That night, 8PM

Rin had just begun filling out the paperwork. On the drive home, an exotic flower shop near Ibi distracted her.

"'Please list all incidents of violent or erratic behavior that have occurred since working with said patient' Hmm…"

He immediately stiffened at her touch and flipped her onto his bed. Rin gasped as she was flung from the air onto the firm spring mattress.

She was surprised. 'What just happened?' She thought to herself as she rubbed her aching wrists. She wore two bruises on them like bracelets...

He stood over her and pickedher up, slammed her against the wall and stared into her soft eyes with his full of evil. "What is it you're trying to do?" He asked.

The men stopped to take a breather, leaving their defenses lowered. In that instant,Sesshomaru swung his arm with enough force to knock them both to the floor.

"Dr. Asano! Your patient attacked a staff member! A lot of people got hurt trying to restrain him!"

"…we've decided not to report this incident. It'll stay between us."

"Not…applicable." She wrote down. Rin held the pen up to her lip. "Oh geez. I'm lying. I've never done this for a patient before." She shrugged and then smiled. "I know I won't regret it!"

After the papers were complete, she sat on the couch with a cup of tea and watched a movie. 'All I have to do is wait for Inuyasha to fax the letter in the morning.'

11PM

Rin had fallen asleep in front of the TV but was startled awake by her loud ringing phone.

"Hello?"

"You forgot to mention some details."

"About what?"

"Pertaining to my release."

"I didn't forget to mention them. I assumed they weren't important."

"Why wouldn't they be?"

"As long as you're free from the hospital, isn't that all that matters?"

"Perhaps. But I do not like the idea of being supervised by a child."

"Yes…but you'll be supervised by me! I won't make it horrible for you."

"Inuyasha visited me today."

"He did!? Well what happened? What did he say?"

"He said you told him about the incident with his mother. He wasn't coping very well. Such a sensitive half breed."

"Really? I feel so awful now."

"He also left an envelope here with some disturbing things in it."

"What kind of disturbing things?"

"Old photographs from my childhood. In one of them, I was holding him as a newborn. Another was after my primary school graduation. Then there's one more taken during a trip to the beach. Kagura, Inuyasha and I are in the picture together. I wish he didn't give me this."

"What's disturbing about the photos? Why don't you want them?"

"They remind me of a time when I was blinded and foolish. I was a different person then."

"Well…what kind of person are you now?"

"Why don't you answer that for yourself?"

"I can't."

"And why is that?"

"You wouldn't like my answer."

"Humor me."

"I think you're masking your kind nature with a cold, dark shell. You've done it for so long, you probably don't remember how to be the person you used to be."

"I don't particularly care to be that person anymore. This is who I am and who I've been. Let's leave it at that."

"Okay. If that's what you'd like."

"You're pacifying me."

"It'd be wrong for me to agitate a person in denial."

"I am not in denial."

"You are so. Perhaps you just don't see what I do. I hope you do someday."

He sighed on the other end of the phone. "I'm going to sleep."

"So am I. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

And he ended the call.

'So he completely mastered the phone, I see. What a smart man.'

Rin got off her couch and headed to bed.

9AM

Rin sat by her fax machine impatiently awaiting the letter from Inuyasha.

'Come on, please don't back out now. You've always kept your word to me. Where are you?'

Across town...

"Why would you let me go all these years hating my own brother? You knew after me, mom wasn't able to have any more kids. Why let this happen so long? All my life I thought I was some victim...when I was the real monster."

"You have to understand, son. Your mother was so intent on protecting you and I wanted to make sure you were both happy. So we decided to let it go."

"Oh sure! That's just something you can easily let go!" He said sarcastically. "Everything was so different after Sesshomaru stopped coming around. It's like everything went downhill for him. You didn't even try to patch things up. I grew up afraid of him, and then began to hate him. You let all of these things happen."

"I..."

"And the part I really don't get is how you let your wife lie on your own son while you quietly sit there and just nod. You really were playing favorites."

"It isn't like that!"

Inuyasha put his hand up and sighed. "Look. Sesshomaru is going to be released from the hospital. Rin said he'd be staying with her."

"What?! She can't do that!"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Yeah, well I told her that but she insists."

"You don't understand Inuyasha. He has been in that hospital room for a long time. If he stays with her..."

"She says she can handle it. She may have experience in that field with patients."

"What if she doesn't?"

"You're not worried about Rin! So shut up. You just don't want Sesshomaru out of the hospital. I gotta go fax her this letter." Inuyasha headed out the door and into his car.

Rin's apartment, 10:30 AM

The fax finally came through her machine. She quickly grabbed it and placed it in a folder. As she was about to leave, she received another fax.

"Rin, if things get too difficult for you, don't keep it a secret from me. I want you to tell me everything that is going on and I will help you every step of the way. I'll give you props for wanting to help Sesshomaru but you matter too. So like I've told you before. Be strong."

Ever since Rin told Inuyasha and Kagome what happened to her family, they were very protective of her. Even though they didn't see much of each other due to her stress from work over the past couple of years, they would check in with her every once in a while and she appreciated it.

