I am so sorry my wonderful readers! I've been evacuated due to Hurricane Sandy so it was difficult to find time to finish and post these chapters. But all is well! And I found time to get these up. Enjoy and give me your wonderful reviews as always. :D

Xoxo

-VQ

5AM the next morning...

Sesshomaru sat in what would be his room for only a few more hours thinking of everything that happened from the moment Rin Asano walked into his hospital room.

"Such a weird woman." He said as he began to nod off to sleep.

8AM

Shiori knocked on his door, waking him from his short nap.

"Mr. Taisho?"

"What is it?"

"Come into the lunchroom, please. It will look good for your image if you're amongst the others for a while."

"I don't care about my image." He said callously.

Shiori sighed, not surprised by his stubbornness. "What about Rin? She's trying very hard and doing everything she can for you but—"

Sesshomaru stood and headed towards the door. Shiori looked up a him, surprised and confused.

"Lets go."

"Right!" She headed towards the lunchroom as he followed so easily. 'He really respects Rin. She's like...a weakness for him!'

Sesshomaru sat at a table across from a young girl in a straitjacket. He didn't pay her any mind but he could feel her intensively staring at him.

"I know who you are." She said in a soft, high-pitched voice.

He didn't respond to her. He just stared at the brown eyed, brown haired human girl.

"You're just like me. Your pain is covering up your insanity."

"Insanity?"

"You killed those people. Over and over again in real life and in your head, thinking it would make everything all better…like it would make you feel good. But it didn't work. I still felt mad and sad."

"I do not feel sad."

"It's okay. I'm not sad no more either. Dr. Rin started helping me. But I'm not allowed to leave."

"Really? Why is that?" He wasn't completely interested but subconsciously, anything that involved Rin would catch his attention.

"I tried to kill her. I stabbed her with her pen. I thought she was my mom."

Even though it was never a thought in his mind, he felt obligated to hurt a child for laying a finger on Rin. The thought surprised him, but he couldn't ignore the rage within him. "I'm assuming you killed your mother."

The little girl nodded. "I killed my whole family."

"For what?"

"The sword big brother gave me. It told me to. 'Taint with malice, taint with malice' I don't even know what malice is." She said as she giggled. "After I killed mommy, I liked cutting everybody up." She said with a big bright smile and stars in her eyes. "I lost count of all the people. After I showed big brother the sword, he took it and told me to take a break. But I couldn't stop killing."

"Why are you telling me this?" He asked indignantly.

"Tell Dr. Rin I'm sorry for trying to kill her. The other doctors took her off my case to protect her. But I couldn't help it. She looked so pretty to cut up." She gave him a crazed look. "Don't you think so, mister?"

He used to, before he knew her. Before he knew the soul inside her, the one that separated her from humanity. "Rin is the type of woman you could stab and her last words would be an apology for bleeding on your shirt."

"That's why I felt bad. But I'd do it again. I'd stab her again. Big brother always said killing is natural. Some people are born killers. Others were born to be killed. You can't be somebody else if that's who you're born to be. You're like me. The only reason you get to leave is cause you have better control than me. But you'll be back and I'll be waiting. Maybe we can play games when you come back. Wouldn't that be fun?"

'There's no hope for this girl.'

"They'll be looking for you when you get out."

"Who?"

"Big brother and the others. The slayers."

"What do they want with me?"

"Power. The Tono family holds the keys to wiping out all the humans. We want to take it and wipe out all the demons. Make the world pure."

"Pure? That's ridiculous. You're possessed yourself. Don't you hear the voice of the demonic spirit within you?"

"That's what that is?" She grinned. "Thanks for clearing that up for me."

"If I weren't about to gain my freedom, I would kill you. Child or not."

She began to laugh and laid her head on the table. "I'm not your enemy. I never killed any demons remember?"

He continued to glare at her hatefully.

She leaned in closely, challenging his angry glare. "You'll have to come back. You're going to kill to protect yourself."

"Come on, Mayu stop bothering him." A voice said sternly as they approached.

Naturally, it was Hojo. He shot Sesshomaru a nervous grin as he pulled Mayu away. She turned and winked at him, as she was lead to her room.

"Mr. Taisho? It's time to go. Let's sign your paperwork and you will be released to your caretaker."

Sesshomaru turned to see a slim, dark haired, red eyed demon woman. She reminded him so much of Kagura, it was disturbing. It caused a tight feeling in his chest that he didn't understand and he hated it.

