Disclaimer: Haha, I feel like I can't break tradition by NOT putting one of these up now. But if you haven't gotten the message by now, I still don't own Inuyasha!

A/N Whooooo! Here's another fantabulous chapter for you all to enjoy. I say "you all" of course in reference to the 2.5 people still reading this crazy story of mine. But here's the second to last chapter (one more plus epilogue to go; expect them tomorrow!). We all know who the killer is! Crazy! Who saw that guy coming? Everyone? Haha!

Sesshoumaru woke with a start.

He blinked a few times, letting his vision adjust to his darkened bedroom. He cocked his head, listening for the sound that had shaken him out of sleep.

It was the same as most nights – the sound of Rin's muffled whimpers as she dreamed. Sesshoumaru swept the covers off and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

It was becoming a ritual. She rarely had a restful sleep anymore and Sesshoumaru was more often than not awoken in the middle of the night by her crying. Then he would rush into her room and hold her until it abated. If they were lucky, it would only happen once a night.

He padded softly down the hall, pushing open her door and going to her bedside. He turned on the lamp and sat on the edge of the bed. Gently, he grasped her shoulder.

"Rin. Wake up."

She awoke with a gasp, instantly seeking his embrace.

"Shhh," he said, stroking the back of her head. "It's alright. You're safe with me."

She clung to him, tears leaking out from her tightly closed eyes. He held her as her breathing slowed and she adjusted to the brightened room. Then he stood up and took her hand.

"Come, Rin. Let's get you a cup of hot chocolate. We'll chase that nasty dream away and replace it with something sweet."

She got out of bed and followed him obediently downstairs, her hand firmly grasping his. The light in the downstairs hallway was on and Sesshoumaru sighed.

"How many times have we told Inuyasha to turn the light off before he goes to bed, Rin? Do you think he'll ever get the hang of it?" She gave him a ghost of a smile and a shake of the head. He sighed again. "No, me neither. That's your uncle for you."

They entered the kitchen and Rin took a seat at the counter as Sesshoumaru bustled about, whipping up the delicious concoction. With a flourish of whip cream and a sprinkling of cinnamon, he set the cup down before her.

Her small hands wrapped around the mug, seeking its warmth to combat the chill inside her. As she took her first sip, she gained a whip cream moustache and could feel the warm chocolate spread all the way down to her toes. She smiled up at Sesshoumaru in delight, her first true smile since Kagura's death.

Sesshoumaru smiled back. "Is it good then?" She nodded fervently. "I should shut down Western Enterprises and start up a new company devoted to making the best hot chocolate the world has ever seen?"

Rin nodded enthusiastically, then thought better of it and shook her head. Then she spread her hands helplessly, not knowing if there was a right answer. Sesshoumaru laughed and leaned over, ruffling her hair.

"Maybe I'll keep Western Enterprises and just make hot chocolate for you then."

Rin thought for a moment and then nodded decidedly, determining this was a sound plan.

Sesshoumaru poured himself a glass of water and the two sipped their drinks together in silence for a few minutes, cheered by each other's company.

When Rin had swallowed the last gulp of her cocoa, Sesshoumaru took her mug and put it in the sink before leading her back upstairs.

As he tucked her back into bed, he sat down on the edge.

"I know this is hard for you, Rin. I know what you saw must have been awful. I know you've been through this nightmare before, with your parents." She looked up at him with wide eyes. He stroked her cheek. "I just want you to know that just like then, I am here for you. I'm not going anywhere and I will help you through it. We're in this together. Always have been, always will be. You're the strongest person I know, Rin. But I'm giving you my strength as well. And most importantly, my love. I love you with all my heart."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Now, let's show those bad dreams who's boss, shall we? I'm sure your next dreams will be only of chocolate and sweets. And maybe what you want for your birthday next month." He gave her a wink and stood.

She looked up at him in adoration as he turned to leave. He was halfway to the door when he heard her small voice pipe up.

