Author note: When I started writing this story (unpublished yet), on this site appeared a story somewhat similar (The Annulments by Instant Noodler); car accident, mistress, divorce were the similarities. At that time I had two choices:1. rewrite the story to not be accused of plagiarism; 2. publish it as it was and prove as the story goes further that that story was not my source of inspiration. By now you already know that I chosed the later.

Chapter revised by True Love's Rose

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 2

End of life

"Takahashi Rin, which room is she in?" he was panting. He got the call just a few minutes before his sister-in-law announced Rin's accident to him. He had left his car behind and ran until he reached the hospital doors.

"Your name, please!" the middle aged nurse asked.

"Inuyasha Takahashi, I'm Rin's brother-in-law."

"Please wait a moment." She said while screening the lists on her computer. Those seconds seemed hours for Inuyasha.

"Takahashi-san is still in surgery. Please wait over there." She motioned towards the mass of chairs in the waiting room.

Thirty minutes later Kagome arrived. Inuyasha had called her immediately after he received Kikyo's call. Every fiber in her body trembled, fear dominated her eyes; on the way to the hospital she couldn't lose the foreboding feeling inside her.

"Inuyasha!" she threw herself into her husband's arms "How is Rin? She's okay, isn't she?" Inuyasha couldn't find the answer. Since his arrival, no one bothered telling him anything, no matter how much he tried.

He held his wife in his arms, trying to comfort her, when her eyes caught the frame of Kikyo's best friend.

"Kagura?" the black-haired woman heard her name and turned her head to the place where the sound came from. She started to walk towards them but then stopped when she saw them heading her way.

"Kagura" Kagome knew her. When she was a child she liked to stay around her sister and Kagura while playing. To her, Kagura was like a sister; she knew if she would ask a favor, Kagura would try to help her with it. "You know the doctors here, the nurses; can you ask them about Rin? No one tells us anything."

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about it. I was the one who brought her to the hospital."

"Is she okay? What happened? They only told us she had an accident."

"A child suddenly sprung in front of her car. She tried to avoid the child, hitting a light pole instead."

"How bad was the accident?"

"The car isn't damaged too much, however, I am worried about Rin. She wasn't conscious when we arrived there, neither on the way to the hospital. She's still in surgery; Kikyo is with her."

"Kikyo is a neurosurgeon. You're saying that right now Rin needs a brain surgery?" Kagome didn't know much about medicine but she was aware of how dangerous head traumas could be from her sister.

"Rin suffered a head trauma. After Kikyo saw her MRI she looked very worried."

o.O.o

"Let's close her up." the doctor put the scalpel down. "We did everything we could."

o.O.o

Kagura left Inuyasha and Kagome alone shortly after she talked to them. It wasn't long until a doctor came out through the doors. They lifted their gaze and saw Kikyo. Being sisters, Kagome knew her very well; she could tell when Kikyo lied to her or not, or if she was unhappy.

Seeing her sister's gravest expression, Kagome couldn't hold back her tears anymore; she could feel her heart sinking in a pit of despair.

Inuyasha then got up from his seat, leaving his crying wife.

"Kikyo, how is Rin's condition?"

At the age of fifteen Kikyo knew she wanted to be a doctor. One day on TV she saw the news about a child who was very sick once. For years that child fought to remain alive until someone brave enough would take him under their care. Many doctors refused to operate the child arguing that the boy's brain tumor is inoperable, but among them there was one doctor who took the risk. He subjected the child to trials and finally had operated him. Two years passed, and the boy was still alive sharing his story with the whole world. He was thankful to his savior for not being trapped by fear and also for performing a surgery that many others refused.

The college years were easy; the hardships begun when she worked with live patients. On the hospital's hallway she saw happy people because their dear ones eluded death, but she also saw people crushed by devastating news.

The first time she personally encountered such a situation, she ran away instantly, crying until her tears dried up. That day she learnt that sometimes no matter how much you try, your efforts can be in vain. She then understood the doctors she had been condemning for not caring for that child.

After years of practicing medicine she educated herself to emotionally detach herself from her patients; failing at this meant she couldn't be a doctor anymore.

But today was harder than any other day. The family who would receive the news was not an ordinary family. After so many years, her tears returned.

"I am so sorry."

Inuyasha fell to his knees. He felt like he got hit by a truck, run over by a train, and crushed by a plane; all in one. He loved Rin a lot; she was cheerful; just like the sister he never had. He always thought of her as a damsel in distress who needs protection. As her onii-san, he swore to always protect her… he failed.

"We did everything we could but the damage was severe. I am so sorry."

