J: IT'S ALLLIIIIIVEEEEEE! "Lightning and thunder sound effects" I SWEAR I never intended for this story to be one of my drop-off's. I had it all planned out and then POOF my muse pulled a Houdini. On top of that there were a lot of life events, multiple fandom switches, and the final excuse I have is that I need to find the original notebook I had been writing in. This chapter is not at all what I planned to continue with, if anything, this is a filler meant to jog my brain back into this story line. I hope you accept it as a peace offering until the next proper chapter comes up WHICH IT WILL I SWEAR!

(TAKES IN A VERY DEEP BREATHE)

THANKS TO: Cherry20052, Lakeya2700, Creamberries, TH. CB. tayln. birchfield, Kairi8912, OrihimeKurosakiInoue, Maire 53, A Fan, Fluffy is Amazing, RYNO IV, Azumigurl, Ehren Mae, New Moon Promise, Lozenger12, Kags521, Crash and Burn, Mrs. Ian SomerhadlerJacobBlack, Wren-lee, RangerRainbow, Guest, and silverfoxkurama.

Additional thanks to Monki-Neko for giving me the correct spelling of taiyaki, I am woefully not well educated in Japanese foods (something I will fix) so it was nice to know this :)

And a big congrats to JaychAn for winning the newest truth cookie as reviewer 150!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY INUYASHA CHARACTERS.

Chapter Sixteen

Sesshomaru's eyes stared out the window of his car, to some it would appear he was deep in thought. To those that were granted close access and a better understanding of the stoic demon they would know he was remembering and processing exactly what it was he was remembering.

The memory that played through his mind for a third time was of the night before after he'd retrieved Rin from the Higurashi apartment.

"We did so many things Papa. We finger painted and had a picnic on the balcony. We went to the park where Ms. Sango taught me how to fall and then we had super big rice omelettes for supper and we watched 'Ponyo'!" As Rin listed off everything she'd done during the day with Shippo she unrolled her finger painting and opened the small Tupperware container to reveal the sushi inside.

Sitting at the kitchen table with Rin Sesshomaru's eyes scanned over the painting. This wasn't the first picture she had made of herself and Shippo, though this was the first he had seen that included both him and Ms. Higurashi. He did not miss the point where their hands were meant to be holding. There were multiple ways to read into their hands being together, Rin would be willing to explain he was sure, at present he would accept it as a sign that she wished for him and Ms Higurashi to get along. Giving a nod towards the painting he praised her, "It is well done Rin."

Her cheery smile made the room feel just a bit brighter as she pointed to the sushi, "Ms. Kagome helped me make this super special sushi just for you Papa."

His nose had identified rice, seaweed, carrots, crab meat, and the smallest dash of salt and pepper. None of these items could be deemed 'super' or 'special' but the pride that was evident in Rin made him wonder.

Using the very tips of his claws Sesshomaru picked up a small portion of sushi and put it into his mouth. His brows furrowed as the tastes were that of the items he'd recognized but there was a definite…something to the sushi that made it 'zing' more than any spice or vegetable he'd tried before. Chewing slowly he tried his hardest to pin point this difference.

Finally swallowing he turned to his daughter for answers, "It is delicious."

Happiness and an extra spike of pride filled her entire body as Rin giggled, "I knew you'd like it Papa, especially with Ms. Kagome's secret ingredients."

His head tilted as his eyebrow arched, "Which ingredients?"

The cheery smile dropped, Rin crossed her arms shaking her head, "Sorry Papa but they're secret. Ms. Kagome made me pinkie promise not to tell."

'A secret on top of a mystery with my daughter being a part of it. Kagome Higurashi continues to make my mind busier than necessary.' It wouldn't take much to make Rin tell him what the secret ingredients were but the slight drop to her eyelids that her enthusiasm couldn't fight off told him to leave it for another time. "Come Rin, time for bed."

Rin couldn't complain; she never did. Bed time was her favorite time since it was the time that she got to snuggle with her Papa as he told her stories about princesses and beautiful demonesses he'd encountered in the time before Tokyo city.

Refocusing on the present Sesshomaru felt his eyes narrow thinking about the sushi which he'd brought with him to work. He would learn of its secret ingredients before Rin was done school or he would concede defeat and try to wiggle it out of her after school.

Stepping off the elevator his assistant approached him with her bright pink memo pad. "Good morning Mr. Taishou is there anything I can get for you?"

He gave a tiny shake of his head to dismiss her. As of late he'd been finding his assistant was grating on his nerves.

She had done nothing out of the norm of their daily routines but the smallest things seemed to make his fangs grind together. The perfume she wore was far too sweet, her voice fluctuated to high pitches that hurt his ears, and even her entire presence felt wrong when in close proximity. Keeping her at a distance made things more bearable but while he was in his office he continued to feel that she wasn't right anymore.

Sitting at his desk he let his attention go back to the conundrum of the secret ingredients. Having nothing that needed his immediate attention he decided dissection would be a good start.

Using a plain blue handkerchief as a plate he unwrapped the rice covered seaweed and began to pull apart the innards. As his nose and taste buds had told him there was nothing but carrots, crab meat and seasoning. Trying a bit of each ingredient he found they tasted like their regular selves. Rewrapping the whole thing and eating it altogether he once more experienced the extra 'zing' that made his body ask for more. This second time eating it his mind tingled with a slight sense of recognizing the difference. It was so small of a tingle though that it was impossible to grasp and acknowledge.

Glaring outright at the remaining four pieces of sushi he resealed the container and placed it in a desk drawer. 'Perhaps the monk…No. He would take advantage and find humor in my not knowing.'

A low grumble of displeasure to his predicament escaped his control. Deciding that this issue would lead to nothing but increased frustration at this time he forced his mind to focus on work. A focus that was not nearly as challenging but more necessary than sushi.

J: Don't know if it was noticed but this chapter was not edited, and it may read awkwardly because it has been a very long time since I wrote for this fanfiction's rhythm.