Author note:Chapter revised by True Love's Rose.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha

Chapter 3

Guilty Feeling

"You know, I'm going to die in a car accident, just like the character in this movie." His breath caught in his throat. She was curled in his embrace, her head resting on his right shoulder. He kept her tighter into his arms.

"Rin, don't talk rubbish." Gently, he nuzzled into her hair, kissing it. In a week's time from now she will become his wife. The thought of her dead pained him.

"But it's true. I will die in a car accident because I'm cursed." She detached herself from his warm embrace and looked him straight in the eyes. If she intended to scare the hell out of him, she succeeded; she was so sure of her statement that it took Sesshomaru aback.

"Cursed? Who dared to curse my future wife? Tell me and I will do something about it." he did not believe in curses; he wanted to warm up the air a little bit. He wanted her to forget such an unpleasant thing as a curse.

"I do not know who cursed my family or why, but I tell you my family is cursed. All my relatives died in car accidents. One after the other they all died."

"Tell me more about it!" he sensed she wanted to talk about this matter, but was reluctant.

"You're sure you want me to tell you? It's a sad story, too much death in it."

"It's okay, tell me."

"Okay, but I warned you; it's a sad story. Well, everything began when my father's father, my grandfather, died in a car accident. He was forty at that time. He had three brothers and a sister. All of them were at a wedding that day. My grandma, his wife, stayed home taking care of the children. My father was 16 yrs old at that time."

"Didyour father have siblings?"

"Yep, he did. He had two brothers. When their father died my uncles were 13 years old and 11 years old. My father was the oldest."

"And what happened? They were at a wedding that day…"

"They lived in a small town. Everyone knew each other well; all of them were friends. My grandpa's best friend was getting married for the second time. He invited a lot of people for his wedding. Most of my family members went. Now that I can remember better, their wives were in that car as well; except my grandma who stayed home taking care of the children. They drove a large car, something like a minivan. On their way back home they didn't see the red light…a train was coming... Worse is that the car broke down in the middle of the railway tracks. They had no time to run away."

"They were hit by a train?"

"Yes. Eight people were in that car; seven of them died: my grandpa, his brothers and their wives. The only one who survived was my grandpa's sister. Her arms and legs were fractured, and a piece of metal pierced her right eye. She never recovered her right eye's sight after that. She also had problems with movement; since that day on she always had to use a cane to support herself."

"And this is the reason you think you're cursed? Because of that accident?" Sesshomaru put his arms around her petite frame, squeezing her tightly in his arms. "Baka Rin, that was just an accident; it can happen to anyone. You aren't cursed, you silly girl."

She wanted to believe his words; she wanted to believe this curse won't reach her. But the events from the past made her think otherwise.

"It's not only that. That accident was just the beginning. Many more died after."

"Who else died?"

"Five years later my father's cousins, who were 16 and 17 years old, borrowed my grandma's car; they wanted to go to the hot springs. On their way back the driver, my father's cousin, he didn't have a driving license, lost control over the car and drove off a cliff. The car exploded when it hit the rocks."

"A boy who doesn't have a license can lose control of a car. It was just an unhappy accident, not a curse."

"After that, things became worse. The people started to spread rumors that our family is cursed and that all of us would die in car accidents. My father didn't pay attention to those. He often said if we are cursed then he would be the one to break it; he won't die in a car accident. However their brothers believed what people said. They became so paranoid that they refused to use a car anymore. They always walked on foot, rode a bike or the train when needed."

"And did it worked?"

"Everything was okay until that day, the day when their children went on the school trip. They didn't want to let their children go, they were afraid something might happen to them but since it was a mandatory school trip they had no choice."

"Did something happen to them?" Sesshomaru wanted to hear they were okay; that no one else died. He forgot how many died until now.

"Their bus was close to its destination when it got hit by another car. Most of the passengers, 4-5 years old children, got a fright. I say most of them because only my cousins died in that accident. The other children weren't even scratched but my cousins died. They were 5 years old."

"I am so sorry to hear such a sad story. No wonder you believe in curses when so much death occurred."

