1PM, Thursday

Inuyasha and Kagome were home doing what they did best—lying in bed. With Inuyasha being a dean and Kagome being a guidance counselor at an alternative school, the poorly behaved students exhausted them. It was a half day at school so they rushed home to their bed.

Kagome heard her phone ringing and looked around for it.

"Inuyasha," She called out as she tapped him. "pass me my phone."

"Where is it?" He asked in an exhausted voice.

"Next to you on the night table."

Inuyasha reached out his hand without looking. "It's too far. Can't reach."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled angrily.

"Damn it woman!" He growled back as he sat up and chucked her phone at her.

Kagome saw Rin's name on the screen and quickly answered. "Hey, Rin!"

"Hi, Kagome. Do you happen to know where I can find Inuyasha's father?"

"Yeah. He lives in the same house still."

"The one Inuyasha's mother's service was held in a few years ago?"

"Yup, that's the one. Why'd you ask?"

"I'm trying to get a bit more information about Sesshomaru, perhaps something from before Inuyasha was born."

"I see. Well, good luck!"

"Thank you, talk to you later."

"Okay, bye." Kagome hung up her phone and lied back down.

"What'd Rin want?" Inuyasha asked as he wrapped his arm around her side.

'He yells at me then wants to cuddle!' "She wanted to know where your father lived."

"For what?" He asked, sounding utterly curious and surprised.

"She wants to ask him some questions about Sesshomaru."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and scoffed. "I can't believe she's still working with that bastard."

Kagome srugged. "She's been making significant progress with him."

"Keh! She makes it sound like dealing with him is easy."

"Maybe it is for her. She's really good at what she does."

"Hmm…Yeah, I guess so."

Rin had driven across town to Sesshomaru's father's home, hoping to get even more of a backstory.

She pulled up to the driveway and got out of her car. She looked up at the luxurious 3-story house and smiled. 'I want a house like this one day. I just need a family to go in it.' She took a deep breath and sighed before walking up to the front door.

She rang the bell and waited patiently for him to answer. After waiting for five minutes, she assumed no one was home and turned to walk away when someone opened the door and stopped her.

"Hi, Can I help you?" He asked kindly.

Rin quickly turned around and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Taisho! My name is Rin, do you remember me?"

He nodded. "Yes. You're Inuyasha and Kagome's friend right?"

"I am."

"Well, welcome! To what do I owe this visit?"

"I've come to talk about your eldest son, Sesshomaru."

His happy face suddenly turned bleak. "C-come in." He faltered.

Rin walked inside and followed him into the foyer.

"Have a seat. Would you like some tea?"

Rin sat in the red velvet chair and nodded. "Yes, please."

He left the room to get her a cup.

Rin looked around the foyer and the photos on the wall caught her eye. Half of them were of Inuyasha and the others were of Sesshomaru over the years.

'He was so cute when he was young!' She thought to herself as she admired his smile in the pictures. Five pictures down, in what appeared to be his adolescent years, there were no more smiles. As the years progressed through each photo, he looked more and more unhappy. Except in one photo where there was a gorgeous dark haired, red-eyed woman wearing a floral kimono beside him. 'He must be at least 16 or 17 here.'

"Here's your tea."

Rin turned around with her usual smile. "Thank you! Umm…who is this woman?" She asked as she pointed to the picture.

"That's Kagura Akamatsu. she's—well, she was Sesshomaru's girlfriend. For many years they were together. I believe she's a detective now."

Rin sat down and began to drink her tea. "I want to start by telling you I'm his psychologist. I've been working with him for a couple of weeks and he's made incredible progress."

"Well that's great." He let out a relieved sigh. "I thought you came to tell me something happened to him in the hospital."

"No, nothing like that. I just wanted to find out more about him. I went to Inuyasha for a little insight but it isn't helpful when I only hear the negative."

