DIS: We're here back with the fourth chapter of Thank you for saving me. (sigh) I honestly don't know where I'm going with this story. It certainly isn't as good as Surprise my mind. Thanks for the reviews everyone! And now, for the fourth chapter; read and enjoy!

X

Chapter Four

Sesshomaru didn't know why he was bothering with walking down these alleys. He didn't understand why he was so tempted to see that girl again. She intrigued him, he supposed. She was small, vulnerable, and most people would be miserable in the state she was in. She, however, always seemed to have a smile for him when he came back. Granted, this morning, crashing into him embarrassed her, so she did not greet him with a smile. He supposed, though, that she was very surprised when he actually spoke to her. She has a poor self-esteem, Sesshomaru commented silently to himself. By his brief observations this morning, he could tell she did not like being seen in such a dreadful condition. She has reason to have low self-esteem, though. She is homeless, poor, and is an orphan. He almost snorted to himself. Humans, he reflected, never seemed to be able to care for their pups correctly. That is to say, their children.

Sesshomaru turned a corner, entering the alleyway where the girl was always found. His eyes narrowed as he saw that she was sitting outside the storage garage, looking innocently carefree. He couldn't quite bring himself to believe that she wasn't up to something. He moved forward and she started, whipping her head to the side in alarm. "Oh, sir, it's you." Her face lit up and some of his unease vanished, though not completely. He continued down the alleyway and stopped in front of her. She blinked, then shifted uncomfortably. "Can I help you with something, sir?"

Why, he wondered to himself, does she interest me? "No," he answered. "I am, however...curious...as to how you can offer a smile to a wealthy man such as me when my type of people are the ones that have ruined your life. You cannot honestly say that you are not the least bit jealous of me." Her smile fell and she stared at him, apparently surprised by his deductions. As she gazed at him, he realized that she wasn't sure what to make of his statement. After a long moment, she slid her gaze from him to her feet that were covered with beat up sandals.

"I think, sir, that despite what position you have in life, you should never have regrets and never hold a grudge or be bitter because of something one person did." She raised her eyes to his face, a solemn expression on her young features. "Simply because one person did something does not mean that you should be bitter towards anyone who is like that person. Besides," she continued, standing up and inching away from him, "it is no one's fault but my own that I am like this. I could go into a foster program and have a better life or go into a homeless shelter." Sesshomaru eyed her thoughtfully.

An odd girl, he decided, but still, she intrigues me. Even more so now that I have seen her views. "...What is your name, girl?" She blinked.

"My name is Rin, sir. And you are Mr. Sesshomaru Inutaisho, am I right?"

"Yes, indeed, that is who I am." He paused, suspicion flooding his mind. "How did you find that out?"

"I read about you in a paper recently," Rin lied.

"I see." Sesshomaru was dubious, but he supposed that he shouldn't press the matter. She may have obtained his name on accident through much less...appropriate or innocent means. Either way, the youkai wasn't about to dismiss the matter quite so carelessly. Eventually, it would return to his thoughts, but for the time being, he wanted to see just how this girl had ended up in such a predicament. "Tell me, girl, how did your parents die?"

"I'm not sure," Rin replied, casually walking across the narrow alleyway. "I just got a call that they were found dead in their hotel room – they were on a trip at the time." She grimaced. "I knew the Child Protection Services – or whatever it's called – would be coming to take me into foster care and I thought I might be able to take care of myself." She glanced at Sesshomaru through the corner of her eye. He was eyeing the building in front of him with a blank expression. "I'm getting along fine so far."

"Hmm...What do you think that happened to your parents?"

"My parents...used to be loved by everyone. They had a good amount of money, a nice life, good jobs – they were bound to make an enemy or two. I found out when my father was arguing with two of these men – these lawyers he worked with – that he had many enemies in his office. I think it was probably one of them that killed my parents. They were extremely rich, too, the men my father worked with." She paused, clasping her hands behind her back and gazing up at the sun pensively. "But I'm not going to blame the rest of the rich for what those men did. I'm not going to blame lawyers, either. I only blame those men for their jealousy." She turned to Sesshomaru, smiling. "I don't regret running from my home, though, sir."

