Two days had passed since the raffle as Rin sat in her small average apartment on her bed, her head in her hands, a weekend suitcase by her side. She sighed, not sure what to do.

Suddenly there was a loud knock at her door, causing her to jump up and stare at it. "Yes? Who is it?"

"Miss Strep? I was told you would be expecting me."

Rin swallowed at the voice then stepped over to the door, opening it to reveal the most famous and handsome writer the company represented.

Over the last two days she'd wondered how many strings had been pulled to get him to agree to this weekend. He was famous for his secretive, respectful and flirtatious ways while also been voted sexiest and smartest man alive.

Even if the silver hair he had was down to his hips and many would call hippy for it, he could make it look so elegant and regal that it just suited him so much, it was impossible not to fall for it. He gave her a small smile and showed rows of perfect white teeth, glinting in the light. "It's a pleasure to meet you Rin."

Fighting a sudden blush, Rin lowered her eyes to the floor. "And… and you… sir."

"Are you ready? The car is outside."

His voice was cold, collected and for some reason caused a shudder to pass over her. She took a deep calming breath and turned back to her room. "I… I'll get my bag."

Walking back to the bed, the young woman slowly bent forward and grabbed her bag but then someone else grabbed the bag's handle, lifting it off the floor. Gasping, Rin looked up at her case and the man now holding it as he gave a smile. "Allow me." He said, taking her case towards the door. "It would be rude of me to allow a lady like you to carry such a heavy suitcase." He stood at the door, holding it open and giving a charismatic easy smile. "Well, Rin? It's a long drive to the hotel."

Not trusting her voice, Rin nodded and walked over to the door, her head down and her eyes away from him. She just stood in the hallway, feeling small and insignificant and slightly amazed as he pulled her door shut and checked it had locked itself.

The man shrugged her suitcase closer. "Shall we?"

"Yes… umm… thank you… Mr… Donvan."

He gave a chuckle as he walked down the hallway. "There is no need for such formalities. It is just me and you for this weekend." He stopped, turning in the hallway and stepping over to her. With one hand on her case, he reached up with his free hand and ran a single finger down her cheek bone, freezing her in place. "After all… you did win the first prize." He leant closer to her ear and his breath brushed on her cheek, hot on her skin and she could smell artificial mint on him. "Congratulations on winning by the way."

Swallowing, she turned her away and shook her head. "It… it was just luck."

"What a cute voice you have." He flirted, moving away and carrying on down the hallway. "We should hurry."

Rin didn't say a word as she walked out of her flat and down to the main road where a sleek black car stood with the hunk that was Sesshomaru holding his hand out to ease her way in. She almost didn't take it but realised it would be best to and slid into the passenger's seat, pulling her knees up and staring at them.

It didn't take long before the car started moving but Rin continued to stare nervously at her feet. Ever since it had been announced she'd always considered the prize of spending a weekend with Sesshomaru Donvan a little odd. What if the prize had been won by a married woman? Then what? Or a man! There were more than a few in the company.

But that didn't really matter did it? It wasn't some married woman who'd won. It was her.

Little Rin.

The silence from the car filled her body as she sat and thought. Her company wasn't much help, just sitting there all handsome and perfect, far from what she was. Far beyond her league was Sesshomaru Donvan. She was just… she was no one, the woman who dealt with the children's books… yet here she was on an all-expenses paid trip with the number one single bloke in all the country.

To say she was uncomfortable was an understatement.

She sat, staring down at her knees as Sesshomaru drove, his concentration fixed on the road. As time went on, she began to lift her head, looking out of the window as the city changed to the fields.

They carried on and the multicolours of the fields passing with the small humble cottages and towns flying past, her head lifted higher and higher until she was comfortable enough to lean on the car door, smiling as the world went by.

"Are you looking forward to this weekend?"

She jumped, as if forgotten where she was, turning and looking at the driver. His eyes drifted from her to the road then back again as he smiled and controlled the car. When his eyes moved back to her, she swallowed and looked at her knees. "Umm."

The man gave a half smile. "Is there anything you want to do?"

"Enn."

His right eye twitched. "I hope you enjoy the hotel."

"Unn."

"You're not very talkative. Are you?"

"Hern."