She smiled and put the letter in her shredder. She didn't want Sesshomaru to discover it and feel uncomfortable.

'He's paranoid enough.' She thought as she grabbed her keys and headed to the hospital.

At the hospital, 11:30 AM

Rin rushed upstairs to file her request.

"So you're really gonna do it, huh?" Said the woman at the desk.

Rin nodded confidently. "He's made an unbelievable amount of progress. I'm so proud."

"You constantly prove this is your calling. Hopefully you've truly helped this one."

Rin smiled modestly and nodded in agreement.

"You know, I've been here since he was admitted. They dragged him through the halls by his feet, buckled and chained…even had a muzzle of some sort on him." She explained, gesturing her hands. "I remember reading his file when he first came in. Not guilty by reason of insanity. The judge said: "the man felt absolutely no guilt, he felt his actions were necessary." Even for a demon that's strange."

"I see…"

"Everyone who took on his case couldn't handle it. He was aggressive, proud and stoic. Often violent too."

"Yes, I heard."

"I'm proud of you for being so strong. I remember how awkward you were when you first started working here. You got lost and came in here. I'll never forget." She said as she laughed.

Rin laughed along with her. "I remember that."

"I'm going to process this paperwork for you right now. I'm sure you won't wait long for a response."

"Thank you so much!"

"No problem, honey."

Rin skipped out of the office feeling excited about what she had done.

She arrived at Sesshomaru's room with her usual smile and there he was, sprawled out on the bed with his eyes closed.

"He's asleep?" she asked aloud in a hushed tone.

"No. I'm awake."

"Oh! So you are. Good morning."

"What took you so long? You're usually here earlier."

"I was waiting for a certain someoneto fax a letter to me." She said with a sly grin.

"So he still did it. He seemed upset when he left the other day."

"He was just overwhelmed, that's all." She responded nonchalantly.

Sesshomaru sat up in his bed and stared at Rin as she sat in a chair by his bed.

"So. How are you today?"

"Eager."

"Could you elaborate?"

"I want to find my mother's brooch."

"Might I ask why? What's so important about it? The sentimental value?"

"No. It's a very important relic in my family. The wearer of the jewel deposits a small amount of their demonic energy inside and it is passed down from generation to generation making the current owner powerful."

Rin crossed her legs and rested her arms across her skirt. "You have a deep interest in power. It's the most important thing to you. Being…powerful. Showing others who is in charge."

He chuckled lightly. "I have plenty of power. I was born with it. Becoming stronger is my birthright. I was capable of overpowering my enemies from the day I was born."

Rin giggled. "Yes, you certainly are powerful."

"You are the only one I have ever met that isn't afraid of what you've seen."

"Deep down, you are kind and goodhearted. I can see that above all other things."

They fell into an awkward silence. Rin wasn't sure if she said too much or said just the right thing.

"Hmph. Anyway. Let us continue our discussion. Clearly the one who stole her brooch is human."

"How do we know the one who stole it still has it?"

"As I've told you, this jewel goes back many years. Any human, who has ever had it in their possession, even if it were for a moment, was overtaken by the demonic energy and in turn belonged to the jewel. The one who stole it certainly still has it."

"That's terrible!"

"Listen. The person who has it is dangerous. I'm sure plenty of people are dead at their hands."

"Are you worried about the sake of humanity?" She asked in a surprised tone.

"I only care that such senseless nonsense is committed with such an important family item…and by a worthless human for that matter."

"Right!" She replied, accepting what he said, even though she didn't believe it. "Well I can continue doing some digging while I wait for a callback regarding your paperwork."

"Do as you wish."

3 days later

Rin was getting ready for work when she received a phone call. She ran from the bathroom to the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Asano. This is Dr. Yu. I'm calling in regard to your request to release patient #706-B."

Rin began to get nervous. Her throat was drying up.

"You do understand the circumstances surrounding this, correct? Mr. Taisho is a very. Dangerous. Criminal."

"With all due respect, sir. You're wrong."

"How so?"

"Sesshomaru was a different person during our initial session. I realized he was only behaving so volatile and closed up to protect himself. He's gentle, kind, and easy to talk to. I believe his desire for revenge has died down. "

"Revenge? Please explain."

"Sesshomaru singlehandedly sought revenge from the people who destroyed his mother's company. He was very protective of her, to the point where it would distort his judgment. He was already overwhelmed with the pain of losing his father and brother due to a lack of trust. He doesn't deserve to be locked away in a hospital. I want to help him sort his life out and find some normalcy."

"In a matter of weeks, you have been able to deduce this?"

"Yes sir."

"You surprise me time and time again, Doctor. I normally trust your judgment but you cannot blame me for being skeptical at this point. Sesshomaru Taisho brutally murdered a lot of people. 4 other professionals diagnosed him as insane. From what you are saying, I'm supposed to change my mind because one psychiatrist out of 10 saw something completely different?"

"Well...yes."

