A/N: This hasn't been properly BETA'd, so sorry for any errors.
"Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently."
― Maya Angelou
The city life was bustling before the sun even came up. In a ridiculously massive house lay Dr. Taishou - or informally known as Sesshomaru. As usual, he woke up before the alarm. Unplugging the unnecessary object he lifted himself off the bed.
His silver hair rolled off his shoulders and onto his bare chest, and his amber eyes slowly opened. He got up and stretched briefly, his face relaxed for a moment before his stoic demeanor was firmly placed on for the rest of the day.
He glanced at his phone, it was 8:00 exactly - but he knew that. Sesshomaru was what some would call a control freak, he made sure everything was routine. Checking his phone for the time was something already made into a habit, which he didn't mind so much.
He started off the day by taking a steamy shower, washing his hair with shampoo and conditioner he carefully ran his fingers through his long hair. If there was one thing he wouldn't leave the house without doing first, it would have to be properly washing his hair.
After lathering down his body Sesshomaru stepped out of the shower with a white towel just barely masking the parts that defined him as a male, he brushed his teeth, washed his face and brushed his hair.
He was mechanical, routine was a must. He made sure to take about the same amount of time in his daily morning routine, along with properly hanging up every article of clothing he had. He grabbed a pair of black slacks and a button down grey shirt and red tie.
As any other species would usually do, he served himself a cup of coffee with five creams and four sugars. He preferred his coffee sweet, which the few who knew were pretty surprised by.
The sound of panting and claws scrambling over the hardware floor alerted Sesshomaru, he turned towards the two dogs who were patiently awaiting their own meal. Ah and Un, the only other organism he had allowed to live in his home.
Briefly caressing them, Sesshomaru fed his loyal dogs and finished the rest of his coffee before heading out. The garage was gigantic, but to Sesshomaru it was practical. It was lined with eight cars and four motorcycles and his three limos.
The demon lord gazed down at the bowing creature, with a nod of acknowledgement, the green creature began eagerly squawking away. "Good morning my lord!" He opened a brief case lined with keys to every vehicle.
Sesshomaru chose the keys to his Hennessey Venom GT since today was a casual day, and his servant Jaken bid him a formal goodbye before he entered the car and drove away.
Sesshomaru was next in line to become CEO of Taishou Co. But since their competitor Kumo Industries entered the anti-human cause, their support skyrocketed where as Taishou Co. decreased. Sesshomaru, being the only child had to take it upon himself to also be an active member, and entered the facility.
Sesshomaru growled, if that damn Naraku hadn't applied for this forsaken place, he would be in his office calmly sipping coffee. His train of through was interrupted when he arrived to the facility his lips twitched, at least there was one good thing that came of this.
He locked his car and shoved the keys into his pockets and glanced up at the building. It was large and an eggshell white, it looked more like a prison than a research building due to the lack of windows and towering fence.
He scanned his ID and stepped into the air conditioned building. Security checkpoint was the first to welcome him. Sesshomaru snorted when the guard requested his shoes and anything that contained metal.
Sesshomaru begrudgingly surrendered his belt, keys, wallet, shoes and coat. There was nothing wrong with it - again, and Sesshomaru retrieved his things and ignored the 'thank you' from the guard.
Sesshomaru stopped by the surveillance room, intrigued by the amount of demons huddling over the multiple screens. He glanced up at the purity meter and his eyes widened for a second before relaxing.
"Good morning Sesshomaru." At the sound of his name, the powerful demon turned and glared at Naraku. Sesshomaru didn't respond and Naraku chuckled at the demon lord's reaction. "There has been powerful pulses all night."
"Hn." Sesshomaru pushed past Naraku and gazed at the screens, all the humans were eating breakfast, and demons were listening in to the audio. Sesshomaru's amber eyes darted across the screen until he saw her.
There was a large smile on her features and her eyes shined brilliantly. She was eagerly chatting away, her dimples even coming through. Sesshomaru immediately relaxed, he knew she was the one.
She was releasing those pulses in her sleep, and when the demons find out, she will be slaughtered. She brushed back a rebellious strand of hair and Sesshomaru couldn't help but feel captivated.
She was the girl who had proved stronger than anyone else in that building, she had easily refused the chemicals he had injected into her. Not only that - but the drastic effect her powers had on demons would terrify any other.
