Hello. Goodbye.

I OWN NOTHING.

''Where did you go, Rin?''

''I couldn't sleep,'' Rin lied. ''I went for a glass of water, and after that I went out for some air, and that's it.''

''You still aren't feeling well, are you?'' Sesshomaru asked. ''Do you want me to call a doctor from Kamakura?''

''No,'' Rin shook her head. ''That's not necessary. I'm fine. Really.''

''Anyway, it's not good for you to go out this late, alone. I remind you, I have the ranch under surveillance. Don't do anything you could regret later,'' Sesshomaru warned and turned to leave before he stopped. ''Who helped you when you tried to escape? Who gave you that horse?''

''I told you no one did,'' Rin lied.

Sesshomaru took an angry step towards her. ''Someone had to tell you there was a shack near the river. What were you doing there? Why did you stop in that place when you knew we could find you?''

''Sesshomaru, don't worry, that won't happen again,'' Rin assured.

''Does that mean you won't try to run away again?'' Sesshomaru asked. ''That you're going to stay here with me?''

''Yes,'' Rin took a step forward.

''Why?'' Sesshomaru questioned.

''Because I'm your wife,'' Rin shrugged.

''We were also already married when you decided to run away. What made you change your mind?'' Sesshomaru asked.

''I gave it some thought,'' Rin answered.

Sesshomaru let his body relax before reaching out to touch her but Rin pulled back. ''Don't worry, I won't touch you. By the way, I asked my brother, Inuyasha, to investigate if it's true that Kohaku Mai died. I need to be completely sure that, that man is never going to come get you. Good night.'' Sesshomaru left Rin alone.

Rin pushed back her tears and laid back in bed.

''How are things going at the ranch, son?'' Father Ocha asked Sesshomaru as he came in.

''Fine, Father,'' Sesshomaru looked around Father's house.

''How's your wife?'' Father asked.

''I talked to her. We cast light over a few things but we still have some remaining issues,'' Sesshomaru sighed.

''Well, but you took the first step, son and that's very good,'' Father smiled. ''In fact, I bet you that, thanks to that, she's already started changing her attitude toward you.''

''You're wrong, Father. She is still cold as always, distant,'' Sesshomaru grimaced. ''Rin doesn't love me, she doesn't even like me. She gets scared when I get close to her. I realize how much she despises me every time she sees me.''

''How could she hate you, son?'' Father questioned. ''You have to be patient. You can't expect that after all those horrible things that happened, she will receive you with her arms wide open.''

''But, it's not my fault,'' Sesshomaru argued.

''It's not hers either,'' Father pointed out. ''And one of you two has to be clever enough to deal with things in a peaceful way.''

''I don't know if that's possible, Father. Rin is blaming me for terrible things,'' Sesshomaru explained.

''Then prove to her with facts that she's wrong,'' Father suggested. ''Everything is going to be okay, son. You have to have faith, and want it with all your heart.''

''Yes, Father, I've been thinking about it, and I know what I have to do,'' Sesshomaru determined.

''How is Sayo doing?'' Father suddenly asked.

''Fine. I can see she's a good woman and I believe she earned my wife's trust, she's the only one Rin will talk to,'' Sesshomaru revealed.

''How great!'' Father exclaimed. ''You don't know how glad that makes me. Hey, and with you, doesn't Sayo speak with you?''

''Yes, in fact, the other day, I asked her where she had been living all these years, she said she lived in a place she'd rather forget. I didn't understand it quite well,'' Sesshomaru replied.

''Sesshomaru, Sayo's mother was ashamed of her so she sent her away for all these years,'' Father revealed.

''She told me her mother passed away recently, that's why she came back?'' Sesshomaru questioned. ''Why was her mother ashamed of her?''

''Her mother was more ashamed of what she had done, she had, had a short affair during her marriage because she was angry with her husband. By the time she realized she was expecting, it was too late for an abortion so she just, sent her away. She left her money as a way to make up for it.''

''And I thought I had an atrocious mother,'' Sesshomaru scoffed.

''You should talk to her,'' Father suggested. ''Perhaps, if you show her you are interested, Sayo will open up to you.''