He followed the woman to a small office in the hospital he had never seen before. Of course he hadn't. There was a lot of the hospital he had never seen before. Nor did he plan to.

The woman placed a contract on the white desk in front of him, along with a black pen.

"You can read it if you'd like. No rush." She said kindly.

Sesshomaru skimmed through it. He didn't like everything he read...well; actually, he wasn't fond of any of it. The supervision, the curfew, the conditional release, the check-ins.

'Annoying.' He thought as he signed on the dotted line.

The woman ripped off the first page and placed it into a fax machine. She adjusted her glasses on her face and opened the door for him.

"Let's go find your brother."

He slowly stood and followed the woman to the visitor's area.

After a few glances around, he saw his brother slouched over in a chair at a table.

"Did you finish the paperwork I gave you earlier?" She asked Inuyasha as she approached him.

"Yeah." He handed her the papers.

"I'll be back in a few minutes." She turned on her heel and headed back to her office.

Sesshomaru sat across from Inuyasha. It irritated him that he was indebted to him, but he decided to swallow his pride for the moment.

"Here." Inuyasha handed him a bag.

"What is this?"

"I got you some clothes. Unless you wanna leave in your psycho clothes." He said as he pointed to the white clothing he was forced to wear.

Sesshomaru snatched the bag and headed to the bathroom to change.

'I can't remember the first time I wore jeans.' He thought to himself as he removed the dark denim jeans, black button down shirt and black loafers from the bag.

Once he was dressed, he pushed his hair back, looked in the mirror and let out a sigh. He had no idea what was waiting for him on the other side. But he knew he had an objective. The normalcy Rin promised wasn't it. He knew he could never have that no matter how much she wanted him to.

When he left the bathroom, he saw Rin waiting with his brother. She turned and gave him a different kind of smile—one that was sly and accomplished. She had a different smile for everything, but she always had one on her face.

"Look at you! It's nice to see you in fashionable clothes!"

"Hmph." He mumbled as he looked away.

"So it looks like everything is all set. We can go." She tugged his arm towards the door as Inuyasha followed behind.

The moment they stepped foot out that door, there was a mob of furious people waiting for them.

"You murderous freak!"
"Who let the hound out of his cage?"
"You sick fuck! You killed my sister!"

They were shouting and carrying on with their fists raised and tears rolling from their eyes as they continued towards the parking lot.

"How did they find out I was released?" He asked.

"The hospital has to call the victims and inform them of the status of your case."

Rin looked around nervously as the people began to surround them and shout angrily.

"Why are you releasing him? What's wrong with you?" A teenage girl asked.

"Get the hell out of my way! I don't have time for this! He was released and you can't do shit about it. MOVE IT NOW!" Inuyasha barked ferociously.

The group apprehensively began to scatter making room for them to push through.

One person in the crowd was feeling ornery and chucked a brick in the direction of Rin's head.

Just before the brick impacted the back of her skull, Sesshomaru caught it without even turning around.

He crushed the brick in his hand and the angry shouting was plagued with a deafening silence.

"If you are going to attack me, be my guest. But you will not attack Dr. Asano for doing her job." He flung the debris of the brick at the one who threw it. "Let's go."

The three continued to Inuyasha's car and drove off.

The first few moments of the ride were silent. Sesshomaru looked over at Rin. She was sitting still like a statue, fists clenched on her thighs and biting her bottom lip.

'She's trying not to cry.'

Rin let out a sigh and looked up, catching Sesshomaru's eyes on her. She grinned at him happily and let out a small giggle.

"What the fuck was that about?" Inuyasha asked. "How long will that go on?"

"Who knows what will happen once the press gets a hold of this information." Rin shot Sesshomaru a smile again. "But who cares? It's about you, not them."

Sesshomaru gave her an expressionless look before turning his head towards the window. 10 years was a long time. Everything looked so different to him. But the car ride was soothing. The last time he was transported somewhere on wheels was in a wheelchair. The blue fall sky was a wonderful change from the dim white walls and buzzing ceiling lights.

For the first time in years, he felt vulnerable and lost. He felt like the entire world was against him. But all that did was add fuel to his fire. He was ravenous for revenge, among other things.

"Get out. I need to wash jackass off my leather seats." Inuyasha said as he parked in front of Rin's building.

"Don't forget to wash the bitch out the driver's seat." Sesshomaru sneered as he got out.

Rin giggled. "Thank you. Tell Kagome to call me later." She followed after Sesshomaru.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and sighed before driving off. "What the hell is gonna happen next?"

