Chapter 5

I was finally discharged after midnight once the doctor went over what I was allowed to do and not to do. He also gave me the prescription papers for two different medicines, which I'll have filled out tomorrow. One was for pain and the other antibiotics. I'll drop them off on my way to work. He gave the okay to go back to work tomorrow, though he told me I should stay off my feet for several days. But since it's just the first week of school I don't want to miss out on anything. Plus, I still want to apologize to Towa and Setsuna in person. I will let them know at lunch. They tend to sit away from others, along with their cousin Moroha. It's understandable being in a new environment and not wanting to be with other female peers who've attended school since they were younger.

Sesshomaru hadn't left those few hours I was here. He basically talked about each step we would take at a time till we were in court in the coming weeks to a month. Possibly a little bit longer. Which I have no problem with. Though I'm still nervous about the whole thing, he told me everything will turn out the way he sees it. With his calculations, Osamu could face up to ten years in prison, maybe even more. If he gets that I will be the happiest I have been in the last few years.

As I waited for a wheelchair to be brought for me, I decided that I should call for a cab. I wish I had my favorite cab driver's cell phone number on speed dial, he would get me home safely. When I went to their website, I noticed their main office was closed. Damn it. I know cabs run through the night but hailing for one this late at night would be hard. So many people are leaving bars, and restaurants now, probably drunk, and heading home themselves. They would need it more than me.

"Aya?" Hearing him say my name kind of spooked me that I jumped.

"Yes?" I found him staring at me with the same expression.

"Do you need a ride home?"

"Umm…" do I accept his ride? I know I won't be able to walk the rest of the way. It would be morning by then. "...yeah." I guess we'll go by cab. But he probably has his own driver, since he is a top lawyer, not unless he drove here himself.

"My driver is waiting for us out front." Knew it.

"Thank you, umm… may I offer some gas money?" If he's helping me out, it's the least I can do. I don't have that much on me, and I won't be able to get my tips from the night till I can go back to my night job.

"There's no need," he announced as the nurse came in with my wheelchair, including the doctor again.

"Okay," it still doesn't seem right, but I'll accept it. Once settled into the chair they wheeled me out in silence. I was tired and ready for bed. Though I was hungry, I wasn't in the mood to make anything. So I'll just make my usual lemon tea. That will always be my go to when I need to relax and to fill my appetite.

Outside a shiny black car sat out front, with a personal driver holding the backdoor open. Such a fancy car. It looked brand new and not a speck of dirt could be seen. The nurse and doctor both helped me into the car as Sesshomaru went around to the other side and took his seat beside me. When both doors were closed the driver went and took his own seat up front. He rolled down the middle window, "where to?"

I noticed Sesshomaru was looking my way. Then I turned my attention to the driver, "the court apartments off of Katsubō-dōri." I hated that part of town so much. A lot of crime happens there almost every day. Too many to count. Anything from a simple dispute over something stupid, to the most horrifying thing as murder. Multiple of them almost every week. I'm just glad my lease will be up soon in just a few short months. Technically in the fall. Hopefully if I'm feeling well enough I can go look at some nicer apartments this weekend. I know some of them will be close or a little over my price range, but I know that I can manage.

The drive started off quiet as the streets were busy tonight and the driver rolled the middle window back up. So many cars, mostly taxi's filled the streets, and picked up people who hailed for them. I hope to be home soon so I can rest for a few hours. "I know of those apartments," I heard Sesshomaru finally speak. When I looked at him he was already staring my way. "How far is your door from the streets?"

"It's in the middle of the courtyard on the second floor." It was always around this time criminals that lived in the same apartments as me come out and do their own deals when there are no children around. Though when I heard him ask how far my apartment is from the streets, it made me think he'll help me to my door. I know I can walk, it will just take me a few extra minutes more than it usually does when I wasn't in pain.

"How long have you been there?"

"A few years. I've been living there since… I got out of the women's shelter." I guess I should tell him the story since I mentioned I was in a shelter. "I came from an unloved home. My parents were addicts. After they told me I was an unwanted pregnancy, I left right after, and that was the last I saw of them." I don't know where they are now and I don't care to know. I haven't cried once since that night. I even promised myself that I would never cry for them ever again. "After I left home, I stayed at the local women's shelter for a short while. One of the female counselors who worked at the shelter helped get me into community college, finding work at the restaurant, and into the apartment."

"Was it hard being on your own after you got out of the shelter?"

"At first, yes. But with the help from my counselor, she was able to get me on the right track to where I am now." She calls me every few weeks to see how I am doing. I always tell her how I am doing. Just not about the abuse I have suffered from the hands of my now ex-boyfriend. "She'll be happy to hear that I plan to find a better apartment soon."

"How much longer do you have at this one?" We came to a stop at a red light. I knew we weren't that much farther from my street.

"About two to three months. I want to be closer to the school." The one I want to live in is gated, which I absolutely love. It isn't like the one I live in now. The apartment I want to get in is a tall building with so many apartments to fit so many families. Each level contains a certain number of bedrooms per apartment. Since it would just be me living there, I would be able to get a ground floor apartment. "There's an open house this weekend that I plan on attending." I know by then I should be feeling better, though I should be resting per my doctor's order.

