InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Self Deception ❯ Possession ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter Three:

Possession

Rin stood frozen as she saw the one person in the world that she did not expect to see right now. He was leaning against the doorframe, blocking the ongoing traffic from her view and he had on his infamous grin that, on several occasions, would have sent any number of women running his way. He began to walk toward her, striding across the floor, his black hair obscuring half his face. His eyes shined bright with excitement and then, curiosity. Rin's eyes shined bright with annoyance when he decided to settle himself on top of her counter. She inhaled deeply, a scowl on her face, before she turned to face him. From the look of his clothing, he may have traveled from the airport directly to her shop.

"What are you doing here?" He only smiled and brought her hand to his lips, but she told herself that she would not be dismayed by his presence. He clasped her hand while bringing it to his lips, and she allowed him to. Just when he was about press his mouth against her hand, she reached out and pushed his face away, which sad to say did not send him falling over the counter as she had anticipated. Instead, his eyes widened as did his grin.

"Man, I thought that you'd surely be excited to see me." Rin frowned as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "What are you doing here? I thought that you had a conference in Los Angeles. Did they run out of women that you could chase around?" He shoved his black hair out of his face, and placed a hand over his heart in shock. "Rin, you wound me. You know that you're the only woman that I love." Rin just had to roll her eyes at that. In all the years that she had known him, he was always the joker. The one guy in her life to make her laugh and at the same time, made her just want to give up on the male species. So instead, she just smiled and reached up to press a light kiss on his cheek.

"Okay, so why are you back in the city so soon?" His smile only widened. "I missed you plus I didn't want to miss your big opening and well, I thought that I'd surprise you with this." He said as he reached into his pocket for a small red velvet box. He, in turn, opened it to reveal a female figurine, which made her eyes widen in surprise to see that he held a figurine of the goddess Diana in his hand. She was beautiful with long brown her flowing down her back. She was enclosed in golden armor with a sword sheathed at her waist and a falcon on her wrist. In her other hand, she held her golden bow and arrow. She almost accepted the box but caught his smirk out of the corner of her eye. She skeptically eyed him but had to laugh when he jumped off the counter to kneel in front of her, offering the box on bended knee as if offering a wedding proposal. At that moment, a woman holding the hand of little girl walked in and smiled, feigning delight as she pressed her hand over her heart. Rin lightly smiled, embarrassed over the scene, while Kouga decided to loudly beg Rin to accept his present. Rin could see that the woman was waiting in anticipation for her to answer. So to conclude this humorous scene, Rin accepted the box while tugging on Kouga's arm and dragging him away into her office. The little girl, that she could see, was clapping her hands in excitement, which made Kouga's grin widen even more as he tried to plant a kiss on her lips, but she avoided the contact and almost shoved her knee into his groin, but as expected, he quickly backed away to avoid injury.

"Do you always want to nail a guy in the balls when he's offering you a gift?" Rin scowled at him. "That was embarrassing!" Rin exclaimed.

"She probably thinks that we're making out, so we shouldn't disappoint her." Rin reached out to place her hand against his chest. "Oh shut up and get off of me." Easily he complied, reaching into his pocket for a cigarette. Rin snatched it away. "There is no smoking in here. You'll blacken my clothing." Kouga pouted, but made up for his lack of nicotine by settling himself comfortably into her chair. Rin frowned and shoved away the feet that Kouga had propped on top of her desk. "This is not a lounge." Kouga only smirked and presented her gift before her once again. "Well, do you like it? I found it in a New Age shop in LA and I know how you like these things." Rin could almost see the gleam in his eyes, and decided to indulge him by accepting the gift. After all, she did have an affinity for Goddesses. She had been collecting statues of them all her life ever since her father gave her a figurine of the goddess Hecate at the age of seven. Since then, each year, she has bought and collected a figurine to represent the ideals of her past and future and now, she was content that Kouga decided to surprise her with this. She admired it, and most of all she loved it.

"I can't believe that you remembered. Thank you." Kouga brushed his hair out of his face and winked at her. "You know, you never did answer my question about why you are back so soon." Pulling himself into a sitting position, Kouga began to tell her about the famous account that he had so recently acquired. "Well, I came back because my business in LA was complete and now, the firm is trying to obtain an account with Hayama Technology for a new type of computer software. In fact, I have a meeting with Sesshomaru Hayama himself on Monday morning. Rin, this would be a great opportunity to have Hayama Technology support the software the company is trying to revolutionize." Rin was taken back in surprise. Kouga had never spoken with such enthusiasm over his work before.