Rin stepped quietly down the hall and looked towards the front door when she heard her husband come in behind her.

''Good morning.''

''Good morning,'' Rin greeted back.

''I'm going into town, do you want to come with me?'' Sesshomaru offered.

''No, thank you,'' Rin declined reluctantly. She was too nervous to leave Kohaku here alone.

''I thought you were going to be excited about it. Don't you want to see your family?'' Sesshomaru questioned.

''My dad invited us to have dinner this weekend,'' Rin told him. ''I forgot to tell you about it.''

''What do you think if we invite them to come here, so they get to know the place?'' Sesshomaru suggested.

Rin's eyes widened when Kohaku came in behind her husband. ''No, Sesshomaru, my mom can't come here.''

''Why not?'' Sesshomaru questioned.

''Because she doesn't like the country. I already told you,'' Rin reminded him.

''Good morning,'' Kohaku finally voiced causing Sesshomaru to turn towards him.

''Shiro, come with me to the office, please,'' Sesshomaru requested. ''You already know my wife, right?''

''Yes, I hope she's feeling better,'' Kohaku responded.

''Yes, thank you,'' Rin avoided his eyes.

''After you,'' Sesshomaru gestured Kohaku towards his office.

Rin waited for them to go in before she ran over to listen in.

Sesshomaru handed Kohaku a folder. ''Here, these are notes with the workers' allowances-loans and bills for material purchases and supplies. You can take them to your place, or go over them here, your choice.''

''If you don't mind, I'll stay here,'' Kohaku said while his eyes shifted towards Rin outside the door.

''As you wish,'' Sesshomaru shrugged. ''And here, have this. This check is an advance. I figure you'll need to replace everything those robbers stole from you.'' Sesshomaru handed him a check.

Kohaku accepted. ''To be honest, I do need it. Thank you very much.''

''The references my brother, Inuyasha, gave me about you are very good, but I want to make this clear-what I do demand is efficiency at work and complete honesty,'' Sesshomaru warned.

''Of course,'' Kohaku smiled. ''Count on it.''

''That's all. I'll let you check those papers,'' Sesshomaru headed out of his office forcing Rin make haste back into the living room. ''So, you don't want to come with me?'' Sesshomaru asked Rin once more when he saw her.

''No,'' Rin answered.

''Fine, suit yourself,'' Sesshomaru shrugged.

''Where are you going?'' Sara questioned when she walked in from the kitchen.

''To town,'' Sesshomaru told her.

''I'll go with you, all right?'' Sara asked.

''Yes, fine,'' Sesshomaru nodded and walked out while Sara threw a smirk over her shoulder to Rin.

Rin glared and without knowing it, stomped over getting ready for a confrontation until Kohaku caught her attention.

''Come,'' Kohaku requested.

''No,'' Rin whispered.

''Either you come, or I'll go,'' Kohaku warned her.

''Don't you see this is too risky?'' Rin questioned.

''Didn't you hear? Your husband just left with his friend,'' Kohaku reminded her. Rin looked towards the front door where Sesshomaru had left with Sara and grimaced.

''Rinny. Come, please,'' Kohaku pleaded.

Rin looked around to make sure no one else was around before quickly walking into Sesshomaru's office. Kohaku followed behind, attempting to shut the double doors.

''No, no, no. Don't shut the doors,'' Rin ordered and quickly walked out back into the hall, making sure that still, no one saw. ''Don't you realize that if someone sees, I won't be able to explain why I'm locked up with you in here?''

''Fine, as you wish,'' Kohaku relented.

''Kohaku, I want you to leave,'' Rin told him.

''No,'' Kohaku stated. ''I won't leave this place without you.''

''I already explained to you this is over,'' Rin reminded him.

''No. No. That's not true. This isn't over, Rin,'' Kohaku denied. ''I know that you love me.''

''Why are you so stubborn? I already told you this is over,'' Rin's voice was shaky with sadness. ''I can't do it.''

