InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Then From Love until Forever ❯ Death is Only the Beginning Part 2 ( Chapter 13 )

Please forgive any and all grammar/spelling errors.

I could go on a twenty page rant concerning the reason I have not updated until now…but since I have made you guys wait long enough I will give you a very brief explanation.

June 30 I finished writing this chapter…just had to proof read one more time then post it…unfortunately I decided to wait one more day to update so I could space time out for editing.
July 1, my fucking computer's hard drive was wiped out by a virus…this chapter and all my other files were deleted.
July 1-now, working on new chapter during free time but finding it hard to write because I was so pissed off about my computer and losing the chapter that it was hard to get in the right mind set to type.

So if this chapters sucks I am so sorry. I tried to make it as good as the first draft but I personally think it is not.

Well, please read my note at the end of the chapter and REVIEW tell me what you think!

Sorry for the wait and thank you for your patience.

Then From Friendship Until Forever…
Chapter Fourteen: Death is Only the Beginning Part 2

He was dead, starting from the inside out. He was nothing but a soulless body working on instinct and fueled by anger. His amber orbs were glazed over, his facial features calm not distorted or twisted in malice like the chaotic mess going on in side his head. Sesshoumaru's silver convertible jolted forward a bit as he shifted into fifth gear. The entire world could explode and he wouldn't care the slightest…the only thing that mattered was that his Rin was dead.

His cell phone danced wildly inside his pocket causing a buzzing sensation to tickle his thigh. Quickly without a single thought he answered his cell phone, just as his speeding car took a sharp turn. His eyes flashed a deep, crimson for a brief moment in time while the voice on the line told him the location of the man he sought after. Vengeance would be his…Naraku would die…slowly, painfully, and without regret.

Kagome hugged her arms tightly around her body as her worried eyes drifted across the room to her sleeping friend. She let a soft sigh escape her pales lips, her thoughts on Inuyasha, praying that he would find his brother soon. She could feel something was about to happen…something bad, something that was going to change all their lives forever. But no matter how hard she tried she could not pin point the exact source of her discomfort, dread hung thickly in the air.

Miroku and Sango entered the room only moments later; Sango carried Destiny who clung to the older woman for dear life. The child's honey eyes stared painfully and fearfully at her aunt's unconscious body. It was early in the morning, the sun still had not risen but everyone in the room knew that rest would not come easy until Rin recovered, Sesshoumaru regained his sanity, Inuyasha came home and everybody was together again.

"How is she?" Miroku asked, quietly walking across the room to sit at the small table by the window. Mrs. Tama gave him a weary smile, before allowing her eyelids to drift closed.

"She's alive…" Kagome's soft voice answered his question.

"Mommy!" Destiny cried out, lifting her head from Sango's shoulder and reaching out for her mother.

Kagome eagerly accepted her daughter's embrace, stroking her little back in soothing circles, "Shh, it's okay. Aunt Rin will feel better in no time."

A small tear fell from the child's eyes, the stress of the last twelve hours had begun taking their toll on the young girl, "Where's my daddy?"

"He went to find Uncle Sesshoumaru, sweetheart," Kagome responded, bouncing Destiny in her arms, while she paced back and forth.

"But the bad people…" Destiny whispered excited, clinging to her mother with all her strength. Her heart was thumping wildly against her ribs, "…they will hurt my daddy."

"No, honey. Nothing is going to happen to your daddy okay. He a big, tough, hard headed man - there isn't anything in this world that will keep him from us."

"I don't think it's the bad people we have to worry about. We have to hope that Sesshoumaru doesn't do anything irrational before Inuyasha can get to him," Miroku added.

"But after all that Naraku has done, even if Inuyasha reaches his brother on time, I could understand how Inuyasha would have trouble stopping Sesshoumaru from killing the bastard. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if Inuyasha helped." Sango remarked, walking to stand next to her husband.

Kagome let out another frustrated sigh while her stomach did flip-flops and her heart twisted with trepidation. Killing Naraku was going to get them both sent to prison for only God knows how long. Kagome fought back a wave of tears at the thought of being separated from Inuyasha for an unknown length of time. She knew she would not be able to endure the pain of losing him would bring. And Rin, the baby - they both needed Sesshoumaru more than ever. She felt the taste of copper in her mouth and realized she had been biting her lip, if the Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru did was she feared they would, then Naraku will have ultimately won.

