Hello everyone! (Or at least anyone that is still reading this story!)

I can't even try to explain how deeply sorry I am for making you wait for so long. Some of you might perhaps think I'm dead so... well, I'm not!

Long story short: I was about to publish this chapter in December but my grandmother had a stroke right before the New Year's Eve, at the 28th so my life completely turned 360º! Since I'm the one who is studying to be a nurse... guess who's taking care of her now?

I'm not complaining because at the same time it's training and a pleasure. I simply wanted you guys to understand why I couldn't post it before: I have university classes to attend to and my grandmother to take care of. My social life has been turned almost to 0! So, once again, I'm really, really sorry!

This is a brand new chapter of this story. To those of you who keep asking for Inuyasha's appearance, I have to say that... next chapter things start to head that way!

I'm sorry for any mistakes in English that might appear!

Enjoy!

Chapter 9 - Clarifying Things Between Two Lovers...

Kagome was making the final arrangements for her dinner when her doorbell ring. She opened it up and found out Rin was the one at her door.

"- Hey. How are you?"

"- I'm fine. And you?"

"- I'm fine too. I came to check in on you…"

"- You mean you want details on my lunch." – Kagome said after closing the door, while leading her friend to the living room.

"- Well… yes, I do! By the way, where's Hiro?"

"- Oh, he's downstairs at the neighbors. They invited him to dinner today. Have you had dinner, yet?"

"- Yes, I did. Actually I was hoping I could talk to you about it…"

"- Really?" – Kagome said, as she brought the tray with her food on and sat near her friend. –" Do you mind if I eat? I'm starving…"

"- No, it's ok. Just tell me about your date first and I'll tell you about my dinner after."

Kagome told Rin about how Kouga had been nice, the funny situations they got into when he tried to make a move on her and how she had felt good, in his presence. She also told her friend about her visit to Sango and how her son seemed curious about Kouga too.

"- That's pretty much it. Now, about you… what did that dinner had that you have to talk with me?"

"- I had dinner with Sesshomaru."

"- What? But… weren't you guys angry?"

"- We are. I mean, I… oh, God! I just don't know anymore…"

"- Well then, start explaining by the beginning. Why did you two had dinner?"

"- Ok. So what you told me about Kikyo and Inuyasha, I wanted to confirm it and I called Sesshomaru to know if he knew anything about that matter. He said he did but that there was something else he wanted to tell me as well, so we ended up having dinner."

"- And?"

"- Remember when you told me they were getting married? And I almost couldn't believe what I heard?"

"- Yes, what about it?"

"- Well, it turns out that our dear friend Kikyo is still the same. She's still lying." - Rin couldn't help but laugh.

"- Lying? About what?" – asked Kagome, taking a sip from her water.

"- Her engagement. According to Sesshomaru they haven't been engaged not once, since they left. They simply are together, nothing more. And they don't seem pretty much happy, according to him…"

"- Are you sure? She wasn't wearing any ring but…"

"- I'm positive. Sesshomaru explained that to me… along with other things." – Rin said, giving her a knowing look.

"- … Oh! He told you about me and Inuyasha, didn't he?"

"- Yes. That the reason why you became pregnant is because you are his… his rightful mate. But he also explained other things… about himself…" - said Rin, blushing.

Kagome's face turned into a surprised and anxious one.

"- He didn't…"

"- He did."

"- Oh my God! Already? I thought he would take more time to tell you! What did he say?"

"- He told me about the whole mating thing. And about me."

"- And…?"

"- … He asked me out… for a real date, this time…" - Rin said, blushing.

"- YES! Oh, God, yes! At least one of the brothers is mentally able to solve his mistakes…"

"- Kagome, that doesn't mean I've forgiven him and that everything, is going to be ok…"

"- Huh? Why?"

"- I know he wanted to give me the choice… but… I still wanted him to be honest with me in the first place. Doesn't he know he can trust me?"

Kagome smiled.

"- You know he does. He just didn't want to put pressure on you. The last time he was here, he was pretty drunk."

"- Sesshomaru, drunk? Oh, come on! Don't mock me!"

"- It's the truth, it was two nights ago. He was pretty bad shaped and he even slept in this couch."

"- Are you saying he…? But why?"

"- He saw you and Bankotsu having dinner together."

"- Oh… wait a minute. Bankotsu and I had dinner at my house!"

"- Yeah, I know. He climbed to the veranda…"

"- What? He's crazy! He could have fallen!"

"- He did fall. Apparently, that was what awoke him from his stupor."

"- He didn't seem hurt…" – she said, concerned. Kagome scowled.

"- Rin, he's a full fledge demon…"

"- Oh, right…"

"- He was pretty beaten up, you know? Psychologically speaking. He really believed you'd chosen Bankotsu and that there was nothing he could do if his rightful mate chooses not to accept him. He would have to be present in your life, but he'd do it only as a friend. Nothing more."

