Thank you once again for the reviews. My grades came out two days ago and I passed... I'm finally graduating so I guess I have more free time to do this story unless I get lazy lol. Merry Christmas everyone, hope you have a good time.

Sesshomaru pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers and cursed long and hard. His head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it. He was tired, and he hadn't slept more than an hour the entire night.

Kaede kept staring at him throughout the morning as thought he'd lost his mind, and maybe he had. He'd forgotten two meetings and had waved off three phone calls, one of which was from his brother Miroku.

All that occupied his thoughts was a dark-haired minx with sultry brown eyes.

He couldn't forget her kiss, the feel of her mouth on his, her body molded to his as though she were made for him.

But he was her guardian, he was responsible for her well-being, and yet he'd damn near taken her inside the elevator for all to see... and his body still ached to do just that. Just what is happening to him? Everything just flies out of the window when Rin was near. He wanted to strangle himself.

He shook his head for what seemed like the hundredth time since he'd gotten to his office this morning. No matter what he did, he couldn't rid himself of her image, her scent. She was destined to drive him crazy.

Impatient and more than a little agitated, he slapped the intercom. Kaede's cal voice filtered through as she asked what he needed.

"Do you have the list drawn up for me yet?"

"Which list would that be?"

"The list of eligible men I asked for. The men I intend to introduce to Rin to."

"Ah, that one. Yes, I have it."

"Bring it in then." He demanded.

A few moments later, Kaede walked through his door holding a piece of paper.

He motioned for her to sit down in front of his desk. "Read them off to me." He said as he leaned back in his chair.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" Kaede asked, her eyes narrowing perceptively.

He grunted and closed his eyes as he waited her to give up and do as he asked.

"Bankotsu Yama."

Sesshomaru shook his head immediately. "He's an immature little twerp. Spoiled endlessly by his parents, Rin needs someone... more independent."

Kaede made a show of scratching the name off. "Okay then, what about Suikotsu Nintai?"

Sesshomaru scowled. "There's rumor that he abused his first wife."

"Nara-"

"He's an ass." Sesshomaru said, not even letting Kaede finish.

Kaede sighed and quickly crossed him off.

"Byakuya A-"

"Not wealthy enough."

"Kohaku Shishigami?"

Sesshomaru frowned as he tried to think of a reason why he shouldn't consider Kohaku.

"Aha." Kaede said when nothing was forthcoming. She drew a large circle around his name.

"Shall I invite him to your cocktail party Thursday night?"

"He's too handsome and charming." Sesshomaru muttered.

Kaede smiled. "Good, then Rin should be well pleased."

They were interrupted when the door burst open and Rin hurried in, a bright smile on her face.

"Sorry to just barge in." She said in an out-of-breath voice. "I didn't see Kaede... oh, there you are." She said when she caught sight of his secretary.

Kaede rose and smiled in Rin's direction. "Quite all right, my dear, I was just on my way out. I'm sure Mr. Taisho has time for you. He appears to have canceled all his morning meetings."

He scowled at Madeline, it was necessary to give out that information to his ward, but she didn't seem particularly intimidated. She patted Rin on the arm as she passed and then she turned as she reached the door. "I'll hold your calls and take messages."

"That won't be ne-" But Kaede was gone, and he was left with Rin. His gaze drifted over her to see that she was wearing shorts. Really short shorts that bared her long legs.

She wore sandals that showed off bright pink toenails. As his gaze drifted upwards, he saw that the T-shirt she wore was cut off so as to bare her midriff.

He wasn't going to survive this.

He cleared his throat and gestured toward the seat that Kaede had vacated.

"I'm glad you're here, Rin. We need to talk."

She turned for a moment, and he caught a glimpse of the tattoo on her back. It sparkled almost. It was either a fairy of a butterfly. He couldn't tell and it was making him nuts. He wanted to go over and shove her shorts down so that he could see it.

A tattoo. He caught himself just short of shaking his head again. What had she been thinking? If she was his, she would never have done something so foolish. There was no reason to take such a risk with her body.