"Death…comes to…those who…seek it…Naraku must want…it…if he dares…to test the strength of…our family." Rin hoarsely, and brokenly whispered from her place on the hospital bed. Deep coughs and mild gasp for air accompanied every few words.

"Aunt Rin!" Destiny all but screamed out, squirming frantically out of her mother's grasp.

"Dest, calm down. She can't hoarse play like normal for a while okay. So be gentle…" Kagome scolded before releasing her daughter.

"I'm…I'm not…made…of glass, Kagome…let the…girl come…"

Miroku chuckled, "Stubborn to the core," he mocked.

"I know, but you won't heal if your not careful." Kagome responded in concern, jumping a little with nerves and worry when Destiny crawled into bed with Rin.

"Yes, mother." Rin said with a teasing half-smile.

Kagome rolled her eyes, slapping her hand to her forehead, "The girl gets shot almost dies, and still has the energy and mind set to make jokes," she said, laughing as she finished her statement.

"That is our Rin for ya, Kagome." Sango joked, putting an arm around Kagome and joining her in laughter.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Inuyasha chanted turning his steering wheel frantically so his car would spin and go the opposite way. He threw his cell phone across the interior of his car, his mind repeat the address he had just been told in his head. His body swung with the motion of the vehicle, the sound of screeching tires screamed through the countryside.

"Damn it, Sesshoumaru," he spoke aloud, "Nothing would please me more than to see Naraku dead, but now is not the time."

He knew he was a half an hour away from where Naraku was hiding. One of Sesshoumaru's associates had called and told him where his brother was heading out of pure fear for Sesshoumaru. The man had said that Sesshoumaru had lost it. No shit. Inuyasha knew his brother loved Rin more than anything in the entire universe could comprehend. He felt the same away about Kagome. It was only natural to lose control after the tragedy of losing your soul mate.

Naraku was epitome of evil; he was an incarnation of Satan. After all that he had done to try and destroy their family, that bastard deserved nothing short of a torturous death. But as Inuyasha had stated before, now was not the time. Naraku would get what was coming to him. Rin needed Sesshoumaru with her. Inuyasha needed to be with Kagome. He just wanted to have his family and friends together and happy. They had suffered for far too long.

Inuyasha allowed his eyes to fall close while his mind laid out a scene. The sky became the brightest blue he had ever see. For as far as his eyes could see there was nothing but rolling hills of assorted flowers. Destiny, his daughter…his little girl, danced merrily in the field, a crown of daisies woven into her braided hair. He felt Kagome's hand slip into his, and it was but an instant and he had her body pressed firmly against him hugging her as if he was afraid to let go. Her scent filled his nose, and he knew at that moment what it felt like to be in heaven. In the distance he could see Miroku twirling a laughing Sango in the air, pure happiness radiated from his friends.

He buried his nose into Kagome's neck, memorizing every inch of her body. His ears heard the soft melody of her voice, "I love you so much…Inuyasha."

His lips smiled against her flesh and he turned his head to rest his cheek on her shoulder all the while pulling her closer to him. He focused his eyes and saw Sesshoumaru leaning back against a tree with a very pregnant Rin in his lap. His brother's hands rubbed the bulging stomach of his wife, while her head rested back against his chest.

Life in his imaginary world was perfect. Inuyasha did not want it any other way. To achieve this fantasy, the obstacles of the real world would have to be overcome. But everything has its own time, including revenge.

A pair of flashing headlights, and the sound of a loud honking noise quickly brought Inuyasha back to his surroundings. His heart rate jumped to a deadly rate, his breath stopping in his lungs as he swerved his vehicle back to his side of the road, and avoiding a collision with the semi-truck with only a second to spare.

He could feel the blood throbbing in his veins, the adrenaline taking his mind to an involuntary high, "Fuck," he muttered, running his hand through his long silver tresses. He was physically tired, mentally exhausted, sleep deprived, and annoyed as hell. All within twelve hours he had gotten his beloved wife back, found out he had a daughter, watched his sister-in-law and friend get shot and die only to - by some miracle come back to life, and race through the entire city and country searching for his deranged brother.

And still the night had yet to end…

Naraku clenched his paled skin fist tightly together. He stalked angrily across the private office in the abandon warehouse he had secluded himself in with only a handful of bodyguards. His mind raced through a hundred different scenarios, plans, and courses of action. He had failed in bringing down the Tama brothers. He had failed to destroy the family of the man that had dared to challenge him a lifetime ago. His rival's sons had managed to demolish his plans for his prized daughter. He had wanted them all to pay. Kagome had been abducted because he ordered it. Inuyasha spent years in agony because of that action. He had thought he had the assassination of Rin Tama handled, but apparently Kouga was nothing but a weakling unable to carry out a simple order.

