A/N: Anyone who is reading this (like the grand total of 2 people), sorry but there won't be regular updates, to give you a head's up if you'd like to continue reading. I will update (not going to leave this story), just probably not as often as the few people who read this would like nor as often as I would like.

Thank Vampire Kaname for the review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I'm simply playing around with the characters.

The Hero

Chapter 2: to capture the Moon

"Live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse."

--

Rin was not quite sure what to think of the young Vice President. She knew he was of youkai blood, of course. There was no way a normal human being could have that type of coloring, natural or not. It was too…real but at some point, too supernatural. He was a man full of ironies. His very demeanor was of that of a snowstorm, frigid before, dangerous to be in the middle of, and disastrous afterwards. Yet, he commanded the room. Aburatsubo Sesshoumaru had the entire party at his feet and all were crowded around just to hopefully speak a word and have him notice them. It was disgusting.

"I like him. He has a great strength about him. He is a flesh and blood representation of the Suwa Corporation, no doubt about it." Rin had forgotten about her father. She still did not understand why he did not try to leave her and speak to someone, anyone. He was the emperor after all.

"I agree, he has great strength, but I do not like him. His eyes shine like stars before a supernova. He seems to have much to hide and keeps his secrets well hidden." She gritted the words out trying to show her father all her repulsion. He seemed a little too fascinated by the imposing man for his own good. Ogura had not been wrong in his ascertain that the Suwa Corporation was taking over everything. They were even beginning to infect her father's mind – her farmer's practicality father.

"Rin, you do not hide your infatuation well."

"What!? I am NOT infatuated. His eyes are hard and cold. Their shine comes not from happiness, only from the ice they are made of." Her father's own eyes twinkled from amusement. This was getting to be too much.

"The makings of a fantastic relationship I most definitely see." It had to stop now before he suggested something. Her father's voice was becoming a bit too high and too teasing for her own liking.

"Then you are blind."

"You should meet him." This suggestion was even more ludicrous. It was absurd. Her? To go strike up a conversation with some Vice President of a stupid company who did not even seem to give the time of day to her father's advisors, and SHE was supposed to lend him her ear? She was supposed to bow down and try to talk to this stranger who seemed more interested in every deadly sin but envy? You had better be joking.

"Are you trying to set me up?"

"If I am?"

"You should stop."

"It's a good match." She almost choked at those words. This conversation was not going at all the way she was hoping it would.

"You want me to go flirt with him?"

"It will make things easier."

What was she supposed to do? It was obvious her father was not giving this a fleeting thought and passing up such an opportunity. Why? She wasn't quite sure. But whatever the answer was, it was quite annoying.

"Fine. I will." And just to show her dislike as openly as possible, she stomped her way over to the crowd of kittens hoping to be petted by their malevolent owner.

She had hoped to sneak up on him and surprise him, make him flush, stutter, step back, anything! But it seemed that either he had eyes in the back of his head, or he paid attention to everything that occurred in the room. While Rin was beginning to believe that the first was possible, the latter was only slightly more likely.

"Aburatsubo Sesshoumaru." He obviously knew his place. One in the lower status always introduced themselves first. Yet, he bowed not nearly low enough and he knew it.

"Shimizudani Rin." So she bowed even less than she probably should have as well. She was close to simply nodding her head at him, but he was the Vice President of the Suwa Corporation and everyone was around him. She could not be seen as disrespectful towards him.

"Yes, Princess, I do happen to already know your name." He had a slight smirk that was quite irritating all over his face. She was getting annoyed at even the tone he said his statements with.

"And yes, Aburatsubo-san, I knew your name as well. But are polite introductions such a hassle to yourself?" Even if Rin was of royal blood, she knew to have common courtesy, something someone had obviously not implanted well into this youkai's head.

"Such polite introductions are a bother, yes indeed."

Well then, if I am such a bother, I shall devoid you of my presence immediately. Rin thought to herself. But instead, she simply said, "I am truly sorry. Do you happen to know everyone in the universe then?"

