Chapter 9:

The Incentive

Sesshomaru had spent the weekend researching the Higurashi's. Naraku's piqued interest in Rin had been driving a stake of concern into his brain for the past week. He needed to know why demons are attracted to her so fervently. The looks in the lobby last week had only confirmed those suspicions. Demon and human mating was not an entirely new concept at all, but demons being almost entranced by a human woman was an anomaly. He was currently assuming he too was caught in this spell, so hence his almost public announcement of interest through the lobby his own building. He also openly ignored the fact that he had enjoyed every second of having her on his arm in public. And even though the demon lurking in the back of his mind was laughing at his denial, he ignored that along with his admittance in his workplace.

His research had been more than fruitful. First, he had discovered they were one of the oldest families in Japan. He had next discovered that women in their family carried some kind of magical power that seemed to pass from kin to kin. The general information was oblique, but with some digging and using his security clearance to access things he really probably shouldn't, he was able to find what this "power" was. A jewel - a jewel created by a powerful priestess long, long ago. Before his time even. The Shikon Jewel. The Jewel had been used secretly throughout Japanese history to purge evil demons and keep peace in whichever province it had ended up in. General prosperity followed the Jewel and it's keepers, the Higurashi's. Despite it's ominous reputation, and general misfortune that seemed to follow it. He also found many tragic deaths' and Higurashi clan members meeting ill-fated ends. Clearly they could holster it, but only slightly. It was still a ruin in their family. He then discovered that around the same time the virus had emerged among demons that had stopped their birth rates, the whole family had disappeared, emerging in the late seventies with the opening of her grandfather's company. There was nothing on the Shikon Jewel after the families disappearance - Sesshomaru felt it had to be related. He also remembered the flash of energy that had knocked him out the first time he had met Rin. It must be Kagome, she must be the heir to the Jewel. What did this all mean though? Somehow, this was all connected. He needed to know how.

Hours of research later he found what he thought he was looking for. A study, being conducted out of a Tokyo university, had showed an archaic artifact being examined, and it possibly having an ability to cure the infertility of demon males and females. The study was shut down a few months ago and had moved to a privately funded organization...run by the Higurashi's. Another connection. The artifact must be the Jewel. And somehow it was going to cure the most imminent problem in modern history. He had to find more.

...

Needless to say, he was more than a bit frustrated and exhausted by the time he found himself in front of the door to his office Monday morning. He hesitated for a moment, knowing the object of this now-fruitless hunt, the epicenter of the chaos in his life, was right behind that door. He could smell the lingering of her perfume on the door handle. It wasn't his, he also noticed, and for some reason this too was frustrating for him. In that second in which he assessed his predicament none of what was going on inside of him reflected through his features or into his posture. It only appeared as if he had taken a breath before opening the door between his previous brisk stride down the hallway. She would be able to see the security cameras throughout the entrance and hallway of course. So hence his reserve. He entered. His stride never broke as he spanned the space between the entrance and his office doors, and his polite nod towards the girl was flawless as well. His glance that accompanied the nod towards her was what did him in however. Her warm eyes seemed to continuously have that effect on him. She was beautiful, as always, and dressed in an outfit he had bought for her, to his demon's pleasure and his dismay. But today something was slightly different. He entered his office, not missing a beat outwardly, but inside he felt doom. Her smell! Beneath the sweet scent of her hair, the smell of her skin, the slightly-musky and sexy perfume, there was something else. The tinge of cinnamon and ripeness hanging in the air around her was not in full bloom yet, but soon. The smell that accompanied it was similar to what he had scented from her in the club when she had been dancing with Naraku that night, and soon it would be the same one that had started this entire fiasco years ago. He had not thought the pull of it would still have this effect on him, but his tongue was now tracing elongated fangs and his knuckles were crackling as he fought to keep his joints from shaping and stretching into large paws.

'Of course this would happen eventually you idiot!' he chastised himself and took more than a few deep breaths to regain his composure. With each slow exhale his fangs shrunk and his bones reformed to anthropomorphic guidelines. Sesshomaru made his way to his desk, mind spinning. A few moments later there was the usual light knocking at his doors, precisely on time he noticed with a grimace, and he called for her to enter gruffly. When she entered then closed the door, a slight breeze blew from behind her and her scent hit him full force. There was a roar inside of his head, almost maniacal with his inability to ignore it. He could feel his pupils dilating, his digits growing- "I believe the plants have been overwatered Rin-san. I would ask that you leave me alone this morning. Cancel my meetings until after lunch as well." She had frozen at his sudden and demanding outburst, quite different from his normal laissez-faire conversation style. She now looked nothing short of a shocked rabbit under a hunter's eye. He noticed her finely-painted crimson fingernails clasping the watering can in her hands, almost desperately. She looked hurt as she bit her lip, nodded, then turned to leave. Flowers of her hair, cinnamon from under her skin, and now another new and yet familiar stronger smell over all of that. He had smelt it on other humans, but had never registered their lowly emotions enough to comprehend the depth of it. It hung heavily just above her shoulders and around her head like a hood. Sadness and disappointment, bitter and cold. His demon reared again, and Sesshomaru was forced to place his forehead in his palm, successfully covering his face as his eyes were now the color of hellfire.