Now there was a warrant out for his arrest. He was no longer safe in the country he had called home all his life -all because of a pair of spies, no doubt hired by Sesshoumaru. God, he fucking hated every single member of that family? And even though he was a wanted man, even though he could easily leave the country, he would stay until he completely obliterated the Tamas…each and every one of them.

The slightest hint of sunlight peaked over the horizon, allowing a thin line of an orange glow to simmer away the darkness of early morning. Sesshoumaru turned the knob that distinguished his headlights. His silver Porche came to a silent halt as he shifted his five-speed into park. Stealthily he exited the vehicle, his frozen hard amber eyes stared at the rusty old building. Just behind those thin aluminum walls was the man that killed Rin, the man that almost destroyed his brother, the man that had no right to continue walking this earth.

Slowly, the tall, silver haired man walked towards his destination with every step he cracked a knuckle. With every inch forward he thought of another way to kill Naraku…

Inuyasha rolled his stiff neck. He was only about ten minutes from the location he had been told Naraku had been hiding. If luck was with him, if fate for once decided not to be the sadistic freak it usually was, he would beat his brother to Naraku. He had no idea what waited him; the dread in his heart told him that Sesshoumaru had already taken action.

He licked his dry lips only to find his mouth lacked moisture. A foreboding sense crept up his spine sending a dark fear quivering through his veins. Inuyasha took some comfort in the fact that Totosai and his officers would be in the area. He had called the station a few minutes earlier with a proposal for the old detective. In exchange for Naraku whereabouts Totosai had to promise that he would hold no charges against anything Sesshoumaru was planning to do so long as Naraku remained alive. The deal was easily accepted with a single compromise - Naraku's life. Totosai had explained that brutality and assault could easily be overlooked because of Sesshoumaru's status in society, but murder was an entirely different perspective.

Suddenly a desperate, horrid chill struck his spine and for an instant it felt as if his soul had been removed from his body. After he recovered from the moment…his stomach filled with a strong nauseating feeling. Something was going to happen...

With a worried huff, he reached over in his glove compartment and took out an object he had not touch since the day he had placed it his car four years ago. He had bought it out of pure depression, knowing that with Kagome gone from his life, it was only a matter of time before he couldn't stand living in this world without her. He had purchased the deadly weapon as means to end his life but now it looked as though it might be used to save brother and his own life.

Inuyasha turned down a clay road, and could only hope his brother hadn't lost his intelligence along with his sanity.

The black clad guard slumped unconsciously and bloodied to the ground. Sesshoumaru wasted not a single thought on the man as his fist lunged forward, smashing against the jaw of another walking corpse.

"You can't fool me, Sessy. You forget that I can read you like a book. And you can't deny what I see in your eyes…"

His gaze never left the closed door only a few feet away, even after another man came from behind locking his head in a firm grip. The guard's hold was weak, Sesshoumaru lunged his body forward, flipping the male over his shoulder and crashing him to the ground.

"Gawsh…do you have to look so serious all the time. C'mon laugh…you know you want to…for me…please?"

The bones of the man he flung to the floor cracked at the force of his kick. The guard's painful groan barely had time to reach Sesshoumaru's ears before another of Naraku's minions attacked him. He was forced backward as he dodged each swing of his opponent's fist. A sharp pain snapped in his cheekbone when calloused fingers made contact with his face. Sesshoumaru growled inhumanly, deciding instantly to take the offense.

"Hey! Hey! I swear I didn't do it this time. It was…the cat! Yes the cat did it! What? We don't own a cat!…hehehe opps…Would you believe me if I said Inuyasha did it?"

Sesshoumaru slammed his newest challenger against the wall, hoisting him into the air by the man's throat. Angrily he pounded his fist into his prey's face; over and over…his vision blurred as more and more memories of Rin raced through his mind. The guard's eyes fell closed, but that did little to dissuade Sesshoumaru from his reverie.

"I love you, Sesshoumaru. Always have…since the moment we met…and I will love you until the end of eternity. I will be with you forever, my love…forever…"

Finally his blood covered fingers moved out of the punctures they made in his opponents neck. The guard fell to the cold ground with thud. Sesshoumaru's chest heaved; his eyes darted around the dark room waiting for another attack, when none came his eyes befell the door to his left. A new wave of anger raced through his body. Just behind that door…

Inuyasha ran through the corridor towards the main storage area. His stomach lurched as he followed the trail of destruction obviously left behind by his brother. Dim metal caged lights hung over from the stained ceiling, the glow barely illuminated Inuyasha's path. Every couple of feet he would pass an unconscious body, see blood smeared across the wall, or hear moans from the guards who had begun to recover.

