Hey, look at that! I'm back.

Chapter IX

Runaway

I can still remember her eyes that day. She was always hard to read, but her eyes in that moment were clear.

She knew what was to come.

And all I could do was watch and say it was over.

-Sesshomaru

xXx

Eight years earlier.

This human. This girl. Her very presence controlled him like a hound dog. It made his inner demon scream at the thought that a mere mortal would dominate his every being. She had only been in his life for a week.

But to him that week felt like centuries.

The centuries I wished back for.

He held her petite form close, carefully, as if she was going to break under him. She was so fragile. He buried his face in her hair, drowning his mind of her lilac and rain scent. He wanted to remember this; he wanted to remember her no matter the consequences ahead. She was his, no matter what they told him.

He would find a way to keep his promise.

He would find a way to protect her forever.

His hand rubbed her bare back under the loose shirt. His finger lightly traced the scar that snaked around her body, wishing he would've saved her from that dreadful day. He mentally growled at the thought of another being touching her, hurting her. He wanted to hunt them down and slaughter them all. Humans. He hated them all.

All except her.

She shivered under his touch as he felt her move away from him, looking up into his eyes. Her eyes, they scared him. He – Sesshomaru - felt every nerve in his body freeze at her clear sight. But he didn't show it.

I was not one to show anything.

"Sesshomaru," she spoke his name so beautifully. It made Sesshomaru's heart grow warm at the musical tone of her voice, "is…everything okay?"

Her question made him feel vulnerable. He turned from her, walking into his closet to pull out a black suit case. He didn't speak as he started placing random pieces of clothing inside. All the while the human girl kept staring, staying quiet.

He felt his body shake when she appeared beside him. Her small hand on his arm creating an avalanche of emotions that he never wanted anyone to see. He leaned forward over the suit case, his hand gripping the bed sheets tightly. His silver locks falling, shielding his face from her. He would not show weakness. Not in front of a mortal.

Never in front of her.

There was a knock on the door. A voice coming from a woman who birthed him almost a millennium ago. Her voice slithered through the red wooden doors like a hissing cobra through the grass. Razor sharp teeth biting at his future, poisoning it. The same voice who spoke to him moments before everything shattered was slipping through the cracks.

Her demanding voice ruined the beauty he sought for.

Because of his mother, he would slowly learn to hate his own kind.

He recalled her voice distancing when she announced his vital marriage to save their kind. Her excitement in her voice made him want to slit her throat for even contemplating his future. His reaction remained in solitude. A living statue. He showed no emotion towards the female demon as her voice turned into an annoyance like a constant buzz in the ears.

She told him to get ready to meet the other female, while his father remained silent behind her.

He would do what they told him to do, then tell Rin the truth before running away with her.

It was the only way to be with her.

He would return to his room after only to find the human girl who controlled him.

His weakness.

My strength.

"Sesshomaru, are you ready yet?" the voice called again. "They are waiting!"

He stood up straight. The emotions that clouded his face- gone. He was firm, in control. "One moment, Mother."

"Well hurry up!"

He could feel her eyes on him. Her brown eyes. It made his skin shiver. "Stay here." He spoke softly through his teeth.

He didn't look at her as he left the room.

Everything that would happen after this would all be lies.

xXx

Rin knew something was very wrong.

She felt it when he pulled her close to his chest. A strange action for someone like him to do.

When he left, she remained standing, her eyes on the open suit case on the bed. Her fingers touched the clothing inside, a random distribution of him throwing anything through desperation.

Another question shot through her mind. Who were they?

Anxiety rose in her chest. Arms grew weak. Breathing, hollow. She swallowed the nervous lump and left the room, following the demon's path.

There were voices when she reached the large staircase. Many voice that echoed. Laughter, voices of excitement and joy. It made the butterflies double in her body.

She was slow stepping down the soft, fresh, vacuumed, red carpet. Her hand gripping the smooth wooden rail, feeling her head lighten with every step. Her bare feet touching the reflecting marble floor as she tip toed her way towards the barking sounds in the lounge. Loud laughter of the female demon she met earlier this morning, her voice hissed in her ear. Another female voice, feminine and fierce-like, burying Rin's own voice deep underground. She heard the words of 'forever', pausing at the crack of the double doors.

