The clock in the hall struck 11.

The tall young man in his twenties, stood by the window, hands clenched into fists as he watched the car drive out of sight.

Of course, he had been expecting his fiancé to be wealthy, and exceptional looking- but what had possessed his parents to choose, her?

Miss Onigumo was rich and definitely attractive. Yet her sly smiles and almost red colored eyes were certainly… interesting. Her father figure, whom couldn't have been much older than himself, was quite eccentric. With his long wavy black hair, undistinguishable eye color, (who would want to get close enough to the unusual man?) and his maniac laughing that would put a psycho-killer to shame. However rich and powerful they were, Sesshomaru wanted nothing to do with the crazy scheming, family.

But, as it turned out, he would be marrying the Onigumo woman within a few months time… it was not a pleasant thought.

"Sesshomaru?"

It was his stepmother, Izayoi, her pale skin lit up from the light of the street lamp out the window.

Agitated, he averted his gaze from hers.

"I know you're upset." She went on, her voice soft… and understanding.

Even more aggravated, he clenched his fist tighter. She? Understand, him? Ridiculous.

He shot a glare at her, which she ignored.

"Listen you're going to be 23 soon…"

"Yes, I am aware of that fact, Izay-"

"Sesshomaru, " She cut him off, an almost undetectable sharp tone to her voice, "as you should remember, you must be married by that time – and as you should also recall, Miss Onigumo was chosen because of her status, and wealth… but if you happen to meet another woma-"

"Out of the question." Inutaisho Youkai broke in, emerging from the shadows, as he looked upon his wife and son, "Sesshomaru will marry her , and that's that."

In an empty flower shop, a dark haired young woman, about the age of 20, sat at the counter, staring at the ceiling.

She knew it was late- that there would be no customers, that her shop was closed, but she sighed and glanced out the window… waiting for… something…

Outside, a star shot across the dazzling skies.

Eyes wide, she flew to her feet, and burst out the door, eyes glued to the stars, flying across the night sky.

"It's… beautiful." She murmured to herself, laughing softly.

Should she make a wish? She knew it was a childish hope that it would come true… but still…

Closing her eyes, she wished that Kagome Higurashi's bakery wouldn't get robbed again, that Miroku Shodoai would just settle down and date Sango Mizushima, and that her own life… would well… be, happy, at the very least.

Eyes snapping open, she giggled quietly, as she turned and walked back into her shop, locking the door behind her.

She had known that something good would happen… and it had!

Containing another laugh, she started up the stairs.

"I was right..." she murmured almost accusingly to herself, "And that's that."

With a nod to herself in the mirror, she turned down the lights, and watched out the window as the stars glistened in their places in the sky.

"Sesshomaru, honey…" a voice murmured, as a pair of red-brown eyes looked straight into his, "Can you believe it? We'll be married in a few months…"

Her hand brushed his, and he pushed it away immediately.

Why his parents had thought he would be pleased with the though of being engaged to this woman, he would never know… sure she was rich and good looking… but that was all. He wasn't even sure if the vile creature even had a name.

Her dark hair was pulled up into a bun at the top of her head, jade and feather earrings hung from her ears, and red eyeliner and shadow framed her eyes.

Bright red lips were curved into a alluring smile, and she wore a long, sleeveless red dress, which was strange considering the pouring rain outside.

"I can hardly wait." She continued, placing a finger on his cheek.

"I can." He replied coldly.

She merely laughed, but it was a rather uneasy laugh. "Tsk, tsk, Sesshy. No need to be so rude."

Nearby, Inutaisho stood uncomfortably beside Naraku Onigumo, whom was cackling quite eccentrically.

Without another word, Sesshomaru turned away from her, and walked down the hallway, and bumped into his half-brother.

"Watch where you're going jerk." Inuyasha huffed, pushing him aside.

Sesshomaru returned the hostility with a glare.

"So… Mr. High-and-mighty… you're gonna get married to some evil woman who thinks she owns the world, huh." His brother snorted.

"What about you, 'little brother' you'll be in the same position next year." He replied coolly.

Inuyasha froze, then smirked, "Yeah, but I've have my girl picked out… I just need to talk things over with her…"

"You mean shout things out with her. I highly doubt that the woman who owns the bakery will oblige. It seems that she really hates you."

"I hate you." Inuyasha snarled, stomping away, leaving Sesshomaru in no better spirits.

"Ahh, but dearest Rin…" the black haired man with violet eyes went on, "Why not?"

"First of all Miroku… I keep the shop opened extra late on Saturdays, and besides… don't you want to be alone with Sango?"

Miroku fidgeted a bit, then let his eyes fly to the girl across the street at the bus stop, her long black hair up in a ponytail, and her eyes on the ground.

"Yes… but she'll say no… she doesn't trust me." He murmured, looking back at Rin.

"Just give it a try." She urged him, with a bright smile, "take her a few flowers… I can help you pick them out."

"Al…alright then." He finally agreed, decidedly.

As Rin showed him over to the flowers, she noted how nervous he seemed… he must be really uncertain of how Sango would react to be so different.

