Hello again! I couldn't wait to get the next chapter out! I'm sure you'll all like this one as much as I did.

Special thanks to: ~jj~ who I promise things will not be too sad all the time. There will be many cute moments to come, but this is more a 'drama' type setting so it will not always stay so happy. Thank you for your Review 3

I do not own Inuyasha, or any of the characters. Only the plot

Chapter two: Truth

Sesshomaru spent the whole weekend sulking in his own way, which meant he spent all his time alone in his condo. Mainly to get away from Kagura and her incessant nagging about his absences on that previous Friday, and he didn't need any reminders of his mistake. To pile on the guilt he was sure he had hurt Rin, just walking away like that. Rin was something special, Sesshomaru had learned that during their passionate tryst on Friday.

He admitted that Rin had intrigued him before that, and the kid was so damn intoxicating that he had acted without thinking-which was very unlike himself- but the moment they kissed he'd felt something completely different.

Sesshomaru stood from his black leather couch where he had been attempting to distract himself from his thoughts by the TV, and walked to the kitchen where he turned on the faucet and splashed his face with cold water. He had to stop thinking about it; no matter what crazy connection he had felt with Rin. No matter how strangely good it had felt to be with Rin, like no other feeling before, and he was absolutely sure that he'd never feel like that again unless it was Rin. Rin had made him feel alive in such a way; Sesshomaru couldn't deny that the moment their lips touched something inside him stirred and became wild.

It was doomed. Any type of relationship Sesshomaru could imagine with Rin was doomed for eternity, and Sesshomaru couldn't afford to be around someone who made him feel so...human. He nearly gaged on the word.

However when Monday came around the seconds ticked by ever so slowly, it was painful. His feet felt heavy with each step he took deeper into the campus where he would surely have to confront Rin. Kagura still insisted that he be the one to sketch and mold Sesshomaru even with all the insults she could conjure up, which was no help in reminders of the mistake he made. At least she was smart enough to see that Rin would be the only one capable of molding a statue of Sesshomaru the way she was wanting.

Kagura had been oddly silent that morning, which he excepted with eternal greatness, however he suspected it had something to do with the frightening glare he was wearing on his face that was masking his internal nervousness. He'd be damned if he let anyone know that something was eating at him. Though she was still lodged on his arm as they opened the door to the room and were greeted by the usual giggles and flirtatious 'hii's.

Sesshomaru had sworn he would do his best to ignore Rin, who he'd suspected would be seated at that same long table where his mind had been wiped of all logical thought; however, when it came time he found his eyes moving to that back corner only to be confused by his absence. It didn't take Kagura long to notice Rin's absence either, she wasn't afraid to show her displeasure.

"Where's Rin?" Kagura sounded absolutely exasperated, so much so Sesshomaru wanted so scoff at her. Why should she be disappointed? He was relieved at first that he wouldn't have to face the consequences of his actions, but his mind instantly became filled with wonder.

The girls looked back and forth at each other, probably confused as to why it was so important that Rin -a freshman- had to be there. Finally one looked Kagura in the eye- a brave act- and said that neither of them had seen Rin all day. Which wasn't too weird a fact as this was the only class they shared together.

"Ugh! You boys are all the same!" Kagura exclaimed her irritation at Sesshomaru and continued asking if any of the girls would happen to know where he might be at this time. Of course neither of them had a proper answer. Sesshomaru wanted to roll his eyes at Kagura for asking without thinking. Rin obviously wasn't the social bird to have many friends, in fact there was probably only one person on campus who might know where Rin is at the moment.

That's when Sesshomaru got the idea. He turned on his heel, preparing to leave the room when Kagura caught the sleeve of his dark blue, tight t-shirt.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kagura seemed about at the end of her rope, and he knew she was ready to blow everything and everyone away with her wind abilities but he couldn't care less.