His smirk deepened. "Anyone of note, yes. Yet, there are some non-notable creatures who I happen to know simply because they exert their power over people." He gave her a hot, pointed stare that at first caused her to slightly squirm, but Rin was determined to hold her ground. She would not have all these preening beings find her weak. She still had appearances to keep up.

"Hmm, I do know what you mean. Unfortunately, I too know some who have no redeeming qualities but simply seem to own everything involved with life." It was childish, but she could not help but trade insults. He was making it so easy.

"Then you understand my extreme distaste for being around such people."

"I…" Damn him. "I do indeed, Aburatsubo-san." She tried to reply hurriedly, but he had caught her off-guard and had already turned to a beautiful female youkai with almost natural coloring of black hair and pale skin, but red eyes. He was not paying her a bit of attention.

So not to draw too much attention to herself, she lingered for a few minutes in the throng of people surrounding Aburatsubo before disentangling herself from the crowd to the "fresh" air of the refreshment room.

The nerve! She expected the party gathered around to at least move or step aside but instead they more happily nudged her out of the way. She knew she was not empress, but she was still of much higher rank than even the President of the Suwa Corporation. This was getting ridiculous. They had not even seemed to notice she was there! None of them had addressed her but Aburatsubo. They only seemed to pay attention to the fact that she had held Aburatsubo's for that little bit of time. She could have all of those people punished severely.

But instead, she went to sulk by the punch bowl.

Rin would never admit it to anyone, but truly deep down, she wanted someone to recognize her status and her power. Even when her father proclaimed her his heir when she was 10 years old, people did not make much of her. Most of the past empresses were weak or did so little while they were in power that it just was not even worth taking the time to learn their names. Most had suspected that he would give his son, Eisuke, the position of his heir when he was older, but he did not. Eisuke was only 5 years old when Rin was proclaimed heir. But none of it caused a stir. No one seemed to really care at all about her. And now, it was just like pouring salt over a wound.

"Rejected already? You must not be too good at flirting."

"Oh shut up, father."

Lots and lots of salt.

"Aburatsubo, I would have never thought you would have spurned the affections of a princess." Sesshoumaru turned to find more very unpleasant company.

"Matsudaira-sama. I had thought you said you weren't coming. What a pleasant surprise," he said dryly. Matsudaira Ryuukotsusei was not someone to be tampered with. He was ornery, manipulative, malicious, and vicious. The only reason he had made his was to the presidency of the Suwa Corporation was by using these qualities to the nth degree to his advantage. Sesshouarmu was sick of him.

The two youkai turned away from the group, and with Matsudaira's presence, standing next to Sesshoumaru seemed much less desirable. The crowd tried to disperse an un-awkwardly as possible, turning to neighbors and instigating generic conversations while walking, as naturally as possible, away. They moved toward the kitchen entrance, masking their conversation in the clatter of the cooking.

"Ah yes, Aburatsubo. I decided that my presence might be required here after all. My prior engagement was cancelled a couple of hours ago, fucking Germans can't make real decisions, so I came. You know, some one to really represent the Suwa Corporation." Ryuukotsusei turned his eyes to Sesshoumaru, only to find the white-haired youkai glaring back as spitefully as possible without raising too much attention. Ryuukotsusei simply smirked. "So, Aburatsubo, why don't you answer my question."

"I was aware you made a statement, not a question."

Stupid brat, Ryuukotsusei thought.

"Hnnn, why did you turn away the princess? What a lose. She is next in the line for the throne, great point for –"

"I didn't want her very flesh near me. She disgusts me." Sesshoumaru's very words were dripping with acidity towards Rin as they fell from his mouth.

"She really isn't that bad looking. She is actually beautiful by human standards. That isn't so bad on a youkai scale." Ryuukotsusei took a long look down the princess who was talking with the emperor at that moment.

"You know what I mean."

