Hello all. So this would be Sesshomaru and Rin fanfic number two. This is also my first AU ever. I hope I was able to keep everyone in character. This is a work in progress. I usually don't write chapter stories but this particular one just had a whole lot going on. I hope you all enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Cosmic Love
A love that transcends another universe

"It's funny how you don't know you're in love until someone actually says 'you're in love!' I don't know if that's how it is for other people but that's how it was for me."

Rin Hikaru stood gossiping with her three coworkers turned best friends. The familiar red plastic cup held by all, was filled to the brim with liquor. But that was to be expected, it was a party after all. A very frequent gathering she and her sisters from different mothers attended, especially since events like these were held by her top ranking best friend, Kagome's, boyfriend, Inuyasha. And DJ'ed by best friend number three, Ayame's, on-again off-again lover, Koga.

The normal babbles of 22 year old women were being entertained as they stood scantily clad in a circle. Tiny shorts to display long toned legs and clingy camisoles to showcase ample cleavage, were the clothing of choice. Not that any of them would disapprove; they wore less than this while working as exotic dancers at the local club, Dragon's Desire.

"Hey Rin," gal pal number two, Sango asked, "How come you always bring Sesshomaru to these parties knowing he doesn't want to be here?"

All four girls shifted and eyed the man in question from across the lightly populated living room turned dance floor. Sesshomaru Hatake was a tall, lean man. The long silver strands that adorned his head were pulled back away from his perfectly symmetrical smooth face. No one would ever know of the muscular physique he was blessed with, that is everyone but Rin, since she lived with the man for eight years now.

"He needs to take a break from studying every now and again. If I wasn't there to feed him he'd probably starve to death." Rin smiled.

Her little bookworm was finishing up his fourth and final year at the local college. Soon he would be entering a real university to study to become a lawyer. That was as soon as Rin earned enough to pay for it. He always told her that his schooling was not her responsibility but she insisted. She always knew he had the potential to leave the lower class slums they lived in and she was determined to make sure he lived up to that.

Even though he was older than her by four years, she still felt a sought of maternity toward him. He was her oldest friend after all, a tragic past bringing their lives together. Sesshomaru's parents died in a car accident when he was nearing 18 and Rin's mother, a flighty free spirit, couldn't bear to be bound by the chains of motherhood any longer. Her mother finally had had enough and stopped coming home, leaving her only daughter to fend for herself at the tender age at fourteen. Luckily, Sesshomaru just having graduated high school, was able to work. He found a job and was able to keep the small two bedroom apartment that Rin grew up in. As soon as she graduated, Rin found all types of odd jobs to support them while she enrolled Sesshomaru into college. He saved her from living in a shelter and she was going to save him from this impoverish lifestyle so few were able to overcome.

"Rin? Rin?" Kagome called, bringing Rin back from the past. "Did you hear her?" She chuckled.

"No sorry."

"We want to know how come you never hooked up with Sesshomaru." Sango repeated.

"Sesshomaru's like my brother!" Rin shrieked over the blaring music. "We've known each other for so long. That's just weird."

"But you live with him. How can you keep from touching him?" Ayame slurred a little. "If I was locked in the house with him every day..." The red head trailed off suggestively.

The others giggled.

Rin took a thoughtful tone. "We've been together a long, long time. Just me and him. I shudder every time I think about if I hadn't stayed after school that day. He was studying in the library and I was hanging around 'cause I didn't want to go home to an empty house. We started conversing and I spilled my guts. I told everything that was going on at home. He had such a trusting face. After that I hung around every day to talk with him. He was my Prince Charming, my white knight. It didn't even matter that I was a freshman and he was a senior." The three women stared at Rin starry eyed as she told her little story. "He told me he wanted to be a lawyer and defend the innocent. His high marks earned him a four year scholarship to a university and he was going to enroll right after he graduated. It's a good thing his parents died."

"What!" Sango yelled.

"No, that came out wrong." Rin laughed at her blunder. "I mean if they were still here he'd be in school and who knows where I'd be right now. He gave up that scholarship to take care of me. If his parents were here, I'm sure they would have told him to go on to school and let the government worry about me." She laughed some more, feeling the alcohol lighten her senses.

