O.O –Faints- -Revived- -Faints- -Revived- O.O I got ten reviews for chapter 4. TEN! -Does back flips- -Does front flips- You… you guys are so awesome! I've never loved reviewers so much! T.T -Hugs you all- 54 reviews… I had to do a double take! If there's ANYTHING I can do to show how much a appreciate it, please let me know. –Bows down to you all- I am your most humble servant. (Of course, I am speaking to the people at fan fiction. Mediaminer hates reviewing. But if you've reviewed on there, the above message applies.)

Dream is in italics, as well as thoughts.

Temptation (The temptation to steal Sesshoumaru's bangs is growing… o.o)

Chapter 4: Accusations

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Rin's back slammed into the ground, words cut off by a hand clapped tightly over her mouth. The heavier weight of his body was pressing her into the wet earth. She screamed into his hand, mahogany eyes dilating in fear. He pressed her wrists together, pinning her hands above her head and shifting his weight to keep the young woman from moving her legs to kick him. Her form wriggled beneath him. Silver hair fell to either side as he leaned forward. Golden eyes meeting her smoldering terrorized gaze.

Rin's heart hammered in her chest. She could hear it pounding in her ears as she fought to free herself. The young woman refused to fall still and give into him, no matter how hopeless the situation. Scowling as Sesshoumaru watched her – no doubt preparing to speak – she opened her mouth and bit down hard on one of his fingers. His hand remained in place, though his eyes took on a sudden potent gleam.

How the hell did he move so quickly? What's he going to do to me! Remy please… come outside…

"Let go," Sesshoumaru said through clenched teeth. Rin bit down harder, and nearly gagged when his coppery blood touched her tongue. Disgusted, she complied. "I will remove my hand if you will remain silent."

She glared at him.

"Nod, or shake your head." He said coolly. "You're not in the position to be defiant."

Reluctantly, the young woman nodded. She tried to ignore the intensity of the stare he was casting on her, and the way silken tendrils of silver grazed her cheeks. Sesshoumaru kept her arms and legs pinned, but lifted the hand covering her mouth. "What the HELL is this about!" Rin demanded the moment she was able. She found her mouth covered once more.

"Was I not clear on my meaning of 'remain silent'?" A rhetorical question. The young woman did not make any move of hearing, but the fire in her glare would have been enough to give any other person chills. But, Sesshoumaru wasn't any other person and he matched it with his own icy gaze. He removed his hand.

"…Tell me what you're doing," she whispered furiously, "And why you're covered in blood."

". . ."

"Will you at least get off- eep!" Rin was pulled none-too-gently from the ground, the movement so sudden and unexpected it sent her mind reeling backwards. Sesshoumaru clapped his hand back over her mouth, tugging her firmly against him before disappearing into the sanctity and refuge of the forest. The scent of another human curled in his senses, followed by a middle-aged woman's voice calling out to her adopted daughter.

"Rin! Rin… I finished the roast!" The woman called again, a frown marring her features. She didn't look surprised or worried. She looked like someone had just insulted her. Shaking her head, the human disappeared into the nearly decrepit house.

Rin fought his hold. Sesshoumaru let go; ready to grab her the moment she dared try to run off. Though his face remained stoic, he was waging an internal war. Why did this simple girl make him act on impulses he would normally disregard?

Rin staggered to the right, catching her balance by taking hold of a low-hanging branch. She cast a sorry glance at where Remy had stood, before turning her attention back to Sesshoumaru. His face was blank, seemingly unfazed by his actions. "Explain!" Her voice was hushed, jabbing a finger in his direction. Something in the back of her mind told her she should probably be afraid of the unpredictable youkai before her, but it went unheeded.

"…"

"Well?"

He looked away, as if the tree to his left had become more worthy of his attention than she. Rin bit the inside of her cheek. "Hello! Are you just going to ignore me? You bastar-"

She was cut off when his stare returned to her. The cold golden hues seemed glazed, as if he was seeing past her… at something beyond just her. A chill ran up her spine. Her voice softened. How can I forgive him so easily?

"Will you… at least tell me if you have some mutilated corpse hidden back here?"

Sesshoumaru quirked a slender brow, the faraway look fading from his eyes almost instantly. "I have murdered no one." His tone was bland, almost bored.

"Why'd you kidnap me?"

"You have not been kidnapped."

As if startled by something, a bird sprang from a nearby bush. It beat its wings widely, shooting off a steep incline. It made her jump; dumbfounded for a long moment.

"Well, what's this all about then!" Rin snapped.

"I could not have attention drawn to myself."

"Then you shouldn't walk around covered in blood. What is it from, anyway? Is it yours? Are you hurt?"

The inu youkai was silently taken aback by the concern that slipped into her reprimanding voice. He decided not to dwell on it. "I was… hunting." The collected demon felt awkwardly placed, something he held no liking for.

"Hunting?" Rin repeated with a questioning air. She raised her own brow, arms folding neatly across her front. "With what? Your hands?" The girl immediately regretted asking, a mental image of Sesshoumaru slicing up innocent animals with his claws for some kind of twisted amusement springing up in her mind's eye.

She fiddled with an ebony lock in the long uncomfortable silence that followed. Sesshoumaru had gone back to staring at the tree, pulled from his deep thoughts when he heard her quiet, bubbling laughter. He raised an inquisitive brow.