"After that my uncles lost their mind. Their wives really thought they are cursed and asked for a divorce. They blamed my uncles for the children's death; they said if they wouldn't have been cursed none of this would've happened. My uncles became paranoid; they've even refused to go outside the house. Three years after my cousin's death my parents died too."

"Your parents died in a car accident as well?"

"Yes, they did. My father was returning from a business trip. My mother went to the airport to greet him. Our car was at repairs so my mother took a cab. They died on their way back; a drunk driver hit their cab. The taxi driver and my parents died."

"I am so sorry Rin. I never knew something like this happened to your family."

"I am okay now. When it happened I was only ten years old. My parents died a quick death, they hadn't suffered at all. After that I was given in the care of my father's aunt, the sister who survived the first accident. So I moved from Kyoto to Arita – she moved there a few years after the accident. She was the only one who could take care of me – my uncles were mentally insane."

"What about your uncles? Are they alive?"

"No, they aren't. Two years after my parents passed away, they died in a car accident as well. For years they avoided cars but cars never avoided them. They were in their own yard when they were hit by a truck. They were gardening when the truck driver had a heart attack, lost the control over the truck and crashed into their home. They were literally crushed by that truck; people said they were unrecognizable."

"What about your father's aunt? Is she still alive?" 'Please tell me she's alive and she didn't have such a cruel fate.'

Rin's expression became sad. "No, she isn't. She died when I had 19 years. I loved her so much; when I was alone and lost she was the one who took me in. She loved me like I was her own child. When she died I felt a part of me dying as well."

"She died in a car accident?"

"No, she didn't. Over time her heart became weak. It was a heart attack. It happened during summer vacation. It was a hot day when it happened; her heart couldn't resist anymore."

"She's the only one who didn't die in a car accident? How come?"

"I wondered too. Why she lived such a long life when others died young. When I asked her about the curse and if she would die as well she told me she broke the curse. She said she broke the curse in the accident day, she should have died too but she survived, she tricked death."

"She broke the curse. She didn't die like the others. She fought against such a grisly fate and won."

"Yes, she did. I wonder if I will be able to win against it too. I'm sure one day I will encounter such a situation too. Will I be strong enough to trick death?"

"I won't let you die. We'll grow old and have many children and grandchildren. We're going to have a happy family. We shall never know the feeling of loss. Our children will be happy."

"We aren't even married and you're already thinking of children and grandchildren? You really dream big mister!"

"Of course I do. I want many sons and daughters. I want our daughters to resemble you; I want them to have your eyes, your nose, your mouth, your adorable laugh."

"And our sons?"

"Oh, they must look alike their father; gorgeous, a lady killer."

"Quite full of yourself, aren't you?" her laugh reverberated in the room. Few minutes before she was sad; he was relieved to see her laughing again. He loved her laugh; her laugh made him fall in love with her at first sight.

"Rin, I could never live a day without you. The day Death takes you I will come with you. We are soul mates in this life and in the afterlife as well. Nothing could separate me from you, not even death." He whispered upon her lips.

"I will love you forever." He pressed his lips upon hers gently, locking them into a long, searing kiss. He had the love of his life in his arms, kissing her. He promised himself to never let her go.

Her death, his death. Her fate, his fate.

o.O.o

"My wife, which room is she in?" he asked the same middle aged receptionist Inuyasha asked two weeks ago.

"Your wife's name, sir." Her face was emotionless.

"Rin. Takahashi Rin. She was in a car accident." The receptionist didn't need to check her computer to know about who he was inquiring about. The whole hospital knew about her case. "Oh. That poor girl? Room 454, floor 4." The receptionist's face flickered with a look of sympathy and pity, but Sesshomaru didn't wait there any longer.

Years passed since she told him about her "curse". He tried to make her forget those unpleasant memories. After she told him that story a fear crept its way inside his heart; he feared losing her.

However, with time he forgot his own promise: he won't let anything happen to her. The elevator took an eternity to come down. Tired of the wait he took the stairs. Inuyasha just told him she had a car accident; he never gave him details. Not that Inuyasha had time to do so. The moment Sesshomaru heard about her accident he strode out the door. Long forgotten memories flew back.

