Title: 20:00

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Pairings: SessRin, InuKag, MirSan, with the focus on SessRin.

Summary: Sesshomaru unwillingly ends up as the first guest on Kagome's new television programme, where he meets Rin for the first time. This fateful intersection changes both their lives. [SessRin], with mentions of [InuKag] and [MirSan]. AU.

Naraku Onigumo. Kagura Onigumo. Kanna Onigumo. Magatsuhi Shikon.

Kagome sifted through the placards in front of her. "I don't really fancy any of these people… They have bad reputations and I heard they have ties to the mafia."

"They're not fit to appear on national television," Sango said viciously from her seat to Kagome's right.

Shippo slumped against the rosewood table, his hair all mussed up. "Do we really have any other options?"

Rin tapped a pen against her notepad, trying to find inspiration from her myriad scribblings. She could feel a terrible headache coming on. "I don't think it's such a good idea to invite Mr Naraku."

Kagome swung her swivel chair from left to right as she surveyed the dejected writers along the length of the table. "Maybe we should go back and think again, contact a few—"

A loud crash, the angry sound of metal against wood.

"What are you doing, Shippo?" Kagome said, a little annoyed.

"Oops, sorry," Shippo said sheepishly, putting his metal mug back where it belonged. "I have an idea!"

Kagome leaned forward. "Yes?"

"You can ask Inuyasha to appear on the show!"

Inuyasha? Kagome burst out laughing. All too soon, Sango joined her.

"Why? Is it such a bad idea?" Shippo said, a little crestfallen. "He's rich, and he's your boyfriend, so you can blackmail him into appearing—"

"That's not a good idea, Shippo, dear," Kagome said. "He'd go off script all the time, and you know it. And he doesn't run his father's company. He's hardly the kind of businessman we want!"

Shippo's eyes brightened. "Then we should invite Sesshomaru!"

"Sesshomaru?" Rin said. "Who's that?"

"Inuyasha's brother," said Sango. "Actually, that's an idea."

Kagome shook her head. "No, he doesn't talk much, and when he does, he's so snarky—"

The door burst open. Another interruption. Kagome sighed and wondered why the heavens were so against her today. She looked up and saw Miroku standing in the doorway in his usual black-and-purple suit.

Beads of sweat ran down Miroku's forehead. "Sango, we've got to go. Kaede wants to start shooting earlier today!"

"I didn't get the memo," Sango said.

"We still have to go now," Miroku said.

"Go on," Kagome said to Sango.

Sango grabbed her blazer. "I'll see you later!" she said, and hurried off after Miroku.

As the door closed, Rin looked at Kagome. "So… We're inviting this Sesshomaru?"

"I'll think about," Kagome said, reaching for her smart phone. "It would take a hell lot of work to get him to appear, to be honest. I'm not positive about it. But I suppose it's worth a try…"

"Get Inuyasha to do the work for you," Shippo advised her. "Threaten him."

"I think I will," Kagome said.

At seven in the morning, Inuyasha's alarm clock blared with all the intensity of a warped fire alarm.

"Damn it!" he swore, swatting at the buzzer.

The alarm clock eluded his grasp, however, by whatever sorcery he did not know. At last, his ears hurting from the continuous noise, Inuyasha sat up and turned off the alarm. Thoroughly awake now, he remembered the mission given to him by Kagome.

Do it or else, she had said, the threat clear in her voice.

Groaning under his breath, he made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen, where his snotty brother sat drinking specialty coffee from a porcelain cup.

Inuyasha took a seat opposite Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru wrinkled his nose. "You smell terrible," he said. "And you look terrible."

"And good morning to you, dear brother," Inuyasha said. "Pass me some of that bread. Please."

Sesshomaru pushed the bread platter over to Inuyasha. "Is there a reason why you are up so early today?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha said, buttering the bread. "Kagome asked me to speak to you."

"My answer is no."

Inuyasha looked up, confused. "I haven't said anything!"

"My answer is still no. There, it saves you the trouble of asking."

"Doesn't work that way, bro," said Inuyasha. "Kagome's producing a new programme."

Sesshomaru flipped through the morning daily without looking at Inuyasha. "Good for her. That has nothing to do with me."

Inuyasha pressed on nonetheless. "And she needs to invite guests for her show. The writers on her team want you on their show."

Sesshomaru tossed the daily aside and reached for the financial papers. "No."

"I knew it," Inuyasha groaned. That idiot of a Shippo to even suggest this – Kagome will not be happy about this – shit, what should I do? This guy won't budge, and
—

The most unlikely person came to Inuyasha's rescue. That person happened to be their father, who stepped into the dining room already dressed in a neatly-pressed grey suit.

