Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters. Thank you for letting me use them though!
Author's Note: So here is another Sesshy/Rin fic. *cough* what obsession? *cough cough* Anyways, this one is set 500 years in the future in America where Sesshomaru encounters Rin's reincarnation. I hope you enjoy it and hey drop me a line let me know what you think either way :D
Sesshomaru sat in his tailored Armani suit and watched the humans bustle by, completely unaware of the demons in their midst. Well one demon and one imp to be exact. America was quite a change from Japan though he had a feeling that was more of the time than the actual location. He and Jaaken and moved here to the West when the humans had begun their second world war. So many demons had fallen or lived in hiding now that the humans had truly taken this world. If he had not watched it progress with his own eyes he would not have believed it were possible. They were also showing their capabilities for destruction, some of which were on the demonic levels.
With a sigh he lifted his tea and drank quietly. Jaaken was babbling about something or other again but Sesshomaru was not interested. He was busy musing over the differences in his life now and what it had been 500 years ago. It took constant use of power from him to keep Jaaken looking human. He had traded in his flowing white robe and armor for his fine suits. His hair that had once hung to his knees and blown about at will was now wound into a braid. He refused to cut it however and the color was still silvery. He couldn't bear the blurriness of vision brought on by wearing contacts so to the humans who saw him, he was just an oddity. His brother had long since passed and after the Naraku debacle he had married his priestess. Sesshomaru had watched over the family from afar but he never intervened himself. Some days he felt the loss of his brother and other days he felt as he ever did. On the days he missed him, he was inclined to believe it was loneliness in general more than a particular love for his half breed brother that spurred the feeling.
There was one person he missed most of all. Rin. Kagura may have warmed his heart enough for Tenseiga but it was Rin that had truly captured him. He had left her in the village after Naraku had been slain. Her too he had watched from afar and smiled as she found someone to wed. He had even watched over her children but after a time he had more pressing things to do. Now he regretted losing track of them. In all his long years it was her laughter he missed most. Or maybe the little songs and odd gifts. It was hard to tell these days. Still even that he chalked up to loneliness more often than not. There were no demons around here as he had long since driven them from his territory. Jaaken was his only companion and that was a cold comfort.
There was a commotion in the courtyard outside of his penthouse building. Sesshomaru ignored it as he was lost in his own misery but it had stopped Jaaken's prattling. The imp had taken over the day to day business of running the giant corporation Sesshomaru was the CEO of. So many new things he had learned and mastered when coming to this strange place. It made him homesick…a peal of laughter interrupted his thoughts and stiffened his body into absolute stillness. He knew that laugh but it was impossible. She had been dead for nearly 450 years. He had just finally lost what was left of his sanity. That was the only possible explanation.
The laughter resounded again, bouncing off the stone work of the courtyard. He couldn't resist it, even if he was going mad or had already gone mad he could at least see her again. He turned his head slowly to the sound of the laughter until his eyes rested on the central fountain. More particularly and the young woman who was sitting in it with her hair and clothing soaked. He would have expected the typical American woman to be angry with the fact that her clothing and now makeup was ruined not to mention her hair that she had spent time into putting up. Not tilting her head back and laughing until her small body shook with the force of it. The girl's friends were gathered around her taking pictures. It was then that a young man's head surfaced sputtering and cursing the laughing girl. "It's not my fault I told you it was slippery." She was saying around giggles.
"Last time I try and be chivalrous." He muttered. Sesshomaru had no trouble hearing their conversation from his seat under the large tree but he doubted that anyone else could. Her voice was the same and yet different. She was older though. This girl before him was a woman not a young girl. Her voice had a musical quality to it that was new but the exuberance was still there. Yet for all of the laughter there was an undertone of sadness, too soft for human ears. Suddenly his eyes were locked with a pair of deep brown ones. So dark the pupils were nearly indistinguishable, even to his demonically enhanced vision. She was staring at him. "Arinna, seriously now, we're gonna get in trouble." The young man was talking to her and holding his hand nearly in her face. She blinked breaking the link between them and shook her head.