"If he's not here there isn't any point in my being." Was his reply as he moved his arm out of her grip and with long strides he left the room and went down the hall. He knew he'd get bit in the ass for this later, and probably would get chewed out by his father for abandoning his 'responsibility' but at that moment all he could think about was Rin. Something deep in the pit of his stomach was telling him something happened to Rin, and it wasn't good -definitely his fault-.

Sesshomaru knew not where Kagome's classes were but it was simple enough to walk to the main office and get the class number of where she was at this hour. Headed to the south building first floor he double check the room number and noticed the woman had written her phone number on the back of the note. Sesshomaru crumbled up the piece of paper and threw it to the ground remembering what room to go to he quickened his steps.

Luckily classes were ending, because it might have been quite awkward for Sesshomaru to just walk into her class and command her presence. It would surely spread rumors among the weak minded. But that is exactly what he would have done anyway; however, since they were grabbing their things to leave he decided to wait leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

Kagome was one of the last to exit the room, walking and chatting with one of her human friends. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw him however, putting her hand on her hip she furrowed her brow and looked quite angry.

"What do you want?" Her anger was obvious, so Sesshomaru could only guess that Rin had told her what happened. Of course, they hadn't promised each other that they wouldn't tell anyone, but he had thought Rin was the type that would keep something so...important, a secret.

"Where is Rin?" Sesshomaru stayed leaned against the wall to keep himself in control, he didn't want to let even her see that he was letting his emotions get the best of him.

"You need to leave Rin alone, just stay away from him for both of your sakes." Kagome turned to her friend and politely told her she'd meet up with her later and her friend nodded heading down the hall waving goodbye. Kagome stepped out of the way of the door and stood to Sesshomaru's other side. "I don't know what you did to Rin but you need to stop." Her face said the truth, she hadn't been told what happened, which was a bit of a relief for Sesshomaru. But he wasn't through here.

"If that's how he feels let him tell me himself." Sesshomaru dropped his hands by his side standing straight getting a little more than frustrated with everything. He wanted his answers and he hated people getting in between him and his business, which was Rin at the moment.

"Well I'm not telling you where he is so that's not happening." Kagome crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows in a sort of challenge. One that would be no problem for Sesshomaru, he had enough power and many feared him enough to give him any information he asked. He saw no point to continue this conversation, so he stepped by Kagome heading back towards the main office.

"I'll just get his address and go see him myself." Kagome quickly grabbed his arm, earning a server glare from Sesshomaru -he was getting sick of girls grabbing him in such a fashion. His brain immediately thought of how he craved Rin's touch again, which only pissed him off even more.

"You can't do that!" Kagome sounded a little desperate so he chose not to punish her for touching his arm. Her eyes fell a little, looking guilty for a reason he didn't understand. "He's not there."

"Then. Where. Is. He?" Sesshomaru was seriously tired of playing these games. His voice must have gave away his frustration as Kagome quickly took her hand off his arm and looked almost scared for a moment. Then she sighed.

"You got a car?" Sesshomaru just looked at her like she was the worlds biggest idiot, of course he had a car -he had many in fact. "You drive, I'll tell you where." Kagome started heading to the exit. Sesshomaru hesitated for a second but chose to fallow her nevertheless. He needed his answers.

Once he caught up to her he led the way through the parking lots to his small, sleek red car -one of the many he had back at his father's house- pulling his keys out of his pocket and unlocking it from a distance. Sesshomaru got in on the driver side without bothering to open the door for Kagome as he might have out of obligation for Kagura. Once she got in the car he was ready to start up the engine, but stopped and glanced at her.

"I'm not leaving until you give me the destination." Kagome sighed as if she was hoping to avoid the subject.

"Reds Hospital." Her words were whispered, and they chilled him to his very core. He froze holding his keys in his hand. His mind immediately began racing.

"The hospital?" Sesshomaru's voice betrayed him, actually showing his surprise, which shocked Kagome as well. "He didn't try to..." the words crept out his mouth before he could stop them and logically think about everything, but he was too damn worried. Rin was changing him in way to many ways.

