A/N: Okay...here is this really long chapter. And it's going to be even longer because I owe you an explanation in the later author notes.
And I'm really sorry about the super long wait. It's been hard to write ANYTHING lately, and I wanted to get this done right. I want to put out my best, not just the first thing I write down. So I hope that you'll forgive my slowness, and that you like what I've done. Now lets hope that this time-gap doesn't happen again!


Five weeks of torture. Five weeks of tying to avoid Sesshomaru, and most often failing.

Rin sat cross-legged in her large circular chair, holding her book above her head to read. She had some quirks, but she was proud about them when people took notice to them. Her book would have been rather interesting if she could have focused her mind on it rather than Sesshomaru. He had shown up to her workplace. She worked at a small library, doing ordinary library jobs along with the two other people she worked with.

She liked her job; she liked how it was a smaller building where she could see if the patrons needed help finding something from the counter. But she hadn't enjoyed yesterday afternoon, when she saw Sesshomaru walk in.

Rin had never known him to wear anything that didn't look like it would cost a bagillion dollars, but he had been dressed in simple jeans and a sweatshirt. He had seemed like an illusion then, and even now she wondered if he had shown up at all.

But the way her co-workers both had reacted to him by pointing and whispering had proved it. He just…didn't seem real yesterday. Like he had only been half alive. Maybe he was dying.

Wouldn't that be a relief for me…

Sighing, Rin closed her book and settled deep into her chair. She stared at her kitchen wall, wishing she could have a bigger apartment, where standing in the living room didn't require one to practically be leaning into the kitchen.

But that thinking process was only an attempt to distract herself.

Which I think it's…no, it's not working.

A glare made its way onto Rin's smooth features. It wasn't directed at anything in particular, but she was annoyed with how much control Sesshomaru was taking over in her life. He was constantly on her mind; anything at all could bring him to her thoughts.

Rin looked to her clock and jumped from her seat. She was going to be late…


Rin dashed into the small building where her weekly painting classes took place. She was maybe five minutes late, so she didn't worry too much, as the instructor was always at least ten minutes behind.

Rin flew into the room where the class met and almost fell over as she hastily sat down on the stool next to her friend.

"Sango…" Rin panted. "Has Jakotsu come in yet?"

Sango smiled at her friend and said in a soft voice, "No, he's still in the office. I heard other voices, so I think he's meeting with someone."

Rin stared at the table she was seated at. There was an arrangement of different styles of brushes, pencils and sponges. Nothing was making any sense to her at that moment. She couldn't remember what all of these different brushes were used for.

Just as she was collecting her jumbled thoughts, her art instructor, Jakotsu, walked out of his cramped and cluttered office wearing a content smile on his face. Rin never liked it when he looked like that. It usually meant that he had something crazy planned out for everyone.

"Today, my lovelies," Jakotsu started with a clap of his hands, "I have gathered a group of volunteers for whom you will be painting over the course of the next week or so. I want you to remember now, that some of them were less... complying then others."

Rin didn't know what to think of that last statement. Less than willing…what had Jakotsu possibly done to make…

On second thought…I'd rather not think about it.

Men and women started to pour out of the small office behind Jakotsu. Rin could tell which of them were not happy to be here by the expressions on their faces. All of them just took the seat closest to them where an artist could look at their faces. Rin, being at the back of the class, wondered just what kind of person she would get to…

Dear Lord no…

The last person to shuffle out of the office was none other than Rin's personal tormentor. He was wearing a white, green and blue striped button-down shirt that showed off his muscular frame. His silver hair spilled down his back, and it seemed extra shiny this morning, even in the dim lighting of the art studio.

His golden eyes locked in with Rin's and she could feel a drop of sweat dripping down her forehead. No doubt he could see it…

"Rin…" she heard Sango whisper in her ear, "your model is so handsome. You're quite the lucky one."

"Yeah…lucky." Rin was a little surprised at Sango's words. All except her little brother, her family had been murdered by demons, and she now thought of the entire race as cold-blooded monsters.

Sesshomaru sat down on the stool behind Rin and looked at her with his black expression. He was the only demon of all the volunteer models, and definitely the most gorgeous. He leaned against the counter at which he and Rin were seated at, and he almost looked bored. Rin knew that to not be true. He was here at all, and the Sesshomaru she knew didn't do anything that wouldn't satisfy him.

Rin took up the pencil she would use to draw the layout. Her hands shook as she moved the pencil to the blank canvas that was set up between her and Sesshomaru. The demon continued to stare at her, and she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to do anything in fear of messing up.

Sesshomaru didn't seem the type to forgive if his face was made to look below its radiance as it appeared in life. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to do him justice, and that he would become angry with her, and an angry Sesshomaru would do anything to get revenge.

Taking in a deep breath, Rin started to draw Sesshomaru in how he was seated before her. She paid special attention to the wrinkles and folds of his clothes, and she lightly sketched the line pattern of his shirt.

His eyes were the hardest things to draw; as every time she looked there, she was pulled into an intense stare-down that Sesshomaru wouldn't let her out of. His hair was also difficult, as she wanted to bring out the shines with her pencil, but she knew that it would be useless when she pained over it. But it just looked so silky, so glossy…

When the alarm for the end of the class sounded, Rin jumped from surprise. She hadn't realized it, but she had wasted her last ten minutes just staring at Sesshomaru. And from the hint of a smug look that he was giving her…she had obviously been looking at him in a dreamy way. She couldn't remember what she had been thinking, but it had changed her face enough to pull something from Sesshomaru's expression.

