Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Summary: Wherein Rin (sort of) teaches Sesshomaru a lesson.

Pairing: Rin & Sesshomaru

[The Reformation of Sesshomaru]

18 September

Sesshomaru stood at the entrance of a restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the shopping district. Half-hidden by the tall potted plants flanking the doorway, he could see Rin – she stood in front of the counter, conversing with a customer. He could scarcely recognise this Rin, dressed as she was in an oversized cotton oxford and black denim, so different from her old uniform of t-shirts and shorts. This Rin oozed a degree of confidence alongside her usual friendliness.

Rin has changed, Sesshomaru thought. He shot a glance at his estranged wife again – she was still as pretty as ever! – and noted with mounting dismay that the customer, from what little he could see of her, resembled his sister-in-law. The woman's mustard yellow tote and blue skirt looked strangely familiar, doubtlessly because he saw it often during breakfast.

A waiter, immaculate in a vest-and-shirt combination, looked towards the door from his position by the kitchen counter. He spotted Sesshomaru and started taking large strides towards the entrance.

He nodded at Sesshomaru. "Sir, would you like to – Mr Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru scrutinised the waiter. Freckles, dark hair in a ponytail, a bright smile. "Kohaku."

Kohaku looked over at Rin, who was still talking to the customer, and then back at Sesshomaru. "Would you like to take a seat? I'll get Rin to –"

"No."

Kohaku's features rearranged themselves into an expression of surprise. "Pardon me but –"

Sesshomaru again glanced at the customer talking to Rin. "I said no. I'm busy." With that, he swept off, leaving Kohaku staring at the space where Sesshomaru had stood barely seconds ago.

Kohaku walked over to Rin and Kagome, waiting for a lull in the conversation.

"Is something wrong, Kohaku?" Rin asked (a minute later).

"Rin," he said, "Sesshomaru was here."

Rin's eyes widened and she glanced at the entrance.

Kagome looked around the restaurant. "Where?"

"He's not here now," Kohaku said. "He stood at the door for a while but refused to come in."

"It doesn't matter," Rin said. But her eyes remained on the entrance for a good many minutes more.

:::

14 August, am

"Please return the money to him, Kagome," Rin said, pushing the cheque across the desk. "You know I won't take his money. I can't."

Kagome did not reach out for the cheque, though it was barely inches from her. "Why not?"

"I know why he's making this donation," Rin said. "You can tell him that I don't appreciate his motives."

Kagome raised an eyebrow. "He won't be pleased to hear that."

"I'm not taking it," Rin said. She stood up. "I'm sorry, Kagome. I really am. I know I could do a lot for my employees and for this organisation with his money. But I can't take it."

'You sure about that?" Kagome asked.

"Yes," Rin said. She walked around the table, her kitten heels clicking faintly against the floor. She held the door open for Kagome. "I'm very sure. You can tell him that too."

"Alright then," Kagome said, placing the cheque into her purse. "I'll see you around soon, okay?"

"Okay," Rin said. She edged forward. "I've missed you."

"Me too," Kagome said, a smile on her face.

:::

14 August, pm

Sesshomaru stood looking out the floor-length window that spanned one wall of his office. He looked at his silver watch and frowned.

A knock on the door – Sesshomaru turned. "Come in!"

His secretary, harried-looking and rather mousy in her fake pearls and twinset attire, put her head around the door. "Sir, you have a conference call this afternoon. At three in the afternoon."

"I know. Anything else on my schedule?"

"No, Sir."

"Good."

The woman shut the door, and Sesshomaru ran a hand through the white hair on his head. He glanced at his watch again – five minutes left till she was supposed to appear.

Another knock.

"Come in," Sesshomaru said.

This time, the lady who opened the door was not the secretary but his sister-in-law. Kagome walked into the room and stood before the long desk in the room.

"How was it?" Sesshomaru asked. "Did she accept the cheque?"

"Of course she didn't," Kagome said, taking a seat.

Sesshomaru unbuttoned his blazer and crossed his arms. "Why?"

"Did you really expect her to accept your cheque?"

"Yes."

"You… you need to take a good, long think, my dear brother."

'What do you mean?" Sesshomaru asked. Now his foot went taptaptap against the parquet floor. "I do not understand."

'You can't buy Rin."

"I'm not trying to do that," Sesshomaru said.

"You are," Kagome said. "That's what she thinks, anyway. And I agree with her."

"But –"

"Just think, Sesshomaru. Just think how Rin might feel to see a cheque for this sum of money. Especially since the two of you have separated."

Sesshomaru glared at Kagome. ""We haven't separated; we're merely taking a break."

"Same difference. What matters is that she's insulted by your cheque. Well – maybe insulted is an overstatement..."

"Hmph."

"You shouldn't offer her money," Kagome said.

"What is it she wants?"

"You," Kagome said. "Your time and your love."

"I've given her what I can."

"But it isn't what she wants! Don't you see?"

"No."

"Of course you don't," Kagome said. "If you did, you wouldn't be in this mess."

"So enlighten me, since you know so much," Sesshomaru said. He sank into his seat and ran his fingers over the cheque. "What else do I have to do to win her back?"

"I don't know," Kagome admitted.

"Hmph."

"But if I'm not wrong, Rin wants to be a priority in your life."

"She is."

"But you're trying to buy her," Kagome said.

"What do you mean?"

"You spend very little time with her, and you try to make up for it by giving her jewellery, a car… that's not what she wants."

"It's what I can give her."

"But it isn't what she wants, do you understand? Oh damn, we're just going round in circles. You clearly don't understand women."