They just sat in silence, Rin staring out at the window while the world passed by and Sesshomaru drove. Finally he swallowed and shrugged. "Do… do you enjoy your work?"

At this Rin blinked out of her trance and looked at him. "Oh. Yeah. I do. I really like my work."

"What department are you in?"

"The children's section. I spend a lot of my time dealing with illustrations. Some people say it's the hardest because I have to work with illustrators as well as the writers. But the deadlines are much easier, children's books don't normally come with deadlines. Well, not the ones I work with."

Sesshomaru turned his head to look at her and arched on eye brow causing Rin to shrug back away from him. "What?"

"That's the first time I heard you say more than three words."

"I've said more before." She muttered, counting her words. "I said five when I opened my door."

"So you did. I was only making a joke."

"Well don't. It doesn't suit you." Suddenly she swallowed, turning in the seat and looking at him closer. "I mean, I didn't mean you should… I mean… you… I… umm…." Her face turned bright red as she stared at him then dropped her eyes to her knees. "I'm shutting up now."

Not saying a word, the driver carried on and the rest of the ride was spent in total silence until the hills and trees parted to reveal a flat light horizon that merged with the sky.

Sitting forward, Rin smiled, putting a hand on the glass. "Wow."

The man beside her nodded as he took the exit, slowing the car slightly. "It's another hour from here. Would you like to get out and stretch your legs?"

"I can wait until we arrive."

"Very well."

Again silence fell from there but the air filled with excitement as Sesshomaru took her closer and closer to the ocean town, a place beginning to die down for the night. They passed all the way through the town to a road that lead up to the hills. A small manmade forest surrounded the path but eventually the trees opened up to a perfect view of the hotel manor house, a large elegant rose brick building with ivy and neat hedgerows around it, large windows and staff in perfect uniforms stood by the doors.

There were some people walking past the entrance as Sesshomaru pulled up and the staff moved to open his door for him.

"Welcome to the Golden Stands." One said in a cheerful way.

"Thanks." Sesshomaru muttered, passing over the keys to them. "Cases are in the boot." He turned to Rin as her door was opened as well, walking over to her quickly and held out his hand. "Here, please, allow me my lady."

Rin looked at his hand as she hovered half way between the car and path then grabbed the edge of the car and pulled herself up. "I'm fine." She said, wiping her hands down on her jeans. "I don't need your help."

The man gave a smile as he held her shoulder. "Stubborn aren't you. Come along, shall we check in."

With an incoherent shrug, Rin began to walk into the hotel with him behind her. Sesshomaru stayed a few steps behind her as they went to the hotel check in desk but as soon as the man asked for her reservation details, Rin realised she was at a stub and turned, looking at the man's feet as he stood almost enjoying seeing her struggle. But then he spoke to the receptionist and Rin busied herself by messing with a flower on the table.

"Well…" Came the voice over her ear. "Shall we my lady?"

Rin fought herself not to sigh. This was going from uncomfortable to dam annoying. She was half way to kicking his ass but as they walked down the long carpeted hallway, with its clear windows overlooking both a manmade lake and the ocean, Rin just felt herself drift off in their beauty and forgetting the annoying nature of her company, jabbering on about the hotel and its history.

"This will be our room Rin." He said at last, bringing Rin back from staring out at the lake. "I picked it just for you."

Slowly Rin stepped past him and looked into the large wide open space that was the room, made up of three separate areas, one a living area with sofa, table and chairs, all in the same elegant design of wood and fabric while the paintings on the wall gave the room an old and regal feeling to it.

Art and furniture aside, the most beautiful thing was the natural view from the full length windows as they showed the lake and glanced out towards the town, a shimmering lake of golden lights.

Grinning, the woman hurried to the window, staring out for a moment then turning and walking around the room, running a hand over the soft fabric of the curtains before popping her head into the bedroom where a huge king-size four post bed stood, with rose petals on the sheets while gossamer curtains hung around it. The room also had regal furniture and there was another full length window and view as well.

The rest of the room was beautiful but Rin kept her eyes on the bed. "Oh." She said at last.

"Is something the matter my sweet?"

"There…." She swallowed, noticing how he was coming closer, standing right behind her. "There is only one bed."

"That isn't a problem… is it? We will just have to share." His hand reached around her waist, using the grip to turn around and face him, pushing her against the doorframe as he leant over her. He was almost double her height, bending forward over her.