A heavy lump formed in his throat, and he fought hard to swallow it. His palms became damp and clammy. Slowly he walked through the busted in double doors and entered a large spaced out room. His strained amber orbs immediately shot to the four guards who had been beaten to a pulp. Bruises, swollen limbs, protruding bones and red liquid accompanied each of his brother's victims. If Sesshoumaru was this out of control then there would be nothing left of Naraku by the time he finished with him.

A crash echoed off the metal walls of the storage area causing Inuyasha's head to instantly snap in the direction of the sound. His gaze fell upon a single open door about ten yards away from where he stood. Sights of a struggle flashed through the open entrance, alarming Inuyasha. His feet moved, before his brain had even thought of getting to the office, faster with every stride Inuyasha raced towards the room where he knew he would find Sesshoumaru and Naraku.

The only color he saw was red…the only image he saw was Rin blurred by his tainted eyes. Deep gasps of air and pained coughs sang into his ear as he nailed Naraku in the stomach for the third time. But still with a blacken eye and cracked ribs the black haired man managed to smirk victoriously at his attacker.

"Let me guess…she died." Naraku mocked, "Do tell me, how does it feel to…suffer?"

Sesshoumaru's fist slammed directly across Naraku's jaw, while hot rage raced through his normal placid facade. He heard someone enter the room from behind him but he ignored the intruder by forcing Naraku's head into the wall.

"You murdered Rin." Sesshoumaru seethed out between clenched teeth.

It took a second for Naraku to regain his surroundings at the recent blow he had received. He knew he was no match for the enraged man; every single one of his guards had been taken down, so instead of fighting and thus accepting his fate, he had decided one last course of action - to destroy what little foundations Sesshoumaru still possessed.

"On the Contrary, I only hired someone to kill her, unfortunately my assassin failed in his task. Another person, entirely on their own accord killed your precious wife and I am sure they enjoyed every second of it."

"Sesshoumaru! He is trying to bait you…" Inuyasha called out, noting his brother's hesitation at the sound of his voice.

"You lie," Sesshoumaru hissed at Naraku, "And now you will pay with your life."

"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha yelled frantically, stepping closer as he watched his brother's fingers wrap tightly around their enemy's neck, "Rin…Sesshoumaru, she's alive."

The older brother faltered at his sibling's declaration. She wasn't dead? Rin lived…his wife…his Rin was alive? The unwanted emotional turmoil that had slowly begun to destroy his being froze with the announcement. All that was left was a rapidly beating heart and contracting lungs as proof that Sesshoumaru had heard what had been said.

"She is waiting for you," Inuyasha pleaded moving to stand behind his brother and placing a hand over his shoulder, "Killing Naraku is not worth spending a lifetime apart from her."

Rin felt a rush of cold air fill her lungs causing her cinnamon eyes to open. Through heavy lidded eyes she saw her friend and family had camped out in their own little spots in the room using the time to sleep. But even with being surround with people she loved, her heart still longed for the one person it missed the most. Sesshoumaru…

She was worried…worried that he might have, for the first time in his life, acted without thinking. Rin knew she needed her rest, but in combination with her husband still missing and the fact that her painkiller had begun to wear off, the idea of rest had ran away from her. Her chest felt heavy, constricted and had begun to throb with widespread sharp pain. Slowly she tilted her head to the side, her eyes falling to the window where beams of sunlight had started to shine through the clear glass.

"Please be safe…my love…come back to me," Rin whispered, her hand subconsciously rests upon her lower abdomen, just over her baby's forming body.

"Sesshoumaru…"

Sesshoumaru stared the hand he held tightly around Naraku's neck as his mind tried to reclaim control. Inuyasha would not lie to him…not about his wife because Inuyasha understood what it felt like losing the love of his life. His shattered frozen heart quivered in his chest while each piece started to rise and reform…his perfect angel had not left him.

"…my love…come back to me…"

His eyelids blinked a million times within that second he had listened to her voice call out to him. He straightened his posture, his honey orbs glazed over ice. He kept his grip firmly on the man he held captive while he returned to his normal, every day stoic self. Sesshoumaru heard Inuyasha release a heavy sigh, and kept from smirking at his brother's lack of faith in him.

