SO: um, hahaha. Uh, when was the last time I updated? (thinks) I can't remember! Is that a good thing? (thinks some more) no, I don't think it is…oh well! Here I am again! In another really good mood…for some unknown reason. Man, I didn't even re-read this chapter cuz I wanted to get it up so fast! So really, I don't remember what in the world I was going to write here…other than my computer crashed and I'm SOOOO lucky that they could recover my word documents so the story was safe (phew) cuz I'd hate to re-write it…anyway, enough nonsense rambling and onto the fic!

Take me by the hand
take me somewhere new
I dont know who you are
but I... I'm with you
I'm with you


Chapter 18

Alt. End 2

Part 1

Everyone Likes Sad Endings…Right?

With her collared white blouse, and short length, black, frilled skirt, Sango walked onto her office floor, briefcase slung over her shoulder. The heels of her shoes sounded at each step. She set her case on the desk and ruffled her long chestnut hair before reporting in to the boss, as always. "Morning Rin, Boss," she would say instinctively, considering her longtime friend was always with her longtime crush's office. Then she'd be greeted with a cheerful voice. However, no reply came today. "I said, good morning Rin. Does 'ohayou' work too?" and then she finally took a look at her surroundings. There was only one other person in the room other than she, and that was the boss, who she didn't expect a reply back from anyway.

"Are you blind?" Sesshomaru never took his eyes of the computer screen for a moment, "she isn't here, Sango. Go about your business."

For the first time ever that she had worked for 'golden-eyes', face set in a stern look, she bluntly said, "No."

The taping noise on the keyboard stopped and her stare was equally matched with his. "Excuse me?" It wasn't actually a question, more of a, 'Do-as-I-say-or-else' comment.

Sango wasn't going to move on this. If she did, it would probably come back later as a guilt trip, should something bad happen. "I don't know what kind of bond you guys had, or what came between it to cause my friend such pain, but I'm not going to be at ease until I know she's alright and kicking," her tone meant she was serious. Something that didn't occur too often.

After some silence between the two, he spoke, "What do you suggest?"

Frustration got the better of her, "I don't know! I don't know!" she pounded her fist onto his wooden desk with such force, the bottom drawer popped out slightly. "I don't know what she's doing or thinking! I don't totally understand her, but I do know this; she's got a weak heart. Not physically but spiritually. She'd been already pushed to her limits and what if this shoves her over the edge? Smart she may be, but I can't help the fact that she's going to do something stupid!" a small tear escaped her eye and fell onto her throbbing hand. "Shouldn't have done that…" she said quietly to herself, nursing the aching hand.

To his dismay, Sango did have a point. He glanced at the opened drawer. Something…wasn't quite right. Eyebrows furrowing, he searched through the many layers of paper. After reaching the bottom, it made sense what was missing…rather, replaced. "She'll regret this…"he trailed off, closing the drawer, with an object clutched in his fist. Sango gave a 'care-to-explain?' look. "She took my gold dagger."

The brown-eyed woman was in shock for a few moments. "F-first," she stammered at the thought of what her friend would do with that, "why do you keep a knife there? Second, how do you know she took it?"

"First," he said mimicking her questions, "that's of no importance. Second, this didn't wander here on its own." The object sitting in his palm was a gold chain. The pendant was that of a sitting tiger, carved from jade.

"Ah! I knew it! Rin, why do something stupid like that?" Sango yelled to no one in particular. "Where would you go?"

Sesshomaru removed one of the windowpanes. "She's the type that would like to die happy, in a peaceful manner."

"You mean like a park, or forest where no one could see her?" He shrugged in response. "Well she wouldn't want to walk about the streets of Tokyo with a knife, so I'd say she'd go to the one close to here…you know, the one with the pond?"

"Worth a shot," he replied, extending a hand to Sango. "I don't want to wait for an elevator."

"Are you insane?" she backed away. "This is the 27th floor! No way!"

"I'm a demon, don't forget," he emphasized the 'demon', "besides, I'm sure my ancestors 500 years ago fell from higher heights…and if you want to save her…"

Sango bit her bottom lip. "If I die, Miroku claims all your money," she reluctantly climbed onto his back and shut her eyes.

