InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Moving Up in the World ❯ Crunchy Cake ( Chapter 13 )

A/N: Sorry about the poor quality here, its mostly cause I picked this chapter up like 8 separate times AND took out a whole weird section. Please forgive me. I have some more apologies at the end. I LOVE ya all.

Without further delay!

Izayoi--------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------

Izayoi was busily chopping carrots and celery to add to the ramen boiling on the stove. She peered out the window and breathed in deeply as she saw snowflakes drifting down in the frosty air. She would have to convince Inu to shovel the sidewalk and put down some salt. Winter was fast approaching and things would be livening up around there.

Christmas time was always a production for the Takahashis. It had been christmas time when Sesshoumaru was born and when she and Inutaisho were married so the holidays were doubled up upon each other. There would be cooking, shopping, and celebration. Izayoi loved this time of year.

Then there was Rin to think about, she was new to this. Likely Rin had never celebrated Christmas like this. Rin would need help getting gifts for them and they would need help getting gifts to give her. She smiled to herself, she doubted Sesshoumaru would need any help, as cold as he was he had always been good at meaningful things.

She remembered a Christmas long ago when Sesshoumaru had been 13 and Inuyasha was 9. Sesshoumaru always acted doubled his age were as Inuyasha acted half his own. Inuyasha had made her a necklace from a raccoon skeleton he had found behind the house. She had been horrified, but she had to put on a show for him because she knew he meant well. Sesshoumaru however, had made her a photo album. It had only been two years since she had actually married and moved in with them. The album was filled with photos of his father and him when he was younger. She also saw a couple of shots of his mother, she was a remarkably beautiful woman, but somehow she seemed cold.

That moment was one of the more meaningful moments in her life. Before then, when she had merely been Inutaisho's lover, when she had been Inutaisho's lover who had a baby, and when she had at first become his step-mother he had openly rebelled against the idea of doing anything but hating her. But when he gave her that album, she knew he saw how happy his father made her and how happy she made his father. He still hated Inuyasha, but all will come with time.

Izayoi finally finished her chores when she heard the bell that went off when someone entered the house. She smiled as she heard Rin's giggles echo through the house. She thought about Sesshoumaru and Rin. They were so different, Rin warm, cheerful and loving like the sun, and Sesshoumaru stark and silent but ever knowing like the moon. Izayoi adored Rin, she was everything Sesshoumaru needed.

"Izayoi! I missed you!" Rin called out to the happy woman.

"I missed you too Rin-chan." Izayoi hugged her tightly. Izayoi couldn't help but see that Rin had been crying hard earlier. Women could just *sense* it. "Rin, what on earth happened?" Izayoi whispered to her.

"What? Nothing at all." Rin said, though Izayoi could see her thinking about something. Suddenly Sesshoumaru entered looking world-weary.

"Hello Sesshoumaru." Izayoi said sweetly. She had to know.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, may I please go play with Ah and Un?" she asked politely, more reverent than usual, referring to the two guard dogs that were normally fierce and wouldn't let anyone but Izayoi touch them but melted into two sloppy puppies for Rin.

"Of course, do whatever you want. Keep warm." He said quickly and almost (was Izayoi hearing right?) apologetically?

"Ok see you in a minute." Rin called to Izayoi, leaving Sesshoumaru in what you might call a pout.

"Izayoi…" he said quietly.

"Hm?" she asked slowly, she had to let him bring whatever it was up. She couldn't push it.

"How does one… apologize…my… coworker…wanted to know?" he said softly.

"Well, I suppose he could tell that someone in words, or actions, perhaps a gift?" Izayoi suggested, trying not to giggle.

"I see…my coworker thanks you." He said as he walked off.

Rin------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------

Rin stepped back into the warmth of the house. Ah and Un were happily gnawing away at the bones she had bought them. She shook the snow from her hair and padded into the kitchen, where she knew Izayoi would be. She saw Sesshoumaru standing tall in the doorway before her. He finished saying something to Izayoi and turned around.

"You look cold." He said lightly.

"I will warm up." She said warmly.

"Here." He handed her his leather jacket and walked off briskly, leaving her in wonder.

"Thanks…"she said to no one in particular.

She examined the jacket, it was obviously well-made and expensive. She ran her hands over it and felt the baby soft material. Rin brought it to her face and inhaled the spicy scent of Sesshoumaru. Finally, she slid it over her arms, it was much too large and the sleeves hung off her hands. It went below the hem of her skirt. Then she hugged herself tightly and reveled in the sweet sense of security.

