My Saviour

By Shin Sankai


Chapter Nine


Author's Notes: Well this took longer then I had originally planned. I've been working on it over the past few weeks, on and off of course, but really I did draw a blank after the last chapter for awhile there. Plus my writing time has been taken up with stories for Kirishima and Yokozawa, sorry, on a yaoi kick for those two. In any case, I hope this is enjoyed by anyone who has been waiting for it and unfortunately I've no idea when the next chapter will be out...and sorry for the cliffhanger...if it can even be called that.


It had been over a month now since Inuyasha had escorted her and dragged Kagome's brother kicking and screaming back to Tokyo. Sota didn't mind getting his hands dirty, not wanting to leave so unexpectedly like he did. But his brother-in-law, whom he idolised, had orders, regardless of his wailing of not wanting to return home. It of course seemed mostly due to the fact that high school would be starting up for him soon and he really didn't want to be locked away in classrooms.

Rin was currently staying on a large peaceful rice farm, fields abound and most of the family was all working when she arrived. The property was over half an hour out of Yonezawa, situated in a tranquil setting.

Inuyasha pretty much had to coax her out of the car when Kohaku-kun had driven them back to the farm. While the young man put the car away, the two of them were met by Chiharu-san, the elderly grandmother who still had a fighting spirit even though she could no longer work in the fields. Instead she cooked the meals and did the washing while the rest of her family were hard at work. She was a sweet lady who seemed to treat Inuyasha much like a grandson and it was close to a grandparent the young man had, considering his parent's family had long since passed away. On the short trip to the farm, Inuyasha had told Rin that on several occasion's he and Sesshoumaru had spent time here, though he was sure Sesshoumaru was dragged here considering the difference in age they were. Inuyasha had found the farm to be a buzz of excitement when he was young, whereas his older brother would disappear for hours on end, ending up down by the river reading a book underneath the shade of a large tree. Of course he was always found and interrupted by Inuyasha who wanted to play with him.

Rin, herself, was currently walking down an embankment, bare feet gliding through plush green grass as she sat down, once again starring off into nothingness, lost once more, within her own little world. It was like a ritual for her. Every now and then she'd disappear from the property to wander.

At first it had frightened those that were looking out for her and she had apologised when she noticed the worry within their eyes. Rin didn't want to be rude, so she asked if she could leave at a certain time to just go for a walk, clear her head and Chiharu-san was probably one of the few in the large household that noticed the sadness within her. Of course Rin didn't want to be ungrateful, it had taken her a few days to warm up to the occupants who'd taken her in without even knowing her, but she just knew this place wasn't her home and reverted back to her old ways of being quiet.

Though Myoga-sensei, who appeared to be a distant relative of the Takahashi family was rarely around, off on some journey here or there, his son's family treated her very kindly. They cleared out a spare room just for her and didn't even pressure her to help around the farm, but Rin wouldn't be who she was if she didn't get up early to help with breakfast or place out the washing for the day. That was just who she was, even if she did it without making barely a sound.

Rin had thought she would be extremely lonely, which granted when she was alone, she would do nothing but think about Sesshoumaru. What he was doing, where he was and if he was taking care of himself. Of course there was telephone access at the property, it had even been offered to her, to call her loved ones so they knew she was alright, but Rin could not, for if she heard his voice for even a second, she would pack her bag and head straight back to Tokyo, back to him, back to what she believed was her home. And nothing would change her mind of that. But of course she respected him too much to disappoint him. He had his reasons for sending her away, for her protection he constantly said, and thus she would fight every ounce of her being to run back to him.

"Rin-san," Rin stopped plucking the grass beneath her dainty fingers to lift her eyes, turned her head to the left to see Myoga-sensei's nephew. Well technically he wasn't really a nephew, more like an honorary one, since he lost his parents at a very young age and in fact was raised mostly by his sister, which surprisingly enough turned out to be Sesshoumaru's secretary at his office.

