Well here I am with yet another chapter and I am absolutely flattered by how many reviews this story has gotten in so short an amount of time.  I really wish that I had time to post another chapter but when you work part-time at your family's business and part-time at a video game store, that makes me a full time worker (not that I'm complaining) and eats up the free time I used to have *sigh*

Thank you so very much for taking the time out to review this story and for anyone who read my other fic, Chapter 6 is a side note that summarizes the story and explains the changes I'll be making (nothing too drastic, the basic story will be the same).

Special Thanks to:

Angel64 (I sincerely appreciate the fact that you brought my spelling and grammatical errors to attention.  I must be more careful when I type and I really need go back and read more to check for errors instead of trying to catch them when they come.  You are part of the reason why I'm going to revise the first few chapters of "Ties Of Blood".  Thank you so much.

Thanks to:

Aishiteru-inu (thanks for reading backwards and still enjoying this fic)

Anhimals (I'm not sure I've seen "While You Were Sleeping" but if it has Sandra Bullock in it I'm more than willing to watch)

friendlyreader (I hope you find this chapter wonderful as well)

Deadly Tears (hope I updated soon enough)

SessRin2003(you have a wonderful name, you know why *grin*, hope you continue to like the direction of this story)

MintlovesSR (you bet his fate has changed and I must admit that I like him being a brat as long as he doesn't go overboard)

FireDemond (thanks for waiting, I hope you enjoy reading the rest)

Here we go with the next chapter.

Disclaimer:  I should have owned Inu-yasha but NOOOO, Rumiko got to it first, but then again she did a better job than I could have, so I guess I'll stick to writing fics and give her all the credit.  I don't own, so don't sue.

Note:  Japanese people introduce themselves last name first like Hattori Rin or Toyotomi Sesshoumaru.

Thread Bound

Chapter Two

The Man Without a Heart

            "A show. A show. A wonderful show," the puppet cried, "Come one come all to see this show.  This magnificent, wonderful show."

            The girl stopped and smiled, "what a wonderful puppet you are to move without strings.  I think I should like to see this show, for I'm quite in love with you."

            "How fruitless.  How pointless.  How hopeless you are.  For a puppet I am and a puppet I'll stay.  Fate is the hand that guides my strings, my invisible, binding strings.  The world is my audience and they laugh at my silly dance.  Cry when I cry.  Clap when I sing.  But it's not me that they love, for my wooden face never changes.  My happy face which smiles when fate makes me cry and laughs when I fall and hurt myself.  A perpetual smile that never leaves yet never expresses what I feel.  Boo hoo, boo hoo."

            "You make me cry with such sad, sad words.  How can I ease your pain?"

            "Set me free.  Set me free, you silly girl."

            "And how am I to do that?"

            "Cut my strings if you please, for I have tried to do it myself but it seems that fate doesn't want her favorite spectacle to leave.  If you really love me, you can cut them."

            "I would, but how will you move without someone to guide you and make you feel emotions?"

            "Perhaps you can, for you are quite lovely."

            "Oh, my."

            "And beautiful."

            "How true."

            "And friendly."

            Oh you…"

            "Now be a dear and cut these strings."

            "How pushy."

(I know it's weird so sue me ~_^ Hope I didn't make it overly symbolic)

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            "Do me a favor and see if you can find the room my brother is staying in.  The witch will most likely be there and you can bring her here."

            "And how do I even know that they're at this hospital?  They could be somewhere else entirely," Rin replied, struggling to control her irritation at the way he practically commanded her to do his bidding.

            He fixed one golden eye on her and tsked as if she were some kind of simpleton before asking in a sweet voice," How many hospitals are there within fifteen miles of town?"

            "One," she flushed, realizing where this was going.

            "And where exactly is that hospital?"

            "Right here."

            "Then you know what to do, don't you, my sweet little twit," he said in an overly kind, utterly patronizing tone.

            She took a deep breath, smiled, and controlled the fist that wanted desperately to wipe the smirk from his face.

            "And why should I do as you ask, old man?" her voice was just as honeyed.

            He frowned a bit at that and she gave herself a little pat on the back, feeling somewhat satisfied…until Nurse Hinako came in and ruined the moment.

            "Oh my, it seems your boyfriend has regained consciousness.  You must be happy Ms. Hattori."

            Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sesshoumaru raise his eyebrows and forced herself not to blush.