He knew there had been a ragged, almost rough edge to his voice when he had spoken to her, and clearly this had represented to her as a reprimand of some kind. His demon was roiling; her upset was wreaking havoc on a side of it he had not known had existed until this exact moment. Something that could relate to her very human sadness. He did not emphasize, but he could not stand her being unhappy. The stress of him being the cause of this sadness felt as if it were pulling his cells apart. She needed to be out of this room, away from him immediately! And yet his demon would pull her to him and never again let go, just to make sure she never felt sad again. All of it was impossible and his head was now pounding from it. She stopped, just in front of the doors, turning back to face him. "I'm sorry Sesshomaru-sama if I've somehow offended you, but the plants really are in need of a watering after the weekend-" "Leave now Rin." He cut her off voice deep and harsh, his resistance failing more and more each second she stood there. He heard her inhale sharply, then she turned abruptly and left, slamming the door behind her.

He cringed to himself once alone at his rude reaction to her protest, but as soon as the door was closed her scent was muffled and his mind started to clear. His eyes changed, his claws shortened, and the pounding in his head where his demon was growling in protest became a dull roar now. He sighed and rose from his desk going into his private bathroom and opening the cabinet behind the mirror over the sink extracting a bottle of aspirin. He didn't often, if ever really, rely on human medicines, but he knew the headache would be with him all day. He took double the demon-recommended dosage and placed the bottle back on the shelf closing the cabinet solidly. Back to his desk as his mind furiously tried to find a way to avoid the girl sitting right behind those doors, which were now a barrier for his self-control. He needed to find the reason, the cause for this unstoppable attraction. He needed to know why he was so powerless before this small creature.

...

Rin was in shock, sitting rigid at her desk. 'What did I do?' she had asked herself at least a hundred times now. His brusque and almost-rude responses to her presence had been enough of a hint in itself, but outright interrupting her and essentially banishing her? It had blown away all her resolutions from her talks with Kagome over the weekend. Having gotten (in a round-about way) her cousin's approval she had spent extra time getting ready this morning. She had hated to admit that she had missed him over the weekend, but she had. He was only one floor above her all weekend, yet it had felt like oceans of distance. Something in her chest had ached as she tried to cope with their separation, and now she felt tears leak from the corners of her eyes. 'Get a hold of yourself Rin! Nothing says you have to fall apart just because he didn't want to talk to you this morning!' her common sense snapped at her. She wiped them away gently, trying not to smear her elegant makeup. And now, with her reality clear with the reprimand from her inner self, a new vigor overcame her as she tried to gain control over the pain in her chest.

She cancelled all his appointments in the system as he had asked, slightly curious as to his sudden and extreme withdrawal from his normal schedule. If she had learned anything it was that Sesshomaru was not a creature of randomness or change. Despite this however she began making a few calls to inform of the cancellations, where applicable. When she was finished she went over some purchasing reports, deciding what was important for Sesshomaru to see and what was not. As she worked she mulled over her thoughts and she found her hurt was turning into anger. 'I've done nothing wrong! He had no right to speak to me that way, I should go in there and teach him a lesson in humility-' Her train of thought was interrupted suddenly when an instant message from the security desk popped onto her screen with a bright little ring. She almost jumped, even though it was not loud, and brought the message up, accepting the video chat.

A wolf-demon guard she was not familiar with was on the other end, looking ruffled and grumpy. "Yes, there's a human female here, she claims you invited her to lunch?" Clearly the guard did not believe whoever was there in the lobby. "Some human female?! Well geez wolf-demon-security-guard don't judge a book by it's cover!" Rin smiled to herself as she heard what could only be Sango protesting from the opposite end of the desk. She was not however visible to her from this angle. "Yes, I know her, you can give her clearance into the office lobby." "That's right, I have clearance! Hi Rin-chan!" Sango's sideways face suddenly appeared on the edge of the screen and Rin giggled at the outrage on the guard's face. "Hi Sango-chan!" she called back waving cheerily. "M'am, please, you can't lean over the desk!" There was some muffled struggling and the camera on the guard's computer fell to the ground off the top of his monitor and Rin caught a flash of Sango's long ponytail and the guard's waving arms, shooing her back. The video cut out there and a few minutes later the security system informed her Sango was outside.

