Chapter 38: Personal Calls

I watched as the seven leaders signed the treaty and smiled.  I took the paper, rolled it up and put it into a case. 

'Everything is finished.'  I mentally decided.  I nodded to the 'leaders' of the factions and turned to leave the cabin where we had gone to draw up and sign the treaty.  'Hanyou's are now full members of Youkai society.  It'll probably be much easier now that both sides must follow normal laws.  The transition period might be a little tricky, but…'

"Sesshomaru-sama!"  One of the leaders called out and I turned to look at them.  I tried to decide who had spoken, since I couldn't remember hearing anyone with a heavy Japanese accent since I had studied the language as a pup.  I watched as the nervous Japanese leader stepped forward and swallowed.  The man bowed deeply to me and, getting down on his hands and knees, the leader pressed his face to the ground.  I blinked in surprise, but didn't say anything.  "Gomen Nasai, Sesshomaru-sama.  Please forgive for our foolishness."

"I don't plan to punish anyone who keeps with this treaty."

"Demo… Sesshomaru-sama's wife…"

"I have already avenged her."  I snapped, as I turned away and walked out into the rain.  Jaken was waiting in the limo for me  "To the hospital."

"Ah… Lord Sesshomaru."  Jaken stammered.  "There has been a phone call."

I felt my heart stop beating.  I could feel the fear that had been at the back of my mind grow and take over my rational half.

"Is she…" I whispered.  I tried to finish the thought, but I couldn't finish it.  I couldn't say the final word.  "She isn't… Is she…?"

'It's impossible.'  I assured myself.  'Rin can't be… d… gone.  Damn.  I can't even think the word.'

"No.  Lady Rin is not dead."  Jaken assured me, and I wanted to collapse from relief.  "She has woken up.  She is still a little weak, but the hospital believes that she will be well enough to return home."

"I think you had better stop talking and start driving, Jaken."  I snapped, aggravated at Jaken for worrying me so much.  I watched the trees and scenery speed past, but the blurry scenery seemed to be moving too slow for me.    I wanted to see Rin with my own eyes and see that she was really awake.  I was a little surprised when Jaken opened my door for me.  I must have been daydreaming because I hadn't even noticed we were approaching the hospital.  Stepping out of the car, I waited for Jaken to drive away before walking towards the hospital.  I had to force myself to walk at a human-like speed, because I knew the staff would not understand my sudden demon powers.  I decided that a concerned human might jog, so I moved a bit faster.  I could hear the nurses shouting at me as I by-passed the information desk and headed directly for the elevator.

I entered Rin's room and was shocked to find that Rin was still asleep.

"But…" I whispered.

"She feel asleep a few minutes ago."  Rin's doctor told me as she entered the room.  "She's doing well for a sever case of poisoning.  I… I hadn't really expected her to live.  She's a lot stronger than she looks."

"I know.  I'm going to sit with her."

"Be my guest.  You may stay the night, if you wish.  I can't seem to stop you, anyway.  Um, if she does wake up, please ring the front desk?"

"I will inform a staff member."

"Thank you."  Rin's doctor nodded before leaving.  I took a seat next to Rin and frowned.  I had been so happy that she had recovered, but it seemed like she wasn't cured yet.

"Ummm."  Rin murmured as she turned her head to face me.  Her right hand flexed and contracted, squeezing the stuffed Sephiroth I had left with her.  I smiled slightly, before leaning closer and sniffing Rin.  I could smell a lingering scent of the poison, but it seemed to be fading fast.  Kissing Rin's hair, I pulled out my phone and called Jaken.  I would need some paper work to do while I waited.

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Three months later:

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I slipped into the back of the limousine and nodded to Kohaku who started up the car. 

"Good afternoon."  I greeted him.

"Good afternoon, Lady Rin.  How are you feeling today?"

