I'M BACK!

I am SO sorry for not updating. College happened, and now grad school and… man. Life just got so incredibly hectic that I had little to no inspiration to work on any of these fics. I know 5, almost 6 years is a loooong wait, but it is seriously all I've been thinking about as of late.

This was actually one of my favorite fics to work on, so it is the first I want to finish. My writing is definitely lacking, but it can only get better from here, right?

Bear with me. We will get through this.

Doctor Jinenji was actually a very kind horse-type hanyou. Despite having some obvious mommy issues, he was very knowledgeable about natural treatments and offered me some ointments to help rid myself of Rin's bite marks, which I will admit were not very attractive. Yet he did not judge. I told him stories of my hectic life and he listened. No judgment, no words of advice, just an open ear and tips on dealing with her little baby fangs. I think I may have come off as a bit intimidating to him. Maybe that was all I needed, though. Someone to listen to me rant. I had that... had. Sesshoumaru listened to me, helped in so many ways, protected me and my small family… and I threw it all back in his face, forced him away, by letting Kouga back in.

Kouga, the one who is largely to blame in all this.

Who am I kidding? It was entirely my fault. All of it. I romanticized the idea of a happy little family with the wrong person and I fought so hard to hang on to any thread of hope he would leave his beautiful wife and family for me. God! I'm such a home wrecker! I paid dearly for it in the end, regardless. He was a youkai and I was human. A very selfish human with a titanium rod for a leg.

My body was so ugly. Is ugly. Will always be ugly. And dirty both inside and out.

I'm sick of everything. I am so very tired. I deserve it all. I am lower than rock bottom, whatever the hell that is, and I deserved everything I have ever gotten the past month. Except Sesshoumaru.

After Jinenji left my room, I had time to myself to just sit back and think about things – a very dangerous pastime in my case. I decided then and there I would cut all ties with Sesshoumaru. It was for the best. I would not be visiting him in his office. It was literally down the hall. If he really wanted to see me, he could easily walk over – something I am completely unable to do at the moment. My leg is a hideous glob of bruises, swelling, and… just, not a pleasant sight. He probably just wants to kick me out of his hospital, anyway. 'See ya, we need the bed. Good luck with your half-breed!'

But that wasn't giving him enough credit. He was too kind to do that, if not for me, for my baby. Damn him!

Like it or not, Rin considered him her father. My poor confused child.

And what am I to do about her? I'm as good as gone from my old job. I can't walk, let alone drive. I've been put on mandatory bed rest for god knows how long. Rin and I are going to end up in the poor house by the end of the week. Well, I will. She will be taken away from me by some agency telling me it's in her best interest, placed in some foster home somewhere far away from me. I'll never see her again.

I gasped. "Oh god, I'm going to lose my baby!"

"No you aren't."

It was Sesshoumaru standing at the doorway. "Miss Higurashi, when I say I'd like to see you in my office, I mean it."

He looked annoyed.

I got angry. A woman can only take so much. Pent up rage came boiling to the surface and I just let loose.

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?!" I screamed. "You put me on bed rest! I'm going to lose my job, my home, my family, everything! You've seen my pathetic life in all its naked glory! I don't have a goddamn fucking thing!" I had tears running down my face by the time I finished my rant. I even threw my pillow at him for good measure.

I didn't mean for that reaction. It must be the drugs. Yes, drugs.

In an instant, he was at my bedside, tucking the pillow back in place behind my back. He was supposed to be angry with me. He was supposed to want to kick me out. Apparently my efforts to push him out were futile.

"I was hoping to speak with you privately," he said. "I have a few things you need to hear."

I scoffed. "What now? Did my house burn down?"

"No."

Pity.

"I have a proposition for you."

He grabbed a chair from across the room and brought it beside my bed before grabbing my hand and sat down.

He closed his eyes and sighed. "Kagome, I think it is obvious to you by now that I am attracted to you,"

And that's when I was hit in the face with 20,000 bricks and a fish. It wasn't obvious to me at all. The temporary neighbor who I've basically abused all week liked me, and I didn't see it. Was I really so blind?

"And I know you are having troubles at home."

…or maybe he just wanted sex.

I gave him a strange look. "I'm not a whore." Who am I kidding? Maybe I should be.

"I never thought you were."

This is definitely the wrong way to start a conversation!

"I can help you," he said, "I have a plan that can benefit us both."

"And what would that be?" I asked.

His eyes moved to a scar on my forearm. It was one of Rin's many teeth marks. He let go of my hand and grabbed my arm, softly drawing circles with his thumb over the light mark.

"This shouldn't have happened to you." I heard him whisper.

For a second, it sounded like he was blaming himself. I swear I heard him mutter something like 'fucking wolf,' under his breath, too.

I tilted my head down and looked at his face, trying to catch his eyes.

"Sesshou-?"

"I want you to let me move in and help care for Rin."

I will admit it was a strange request that caught me completely off guard, though not completely unwelcome.

"This," he said, lifting my arm and exposing all the teeth marks and scars, "is not proper hanyou child-rearing. You couldn't have known. That bastard left you to figure every dangerous detail out on your own. He may as well have signed your death sentence."

I pulled my arm back and turned away from him. "But she hasn't." I whispered.

"Not yet." He replied. "She's young and cute right now. But one day her instincts will kick in. She will have strength ten times your own. And without proper guidance, she can easily fall victim to her demon side, destroying anything around her with utter disregard."

"But I'm-"

"Human." He cut in. "Did that wolf even bother to tell you that you are at even more risk of attack from other youkai?"

I looked back. "What are you talking about?" It was so hard to ignore him. So hard to even try to push him away from me.

"Other youkai can easily tell you two are alone with no mate for protection. They will not hesitate to attack you, or worse, first chance they get."

This was too much. "Rin, too?"

He nodded. "Especially her."

He looked at me, his eyes serious. This entire time I thought he was done with me, wanted nothing more than for me to disappear from his life. Apparently I couldn't have been more wrong. I was so very wrong.

"You must know that a bond has formed between your little one and me," he started. That I knew. "And I cannot fight this overwhelming urge to protect either of you anymore."

Someone to protect.

"What about your family?" I asked.

"Inuyasha? That idiot will be glad to lose me. And I will honestly be happy to be out of that house."

It was actually a nice thought, having someone else in the house to watch over Rin when I couldn't, helping me to control her temper, and literally protecting us from the monsters of the world. But it was another mouth to feed and I had no job.

"And I would help with your rent."

I am almost positive this man is psychic.

I considered it for a moment until a devious thought came to mind. My next words would have to be careful.

"Okay," I started, "on one condition."

He lifted his brow.

"I want you to take me on a proper date."

He chuckled and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "If you can be rid of the ookami, then gladly."

And that was the day I finally kicked Kouga out of my life for good. His cheap child support be damned, even if this arrangement turned out to be a terrible decision, at least I got a proper date out of my hot next door neighbor. Oh, Sesshoumaru, living with you is going to be very interesting.

A/N: *teehee*

Ok, this was a bit more angsty than intended. I hope I didn't disappoint!

Feel free to review, give constructive criticism, etc. No flames, please.

-VG-