She allowed the girl entrance and rose from her seated position to meet her in the doorway. Sango immediately swallowed her in a strong embrace, then pulled back all smiles. "Hey girl, what's up?" Sango asked, voice loud and reverberating through the lobby then she gave her a wink. Rin decided this seemed a good a time as any to excuse herself for lunch. Even if it was an hour early. She was angry with him and decided she could at least call her own fate by deciding when she could leave. Despite his wishes. "Not much Sango-chan. Was thinking of taking an early lunch, wanna head out with me?" she motioned towards the door, giving Sango a meaningful look. The other girl caught on immediately and nodded. "Sure! There's a great cafe down the street, they have an awesome lunch menu, let's go check it out." "Great, I'll grab my things." Rin gave Sango an appreciative smile and made her way back to her desk to grab her purse. Sango followed behind her and as Rin sat back down to clock out she took a seat on the edge of the desk. "This is a pretty nice space you've got here." Sango commented, eyeing the fancy new computer and the new smartphone she was sliding into her purse. Rin sighed. "Yeah, it can feel pretty tight in here though." she frowned as she saw Sango grinning devilishly. "Trouble with the boss? Have you jumped his bones yet?" she asked coyly, her tone full of mischief. Rin straightened up from under the desk glaring at her furiously. 'Bringing that up in here? Doesn't she know he's right through that door?' Her eyes fell past Sango's shoulder before she could retort however where she saw Sesshomaru in the doorway of his office. She froze, caught by the almost reproachful look on his face.

"Rin-san, I thought my appointments had all been cancelled for the day." His voice was cold, as he eyed Sango wearily. Rin saw him take in Sango's attire, informal as usual. She had a battered t-shirt with a print of the Buddhist-palm on it and small holes throughout with a pair of faded light jeans and old jogging sneakers. Sango had pulled her waist-length hair high on her head, and braided through her ponytail were multi-colored beads. Sango, without flinching, slipped from the desk and gave a deep respectful bow. When she rose, her smile was blinding. "Sesshomaru-san! We didn't have a chance to meet at the wedding, I'm a friend of Rin and Kagome's, Amori Sango, pleasure to meet you!" Sesshomaru's eyebrow flew skywards and he looked pointedly to Rin. She felt a flare of anger at him again, and ignored his obvious disapproval. "Don't worry, we won't be bothering you long, Sango and I are heading out to lunch. I'll be back in an hour." She then took her purse, swung it over her shoulder, moved around her desk, took Sango's hand, and left not looking behind her once. "Okay...catch you later, Sesshomaru-san!" Sango called cheerily into the awkward silence as Rin pulled her from the office.

Outside in the corridor to the elevator, Sango pulled Rin to a stop as she almost bolted for the lift. "Hun, slow down, what's going on, did I miss something? You're acting like you're on an emotional roller-coaster." she demanded, sounding slightly worried. Rin turned on her, fuming. "Why would you say something so careless right in front of him? I'm embarrassed enough already!" She hadn't meant to yell at Sango, but it had just slipped out. "Woah, woah, slow down Rin. Take a deep breath then tell me what's going on." Sango's voice was forgiving, level, and patient and Rin felt tears blossoming again in light of her previously-conceived control. "Sango, I just don't know what to do with how I feel about him. He yelled at me today. I hadn't even done anything, and he ripped right into me. I hate that I'm so sensitive with him, everything just hurts so much!" Sango sighed and placed an arm around Rin, her shoulders were now shaking with suppressed tears. "It's okay, hun. Love sucks, it really does. I'm sure there's some explanation for his behavior, even if you don't know what it is yet. Come on, let's grab some lunch you can tell me all about it."

...

Sesshomaru paced restlessly in front of his desk, having accomplished nothing since the girl had left with that hippie-looking jester for a prohibited lunchtime. He had fought every fibre of his being that called for him to be out in the world with her. In her state she should not be anywhere without him. Soon she would bloom, and she was at her peak for mating right now as a result. That was it, he had to send her home. He would go with her, get her back to the apartment safe and sound, where she would then be under his watchful eye. Yet he knew, if he let himself follow that path his intentions would be completely obvious to her, finally.

