A/N- Not one of my best chapters so I'm sorry about that :/ I'm hoping to make the next chapter better :) And we'll be getting back to more humor in the next chapter too so I'm looking forward to writing that ^v^

Disclaimer:I do not own Inuyasha nor do I make a profit from this story

Inuyasha now knew for certain that his oh so lovely half brother had a humungous crush on Rin. He had doubted at first, but now, now he was a firm believer. Yes he had watched Sesshomaru watch her all throughout class, yes he had seen the way Sesshomaru lost the ability to properly communicate around her, and yes he had actually witnessed the bastard worry about her wellbeing when he had asked 'are you okay?'

If anyone had told Inuyasha that his heartless half brother would ever utter those three words he would have died -literally died- from laughing so hard.

Inuyasha stared at Sesshomaru from his usual spot on the couch, watching as he scribbled Jaken's name in the number one spot of his list of people to murder. Inuyasha couldn't quite picture Rin in a relationship with the uptight demon. Call him crazy, but he doubted she would enjoy helping Sesshomaru alphabetize his murder list, or reorganizing it by who had wronged the demon the most. It was silly to think of any of them in a serious relationship since they were only thirteen, but it was difficult even picturing an older version of Sesshomaru with a girlfriend. Whether it be Rin or not, it was hard to imagine anyone in their right mind willingly wanting to spend the rest of their lives with him.

Inuyasha felt a sudden wave of pity for the demon. Sure he was a bastard, but deep, deep, deeeeeeep down, he had to have a bit of kindness in him. After all, he witnessed it firsthand when Sesshomaru seemed worried about Rin's wellbeing. Besides, nobody could be completely evil and have a crush on such a nice girl like Rin.

He scratched the back of his head and briefly wondered if Sesshomaru even had a chance with her. From what he could tell, Rin seemed to only want to be friends with everyone. She didn't seem to have any extra interest in his half brother, but then again they never were around each other much. It was mostly just her enjoying her day and Sesshomaru staring at her from afar.

Inuyasha wondered if maybe he could help his half brother somehow. He wasn't sure why he wanted to, but seeing how low the demon's chances with Rin were, made him want to attempt to help raise his chances in some way.

"Sesshomaru," his ears twitched when he heard his mother call out from the kitchen. "I need you to take out the garbage."

Not once pausing in his writing, Sesshomaru immediately replied, "Inuyasha is perfectly capable of walking himself out."

And just like that all thoughts of helping the evil bastard flew out the window.

Jakotsu frowned as he sat back in the uncomfortable cafeteria chair. His eyes shifted from Rin, who was sitting across from him, to a spot behind her. He wondered how she could be so blissfully unaware of the eyes that had been glued on her since she sat down.

"I don't think he's even blinked for the past 7 minutes," Inuyasha whispered to him.

Jakotsu nodded, shifting in his seat. He wasn't sure if he should say anything or not, he knew demons had some kind of super hearing and getting on Sesshomaru's bad side wasn't something he wanted to do. But this was getting out of hand. By the time the dog demon finally works up the courage to approach her, she'll be in a wheelchair with wrinkles all along her skin.

He leaned over toward Inuyasha to whisper, "Maybe we should help him out."

"Let him suffer," Inuyasha mumbled, not bothering to lower his voice even the slightest bit. "He's evil."

"Who's evil?"

Both Inuyasha and Jakotsu looked up at Rin, having forgotten that yes she was right in front of them and yes she could hear them talking.

"No one," Jakotsu said at the same time Inuyasha told her, "Sesshomaru."

Jakotsu kicked Inuyasha's leg under the table, ignoring the 'what the hell did you do that for!?' and the demon who's full attention was on their table.

Rin cocked her head to the side and frowned. "Sesshomaru?"

Both Inuyasha and Jakotsu saw Sesshomaru sit up straighter in his seat. Jakotsu wasn't sure whether or not to continue the conversation; he didn't want a table thrown at him if he accidentally said something that upset the dog demon.

"Lovesick puppy," Inuyasha snickered, earning him a quick glare from the demon. Damn his hearing.

"He's not evil," Rin continued. Inuyasha scoffed, though she ignored it. "I like him."

From behind her Sesshomaru nearly choked on his food. His face turned red so fast Inuyasha wondered if he'd explode any second now. It must have really caught the demon off guard because Inuyasha was pretty sure he had never seen him blush before, though from how the red was rapidly disappearing he assumed that Sesshomaru was attempting to calm himself down. He was probably doing that deep breathing thing he usually did that Inuyasha was sure he got from hearing his mother chanting 'breathe in, breathe out..'

"I'm sorry what?" Jakotsu asked suddenly. He was leaning halfway over the table now. He swore if Rin had kept something this important from him he'd have to sit her down and have a long talk with her once she came over to his house later. "You like him?"

"Mhm," she smiled. "I like Inuyasha too."

The sound of something cracking in Sesshomaru's direction had both Jakotsu and Inuyasha frozen in their seats. Beads of sweat started forming on Inuyasha's forehead as he made damn sure not to even glance at his half brother.

"I like all three of you. Because I like all my friends," Rin said cheerfully, unaware of the almost murder that was about to take place in a few seconds.

