AN: well it was a shorter wait then last time...wasn't it? Hmm...anyway, get ready for a stream of pointless chapters. Yup, not something I'm very proud of but really, 12-14 and truly pointless and just serve as fillers, I think it's cuz I was bored... (sighs)

On a completely different note, I'm posting a new story for all you Mir/San lovers out there and it would mean a lot if you looked at that sometime:)

just random responses: anime-obsessed:p: sometimes I wonder if you will ever reread my chapters! And another thing, stop trying to kill me! g27: thanks for the song suggestion, I'm going to use it! Rein Rin: um...hello?...lolz! Ilovecake2: actually u read it at camp...u just don't remember and thatz too bad 4 u!:P gum drop: u know...just the chapter u didn't review would have been fine. Not that I'm complaining, a review is a review! KEI: 1. I plan to stay in school and go to university! 2. I DO NOT smoke! (y did u put those 2 in???) and 3. I plan to keep writing! So don't worry!

I'm With You

By: Avril Lavigne

I'm Standing on a bridge
I'm waitin in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
Theres nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but theres no sound

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Chapter 12

Step 3: Acceptance

One of the many rules I follow is that there are several steps to realize you're infatuated with someone. First is teasing. Ah, how I love this one. Usually I notice it's the guy who does this instead of the girl, but there are exceptions to every rule.

Next there's denial. As someone once told me, 'Denial' is not a river in Egypt. It took some time for me to make sense of that. Either way, you try and forget the person, thinking of him/her as a nuisance rather than letting it go.

Now where we are. Step 3: acceptance. There comes a time to just give up with the denial process. Acceptance is a broad word, however. And in this situation, it might seem a bit awkward, but it'll come around eventually.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

The road was dimly lit, as the only sound was the hum of the car engine. It normally would have been light, if the thick, stormy clouds hadn't loomed overhead. Sesshomaru couldn't help but glance over to the girl on his left. (In Japan, the driver is on the right instead of the North American left. This has always confused me).

She was totally out of it. But she had been through a lot and she was now a total wreck. Her hair was soaked, and obeyed the laws of gravity to weigh down her head. Her clothes were drenched as well. It was like they were glued to her body. Every time she tried to peel it off, it stuck back onto her. After a little effort, she chuckled slightly and gave up.

They stepped into the now familiar mansion in which the Keiyoukai family lived. Rin wasn't expected for another hour or so. And she knew for sure that they'd ask questions, which, she wasn't in the mood to answer right now.

"I take it you'd rather not tell anyone you're here," he said, as if reading her thoughts exactly.

"Yeah, I'm not in a good mood now."

"Alright," he stated, picking her up. His actions were questionable, but she didn't have time to ask them. Using his great demon speed, in the blink of an eye, they were in his room. He placed her back on the ground. "Change into this," he said tossing her the tank top and sweats that she had worn earlier that week. "I don't need you getting sick on me. Father will be very pleased if that happens," he said sarcastically sitting down in a chair.

She spent a good fifteen minutes in the bathroom, mostly drying her hair, and washing her wet clothes. When she was done, she left the garments over the shower curtain rack to dry.

She walked over to one of the walls, that was actually a big bookshelf of who-knows-what. She scanned the titles on she sides off them, looking for anything of interest.

"See anything?" he casually asked her, standing behind her. She took no notice.

"Well, I don't know. I wouldn't be able to tell what's good or not. I suck at everything I do," she sighed, staring at the ground.

"You know that's bullshit. You're the brightest female I know. Besides, a girl as pretty as you shouldn't say that. It lowers your self-esteem."

She laughed. "Did you just call me good looking? Sesshomaru, joking? That doesn't sound right."

He leaned up right next to her ear. "Who said I was joking," he said in a tone she'd never heard him use before.

She stopped her laughter and turned around. Her breath was caught in her throat, and she couldn't move either. He was just...there. And she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. And it looked as if, that their faces moved little by little, very close to one another.

'Oh my God! Is he...going to kiss me?!' she thought as the breath from his mouth could be felt on hers.

At a very close proximity to each other, his ear twitched at a sound that was slowly approaching. He immediately turned away from her and disappeared out of the room in the blink of an eye.

