Chapter 14

Rin stumbled backwards in surprise as the unexpected visitor pushed past her and into the apartment without replying to her question or waiting for an invitation to come in. Blinking in bewilderment, Rin closed the door and turned around, not sure what to say. Kagura stood in the middle of the living room, towering over Rin in stupidly high heels.

"How dare you!" Kagura hissed, glaring venomously at the smaller woman.

"Uh…" Rin could only stare stupidly at the other woman, completely at a loss.

"How dare you just randomly appear and take him from me! Do you know how close I was to getting him right where I wanted him?"

"Where you wanted?"

"If I had had more time he would have been putty in my hands!" Kagura crossed her arms and aimed a disgusted look at Rin. "But you just had to come and ruin it, didn't you?"

"I didn't know…" Rin said quietly, backing away from the intimidating woman.

"How he could fall for a woman as pathetic as you I'll never know. He just doesn't realise how beautiful I am." Kagura said with a smug smile as she flipped her long hair over her shoulder. "He'll realise his mistake soon enough."

The uncomfortable situation was beginning to fray Rin's already frazzled nerves. She wasn't used to being alone and being confronted by this woman right now was really the last thing she could deal with. Panic raced through her as she tried to think of a way out of her predicament. She couldn't run out the door because she would be alone, faced by more people and possibly at risk from the person who had attacked her last time, if indeed he was still after her. It wasn't worth the risk, but she couldn't pick up the phone and call anyone she knew either because Kagura stood in front of it with a gloating expression as if she knew exactly what kind of distress she was causing Rin.

"H-how will he?" Rin queried, her eyes darting around the room as she searched for an escape.

"Once you're out of the picture, there'll be nothing standing in the way and he'll realise how big a mistake he made."

"O-Out of the picture?"

"I've done my research and I know about you," Kagura said with a sinister smile. "I know about what happened in your neighbourhood and you."

"H-How do you know?"

"I have my sources." There was silence as the women looked at each other for a little while. "I'd advise you to keep away from Sesshoumaru. If you don't, you might find yourself in a very familiar situation with a very familiar man. I also suggest you keep this conversation to yourself and keep in mind that you can't hide from me when you're in this building."

Without another word, Kagura swept out of the room and closed the door behind her with a snap, leaving Rin staring at the space she had just vacated. After a moment, Rin brought herself back to reality and questioned whether what she had just heard had been a figment of her imagination or reality. She made her way over to the sofa on unsteady legs and sank down onto it, releasing a shaky breath as she buried her face in her hands. Rin knew that Kagura had not been joking when she had made her threat and now she wondered what to do about it. Kagura had made it plain that she couldn't tell Sesshoumaru and now she was at a loss. The only support she had leaned on since coming out of hospital was someone she couldn't lean on this time. She had to deal with this alone.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

When Sesshoumaru returned that evening, he found the apartment dark and silent. A frown creased his brow as he made his way through the living room and down the corridor towards the light he could see shining from beneath the bedroom door. He paused in front of the door before pushing it open slowly, his eyes adjusting to the sudden bright light. Amber eyes looked around the room and found Rin's tiny figure sitting in the middle of the enormous bed, her knees pulled up under her chin and her arms around her legs. Her eyes were fixed on the book that lay open on the bed in front of her, but it was obvious even from this distance that she was only staring at the book and not actually reading anything in it. Clearing his throat, Sesshoumaru approached the bed, watching as she jumped at the sound.

He had spent the whole day wanting nothing more than to leave his office and go straight home where he knew she would be waiting for him. The idea of coming home to her welcoming embrace was so appealing that he had been very close to simply leaving several times throughout the day, but had restrained himself with difficulty. Now, Sesshoumaru was in the same room as her, even sitting on the same bed as her and yet she had yet to give him the welcome he had been expecting. Something must've happened, but he couldn't think what it was. Just as he was reaching across the gap between them towards her, intent on pulling her into the embrace he had been thinking about for the majority of the day, Rin sprang up from the bed and stood beside the bed, smoothing out her clothes before turning around to face him.