"- He told me… he told me he knew since college."

"- He told me that too. And that he believes he is too old for you and that you deserve a chance to be happy… until you finally found the person with whom you intend to share your life with. He didn't wanted to be that person, simply because he told you both of you were meant to be mates. And even if he was in love with you and you were his rightful mate, if you'd refuse him, he would have to accept your decision. That's why he didn't tell you. He wanted you…"

"- To be free. I know… free to chose and free to love… the only thing I don't get is why? I mean, I've loved him practically all these years and he always kept pushing me away. If I had already assumed I was in love with him, then why did he still push me?"

"- Dog demons mate for life. I'd already heard Inuyasha say that, once. When you both mate, your life expands and you'll live till your mate dies. When he does, they say you'd follow after. You'd never be able to be with no one else, I mean, as in love and in… you know… you wouldn't be able to betray your mate. You're his and he is yours. Can you see that he didn't push you away on purpose? He didn't want you to choose that kind of life, without knowing what was the other choice…"

Rin stayed silent. Kagome drink up what was left of her drink, finished eating and placed the tray on the table.

"- You were the one who told him to do this, right?" – asked the young gynecologist.

"- Do what?"

"- Tell me. Explain everything to me…"

"- He loves you, Rin…" - Kagome said with a smile. –" After that day, when he saw you and Bankotsu he really believed he had lost you. So I told him that he wouldn't lose you until you made your choice… which implied that you would have to be sure of what you were choosing…"

"- This implied he had to explain it all to me. Fair enough."

Kagome smiled, when she saw Rin's features get a little more animated.

"- So… are you going to…?"

"- What?"

"- Are you going out with him or not?"

"- …"

"- You're worried."

"- Yeah. Actually, I haven't been in a date like this in a long time…"

"- What do you mean?" – Kagome said, now completely confused.

"- Well… Bankotsu and I have broken up a few months ago…" - Rin confessed, her eyes on the floor.

"- WHAT? RIN NAGASAKI!" – shouted Kagome, jerking from her seat and pacing in front of her.

"- Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!"

"- Why haven't you told me anything?"

"- You have enough problems already and you were excited about Sango's twins too…"

"- Are you telling me that you haven't been with him in THE LAST MONTH!"

"- Months. Actually, is more like 6 months…"

"- RIN!"

"- Sorry. I didn't want you to worry about me. I am fine. We found out we're better as friends than as a couple…"

"- You should have told me! And Sesshomaru believes that…"

She paused and looked at Rin, her eyes open wide:

"- Rin Nagasaki, does Sesshomaru knows about this?"

"- No."

"- And why haven't you told him yet?"

"- I was going to …"

"- But?"

"- I wanted him to suffer a little, just like I suffered." – she said, with a cute pout on her face.

"- So, the other day… that was not a romantic dinner?"

"- Hey, we may have broken up but Bankotsu is still my best friend, ok? If Sesshomaru wants me, then he'll have to live with that… it's his own fault for spying on me…"

"- You're the worst! You said you were fine with him!"

"- I lied, sorry."

Kagome looked at her and couldn't help but grin.

"- You're forgiven, of course. I can't stay angry at you…"

"Thanks, - Rin said – and I'm sorry I hadn't called you all those days. I needed time…"

"- It's alright. But now what are you going to do with Sesshomaru? You said you haven't forgiven him…"

"- And I haven't. If he wants my forgiveness, he will have to work hard and prove me."

"- But you'll forgive him eventually, won't you?"

"- That's not a condition, you know? I'm not sure if I will… Now, returning to our prior business…"

"- What?"

"- About Kikyo and Inuyasha…"

"- Oh, that!"

"- Anyway, Sesshomaru talked to Inuyasha about Kikyo and he said that he hasn't asked her in anything, except when she became his girlfriend. Still, he didn't say if he wanted to marry her or not…"

"- That's not my concern. I just want to know if they are moving in permanently…"

"- Well, that he couldn't tell me for sure but he's going to keep watch on him. Let's see what he's going to do next…"

Rin left after a few minutes and Kagome went to thank her neighbors and pick Hiroyuki up. After putting him to sleep, she sat thinking about what Rin had said.

Two days later, after dinner, Rin appeared at Kagome's house and left her friend speechless. She was wearing a simple black strapless dress, that ended above her knee and that hugged her forms perfectly. She was wearing black high heels and a silver necklace and small earrings; with her black hair in a lose ponytail, pulled to the left, leaving her other shoulder exposed and soft make up that merely accented her eyes. In her hands she had a red clutch.

"So, - she asked from the door, when her friend opened the door – how do I look?"

Kagome stared in shock at her friend and said:

"- Astounding! You're beautiful!"