Inside she watched through a sliver, seeing Sesshomaru, and a girl, with elegant black hair, kiss his cheek. Those doors grew tall in front of her. Rising giants of gates that she would never be able to enter. A future she would never have.

I knew I never would have.

She didn't feel the tears come. Only felt them as they streamed down her face, landing like a rain drop on the marble floor. She imagined herself as Alice, realizing how small she felt when she shrunk to the size of that raindrop.

That was what she felt like when those giant gates opened in front of her and four pairs of glowing yellow eyes reflected back at her.

She stepped back, eyeing the grinning woman on Sesshomaru's side. She was a tall, thin, beautiful perfection that Rin was not. Long silk-like hair fell down like a black waterfall. Green strips tattooed her cheeks. Her skin was porcelain in colour, no distinct characteristics that would place her into the category: disfigured.

She was the woman I was not. A demon, the queen he sought for.

"So that's where the smell is coming from," another woman, a doppelgänger of the black haired queen, spoke in disgust. "I'm surprised you keep human servants here, Lord Sesshomaru. Don't they stink up the house? Careful, I don't want my daughter to capture the human scent this place is infested with."

There was a sudden low hiss from the white haired mother. "Sesshomaru, I thought I told you to rid of this vile thing?"

Rin's eyes remained on Sesshomaru as the words rang in her head, waiting. Her breathing deepened. The ghosts were returning. The voices of torment and destruction repeating like a broken record player. But all he did was stand there. He would not save her this time.

He never truly saved me.

"Did I not tell you to remain upstairs?" his voice firm.

It was not the same voice as before. It wasn't him! Rin didn't want to believe it.

"Answer me," he demanded his tone still as firm, but his voice…

…his voice.

She opened her mouth, stuttering words of nothing. "I…I…"

"Such a strange little mouse isn't she, Mother?" the black queen spoke. "Where ever did you find her, Sesshomaru? She's…ghastly looking."

"She is no one of importance, Hana," Sesshomaru spoke clearly. Rin became numb. "Answer me, girl."

"I…was…I thought…who…?" Rin struggled with her words. Her heart kept pounding too hard in her ears. Too loud.

"You mean me?" the black queen named Hana answered, her hand moving to her chest in an innocent manner. "I am his fiancé obviously? Don't you see the ring, mouse?"

She held out her left hand to make sure Rin could see the giant rock, sparkling and intimidating her. Rin bit her lip, tasting blood.

Now she felt the tears. "Oh look…she's crying," Hana snorted. "Poor mouse."

Rin ignored her. "You…lied to me." She stepped forward towards the demon. "You…you told me you loved me."

Everyone laughed, and the tears continued to fall. She only watched Sesshomaru and his never changing form.

Then he smiled. "Why would I ever love a human? I despise your kind and rather be rid of them."

"Then…your words…everything…" she paused. "…your promise of forever."

His expression turned back to stone. "Did you ever think I was telling the truth? You were nothing more than an experiment, a research topic."

She shook her head at the false words of rejection. She refused that everything she went through was all a lie. He said it wasn't a fairy-tale, that this dream was real. Her hands shook.

He lied the entire time.

It was always just a dream that turned into a nightmare.

He spoke the words, and every one of them placed another weight on her broken heart. Another voice adding to the ghosts. Another dark shadow looming over her like death.

"Goodbye, Rin," he said it so suddenly, his eyes…

His eyes were different than what his voice said.

But he turned around with the three women, and disappeared behind the giants.

She was left alone once again.

Something that should've always happened.

She felt her feet move, but her mind remained in one spot. Adrenaline filled her blood as she raced to the main doors leading outside. The wind and rain hitting her face like a tsunami when she pulled it open, her tears mixing in with the raging weather.

There was no hesitation.

There was no looking back.

And she ran into the outside world.

So hi, long time no see (only if you read this story and none of my others). *cough* I know it's been awhile, but I've been too busy and well...this story is off hiatus for now. I'll get some chapters out for summer for sure.

Thanks for sticking with me all this time! :D And reviews are loved ^^