Hello everyone!
I'm really sorry for not being able to post sooner but I had exams to attend to! I'm sorry!
Lucky now I'm already on my summer vacations so I hope to update more regularly!
Once again, thank you for your dear reviews! I'm really glad you like this story!
Here's chapter 5!
Sorry for any mistakes in English that might appear!
DISCLAIMER: All these characters are owned by Inuyasha's rightfull author. I merely own the story.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5 - The Truth about Rin and Sesshomaru
When she got home that night, never the sight of Hiroyuki in her mother's sofa, peacefully asleep but still holding his crayons seemed so heart breaking. Her conversation with Kouga had awoken a powerful beast that had been sleeping for five long years within her. The fear of her child's future, how she would ever explain him why she hadn't told his father he existed, how he had come to be a being inside her, why his father wasn't there…
All of it came crushing down at once as soon as she got down, near her son and rested her forehead in front of his face. As if he was feeling what was wrong with her, he whimpered and turned in his sleep and awoke:
- Mom?
- Hello, honey. I'm back. – she said, earning a little smile from him amidst her sadness.
- You're sad…
- No. No, I'm not. Mom's just tired…
- You don't use to cry when you're tired…
- … Sometimes we all have to cry a little… to feel better after… are you ready to go home?
He nodded, still half asleep and Kagome smiled once more when the eyelids of those pools of gold fluttered and close once more. Her mother, who was standing by the doorstep, came in and asked:
- Kagome? Are you really ok?
- Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for picking him up today. I had to work another shift, because Yura had a problem at home…
- It's alright. You want to have dinner here? Hiroyuki already ate, but I can give you something too…
- He ate? Thanks, mom. I was scared he hadn't had anything…
- Nonsense. As if I would let my grandson starve. Are you sure you're alright to drive? – she asked, as soon as Kagome got up, her son in her arms. His head was placed above her shoulder, his legs around her and she picked him up careful not to wake him up again. He stirred but still slept.
- I'm ok, mom. Can you just bring his stuff to my car? He's already heavy, so I don't think carrying his stuff would be a good idea…
- Okay, but I'm going to send you dinner too…
- Thank you. I'm in no mood to cook today.
Her mother followed her towards her car, placing her grandson's things behind the driver's seat as well as a bag with soup and dinner for Kagome. Kagome placed her son in his chair and bid goodbye to her mother, driving into the night.
As soon as she arrived home, Kagome undressed and dressed her son on his pajamas and put him to sleep.
- Love you.
- Love you too… - was his answer, though a little bit mumbled. She smiled and turned off the lights.
Returning to the living room she picked up whatever toys were sprawled in the floor and got them to their rightful places, went to the kitchen and put the table on for breakfast, and put the clothes in the washing machine, turning it on when she left the kitchen. She came to the living room once more, and sat in front of the mute TV, dinner on a tray, as she turned on the answering machine. There was a message that surprised her, from Rin, saying that she wasn't hurt or angry with her, but that she needed time to think in what had happened between her and Sesshomaru.
After that, everything in the house fell into silence and Kagome couldn't help but thought on what was about to change.
She knew that, once she bumped into Kikyo, it was only a matter of time until she heard about Hiroyuki, especially if Kaede was truly her sister. The real circumstances of his birth weren't known to anyone in the hospital, beside Sango and Kanna. Since the first one hated Kikyo as well, and Kanna wouldn't tell anyone because she hated to gossip about others lives, there wasn't any chance of Kikyo suspecting that Inuyasha could be involved.
But if she did find out, Kagome knew that Kikyo wasn't as stupid as she seemed; if Kikyo ever saw Hiroyuki, she would easily link the pieces and have her own suspicions. It was impossible for Kagome to hide Hiroyuki, for as much as she wanted to: her son was bound to show up at the hospital sooner or later and, if that happened, if Kikyo saw him, Kagome knew it would only be a matter of time until Inuyasha came asking her if his fiancée suspicions were true. Kagome wasn't planning on telling him without preparing Hiroyuki before, and she knew that when Inuyasha heard about the truth, Sesshomaru would warn her beforehand, or at least she was hoping to.