Rin smiled, stretching her arms above her head. "You're pretty weird, ya know?" She kicked at a dirt clod with the top of her shoe. "You'll do something as unsophisticated as hunting with your hands, and yet act so collected and serious. Almost like contradicting yourself. And don't even use being youkai as an excuse, because I've known a lot of them and none of them acted like you."

"Perhaps I am merely unique?" Sesshoumaru prompted, something different flickering to life in his deadpan eyes.

Rin rolled her own. "You're unique all right."

"Does that bother you, Rin?"

She blinked in surprise when he said her name. "Not at all, Sesshoumaru." Rin paused. "You're name's so long compared to mine… maybe I can call you Sesshou… Sesshy…?" She laughed aloud at the last one, stopping quickly when she realized he might take it as an insult.

"I believe," he said flatly, "Sesshoumaru works fine."

"Sorry about that," Rin smiled again. The action lit up her features in a way that caught him off guard. Sesshoumaru felt something minute stir within him, and almost frowned.

The young woman before him was now picking unconsciously at the bark of a tree. She let her head drop so midnight bangs shielded her eyes from his view. "This may seem a little weird for me to ask but," Rin paused, slight regret intertwining with her scent. She wishes she hadn't began speaking again, Sesshoumaru realized.

"Do you think maybe we could… ah… go see a movie or something?" She laughed nervously. "Not that, I like you like that or anything! It's just I really don't have many friends here yet and I-"

"I will consider it," Sesshoumaru interrupted. She looked up at him with a sheepish grin.

"Um… want the house number? So you can call if you decide-"

"I will get a hold of you," He interrupted again. His voice was monotone.

"Okay," The young woman muttered, shifting uncomfortably. Sometimes she wondered if she was right in the head. Hello, Rin! He just attacked you!

Rin turned, making her way back as he stared after her. The fact he was not – could not possibly be – hungry dissolved when she was near him. Her scent proved just as puzzling… Something about that human is off. He decided, and he was determined to figure out just what it was…

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"It's how far?" The hanyou frowned, fiddling with his side view mirror. The passenger door opened, a lithe bodied woman sliding into the seat. She tossed him a smile, stormy blue eyes glittering in the sunlight. He felt his insides jell-O up. "I wouldn't drive so far for anyone else, Kagome."

"I know you wouldn't," She laughed, closing the door. "And Rin will be so glad to see us!"

"Keh…"

"Ano, something wrong Inuyasha?"

He started the car, making a clean turn into the road leading to the interstate. "It's just… the name of the town…"

"Mistveils?" Kagome chirped. She rolled down her window, letting the rush of hair blow the hair back form her face as she buckled her seatbelt.

"It sounds so familiar…"

She shrugged. "You traveled a lot a few years ago. Maybe you drove through it? It's a small town."

The hanyou considered the idea, before casting it out. It was more than just a drive-through. Mistveils… I think… maybe Mom mentioned it before. "Maybe," He said as he pressed the gas petal down. The speedometer climbed past 60… 70…

"I wish you wouldn't drive so quickly!" Kagome groaned, clutching the door.

He grinned. "Get used to it. We'll be together for a long time."

She laughed and spoke with a playful tone, "You just hope I'll stick around with you for so long."

"You'd better," He shot back, "that ring wasn't cheap." Kagome pulled a face, and turned to look out her window at the quickly passing landscapes.

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Rin placed her dish in the sink, careful not to make too much noise when it slid against the other glass china. Remy had all ready gone to her bedroom for the night, leaving Rin alone and awake. The young woman sighed softly. She moved quickly up the creaking steps to The Yellow Room.

I practically asked him out! Her mind screamed. What in the world possessed me to do something like that? She changed into her pajamas, and fell into her pillow. Rin pulled the cover over herself, and fell asleep listening to the light rain bouncing off the roof. Sesshoumaru is a youkai… and a very peculiar one too… She willed herself to sleep.

Her breathing was labored. She pushed against the clinging vines and raced on. The thorns cut at her skin, ripping small cuts in the soft flesh of her hands, legs, and face. Warm blood trickling unclotted. It was amazing how dark it was. Not even a star to light her way. Rin kept on.

He was closing in. She could almost feel his sick amusement watching her flee, knowing there was no hope. Her foot caught a lose root and she stumbled forward. He grabbed her arm and jerked her upright, hands sliding up to her neck where they encircled it. Rin screamed. The sound echoed, but no one came.

His grip tightened. Blue and block dots dancing in front of her eyes. She gagged, her own hands reaching up in a sad attempt to pry his off. And then the hands fell away from her neck, and were replaced by something else. Something warm and wet. His tongue! She realized with disgust, yet was unable to pull away.

Something sharp pricked her skin, drawing a single bead of blood. As if a new will had manifested itself within her, she moved away. Pain lanced through her legs, and suddenly there was a dim light that allowed her to see. Turning to look upon her attacker, she froze.

There was no one, but on the ground lay twelve white lilies…

She shot up out of bed. Cold beads of sweat clinging to her forehead. Rin bit the inside of her cheek, heart still racing. Twelve lilies. Twelve white lilies. Her breath hitched in her throat. The symbol in the dream had been clear, but could she trust it? She found herself gripping her sheets tightly in fear.

Twelve white lilies.

Twelve days until she died.

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Notes: Sorry, no time for author notes! I have to go. GAH! I'll add some later, jaa. AND REVIEW!