"You mean she's…"

"She has a very low brain activity which doesn't allow her to maintain life. She's only breathing because she's connected to life assistance."

"So she's dead. The only reason her heart beats is because of those machines."

"Where's Sesshomaru?" Kikyo asked. She had important matters to discuss and his presence was required. "I need to talk to him."

"I don't know. I tried to call him after Inuyasha called me, but I couldn't reach him. His phone was off."

"Please keep trying. I really need to discuss with him. He's Rin closest family member; he's the only one who can decide."

"Decide what?"

"If we should unplug Rin's life assistance."

o.O.o

For hours Inuyasha tried to reach his brother by phone but his efforts were in vain. He even called in at his office; there he was informed that Sesshomaru went on a business trip. Inuyasha had a fit when his secretary couldn't tell him where Sesshomaru was.

"Then why the hell are you a secretary? You should know your boss's schedule!"

In his last attempt to find clues on Sesshomaru's whereabouts, Inuyasha went to his apartment. Entering the house he went straight to Sesshomaru's office, confident that he would find out where that bastard could be.

Inside the drawer he found Sesshomaru's agenda; he looked into his schedule and was puzzled. He found no business trip into his schedule, and his brother was like a Swiss watch.

He left the office and went looking in other rooms as well. Just when he thought he would lose hope, his eyes stopped on the coffee table. He couldn't believe his eyes while reading those papers.

"Divorce registration? The bastard asked for divorce? But why?" he found the answer pretty soon when his eyes saw a few pictures. He knew his brother can be a jerk sometimes; that he can be cold but he never thought he would cheat on his wife.

Before Rin, Sesshomaru had many women, but he never cheated. When a relationship didn't work anymore he always put an end to it. When Sesshomaru put his eyes on Rin, Inuyasha could see a light inside them; he looked like a man madly in love. Inuyasha himself heard Sesshomaru calling Rin his soul mate, desiring to marry and treasure her for the rest of his life.

But now he was looking at pictures with Sesshomaru together with another woman.

"Rin knew about his affair and said nothing. Sesshomaru you bastard; I will kill you. I bet you're with that whore having fun while your wife is-"

Inuyasha couldn't stand it anymore; he took the pictures but left behind the divorce papers. For the first time he was disappointed by his big brother.

o.O.o

Two weeks later

During the last two weeks Sesshomaru regained his energy and strength. It had been a very long time since he last enjoyed a vacation. For two whole weeks he was in the company of a woman he loved, a woman who restored him back to life. He spent the nights making love to her and the days to spoiling her; the woman he wanted to marry as soon as his current wife signed the divorce papers.

He couldn't wait anymore; he wanted Meiya to wear his name. Takahashi Meiya – bliss for his ears. He even bought her an engagement ring, much more beautiful than the one he bought for Rin.

Their plane landed in Tokyo the night before. It had been a tiring flight, but he had the strength to make love to her and bring her pleasure.

It was 10 AM when he arrived at the apartment he once shared with Rin. Today would be the last time for him to set foot inside. He hoped that she had already left for work and be spared from seeing her face ever again. He also hoped the papers were already signed.

Sesshomaru unlocked the door going straight to the bedroom. The moment he entered the apartment he noticed the odor was off but decided to ignore it. He wanted to pack his things before she arrived home. Although Sesshomaru had a tight schedule, Rin was her own boss.

After he packed his clothes he went into his office and collected all his documents as well. In the back of his mind was thankful his wife wasn't the type who would ruin everything when she was mad.

Inside the living room he noticed the divorce paper; to his surprise those weren't signed. He got mad. He asked just one thing from her before leaving, to sign the papers and grant him freedom.

"The bitch didn't sign them." Sesshomaru took his phone out of his pocket pants and dialed her number. "That bitch's phone is off." He tried to think where she could be. Before having a chance to dial the number for her workplace his phone rang.

Sesshomaru looked at the number displayed on the screen, and half-heartedly answered. The deafening voice coming from the other end of the line took him by surprise.

"You bastard, where the Hell have you been?! I've been trying to reach you for weeks! You left in a business trip without leaving behind a contact number!"

"Now you've reached me. What do you want? Say it fast; I find no pleasure in hearing your voice."

"Pleasure or not, I don't give a damn! Do you think I'm calling you out of courtesy or because I care for your well being?"

"Ah yeah, do you know where Rin is? I tried to call her but she didn't answer, her phone is off."

"No shit Sherlock! If I were in her state I wouldn't answer your phone either no matter how much I would want to hear your freaking voice."

"Her state? Something happened to her? Where is she?"

"She's at Tokyo General Hospital. She had a car accident."