"I wasn't sure what time you'd be back," she babbled, still smoothing down her clothes and looking away from his narrowed gaze. "I'll start on dinner."

Sesshoumaru's eyes followed her figure as it disappeared out the door and down the hall. He let out a long breath as he tried to understand what was causing Rin to be so anxious. Hoping to find out anything that could give him an explanation about her behaviour, he got to his feet and followed her into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe as he watched her bustle about the kitchen. Eventually, she turned around and jumped when she saw him standing behind her.

"Dinner's ready," she said quietly and gestured to the steaming plates of food on the counter.

"Thank you."

Rin took a deep breath as she sat down at the table and began the meal, she knew that it would be difficult to avoid Sesshoumaru, but although she felt terrible about doing so, it had to be done. When the meal ended, she took her time collecting the plates and chose to wash them by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher, trying to find any excuse to not spend much time in his company without a distraction. Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at her unusual actions, but took the hint to leave as he decided to wait for her in the living room. She came into the living room a short while later, trying her hair back from her face as she walked and she chose to sit in an armchair instead of beside Sesshoumaru where she normally sat.

"I've been thinking," she said casually as though she hadn't been avoiding him.

"Is that so?"

"Mmm. I think it's time I started looking for that new house I spoke about in the hospital."

"Why's that?" Sesshoumaru asked, eyes narrowing slightly at her.

"You've been so kind to me, but I really shouldn't impose upon you any longer than necessary."

"Rin, you're not…"

"I'm sure you'll be glad to get your home to yourself again," she carried on, interrupting him as though she hadn't heard him speak.

"Rin…"

"In any case, I'd have to look for it sooner or later and it'd be good to get that done."

Sighing to himself, Sesshoumaru could see that she wasn't going to allow him any say in the matter and resisted the urge to growl in frustration. The situation was spiralling out of control far too fast and he was powerless to stop it as he didn't know the cause of whatever had upset Rin. Not knowing what else to do, he simply sat on the sofa and listened as she spoke in an oddly high pitched voice about things that would normally make no difference to either of them. As time passed, he knew that she was beginning to get tired. He could see weariness in her eyes and knew that all would soon be right with the world when he could hold her as she slept. Unfortunately, the fates were not smiling upon him and when he eventually struggled to stay awake, Rin only smiled at him.

"Go to bed," she said quietly with a gentle smile. "I'm not tired yet; I'll make some coffee and read for a while. I'll come to bed soon."

For the first night in a couple of weeks, Sesshoumaru Taisho slept alone in his bed when he knew that he would get nowhere by arguing with Rin after she had said she would come to bed. Although she had said the words, he had found her asleep on the sofa the next morning and began to grow impatient and irritated. He didn't understand what was going on and there was nothing he hated more than not understanding a situation, especially when that situation involved someone he cared for. Rin had woken up to find him looking down at her and blushed slightly, giving excuses as to why she was on the sofa and not in the bed as normal, but Sesshoumaru merely shrugged as she prepared for work. She wondered briefly if he believed any of her excuses but knew that he didn't. He wasn't stupid.

Sighing softly, she got to her feet when she saw that he was making his way towards the door and walked with him. Sesshoumaru was surprised when she came down the hall to the elevator with him, wondering what the purpose of that was. He looked around as he waited for the elevator and his gaze fell on Kagura who stood outside her door dressed as though she had just woken up. A man stood in front of her and they appeared to be deep in conversation despite the fact that he met her red gaze for a moment before she looked back to the dishevelled man in front of her. The pair turned and made their way towards the elevator where Sesshoumaru and Rin stood, but Kagura made no attempt at flirtation or conversation. Beside him, Sesshoumaru felt Rin stiffen slightly when she saw the pair, but he could hardly blame her for being uncomfortable around a woman who clearly didn't like her.