Except him of course.
Naraku narrowed his eyes and tried to figure out whom Sesshomaru was staring at to no avail. He scowled, but it immediately disappeared when Sesshomaru turned around and exited the room.
He was more than annoyed when Naraku followed him, he turned swiftly and shot daggers at the demon. "Today, we are conducing experiments on all patients. Be prepared, for I will be supervising."
Sesshomaru caught the double meaning and bristled, but he said nothing and turned away from the no doubt smirking demon. He was infuriated, his own experiment would be interrupted for that...scum.
He stomped back to his room, flaring his aura to tell his co-workers that he wasn't in the mood for any chatter. He arrived at his examination room and began to pull up Rin - the human's files. This was under strict lock, and only he had access to it.
Clicking heels approached the door, Sesshomaru quickly closed everything up and instead began organizing the vials that came to him today. The familiar scent of perfume entered his senses and a slight breeze came through.
"Kagura." He addressed curtly and the woman approached him. Her eyes were a blood red and hair as black as ink. It was pinned into a formal bun, and glasses frame her face today. She smiled, her red lips revealed white teeth.
"Good morning, Sesshomaru." Her velvety voice would have infatuated any other demon. To Sesshomaru, her charm had no effect, so he merely nodded and she sat down in one of the chairs across from him.
"Those pulses have been happening for weeks," She frowned, her own brow furrowing at the next sentence. "It's been occurring since..." She trailed off, she saw his hands clench into fists and decided to trek further across the line.
"Whom?" He dared, Kagura flinched but pity found its way onto her features. "Your secret is safe with me." She whispered, almost bitterly before leaving the room. Sesshomaru stared at the ceiling, did he not hear her well? She almost sounded jealous.
For the next couple of hours, Sesshomaru spent it going over records. He had even went as far as searching into Rin's past. From police reports, she had used her powers against a chief of police and his son.
Then there it was, the execution of her family. Sesshomaru opened the video and stared, it was a public execution, so naturally there were demons recording. The first to be executed was an old woman, her eyes were swollen from what he assumed were tears. Her head was bowed, and her eyes uncovered. Naturally, that was the punishment any human associated with a Miko was to receive. He watched as in two commands, the soldiers raised their guns, and aimed at the small woman. Her eyes widened and she glanced around, fear latched onto her face.
The video ended and Sesshomaru sighed, he wasn't anti-human as you would think. Yes, he found them disgraceful, but that did not mean he encouraged the public torture of them. Sesshomaru read the brief news report following, the brother - was still at large.
Another pair of footsteps lurked dangerously close to his door, Sesshomaru suppressed the snarl and closed up the documents and locking them up. The foul scent of miasma entered the room and Sesshomaru's nose wrinkled before he turned in his rotating chair and stood up.
Naraku entered with a triumph smirk on his face, "Are you ready?" He asked cheerfully, Sesshomaru merely snorted and snatched the briefcase of vials he had been offered by Naraku.
He began preparing the needles when Naraku disappeared, Sesshomaru almost felt sorry for whomever was going to be assigned to him. Something within him clawed fearfully, And what if it is Rin?
His blood ran cold, but he shook off. It was highly unlikely that it would be her - of all people. He heard the shuffling of feat outside , the sound of a slap and the yelp of a struggling female alerted his senses.
"Let me go!" The voice cried, Sesshomaru's fears were confirmed. He suppressed the growl and placed on his mask of indifference before facing the trio. Naraku was smirking in the corner as Rin was forced into his line of sight.
She looked up at him, a look of horror than anger quickly flashed by her face. She gnashed her teeth together and struggled, Naraku's smirk widened while Sesshomaru's frowned deepened. It took everything within him to not rip the demon away from Rin and rip his throat out along with Naraku.
She was effortlessly slammed onto the table and restrained before she could catch her breath. She is not as idiotic as I thought. Sesshomaru had expected her to lash out with her powers, but here she was. Appearing to be as weak as any other human woman.
Another machine was wheeled in, and Sesshomaru's fury only increased. At the increase in his aura, the assistant had escaped the room along with the other who pushed in the device. Naraku eyed Sesshomaru at the suffocating demonic energy but still bore his mask.
