Hey everyone! Sorry for the long awaited update, my husband got back after being away for three months and I updated another story a few days ago, so it's taken me a bit to get this story posted! Have no fear, I'm still completely involved in this story and will do my best to keep providing updates hopefully every week. If you're looking for another RinxSessh story to read, I started another story called 'Someone To Protect'. It's only got a few chapters but it's over 30,000 words so far. Anyways, please read this chapter from our dear Sesshomaru's point of view and feel free to leave me some reviews on how you liked the update and also feel free to like/fav the story! Thanks so much for waiting patiently for this update and I hope you liked it!

He sat there, knowing he was useless. A failure. He sat rigid in the hospital chair, ignoring the way it creaked when he shifted slightly.

Sesshomaru had been a fool, succumbing to the deception of that pathetic half demon Naraku. How had Sesshomaru been capable of such idiocy as to assume Naraku would leave a trail so easily to be followed? It had been arrogance and pride that had led Sesshomaru down the path he'd chosen for over a week, under the misguided impression that he, a great and powerful dog demon, was seeking out a threat to eliminate in order to keep his loved one safe. If only he'd realized sooner the danger he'd placed her in merely by leaving her side. Sesshomaru had been too consumed in his own personal vendetta against the one who harmed his Rin that when he had left to bring her justice he had left her at her most vulnerable.

Sesshomaru opened his eyes, the bright amber orbs locating the sleeping woman on the hospital bed in front of him. Although he would never admit it to anyone, his pride was his life, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as a vice like grip took hold of his heart, making the organ skip a painful beat just by looking at his mate lying peacefully in the bed next to his chair. He'd left her alone and she had nearly died. Would have died, Sesshomaru reminded himself, had not his brother and the girl Kagome rushed in to save his young mate. She would have been dead if they had been even a minute slower in their haste to the hospital, but their ingenuity and speed had given Rin another chance at life, and hopefully Sesshomaru, another chance to show her he could protect her. He could provide for her. That he could love her properly and keep her safe from harm all at once.

What a fool he'd been, to leave her side.

From the first moment Sesshomaru had laid his eyes upon Rin over a year ago, he'd known there was something enchanting about her. Something that allured him, sang to him and made him feel whole. Alive. Her voice and her music had been a gift to him, and when his father had arranged for their meet and possible marriage, Sesshomaru had felt that even being in her presence would have been enough for him, even had she hated him. Yet at the first sign of danger he had abandoned her to her fate, even if he believed he had been doing otherwise.

It didn't matter how noble his intentions, the results were the same.

Rin had nearly been murdered at the hands of Naraku, no matter what the human doctors felt compelled to remind him otherwise.

Rin had still been conscious when she had been rushed to the emergency room, Sesshomaru only a few minutes behind her (being a dog demon capable of flight came in handy when his entire reason for living was threatened). He had seen for himself the large blades from the scissors protruding from her chest, the harsh way she attempted to breathe through the pain, only to wheeze and gasp until a mask had been gently placed over her nose and mouth, giving her the precious oxygen she had so desperately craved. From then on she had been rushed into an operating room, the best surgeon in the hospital called to help her, to save her.

A few hours later Rin had been given her own private room and Sesshomaru had remained at her side ever since.

He stared at her still form, a part of him wishing she would just open her eyes and see him. Smile at him shyly. Anything.

Instead, his dear Rin lay in a medically induced coma. She had been that way for the past four days and Sesshomaru felt a part of himself wither away and die each day she was required to remain in such a condition.

Malnourished, the doctors had told him. Dehydrated, sleep deprived to the point where she had stabbed herself in the chest with a pair of sewing scissors in order to end whatever misery she had been experiencing. And the bruises and cuts on her body.

Sesshomaru's vision turned a harsh shade of red, a growl rushing out before he could control the animal lurking so close to the surface. Knowing such behavior would not help Rin heal, Sesshomaru leaned back in his chair, shutting his eyes and taking a deep breath to steady his frayed emotions. Once collected, Sesshomaru opened his eyes and laid a hand on Rin's own hand, twining their fingers together even though hers remained limp in his grip.

She was such a delicate creature, and without her larger than life personality and strong attitude lighting up the hospital room, she looked so fragile, so small. She had been his to protect and he had failed her. Such an act from him couldn't go unpunished and Sesshomaru would not find himself surprised to know she no longer wished to be with him, even though he knew they were mates. The thought caused another painful grasp on his beating heart, leaving him feel slightly bereft.

"Sesshomaru, how are things?" Lord Inu Taisho shut the hospital door behind him, in his hand a vase full of fresh flowers. "Izayoi and Kagome thought Rin would appreciate some nice smelling flowers when she awakens shortly. We all know how she loves her flowers." Inu Taisho chuckled slightly before placing the vase on a table next to the sleeping woman. He cast a sorrowful look at his son, before picking up the conversation. "I've sent out some of our finest trackers to hunt down this Naraku, but they have still yet to find him."