Naraku watched the events before him silently. His mind cursed and scowled at the fact that both brothers managed to maintain the women that he sought to take from them and that they were able to overcome him. His dark eyes scorched a fiery red. He had failed.

Naraku Shikon did not fail.

His gaze followed the destruction Sesshoumaru and his struggle had caused. A metal bar and sharp glass shard glistened under the dim lamp just within his reach if he moved fast.

"Sesshoumaru, c'mon. Totosai is just outside the building, he will deal with his pathetic excuse for a living creature. I don't know about you but I want to get back to Kagome like something fierce." Inuyasha spoke, looking over his brother's shoulder towards the defeated man against the wall. It was over…all of it.

Before anyone could react Naraku ducked out of Sesshoumaru's grasp, surprising both brothers as he lunged forward with an iron rod neither saw him grab. Sesshoumaru stepped back when Naraku swung the primitive weapon towards the pair, in reaction the he grabbed his attackers wrist in attempt to detain him.

Inuyasha had been pushed backward as his brother struggled once again with their enemy. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the glass piece Naraku held in his free hand just as he was about to shove it into Sesshoumaru's neck. The younger male's panic spike at the instant and out of instinct reaching inside his jacket pocket to retrieve the gun he had taken out of his car earlier. Without thinking twice about what he was about to do, Inuyasha raised the firearm and shot Naraku square in the chest immediately him knocking to the floor.

Sesshoumaru spun around to look at Inuyasha and noted the look on his brother's face…it was without regret. The older sibling could not have agreed more. Naraku had gotten off easy. Footsteps and yelling could be heard coming from the room next to the wrecked office. A few seconds later Detective Totosai and two officers barged into the room, their guns pointed and ready to kill.

"Lower your weapons," Totosai croaked out as he observed the gun in Inuyasha's hands and Naraku's groaning body on the floor. Pity the gunshot did not kill the bastard, "Molene, Riker! You two have been working on Naraku's crime ring for as long as I remember. Do you not find it strange that one of Naraku's own personal guards turned on him?"

Both officers smirked at their superior, catching on to exactly what the old coot was saying. Naraku had been brought down, that was all that mattered to the pair, the meanings by which brought the man's end did not matter.

"Yes, we have had our eye on this guard for sometime. I believe his name was…was…Hiten Thunder...he had a very defiant personality." Officer Molene made up a story as he spoke.

"Very well," Totosai said, turning his gaze towards the two silver haired men, "I do believe you two have somewhere else to be."

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha nodded, turning to leave the room. A heavy burden lifted off each of their chest as they exited the building. No more threats…no more fears, for the first time in a long time, their family was released from the pain Naraku had created. And now they were free to live their rest of their lives in peace…or so they thought.

"Kagome please…stop pacing cause your…making me sick," Rin whined, partially playfully and partly serious.

The sun had risen, morning had come and still the occupants of Rin's hospital had heard nothing from Inuyasha or Sesshoumaru. Sango fidgeted with Miroku's jacket that he draped over her when while she slept. Mrs. Tama had gone to get some breakfast for everybody from the cafeteria. Rin tried relaxing in her bed, still hooked to monitors and machines, but found it hard to do so while her friend walked across the room only to turn around and retrace her steps.

"Mommy is nervous!" Destiny chirped from her place at the time as she colored get-well pictures for her aunt.

To consider that Kagome and Rin were nervous was the understatement of the year. Every sound that emerged from the other side of the door, both of their heads would instantly snap towards it, hope glittering in their stricken eyes. So far, each noise had been a false alarm, which in turn ate away at Kagome and Rin's patience. Kagome was on the borderline of becoming a permanent mumbling idiot as she talked to her self about how Inuyasha should have called, should be back by now…and so on. Rin smiled at her niece and shook her head at Kagome when it seemed that her friend had not heard a single word just spoken.

"I don't think nervous quite explains what's wrong with your mother, honey." Sango replied, adjusting her place on Miroku's lap to get more comfortable.

"More like…on the verge…of a breakdown," Rin joked back, refraining a giggle when Kagome stopped moving and stared at her friends in bewilderment.

"What?" Kagome asked, clearly confused.

Rin rolled her eyes, "Never mind…just do me a favor and…stop pacing…please."

"Oh," Kagome's face distorted in apology, "sorry," she said as she offered sheepish smile.

"It's okay." Rin replied closing her eyes to rest.