Rin grasped Sesshomaru's arm and lead him into her building.

"I assumed someone with your salary would live in a house."

Rin shook her head. "I like my little apartment. It's so cute. Wait until you see it!" She said cheerfully as they took the elevator to the 5th floor.

Sesshomaru instantly rolled his eyes once he saw the front door decorated with leaves and pumpkins. He was anticipating pink, frilly things and a hello kitty refrigerator.

Once Rin unlocked her door, he saw something completely different.

"Welcome to your new place! Y-you know. For now." She said bashfully with a grin.

The entrance door led straight into the red and black painted living room, furnished with a black leather sofa and recliner, oak coffee table and giant screen television. By the large windows that led to the fire escape was a table that displayed a wide array of flowers.

He traveled into the small eggshell colored kitchen with a silver stove and refrigerator, along with a small window where more flowers were displayed.

He opened the fridge to see it was fully stocked with a vast variety of food. He took a bottle of Pepsi out and drank straight from the bottle.

Rin walked into the fridge and he froze as she stared at him.

"I don't drink soda so it's okay." She said sweetly. "I got it for you."

He continued to chug half the bottle as he followed her to his new bedroom.

It was a simple, but large room with a television, full size bed and dresser.

"I got you a few shirts and stuff. Inuyasha will bring some other clothing for you in the morning."

Sesshomaru sat on the bed and noticed how soft the mattress and blanket was. It was a major step up from his hard spring mattress.

"I'll go make us some brunch. You get acquainted with your room."

He looked up at her with slightly softer eyes and her entire face lit up.

She skipped out the room and closed the door.

Once Rin was gone, Sesshomaru stood and walked out of his room. He wandered to the back of the apartment to look around. He peeked inside the bathroom. Simple, yet elegant: White tiles; marble counter, full size mirror and sliding glass shower door. He continued further to the back and stopped at a door.

'This has to be her room.' He assumed as he pushed the door open.

And there it was: The pink he expected to see. He let out an annoyed sigh as he let himself in and began snooping around.

He glanced over at her neatly made bed with a white bed set. He glanced over at the exotic flowers on her windowsill before he noticed the broken picture frame on the floor; along with that ring she stopped wearing.

'Every part of this room is spotless except this corner. She never even picked up the glass.'

"I kept telling myself I'd get around to it." Rin said when she suddenly appeared. "I just don't want to believe I'm alone." She smiled happily and shrugged. "Well, your food is ready!"

Sesshomaru followed her to the small table by the living room window where the two sat and began eating.

"So what do you think of your new room? Do you like it here?" Rin asked as she poured herself a glass of sparkling water.

"You have a lot of flowers here."

"I love flowers. I think they're beautiful. Do you…not like them?"

"It's your apartment." He replied nonchalantly as he began to eat his pasta.

"Our apartment." She corrected. "At least for the time being. I want you to feel comfortable."

"It doesn't matter."

The room quickly turned silent as they ate. The silence was awkward to Rin but it was normal for Sesshomaru. They were polar opposites sitting across from one another. She was the sun beaming down its vibrant light and he was the ice in Antarctica, unmoved by her blazing rays.

When would he notice her light?

"Could you tell me about a patient named Mayu?"

"Mayu Sato? Well, she's 13; she was admitted 3 years ago after she murdered 17 people. She displayed a lot of bipolar tendencies and she would talk about her big brother all the time, but from what her records showed, she only had sisters. I didn't have many sessions with her, but she was a sweet girl. I was removed from her case when she attacked me. Why did you ask about her?"

"I had an odd conversation with her in the cafeteria at the hospital."

"What did she tell you?"

Sesshomaru began to reiterate what happened between him and the miniature murderer.

"Aside from that, I believe this 'big brother' she was referring to may be the one in charge of the slayers."

"So what should we do?!"

"We?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "I will take care of this."

"Well I'm going with you!"

"Why?"

"Because you need someone to accompany you! I don't want you to be admitted again!" She shouted worriedly as tears formed in her eyes.

Sesshomaru gawked at her in surprise. He didn't understand why she cared so deeply, or why she showed more emotion on his behalf, instead of her own.

He didn't understand anything that was Rin. Normally humans were so vile and predictable, but not her. He couldn't figure it out and it frustrated him. How could she get to him? Why did she insist on doing things that weren't human?

'This is going to be an interesting year.' He thought to himself.

He released a defeated sigh. "There's somewhere I want to go tomorrow morning."

Rin nodded in compliance. "Okay!"