To Find You Again

Chapter 2







• Thought

/ Memory



Authors note:

Thanks so much for my reviews, there weren’t many but I want to thank the people who did. I want you all to know I intend on being consistent with my updates. You should all have one every week at the least.

/ / .*



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Rin pulled her black ninety six Honda civic onto the wet dewy grass of the compound and put the car into park. Staring out at the old house her eyes glistened with years of unshed tears. Staring at the large old house, devoid of life for so many years she felt her heart clench painfully in her chest. She always ended up here, never quite sure how it happened. Whenever she was upset she always found her self driving unconsciously back to her child hood.



The Takahashi house, or better known as the Takahashi Mansion has always been a place for safety and security. Even now that it was completely empty, there was still a sense of security that she didn’t think would ever go away, even if the people in it had.



She got out of the car and stood, leaning back on the door and letting out an exhausted sigh. Breathing in the fresh woodsy air she was flooded with memories or her childhood, memories of him.



To say that Sesshoumaru Takahashi had been her first love would have been an understatement, he had been her only love. Even as a child she knew that she loved him in a way that was deeper than mere childhood affection. It was also Sesshoumaru Takahashi that caused her a great deal of pain. His betrayal had stung her so deeply that it became a wound that she believed would never heal.



She shook her head, banishing the thoughts of him and sighed softly to herself.



Coming here was a mistake, but still she couldn’t help herself. She could remember it clearly, the soft glow of the lights in the house and the hustle and bustle of people moving around inside. Even from a distance she could almost make out the forms of people moving inside as they once had.



Her eyes flickered over to the large window, farthest to the left and the highest one up. She could imagine what the inside of that room had once looked like. Picture herself, nestled tightly in the corner, hiding under the wooden frame of the bed that had once belonged to him. She could almost hear her heart pounding, feel the childish smile spread across her face. She could feel the anticipation of him coming nearer to her, knowing she was hiding under his bed just waiting for him to grab her. She could almost see his shadow, gliding silently across the window panes.



She straightened, staring at that window, her eyes squinting. There was a shadow there, and even after she blinked it didn’t disappear. The shadow remained for another second, two seconds before it glided away from the window.



Her heart leapt in her chest, she could feel it in her throat now. She shook her head, banishing the excitement, the hope that she felt causing her pulse to speed.



*There’s nobody there Rin! Get a hold of yourself!*



She looked back to the window and saw it again, the outline; no the figure of a man standing in the window of that same room. Her palms were slick with sweat. She wasn’t mistaken, someone was in that house.



She pushed off the car and broke into a run. Dashing madly across the lawn she let hope swell in her chest. She blinked back tears and ran for all she was worth, hoping, praying that she wasn’t mistaken, that it wasn’t just a figment of her imagination.



Her body began to tremble from exertion and the three hours of sleep that she had been running on for the past two days. Coming to the door she stopped dead in her tracks, lifting her hand to knock she hesitated. Staring at the large iron door in front of her she willed herself to slam her fist down. She wanted to bang on that door until he answered. She wanted to bang on it until he came out and held her, enveloped her in his comforting embrace. She felt her arm straining, fighting against the urge to knock.



Looking around the outside of the house she could see that none of the lights were on. Taking a closer look at the old iron door knocker she saw the build up of dust from years of neglect. She felt her heart sink back into her chest once again. Nobody was there, the house hadn’t had any life in it in a long time. Stepping back away from the door she stifled a sob. He wasn’t ever coming back. It didn’t matter how much she needed him now, and it hadn’t mattered when she had needed him back them.



Sucking in a ragged back she walked slowly back to her car and got inside. Turning the key she started up the engine and looked once more at the old mansion. There was no sign of life; it was just her mind playing tricks on her. Sesshoumaru Takahashi had abandoned her a long time ago and he was never coming back.



Looking out at the road in front of her she put her car into drive and sped away, promising her self she was never going to return.



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Sesshoumaru stood, gazing out of his old bedroom window and watched as a car tore out of his lawn and raced down the road. He made a face, a frown marring his handsome face.



Turning away from the window his gaze rested on his old bed, neglected for so many years. Approaching it, he gave into temptation and lay down upon it, staring up at the ceiling. He let his mind wander back to earlier times in his life as his eyelids grew heavier. He breathed out a deep sigh as sleep overtook him, the image of her smiling back at him was the last thing he thought of that night.