He was stone still as he held her in place. Then he tipped his head fractionally to the side and blinked. "I certainly don't mind."

Rin couldn't help but stare at his face, memorising each eyelash and eyebrow, each hair on his head and the unimaginable handsomeness that was leaning over her. Most of all she took in his eyes as they locked on hers and swallowing her in them. She held his gaze but then shook her mind clear, moving her gaze away from him. "No way!" she said at last.

"What?"

"We… we only just met! I'm not going to sleep in the same bed as you! I only just met you!" She quickly pushed him off and staggered away into the other room. "Did you really think I would sleep with you? What kind of woman do you think I am!"

"Hey… I wasn't…." Sesshomaru managed to say, pointed after her as she stood in the lounge area. "I didn't mean sleep sleep. I meant…."

"Even if you meant sleep in the same bed, I won't!" She turned, red faced, glaring at him.

The man stared at her from the doorway to the bedroom, his face blank and calculating until he gave a smile and closed his eyes. "My apologies." He held his hands out to the side, stepping towards her. "I was only playing with you. Toying, if you will."

"T…toying?" Rin managed, her eyes turned to the floor. "You would toy with someone like that?"

He stood closer, looking at her ear and reaching over to lean on it. "My sense of humour is… a little off. Forgive me?"

"Well…" Rin managed as one of his fingers touched the side of her neck. "As long as you were… joking."

"Of course." His hand moved to stroke a hair behind her ear. "I would never do such an act to one as innocent as yourself. So… if I am forgiven… I would very much like to show you the rest of the hotel."

Rin nodded, still staring at the floor. "Al…alright."

Holding out his hand to her, the silver haired man began to lead her around the hotel, showing her all sorts of different areas and facilities that the location had, from the beach path to the lake, to the restaurant and the ballroom and finally the huge spa and pool towards the east of the hotel, hidden half underground.

He kept flirting with her all the time; touching her lightly on her arm when they went between rooms, putting his hand on her lower back as they turned coroners, caressing her skin carefully. Rin kept pushing him away but a small part of her reacted in a strange way to his attention.

In the way the smell of warm sick makes other people want to throw up.

He was just trying so hard, it was infuriating. Rin ended up half way between wanting to slap him and wanting to give him a hug. Mostly she wanted to slap him. It was like having a pervert walking right behind her and she was letting him.

At last they ended the tour and ended back in their room. Rin smiled as she walked over to her case that had appeared and opened it up, pulling out a file and books before shutting the bag. "Ah, I was wondering where that was. I knew I brought it with me."

"Important?" Came the silky voice.

"More… it needs to be done."

"You brought your homework?"

"You make that sound like a bad thing. I take my work seriously." She turned and gave him a smile, holding the papers closer to her chest. "I'm sure your do too."

He said nothing.

Rin sighed away from him and sat on the sofa, opening her work and beginning to scribble and read. The man watched her for a moment, just sat with a smile and her work, her hair falling over one shoulder as her moved.

He stared at her for a moment longer then moved to a chair, sitting down and crossing his legs, leaning on his arm and watching her. There was something therapeutic about watching her.

For half an hour they just sat, Rin with her work and Sesshomaru watching her, the cogs turning in his mind. Eventually his leg went numb and he moved. "Would you care for something to eat?"

Rin blinked away from her work. "Sorry?"

"I haven't eaten in about five hours. I'm hungry and wondering if you would care to accompany me."

She stared at him from across the room then tipped her head to the side, wondering where he was going but she couldn't deny she was hungry. "Alright."

"Shall we eat in the hotel or order room service?" He gave half a grin, sitting forward in his chair. "I don't mind remaining in here to eat. It's far more… intimate."

Blushing, Rin turned her head the other way. "I… I think it would be best to eat at the restaurant. I'll… go change." She stood and stepped over to her case, unlocking it and pulling out a long white fancy shirt and dress trousers. "I'll be back in a moment."

"You don't need to leave the room for my sake."

She didn't say anything, going to the bathroom and after a moment to admire the enormous tub and shower, she stripped and changed her clothes, brushing her hair and washing her face before stepping back out to the main room, spotting Sesshomaru as he pulled on a light over jacket to the shirt and trousers he had been wearing before.