He burst inside her hospital room; what he saw inside made his blood run cold in his veins. His wife, Rin, was laying on a hospital bed, a tube stuck down her throat. He could tell she was connected to some machines; he could hear a constant beep inside the room. It was her heart.

Beside her sat his brother with Kagome; he paid no attention to them. He strode towards her bed.

"Rin, can you hear me? Open your eyes!"

"She can't hear you. She can't open her eyes. Not anymore." Inuyasha was disgusted by Sesshomaru; his presence made him sick.

"What are you talking about?"

"Kikyo wants to talk to you. She should provide you with answers." Speak of the devil, Rin's doctor entered in the room, informed by the chief nurse about Sesshomaru's arrival.

"You're finally here. I want to discuss important matters with you."

"Tell me about Rin. What happened to her? Will she be okay? How long has she been like this?"

"I see that they didn't tell you a thing about her. Rin had a car accident two weeks ago. She came to us with a severe head trauma. I am so sorry Sesshomaru! We did everything we could but-"

"What are you talking about?" Rin's curse came back into his mind. What does this woman want to tell him?

"Rin has very low brain activity that doesn't allow her to sustain life."

"You mean to say that my Rin is…"

"Rin is in clinical death."

"What are you talking about? Her heart is beating. Look, if I touch her chest I can feel her heart beating. Why are you lying?"

"Her heart beats only because of life assistance. These machines that surround her are keeping her alive. But she's dead."

"No, I don't believe you. She's alive; her heart is beating so she's alive. Why do you stand here doing nothing? You should save Rin. Go and save my wife damn it!"

"Her brain bled too much. We tried to stop it but all our efforts were futile. I am so sorry!"

"Can't you do anything? Why the hell are you a doctor then?"

"Sesshomaru, I need to talk to you about something else concerning Rin."

"What?"

"I need to ask for your permission to unplug Rin from life assistance. She won't open her eyes anymore."

Blood rushed into his veins. His eyes could only see red; he wanted to strangle Kikyo. "Never! Her heart is beating, she's alive. I will never agree with that!"

o.O.o

After he strode out of Rin's hospital room Sesshomaru searched for a place where he could think, where he could digest what he was told. This couldn't be happening; he closed his eyes, told himself everything is just a dream that would vanish when he would open his eyes again.

He opened his eyes but the nightmare wasn't disappearing. The reality was too cruel; he couldn't get away from it.

"Rin, please wake up! Please!"

"If I didn't know you better, you could have tricked me." Inuyasha was looking down at his brother. "Seconds ago you looked like you're in pain; that you're suffering. If I didn't know you better, you could've tricked me."

"Are you drunk or something? Are you implying that I'm not hurt by what happened to my wife?"

"Yes, this is what I'm getting at. You're a very good actor; I'm impressed. I never thought that you're one of them."

"Are you on drugs?"

"To come here and mimic sufferance for your wife really is something. I think you're the first one who screwed his mistress while his wife was dying."

'How does he know I have another woman? I was careful enough to never be found out.'

"If you thought it was a secret, learn that it isn't. How was your vacation to Seychelles?" Sesshomaru was utterly surprised, Inuyasha knew too much. "I did everything I could to find out where you were. We were desperate, you know... And after a few days I found out where you were; in the exotic Seychelles. Was the sand as white as they say in those commercials?"

"You followed me? Who gave you the right to prey into my life?"

"Do you think it was a pleasure for me to find out what a complete bastard you can be? I really thought that you were in love with her, that she's your soul mate. I really believed she would always be happy by your side. I was so wrong. I shouldn't have left her in your care. Any other man would have been better for her. Why did you cheat on her? Rin is kind, gentle; she brings light into a room with only her presence. I can't name a person who hates Rin, except maybe your mistress."

"This is not your business. My private life is not your concern."

"Yeah, you're right. However, can you tell me why Rin was returning from the airport the day of the accident?"