''Why? Why can't you do it?'' Kohaku questioned. ''Because your family and that guy invented God knows how many lies to keep us away from each other? I want you to know that I'm not afraid of him, or anyone, and I won't leave this place without you. I can't believe you married someone that was forced on you. Let's take the chance, he's gone. Let's go away from here. I swear they aren't going to find us.''

Rin shook her head and looked up at him with watery eyes. ''Have you ever thought I could be pregnant with his baby?''

Kohaku grimaced before stepping closer to her. ''I don't care. I'll raise him as if it was mine.'' Kohaku leaned in for a kiss but Rin turned away.

''I can't.''

Kohaku grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him. ''Don't turn away when I want to kiss you. It's worse letting someone you don't love kiss you, Rinny.''

Rin broke free from his grasp and her eye's widened when she saw Sayo looking at her and Kohaku. Rin couldn't find anything to say so she walked straight past her while Sayo watched her leave before looking at Kohaku with distrust.

Sesshomaru and Sara walked through the front door of his home in town that was now occupied by his younger brother.

''What a surprise, Sesshomaru,'' Inuyasha greeted him. ''I didn't know you were coming. I'm so glad to see you, Sara, welcome.''

''Thanks,'' Sara ignored him when she ran over to the window and looked out at the beach. ''It's been so long since I last went to the beach. I'd love to take a walk around the beach.''

Sesshomaru nodded. ''Fine, go.''

''You'll catch up later, right?'' Sara requested before heading out the door.

''What's going on between Sara and you?'' Inuyasha questioned.

''Nothing,'' Sesshomaru shrugged.

''Don't say 'nothing'. I'm not blind Sesshomaru,'' Inuyasha sneered. ''You should set some boundaries-more now that you are married.''

''You, more than anyone, know the problems I have with my wife,'' Sesshomaru reminded him.

''Yes, and you are using Sara as a consolation prize?'' Inuyasha accused.

''Watch what you say!'' Sesshomaru yelled.

''Watch what you do!'' Inuyasha shouted. ''You know how Sara feels about you. Don't play around with that.''

Sesshomaru couldn't argue so instead, he turned away.

A couple of hours later, Kohaku came out of the office hoping to talk to Rin again but Sayo interrupted him.

''Do you need anything, sir?'' She questioned him.

''No. No, thank you,'' Kohaku answered and walked out the front door.

As soon as he left, Rin came out from her room.

''Sayo? Did the overseer leave?''

''Yes, ma'am,'' Sayo nodded. ''He had been working in the office for a few hours. He just left.''

''Sayo, who takes care of all the things for the house-like the food, or the groceries, all those things?'' Rin asked suddenly.

''Miss Sara,'' Sayo answered.

Rin rolled her eyes. ''Has it always been like this?''

''I couldn't say. Remember, I got here after you did,'' Sayo reminded her.

''Well, starting tomorrow, I want everything to be run by me,'' Rin ordered.

''Yes, ma'am,'' Sayo smiled. ''But what about the boss?''

''What about him?'' Rin retorted.

''I understand that he was the one that authorized Lady Sara to take care of the house,'' Sayo explained.

''I can imagine, but I'm the Lady of the house, and I won't let anyone else rule in my house, understood?'' Rin smirked.

''Yes, ma'am,'' Sayo grinned. ''As you wish.''

Rin smiled and turned around to go back to her room. ''The color of these walls is so ugly.''

Sayo laughed before going back to her cleaning.

''Sesshomaru, what a surprise,'' Rin's mother greeted Sesshomaru into her home. ''I couldn't believe it when I was told you were here.''

''I wanted to invite you to my ranch this weekend,'' Sesshomaru said.

Raven glared at him. ''Why do you pretend? Do you want the people at your ranch to recognize me and make comments that could compromise me in front of Jihayo?''

Sesshomaru scoffed. ''Right. In fact, I came to talk to you about a very delicate issue.''

''I'm listening.''

Rin was reading alone in the chair in the hallway when she heard Sesshomaru and Sara's voices.

''Why not tomorrow, Sesshomaru?'' Sara questioned.

''Because tomorrow I can't,'' Sesshomaru responded.

''Look, I'll prepare a basket with your favorite snacks, and we can go to the field and eat, just like we used to do before,'' Sara suggested. Rin walked quietly over the wall in front of the living room to listen.

