Ann was running faster than she ever had before, her heart pounding in her chest as she raced towards the docks stretching over the lake. As her feet hit the wooden planks, her heart sank. She couldn't see Rin anywhere. Only ripples from the bone shattering splash marred the lake's surface.

"Oh god, she's underwater," Ann thought, tears springing to her eyes. Reaching the end of the dock, she leapt as hard as she could and dove into the water. She kicked with all her might towards the fading ripples, diving deeper as she frantically searched for Rin. Spinning in circles, she looked up, down and all around.

"She must be farther down," Ann thought frantically. She pointed her head towards the unseen lake floor and kicked wildly, continuing to look in all directions. The further she swam, the harder it was to see, but she continued. A small sliver of hope was still lodged in her heart that if she kept going, Rin would appear.

Her ears began to ring. Her vision was narrowing. She needed air. She clasped her hands over her mouth and nose, determined not to take an involuntary breath.

"Not yet," Ann thought desperately. "She has to be here somewhere."

From out of nowhere, a hand clasped her upper arm and began dragging her towards the surface. She struggled but whoever had her had more brute strength. When they finally broke through the surface, Ann gasped for air, her lungs burning. She wiped the water from her eyes and saw who had saved her.

"Inuyasha?" she wheezed, disbelief and relief mingling in her voice. She lunged forward, grabbing his sleeve. "Inuyasha, you've gotta help me!" Ann exclaimed, panicked. "Rin is underwater! We have to save her!" A look of sadness crossed his face.

"She's gone," Inuyasha said soberly, as he treaded water.

"No, she's not," Ann cried in outrage. "Even if she dies, all we have to do is take her to Sesshomaru. His sword will bring her back."

"You don't get it," Inuyasha snapped. "Her body is gone. It's no longer in the lake. Whatever you did made her disappear." Ann paused confused.

"I don't understand," she said, her body suddenly very cold.

"That purple light you put around her when she was falling," Inuyasha clarified. "When it surrounded her, it made her disappear. Didn't you know that would happen?" Ann shook her head, but now that she thought about it that was what her grandmother had done to send her through time.

"Oh my god," Ann thought, devastated. "Where did I send her?"

The swim back to shore was a blur. As Inuyasha guided Ann along, her mind was filling with guilt. Again, she had failed to protect somebody she cared about. Again, Naraku had stolen something precious from her.

"That bastard," she thought, her mind clouding with anger. "He'll pay." Doubt edged its way into those thoughts. "Will he pay though? He hasn't so far, and who am I to bring him to justice. I've been a complete failure so far."

Depression was starting to take hold again, overshadowing her anger. Her heart ached, the pain radiating out through her body. As they neared the shore, Ann could barely crawl from the water. Inuyasha quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her forward. Ann's head slumped and she closed her eyes.

"I just want to sleep." Her hopelessness enveloping her. "I don't want to feel the pain anymore."

"Inuyasha," Kagome called out, the sound of her footsteps rushing across the ground. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah." His hand went under her legs, and he lifted Ann into his arms. She allowed her head to fall back and kept her eyes closed. Ann didn't want to see their faces. Any traces of sadness or sympathy would make everything too real. Inuyasha continued, "She's just exhausted. Can we set up camp?"

"Yeah," Kagome replied softly, her voice filled with concern. "Over here." Ann was carried for a short distance and then laid down on something soft. A blanket was laid over her, at which point she allowed herself to pass out.

On the opposite shore from where Inuyasha and his friends were, Sesshomaru entered the courtyard of the abandoned castle. He had pushed hard to try to catch up to Ann, which impressed him.

"She's become stronger." he thought with a sense of pride as he surveyed his surroundings. At first sight, it looked as if nobody had been here in a long time, but Sesshomaru could smell that their battle had spanned the entire area. Remnants of Naraku's miasma was the strongest scent, but there were also hints of Ann's presence, carrying that faint scent of lilac.

He followed the scent towards the docks, finding her naginata along the way. He picked up the weapon, inspecting it for any clues about what had transpired, but there was nothing. He continued to the docks, gazing out over the water. In the distance a small light caught his attention.

"A campfire," he muttered. A gentle breeze blew in across the lake, making him frown. "Inuyasha." he growled. Gripping Ann's weapon tightly, he followed the shoreline in the direction of the campsite, wondering what he'd find.