It wasn't like Inuyasha didn't know. The date of Rin's accident was the same day Sesshomaru left with his mistress; the flight to Seychelles left with 75 minutes prior to Rin's accident.

"I don't know. Where she went after I left is not my concern."

"The accident took place on July 7 at 11:11 PM. The police investigated the accident."

Did she see me with Meiya? Did she know I have a mistress? Anyone could have known about his affair but not Rin.No, she couldn't have known. I was careful enough. Inuyasha found out after he tried to reach me by phone.

"She knew. Rin knew everything." Inuyasha's words hit him full force. "She was the one who told me about you and that whore. You look at me like I'm talking nonsense. After her accident I went to your apartment; I saw pictures with you and that shallow woman. I do not know since when Rin knew about your affair but I know she knew. She hired a private detective to follow you and take evidence of your betrayal."

Sesshomaru couldn't believe what he heard. She never gave him the impression that she knew. She was smiling every day. She cooked for him every day. A woman who knew wouldn't have done all this. No, it's a lie. Rin couldn't have known.

"Neither me, nor Kagome want to be around you. We only feel disgust for you; your very presence makes us sick. Unfortunately you're Rin's husband and you must decide her fate. Those machines won't keep her alive for long; at some point her vital organs will give up. If you decide to unplug her from life assistance no one would blame you. At least once in your life think about Rin. Don't keep her connected to those wires and tubes only to ease your consciousness."

o.O.o

Sesshomaru returned to Rin's side. The guilty feelings were eating him alive. While he enjoyed his time with another woman his wife was lying on a hospital bed connected to machines he can't even name.

For months he believed she was not aware of his unhappiness; he was so blind. A woman like Rin, whose receptiveness of what happens around her, certainly would have known. He made her suffer; he accused her of being oblivious, but the one oblivious was him.

He was so stupid to think she would never notice the change in him.

And now what? Will his last memory of her lying in a coffin, her skin once warm, now cold as a stone? Sesshomaru could not stand anymore; he fell to his knees beside her bed, his face hidden completely by the sheets.

For months Sesshomaru's sister-in-law had pestered him to redecorate his office. He turned down her offer once, twice, but the third time he was forced to admit defeat. She constantly stalked him until he gave up.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru! When I finish redecorating your office it won't look like a cave anymore; you won't be a caveman anymore! I will make this place look peaceful, quiet; it will relax you. We all know you need extra help to calm down your temper."

Oh, he could see that she was mocking him. How much he wanted to throw her from the 16thfloor.

After a full week of not being able to step inside his office, he was now heading there; from now on he would be able to set foot inside again. He was sure he wouldn't like the new office, but he decided to suck it up and lie to her.

The first thing he noticed in his office was an overwhelmingly blue hue. "Blue brings out a calming feeling." He should have known she would insist with blue. His ears caught sounds coming from the other side of the room.

His eyes scanned the room and found Kagome in the company of another woman, or child; he couldn't really tell. The person next to Kagome was petite and had black long hair. She was wearing black capri pants and a white shirt to match her black capris. He caught faint sounds of her voice. He found it too soft and humble. She's not his type.

The next thing he heard coming from her was her laughter. A strange feeling seized his body; he wanted to see her. To see how the person with such a charming laugh looks like. Unconsciously he strode towards them, his desire to see her growing fast.

As if she could hear his inner thoughts, she turned around; he stopped dead in his tracks and admired the angel in front of him. Her eyes were big and brown; her nose and her lips were perfect. Her eyes were special; they were shining, they were warm. He didn't even touch her but he could feel her soft, velvet skin. A sudden urge to touch her, to have her on his side seized him from head to toe.

A woman like her can melt even an iceberg.

He had fallen in love with her. Cupid's arrow had found its way to his heart.

"How is it Sesshomaru? I did a wonderful job didn't I?" Kagome wanted him to praise her. She put her heart into it.

"Yes, it's very beautiful." Kagome frowned; he didn't even look at what she did. Instead his eyes were completely upon the petite woman next to her.

