Chapter 4: Heartbroken…

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"What?" Juro asked looking at her in shock. He never wanted it to get to that point. He was merely trying to be friendly, trying to do a little good, "no, absolutely not."

"Please," Midori begged stepping forward. Juro watched her before stepping backwards unsure what to say. All he could do was shake his head no as the light of the day shown through at them, "why…"

"Because… milady," Juro said unsure what to say to her. Midori just slunk down.

"Why did you stop me? I thought there…" Midori turned around pacing, "I thought there…"

"You thought what? That something was going on between us? Nothing like that could ever happen," Juro said placing a hand on her shoulder. She just pulled away watching him before walking away, "it's not that I wouldn't ever be with you its…"

"Save it," Midori said going for the door as he grabbed her arm stopping her. She just tugged and tugged fighting his powerful grip as he tried to hold her there. A weird sensation fluttered through her as he pulled her close to him.

"It's not like that Midori," he said softly, "we come from separate worlds. I am not the settling down type, and if I were… your father would never allow it. He doesn't like me for my family, and I can never change that…"

"I don't care," she tried to hide the tears in her voice. How did she make such a fool out of herself like that.

"Regardless I can not take you with me because that would start a war between my land and yours. Your father would hunt us down and destroy everything we've worked to build," Juro said close to her ear as she tried to pull away he let his hands linger and hold her there, "when I'm gone… I will think of you."

"I can't stay here," Midori said turning around hesitantly. Her eyes were full of tears. He had always seen Midori as cold and strong… never had he seen tears come from her eyes.

"You can't leave," he said stroking her arms with his hands. Midori looked down at the ground before looking up.

"Then stay," Midori said looking back up at him. He looked down at her so surprised in the words she was speaking. Midori stared at him and he couldn't look away either.

"I want to…" before Juro could finish she cut him off.

"Then I will talk to my father, and I will except the marriage…" Midori said surprised that he turned away angrily.

"Then what's the purpose in me staying?" he said not turning away surprised in his own agitation and anger at the thought.

"To help me scare him away so he won't want to marry me," Midori said making him turn to look at her again, "not that it matters to you. I just… need someone to help. And if you go then so does your family and sister. I could use a new friend… or two."

"Yeah," he said his jaw muscle tensing when he finished the word. He then nodded before pacing back and forth, "if your father agrees to let us stay then I shall stay…"

"Good I will be back shortly," Midori said smiling making him give off a small smile before she turned around and walked out.

--

"Rin?" Sesshomaru stormed through the castle finally finding her. Rin looked at him and then glanced away once more.

"You've upset her… what did you do?" Rin asked angrily not looking to him.

"Rin look at me," Sesshomaru said feeling his patience hitting its limits. Rin did not listen, "one is to oblige their lords request… or have you forgotten your manners?"

"No my lord," Rin said turning to look at him. He was almost taken back by the look in her eyes. They were lost to him.

"Where were you today? You were in the village for a long time," Sesshomaru said in a demanding tone.

"My affairs are of my own, I will not share my whereabouts with someone who doesn't even care," Rin said sourly as she walked towards him almost threateningly.

"Rin I have had enough of this I am going to my study," Sesshomaru growled before Rin shaking in anger and nervousness spoke up.

"I'm leaving Sesshomaru…" she said making him stop in his track.

"Back to the village to tend to matters huh?" Sesshomaru snapped sarcastically. Rin shook her head her eyes full of tears.

"I mean for good," Rin said trying to keep her stature, "I can't go on like this anymore."

"Your not going anywhere," Sesshomaru snapped turning around angrily. Rin did not back away when he stalked towards her dangerously.

"You cannot hold me against my will!" Rin yelled angrily as he stopped before her furiously.

"I can and I will! You are not leaving," Sesshomaru growled, "if you do I will find you, no matter where you go… you can never hide from me."

"I don't need to hide just get away," Rin said her sadness turning into anger with him.

"Your sadly mistaken if you think you can just get away like that," Sesshomaru growled.

"Why you do it all the time? Your hardly around you would never know," Rin said stepping back as he grabbed her arms his nails slightly digging into her flesh. She would not wince, she would not show weakness.

"Is that what this is about?" Sesshomaru said softly panting trying to control his anger. Rin just blinked up at him quietly not saying a word, "don't forget Rin, your mine…"

"It's hard to remember," Rin said pulling away ignoring the marks his nails left with her doing such. The smell of her blood filled Sesshomaru's nostril making him look away from her angry that this was happening. Mad that she was willing to go to such lengths to get away from him.

"Rin," he said softly trying to reason, but Rin just backed away shaking her head no.

"No more lies, no more promises… your not good for either," Rin said before turning around and walking away leaving Sesshomaru there alone. It wasn't too long after that Midori stormed in catching her father in a slightly emotional moment.

