-The Living Buddha, St. Haksuhin-

Koga sighed with relief, wiping the fresh sweat from his brow, and re-cloaked himself with the dark fur. "That was too close." Turning to Sesshomaru, he stuck out a hand and narrowed his icy blue eyes. "So we meet again, hey Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru took the wolf's hand and held it with a hot iron grip. The tension between them was immense, and Rin couldn't help but to feel lost in their own demonic world. "I assure you this will be the last time we meet again, Koga," Sesshomaru answered.

He turned and walked towards Shippo and Rin. Koga on the other hand, crossed his arms and smirked. "How's your half-breed brother doing?"

Time stood still. Half breed brother… there it is again! What is going on… why does Sensei look so mad? Rin gulped and watched Koga's henchmen carefully hide behind their leader.

"That is none of your concern," Sesshomaru managed to say. "Who knows, he may even be dead."

Shippo's eyes started to glisten with a thin line of moisture. "No, Inuyasha can't be…"

"Dead?" Koga finished off. "Well, actually, I came here to deliver a message. Inuyasha's been struck down."

"No, you're lying! No one is capable of hurting him!" Shippo wailed.

"Well, he is. And apparently he's been put under a sealing spell by a priestess who works for Sacred Industries. Not that you care, but I just thought you would like to know."

Rin held a hand to her mouth and turned to see Sesshomaru clutching his fists at his sides. A dark curtain of silver hair fell over his eyes and his lips formed a tight line on his smooth, angered face. "You're right," he breathed. "I don't care."

With that, Koga waved Rin goodbye and jumped over the large fence, disappearing into the dark alleys of the street. Fearfully, she turned her gaze back to Sesshomaru to find him reaching into his suit pocket.

"Shippo, take the car and go back to Taisho Corp. You have a lot of unfinished work to do."

Shippo stared at the ground, unmoving. "Yes… Lord Sesshomaru…" Slowly, the young fox demon lifted his head to face his boss. "What about Rin, sir?" he asked weakly.

"She is my responsibility now," he coldly snapped, obviously still frustrated at Shippo for putting her in danger in the first place. "Get back to work."

Before Rin could even begin to object, Sesshomaru grabbed her wrist and forced her into his own car.


-Kagome and Inuyasha-

"You didn't have to get so angry at Shippo…" Rin rested her cheek against the palm of her hand. Her elbow leaned against the frame of the car window as she stared outside blankly. The skies were grey, the wind was howling and soon droplets of water splashed onto the windshield. Poor Shippo, she thought. He didn't mean for any of this to happen… and what about his friend… Sesshomaru Sensei's brother? Is he really dead?

"Rin," Sesshomaru's voice intruded her thoughts. The car came to a red light.

"I'm sorry, Sesnei. Really, I am. I can't do anything right apparently. You can fire me if you want, I completely understand. I failed you and—"

"You're right," he blinked slowly, leaning back on the leather of his car seat. "You did fail me."

Rin bit her lip and looked down at her lap. A blush tainted her cheeks as she sighed.

"Do you even know what I mean?" he looked down at her and raised an eyebrow.

"I caused you so much trouble back there… and I dropped the box that Koga gave me…" Just remembering the past events, she felt like bursting into tears.

"No, you aren't aware as to why I was upset with Shippo," he answered. "I told you to be safe Rin. I never told you to protect the Jewel."

Her breath caught in her throat with the realization that Sesshomaru's hand was resting on the top of her head. What on earth is he talking about?

"You work for me, not my father… and my orders specifically told you to be safe, and I told Shippo to protect you." His hand unknowingly slid down to her cheek. He caressed her hot skin and smothered her with his melting golden eyes.

She didn't know what to do, what to say… how to feel. Did he mean what he said, or was he just saying it to let her off the hook? "But… but the Jewel…" she watched him pull out the black leather box from the inside of his blazer pocket. He handed it to her and grasped the steering wheel once again.

"You're too careless – with yourself and your possessions." He smirked at her amazement. The light flashed green and the rain started to fall heavily now. Not even he could explain the strangely passionate feelings he had towards Rin's safety. Besides, Koga had been there. So why was he so angry? Maybe I am agitated because… because I was not the one who was fighting to protect her.

The heat inside the car overwhelmed Rin. Gentle pitter patter of the falling rain started to lull her to sleep and soon, she drifted into a slumber with an embarrassed smile on her face.

Another red light.

Sesshomaru reached over and reclined her chair back. But while he did so, he couldn't help but to linger over her fragile body for a moment longer. Breathing in her scent, watching her chest move rhythmically up and down… he was tempted to just park the car and bring her into his arms then and there. "At least you're alive…" he whispered, running his hand through her silky hair.

As he continued to drive towards Taisho Corp, he began to worry. How was he going to tell his father of Inuyasha's fate? His grip on the wheel tightened. "Foolish half breed…" Only the weak submit themselves to the feet of mortal women. And it looks like you, Inuyasha, have done just so. He caught a glimpse of Rin and frowned. Was he doing the same thing? By wanting to protect Rin, was he too becoming more and more like his half brother?

He shook the thought away and focused on the road before him. No good had ever come from a relationship between a human and demon. Not even half demons can escape the inevitable doom that comes from it. Demons that fell in love with humans eventually either ended up killing their love, or dying for them. It was pathetic – the mightiest of demons had fallen for the sake of a fragile human life. Humans lost themselves in a world they didn't belong, and they too ended up dead in the end.

He narrowed his eyes and looked down at the peacefully sleeping girl next to him. It wasn't as if he loved her, anyways. Sure, he cared for her… but maybe he cared in the same way that he cared for Rin's brother. But that didn't explain the irritating, pounding feeling in his chest whenever she smiled at him. "Damn you, Inuyasha."


(a/n): somebody asked for more fluff. so here you go. :) more is coming on the way. review!