She was frozen for a minute before shaking her head. "That was so totally a dream," she stated, walking over to the bed. "And it was a good dream to," she said sleepily as her eyelids dropped.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O

Kagome shook Rin until she woke. She stared up at her with sleepy eyes and groaned at being disturbed from her slumber.

"Hey, how come you never told me you were here?" Kagome asked.

Rin shut her eyes in response. Was Kagome the one who made her nice dream come to an end? But it felt so real...she could still feel the heat on her lips.

"We have company, you know. Sango and Miroku are here. Had I known you were here too, I would have come to get you earlier," she said dragging Rin out of the room.

"Hmm? Oh...yeah...sure," she replied still in her own world.

Sesshomaru sat in the lounge. He was oblivious to the fact that Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku were there as well. He picked up a random book on the coffee table and opened it to a random page. This way, no one would question what he was doing. 'What in the world was I thinking? Nevermind thinking, what was I doing?' he thought, 'that woman has only been a nuisance in my life. She went against my morals. It wasn't intended on this.' But secretly, he knew he had no choice. And the more time passed, the more time he'd rather spend with her. It was the same feeling Kagura gave him so very long ago.

Kagome and Rin came down a short while later. They took no notice of him and went straight to chatting away with the others. It looked as if she didn't even know it happened. Usually she would have said something...or at least look like it bothered her. But nothing. She was smiling and talking happily with her friends. It made him wonder...what did she take it for? Did she think it was a dream or something? (He doesn't know how right he is, lol) He looked back at his book, but not reading the words. He was listening to their conversations.

"My, my, sweet Rin, aren't we looking as beautiful as ever today," Miroku complimented, flashing her a smile. Inuyasha rolled his eyes; it always began like this.

Rin laughed at his flattery and politeness. "Goodness, Miroku. How come I never see you compliment your own wife? Always with other women...even in marriage..." she sighed shaking her head.

"Yes, how come I never receive comments like that?" pouted Sango.

"Well, I've flattered you so many times the past I don't know how many years, it's become old," he said as a matter-of-factly like it was common sense.

"Oh, so now I'm to old for you? I've carried your child and now I'm just cast aside like a rag doll?"

"Possibly."

"Is that so? Well maybe we should just call the whole eight years off then. I'm sure other men would love me more than you," she steamed, but with an over-dramatic tone.

Miroku took that opportunity to counter. "Who said I can't find a woman? I have one right here," he joked, drawing Rin close by around the waist. Everyone was laughing along with the melodramatic scene. You'd find that in about thirty seconds, they were back together.

Along when they were enjoying themselves, Inuyasha sensed a strange aura. It was one of those things that humans couldn't sense unless it was terribly strong. He looked around the room to see where it was coming from, but the only other person was his brother, and it definitely wasn't from him.

"Rin, be my wife," Miroku joked getting down on one knee. Everyone else laughed but Sango who just 'humph'ed.

The strange aura that Inuyasha had felt before had disappeared. Instead, it was replaced by a murderous aura. And his left ear twitched slightly at a faint, yet distinct sound. A soft growl. Oh yes, now it was definitely his brother, for some reason beyond his knowledge. Whatever the reason, it wasn't good news for Miroku. He knew very well that dog demon were very possessive of their territory. He made a mental note to tell his friend later.

"After eight years you're about to marry another girl in two minutes. I never thought you could sink that low," Sango fumed turning her back to the group.

"Aww, come on, darling Sango. No one could ever replace you," he said placing his arms around her waist.

"Oh really," she challenged, "prove it."

He didn't need to be told twice before drawing her into a firm kiss. She eagerly responded by placing her hands around his neck, pulling him deeper. "Enough proof for you?" he asked sweetly.

"Plenty. But...oh my gosh! If we don't leave now we'll miss the movie!"

Kagome clamped her hands over her mouth, "Shoot! I forgot about that. And I don't have a babysitter for Meiko and Kazen. Crap..."

Rin placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder, "Don't worry about that. I'll take care of them. Have a good time."

"You are such a lifesaver!" Kagome hugged Rin. "All you have to do is put Kazen and Meiko to bed. They'll cooperate. I know it." The four of them quickly rushed out as to make it to the seven thirty show.

Rin walked briskly out of the room, not taking the slightest notice of Sesshomaru. He still found it odd that she hadn't said anything.