Nothing else was said as the driver pulled up against the curb when Sesshomaru finally said, "I'll walk you over to your apartment and make sure you get inside."

"Thank you." Each step did hurt walking the path and even up the stairs, but I managed without needing to be held. When we finally reached my door, I found a large printed neon paper taped to my door. What's this? As I read it, I noticed it was from the city. It stated that the building did not meet the requirements for their safety expectation and it was deemed unsafe. Reading more down the paper I had two months to vacate before it was torn down. Honestly, I am relieved that I will be moving out of this place soon. So the damages won't need tending to that Osamu had caused. But it also sucks that he won't be able pay back for the damages he caused from shoving me against the wall.

Before we came to the apartments, I realized I didn't have my purse, so we had to make a U-turn, and go back to my work, which was still open. Thank goodness, because I had to get my purse since it had my apartment keys. I unlocked the door, took the paper down from the door, and turned to face Sesshomaru, "thank you." It's kind of rare to find someone who is willing to be helping a total female stranger they just met and saving them from uncertain doom.

"Anytime," he put his hand inside his blazer, pulling out a small white card. "This is my business card with my number to where you can reach me anytime."

I took it from him, "thank you, and I'll see you tomorrow at the courthouse after school lets out."

"I will have my driver pick you up from work," he doesn't have to. I don't mind taking a taxi. But he is helping me with everything and making sure that Osamu gets what he deserves.

"I'll be outside around three in the afternoon." I have a feeling his daughters will be riding along too. "Have a good evening Sesshomaru, and thank you for everything." He really didn't say anything, but did a quick nod and left right there.

With my door locked for the night, a hot cup of tea by my bedside, I managed to feel safe and not scared for the first time in a very long time.

On the drive back to my home, Jaken had rolled down the middle window of the car, "Lord Sesshomaru, is it really her?" I knew he would recognize her as soon as Aya and I came out of the hospital. Jaken was turned human with the power of the contacts that are made by the same optometrist. When he removes them, he turns back into his demon form.

"It is Jaken!" I announced without looking his way. I'm still not over the shock of seeing her back at the restaurant when she served us and how badly I wanted to help her when I saw her in pain. I now wish I had believed Towa in the beginning of what she told me the other night.

"My Lord, what are your plans now?"

"Everything that I can to help her," I'll make sure that asshole… I gritted my teeth thinking of that bastard. How badly I wanted to kill him with my poison claws. What I would give to go down to the jail right now, confront him, and demand to know who he really is. I recognize his scent, but I can't put a finger on who he actually is.

This weekend I want to help Aya find a proper apartment to live in that's safe and not close to falling to the ground. The one she is now reminds me of Rin's hovel of home back when she was young. We had traveled through that village month's after we had married, and she pointed out a hay covered shack next to a stream. She explained that it was her home after the death of her family. The villagers kicked her out of her home and gave it to another new family that had moved into the village. Though Rin explained that she had to live in poverty for a few short years and stopped talking, she never stopped smiling.

"Do what you need to, My Lord."

Back home I found just Towa waiting on the porch, "how is Suzuki-senpi?" She jumped up from where she sat.

"She's home and resting. Why aren't you in bed?" I knew Setsuna wasn't asleep as I could hear her practice the violin from where we stood.

"Couldn't sleep and I wanted to make sure she was okay." Of course she would stay up and wait for the news on her teacher Aya.

"She is fine, nothing broken, and she will be in school tomorrow. I'm having her brought to the courthouse tomorrow after school so she can fill out a protection order. So she will be riding with you and Setsuna." Her red eyes lit up hearing that.

"She is! So you are taking her as your client?"

"Yes," was all I said. Though I have many more clients to tend to, Aya will be my most major priority. "Towa, go get your sleep and don't go around telling the whole school what happened earlier."

"Yes, chichue."

I'm sorry for not posting for the past few weeks. I have been trying to write but had one of those days that I just didn't feel like writing. Then on the night of Monday the 21st, I got the call that my grandmother had passed away. I had to step away from writing to take time for myself. I hope you all understand. I'm doing alright now. Some days are hard and I do find myself crying on and off. My grandmother knew I had been writing and she was proud I had found a hobby that I deeply enjoyed doing. My grandmother reminds me of Lady Kaede in a way; very caring, kind, doesn't put up with disrespect, and someone that everyone looked up to.

I promise to post again soon. Not sure when that will be as I am right now trying to get myself back out into the world and better myself. I have big plans of remodeling my bedroom and bathroom hopefully sometime by next year.

SesshRin4ever: I'm happy that you found this story and that this chapter was to your liking.

Jenny Crum: I'm glad you enjoyed the fight as much as I did. It took me forever to get it to be perfect. Osamu did deserve to get his ass beat to a pulp. Sesshomaru will do an awesome job representing her in court. How long do you hope Osamu will get in prison? Do you see Sesshomaru and Aya spending more time together? Have any of the past memories brought any clues that could happen in the future between the two? Let me hear your thoughts.