However, it was Inuyasha's reaction and what came after it that was worrying Kagome. If he accepted it well, and would not be a jerk, even she wouldn't deny him the privilege of being with his son. However, she needed to know first if he really meant to stay and for how long he was staying. They would have to have a serious conversation, for their son's well being, where she had to explain Inuyasha why she hadn't told him about Hiroyuki's existence and what his coming back for good or merely for a few months would do in her son's life. She was deeply scared of having that conversation with him, for it might open up old scars and also because it was merely after that that she intended to present him as Hiroyuki's father to her son.
Second, there was the matter with Kikyo. Sesshomaru had told her that dog demons would only procreate with his rightful mate; though Kagome believed it to be not completely true, she wasn't sure as to how Kikyo would react to Hiroyuki's existence, with her being the rightful fiancée. She wasn't even sure if Kikyo knew about the whole "rightful mates" thing so, if she didn't, Kagome didn't knew how she could act. The image of Kikyo hurting her son was unbearable and there was no way that woman was messing up with her son. She was afraid that, the same way her lies had affected Inuyasha, they would affect her son and she was determined not to ever let Hiroyuki from his sight in the presence of Kikyo.
She was thinking like this when her doorbell rang. Surprised, she placed the tray away and she went to open up to find Sesshomaru there, looking awfully unstable, his suit torn over. He hadn't shaved in what looked like days and he smelled and looked like a drunken man.
- Ka… Kagome…
- Sesshomaru! What the hell…?
He almost stumbled over and Kagome caught him and brought him inside, even if he heighted a few more tons than her. She sat him on her sofa and quickly went to the kitchen, returning with a bucket and a cup of hot instantaneous strong coffee.
- No… - he mumbled, his hand drifting away from its normal course as he tried to push her back, when she hold the bucket in front of him. She offered him the coffee and he also pushed it away. – No…
- Yes. You'll drink it and you'll keep it down, for Hiroyuki is already asleep…
He drank it and afterwards he stumbled backwards, lying on the couch, his eyelids closed.
- I'm an idiot…
- …
- Say I'm an idiot… - he said, one of his eyelids open.
- You're an idiot… - she repeated, a grin appearing on her face.
- … Thanks… - he said, with a small smile.
- But saying it won't help you. What happened?
- I saw them… having dinner today… at her house… - it didn't took much for Kagome to understand what he was talking about.
- Rin and Bankotsu?
- She was so beautiful… - he mumbled, not looking as if he had heard her. – Like a princess…
She felt a cold shiver in her spine and feeling of déjà vu. "…You look beautiful… like a princess…"
- Did she saw you?
- No. I was hidden beneath the flowers… she has some pretty flowers in her garden…
- Sesshomaru… - Kagome asked, shocked. – Rin lives in a 4th floor, with no garden. Did you follow her home? But how…? Did you climb up her window?
- I tried… but I fell after…
- Oh my God… what am I going to do with you…?
- You? I don't know what you're going to do… - he said, snuggling deeper into the couch. – but I'm sleeping right here…
She merely watched as he drifted into oblivion, before shaking her head in astonishment and get up to catch a blanket and placing it over him. She locked her door up, cleared the tray in the kitchen, washed the dishes and went to her bed, drifting off to sleep.
The next morning, when she was cleaning up the table from breakfast in the living room and Hiroyuki was brushing his teeth in the bathroom, Sesshomaru awoke with a terrible headache.
- My… head…
- Yeah, it figures you'd need a pretty good hangover to understand what migraines are. – she said, smiling. – Morning. I'll bring you coffee in a minute.
- Kagome? What am I doing here?
- You don't remember? – she asked, her voice coming from the kitchen.
- No. What happened?
- Well, - she said, appearing next to him with a plate of biscuits and a strong coffee. – You came here yesterday, pretty much drunk, actually. Here, drink this.
- Thanks… it's bitter! – he said, after taking a sip.
- The best cure for hangovers. How do you feel?
- Like crap. – he said, surprising her. – What?
- I never believed that brilliant lawyer Sesshomaru Taisho would ever, ever have a filthy mouth…
- Sorry… - he said, suddenly looking completely neglected. – I just… I don't know what came over me…
- Oh, I know. You saw Rin, yesterday and you believed that she wasn't being true when she told you about Bankotsu at Hiroyuki's party.
His face seemed to fall even more and Kagome placed one arm around his shoulders.