"Sometimes we need to make sacrifices. You certainly know that. Or, are you lying to all those people and you really don't care for their plight?"

"Of course I do. And you know I do."

"Then even you should see the possibilities by getting in close to the family. It makes it all the more easy to get the job done."

"Hnn." No matter how much he did not want to admit it, Ryuukotsusei was right. Sesshoumaru knew the possibilities and should relish at the opportunities their proposed. But instead he was acting like a preschooler who was afraid of girls because they had cooties. He believed he had matured a little in the centuries since he had been a schoolboy.

"You know I'm right. You love to manipulate situations to your advantage and this is one that even you could not plan out better. But, if you are sure that you just can't stand the thought, I'll be more than happy to bite the bullet myself and –"

"No definitely not." Just thinking of Ryuukotsusei with her was disgusting for some reason. Hmm, curious since he hated both of them. It would make more sense for him to want them together. But for some reason, he knew he would never be able to stand seeing them like that.

"Just an idea Aburatsubo. Nothing really behind it." Innocent words, but Ryuukotsusei had a mischievous twinkle in his eye, just enough to make Sesshoumaru hesitate. He should not have cut in so violently before. Now, Ryuukotsusei would be making connections that were not real connections and trying to manipulate situations that would never form. Sesshoumaru knew him too well. And in this case, if someone had to suffer, it was not going to be him.

He could not believe that he was out here. But he could not help it. Ryuukotsusei had mentioned the great opportunity, and he definitely needed not to seem weak. It was time for a sacrifice.

"Shimizudani-hime," he said as he walked out into the parking garage. He had to admit, he only knew of girls walking out onto balconies, not into concrete 12-story parking garages. Yet, there she was, in a ridiculously gown that was an awful color for her. It was a hideous shade of creamy yellow that would have looked amazing on someone was a dark complexion, but it instead only became an identical match to her skin tone. And its very shape did little for her – a bubble dress that came to her knees that only touched her body at the shoulder straps. Everything else was loose and made her look much bigger than she was and like a triangle – not attractive. He hated it when women did not dress correctly for their body type. So much to waste.

She turned swiftly; it was only then that he saw her father sitting in the car behind her. The window was down, she had obviously been speaking to him before quite softly if even his hearing could not have picked it up.

"Excuse me, heika. I did not see you there." He still had to be polite.

"No trouble, Aburatsubo-san. You could not have seen me before. Rin, you should stay a while longer. I'll have Junzo come for you later." He gave her a strange look, and then started to roll up the window. "Nice to see you, Aburatsubo-san. I'll see you later, Rin."

The long black car pulled out the spot and Rin had a sour look on her face. She did not turn back to Sesshoumaru as he came closer, only staring at the car as it reversed and took off down the ramps to the street. A very strange tension arose as the moments became longer between the two.

"I…I suppose that you know of my family." Rin had to say something, even if it was a stupid statement.

Despite himself, Sesshoumaru could not help but chuckle darkly very quietly. "Yes, Shimizudani-san, I do know of your family. I think there are few in our country that do not know them."

"Yes, mostly because they hate us. I know you must hate us. But then again, I hear that you like few people anyway." She turned her face up to his as he stood beside her. She was at least a foot shorter than him.

"You have some very accurate sources." He turned his face away and gazed out through the tiny slit of air space in between the layers of concrete making up the varying levels of the garage.

"I just read it in the tabloids." Sesshoumaru quirked up his eyebrows, but he still did not turn his face downward. It was generally a rule of thumb not to read tabloids if you were regularly in them. Everyone knew they were just garbage. "Oh don't give me that look. They are entertaining at least even if they are untrue most of the time. I definitely don't believe that you are having some gay relationship with that little guy who works for you…what's his name….um, that green youkai?"

"I distinctly do remember being questioned on that now that you mention it."

"You have to admit, it was a funny story…well, it's not true, right?"

