Tee Hee ^^ Updates ^^ This chapter is more of a lead-up to the next one buuuutt... don't count it out ^^
Amber eyes met his reflection as he tightened the tie around his neck, his vest open around his chest. For the first time since they met, Sesshomaru was actually nervous about a date. The demon had only one chance to make it right with Rin, only once chance to make things right for his son.
His eyes flickered downward, hope budding in his chest. Rin was coming around to him, the trust he destroyed rebuilt piece by piece, his son aiding in the matter, Akihiko trying to have his parents do things with him together. Lips pulled into a small smile at the thought of the boy; obvious that the child loved him dearly
"Daddy?"
As though his thoughts had conjured him, long white hair turned to look at his son, the eared head peaked into the room, his amber eyes inquisitive.
"What did you need Akihiko?" Sesshomaru asked him softly, watching as the boy shuffled into the room, his body climbing up to the bed where he sat watching his father finish with his navy tie.
"Jus bored," the boy murmured, the demon turning to smirk softly to his son.
"I guess it can get pretty boring," his father agreed softly, "sorry about that."
Akihiko hummed quietly, his legs kicking as he looked around, his hands timidly reaching out to touch the demon's jacket.
"Daddy…"
"Hm?"
The child swallowed thickly.
"Are… are you and mommy… are you two going to stay together?"
The demon now turned back to his child, his waistcoat tightened and a small smile on his face.
"You've been with us for a few weeks now," Sesshomaru murmured, his body lowering to kiss the child on his head, his hands grabbing his jacket, "we're working on this, all thanks to you… all because of you."
"Yeah?"
"I don't want you to worry about your mother and I," the demon murmured as he slipped on his jacket, his fingers adjusting his cufflinks and buttons, "okay?"
"Kay," he leaned back, "so… did you and mommy go out like this before?"
"We did," Sesshomaru nodded, "you're mother and I would dress up like this and go out and dance and dine-"
"Can I come next time?"
The demon chuckled, "I'd love to have you come with us," he looked almost apologetic, "but these aren't kids parties Akihiko, they're not all that fun for children."
"Oh," the boy seemed to deflate, his lips pulling into a pout, "but… mommy says I'm as smart as an adult! So…"
"Not quite," Sesshomaru murmured with his lips curled into a grin.
"Pleeeaase?" the boy started bouncing on his shins, "canIcanIcanIcanIcanI?"
"Akihiko!" the demon chuckled, his hand placed atop the boy's head in an attempt to cease him bouncing, his son giggling as he continued to bounce.
"Can I?"
"Maybe," his father told him, "but are you all packed for your sleepover?"
"Yeah," the boy nodded, "mommy helped me. Now she's getting dressed up too."
"I see," the demon nodded. "Say… Akihiko," Sesshomaru started as an idea came into his head, "do you want to see something very very beautiful?"
Rinpropped her chin in her palm, her lungs sighing deeply.
Her brush was settled down on the table, her fingers pushing away a curled strand of hair, her eyes meeting the face that stared back in the mirror. She had always been light when it came to make-up, even now. Her eyes were merely dusted with a light cream and her lips a light pink.
She never saw a need to wear make-up after Sesshomaru left her, she no longer went to any sort of events, confining herself to the parks, zoos, museums and other things that she did with her son, meaning after five years of never wearing any, it felt odd to have even a drop on her face.
It wasn't as though she didn't enjoy balls and dances, feeling like royalty the second she dawned on the dress, Sesshomaru flattering her and showering her in compliments. Her hands tightened into a fist. What she enjoyed more than feeling confident and beautiful was the demon's face when he looked at her, the softness in his eyes and the trueness of his smile.
Glancing to her dress, Rin let her fingers run over the ruched chiffon, the strapless dress tight to her chest and midsection, the material appearing wrapped around her body. Her skirt flowed from her waistline, the skirt concealing a part for her leg only revealed when she moved. To the side of her waist was a beautiful silver jewelled ornament in the shape of something akin to an ivy plant. Her jewellery similar, diamonds hanging from her ears and neck.