            "I'm very happy, Ms. Hinako, but he needs his rest and I feel it's best for me to go home and get some sleep.  It's not every day that you nearly lose the person who is most precious to you."

            "I completely understand, I'll keep an eye on him then."

            Rin made to get up and leave before the man behind her told the embarrassing truth but a large hand materialized on top of her head and a deep voice that she was rapidly becoming familiar with said," before my girlfriend goes, would you mind if I a few private words with her.  My beloved here was quite upset with me when I awoke," he looped an arm around her shoulder and rested his chest against her back, paralyzing her.

            "Oh, of course," Hinako smiled and winked suggestively at the pair before exiting, closing the door quietly.

            A dark chuckle sounded next to her and slender fingers grasped her chin, tilting her head in his direction.

            "My, my, don't you have anything to say to your boyfriend who was just raised from the dead?  I can't tell which is more amusing:  that you called me an old man, even though we are only ten years apart at most or that you had the gall to claim this old man as your boyfriend.  As if my taste were so bad that I would choose an uneducated- and might I add underdeveloped- girl like you who goes out of her house looking like trash and molests helpless, suicidal people in their sleep.  Girl, you are too much."

            Her face grew redder with every word that proceeded out of his mouth.  It started off with embarrassment, grew into an annoyance, which had a fight with anger, who- of course- prevailed and bowed its way to fury.

            She opened her mouth to tell him in magnificently worded obscenities what he could do with himself and just what this underdeveloped freshman college student could do to permanently ease his pain.  But alas, her retort was to never pass through her lips, for he said something that knocked the wind right out of her sails.  It was a habit-she would learn later on- that he had learned and perfected in order to keep alive when he burned his bridges, which was quite often.

            "But I must admit that you are an intriguing enough person.  Enough that I would condescend to know what your name is and I don't mean Ms. Hattori.  I want your name, age, and occupation outside of cleaning."

            Rin blinked, opened her mouth, shut it again and remembered just how close his body was and how handsome he looked and everything nice she'd noticed about him, which was a very short list and shrinking by the moment.

            He stroked her hair absently as he waited for her to reply, she on the other hand noticed and blushed, remembering the slight texture of toned muscles currently resting against her back.

            A deep breath and then she spoke quietly," I…my name is Hattori, Hattori Rin and I prefer to be called Rin.  I'm eighteen and I just recently graduated from Shikon High.  Currently, I am a freshman student at Midoriko's College For the Artistically Inclined and, yes, drawing and painting are my best and only talents."

            "I didn't ask if you could draw."

            "I know but people always ask me 'can you draw'," this was said in a childish voice," as if they couldn't figure out that, gee, maybe I go to an art school because I can, get this, draw."   (AN: It's true I get asked this a lot)

            He quirked a fine silver brow, prompting her to continue," anyways, I'm not really an employee at Kagewaki's Cleaning Service, I just volunteer my time there to get community service hours so that I can keep my scholarship, otherwise I couldn't afford to keep up my schooling."

            He nodded in silent understanding.

            "By the way, why are you still hanging all over me Mr. Toyotomi?"

            Rin could feel him tense briefly before releasing her and allowing her to take her own seat once again.

            "Do continue," he said refusing to answer her question.

            Suit yourself she shrugged and went on," I like to read in my free time and as of late I've taken an interest in the work of an author who goes by the name Kagehoushi.  He writes historical novels."

            "Really," there was an odd note in his voice," and how do you like the work of this Kagehoushi, what do you think about him and his writing style?"

            "I think that he must be a man who feels many things, but keeps them inside most of time."

            "Really?  And how do you know this?"

            "His writing style is so passionate and exciting, but there is somewhat of a hesitation when he describes emotions."

            "Oh?  So what would you do if you met him in real life?"

            She blushed and looked down, much to his amusement," I wouldn't know what to say.  I mean, I admire him so much that I'd feel small in the presence of such genius.  For me, the greatest thing he could grant me is an opportunity to illustrate the cover of one of his books."

            "You wouldn't profess your undying love for him."

            "You're mocking me."

            "Of course, you're finally catching on."

            "Why are you so cold?"

            "Why are you so childish?  Honestly, elevating a mere man to such a high pedestal."

            His words were harsh, but she got the oddest feeling that she had set the wheels turning in his head.

            "What about you."