"I see. My son and I didn't have the best relationship and that's completely my fault. From the moment he was born, he was my pride and joy. He was the continuation of my legacy. I had such a strong bond with him for the first 7 years of his life. He was happy, confident, cunning and a bit on the sensitive side. But all of that changed when I left his mother when Izayoi was already pregnant. My marriage to Inukimi was so rocky that I only focused on my needs. I got so caught up in my family here that I let him fall into Inuyasha's shadow." He put his hand on his forehead. "I love my son. I love both of my sons the same. I made many selfish mistakes. I really did."

"Sesshomaru told me about the incident where he got into the argument with Mrs. Taisho over Inuyasha."

"Ah…She eventually told me the truth. It took her years to finally admit what happened. She said she…freaked out. She thought Sesshomaru would have killed him. I never believed that."

"But you believed it that night?"

"No!" He responded quickly. "No. I was just overwhelmed at the time. I never believed Sesshomaru would kill him. I even tried to reach out to him and talk about that night. He was such a calm-spirited young demon; He would always go with the flow and try his best to adjust to change. He would never hurt people senselessly or fight unless defending himself. Even knowing he was institutionalized for murders is strange."

"So what do you believe caused him to change? The divorce? Jealousy?"

"His mother."

"How?"

"She was a very cold, abrasive, standoffish woman who held herself above all beings in this world. I wanted to raise our son differently and make him more tolerant of humans. When I wasn't around, she re-raised him and taught him that any display of emotions was weakness and that it was "human." When Sesshomaru turned 14, I didn't see him display any emotions anymore. He even tried to hide his love for Kagura. If I didn't overhear him say he loved her, I wouldn't have believed he did."

Rin recorded notes and a reminder to look up this Kagura woman.

"This is completely my fault. Everything: from the wedge between him and Inuyasha, to his desire to kill and his mother's murder. I just—"

"Wait a sec! Did you say his mother was murdered? I thought she committed suicide."

"Suicide? A stubborn woman like her wouldn't do such a thing. A group of thieves broke into the house and stole many important demonic artifacts. They even stole the brooch she always wore. It was her most valuable possession. It was called the devil's iris. It contained an incredible amount of demonic energy. The thieves decapitated her and snatched the brooch off her body."

Rin began to remember seeing her own family being murdered by thieves. The similar situation caused her stomach to knot up. "I'm sorry. I had no idea. Were the thieves caught?"

"All except one. The others refused to give him up. They said it was a 'pact amongst the slayers.'"

"That's awful! I'm surprised such a story wasn't in the news."

"You have no idea how much I paid to make sure it wasn't. I didn't want our family's name soiled any further."

Rin nodded in understanding. "That makes sense."

"Might I ask what you intend to do for Sesshomaru?"

"I want to help him. He seems to be so full of rage and bottling up all types of emotion and turmoil. We've been talking during our sessions and I'm hoping I can help him find some type of peace" She displayed her hopeful smile "and happiness."

He smiled back at her. "I'm surprised Sesshomaru spent any time with you at all. You're a remarkable girl."

"Thank you."

"I'm sorry I can't give you a lot of detail on what's in Sesshomaru's head. That young man is full of secrets. I haven't known him for so long. The little boy he used to be is either gone or locked away inside him."

"It's quite alright. I believe you've told me enough." She stood and put her notepad back in her purse. "Thank you so much for your time, Mr. Taisho. The tea was wonderful, by the way."

"Of course. Allow me to show you out."

Rin drove back across town to the precinct to find Kagura.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Asano" She said with her always beaming smile. "I'm looking for Detective Akamatsu."

"One second." The officer said as he went to get Kagura.

Rin sat on the maple bench and watched as a handcuffed teenager was brought into custody.

"You looking for me?" A voice suddenly said.

Rin looked up and saw the same woman from the photo. She was a bit more mature than the photo and she had on a blue button down shirt and black skirt.

"Yes I was."

"Follow me." She said as she motioned her hand for Rin to follow.

They stepped into a small office and Kagura sat at the desk and Rin sat in the chair in front of her.