Sesshomaru practically snarled at the thought of Naraku escaping justice, but he kept himself in check. It was one thing to be an emotional wreck in front of his beloved Rin, but his father was another matter entirely.

"His scent has nearly vanished since my arrival. I would like to assume whatever hold he had on her was broken, but the scent still lingers on one of her shoulders. I believe he marked her in some way." Sesshomaru clenched his hands together, ignoring the way his clawed fingers dug into him, breaking the flesh on his knuckles until they bled.

Lord Inu Taisho nodded his head sadly. "I'm afraid there isn't much we can do for Rin now. Unless..."

Sesshomaru took his eyes from the sleeping beauty in front of him, his eyes narrowing into slits as he watched his father think. "Unless what, father?"

"A mate bond is a powerful thing, my son. Very powerful indeed."

"What's your point? Be quick, before I tire of this conversation."

"Watch your tone, boy." Inu Taisho snarled at his eldest son before straightening the tie he wore and taking a seat opposite his son on the other side of Rin's bed. "A mate bond, a true bond, is capable of breaking many spells cast. I believe that whatever he has done to Rin to torment her is taking place in her mind, and I think it has something to do with the mark on her shoulder. We can't see it, but we can smell it and we know it's there. Perhaps you should bite into his mark with one of your own, a more permanent bond. It is my own opinion that a true mate bond will eliminate his hold on our Rin, probably for good."

The thought was entirely appealing, and yet, Sesshomaru knew he wouldn't do it. Not while she was comatose.

"Rin might hate me after all that has happened to her. To mate her without her consent... It would be wrong." Sesshomaru mused, staring at the angel in the bed next to him.

"It would be freeing her from her prison."

"And potentially dragging her into yet another type of prison."

"The mate bond can never be used like that."

"Unless she no longer wishes to be tied to me in any way and I strip the choice from her as she recovers from her various injuries." Sesshomaru stared at her, wishing more than anything she would lift her lashes and smile up at him. Even if her fingers just locked around his, it would be enough. Yet it was the same as it had been the past few days, she didn't stir in her bed. Didn't open her eyes at the sound of his voice or give any acknowledgement of his presence. He knew it would be impossible anyway, she was in a medically induced coma, which was put in place specifically to keep someone asleep. Of course she wouldn't stir at his presence.

"Do you truly believe Rin would ever deny you?"

"Look at her, father. She nearly died."

"She would not blame you for that."

"Perhaps not."

"Tell me, Sesshomaru. Is she not yours to protect?"

Sesshomaru's hands fisted at his sides, compelled to answer the question and yet knowing it was none of his father's concern. This entire ordeal had begun with Sesshomaru's need to protect Rin, his insatiable quest to seek out justice for his young love. Yet his need to protect her was how she had become injured in the first place.

To know she had nearly died... Sesshomaru didn't think he could exist without her. Wasn't sure if he wanted to exist without her. She was his. Hopefully she would choose to remain so.

"I leave the decision to you. The longer you delay, the longer Naraku has a chance of hurting her further."

And with that final word, Lord Inu Taisho left, shutting the door quietly behind him, leaving his son to gaze at the woman slumbering peacefully in her bed.

"How are you doing, Sesshomaru?" Kagome came into the room the next day, holding a large bag at her side, Inuyasha trailing in after her. The younger half demon carried another vase full of flowers, setting it where Kagome directed, on the window sill. She opened the blinds, letting sunlight in for the first time since Rin had been carted into her room. Sesshomaru squinted his eyes for the moment it took him to adjust to the unwanted brightness. He had made sure to keep the room devoid of light, wanting Rin to rest as much as possible.

"Hn." Was his reply, barely glancing at the new additions to the room around him.

"That isn't a reply, Sesshomaru. Have you eaten at all or slept since you've come back?" Kagome cast a worried look in his direction, something he pretended to ignore. The last thing he desired was a human woman, someone who was not Rin, fawning over him in attempt to take care of him. Sesshomaru didn't need to be cared for, unless it was Rin doing the caring. Perhaps that would be acceptable to him. He almost smiled at the thought.

At the silence that filled the room, Inuyasha practically snorted in his brother's direction, rolling his eyes and turning to Kagome. "I don't know why you even try to talk to him. He almost never answers you, even after you saved Rin's life." Inuyasha turned and glared at his elder brother, frustration evident on his face. As much as Sesshomaru like to pretend, his Rin's absence was affecting more than just himself. Everyone felt her lack of light shining on them, especially Sesshomaru. Kagome huffed out a breath, smacking Inuyasha on the arm at the same time.

"It's not like I saved her life just to please Sesshomaru. Rin is practically my sister and I love her. I would do anything for her."