He looked her over a little then turned to the door. "Shall we?"

Rin nodded as they left and walked beside him, feeling like an ant beside a giant. But at the same time, she felt as if she was walking with a shadow. Something about him was strange and she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

But he didn't do anything this time, walking down the hallways to the restaurant, a wide and busy place in the same royal theme as the rest of the hotel. They were shown instantly to a table and he held the chair back for her as she sat. Without a word to her, he ordered a bottle of white wine and a jug of water, the waiter leaving them with a piece of paper explaining the set seven course menu.

Rin glanced up at him sometimes, trying to work out what he was up to but ended up just sitting in silence until the waiter came with their drinks, soon after returning with their starter.

They hardly spoke for the whole of the meal.

While Sesshomaru appeared unaffected by the meal, the sight of the food or the taste, Rin found each mouthful a blissful experience and treasured every bite even if her eyes spent most of their time lifted to the man across the table. He kept his eyes near closed for the meal but when dessert arrived, a special shared dish with fresh exotic fruit and melted chocolate, his eyes opened and lifted to her as she stabbed a strawberry with a metal skewer and dunked it into the chocolate.

She didn't seem to notice she was suddenly being watched as she ate, stabbing and eating most of the fruit on her own. She was smiling and licking her fingers as the chocolate dribbled off.

Suddenly, as she licked her lips, a hand snapped across the table and touched her cheek, wiping a line of chocolate off her skin. Her eyes widened as she stared over at him, blushing madly at the nature of his touch but even more when he licked his thumb clean, his eyes smouldering into her as she blinked. "What… are you doing?"

"I'm not a fan of chocolate." He muttered, leaning back on the chair and biting the pad of his thumb. "But the taste of you…" His eyes lifted again and lowered his hand. "Was too good to miss."

She blinked and turned her head away. "Don't talk like that."

"Did I make you uncomfortable again?" His grin grew as he lent forward on the table, resting his head on his hand while deliberately brushing his foot against the side of her leg. "I seem to make a habit out of that."

She pulled herself away from his leg and looked out into the window to the lake. "Please, stop it."

He followed her eyes then looked back at her. "Shall we?"

"Shall we what?"

He looked out the window as well. "The lake. Didn't you see the boat on our tour? Guests are allowed to take it out if they want. It's almost sun set and it will be a beautiful sight from the middle."

Rin swallowed as she looked at the lake. "You want to go out there?"

"If you would care to join me." His finger twitched on his cheek, scratching his skin.

"Would you like me to join you?"

"Yes, I would." He rose from his chair, holding his hand out to her. "Shall we?"

With half of the chocolate and fruit left uneaten, she took his hand and rose from the table, closing her fingers around his palm and allowed him to take her across the hotel's simple natural gardens to the lake. A small row boat sat next to a jetty with a man at the side. "Hello their sir."

"Can we take the boat out?" Sesshomaru asked, holding Rin's hand a little tighter.

"Of course." Said the man, heading onto the jetty and kneeling by the boat, untying it and preparing it for them. Sesshomaru climbed in first, sitting at the side and holding out his hand.

With one hand in the hotel worker's and the other in Sesshomaru's, Rin staggered into the boat, the water splashing against the side as it rocked. Finally they were in and the little rowboat pushed off, Sesshomaru beginning the slow and steady strokes to cast them away.

Rin stared off to the side, watching the sky grow darker and change to red and orange, sparking in the world over the clouds. She smiled and leant back on the boat, listening as the paddles went in and out, pushing them forward.

Eventually she heard him pull the oars into the boat and they just drifted in the middle, the wind slowly turning around where they floated. After a moment, Rin gave a content and happy sigh. "Well… this is nice."

Her partner nodded as he reclined on the seat. "Yes." His eyes closed and hair drifting in the wind. "But I will tell you now… it won't work."

"What won't?" Rin moaned happily, keeping her eyes closed as the wind brushed over her hair and her skin.

"Your plan."

"What plan?"

"Whatever this plan is. The one where you are trying to get my attention. This… stupid… plan where you pretend not to be interested. Pushing me away every step of the way. It won't work."

Quickly Rin opened her eyes and sat forward, staring at her. "What? You…" She cackled and covered her mouth. "You… you think I'm interested in you! What a joke!"