He wanted to slap himself. Another action so unusual to himself. He was sitting here considereing what he would and wouldn't allow her to do if she was his. She wasn't. And never would be. He must not entertain such thoughts.

She settled into the seat in front of him which put her breasts right in his line of vision. He certainly couldn't accuse her of baring too much cleavage. The shirt covered her very well, but the shirt cling to the globes, outlining every curve and sweel. It was far more enticing than the lowest cut neckline.

"What did you want to talk about?"

By now he was hanging onto his themper and control by a thread. And yet she stared calmly at him as thought they were about to discuss the weather. He wasnted to bang his head on the desk.

He rubbed his hand tiredly over his face and then focused his attention on the matter at hand.

"About last night..." He began.

She help up her hand, startling him into silence.

"Don't ruin it Sesshomaru." She said.

"Ruin what?" He asked in surprise.

"The kiss. Don't ruin it by apologizing."

"It shouldn't have happened." He said tightly.

"You're ruining it, I told you not too." She sighed.

He stared at her dumbly, how the hell was he supposed to hand her a lecture he'd carefully planned out when she looked positively disgruntled over the fact that he brought it up?

"If you positively must regret it, I'd appreciate it if you did so quietly." She said before he could offer anything further. "You're allowed to forget it ever happened, you're allowed to regret it, you're allowed to swear on all that's holy that it'll never happen again. Just don't expect me to do the same, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't patronize me by making light of it. As kisses go, I thought it was damn near perfect. You saying differently doesn't make it any less in my mind."

He was speechless. A first time for him. He who always had something logical to argue was the diplomat in the family, always the level-headed one, and yet he'd been reduced to a mindless, gaping idiot by this infuriating woman.

She crossed one leg over the other and pressed her hands together in her lap.

"Now, if that's all you had on your mind. I thought we could finalize the arrangements for the apartment and plan our shopping trip? I arragned for the papers I need to sign for the apartment to be fixed here since I was sure you'd want to look over everthing first."

That was it? She could so easily shove what happened the night before out of her mind when he'd been consumed the entire morning? The memory didn't just consume him, it tortured him endlessly.

Even now he looked at her lips and remembered the lush fullness against his mouth. He could remember her taste and scent. The throb in his groin intensified as he imagined how she'd look, spread naked on the bed as he moved over her.

He cursed again and ripped his mind to present matters.

"Check with Kaede and see if she has the agreement. I'll have my lawyer look it over if you like. As for shopping, Kaede will know my appointments for the week. Stop on your way out and have her schedule a few hours for us to pick out your remaining furniture."

She flashed him a smile that warmed parts of his body that didn't bread mentioning. With a toss of her hair, she rose gracefully from the chair. She gave him a small wave bye then turned and walked to the door.

A fairy. Her tattoo was a fairy with sprinkling of glittery dust and sparkles radiating from the design.

It suited her.

But it brought up another intriguing thought. Did she have any other tattoos? Maybe one of two that could only be seen when she wore no clothing? It made him twitchy as he imagined going on a hunt with her body as the map.

Rin left Sesshomaru's office, biting her lip to keep from smiling. He'd certainly been prepared to give her an endless lecture on how they could never again do what they'd done the night before. It wasn't anything she hadn't expected which was why she'd been prepared to head it off before he ever got started.

She mentally patted herself on the back at the expert way she diffused the situation. He was probably still off balance and tyring to figure out just what happened.

She approached Kaede's desk and politely asked if Kaede had received a fax for her.

Kaede tapped a stack of papers at the edge of her desk and then smiled up at Rin.

"Did he tell you about the party?" Kaede asked.

Rin picked up the rental agreement and frowned. "No, he didn't mention it."

Just then Sesshomaru stuck his head out the door. "Rin, I forgot to tell you that I have cocktail party planned this Thursday that I'd like you to attend. Seven p.m. At my penthouse. Kaede will arrange for a car to pick you up at the hotel."