Rin turned to the knock on her door, confusion on her face as she told them to come in. Peeking inside, her little boy looked eagerly into her room, his face appearing shocked as he looked her up and down.
"What is it Akihiko?" she asked him softly, her head tilting in curiosity.
"You look really pretty mommy," he mumbled, "really really pretty…"
"Well, thank you," Rin nodded, smiling warmly down at him as she moved to kneel at the floor, her lips pressing to his cheek, "thank you very much Akihiko."
"Daddy told me to see you if I wanted to see something pretty!" the boy pressed on, "an' he was right!"
"Did he?" the young woman murmured, her smile still impossible to remove, her son nodding vigorously.
"Yeah," Akihiko nodded, "he also said I could come next time!"
"I said when you're older!"
Both heads turned to the demon standing in the doorway, his eyes calm as he looked down at the two of them, Rin feeling her heart tighten at the sight of how handsome he was in his suit.
"Sorry to interrupt," Sesshomaru murmured, his hand reaching to take hers, "you look absolutely stunning Rin."
"Thank you," she flushed lightly, "you're not too bad yourself."
"I'm incredibly shabby compared to you," he smiled warmly to her, her hand still in his, his thumb rubbing warmly over skin.
"Soooo," Akihiko started, his parents' attention brought back to him, "does this mean I can come next time?"
"I-I don't know," Rin murmured, "these parties are more for adults than kids."
"But if there's one for kids-"
"Then that depends on your behaviour," the young woman smiled down at her son, "I will admit, you'd look quite handsome in a suit like your dad's."
"Yeah?"
"Uh-huh," she nodded, "maybe even better…"
The white ears twitched at the words, his lips smiling wildly at his mother's kind voice.
"Are you ready to go?" Sesshomaru asked softly, Rin looking up to the demon, nodding her answer.
"Come on Akihiko, ready to go to your grandparents?"
The young woman felt her happiness bloom at the sight of his exuberant smile, thankful that he now had grandparents to love him as much as she and his father did.
He was more talkative than usual, if that was even possible, as his parents drove him and his overnight things to Sesshomaru's father and step-mother. It was obvious Akihiko was excited about spending the night with his elders, and perhaps even more so at the thought that his parents would be getting closer.
"Will you be able to sleep tonight?" Rin teased as she helped her son from his seat, her heels touching the stone walkway, the demon walking beside the two of them.
"We'll do our best," a voice interrupted them, the three of them looking up to the demon standing in the open door with his wife beside him.
"That's all I ask," Rin smiled as Akihiko looked eagerly at his grandfather before back to his mother. "Be good for your grandparents," she told him kindly, her hand straightening out his coat, "okay?"
"Yes mommy," the boy nodded happily, his arms flinging around her neck, "love you! Have fun!"
"Love you too," his mother kissed his cheek, letting Sesshomaru step up to hug his son.
"Bye daddy!"
"Have a good night Akihiko," Sesshomaru murmured, "we'll see you in the morning."
"Come on Akihiko," his grandfather smiled warmly, his hand extending for the boy, "we're gonna have fun too."
Nodding in excitement, the boy paused to bid his parents farewell before he slipped into the house, Rin feeling the demon's hand touch her back as he gestured to the car.
Conceding, the young woman slipped into the car, now much quieter without their child.
"Rin."
The dark eyes looked to the demon, his head nodding to the front window where a little boy sat happily waving to his parents.
Rin smiled as she waved to the child in the window, Akihiko looking at the two of them with joy before he turned to his now dubbed grandmother, the two disappearing to where Rin assumed was the kitchen.
The two were silent as they drove towards the event, for once since them reuniting, Rin was nervous, her hands fiddling uncomfortably as she felt nostalgic thoughts worm their way into her heart. She worried she would mess up, that she'd somehow embarrass him. Her deep brown eyes flickered to him; most of all, she was fearful that things wouldn't work out between them, that somehow or another, they came back worse than when they left.
