So my exams are over... AND I PASSED MY REQUIRED COURSES! So, to thank you all for patience... MASSIVE MAY UPDATES!

I hope you guys like it and that it's worth the wait!

The young woman figured she should have been used to the stares and mutterings of others around her. When she made her first foray into the world of high-class, she had been the focus of much confusion and questions for several months. Now, after an absence of five years, she had suddenly reappeared on the scene, arm in arm with Sesshomaru Takahashi.

A hand covering hers had her looking towards the demon, him ignoring the whispered of the passer-byers and focusing solely on her.

"I'm fine," she told him, effectively predicting his thoughts, "their words don't bother me."

"I'm sorry to say you're alone in that thought," Sesshomaru murmured, his eyes narrowing as he glanced to the others, "I'm not overly-fond of their thoughts of you."

"Let them think what they think," Rin whispered quietly, "I don't care. I've never cared."

At this Sesshomaru conceded with a soft smile, his hand reaching for a passing tray of wine.

"You still prefer white, right?"

"When I drink," she nodded, thanking him for the glass, "single parent for four years, I've barely had a drop in all that time."

"You've been a responsible parent," he admitted quietly, sipping his own glass of red, "it's understandable."

Her retort was silenced by a portly man and young woman approaching them, her blonde bob swishing around her cheeks as the two of them moved towards the couple.

"Sesshomaru!" the man started exuberantly, "it's been too long!"

"Mr. Yamamoto," the demon murmured, "it has indeed. How have you been?"

"As well as can be expected for a man my age," he commented happily, he patted the long-fingered hand, "and what about you? You haven't been out to these kind of events in a long time from what I understand."

"Haven't had the need too," Sesshomaru responded honestly, the other's eyes turning to look at the young woman on his arm.

"And Ms. Rin if I recall," Mr. Yamamoto commented, "where has he been hiding you all this time? It's been… what? Two years?"

"Five," Rin corrected softly, her eyes glanced to the demon beside her.

"Ah… I suppose it has been," he nodded sagely, "well, what have you been up too?"

"I've been… kept busy," she chose her words carefully, wondering what would happen should the news of their child leak out.

"Good good," the man smiled, turning to the woman beside him, "Julie… did you ever meet Ms. Rin?"

"Can't say I have," the blonde hair shook, her hand extended to Rin, "nice to meet you!"

"Likewise," the young mother smiled warmly, watching as Mr. Yamamoto pulled his partner away to visit yet another couple, the pair waving to the other before Sesshomaru and Rin began to move about in the room.

It was like their absence had never happened Rin thought as he took her around the floor, the demon proud to introduce her to guests, both old and new. There were several who seemed to recognize her instantly, and others who had forgotten or didn't know her at all. Some men and women were civil, most that recognized her were surprised but pleasant, yet others seemed to narrow their eyes at her as they once did.

Surprisingly, Rin found herself still slightly perturbed by the glares, though even before Akihiko's birth, she hadn't found herself self-conscious. Her feelings were mixed when she felt a hand squeeze hers gently, her nervousness vanishing as it always did in the past.

From what she gathered, since their split, the demon hadn't attended any parties or balls, effectively disappearing from the social side of the business world. It warmed her heart slightly that he didn't want to be seen without her, but it still stung at the same time.

Rin found little differences between the demon then and him now. He kept her close, watching for every minute detail in her face, every action she made. It was his eyes that hadn't changed, still filled with love and admiration for her, still calm, and still the colour of melted honey, warming her heart.

"It was wonderful to see you again," the old man speaking to Sesshomaru murmured kindly, "especially you, Rin."

"Likewise," Rin smiled, nodding to the man as he lead his own date across the dance floor, the elderly woman at his arm nodding to them.

"You're handling this well," Sesshomaru told her softly once the others were out of earshot, "but then again, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, you were always more of a lady than anyone here."

She found herself flushing lightly at the praise, her heart warming as she used too.

"Thank you," the young mother nodded, "um, can you excuse me for a moment?"

"What for?"

"Because I need to go to the bathroom," Rin laughed lightly, "you can't exactly accompany me. And besides," she jerked her head to the businessmen looking at them, "I don't think they want to talk about how nice the night is."

At this he chuckled softly, his arm slipping around her waist to pull her closer to him, his lips pressing to her temples.

"I think they're wondering about where I've hidden you for the past five years," Sesshomaru murmured gently.

Slipping from his arms, Rin moved towards the bathroom, her heels clicking on the floor, the small smile still on her lips. She was actually enjoying herself, as she hoped the demon was. Bit by bit, the two of them were mending what they shattered. Her smile grew wider, thinking of how happy Akihiko would be, seeing his parents like this.