As he paced he began to truly contemplate the idea that he had already been too transparent to her and completely blinded himself. In the past courtship had always been easy. With demon females it was easy. If he had gotten his last lover Kagura that specially-made perfume, the apartment, and the entire hand-picked wardrobe she would be panting next to his lap. However human women were apparently much more subtle. Possibly even delicate. He was not used to an actual chase, and to top it off he was barely able to admit he had been courting her at all. The decisions he had made, the work he had put into her living quarters had all felt like generosity towards newly-legal kin. Or so he had told himself. He had told himself again and again he found no pleasure in spoiling her, in hiring a stylist to assemble the wardrobe. No peace so deep it touched his soul came over him from providing her with the safest automobile on the market, while also providing for her financially. His pacing slowed slightly as he tried to analyze this enjoyment from these actions that he had been fighting so reverently more closely. He had never been one for inner reflection. Decisions and their consequences had always played out easily in his mind, Like pieces of a puzzle gliding together with ease. In the past years however this resolution had abandoned him, purely concerning Rin. 'This Sesshomaru has gone so far as to lie to himself.' The thought was resounding and made him stop mid-step. The direct result of this epiphany was a stream of what could only be doubt. Feeling alien to himself, he reviewed his reasons for running to America. It had, of course, not been a daring business venture for an emerging market as he had told his father and half-brother, but in fact he had run. She had been a young, meek girl, and demon or no, he could not rob her of a life. Once mated, he mated eternally. He had heard some species of demons that had fallen in love with humans had even extended the depth of their emotion to elongate the human's life far beyond normal means. He would take everything from her to love her.

He had chosen to come back, not because he had felt a need to be back in control of their Japanese branch, but because he had hoped the correct amount of time had passed. And it had. She had bloomed into a gorgeous woman, but was still only a mere quarter of the way through her life-span. He did not know yet if she would be willing to bond with him for life. She had obviously taken no lovers yet, despite her perfection and beauty, and he would not take any future ones from her. She should be with her own kind, with a human male who would take care of her and give her the emotion he felt he lacked. That could give her children. Yet around her, still, he was unsealed. The logic he reviewed now so easily and so clearly was lost in a fog of lust and need as soon as her eyes met his.

The conversation with his father when he had allowed himself to come back into society echoed through his mind now. The love his father had found had indeed brought him back from what had seemed like death. He had stayed isolated and buried for hundreds of years. His half-brother had even fallen victim to a human woman, and claimed she was not bothered by the eternity of their bond. But Rin was so pure. She could not know what she would be getting into. This is always where these thoughts brought him, and it was usually enough to curtail his lust and his demon's complaints. Today however, all that happened was a flash of the night he had rescued her from Naraku, and the look on her face as she had danced with him. Anger, hot and harsh, pooled into his stomach, something else alien until recently. His demon began fighting back. She had displayed signs, she had demonstrated attraction to him as well, she clearly sought his attention. She was not afraid of his demon and had been able to calm him when he himself had no control. Also how much he had encouraged those emotions she obviously felt. He had flirted with her for goodness sake! 'I am not indecisive at all, it would seem. Simply fighting truth.' It was as this thought broke through his mind, he knew what needed to be done; he needed to make a decision, which for him was easy. His demon was almost gleeful as he walked briskly from the office and made his way out into the lobby. To find her.

...

Rin was lost in thought as she made her way back from the cafe. Sango had left her after receiving a phone call from the research lab conducting the project she had been heading. She had apologized profusely and paid for their lunch, throwing the money onto the table and giving Rin a rushed hug. She had given no details for her distress only that her recent experiment had changed drastically and they needed her there for testing the results. Rin wondered why there had been a hint of fear and excitement in Sango's deep eyes as she had hugged her goodbye, it must have something to do with the "development". She pushed it to the back of her mind and prepared herself for the re-entry to the building.. After being almost chastised by Sesshomaru she had openly gone on break early and had left in a huff. She remembered the authority that she had seen in him a few times now, and shivered as she pondered how he would treat open disobedience. Her feet had unconsciously led her the long way back, and as she took a quick look to her phone she realized she was going to be late if she didn't hurry.