Kagome's surprise was instantly swept away by her anger.

"How dare you! Rin isn't like that! He would never be that selfish." She sounded offended on Rin's behalf, but her words drifted off as she thought a moment. Silence filled between them for a few long seconds as he revved up the car and pulled out of the parking lot driving onto the main street towards the hospital. He knew Rin wasn't that weak but after what Sesshomaru had done to him he wasn't sure; he wouldn't have blamed him for trying to hurt himself. Instead he tried to focus on the road. The hospital was forty minutes away, but with his driving he could cut that time in half.

A few minutes of silence went by with neither of them wanting to talk to the other, when Kagome broke the silence.

"What did you do to him?" She paused, but not long enough for him to give an answer if he even wanted to. "Rin didn't tell anyone a damn thing..." Sesshomaru wondered if Rin was the type to open up to others. "And you're the only who could have hurt him like that." Kagome glared at him after that and he glanced at her than looked back to the road as he passed through a few of the cars that were going to slow for his likely. Perhaps she did know Rin better than he thought, she did seem like his only friend. And it was obvious through all of Rin's art work that he thought about Sesshomaru frequently. It was still odd to think that someone could like him that much for no reason.

"Is he okay?" He completely ignored her question and was only answered with her own silence as she looked back to the road more than likely doing it just to spite him. The rest of the ride was quite as he pressed harder on the gas wanting to hurry this along. He parked as close as he could to the entrance as Kagome led the way through the glass sliding doors. She walked right past the front desk woman and headed straight to the elevator, which he thought only people with power as he had were brave enough to do something like such- or a regular patient- but he didn't want to think about that.

She waited until he was in the elevator with her before she clicked the proper floor out of 8- she touched number 5- if he knew this hospital better he may be able to guess why Rin was here based on floors. But Sesshomaru never paid much attention to such things. He was always concerned with what other business's he would be controlling soon. However, at the moment Rin was the only one who filled his thoughts. As the elevator opened onto the small lobby next to the reception desk Kagome stepped out while Sesshomaru took a longer stride prepared to fallow the surprisingly fast walker, but she was just standing where she had stepped off. He looked back at her a little irritated.

"If you want to go see him you'll have to hear a few things first." Kagome crossed her arms looking like she was about to lecture him on something. He sighed and faced her waiting for her to speak. "Rin will kill me for this, but I think its better that you know. Then maybe we can all just move on with our lives." Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow not liking the way this was headed. Perhaps he had hurt Rin during their tryst, but then surely everyone would have known what had happened right?

"Only two people have ever come to see him when he's here like this- myself and Keade. So don't go bombarding him with questions or whatever you want to say. He's also medicated so if you say anything to hurt him in any way or do anything stupid, I will make sure you regret it with every fiber of your being." Sesshomaru was about to scoff at her threat saying that there was no way a human girl could ever put him in any harm, when her words clicked in his head. Rin had been here before, multiple times? Why on earth would he need to be in a hospital so often. Kagome started walking and he was lost in thought for a moment it took him a few seconds before he fallowed her.

So it wasn't his fault that Rin was here, but then if that was true why was Kagome blaming him? None of this made any sense what so ever, and he was so ready to strangle the truth out of Kagome. And he might have done just that were it not for the fact that they were taking so many turns and lefts he wasn't sure if he could find Rin's room without her.

Finally they made a stop in front of a dull gray sliding door. Kagome held out her hand and told him to wait as if he were a dog, which he might have gotten mad at her for were he not filled with so much dread and other conflicting emotions surrounded by thoughts of Rin. She closed the door and he could hear her muffled voice behind the walls talking to someone. Was it Rin? His head was too clouded to think. Then he noticed on the wall next to the door was a name tag nailed to the concrete. It had Rin's name molded into the metal that was placed plainly on the wall. Why would his name be assigned to one room? Surely he could not need to be here that often...it only stirred even more dread within Sesshomaru that he could feel his brow furrowing but couldn't stop it.