"Kohaku-kun," He was a very sweet guy, around the same age as her, give or take a year or two and he had tried his best to befriend her, but Rin was one tough cookie to crack. Of course Kohaku didn't know of her childhood background or what little she could remember and how it had even taken Sesshoumaru a long time for her to warm up to him, it was just in her nature not to be so trusting. Of course Rin didn't know why she was the way she was, she'd blocked a lot from her memories because to her, life didn't start until five years ago, on the very street where she'd bumped into her lawyer saviour.

"I thought you'd be here." The young man half grinned as he sat next to her, looking into the river. "You know, keeping it all inside is not a good thing."

"I'm fine."

"And you say that all the time too. You certainly don't look fine."

"And you Kohaku-kun are very persistent."

"Of course, you are a guest within my home and yet..."

"I am distant?" Rin finished off for him. She watched him scratch at the back of his head in awkwardness. "I hope that you and your family do not take it personally, this is just the way I am. When I was living with Sesshoumaru-sama, it took me over a year to open up to him."

"You...live with Inuyasha-san's brother?"

"That she does." Two heads whipped around, to stare behind them, Rin scrambling to her feet as she rushed over to her unexpected visitor.

"Inuyasha-sama!" Her smile practically split her face at seeing a familiar face as she barrelled into the grinning man. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Mm, its been awhile for sure. My kids seem to be going through Rin-chan withdrawal at the moment, its driving me nuts."

Rin couldn't help but giggle lightly. "How is Kagome and the kids? I must apologise, I've not written to them in awhile."

"That's not why I'm here." Inuyahsa watched a perplexed look spread over her face. His eyes drifted away from the short young woman as he stared at the young man who was brushing off grass stains from the back of his trousers. "Kohaku, give up on her." Golden eyes observed brown ones widen. "She's already spoken for."

"Eh?" Rin was pushed towards the dirt road and to where a small car was sitting idle. "Inuyasha-sama, what is going on?"

"For a bright girl, you really need to open your eyes a bit more, but I guess at the moment there is no one but my stupid brother that fills your thoughts." He watched a cute pout appear on her face. It was almost like looking at Kagome. "Kohaku's got the hots for ya." And her eyes widened, looking back to where they'd left Kohaku before she was lightly pushed into the car.

"I...never knew."

"That response sounds familiar." Inuyasha sighed as he burned rubber down the dirt road, heading back towards the farm.

"Inuyasha-sama, what is going on?"

"We'll discuss it when we get on the shinkansen."

"I don't understand..."

"I'm taking you back."


Rin fidgeted in her seat as Inuyasha sat in front of her in another, starring out the window at the countryside passing them by. It'd already been half an hour since they'd been on the train. Everything had happened in such a blur that while Inuyasha explained to Chiharu-san that matters had occurred back home that required Rin's attention, that in fact, was all she heard as she was pushed up the stairs to the room she'd been residing in to pack her bag. Now she sat, pointedly starring at the younger brother of the man she loved and he was not saying a thing!

"Um..."

"Its Sesshoumaru," Beautiful brown eyes widened instantly and she felt her heart constrict at all the horrible thoughts she was now thinking. "He's not the same without you." Inuyasha scratched at his long bound hair. "I know we aren't the best siblings in the world, but I do know when something is wrong with him. Okaasan said we should give him space since he's been working non-stop for ages now, but even when Kagome tried inviting him over for dinner, he'd refuse. We even tried to get the kids to coax him out of his place, but it just wasn't working."

"Is he...alright?" Rin asked quietly, her heart pounding in her ears.

"Sesshoumaru's bastard partner Kouga rang me a few days ago, he said he hadn't heard from Sesshoumaru and he'd not been into work either. Granted I was in the middle of work myself I couldn't get around till the evening and asked reception to give me a key pass into the apartment. I found him," Inuyasha finally turned his golden gaze to Rin. "...passed out in the hallway."

"Eh?"

"I called Kachan straight away and she came over instantly. She checked him over and called the family doctor for a consult. We don't know how long he'd been out, probably for nearly three days since Kouga hadn't heard from him and the Doc said he was probably suffering from stress, working too much, exhaustion, fever and poor nutrition. He's got an IV drip in him...and he hasn't woken up yet."

