Eh, I forgot I had this finished. lol

Chapter XII

Wish

In a momentary relapse of confusion and shock from recent events, Rin stumbled backward almost losing her footing. She held onto the wall for support, muttering a sorry and not looking up to the one she ran into. She was in no mood for conversations of any way, shape or form.

She turned away from the figure, hoping they didn't notice her presence and that she was just a mindless and tired patient. She wanted to sit down and try to escape this horrid night with some sleep, but a female voice called her name.

"Rin?"

And Rin paused, turning around to a young, female wolf demon in a white coat. Her face was that of pure shock and happiness. The wolf's blue eyes were wide as her smile.

"Rin Mori? Is that you?"

Rin could only stare at the female wolf, wondering in a million years how she would know her name. Rin lived a quiet life, so nobody knew who she was. And she liked when nobody knew who she was. It kept her and Chou safe from the outside world. There was no protecting one's self once people started to talk. And if this wolf knew her name, who else did?

Could they trace her back to him?

And then what would happen?

This wolf could ruin it all by blowing Rin's life down with a single breath of air.

Rin could already see the media crashing. People talking behind her back, sprouting lie after lie. Newspapers and talk shows would speak about her – Sesshomaru Takahashi's old mistress has returned, are they together now? And with a twist! Who is the little girl? Then the questions of money, money, money.

Rin wanted no part in it. All she wished for was for her daughter to get healthy and to go home where it was safe.

She had to keep her composure and show no reaction.

Just breathe.

"Sorry," Rin started, showing no emotional signs of knowing the wolf, "you must have the wrong person."

Rin turned back towards the empty waiting chairs, hoping the wolf would leave. But there were footsteps behind her and she knew the wolf would not stop until its prey was beneath their feet. Wolves were very cunning and smart creatures after all.

"No, it has to be you," the wolf replied, placing a hand on Rin's shoulder and paused, removing it when Rin looked at her. "Sorry, you must think I'm crazy or something. You probably don't even remember me. It's Ayame! Ayame Matsuoka. We went to high school together?"

Rin remembered who she was. Ayame had been her only friend during those dark years of torment. She remembered the laughter and gossip they shared. The fun times they had at lunch guessing who was dating who and making bets on what would happen next. But Rin remembered even Ayame couldn't keep the whispers away. The gossip about her would never stop, and Ayame could only do so much.

She wasn't even able to flight the monster constantly attacking.

However, he did.

Rin's hands balled into a fist.

"I'm sorry," was all Rin said. "You're mistaken."

But when she started to head to the chairs again, Ayame stopped her one last time, the wolf's expression showing a soft smile. "Okay, even if I did mistake you for someone else, why don't I buy you a coffee. You seem to have gone through a rough night, so it's the least I can do."

As much as Rin felt the need to decline, the wolf's face shared warmth and compassion. So, Rin acknowledged and followed her to the cafeteria.

Inside the early morning hours of the large eating room, cooks were just beginning their breakfast shift. It was still early enough that not many people were seated, and the fresh smell of bread and rice overlapped with the smell of medicine. Rin sat at the table near the window as Ayame went to retrieve their caffeinated beverage. Meanwhile, Rin gazed out into the early daylight, worried and hoping Chou was okay. She felt the guilt of not being by her side, and began to question if Chou was asking for her. What would happen if she woke up and Rin wasn't there?

Just as Ayame came with the drinks, Rin began to stand as the anxiety got too much.

"Where are you going?" she asked, placing the biodegradable to-go-cup in front of Rin.

"I can't sit here and wait anymore."

But Ayame caught her arm. "Whoever it is, the doctors will come and find you. Don't worry."

Rin blinked, staring at her for a moment before sitting back down. She moved her eyes to her cup, watching the steam evaporate from the black liquid. She didn't feel like drinking it, but the smell was warm and soothing.

"Or I can take you back if it gets too hard. See if they can update me."

Rin moved her focus back on the wolf. "You're a doctor?"

Ayame chuckled. "I don't wear this coat for nothing. I'm in my last year of my residency. After that I'll being working closer with children going through cancer."

Rin's heart skipped a beat.

"Can I ask," Ayame's tone turn serious as her smile disappeared. It was grief she gave Rin. Grief towards those who were experiencing a change. "Who is it? The reason why you're here?"

Rin took in a deep breath. "My daughter."