Night had fallen when Sesshomaru approached the edge of the campsite using the shadows to shield his presence. His half-brother, along with the humans of his group, sat silently around the fire, all looking to be in deep thought. Sesshomaru scanned the area, looking for Ann. A wave of relief washed over him when he saw her lying under a blanket a short distance from the group.

"Do you think Ann will be okay when she wakes up?" The young woman with priestess powers spoke to the group. Inuyasha's jaw tightened, while the monk and demon slayer gave each other significant looks.

"I'm not sure," the monk said, touching the beads that wrapped around his hand. "She has lost another person. I have to wonder how much more she can take."

"I agree," the demon slayer said, her eyes downcast. "When I lost my family, I was devastated. It was like a part of me had died."

"Oh," the priestess whispered, her voice full of sadness. Inuyasha suddenly leapt on his feet and turned towards Sesshomaru, drawing his Tetsusaiga in the same motion.

Sesshomaru smirked, standing his ground. "I was wondering how long it would take you to notice me, little brother."

"What do you want, Sesshomaru," Inuayasha growled, maneuvering himself in front of his friends.

"I have come for Ann," Sesshomaru spoke calmly, enjoying his half-brother discomfort.

"You can't have her," Inuyasha snapped. "She's been through enough today without having to deal with your crap." The smirk disappeared, replaced with a glare.

"You spoke of her losing her family," Sesshomaru spoke harshly. "She lost them months ago." Sesshomaru didn't miss the looks everybody exchanged. The priestess heaved a heavy sigh and moved to stand next to Inuyasha. As she met his gaze, he could see the unshed tears there.

"I'm not sure how to tell you this, but somebody did die today." Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.

"Who?" His voice dangerously low.

"Rin." The priestess sobbed out the name and began to cry. Inuyasha, still keeping a wary eye on him, put an arm around the young woman to comfort her.

Sesshomaru's mask held, but he was frozen in place. Rin's smiling little face turned towards him in happiness was locked in his memory. "Gone," he thought bleakly. It had never crossed his mind how much it would hurt to lose her.

"What happened?" Sesshomaru asked, barely managing to keep his voice composed.

"Naraku used her as a hostage," Inuyasha said shortly. "He had Kagura drop Rin from up in the sky. Ann tried to use her powers to save her, but whatever Ann did made Rin disappear."

Sesshomaru glanced over at Ann. She was curled up into a tight ball under the blanket, a subtle tension marring her features even in sleep.

"Her potential seems to be limitless," he thought, "but with no one to teach her control, she might come to fear their unpredictability."

Sesshomaru made a move towards Ann, but Inuyasha shifted his position to block him.

"Move aside," Sesshomaru demanded, his gaze boring into his brother's.

"You can't have her." Inuyasha shouted.

"Sesshomaru." Everyone turned to see that Ann was finally awake. She was sitting up, her big blue eyes locked on his, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sesshomaru, I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice choked up. Sesshomaru took a step towards Ann.

"I don't blame you, only Naraku. He has finally gone too far." Ann let out a whimper and jumped to her feet. Before anybody could stop her, she had her arms wrapped around his middle and her face buried against his chest, hard sobs racking her body. For a moment, Sesshomaru was frozen, but then he settled his hands on her back, a pained look on his face.

After a moment, Sesshomaru began to guide Ann away from the campsite, his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

"Sesshomaru." Inuyasha took a step after them, his voice held a cautionary edge. Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder at his brother, his eyes like daggers.

"Stay out of this," he warned as they melted into the shadows.

Ann clung to Sesshomaru miserably. The pain of loss was like a fresh wound on her heart, but being in his arms was a balm that had the potential to heal. In a moment of desperation, she threw aside her duty and all the promises she'd made. She brought Sesshomaru to an abrupt stop, grabbing the front of his jacket and kissed him. Sesshomaru froze, the warmth of her lips on his a stark contrast to the cold night air. His eyes widened in surprise before narrowing, and then he gently pushed her away. His gaze was intense, unreadable.

"Ann." His voice was low, a hint of a warning in it. "You're tired. We should go home." Shame ripped through her body, burning hotter than any of her grief. She forced a smile, though it felt brittle.

"Of course," she mumbled, averting her eyes. "Sorry. I don't know what I was thinking." She turned to walk away but he caught her arm, drawing her back to him. Her heart skipped a beat as the heat of his body permeated her.