She was nearly finished washing her hands when another joined her in a stunning high-collared red dress made from what looked like pure silk. The train flowed around the floor, the red heels clicking on the tiles, her own midnight tresses loose and curly.

"Why it's Rin!"

Her voice made the young mother's head jerk up in shock, her brown eyes meeting the black ones, a smile given to her as her fingers dug through her matching purse for a shade of lipstick that matched both the dress and purse.

"Hello, Tina."

Tina was, by all accounts, a stunning young woman, taller and curvier than Rin and wealthier, her being an American hotel heiress, inheriting all the brains that came with her money. She was as smart as her father and just as cunning, having more success than her mentor thanks to her ruthlessness; there was no low she wouldn't sink too to get what she wanted. And what she wanted, when Rin knew her, was Sesshomaru.

"It's been awhile," Tina murmured, her mouth open as she drew her lipstick on, "how have you been?"

"Well, thank you," Rin nodded, her muscles tightening as she braced for the coming attack, "and yourself?"

"I've been doing fabulously," she brushed a lock of black hair over her shoulder, her dark eyes looking to the young woman, "got engaged," her left hand held up, revealing a rather large diamond ring, "what about you?"

Rin looked up from the towel around her hands.

"Wh… What about me?" the young woman asked softly, the other leaning towards her.

"Where's your ring?" she tilted her head to the side, "it's been five years since I saw you last… shouldn't Sesshomaru have proposed to you yet?"

Remaining silent, Rin tried to focus her attention to something other than the woman leaning towards her.

"Oh honey," Tina pouted, "you've been with him for seven years haven't you? If he hasn't proposed yet, I don't think he's going to," her lower lip stuck out, "he might just be stringing you along."

"I doubt that," Rin murmured softly, refusing to give the other the neither the satisfaction nor a hint as to what was keeping the demon with her.

"I don't," it was rather impressive that a woman could hold such a vindication even after all this absence, "Rin, I know men-"

"And I know Sesshomaru," the young mother interrupted, her head turning to the other, her breath coming stronger than she anticipated.

"So you know you haven't been around him for a while now, the papers were all over it, his other fiancée-"

"I don't know what you're more bitter about," Rin murmured, "the fact that his mother arranged a marriage for him that wasn't you or that he shows up in the spotlight, five years later, with me, not you."

It was evident that the young woman struck a nerve, the other's tongue flicking over her lips as she became uncomfortable with her stance.

"What are you getting at?" Tina asked, her mask slipping.

"What I'm saying is, you can get the best nose, buy the best breasts, and claw your way to the top," Rin stood proud, "but you'll never have Sesshomaru desire you, not like he wants me."

"You think that's it," she asked, her head tilting, "that that's all that's going to keep him with you. He'll leave you again, and you know it."

"He won't."

"And you know this for a fact?"

Rin sucked in a deep breath, her head standing tall as she looked at the woman, once someone she secretly admitted and secretly feared, now felt nothing but perturbed by someone like her. The young mother had been through much more than the other, and for her trials she received something that no money could buy.

"No," Rin admitted quietly, "I don't."

"So I was right the first time I saw you," Tina smirked, "you're as dumb as your upbringing."

"Then it must kill you to be right," the young mother murmured, "knowing that Sesshomaru loves me, and not you."

With her final piece said, Rin slipped out the bathroom door, her chest forcing in deep breaths as she tried to calm herself before returning to Sesshomaru, knowing the demon wanted her happy.

Her feet stopped at the thought, that she was trying to make herself happier for the demon, someone she thought she couldn't forgive. Fingers touched her cheeks, feeling warmth radiate from them; she was acting like she used to before she had her heart broken. Her brown eyes flickered to the demon, standing with the other businessmen and, though his face was pleasant, she could see that his heart wasn't in it, that he was doing all for her.

His eyes met hers from across the room, his smile finally reaching the golden orbs as he nodded to his partners, thanking them before manoeuvring towards her, his form standing before her as if he never left.

"Rin," the demon whispered quietly, noticing her far-off look, "what troubles you?"

"I'm alright," she tried to assure him softly, "really."

It was apparent he was unconvinced, his jaw tightening as he thought to find an answer to what troubled her.

"Rin."

The demon's voice brought her back to the present, her eyes turning to look up at him, confusion as he handed her his cell phone.

"Here," he murmured, "why don't you give Akihiko a call."

"I-I shouldn't," Rin protested, "I trust InuTaisho and Izayoi-"

"That's not the issue," Sesshomaru told her, "they'd understand if you called them. They did when InuYasha and I were small."

Still she seemed hesitant, her lower lip chewed before she slowly took the phone from his fingers and disappeared to the balcony, making sure the door shut behind her before she set to scrolling through the contacts until she found InuTaisho's number.

"Hello?"

Rin swallowed as the demon answered.