That made him look her in the eye. Only to find that she was teasing. But she still had made him blazingly angry and shrank a bit after a few seconds of his eyes piercing her. "I was just teasing. Don't get so upset. But I guess you are serious all the time after all. Isn't that what they say? You're some block of ice."

"Listen Shimizudani, I came out here only at the behest of my employer. I did not come out here for a lesson in virtue." Both of them locked their eyes together, finding only fire pouring out at each other.

"And I'm only speaking to you because my father wanted me to. Don't think I'm enjoying this. I'm only trying to make it a more entertaining experience for myself."

"Ha, you only show your ignorance and lack of social graces. You'll be a poor ruler if you ever make it to be the empress. You'll be just like the rest of them – fall to the power of those with the brains to take over –"

And with that, a resounding slap echoed through the concrete of the garage.

Sesshoumaru knew that many women would have done the same, but he would never have thought that the crown princess was such a spitfire. She was shown as usually being a reclusive invalid without the makings of any backbone. This was certainly an interesting development. But even for her fire, she didn't even make his head turn a degree. He still held dominance over the situation.

"Be glad you have your position now. If you were not in the position you are, I would gladly return the favor." He glared down at her for a long second, and started to walk back to the party, but found then found a weight pressing down on his shoulder.

She had practically jumped and was now pushing all her weight down on to his shoulder to stop him. Didn't work so well, but he was annoyed with her enough that he took the bait.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" He never lost his temper, but for this one, he was willing to break his emotionless mask.

She rose beautifully to the challenge. "I JUST WANT SOME KIND OF RESPECT FROM YOU, YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Thus, the shouting match ensued.

"RESPECT? TO A WHORE? I'D NEVER! YOU MOST CERTAINLY HAVE ME CONFUSED WITH ANOTHER."

"OH YEAH? A BETTER MAN MAYBE. SOME ONE WHO ACTUALLY HAS BALLS ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO USE THEM!"

But they were soon interrupted by the sudden sound of the door from the main building hitting the concrete walls.

"Hello, is anyone out there?" Sesshoumaru and Rin gave exchanged exasperated faces with each, but then moved a bit closer together, still a good foot apart from each other and stood awkwardly, both unsure what to do with their hands. Sesshoumaru opted for the ever cool one hand in one pants pocket, the other lying against his side. Rin crossed her arms across her chest and tried not to put on a pouty face.

Then the body of the questioning voice rounded the corner. "Oh, it is you Shimizudani-hime," he quickly added, "Aburatsubo."

"Matsudaira," Sesshoumaru replied, nodding his head slightly.

Ryuukotsusei quickly leapt over to Rin, taking her right hand in his own and gently lowering his head to kiss her hand. He then stared up into her shocked face as he raised himself up, "Matsudaira Ryuukotsusei, hime. It is a distinct pleasure to meet you."

"Ma-Ma-Matsudaira-san of the Suwa Corporation? The president?" She was a bit too off-kilter for words. She had heard so much about this man and then she meets him after quite a shouting match. It was throwing her severely off balance. She was surprised her voice was even working correctly.

"I am thrilled the princess has heard of me." Rin could only glance into his steel blue eyes. There was something beneath the surface that seemed too sinister for her to actually look him in the eye. Yet, she was unsure why she should even feel this. Sesshoumaru had been much worse in terms of manners, and while she saw his displeasure and disgust for her immediately, she could look him in the eye. But this man…

"How, how could I not have? The Suwa Corporation is one of the most integral parts of our society now."

"You flatter me too much, hime. I am sure –"

"Matsudaira, why did you come out here?" Sesshoumaru knew he was playing at something. There was too much coincidence in this whole night. The attendance of the royal family, his own attendance and then Matsudaira's showing up on such short notice – it was too much for it to all have been in fate's hand. And now, they were disconnected from the party inside the penthouse and in an area that was not well lit with no one around. He could take care of himself against Matsudaira, he would actually love to take care of Matsudaira, but the princess was another matter. He was not exactly in the best position to defend himself against the press if they found two bodies. First the rock that stood against his full acquisition of the company and the other a high-born woman he was seen sparing verbal with at the party. Very tricky situation for someone with a bit more to lose than they might report.

