Chapter Twelve

Even in the dead of night, she dreamed less than during the day. For the first night in her entire life since before the death of her family, Rin felt a sense of calm about herself. All of the wrongs in her youth were dissolved into dust, along with her dislike for her newest situation. For the time being, as she turned over in her bed to face the window of her room, Rin, along with her soul, was at peace.

A silent tear fell down her pale left cheek and rolled onto her arm which she had beneath her head to prop herself up. Gazing out into the stars, she sniffed, the closed her eyes to rid herself of her pesky tears, not really sure why she was crying in the first place, but was annoyed by it nonetheless. Every part of her knew that the body she was living in was alien, but it still felt familiar. So bizarre to feel like two beings at once. It's even more so because I remember how I came to be in this place in time, and I know who everyone is that I was introduced to, tonight. Some memories of my present body have become dulled by the resurrection of my past and though it is all coming at me at once, I feel more alive now than I ever have in both of my lives. Oh, my Lord Sesshomaru…I now realize that, despite our absence of each other over many years, it is as if we were never parted. That is…until I remember Lord Sakuya.

Rin held her breath, almost positive that her abdominal pain would return at the thought of the wolf's name, but heaved a sigh of relief as it did not. She closed her puffy eyes again and smiled knowingly to herself. It all makes sense to me now. This pain I have felt in my stomach was that of a phantom pain caused by the memories of my murder. Any slight recollection of it before I knew who I was would have me suffering with debilitating pain. But now that I am aware of myself, the pain is no more. Rin moved a hand beneath her bed covers and rested it flat against her stomach instinctively. I was pregnant. Her cheeks blossomed with color and she quickly withdrew her hand. I guess my Miho self is still not used to the idea of any form of intimacy…I can't say I am, either, because I didn't experience any type in my new body. She bit her lip and blushed deeper.

Rin sighed and quickly changed the course of her thoughts. I'm so glad Kasumi and Hisoka didn't catch on, and I'm especially glad that Lord Sesshomaru released me before they showed up. Otherwise, I would have been locked away in my room for the remainder of this life. She smiled brightly to herself. Like Lord Sesshomaru would allow that to happen.

Recalling the events after recovering her memories made Rin's face fall, though. Before the appearance of her guardians, Sesshomaru had nearly squeezed her hard enough to crush her bones. The pain he must have felt at watching her die for the third and final time was no doubt present in his embrace, and she felt sick with relentless guilt. But then she remembered the reason in which she had been murdered. I was not worthy to be the mate and wife of the Lord of the Western Lands…nor was I fit to carry my Lord's child. Rin/Miho's heart clenched in misery over Lord Sakuya's words and she choked on the lump in her throat caused by her own anger and guilt. "My Lord, forgive me!" Rin/Miho had whispered through her torment as she clung to the front of Sesshomaru's kimono. "Lord Sakuya told me that I was carrying our son before I died! I know he had killed him with that dagger in my stomach! Oh, Lord Sesshomaru, I'm so sorry!"

"Stop this, Rin."

Rin shivered at the familiar tone in Sesshomaru's smooth but deep voice and her heart flipped inside of her chest. She was beyond happy at knowing that he had not given up hope on finding her.

Sesshomaru had heard enough to know exactly who it was he was holding and he wanted nothing more than to do just that, but he could not out of worry that should Rin/Miho's guardian return and catch them in their embrace, he might have to kill them and run away with her. With one more minute of holding her, he took in her unfamiliar scent in order to be sure that he could find her again and then pulled away to search the face of Miho for any sign of Rin's past appearance.

He recognized the fire in her eyes, the determination that she alone had control of her own destiny, and he fell in love with them all over again. Next, he noticed the way in which her lips were pressed together as if she were in deep thought…and saw Rin past Miho's exterior. They were the same height, Rin and Miho, but they were not similar in the face past those two features. Sesshomaru didn't mind though because despite the foreign features, he still saw her for who she was. "I do not want to remember the night I watched you slip away from me. The thought is too painful." His own heart clenched when he saw the sadness in her eyes. "For now, I wish to enjoy knowing that even though you are not the same as you were before, I have found you and I will not let you go again." Outside, Sesshomaru never broke out of his cool shell, but inside, he couldn't wait to take her away from this place and start over with her.

Across the room, Kagome and Inuyasha had gone quiet and were hugging each other while watching the event unfold before them. Inuyasha didn't need to see his mate's face to know that Kagome had been reduced to tears. "I can't believe that she was pregnant! Sesshomaru didn't say one word about it to any of us!"

Inuyasha hugged her closer to his chest and shrugged. "Sesshomaru barely speaks to anyone about anything, Kagome." That was only half true. Over the years, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had grown closer in a way. They weren't exactly exchanging hugs and friendly conversations, but they had stopped trying to ignore each other if they crossed paths. Not to mention, Sesshomaru had stopped trying to blame their father's death on him, which cleared the tension somewhat in the air around them. After a few random encounters, they would exchange civil words for a moment of two before parting ways. During those encounters, Inuyasha often wondered what the source of his brother's new attitude was, but never imagined that when Rin was murdered, she had been carrying Sesshomaru's half demon child.