"So what exactly is this new software?" Rin asked, wishing to know what Kouga's plans were for the future. "Well, I can't say. For now, all the files on the subject are confidential."

"Oh. Well, I hope it works out for you." Kouga thanked her with a kiss on her hand. "I know that I can always count on you to support me." Rin smiled and it almost broke his heart. Just seeing her smile made him think back to that first time that he had seen her smile. He could still remember that winter, fifteen years ago when he first laid eyes on her. The day was wintry like every other day in the city around the season, and there she was at the age of eight, staring up into a window display on 5th avenue. He was fifteen at the time and he had been out that night looking for a gift for his latest girlfriend, when he had seen her across the street as she sprawled her hand against the glass and laid her head upon it. He was mesmerized by her innocence, her carelessness, and her purity. But he had also found it strange that a young girl would be out that late without a guardian, so he had decided to go to her and ask if she needed help. When he had approached her, she looked up and saw him through the reflection in the window and smiled. That was the first time that her smile had captivated him.

"Kouga, are you listening to me?" Rin asked, pulling him out of that past memory. He looked at her and saw the true beauty that she had become. It was not just in her appearance but her spirit. Her innocence had never left her and he hoped that it would always remain with her. Just then, he decided to cuddle up to her, which earned him another groin shove and this time, she almost succeeded if he hadn't twisted his body to the side. Then, he just held her, taking in the scent of her hair and her skin, taking in the epithet of what made Rin who she was. "Kouga, what's wrong?" She turned, stepping away from him, and he let her go, losing her sweet warmth.

"Nothing, I was just thinking." She eyed him, her brown eyes suddenly worried, and he did not want her to be. "Well, I have to get going. I came here straight from the airport and I can't stand Ayame up tonight."

"You haven't called her yet? She would ring the church bells if she knew that you were back early." Kouga laughed, and his thoughts shifted to Ayame. She was the latest girl in his long line of girlfriends, and this time, he thought that their relationship might actually work out. "Yeah, I'll call her when I get home. I'll call you later on tonight."

"Oh, I won't be home tonight. I have a date." That last phrase spoken from her lips shocked Kouga in speechlessness, and his hands fell away from her shoulders. What?! Rin noticed that Kouga was staring at her, not saying a word. "Kouga?!" That seemed to bring Kouga out of his silent trance. "You have a date?!"

"Yes, I do."

"You have a date tonight?!" Kouga repeated.

"Yes." Rin sensed that something was wrong, and brought her hands to his shoulders to shake him out of this repetition.

"You have a date with a man, tonight?!" Kouga exclaimed, finally taking her by her upper arms and bringing her face to meet his. Rin frowned. She saw that his blue eyes were ablaze and she tried to release his hold on her. But he would not let her go. His mouth was set in a firm straight line, and his expression was set in a deep scowl, and for the first time in her life, he seemed to be angry with her.

"Kouga, what is the matter with you?! Yes, I have a date. Is it so hard that a guy has asked me out?" Rin said when she felt his fingers burrow into her arms. "Kouga, let go of me. You're hurting me!" That last statement brought Kouga back into reality and he realized that he was hurting her.

Kouga blinked away the last vestiges of fury and he saw that his hands were encircled around her arms. He released her and took a step back, wringing his hands. "Kouga, are you okay?" Kouga did not want to look at her. He didn't want to see the fear that he put through; he didn't want to see the smile in her eyes disappear; he didn't want his rage touching her in any way. He glanced back at her to see her eyes widen. He took a step back from her and started for the door. "I'll call you tomorrow, Rin." And with that, he headed for the exit.

"Kouga!" Rin cried out, as she rushed out into the front of the shop. But he was already gone and all that was left was the new customer in her shop, giving her a wary gaze. Rin lightly smiled and the woman smiled back. Rin decided that perhaps this woman needed help with her shopping. As the woman asked her questions about a displayed purple sweater, Rin could only think of the vehemence that appeared in his eyes. Kouga, what's wrong?