"Like it do you?" she heard a voice call her.

"Huh?" she asked confusedly.

"I just saw your little display there." Inuyasha said as he came into her view.

"I-I just…like leather…" she said dejectedly.

"Sure…" he said as he entered the kitchen.

"Inuyasha, leave her alone." His mother commanded.

"I didn't' do nothing!" he stated.

"So Rin dear, how are you liking the apartment?" she turned to Rin.

"Oh! I simply never imagined I would ever even *see* anything as beautiful as it is! My room is gorgeous!" Rin gushed.

"Good, good. Tell me Rin, how is it living with Sesshoumaru?" Izayoi asked casually.

"Yeah, I don't know how ya live with the ice prince and come over here and are still all cheerful and stuff." Inuyasha said as he picked at the icing of a nearby cake. Izayoi smacked his hand and gave him a look that reminded him of Kagome.

"Sesshoumaru is… very…kind…" Rin struggled to describe him. "I…would not choose to live with anyone else." She finally found the right words and they seemed to make Izayoi happy and Inu want to puke.

"Hey Rin." Inutaisho ruffled her hair and went to pick at food with his son.

"Hey honey, what are we gonna for Christmas this year?" Izayoi asked his as she smacked his hand as well.

"Well lets see…the banquet is on the 23rd so we will all have to go to that since it *is* the most attended Christmas event in all Tokyo…" he blew in Izayoi's ear to let her know he was teasing. Izayoi giggled and gave him a peck on the mouth.

"Ew, please keep all public displays of affection *out* of the public." Inuyasha said as he walked out of the kitchen.

"I have done as you asked, father." Sesshoumaru said as he entered the kitchen.

"Thanks son, we were just discussing the Christmas plans."

"I see." Sesshoumaru said.

"So, how are we gonna do the banquet? I had rather hoped that Inuyasha could take Kagome, she is a very sweet girl." Izayoi said. They all heard a thump that indicated that Inu had taken a little `trip' on his way up the stairs.

"And I think you should also come without us Sesshoumaru. Since you are becoming independent and famous in you own light." Inutaisho said to the tall figure of his oldest son.

"Indeed, I thank you father." Sesshoumaru said half-heartedly.

"So what about Rin?" Izayoi interjected. "You could bring her Sesshoumaru…or if you have *other* plans, she can come with us…" Izayoi planned aloud. Rin's heart leapt up her throat. What if he had a girlfriend?

"I will take her." Sesshoumaru said in his cold tone. Rin thought she might hug Sesshoumaru but she restrained herself.

Sesshoumaru---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

Sesshoumaru felt great inner turmoil about his decision to accompany Rin to the banquet, but there were several reasons that pushed him to do so. One, he had no other women lined up to accompany him. It would definitely be easy enough to find one, but chances were that she would be an idiot. Two, Kaedae would be there and she certainly would notice if he was not with his `wife'. Third, if he didn't take her she would probably be hit on by the sleazy men there. And four, there was a tiny part of him telling him that he very much *wanted* Rin to be his and only his, but he squashed that part as best he could.

He had solved most of the problems with the FBI. He had pulled some strings and Jakken was taking the fall. Jakken would by spending two weeks in a maximum-security prison for transsexuals. Sesshoumaru smirked to himself, the transsexual part had been a little extra fun for him, and it wasn't hard to believe that the little toad could be either a little man or woman. Now he would be spending half a month with murdering drag queens. Just the thought cheered him immensely. Now that he thought about it, the whole incident was most decidedly worth it.

Rin------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------

Rin waved goodbye to Inuyasha and hugged Izayoi. Rin giggled as she was pulled into a massive hug by Inutaisho and greeted by the two big dogs, Ah and Un. After Rin had dispelled the mighty hounds, who stuck so close together someone would think they were one dog with two mighty heads she paid attention to Sesshoumaru.

He was leading the way as they crunched through the light snow. Rin couldn't help but be awed by his beauty. He was walking tall and proud, as he always did, and he had his hands in his pockets. Like a true gentleman, he had told Rin to keep his leather jacket. The snow fell softly, landing in his hair, which itself was the color of snow. His long silken hair shimmered in the blindingly bright world, the flakes of snow adding little glints of light as his hair smoothly flowed with his steps. Rin stopped suddenly and thought, **Oh, so shiny, I want to touch…**

"Rin, why have you stopped?" Sesshoumaru's dark silky voice pulled her out of her dreamworld and she saw he was turned around and looking at her.

