"There's a moment between a glance, and a kiss, where the world stops for the briefest of times." - A series of unrelated one-shots to celebrate my 100th fic on Ao3, based off a pairing, occupation, and a colour (with a kiss).
"Come on, Papa! We're going to be late!" Sesshoumaru's hand tightened around Rin's to keep her from crossing the road by herself in her haste to get to the bookstore. His daughter had been ahead of her time when it came to reading, devouring books instead of making friends in the first years of primary school.
She'd finally found a small group of children obsessed with the same novel series as she was, and when the school librarian had mentioned the author would be at a book signing over the long weekend, Rin had come to him with her first real request since he'd adopted her.
She wanted to meet the author.
All of her new friends were going as well, but Sesshoumaru had a feeling Rin was more concerned with getting an autograph than spending time with her peers. It was certainly a bonus, one which he was more than willing to encourage, but three of the books from the current series were clutched in her hand, small tabs bookmarking her favourite passages, so he could tell where her priorities lay.
"There will likely be a lineup," he said as they neared the store.
"I wonder if she remembers my letters," Rin replied, clearly focused on the event instead of anything he had to say, fidgeting with the purple bow in her hair.
Sesshoumaru sighed. "She is likely to have people to answer her fan mail for her."
She shook her head. "Nuh, uh! Her replies aren't typed! And she talked about things I'd told her before." She continued to defend her idol until they entered the shop, finding a line, just as he'd predicted.
Rin pouted but waited patiently—as patiently as someone her age could wait, bouncing on her heels and poking her head around the person in front of her. They eventually got close enough to get a good look at the author, and Sesshoumaru was instantly mesmerized by a genuine smile and a pair of sapphire eyes.
Most celebrities, especially with as much of a fan base as this book signing provided, crossed the line into obligation and aggravation after a while. From what Rin had told him, this woman had been writing for several years, her fame taking off after being discovered by a large publishing label. Her latest series was in the midst of being made into a television series, the author only signing over the rights if she was kept on as a constant consultant, so they didn't change too much of the plot.
But each young fan was met with earnest questions and subtle flairs of recognition, and when Rin approached the table and gave the woman her name, she immediately perked up. "Hello, Rin-chan! I was hoping you'd make it today. How did you like the latest book?"
It had to be a ploy.
"Is this a ruse you employ with all of your fans?" Sesshoumaru asked, trying to keep the sneer off his face, not wanting to upset his daughter.
The author raised an eyebrow, then leaned over the table. "How's school going? Did you figure out how to use the monkey bars yet?" Rin brightened and launched into her latest playground endeavour, one she'd only shared with Sesshoumaru the day before.
She eventually signed all of Rin's books, gushing about how much she loved the same parts Rin did, then eyes Sesshoumaru again before whispering loudly in his daughter's ear. "Make sure you tell your daddy about the library event I'm doing next so I can see you again, okay?"
As they finished their turn, Rin tugged at his sleeve, rambling about going to a library in Kyoto, then ran off to find her friends, giving him the opportunity to approach the woman when she took a short break to mingle through the crowd.
She held up a hand, cutting him off. "Before you start in on how I must be wearing an earpiece with people providing me information from some secret room in the back, I have a photographic memory. And I do read all my fan mail."
Sesshoumaru pursed his lips but bowed slightly. "I apologize. I did not want my daughter to be swayed by glitter and falsehoods."
"But glitter is so fun to play with," she said with a snort.
"You have clearly never used it before."
She only smiled more. "I used to be a teacher, so I know just how dangerous it can be." He relaxed a little. Being a professor himself gave him inside knowledge of how chaotic a classroom could be, but he knew primary teachers were a different breed.
"Rin wants to be an author," he said, turning slightly so he could keep an eye on her.
"Of fairy tales, I know." She bit her lip, then leaned closer, mouth brushing his ear. "You should get her to read you some of her stories. They're really good."
Colour tinted his cheeks at her proximity, but he nodded. "I will do that."
Pulling back, she offered him a warm smile. "And the library reading in Kyoto?"
"We will be there."
"Good." She patted his shoulder as she stepped away. "Hopefully, we'll get the chance to chat again." Then she disappeared into the crowd, leaving his ear tingling and hopes high.
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