''I don't know. I'll tell you later,'' Sesshomaru sighed.

''Fine, I'll go check if dinner is ready,'' Sara said.

''Wait,'' Sesshomaru called out for her. ''Sit down. I need you to help me out with something, Sara. I want you to find out which of the workers helped Rin when she tried to escape. I need to know it to be able to prevent it.''

''Leave it alone,'' Sara told him.

''Do you really not have any idea who could have done it?'' Sesshomaru asked.

Rin decided enough was enough, and came out of hiding. ''Answer him, Sara.''

''What do you want me to say when I know nothing?'' Sara glared at her.

''The truth. Tell Sesshomaru the truth. That the person that helped me-was you,'' Rin revealed. ''Answer him, Sara. Tell Sesshomaru that you gave me the horse, that you saddled it, and you told me to wait in the shack close to the river because a man was going to drive me to Kamakura.''

''That's not true, you're lying!'' Sara exclaimed. ''She's trying to blame me to make me look bad, because she hates me! It's not true, Sesshomaru. You know me. You know I'd never do something to harm you.''

''Are you telling me the truth, Rin?'' Sesshomaru held her in his arms to look at her face.

''I have no reason to lie,'' Rin responded.

''If someone helped you, it wasn't me!'' Sara yelled.

Rin pushed away from Sesshomaru to face Sara. ''Who gave you the right to speak to me that way?''

''You always do it, why can't I?'' Sara questioned.

''Because we are not the same, and because every day that goes by, you show me you don't deserve any kind of respect from me! Instead, me, I'm the lady of this house, and I do demand that you treat me with the respect I do deserve.'' Rin raised her voice.

''Aren't you going to say anything?'' Sara questioned Sesshomaru. ''Dare to deny it was you the one that helped me-'' Sara cut her off. ''Of course I deny it, it's a lie. You are making up all this so Sesshomaru will throw me out, because you hate me, because the first day you saw me you hated me!''

''Yes, I don't like you at all, Sara,'' Rin agreed. ''You know why? Because you do things that you shouldn't do, because you behave like you were the owner of his house!''

''That's enough!'' Sesshomaru roared. ''The two of you, behave!''

''Don't believe her, Sesshomaru! It's not true!'' Sara pleaded. ''I swear on my brother.''

''Calm down, Sara,'' Sesshomaru told her.

''Tell me you believe me. Tell me you believe me, please!'' Sara cried.

''Leave us alone,'' Sesshomaru ordered.

''She'll keep making things up! It's a lie,'' Sara whimpered.

''Please, leave,'' Sesshomaru requested making Sara go back to the kitchen. ''You, come with me.'' Sesshomaru told Rin and led her to his office. ''Why did you say all that?''''Because it's the truth. If I didn't say it before, it was to not make her look bad. But now-'' Sesshomaru interrupted her. ''Now, what?''

''Now I have no reason to treat her in a good way, after the way she treats me,'' Rin retorted.

''How does Sara bother you?'' Sesshomaru asked.

''With everything. She bothers me with everything. She is always near and the simple fact of having her like that makes me angry!'' Rin exclaimed.

''That's the reason why now you want to make her look bad?'' Sesshomaru questioned. ''Because you hate her?''

''Listen to me, Sesshomaru. I don't like Sara, but I don't hate her. I'm not the kind of person that enjoys seeing other people suffering,'' Rin responded.

''Are you sure about that?'' Sesshomaru retorted. ''Don't you ever tell lies? Because I know different. You lied to me when you made me believe there was no other man in your life, and you also deceived me when you knew I was helping your family with money. Tell me, why should I believe you now?''

Rin grimaced. She couldn't face him because everything he was saying was true. ''You're right.''

''Then it's not true that Sara helped you?'' Sesshomaru asked.

Rin turned around and glared at him before looking at him. ''Why would I answer you, if you're not going to believe me anyway?'' Rin angrily walked out of the office, leaving her husband alone.

TA-DA! I am on a roll and I'd like to keep it going so reviews people, reviews.

xtaylorrandi94x