Fumbling, she shoved her phone back into her purse and pulled the strap over her shoulder, securing it diagonally across her chest. She would have to sprint a little if she wished to be on time, and she quickly denied to herself it was because of fear of Sesshomaru's reaction. Somewhere between this rushed exchange of purse securing to sprinting she banged into the slim figure of a man in front of her. She stumbled backwards at the rough contact and almost fell, but recovered somehow and immediately fell into a contrite bow. Being clumsy, she was rather used to ramming into people in the crowded streets, and knew perfectly the social protocol for her rudeness. "I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed from her bowed position. The low chortle from above her had her raising her head as soon as she recognized the sugared voice. "Forgive me, little mouse, for being in the way." 'Naraku!' Rin felt her body going rigid as she met the eyes of the demon who had swept her away just a short time ago. He was stunningly handsome again, no sign of the beast that had emerged that night. She was completely off-guard, having forgotten he could look like anything but that evil creature that had appeared in the club after tricking her into being with him. She felt her mouth hanging open at the sight of him. Naraku was eyeing her almost bemusedly, seemingly enjoying her shock. "W-What are you doing here?" she blurted. The edges of his mouth curled up in an almost cat-like fashion. "Am I not allowed in this part of Tokyo, out on the streets?" Rin closed her mouth, beginning to recover her wits and tried to hide the pounding of her heart, warning her to flee. Naraku's eyes darkened and his nostrils flared. Suddenly, his eyes were like dark pools and she felt she was falling into them. People brushed by them on the street, and the heat and noise seemed to fade from her senses. "I'm here on business." Naraku supplied, not breaking his gaze from hers.

Rin felt her head spinning again, as it had the last time occasionally when she had met him. She was dizzy and lightheaded. Which is probably why when Naraku slipped an arm around her waist and began guiding her, she stumbled along with him. A small voice in the back of her mind was yelling at her to fight, to push his arm off of her, but her body would not listen. Naraku's eyes were no longer on hers, but she saw nothing but those twin pools still. They encompassed all of her vision and kept her muffled. They made their way down the street and away from her destination; away from the safety of the crowded street. "That stupid dog had no idea what he had with you, little mouse. The other Higurashi got away from me, but you...you will do fine." Naraku whispered into her ear as they walked down the sidewalk and past the busy shoppers and brightly lit stores. Panic was engulfing her now as he mentioned Kagome, and a repulsed shiver went down her spine. Still her feet marched forwards and she stayed under his spell. She knew now what Naraku had done to her. He was controlling her body, her mind. Kagome's voice was suddenly in her head, warning her of dangerous Naraku was. 'Not really helpful now.' The small voice chided. Naraku lifted the hair lying loosely around her ear and he inhaled it deeply. "And you're ripe for mating, how easily this little mouse wandered into my den. I've been waiting for you to leave that damned tower he's had you locked in for dayssss." He literally hissed as he spoke, and exhaled onto her neck. Rin felt a chill spreading slowly through her veins. 'Think Rin, think! You grew up in a temple, there must be something you learned!' The small voice had become louder, clearer. Naraku had been brusquely guiding her down smaller and smaller streets, and the amount of people had lessened. She had to think fast. Then she remembered.

The summer before she had left for school she had gone to visit Kagome when she had gone on one of her "retreats". Her last few years of high school had become more focused on her spiritual training, and suddenly she had begun going into the mountains alone. Apparently, Gramps had brought in a mentor for her a priestess by the name of Kaede. When Rin asked Kagome about the training, she would grumble about the Shikon Jewel and change the topic. The last time she had visited Kagome at the temple she had been wearing the Jewel openly around her neck, a first. She marveled at it. The Shikon had always been a name spoken in hushed words behind doors typically closed to her, but Kagome's carefree attitude towards it had kept Rin feeling secure and safe from the mysterious and obviously ominous power.

Her and Kagome had stayed up for hours together those nights, and occasionally snuck some of the beer Kagome had stolen from the kitchens. One of these giggly, semi-drunken nights, Kagome had begun talking about her training with the Jewel. She had also been studying demons for the past few years in order to better understand the origins of the Jewel. Rin struggled through these memories now, trying to remember anything Kagome had said that would now be useful. Kagome's slightly slurred speech was around her now when she had spoken of the ability some demons had for hypnosis and even, in the case of older more powerful demons, even control: 'Demon mind control stems from fear...if I can overcome my fear of him I can break his powers for a moment, that may be all I need!' she remembered. The shade around her mind began to fade slightly as she felt her power and awareness increase. She quickly found the one thing that made her feel safe, cared for. The power of this radiated through her. 'Yes! I need to not be afraid of him!' Rin was intently focused now, channeling everything she had left into conquering her terror of him by holding onto the ability to feel that safe and that kind of love, and who brought it out of her.

