My Saviour
By Shin Sankai
Chapter Ten
Author's Notes: Nothing much to comment on...well except for: sorry for the wait.
Sesshoumaru had no idea why he felt so weak. It wasn't until he raised his arm when he felt a sudden tug did he drop his eyes to the IV line inserted into his skin.
"What the..." The man mumbled in sheer confusion, voice croaky from not being used.
"Sesshoumaru!" Golden orbs darted to the bedroom door where two people stood, one being his stepmother and the other being the family doctor. "How long have you been awake, you should have called me." Inuyasha's mother fretted over the lawyer, instantly coming to his side, hand going to his forehead.
"Now, now Izayoi-san, allow the man a moment will you?" A comforting hand was on her shoulder as the Sensei gave it a light squeeze before making his way to Sesshoumaru's desk. He placed his medical bag atop the mahogany desk and opened it up. "Won't you give us a moment so I can give him a check up in private?"
Izayoi reluctantly left the bedroom, closing the door with a soft click and made her way back into the living room, looking over the disorder within. While the Sensei tended to her eldest child, she began to potter around, trying to clean up the god awful mess her lawyer son had made since Rin had departed suddenly. She didn't know what was going on, but she hoped it would end soon and wished for the sweet girl to return to his side as soon as possible.
It felt like hours had passed since there was movement within Sesshoumaru's home as Izayoi continuously looked down at her wrist watch. She knew the Sensei would do a thorough check up but it was still an agonising wait. She'd already cleaned the living room and all the dishes were stacked in the kitchen ready to be washed. She'd cleaned out the fridge and taken out the garbage. While looking in the pantry and now the empty fridge, the pretty woman wrote up a grocery list and would go shopping as soon as she knew how Sesshoumaru was feeling. She wanted to cook him his favourite, but considering they'd not lived together in many years she really didn't know what his favourite was anymore. The thought saddened her instantly.
"Izayoi-san," The woman in question jolted at being frightened since she was lost in her own thoughts and stood to attention, turning around to face the archway where the Sensei stood with Sesshoumaru at his side, most of his weight leaning against the wall for support. His legs would be like jelly, but the man was stubborn and he would never admit to such a weakness.
"Sesshoumaru," And she was over in an instant, hands cupping his pale face as she gazed into tired golden orbs. "Lets get you back into bed." The three of them moved slowly as they headed towards the main bedroom and with quick hands that both men were quite amazed by, Izayoi had stripped Sesshoumaru's bed of its sheets and replaced them with a new set. She quietly watched as Sensei helped Sesshoumaru under the sheets, his back resting against the headboard of his large bed. Izayoi sat on the edge, her pale slender hand taking hold of Sesshoumaru's. "I'll make some home-made soup for you, the one I used to make when you got sick. It'll be easy for you to stomach until you get your strength back alright?" She was surprised that he didn't fend off her touch or her offer to cook for him. Instead he just nodded his head in silence, possibly too weak to comment. And as much as Izayoi hated the thought of any of her children ever being sick, being able to care for her husbands eldest, it truly did make her feel like a mother to him. "If you need anything, just give me a call. I'll just show Sensei out and go pick up some groceries. I won't be long at all." Sesshoumaru did nothing except close his eyes and listened to his bedroom door click closed.
"Will he be alright Sensei?" Izayoi worriedly questioned.
"I've checked his vitals and he appears fine. It may just take him a day or two to get his strength back, but I'm sure your wonderful cooking will definitely speed up the process." The elderly doctor grinned as Izayoi picked up her handbag and the two of them left the apartment, neither taking notice of the dropped bag in the hallway.
[Elsewhere in the City]
"Thank you for meeting me here." Kouga remarked as Rin walked up to him, she clutching her bag in a death grip. She followed Sesshoumaru's business partner into an alley and to a red door with a sign nailed into it which read: Dr. Ookami
"This better be good Kouga, I cancelled an important lunch date for this." Rin froze on the spot as before her was a busty woman with flowing red wavy hair and bright green eyes. She was dressed in an expensive white suit and a red shirt and high heels.
"And you told me you were going to change your name Ayame." The lawyer watched the woman shrug her shoulders before her eyes dropped onto the fidgeting Rin. "Takahashi-san,"
"Please call me Rin." She felt so weird when she was referred by Sesshoumaru's last name, considering they were not related, not married. She understood why he did it, considering he had placed her within his register with what little information he had of her.
"Rin, this is Ayame, my ex-wife and the Sensei who is going to help you."
"I'm sorry for any trouble that I have caused you."
"It is possible that Rin houses vital information that will help with a case I'm currently working on with Sesshoumaru. Her memories are locked within her and she would like to make them known."
"Is this true?" Ayame was not going to perform any sort of therapy unless she was witness to the consent of the young woman next to her ex-husband.