"Inuyasha-sama..."

"Hey, hey, it'll be alright..." The young father consulted, albeit a bit awkwardly as he leaned forward, taking hold of Rin's hands within his rough ones. He was never good when it came to women crying. "How long have you been with him huh, you know he's one tough bastard."

"Mm..." Rin nodded her head even though tears fell down her cheeks. She should have trusted her instincts from the very beginning and not left his side. She should have forced her own feelings and thoughts onto him to make him understand that she was a tough girl and she was strong enough to remain at his side, no matter the dangers he believed she would encounter. The young woman pulled her hands free and wiped the tears away, composing herself as she knew she needed to be strong, she had to be Sesshoumaru's pillar of strength in order to get him back to how he was before. Of course she was frightened to return, what if he rejected her being there, then what would she do?

"If Rin-chan ever feels uncomfortable, you are welcome at our place. Kagome and the kids would love to have you." It was like Inuyasha had read her mind and all the young woman could do was nod her head in thanks.

Instead she thought it best to change the subject entirely lest she continuously think negative thoughts. "I forgot to congratulate you on being a father again."

"Nah, it's alright, a lot has been going on after all."

"Are you nervous like Kagome-chan?"

"Not in the slightest, I'm an awesome dad after all." Inuyasha cockily winked at the giggling Rin. He was thankful she'd stopped crying even if her eyes were red and puffy. "I know Kagome is scared and it's going to be pretty tough looking after four kids under the age of six, but we've the best support in the world so there is nothing to fear."

"You know if the two of you ever need to have some time alone, I'm more then happy to babysit for you."

"Our alone time gets us in trouble."

"Inuyasha-sama!" Rin squeaked out, a blush rising to her cheeks as she knew exactly what he meant by that comment.

"Ah, sorry..." She may not be sexually active, but that didn't mean she wasn't well educated on the subject. "So, Rin-chan, ever thought about getting married and having a family of your own?"

"Wah, I...I...I'm not answering that!" Rin fumed as she turned her heated face to gaze out the window. As much as she tried to hide her affection for Sesshoumaru-sama, she was certain that his brother and even Kagome knew about it, though they were being respectful to her in not bringing it up, though Inuyasha did like to tease her about certain things. Out of the corner of her eye, she listened to him mumble he'd go buy them bento while ruffling his hand through her hair like she were his little sister. "Arigatou Inuyasha-sama." Rin sweetly replied as he headed down the aisle and with that she went back to gazing out the window, thoughts of course on her dear Sesshoumaru.


Once more Rin was starring out the window, but this one was of the taxi that had pulled up out front of where she lived with Sesshoumaru. She starred up at the tall building, heart fluttering and butterflies dancing in her stomach at what she would find in the apartment.

"Rin," She turned her gaze to Inuyasha who held out a very familiar key pass. "I believe this...belongs to you." She really couldn't help but hug Inuyasha and then stepped out of the taxi. "If you need anything, give us a call ne?" She nodded her head as Inuyasha told the driver where to go next and she watched them merge into traffic before lifting her bag over her shoulder and headed straight through the double glass doors of the building.

"Oh my goodness, Rin-san, welcome back." Rin's eyes fell upon Hana-san, the elderly receptionist who she'd taken a liking to and obviously the feelings were mutual.

"I'm back."

"Takahashi-san has not picked up his mail in days, we assumed he was away on business."

"I apologise if its been stacking up. He unfortunately has come down with a slight cold." Rin took the pile of mail within her hands and waved goodbye for now as she headed for the elevator.


Rin placed the key pass into the slot and the doors opened when she reached the top floor penthouse apartment. It was deathly quiet and oppressively dark. Dumping her bag in the middle of the hallway Rin made her way straight to Sesshoumaru's bedroom and took a deep breath as she pulled the door open, peering hesitantly inside. The curtains were pulled open, bringing in the afternoon sunshine but that did not matter at all, instead her eyes were focused on the deathly pale Sesshoumaru lying prone in the middle of his large bed. He was wearing a long sleeved baggy grey top, but the sleeve on his right arm was rolled up as he was connected to an IV line.