A few seconds later Kagome opened the door and allowed him in. Sesshomaru hesitated a long second. Did he really want to know? Rin had become something special to him in such a short amount of time, but he was sure he would forget all about this if he just put space and time between each other. However he decided it was too late for that and entered the room.

The room itself did not look like a hospital bedroom at all which answered some of his fears being that Rin was here quite frequently. There was a bed in the center which a sleeping Rin laid in, the sheets where a perfect shade of blue that matched the sky, the two tables on either side held large vases full of fresh flowers and a picture frame that he couldn't make out who was in it. An elderly woman was sitting in a chair next to Rin holding his sleeping hand, which had IVs taped to his veins that dripped something into his blood stream.

The old woman looked up at him but didn't make any sort of expression that Sesshomaru could understand, but he assumed that this was Keade that Kagome had mentioned.

"Keade, I have to go meet up with Inuyasha but I'm only a phone call away if anything happens." They both looked up at Sesshomaru, then Kagome smiled sweetly at the older woman. "You can trust him." She kissed the old woman's head then turned her back to glare at Sesshomaru before she quickly dug out her phone and left the room closing the door softly behind her.

Sesshomaru didn't know what to do other that just stand there, about a foot away from the bed Rin was laying in. There was his answer. Rin was sleeping in a hospital, but that didn't tell him what was wrong with the kid. He glanced at the old woman keeping his face stoic.

"Is he okay?"

Keade looked him up and down then chuckled softly. "You're just as he described, personality and all." Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow in question but she motioned him to sit in the chair on the other side of the bed which was leaned up against the wall, about two feet from the bed. He slowly took his seat feeling oddly out of place and nervous.

"Rin...he?.." Sesshomaru for once didn't know what to say, but he felt strangely like he wouldn't be able to keep up a front in front of this older woman.

"Yes. He talks quite often about you." She glanced down at his sleeping face and brushed some of his hair back lovingly. Sesshomaru had to wonder if they were related though Rin looked nothing like her. "Always with a smile on his face too." Just the thought of that shoved an extra knife of guilt through his heart. Why did Rin have to be so pure? He was sure he wouldn't feel nearly as bad. Keade's face quickly became serious as she looked up and met him dead in the eye.

"Kagome says I can trust you, but are you ready to protect Rin the way Kagome and I do?" Sesshomaru wasn't really sure what the hell she was talking about but something in him was willing to do anything for Rin so he nodded. Keade smiled in approval.

"Have you heard of the White Death?" Sesshomaru thought for a long moment then nodded his head just slightly, he could remember the name but nothing specific, as he folded his hands together resting his elbows on his knees fully prepared to listen to every word as he watch Rin sleeping. "It is a fatal illness. Though no one yet knows where it comes from, it reacts differently with most of those who catch it, and there is no cure. Those from he past who have gotten it appear only to be sick with a normal cold, however there are a few major differences. All those in the past who have contracted White Death start getting white patches of flesh all over them, as if all color has left the flesh there." She paused a moment staring at Rin. "The patches slowly grow as time passes. And in extreme cases like Rin's...they experience intense lasting pain that consumes their whole bodies.

"Rin's doctors are referring to them as 'attacks'." Slowly she stood and pulled the blanket from him gently and began unbuttoning the old mans' pajama shirt he was wearing. Sesshomaru had to stand and come closer to see what she was doing. Once the shirt was unbuttoned he was surprised to see small patches of this pure white flesh covering Rin's body here and there. How had he not seen that before? There was also a large, ugly scar covering his chest right down the middle, from his collar bone to just above his belly button.