*******************************************

Kouga drove down West 67th street, indifferent to the pedestrians around him. His jet-black helmet obscured his face, giving him the anonymity that he craved for at the moment. He didn't need the world glaring at him; he didn't need the world to see him as a cad for hurting her, for frightening her. He deserved to be shot. He made sure that he wasn't violating the speed limit but all he wanted right now, all he needed right now, was to feel the speed between his legs. His motorcycle roared to life with each turn of the handle and he sped down faster in his quest for forgiveness, for her forgiveness. He didn't know what had snapped in his mind when he heard the word date. Rin had never gone out with anyone and when she did, she had not spoken of the date as fondly as she did just then.

Kouga knew that he needed to compose himself. For a long time, he had been plagued with the feelings that he felt for her. Was it brotherly love? Was it the love of a protector? Was it the love of a father? Was it the love of a lover? Kouga shook his head at that. He couldn't love her. Not in that way. That would mean the end of being with her, of being loved by her, of just being in her presence when she would look up and he could feel that her eyes opened the gate to her world. For a long time, he wanted to be a part of her world, for her to look at him as she did when she was a young girl. But he couldn't have that; he couldn't think about that. He sped up on his motorcycle, the power giving him the ultimate high. I need to see Ayame!

****************************************

Rin finally finished with a customer, sending the woman on her way with a new cardigan when she glanced at the clock on the wall. The clock chimed seven and it was time for her to be on her way to get ready for her date, but the person who had plagued her mind for last couple of hours was Kouga. She still didn't understand why he had become upset with her. She looked around the counter and found the goddess figurine that he had given her earlier. She traced the figurine with her finger recalling the first time that she had met him. She could still remember the scent of the snow when it had fallen and also the odor of fire and ash that still lingered on her. She was eight when she had been looking at a window display staring as her face stared back at her when she saw Kouga through the reflection in the mirror and smiled at him. She remembered that he was covered in snow and that he was staring at her. In that moment, she wasn't afraid but animated to see him. It had been a long day since she had seen anybody. It was so cold and so dark that day. And she had already begun to miss them…

Ring! Ring! Ring! Rin jerked her head at the sound of the phone. She was so startled that the figurine fell from her hands. "Oh no!" The figurine dispersed into tiny pieces before she could catch it. The phone kept ringing but Rin ignored it, trying to gather all she could from the pile that was once Kouga's gift. She gathered the broken pieces into her hand, and stared at the ruins of this precious angel. All was in disarray except for the head of the Goddess, which she found to be her only salvation. How was she going to explain this to Kouga? With a grimace, she tucked the head into her pocket and rose to get the broom from the back of the shop. After she swept the broken pieces into the garbage, she kept thinking that Kouga would be upset at her, more than he was earlier. So as she was sweeping, she decided that she should buy Kouga a gift since she had ruined his. Maybe I should get that new helmet that he's been gawking at, or maybe that new leather jacket. He's always had a fondness for leather. Rin quickly cleaned up the fallen glass shards and set her broom aside to gather her purse and keys. She turned the sign that read Closed, and was on her way to the nearest train station.

As she rode the train home, her thoughts wondered to her stolen car. The police had not called to give her any new updates on the status of her car, but in the back of her mind, she knew that she might never see that car again. When she arrived at her stop, she walked the rest of the way home, contemplating her date with Sesshomaru. To be frank, she was nervous. It had been a while since she had gone on a date with anyone that she had been attracted to. Most of the dates that she had been on-that she could easily count on one hand-had been blind dates with some of Kagome's male friends from college. They were nothing as serious as having dinner with a millionaire who owned one of the biggest technological companies in the country. The word nervous didn't begin to describe what Rin felt. She arrived home at 7:30 and noted that she had an hour until she was to be picked up. As she walked up the stairs, she stopped by Mrs. Dillard's apartment to drop off her master keys.

"Why hello, Rin. You're home early."

"Hi, Mrs. Dillard. Yes, I am. I happen to have a date tonight." Mrs. Dillard's eyes' widened in excitement as she took in this new information. "Oh my, so that's the reason. So who is the lucky man who captured your heart?" Rin had to smile at that. "Well, his name is Sesshomaru and he is picking me up in about an hour."

"Oh well then, you had better go on up and do tell this old woman the details of your date."

"You're not an old woman. You're as young as you feel." Mrs. Dillard blushed at the compliment, giving Rin a kiss on the cheek before sending her on her way to prepare for her date. That lovely girl; she deserves some happiness.