Voices on the other side the door pulled the attention of the two women in the room who lacked their husbands…

"I will not let her see me looking like this," Sesshoumaru's cold voice spoke. A pure smile spread from each of Rin's ears while she pushed her upper body up with her arms.

"After all that has happened tonight to you honestly think Rin gives a shit what you look like," Inuyasha smart ass comment soon followed, causing Kagome to practically jump for joy and Destiny to actually jump up and down.

"Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy," the child chanted, her amber eyes wide as saucers and glued to the door.

Even though it was only a moment of time before the door opened, it felt like forever for those who had been awaiting the brothers' arrival. Inuyasha came in first, his gaze locking with Kagome as he entered. A smile plastered itself across his face when Kagome leapt into his arms. He hugged her tight, so tight while he nuzzled his nose in her neck. She felt so warm, soft…he could hold her in his arms for the rest of his life and never feel like he missed out on anything.

He pulled away from her so he could stare into her warm oceanic eyes, his fingers brushed across her cheek, his lips inched closer to hers. He watched almost hypnotically as her tongue darted out of her mouth to moisten her luscious lips. A hungry wave washed over him the moment her oral muscle made contact and he eagerly captured her mouth in full heated kiss. He knew from this point on…that no matter what obstacles they faced in the future…Kagome, Destiny and his life would be perfect.

Sango raised eyebrow at the hyperactive young girl who still jump in place, her little fists clenched tightly together, her mouth puckered out like a blowfish and her eyes dancing with excited. She couldn't help but laugh at the sight, "For the love of God, somebody pay attention to the girl before she pees her pants."

Kagome and Inuyasha broke apart just long enough for him to kneel down and welcome his daughter with open arms. He hugged his family, placing a kiss on Kagome forehead and Destiny's cheek. His eyes fell to Rin who laid staring hopelessly at the door waiting for Sesshoumaru to swallow his pride.

"Fucking hell, Sesshoumaru, get your fucking ass in here." Inuyasha called out annoyed that his brother would put appearance above his wife. A minute or so passed and Sesshoumaru remained absent from the room. Inuyasha fumed as he notices the tears pooling in Rin's eyes, "He probably went to get cleaned up," he said trying to console his sister-in-law.

Rin nodded her head, it letting droop after the second nod. Her hands rubbed over the small bulge in her belly, the tears falling down her cheeks. The door finally creaked open and her eyes shot to the entrance just as Sesshoumaru walked in the room holding a fluffy white bear in his unwashed hands. Her mood changed dramatically by the sight of him, her smile was bright and beautiful showing signs of how much she wanted to get up and go to him.

His eyes observed her small body from head to toe, memorizing every curve and detail even though he had done so a million times before. Soon his gaze fell upon her, Rin's beaming face sent waves of warm through his frigid soul. Cautiously he walked closer, fiddling with his gift as he neared her. God, he would have not made it the rest of his life without her.

Clearing his throat he spoke, wanting to tell her everything she longed to hear but unable to find the words to express how much she meant to him, "This is for the baby," he finally choked out, handing the stuffed animal out for her to grab.

Her hand came out to claim the gift, and he snorted at the sight of the needles taped to her wrist. He leaned over her fragile form after she accepted the bear, and cupped her face with his hand, "And this is for you..." he whispered, bending further to claim her lips with his, but just before their lips met he had to tell her one last thing. A phrase that he always felt, but rarely said - understanding that she did not have to be told to know that he did…

"I love you…my Rin."

So how was it? In my opinion it is not up to my normal standards and not nearly as good as the original draft for this chapter before it WAS DESROYED BY MY STUPID COMPUTER…sorry had to rant again.

Okay…I can't make any promises, but I will try my hardest to get the next chapter out before July 28. I'm sorry I can't promise anything though.

!!!CHAPTER FOURTEEN BREAKDOWN!!!

Since you guys have been so patience with me, I decided the next chapter will take a break from all the drama and angst this story seemed to have taken. So be prepared for major Fluff in chapter fourteen.

As Chapter 14 stands right now this is how it will go…(however it is subject to change slightly)

-65% of the chapter will consist of MAJOR Kag/Inu fluff…a very high chance of a lemon for them (on mm.org) in the next chapter as well.
-20% of the chapter will be Rin/Sess fluff
-10% of the chapter will be group interaction…fun stuff!
-5% of the chapter will set up for the final two conflicts remaining in this story….(1) The consequences of Kanna's action, (2) Kikyou final stand.

Until Next Time…