Chapter 2: Invitation

"Grandma, I'm home."

A short old woman with an eye patch popped out from the kitchen. "Rin dear, whatever is the matter?"

"Oh just…" she sighed, putting her keys on the side and dropping her bag to the side. "Just a long day."

"Oh. Well, there's some mail for you. And something just arrived for you."

Rin narrowed her eyes as she walked over to the table and lifted the letters, opening them quickly. "Bill… bill… bill… advert… advert… bank statement…" she read one a little longer. "Rejection letter."

Grandma arrived with a cup of coffee. "Oh, I'm sorry dear."

"Don't be. I'll add it to the pile." She sighed loudly and sat down.

"Keep faith." She lifted a small box off the table. "This arrived for you not five minutes ago."

"Really?" Rin took the box, dropping the letters and opening it. Inside was another box but this was much prettier, white with a red ribbon to keep it in place, delicate white hearts around it. Blinking, she lifted it and opened the box. Inside were three a scroll of paper with numbers on them. "What is this?" She pulled the '1' scroll out and opened it, reading carefully.

Mrs Higurashi and the late Mr Higurashi
would like to invite
Sesshomaru Inutaisho
to a day celebrating the marriage of their daughter
Kagome Higurashi
to
InuYasha Inutaisho
at Banchet Flowers, 775 Washington Street
on Saturday 28 July 2012
at 7 p.m.

RSVP.

Rin blinked. "WHAT! HOW THE HELL DOES HE KNOW WHERE I LIVE!"

"Rin dear, please, don't scream."

"But… you this… how… how did he…"

Seeing the distress in her granddaughter's eyes, the old woman held her arm in a comfort. "Who dear?"

Collapsing to the sofa, Rin stared at the invitation. That… that… how the… I mean… he… and I… he… but… I.

"Rin, breathe dear."

The action was very difficult. "I… I've been invited to a wedding." She said at last, the only safe fact she could pass on.

"Oh? Who's?"

"Someone I met for about a minute today." She said in a fit of hysterics. Oh what have I got myself into?

"Lord Inutaisho will see you now." The red eyed secretary said, putting down a phone and turning to her computer.

Rin swallowed, her hands tight on her bag as she stood and walked past her into the office. It was hard to believe it had only been two days since meeting the powerful business man and now she was stood in his office, looking at him behind a desk, tapping away at a computer with incredible speed. He looked at her then at the chair across from him. The order was clear but Rin remained where she was. He glared at her. "Sit down."

"I'll stand. I don't want to take up anymore of your time than needed."

With a huff, he turned back to the computer and clicked a few times then pushed away from it, turning his full attention on her. "You wanted to see me."

"Yes. I… I wanted to know… how… how did you… how did you know where I live?"

The man laced his fingers before him as he leant on the desk. "Do you know what this company is?"

"Umm… no."

"It's a security firm. We work very closely with the police and FBI as a way of providing a database for criminals. Every day we are given information that is put on our systems. Some are due to crimes. Some are voluntary." He pointed at her. "You're a school teacher so your name and data is on our systems."

"Oh."

"Yes. It enabled me access to some basic information on you. Including where you live and how old you are."

Rin blushed where she stood. "Well… but that doesn't give you an excuse to send me your invitation."

"What else was I going to do with it? Throw it in the bin?"

"Well… you could… you could… you should go."

"Why?"

"Because you should! You're family."

"We only share our father. And he is dead because of InuYasha."

Rin blinked up at him. "Sorry?"

"My father died getting him and his mother to the hospital. He got them close but then crashed the car. He died on the operating table, leaving me the family business."

"But… that doesn't make it InuYasha's fault. You can't blame him for an accident."

"I do and I have. For the last 21 years I have held this grudge against my brother." He huffed and looked away. "Why should I let it go for the sake of a wedding?"

Rin stood and blinked and thought. "Because your family will grow. It won't just be you and him anymore. It will be you and him and Kagome and her family."

"Kagome is a decent girl. And in my opinion she deserves better than my pathetic brother."

Rin rolled her eyes. "There you go again, contradicting yourself."

"Pardon?"

"You say you don't want any part of this wedding. You say you can't let go of the grudge you hold. Yet you know Kagome well enough to say she's not worth your brother? And you must know enough about your brother to say she isn't worth him."

"Nothing is wroth him."

"Fine, say that but stop lying to yourself! You have an interest in this wedding so stop beating about the bush and ADMIT IT!"

She stood by the door, almost trembling. Why the hell do I care so much about this? I don't know this guy. I don't know his brother or his family or anything about them. Hell I didn't even knows what company this was. I should have done some research before coming here.

"I said it before and I will say it again…" he grabbed hold of her face and Rin blinked.

She held out her hands to stop him coming any closer. When the hell did get so close!

He stared down at her, holding her chin tightly. "This… has nothing… to do… with you."

He's right… but… "But I'm only saying what's written on your face."

"Are you a physiatrist?"

"No."

"Psychic?"

"No."

"No. You're an elementary school teacher." He stared into her, towering over and locking her in place. "You don't know me."

She was shaking again. God, this man… he's terrifying. What can I say? I have to say something. I can't just… let him do this to me! COME ON! You took on a fully blooded paedophile two months ago, you can take this guy on no problem. Just say something!

"It's about them… not you."

His face hardened and his grip tightened.

That was the wrong thing to say! This guy clearly thinks the world goes around him. She scrunched up her eyes, waiting for him to speak or do something. She was petrified to the spot. Come on… say something… say something…

"If you are my guest, I will go to the wedding."

Her eyes shot open and looked at him. His face was expressionless but he let her go and stepped away, walking smoothly to his desk and sitting down at the computer.

Rin blinked again. "Hur?" Not very lady like!

"You heard me. If you go as my guest, I will go to the wedding. I won't be his best man but I will at least attend."

Her jaw felt stiff and hard from where he'd gripped it and made it hard to speak. "You… want me to go to the wedding… with you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

His eyes shot into her and she flinched. "None of your business. Will you attend with me?"

Rin bit her lip then took a breath. She thought of Kagome… how angry and annoyed she'd been that Sesshomaru wasn't going. For that sweet girl… "I'll do it."

"Good. Keep the date clear." He looked back into his computer. "I'll be in touch."

I'm sure you will. She swallowed then turned around to leave the room.

"Rin."

She blinked and looked back.

"Kagome has asked me to come for dinner several times… even before her engagement. I have refused them all."

The woman nodded. "You should go."

"Yes. I should. And you will attend with me."

Rin frowned and turned back to him. "I'm not some escort you can order around at your beck and call!"

"I don't care. You will attend dinner with me. It is not a request."

"I said I would go to the wedding. Nothing else. What if I refuse?"

He huffed and looked away. "You don't want to find out."