"This is nice." He stated, pointing at a red rose.

Typical. The red roses were the most popular of all the flowers she sold. They always seemed to associate them with love… which they did symbolize, but there were so many other flowers that could mean the same thing! Undying love, young love… you name it... yet everyone clamored for the red rose…

"Yes, it is." She approved, as she gazed at the flowers, then she picked one up and offered it to him. " Here you go. You can pay at the desk."

As she opened the cash register to receive his small amount of money, he cast her a curious glance. "why, one rose?"

"It symbolizes love." She replied winking, as he walked out the door.

Giggling to herself, she ran a finger through her brown hair.

Oh, how she loved her job. Who ever knew that owning a flower shop included knowing all the flower meanings, and matchmaking? Yet it did.

Stretching her arms, she looked about her shop, and decided that it was time to take a break.

Looking out the window, Sessshomaru watched as the Onigumo's car left the house. As soon as he was sure it was safe, he walked down the stares, and into the living room, where his father and stepmother both sat on the couch looking quite exhausted.

"Well… its too late now…" he heard his father mutter, as he entered the room, then immediately straightened as he noticed his son.

"So son… you've known about your engagement for a week, and you finally got to meet up with your fiancé, how do you fe-"

"I don't want to talk about it." Sesshomaru cut in.

"Oh come now, Sesshomaru." Izayoi chided him," please?"

"I'm going out." He informed them curtly, as if his step-mother had never spoken.

"While you're out… get Kagura some flowers!" Inutaisho called after him, as he disappeared around the corner.

As he started his car, Sesshomaru silently seethed about the idiocy of his parents, and the arranged marriage. How dare they do something like this to him?

Remembering his task- to buy flowers for his deplorable wife-to-be – he quickly located the nearest flower shop. But as it turned out… it was owned by a nosy blue haired woman whom Sesshomaru had gone to school with, and he decided not avoid the place.

Driving down the street, he caught a glimpse of white hair- no doubt it was Inuyasha.

As he glanced back, as he waited at the stop light, he saw that Inuyasha was squabbling with a determined looking woman, with long black hair. Her arms were on her hips, and she was shouting angrily at his brother. Presumably this was the infamous "Kagome" whom his brother talked so often of.

Rolling his eyes, Sesshomaru stepped on the gas and continued down the street, when a small sign caught his eye: Shikon Flower Shop.

Gazing out the window, she saw a tall attractive man, with long white hair, and golden eyes. He couldn't have been more than a few years older than she, and the way he carried himself suggested that he was from a well-to-do family, and that he was very proud.

The bell on the door rang softly as he entered, and a pair of frosty, expressionless eyes met hers.

"Good afternoon sir!" she greeted him, with a wide smile, "And how can I help you today?"

He blinked at her.

"Flowers for my fiancé." He replied evenly, though his expression gave away his disgust at doing so.

"Hmm…" she walked around the side of the desk, and to the flowers, and without looking at him, she spoke a small smile on her face, "you don't get along very well with this 'fiancé' of yours… do you?"

Behind her, she knew he had stiffened.

"I don't mean to be nosy… but is it arranged?"

"…yes."

She grinned slightly, as she walked through the rows of flowers, her hair swinging as she walked.

Sesshomaru followed her silently, entranced by the young woman before him. However much he hated to admit it, she was stunning, in a way, even his fiancé could not be.

This girl - he considered her this way, for she was so young - was bright, full life, and her looks naturally. Her hair flew about her, in long, silky tresses, and her eyes sparkled with feelings. Her lips were a soft cherry blossom pink, and her cheeks were now stained a soft, natural rose.

She was everything that Kagura Onigumo failed to be. Attractive, bright, and innocent.

He was, in no ways interested in her. Or so he told himself repeatedly, as he stoically followed the flitting girl around the shop.

Finally she came to rest beside a cabinet of flowers, and he soon found his arms full of flowers, and sprigs of lavender.

He raised an eyebrow, as he turned his gaze on her.

She smiled blithely, as she dusted the pollen of the flowers off her apron, and blushed slightly under his watch.

As he followed her back to the cash register, she hurriedly murmured, "Carnations - striped ones, that is! Mean, refusal. Lavender means distrust."

Not only was the girl… mildly attractive, but she was intellectual as well.

There was something about the girl….

He nodded his head coolly to her, as he left the shop, wondering impassively, what It could be.

Rin watched out her window as the man's car disappeared from sight, and sunk into her chair.

He had been, in the least, enchanting. One look, and she was hooked. Those long, silvery locks of hair, the cold, calculating golden eyes… he was a dream. And that was all he would be.

He wouldn't visit again. Why would he? The only repetitive buyers she had, were the fussy old women at Kaede's nursing home, the young lovers, like Koga Mori and Ayame Hana, and her close friends.

He.. Was none of those things. He was, and would be nothing more than a fleeting memory. A shooting star, shedding light on her life, on her heart, in her eyes, for just a moment, and leaving her in the shadows.

He was unattainable.

Yet she wanted so much, to reach up and pluck down that star.