The writer frowned, staring over at her. "Seriously? You… don't find me attractive?"

"Physically yes." She smiled and turned the other way. "But your personality is all over the place! I really can't stand your hopeless flirting. It's like something out of a sappy love movie. I know you are a romance writer but… it's just embarrassing." She grinned and turned her head away, her eyes closed. "You're really not my type anyway."

Sesshomaru stared at her for a moment then leant back on his seat. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. You are really inconsistent; one moment you are a love sick sap… the next… a serious… considerate… gentleman."

He frowned, looking over at her. "When was I a considerate gentleman?"

Rin smiled and turned to look back at them. "When I was up in the room, with my work. You just let me get on with it. Up until that point… you were just making me feel uncomfortable. But I saw you can actually be thoughtful."

"Really?" His eyes narrowed, glowing into her with the sunlight. "You see that?" He tipped his head a little. "You really see that in me?"

"You sound surprised."

"I am. Because I thought I hid it. I thought no one would ever see that part of me again."

"Well… I saw it. Is that such a bad thing?"

"My job… requires some parts of my personality to be hidden. Unbecoming of my reputation and the publicity around me." He gave a small smile, leaning forward on the seat. "I act the way I do to keep up that appearance. People see me as a flirt and a hopeless man. So that is what I give them. Being a stiff, uninterested man won't sell my books."

"So which side of you is the act? The flirter or the stiff?"

Sesshomaru laced his hands together, sitting across from her. "Which would you guess my dear? Surely you don't think my affections towards you are false."

Rin gave another loud laugh. "You are so hopeless as a flirter. I have no idea how someone like you has managed to become a romantic writer. But then again… I spend all my time with children's books, what do I know?"

He was silent but then his eyes narrowed. "More than you give yourself credit."

Rin's smile vanished as she looked at him, taking in the sight before her, the way his eyes stared at her, the deep gold colour of them, his hair as it shifted in the breeze and his skin, shining a pale white while his clothes were so formal and cold. She just stared at him then felt a smile cross her lips and turned her head away, brushing some hair off her face. "You know… I never meant to win the raffle."

"Really?"

"Yes. It was only good luck that I did. And I was going to trade it with someone who actually wanted to be here. I heard some people brought thousands of tickets in hope of winning this weekend. I only brought some because it was for charity and from the company."

"So you were going to give this away?"

"Yeah but someone called me out before I could. My name was put on the ticket and I had to come."

Sesshomaru grinned then turned away. "It could have been worse."

"Oh, how?"

"I could be stuck with some… love sick puppy fan girl."

With a laugh, Rin nodded several times and turned away. "Oh yeah, I sure come off with the worst end of the stick from all of this!"

"Is it so bad staying with me here?"

Rin tried not to grin as her eyes fixed on the hotel just away from them. "I would have been happy with just a ticket to this hotel. I've never been to such a place before and that meal was incredible. It's amazing just being here. They didn't need to throw you in as well." She stared off for a while then nodded. "Tell you what… why don't we make a deal?"

"What kind of deal?"

"You stop this hopeless flirting… and be yourself." She tipped her head and looked back at him. "I get to feel comfortable and you get to stop this act for a few days. Deal?"

The only other person in the boat smiled and nodded. "Alright, deal." He held out his hand to her. "But I should warn you… I've been told my 'myself' is a bit of an asshole."

Rin giggled as they shook hands. "Then fine, be an asshole. Just stop flirting, it's embarrassing."

He sighed, taking his hand back and looking over the lake and sky. "Want to go back?"

Rin looked at the sky as well then at the boat. "Sure. I'm getting tired and really fancy a hot bath."

As the oars clunked back into their homes, Sesshomaru grinned at her. "Want me to join you?"

Rin blushed but grinned back. "Stop it."

He laughed under his breath, taking the boat back to the jetty and watching as the worker tied it off and helped them out. They headed back to the hotel, side by side, hands brushing irregularly against each other.

Finally they found their way back to the room and Rin yawned, walking over to her case and opening it to grab a bunch of clothes. "Well, I'm going to… umm…." Her hands closed tighter around the clothes while looking at Sesshomaru's shoes. "I'm going to go have a bath."