"Whatever you do," he cautioned, "don't scream." She now could feel that they were no longer supported by firm ground. 'Don't scream, don't scream, don't scream…' passed through her head over and over. Once the feeling of no longer dropping could be distinguished, she summoned up courage to force one eye open. They were jumping from tree to tree, and it happened so fast the people below took no notice. Actually, Sango had to admit it was kind of fun. But this wasn't the time for games. 'Rin, don't do anything stupid. Not until I have anything to say about it!'


The wind rustled through the trees, shaking some orange colored ones to fall to the earth, and some onto the nearby pond, as they floated on its surface. The sun, still climbing up towards the top, reflected off a golden object, that lay at rest in the grass. Against a tree, way off the main path and hidden from view was a young woman with long black hair. Her eyes remained closed, but she was not sleeping. Well, for over 24 hours she hadn't slept, ate nor drank. Things were becoming hazy now.

She squinted into the sunlight, taking a good look at it one last time. "You're brave," she told it, lost in one of those moments, "how can you come out everyday with such confidence? Don't you regret some moments in those million years you've been alive?" she didn't receive an answer, not expecting one anyway, and continued, "even when those rainy days come and go, you never give up? Jeez, how can you do this for the next billion years or so? I could never…"

The distressed maiden grasped the hilt of the gleaming blade. "Fitting animal, nee?" she mused, "a snake. Just like him, trying to withstand it's bite, but to no luck, for the venom poison gets worse. And as soon as you think you've come over it, it comes back and…"her grip tightened, "you're dead!"

She looked at her reflection on the sharp edge. There were heavy lines under her eyes, her hair was a mess and clothes were wrinkled. "There's no point in living when you're alone…" she pointed the dagger to the sky, and then rested it by her side once again. "Let's face it. Life's a joke. Money will bring you temporary happiness, but it's all fake. Love is there, just for you to be hurt. A heart exists for it to be broken. He…hated me from the beginning. It was all a cover; fate's stupid plans. My friends…I can't tell what they think, but it's not worth coming home through the day when they aren't always available when you need support, or just someone to talk to. No…that's what your family is for…which I…have none, of course. Only this would happen to someone like me…"

Her thoughts drifted to the faint sounds of the nearby city streets. "They're all oblivious. When you read about death, or watch a show about it, that's all fake to them. No, nothing like that can happen in real life so commonly. Such an unfortunate soul…is their thoughts when they open the newspaper and read the headline. It's a scary reality…and the sooner I escape it, the better."

"And what better way to do it…" she contemplated, taking the nail of her index finger and tracing an imaginary line across her left wrist. "I read it in a manga once. It's the most painless way to die, other than poison. It's where the veins lay close to the skin. But, that's not the secret. The key is what lies underneath them, the arteries. Cut it deep enough, you'll die in minutes, as well as rid the impure substance from yourself. First you'll fall unconscious, then you'll never wake up again. That's how this world will rid of me."

"To test the sharpness…" she ran the blade along her fingertip. Thick, red liquid trickled down slowly. "Perfect."

A sent lingered in the air as the two found the park. Sango hopped off her boss's back and looked around. Not a single thing seemed out of place at all. "I smell blood," he said, trying to sniff it out, "I recognize this blood."

"W-what? Oh please tell me you're joking!" Sango covered her mouth.

"It's very faint…but still…" and made his way quickly towards the faint sent.

"I…I'm calling an ambulance!" she said out of instinct and pulled out her cell.

Rin held the blade steady, and gazed into the sun for one last time. It would be the last thing she saw. The right before her, a figure appeared. It was someone…she hadn't seen in a very long time. It was a lady, her dark hair resting on her shoulders. She smiled warmly to the confused mortal that lay before her. "Mother?" her question lingered before the woman nodded and kissed her forehead. "I…understand," she told her, as the figure disappeared as soon as it came. "Don't be afraid of death." She exhaled deeply.

The next moment seemed to take an eternity. The sharp object moved, what seemed, slowly across her flesh, and it wasn't long before a vast amount of blood flowed freely down her arm, and spilled onto the ground where she sat. the blade dropped from her hand at the rapid loss of strength. She could feel her heart beat faster and faster, trying to pump the rest of the blood in the place of what was lost.