"Rin is different from most women."

"That she is," Kagome said. "You – you should speak to her yourself."

Sesshomaru turned away and glanced at the photograph of Rin that stood on this desk. "I will. Once I have the time to."

"You'll have to make time if you want her back. I'm serious, Sesshomaru."

:::

20 February

Rin ran her fingers over the embroidery on the tablecloth, the circles and the diamonds, the stars and the moons.

It was her husband's birthday today, so she had gotten up bright and early to shop at the farmers' market, to pick up the freshest bouquets of flowers, the freshest meat, the most succulent fruits, the most delicious vegetables. She had spent an entire afternoon in the kitchen, pounding spices, frying, baking, grilling and poaching.

Now, however, the dishes all sat on the dinner table, wilting in the summer heat while large flies buzzed nearby. Rin had been waiting for her husband for an hour, and was still waiting with no idea how long more it would take for him to reach. It was a common occurrence – after all, Sesshomaru was his father's right-hand man, and was already looking after a fair number of his father's business interests at the relatively young age of thirty-two.

It's almost eight, she thought. Maybe he's been delayed by an emergency meeting? There's nothing to worry about.

Rin got up from the table and paced around the room, pausing every now and then to glance out the kitchen window. She traced the patterns on the floor, left step, right step, left, right, until the grandfather clock in the hall struck nine.

Nine already, she thought, and glanced out the kitchen window. Lightning flashed across the sky, a silvery strand forking across the night sky. The sudden burst of light lit up the front drive, and a black car came into sight, its headlights dazzling in the shadows.

He's home! she thought, and walked towards the front door.

"Welcome back," Rin said, when Sesshomaru stepped into the house. She took his briefcase from him and put it aside before throwing her arms around him. "Happy birthday!"

"Birthday?"

"Today's your birthday!"

"I forgot," he said.

"Have you had your dinner?" Rin asked, pulling Sesshomaru into the kitchen by his hands.

"Yes."

"You – you've eaten already?" Rin said, her smile disappearing.

"Why?" Sesshomaru asked.

"I cooked dinner for us," Rin said, her lips trembling. "Your birthday dinner."

Sesshomaru glanced at the kitchen table. "You haven't eaten?"

"I was waiting for you," Rin said, drawing her hands away from his.

Sesshomaru nodded. "Eat now, Rin. I'll try some of it too."

"It's cold now, don't bother."

"I must try some," Sesshomaru said, pulling their bowls and plates towards him. "I'll serve you."

"No, let me do it –"

"Just this once," he said.

"But it's your birthday… let me do it."

"Sit down," Sesshomaru said, lading food into their bowls.

Rin gave him a watery smile. "Why were you so late today? Did something pop up?"

Sesshomaru looked at her with a quick flash of those sharp eyes. "Yes. We had an urgent meeting at the end of the day."

"Have you solved the problem?" Rin asked, extending both hands to accept her bowl from Sesshomaru.

"I hope so," he said. He put his food before him. "Let's eat."

"Happy birthday," Rin said. "I hope you enjoy the food!"

"It's good," Sesshomaru said. "I shouldn't have eaten the canteen food."

"It's alright, I'm not upset, dearest."

"I know. How long did you spend cooking all these dishes?"

"The whole day," Rin said.

Sesshomaru glanced at Rin. "You managed to get a whole day's worth of leave?"

"I quit, remember?"

"I thought we agreed that you'd take your resignation letter back." Sesshomaru put his chopsticks down.

"I didn't agree."

"Rin, I've told you that it's a bad idea."

"It's not a bad idea, Sesshomaru, you have to understand that –"

"You're my wife, Rin. Why don't you just stay at home and enjoy life?" Sesshomaru said, standing up and pacing around the kitchen as Rin had done barely an hour ago.

"But I can do so much more if I carry this through!"

"You can't do anything for them."

"How do you know?" Rin asked. She traced the patterns on the tablecloth with her fingers again.

"I know. Listen to me."

"I can't. I've dreamed of this for such a long time."

"Rin –"

"Please don't say anything else, Sesshomaru. I've made up my mind."

"It's not too late –"

"I've signed Sango and Miroku on," Rin said. She turned her back to Sesshomaru so he could not see her tears. "And Kohaku."

"We can pay them out –"

"They aren't in it for the money!" Rin sobbed.

Sesshomaru stopped pacing and knelt before Rin. He took her hands into his. "Look – you can be the chair of the business, and let Sango run the show."

"No," Rin said. "Please."

"Why won't you listen to me?" Sesshomaru asked, standing up and leaning against the refrigerator.

"Please, let me do this," Rin said, looking up even as the tears spilled down her face. "I haven't asked you for anything before, and I won't ask you for anything again."

"No. it's too dangerous."

"It's not," Rin said.

"Enough."

"I should be the one saying that," Rin said. She clenched her jaw and swiped at her eyes with her fingers. "Let's take a break."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "Five minutes, for you to wash your face."

Rin stood up to face him. "I didn't mean that. Let's go our own ways."

"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru asked, the muscles around his jaw tightening as the cold chill of realisation travelled through his veins.

"Let's take a step back and see if we're really suitable for each other," Rin said. She looked away. "I've been thinking about this for a while. Maybe we're not really meant to be."

"Rin –"

"So let's take a break."

"No –"

"Yes," Rin said. She walked to the kitchen door. "I love you, Sesshomaru, but … let's take a break, okay?"

Sesshomaru reached out to pull Rin back.

She pushed his fingers off her forearm. "Let go of me," she said. "I'm not your puppet."