"It is. Please help me."
"Very well then, please come this way." Ayame placed her hand up as Kouga began to follow. "You stay out here, this is a confidential session."
"But I..."
"Your case is not important here Kouga."
"We've come exactly for that!" The lawyer yelled.
"Ano..." Rin quietly interrupted the heated conversation. When two pairs of eyes turned to gaze at her she gulped down the sudden lump in her throat. "I have memories I've buried deep within and I'm hoping you can help me extract them. I want to help Sesshoumaru-sama." Rin caught herself in what she was saying, hoping the flush on her cheeks wasn't too bright. "The case, I want to help Kouga-san and Sesshoumaru-sama with their case. I want to be useful."
"Let us get started then." And the door was closed in Kouga's face. The dark haired lawyer paced the tiny waiting room and found himself looking at a bookcase where Ayame's doctorate was framed and on show.
The two of them had been together since they were teenagers. And when Ayame did graduate, they'd been married for a year. The smile on her face as she had gotten it framed, her dainty fingers caressing the glass over her name, Ookami Ayame, his name. As he stood there looking at a framed photograph of Ayame with her parents, they proud as punch for their youngest child as she'd become quite successful, but what surprised him even more was the iris pendant around her neck. The photo was probably only a year old, but that iris pendant, he'd given her that when they were 15 years old, they'd been dating for about 6 months and he saw it and thought of her instantly. To think after all these years, even though they'd been divorced for several years now, she still kept it. Did she perhaps still love him?
He quickly dropped such thoughts from his mind considering the case was now back in full swing if any information could be extracted from Rin.
Finally the man took a seat and flipped through countless magazines, waiting agonisingly for Ayame's results.
[Back at Sesshoumaru's Apartment]
"Smells good," Izayoi jolted at the soft voice and quickly turned around to face her stepson who was carefully pulling out a dining chair and slowly descended into it, hands splayed against the dining table. She'd returned just under two hours ago, quickly checked to see he was sleeping peacefully, the colour returning to his face and then went about preparing a meal.
"You should be resting in bed." She lightly admonished the handsome man.
"It appears I've been doing nothing but laying in bed."
"Hungry?" She questioned him once again, not that she needed an answer as she poured her home-made chicken and vegetable soup into a bowl and brought it over to the table. "Sensei has left some medicine for you to take for the next few days." Izayoi popped two tablets from the packet and handed them to the quiet businessman, he popping them into his mouth and swallowed them with a gulp of water.
"I'm glad your aversion to swallowing tablets is no longer a factor." She grinned at the slight pout on Sesshoumaru's lips. He may not realise himself, but there were times like this that he could still look like the young innocent boy he once was.
"It has been 20 years..." He reasoned with the Izayoi.
"True," Izayoi left the table to pour a portion of the soup into a cup and then idly made her way back to the table. "Does it taste alright? I've not made it in years." The mother worried as she silently watched the 28 year old eat the meal.
"Its good." Her shoulders eased at his compliment. "What happened to me?"
"Well...we aren't really sure. Inuyasha received a call from Kouga-kun saying you'd not come into work and when your brother came to check on you, you were unconscious and he raised the alarm by contacting me and then I contacted Sensei. You've been out for several days.
"I apologise for the trouble I've caused." Izayoi placed down the mug, leaning over as she pressed her left hand against a cool cheek, the touch making her stepson jolt slightly.
"When are you going to learn that you've never troubled me since I first met you."
"I'm not so sure about that." Izayoi felt a tender smile grace her lips at the sparkle which was returning to golden orbs.
The mother let off a light laugh, many memories flashing through her mind at the cheeky rascal that was her stepson. "You definitely tested my endurance and patience that is for sure, but you know I am thankful to you, because you were preparing me for Inuyasha." She watched a ghost of a smile grace his lips, memories of growing up with an overzealous and sometimes downright annoying brother flashing through his brain.
Sesshoumaru was about to raise another spoonful of soup to his lips when Izayoi took a hold of his hand, her dark gentle eyes peering up at him. "I'm glad you are up and about, but make sure you take it easy for awhile alright?"
"Well..." The man began, but couldn't get further as Izayoi shook her head.
"I know you keep much to yourself and that is your own choice, but if there is anything I can do, whether it be just an ear for listening, please let me know."
"I'm..."
"Fine..." Izayoi finished for the businessman, watching his lips snap shut as she shook her head in slight defeat once more. "You know Sesshoumaru, you may not be my biological son, but for the remainder of my days on this earth, I will and have always considered you as such. I'm never going to replace the love you have for your mother, but I can still be one for you."
"Izayoi..." She pressed a delicate finger to his lips, hating that even if 20 years had gone by, he could hardly muster the courage to call her 'mother' for fear of loosing one again.