"Rin's attacks get worse every time." the old woman's eyes clouded over with sadness and she folded his shirt over itself not bothering to button it back up as she sat back down while Sesshomaru remained standing. "Its so horrible to watch him double over in such pain while you can do nothing to ease it." For a moment she seemed lost which gave Sesshomaru time to think about everything she had said. Some of it made a little sense, but how had he not noticed earlier? Surely he wasn't that blinded by his own emotion. Each time she talked he only hated himself more, but he had to hear it all for Rin's sake.

Keade seemed to forget that Sesshomaru was there so he choose to ask something that was still bugging him.

"Was it because of an attack that he's here now?" His voice seem to startle Keade back to reality and she looked at him then took a deep breath.

"Rin didn't say a word to me when he had made it home that night, but it had been pouring rain so I assumed that is was triggered the attack. However.." She leaned over and pulled back the collar slightly to show that the bite mark he had left was still very red and purple on his shoulder. She glanced at Sesshomaru to catch a glimpse of the guilt on his face. "I know what a matting mark looks like, and I know Rin well enough to guess the rest." She paused for a moment getting comfortable in her chair yet again. "I do not blame you. Rin has been pushing himself a little too hard these last few months. I suppose hes trying to make up for lost time, but hes foolish if he thinks he can do everything.." Her voice broke off with sadness and Sesshomaru felt lost again. It was as though there were important parts she was leaving out, but perhaps it was best to hear the details from Rin himself.

"Lost time?" Sesshomaru sat back down in his chair that was propped against the wall feeling like there was still a lot left to be said. Keade looked at him for a long moment.

"He has so many sketches of you hanging in his room." She muttered as often older women did. Sesshomaru almost grinned at that. He didn't doubt Rin to be the type to hide away the best pieces of his private collection. "I've never seen anyone more in love." However his heart froze at that. Love? Surely Rin wasn't in love with him. They barely even knew each other, on a real level at least. No, he couldn't deny that there was a sort of pull there that even he felt, but love? Sesshomaru wasn't even sure he believed in love.

"Rin wont get to live to see the new year."

Her voice pulled him out of his inner panic and his eyes widened. Less than a year? He darted his golden orbs to Keade's brown one, dark with age. She nodded solemnly. He looked at Rin's sleeping face and could only see a future corpse there. Sesshomaru felt like something had just dug out his heart, if he still had after what he did to Rin.

"You seem to be very important to Rin, so I'm entrusting him to you." Keade stood and smiled slightly. "He'll wake up soon, so please be here when he does." Sesshomaru was too shocked at the moment to manage to say anything as he watched the old woman leave the room.

xXx

Rin's mind slowly came into focus out of the deep nothingness sleep he'd been in. His body felt incredibly stiff all over, but usually he never felt to great after a bad attack like that. Although technically he was already okay to leave the hospital they had decided to make him stay a few extra days to make sure he was okay. It felt like an eternity since Friday afternoon, and through Rin's broken heart he was having trouble sleeping so the doctor had been giving him meds to help.

Rin slowly opened his eyes to the same ceiling he had woken up to through out the years. Keade had found him lying half dead in front of the shrine years ago, it was shortly after that they figured out what was wrong with him. He'd been coming here ever since.

He slowly blinked his eyes a few times not feeling so awake quite yet as he stared at the white ceiling tiles. When his eyes began to focus he noticed a figure in his peripheral, and he stiffened. Rin knew that shape and those tones of that man so well he could probably sketch him with his eyes closed. His heart hammered in his chest as he ever so slowly turned his head not wanting to be right about who it was, and yet there he sat. Hands folded tightly as he leaned his elbows on his knees, the muscles of his arm squeezed sexily in the dark blue shirt he was wearing. Rin dreadfully dragged his eyes up to meet with the golden orbs that took his breath away every time.

Rin darted up into a seated position as he stared, shocked, into Sesshomaru's eyes, the expression he saw there was one he thought he'd never see on

the inuyokai's face. Complete concern enveloped his features, from the furrow in his brow to the swirling pool of worry in his eyes, met with the straight line of his lips and the twitch in his jaw. Sesshomaru stared into Rin's eyes with enough emotion to match an over protective 'momma bear'. This wasn't Sesshomaru, Sesshomaru would never look at him like that unless...