"Stay close," he said, his golden gaze intense. Energy, manifesting as tendrils of fur, began to emanate from Sesshomaru, lifting them from the ground. Ann gasped and clung to the front of his jacket. His hands came to rest on her shoulders. "We will be home soon." Ann merely nodded, suddenly too exhausted to care. She leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder. She was tense for a moment, waiting for him to push her away again but he didn't. She allowed her eyes to close.

Ann was being carried. She opened her eyes, her heavy lids protesting. The hallway was passing, and then the door to her room. She was laid gently on her futon. Sesshomaru was kneeling over her, his golden eyes unreadable. He moved to rise, and before she realized what she was doing, her hand had reached out to take his.

"Please don't leave me." she whispered. Ann was terrified to be alone. Her guilt was eating her, starting from her heart and working its way out. If he left now, she'd be alone with that guilt and her thoughts. She needed to feel something else. She squeezed his hand. "Please," she begged. "Just until I fall asleep."

He watched her for a moment, the conflict evident in his eyes but finally he sat next to her. They were like that for a while, his eyes on her but not seeing her. His mind was somewhere else. Ann's mind was else where too. Her constant failures, the mounting deaths, all because of her. What was she doing? In her old life she hadn't been a warrior. What made her think that was a possibility now?

"Sesshomaru," she whispered, breaking the heavy silence. "I'm done. I can't fight any more. I'll stay alive long enough for somebody to finally kill Naraku but don't expect much more from me." Sesshomaru frowned.

"So, you will just give up?"

"Give up?" Some of the old anger began to rise up inside her but then it was gone, her depression suffocating it. "I suppose I am." She began to roll over, facing away from him. "I changed my mind. You can leave."

He caught her by the wrist and rolled her back into his direction, a challenge in his eyes.

"I thought you had some courage," he mocked. "But now you show your true colors, human." Ann's heart clenched. Her name on his lips had felt good, but now she was inferior again.

"Isn't that what you wanted?" Ann snapped, pain lacing her voice, struggling against his grasp. "You're starting to have feelings for this human and we both know that won't work. Can't be like your father, right?" The jab slipped from her lips before she could stop herself. Before she realized her error, Sesshomaru held her inches from his face by the front of her kimono.

"I live by nobody's standards," he hissed. "Humans have never impressed me. They have always scurried about their trivial lives, below my interest." Ann clasped Sesshomaru's wrists, scared of him for the first time in a long time. His demon aura burned her senses, her body shaking at its intensity. His grip on her tightened, but as Ann looked into his eyes, she realized they were softening.

"You are the exception," he whispered, his voice harsh, and then his lips were on hers, hot and demanding. Ann breath hitched. Sensation took over. She returned his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. His hands moved to tenderly cup her face, his tongue dipping into her mouth to taste her. She moaned softly against the invasion, a bolt of pleasure shooting to her core.

Blissfully, the depression was being driven back. "Please, more," Ann thought, desperate for the pain to finally be gone. She quickly dispensed with his obi and parted his jacket, revealing the smooth, corded muscles of his chest. She pulled back from their kiss to pepper his bare skin with hungry kisses, her hands gliding along his warmth, reveling in his strength. His scent was intoxicating, making her senses swirl and her mouth water.

Sesshomaru's hands glided down Ann's neck and slid under the collar of her kimono. They continued their descent down her arms, causing goosebumps to rise, taking her kimono with him until her breasts popped from their cover. Ann pulled her arms from the sleeves, allowing the kimono to fall away to her obi, her hands greedily finding their way back to Sesshomaru's bare skin. His hands cupped the fullness of her breasts, squeezing them, his thumbs gently rubbing over her pert nipples. Ann groaned as his touch sparked sensations that made her throb between her legs.

Her kisses across his chest turned into love bites, pinching just hard enough to make him growl. The gentle caresses changed, as he rolled her nipples between his fingers, making her cry out, her hips bucking. His mouth moved to one of her breasts, drawing her nipple into his mouth and rolling it with his tongue. His free hand found its way between her thighs, his fingers stroking a fire to life. Ann cried out, pressing her hips into his hand.