"Oh, uh…nothing at all." She came up with. He turned around and continued the trudge to the Porsche.

Sesshoumaru---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------

Sesshoumaru entered his kitchen and brewed some coffee. Rin had trudged into her room. He was worried that she had not forgiven him. Rin had been acting oddly, she had completely stopped in the middle of the snow and was staring at him as if he had turned into a purple hippopotamus with rainbow wings.

He took a swig of hot, black coffee and sighed. He noticed it was quite warm in the apartment…too warm… he would have to complain in the morning. Life seemed to not want him to have an easy time…

And what was with him even caring about her forgiveness? Or even apologizing in the first place! The last person he had ever apologized to was his…mother…

Narraku-------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------

Narraku turned his chair to face the young man before him.

"Mr. Gumo, I am so sorry that my rent is late but… maybe if it were a little more… reasonable…" the scared looking young man pleaded.

"Kohaku, I have given you plenty of time to get that money. If you wish to ever see your parents' beloved restaurant then you will do me a favor…" Narraku whispered wickedly.

Kagome--------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

Kagome was busily stringing popcorn with her little brother, Sota. He was eating most of it but Kagome was having a great time. Christmas was approaching and she had many thoughts. What about Inuyasha? Should she get him a present? Of course she would, she told herself. But would he get her a present?

"What's the matter sis?" Sota asked as he threw popcorn all over her.

"Nothing at all you little brat!" she said suddenly loud. Grabbing him, she wrestled him to the ground. It was a good thing she still had him in size.

"Uncle! Sheesh I give up! you big jerk!" he shouted from the headlock Kag had captured him in.

Sango---------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------

Sango sat quietly at the counter of the empty kitchen. She was eating chocolate. Chocolate always soothed her. She felt old and withered, as if she had already been through life several times before. As if this wasn't the first time anything like this was happening.

Sango shoved a large chocolate in her mouth as the thought of Christmas came about. She shuddered at the thought of Christmas alone. Suddenly, the phone rang. After thinking long and hard about letting it go, she picked it up.

"Ello?" she said lazily.

"Sango-sama?" a familiar voice echoed over the line. Sango suddenly found herself flushed.

"Erm…yeah." She tried to regain her composure.

"Hello, it's Miroku." He said humbly.

"I know who it is you baka." She said

"Oh…" he said softly.

"So what did you want anyway? If it's about work I don't want to hear about it." She popped another Hershey's kiss into her mouth.

"It's not about work. I just wanted to…to…" he found the words difficult to say.

"Spit it out!" she slammed her fist on the counter.

"Ijustwantedtoaskyoutothechristmasbanquet!" he said quickly. Sango gasped, had she just hears the words `ask', `you', and `Christmas banquet' in the same sentence from him? The famous, rich playboy?

"I mean if you don't wanna, that's fine too…" he whispered on the other line. A spitty chocolate dropped out of Sango's mouth.

"No…I'll go…with you." She whispered. She could hear and audible sigh from him. She couldn't help but giggle. She pinched herself and tried to remain unnerved.

"Oh…that's…wonderful…" Miroku stuttered. "So…how about 8 o'clock?" he said happily.

"I'm sure that's fine…bye." She said before slamming the receiver down. She was supposed to be the smart girl who didn't fall for this nonsense!

Rin------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------

Rin awoke to the soft buzzing of the alarm she had set up. She groaned and rolled over, suddenly she noticed it was still dark out. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she was seeing right…oh yeah, no she remembered.

She slid some little pink shorts over her underwear and quietly slipped the heavy door open. She cringed as she heard a light squeak. After holding still for s second she tiptoed down the hall, after casting a wary eye to Sesshoumaru's door. It was slightly ajar, she had to rip herself away before she peaked in.

She padded lightly across the plush carpet all the way to the kitchen. A gasp escaped her mouth as she saw how creepy the kitchen seemed at night, but she carefully flipped one of the smaller lights on. After finding what she desired she opened the fridge and pulled out some eggs.

After nearly thirty minutes Rin backed up to view her masterpiece. She clapped her hands and sighed a little disappointedly, it wasn't quite what she expected. nonetheless she carried her prize to the table and stared at it lovingly.