Her head began to spin, but not enough so she couldn't feel a pressure on her cut wrist. Her eyes met with golden ones. She realized who the last thing she'd see was. "I'm sorry…you had to see that. If you don't mind, I'll be leaving now…"

"Stop messing around here, woman! Don't say such stuff!" he commanded. The blood started to seep through the cracks in between his fingers, and started to spill over his own clothes. Sango made her way down the hill where they were. Her hands were still over her mouth, disgusted at the sight before her, the bloody mess. Her stomach twisted and turned. No…this wasn't a movie…it was the real stuff.

"It's too late for that," she breathed heavily. "I was such an idiot. Please tell everyone I'll be fine." She smiled. 'Well, I am kind of happy. I got to see your face, one last time.' "I guess I'll see you later."

"Shut up!" he told her again, "you don't understand. If you go now there won't be a later. You're a stubborn human, I know that much. So be stubborn and don't give in!" He took his free hand and brushed her now pale cheeks. The color was also beginning to fade from her lips, now also near skin color.

"Nah," she mustered a small chuckle as her vision began to blur, "my time is now. I'll see you again…don't you worry." And closed her eyes. The silence remained still, no one dared talk. "Oh," she reopened her eyes slightly, "there is one thing I forgot to say. I wanted to for a long time but now should be right. I…always…I always will…lo-…lo—" and her eyes closed again, never finishing her final sentence.

Sirens wailed closer as some paramedics came rushing down and took the still bleeding woman onto a stretcher. They quickly covered her mouth with an oxygen mask and bandaged up her wrist, in attempt to save her.

"She's still alive…" Sango said through her forming tears.

"Her heart beats, but she is not alive," he replied monotone, "her soul is gone. Don't ask how I know it, but it's one of those things…" he threw the stained dagger into the pond, never wanting to see it again. With that, he walked off, leaving a tearing Sango alone. It couldn't be…no…


The front door to the Keiyoukai mansion opened and slammed shut, with such force the crystal vase fell off the small table near the entrance. It contacted the marble with a small crash, scattering the tiny shards up to ten feet away.

"Hey, Sesshomaru. Be a little gentler with that will you? It's expensive you know," Kagome came into the entrance hall carrying a tray with a teapot and two cups. He stared at her with a blank look. Her gaze wandered to his crimson-stained attire, which also held true for his right arm. Without knowing, the tray slipped from her hands and clattered to the floor. She followed, still not quite believing what she saw. She hands made their way to her mouth, as she still stared with horrified eyes. And she let out a loud scream…

Inutaishou came running quickly at the loud clatter of the tray and his daughter-in-law's yell. "Kagome, what's the matter?" She didn't reply, only pointed at Sesshomaru. "Son…? What is this?"

"Take a good smell, you'll figure it out," he stalked up to his quarters.

"Dad?" Kagome questioned as his eyes fell to the floor. He sighed before replying.

"She was a good kid…" he walked away after saying that.

"You mean…her? That doesn't mean…it can't be that…no…" water droplets collected in her eyes and when they became heavy enough, fell on the shattered china. "What will…I tell the others?"

"You mean…Auntie Rin isn't coming back?" Meiko tried to understand both her parents, how both had pained looks. They were trying to put this lightly on their daughter. "No! I don't believe you! She'll come back! I know she will!" the little girl ran away towards her room and slammed the door. Both Kagome and Inuyasha sighed; this wasn't going to be easy, especially once a funeral came around.


Within two days, her body was moved from the hospital, into a wooden casket. It seemed so…surreal. Her gray colored face still had on a faint smile. At least she…liked her last moment.

It was a fairly small chapel, where quite a few people showed to pay their respects. The first row of seats were empty, as they were marked with the word 'family'. Kagome and Sango were both being comforted by their husbands. The whole place was in a gloomy and saddened air. The kids were left at home, still unaware of much that was happening.

There, standing in the corner away from his family and the crowd, stood a tall demon. His face showed indifference, but in all truths, he was no better then the rest. He would spend the years to come alone, once again. He'd opened his heart three times, and twice to many. Once you're broken, you should stay that way for life. Avoid the pain and confusion of it all forever. Well this time, he'd make no mistake. Sesshomaru, would never learn to love again.


T.B.C.


Aren't I just evil? I luv that feeling! Anyway, as you can see, I decided to drag this chapter into 2 parts. Yes, just to make it longer. Whatever, I ain't in the mood to argue, (it'll spoil the goodness of it!). so yeah, hopefully I'll get the last (this one is the VERY last, I promise) chapter up sooner than this one came!