Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way shape or form. The beautiful manga and anime belong only to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own the idea of the Lying Games or the figure of A from the Pretty Little Liars. Those ideas belong to Sara Shepard.
Summary: When seventeen year old Rin Fumiko began her first year at Shikon University, she didn't expect to be to be courted by the powerful and dangerously sexy Sesshomaru Takahashi. She didn't expect to fall in love. And she damn sure didn't expect to get caught up in her lying games. As Rin tries to keep a mind-blowing secret from him, she's also trying to keep herself and her friends safe from an unknown figure with ties to her past. Who is this stranger? Why is he after her and her friends? And what will happen when Sesshomaru discovers the truth?
Prologue
"Rin, you were great," the older woman said, smiling down at her child with the same identical dimples as her daughter. Rin bounced on her toes, happy and energetic with adrenaline still coursing through her veins.
"Really, Mommy?" Her hazel eyes sparkled with hope. Rin had just performed her first solo with her ballet class backing her up occasionally. Compared to most girls in their class, Rin was the most talented and learned quickly. Her performance had been remarkable. She even outdid those older than her. Mrs. Fumiko, her mother, couldn't have been more proud.
"Of course, pretty girl. Now, put your coat on. We've gotta get home and get the little dancer some food," Mrs. Fumiko told her and Rin slid on her little jacket, bounding after her mother through the front door. The night air was chilly, but not too cold. So, Rin carelessly left her coat open and threw on her pink scarf. Mrs. Fumiko glanced at her. "You know, your Daddy is really proud of you." Rin pouted.
"I wish he could've been here," the eight year old admitted.
"Oh, but he was," her mother said and Rin's eyes brightened again. "He was standing in the back. He said you were so beautiful, his little angel." Rin beamed. Her mother bent her knees so that she could be on the same level as her daughter. "But…he had to go back to work. And gave me something to give to you." Rin's eyes followed her mother's hand as it delved into a black pocket and pulled out a red velvet box. Mrs. Fumiko nodded at Rin as the little girl opened the box. She gasped.
In it lay an expensive silver charm bracelet that shined with the street lights. The interlocking chains glinted with an extra shine that reflected off Rin's eyes. The bracelet held a topaz charm for Rin's birthstone, a Scorpion for Rin's birth sign, a ballet slipper for Rin's dancing, a little microphone charm, and a puppy charm.
"What's the puppy charm for?" Rin asked, gazing at it in particular. There seemed to be something captivating about it with its golden eyes staring back at her, entrancing her. Almost as if it were real.
"Well, your Daddy couldn't get that puppy you wanted. So, he gave you the charm for it," Mrs. Fumiko said, eyes twinkling knowingly at her daughter's interest in the charm. Rin took the charm out of the box and slid it onto her wrist, finding that it was slightly big for her. "Don't worry about that. When you get older, you'll be able to wear it a lot better. And, on your seventeenth birthday, you'll get the other charm your Daddy has for you." Rin smiled brightly, dimples forming again. She gave her mother the bracelet back and they made their way to the sleek black car. Once inside, Mrs. Fumiko pulled off.
"Mommy?" Rin asked after fifteen minutes.
"Yes, Rin?"
Why is that black truck following us?" Mrs. Fumiko glanced at the rear view mirror for the fifteenth time and frowned deeply. She thought Rin hadn't been paying attention, but again, she had underestimated her daughter. Rin may have only been eight years old, but she was extremely perceptive and intuitive. Mrs. Fumiko steeled her expression staring at her daughter through the mirror.
"Hold on for a second, pretty girl," she called and Rin nodded, clutching the armrest beside her. Mrs. Fumiko pressed against the gas pedal and sped up the lane, dodging past three other cars on the road and made a sharp left. "I'm making a detour. As soon as we get home, run to your room. I'll be right behind you." While her mother usually could hide her emotions, Rin noticed the slight panic in her tone and fear clutched her chest. Rin glanced behind her and didn't see that truck. Another sharp turn and Rin was practically thrown into window. Mrs. Fumiko sped down the street even more, thinking that she only had five more minutes to get home –
"Mommy!" Rin's shriek of terror was drowned out by the collision of the truck slamming against the driver's side of their car, sending the vehicle catapulting into the forest on their right. The car flew into the air, flipping twice before slamming back down onto the ground, the top of the car against the ground. Glass shattered all around the broken thing. Rin coughed, trying to ignore the glass cut on her cheek. She glanced at her mother, whose head was tilted towards her. Her eyes were closed and her black hair surrounded her face like a silky blanket. "Mommy!"