- I told you, you shouldn't play with her feelings…
- I know. I really am an idiot…
- You know, Rin did love you. She has loved you for long, since her university days. She has been a constant presence in your life, Sesshomaru. Yet, even she can get tired of being the one who's always a second choice.
- She was never a second choice! She's my friend, she always has been. I mean, I did know she loved me but…
- What? You thought she wasn't serious about you?
- Kagome, please! Look at me!
- What's the problem now?
He seemed to mumble something, his eyes ashamed and turned to the ground. In a flash, Kagome seemed to understand.
- She's your mate, isn't she?
He turned to her, his eyes opening in surprise at her quick thoughts. That merely confirmed Kagome's answer.
- That's why you've been pushing her aside? You meant to stay away from her?
- No. Nothing of the sort! It's complicated…
- Then explain it.
- Hiroyuki will be late.
- Don't try to pull that on me, boy. Hiroyuki is my problem. If he gets late to school, I'll talk to his teacher.
Sesshomaru gulped hard.
- I'm waiting… - she said, impatiently.
- Alright! I'll tell you. Just… give me time…
- …
- You are correct. Rin is, in fact my mate. I've known it since…
- Since?
- Since our college days.
- WHAT?
- Hold it! Don't judge me yet!
- How can I not? You've…
- Mating is not as simple as you think, Kagome! – he said, silencing her. – It's a complete process in which we have little to say.
- What do you mean?
- Imagine a healthy looking boy, 18 or 19 years old, starting at college. As he starts his classes, he noticed there is one girl that attracts him but he can't explain why. He is drawn to her as… moths are drawn to the light. He can't fight that. And the girl isn't particularly cute.
- Are you saying…
- Rin is too much cute, just so you know! – he said, almost sounding offended by her train of thoughts. - Anyway, imagine that someone explains to him the reason why he is so drawn to her: she is his rightful partner for love and life. And he believes it's not alrigth to force that on the girl, on someone he barely knew. So he avoids her. Can you understand?
- Is that why…?
- Rin is too much younger than me, and she was still a freshman when we met. And that happened with me, although I already had a girl at that time. And I didn't thought it was right to take advantage of that. I still don't. More than it, I really like her and want her to be happy, and to have a chance to choose her happiness; not because it was meant to be, but because she wanted it that way…
- You love her! – stated Kagome, smiling widely.
- And that's not a really common thing. Most dog demons mate for the survival of the species. Some don't even care for each other, others even hate them another… but not me.
- You really, really love her! And here she believed she wasn't even important to you!
- Of course she is important! She's the most important person for me!
- That's why you couldn't get away completely from her!
- I never can. As long as one of the mates makes full acknowledgement of the other, he is bound to be a constant in his or her life, as long as he or she shall live. Even if I stay simply as a friend, I'm obliged to be present in her life.
- And won't that hurt, supposing that Rin wouldn't want you as her mate? You'd have to see her still…
- That's why mating doesn't imply love. It becomes easier when you became your mate's protector or friend or neighbor… when you don't have deeper feelings…
- I see. I suppose the reason why Inuyasha never came back was because I wasn't the one, huh? So much for the "rightful mate's procreation" theory… - she said, scornfully and bitterly sad.
- That's not it. The procreation theory, as you call it, is correct…
- Then how come Inuyasha hasn't come back all these years and suddenly he appear back? Wasn't he supposed to stay near?
- He hasn't marked you yet. He was near when he was your friend, but he has never marked you. You carried his child, and his smell, yet he hasn't made the process complete…
- What does it take to make the process complete…? – she asked, already turning bright red. She could only imagine what else was necessary. Sesshomaru couldn't even start talking when Hiroyuki appeared at the door, his bag on his back.
- I'm ready!
- He's ready! – Sesshomaru shouted.
- Yeah, it's time. – she said, also lifting herself up, avoiding Sesshomaru's eyes, as embarrassed as she was.
Sesshomaru drove them to school, where they dropped Hiroyuki and then he drove till Kagome's Hospital to drop her.
- I'm going home, to change and get to work… - he said as he parked.
- Sesshomaru… - said Kagome, earning his full attention. – Thanks for sharing that with me. And please don't believe you're too old for her or that she has already chosen…
- She's with Bankotsu now…
- Then get her back! Or you really want her to get away from you, without a fight?