"- Isn't it too much?"

"- Too much? My dear, if all it took for you to be this sexy was for Sesshomaru to ask you out, I would have kicked his ass much sooner!" – said Kagome, as she let her friend in.

"- Thank you." – Rin said, giggling as Hiroyuki came from the kitchen running.

"- Aunt Rin! You look biautiful!"

"- Thank you dear."

"- Is Aunt Rin going out?"

"- Yes she is, dear."

"- Can I go with her?" – he asked, his eyes glimmering.

"- You're already on your pajamas and tomorrow you have school. Besides, aunt Rin isn't going alone…"

"- Then who's going with her?" – he asked, confused. –" You're in pajamas too, mom…"

At that moment, the doorbell rang and Hiroyuki jumped excitedly even before it was open:

"- Uncle Sesshomaru!"

"- Kagome… I'm nervous…" - Rin said, puling Kagome to the kitchen, as Hiroyuki opened the door.

"- Don't be silly! Remember that he is trying to make you forgive him so don't be too harsh…"

"- Yeah, right."

Sesshomaru walked in the house, Hiroyuki in his arms, and directed himself to the kitchen.

"- What do you mean aunt Rin is going with you?" – they heard Hiroyuki ask.

"- We are having dinner together, me and her."

"- Then why is she all dressed up and beautiful? She's different from when she comes here and has dinner with you…"

Sesshomaru stole a glance at Rin as he arrived at the kitchen, and at that time forgot to speak and breathe at the same time. They both stood eyeing each other and even Kagome could feel the room igniting between their gazes. Clearing her throat, she made them snap back to reality, as Rin blushed and Sesshomaru turned around to face her:

"- Oh, hello Kagome."

"- Hello Sesshomaru. Nice seeing you so charmed up by Rin but, unless you want to take my kid to dinner too, I'd suggest you'd give him to me and get going. You don't seem to be the type who is very patient and, as much as I'd love to see both you and Rin getting together, I don't want anything improper in my living room."

"- Kagome!" – Rin said, embarrassed.

"- That's true. We might end up doing things that are non-childish today…" - muttered Sesshomaru, completely lost from the world as his eyes took in Rin's figure.

It wasn't loud but the girls heard it, and Rin blushed once more. Unfortunately, Hiroyuki heard it too.

"- What are "non-childish" things, mom?" – he said, deciding that probably his mother would answer him better than his uncle, who seemed to be paying attention solely on his aunt Rin.

Sesshomaru quickly glanced her apologizing and she hold her arms out for Hiroyuki to climb to her, to which he quickly complied.

"- It's things that grown up do, sweetheart. Now, I believe it's enough of questions today and it's time that you go to your bed."

"- Yes, you're right. We're also going, aren't we?" – Rin asked, while turning a smile to Sesshomaru.

"- Whenever you're ready…"

"- Well, then… I see you tomorrow, Kagome…" - they said, after exiting. –" Goodbye Hiro…"

"- Bye! Bye uncle Sesshomaru!"

"- See you both tomorrow." – said Kagome, while closing the door. –" Have fun!"

When they disappeared, Kagome turned to Hiroyuki in her arms and asked him:

"- Did you brush your fangs?"

"- Yes."

"- All of them?"

"- All of them! Two times!" – he said, showing with his finger what he meant.

"- That's my boy! Now, off to bed."

"- Oh, mom… can't we see a movie? I'm not sleepy yet…"

"- A movie?"

"- Yeah, a DVD…"

"- You have school tomorrow…" - Kagome said, arching a brow.

"- I'll get up. Please…"

"- …"

"- You chose!" – he said, earning a smile from her. He sounded sure that that would make her comply.

"- … Okay, then… But just one movie! And you can choose, ok? I don't mind…"

"- Yeah!"

As Hiroyuki searched for the movie, Kagome picked up the cushions, replacing them better on her sofa, and waited for him to choose. Once he had chosen, he gave her the DVD; Kagome started it and joined him at the sofa. It was the "The Lion King" and Kagome eyed him smirking; he knew that "Lion King" was Kagome's favorite Disney movie, therefore her soft spot. They ended up singing all the songs and laughing with the same old jokes. When Kagome put him to sleep, Hiroyuki asked her:

"- Are you happier now, mom?"

"- … Yes, I'm better now. Sleep now." – she said, smiling at him.

"- Goodnight, mom."

"- Night, sweetie. I love you…"

"- Love you too…"

So I hope this has made up for all the time you guys have been waiting. Once again, I'm really sorry I couldn't update sooner but one never knows how many turns our lives can take!

Thank you so much for reading this and for not having given up on this story!

Reviews will be most welcomed! See you guys next chapter!

P.S - And it will come out sooner than you can expect it! It's a promise!