"Oh?"

"I have spent the most time with Sesshomaru. All the others were pushed away and even scared away before getting to know him. He has revealed his past to me, among other things about himself because he trusts me. It has been a long time since he was able to trust a human. I'm hoping I have set a good example for others by showing him kindness."

"Quite convincing, Dr. Asano. But unfortunately, this is what I'm going to have to do..."

The following day

Rin went into work feeling groggy and worn out. When she arrived at Sesshomaru's room, she hardly had enough energy to give him that dose of her vibrant smile. All he got was a cheap, generic, forced half...or rather a quarter smile.

He didn't like it. That was no way to greet someone, especially for Rin.

"What happened?" he asked.

"I'm exhausted." She responded, followed by a long sigh. "I stayed up all night writing a report that entails our sessions together. I had to be clear and detailed in the report. It was for the chief of staff. I've never had Dr. Yu be so hard on me."

"That bitter old man? He's your boss?"

"You've met him before?"

"I had my first session in this hospital with him. He talked at me and tried to list all my flaws. The nerve of him." He said furiously as he clutched the edge of his mattress.

Rin sat beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. You won't have to deal with that anymore."

Sesshomaru looked over at her and noticed the compassionate, grieving face she wore. 'She feels pain on behalf of my ordeal but not her own?'

"I would also like to thank you." She said shyly as she removed her hand and looked down.

"For what?"

"W-well the way you asked me what happened gives me the impression you were concerned."

He couldn't get out of that one. There was no way Sesshomaru could unsay or deny asking her what happened. He might as well own up to it.

"I just wanted to know why you weren't smiling when you came in."

"I thought I was."

"It wasn't real."

"I didn't fake that. Believe me. I didn't mean to smile but the moment I saw you it just began to occur naturally."

They exchanged serious looks before Rin began to smile sweetly.

Sesshomaru looked away from her. "So what did that old doctor say?"

"Well..."

"I'm going to agree to a conditional release. He cannot leave Tokyo under any circumstances for 1 year. He will not be allowed to travel unaccompanied and he must be indoors by 11 or he will be admitted again. Those are non-negotiable conditions. As long as all the terms are met, he will be officially discharged from the hospital."

"Y-yes sir."

"Also. I expect a report from you detailing what transpired between you both and what course of action you took in each session."

"Of course."

"24 hours after I receive your report, I will finalize the conditional release."

"I suppose he'll want to dictate when I eat and use the bathroom as well"

"No, that's my job!" Rin said as she laughed at her own joke.

Sesshomaru glared at her with an expressionless face.

Rin's smile faded and she sighed. "It was just a joke."

"It wasn't funny."

"I'm sorry."

He remained silent. Rin assumed he was very angry with her.

"Hey. I know you and Inuyasha aren't exactly a close-knit family but he is still my best friend and you're still his brother. So you're important to me."

"He says he considers you family."

Rin blushed furiously. It wasn't her blood family, but it was what she had and she was grateful.

"I want you to consider me a friend and not a psychiatrist. I don't want to diagnose you, prescribe you drugs or fix you. I just want to help you find peace in your life. And in yourself." She showed him her signature smile. "So what do you say?"

Nothing, of course. He didn't even look at her.

'I guess we have to work up to that.'

"Tomorrow morning... you'll be released. How do you feel?"

"I'll know how I feel about it once it happens."

"Well how do you feel about staying with me?"

Sesshomaru thought about it. In his mind, it didn't seem like a bad thing. Rin didn't seem like a particularly overbearing woman except...

"As long as you don't attempt to force me to spend 'quality time' with Inuyasha, I don't care."

"I won't. I will not do anything to make you unhappy."

"Then we shouldn't have a problem."

Rin gave him a thumbs-up. "Right! So I should go home and finish preparing your room."

"Here." He said, extending his hand out with Hojo's phone.

Rin took the phone into her hand and smiled. "I'll return it before I go. See you tomorrow." And she left.

Two hours later

Sesshomaru had been escorted to the visitor's area. He had a good idea of who was there to see him.

"So I'm assuming you were briefed on the details by my father."

The little green imp nodded. "Yes sir. Although I found it strange that you would be staying with that doctor."

"It's a conditional release. I have to be placed into the care of someone. But keep your mouth shut about it. This woman disobeyed the rules."

"Huh?"

"The paperwork she filed states that I will be staying with Inuyasha. She claims she is doing what's best for me."

Jaken stared at him with a surprised expression. "What a strange human."

"Indeed."

"Here you are, sir." He said as he gave him a brown leather wallet. "All the necessary materials regarding your finances."

Sesshomaru took the wallet into his hand. "Do you have a pen and paper?"

Jaken rummaged through his pockets and handed him a small notepad and ballpoint pen.

Sesshomaru scribbled something down and slid the notepad back to him.

"Is this how I will contact you, sir?"

"Yes. That is the doctor's number."

Jaken nodded compliantly and placed the notepad in his pocket as he stood. "I look forward to your release." He told him with a mischievous smirk.