I came back to the penthouse a few hours later in a daze. I was pregnant. With a baby. I, Rin Higurashi, was going to have a baby. Walking through the entryway, I noticed a small array of shoes by the elevator. I tried to remove my flats, wincing when I realized I'd left them at Kagome's apartment downstairs. Thank God she didn't live a few blocks away, otherwise my feet would have been disgusting and probably bruised from the city sidewalks. I looked around the penthouse, sighing in relief when I could neither see or hear Sesshomaru within the house. My shoulders sagged and I walked wearily to the long couch, taking my coat off before I lay down on it, belly up. My hands found their way to my tiny stomach, wonder filling my mind even as my hands touched bare skin. It was hard to believe that a baby was nestled in there and growing, but Inuyasha and the pregnancy test had both read positive, so what else could I do but come to terms with my situation?
I smiled to myself. A baby! Suddenly all of my worries about having a child out of wedlock seemed foolish. Besides, Sesshomaru and I were engaged, so obviously we'd have expected children down the line anyway. Granted, this was definitely a bit closer down the line than we had both anticipated, but a baby! The more I thought about it, the more it was difficult it was getting to contain my own excitement. I was going to be a mother and Sesshomaru was going to be a father. Picturing a child the spitting image of him made my heart flutter in my chest, almost as if would burst open with such a feeling of joy it would rock my entire being. I sat up and looked at the clock, noticing I still had several more hours until Sesshomaru came home from work. Hopefully he would be earlier than he usually was. I didn't want to tell him the news on the phone, but I didn't think I could wait forever.
Except...
What if he wasn't as excited about a new addition to the family like I was? He did have an aversion to most humans, as in, he hated them. But surely our child would be different. It had to be different.
Refusing to believe Sesshomaru could have a bad response to my news, I decided to take a shower, ordering Chinese food to be delivered to the front desk downstairs before I cleaned up. Twenty minutes later and I was out of the shower feeling refreshed and invigorated. Plus I was definitely looking forward to devouring as much Chinese food as I could muster. My stomach rumbled, obviously up to the challenge. I grinned to myself, changing into a fresh pair of jeans and a tank top. Exiting the bedroom, I made my way over to the elevator, placing a pair of flats on my feet while I waited for the elevator doors to open.
When the elevator pinged I hurried forward and immediately backed up when the doors slid smoothly open, revealing the occupants within. My mouth hung open as Sesshomaru stepped through the elevator and into our lobby area, his mother trailing behind him with a hint of arrogance I could only assume Sesshomaru had adopted at a young age. There was a certain royal air about her and definitely an aura of smugness and superiority that clouded around her like a trail of smoke. Sesshomaru had the same aura when I'd first met him.
"Rin, I would like you to meet my mother. This is Lady Inukimi. Mother, this is Rin." The former Lady of the West bowed her head marginally in my direction, but I was too startled to return the gesture. Her eyes gave me a small once over before she lifted her head, effectively dismissing me from her scrutiny. Why the hell would he bring that woman into my house, knowing full well she had tried to kill me on several occasions? What if she tried to kill me now, in front of her son? My hand went protectively to my flat stomach. I didn't want to be anywhere near her, let alone expose my unborn child to her cruelty.
I stepped closer to Sesshomaru, making sure to keep my mate in-between us. "I don't understand. What is she doing here?" Sesshomaru kept a certain distance around me in front of his mother, which was another thing he did around anyone who wasn't Kagome. It was his own personal way of seeming unaffected by my presence. His way of attempting to protect me from anyone who sought to harm Sesshomaru through me. Generally I didn't mind, but given the morning I had and the past few weeks, I could have really used a hug. All of my good mood evaporated as soon as Sesshomaru had stepped through the door with his psychotic mother and all I could do was try to salvage what was left of my wonderful day. There was no way in hell I was spilling my happy news with the she beast lurking in. At least now I knew what they meant when the term 'Monster-in-law' was first coined.
"You needn't explain anything to the mortal." Inukimi spoke up from behind her son, barely sparing me another glance as she spoke regally. Her tone and attitude gave me the urge to swat her like I would a fly. Who did she think she was? The Queen of England?
"Forgive me, Inukimi, but this mortal is insistent upon an answer. Sesshomaru?" I placed my hands on my hips, wanting to glare daggers at my soon to be husband. Didn't he know what a terrible idea it was to bring her into our home? Sure, we were going to be moving when the new place was built, but that could take months and months. I didn't want the crazy bitch knowing where I rested my head, especially considering how lax the security seemed around the building.