"I know what you mean girl. You two are like a poor girl's Disney fairy tale." Kagome cooed, earning a laugh from everyone.

"See, everything happens for a reason. We all have stories like that." Sango chimed in.

"All the more reason you need to thank him properly." Ayame emphasized with her hips.

"I told you it would be too weird." Rin blushed.

"Well if you don't wanna, I'll do the thanking for you. Koga's been working my nerves lately. He's always around. Working this party and working at the club. You know he had the nerve to tell me I shake my tail a little too much when I'm on stage. A man like Sesshomaru is exactly what I need in his life right now."

A strange feeling overtook Rin as she listened to Ayame talk about having her way with her Sesshomaru. A cold hollow feeling engulfed her chest and her heart began to pound against her diaphragm. The blood flowing in her veins turned molten. She was seething with rage.

"Hey Rin, does Sesshomaru like boobs?" The fiery red head continued on, leaning forward, shimmying her bust.

"Keep your hands off him." Rin damn-near growled. All three girls were taken back, rendered silent. In the little time they knew Rin, she was always so light-hearted and bubbly. Who knew she had a dark side? They all glance at each other and then burst into laughter.

"I told you." Sango snickered as she elbowed Ayame.

Rin was confused. What was so funny? "Told her what?"

"Don't worry, Rin. I don't want Sesshomaru. He's cute and all but I've made up my mind to be with Koga until I kill him." She chuckled.

"Then why did you..."

"I just wanted you to see that you do have feelings for him." Kagome clarified. "Rin, you love him. It's written all over your face and he loves you too. Why else would he have done all of this for you?"

Rin peered over to Sesshomaru who was now drinking from his red plastic cup and conversing with Inuyasha. It was only after Kagome spoke the words aloud that Rin was able to see. It was as if a veil was lifted. She loved him, not the platonic way she tried to convince herself but the real way a man and woman love in a committed relationship.

"Ooooooo this is my song!" Ayame gyrated her hips to the bass line.

"Where's Miroku?" Sango swayed her hips to the music.

"Why? Wanna get felt up in public by your pervy boyfriend?" Rin teased.

Sango blushed. "Hell, as buzzed as I am, I wouldn't even protest."

"Well girls we need something to dance to." Kagome said flashing her left hand that she managed to conceal all night. On her slender finger was a modest diamond ring, the tell-tale sign that she was soon to be a married woman. All the girls squealed their excitement, congratulating the young woman. "Let's go party!"

They all chugged their drinks and made their way to the makeshift dance floor, grabbing their respective partners along the way. Rin strolled over to Sesshomaru. He wasn't much on the whole party scene but Rin was always able to pull him out of his comfort zone. "Wanna dance with me?" she sang offering her hand. He gave a charming smirk and accepted.

Seeshomaru twirled her around a couple times, admiring her curvy frame, before pulling her backside flush to he's pelvis. His strong hands rested on her hips as she moved them in a provocative circle. Rin threw her hands back behind her, her fingers making their way to his soft hair. He leaned his head down and caressed her neck with his cold breath. They swayed together in a sensuous rhythm. Although their passionate display was nothing out of the ordinary amongst the other couples dancing, Kagome noticed the pair. She beamed brightly, ever so proud of her match-maker skills.

The night and early morning continued on as such. Many people littered every available seat, resting in a drunken stupor. An unknown song annoying played in the background when Rin awoke in a daze. Her head was resting in Sesshomaru lap with his arm protectively around her. Even though she knew there was no danger, being that they were in the company of friends and coworkers from the club, she still felt an immense security in the embrace of her savior.

Rin moved to sit up and felt Sesshomaru grip tighter on her. She smiled inwardly and slipped out of his grasp. Making her way to the bathroom, she noticed most of the people who attended had left and those that remained were out cold. Miroku and Sango were laid out on the floor close to the kitchen, his hand subconsciously massaging her bum. A little further up the hall of the one bed room apartment, Koga rested up against the wall with Ayame using his thigh as a pillow. His iPod was the DJ in his absence. Rin giggled to herself. No matter how much Ayame put up a fuss, she knew she loved Koga endlessly. Inuyasha and Kagome whereabouts were a different story. Seeing as though they were not amongst the sleeping figures must mean they were in the bedroom, after all this was Inuyasha's home.