Rin tumbled into her apartment, aware of the fact that she now had forty minutes to find her dress and make herself decent enough for a date with Sesshomaru. After rummaging through her closet for what appeared to be an eternity, she finally found her blue sleeveless dress with a lace floral design. She slipped into her dress, while observing herself in the mirror. She tucked her rose locket under the front of the dress, and clasped a silver chain with a garnet around her neck. Her hair, which had been tied up that morning, was now intricately twisted into a bun at the nape of her neck, with tendrils of her black hair swirling around her face. She seldom wore makeup, but on this occasion, she settled on wearing light pink eye shadow with a lipstick to match. After another ten minutes, she settled on a pair of black-heeled sandals, and lightly sprayed on one of her favorite scents, which had also been a favorite of her mother's. She glanced at her bedroom clock and saw that it was a quarter to 8:30. He will be here in fifteen minutes, she thought, taking into consideration the last few details of her person. She went into her closet once more to find a matching sweater and purse. When she at last found those items, she emptied the contents of her business handbag into the purse that she chosen for tonight. She fingered through her bag, for her wallet, and makeup when her hand came in contact with something hard. She gripped the object and saw that it was the disk that she had found the other night.

Curious as to why to she had taken it, her thoughts did not get far as she was interrupted by slight knock on the door. She dropped the disk onto her bureau and headed out to ensure who it was at her door but of course, she knew who it was. She straightened herself before she looked into the eyehole of her door to see a head of white blonde hair. Rin kept herself calm as she unlocked the door. And what she saw as soon as she opened the door made her gasp.

There he stood, Sesshomaru Hayama, in a black suit that accentuated all the contours of his body. The jacket was fitted for his arms, which thoroughly matched to the navy blue shirt that he wore underneath. His legs were fitted with a pair of black slacks that hung loosely around his body, giving an eyeful to any woman who might have wondered what hidden treasure lay underneath it all. His hair was loose, falling around his shoulders to end at his lower back. But what Rin noticed most of all were his amber eyes, staring at her. His perfectly chiseled face, revealed a smile that made Rin week at the knees. And from his lips, came the sound of the most beautiful voice that she had ever been a witness to. "Good evening, Rin." He said, without a falter to her name. She was surprised by the fact that she loved the way that he said her name. She noticed that her mouth was ajar and immediately closed it and responded to his greeting.

"Hello Sesshomaru." Rin said. She could actually feel her face warming.

"This is for you." He said, handing her long stem of lilacs. Rin took them from him, whispering a thank you. Get a grip, Rin! With a stronger voice, she said thank you, and this time it was his turn to smile. Sesshomaru could see the light blush that spread across her face, and smiled inwardly at the fact that it had been a long time since a woman had blushed in his presence without acting like a fool, but of course, he had expected that of Rin. He concentrated on her face, taking in the curve and texture of her face. Indeed, she was a beautiful woman, with soft, exotic brown eyes that reminded him of an innocent doe. He knew that he could stare into her eyes for an eternity if it meant that he would be able to see the light in her eyes again.

Rin blushed even deeper when she noticed that Sesshomaru was staring at her. A lot of men had stared at her but none were so important or as handsome as to send shivers down her spine. Sesshomaru did. And as she stared back, a flash of an event went off in her mind of hair just as white flowing in the wind. It was Rin who broke away from his eyes. Sesshomaru cast his eyes down to catch the stunning outfit that she had chosen for tonight. "You look very beautiful, Rin."

"Thank you." Rin whispered. "Uhmm…I just need to grab my purse and then, we can go."

She turned away before Sesshomaru could say anymore and walked away toward her couch. While her back was turned, this gave Sesshomaru an opportunity to observe the light colors displayed across her apartment. The walls were painted cerulean, with dark floral stencil patterns crawling up the sides of her wall. There was an ivory sofa in the middle of the room, with a different floral design, surrounded by light blue pillows. The kitchen, from what he could see, was done in mahogany wood of a dark rose color. She turned back to him, purse in hand, brushing away the fallen locks of her hair. "I'm ready."