"D-Daddy!"

He turned back in astonishment. She had spoken! And what was more, she had called him Daddy. She'd only ever called him Uncle Sesshoumaru before now. As he looked at her in surprise, she sniffed and held out her arms to him. He came back to the bed at once and enveloped her in a hug.

"Daddy!"

"I'm here, Rin."

"I-it was awful!"

Sesshoumaru stroked the back of her head. "Shhh. You don't need to tell me about that now. I'm just glad you're speaking again. One step at a time."

"N-no. You d-don't understand. I need to t-tell you about the b-bad man."

Sesshoumaru caught his breath. He eased back to look her in the eyes. "The bad man?"

She nodded, trying to put on a brave face. "H-he fought with K-Kagura. A-and…" She started losing her nerve.

Sesshoumaru tried to check his eagerness. "It's okay if it's too scary, Rin. We can wait. Maybe a good night's rest…"

She shook her head emphatically. "No. I-I have to tell you."

He gave her an encouraging smile. "Okay… But then let's take it slow. Start at the beginning."

She nodded determinedly and started telling him of the day she was last with Kagura.

..:V:..

"Hey kiddo – hop in!"

Rin looked in the car window to see Kagura waving at her. She opened the passenger door and slid into the seat.

"How was your day?" the older woman asked, shifting gears and pulling away from the school.

Rin shrugged, pulling the seatbelt over her shoulder. "Okay. Mrs. Sanada gave us lots of math homework, but said we had an extra day to finish our history projects."

"Well, that's not so bad, is it?" Kagura asked, slipping on some sunglasses. "You're already finished the history project, and you love math."

Rin nodded reluctantly. "I guess that's true. Uncle Sesshoumaru makes math seem so easy. But still…who likes extra work?"

Kagura gave a small laugh. "You're right of course, Rin."

They rode in silence for a few minutes before Rin started digging in her backpack. Pulling out a big red cardboard heart, she flourished it proudly. "See what I made in class today, Kagura?"

The older woman didn't seem to have heard her as they idled at a red light. She was gnawing slowly on her bottom lip and surveying the cars passing in the intersection.

"Kagura?" Rin tried again.

Kagura started slightly and turned to her. Taking in the heart, she said, "That's wonderful, honey. Is it for Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes! I'm going to give it to him at dinner tonight. Do you think he'll like it?"

"Hm? Yes, yes I'm sure he will," she said distractedly.

Rin watched her for a few moments. She didn't seem the same as usual. The cool and calm Kagura was nowhere to be seen. This Kagura was unfocused and twitchy. With sudden insight, Rin knew what it must be.

Slyly, she asked, "Are you going to have dinner with us tonight? It is Valentine's Day, after all."

Kagura looked at her and smiled sadly. "I'm not sure I'll be invited, Rin."

Rin frowned. "Sure you will be! I'll just ask Uncle Sesshoumaru. I'm sure he won't mind. And then you can give him your valentine!"

Kagura smiled again. "I don't have a valentine for him."

"You don't? Don't you like him?"

"I wish it were that easy…"

"But it is! We all exchanged valentines in class today. It's just a card, but it makes everyone feel special. I got fifteen!"

"That means lots of people like you, Rin. You must be popular."

"I don't know about popular, but it was a lot of fun. So you should definitely give one to Uncle Sesshoumaru! I can help you make one before he gets home, if you like. I bet he'll really like it."

A forced smile. "I'm afraid he won't want one from me."

"Why not?"

"Well…I have to tell him something tonight. And he's going to be very angry with me afterwards." Her hands tightened on the wheel.

Rin's brow furrowed. "Angry with you? Why?"

Kagura pulled into the driveway and turned off the engine. She sighed and fiddled with her hands in her lap. "I've kept a secret from him. A really terrible one."

"But I'm sure if you tell him the truth and apologize, he'll forgive you," Rin said earnestly.