"Yea sorry." She smiled and took hold of his hand as he helped her climb out. Arinna. Very unusual name. The fact that rin was the central part of it was not last on him. He watched her attempt ring the water loose from her long brown hair. Her friends were all talking at once and he instantly tuned them out wondering if she was doing the same. She had a small bemused smile that indicated she just might be. Without really knowing what he planned to do he rose from his chair and was crossing the courtyard. Jaaken paced him momentarily, just long enough to drape something on his arm, then he fell back giving Sesshomaru space. Shortly after, the group of friends congregated around the girl parted to give him space as he approached. She was still wringing out her shirt when she spotted him and turned. Suddenly he realized he wasn't entirely sure what he intended to do by coming over here. "Is that for me?" She asked impatiently after he was silent for a moment. Her eyes fixed pointedly on his arm, the one Jaaken had draped something over. He extended the arm towards her seeing that it was a towel Jaaken had given him. "Thanks." She said as she grabbed it off his arm and began rubbing her hair dry.
"You're Mr. Taisho aren't you?" The young man's voice wafted over to Sesshomaru but he ignored it, eyes fixed on the girl. "Sorry about sitting in your fountain but we kinda fell in." He continued.
"Actually I fell in and then when David tried to help me out he slipped and fell in to." The girl spoke from underneath the towel. He waited, silent for her to finish. He wanted to ask her something but he wasn't sure what. Anything to keep her here. She straightened and removed the towel from his shoulders. "Um, thanks."
"Jaaken."
"Yes sir." Jaaken moved forward from behind him and took the towel from the girl. She looked a little puzzled by the interaction but she didn't say anything. They were quiet another moment where Sesshomaru fought to tune out the girlish whispers behind him.
"Okay then." The girl before him said and then she smiled quickly and turned to go. She was leaving. The girl who sounded and looked like Rin was just leaving. She didn't even give him a chance to say anything. How had Rin come to follow him before? It was too long ago to remember clearly.
"Miss." She stopped at the sound of his voice as did her friends. With a slow turn towards him he could see that she had raised one eyebrow at him. "Follow me if you wish to dry off more." He turned on his heel and walked towards his office building, not doubting that she would follow. She did linger in the courtyard awhile undecided before she promised her friends she'd catch up and she raced after him. The corners of his mouth quirked slightly upward in an expression he hadn't used for over four centuries.
Arinna followed the tall mysterious man with his beautiful white hair trying to ignore the squishing sound her shoes made as she walked. The suit had to be Armani or Gucci maybe. It was just too well tailored and the fabric looked more expensive than anything she'd ever owned. The smaller man that was with him, what had he called him? Jaaken that was it. What a strange name. And why did he act like his servant? Well perhaps it was because Mr. Taisho, big shot CEO of the corporate world ordered him around like one. She frowned at the long white braid but didn't keep it for long. The hair was just too beautiful. And so unusual. Who had white hair that wasn't a senior citizen or permanent raver? Mr. Taisho looked like neither of those. His eyes were unusual too. Bright golden amber. Normally she would've accused him of trying to stand out but somehow she got the impression that Mr. Taisho wasn't a man who felt the need for that sort of thing. He just had that supreme confidence that bordered too close to arrogance.
As they crossed the threshold of the giant skyscraper office building she amended the thought. His confidence crossed the border into arrogance. Every person that was employed in that building took one look at him and had the same reaction. Widened eyes, panicked searching, and then rushing up to him offering one of a million things or asking for something. Jaaken fielded all of the questions while Mr. Taisho just waved imperiously to scatter the overly helpful staff. They seemed terrified of him. She noticed more than one unfriendly assessment from the female staff members and stifled the urge to snap at them. Couldn't they see she was soaked through? Like she had any designs on the cold arrogant man in front of her not that they should either. But Arinna had always believed in a separate work and personal life. Of course, that could have been mostly based on her current employment.
The thoughts were pushed away as they approached a regal looking elevator with two burly guards standing in front of it. They stopped, waiting for something when finally Mr. Taisho looked over his shoulder at her. "Your name, for security purposes."
"Arinna James." She watched as the guards nodded briefly and then punched in the code to activate the elevator. Mr. Taisho turned his attention forward once more as they boarded the elevator. She had originally thought it empty but once inside she noticed an uptight looking woman standing just to the left side with a large stack of papers attached to a clip board.
"Mr. Taisho the board meeting was scheduled for twelve thirty I rearranged it until one when you weren't here." She jumped in as soon as the door was closed. If he acknowledged her, Arinna didn't see it. "You have three more meetings scheduled for the day and I need your signature on these forms please." He finally reached out one elegant hand to take the clipboard from her. The elevator climbed higher as his eyes scanned the pages before signing the bottom.
"Miss James will require a set of clothing to wear while hers is dried as well as lunch. Have it brought to my office." He commanded before handing the clip board back to her. Arinna was about to object when the chime sounded and the doors opened.
"Of course Mr. Taisho." The assistant said with a polite bow of her head. The man in question did not acknowledge that and merely stalked off the elevator. She had a moment's indecision where she seriously considered going back to the first floor.