He huffed and reached across to her cheek, brushing some hair away. "Hh… just to think… this little thing is going to be naked just across a room from me."

Her head snapped up and her eyes widened but then she stepped away. "P…pe…pervert!"

He laughed at her. "You are too easy to wind-up."

Rin swallowed and turned away, walking away from him to the bathroom. "I'm going for the bath."

He grinned and watched her walk, his eyes on her back until she vanished when he went to his own bags and pulled out a pad of paper and pen, sitting on the bed as he scribbled notes.

He was there for over half hour before he heard the bathroom door open and a head pop out. "Umm… are you… awake?"

"Of course."

"Right." Her head retreated a little. "Well… I… I… umm… I… think we should talk about how… we are going to sleep. I mean… there is only one bed."

His eyes moved across to her head, floating behind the door. "Come on out of there, I won't bite."

Rin frowned then swallowed, pulling the bathroom door open and looked down at her bare feet as she walked out. She could almost hear his laughter. "Really?" He mocked.

She frowned, rubbing her arms over the long sleeved pale blue top and dark checked baggy trousers. "They are warm and comfy. I like them."

"I see." He snapped the book shut and stood off the bed. "Well… in relation to the sleeping arrangements…."

Rin half screamed as she was thrown off her feet and over the edge of the bed, bouncing for a moment as she landed and silver hair fell over her face and chest, creating a screen around them. She could only stare up as he leant over her, gripping her wrists while his knee pressed up between her legs and grinned coldly. "Well." He said at last. "I won't mind sharing the bed with you. You're so small…" He leant over her and moving his hands from her wrists to her waist, making her flinch. "It would be like having a teddy bear in my arms."

Rin kept perfectly still as she stared up to him then swallowed. "You… you're messing with me again."

His smile grew as his face came closer and pecked a kiss on the nose. "Of course. Do you really think I would be interested in a child like you?" He laughed, kneeling on top of her and staring down at her. "Just look at you. You couldn't be less attractive if you tried."

For a moment, she just took in his words but as he leant off her and the bed, she just frowned. "You… you weren't joking, you really are an asshole."

"I should almost thank you." He huffed, running a hand in his hair. "Thanks to you seeing through my… act, I can be myself. I almost forgot what it feels like. And you are such a fun toy."

"Toy!" She choked, getting off the bed and storming over to the giant. "You see me as a toy?!"

"Aren't you?" He turned his eyes to look down at her.

"No! I'm a human being, not some toy!"

He grinned, reaching out and grabbing her chin, freezing her. "I see." He stared at her for a moment then smiled, leaning forward and tipping his head to the side, parting his lips as they came closer to hers until they almost touched.

However, at the last moment, Rin slapped his hand away from her chin and stepped away. "I… I… I thought we had an arrangement! That you would stop…."

"I agreed to be myself. And this is myself." He leant on the wall, crossing his arms. "I forgot how much fun it is to mess with people. I can't normally." His eyes narrowed on her. "And you gave me full permission, so don't complain now."

Rin frowned. "I asked you to be yourself to stop making me feel uncomfortable."

"Then you are the fool." He chuckled, leaning off the wall and taking slow steps to her side. "Now… about sleeping. If I was being myself… that act that everyone expects of me… then I would offer you the bed and I would sleep in the other room. But…." He stepped over to the bed and pulled a pillow off. "Here, you can have the sofa."

Rin gasped as the pillow was thrown towards her, catching it with her face then grabbing it. "What!"

Sesshomaru chuckled, falling back onto the bed and covering his eyes with his hand. "Even if you begged me, I wouldn't let you sleep with me now. So go on little girl, go sleep on the sofa."

She stared at him for a moment, guessing he had no intention of changing his mind then sighed. "Fine. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, little girl."

Grabbing a blanket from the wardrobe, Rin walked out of the bedroom and closed the door, setting up her pillow on the small love seat sofa before closing the curtains but not before admiring the dark view before her.

Across the hotel room, Sesshomaru sighed to himself, lowering his eyes to the window as he climbed up and drew the curtains a little, staring out at the sky. He smiled then turned to the bed.

A/N: Yikes! thats a long chapter! I hope you like it!

Oh yeah and forgot to mention; Warning, Sesshomaru is out of charactor. :D