Rin stepped inside the bathroom, noticing there was a girl sleeping inside the tub, splashed some cold water on her face. She looked at her own thoughtful expression in the mirror. Now that she actually allowed herself to acknowledge her love for Sesshomaru, showing it would be its own unique task. How do you tell the man who knows everything about you that you're hopelessly in love with him? Kagome said he loved her too. Why is it that he never made a move himself? Maybe he didn't have romantic feelings for her? Yes, there were times where it would appear that he held more than just friendship for her; the way he tended to her when she was ill, the way he'd comfort her whenever she had a nightmare, and how he was there to walk her home when she would finish her shift at 5am, despite having to be in class at 8am. True, she could have walked home with someone or taken the bus, but he said it was his duty to protect her. That notion made her sigh. Maybe their relationship was strictly platonic, the love an elder brother held for his younger sister?

Rin exited the bathroom and headed toward her roommate's sleeping figure. She lightly tapped him and woke him up. "Come on. Let's go home."

Sesshomaru stood up and stretched his long limbs. Following Rin out the door, they headed home. Their walk was quiet as usual. Their relationship wasn't the kind that had to be filled with chatter. One of the things that made Rin so favorable to him was that she could understand him without the talking. I guess that would happen after eight years of living together. Wow eight years! It felt like time was racing by. Hard to believe that they had been living together that long. It seemed like yesterday, Sesshomaru started working at that warehouse distribution plant to support them.

Sesshomaru didn't like leaving her home alone but he always made sure he had breakfast for her before he started his 7am shift and was home by the evening. And Rin would always have dinner hot and ready for him when he got home. After dinner, he would help her with her homework and watch a little TV whenever they had cable. And then it was time for bed to do it all over again. It wasn't until she got older that she started sleeping in her own room.

"Ahh, home sweet home." Rin announced as they strolled up to their building, four blocks from their party spot. Once inside, they each went to their bedrooms and slept until a decent hour.

Sesshomaru awoke first, heading to work. On the weekends he ran the small campus book store. It paid petty cash but it was something. He shouldn't have to ask for money from Rin, he was a grown man after all.

The small store was relatively quiet. Only a few customers in and out, some returning books they didn't need anymore, and freshmen newbies buying brand new books, when used ones worked just as good. It was only for five hours but it was a long five hours. Sesshomaru busied himself with reorganizing the shelves for the third time today.

"Hi, Sesshomaru." A husky feminine voice greeted.

Sesshomaru turned around, coming face to face with Kagura. She was a third year student finishing up the rest of her career after taking a couple years off to go abroad. This dark haired beauty had a developed body frame and piercing eyes behind wide round framed glasses.

"Hello Kagura. What brings you in today?" Sesshomaru spoke in a monotone, no inflection at all.

"I came to return my English-Lit book."

"You just got it last week."

"Oh. You remembered?" She blushed a little.

"It was just last week." He stated as he walked behind the register. "Is there anything else you need?"

"No, nothing in the store…" her words hung in the air with a suggestive tone.

Seeshomaru picked up on her subtle flirtatious behavior. Glancing up at her, he gave a small smirk. "Here's your cash. Come again."

Her hand lingered a little too long on his as she received her money. "I will." She grinned and exited the store. Sesshomaru watched as she departed; an unknown feeling in his gut.

"Come on Rin. Move your ass. We have a bus to catch." Ayame yelled.

"Keep your shirt on, Kitten". She teased walking out of the bedroom.

"Hey, I'm not Kitten until we walk into the club."

"Oh hush. You know you're always Kitten." Rin spoke as she strolled right up to the girl, placing a finger under her chin and playful sliding it forward.

Ayame fumed in mock anger.

Sesshomaru stood quietly watching, as he waited to escort the women to their destination. He smiled inwardly. He was glad Rin finally had made real friends. For so long she kept most people at an arm's length, never wanting to get too close to anyone for fear of them leaving, like her mother.