"Hello InuTaisho," the young woman murmured, "I-I was just wondering if I could wish Akihiko goodnight…"

"Of course," he told her exuberantly, "Akihiko!"

Rin was oblivious to the demon that slipped outside to join her on the balcony; his body standing to the wall as he watched her carefully.

"Hi mommy!"

"Hey there Akihiko," Rin murmured, the smile pulling on her face as she heard her son's voice, "how are you?"

"I'm good!" Sesshomaru overheard Akihiko exclaim, "how are you? How's daddy?"

"I'm fine, and so is he," the young woman grinned, "I miss you terribly."

"Why are you terrib-bi-bley at missing me!?"

"No no," she shook her head, laughing lightly, "it means I miss you a lot."

"Oooh," the boy murmured, his panic vanishing as realization dawned on him, "why is grandpa laughing?"

"Because you're acting cute," Rin smiled, "I was just calling to tell you goodnight before you went to bed."

"Oh, I'm not going to bed now."

"Oh?" the young woman asked, her eyebrow raised inquisitively.

"Yeah! Grandpa said I can stay up and eat the cookies we made and… huh?"

"Akihiko?"

"Mommy," her son started, "what's it mean when someone moved their hand in front of their neck?"

"It means they want someone else to stop taking," Rin smirked, "because they'll be in trouble. Why?"

"Cause that's what grandpa was doing," Akihiko explained.

"Was?"

"Well, now he's put his head in his hands. What's that mean?"

"That means he's busted," his mother laughed softly, hearing Izayoi laughing with her in the background, "I'm glad you're having fun sweetie. I miss you."

"Miss you mommy," the boy mumbled, "oh! Grandpa says he wants to talk to you."

"Okay," Rin nodded, "go to bed alright? I love you."

"Love you too mommy! Oh! And daddy too!"

Rin smiled as her son passed off the phone to his grandfather.

"Good evening InuTaisho," the young woman murmured, laughing as the demon groaned.

"I'm incredibly busted, aren't I?"

"Thanks to your grandson yes," Rin grinned.

"I'm his grandparent," the demon told her exasperatedly, "it's my job to spoil him!"

"Just not before his bedtime!"

"I know, I know," he sighed, "we'll get him to sleep, don't you worry. But… um… about giving him back…."

"What's the problem?"

"There's no problem," InuTaisho tried to assure her, "but Izayoi seemed to have fallen head over heels for him, so you might need to fight to get him back."

"Haven't you met me?" Rin teased, her head turning to meet Sesshomaru's eyes, her surprise fading as she smiled to him.

"Are you enjoying your night?"

The question surprised her, her eyes darting to the device as she searched for her answer.

"Yeah," she nodded gently, her voice coming out in a sigh, "I guess I am. I just miss Akihiko."

"We were the same, back when he had the kids," InuTaisho commented gently, "and don't worry, he misses you too; he's been talking about you guys all night."

"And I've been thinking about him all night too," Rin admitted, missing the warm smile bloom on Sesshomaru's lips.

"Well, I'll let you get back to your night," the elder demon told her kindly, "give Sesshomaru my regards."

"I will, thank you for everything," the young woman smiled, "goodnight."

The phone in her fingers shut off, her body now turning fully to the demon.

"Thank you," Rin nodded as she handed him his phone back.

"You're welcome," Sesshomaru murmured, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," the young woman nodded, "miss him…"

"As do I," the demon confessed, his eyes searching her form, "how are you faring with the ball?"

"Alright," she murmured, "I mean… in all honesty, I just… I'd rather be at home with Akihiko but... I missed… I missed," her deep brown eyes met his amber ones, her fingers in her other ones, "I missed this time when it was just you and me…"

"As have I," Sesshomaru whispered, his long fingers taking her hand, his lips pressing to her knuckles, "I missed your beauty, I've missed your smile," his other hand reached to stroke her cheek, "I've wanted nothing but you sine the day I met you."

"Sesshomaru…"

Her fingers slipped over the back of his hand, the delicate digits squeezing his palm as he lowered his lips to hers. This time, when her brown eyes fluttered shut, she felt his lips press against hers. Slow yet passionate, Rin felt a flame that she thought had long since died erupt in her chest and burn under her skin.

She seemed to unconsciously sigh as they parted, her eyes flickering to look up at his through long lashes, her heart shuddering at the intensity in his orbs.

"Shall we return?" he asked, seemingly determined to break the silence between them.

Rin remained quiet, her eyes still on his as she searched for her words, the soft tugging on her arm having her impulsively stopping him, much to his confusion.

"I-I…" she swallowed thickly, "when we used to do this… we didn't have Akihiko," Rin whispered, "now that we do… th-this," her hand gestured to the party in the building, "this just isn't as appealing to me anymore."