"Rin." Mr. Taisho's voice was both soft and commanding at the same time. He was waiting for her but not watching her. The little man, Jaaken was staring at her with wide eyes. She sighed deeply before taking the step off the elevator and planting a wet shoe print on all of that nice marble flooring. They were walking again before the doors of the elevator closed behind her but she was already committed to her current course of action. Just get your clothes dried and then you can leave. She thought to herself as she watched that silvery white braid sway with his walk.
There were no other offices on this floor only a security station that looked extremely high tech and the paneled wall along the far end of the hallway. They seemed to be headed towards. Once close enough she couldn't make out a door and was starting to worry when Jaaken reached forward and pulled a panel aside. It was actually a sliding door which she realized was a very Japanese style now that she thought about it. Mr. Taisho walked past him without so much as a nod but she gave the little man a smile for his trouble. Once inside the office she couldn't help but whistle appreciatively. The entire room was done in ornate Japanese style with beautiful screens and dark wooded furniture. The whistle caught Mr. Taisho's attention and had him studying her intently again but she was too caught up in the grandeur to mind. "Young miss?" She turned to see Jaaken holding a pair of comfy looking yoga pants and a t-shirt neatly folded.
"Yes?"
"The bathroom is this way. If you'll just give me your wet clothes I can send them off to be dried." She smiled at him and nodded and then followed him to the bathroom. Mr. Taisho did not look up from his paperwork as we passed but she managed not to get too angry about it. He was after all being kind enough to allow her to use his staff and resources after she had made such a scene in the courtyard. The bathroom was every bit as lush and ornate as the rest of his office. She was afraid to touch anything and dirty it. Yet she stripped out of her wet clothes and stepped into the nice dry ones that somehow were the perfect size. When she went to open the door she heard Jaaken's voice, no doubt trying to be low so she wouldn't hear.
"Does my lord believe then that this is young Rin reincarnated?" There was no answer. "How does milord intend to keep her here? Kidnapping her would raise far too many questions." Kidnapping? Her heartbeat thundered into overdrive and she looked around trying to find a way out. Maybe she could sneak away while he was in his meetings? That seemed unlikely but she frantically tried formulate an escape plan.
"I do not intend to keep her here Jaaken." Mr. Taisho's cold deep voice cut through her fog of panic. She felt her breathing gradually decelerate. Jaaken mumbled something incoherent and then she heard the door close. Realizing she couldn't really stay in the bathroom she opened the door slowly and emerged. Mr. Taisho did not look up from his desk.
"Uh, thank you again Mr. Taisho. This is really nice of you." He didn't acknowledge her gratitude which sent her temper into drive. Deciding it was probably best not to anger someone who didn't seem to have any compunctions against kidnapping her she strode towards the large bay window and looked down at the city. Her college was just a few blocks south of the building and her apartment a short cab ride from there. She heard the scratching of his pen on the paper behind her and felt her teeth gnash together in irritation. "So this is all yours right?" Still no response. She sighed loudly but if he got the hint he ignored it. "I'm just going to keep talking to myself since you apparently don't talk." There was still no response or even a break in the scratching of his writing. "Fine." She stomped over to one of the comfortable looking chairs and flopped into it closing her eyes. The writing noise was beginning to drive her insane in the silence so she hummed over it.
Finally after a couple of minutes the pen stopped scratching. She opened her eyes to be caught in the amber stare that was leveled at her. "Why did you call me Rin?" She blurted out. Her question seemed to surprise him but the only way it showed was a series of rapid blinks. "I asked you a question Mr. Tai…"
"My name is Sesshomaru." He cut her off. She ground her teeth together to keep from shouting at the infuriating man sitting not five feet from her.
"Fine, Sesshomaru." The name sound funny coming from her lips as she struggled to pronounce it right. "Why did you call me Rin? You don't know me well enough to use a nickname and how did you know that was mine anyway?" He didn't answer her just continued to stare. She felt her eyes narrow. "Do you do this to everyone or is it just me?" She watched as his eyes narrowed briefly then they were interrupted by a beeping sound on his phone.
"Yes." He barked into the speaker after pressing the button.
"Mr. Taisho, the board is waiting."
"Very well." He disconnected the call and stood from his desk. Apparently he was that terse with everyone though he had at least answered the disembodied voice on the phone. Mr. Sesshomaru Taisho strode right past Rin without saying a word or looking her way leaving her completely alone to fume in the oversized chair while her clothing finished drying.