SURE, I lived with a man who had powers and could transform into a giant dog demon and kill nearly anyone. But a lot of his traits were developed from his mother and that thought didn't comfort me in the slightest.
"I have spoken to my mother and she has agreed to stop the attacking so long as she meets you and attends the wedding." I gaped at him. Then her. Then back to him. Surely he was kidding. She was trying to kill me because she hadn't received a wedding invitation yet? I hadn't even picked a date for the wedding because of her!
"Wasn't that the plan all along?" I nearly shrieked at Sesshomaru, my fury rising with every breath I took. My hands curled into tiny fists at my sides and I thought I was going to lose my damn mind.
"It seems mother was upset by our sudden proposal and more upset that she had yet to meet you." Sesshomaru spoke calmly, but his eyes were practically spitting in a fury that matched my own. Good.
I moved past Sesshomaru and stood toe to toe with his mother. "You tried to kill me because you were offended we hadn't come to you first with our news?" Just keep a level head, Rin. I assured myself. Deep breath in, deep breath out.
I wanted to punch her in the face.
"I merely wanted to test your resolve to stay with my son despite your obvious flaw." I narrowed my eyes at her haughty tone.
"And what exactly is my flaw?"
"You are a human, of course."
"How is that any of your busy, you pompous ass?" I reached my fist back, ready to slug her in the face for all the misery she'd put me through. A second later, Sesshomaru had his hands wrapped around my waist, easily lifting me and setting me behind him. Facing his mother, Sesshomaru spoke lowly.
"You've met Rin, mother. We will make sure to keep you informed on any of our wedding details. You can go now." Lady Inukimi stared at her son, almost disappointed at the dismissal, but she cordially bowed her head, stepping into the opened elevator and pressing a button. She smirked at the couple as the door slid closed. Once she was out of sight, I sagged in relief before turning to Sesshomaru, wacking him with my cast.
"I can't believe you just let her in here without warning me first!"
I ran my hands awkwardly through my damp hair, realizing now how frumpy I must have looked when first meeting his mother. Not that it matter, considering she thought I was gross just because I was human. No way was she ever getting alone time with her grandkids.
My hand moved back to my stomach protectively.
"Forgive me, Rin. It was either introduce you or risk another threat."
"You could have just killed her." I said in a small voice, ashamed of my response, even more ashamed that I was being completely serious. I hadn't gone to the doctor yet, but I was at least a month pregnant, meaning she'd been trying to kill me and my unborn child, even if none of us had known about the baby.
"She is my mother." Sesshomaru's tone was as cold as steel, his eyes even colder as he regarded me almost as if I was a stranger. It made me angry.
"And what am I? Chopped liver? God, Sesshomaru. She could have really, really hurt me. Hell, she has hurt me! I was in the hospital on more than one occasion because on more than one occasion your own mother tried to murder me. I thought I was the most important thing in your life, but instead of protecting me you just bring home the devil and introduce me to it?"
"She has agreed to stop the attacks and that is all that matters."
"No, all that matters is how easily you're able to forgive someone for nearly killing me. Which is great for you that you've got so much compassion, but it's not something I'm so ready to forgive." I spun on my heel, effectively ending our conversation. Making my way into our bedroom, I pulled a small travel bag from under the bed, throwing a few clothes into it before walking into the spacious bathroom and throwing in a few toiletries. I didn't bother with tampons because I wouldn't be needing those anytime soon. The thought was bitter in my mind as I zipped the bag closed. I put on my peacoat jacket and a pair of black Uggs that I kept in the walk-in closet. Immediately realizing my intention of leaving, I wanted to break down and cry.
I was supposed to be sharing such wonderful news with Sesshomaru and instead I was on the verge of leaving him, if only for a few days to wrap my head around everything. He was supposed to protect me, to cherish me. That's what he'd always said the mating bond was about, and yet he'd valued his mother more than me.
I was ashamed that the fact he loved his mother more than me was so offensive to me, but I couldn't help my line of thought and I wouldn't feel bad about it. The only thing that hurt me was knowing my place in his life.
"You can't leave." Sesshomaru was next to me, grabbing the bag from my hand and tossing it carelessly to the side.
"I just need a few days to cool down and I can't do that if I have to look at you and talk to you and smell you everywhere." I sighed, wiping a stray tear from my eyes. "I'll just be with Kagome."
"No." His tone was brutal, demanding. It set my teeth on edge, but my body also responded to his dominance with a fierce blaze of desire. I would always want him.