Ayame nodded slowly. "I'm sorry. I'll definitely see if we can get you to her as soon as possible."

Rin nodded, silently thanking Ayame for not asking for anything further. Rin wasn't sure if she would be able to answer anymore without showing tears.

There was silence between them. As the light began to shine through the windows more so than before, Rin wondered what changes were about to occur. Something was coming. Chou being sick again wasn't a coincidence.

"Oi!" a loud voice called out across from the room, grabbing the two women's attention. "Turn that racket off!" he hollered before mumbling. "I can't stand that son of a bitch Takahashi."

Then Rin moved her gaze to the TV sitting in the top corner on the far side of the room. She held her breath, watching Sesshomaru Takahashi walking through a crowd of reporters and interviewers trying to catch an answer for their question. All the while, he moved through stone faced and silent. The camera moved, following him into the building where he disappeared behind black windowed doors. The screen then changed to him being interviewed by a reporter at a recent event. From the backdrop behind him, Rin recognized it as a large charity gala. The reporter asked about upcoming events he and his company would help manage, as he answered shortly with a soft smile. The man who yelled before, shook his head as the TV was finally turned off, just as the next question about "marriage" was about to be answered.

Ayame shook her head. "Got to love when people you went to school with become so twisted and high in the head. Just because he owns a luxurious company doesn't mean he can throw his money around to prove he has it. We already know he does." Rin turned back around as the wolf continued. "But I can't say much in the matter…the man does donate hundreds of thousands a year to this hospital." She shrugged. "Guess he does care about saving lives one way or another."

Rin was silent, staring once more out the window.

Sesshomaru Takahashi. The name felt like poison on her brain. The man who she thought trusted was all lies in the end.

She wished to never see his face again.

She wished his image would just go away.

But the word "marriage" that was spoken too late stained her mind. She thought he was already married; after his betrayal to her, she thought the woman – his queen - and him had already tied the knot. It made her curious to know more. To know what was behind the veil when she ran away all those years ago.

The moment was interrupted. Her thoughts were switched from the man behind the black screen to a noticeable beeping sound. She looked at Ayame who reached for a device attached to her belt. A pager that would announce the next stage of action.

Ayame's eyes widened, placing her pager back in a rushed fashion. Rin watched her start to move in a panicked way but remained completely calm.

"What is it?" Rin asked.

"I have to go do a consult. There was an emergency with one of the child patients that came in a few hours ago."

Then Rin saw a nurse head towards her, stopping when she noticed Ayame beside her. "Oh, so…you're going to take her, Doctor Matsuoka?"

Rin blinked as the wolf answered. "Take her?"

"Yes, well this woman's daughter is the child you're about to see. I was just coming to grab her mother but the reception in the waiting room told me you had brought her to the cafeteria."

Ayame looked at Rin then as Rin continued to stare at the nurse.

"Ah," Ayame spoke, smiling, "Well, yes. I'll take her. Thank you."

Ayame didn't say a thing to Rin as they left the large cafeteria area. Rin followed in silence, feeling the anxiety rise again. Ayame was a resident doctor specializing in childhood cancers.

Rin felt her stomach drop.

Ayame stopped her right before they entered a room. Rin's eyes moved to the closed door where her daughter's condition remained unknown. It was an eerie feeling.

"Can you tell me," Ayame started, "what kind of cancer she had?"

Rin swallowed, trying to find her voice. Flashes of her memory rushed forward. Paper after paper, doctor after doctor, words after words, telling her the same thing over and over.

Your daughter is sick.

"I haven't looked at the charts or anything, so I just want to know from you first," Ayame continued.

So, with a straight face and clear voice, Rin answered. "Pleuropulmonary blastoma, stage two."

Ayame only stared, her eyes showing nothing but consolation. Her reaction was simple. One nod and an "ok".

She then entered the room as Rin stood outside not knowing what to do. She felt hopeless, not able to fix what might be wrong with her daughter. But she breathed in, knowing the doctors would be able to do it. Ayame would fix Chou.

It felt like hours, and all Rin could do was wait.

Ayame exited and gave Rin a sympathetic look, she knew it was bad. Rin recognized that look from years earlier. And when Ayame pursed her lips as she placed her hands in her white jacket pockets, Rin felt history repeating.

Then instead of saying the diagnosis, following by a slight sympathetic touch and more talk on the disease, Ayame asked a question.

"Rin, is she his?"

You know what to do! Review!