Scurrying up, Rin moved all of her supplies back to the various containers they belonged in. It wasn't something she normally did, as she would just need to get them back out the next week, but she could feel Sesshomaru's eyes on her and she knew that as soon as she stepped outside he would pounce on her and trap her again.

Rin walked to the stairs that would take her to the ground floor of the studio, watching Sesshomaru using her peripheral vision. He seemed to be conversing with one Jakotsu, but Rin knew that he was watching her as well.

When Rin reached the crisp outdoor air, she almost started to sprint in the direction of her apartment. She really didn't want Sesshomaru to catch her. While it was obvious that he was much faster than her, Jakotsu had a way of trapping people in strange conversations and Rin was hoping that he would keep the demon busy until Rin was safe.

Unfortunately for Rin, she was not so lucky with her time. Slamming headfirst into a muscled torso, Rin stumbled backwards onto the ground.

Sesshomaru looked down at her with a vicious glare, and he moved down to drag her back onto her feet. His silky voice held an array of different emotions (anger being the most outstanding) as he growled in Rin's ear.

"Why are you running from our inevitable reunion?" Rin could feel hot tears streaming down her face as she looked into the piercing eyes of the demon holding her up. She didn't want to cry, not like this. Not in front of him…but he scared her, he had caused her so much pain already, and Rin was afraid not only for her heart this time but her life.

She couldn't form any words; she couldn't push anything out over her sobs. Sesshomaru stared at her while he waited for her to answer him, which only made things worse for Rin. If only he would look away…

But that wasn't Sesshomaru. He took what he wanted, when he wanted, how he wanted. Why had Rin ever fallen for this man? He was cruel, unkind, unmerciful…everything that Rin wasn't. But she also remembered a time when he had been less hateful. When he had cared, even though he didn't necessarily show it.

Rin had to be strong…she had to be strong for the Sesshomaru she used to know. Blinking the remnants of her tears away, Rin met Sesshomaru's fierce gaze with her own that was just as strong. Sesshomaru looked a little taken aback at how determined she looked.

"You want to know why I'm running from you?" She urged. Although she knew that Sesshomaru wouldn't respond, she paused a moment before continuing.

"I'm running from you because that's exactly what you did to me two years ago. You ran away, for I-don't-know-why. You left me crushed and alone. Then you return, and you expect me to just fall willingly back into your arms like nothing ever happened?" Rin's voice was raised to the point of almost screaming as she continued her speech.

And with every word that she had said, Sesshomaru's eyes had grown just a smidgen wider. He hadn't expected that Rin would be anything but timid and helpless as she tried to avoid him. This was unexpected, and…and he liked the challenge.

A small smirk rose at the corner of Sesshomaru's lips, and he spoke in a smooth, rich voice in response to what Rin had said.

"Do you really wish to know why this Sesshomaru returned after so long?" His eyes were narrowed in a alluring way, and it made a small lump form in Rin's throat to see his handsome face make an expression that wasn't anger.

As she couldn't speak around the lump, Rin nodded her head in answer. A small chuckle bubbled up in Sesshomaru's throat and he tilted his head down as he continued to laugh for a moment.

When he returned his gaze to Rin, his eyes were hard and serious. He moved so that his lips were brushing against Rin's ear, and she felt shivers travel down her spine from the sensation.

"If you really want to know…" he paused and he let out a breath against her ear, sending more shivers crawling down her back, "…then you'll have to come with me." Rin pulled back as far as Sesshomaru's hold would allow her. She stared in horror at the demon. Could she really just leave everything to follow Sesshomaru? Because she knew him, he wasn't implying that she just go with him to wherever he wanted to take her for a while, but he meant leave everything behind and follow along blindly.

She didn't think she could do it. In truth, if she looked deep into her core, she was sure that she still loved Sesshomaru. But…what if he decided that he didn't want her again? She couldn't deal with that. At least last time she had had some foundation to fall back on. Not this time, not if she were to go with him…

The answer was simple. She couldn't do it. But then…why did she feel like she would be making a mistake?

"I…" Rin looked into the golden eyes that were staring back at her, waiting for her to say 'yes.' She didn't want to disappoint them, but she had been disappointed herself, and that made things much easier to say.

"I can't. I won't." Rin stated with fierce certainty. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed with anger this time as he snarled back,

"Are you sure?"

Rin nodded her head once in answer. Disgusted, Sesshomaru threw Rin down to the ground, not caring what happened to her at that point. He turned on his heel and stalked off in the direction from which he had come from. Rin watching him leave, and noted at how tense he seemed. She knew that she had made him angry by her rejection at his offer, but she just couldn't have done it. Not with the way he had treated her.

I hope that this means that he'll leave me alone now…


A/N: Well, now that we have that out of the way...I can get onto my explanation as to why Sesshomaru left Rin only to come back for her.

Sesshomaru decided that Rin was beginning to bore him, or get in his way. Anyway, he didn't want her around. So he left. Simple enough.

As to why he came back for her...it may be a little confusing. He came back because I've (or am trying) to make Sesshomaru out to be sadistic and selfish. And he decided that he wants to see Rin in pain. So, knowing that seeing him again would cause her suffering, Sesshomaru returned and started to pursue her.
My goal for this story is to subtly change Sesshomaru so that he truly desires to be with Rin instead of just hurting her. So far, I'm pretty much just making him angry, but he needs to get over himself before he can love someone else. So, long story short,

Sesshomaru is a butt,

He's a sadistic butt,

And he wants to hurt Rin.

Hope that cleared it up for you! :D Feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.