Rin eyes widened even more as realization hit him. Keade must have...He suddenly found it hard to breath as tears welled up in his eyes, Rin had to look away. This couldn't be happening. Yes Sesshomaru had broken his heart, but deep inside Rin knew that was for the best. This, having Sesshomaru know everything, was worse. The tears fell like water from his eyes as he tried to hide them.

"I...I-I didn't want you t-to know..." He muttered through gasps of breaths as the tears flowed.

Sesshomaru was at his side the second he saw tears, and the sound of Rin's broken voice and tears hit him just as hard as what Keade had said. He had managed to sit on the edge of the small bed and without thought or hesitation he reached out and turned Rin's face so he could look at him. Rin's big brown eyes were glossed over with tears, Sesshomaru gently wiped away the big drops from his cheek with his thumb but still they fell. Gently, without a word, he pulled Rin into his arms and just held him tightly running a hand through the raven, silky locks-letting him know it was okay to cry-

Honestly Sesshomaru didn't know what to say. Really what do you say to a person who has gone through such pain like Rin? Sesshomaru knew everyone had their demons, and that there were a million cases out there of people who were going to die knowing it and could do nothing. But there Rin was trying his best, and Sesshomaru had only piled on the hurt by abandoning him. He felt like the worst.

"I'm sorry." Was all he could think to say. "Its because of me that you're in here..." Rin's body stiffened and he slowly pushed away just enough so he could see Sesshomaru's face. Those brown pools swirling with surprise. Sesshomaru almost grinned. Yes, that was the first time in many many long years he had said 'sorry' to anyone. Smirking only slightly he cupped Rin's cheek. "It was a mistake." His golden eyes searching Rin's. "However.." The words were just pouring out of his mouth. "I will never regret it as long as I live." And he meant it. The whole weekend he'd been telling himself that he'd regret doing what he did, but somewhere inside him he knew no one would ever make him feel as Rin had and he could never regret such a thing.

Rin's eyes grew wide but then his whole face drowned itself with love, the smile that grew from within his eyes captured Sesshomaru's heart. He knew Keade was right, Rin did love him, and even if he wasn't sure if he believed in love he definitely felt something pulling him towards Rin that he could not fight.

Still cupping his cheek Sesshomaru slowly lowered his head to brush their lips together for a short kiss. Though something in his lower regions called out to feel Rin once more he wouldn't ever rush Rin like that ever again. Not when now he knew Rin's very life was at stake. Sesshomaru tried to force out any negative thoughts.

Rin was so confused but he liked it. He knew this was a side of Sesshomaru that no one in the whole world had ever seen, and maybe not even himself. But he could see it in those golden eyes that Sesshomaru meant every word. And the short kiss they shared was so tender it was enough to send him to the clouds and back. Even before he had noticed how gentle Sesshomaru had been with him, but maybe even then it was obvious that it was Rin's first time. He wasn't about to bring that fact up however, the embarrassment was too much.

When their lips parted all he could do was smile, he had no words and he felt like words would ruin the moment. After all Sesshomaru was sitting practically in front of him with an arm around his waist. Rin never thought he'd be so happy in all his life. Until his stomach growled.

Sesshomaru smiled down at him, a small smile but nonetheless.

"Hungry?" Rin only nodded with red cheeks. Slowly Sesshomaru slipped his arm from around his waist and stood. "I'll go find you something." He patted Rin's head gently then turned to leave the room.

"Sesshomaru?" He paused at Rin's voice, wondering if he had ever heard anything so..perfect-his name on Rin's lips-. He looked over his shoulder at a blushing Rin. "That shirt looks really good on you.." Rin mumbled still red in the face. Sesshomaru smirked and bowed his head in a 'thank you' then left the room to find the cafeteria.

THE END of chapter two

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