Lights passed in obscured blurs as a dark car sped through dark streets.

Thin pale hands grasped the steering wheel as if it was a life line.

She had refrained herself from getting into a car accident by pulling off the high way to take back roads.

It was oh so tempting to drive his-the-car into a tree to rid herself from any remnants of...that person; however, it was her only means of transportation.

After she was positive that she was a far enough distance away, she pulled off onto the curb to determine her next course of action.

Reaching into her purse, she pulled her phone out.

Who could she call?

Moreover, who could she trust to keep herself safe from him?

She took a gamble and pressed Kagome's contact.

She had nothing else to lose.

A tired voice answered the call. "Hello?"

She inwardly kicked herself. It was almost 11:30 at night and here she was waking others up to drag them into her problems.

"Hello?"

Her breath caught in her throat. "K-Kagome? This is Rin. I...I need your help. M-may I come over?"

How she hated to expose her reality! She did not know what the others would think of her, but it was a at least was worth a try.

This jarred the priestess awake. Something had to really gone awry for Rin to plead for help at this hour. She had known the girl since birth; and although she was two years older, she knew that Rinera Ann Takahashi always-no matter what circumstance-helped but never asked for aid.

"Of course Rin! I'll have the door unlocked!"

She was thankful her best friend did not immediately press her for answers. "Thank you! I'll be there shortly!"

Within the hour, the soft hum of the Lamborghini pulled into the driveway of the younger Takahashi's mansion.

An exhausted butler hurriedly took the burden of placing her car in the garage from her while another took her luggage.

"Mrs. Takahashi, please allow me to escort you to Lady Kagome's parlor. She has informed me that she will be with you shortly."

A short, stout, and balding man addressed her from the immaculately designed doorway.

She nodded in response as she followed the directions.

Kagome and Inuyasha's home was a far cry from modest; yet the two did not flaunt their wealth. Both were prominently known for their generosity; and often saved money for better use than personal expenditures.

She was soon left to her own devices while she waited for her dear friend to make her appearance.

Within moments, Kagome entered with Inuyasha in tow. The half demon did not look particularly happy to have been awakened; but when he took in her broken and somber appearance, concern etched his facial features.

She looked at herself in the mirror and gasped.

Her face and torso were covered in blood stains and bruises; while her neck bore purple prints of a hand.

Kagome gasped in shock. "Rin...what happened?"

The sight of the current state of the house nearly made him cringe.

The kitchen, door, and nearby hallways interiorly were destroyed from his rage.

Now that she was gone, the place seemed to be empty.

Even in his stone cold heart, to his utmost surprise, he had felt a slight amount of remorse for his behavior.

In the end, it was his house and his rules. No one had ever dared to cross his authority; and this unsettled him.

The servants would groan at such a chore in the morning; but he did not care. He had much more important matters to attend to.

However, a question remained at the forefront of his mind: what had happened to them?

In the past year, they had-she had-grown distant. If one were to describe their bond prior to this godforsaken year, it would be thought of as having a best friend in a lover.

But since the doctor had told Rin she may always remain in trial health due to the disease that had nearly ripped her from his grasp, they had, in a nutshell, become fire and ice; being able to exist and collaborate, but never to touch.

Afterwards, he had taken a lover to distract himself.

In a way, he could be justified as preventing himself from hurting her.

In the end, he ended up doing so.

Regret washed over him as if it was wild fire.

He never knew how to express his feelings; with her, he could.

With her, he knew he could trust her.

She was his kryptonite; as he was hers.

He hoped that this fight would draw itself to a conclusion by following the routine: tomorrow morning she would return, apologize, and things would return to normal.

What if she didn't return?

"All I see is a monster! What the hell did I do to deserve this?"

He was a monster. Where had his senses gone? He had followed his regimen of shutting off his feelings to prevent himself from getting hurt; and where had that gotten him?

No where but failure.

"You were never good enough for me, Rin. You have neither the looks or money...you are a hindrance...to my success..."

All lies.

A pale fist ruptured an immense hole in the expensive wooden cabinet.

His phone rang.

That bitch.

"Sesshy, darling! I was thinking of having another rendezvous at your home. Is she out? I wanted-"

Red tinted his golden gaze. "You are never to call this number again, is that understood? I do not have time to spare with the likes of you."

An annoying whine split his ears. "Aw, Sesshy! What did I do? Did she make you angry-"

His grip tightened around the electronic. "Silence. She, whom you are referring to, is my mate."

With that he slammed the phone back in its place upon the wall and placed his head in his hands.

He would have to grovel in an attempt to dig himself out of his grave.

That is if she would let him.

Tears streamed down her cheeks at the conclusion of her tale.

She felt exposed and worthless.

Two sets of arms wrapped around her gaunt figure as her knees crumpled.

"Rin...it's going to be okay. Shh..." Kagome consoled as she held the girl up.

"I'll kill that bastard! Why I ought to-Rin?!"

Pain erupted from her abdomen as darkness pulled her into its embrace.

Her mother had been right after all: he would be the death of her.

Yet she didn't find it within herself to loathe him.

Gentle rays of sunlight stroked her cream colored walls as a petite figure stirred.

Brown orbs opened as she became more aware of her surroundings.

Bandages were wrapped around her torso; and an ice pack was on the night stand near her bed.

As her thoughts drifted to the events of last night, she shut down her awareness of reality.

However, a burning began to evade her peace from her mating mark.

Why couldn't he give her a moment of peace?

For now, she would accept her small corner of comfort with ease.

Reality could wait.

He had not gotten a wink of sleep that night. Instead, he had spent the night refurbishing the garden and interior as she had wanted it.

Although he did not require it daily, he felt as if his body was weighed down by sacks of rocks he threw at Jaken.

He pulled himself to the stairs and uncharacteristically, he inwardly groaned at the fact of using them.

Lethargic and nauseous, he began the long trek to the 1st floor.

In a sudden slow motion, he felt his body be pulled forwards in a falling motion.

Within seconds, pain erupted in bursting colors as darkness eagerly grabbed a hold of him.

The last thing he heard was his title being called.

"Lord Sesshomaru!"

She was relaxing amongst the flowers when she received the news.

"Lady Rinera! We have the most dreadful news!"

Jaken?

She turned to see a six month pregnant Kagome running-more like hobbling-after the imp; and the sight nearly caused her to have a stroke.

She turned to her butler and calmly met his urgent gaze. "Let me guess! He proposed to his dearly beloved and wishes to be rid of me?"

The green man shook as he threw himself into a bow. "No my lady! Lord Sesshomaru has cut all contact with Kagu-that wench! He has fallen down two flights of stairs and is in critical condition, mylady! We must hurry!"

Her brown orbs hardened. "And why should this be of any concern to me? He has proven that he does not wish for my presence. He will heal in due time."

Even Kagome's gaze held extreme concern. "Rin, Sesshomaru's body is not healing. He had spent the majority of the night working to get the house in order; and when he was on his way to get you he fell. Inuyasha is with him and their parents right now. Things aren't looking good. The separation has caused his Youkai to shut down due to the extreme circumstances you are in."

Her eyes widened. So he did feel at least remorse.

As if they had their own minds, her legs began to run for her car.

Even if it killed her, she couldn't let him die.

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