well, I made a list," she whimpered, pushing an ingredients and recipe list towards Rin. "Since it's the new year, I thought of making a few specials. But we'll need a little more than the usual ingredients."
Rin snatched the list and pinched the bridge of her nose. Raspberries, cherries and cranberries? "These will cost a lot Kikyo –"
"Yes but if we cut down on the daily pastries like here –" she pointed to a table of numbers. "We'll have less items but more quality so we can hike up the price a little," she added cheerfully.
Promising that she would think it over before the end of the day, Rin then went about her daily duties with a plastered smile on her face. Every now and then, she would catch sight of the envelope with her acceptance letter and forced herself to look away. Though she still had till mid-February to reply, the answer however wasn't as clear cut as she thought it would be.
Flipping open her phone for the tenth time that day, Rin stared at her empty message box and wondered how Sesshoumaru could possibly have forgotten her birthday! It wasn't like she expected anything… but even a special kiss would have been more than enough!
"Ano Tenchou… if you keep making that face, you're going to drive the customers away." Rin looked up to see Kikyo walking out with a new tray of fresh croissants; one finger lifted towards the peering faces of some students at the glass window.
"Kikyo, let's swap. I want to use the kitchen. Man the shop please." Heading straight to the kitchen, she rummaged the cupboards for ingredients and prepared her work station to make a small cake for herself. It was pathetic, she knew, but Rin didn't wish to have the day pass by so unceremoniously.
When she was done, Rin took the cake out and gave half to her assistant. "Have some. You've worked hard."
As expected, Kikyo burst into a state of apologies; thanking her boss for the kind gesture. Rin was about to wave her off when the front bell rang signalling a new customer.
"Irasshaimase!"
It almost felt like old times as the familiar customer gathered a handful of sweets and placed them on the counter. "Let me guess, 3000 yen?"
Rin nodded wordlessly, picking up a random tube of pastilles and adding it to his paper bag. "You should head back... your lunch time is almost over right?"
The beautiful man leaned over and stole a kiss, ignoring the onlookers. "It's just started. Can I steal you for a minute?"
Blushing to her roots, Rin grabbed him by the sleeves and tugged him out into the garden courtyard. "You can't just go around kissing – " He cut short her words with his lips, pulling Rin into a deep, breathy kiss.
"Sure I can," he grinned, taking her hands in his. "Besides, look. It's snowing."
Looking up, Rin caught the first flakes falling from the sky; the tiny drops melting as they touched her bare skin. Turning towards him, Rin leaned her head into his broad shoulders, sighing accusingly, "You forgot what day it is today."
Those amber eyes looked down laughingly. "Did I? What day is it today? Must have completely slipped my mind."
He was joking. He had to be.
"Is that why I came here straight after work to pick up the most beautiful woman who's claim my heart?" He pulled her close, tilting her head up to look at him. "I make it my job to know as much as I can about you Rin. Can you leave the shop to Kikyo to handle alone?"
It was almost as though he had it planned beforehand for Kikyo had already called Kohaku over to lend a hand; both of them adamantly chasing here out of the shop and waving excitedly as Sesshoumaru led her towards his car.
"Are we going somewhere?" she asked, looking down at the strip of silk he had offered her.
"Yes but only if you put the blindfold on." Not that he was giving her a choice for the cloth was tied securely over her eyes in the next second. The drive after did not take long and Sesshoumaru had led her out gently, guiding her until she felt the soft tiny hands of someone really hung for her waist.
"Hiroki?" She recognised those hands anywhere.
"Happy birthday Okaa-san!" The little boy hugged her tight even as her fingers desperately undid the blindfold.
"Oh Hiroki..." Her son was dressed in a cute tuxedo with a massive grin on his face. Looking up to her lover, she was surprised to find he too had shrugged on a coat and was smiling at her. "Please tell me you didn't buy this house and that there isn't a crazy surprise party going on inside."
Sesshoumaru gave her a guilty grin. "You got one of the two right." Jingling keys in front of her, he smiled as he lifted Hiroki into his arms. "Happy birthday Rin, from all of us."
At first she didn't understand but the moment she unlocked the door and stepped inside, Rin lost all sensations in her knees and staggered backwards. Clapping a hand over her mouth, Rin looked around in awe at the polished and fixed wooden floorings to the freshly painted walls and the newly installed lights.
"How... how long did it take you to do this?"
The two boys shuffled sheepishly, with Sesshoumaru steadying her on her feet again. "Everyone helped. Chichi-ue and Inuyasha too. Even Hiroki-kun on weekends right?"