"I must thank you, Kagome. Rin would not be here with us now if not for you and Inuyasha." The words were quietly spoken and had there been any other noise in the room they might have gone unnoticed. As it was, Kagome's eyes widened and Inuyasha' mouth dropped open in shock.

Sesshomaru kept his gaze locked on the bed, in almost the same location he'd been looking for the past several days, his eyes centered on Rin's innocent face. Inuyasha coughed into his hand, stepping back and forth on the balls of his feet awkwardly, clearly taken aback by the show of gratitude from his older brother.

Kagome cleared her throat, eyes shining with unshed tears as she came to the bed, squeezing Rin's hand in her own for a moment and then grabbing her bag, reaching inside for some of the contents. "I brought some stuff I thought might cheer Rin up. I read somewhere that even when people are in a coma they can still hear what's going on around them, so I thought if I brought her iPod, she might like to hear some of her favorite songs. You know how Rin loves her music." Kagome pulled out a portable iHome system, setting it gently on the nightstand by the bed, moving the other vase out of the way and over to the window, next to the other set of flowers.

Kagome made her way into the bathroom, the sound of the water running in the sink the only noise in the room while she was gone. Both brothers remained silent in her absence, content to let any conversation lay dormant between them. Kagome returned a few moments later with a glass of water, moving to the plants and giving them nourishment. Afterward she moved back to the iHome, placing the newer iPod onto the docking station and pressing a few tabs on the touch screen until music began playing softly through the speakers.

Kagome sighed, almost as if she also enjoyed the music playing throughout the large room.

The three of them sat in silence around the hospital bed for a few hours, Kagome and Inuyasha making small talk with one another occasionally, although they mostly remained caught up in the beep of the machine monitoring Rin's health as well as the music that pulsed through the room.

Sesshomaru barely had any time for whatever nonsense was playing through the speakers, mostly tuning it out to focus on his inner turmoil.

Another hour passed before the couple in front of him stood from their seats, Kagome eyeing the bed sadly before turning a small smile in Sesshomaru's direction. "Would you like us to grab anything for you before we leave? Food or a drink, maybe a book or magazine?"

"I require nothing."

"Feh, let's get out of here Kagome." Inuyasha placed a hand at the small of her back, gently pressing her body out of the room until the door clicked softly behind them as they departed. The music playing droned on and on, making Sesshomaru more irritated than he had been while Kagome and Inuyasha had been invading his space. However, knowing that Rin might be capable of listening to her surroundings was what stayed his hand from turning the device off.

Sesshomaru kept his gaze steady, his hand resting comfortably in the embrace of Rin's own. Her limp fingers saddened him, but he knew the longer she was kept in a coma, the sooner she would heal completely, that she would heal and be safe. No matter how lonely he was or how long it took, Sesshomaru would be patient. He would wait for her.

His ear twitched as another song began to play, the sound of Marvin Gaye coming through the speakers.

Listen, baby.
Ain't no mountain high,
Ain't no valley low,
Ain't no river wide enough, baby.

Just then a woman's voice filled the speakers, her lull nearly as enchanting as Rin's own voice.

If you need me, call me,
No matter where you are,
no matter how far.

If only Rin had called him when she had needed him. Better yet, if only he had called her to check up on her while he'd been gone. He never should have left her alone, unprotected.

Don't worry baby,

Just call my name,
I'll be there in a hurry,
You won't have to worry.

'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you

Remember the day
I set you free
I told you
You could always count on me darling
From that day on I made a vow
I'll be there when you want me
Some way, some how

Sesshomaru wanted to turn off the iHome,pretend the song currently playing wasn't affecting him, making him remember the past few weeks of his life, yet the music spoke to him powerfully, almost as if Rin herself were speaking to him. He remembered the day she was brought to him by his father, their arranged marriage effectively setting her free from the harsh hold of her aunt. She was offered protection, affection, and he had promised her he would always be there for her, at least he had made the promise to himself.

'Cause baby,
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you

No wind, no rain
Or winters cold can stop me baby.
If you're ever in trouble
I'll be there on the double,
Just send for me baby.

If only Rin had sent for him. Or he had been wise enough to know when he was needed by his mate. That she was in danger should have been his first priority, no matter if he'd foolish assumed his departure was a sure way of guaranteeing her safety. He had been wrong and Sesshomaru didn't dare be wrong yet again.

My love is alive
Way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart

Is that how Rin had felt during his absence? That although they were several hundred miles apart she was still as much in love with him as he was with her? Sesshomaru hoped that was the case.

If you ever need a helping hand
I'll be there on the double
As fast as I can

Don't you know that
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you

Don't you know that
There ain't no mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
Ain't no river wide enough

The upbeat tune ended rather abruptly, almost as if it hadn't shaken Sesshomaru as deeply as it had. Almost as if it hadn't made him want Rin to wake up so he could promise her everything he had meant to, so he could let her know that there was no obstacle that could keep him from her.