"Just heard shouting. But I see now that I was just interrupting you two lovebirds and your feisty foreplay. I've never seen or heard you so emotional, Aburatsubo. You're so known for that mask you put on and I hear that even in bed, most women see little change and it's a fight to make you orgasm. But this little princess has seemed to bring out the absolute worst in you. I love it! I knew you liked to be dominant Aburatsubo, but this really –" Ryuukotsusei found himself up against the wall with a very angry taiyoukai at his throat.

"Leave. Now," he whispered with a quiet intensity. Too quiet for Rin to catch what he said. "I don't know what you have planned now, but I will find out. I know that there is too much that fell into place too well for this to have all been just the way the cards appeared."

"Bravo, Aburatsubo. But what makes you think I don't want you find out what I'm planning?" Ryuukotsusei wore that strange smirk on his face, making Sesshoumaru fling him away in disgust.

"You've had your fun tonight." Ryuukotsusei gave him one more strange look, one that instead seemed to be mocking him, and turned to go back into the party.

"Hey, why didn't you just beat him to a bloody pulp? If you don't, I will!" Rin was still standing by the exterior wall.

"It's a bit cliché, but really Shimizudani, you might want to try it on someone your own size first. I don't think blunt fingernails are exactly the weapon of choice tonight." Rin huffed at the statement, but did not move.

"I'm guessing there's a lot of tension at the office? More than you really let on…"

"Yes and if you feel like exposing it, go ahead. How many tabloid authors are going to print the story of the executors of Suwa fighting each other in a parking garage with only one other around and no photos to give any evidence that is given by a stupid, reclusive invalid, shown to have little brain power or the looks to become famous and only is because of her birth parents? And even if they do, who would believe them? You yourself said its just for entertainment, not for facts." He started to walk back towards the party, but was stopped yet again, but this time only by her voice.

"Hey! Stop walking away from me! I have questions! First of all, I don't need to sell the story. You're reputation gets soiled up enough by the stupid things and I don't need the money. Secondly, why do you think I want to sell it? You seem to have a lot of misconceptions of me. And lastly, why didn't you just beat him up like I asked before?"

He turned and gave a quiet growl. Rin could not help and give a puzzled expression. She recognized that from somewhere, but she could not put her finger on where…

"Okay, this is it. I will answer them only because I want you out of my life for the rest of my time. Fine, you don't sell the story. I could care less if you do or don't. Your second – most would, even if they have money or notoriety. You should simply because it might help your public appearance by making you look like you at least got out of that god-forsaken palace or had the ability to comprehend that two people were at least standing in front of you, doing….something, fighting, talking, whatever. And your third – I still have to make it to work on Monday and I don't particularly want to have to worry about moving my office just yet. Tuesday seems like a better day, personally. It's usually a pretty boring day anyway." And with that, he walked back toward the elevator to return to the party for good.

"So Shimizudani-hime, I hear that you did not enjoy the party."

"Yeah, Junzo. You could say that." Rin stared out the window of the car at the city lights as they flashed by. She never really had liked limousines, much like her father. They always opted for the simple black sedan. It really drew much less attention anyway. Thus, the limo stayed reserved for parades and picking up diplomats from the airport. Unfortunately, the last time had been picking up a sheikh from some small country in the Middle East. He did not say anything outright, but a few comments added up to basically them trying to evaluate if they really were a bit behind on the luxury car market. After all, it was a 1988 model…

"Was there anything particularly wrong? Anyone there you had quarrel with? I thought young people liked parties." Junzo glanced up at his rearview mirror. Rin looked quite forlorn, slumped against the back seat in the shadows. She had quite a scowl on her face as well.