"Oh yeah, this is Harada, Rin. She's the potter who made these wonderful vases."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Harada-san. I am very impressed by your work." His gaze never left her face; he wanted to get drunk in her beauty.

"Likewise Takahashi-san." She never met his eyes, lest he sees her blushing cheeks. She needed to get out of there or else her body will become numb.

"Rin is a student in the third year at Art University, specializing in Crockery/Pottery. She has already had two exhibitions in Tokyo."

"I did not have two exhibitions in Tokyo. I had one in Tokyo and one in Arita."

"Already a fine artist; I am profoundly impressed by you Harada-san. Can we talk more about what you're doing at lunch, today?"

Kagome's eyes widened in surprise; Sesshomaru was flirting with Rin. He never did that with her as a witness. And Kagome wasn't the only one who sensed the subtle hint.

"Kagome-san, I need to go. I have classes to attend. It was a pleasure to meet you Takahashi-san. I'm happy to know you're satisfied with my work." She dashed out the door. If she didn't leave quickly she would've given up to him. And she couldn't do that. They lived in two separate worlds; she wasn't a suitable woman for a man like him.

And he wasn't her type. Cold-hearted men aren't her type.

The elevator's doors were already closing when a flash of silver passed by her eyes. She lifted her eyes and saw him. Her heart started to beat faster. She was alone in an elevator with a womanizer; a hot, sexy, womanizer. She prayed to survive through this.

"I thought maybe you needed a ride. The trains are crowded at this hour. I don't want you to be late to your classes." He was pathetic and he knew that perfectly well. He never behaved like this not even as a teenager.

"I have a car Takahashi-san. But thank you for the offer."

"Sesshomaru. My given name is Sesshomaru. Call me Sesshomaru." He wanted to hear his name coming through her lips. He really was hit full force by the feeling called love.

"Takahashi-san, it would be impolite of me to call you like that."

"Why? Aren't we close enough to call each other by name, Rin?" he sang her name.

"No, we aren't." she was too blunt, too honest. He loved her even more.

"Maybe not now but soon we'll be very close." He was dying to have her on his side. He wanted to taste those rosy lips of hers. If she wasn't such a sweet, innocent woman he would've attacked her like a cave man.

"No, we won't. You aren't my type." Sesshomaru had no time to respond. The doors opened and she just disappeared.

"Not her type? I am rich, hot, good in bed, and many other things. I am every woman's type."

Her defiance didn't stop him; if he's not her type than he would become it. And the first step to conquer her was to learn more about her; and who's more suited than his sister-in-law.

"Kagome, tell me more about Rin!" Sesshomaru already returned into his office ready to question that pest of a sister-in-law of his.

"Sesshomaru, leave her alone. She's not your type and you're not her type. You two are much too different."

"Tell me her type! This is not a request but a demand."

"Her type is a kind-hearted guy not a cold-hearted guy like you. Her type is a guy who would stop his car in front of a lonely, stray cat and take it home; you hate cats."

"That's all? I can be like that." Sesshomaru had to make her fall for him; he had to proceed with his plan.

"Where are you going?" Kagome asked him when he started walking away from her.

"To find a stray cat."

o.O.o

Whole night he stayed at her bed side, praying for her to open her big, brown eyes; to give him that smile of hers again. At the first hour in the morning he left her side and went to work. He promised himself he would finish as fast as he could and return.

While searching for a stamp in his office drawer, his eyes fell upon a framed photo. August 3rd ...he recognized the photo. Until just recently it stood proudly on his desk and not carelessly thrown inside a drawer; it was his and Rin's wedding photo. In three day's time from now they would've celebrated four years of marriage.

For two years Sesshomaru dreamed of the day she would walk down the aisle to become his wife. Those two years were an eternity for him. Truth be told, he wanted to marry her the very first day he had met her, but her constant refusal made him wait.

He became a different man in the last two years: he mended things with his father and decided to know his half brother better. He supported Rin in all her projects; he even tried to make pottery piece with his own hands.

Rin, soiled with clay and wearing unfashionable clothes, was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen; not even all the female models combined in one could reach her beauty.