"My name is—"

"I know who you are, Doctor Asano." She said as she crossed her legs on the table. "You're the crackpot that keeps releasing psychos onto my streets and making my job more stressful."

"W-with all due respect, none of the former patients I released ever reverted back to their old ways."

"Tch. Doesn't mean they won't one day." She said in a cold tone. "So what do you want from me?"

"I wanted to talk to you about the patient I've recently began working with."

Kagura rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What, you think I'm a nutcase expert or something?"

Rin sighed. She was starting to see why Kagura and Sesshomaru managed to hit it off. 'I bet sparks were flying in their relationship.'

"It's about Sesshomaru Taisho."

Kagura's smug, arrogant face softened and she took her legs off the table. "Ses…shomaru?" She looked down sadly, possibly saddened by all the memories his name brought about. "I'll never forget anything about that man. From the day we met to the day I locked him up."

"Would you mind talking about it?"

Kagura sighed and closed her eyes before she began.

I was 14 when I first met Sesshomaru. It was the beginning of my freshman year of high school and he was already a junior. I was looking for my locker and once I found it, I noticed it was right next to his. He was the most handsome boy I had ever laid my eyes on. His long silver hair, his gorgeous amber eyes, and the beautiful crescent moon marking on his forehead…I was in awe. I was embarrassed when he caught me staring and I looked away. When I looked back up, he looked at me with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. I was taken aback by his smooth demeanor. Everything about him gave me goosebumps.

Kagura began to sigh wistfully and stare off into space. Rin smiled as she saw the happy look on her face. 'They must be wonderful memories.'

Kagura snapped out of her love trance and continued where she left off.

From that day on, we spent a lot of time together. My father wasn't particularly happy about the age difference, even though it was just two years, but knowing Sesshomaru's family was so wealthy changed his mind. He figured an heir would have sense, class and know how to treat a lady. My father was right! Sesshomaru always drove me around, took me to the fanciest restaurants and showered me with gifts. What I loved the most about our relationship is we didn't have to exchange senseless lovey-dovey words because our actions spoke for us. Nevertheless, I'll never forget the night he told me he loved me.

18 years ago…

I was home sick with an awful cold that I caught from my stupid sister and Sesshomaru stayed on the phone with me for hours keeping me company.

"I have to babysit my mongrel brother tonight."

"Your brother is adorable! And he loves you!"

"He's a spoiled ungrateful brat."

"You're a brat."

"Very funny."

"I'm going to sleep."

"Fine. Get some rest. I love you."

I paused for a moment, trying to absorb what had happened. He was my first love, but I never told him. Hearing him say it first was music to my ears. "I love you too."

That was a monumental moment in our relationship. We made life plans and decided how many children we wanted. I couldn't wait to spend my life with him.

But nothing went as planned…

11 years ago

Sesshomaru started to become even colder than he normally was. He stopped telling me he loved me, we stopped going on dates and sometimes I wouldn't see him for weeks at a time. I had no idea he was out killing people. I thought he was cheating on me.

When I questioned him about it, he broke up with me! I was pissed, but I had a job to do. I was on a time consuming case trying to catch The Hound.

It was a frustrating case. My father constantly nagged me to let it go and let someone else pursue it because he was so afraid for my life. I didn't listen. Maybe I should have. The crime scenes were horrific. Between the torn limbs, the bitten off head tossed to the other side of the street like trash and the bite marks in the torso, everyone immediately said "dogs." The only dogs we knew of were the Tono-Taisho family, so I tried to convince everyone else that wolves could've been behind it.

"I worked my ass off on this case. I've even been recognized as the woman who took down the hound."

"Sounds like a big deal in your career."

"It would have been, if it the killer was someone else."

After the first string of murders, I began to notice a pattern, until he changed his M.O. and started committing murders in broad daylight. I noticed the last five murders were committed on the same isolated street, so I decided to stakeout nearby.