"I'm afraid keeping this secret was unforgivable. But…I have to tell him anyway." She stared at her lap for a moment more before briskly opening the car door. "Come on. Let's get you a snack. Enough of this silly talk."

They marched up to the house and Kagura used her spare key to unlock the door. After closing the door behind them, she disarmed the security alarm and made her way to the kitchen. Rin followed along behind her.

"Are you sure you don't want to make a valentine?" Rin pressed. "It might help him forgive you. But I bet he'll do that anyway!"

Kagura smiled softly at her. "You're very sweet, Rin. What do you want as a snack? Carrot sticks? Crackers?"

"Goldfish!"

"You got it." Kagura took down a box of Goldfish crackers from the cupboard. She poured some into a bowl and slid it towards Rin.

"What time is Uncle Sesshoumaru coming home?" the little girl asked, munching on her snack.

"Hopefully soon, Rin." Kagura opened her purse and took out a small black flashdrive. She gazed down at it with an almost apprehensive expression.

"What's that?" Rin asked.

Kagura closed her palm around it. "Nothing. Just something for your brother. When he gets here."

Rin watched her for a moment. "This…thing you have to tell Uncle Sesshoumaru? What is it?"

"It's…a delicate matter." When Rin continued to look at her, she continued, "It's about Inuyasha."

"Is Uncle Inuyasha in trouble?"

"No! Well…no. Not from me."

"Did he do something bad?"

Kagura looked at her helplessly before turning away and hiding her face. "No, Rin… He didn't do anything wrong. H-he was just a kid. He didn't deserve this."

Rin frowned. "I don't understand."

Kagura wiped a hand over her face before straightening and turning back around. "It's okay. You're not meant to. It's something I have to talk with your uncle about."

"I guess so," Rin replied, still in the dark.

Kagura smiled at her and ruffled her hair. "I'll miss our talks. You always have the most interesting stories to tell me about school."

"You just have to pick me up more after school," Rin told her pointedly.

"I wish I could, really."

"…But Uncle Sesshoumaru's not going to forgive you?" she guessed.

Kagura's expression was enough of an answer.

"What if I talk to him? I'll tell him you're really, really sorry! And that you didn't mean to do whatever you did."

Kagura sat down on the stool next to her. "Have you ever made a really big mistake, Rin?"

Rin thought for a moment then nodded.

"Did you feel really bad about it?" Another nod. "And when someone forgave you, did it make the mistake go away?"

"No…but it made me feel a little better!" Rin said earnestly.

Kagura shook her head. "My mistake was too big, Rin. I don't deserve to be forgiven. I don't want to be forgiven. You see…I can never forgive myself. And if your uncle forgives me, I'll never get what I actually deserve."

Rin tried to follow her logic, but was getting confused. "What do you deserve?"

Kagura straightened her suit jacket and attempted to smooth her hair. When her hand came in contact with her hair pin, she took it out and looked down at it fondly. "Not what I've been holding onto. Not what he's been giving me and I've been selfishly indulging in." She twirled it between her fingers. "I just…I just wanted it to last as long as possible. But…it can't go on. I have to accept what he really should have been giving me all these years…his scorn. His hatred and disgust."

Rin didn't know what to say. Kagura blinked and came back to herself. Brusquely, she whipped her hair back up into a twist and lanced it with her pin. "Sorry, Rin. I didn't mean to say that. Why don't we play a game or something until your uncle gets home?"

Suddenly, the sound of car pulling into the driveway reached Rin's ears. "I think he's home!" Kagura paled noticeably and glanced at her watch. "Don't worry, Kagura. My uncle's really nice. I'm sure whatever it is, he'll understand."

Rin hopped off the stool and started to make her way to the front entrance. Before she could reach the door, however, Kagura's voice came from behind her, "Wait."

The older woman slipped in front of Rin and quickly peeked through the curtained window beside the door. Her face paled more.

