Sorry about the delay... life is unusually crazy with my fourth year and other stories and lack of inspiration...

Sorry :(

Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter ^^

Rin lowered her body into the warm water, the liquid lapped around her greedily, relaxing her weary muscles as she sighed. Leaning her back into the basin, Rin looked down at her unwrapped ankle, the swelling reduced thanks to Sesshomaru and his care. Her mind wandered as she thought about him and their evening. He had broken her, left her a hollow and empty shell wishing that her heart had never existed in the first place, and then he came to her rescue, saving her from freezing to death and brought her to his cabin, where he treated her and, in his own way, confessed.

A delicate hand ran through her hair, if Sesshomaru was acting, then it was the best she'd ever seen. He not only managed to look hurt when Naraku interrupted the two of them, but he had kept up the act both in school and when they were in private. A part of her told her that he was lying, nothing had changed and that it was just another bet with Naraku or maybe even his brother or Koga. The other voice, however, was telling her it was real, that what he was saying was the truth; but that might have been a false hope that had wormed into her.

The girl sank lower into the warm bath water, her mind replaying their past, particularly Sesshomaru's actions. At first it seemed almost forced, their relationship; he had been cocky and aggressive, his calm composure almost slipped away on several occasions, not that Rin noticed it at the time, she had just assumed he was like that; but as they progressed, she found a kinder, gentler side of him, one that cared for his horses and the people in his life. He had been softer around her, protecting her and trying his hardest to make her happy, or so she thought.

Rin rubbed her eyes, hoping that she had cried out all her tears for the evening; she felt weak and pathetic, crying what was left of her shattered heart out for Sesshomaru when a stronger person would have just gotten up and moved on. Rin splashed the warm water on her face, dabbing away the remnants of her tears and dirt on her face and running it through her matted hair, soaking it thoroughly before scrubbing it with whatever expensive shampoo Sesshomaru found lying around the cabin.

Mud and dirt were washed away from her brown locks, the water turning a light brown with what Rin had removed from her hair and body.

"Rin?"

Rin turned at the sound of a knock as Sesshomaru opened the door just enough to extend his arm in and deposit her folded laundry before he straightened up, "here are you're clothes."

"Okay, thank you," Rin called, the soaped loofa held against her collar bone resuming its travels around her body after she heard the door click shut.

He chased her, tempted her, treated her like she was a rare flower, something delicate and precious before her stomped on her heart, tore her in two, and then, in no uncertain terms, told her he loved her. The young student was confused, scared, angry, sad, and frustrated at it all, she just wanted and answer to all this, something that made sense to her.

Her slender frame hoisted itself out of the bath tub, her form dripping water as she leaned over to grab a towel, her legs tenderly touching down on the soft bath mat, her ankle no longer as swollen or as tender as it used to be, making her think that it wasn't a complete sprain and that she might just be limping for a few hours. Hobbling over to the pile of clothes Sesshomaru had left for her, Rin bent down to retrieve her panties and bra, slipping on the cotton fabric before sliding into her fresh jeans and her black shirt. Holding herself up with the bathroom counter, Rin opened the door and wandered down the hallway, the wall her only support.

"Rin?"

Turning in confusion, the young woman looked to the demon who stood by the door, his eyes watching her hobble to the room he told her she could have.

"Do… do you want some help," Sesshomaru dared to ask, his body almost tentatively moving towards hers.

"I can make it," Rin snapped, her head turning away from him and her body limping towards the room, ignoring the demon that was behind her. She had to move on without him; she never had him in the first place.

She felt something slip down her cheek, hoping that her head was far enough away from Sesshomaru so he wouldn't see her cry. The young woman thought she was over this, the crying over a broken heart, done crying over him.

Apparently she wasn't.

"Rin."

Sesshomaru's voice was closer than she first anticipated, her body instinctively jumping back, only to land on her sore ankle.

"AH!"

Her scream was as short as her fall, her slim back impacting with strong arms that wrapped tenderly around her body, her eyes looking up into his, her pained eyes still with a few tears held in them.

"Se-Sesshoma…"

"I'm sorry," the demon whispered, his form rising from his kneeled position, "can you… can you bear with me a little longer?"

They stared at each other, Rin hating how her heart hammered louder in her chest at the sight of him, how her breath hitched at his amber eyes, how much of a hold he still had over her.

Refusing to stare into his amber orbs any longer, Rin turned her face to her chest, her head slowly nodding as she left her body be lifted to her bedroom. The silence as thick and awkward as it appeared neither of them wished to be in this situation, the demon simultaneously wishing to keep her close and make her comfortable.

Her arms were over her chest, her flesh touching his shirt, feeling his heart hammer in his well-developed torso against her bare skin. She felt her cheeks heat up at their proximity and at the tempo his heart set.

Opening the door, Sesshomaru slipped into the room, the young woman placed on the mattress, the covers adjusted over her body, the demon weary of her still tender ankle.

"Can I get you anything else?" the demon asked quietly, his eyes trying to meet hers.

Her head was hung, tears threatening to bloom in her orbs and her lips held in her teeth and her nose sniffling dangerously.

"Rin?" Sesshomaru pressed quietly, "Rin?"

"An… explanation…"

Surprised, the demon pulled back from her, surprised at the sight of her tear-filled orbs, her throat forcing down a thick lump.

"Wh-What…?"

"You… asked me what-what you could get me," Rin whispered, "I-I want a good explanation…"

"I… I already told you-"

"No! You didn't!" the young woman snapped, "you-you told me why you did it, but not why you didn't tell me or why you didn't-you didn't stop or-or," she finally broke down in tears, her hand covering her face as her body started crying anew after she swore she was done with crying over him.