"Oh?" Sesshomaru raised a smooth eyebrow, but showed no other emotion.

"What about you, sir?" She asked politely. "Do you have any regrets?" Sesshomaru didn't answer her and he didn't really intend to. His thoughts wandered to when he had inherited the company from his father and ended up cutting off all ties from his half-brother, Inuyasha. He knew that his father would have preferred to help him through life, but Sesshomaru had no intention of doing that. He loathed Inuyasha and so, in cutting off his ties, he also discontinued giving him money. After many protests from Inuyasha and begging from his fiancée, Kagome, the two of them vanished and Sesshomaru had yet to see them again. In a way, Sesshomaru supposed he regretted cutting his ties off from Inuyasha. His father's last wish was probably for them to stay together as a family and Sesshomaru had betrayed that wish. He had, in a way, betrayed his own father. His father, who he had admired and actually cared for.

"No," he said at last, "I have no regrets." He glanced at Rin, who was watching him carefully. She looked disbelieving. "...Perhaps, only one." What would it hurt to tell her? She is a mere orphan and doesn't have anyone to tell. "My brother."

"You regret your brother?" She inquired in a puzzled tone.

"I regret cutting ties from him. My father wished for us to be with each other as brothers, but I betrayed that wish, betraying my father in the process." He glanced at her to see she had turned her gaze back to the sky. She squinted against the sunlight, but he could tell she was turning what he said in her head. After a moment, she turned her eyes back to him and her lips curled upward slightly.

"No one should have to live with regrets," Rin said in an almost childish manner. "When they do, they should try and redeem themselves!"

Sesshomaru snorted, "Ridiculous. I don't desire redemption, most especially from my brother."

"That's your decision, sir," Rin told him with a queer expression on her face. "I was only giving a suggestion." He glared at her in response. She didn't so much as flinch beneath his glare. Instead, much to his surprise, she broke into a grin. Sesshomaru frowned, thoroughly puzzled by this female. She wasn't anything he had seen or heard of. She lectured him about how life should be lived and smiled when he glared at her. As always, he found himself fascinated by her attitude and character.

"Hm...Don't you have any other clothes?" He asked, glancing at her sandals, then at her dress.

"I can't afford new clothes," she pointed out to him, uncomfortable with the sudden change of topic. "When I get money – if I ever do – I have to get food and water. I can't worry about something as trivial as clothing!" Sesshomaru once again glanced at what she was wearing. She seemed perfectly clean with glistening hair and a dirt-free face, but her dress was speckled with dirt and dust and her sandals were torn up and almost too small for her. Feeling slightly generous towards the girl, he sighed through his nostrils and decided he would buy her a little "gift" tomorrow.

"I see," he said slowly, feigning disinterest. "Where will you be tomorrow afternoon?"

"Here, sir. This is where I always am during the afternoon." He nodded slowly.

"Then I will see you tomorrow, young Rin." She tipped her head to the side, curious as to why he was actually announcing that he would be seeing her.

"Oh...Alright. Goodbye then, Mr. Inutaisho, sir." She flashed one of her brilliant smiles, before escaping inside the storage garage. Sesshomaru watched the door for a moment, before continuing down the alleyway. His conversation with her seemed to lighten his mood up slightly. Indeed, she was an interesting person to come by.

I hate being considerate, though, he added to himself sourly. If he was found actually giving a gift to some homeless girl, not only would he be less feared, but his reputation would be torn to shreds. Which gives me all the reason to not buy her a new outfit. He paused. But she really could use something else. If I'm ever to exchange so much as a word to her, then she is going to be in suitable clothing. I will not be found conversing with a barbarian. Almost swearing aloud – which was very rare with Sesshomaru Inutaisho – he realized that he was becoming a softy in regards to the girl. He vowed to himself that he would be more careful about approaching her.