Rapidly, she took Rin by the arm and looked around. Spying the hall wardrobe, she dragged Rin towards it.

"Kagura, what are you doing? I just want to say hi to Uncle Sesshoumaru—"

"Rin, listen to me," Kagura said firmly. Rin had never heard her so deadly serious. "That is not your uncle. He is a very, very bad man and he can't know that you're in the house. Get in the closet. Quick!"

Rin grew frightened at her words and stumbled backwards. Kagura yanked open the closet door and shoved her inside. They could hear footsteps coming up the path outside. Rin started breathing quickly, her heart pounding.

"Rin, focus." Rin's eyes snapped to Kagura who was leaning down to her level. "Take this." She pressed the flashdrive into Rin's palm. "Give it to Sesshoumaru when you see him. But Rin – and this is important - you cannot make a noise. No matter what you see or hear, don't say anything. Not a word. You have to stay hidden and safe. Do you understand me?"

Rin gave a frightened nod and Kagura closed the closet door, leaving her in partial darkness. The only light came from the crack between the doors.

Kagura started to make her way back to the door, but before she could reach the lock, it opened and a man stepped into the entranceway.

"Hello, Kagura," he greeted in a deep, smooth voice.

"N-Naraku. What are you doing here?" Kagura asked, trying to appear calm as she took a few steps back.

"Funny. I was going to ask you the same question." He was forcing his voice to be level, but there was a dangerous undercurrent to his tone. He took a few strides forward, slamming the front door closed behind him. Rin thought he looked vaguely familiar. She had seen him somewhere at Western Enterprises before.

"W-what do you mean? I was just—"

"Just what? Bringing Rin home for Sesshoumaru after school? Where is the little brat anyway?"

Kagura kept her eyes locked on the man in front of her, willing herself not to glance toward the wardrobe. "She's at a neighbour's house up the street. She's staying with them until Sesshoumaru comes home. I was just about to leave, actually." She started looking around for her purse.

"Sure you were," he sneered. "Wouldn't want to have a private conversation with him and open your big mouth, would you?"

"Naraku, I don't know what you're talking about. You know I often pick Rin up. In fact, you encouraged it. Anything to keep a closer eye on them—"

"Save it. Do you take me for a fool? I heard your conversation with Sesshoumaru in his office today. You're about to tell him the whole thing. Just because you developed a little crush."

"H-how…?"

"We work at a technology development company, Kagura. Did you not think I could get my hands on a bug? After we used the spy camera in the hospital, you should have had a better idea of my resources."

"You bugged his office?" she asked in incredulity.

"I couldn't take the chance he would find a lead about his parents' killer. Or that Inuyasha would start remembering. I had to know the instant either happened. I would have told you…but something told me you couldn't be trusted anymore."

"What are you talking about? I've done nothing—"

"YET!" Naraku bellowed. Kagura blinked and was shocked into silence. "And I'm here to make sure you don't do anything."

"Naraku, please. Are you hearing yourself? You sound completely paranoid." She stalked into the living room with her typical straight back and cool demeanour.

"Don't lie to me, Kagura. I know you're pretty damn good at lying, but it doesn't work on me. We've known each other too long for that. You're here today to tell Sesshoumaru everything. And for what? Because you're sweet on him? Will he take that into consideration when he learns of the terrible things you've done? Or the pain you've caused his family?"

Kagura picked up a candle, fidgeted with it for a moment and laid it back on the mantle. "For what, Naraku?" she asked with a little laugh. "How about so I can look in the mirror again? How about so I can stop living with this gnawing guilt from day to day? I can't look at Sesshoumaru's face for more than a second without thinking about what we've done. What I know, what I've been living with. My freedom is not worth his ignorance."

"And me, Kagura? You were just going to leave me out to dry? Not even a 'by the way, I'm damning us both because loyalty only runs so far'?"