Her son tugged on her hands and led her through the entire house, pointing out the kitchen, living room and most importantly...
"This is my room! I love it so much!" he squealed, jumping onto his racing car shaped bed. "But Okaa-san and Daddy's room is upstairs and it's enormous!" he roared the last word as he ran up the stairs.
Apparently Hiroki wasn't exaggerating. Sesshoumaru had indeed converted the entire attic into their bedroom, with separate dressing areas and even two bathrooms.
"Ne Hiroki-kun, will, you wait downstairs and welcome everyone? We'll be down in a bit."
Once the boy was gone, he pulled her into his embrace. "Now we can all be closer. I hate that you're always so tired after work. This way you can be with Hiroki after school as before. I managed to find a school bus service that passes –"
"I love you Sesshoumaru." Rin linked her hands around his neck. "I don't say it much and I sure as hell don't deserve you but I love you so damn much... it scares me." Hiding her face in the curve on his neck, she finally confessed. "I don't know what to do about the scholarship and university acceptance. I've been waiting for so long for this... but I have so much here to lose if I go. You've done so much for us. I owe everything to you. I even thought I'd take Hiroki with me so I won't burden you anymore – that's what the ring was for. I wanted to sell it and use the money to pay for his school fees."
"Rin... my lovely beautiful Rin." Gentle hands stroked her hair lovingly. "Were you worried about hurting me?" At her nod, he curled himself tighter around her. "Do it then. Go to the UK."
Her body went slack against his. "But what about this house, the shop, your work –"
"Everything will still be here when you come back. It's only for a year right? You deserve the break Rin."
"What... wait I don't understand."
"Go and do your masters. I'll take care of Hiroki and everything else. I'm sure we can hire another one or two assistants for the shop..." And to her horror, he released her to get on his knees. "I wasn't planning on this so soon... but it seems, there couldn't be a better time than now."
The ring held a single solitaire with two pleats on one side decorated by smaller diamonds. If she thought that Kohaku's ring was valuable, this one probably was worth triple of that. "Sesshoumaru... this is all too much... what if you made a big mistake?"
"Loving you is a mistake?" He still held on to the ring expectantly. "I never once thought that. I'm a doctor Rin. If I make one mistake, lives can be lost. So I trust my instincts and it has never led me astray."
"Oh Sesshoumaru..." Rin could no longer see clearly with the tears blinding her. "Yes... Yes!"
/ / / /
FEBRUARY
SESSHOUMARU
"Daddy, are you sure we're doing this right..." Hiroki looked up from his mess of butter and chocolate – some of which had suspiciously got on his teeth – and pointed to the bowl in front of him.
Ever since his petition to include the boy in his Koseki had been approved, Sesshoumaru had been getting himself used to being addressed as 'Daddy' by the boy who was effectively now... really his son. Peering over at the bowl he grimaced.
"I think half the chocolate bar went missing. Did you happen to see it Hiroki-kun?" He feigned trying to hunt for it as he inched closer to the boy. When Hiroki was within reach, he scooped the boy and tickled him till they both cried in laughter.
"Daddy stop stop!" Hiroki had toppled a bag of flour on Sesshoumaru, covering him in white snow.
They were obviously not going to make chocolates in time for Rin before she returned home. "What do you say if we ditch this and go out to buy some?"
Hiroki looked up and yelped in joy. "Yeah! I thought girls were supposed to make chocolates for boys on valentine's day. How come we're making for Okaa-san? Suzuki-sensei says boys give chocolates back on white day next month."
"Well she's absolutely right Hiroki-kun. That's why I'm giving your mother a massive gift in March." He was marrying her. "But for today, I thought we could both give her something special. Okaa-san has always made sweets and chocolates for us right? It's only fair we do something nice for her too. Especially today."
The boy considered his words carefully. "Do we get her roses too? I hear were suppose to give them to the ones we like..." A slight blush crept up his cheeks and Sesshoumaru wondered if the boy had a crush in school he was dying to impress on White Day.
The trip to the department store was a nightmare. Everywhere, women fussed over boxes of chocolates to the point where both man and boy were dying for a breather the moment they found a box for Rin.
"We'll make chocolates ourselves next year," promised Hiroki, a second before he went still and quiet; his eyes widening. "Otou-san..."
Sesshoumaru knew the boy wasn't referring to him so he instinctively lifted Hiroki into his arms before turning to come face to face with...