X

That night, as Rin was moving around the alleys thoughtfully, greeting the other homeless that she knew, a thought occurred to her. Was this man – Thomas Hatton – really only trying to get information on Sesshomaru Inutaisho? Rin had no idea what that man would do with the information she provided. But I need that money so badly, she thought despondently. I don't want to hurt Mr. Inutaisho by giving information to that man, but the money! If I had that much money, it could really turn my life around. Sighing, she lowered her eyes to her feet. I wish there was an easier way.

"Oh, Riiin!" A voice called out. A woman that was in her twenties, but appeared in her thirties, came jogging to the younger girl. Panting from the short job, she clutched her stomach in pain. Mayala was a twenty-seven year old that already had gray hair and wrinkles. She had dirty blonde hair that was knotted so thickly that it hardly looked like hair anymore. Her clothes were ripped and were so filthy that they had lost their color. "There you are." Mayala sighed and crossed her arms across her chest. "I've been looking all over you, little lady. Are you going to need to bathe tonight?"

"Yes," Rin answered, smiling. "Mayala, can I ask you something?" They moved away from the alleys towards the residential area, where their 'Bathing Department' was located.

"Sure. You can ask me about men, seduction – anything, sweetheart," Mayala assured her with a grin. Mayala used to be a prostitute, before she discontinued it. No one would pick her up, so she decided to give it up. Of course, her family found out and then they disowned her. Mayala once used to be in a wealthy family and they didn't accept anything like that. It would tarnish their good name and rumors would fly like wildfire. Somehow, for the last ten years, Mayala had kept a good outlook on life, not minding too much that she was homeless. Rin, however, could never really get used to the crude comments that sometimes flew from her friend's mouth.

"Would you do anything for money? I mean, if it was offered by a wealthy gentleman?" Rin asked hesitantly. Mayala turned her head to her, blinking in surprise. She stopped and took a hold of Rin's shoulders.

"Rin," Mayala said seriously, "I know young girls like you are eager to lose their virginity – " Rin gaped at her, her eyes shooting to twice their size. She began to protest, but Mayala continued, " – but you never want to end up like me. Don't sell something that precious for money. Okay?"

"I...I wasn't talking about that, Mayala," Rin whispered in embarrassment. Mayala looked surprised, then embarrassed as well. Clearing her throat, she blushed and looked at Rin in a questionable manner. "This man wanted me to collect information on another rich man and I said yes. He's going to pay me fifty-thousand dollars for it when I'm finished!"

"Fifty grand?" The latter whispered in disbelief. "Wow, that's a pretty damn good amount of money, sweetheart." They paused at the house and Mayala's fingers shot across the buttons for the security alarm and the door unlocked. They inched inside, before going to the bathroom for Rin to bathe. "That's a really good amount – especially for something so trivial." Mayala leaned against the counter as Rin undressed in the bathtub, the curtain closed. Tossing her clothes to Mayala to hold, she turned on the water and started on her dirty flesh.

"I know," Rin said as she rubbed soap on her body, "that's why I'm a bit hesitant. Mr. Inutaisho is really nice to me! Well...I guess nice isn't the word, but he's respectable to me."

"Inutaisho?" Mayala repeated. "You've spoken to Sesshomaru Inutaisho?"

"Um...Yes..." Rin answered shyly.

"You're just full of good luck, aren't you?" The older female gave a bark of laughter that sounded more masculine than feminine. "Ah...I'm really surprised by you. I thought you hated wealthy people?"

"I don't hate them," Rin protested. "I never said that. I said that it was wrong to hate them."

"Right. I keep forgetting what a do-gooder you are." In the shower, Rin scowled, but did not respond to the comment. She knew that Mayala was trying to make her get angry, but it wasn't something Rin did often. Though Mayala had been baiting her ever since they first met, Rin knew better than to take the bait. Especially from Mayala. "Anyway, what kind of information do you need to collect?"

"Any, I suppose. He wasn't really specific."

"When do you see this old gentleman of yours again?"

"Um...He said he'd contact me. I don't know how, but I think he's going to give me some time to converse with Mr. Inutaisho, I suppose."

"Huh! Interesting!" She paused. "I wonder why all the guys are getting interested in you, Rin? You have the potential to be a prostitute!" After Rin rinsed her hair, she shut the water off and Mayala handed her a towel.