The elevator doors opened, pulling Sesshoumaru from his thoughts and he nodded at Rin who gave him a weak smile in return. His mind was flood with disappointment when she didn't react in any other way, but he made his way forward to stand beside the man who had emerged from Kagura's apartment. Rin lifted her hand in a half hearted wave as the doors closed and in the brief moment, Sesshoumaru saw Kagura start moving towards Rin and his eyes narrowed. Could Kagura be the cause of Rin's sudden anxiety and behaviour change?

"I'm glad to see that you heeded my warning about not telling Sesshoumaru," Kagura said with a smug smile as she towered over Rin in the corridor beside the elevator. "You know who that man was, don't you?"

"How could I forget?" Rin asked bitterly and turned around to start walking back to the apartment. She remembered him. He was the man who had almost raped and killed her. It was impossible to forget him.

"Don't forget your agreement," Kagura said in a quiet voice as she reached out to grip Rin's arm.

"I won't."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The days passed and Rin became even more distant than before much to Sesshoumaru's displeasure. Every night he came home to a dark apartment and Rin placed herself just out of his reach, physically and emotionally. Eventually, she found an apartment and had everything moved from her previous home to the new one, not caring that she was not there to supervise the move. She still couldn't face the house she had lived in before and decided that she would leave Kagome to run the move in her stead since her friend had offered. Now the day had finally arrived when she would move into her new home and Sesshoumaru stood in the door way of the bedroom he had shared with her, watching her pack her clothes away into her bag with a growing sense of loss building within him.

Rin was grateful that Sesshoumaru didn't question her decisions, but she couldn't look him in the eye. She felt so bad for deceiving him. She wanted to tell him everything that had happened, but she was so afraid of the consequences that she couldn't bring herself to do so; at least not in that building when she knew that Kagura could be lurking around any corner. During the silent drive to her new home, Rin found herself considering a thought that had never occurred to her before. What was to stop her telling Sesshoumaru about Kagura's plans when she wasn't in his apartment building? Surely the woman wouldn't have her tailed by someone ready to commit murder at the first chance he got? Even if she did, Rin had Sesshoumaru to protect her this time and was sure that no one would be stupid enough to try and attack her with him present.

"We've arrived," Sesshoumaru announced, pulling Rin back to reality.

"Thank you."

Rin looked up at the building and frowned. It looked a lot like Sesshoumaru's apartment building. Shrugging it off, she stepped out of the car and took a deep breath as she made her decision. Sesshoumaru had moved picked up her bag and was making his way towards the entrance, pausing briefly to allow her to catch up. The apartment was on the 4th floor and although they rode the elevator in silence, Rin's mind was turning as she tried to think of a way to explain the situation to Sesshoumaru without causing a scene.

"This is your apartment?" Sesshoumaru asked as they approached a door at the end of a hallway.

"Yes," she murmured, unlocking the door and stepping inside.

"Here's your bag. I should leave you to settle in," he said emotionlessly as he deposited the bag on the floor just inside the door and turned to leave.

"Actually," Rin said in a voice that was more confident than she felt. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

"Oh?"

"Yes. Please stay a while longer."

Nodding, Sesshoumaru stepped inside, closing the door behind him and followed Rin into the living room where he was surprised to see her furniture already arranged. Rin smiled at his surprise and gestured towards a picture of Inuyasha and Kagome on their wedding day as she passed it and he immediately understood that Kagome had arranged the apartment. Taking a seat on the sofa, Sesshoumaru waited patiently until Rin returned from the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.

"What was it you wanted to talk about?" he asked, not bothering to beat about the bush.

"It's quite important," Rin said quietly as she placed the mugs on the table ands at down beside him for the first time in nearly a week, smiling as his eyes widened at the action.

"Is that so?"

"I know that you've noticed I've been acting strangely over the past week or so."

"You've noticed your behaviour?" Sesshoumaru asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The change was deliberate."

"Why?"