"Fine, and you?  How is Kana these days?"  I asked, knowing that Kana and Kohaku had begun dating recently.  I smiled slightly as Kohaku blushed and decided to let it drop.  I shook my head to signal to Kohaku that I was only kidding and I pulled my purse onto my lap.  I pulled out my cell phone and found that there were two missed messages.  I pressed enter and began to listen to my voice mail.

'You have reached Rin Kotaishi's cell phone.  I am not here, but leave a message, and I'll return your call when I can.'  I heard my voice come over the speaker and I smiled.  I had been married only two months and I still loved the way my new name sounded.

'It's me, Rin.'  I heard Sesshomaru's voice come over the speaker after the recording announced the beginning of the message.  'I just got an invitation to a party on the twenty-first.  Personally?  I'm inclined to skip it, but you can make the call since you like these party-things so much.  Just a heads up.  Love you.'

'Rin?'  Inuyasha's voice asked cautiously, almost nervously, as the second message began.  'Well, I guess you're busy, since you're not there.  Right, um, Inuyasha here.  First off, Sorry it's been so long.  Say hi to your husband for me, will you?  I'm sure he'd love to know his brother cares.  Secondly, congratulations on the baby.  Kagome was a little surprised that you knew so early, but I'll bet Sesshomaru could smell it a mile away.  Anyway, I need to ask you a massive favor.  Kagome's birthday is coming up and I have no idea what to get her.  Could you come over to my apartment one of these days and give me a hand picking something out for her?  I know it's a lot to ask, but I asked Miroku already… and let me say that just because we're dating does not mean we're screwing like wild bunnies.  Not that that's a bad… uh… right.  Well, give me a call later.  Bye.'

I turned off my phone and made a mental note to take pity on Inuyasha and call him before the day was out.  I looked up and saw Kohaku open my door.

"You're home."  He told me as I stepped out.

"Thank you.  You can go home now, if you want."  I smiled at him.

"All right.  Good bye then."

"See you tomorrow."  I nodded, as I walked to the front door and unlocked it as he drove away.  I walked in and set my purse and cell phone on the table by the front door, before hanging my coat on the rack and let out a small sigh.

"Hello."  Sesshomaru greeted me as he came out of his study.  "How are you feeling?"

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?  I'm a little less than two months along.  It's not like I'm about to pop any minute."

"I'm just worried."  Sesshomaru shrugged.

"I'm not weak!  Women have children all the time."

"I know you're not weak.  If I thought you were weak I never would have gotten you pregnant.  You have to remember that this is my child too.  It's not going to be a normal baby, you know."  Sesshomaru warned me.

"I know, I know.  But I don't care."  I smiled up at him and I slipped my arms around his waist.  "You worry about me too much.  But… speaking of worrying."

"Oh no."

"Oh, yes.  How was lunch?"

"Missing."

"Missing?!"  I cried, getting upset.  "Sessh!  What can go wrong with ordering a pizza?!"

I heard Sesshomaru mumbled something that I didn't quite catch.

"What?"

"I was distracted… so I forgot."  Sesshomaru muttered a little louder and I felt my eyes narrow.  "Now, Rin.  Calm down before you get too upset."

"Upset?!"  I snapped.  "I'm more than upset!  At least I worry with a reason.  You can't keep missing meals like this!  What did you do when you didn't know me?"

"Starved?"

"SESSH!  This isn't healthy!"  I pouted, stomping my foot.  "I'm going to find that Final Fantasy game and I'm going to destroy it, I swear I am!"

"Final Fantasy?"  Sesshomaru asked in surprised.  "Who said anything about that?"

"But you always…"  I began.

"I finished it."  Sesshomaru said with an imperious toss of his hair.

"Oh.  And what distracted you then?"  I asked, smiling slightly.

"Quake."  Sesshomaru grinned, before kissing me on the nose.  "But you can distract me now… if you'd like."

*-Sama = Lord or Lady (the honorific ending)

*Gomen Nasai = Sorry (Nasai makes it more forceful)

*Demo = But