Kagura spun on him with flashing eyes. "You're a murderer! You're a coldblooded, remorseless son of a bitch and I am tired of lying for you!"

Naraku crossed the room and gripped her arm tightly until she cried out. "You're kidding yourself, doll, if you think you're innocent in all this."

Kagura glared at him before twisting out of his grip. "I never said I was innocent. But you've gone too far, Naraku. I know you've been watching Inuyasha. I can't let you do anything to hurt him."

Naraku smiled, a cruel toothy grin. "Oh? Is this how you were going to stop me? By ratting me out to your knight in shining armour? You knew it might come to this, Kagura. You knew from day one. He saw both of our faces that night. If only the goddamn waste of space had actually died that night. Then you wouldn't be facing such a difficult moral dilemma right now."

"How can you talk about him that way? He's a person, Naraku. Just a kid! And you gunned him down as if it were nothing."

"I had to! We had already come so far and the stupid Reijiros were the only thing standing in our way!"

"People's lives are worth more than your bank account, Naraku!"

"Don't act all high and mighty. You didn't want to get caught either. Why else did you keep your mouth shut? You wanted the money just as much as I did."

Kagura clenched her fists. "I may have wanted the money, but I only helped you steal it so I could pay for university. I wanted a better life for myself! But I would give it all back right now if it meant sparing the Reijiros their lives. They didn't deserve this! Any of it! It was their company, their money. But you just felt so entitled!"

"You and I both suffered growing up. Those foster homes, those shitty neighbourhoods. Your alcoholic father, for chrissakes! We deserved something better. Rich snobs with everything handed to them don't know what it's like. You and I were the only people in that whole damn company who understood. Don't pretend you're better than me now. Don't pretend to be one of them."

"Neither one of us were ever like them!" Kagura spat. "We were both too bitter and thinking that the world owed us everything. And if it wouldn't give us what we wanted, we would just take it. When you got me the job at Western Enterprises, I thought it was going to be a whole new chapter. Not just a new chapter, a new book. My real life was going to start, full of opportunities and freedom from my godawful childhood. I was going to work hard and earn a better life for myself."

"And then you were brought back to the real world, sweetheart. Where everything costs money you don't have. An internship as a secretary wasn't going to get you through university."

Kagura looked away from his goading gaze. "I could have made it work. I could have gotten a loan or something."

"Ha! That's rich. As much as you were so 'eager to earn a better life,' you still took the dishonourable route with me. It was faster, easier."

Kagura's eyes flashed. "And as you've always kept reminding me, I owed you for getting me the job in the first place."

Quick as lightening, Naraku grabbed her wrist and twisted it hard. "And you still owe me. So I just don't understand why you would try to betray me after all this time. After all I've done for you."

Kagura grit her teeth against the pain. "You didn't do it for me. You did everything for yourself. I was just your pawn. You've only wanted me around so long as I'd help you. But it's too much, Naraku. The killing has to end. The truth about that night has to come out. We have to atone for our crimes."

"That…will never happen!" Naraku roared, throwing her aside. She stumbled into a sitting chair and knocked it to the ground with her. He advanced on her and she scooted backwards, eyes wide. "Why couldn't you just keep your mouth shut, huh? Things were fine. We had this under control. Six years. Six years you do nothing. And now suddenly you're Mother F-ing Theresa. Where'd this conscience come from, huh? Are you that sweet on Sesshoumaru that you would throw both of us on the sword for the truth to come out?"

Kagura clamoured to her feet, her back against the mantle. "This has nothing to do with how I feel about Sesshoumaru. This has to do with preventing you from taking another innocent life. One that was lucky enough to escape from you the first time."

"All for Inuyasha, eh? What's so special about that brat?" Naraku snarled. "Sesshoumaru always hated him, and yet he had those damn guards hovering around him 24/7 at the hospital. I couldn't get near him to finish him off. Not like you were a great help in that regard either. But you weren't so high and morally righteous then that you wouldn't help me get 'insurance'."