"R-Rin-"

"Or why you let me fall in love with you…"

Sesshomaru had no knowledge of how to deal with a sobbing young woman, especially one that he had damaged.

"Rin," he tried, his voice soft and his heart hammering, "I-I don't know what to say-"

"Well try something!" she suddenly screamed, her fists slamming to her mattress, "anything," her lungs heaved as she started crying anew, "you're driving me insane! I-I can't think straight! You're screwing up my mind and my heart! ENOUGH!"

Her outburst was met with heavy breathing on her part often mixed with soft cries. Sesshomaru remained silent, his amber orbs watching her calmly as he let her relax. Rin felt her shoulders sag slightly; she had told her friends nothing about she and Sesshomaru and had been living alone with this burden on her. To finally let it go was strangely relieving for her, even if she vented to the demon that broke her heart.

Rin couldn't decide if she was grateful or hateful of the demon's silence, that Sesshomaru hadn't spoken a word to her, that he was just sitting there, watching her heart break over and over again.

She looked up at the demon in shock, his hands surrounding hers and his lips pressed against her trembling ones. Sesshomaru didn't care if she hit him, he didn't care if she kicked and screamed; he just wanted one last kiss, just one last moment with her.

What he did not expect was for her to press tentatively back.

His amber eyes opened to look into her tear-filed orbs, her face appearing even more dejected and hurt, the effect on his own heart damaging.

"Rin," Sesshomaru whispered, "I'm not trying to play with your heart, I swear," his thumb ran over her cheek, "I-I should never…"

For the first time in his life, he had no words, no cunning thing to say, nothing would come out of his mouth.

"I shouldn't have done this to you," the demon started anew, "I shouldn't have… and by the time I had realized that… I was in too deep," Rin felt her heart clutch at the sight of pained flecks in his orbs, "that's why I never let it go… there was no way I could do it without hurting you," his fingers ran over her tear tracks, "and that was the last thing I wanted to do."

Rin kept quiet as she watched the demon in front of her, letting his fingers touch her flesh once again, wondering just how long she'd missed it.

Even though she shouldn't.

"I don't want you living a life of hate and distrust," Sesshomaru murmured, "I have for a majority of my life… it's not something I'd wish on anyone… especially you, Rin," white locks shook, "I could apologize for an eternity and never tell you how sorry I truly am," he brought his forehead to hers, "Rin… after this… I hope you stay the Hell away from me…"

Sesshomaru let his words linger in the room, the two of them remaining in the uncomfortable silence.

"Do… do you want me too?"

Rin didn't even know why she was asking this, she had told herself she didn't want him back, that she hated him. Apparently her heart wasn't as easily swayed.

She still loved him, she still cared about him. She cared about the demon that she fell in love with, not the demon that made the bet with Naraku.

"No," the demon whispered hoarsely, "no Rin… I want to see you smile, I want to make you happy," his fingers ran over her black locks, "but you'd be happier away from me, I know that too."

"Which demon… is this?"

Sesshomaru was surprised as he looked up to her, her own fingers tentatively rising up to wrap around his.

"I-I mean," she swallowed thickly, "there's the demon that made the bet with Naraku," her brown eyes met his, "and then… there's the demon that I fell in love with…"

The demon let her speak, let her say what was on her mind, her eyes still angry and hurt.

"Th-The demon that… that cared about me and his horses, the guy that started to think of his brother as more than just a half-demon," she sniffled, "the demon that acted like he loved me…"

Again Sesshomaru kissed her, just as slowly, just as gently.

"It wasn't an act, Rin," the demon confessed softly, "I… at the end, I wasn't acting… I really did fall in love with you…"

"Sesshomaru…"

Slowly the demon stood, his body turning to move away from hers, his actions only stopped by a hand on his wrist.

"Rin?"

Brown eyes looked to his, her tears since ceased though her heart was still broken.

"Can… can you… stay with me?"

The question was weak and timid, the young woman feeling almost childish amongst the bed sheets.

"R-Rin-"

"If… If you're lying again," her words seemed to tumble from her lips, seemed to spill faster than her mind could come up with, "I'll let Ayame and Kagome have at you, I'll tell them everything you've done," she swallowed thickly, "but… but I can't just forget this feeling in my chest…" her head hung in shame, "and I-I do… resent you for what you've done to me… her deep brown eyes returned to the amber, "but… I almost know about the demon you are… I know that I love you…"

Sesshomaru froze at her soft words, his eyes soft and his heart thudding louder in his chest. Slowly, he dared to slip beside her underneath the covers, her body adjusting for his, her head on the pillow next to his.

"Rin…"

She pressed closer to him, her head closer to his chest.

"Don't break me again…"

"Rin," the demon whispered once more, his hand reaching to touch the top of her head and arm.

"I haven't forgiven you," she stated, letting her body fall asleep in the last place she thought she'd ever be, his arms, "I just… haven't given up on you…"

"You should," Sesshomaru confessed quietly, "but… I'm thankful… for what I don't deserve."

The young woman turned up to look at him, their eyes meeting before she kissed him gently, her fingers lifting to meet his lips, trailing after her touch.

"I'm not going to make you regret this," the demon promised softly, his arms holding her tightly, his promise something he vowed to carry to his grave.

So... yeah, I think I might come up with an Epilogue, but for the most part, I'm bringing this story to a close. It's been one Hell of a wild ride guys ^^ thanks to all who followed and reviewed this story!

Lots of Love: Darkphoenix168