Sesshomaru's heart was beating ferociously while he waited for her to come to him...to take her hand in his...officially claiming her as his for all eternity.

The slim A-line gown decorated with soft romantic details with a strapless bodice including a ruched organza and a sating band with Swarovski crystals to define her natural waistline made her gorgeous. The slender skirt with a soft overlay of lace appliqué and features which covered the buttons down the entire length of the train only enhanced her beauty to make her the most beautiful woman in the entire world.

And she was going to become his.

His wistfulness came to an abrupt end as a knock was heard from the door. His business partner, Suikotsu, made his way in; he didn't look happy at all. His hands were full with newspapers.

"I hope you had a lot of fun in your vacation because now hard times are coming." Sesshomaru could sense a trace of cold anger in his voice.

"I am ready to work. Does your visit have a reason?"

"Of course. You know me, I do not visit you unless it's necessary."

"Make it quick. I need to fix something then go somewhere where my presence is essential."

"Our stocks went down 2% in just one hour and continue to go down."

"How's that possible? Did someone make a mistake?"

"I guess you didn't read the papers. You're on the front page in all of them."

"What?"

"Yep, you're in them all. Let me quote some, I've had quite a surprise this morning – 'Sesshomaru Takahashi has a mistress.'Here's another one – 'The well-known model Meiya Saseko is Sesshomaru Takahashi's mistress.'Wait, I have more – 'while the wife is in a deep coma for two weeks the husband is in the sunny Seychelles screwing the mistress.' And all those papers contain the same information. Imagine the uproar this morning in the stock market. Do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Sesshomaru was at a loss for words. Somehow private information had leaked to the public affecting his business. He didn't like it a bit; he wanted to destroy the reporters who wrote these, he wanted to strangle the person who leaked this info.

"How did they –"

"Find out?" Sesshomaru nodded. "Well let me just say that your mistress is very talkative. Yesterday, while she was getting her hair cut she proudly babbled about you and her; she even showed her engagement ring to the whole shop."

Meiya did this? That stupid woman!

"Let me read aloud what the article in the Tokyo Tribune says –

'While Takahashi Rin, a very well known artist in the world of pottery, is in a deep coma due to a car accident, her husband, a well known business man, Sesshomaru Takahashi, lies in the sunny Seychelles screwing his top model mistress. Yesterday I had the unpleasant fortune to find out that this man, who four years ago promised to love Rin for the rest of his life, decided to change women. From Rin, the cheerful and kind-hearted girl, he went onto a shallow woman, Meiya Saseko, also known for her debut as a model thanks to her sexual scandals with the president of the agency, a 55 year old man at that time. As if the adultery wasn't enough, the so-called 'happy couple' decided to get married immediately after he broke up with Rin. As a simple human being allow me to express my open disgust for Sesshomaru Takahashi and Meiya Saseko, two people who have already lost their humanity. They trampled over everything to get what they wanted, even a kind woman like Rin. I hope the public opinion will punish them accordingly.

Naraku Kumo'

Naraku was very harsh on you. Since this morning our stocks went downhill because of you. You started this, you fix it. I already prepared a press conference."

"What should I say?"

"Obviously you can't tell them the truth. If it had been only about your money I wouldn't have cared. From my opinion you can go straight to Hell!"

"You want me to lie?"

"It's not something new for you. Aren't you already an expert? Get ready, the press conference is in ten minutes." Suikotsu stood up and went to the exit. His hand touched the handle of the door stopping before pressing on it. He still had something else to say.

"Every man in this building hates you, including me. Rin was our sweetheart; we venerated the ground she walked on. Betraying her it's something we'll never forgive you for. Ever since the accident all of us visited her, only you were missing. You're the worst man; you gave up an exceptional woman like Rin choosing instead a gold digging whore. The only thing Meiya loves about you is your bank account. When she finds a richer man than you she'll dump you. But Rin would've loved you and stayed by your side even if you had to live under a bridge."

Suikotsu left Sesshomaru reflecting on the predicament he was in. In the last 24 hours his life took a horrendous turn.