Sesshomaru smiled and took her hand to place a light kiss on her knuckles, which sent a slight shiver through her as well as through him. They stepped into the hall. She locked her door, and she walked down the stairs with Sesshomaru trailing behind her. The reached the front of the building's entrance, where he moved around to open the door for her. She smiled and stepped out to see the same limousine that had picked her up this afternoon parked on the curve of the sidewalk. Rin was speechless yet excited at the display of chivalry. Sesshomaru led her to the limousine where he opened the door for her, awaiting her to walk inside. She climbed into the limousine, followed by Sesshomaru who took the seat next to her. He pressed the intercom for the driver of the limousine to take them to the restaurant. To Rin's surprise, Sesshomaru told the driver to take them to Bari, a restaurant in Soho that was well known for its luscious Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

During the ride, Rin admired the view that she saw out through the window, although the walking pedestrians could not look in to see her. She felt like Alice through the looking glass, looking from a world that she never expected herself to be. It was Sesshomaru who spoke to break the silence between the pair.

"Would you like something to drink?" Rin turned her face toward him, admiring how the lights of the limo reflected the amber shade of his eyes. "No, thank you. I'm fine." Naturally, Rin was a quiet person at heart but at this moment, she found it hard to say anything to start a conversation with a gorgeous billionaire. She blushed at the thought that she was quite interested in him, to find out who he was, what made him the man sitting next to her that night. She was all too glad that the lights in the limo provided a somber illumination as to not reveal her crimson face. She kept her hands on her lap so that he would not notice the slight shake in them and turned her face back to the window, watching the people of Manhattan pass her by.

Sesshomaru, who had been sitting there quietly, noticed Rin's uneasiness, but couldn't help being just as tense. He managed to grip his anxiety but couldn't help the way looking at her made him feel. The sensation was old and rewarding but whether he deserved it was something of a different matter. He noticed her fascination with the view just as he was transfixed on his view and what he saw made his heart pain in longing. Her hair was as black as dark silk and her skin, smooth and pale, reminding him of the moon when she shined her fullest. Her hands were delicate, reminding him of a doll's porcelain fingers. He wondered if her skin felt the same way. Her face was tilted away from him but that didn't stop him from reaching out to caress her cheek.

Rin, who had been staring out the window, felt a light caress on her cheek, and shivered. She whirled her head around to face the owner of that hand, who brought his hand further up to cup her face. She stared into those amber eyes, taking in the feeling that she had stared into eyes just as similar. She tilted her face into his palm, savoring the warmth of his strong hand. She closed her eyes, taking in the scent of his aftershave and the underlying scent of his masculinity and power. "You're so lovely." He said in a voice full of the longing and desire that he had wanted to know for a very long time. She sighed, loving the texture of his palm. There were no calluses, indicating no physical hard labor, but it was hard and muscular just the same. Her mind drifted back to when she had the same emotions running through her mind when she was young. She remembered a hand just as firm and soft, molding her face to fit in its palm. The owner of that hand had been a stranger to her but one that she could never forget. Just then, she had a flash of golden eyes staring into her face and opened her eyes to find herself staring into Sesshomaru's eyes. She quickly pulled away, regarding him with weary eyes.

Sesshomaru saw the unidentifiable emotion pass through her face and drew back his hand, setting it in his lap. He turned away from her to stare straight ahead. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to upset you." He said, in a tone void of the emotion that he had previously displayed. "It's all right. I'm sorry. I haven't been on a date for a long time. I've forgotten how to act." He turned to face her at her words, and smiled. "So have I." Rin smiled at him. "Well, if we're both going to apologize, I suggest that we do things that warrant apologies."

"I agree, or we can go about things that do not." He said, his voice sounding harder than before. Rin blushed and opened her mouth to respond when the car pulled to a stop, and the driver opened the passenger door. Sesshomaru proceeded to step out of the limo. Once he was out, she slid over and took the hand that he offered her. When she stepped onto the pavement, she couldn't help but notice how lovely the night was. The moon was full and out, neglecting the silver clouds surrounding her and in addition to her illumination, the city was encased in its exotic, neon lights that drew the eye. Sesshomaru drew her close to him, his hand making its way down to her lower back, guiding her up the steps of the restaurant. When they reached the maître'd, his eyes widened and he hurried to a nearby waiter. The maitre'd rushed forward.

"Welcome, Mr. Hayama. We are honored at your return. Would you care for the usual table?"

"Yes." And with a nod, the maitre d' let them to a private area, in the corner. Almost no one would see them, and the idea had Rin blushing again. Her unease would just not leave her. They came upon a small table, elaborately decorated with fine silver and a small vase of flowers. The maitre d' would have pulled Rin's chair out for her, but Sesshomaru stopped him, completing the task. The man smiled and ordered a waiter over to their table. "If there is anything that you need, please do not hesitate to call." And with that, he left, leaving a young blonde waiter to attend to them. "Would you care for drink, sir?"