Mrs. Fumiko's eyes fluttered open. Her head slightly, she could feel moisture on the left side of her head, just a few above her temple. She blinked a few times and noticed that she was upside down, still stuck to her seat by a seatbelt. Panicking, she glanced behind her to see her daughter's tearful eyes. Awake and not thinking of her own minor injuries, the mother unbuckled herself and climbed towards her daughter. "Hold on, Rin." The little girl whimpered as her mother struggled with the seatbelt, tugging at it impatiently.
"Come out, come out wherever you are," some unfamiliar voice to Rin called out teasingly and the mother begged her daughter not to make a sound. Mrs. Fumiko yanked at the belt one last time and Rin fell on top of her. Stealthily, Mrs. Fumiko slid out the passenger side window, yanked Rin behind her and crawled behind a nearby tree. They listened for the boots crunching on dry leaves. "Now, Kaoru, you and I both know that you're not dead. So, why don't you just get out of this pathetic shit you call a car and let me have a look at the little girl of yours?" Rin pressed herself against her mother harder, hiding her whimpers. Mrs. Fumiko peered at her broken car to see a man bent over it. Deciding quickly, she grabbed a nearby large stone and hurled it at the back of his head. He fell into the ground with a thud and a groan. And they ran.
"Come on, Rin. Keep running!" She yelled at her daughter, tugging the little girl behind her forcefully. Rin struggled to keep up and tripped a few times only for her mother to yank her back onto her feet. The blurred images of trees and grass whipped by them as they raced through the forest, the sound of their panting the only things they could hear. As soon as Mrs. Fumiko saw their house, she smiled and pushed herself further. They were almost there.
As soon as she was able to unlock the door, Mrs. Fumiko threw Rin inside the house, forcing the little girl to drop to her knees out of breath. "Rin, go to your room. Now!" Rin watched her mother search into the closet and pull out a strange dagger. Mrs. Fumiko glared at the girl. "Now!" She commanded. Just as Rin reached the foot of the stairs, something slammed against the door. Mrs. Fumiko gasped and Rin screamed.
"Mommy!"
"Rin, go now! I'll be right behind you!" Rin sprinted up the stairs on her little legs, not looking back as the door was slammed open. She bound down the hallway to her room and closed the door, refusing to lock it. She waited and flinched every time she heard a scream or a shout. She even wanted to run out there and help. But what could she do? Tears streamed down her face until she jumped at the sound of a loud THUD and the sound of heavy footfall on the stairs. The sound was getting closer to her door. It was at her door. Rin closed her eyes.
"Rin!" Mrs. Fumiko burst through the door, slammed it behind her, and locked it. Rin's eyes flung open and she threw herself into her mother's arms. Mrs. Fumiko, biting back a cry at the contact against her bruised ribs, hugged her child fiercely. She then pulled her away and ran her fingers through Rin's curly hair. "Rin, you need to hide. Go to your spot." Rin nodded tearfully and ran to her closet.
Inside the closet was a small little door that leads to a space only Rin could fit into. She had played hide-and-seek with her friends and won every time because no one could find her. Mrs. Fumiko threw Rin's desk in front of the door and came up behind the little girl, making sure she was well hidden.
"What about you, Mommy?" Rin asked. Mrs. Fumiko's eyes brimmed with tears.
"Mommy can't play hide-and-seek with you this time, sweetie. There's something I have to do," she said and before Rin could say anything, she hushed her. "Listen, pretty girl. Your father…there's some things I can't explain right now and you won't know anything about them until you're older. Do you remember that thing I told you about?" Rin nodded. "Remember, you can't tell anyone. Not until it's the right time. Don't go out until you hear someone familiar."
"Mommy, I'm scared," Rin admitted. Mrs. Fumiko kissed her forehead lingeringly.
"I know, baby, but remember what I taught you. Three can only keep a secret…"
"…if two of them are dead," Rin finished, crying in trepidation. She now understood the quote better than anyone else. Mrs. Fumiko smiled sadly.
"You were always my little pretty girl," she told her daughter and closed the small door. Leaning her head against it, she allowed for the tears to flow now, knowing Rin was doing the exact same thing. "I am so sorry, baby," she whispered to the door, walked out of the closet, and shut the door. Steeling herself and wiping her eyes, Mrs. Fumiko moved the desk and walked out of the room, never looking back.
All Rin heard was the sound of a loud scream and a sickening crack followed by the ambulance. They were already too late. Mrs. Fumiko was dead.