Sesshomaru was infuriated, that machine was used by the humans fifty years ago on the insane. And it is rumored to distort your memories and your perception. The chain of curses that were flung out of her mouth brought Sesshomaru out his thoughts, Naraku was standing over her in a taunting manner, his grin now reaching his ears and he whispered threats that made her eyes narrow and her hands clench up into fists.
"Hook her up," Naraku barked but Sesshomaru didn't move, he was being defiant, some would even say childish. But he would not subject Rin to anything that could interfere with his own project.
"What's wrong Sesshomaru?" Naraku asked, but Sesshomaru caught the double meaning. Naraku wanted to see his infatuation - if any with the girl, be revealed. Sesshomaru frowned, his amber orbs darkening.
"That machine is illegal, Naraku." Sesshomaru retorted, and Naraku chuckled. "Electroshock therapy is the only way to make them admit to their actions. Or is there something between you and the human?"
Sesshomaru knew what Naraku was trying to pry out of him, but he wasn't the least bit interested, if anything he was just irritated even more. Sesshomaru glanced at Rin, her solemn expression could not hide the fear hidden within her eyes. Her heart beat was erratic and she was sweating, Sesshomaru clenched his jaw.
"I have nothing to do with the girl."
Naraku smirked, "Then do it."
Sesshomaru had no choice, if he refused, it would prove that he was some how involved with Rin. Sesshomaru said nothing as he grabbed the appropriate wires with the suction cups on the end and attached them to her.
Her eyes silently pleaded with him, but Sesshomaru had no choice. Their eyes met as he connected the last two thongs onto her temples, she winced at the slight pressure but never broke from his gaze.
"Inject her." Naraku commanded as he watched the situation unfold between them. Sesshomaru hesitantly grabbed the needle filled with a clear liquid, this would assure that she would not completely fry under the severe shocks.
She sucked in a breath of air as he plunged the needle within her and emptied it. She didn't deserve this, and she was his to test on. Not this mongrel.
Sesshomaru stepped back, her eyes squeezed tightly and Naraku flipped levers on the machine before flipping a huge switch down.
A lightbulb went out and her screams filled the room. The voltage crackled through the air and her body was lurched off the table, Sesshomaru stood there, his heart beating faster as he watched her wither in agony.
No. Sesshomaru watched as Naraku stopped the first shock and she plopped down onto the table. A groan escaped her lips but Naraku roughly grabbed her face and snapped it towards him. "Who is the Miko?"
She whimpered, but not another sound escaped her. After a few agonizing seconds he lurched his hand away and went back to the dial, "Your amperage will be increased girl, I strongly suggest that you tell me."
A small chuckle escaped her lips, "N-Never." She croaked. The snap of the dial assured Sesshomaru that it was now at 77mA. He knew that she would be in extreme pain, and death was now possible.
Naraku flipped the lever once more, Rin's screams filled the room. Sesshomaru pierced his palms in with his claws in order to stop himself from ripping off Naraku's arm. But after a few more agonizing seconds, he stopped and she was on the table.
Her body was twitching and tears were now rapidly flowing down her face. She couldn't take another, Sesshomaru turned to Naraku but found him already stalking towards Rin. "Who. Is. It." Naraku repeated, a more venomous tone taking over the amused one he had just moments ago.
"I...don't...know." She gasped, but the sarcasm in her voice was but a whisper. Naraku caught it and arched a brow, "Is that so? How unfortunate." Sesshomaru watched as Naraku turned the dial to 300mA.
The lever was pushed and the lights began to flash. Her screams broke out, but this time her body was reacting on its own.
But the same amount of time went by, a but slower than what he would like. But Naraku stopped and glared at the girl, "I will be taking my leave, Sesshomaru."
Naraku shot a glare at Sesshomaru before leaving, when the door was shut Sesshomaru bolted to Rin's side. Her heart beat was fluttering, and her breaths were coming off rapid as sweat slid down her temples.
Sesshomaru quickly removed the straps and practically ripped the plugs off her before flaring his aura. Her eyes opened for a moment, the fear in her eyes dimmed and a faint smile reached her lips.
"Your name...is Sesshomaru." She whispered, "But you're not a killer." She murmured before going limp. Sesshomaru stepped back and allowed her to rest. He didn't understand why she interested him so. Or why he found himself so angered that Naraku had inflicted so much pain.
However, he was certain that he cared for her - for Rin.
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Please leave a review!
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