And with those words Inuyasha felt as if he could breathe. Part of him wanted to laugh until tears were falling, another part of him wondered if he should reconsider helping his half brother. He took a chance and glanced over at him and immediately shivered. How Sesshomaru could make eating bread look violent he had no clue. It almost seemed as if he was pouting, and Inuyasha had to hold back his laughter. One thing was for sure, Sesshomaru would probably be in a bad mood for the rest of the day, and he hoped he wasn't the one Sesshomaru picked to take his anger out on later.

But for what had to be the second time in his life, that damn wave of pity hit him hard and he did something he would never have done if he'd sat back and actually thought about it.

it wasn't until the words left his mouth that Inuyasha thought maybe, just maybe he'd regret this decision very soon.

"Hey Sesshomaru," he called, watching as said demon looked up. "Come over here and eat with us!"

'Breathe in, breathe out.'

There weren't many things Masato had done that he could be proud of. His father hardly paid any attention to him when he was a child, he was always barely passing in school, his marriage ended after only a few short years, and he was only able to get a job that paid enough to at least survive. No, he wasn't proud of those things. Only one thing, one person he helped make, made him proud.

Rin.

Maybe every parent, or most parents, said this about their children; but to him Rin was perfect. He often wondered how she could have such a positive attitude all the time when living with someone like him. He knew she worried about him. He hardly ate most days, and it seemed as if he was always sleeping; hardly ever spending time with her.

He failed her really.

Masato wouldn't have been surprised if she hated him. His patience was almost nonexistent most of the time; he knew it had to be hard living with someone who frowned from morning till night. But it seemed to not bother her at all. Rin would still run up to him and hug him with all the strength her small body could muster. While he came downstairs in the morning with a frown on his face and an empty bottle of vodka in one hand, she'd be sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of cereal for the both of them and a smile on her face. She hardly asked for anything, but for that he was grateful. If he was able to he would buy anything she asked for, but he could hardly even afford one gift on her birthday.

The painful truth was that Rin would be better off with her mother. Aimi would be able to provide her with everything and anything she'd ever want.

Masato stared at the empty bottles on the floor, his hand loosely holding his next drink. Maybe he was selfish, but he didn't want Rin to leave him. Not yet. He had become too closed off, he had no friends left. He had no other family anymore, and Aimi sure as hell wouldn't be able to stand being in his presence for more than a few seconds. Rin was the only one he had left.

But he loved her, and he knew that he probably wouldn't be able to keep her happy for long. He wanted so much for her to live a carefree life. One where she didn't have to worry about her depressed father, where she wouldn't have to clean up empty alcohol bottles laid around the house while he slept; where she wouldn't have to cry some nights because she didn't know what she could do to help him.

Masato sighed deeply. A tear slid down his face, and for the thousandth time he wished things could be different; wished he could be different. Be better.

Aimi could provide for her a life she should have. He was sure of it. It would hurt him greatly, but he knew this would be what was best for Rin. Not now, because he couldn't bear not seeing her everyday, but perhaps sometime in the future.

Anything to keep Rin happy.

o~O~o

It was 8:30 p.m when Jakotsu's mother dropped Rin off at home. She thanked her before quickly running inside, eagerly looking forward to laying in her own bed. She loved spending time with Jakotsu, but sometimes she just wanted to relax at home. Normally, she'd try to stay up a bit later and try to persuade her dad to watch cartoons with her, but at the moment she was just tired and ready to sleep.

"I'm home!" she called out. The house was dark and quiet as she stepped inside and kicked her shoes off, which seemed strange to her because usually she would hear her father grunting 'welcome home.'

Rin closed the door behind her, before walking slowly toward the one light she did see. The small lamp in the living room that sometimes flickered. She was getting nervous, and couldn't stop the tears from forming in her eyes.

"Dad?" she whispered, both hating how quiet it was and how loudly the floorboards creaked with every step she took.

She took small, tentative steps into the living room, her eyes immediately glancing around before falling on her fathers body. He was laying on the couch, empty bottles scattered around the floor.

"Daddy?" Rin walked closer, and maybe it was because everything was blurry from the tears in her eyes, but she couldn't see the rise and fall of his chest. She laid her hands on his chest and shook him, but he didn't wake up. It was too much. Freely her tears fell and for a moment she could only let out a choked sob.

"Daddy please get up," she cried, her small hands gripping his t-shirt, trying to shake him.

Finally he shifted, and she paused in her attempt to wake him. Slowly his eyes opened and he opened his mouth in a yawn. He looked up at Rin and frowned, confused and still sleepy.

"Rin?"

He took in the sight of her teary face and immediately sat up, one hand rose up to gently wipe her cheek. "Rin what's wrong?"

She managed only a small smile before she tackled him in a hug, her hands gripping the back of his shirt and her tears soaking the front. Masato wrapped his arms around her; he wasn't sure what was wrong, but he wanted to comfort her the best he could.

"Shh it's okay," he whispered in her ear, "You don't have to cry. You're a tough girl, remember?"

"I know, but I can't help it," her grip on his shirt grew tighter. "I thought you were dead."

His eyes softened and he hugged her tighter, gently rocking her back and forth.

'Not yet Rin, not yet.' he thought.

"It's okay, I'm still here." he said.