She felt Naraku tense next to her, stopping his advance. "What are you doing?" Rin would have jumped for joy if she could have at the nervous panic in his voice. The honey was gone, the sweetness was gone. His words no longer felt like a shroud over her mind. The twin pools of his eyes began to fade as suddenly colors became vivid around her again. She could feel the warmth of the sun, and the chill dissipated from her blood. The noise of the busy street, at their backs now, was suddenly gloriously loud. Rin pushed away from him, throwing her arms into his side. She must have taken him by complete surprise, as he made a "whumph"-ing noise and released her. Rin jumped back, getting out of his immediate reach, panting with her efforts. Her mind was clear, but her body was logy, still recovering. "How did you do that?!" Naraku was yelling, eyes flashing dangerously at her, teeth bared. Rin kept taking steps backwards, but she straightened and faced him she met his eyes full-on, her own fierce with determination. Her sudden voracity clearly took Naraku by surprise yet again, and his dark orbs widened the slightest amount, pupils dilating. 'Who's afraid now?' Rin thought, feeling a surge of energy. She held his eyes, feeling a strange power welling deep in her stomach filling her with warmth and strength. Naraku must have seen this surge in her somehow, because he took a full step back from her. Rin felt relief, as she was almost certain the source of her newfound feeling of power was only a state of mind, and he was a very powerful demon. He would win this fight. In a flash Naraku straightened and regained his composure. He was once again the handsome body she had bumped into out on the street. His eyes twinkled evilly as he smiled at her and raised his arm. "I will not underestimate you again Higurashi Rin." The mouth that spoke the words were curved in a smile, though the words themselves dripped poison.

Naraku flung his arm wide in front of him and there was a burst of dark smoke that enveloped his form. And then he was gone. The illusion of the smoke disappeared with him, leaving Rin very alone on a very empty street. She held her breath for a moment longer, making sure he was truly gone, then she turned and bolted for the bustling street behind her. Once she reached it she leaned over, placing her trembling hands on her knees. Her adrenaline was pumping through her relentlessly, flushing her cheeks and forcing her to try to take a few deep breaths. She straightened, closed her eyes, and felt a deep sense of displacement. She had used her feelings for Sesshomaru to fend off Naraku, and now she needed to be near him. She had accepted how she felt, and needed to tell him. More than anything. She took off running back towards him and his tower.

...

Sesshomaru had only made it out into the long hallway to the elevator down to the lobby when he heard the elevator dock on his floor. He could smell her from here. 'Why did I let her leave?!' he thought abashedly. The doors slid open seamlessly and out stepped Rin. She looked flustered. His brow creased when her smell accosted him. Fear, happiness (which he relished secretly), and another scent he knew somehow. His eyes narrowed venomously. 'Naraku.'. His demon roared at him viciously, but he maintained his outward togetherness. She was trying to hurry, he could see this, probably due to her lateness, but she came to a hearty stop when she spied him at the end of the corridor. His anger at Naraku's barely-lingering scent on her skin ('He had touched her!' his brain screamed at him) faded almost instantly. There was a flush to her cheeks that was incredibly becoming, and her hair hung around her like a silky halo. 'She does this to me all the time!' He yelled at himself, trying to get a grip. "Sesshomaru-sama, I have something I need to tell you-" "You're late, Rin." He heard the words as they came from his mouth, and they were harsh.

She flinched, looking ashamed. "I apologize Sesshomaru-sama-" "Where is Naraku?" He interrupted her again, and he almost smacked himself as he heard the anger in his voice. He was jealous. That's what this feeling was curling in his stomach. And he was taking it out on her. Who knew emotions had directions to be aimed as well as consequences? And if aimed at the wrong target could negatively effect someone. He may never get used to these concepts. Rin looked shocked, making her large eyes appear even larger. "He...attacked me on my way back." "He did what?" His voice rang out in the distance between them with a stern authority. If he had been in his dog form, his hackles would have been raised. "I was on my way back here after Sango and I had lunch and he found me and somehow he managed to get into my mind-" "You escaped?" he interrupted her yet again and she looked almost frustrated with him now. "Yes, Kagome taught me to use my feelings to resist a demon's mind control and he fled-" Her voice was rough as she explained to him, and she was clearly nervous and ranting. When she explained her escape all of Sesshomaru's preconceived notions of what to say to her left him. She had stopped herself mid-sentence and now looked embarrassed, which only came off as demure to him. At the knowledge that Naraku had fled Sesshomaru had two quick impressions. The first was a sense of hilarity. He almost burst out laughing, but stopped himself with the second completely consuming realization. He knew Naraku had attacked her because she was in heat, he knew Naraku would not give up so easily. Clearly he and the demon needed to have a talk. He felt his talons itching to rip into the other demon's flesh.