Before she could respond, he withdrew into his office again and closed the door.

"Well, there you have it." Kaede said in amusement. "I don't suppose he's also told you the occasion?"

Rin turned back to the older woman, her frown deepening. "Why do I get the idea that I'm being royally set up?"

"Because you are?" Kaede said cheerfully.

Rin flopped odwn in the chair beside Kaede's desk

"Tell me."

Kaede pulled out a sheet of paper and thrust it toward Rin. "I wasn't told to keep this secret so I'm not violating anyone's confidence, and I figure if I was invited to a party where my future husband was in attendance, I'd at least want the opportunity to buy a gorgeous dress for the occasion."

Rin snatched the paper and stared back at Kaede.

"Husband?"

Kaede's eyebrows went up. "He didn't tell you that he was searching for a husband for you? I'd have to think that came up in conversation at least once."

"Well it did, briefly I mean. Just yesterday, He's already found someone?"

Rin tried to keep the horror from her voice, but she wasn't certain she'd been successful judging by the sympathy she saw in Kaede's eyes. She'd gone along with it because she hadn't really thought that Sesshomaru was serious, and ever if he was, she figured she had plenty of time.

"Maybe he's in a hurry so that he can concentrate on his own upcoming wedding."

"What?" Rin croaked.

"He didn't tell you that either?" Kaede asked cautiously. "Well then, you didn't hear that from me."

Rin leaned forward. "Tell me, is he really getting married? Is he engaged?"

Kaede looked stunned for a moment and then understanding softened her expression. "Oh dear."

She got up and walked around to where Rin sat stiffly, her hands gripped tightly in her lap.

"Now how long have you had this crush on Sesshomaru?" She asked in a low voice.

"Crush?" Rin asked in a mixture of amusement and devastation. "A crush is a passing fancy. I've been in love with Sesshomaru ever since I Was a young girl. Back then it might have been considered a crush, but now?"
Kaede shook her head and patted Rin's hand. "He has the right idea to introduce you to potential husbands then. He has an arrangement with the Asano family to marry their daughter Sara. She and her mother arrive in Japan in less that a week's time. I'd hate to see you... hurt. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to focus on the men Sesshomaru has in mind for you."

"Rin knew that Kaede was nothing but well-intention but she also had no idea the depth of her feelings for Sesshomaru. Still, the thought of Sesshoumaru being engaged, of having a commitment to another woman...

She closed her eyes against the sudden stab of pain. No wonder he was so put off by the kiss they'd shared the night before.

"When do they marry?" She asked in a soft voice.

"Well, he has to propose first, but from what I understand that's a mere formality. He didn't want a long engagement, so I imagine it will be this fall sometime."

"So he hasn't proposed yet?"

Relief filled Rin, if he hadn't asked, then there was time to make sure he didn't.

Kaede frowned. "I don't like the look you're giving me."

Rin leaned forward and grabbed Kaede's hands. "You have to help me. He's making a huge mistake. I need to make him see that."

Kaede shook her head vehemently. "Oh no, I'm not getting involved in this. Sesshomaru has made his choice, and I make it a point never to get involved in my employer's personal life. You're on your own/"

Rin dropped Kaede's hand with a sign. "You'll thank me for this when he's a much happier man."

Kaede shook her head. "Don't make a fool of yourself, Rin. No man in worth losing your self-respect over. If your mother was alive, she'd probably tell you the same thing."

"My mother loved my father very much." Rin said softly. "He loved her too. They'd want me to marry the man I loved."

"Then I'll wish you luck."

Rin quickly signed the rental agreement before handing it over to Kaede. "Let him read over it and if he has no objections, fix it back for me, please."

"And your shopping trip? When would you like to schedule that?"

Rin shook her head. "I'll go by myself."

With a goodbye, she turned to walk out of the office, her mind reeling form the unexpected shock of Sesshomaru's upcoming proposal. She opened her phone and dialed Sango's number.