Slowly Rin walked over and sat on the side of the bed. It really did look like he was just sleeping if it weren't for the horrible colour of his skin and the fact he had a drip in him. Tentatively she reached out a hand, caressing the side of his cold face.

"Tadaima, Sesshoumaru-sama." And she couldn't help the tears that fell silently down her face.


Rin woke with a start, listening to the faint sound of Sesshoumaru's phone going off and finally realised she'd fallen asleep next to him. She was lying on her right side, facing him, much like when she had been injured, only thing different was he was not facing her, nor was he holding her close either. Rin rushed over to the cellphone vibrating and ringing on his desk and picked it up.

"He-Hello?"

"Hello?" Came back a man's voice and she recognised it instantly.

"Kouga-san,"

"Yeah?" It appeared he'd forgotten all about meeting her that fateful day she was followed and she attacked that unknown man.

"Ah, its me, Takahashi Rin."

"Oh, Sesshoumaru's girl." Rin felt her cheeks flush as she really didn't know how to answer that. "So how's he doing?" Rin turned her brown eyes to the unmoving man in bed.

"Mm, he's lucky his family worried about him so much they came over to check on him."

"He's not the only one that is overworked, this damn case is killing my social life."

"Case?"

"Yeah, we've been trying to pin this guy who is dealing in drugs and murder and prostitution...anyway...you don't need to hear about that."

"The same case...he's not...finished it yet?"

"Nah, our witness has disappeared." Rin's eyes widened as she moved back over to the bed. "We've had detectives trying to find her and even Sesshoumaru has been stomping around the streets looking for her too. The only way we can nail the bastard is if she comes forward. We think maybe he got wind of it and she's either been taken care of or gone into hiding. Anyway, I shouldn't be telling you this."

"Mm..."

"Hey, I don't mean to be a pain, but Sesshoumaru had been working on the case at home and he said he was expecting some information in the mail, I was wondering if there was any packages lying around."

"Ah, there is a pile I picked up from reception, I'll have a look for you." Rin padded down the hallway and picked up the mail she'd dumped on the side table in the hallway. "What am I looking for exactly?"

"An envelope from Hoshi Investigations." Rin sifted through the mail and amongst the junk mail, bills and personal mail there was in fact an envelope which just had his name on it and a stamp which read "private and confidential".

"I can't see anything with that name on it as a return address, but there is an envelope with his name and its marked private and confidential."

"Open it."

"But I..."

"It's cool, if I'm wrong we can reseal it and he won't even know."

Rin held the phone to her ear by her shoulder and peeled the envelope open. "It looks like photos."

"Excellent, those are a great help. Do you think I could..." Kouga stopped when he heard a gasp over the phone. "What's wrong?"

"I...I know this man."

"Huh?"

"In the photo, there is a man with wavy black hair and brown-reddish eyes, I've seen him before."

"I'm coming over!" Rin couldn't refuse as Kouga had already hung up the phone, but really she couldn't do anything as the phone slipped from her ear and shoulder, cluttering on the floor as she continued to stare at the photo. How was this man familiar to her? Where had she seen him? And what was her connection to him?

So many questions rolled around in her head as Rin moved towards the lounge, dining and kitchen, flicking on the light to stare incredulously at the mess before her. She'd not been in the room since she'd gotten back a few hours ago as she'd stayed by Sesshoumaru's side. Plates, bowls and what appeared to be a mountain of coffee cups were scattered about the rooms. Newspapers and paperwork was scattered about the kotatsu, the carpet and also spread across the dining table. There was also a variety of pots and pans piled in the sink and there was several outdated takeaway containers sitting in the fridge. Rin had her work cut out for her, but there was no where else she'd rather be, however there was no time to start cleaning when the elevator alerted her to a visitor.