Putting Kazen to bed was easy. Kagome was right. In a matter of ten minutes, he was asleep. Rin slowly shut the door and continued down the hall where Meiko's room was. Before she entered, someone grabbed her hand.

"Hello," she told him, "what did I do now?"

"What did you think it was?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

She raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me? What was?"

"You thought it was a dream?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" she said in a frustrated sigh as he wouldn't give her a straight answer. He let go of her hand and walked into his room. "I don't get him," she said to no one as she entered Meiko's room.

She was jumping around on the bed and immediately stopped when Rin entered her room. "Yay! Auntie Rin is my babysitter! What can we do?"

"Hey! Calm down. It's time for bed, now relax and I'll tuck you in." she gave Meiko a warm smile when she obeyed her orders.

"Um...Auntie Rin? Can I ask you something?" she said in a quiet voice.

"Sure, what's on your mind?"

"Well...how do you know that you like someone?"

The question surprised Rin a bit. She certainly wasn't thinking about love when she was Meiko's age. That was probably the last thing on her mind. "Uh...well, whenever you're around that person, you feel happy. And when they speak to you, you feel like drowning in the tone of their voice. Those are some signs."

Meiko was listening attentively. It had been the most serious face she'd ever seen. But to no ones notice, someone else was listening to. He had his back against the wall and was sitting on the floor.

"And how do you know he likes you back?" was Meiko's second question.

"Well, I don't know really. Maybe he has a different way of looking at you, smiling at you." She chuckled, "maybe he'll tease you and call you names..." her list went on for another minute or so; she was in her own little world.

"Thanks," Meiko said interrupting her rant. Rin smiled. "You know, you would be a good mother. How come you don't have kids?"

Again she smiled. "Probably because I haven't found the right person to have children with."

"But can't you have kids on your own? Because Yuki doesn't have a father and her mom said she never did. So how come Yuki's mom has kids but she never married?" Meiko's head buzzed with questions.

Rin decided not to teach her the elements of sex-Ed just yet. "It's Ask me again when your grade eight health test comes up."

Meiko sighed, "Alright. But there probably is someone who you'd like to have kids with...right?"

"Let's get off the topic of children, shall we?"

"Okay, fine. I'll say it again. There must be someone you like."

Rin smiled, "Well everyone likes someone at one point or another."

Now Meiko was getting somewhere. "Well who do you like?"

"Um...he's handsome, strong, kind, gentle and knows how to capture a girls heart," she replied staring off into space once again.

"You have just described to me a quarter of the male population. Are you going to give me a firm answer?" Rin shrugged with a coy grin. "Come on...tell me!" And it clicked, how could she have been so blind? For she'd known the answer for quite some while. "It's Uncle Sesshy, isn't it?"

This had gotten his attention from outside the room. Maybe Meiko could get something out of her. He needed to verify something.

Rin was taken aback at her accuracy. She decided that trying to worm her way out of it might work. "Tell me, is it right for a girl to like her boss?"

Meiko rolled her eyes, "Who cares? Now do you, or do you not?"

"What does it look like to you?"

She thought hard about how to answer that, remembering the advice that Rin had given her. "I think you do. But...I also think you're in love with him."

Rin raised an eyebrow (again). "Oh, don't say love. It's a very strong word. You can only be in love if you want to spend the rest of your life together with that person. If you feel 'in love' I call that infatuated."

"So you admit it then, you like him. Oh come on, you can tell me. I'll keep a secret, promise!" she sounded like she was begging. She looked up at Rin with the biggest puppy-eyes.

Rin sighed in defeat. "I may like him, yet I may hate him. No, I'm not in love. But you know something, I'm probably infatuated."

It was all he needed to hear before disappearing back into his room.

"Ha! I knew it!"

"Yeah, yeah, go to bed," Rin said turning off the light. "And remember, not a word!"

"Umhmm!" she said happily with a yawn.

o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o

omg! How much ooc-ness was THAT?! Ah! Don't answer that!

AO: does this ALWAYS have to happen now? Jeez, and u think I'm pathetic.

SO: hey! Well I can't help it when I reread chapters I wrote like...5 months ago and then hate it!

AO: so rewrite them then!
SO: ah...too lazy...

AO: so there u go...

SO: (sighs) anyway, it would mean soooooooo much if you reviewed! Thankies! :D