"What do you want," he growled not realizing it was her.

"I'm sorry," Midori whimpered turning to leave. Sesshomaru whipped around noticing it was his daughter.

"Midori, come back," he demanded making her stop a moment before turning to walk back in, "I'm sorry I took my frustration out on you. Your mother and I had a disagreement."

"A disagreement doesn't send a wife out in tears," Midori said looking at him sadly, "it's more like demanding… or holding someone hostage."

"Midori," he growled not wanting to argue with his daughter at all, "please I beg of you just talk to me about what you came to talk to me about. If its about your mother then you may keep it to yourself until such a time that I choose to discuss the situation with you."

"It's about King Halder and his family I really wish they stay in these hard times," Midori said sadly, "we had plans and festivals…"

"I do not trust that boy," Sesshomaru said calmly his eyes clothes trying to keep himself calm.

"It is not about prince Juro father, it is about Lady Aneko father. I am rather fond of her, and I enjoy having friends. Prince Juro and I merely get along, you have nothing to worry about," Midori said very convincingly.

"I don't know Midori there is a lot going on here," Sesshomaru said still pacing barely looking at his only child… his daughter.

"Father if you agree to this… then I will agree to the marriage," Midori said stuttering not wanting to really agree to such a thing.

"Really?" Sesshomaru said giving her a look that might have suggested he could read thoughts, but Midori knew better then that. She shook her head yes, "you promise you will not make a fuss."

"Just give me time to get to know him father several months and then if that is what you wish then yes," Midori said already plotting in her head, but doing very well to conceal it. Sesshomaru sighed before nodding his approval.

"But only for two more months then they must head home," Sesshomaru said giving her a serious look. He hoped she would run up and hug him so that he would feel like everything was alright, or would at least be alright… but she turned around quickly and was gone. Sesshomaru watched the spot for moment feeling something inside of him burning furiously, something that made him… sad.

--

"Unpack your things," Midori said leaning against Juro's door frame. Juro looked up at her caught by the look in her eye and the way she held herself against the frame. She looked… different.

"Why?" Juro asked trying to hold back a smile as he looked away from her. Midori just walked in and smiled really big.

"I got my father to agree," Midori said making Juro stand up fully and look down at the girl who held a triumphant pose.

"By agreeing to marry that idiot?" Juro said his neck tightening as he tried to hold his pose. Midori just bit her lip and looked the other way shaking her head yes.

"I need your help getting rid of that idiot Juro," Midori said smiling, "I am not quite as good as you at annoying people."

"I don't know about that one," he laughed making her glare at him, "well I suppose I could try and help. Tomorrow we will begin practice on how to have the worst and obnoxious manners… and self defense."

"Self defense? Why self defense?" Midori asked looking at him with crossed arms.

"Because you are a hanyou, you have some kind of special ability… and we are going to find out just what that is," he said smiling at her making her smile back, "we'll take care of it I suppose. Your such a pest."

"And you're an ass," Midori shrugged making him smile before showing her to the door.

"Now if you would excuse me I have to unpack and undress," he said his hand on her back and his arm pointing to the door. Then he let go and smiled taking off his new shirt, "or you could always stay and help me…"

"You pervert!" Midori shrieked her eyes widening before running to the door.

"I thought so," Juro chuckled making Midori whip around her hair flying and landing messily.

"Your lucky I didn't slap you," Midori said as his hands fell to the buttons of her pants and she quickly exited.

--

Rin lay in one of the guest bedrooms she had made into a room for herself thinking of what had happened. She was so angry with Sesshomaru and the audacity he seemed to have. How could he talk to her like that? Why didn't he fight for her instead of fight with her. Rin just sighed rolling over angrily needing to escape for a moment. She quickly jumped up and hopped out the window like she did when she was young. She quickly made her way to the stables and grabbed her horse Ingwë riding off for the city.

--

'Maybe perhaps I should go talk to her,' Sesshomaru thought as he paced in his study. His old friend pride was getting to old, and he knew he was wrong. Sesshomaru then left his study and to his room, but she wasn't there. Jaken told her she had taken refugee in a different room more and more with his absence. She found it easier then the heart ache of sleeping alone in the bed they shared. So he made his way to her room and opened the door. Rin wasn't in there, 'where is she?'

Her scent lingered, and he knew she wasn't too far gone. He sighed angrily wondering if she would really just get up and leave their child… and him. Sesshomaru growled going after her scent following it to where it went, it was heading for town. He would finally find out why most of her rides landed her in town recently.

--

"Akemi?" Kenji asked he had obviously been sleeping. His hours were different and the sun wasn't even setting yet.

"Kenji," Rin said teary eyed and upset.