"His night of vulnerability? I only did that to stop you from trying something crazier. Guards or no guards, you would've found a way to get to him if you didn't think you could handle him easily if and when he did wake up. I was trying to save whatever life he had left! You were nuts, off the handle! You still are, but you hide it better these days. You keep it bubbling, just below the surface."

"You really know how to flatter," Naraku bit sardonically.

"Why couldn't you just let it go? There was no guarantee Inuyasha was ever going to wake up! Why couldn't you just let him be?"

"Because he did wake up, you dumb bitch. Everything I feared came to pass because you delayed the inevitable." Naraku came towards her, but Kagura darted behind the couch.

"But he didn't remember anything! And waking up itself was a miracle. Five years in a coma and he not only comes out of it, but doesn't suffer any permanent brain damage. Do you know how rare that is? Why couldn't you just let him live in peace?"

"You and your guarantees are the only thing that's kept him alive until now. I thought you were still on my side, watching him to make sure he didn't remember anything. But now I see you've been helping him all along. Hoping he'll remember and save you from this whole mess. Kagura, always taking the easy way out."

"What's EASY about it?!" Kagura screamed at him, slamming her hands on the back of the couch. "Nothing about this whole disaster is EASY. Everything's just twisted in your deluded nutjob of a brain! I thought you were just like me growing up, born in shitty circumstances and a little rough around the edges. I never imagined you were a complete psychopath! You know why I kept your secret all this time? I was scared of you! You were willing to kill an entire family to cover up our embezzlement. What would you do to me if you thought I wasn't on your side? But I don't care anymore. You deserve a far worse fate than prison. And it doesn't matter what you threaten me with now, the truth is going to come out one way or the other!"

"You don't know what kind of mistake you're making," Naraku snarled, menace thick in his voice. "We could have both been rich. Now it'll just be me."

Kagura backed up as he took a step forward. "You just don't get it, Naraku! The money never made me happy. I was never like you, such a small-minded and worthless excuse for a human being that I needed stolen money to justify my place in the world! And the Reijiros died for what? Your pathetic ego?! I would rather be dead than help you cover this up any longer! You're scum and you deserve to burn in the deepest depths of hell for what you've done!"

"Then I guess I'll see you there!" Naraku shouted as he launched himself at her over the couch. It overturned as they both crashed to the floor and wrestled with one another.

"You psychotic bastard!" Kagura screamed before he punched her across the face.

Back in the closet, Rin stood stock still, cupping a hand over her mouth. Kagura had ordered her not to make a sound. She willed every muscle in her body to stay frozen and prevent the whimper threatening to come out of her mouth. Her other hand clutched the flashdrive in her sweatshirt's pocket. For how hard she held it, there was probably an indentation in her palm.

Rin wanted to shut her eyes. Shut her eyes and cover her ears. Anything to drown out the scene unfolding before her. But all she could do was continue to watch. Watch as Kagura kicked Naraku in the groin and scrambled to her feet. Her head was bleeding and her lip was split. She started throwing things at him, anything to keep him at a distance. Knick-knacks, decorative plates, even the candle holders on the mantle.

They only slowed him down and incited his anger further. Deflecting the objects as best he could, he nevertheless advanced toward her. "I'm going to shut your dirty mouth. Permanently!"

He rushed her, pinning her against the mantle, his forearm crushing her windpipe. She gasped for air and flailed her arms, looking for some sort of purchase. Her hand came in contact with a vase and she hastily swept it off the mantle and against the side of his head. He stumbled and his grip loosened from the shock. The vase shattered on the floor. She broke free, but not before he kneed her hard in the side. She coughed violently and tried to regain her balance. Fuzzily, she looked towards the kitchen where she might find something to defend herself.