"Oh, please, don't stop," she thought desperately. "I need this so much." As if he sensed her desperation, he pressed her back into her futon, his body caging her in. Both of them were breathing heavily, their scents strong in the air. Sesshomaru's eyes were dilated, and for once he was not composed. He grabbed her obi with both hands and, with a low growl, ripped it in half. Flinging it aside, he parted her kimono the rest of the way, revealing her naked body to him.

He groaned, almost as if he were in pain, as he wrapped his arms around her and began to taste her. His kisses moved tenderly across the scars he'd left, almost as if he was apologizing, but then his kisses became hungrier as he slowly trailed soft bites and licks down the valley between her breasts, working his way to her torso. Here he gently used his teeth, raising little trails of heat. Ann's fingers twisted into his hair, her body trembling with need. He continued across her hips, his golden gaze meeting hers as he caressed the insides of her thighs, slowly spreading them. Her hands went to cup his face, an unspoken emotion passing between them. In this moment, Ann was the safest and happiest she'd been in years.

Before she could assess those thoughts, Sesshomaru positioned himself between her warm thighs, laying one of her legs across his shoulder. He tasted her supple flesh, first on one thigh and then the other. She groaned, her toes curling, the anticipation building as he drew nearer her core. His gaze met hers one last time, his eyes hooded, making her heart skip a beat at the need she saw there, and then his tongue was on her.

Ann's head fell back at the shock of sensation, her hands gripping the blankets. He hungrily devoured her, his tongue swirling around all of her sensitive parts. With each stroke of his tongue, Ann could feel herself building, her mind growing hazy with the intensity of it all. Sesshomaru's hands gripped her hips, holding her firmly as he delved deeper, his tongue penetrating her opening. Ann arched off the mattress, her breath coming in ragged pants.

"Oh, please, Sesshomaru." she whimpered. She was so close to the edge that her core ached, but she wasn't quite ready to fall. Sesshomaru tongue swirled her opening one last time before he moved to her clit. He latched on and sucked. Simultaneously, he pressed two of his fingers in her opening and thrust. Ann's mind exploded, her body trembling as waves of pleasure washed over her. Sesshomaru removed his fingers to lap up her juices, drawing out her climax with each greedy lick.

As Ann's mind righted itself, Sesshomaru moved up her body and kissed her. She could taste herself on his lips, heightening her need for him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the intensity.

"Take your clothes off," she whispered breathily against his lips. He broke their kiss, looking intently into her eyes and then nodded. He stood and quickly dispensed with his clothing. His body was the picture of masculine strength and Ann's gaze drank him in, astonished by the power and grace that he exhibited.

He returned to the cradle of her legs, bracing his arms on either side of her frame. Ann's hands moved over the taunt muscles of his chest, reveling in their strength. He positioned himself at her opening, rubbing himself in her wetness, creating a new need within her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, drawing him closer, desperate to have him inside her, to fill the emptiness. With one long thrust, he penetrated her to the hilt, a cry of pleasure escaping her lips at the sensation of him filling her.

Sesshomaru growled, his eyes flashing red for a moment before he grasped control again. He set up a slow rhythm, Ann meeting him with each thrust, but soon his pace quickened, his gaze intense on her. She was building again, this time towards something higher. His ragged breath mixed with her cries of pleasure as her nails dug into his back. Ann's legs wrapped tighter around him, pulling him deeper. The tension was mounting, growing tighter and tighter. Sesshomaru buried his face in her hair, his ragged breath hot on her neck, his movements becoming disjointed as his control slipped.

Ann's head fell back, his eyes clenching shut, her body trembling with the force of her impending climax. It was so close, but agonizingly out of reach.

"Ann," Sesshomaru murmured, his voice strained. "Look at me." She opened her eyes, meeting his gaze. No barriers were left up. She saw only raw emotions in their golden depths that she understood all too well. With a final, powerful thrust, she shattered, her body convulsing and tightening around him as waves of ecstasy crashed over her. He groaned, as he found his own release, his movements erratic as he spilled into her.

They remained connected for a while afterwards, Sesshomaru's head resting on Ann's shoulder while she gently stroked his back. Her thoughts were a complex web during those moments. She had a connection with Sesshomaru, one she never could have imagined possible. Under all of his layers of duty, there was somebody that was capable of caring and she knew now that she loved him. Her feelings for him were undeniable and deep, making her heart full, but as the euphoria of their coupling faded, the guilt returned.

"I can't do this again," she thought as her hands traced the powerful muscles of his back. "But will I be able to stop?"