"Show me the photo!" Kouga blurted out when the doors opened for him. He knew it was rude, but for someone else to notice someone in their photos was quite shocking and also a relief for that matter. Rin waved Kouga into the dining room and they both sat down.

"This man here, I've no idea how I know him, but I know him." Rin pointed to the man she mentioned over the phone.

"He is who we are trying to put away."

"Eh?"

"This man is evil." Kouga had no other way of explaining it except for that. "We are certain that a girl who used to be involved with him, who was trying to escape, was in fact murdered by him." Rin gasped at the horror and looked down at the stack of photos. She hadn't bothered to look at any others as her eyes would not break from those menacing brown-reddish ones.

"You know, I never expected Sesshoumaru to be such a slob."

"Ah, I'm sorry for the state of the place, I've been away. Sesshoumaru is bedridden so he's not been able to clean up after himself while I've been gone."

"Bedridden? Inuyasha said it was just a cold!"

"Eh?" Rin was startled as Kouga rose from his seat, swiping up the photos and stomped down the hallway towards Sesshoumaru's room. He flung the door open and looked at his business partner lying in bed.

"Get up you damn bastard, I'm not running the business on my own!"

"Kouga-san please," Rin tried ever so hard to calm the man down.

"Do you think I can win this god damn case without you?"

"Kouga-san!" Rin didn't know she had it in her as she yelled at the dark haired man dressed in a brown business suit, tie askew. She'd pushed him away as hard as she could from Sesshoumaru's bed, he ready to lean over the prone man and shake him senseless. Rin stood with her arms out, warding off the menacing Kouga. "I'm sorry he's sick, it's my fault he's in such a state. I promise with all my heart that he'll be back to his full strength in no time and I'll do whatever I can to repay you for the hardship you are going through, but please, don't be mad at him." Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she passionately declared her reasoning's to a stunned Kouga.

"Ah, sorry..." His anger had literally left him instantly when he was starring into her deep brown eyes filled with absolute love and worry for the man in bed. "If its alright, will you keep me informed of his health?"

"Mm!" Rin beamed him a smile which melted even his heart and he scratched awkwardly at the back of his head.

"I should get going...sorry to bother you." Rin rushed after the retreating Kouga.

"Its okay, I'm sorry I yelled at you, that was very rude of me."

"Nah, its cool, you're just protecting the man you love." Kouga watched Rin blush deep red. "Ah, sorry, was that meant to be secret?" He was never good with women like this. He didn't wait for an answer and instead changed the subject. "A-Anyway, if you remember where you know that man from, day or night, please call me." Rin took his business card between her fingers and nodded her head, giving him a slight wave as the elevator doors closed.

Taking a deep breath Rin was ready to pass the archway that led into the lounge, dining and kitchen area when she noticed the envelope on the dining table. She moved over to it, ready to scrunch it up when she noticed there was something else inside. Taking the envelope with her Rin made her way back into Sesshoumaru's room and once more sat at the man's side. She brushed some strands of hair away from his face, noticing that the colour in his cheeks was a lot better then a few hours ago.

She made her way into his bathroom to place a face-washer under the warm water and brought it over, brushing the warmth over Sesshoumaru's face. She pulled his head up so she could rub it across the back of his neck and then around the front and over his collarbone. She could feel his stubble and knew it did not suit him at all and was certain that once he had his strength back it would be the first thing to go. He was always clean shaven. Rin hoped he would recover soon. There was so much she wanted to talk to him about.

Rin continued to stare at his face for who knows how long, but it was nearing sunset when she clicked on the lamp sitting on the bedside table and that is when she remembered the envelope. It was next to Sesshoumaru's cellphone and Kouga's business card. Rin picked it up, pulling the items from the envelope and caught sight of a slip of paper that was paper-clipped to the photo inside. When Rin turned it over she couldn't believe her eyes...