The bus ride was significantly shorter than walking. But the two only took the bus in inclement weather, needing to penny-pinch as much as possible. However they had a tag-along today.

"How come Koga didn't bring you to work tonight?"

"He had to be there earlier to finish the set up after the remolding. Why they would close on a Friday beats me. I'm pissed I missed out on all that money. But Koga was super excited. They got a new stereo system or whatever so he has to get familiar with a very delicate piece of equipment blah blah blah." She mimicked Koga's hand gestures, pulling a giggle out of Rin, while Sesshomaru gazed out the window uninterested.

Once arriving at the club the girls were ushered backstage while Sesshomaru took his place at the bar. He ordered a club soda and prepared to wait out the next seven hours. The lights went dim and the audience cheered. The curtains on the two side stages pulled back revealing two red-head wigged women on each stage. They did a synchronized dance to a medium building rhythm that had you tapping your foot and clapping your hands. And when the song hit the breakdown, the main stage opened to reveal a natural red head who went by the stage name Kitten. The audience gave a collective meow, welcoming the star on stage. Sesshomaru turned away. He'd seen the routine too many times to count.

Once 'The Reds' where finished, Ayame remained on stage alone where she did a solo number, which mainly consisted of her gyrating her hips and pelvis in a sexual manner, ending with her stark naked. The crowd cheered and threw dollars at her, begging for more. She loved the attention. The lights dimmed, signifying the end, two young guys dressed in black collected the money and the scantily clad waitresses started taking drink orders. In between the burlesque dances, two or three 'strippers' took to the stage to keep the audience entertained.

The next big number featured a petite boyish framed girl by the name of Kanna. She used some kind of mirror technique that simulated six or seven imagines, giving a view of her every angle. Then the ladies did a strip dance while waiting for the next act, which was Sango.

Creeping Willow was the name she used. Her act was in deep contract to her very nature. The club would darken. A thickening fog would roll over the first two rows of tables. A howl would echo and Koga would beckon "In the night the willow creeps." A spot light would shine bright center stage and she would emerge in skin tight black latex that shined like it was drenched in oil. Her breast where cut out and exposed, an X marking her nipples, and her backside cut out and completely visible. The Willow would do a fan dance that was erotic as it was chilling, leaving the audience aroused and terrified. The first time Sesshomaru witnessed such an act, he was placed under her spell like the rest of the audience but after the seventh time he was immune.

However, the next act always caught his attention no matter how many times he seen it. Kagome, or Sunset as she was called, shared the main stage with a nimble innocent-looking little creature who went by the name Bell. Both women stood in front of their long slim steel poles and posed cutely, adorning a short, thinly lined changing robe. Upon the announcement, "The bell tolls at sunset", both disrobed revealing a thin g-string thong and nothing else. The audience always exploded. They mounted the poles and did a matching routine that showcased acrobatics, flexibility, grace and raw sex appeal. The way the short raven haired minx manipulated her body around the pole was amazing and the way she captivated the audience was astonishing. Sesshomaru still couldn't believe that this was the little woman he roomed with on that stage.

The duo closed out the night for the showy dances around 3:30am. If the club had adequate staffing, Rin was free to go after she collected her tips for the night, or if they were understaffed, Rin would work the floor doubling up as a waitress and a tease; the latter happening on rare occasion.

And that was the night. Thankfully Rin was able to leave early this night. She bid farewell to everyone and waited by the side door for her escort. For her security and showmanship, the audience wasn't allowed to see her out of costume.

"Hey." She greeted. "How was it tonight?"

"I'm surprised you don't catch cold." was always his flat-toned answer. He never looked her in the eye right after her performance. The faint flush in his cheeks had to dissipate first.

"Don't jinx me. It is kinda chilly tonight. Good thing I have my sweat pants."

Sesshomaru nodded in agreement and they started home.

So how was it? Loved it? Liked it? Hated it? Let me know by reviewing. All comments are welcomed. I don't have a projected date for the next installment but it won't be that long. And to get you all amped up, next chapter is a freshly squeezed lemon. Thanks for reading!