"What is this programme about?" he asked, as the housekeeper handed him a cup of coffee.

"Corporate social responsibility," Inuyasha said. "I think."

"Oh? Please elaborate."

"They're interviewing CEOS and directors of firms which practise CSR," Inuyasha said. "I have the folder somewhere…"

Inu no Taisho cleared his throat. "I presume they would want to film on the company's premises as well?"

Inuyasha nodded.

"Why then," Inu no Taisho said, "that is a good opportunity for us!"

Sesshomaru looked scandalised. "I'm not doing that!"

"Well, yes, you are, my son," Inu no Taisho said. "Think about it from a commercial point of view. First, it'll do wonders for our image as a company."

"No, but—"

Inu no Taisho's face hardened. "Second, it'll help to downplay that mistake of yours earlier this year, Sesshomaru. Jilting Kagura Onigumo was not a smart move."

"Hear, hear," Inuyasha said.

"Shut up," Sesshomaru said, glaring at his younger half-brother.

"You've aired your dirty laundry in public, and that public falling-out did no good for our name," Inu no Taisho reminded Sesshomaru. "The tabloids haven't given up the ghost yet on this matter, you know. Do this, and you'll help restore the pride of our name."

Sesshomaru made a noise halfway between a grunt and a strangled cry. "No," he said again.

"Yes," Inu no Taisho said. "You caused the problem, you clean it up. Behave like a man, my son."

Kagome walked down the long hallway, her court heels clicking loudly against the floor. "Inuyasha said Inu no Taisho solved the problem," she told Sango.

"And the outcome?"

"Naturally, Inu no Taisho won. How could he not? Inu no Taisho is the only one who can convince Sesshomaru to do something he doesn't want to do."

"I'd wager it was less his gift of persuasion and more some form of blackmail."

"Perhaps," Kagome said.

"That's great, anyway," Sango said. "I'm so happy for you, Kagome. I hope this programme's a success!"

"I have to thank you and Miroku for being so willing to help out," Kagome said. "Especially after my last programme failed so badly."

"What are friends for?" Sango said, smiling. "Don't worry so much, Kagome, you have a really good team of writers this time around. And they gave you the 8pm slot. Shows they still have confidence in you!"

"Thanks, Sango," Kagome said, tapping her access card against the card reader at the entrance to the office.

The two women entered the office, where Rin met them at the door.

"Is he here yet?" Kagome asked.

"Not yet," Rin said. "Shippo's preparing the meeting room."

"Good," Kagome said. "He'll be here soon. That man is as punctual as they come."

Sure enough, Sesshomaru showed up at the offices within minutes. He stopped a passing secretary. "I'm looking for Kagome Higurashi," he said. "The producer."

"Ah, yes," the woman said, jabbing a finger over her shoulder. "The PD is right there."

Sesshomaru looked over the woman's shoulder, and saw his brother's girlfriend standing amidst a group of other women. He headed towards them, already impatient.

Kagome looked up at that exact moment. She waved at Sesshomaru. "Ah, here he is," she said. "Please welcome him, Rin, and take him to the meeting room. I'll be there shortly."

And so it was that Rin met Sesshomaru near the door. She was awed by his stature and a little frightened by the piercing look he gave her. After all, Sango had spoken of Sesshomaru's fearful reputation among his staff.

"Please, this way, Mr Sesshomaru," she said, leading the way.

He followed her without a word.

"Would you like a drink?" she asked when Sesshomaru was seated.

"No," he said curtly, pulling out his phone. He did not even bother to look her in the eye.

Somewhat disheartened, Rin left the room. When she looked back from the doorway, Sesshomaru was scrolling through his phone, his attention entirely absorbed by the device.

Rin walked back to the office proper, wondering why she suddenly felt so low.

A lean man lounged against a wood-panelled wall. He pulled out a sleek black cell phone and dialled a number.

"Hey, Bankotsu," he said. "It's me."

"Yes, Jakotsu?"

"I heard they have a new programme."

"Yes?"

"It's produced by Kagome Higurashi. And guess who I saw walk into her office?"

"Who?"

"The handsome Sesshomaru himself!"

"Damn. We have to think of something soon."

"Yeah, we don't want to lose our ratings, do we? But hell, he's so handsome, and so tall –"

"Jakotsu, I don't need to know that. Come back now. We have work to do and plans to make."

AN: Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed this! Concrit/comments would be helpful and very much welcome.

I have to make it clear that I do not work in the TV / filming industry. However, I'm a big fan of k-dramas, and relied on two k-dramas in particular as inspiration and "research" for this fic - namely, The Producers and Sincerity Moves Heaven. As such, I'll be the first to admit that this fic is probably short on accuracy. Oh well, it's fan-fiction, I'll just make it up as I go along.