"Its alright... I knew what I was getting involved in from the minute I fell in love with your father. And I know there is no excuse I can give for the adultery we undertook while your mother was hospitalised." Golden eyes lifted at the comment. "Neither one of us ever apologised to you...or your mother for our behaviour. As time passed and I had begun to ask about you, your father had warned me that I would be known as 'the enemy' if we were to meet, but still, I wanted so desperately to meet the son of the man I loved."
"I was horrible to you." Sesshoumaru quietly confessed.
"You were angry with your father for not being there and you'd just lost your mother, you needn't even apologise. You were a child." Izayoi tucked some long strands behind Sesshoumaru's ear. "I know your heart is not an easy place to get into, but one day I hope to hold a place there." She took a sip of the soup, throat going dry as she was pouring out her emotions to her eldest son who'd scared the living daylights out of her when Inuyasha had called her, he yelling down the phone for her to get her butt over to the apartment as soon as possible. Horrible thoughts fluttered through her mind, but here she was, sitting beside him once more.
"From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew there was no turning back for me." Sesshoumaru jerked his gaze to Izayoi and found the truth held within her eyes. "That little lost and angry boy who stood alone near the pond in his funeral attire, fingers digging into the ground, pulling up rocks to throw them into the water, mud smudging his face as he tried so very hard to brush away the tears falling from his eyes. That was the day I felt a new love, the love only a mother had for their child. And I've loved you ever since that fateful day and after everything that has happened, I would never change a single moment."
Izayoi rose to her feet, leaning over as she pressed a tender kiss to Sesshoumaru's forehead. "Please don't ever worry me like this again.: She brushed her hand through his hair as she stood up, peering down at him. "I'll leave you to rest, but call if you need anything alright?" Izayoi picked up her handbag, placing it over her shoulder. "The soup will be good for a couple more days, so when you are hungry, please do eat it and take your medication."
Sesshoumaru stood from his seat, feeling a little light headed at the sudden sensation as he turned to face Izayoi, lips parting as he wanted desperately to say something, anything and yet nothing was coming forth. He watched as she gave him a silent wave before heading around the corner and towards the front door, thus being the elevator.
"Izayoi," He called out to her, wobbly legs taking him to the archway as he leaned against the wall, only thing was, she was not looking at him and instead down at the ground.
"Sesshoumaru, who's bag is this?" Golden eyes took notice of the bag and his heart thumped loudly within his chest and ears as he took hold of it, knowing it off by heart.
"Rin..."
[Dr Ookami's Office]
A loud scream jolted Kouga from yet another brainless magazine specifically designed for women and he shot to his feet, rushing towards the door and prying it open. His ex-wife was trying to calm her young patient down as tears spilled from her closed eyes. Green orbs darted alarmingly to her ex-husband who instantly came over, holding the young woman by the shoulders to try and stop her from thrashing about the place.
"Rin, take deep breaths and listen to my voice." Ayame had been taping Rin's session and was deeply troubled by the hidden memories flooding forth from the young woman. She was just reaching the pinnacle when the young woman started screaming and thrashing about, calling out for help, calling out to Sesshoumaru to save her. "I'm going to count backwards and I want you to return to me alright?" The young woman shook her head. "Rin you need to come back." Ayame was very stern and took hold of the troubled woman's hand. "Come back Rin, you'll be safe here, I promise." Ayame counted down and after several long seconds, Kouga and Ayame holding their breaths, expressive brown eyes snapped open, tears falling as her entire body began to shake.
"I don't want to do this anymore." Rin blurted out, gut wrenching sobs escaping her lips as she curled into a tight ball on the couch, shying away from the two that were trying to help her. Ayame made her way to her desk, popped two tablets from a container and coerced Rin to take them with a glass of water.
"Please take your time, we'll just be right outside when you are ready."
[Sesshoumaru's Place]
"Rin's bag? What would it be doing here? I thought you said she was going away for awhile."
"She has..." The lawyer voiced in slight confusion.
"Maybe she just didn't take this one with her." Izayoi voiced as an answer while gazing over at her eldest son who clutched the bag. "Sesshoumaru?" She stepped forward, hand against his arm once more.
"I'm alright, I think I may go and rest for a bit." Of course she knew he was shutting her out again, but nodded her head as she watched him shuffle his way to his bedroom, the duffel bag clutched within his left hand. When his door closed she finally left the apartment feeling like she had more questions then answers, but for now would give the man some space.
[Dr Ookami's Office]
Ayame and Kouga were standing in the waiting room. The lawyer watched his ex-wife stack the magazines he'd splayed on the table and then went to get herself a cup of water from the cooler in the far corner of the room. She downed it in seconds and then got another. He knew this attitude in an instant, his keen eyes not missing the slight tremble of her hands.
"Its bad isn't it?" When those expressive green eyes focused on him, ruby red lips parting, the Sensei couldn't get any further when the door creaked open and Rin popped her head out.