Before she could take two steps, however, Naraku kicked her again, sending her flying. She only saw smooth black before her head cracked against the large screen TV. She dropped to the floor like a rock. Horribly dazed, she could only make out shapes. She looked up to see Naraku's outline stalking towards her. With all the strength she could muster, she pushed herself up, clutching her side in pain. She felt the blood trickling down her face, but she was oddly out of touch with the pain.

She reached out a hand, as if to stop his advance. "Stop… Please," she begged, knowing it was fruitless. She knew this was how it was going to end as soon as she saw him in the driveway. There was only one way this was ever going to end.

Naraku was out of control, his face red and his eyes flashing. "You brought this on yourself," he spat. "We could have had everything together. You were just too stupid and sentimental to see it."

He grabbed her outstretched hand and used it to throw her to the side, crashing straight through the glass coffee table in the middle of the room. As she lay amongst the broken shards, he knelt over her and put his hands around her throat. He gripped hard, never hesitating as her eyes bulged wide and her face turned blue. She only made feeble motions to resist which soon quieted as the last of her strength faded away.

"Unfaithful bitch," he growled, rising to his feet and brushing himself off.

He took a few moments to reorient himself and look over the room to see he hadn't dropped or touched anything. Then he straightened his hair and clothes and made his way back to the front hallway.

Rin, tears streaming down her cheeks, tried to keep her breath in check. But every inhale and exhale sounded like a siren to her, giving away her location. Thankfully, Naraku didn't seem to hear her and instead walked out the front door, taking care not to leave any fingerprints behind.

But fear of his return kept her rooted to the spot. She felt like she could never leave that closet, never utter another sound. Not if she didn't want to end up like Kagura. Poor, poor Kagura.

Rin was still frozen there twenty minutes later when Uncle Sesshoumaru came in and stumbled upon the horror scene. He ran into the room and lifted Kagura's body into his arms and still she couldn't move. Inuyasha and Kagome came running in, and later many police officers were all walking around the house. And still, she stayed still and quiet.

It wasn't until Sesshoumaru opened the closet doors in his frantic search for her that her mind was able to register what was going on around her. But even then, even as she launched herself into his arms and sobbed, she couldn't make a noise utter from her throat.

..:V:..

"I'm s-s-so sorry, Daddy," Rin cried, clutching Sesshoumaru's arm. "I was s-so scared. I couldn't do anything…or tell you. M-my voice…"

Sesshoumaru's fist was clenched hard against the sheets of her bed. But he forced himself to relax and give her a hug. "You did wonderfully, Rin. You did everything perfectly. I'm so glad you stayed safe."

Rin sniffled and then pulled away. She untangled herself from her bedding and crossed the room. She went into the closet and started rifling through the pockets of her sweatshirt. Pulling out a black flashdrive, she held it out towards him. "I-I forgot about it. Please don't be mad. I know it's important. K-Kagura died protecting whatever's on this thing."

Sesshoumaru took the drive and studied it before putting it in his pocket. He leaned down and grasped her by the shoulders. "She didn't die protecting this, Rin. She died protecting you and Inuyasha. You were what was important to her. And I'm sure she will rest in peace knowing she did everything she could. That she saved lives instead of adding to the deaths. That's what you should remember about her. Not the horrible things you witnessed that day."

Rin sniffed and nodded her understanding. He helped her get back into bed and tucked the covers up to her chin. "Good night, Daddy. I love you."

"I love you too, Rin. Sweet dreams."

He kissed her forehead and turned off her light. It wasn't until her door was closed and he was out in the hallway before he let his true feelings cloud over his face. Naraku! Mr. Hirozaki, treasurer of the company. Model employee, never drawing attention to himself or creating a ripple. Embezzling money? And Kagura had been a part of it!

Suddenly he had all the answers he'd sought for the past six years and he felt sick to his stomach. His parents had been killed for this? The senselessness of it left him feeling weak. He stormed downstairs into the study. It was here on the floor that his father had died, shot by his own disgruntled employee. He let out a furious yell and punched the wooden desk.