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The loud chiming of a cell phone jolted Sesshoumaru out of bed sometime around noon. His eyes squinted at the overwhelming light flooding in from his bedroom window, enticing a loud growl from the inu-youkai.



Sitting up, he looked around the room for his cell phone, wanting to silence the obnoxious noise as quickly as possible. Spotting his cell over by the window, he got up and grabbed it, flipping it open.



“What.”



“Now now Sesshoumaru, is that any way to speak to your mother? I’ve told you before you have got to work on that temper of yours!”



Sesshoumaru grumbled, and upon hearing the ensuing giggle from Izayoi he grumbled again.



“What did you need mother?”



“I’m so glad you asked Sesshoumaru! Well, the thing is. Your father and I think you may need a little help on your adventure to find you know who, and so-your brothers’ plane lands in about forty five minutes.”



Sesshoumaru bit back a growl, knowing it would be no use in loosing his temper at Izayoi. Inuyasha was just about in Japan anyway, bitching at her wouldn’t change that now.



“I do not need his help to find one human girl.” He stated.



Izayoi smiled on the other side of the phone.



“Well Sesshoumaru if you would have called us last night when you arrived in Japan like you were supposed to you could have told us that and your father and I wouldn’t have sent him. Besides, you guys need some bonding time anyway. Think about it, two brothers bonding while in search of a lost love.”



Sesshoumaru could see Izayoi in his head, her eyes glowing at the thought of romance and young love.



“Mother.” Sesshoumaru ground out between clenched teeth.



Izayoi sighed. “I know what you are going to say Sesshoumaru and there’s no need to deny it to me. You’ve been head over heals with Rin Minamoto since you were five years old. Oh dear, I’ve got to run! Take care and don’t forget to pick your brother up from the airport-oh, and play nice!”



“Mom I-“



“Bye bye honey I love you!”



The next thing Sesshoumaru heard was the dial tone. He had to admit, he had always loved his step mother as if she was his own mother, but sometimes her antics were just too much for him.



Dropping the phone onto his bed he vacated the room in search of his luggage, a shower, and a clean change of clothes.

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Sesshoumaru sped down the highway back towards their destination; he could see his brother sitting next to him in his peripheral vision.



Inuyasha gazed out at the landscape of Japan, not saying much, just taking it all in. He was the only Takahashi that had not been born in Japan. Conceived yes, but born no. Having been born in America it was a bitch to get through customs. While he looked Japanese he had never actually been to Japan. His parents had moved away, along with his older brother to America while he was still in his mothers womb.



They didn’t talk about the move much. Hell, he didn’t even know why they had moved. What he did know however, was that it had left a certain level of animosity between his brother and his father. He also knew that it had something to do with this person they were looking for, this Rin character.



He wasn’t exactly sure what Rin’s relationship to his brother was, but he knew that their leaving had done something to Sesshoumaru. It had changed him for the worse. While he and Sesshoumaru had never been the best of friends and constantly fought, he truly wanted the best for him. As much as he hated to admit it he loved Sesshoumaru in a- you can’t pick your family sort of way so you’re forced to love them anyway.



Turning his gaze over to Sesshoumaru he wasn’t sure what to say to him. As much as they fought, he couldn’t help but admire his brother.



So there he sat, carefully thinking of what to say.



Sesshoumaru beat him to it.



“Why did you come here Inuyasha?”



“Because mom and dad asked me to-Duh.” Inuyasha replied.



Sesshoumaru sat there for a moment, letting the wind whip through his long silver hair. He was suddenly thankful for getting the convertible.



“I don’t need your help Inuyasha.”



“Well that’s just too bad ‘cause you’re gettin it.”



There was a long pause before either of them spoke again, both brothers sitting in a comfortable silence.



Looking over at Sesshoumaru again, Inuyasha spoke.



“What kind of hold does this Rin girl have on you anyway?” Inuyasha asked seriously.



Sesshoumaru looked over at his brother and wondered how to reply.



“She’s an old friend.” Sesshoumaru stated simply.



“Keh!” Inuyasha looked at his brother with mild irritation.



“You don’t fly half way around the world to go in search of an old friend. What’s going on Sesshoumaru? I know she’s the reason you and dad practically hate each other, but why?”



Sesshoumaru kept his eyes on the road and said nothing. For a moment Inuyasha thought Sesshoumaru was just going to ignore him.