"I don't want to get a prostitute. It's an extremely dirty business and not only that, there are terrible men out there," Rin informed her, drying off.

"You are so uptight," Mayala remarked. "When you get that money, you had better get the hell out of here and meet some guy that will loosen you up." Rin sighed, shaking her head a bit and dressing in her dirty clothes. "By the way, that bra looks almost too small for you." Rin's cheeks flooded with color and she muttered a meek, "No," in response. Mayala raised an eyebrow, then grinned, saying, "It looks like you're going to start wearing a B-cup finally!" Rin stared at her in horror. "What? It's true."

"...Let's...let's go now," Rin murmured, her cheeks flushed. She didn't want to grow any more. She wanted to keep her petite figure. She preferred all male attention averted from her. True, there were a couple older men that were kind to her, but it was only because they knew she had no home and felt bad for her. So long as she didn't get any other attention, she would be fine.

X

Jaken sighed, returning from the errand his employer had sent him on. He wasn't sure what to think about the errand. He looked at the bag in his hand and almost felt his heart drop. He didn't really go to any expensive place. He went to Old Navy and bought a few simple, but befitting outfits. He had also bought...unmentionables, though he hadn't been ordered to by Sesshomaru. He just thought he might as well since he had extra money. Along with that, he bought white tennis shoes and a pack of socks. I must say that I have a bit of a fashion sense, Jaken thought proudly to himself. He knocked on the door to Sesshomaru's study and waddled in. "The things that you asked for, sir," he said, holding the bag up. Sesshomaru took it without a word. "Er, if I may ask, sir, why are you buying girl's clothing?"

"A gift," Sesshomaru replied shortly. "Don't you have other things to do?" Jaken sweated at the question. Sesshomaru was irritated.

"Um...Yes, sir...If you'll excuse me." When Jaken was out of the room, Sesshomaru took an outfit out and raised a smooth brow.

Jaken seems to have a taste for fashion, Sesshomaru commented silently to himself.

X

Rin sighed to herself, sitting on the steps of the storage garage. I wonder where Mr. Inutaisho is? He told me that he would be here this afternoon. I don't think it's five yet, and I'm sure it's after one, so he should be here soon. She leaned back and eyed her beat-up sandals. I wish I could get new shoes. This ones are hardly worthy of being called sandals anymore. These look like something Roman peasants would wear. She heard a sound and turned, smiling in greeting to Sesshomaru. "Hello, sir."

"A gift," he said, holding out a box.

"Um...The thought is nice, but I don't want a gift. Thank you, though." His eyes narrowed on her.

"Take it." His voice had a tone of warning and she took the box, deciding that since he was kind enough to have thought of it, she might as well see what it is. She opened the box and stared down at it, for a moment, before breaking into a grin.

"You bought me clothes!" She rummaged through it, then blushed. "Um...All types of clothes."

"...What?" Sesshomaru had only looked at one outfit. He hadn't see the bras, panties, or the socks. He also was not the one to pack the things in a box. He had Jaken do that, too.

"Sir, you bought me...unmentionables!" She exclaimed, extremely embarrassed.

"I did not buy you them," Sesshomaru told her smoothly after a short pause of surprise. "My assistant bought the clothes for you on my orders."

"Um...Well, please thank him for...shopping...for me." She closed the box and offered a shaky smile. "It was nice of you, though, sir, to think of getting me clothes. I did not know you cared."

"I don't care," he answered sincerely, "I simply thought you might want something new to wear other than...that." Rin wasn't the least bit offended by him admitting he didn't care about her. She had half-expected a response similar to that.

Smiling, Rin said in a warm voice, "Thank you, Mr. Inutaisho."

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DIS: Hmm...(sweat drop) Really, where am I going with this! I feel like I'm stalling the story for some reason. Do not worry though! I completely intend on finishing it! I will! Somehow...someway. Ahem. Right. Anyway, please review before you leave and tell me how it was. Constructive criticism is always welcome and as for flames...Well, they are ignored. Ciao!