Tease
Ch. 9
"Okay Rin, go speak with Dr. Mushin. If you need me, I'll be right out here. Afterwards, can even visit Sunohime Park," Sesshoumaru coaxed.
As Sesshoumaru ushered her toward the doctor's door, Rin twisted in his grasp. The closer they approached, the more frantic the girl became.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I won't hide food; I promise!" Rin cried, her voice shrill.
The other patients looked on as she fought to pull away from the door. Sesshoumaru lifted her in his arms.
"Rin, calm yourself. What is it?" Sesshoumaru asked, softly.
Dr. Mushin walked to the duo, hushing the girl.
"Rin, Rin you don't need to fear this place. Sesshoumaru and I only wish to help."
Rin scrunched her eyes shut, shaking her head furiously. She buried her head into Sesshoumaru's hip and tightened her small fists on his shirt. Sesshoumaru picked her up, rubbing small circles into her back.
"Can I go into this session with her? At least the beginning?" he asked.
Mushin nodded, still focused on Rin and stepped aside. Sesshoumaru settled into the doctor's office and sat, placing Rin on her lap. Rin held onto his shirt like it was her lifeline. Dr. Mushin gathered his papers.
"Rin, have you ever been to this office?" Dr. Mushin inquired.
Rin shook her head.
"Are you afraid of doctors?"
"No," Rin confirmed softly.
"Why are you afraid of?"
Rin paused; her tiny voice cracked with sobs, "I don't want to leave."
Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru, "I promise I won't be bad ever again! Please let me stay."
Sesshoumaru brows slanted, "Rin, why would you think you had to leave?"
"Because the day you got me, I had to go to a room and tell a man stuff my Mommy and Daddy did and then they made me leave, but that was okay because I didn't like it there. This time I don't want to go," Rin explained, frantic to make him understand.
"Sweetheart, you aren't leaving," Dr. Mushin assured her, "You'll only be here an hour and then you'll leave with Sesshoumaru. Here, I just want you to talk to me about things and people you like. I want to help you not be so scared anymore. Think you can talk to me?"
Rin looked to Sesshoumaru. He kissed her forehead.
"You're safe Rin. Remember my friend, Miroku?"
Rin nodded and Sesshoumaru continued, "Well, Dr. Mushin adopted Miroku like I adopted you. He understands some of what you may feel."
"Is he like you then?" the little girl asked.
"He's better because Miroku wasn't nearly as well behaved as you," Sesshoumaru quipped.
Dr. Mushin laughed, "Quite the understatement!"
Rin exhaled and allowed a slight smile to slip on her features, "Okay, if Daddy will be right outside. I can talk for a little bit."
Sesshoumaru ruffled her hair playfully and placed her in his chair. He shook Mushin's hand and walked to the door.
"I'll be right outside waiting, Rin."
Forty-five minutes later, Rin emerged from the room with a shy smile, much like she had when she first came to live with Sesshoumaru. Dr. Mushin followed her out with a practiced smile in place.
"Rin and I had a very good session. I really look forward to seeing her again," Dr. Mushin said to Sesshoumaru before turning the girl, "You're a very brave girl, Rin."
Sesshoumaru smiled slightly, "Rin, wait in the playroom a moment while I speak with the doctor."
Sesshoumaru watched Rin play with some blocks in the children's section before turning to Dr. Mushin.
"Let's continue this conversation in private."
Sesshoumaru ran his fingers through his hair with a sigh. "I thought she was just eating more when I wasn't around. I didn't think she was hoarding food."
Dr. Mushin nodded, speaking lowly, "Even Rin doesn't fully understand her abuse. She's lived with it for so long that she's normalized quite a bit to cope. The main thing is to be patient with her; explain to her that her actions aren't necessary, but she isn't in trouble. She has a general fear that the life she has now is temporary and she's afraid things will return to how they were."
"Does she think I will hurt her?" Sesshoumaru asked. The anxiousness threaded in his words.
"No, she believes someone will hurt you. She sees you as the good guy, but understands that bad people can hurt the good guy. Not much to say about that; she's absolutely right. The good news is that she sees you as someone who loves and protects her. I asked her to name the people that would keep her from being hurt. She said your name first without any hesitation."
Sesshoumaru's face was still fixed in a frown. Dr. Mushin patted the demon's shoulder.
"What I'm saying is you're doing all the right things and asking the right questions. Parenthood doesn't come with an instruction manual and this is particularly tricky. Keep her coming here and soon you'll see a change in Rin. Now Sesshoumaru, don't forget, you don't have to do this alone. I spoke to your father and he's eagerly waiting to speak to Rin."
Sesshoumaru groaned, amused. "Inuyasha told me the same thing."
Dr. Mushin smiled, "Your little girl will benefit from a large family and I know Inutaisho is only going to spoil her."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Sesshoumaru answered blithely.
Dr. Mushin chuckled and walked over to his schedule planner, "I have Rin scheduled to meet me next Wednesday afternoon and I don't know if you were planning to wait around, but your friend is coming in with her ward in a few minutes."
Sesshoumaru pulled out his phone, updating his calendar for Rin's appointment.
"I may come back and meet them, but I promised Rin a trip to the park."
The doctor nodded, "Okay then. I'll see you next week."
Okay I've started school and I have WAY less time than I hoped I would so my chapters probably won't be as long or it may be hard to update even monthly. I'm thinking the chapters may be 500-1000 words that could be done every couple weeks maybe. A lot of this story has been prewritten in segments so it could longer, but you guys let me know which you would prefer: length or more frequent updates?