"Is everything alright?" he asked not knowing who she really was. They had been friends for a little while and she began to trust him.

"Yes… no," Rin said as he let her in. Rin walked in and sat on a chair crying into her hands.

"What is wrong Akemi?" Kenji asked as Rin shook her head no, "something must be wrong…"

"No, well yes, but that isn't why I shook my head no. My name isn't Akemi," Rin said sniffling making him look at her curiously.

"What are you talking about?" he asked as Rin looked away feeling bad for holding back her biggest secret when he shared all of his.

"My daughters middle name is Akemi… my name is Rin," she said making him look at her curiously with suspicions, "my husband is Sesshomaru lord of the Western Lands…"

"What?" he asked his eyes widening in fear, "then what are you doing here…"

"I know I had no where else to go no one else to talk to. I was just so caught up in being something else," Rin said still teary eyed, "I want to leave my husband…"

"Ake… I mean Rin," he said looking at her sympathetically, "I'm sorry…"

"He won't let me," Rin said feeling her body shake, "I can't take it anymore. Feeling so unloved, uncared about, so… forgotten."

"You will never be unloved, uncared for, or forgotten," Kenji said pulling her into a hug. Rin couldn't resist, she was just hurting so badly.

--

'Her scent I can smell her… there,' he thought as he walked to the house catching a glimpse of something through one of the few windows. It was Rin in the arms of another, handsome, younger… human man. 'Rin?!' He thought as anger began to boil and he was ready to storm in there. 'Is this why she wants to leave me?' he thought feeling something he hadn't felt ever, except with her… once before. Heartbreak. Sesshomaru took a deep breath trying to keep it under control before he killed the man and possibly her. No, he could never harm her… no matter what he loved her. So he did what anyone truly in love would do, he turned and walked away not wanting her to hurt anymore. Something inside of him broke as he thought of all their special moments, the birth of their daughter… the first time they became one. He let out the whips and destroyed some trees in the process as he vented not wanting to hold in all of his anger.

The very thought of her with another man made him sick, all of their shared moment… would be shared with another. Everything he held dear, would be held by another. Every stolen glance made him sick, every imagined touch made him want to be violent, and every smile on her face… broke him more and more. He was becoming nothing once more, and he knew someday it would happen… but he thought it would be from her death. He became what he thought he couldn't be, and now he was losing everything he worked for and wondered why he was there and not with her. Why couldn't he get what he needed? Was he so negligent that he missed all the signs? How? How, why, when? He felt like he was moving all along, just to find out he wasn't moving at all.

When he got into his study he found a note that got him thinking. He began to think on the way things were and how it felt to have her happy. But he began to leave often, and he wasn't done with his quest… and she would only be lonely. She was right, she stayed long enough waiting for him for YEARS, and never did he stay when he promised it would end in a year. She didn't complain or whine, instead she held it in until she couldn't take it anymore. Then he realized he was the one to blame, and the blame turned to shame. So when Rin returned that night he was ready to talk to her about the problems, and knew what he had to do. It was her choice…

"Rin?" he asked as she stalked through the dark spooked by his voice. Rin turned to look at his glowing figure.

"My lord," she said angrily as he stood up and walked to her, "you may keep me here and make me your slave, but I do not have to be near you."

"I want to talk Rin," he said calmly as she stood watching him.

"There is nothing to say," Rin said trying to hold back the tears.

"I hate seeing you cry, it makes me…" Rin cut Sesshomaru off not wanting to be sucked in.

"No, please don't…" Rin said shaking her head no, "Sesshomaru I had found piece of mind, and I was feeling good again. I was on the other side back with the living, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky all my tears were dry. I still love you and I will forever, we cant hide the truth we know each other better. When we try to make it work we both end up hurt, and love isn't supposed to be that way. So I can finally say… stay, stay right where you are. I like it this way, it's good for my heart. I haven't felt like this in I don't know how long, and I know everything is going to be okay if you just stay gone."

"Your free to go Rin I will not hold you here against your will any longer. If you do not love me anymore then I do not expect you to be here when I return. I hope your happy with him," Sesshomaru said not looking at her as he hesitated a moment Rin looked at him in shock.

"Where are you going?" Rin asked whipping around watching him sadly.

"Your right I can't be the man you need, and that man I saw you with can be. I am leaving once more. Perhaps someday we will run into each other again," Sesshomaru said walking off adding in one more comment, "and that shall be the day I live for."

"Sesshomaru," Rin said softly as he disappeared into the night. She stood there for what felt like forever trying to convince herself what she was doing was right. It was hard for her, but she had to come up with a decision…

Authors note: Alright so I leave you all here! PLEASE REVIEW! I would be forever grateful… they are what give me that spark of enthusiasm to get to the next chapter. Thank you for reading everyone!

-Love4horses