"Go-Gomen nasai," She softly bowed to the both of them. Whatever the tablets were, they had calmed her down somewhat. Rin was pretty confused right now, unsure as to what exactly she had been saying under hypnosis but the looks on their faces meant it couldn't have been good.
"I'll take you home." Kouga blurted out, mentally reminding himself to call Ayame to make sure she was alright. There was much to discuss with the Doctor, to ask her to analyse the recording and complete a full report on the situation. Of course he'd need the consensus of Rin as to whether it could be used in court, but he'd jump that hurdle when he got to it.
Right now the young woman needed rest.
It was an extremely quiet ride back to the apartment building, Rin staring out the window the entire time. Kouga pulled up at the kerb and placed the handbrake on as he turned to gaze at the young woman. "I'm sorry for placing you through such an ordeal." It wasn't truly his intention to apologise, considering he'd no idea what had made her scream out like she had, but her pale complexion and the redness of her eyes really made him feel guilty. "I never meant..." He faulted when those big brown orbs focused on him.
"Do you think whatever I said will help?"
"I wasn't present, it would be up to the report that Ayame writes up."
"If it ties to your case, do whatever means necessary Kouga-san." The lawyer nodded silently as she stepped out of the car.
"You need me to help you?"
"Iie," Rin softly voiced, bowed to the man and then rushed inside, head bowed as she refused to look at the people at reception and quickly entered an elevator, closing the doors so no one else could get inside with her.
It wasn't until she was in the entranceway of her and Sesshoumaru's place did she finally crumble to the floor, hands flying to her face to try and suppress her tears, but of course was failing in doing so. She'd no idea why she was crying so hard or shaking so terribly, but perhaps this is what her body and mind needed for her to do.
"Rin," The woman in question gasped and darted her tear streaked face up, watery eyes trying ever so hard to focus on that sensual deep voice that had called out to her. She rubbed furiously at them, trying desperately to get them into focus as right down the hallway, fresh from a bath was her dear Sesshoumaru: awake!
"Sesshoumaru-sama," Rin mumbled his name as she watched him walk towards her, albeit hesitantly as though thinking she were an illusion. Rin stood on wobbly legs as the man drew closer. He was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a towel around his shoulders and his hair, which had been washed, was tied back in a ponytail, the mass hanging over his left shoulder. "Sesshoumaru..." Rin mumbled once more as she felt her entire body drop in sheer exhaustion. All that she could make out before she knew darkness was her beloved reaching out to her.
Nightfall had come quickly as Sesshoumaru stood in the kitchen, stirring the soup once more. He couldn't believe Rin had returned! Of course he was extremely annoyed as to why this had happened, but right now all that mattered was looking after her. At first he thought she was a figment of his imagination, but as he drew closer and she wasn't disappearing, he knew she was the real thing. Alarm bells began ringing when she dropped forward, his aching body trying desperately to reach out to her as she fell unconscious. He knocked his left knee heavily on the floorboards as he caught half her body against him and then with much effort, since he was still trying to gain his own strength back, he pulled the young woman to her bedroom and laid her down. He didn't know why her face was blotchy and red from crying, but he vowed to ask her about it when an appropriate time arose to do so.
Sesshoumaru placed the bowl of soup, some buttered bread, a spoon and a glass of water on a tray and made his way to Rin's bedroom. When he kicked the door open, his eyes found the young woman sitting on the side of her cushion laden bed as though ready to get up and go on the hunt for him, to ensure that what she saw of him was also not an illusion to her.
"Rin," Sesshoumaru quietly voiced as he placed the tray on a chest of drawers, his fall attention on the woman who jerked her brown eyes up at him and instantly stood to her full height. "How did you get here?" It wasn't exactly the first thing he wanted to say as the lawyer stepped further into the bedroom, merely a foot from the petite woman now.
"Everyone's been so worried about you." Her big brown eyes filled with tears as she gazed up at him and carefully lifted her hand to cup his cheek, feeling his warm skin. "Inuyasha-sama told me how you've been of late and I couldn't...eep!" A small squeak escaped her lips as within seconds strong, powerful arms were wrapped securely around her body, crushing her against his firm one. Rin's face instantly went red as her ear was pressed against Sesshoumaru's bare chest, he not having bothered to place on a shirt from his bath and listened to the healthy beat of his heart.
"Yokatta..." She tried to look up at her companion, but it was proving difficult when his embrace was practically crushing her bones as he just wouldn't, couldn't let go.
"Tadaima," Rin mumbled against his chest and closed her dewy eyes, arms moving around the man. When he first stood before her, her entire body froze, but now, within his embrace, his lips pressed against the side of her head, right near her temple, all the tension within her disappeared and she help onto the man for all he was worth.
To be continued...