A/N: Thank you.


Chapter 5 : Within His Grasp

It was determined. Home was where Rin needed to go.

She left her bedroom and walked toward the front door in the dark. A chill ran up her spine. It was as if someone was watching her. She flicked on the light switch. The room lit up. Nothing. She looked around one more time then went outside. That house had been nice, a stark contrast from what she started with. But it was surely the calm before the storm. Nobody invested that kind of money without an interest.

She locked the door behind her and walked away.

The street was dimly lit by the weak rays from the thin crescent moon. Lines of trees made the street a few shades darker with their shadow. The bushes rustled by the light wind and occasionally shaken by, hopefully, some small animals.

She should have brought a flashlight, but it was fine that she didn't. Nothing in that house was hers, and as much as she needed money enough to go to a foreign country for work, she would take nothing that didn't belong to her, even the diamond ring. That was just a test; it was not hers; it should stay with their true owner, the mysterious owner who had paid for it.

Rin had been reading a lot of books to learn enough of the language to ask for direction. The police should be able to help sending her back to her village. Her situation at the village was dreadful enough, but it couldn't be as bad as her situation at the moment.

She started to hum a favorite tune as she walked down the sidewalk. The image of Naraku-sama persistently plagued her mind. It would be heaven if she could see him again. He had given her her first sensual experience, and even though he might never think of it again, it had been unforgettable for her.

But it was not because of the sensual experience, there was something else about him.

Rin smiled.

About ten minutes or so into the walk, two familiar muscular men jumped down from the sky or somewhere high up there and landed in front of her. They crossed their arms and smirked.

"Oh, little bitch, long time no see. Our Lady Madam has been missing you."

Rin quickly turned around and ran. After all of two steps, her feet were dangling off the ground, her neck was squeezed. She grabbed and pulled on the hand that was choking her. It was fruitless. He squeezed harder, and Rin fell limply into unconsciousness after a short moment.

Rin woke up in the same soul crushing room she was in before. At least it had been cleaned. There was no telling how many other girls had been there, and how many would be there in the coming days before it was over with.

She didn't cry. It was pointless. These people were merciless. She sat with her head rested inside her arm circle on top of her bent knees just like before. If fate had decided that she should be an escort, then so be it.

After all, she was no longer pure. Why worry. Why fuss.

Naraku-sama.

His image eased her into a light slumber.

Rin was awoken by the creaking noise of the door opening. She had been through this routine before it was no longer suspenseful. The 5-inch light ray seeped through the room. The stale bread landed some feet from her along with the bottle of water rolling back and forth next to it.

"Please wait," Rin said, "May I please -"

The door slammed shut.

"ARRRGHHHHHHH," the man who brought the bread screamed.

Hah?!

Rin cringed. She buried her head back into her arm circle.

A short moment of silence passed.

Then all at once, there were busy footsteps stomping on the concrete outside. Men screaming. Sounds of gunshots firing continuously. Bullets banging on the steel wall of the room from outside.

Rin crouched down and covered her ears.

A swooshing sound started to move swiftly through the air, and the stream of gunshot abruptly stopped, followed by screaming and a chain of successive thudding of bodies falling on concrete.

And then all silenced.

Soft footsteps started to approach the door.

Rin crouched down even lower. She put her hands behind her head and stooped down. She whimpered. It wasn't supposed to be like that. Whatever it was, it sounded like a dead battle just happened outside that room. And they all must have died or run away judging by the abrupt silence.

Except for one set of footsteps approaching closer to her direction.

The door creaked open softly.

Rin whimpered louder, with her head still hidden under her folded hands.

The soft footsteps approached, and someone's feet appeared right in front of her. She furtively glanced at the feet from under her hands. The person knelt down. They touched and held her hands.

They were strong and warm.

"Rin," a deep familiar male voice said, "it's alright now."

Naraku-sama!

She abruptly looked up. Her eyes brightened. She smiled at him. Her body jumped inwardly and would manifest that action outwardly if her body had any strength left.

He circled his arms around her and raised her up. She was trembling so hopelessly she was unable to stand straight, so he pulled her tighter into his arms and held her for a long moment stroking the crown of her head, perhaps to allow her to regain her soul.

"It's alright, Rin. You're leaving this place."

He picked Rin up with his arms behind her shoulders and the back of her knees, and Rin pressed her face into his chest

When they got outside, something dashed through the air from far above.

"Hmmm, did one escape?"

Escape?

Rin turned sideways and looked at the yard at the carnage. A shot of terror pierced her heart. It took the last string of her strength away, and she fainted.