I never in a million years would've thought I'd be watching Sesshomaru in his true form sneak up behind someone and tear their head off. That wasn't my Sesshomaru. That wasn't the boy that smirked at me by my locker.

I drew my gun and came out of hiding. "Sesshomaru!" I screamed out his name at the top of my lungs. He turned and looked at me with that poor man's head sticking out of his mouth. He lunged at me and I began to shiver with my gun pointed at him. But he stopped just a few feet away from me, spit the man's head out and turned back to his regular form.

"Now that I think about it, I don't know if I would have been able to kill him." She admitted in a miserable tone.

To my surprise, he raised his wrists to me and wanted me to cuff him. I refused.

"I'm giving you one chance to stop this, go home and stop hurting people." I told him…and I walked away.

"So you let him escape?!"

"Yeah. At first. But then I had to pursue him when another unsuspecting human turned the corner." She tapped her fingers on the desk as she sighed exasperatedly. "I didn't want to sell out the only man I ever loved, but I didn't want him to kill anyone else. I had to make a difficult decision."

"What do you think caused him to kill?"

Kagura shrugged. "I think he snapped. I think his head got screwed up overtime. His family was pretty messed up. His father was unfaithful, his stepmother was an evil bitch, his brother was favored, his mother had no heart and he was in his own circle. He used to tell me all the time it was no big deal and none of that defined who he was but I think it did. As much as he complained about his father and his little brother, you can't help but think that's the cause."

"Do you think he can be rehabilitated?"

"Not a snowballs chance in Hell. He's too headstrong and too screwy. He's not the same person anymore. I don't even think he could recognize himself in the mirror. I don't believe I know the man he truly is. I don't think anyone ever knew."

"But you still love him."

"I love who he used to be but I've moved on. And I think you should too."

Rin looked at her with a puzzled look on her face. "What do you mean?"

"Get another case." She said nonchalantly. "Work with a different patient. He'll never be ready to come out of that hospital. He was given the name 'The Hound' for a reason. He needs to be caged up like one."

"Do you honestly believe that?" Rin questioned skeptically.

"After the way I watched him attack that man and kill him without hesitation…and the way he charged at me…I do believe that. I'm…afraid of him. Do you know what it feels like to be terrified of the man you love?"

Rin's mind immediately flashed to Kohaku and the way his hand curved around her neck.

"Yes. I do know."

"Well then do the world a favor and leave him where he is."

Rin shook her head. "I can't do that. I believe the world is wrong about him. Including you."

Kagura chuckled slightly. "You can't be serious. Maybe you're as crazy as he is. Get out of my office!" She ordered as she pointed to the door.

Rin quickly stood and left. She got in her car and leaned back in the seat. "Whew. What a long day. I need to get home." She put her key in the ignition and headed back to her apartment, thinking only happy thoughts.

At the hospital, 2PM

Sesshomaru was lying in his bed, but this time, he wasn't restrained. Rin wrote a thorough progress report and he was allowed to be free from his bondages. He lied back with his hands behind his head looking up at the ceiling…

Thinking about Rin.

He wondered when she was coming back and why she hadn't been there in two days. She never told him when she was going to come back but he knew she always would. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he trusted her. She was the only person he trusted in the past 11 years.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A male's scent. 'One of those morons who bound me.' He recalled as he sat up.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Taisho. You have a visitor."

"A visitor?" He asked in an intrigued tone.

"Yes, sir. You're allowed visitation now since you were taken out of solitary by Dr. Asano."

Sesshomaru wasn't particularly happy about having a visitor. There wasn't anyone in the world that would be smart enough to try to bother him after 11 years.

Except one person.

Sesshomaru followed Hojo to the visiting area and sat down, waiting to see who had come.

He looked up and his annoyed face turned calm almost instantly.

"I should have known."

I'd like to say that you guize ROCK! I love the reviews and feedback you all give. You're so into this story that it makes me wanna do cartwheels across a rainbow! Please continue to do so!

Xoxo

-VQ