Sesshomaru looked down at her in silence, his own lips curling into a soft smile as he pulled her towards him.

"I'm inclined to agree," Sesshomaru murmured, his fingers running through her locks, twirling one strand around his fingers.

"Well-"

"Shall we go home?"

Rin looked shocked at the demon, feeling her jaw slack slightly.

"But… don't you need to talk to some more businessmen or-"

"I have no other obligation other than to you and my son," the demon informed her confidently, "I want you and him happy, that's it."

Again she stared at him, her tongue flicking over her lips as she found her choice.

"Yeah," Rin admitted, her shoulders sagging, "going home sounds… nice."

Smiling warmly at her, the demon gently led her towards the entrance, her feet taking one step at a time down the stairs.

"Sesshomaru!"

Rin froze at the voice, her eyes glancing to the young woman that called attention to the leaving pair.

"Leaving so early?" Tina asked gently, her eyes flickering to Rin, "why?"

"While we've enjoyed our evening, we both feel rather tired," the demon murmured, "I know the host personally, he won't mind."

"Well, if you insist," the woman smiled to him, "enjoy the rest of your evening Sesshomaru, and you too Rin; it was lovely to see you again after all this time. It's nice to see some things never change."

Her words hit the young woman, confusion and turmoil entering her mind for what must've been the thousandth time in the night. It would come and go like waves, washing doubt over her and making her heart hammer, and now it cascaded over her worse than before.

She wasn't so naïve to know Sesshomaru wouldn't notice her face, but she was thankful he didn't ask her about until they were in the comfort of their own home, the warm atmosphere they had in the party now vanishing when they walked through the door.

"Rin," the demon murmured, "is everything-"

"No," Rin cut him off, her breath shaking as she tried to steady herself, "no it's not…"

"Rin-"

"Every… every time I think… I think I can handle something on my own when you're around you prove me wrong and-and then I feel guilty because I think I couldn't do it on my own but then I remember that I know I can do it on my own because I have been doing it on my own with Akihiko and then-then I think that I might not be doing a good job and-and-"

The two just stood in silence as Rin panted, her fingers to her lips as she willed back the blooming tears.

"And that has to be the first meltdown I've had since Akihiko was a baby," Rin sucked in a deep breath, her eyes flickering to the demon who seemed unsure of what to do.

"Rin," Sesshomaru murmured, "I don't mean to make you feel this way-"

"I know you don't," she conceded quietly, "but… but," her shoulders sagged as she moved to sit on the couch, "but I'm not the same woman you fell for… I've changed-"

"You don't think I don't know that," the demon whispered, his fingers moving to slip over her cheek, "you've raised a child on your own for four years-"

"I just mean… I feel like I shouldn't need to take anyone's help, not after all I've gone through…" the young woman swallowed thickly, "and yet… when you do… I feel both happy and guilty-"

"Because you think you should be able to do it one your own?" Sesshomaru filled in as he moved to sit beside her, her lower lip bitten as she nodded. "Rin… after what I've done to you… it's understandable," his fingers moved to flit her fingers over her back, her brown eyes turning to look at him.

"I just… I just don't know what to feel," Rin confessed quietly, her orbs to her intertwined fingers, "on the one hand, I loved that feeling when I was first with you but-but I love being who I am as Akihiko's mother-"

"Who says those two aren't one in the same?"

Her eyes were shocked as the long fingers cupped her cheeks and pulled her face to his.

"You were always a confident young woman," the demon murmured, "strong, confident, smart, and beautiful," his thumb ran over her smooth skin, "that hasn't changed."

"But I'm-"

"Still the beautiful young woman I fell in love with, and am still in love with," Sesshomaru pressed on, "the only difference between then and now is our child, and the damage I've done to you," a glimmer a guilt flickered in his orbs, "you've both changed… and haven't."

She searched his eyes for a moment, enjoying the peaceful silence that fell around them, her heart shuddering at the nostalgia of it all, the two of them, together in peace and quiet.

"I just… my head's such a mess," Rin whispered quietly, "I don't like being confused and… and even when it was just me and Akihiko I don't ever remember being this confused," her hand reached to touch the back of his, "when you and I were together… I wasn't like this. When it was just me and Akihiko, I wasn't like this…" her fingers weaved through her locks, "I feel like… I just don't know myself anymore."

Sesshomaru chose to be silent as Rin calmed herself, her eyes studying his.

"Why don't you sleep on it," the demon finally whispered, gently pulling on her upper arm, guiding her towards her room, "we can talk about this when you're less confused."

Nodding, Rin gently took one step at a time, her heart hammering as, though she felt like she knew nothing, there was one certainty in her heart; she loved her son, and she was in love with his father.

Phew... so? what did you guys think? Reviews please ^^