"Yes, a brandy." Sesshomaru replied. He turned to Rin. "Would you like anything?" Rin looked up from her menu. She hardly drank, but being on a date with an elegant man made her change her mind otherwise. "Yes, I would like a Midori sour, please." The waiter nodded and left. Rin turned her attention back to her menu, bringing it up to obscure her face. For some reason, she couldn't bear to look at Sesshomaru for fear; she might just embarrass herself with her constant blushing.

Sesshomaru, who noted her anxiety, smiled, pulling the menu down so he could see her flushed face. Her face, either pink or white, would never conceal the plain beauty of her features. "Rin, are you okay?" Rin nervously laughed. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just a little nervous."

"Why are you nervous?" Sesshomaru asked, leaning toward her. "I have never been to Bari. I have only heard that the food is delicious and mouth watering." Sesshomaru stared at her as she spoke and it unnerved her. She glanced away, but not without, thinking that it was foolish of her to be acting like a brainless idiot. She drew in a breath, and turned her full attention on him. It had been a very long time, since she had liked anyone is particular. For the past couple of years, she had confined herself to her studies and to the establishment of her business. The only dates that she had been on were with the patrons who took an interest in her work. But this time, she would work it out, and be rid of her shy character.

"So, what made you want to go into the business of Technology? I have a friend, who works for Skyriders, Inc., and he is a well-established computer genius. He designs computer software for a living. He hates it at times, but when he always receives a new client, his love for it again arises and takes hold of him. Sometimes, he goes off to Los Angeles, or Miami, or out of the country for international meetings and I don't hear from him for days, but when he returns, he always acts as if he never left, which annoys me at times, but he's still so lovable." Rin stopped, noticing that she was babbling. Sesshomaru smiled. "Does your friend have a name?"

"Yes, Kouga Hakkaku. He's one of my best friends. I've known him since I was very young." Sesshomaru's eyes perked up at the mention of his name. Rin did not notice but continued to tell him all about her friend and his accomplishments. She finally switched the subject to her closet female friends. She spoke when the waiter had brought them their drinks. After they had ordered and received their main courses, she spoken again and not once had he tired of her voice. Rin suddenly stopped when she saw that Sesshomaru was regarding her with his amber eyes. She took a sip of her drink to wet her parched throat. What was wrong with her? She had never babbled on like this, not since she was very young. "I'm sorry. I didn't let you allow you to answer the question." She said, remembering what she had asked him before. Sesshomaru laughed full heartedly. "It's okay. I love the way you talk and I love listening to you." Rin blushed again, taking a longer sip of her drink.

"I guess you can say that I inherited the company. My father started it with his bare hands and hard work, and it has become quite successful."

"Have you always wanted to become a part of the technology business?" Rin asked.

"Yes, I have, ever since I was a small child. My father would teach me the ways of computers and their programs, and I knew that one day, with his guidance, I could make Hayama Technology much grander. It was my dream to expand the nation's horizon, creating software programs for higher education, and the like."

"Does your father still run the company with you?"

"No, my father passed away a long time ago. But by then, I was old enough to take care of the company and mold it into my own and my future." Rin couldn't help but notice a slight sadness in his voice when he spoke, but she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable, so she continued on with her inquiry.

"Do you have any other family members who run the company with you?"

"No, but I do have a younger brother but this wasn't the life meant for him. He and I grew up believing in different ideals and wanted separate futures. But I do see him every so often. He's very opinionated and stubborn. Many say that we are more alike than we believe."

Rin laughed. "Well, then it must be true." They continued on with their conversation. He spoke about his business, and she also spoke about her current business. She also ventured into telling him about her dreams for her business, and he continued to listen with open ears. They had finished their meals and were in the middle of enjoying dessert. With the delicious onslaught of spiced roasted beef, she settled on a rich chocolate éclair, and he had tiramisu. They continued to speak, their conversation never wavering until she glanced up to notice that she did not hear a sound from the surrounding clientele. In fact, they were quite alone.

"There is no one here." She said abruptly.

"No, I suppose that they all went home." He said, his eyes never drifting from her face.

"Won't they be closing up soon?"