"You fought him off?" was all he managed after all of this analyzation, but instead of the laughter he felt from the situation he heard skepticism in his voice. Rin bit her bottom lip, still meek, and nodded. Sesshomaru tried not to growl lustily as he watched her torture that lip. His emotions were so sharp and mercurial around her. He needed to get her out of here immediately, he needed to keep her safe. He needed to eliminate the threat, to take care of Naraku once and for all. He just needed a contained place to put her while he tracked Naraku down and to insure her protection he needed someone to watch her. He, luckily, had solutions to all of those current problems. Set in his ability to make these decisions despite how he felt he spoke in a low, somewhat soft voice: "Rin, gather your things, you're going home." He turned from her swiftly, his heels determined, and used his ID card to open the door and gestured for her to follow. He did not look at her. He could not guarantee his regret and slight panic would not show on his face or in his eyes. He heard her follow behind him slowly.

...

Rin tried to get her bearings. Again. She had come back ready to convince him she loved him, the confession heavy on her tongue, almost exploding from her lips as she entered the hallway. She initially hadn't noticed him in her bluster, but her senses had expanded with her adrenaline pulsing and she saw him after only three steps off of the elevator. And immediately froze. The words were gone, the now-devoid declaration leaving her mouth dry and her jaw slack. Her mind seemed to freeze as she took in his rigid stance, his tense posture. The man looked as if he might actually whip her for her presumed insolence. The affectionate looks, lingering touches, gifts and seemingly adoring behaviors all disappeared. He had been nothing but devoid of any understanding, completely her boss. There had been no hint, except in his brief anger, that he felt anything but a professional disappointment in her. It had hurt, him yelling at her, and the shame she had felt had been unexplainable, despite the obtainment of her recent emotional clarity towards him. Now he was sending her home? She had just been attacked, had wanted to give him her love, had assumed he would reciprocate and now he was banishing her for the second time. What crime had she committed, besides taking an early lunch and coming back a few minutes late?

Her head hung low, her mind heavy with her shame as she followed him into the office. His door was ajar and he was inside at his desk typing furiously into his computer by the time she reached her desk. She logged out of her computer, locked the screen then watched him precariously but carefully around the edge of the door. The crack was just enough that she could catch most of his side profile as he typed. There was a fury in his face that was stark on his sharp features. She was again struck by how beautiful he was. God-like in a way. And she had always hated using that statement for expressing male beauty, but he was just flawless. She wanted to touch his sharp cheekbones, see if they could cut her. She wanted to touch him to see if he could be touched.

Rin jumped when she realized he was looking back at her suddenly, those golden eyes seemingly seeing straight through her. She flushed and looked away from him, hopefully before he saw too much of her. She began to dig through her purse, looking for her phone as an excuse to look away. Before she had it in hand, but what had felt like an hour later, Sesshomaru glided from his office with his suit-jacket on his arm. "Come Rin." He would not look at her, and, almost thankful due to her rattled nerves, she nodded and rose from her seat, knees almost giving out immediately under her then followed him out. It took her a moment to realize that he intended to leave with her. 'Perhaps he's walking me down to my car?' They walked down the hallway and made it to the elevator in what seemed like tense silence. Rin sneaked a glance at him from the corner of her eyes. He was looking ahead determinedly, lips set in a straight line. She found herself focusing on those lips, and a stray mysterious thought wondered what they tasted like. If those were sharp and unyielding as well. A chill went through her as she remembered Naraku's attack suddenly. All of that adrenaline had disappeared at his disapproval of her lateness and Naraku's presence. The rest hadn't helped. She didn't think she had done anything wrong, but now she was afraid she had upset him, especially with his grave demeanor.

She heard a rustle of soft fabric and then he draped his jacket around her slightly-shivering shoulders. Rin felt the warmth immediately and hadn't even realized she had been cold or shivering. She felt a bit of hope rekindle and she looked up to him fully once she realized what he he'd done. He kept his eyes forward, pointedly not looking at her. She was enveloped in the strong scent of sandalwood and nighttime from the jacket and she gripped the collar where it rested around her neck, pulling it tighter around her. She inhaled deeply and her shivering stopped. "Thank you." she whispered, happy for at least some form of the man who had danced so sweetly with her once. He nodded, making a gruff, yet formally polite acknowledgment in response. The elevator arrived and the doors slid open. Sesshomaru placed a hand on the small of her back and guided her into the elevator swiftly. Rin could feel the heat of his palm through the jacket and she felt her face flush again with his touch. Her heart leapt with the connection and when he dropped his hand heavily after they were in the elevator on their floor she felt her heart drop with it. She was still confused as to why he was leaving with her. Maybe he wasn't busy for the rest of the day and decided to take off early? No, that contradicted everything in his demeanor. Plus, she had looked briefly at his schedule just before Sango had swept her off for lunch and it was as packed as it ever was. How could he just leave? And why?