"Sango-san?" Next to her, an equally stunned face of Kohaku stared straight at him. Didn't he say he was getting married to Kikyo? What in the world was he doing with his nurse aid?
"Ah! Oshiro-Sensei, what a surprise to see you here! And with little Hiroki-kun too." Turning to Kohaku, she introduced Sesshoumaru as her boss. "And this is Kohaku, my brother."
"Brother?" Sesshoumaru looked from Kohaku to Hiroki and then back at Sango. "What a small world huh?"
At her confused face, Kohaku let out a sigh. "Onee-san, actually Sesshoumaru and I know each other. Hiroki is our son."
"You're gay?!" Sango-san face was priceless.
"No, that's not what he meant Sango-san. Hiroki is Rin's and Kohaku's son. But I'm now marrying Rin and adopted Hiroki... so well, I guess that makes you his aunt."
"I don't believe this..." But when her eyes flicked from Hiroki to Kohaku, Sesshoumaru knew there was no way she could deny the familial similarities. The boy was a carbon copy of his biological father. "Oh my god... all these times. I could have helped her Kohaku! She was so alone!"
"Not anymore Sango-san. She has me now," said Sesshoumaru with a warm smile. "I do hope to see you both at the wedding. Hiroki should be surrounded by family always." Looking up into his son's face, Sesshoumaru gave him a reassuring kiss. With his mother leaving in two months, he was going to need them more than ever.
/ / / /
MARCH
RIN
Everything had happened so fast but Rin could not be happier. Staring into her reflection, she forced herself not to cry, especially not with Hiroki fidgeting nervously by her side.
"So are you ready to give your Okaa-san away?"
The seven year old looked up teary eyed at his mother. "But I had you first. Hiro-chan is only sharing you with Daddy..."
It hadn't been easy explaining to him that she would be leaving for a year overseas soon after the wedding. It had taken a lot of reassuring hugs and kisses to make him confident that she wasn't abandoning him and that Sesshoumaru would take him to the UK every long holiday to see her.
"You're my one true love Hiroki, don't forget that. In fact I'm sharing you with Daddy too." Those tears she tried so hard to hold back fell as her son stepped into her arms for a final hug.
"Alright you two, it's time." Kagome peeked her head into the dressing room and smiled kindly when she saw them hugging. " I'll tell them to hold for a minute more."
"No I'm ready!" chimed Hiroki as he dashed out to take his place. Though slightly non traditional, Rin and Sesshoumaru had insisted that him giving his mother away was the most natural thing for both of them. The boy had been ecstatic up till now.
As the wedding music played, Rin gave herself a final look in the mirror and smiled. Married for real this time. No half-assed Vegas style marriage like in the past.
"Thank you Kamisama for sending me this angel to love and to be mine. Thank you Otou-san, Okaa-san for watching over us always..."
And Rin stepped out, one step at a time; her husband's smiling face the only one she saw in the sea of guests in the hall.
I love this man... for all eternity.
/ / / /
SESSHOUMARU
There was not a sight more perfect than the love of his life walking hand in hand with their son down the aisle. Rin looked incredibly beautiful in her tulle wedding dress; those lustrous black hair curled and pulled up to leave her neck and shoulders bare except for a small necklace.
When their eyes met, he knew that this was the best decision he had made.
"Daddy..." Hiroki's hands gripped his mother's tightly but he still brought it forth towards Sesshoumaru.
"I promise I will love her till my last breathe," he promised, kissing the boy on his cheek. "And I will always love you too."
Rin only beamed at them both as she took her place by his side in front of the solemniser.
After exchanging their vows, Sesshoumaru held her face in his hand, bringing her close for their first kiss as a married couple. "Checking out your store was the best thing I ever did – well, after marrying you of course."
Walking down the aisle together, Rin squeezed his hand. "Really? And here I thought tricking me into a date was the best thing."
"I'll show you a few other tricks tonight if you want," he hissed, squeezing her fingers back.
"Sesshoumaru!"
"Admit it Rin. You love me to bits."
"I do... I do so much."
/ / / / / / /
A/N: Awwwwwww. I teared up a couple of times writing this. I hope everyone had warm fuzzies too! I seriously rushed this in time for Valentine's Day as a nice wrap up to the story. Thank you everyone for staying through with this story. I hope it made you feel a bunch of emotions and that you enjoyed it! Special thanks to lovespirita for your thoughts on this final chapter. Really helped me a lot!
I'll probably write a short epilogue in the near future. So in the meantime, reviews, PMs and general love for the story is more than welcome! Happy Valentine's Day everyone!