Sesshoumaru felt his heart clench in his chest, his anger rose, but so did his sorrow. He tried to keep his voice as emotionless as possible.



“The same way you would feel if dad was the reason you lost Kagome.”



Inuyasha stared at Sesshoumaru in shock. He felt the chilling grasp of denial wrapping itself around his heart.



Kagome was the love of his life, she was his destined mate. They had found one another in college, and once he had set his eyes on her he never let her go. They married and finally preformed the actual mating ritual once they got out of college. She was the reason he got up every morning, the reason he went on living. Kagome was his strength, his heart. Even more seriously, she was his mate.



“Dad would never…..he couldn’t!”



“He could and he did Inuyasha.” Sesshoumaru replied angrily, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.



“Dad wouldn’t just do something like that! He wouldn’t take that away from you Sesshoumaru! There has to be a reason, there has to be some logical reason as to why he-“



“There was no reason Inuyasha! He decided to move to the states and he did, dragging us along with him! He didn’t care that I would hate him, he didn’t care that your mother was against it! He wanted to go so he went, and in doing so I lost the only person who has ever mattered!”



Sesshoumaru’s eyes became tinged with red as his claws dug into the steering wheel of the car, he could feel his fangs lengthening as they began to bite into his bottom lip and the taste and smell of his own blood assaulted his senses.



“That man is the reason that I lost her and I will never forgive him for it!”



Inuyasha just looked at his brother; he couldn’t imagine what it had been like for Sesshoumaru. Just the thought of loosing Kagome made him feel like he was dead inside, like a part of him was missing. Now he understood, at least a little bit as to why Sesshoumaru was the way he was- cold, distant, emotionless.



He waited for Sesshoumaru to calm down before he spoke again.



“Sesshoumaru I, I don’t know why dad forced us to move to America, why he forced you to leave her behind but… I don’t think- no, I know he didn’t do it to hurt you.”



Inuyasha paused, thinking about what it was he wanted to say.



“If he had truly wanted to hurt you, I don’t think he would have just sent you back here to find her.”



Sesshoumaru kept looking at the road in front of him, silently listening to what he younger brother was saying with pursed lips.



“I can’t say that I know what you’re going through because I don’t. I can’t even imagine it. However, I do want to help you find her and I know that if I were to loose Kagome, that you would help me to, even if I refused it.”



Breathing out a ragged sigh Sesshoumaru looked at his brother for the first time with silent gratitude.



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Inuyasha looked at the dilapidated old house that they had pulled up in front of. He opened the car door and stepped outside, his feet crunching on the gravel driveway. The house was in a desperate need of a paint job. The shingles on the roof were nearly all missing and the front porch was half destroyed having sunk down into the ground, the wood withered with age. There was a light on inside and as the breeze blew the old wind chimes hanging from the canopy over the porch jingled.



He felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at it. The old house had an aura of sadness and fear. He could practically smell the tears and heartache that had been shed in the old house. Even worse than that, there was a faint lingering trace of evil. It was old, years old, but it was still there, contaminating the house with pain and suffering.



“Sesshoumaru, where are we?”



Sesshoumaru stared at the downtrodden house with pain in his gaze and his heart clenched. How long had it been since he had seen it? Since he had run up those steps, knowing she would be waiting for him inside?



He started to answer, but stopped, fearing how hoarse his voice would sound.



Clearing his throat he finally spoke.



“This is Rin’s house.”



Inuyasha’s ear’s drooped low but his head tilted up to look at Sesshoumaru.



“Are you sure it still is?” Inuyasha asked.



“There’s only one way to find out.”



Approaching the house at a slow pace, he stopped in front of the front door. The paint on it was chipped and the door itself was warped. He was surprised it still fit the frame correctly. Pulling open the tattered screen door he knocked loudly before stepping back and letting the screen slam shut. He waited silently and said nothing as he listened to Inuyasha approach behind him.



He could hear someone moving around inside, he could hear the deadbolt turning, unlocking the old door. It opened slowly with a creak, the chain keeping it restrained in case anyone would try and force themselves in. It opened just enough for half of the woman in the house’s face to show.

“Can I help you?” The old woman spoke quietly, her eyes squinting, trying to clearly see him.



Sesshoumaru recognized the woman instantly. It had been years since he had seen her, and time and old age had not done her well.