"Why couldn't you have just taken it all?!" he yelled out in frustration. "I would give you all the money I have… if only… if only…"

He picked up a picture from the shelf. His father and step-mother stood smiling behind him and Inuyasha. His younger self looked vaguely annoyed and was trying as hard as possible to keep some distance from his smiling younger brother.

"I was such a brat. I didn't understand what I had. But if I just had another chance… Mom, I know I would do you proud." He felt a tear trace its way down his cheek, but he brusquely wiped it away before going to sit down at the desk.

He opened his laptop and fished the flashdrive out of his pocket. He plugged it into the USB drive and waited for the documents to load.

"What did you leave me, Kagura?" he wondered as he clicked on the first.

As he browsed through the folders, he found more and more company documents. It took some time before he understood what he was looking at. They were financial statements for Western Enterprises from seven years ago. There were two copies of each, slightly different from each other.

"Son of a bitch," Sesshoumaru breathed. Kagura had kept records of the entire embezzlement. She kept copies of the original statements, and then the altered records to cover up the obvious siphoning of money into a third party account. Over the course of a year, they had managed to embezzle over two million dollars.

Sesshoumaru slumped back in his chair. Kagura had had such potential… She was a rising star, but she gave into a weakness. Could he blame her for taking that first step down the wrong path? Had he ever known what it was like to be desperate for money and looking for the ticket to unlock a golden future?

But she'd fallen in with a madman. Fooled by a friendly face from childhood, she started down a dark road she'd never come back from. Was it really fear for her own life that had kept her quiet all these years? Or was it just cowardice and an unwillingness to own up to her own crimes? He supposed he would never know the answer to that. One thing was for sure. Whether or not she'd been in prison, Kagura had never been free. She had been shackled by guilt and fear. Sesshoumaru wasn't sure if that filled him with satisfaction…or a profound sadness.

The ringing of the landline broke him out of his reverie. Startled, he looked at his clock on his computer screen. 2:00 am. "What the hell?"

He got up and grabbed the mobile phone from the hallway. "Hello?"

"Sesshoumaru! Thank god!"

Sesshoumaru frowned at the familiar voice. "Kagome?"

"Is-is Inuyasha there? It's really important!"

"He should be in his room… Let me go check." Sesshoumaru felt a flare of panic in response to her tone, but forced the feeling away. Inuyasha was surely asleep in his room.

He ascended the stairs quickly and walked down the hallway to his brother's room. He opened the door and flicked on the light. It was empty. The bed hadn't even been slept in. A million thoughts immediately raced through Sesshoumaru's head.

"He's…not here," he said into the phone, his voice cracking.

He heard Kagome's sharp inhale of breath. "S-Sesshoumaru, listen to me. Inuyasha's in terrible danger. He's gone to confront the killer."

An anvil fell into the pit of his stomach. "No…!" he rasped.

"He…he must have remembered who it was. He didn't tell me who it was, but he's gone to see them tonight. And he's going to get himself killed!"

"Foolish brother! I'll kill him myself!" Sesshoumaru spun around, looking for any clue to his brother's whereabouts. Nothing was out of place.

"Sesshoumaru! There's no time for that! We need to stop him," Kagome urged.

"Do you know where he's going?"

"Yes! To the Whitaker Bridge. He'll be there any minute now. I'm on my way there. Please hurry!"

Before he could respond, she hung up. Sesshoumaru stared down at the phone in his hand. "Foolish girl!" he gritted.

It was all going wrong. He finally knew who killed his parents and put his brother in a coma. The mystery haunting him all these years was at an end…but his brother had just thrown himself headlong into danger! And Naraku was the last person he should be confronting alone. The man was unhinged and willing to kill anyone who got in his way.

Sesshoumaru threw the phone down on the bed and ran to get his coat.

A/N *sob* Poor Kagura!