Knowing now what he wasn't aware of then shed a whole new light on what was going on in front of him. My human hating, half demon despising, full demon brother had taken a humanmate and was going to be the father of a half breed like me! The hell! As far as Inuyasha was concerned, the world had come to an abrupt end.

Kagome, however, was thinking other thoughts. She was pregnant at the same time as me when she died! That would mean that if she had not been killed, their child would have survived and been around the same age as Ehren! Oh, that would have been wonderful! A cousin for my son! But Kagome's hopeful thoughts were dashed once she remembered the circumstances. But she didn't survive. Rin was killed right after her son…Kagome's motherly instincts kicked in and she suddenly had a strong urge to find her own son and hug him and her mate until they couldn't stand her anymore.

Rin had somehow managed to think along the exact same path. "Oh, Kagome!" She cried while twisting around in her Lord's arms to face her old friend. "I remember when you told me you were pregnant! Your son is beautiful! I'm so sorry I wasn't there to see him when he was born!"

Kagome's sad eyes began to smile through a fresh batch of tears as she couldn't believe who it was she was talking to. "Thank you, Rin." She released a shaky laugh and almost choked on a happy sob. "I told him about you, you know. Whenever your name came up in conversation, he would always ask me about you. He wanted to know what you looked like, what you acted like…if you would have been a wonderful aunt. Ehren has never met you and yet he loves you as if he already knew you…he will be excited to finally meet you."

It was Rin's turn to sob.

She pushed herself out of Sesshomaru's embrace and crossed the room faster than the wolf demon Kouga would have done to get to Kagome. Kagome also escaped her husband's arms in order to receive the most wonderful hug she had ever gotten from a long time friend. They held each other for a while after that, not caring that the two brothers were left standing on opposite ends of the room, staring at their two loves in shock.

"Lady Kagome, your son has…" Kasumi interrupted the scene upon opening through the teahouse door and was momentarily stunned by the affection she was witnessing in the room. Blinking the shock out of her eyes, she put her hands on her hips and cleared her throat.

Not giving Kagome a chance to speak, Inuyasha addressed Kasumi while crossing the room to stand in front of her. "Our son has what, Kasumi?"

'Um…" Kasumi's mind went blank for a second. "Um…oh! Yes, um…your son had woken up and was wondering when you would be coming to bed. He said he felt a little lonely." She shrugged. "I suppose the room was a little too dark for him. Shall I bring him to you?"

Before Inuyasha uttered a syllable, Kagome beat him to the punch and appeared beside him. "No, that is quite alright. I will go and tend to him myself. Excuse me." She pushed past them both, but not before giving Inuyasha a quick peck on the lips and whispering. "I'll see you in a few minutes?"

Inuyasha nodded dumbly and watched her disappear out the door.

Rin stood paralyzed as the realization hit home in her mind. Oh gods! I'm still Miho! Kasumi will think I've gone insane if she finds out!

Kasumi stepped past Inuyasha to get inside the tea house and her jaw dropped upon seeing Miho. "Miho, what on earth!"

Back in her room, Rin remembered the look on Kasumi's face perfectly. Rin had only just recalled that she was still drenched in mint tea and surrounded by four men, three of them demons, one human, and two out of the four were crouched down behind an overturned table watching her as if she might explode. Everyone knew what had happened and why…except her 'sister'.

Kasumi was dumbfounded. "Um, Miho…why are you covered in the tea?"

Rin searched her memories quickly and recovered a few of Miho's thoughts before answering. "Oh! Um…I tripped on my hem and landed on the table." She smiled as innocently as possible. "These gentlemen were kind enough to help me up!"

"Uh huh. And who are you?" Kasumi turned her attention to Sesshomaru, who had not been there when she left Miho alone.

Inuyasha jumped to Rin/Miho's aid with an explanation. "This is my older brother, Sesshomaru! Sorry, I forgot to mention that he would be joining us. He was a bit late in showing up."

"And why are they using the table as a shield?" Kasumi nodded in the direction of Shippo and Miroku, who were still hiding from them.

Again, Inuyasha answered. "My brother and I were demonstrating some of our sword fighting tricks and my friends decided that they could be safer behind the table."

Kasumi had one more question. "Then why isn't Miho also behind the table."

Rin/Miho answered this time. "Because Lord Sesshomaru was teaching me a specific technique. I asked them if they would show me when I noticed their swords. You know I can't resist learning new tricks, 'sister'."

Kasumi looked around the room and surveyed each and every face before stopping on Miho's face. "Alright then, I think it is time to retire, gentlemen. Miho, come along." She turned and exited the room.

Rin/Miho sighed with relief before she looked around at everyone and half smiled. "And this is what you have all come to find me living with." She bowed to no one in particular and turned her attention to Sesshomaru, who was regarding her with a hooded gaze. "Stay?" She asked hopefully.

Sesshomaru did not respond with words, only nodded and Rin grinned, relieved, before she too left the room.

Back in her own bedroom, she finally felt the inevitable pull of sleep tugging at her drooping eyes. After a few minutes of fighting it, she slept with a smile on her face and dreamed of a silver haired demon without waking up screaming.

Author's Note: I apologize to you all for the delay. My grandmother is currently in the hospital with heart complications so I have been preoccupied. She is doing well now, so no worries.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I shall be updating again within the week. Keep an eye out for me.

OliviaAR