"I suppose so but we can stay as long as you like." Rin smiled. "Aren't you an influential man?! But yeah, it's getting late. I should go." Sesshomaru said nothing as he stood up and took her hand. He brought her hand to his lips. Her eyes widened at the sensation, and allowed him to pull her forward, bringing her to her feet. He ordered the waiter to bring them their jackets and apparently, the issue of the bill was settled. Sesshomaru led her out of the restaurant to the street where the limo stood, with the driver holding the door. She climbed in first, followed by Sesshomaru.

They rode, continuing their earlier conversation, until they reached her apartment. He insisted on walking her to her door and when they reached her door, she turned, prepared to say good-bye when suddenly she felt his lips on hers. His lips molded over hers, which caused her to gasp. Upon her gasp, his tongue slid over into the crevices of her mouth. His mouth was hot and wet. His tongue slid over her lips, tasting her, taking in her essence. Rin was too surprised to close her eyes. Her eyes widened further when she felt his hand tilt her cheek up to change the angle of their kiss. When she felt his hand knead through her hair, she gave up any resolve. She let herself go as she slowly closed her eyes, bringing her hands to rest upon his shoulders. Her surrender seemed to incense Sesshomaru even more for he held her tight, crushing his lips to hers. Rin rode on a path of ecstasy as her blood began to boil with anticipation. His urgency to touch her overwhelmed her, even as she continued to kiss him with as much need as he dealt her. Unexpectedly, Sesshomaru pulled away but not before placing one last chaste kiss on her lips. "I will call you later."

And with that said, he turned and made his way down the stairs. Rin watched him leave, dazed at what had just happened. She fumbled with the lock to her door, but managed to open it. Once inside, her head began to swirl. She had never experienced a kiss like that in her life! Normally, she would never kiss anyone on the first date, and when other guys had attempted to do so, she would tell them that it wasn't her style to do that. And so, they had respected her decision and also opted to not to call her the next day. But she didn't care. They were blind dates that fellow co-workers at the time set her up on. Rin threw her purse on the couch, a habit that she found detestable when others did that, but at the moment she didn't care. She was, literally, high on the kiss that Sesshomaru had given her. She had only just met Sesshomaru but already she was feeling something in the pit of her stomach. And the strange thing was that she felt that the relationship wasn't going too rapidly for her. He was different she knew and there was something about him, about his essence as a man that she had come to wonder about. She stumbled into her bedroom and collapsed onto her bed and smiled, her thoughts returning to her evening with Sesshomaru.

********************************************

"Kouga, what's wrong?" Ayame asked, bringing her head from the pillow as she stared at Kouga, who at the moment, was sitting on the windowsill of her apartment. Ayame knew that something was wrong with him. When he came back from one of his business trips, he was always so giddy and ecstatic about the commissions that he had just rolled in. But tonight had been different. He had arrived at her apartment earlier that night, and without saying a word, he had kissed the shoes off of her and had made love to her all evening, missing their dinner reservations. After they had made love, he wouldn't talk to her like he would always do. When she had asked if he saw Rin, he remained silent and just stared out the window. She had given him a kiss on the cheek and allowed for the subject to drop. She didn't want to pry him with questions when it was obvious that he didn't want to talk about whatever was upsetting him. Now, it was one o'clock in the morning, and there he was, lost in thought, and she lost in how to comfort him.

Kouga continued to stare out the window. The window was slightly ajar to let the cool air in. He could hear Ayame calling to him, but he couldn't answer. His words, at the minute, were not for her. Earlier, he had left Rin in a hurry to get to Ayame, and now all he wanted was to get to Rin. She had been constantly on his mind ever since he had stepped through the door of Ayame's apartment. He turned to look at Ayame who had fallen asleep. Her face was turned toward him. He stepped away from the window, falling beside the bed to peer at her over the covers that she had kicked away. Her red hair was loose, spanning over the pillows. Her face was truly angelic with a pixie nose and soft red lips. He leaned down to press a light kiss on her lips before he dressed and left her apartment without a note of any explanation. He needed some place to think before his rough emotions got the better of him. He hopped onto his Harley and rode hard and fast down the street, ignoring the bright lights and displays of the city. He rode past the buildings, the late vendors, and the vagrants until he spotted a flower shop still open at such a late night. He walked into the shop, bought an eloquent bouquet of lilacs and rode to the one place that he had always felt safe. He drove to Rin's.