Rin’s mother’s shining black hair had once flowed beautifully. Now it was a dull charcoal, grey streaking through it and it was held loosely in a bun. Her shinning green eyes, once sparkling with life were now sad and haunted. They were the eyes of a woman who had seen too much, a woman who had seen inexplicable horrors and lived.



Her skin was now deathly pale and the crows’ feet were firmly set in the corners of her eyes.



“Can I help you sir?” She repeated, becoming slightly agitated with the youkai at her door.



“Shoko, you are Shoko Minamoto isn’t that correct?” Sesshoumaru asked quietly.



“Yes that’s correct sir. How can I help you?”



He licked his lips in nervousness as he stared at her. What had turned her into this lifeless shell of a woman?



“You may not remember me, I’m-“



“Sesshoumaru.” She gasped out, her tired eyes widening in shock.



“Oh my god, I can’t believe it’s really you.” Unlocking the chain link on the door she flung the door open all the way and stepped out.



Her eyes glazed over in tears and her hand came up to her mouth, stifling a cry.



“Just look at you, your all grown up.” She whipped the tears away from her eyes and laughed wearily.



“Goodness I never thought I would see you again. Come here and give an old woman a hug.”



Sesshoumaru leaned down and held her for a moment, hugging her much like she had done to him as a child.



Releasing him she looked over and saw Inuyasha standing on the porch, feeling very awkward.



“Oh my! If I had to guess I would say that you must be Inuyasha. I remember when you were still a little thing in your mothers’ tummy! Oh she so wanted another boy.”



“Hello.” Inuyasha replied, not quite sure what to say to this woman whom he had never met before or even heard about.



She came over and hugged him tightly, a hug which he awkwardly returned.



She stepped back and looked at the both of them, a smile reaching her face that Sesshoumaru had a feeling hadn’t happened in years.



“The both of you are so handsome; you look just like your father!”



Motioning to the door she spoke. “Come in, come in.”



“Actually Mrs. Minamoto-“



“Actually its Yamamoto now, Muso and I have been divorced for years now. But no need for formality Sesshoumaru I used to change your diapers after all.”



Inuyasha stifled a laugh at the look on Sesshoumaru’s face.



“Shoko I, I was wondering if you could tell me were to find Rin?”



Shoko looked down at her feet, and when she looked back up at him she looked like a part of her was missing. Looking him in the eyes her bottom lip trembled and she shook her head before looking away again.



A feeling of dread hit Sesshoumaru like a tsunami. He could feel it getting harder to breath as the panic rose in his throat.



“Shoko, what happened to her? Where is she?” He asked desperately.



She looked up at him again, sadness held in her old eyes. She raised her hand and rested it on his cheek.



“I don’t know.”



Her hand dropped from Sesshoumaru’s face and she looked down at the ground, suddenly finding the weathered old wood of the porch very interesting.



“I’m sorry; I’m going to have to ask you to leave now.”



“Ms. Yamamoto please, when was the last time you saw her? Or the last time you spoke with her?”



She turned her gaze towards Inuyasha, nervousness and worry showing plainly in her eyes. She broke his gaze and looked around; as if she was making sure nobody was listening.



“I haven’t seen or spoken to Rin since she was eighteen. I have no idea where she is.”



“But there must be some way to contact her. Do you have any ideas of where she could be?”



Shoko remained silent and disappeared into the old house.



Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha stood there, staring at the open door. Should they go in?



She reappeared a few moments later and looked up at Sesshoumaru, holding her hand out to him.



Sesshoumaru couldn’t help but notice that her hand was trembling, why he wasn’t quite sure.



He reached out to her and she dropped what looked like to be a small tattered business card into his hand. He didn’t look at it directly but kept his gaze on hers.



“Ask for Saishyo Hiten. Now please, just go.”



Having been told twice to leave was enough. Inuyasha jumped of the front porch and started down the gravel drive way. He stopped part way, realizing that Sesshoumaru was not behind him. Turning around he saw his brother standing there, staring at Shoko.



Sesshoumaru gazed into Shoko Minamoto’s eyes, begging her to give them something else. He held her gaze for a moment longer; when she remained silent he turned around and started down the steps.



“Sesshoumaru!”



He turned and looked at the trembling woman, a woman he knew who was the mother of the woman he loved. Her eye’s held so much pain, so much sorrow. But why? What happened to tear this family apart?



“I’m sorry. I….I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know.”



He opened his mouth to speak, but Shoko had already disappeared inside the house and turned the lock into place with a soft click.