"So you can demand things from me but not your mother?" His mouth flattened into a harsh line, his eyes devoid of any emotion at my comment. It was just as well. I picked up my bag yet again, moving past Sesshomaru and heading for the elevator. Once inside, I pressed the button for the next floor down, feeling as if it was an ocean away from the man standing in front of me. The doors slid shut between us and I collapsed into a heap on the floor, sobbing like someone had just shot my dog.
I even forgot about my Chinese food.
I woke hours later to a loud sound at the door to Kagome's apartment. The banging was so loud I could hear it from my bedroom and I winced as the noise gave me a headache. What time was it?
Looking at my clock I groaned aloud. It was just barely three o'clock in the morning. Who the hell was at the door? I sat up, throwing the covers off of me before unlocking my bedroom door and heading out into the hallway. Kagome and Inuyasha were nowhere to be found, which meant it was probably them at the front door. They probably left their keys at one of the clubs they'd been at all night. Sighing, I wrapped my silk robe around my body and walking briskly over to the door where they were still pounding.
"Alright, already. Just give me a second." I unlocked both dead bolts before ripping the door open in frustration. "Did you have to bang so loud?" The words died in my throat as Sesshomaru stumbled through the door, wrapping both of his strong arms around me and clinging to me fiercely. "Sesshomaru?"
"Rin." My name emerged from his lips on a slur. I could practically smell the alcohol pouring off of him. My Sesshomaru was drunk?
I tried in vain to twist out of his arms, sighing a bit when he only pulled me closer. "Sesshomaru, you're going to crush me if you don't let go, okay?" Reluctantly his arms slipped away from my body as he slumped against the entryway wall, using it to prop his body up. "How much have you had to drink?"
Sesshomaru ignored my question, his penetrating gaze staring right through me. "I spoke to my mother."
"I know, I was there." I walked up to him, unbuttoning his alcohol stained silk shirt, knowing there was no saving it now. Once I had all of the buttons free, I removed it from his shoulders, ignoring the way his hands gripped my ass and tugged me closer, our pelvises pressed against one another before he stilled in his movements.
"I spoke to her after you left."
"Oh." I said, both in shock and because his hands began to knead my ass, relaxing the muscles through my short silk robe.
"I told her I would kill her if she interfered inappropriately in our lives again."
"You did?" My heart kicked up a notch. Was that what I really wanted? Yes, I knew it was.
"Yep." Sesshomaru leaned his head down, resting his mouth on the slender column of my neck, sighing happily to himself. I wanted to laugh at my drunk fiancé. I couldn't remember a single time I heard him say 'yeah', let alone 'yep'. It was almost enough to let me forget all about our fight earlier. Sesshomaru inhaled deeply, he shoulders relaxed as his hands clung to my ass. "You smell nice." He inhaled harder, his nose right along my neck as he did so. "You smell like me. That's odd."
My shoulders stiffened in his embrace, hoping to God he was too drunk to connect the dots. When his hands dropped from my ass and on to my shoulders, I began to suspect that he knew. When his hands locked on to my shoulders and pushed me back so he could stare down into my eyes, I knew he knew.
"Rin." Was all he said and I smiled sadly up at him, hoping he would take the news alright. "I need to sit down." I led him back into my bedroom, shutting the door softly behind me as he propped himself up on my headboard, staring at me in some sort of drunken awe.
"Are you going to say anything?" I asked him nervously, a little frightened of his lack of response.
"You are pregnant." The words sounded infinitely more sober than I would have expected and when our eyes met, I knew he was fully alert as he waited for my reaction.
"Yes, I am." He swallowed loudly before sitting up on his own.
"How long have you known?"
"Since I went down to visit Kagome this morning. I was going to tell you when you got home, but then everything else happened and I just needed some time alone." He looked slightly hurt by my confession so I continued. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but it was more personal than to involve your psychotic bitch of a mother and then I was so mad at you, I didn't want to tell you while we were fighting. Not that you being drunk is a much better scenario. Are you alright?"
Sesshomaru remained silent for a few moments longer before opening his arms and ushering me forward. I practically ran to him, my body colliding into his as I molded myself to him, grateful for his acceptance.
"You're not mad, are you? I know a baby isn't exactly what we had planned right now, but I always expected us to have children in the future anyway, so this shouldn't be much of a shock, right?"
"I am going to be a father."
"Yes." I whispered to him, elation and wonder in my voice as I spoke.
Imagine my surprise when the life went out of Lord Sesshomaru, the greatest and most feared dog demon fainting and landing roughly flat on his back onto my bed. The great dog demon taken out by a baby? The news was almost laughable.