Black hair rested against the cool glass, reminiscing to when they used to attend balls and banquets regularly, her always close to his side and his arm around hers, the amber eyes a liquid honey. He'd smile warmly at her as he moved with her over the dance floor, his movements turning her own clumsiness to grace, his arms the safest she had ever felt.
Thankfully, he hadn't thrust her headlong into his world, easing her gently after countless dinners and days together, each one she treasured more than the last. She hummed softly; Sesshomaru had been downright cruel when she had first met him purely by chance when she volunteered at the hospital.
He had been a patient, and a disgruntled one at that. Upon his admission, he insisted he was fine, that all he needed was a simple night's sleep and his body would be healed in the morning. After about two hours of his harping, the doctor firmly informed him that if he persisted, he would be sedated for the remainder of the night.
Grumbling, his mood was still foul when she had come to give him fresh flowers, her smile warm and bright. As with every patient, she tried to engage him in small talk, her smile faltering swiftly at his harsh words, telling her to keep her loose tongue in her mouth for the sake of everyone in their proximity.
Startled at his harsh words, her arms had jumped, effectively upturning the vase and spilling the stagnant flower water over herself.
Humiliated, Rin managed to escape without tripping over herself, her head bowed as she mumbled hasty apologies. She felt stupid as tears bloomed in her eyes, knowing she'd have met a snappy person sooner or later, but his tone stung, his eyes blazing with anger and distain almost purely for her.
Thankfully, the demon had left the next day, his evident brush with a car no more than that. Rin, however, still felt slightly hurt by his words and the cruelty behind them. She planned to try and forget him, to forget the words; it wasn't as though they meant much to each other anyway.
It was then a surprise to her when she was handed a card with a time and date beneath the words coffee. Nervous, Rin felt her eyes widen at the sight of the demon sitting in the coffee shop closest to the hospital.
He explained in short clipped tones that he had been unfair to her, and hoped that the short meeting would make it up to her. Shocked, her eyes watched him stare out at the window, her mouth slack and her body rooted to the seat before her hands slowly raised to her lips, her eyes closing as she giggled quietly.
She hadn't caught him turning to look as her smile, or how his face relaxed at her laugh; all she saw when she looked up was him still staring at the window, his face still in his hands.
Since then, he had taken every opportunity he could find to see her, then to talk to her, and finally to be with her. It was the beginning of two absolutely wonderful years.
"Rin."
His deep voice shook her from her thoughts. Turning to look at him, the young woman realized they had arrived, her body stretching in response.
"Sorry," she told him, "I… spaced out for a moment…"
"Are you-"
"I-I'm fine!" Rin put her hands up, her eyes watching his as he pulled away, her heart shuddering as he saw pain flicker past his orbs.
She knew he was still in pain over what happened, his guilt most likely eating him raw for the past month and a bit, her actions not helping the matter. It wasn't as though she wanted to stay mad at him, but she didn't want him thinking he could toy with her as he pleased.
Akihiko's smile slipped into her mind, the happiness the boy exhumed filling the air and could light the night sky, a smile he only had when both his mother and father were with him.
The car pulled to a stop, Sesshomaru handing the valet his keys before he maneuverer to open her door.
"Are you ready?" he asked gently, his fingers extended for her to take.
Rin looked up to the demon, his amber eyes soft and concerned for her.
"I'll be fine," the young woman murmured, trying to assure both himself and her, "really."
Sesshomaru felt his breath vanish at the sight of her smile, the sheer purity of it all truly Rin's, the Rin he loved dearly and missed for five agonizing years, the Rin that was Akihiko's mother.
"Sesshomaru?"
He watched her straighten up, her head tilted as she wondered what had caused him to still.
"It's nothing," Sesshomaru spoke softly, his lips finally allowed to touch her dark locks, "welcome back… my Rin."
HA HA HA! Reviews please!