A/N: First, I want to apologize for the super long wait! RL just decided to get in the way and I couldn't help it. I was also getting over treatment for my disease and couldn't focus on both school and this. Sorry all. But I'm now back and it's now summer and even though I work full time, I have more time than I did in school to work on my stories, just like you saw when I updated Diamonds.

Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter V

Red

Rin awoke to loud bang on her front door.

It was still pitch dark outside, telling her it was very early in the morning. Rain pattered softly against her window as she climbed out of bed, looking towards the sound of the constant banging. She remained still, wondering if she did he would think she wouldn't be home and leave. It didn't stop. It only got louder.

She sighed, letting her feet drop to the stone cold, concrete floor. Her steps shuffled towards the sound. On the other side, the landlord muffled her name in a slur. He was drunk again. And by how much, Rin didn't want to know.

She only stood at the door, frowning, as he tried to turn the locked doorknob.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she heard a key enter the lock.

She backed up slowly when the sound of the door unlocked and the doorknob slowly turned more than it should. Her hands hit the solid wall as the dim light from the hallways enveloped her. Panic set in when the swaying man shuffled his way into the room, his silhouette standing in the door way. Intoxication filled the air with sour aroma. His dark chuckle bounced off Rin's empty walls in her mind. Her eyes swelled with horror as he approached her.

Slowly.

Timidly.

Her nails grinded against the wall as she slid down, smelling the man's breath in front of her grow stronger and stronger.

And she screamed.

xXx

Rin didn't understand why her life ended up this way.

She wished to know what was on the other side. She sometimes dreamed of it.

She imagined a giant red and orange sunset, with the silhouette of her younger self skipping towards it. She imagined her parents and her brothers on the other side welcoming her to her new life. She imagined she would never be alone ever again. She imagined someone would care.

Perhaps this was why she couldn't find the strength to leave in the first place.

Someone did care about her.

Although she did not know why, she only heard his words slithered into her brain once the thought of the sunset crossed her mind. She could not die. Not without seeing him for one last time.

So she inched her way to school in the rain. Her red rain coat protected her head. Her small hands hid in her pockets. Her eyes not leaving the side walk for any reason. She was too afraid of seeing faces today. Too afraid of hearing what they whispered when they saw her. Too afraid to see Sesshomaru's icy expression and what he might say if he saw her.

Rin entered the school cautiously, moving quietly around the chatting groups of shadowy figures, leaving her head covered by her red hood.

She arrived at her locker, not bothering to take off the jacket or remove her hood. Her fingers placed her books in her locker slowly, taking her time with her ever-shaking hands. She wanted to scream at everyone around her. Rin knew they were looking at her. She felt their eyes searching her like a predator.

They always watched.

Ayame appeared to her first. The wolf demon trying to see what was under the hood.

"What's with the hood?" She asked.

Rin frowned, turning back to her locker. "Nothing," she mumbled under her breath.

"Oh please! Rin, you know hoods aren't allowed to be worn in school," Ayame spoke with a demand in her voice.

Rin could feel her hand on her head, slowly pulling the hood down in slow motion. Rin's eyes widened and quickly caught her just in time, covering her head once again. She turned away from Ayame, and shoved her hands in her pockets, saying under her breath, "Please, leave me alone."

Rin could feel her friend's turquois eyes on her back. Ayame would chase after her eventually. But for now, Ayame should know Rin needed space.

But I never did get any.

She moved slowly through the hallways, never looking up. Always down at the blue tile floor beneath her feet. She didn't even know where she was going. People moved on their own accord. It was like she had become a poison or a virus that everyone felt the need to run away from. They pressed up against the walls like it had become an attracting magnet. Rin had created a bubble around herself. A bubble nobody could pop.

Not even him.

And if Rin was paying attention to where she was going, she would've seen the white haired demon ahead of time and avoided him, instead of walking right into his back.

She fell onto the ground then, landing on her behind with a big humph leaving her mouth.

Rin looked up towards the golden eyes, only to look back down quickly.

She stood up, bowing and muttering a small, quiet apology, and swerved around the demon. However, she didn't move quickly enough. Right when she passed him, his long fingers latched around hers, stopping her in her tracks. She didn't turn to him, only paused, waiting for him to speak.

"Rin," she could hear his eyes narrow in his voice, "why is it that I smell dried blood on you?"

Her eyes widened under her red, shaded protection before returning a soft, sadden glare to the floor. "No reason," she muttered, trying to take her wrist back.

"Rin, do not try and escape from me. It's impossible. Now, tell me why you smell of blood."

She didn't say anything. She didn't move a muscle. She even stopped struggling against his hold.

Then she heard him sigh with exasperation, and in a flash, she was pinned up against a wall in darkness.

Fear set into her mind. Moments of the night before flashed like lightning into her brain. And she started to claw at the figure in front of her, trying desperately to get away. She ignored his hushing angelic voice, trying to calm her. She ignored his soft hand on her face. She tried to look away from him, closing her eyes, and feeling the red hood fall off her head. She only wanted to get away from the stalking wolf. Only she couldn't. So she stayed still and waited.

And waited.

Until she felt his soft fingers carelessly sweep over her cheek.

She winced from the slight pain it caused. And her eyes opened to darkness in front of her. Although, she knew he was there. He was always there. Right in front of her.

She knew his eyes could see the green and purple tattoos adorning her face. It covered her left eye, her cheeks, her chin, and the side of her nose gracefully. She had dried up cuts under her chin, the far side of her cheek, moving down to her chin, and above her right eyebrow. There were sure to be scars.

And he probably knew of the other marks scattering her body like a green and purple canvas.

All because her rent was six hours late.

She could feel Sesshomaru's warm breath on her cut up cheek. His voice entering her ear as soft as a dove's feather.

"Rin, do not lie to me. I can smell a tainted scent mixed in with yours."

Rin's hands balled into fists. She clenched her teeth. And tears formed in her eyes from the swelling anger filling her being.

His warm breath moved from her ear to the front of her face then. She bit her lip, waiting for him to speak more. He probably wanted to know more too.

He always did.

"Rin, tell me who did this," he whispered.

Her eyes shot towards him in the darkness. Growing anger filling her veins. "Why?"
She whispered, her voice growing louder. "Why do you care so much? It's none of your god damn business anyways, so why should I even tell you!?"

She heard his hand punch the wall by her head. It was pretty clear there was a possible hole, but still, she didn't flinch, only staring at the never-ending darkness in front of her.

"Why?" she asked again in a softer tone.

"You should already know why. I've told you before, so there is no reason for me to repeat myself."

"Then prove it."

And that was when she felt his lips touch hers in a gentle touch. Then it grew deeper, making her nerves react with growing affection. She wanted more of his touch. She wanted more of his taste. But she was too scared.

So she pulled away from him and looked down at the dark ground.

"You have done something towards this demon, Rin. I don't think I will ever understand why, but you have. So please, tell me who did this to you?"

Rin looked up. "My landlord."

"Did he…?" a small growl started to grow.

"No."

"I thought so. Your scent is still the same."

Her eyes widened as her cheeks heated up. He knew about that? What could this guy not smell?

"Rin…"

Rin breathed deeply, her eyes widening when she saw a pair of glowing red eyes appear in front of her in the darkness.

"…I will kill him."

He always said things so casually, like he was stating facts about the world.

The sky is blue.

Mountains are high.

He will kill anyone who stands in his way.

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