"Rin, what on earth are you doing up?" a gruff voice asked her. She gasped and fell from the counter she had been leaning on. Sesshoumaru walked over and pulled her off the ground.

"S-Sesshoumaru…I didn't mean to wake you…" she whispered. She froze the second she realized he was not wearing a shirt. "Ah…" she said incoherently.

"Well, I woke up mainly because the whole apartment smells of burning." He said benevolently.

After a few seconds Rin managed to rip her gaze off of Sess's chest and regain some organization of thought. "I…did…sorry…" why did he have to be so gorgeous? She asked herself.

"Not a problem." He leaned over the counter and saw her masterpiece. "What's this?" he asked sleepily.

"Um…a cake." She whispered.

"A cake? A two o' clock in the morning?" he looked at her playfully.

"I was just practicing you see and-" she stuttered.

"would you like to try it? Now that I'm up I might as well have some." He said pointedly.

"O-oh. Well ok I guess. But I don't think.'' she said desperately.

"Nonsense." He said as he sat down in a chair. Was he crazy or was Rin staring at his chest? He couldn't help but smile.

Rin cut him a large piece and placed it in front of him. he almost laughed at the desperate look she was giving him. He sunk a fork into the chocolate and eyed it. It looked normal enough. He slid the fork into his mouth and chewed. He almost spit it out when he suddenly realized that the cake was crunchy.

"How is it?" she asked innocently.

"it's…good…but maybe next time you should leave the eggshells out." He struggled to keep from insulting her.

"Oh my Buddha! You mean they don't go in?" she nearly shouted.

"Not normally." He was about to take another sympathy bite when, to his relief, Rin swept it away and threw it in the trash.

"I'm so sorry…" she said pathetically.

"That's fine." He said as he stood up. He smirked at the blush that smattered itself across Rin's face.

Inuyasha------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------

Inuyasha sat angrily on his bed. Why was his mother always meddling with him? and of all people why was Kagome the one she wanted him to be with? He fisted his hands and growled.

"Master!" a small gurgly voice interuppted Inuyasha's revelry.

"What the hell?" Inuyasha got up and opened the door.

"Oh…Inuyasha…can you tell me where Master Sesshoumaru is? he isn't in his rooms." The small toad asked him. Inuyasha noticed the toad was dressed in a prison uniform that said `Jakkenita' on it and if Inuyasha wasn't mistaken, was he wearing lipstick?

"He don't live here no more." Inuyasha said uncouthly.

"What! Then where does he live?" Inuyasha thought about slamming the door shut, but then he realized that it would make Sesshoumaru mad to see the toad.

"He lives in an apartment on top of the Marriott." Inuyasha said angrily.

"Are you serious? And where is that girl?" the toad asked fervently. Inuyasha laughed viciously.

"She lives with him."

"WHAT!? NOOOOO!" the toad screamed before running off. Inuyasha snickered as he noticed that he was wearing a skirt.

TBC!

A/N: I am so bummed right now! as I was typing that last bit my crush imed me and I MISSED it! WAHHH! But back to related matters.

Well I know that was sorta short but I needed to cut it off before we get into the Christmas banquet. Sorry, I physically saw myself getting over-mushy but I can't stop it! You see I just got back into the dating circuit and it makes my brain go all mushy. (Yes, I do have a boyfriend and a crush…yes, it is messed up… >.<)

Well the next few chapters will be GOOD! So it will make up for this incredibly crappy one… I think I shall update in like two weeks cause school is back and I will be preoccupied. I really have no clue how this is going to all work out.

I want a lemon and TWO people have offered their help. HOW AM I GOING TO DECIDE??? GOD HELP ME! So I guess I am going to have to read an excerpt from both of their lemony writings. Maybe I will even hold a contest? Nah, prolly not, the lemon will be on mediaminer anyways…And very few people review there… (THOUGH I LOVE THOSE PEOPLE ESPECIALLY MUCH)

Thanks- 200+ reviews? I can't express my happiness! I LOVE you all!!!

You guys are just gonna have to live without special thanks this time, I am just too busy. But you KNOW I LOVE you and still want reviews! You see, I need extra reviews this time because I am slightly discouraged at the pure crappiness of this chapter and I need encouragement since I can loose myself in school and socialness now so easily! So REVIEW!