There was silence in the car as he thought about what she said.
- No. I don't want to give her up without a fight…
- Very well, then. Listen, tomorrow is my day off and so is Rin's. We agreed on meeting each other at my house and go shopping so we'll be home at dinner time. Can you pick Hiroyuki at school and meet us there?
- Sure. But do you think is a good idea?
- Sure it is. Anyway, you're going to explain to Rin exactly what you explained today to me. And don't give me that face, because you know I won't buy it!
- You expect me to tell her all this?
- Yes. She deserves to know why you've been keeping her away. After that, you're going to invite her out, to dinner. Not tomorrow but the next day.
- But… I…
- Don't tell me you're scared? – she said, with a smirk.
- I'm not scared! But why do I have to tell her all this? Wouldn't she be better off, without knowing?
- Sesshomaru, you said yourself that the other mate has to accept you, so you can be together, right?
- Right.
- Well, you've been preserving her. Keeping her from a forced choice. Don't you think it's time that she makes her own choice?
- She already…
- How can she make her choice, - Kagome interrupted him – when she hasn't heard the other version of the story?
Sesshomaru stared at her, for a while and then gave her a small smile.
- Thanks Kagome. For listening and taking care of me.
- No problem. That's what friends are for, right?
Kagome got out of the car, biding him farewell, and crossed the inside of the building. When she arrived at the 5th floor, there was a whole commotion going on at Jakotsu's table. She paid them no mind and went ahead, to dress herself up.
- Not so fast! – shouted a voice, behind her, grabbing her by the neckline of her shirt.
- Whoa! Jakotsu!
- Come on! Come here! – he said excitedly, pulling her throughout the bunch of people, around his table. When Kagome finally got rid of everyone in front of her, she came face to face with the most handsome bouquet of white pure and velvet red roses she had ever seen.
- It's for you. – said Jakotsu, under the gaze of the envious nurses around her.
- Me? Jakotsu, you didn't have to…
- It wasn't me. – he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. – There's a card, open it!
Suddenly, Kagome didn't want to open it, for she had a good hunch in who had sent it. Even so, she opened the card and stared at it, in complete surprise, while the other nurses looked from behind her, trying to spy. Jakotsu hissed them and they remained silent. It wasn't from Houjo.
For the nurse who believes in equality.
Just so you know I'm planning on keeping the stitches.
I'll see you later.
I still own you coffee, after all, and there's no way I'll forget that promise or you!
Kouga
- Kouga… - she mumbled, surprised.
- What's all this commotion? – asked a voice, behind the multitude. Kagome turned around as Kaede made her way till her.
- Kagome? – she asked as she saw the young woman with a bouquet on her hand and in the middle of the commotion.
- I'm sorry, head nurse. I just arrived, I haven't even changed…
- Kagome has a new admirer, miss Kaede! – shouted Jakotsu, in a high pitched voice, making Kaede wince.
- An admirer?
- Isn't she lucky? – said Ayumi, another nurse, as Kagome turned redder. – She already has Dr. Houjo but she still breaks many hearts…
- Yeah, and there's also Mr. Myouga and . – said Yuka, other of the nurses.
- Those don't count, they're old man. – said Eri, another nurse.
- Enough! – said Kagome, reddening but smiling a little too. – You're embarrassing me…
- Completely right. – said a cold voice from behind them, that had an instantly frozen effect on them. Especially on Kagome, since she knew that cold voice and so she turned slowly into her direction.
Standing a few feet from them stood a woman, dressed in a grayish suit, whit a light pink shirt and black shoes. She had a white coat dressed on and a blue folder on her left hand. Kagome could hear the others around her comment in how both women seemed to look alike. The woman in front of her had long straight black hair, different from Kagome's soft waves, cold black eyes in opposition to Kagome's warm brown ones and a frigid posture as she looked over Kagome once and again. After evaluating her, the woman smiled and said, coldly:
- You already embarrass yourself alone, don't you Kagome? You don't need anyone else to do that for you…
Kagome smirked and answered calmly, before the surprised eyes of Jakotsu and Kaede, and the remaining nurses:
- Hello Kikyo. It's awful to see you too.
So... what did you guys think?
I know you're all excited to see Inuyasha coming up but it's still going to take a while! Sorry!
Meanwhile, review!