Just as the song ended, leaving Sesshomaru feeling bleak and alone, he was startled to find Rin's small fingers grip his own for a second before going lax once more. But Sesshomaru had felt it, had seen it happen, and it was enough.

After many days of doctors poking and prodding at his Rin, they finally determined she was healthy enough and healing enough to come out of her coma, effective immediately. When they had taken her out of a coma, Sesshomaru and the others had been warned that it might take more than a few hours for Rin to wake up naturally. Even though her body was healing nicely, she had still gone through quite the trauma and her body might keep her asleep for a little while longer in the hopes of healing her further.

Sesshomaru didn't care how long it would take, as long as Rin would open her eyes and see him. He was both full of excitement and dread at the prospect of Rin opening her eyes.

Never in his long life had Sesshomaru felt such a wash of emotions clouding his mind. Such a fragile woman was capable of either granting him her forgiveness or condemning him to a life of loneliness. He knew what she would choose, what would be the logical reason. What would Rin want with a mate who could not protect her? Who didn't even spare a moment from his long days of searching to phone her and see how she was?

He had treated her as if he hadn't thought about her constantly or missed her, which had not been the case. He had missed her profusely, thought of nothing else but her safety. Where had it gotten him? Sitting next to her injured body in a hospital room for the better end of a week.

He failed in nearly every way that mattered when it came to the woman he loved, the woman who had stolen what little of his heart existed.

The first hour past slowly for Sesshomaru. Through the many years of his life Sesshomaru had gotten to the point where time became irrelevant, something unnecessary to one who lived hundreds, perhaps even over a thousand years. Yet, staring down at the beauty before him, Sesshomaru was aware of every precious second that seemed to tick by, the trickle of time seemed to never end, to antagonize him as the clock on the wall ticked slowly, ever so slowly.

The second hour past at relatively the same pace. The only difference were the nurses that trickled into the room every few minutes to monitor Rin's vitals on one of the screens surrounding her bed. They never spoke to him, not that Lord Sesshomaru cared, they merely wrote whatever results they found and then left the room a few minutes later.

The third hour was full of family, Lord Inu Taisho, Inuyasha and Kagome. Lord Sesshomaru felt selfish for wishing they would depart and allow him every moment he had with Rin to be private, yet he knew they were perhaps just as anxious as he was for her to finally wake up.

Perhaps she would then be able to give them the vital information they needed to end Naraku once and for all. Perhaps she would understand the mate bond would be the most beneficial, the most crucial, aspect in defeating Naraku's hold on her and she would gladly accept the bite Lord Sesshomaru had to offer her. He doubted it, but maybe Rin would see the reason behind the mate bond.

The fourth hour yielded more restlessness from the small group gathered in the room. Inuyasha and their father stepped out of the room periodically, Lord Inu Taisho no doubt inquiring after Rin with her various doctors. Sesshomaru remained impassive, staring down at Rin, almost as if he could compel her soft brown eyes to open.

The fifth hour left Sesshomaru alone again with Rin, the others leaving to find food to consume while they waited.

Sesshomaru kept his hand firmly locked with Rin's, his eyes widening slightly when her grip tightened on his skin and she shifted hesitantly on the bed, almost as if she wasn't sure it was safe to move her body.

"Rin." Sesshomaru's voice was steady and sure, even though the demon felt anything but either of those. Rin's delicate eyebrows shifted slightly, almost as if she were in the throws of a dream and incapable of waking. She shifted again, her beautiful lashes lifting slowly until her brown eyes connected with Sesshomaru's, almost as if she was having trouble seeing him, as if he wasn't truly there with her.

Sesshomaru lifted his free hand, using it to palm her cheek, his thumb rubbing on her skin soothingly. Rin nuzzled into his palm, sighing softly. Her hand reached up, Sesshomaru was sure to pull his hand from her smooth skin. Instead her hand cupped his, holding him as close to her as she could.

Rin cleared her throat, eyes softening at the sight of the demon in front of her.

"I missed you," Rin's voice came out weak and thready. Sesshomaru found himself sitting on the bed with her, gathering the small bundle of Rin into his arms and holding her against his chest. Rin smiled up at him, her hands wrapping around his neck. "I'm so glad you're here. You kept him away from me." Rin shut her eyes, breathing into his silk, button up shirt. "You kept him away."

Sesshomaru lifted his upper lip into a snarl, wanting to rip apart those that threatened her to end whatever misery she was feeling.

"I won't leave you again." Lord Sesshomaru promised her. And he meant it.

Okay, that was it for the update, I hope everyone liked this chapter and please feel free to leave me some reviews so I know how I'm doing!

Much love,
Mo