After a long moment, she bounced up and put her arms up on the fabric-covered partition between the front and back. "Junzo, do you think I am a reclusive invalid?"

He gave a snort and stared at her through the mirror. "Do you think you are a reclusive invalid?"

Rin paused and then spoke in a careful, contemplative manner. "I do sometimes. I feel so coped up in the palace. I don't understand why we are supposed to be some impenetrable fortress. I thought those days ended in the last century. I mean, I understand the whole bad things could happen, and especially with the uprising lately, but other diplomats, world leaders, royalty, elected officials; they go out and talk to their people. They…their part of their people. Not some ridiculous person who's DNA happens to have similar genetic sequencing to some warlord from 15 generations ago. Why do I have the ability to rule?"

Junzo stopped the car as they entered the small garage underneath the palace. "Rin-chan, there are some things that we cannot answer. There are some things that just happen. And we have to adapt. We have to keep up with the curves and not let the 8-ball decide for us in the end. No, I don't think you are a reclusive invalid. You are the girl, teenager, young lady, whatever you people term yourselves these days, that tears through stone walls built seven centuries ago at least once a week, you graduated from university last year, you exercise everyday by running the grounds several times, must be about 3 kilometers at least. No, my dear Rin-chan, I don't think you are some stupid, reclusive invalid."

Rin fell back into the seat and took again to staring out the window at the unmoving stone walls. "So why me? Why am I in this position? Why not you? Why not…" She was about to say –

"Because you are you. You would not be Shimizudani Rin if you were not born in this position. Yes, besides the name, the place you grow up, the people you grow up with, the environment you live in, they all contribute to you being you."

"But…but what about The Hero? Was he meant to be some leader of this crazy new…revolution? Why isn't he in my place? The people seem to be so behind him. They give so much support to him, he's just…awe-inspiring. They love him. They want him as leader. So, why isn't he here?"

"Rin-chan, did you listen to anything I said? What means that if he had grown up in your situation that he would be anything like he is today? More likely, he would be a selfish, arrogant pig if he already had such leadership qualities naturally in him. My dear, you are one of the best of us. I love your siblings, I love your father, loved your mother, but you truly are the best of us. That includes me, those god-forsaken advisors, Hyobe, Yuki, Akiko, all of us. You are the one with the ability to bring the people back to us."

Rin stayed focused on the back of his seat, but she then turned to open the door. Junzo sighed and made his way over to her side of the car. Rin was already out, so he closed the door behind her. They started to walk towards the staircase that would take them to the main areas of the palace and out of the cramped, underground garage.

"So, am I like…Diana or something? You know, 'The People's Princess'? You'd better call Tony Blair because I don't think my people exactly know that or think that right now. Or am I going to have to be killed in some tunnel in Paris?"

Junzo gave a hearty laugh to that. "Go ahead, call Tony Blair. I think he'd enjoy the trip here. And get the paparazzi to start following you like mad. You know, go to nightclubs, fall over drunk a lot, go out without pants, something. Make a stir."

Rin laughed even harder with that. "Junzo, I really will be cast out. If I'm the best, then doesn't that mean that you should be on a permanent high with your underwear around your head? You'd better be creative if I do it. I'm expecting nothing less than dreadfully scandalous."

Rin and Junzo had emerged from the stairwell to be in the common area. Junzo gave a formal bow and started off for the servant's elevator when Rin stopped him. "Oh and Junzo, I had no idea that you read the tabloids. Or at least that last issue of What's Up? You know, with that article on me with that god-awful picture of the day I was caught in the rain?"

Junzo turned back around, quite flushed. "I – I – I'm afraid I have no idea what you are talking about. What's Up is a bunch of garbage that no one reads. I'm really not even sure how such people even stay in business. Should go on to publish real –"

"But Junzo, what I asked you before, about being a reclusive invalid? I never said stupid. I omitted that from the article's line." She gave him a light smirk and watched him squirm.

"Well, I, I well, you know, inferred."

"Right. Inferred."