"Koura-san!" Rin gasped aloud. Of course she didn't know the woman personally, but considering she argued with her at Sesshoumaru's family home and the fact she was Sesshoumaru's fiance! Well, ex-fiance as he claimed she was. Rin's eyes peered at the handwritten note and once more a gasp escaped her lips. Koura-san was their witness who'd mysteriously disappeared! Rin turned her gaze back to Sesshoumaru. Perhaps the realisation that their mystery witness who was finally known to them and was going to come forth was Sesshoumaru's ex-fiance that it all just became too much for the man. She knew he was strong, she'd never doubted that for a second, but to have it come so close to home, so close to his past, maybe his body couldn't take it any longer.

Rin placed the image on the bedside table, her eyes drawing to the image when she noticed there was another stuck behind it. Without thinking she pulled it away from the paper-clip to take a look and instantly regretted doing so. An almighty scream burst from her lips, the photo falling to the carpet and she leapt up from her seated position, almost stumbling over her own feet, heart pounding in her chest and stomach churning. The lifeless body in the photo was grotesque and bloody, limbs missing from the girls form, soulless black eyes starring down at a blood stained large white flower pendant clutched within the fingers of her right hand

"I...I can't breathe..." Rin was having a panic attack, so many images were flashing in her mind that she didn't know what to do or where to turn. Her knees buckled and she fell to the carpet on all fours, hunched over the image of the dead girl and instantly tears pooled in her eyes, dripping onto the photo.

"Kanna-chan! Kanna-chan what happened to you?" Rin sobbed and sobbed as she stared at the image of the girl she once knew. Of course everything was hazy, but that small girl, the bleached white hair, the flower pendant, she knew them. She knew this girl from her days on the street, but selfishly when she'd been rescued she'd locked everything away and decided not to revisit the horrible life she once led. "Kanna-chan gomen...gomen!" Rin sobbed aloud, apologising to the girl that was so familiar to her yet not thanks to everything that she kept hidden. Rin didn't want to remember any of it, but seeing the dead girl in the photo, the flower pendant which she had stolen and given to her as a present, she couldn't run from her former life any longer. Her eyes lifted to the bedside table when she got her breathing under control and picked up the business card.

A shaky hand reached out to Sesshoumaru's cellphone as she tapped the screen placing in Kouga's mobile phone number.

"Hello?"

"Ko-Kouga-san," Rin shakily began.

"What's wrong?"

"Please help me remember. I need someone to help me remember my life on the streets before I met Sesshomaru-sama! Its the only way I can repay her."

"Oi, what are you talking about?"

"I saw her, I saw the photo of Kanna-chan, she was murdered right? Murdered by that man?"

"Wait..."

"I didn't give you all the photos, I'm sorry, I didn't realise there was others, but when I saw them, I know who they are. I know somehow Kanna-chan and I were friends, but that's all I can remember, please help me remember her more!"

"Hey, hey, calm down, take a few deep breaths." Kouga had been heading home in a taxi after another long day but asked the driver to take him back to the office. "Look, can you meet me at the office, we'll talk more there alright?"

"Yes!" Rin hung up, dropping the phone on the bed and ran out of the room with the two images. She grabbed her small black backpack, stuffing her wallet, phone and the photos inside as she entered the elevator and slammed her hand against the button to head to ground floor.

"Rin-san, you are going out?" Hana-san at reception was bewildered when she didn't get a reply as she watched the young woman rush from the building and hailed a taxi, looking awfully flustered and red eyed. She hoped everything was alright.

Rin anxiously fidgeted within the taxi, the driver glancing at her every now and then in the rearview mirror, while Kouga himself was rushing back to the office and calling in a favour from someone he knew quite well. Granted this probably wasn't the greatest person to owe a favour to, considering she was an ex-girlfriend, but really there was no choice in the matter, she was after all, the very professional he needed right now. If this girl knew anything about anyone in the photos, especially the murdered girl, then he was just about to crack this case wide open and get it moving again. Though her thoughts were foggy, perhaps he'd just found them their most vital witness!


Just as both Rin and Kouga were rushing to meet each other with Kouga's mystery guest, a pair of golden eyes finally peeled open for the first time in days.


To be continued...