            "Hmm?"

            "Can I know something about you?"

            "My name is Sesshoumaru, I'm a heartless loner, I'm twenty-seven and I'll probably die before I hit thirty."

            "You forgot to mention cynical and pessimistic."

            "I prefer realistic and right now the reality is that I tire of your presence."

            "Are you always this rude?"

            "Your questioning of the obvious exceeds my expectations."

            "I was speaking in the rhetoric sense, Sesshoumaru."

            "Don't call me that?"

            "Mr. Toyotomi?"

            "That doesn't work either.  Call me old man."

            "You jest."

            "You're learning.  I think my higher thinking abilities are rubbing off on you."

            "Don't flatter yourself."

            "Too late.  Do me a favor and go find the witch like a good girl.  I wish to speak with her."

            "Don't call her that!  Are you going to tell her about me?"

            "Among other things."

            "How come I told you so much about myself and you won't tell me more about you," she actually didn't want to leave just yet.

            "Sorry, can't hear you.  These old ears must be going."

            "You know what I said."

            "And I choose to ignore it.  Just take my questioning as payment for not telling that sweet nurse what your relationship to me really is."

            "So you won't tell?"

            "That depends."

            "On what."

            "Whether or not the witch agrees to allow you to take her place as my housekeeper."

            "I said…"

            "…Don't call her that, I know.  Alas, you are not the boss of me and I have no desire to do as you say."

            She growled, he was being a jerk again, but he was a beautiful jerk and therefore forgivable.  So amidst accusatory shouts of shallow!  inside of her head, she stood and said grudgingly," fine, I'll go and find Kagome but you have to tell her to call me when she gets home."

            "Good girl."

            "Jerk."

            "Wench."

            "Brat."

            "Thank you, I know I am."

            She stuck her tongue out childishly and slammed the door on her way out.

            He looked at the door and chuckled.  He would have endless hours of fun just torturing her and watching the expressive face that was so much the opposite of his.

            "Rin Hattori, you don't know what you've done," he said with a somewhat evil laugh, something he hadn't done in years.

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            "Sesshoumaru, whatever did you do to make Rin so mad at you?" Kagome asked later on, glancing at his vitals to make sure everything was normal.

            "Do you need to ask," he cocked an eyebrow.

            "Never mind, forget I asked, I really don't want to know."

            "It would seem that she's quite the fan of a certain Kagehoushi."

            Her brow knitted together in alarm," you didn't tell her that you and he are the same, did you."

            "And what if I did?"

            "I think she'd pass out from shock if she knew the person she so admired was you.  I really hope you didn't tell her."

            "Fear not, my secret is safe.  I do have a request though."

            "And what would that be?" she feared the worst.

            "I want her to be my new cleaning woman."

            "Are you insane?"

            "Sometimes I wonder that myself.  No, I'm serious."

            "Do you like her?"

            He rolled his eyes," to whom are you speaking?"

            "The perfect ice king.  Forgive me for forgetting, your majesty."

            Sesshoumaru chose not to reply to that and said instead," I merely find her interesting.  Will you do it or won't you?"

            "And if I refuse."

            "You don't have insurance.  I could leave you to pay Inu-yasha's hospital bill, but then, how will you afford to keep that lovely house of yours?"

            "You are such a jerk."

            "And this is news Kagome?  Come now, I believe you thought you knew me."

            The grinding of her teeth were almost audible and she bit out quietly," fine, have it your way, just don't break that poor girl's heart."

            "Whatever, could you mean?"

            She turned away," you know exactly what I mean.  If you're quite finished, I'll be leaving now."

            "Don't let me keep you away from your precious Inu-yasha."

            Her exit was only slightly quieter than Rin's.

            He lay back against the pillows and thought about his day, wondering if Rin would be there to catch him if he fell again.  Would she abandon him as well?  We shall see what you do little girl he thought before drifting off slowly.  His last thought was I forgot to tell her to call Rin and when he was even more deeply asleep he smiled, at least that would set the tone for yet another interesting conversation that he could look forward to.

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Here we go with yet another chapter.  Here's a question for everyone.  Does anyone want to guess where I got Naraku's last name "Kagewaki"?  Here's a hint:  he's a character in the show that is VERY closely related to Naraku.  Pease review, and no, you don't have to answer the question unless you feel like it.  Hope you enjoyed this chapter.