***************************************

It was 2:45am from what Rin could see as she heard an incessant knock on her front door. She shook her head awake wondering about who would be up this late and why they would be at her door. She got up and raced to the door to stop the noise. She asked who it was as she peered into the peephole. The image that she saw made her take a step backward but she found herself and unhooked the door chain to let him in. She opened the door all the way and gazed at a bushel of lilacs held in front of her face. Behind them, his face popped up with his renowned cheeky grin. "Hey!" Kouga said, handing the flowers to Rin as he leaned against the doorframe. "Can I come in?" Without answer, she held the door wider and stepped aside to let him in. She took a whiff of the flowers, reminding her why she had liked those particular flowers. That was twice in one night that she had received them. Today, indeed, must be her lucky day.

Kouga glanced around her intricate apartment before placing himself on the sofa. Rin, clad in flannel, walked to the kitchen to place the flowers in a vase. After, she came to sit next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Are you still upset with me?" Kouga pulled her closer. "I wasn't upset with you. I was upset with myself. I didn't mean to hurt you. I wasn't expecting you to move on so soon and I panicked. I don't want to lose you."

"You're never going to lose me and you would never hurt me. You've always been with me since I was a little girl. Not once have I doubted that that would change just because we're older with different pursuits. You always make me smile and what I feel for you will never change." Kouga listened with a stern ear. He kissed the top of her head. "I guess that I was being a fool. But Rin, I'm sorry. I didn't want my anger and insecurity to touch you. I need you in my life and I'd rather cut off my hands than to hurt you with them."

"I know." She said, pulling him closer. "You don't have to apologize." And before Kouga could say even more, she placed her hand against his mouth to silence him. "Did you leave Ayame to come here?"

Kouga smiled behind her hand and shook his head to answer yes. "She must be worried about you. Leaving in the middle of the night, as you know, tend to make women very upset. That was foolish of you." She removed her hand for him to speak. "I know but I wanted to see if you were okay. I'll explain it to her tomorrow. She'll understand. So how was your date with Mr. Right?" Rin stood up at that and walked to her bedroom. "Hey, no details for your dear old gal pal?" He asked, his humorous side coming through. Before she closed the door, she laughed and threw him a pillow from her closet. "Last time that I checked, you don't have the right equipment to be my gal pal. Good night, Kouga." Kouga grinned as he caught the pillow. The door closed and he was left alone but not as alone as he had once thought. He punched the pillow into comfort, kicked off his boots and crashed on her sofa. But his last thought before he dozed off was that Ayame would kill him for leaving her in a rush.

****************************************

The next day when Rin awoke for work, Kouga had already dressed and gone. A note was taped to her refrigerator telling her that he would call her later. And as a bonus, fresh banana nut pancakes were already made and warmed on the stove. Kouga knew that her weakness was for pancakes so she helped herself to a stack. She got dressed for work and rode the subway to her shop. She walked in to perform her routine of setting up the clothing lines and organizing her counter when the door bell sounded.

She looked up to see a young woman step into the doorway, immaculately dressed in a blue linen skirt and a blazer to match, carrying a briefcase in one hand while the other remained on the doorknob. Rin stopped her cleaning to peer at the woman, who suddenly opened her mouth to ask if she was Rin Mitsu.

Rin answered yes, and the woman stepped inside to hand her a large manilla envelope with her name in bold letters on the cover. Rin took the envelope, curious as to what she would have received. She hadn't ordered anything nor did she send for anything in a documentary sense. "Have a nice day!" said the woman, and without further speech, began to walk out of the shop. "Wait." Rin called out, which earned her the attention of the woman to turn her head toward her. "Who are you? And what is this about?" She asked, gesturing with the envelope.

"Miss. Mitsu, I only deliver the documents. You will have to open the envelope to understand its contents. I am sure that everything will be explained within the letters. Have a nice day!" And then she left. Only this time, Rin did not call her back. She was only dumbfounded by what had just happened. She set aside the broom that she had carelessly forgotten about and sat down to open the letter. What she discovered only further shocked her into silence. In the envelope was a document concerning the reading of a will; the will of one Akira Ookami. Rin later read on to discover that her presence was required but the problem was that she had never heard of Akira Ookami in her life.

Authors's Note: Oh my goodness, how long has it been since I last updated?! I want to apologize to all the fans for such a long wait but with my classes coming to an end and with finals to follow, I've been quite out of it. But hopefully, the next chapter will appear soon. I have already got my brain rearing to go. So I hope that you enjoyed this chapter as well as the rest of the story and thank you for all the welcoming reviews. See ya soon!!!