"Because your neighbour paid me a visit the first day you week back to work."

"My neighbour?"

"Kagura."

"I thought so," he growled and frowned ferociously.

Rin shrugged and looked at him seriously. "Anyway, I'm going to need your protection again if I tell you this so I have to know that you'll not leave me alone after I tell you."

"You know I won't leave you alone, Rin."

"I do, but I needed reassurance," she said with a smile. "Kagura is trying to get me out of the picture so she can get to you."

"Get to me? What does that mean?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"What do you mean by getting you out the picture?" Sesshoumaru asked, falling into what Kouga liked to call "work mode."

"The man who came out of her apartment the day I walked to the elevator with you was the same man who attacked me."

Amber eyes widened as he stared at the petite woman beside him. She looked calm, but a glance into her eyes told a completely different story and it was all he could do not to take her in his arms there and then. He needed to hear the situation first before he gave in to his temptations.

"How does she know him?" Sesshoumaru asked, frowning as he thought about it.

"She just said she had her sources when I asked how she found out." Rin paused and looked at Sesshoumaru as she felt tears fill her eyes. "I'm sorry; I couldn't tell you until now. I was afraid she would do something."

Sighing in relief, Sesshoumaru reached out to her and pulled her against him, wrapping his arms tightly around her shaking frame. He had been worried that she was reconsidering their relationship and now that he knew that that wasn't the case at all, he could relax and help her to the best of his abilities. As Rin wept into his shoulder, Sesshoumaru gently threaded his fingers through her soft hair and rubbed her back as he waited for her to calm down.

"She won't do anything to you," he murmured before nuzzling her neck gently. "I won't let her."

In response, Rin cried harder and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders. The action surprised Sesshoumaru but he didn't complain and instead leaned back against the sofa, pulling Rin onto his lap as he tried to comfort the weeping woman. After what seemed like an eternity, Rin stopped crying and pulled away from his with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to cry," she said quietly, a blush staining her cheeks red.

"It's fine. I'd be surprised if you didn't cry," Sesshoumaru replied, cupping her face and kissing her lips gently. "I've missed your kisses," he whispered against her lips.

Rin giggled and leaned into his kiss, sighing in contentment as he ravished her lips and pulled her flush against him. She had missed having his arms around her. Being in his embrace made her feel as though there was nothing the world could do to her as long as his arms were around her. A large hand slid up her leg and rested at her hip, playing with the hem of her shirt.

"As long as we're here," Sesshoumaru murmured as he started trailing kisses down her neck. "Let's make use of your apartment."

A gasp of surprise left Rin's lips as she felt herself lifted up and she grinned as Sesshoumaru made his way through the apartment and to her bedroom. She smiled at him as he lowered her onto her bed and stretched out beside her, wrapping an arm around her.

"How did you know where the bedroom was?" she asked, leaning back to look into his eyes. "You've never been here before."

"The layout is similar to my own apartment."

The pair sat in silence for a while, content just holding each other. Eventually Rin couldn't refrain from yawning and snuggling into his side, her hand clutching his shirt as though it was a lifeline. Sesshoumaru smiled to himself as he looked down at her and ran his hand down her back gently as he pulled her closer. The weariness that had marked her face for the past week seemed to be disappearing and her smile had returned. He was pleased that she was returning to her normal self, but frowned as he thought about what had caused the behaviour change.

"Go to sleep, Rin," he said quietly and rolled onto his back, pulling her with him.

"You'll stay with me?" she asked sleepily.

"Of course I will."

"Nothing with happen to me?"

"Nothing will happen to you, I promise."

Rin didn't reply but merely smiled as she tightened her grip on his shirt despite his reassurance that he wasn't going anywhere. It couldn't hurt to be extra careful, could it? She felt so much better now that she had told Sesshoumaru about the situation and wondered why she hadn't thought of this plan earlier. Pushing the thoughts away, she knew she would be safe as long as he was here and her smile returned for a moment before sleep claimed her.