When the doors opened again he stepped out before her and held the doors with one arm and the other gestured for her to proceed. Again very politely. She gripped his jacket even tighter and stepped out into the lobby. He followed just behind her, and as they passed the security desk his arm wrapped around her waist protectively. This time was more forward, and incredibly obvious Her face could only be crimson now, and she let him again gently lead her out the door and towards the garage. She assumed, at this point, he would be walking her to her car to send her home. But instead, as they exited the building and walked into the top level of the underground parking garage, he led her down the first row and away from her car parked on the left side and to the car next to it. A brand new Nissan GT-R in black. It was the closest spot towards the security entrance gate. Rin had seen this car before pulling in in the mornings and had been curious as to its owner. She didn't know much about cars, having never owned one, but she came from money. Therefore she knew an expensive car when she saw one. It was sleek in all the right places, and the frame proclaimed it a speed demon. She looked up to him, unsure as to why he still didn't take her to her car. He instead led her directly to the passenger's door and opened it using his thumbprint, and turned to look at her openly.

She felt very small wrapped in his jacket and next to his powerful status symbol of a car. His face was softer then it had been upstairs, and his eyes seemed to be drinking her in. "Um, what about my car?" was all she could think to ask. 'Come on girl, we've been over this, pull it together!' His brow furrowed slightly ('Possibly in confusion?') at her question, and she immediately felt stupid for asking it. "I'll have someone bring it out once we get back." Rin nodded meekly then slipped into the passenger's seat the bucket of the seat almost swallowing her. Sesshomaru closed the door then almost glided around to the driver's side. He swung himself into the seat then started the car with a roar of the engine that shook Rin almost to her core, and they were off.

Her brain immediately went into overdrive for all the reasons to explain why this was happening. "Why are you taking me home?" Rin blurted after they spent the first ten minutes in silence, She was reeling and the last question she could have cared about at that moment is the one that slipped out. Sesshomaru kept his eyes alert on the road before them, but he answered in a matter-of-fact manner: "I have matters to attend to concerning Naraku. His attack on you cannot go unpunished, and while you are safe under my watch, I do not wish to leave you alone while I take care of this so I will be calling my half-brother in to watch over you. I believe Kagome will be with him as well." His eyes moved to her's for a second, then they were gone again. "Oh." Rin whispered, having no other real response and trying to contain the cheering that burst out in her mind. 'Safe under his watch? He's jealous and he's protecting me!'. All her other questions had been answered so easily, and her blush would certainly never fade now.

...

Rin's hands shook slightly as she fumbled with her keys trying to open her door. Sesshomaru stood behind her, appearing to loom over her. He had stayed by her side the entire way up to her apartment, hand softly on the small of her back, and kept close to her even now. She could feel all of his focus at once the entire time. He was keeping a steady eye on her but also on their surroundings as if he expected Naraku to be tucked into the ceiling tile. As she opened the door his hand was still resting on her back and he guided her into her own apartment. Once inside he locked the door and set the alarm. She realized why the codes had been set before she moved in. "I think I'll be okay now, thank you Sesshomaru-sama." She surprised herself by sounding completely competent, but she felt she was wringing her hands together. She couldn't help being nervous. He seemed enormous, standing in her foyer. His knowledge of the security system and the way he calmly asserted his dominance inside her personal space made the apartment more his than hers right now.

"I will not leave you until Inuyasha arrives." Rin dropped her hands, stunned yet again by his possessive, commanding tone. So strict! Rin sighed and slipped out of her heels, dropping them by the other pairs by the door. "Fine, okay. Make yourself at home I guess." Her tone was exasperated. She obviously would not talk him into leaving, so she would have to become accommodated to his moved past her then and into the kitchen. She wondered if he had been waiting for her permission. He found her teapot and began filling it with water. Rin felt her mouth drop open with the ease in which he moved through her kitchen. "Um, okay. I'm going to change real quick..." she awkwardly made her way to the back of the apartment towards her bedroom. Once inside she shut the door and collapsed, sitting, onto her bed.

This whole situation was so weird! And getting weirder! He had placed his hands on her every moment he could on the way out and into the building and she reveled in this remembering his past compliments and their dances. After he had admitted to protecting her and had driven her home, she felt the need to confess more then ever. She stood and slipped out of her skirt and top, deciding to keep the sexy underwear. A small voice in the back of her head encouraged her, and she blushed again at the implication. She picked a loose white t-shirt and a snug pair of yoga pants, pulled her hair out of the now-messy ponytail and ran a brush through it a few times. She left her makeup, and reapplied the lip gloss, giving her lips a fine pink tint. She surveyed herself in the full-length mirror hanging from the closet. 'There! Completely relaxed, totally casual. This'll show him I don't care he's here.' she thought confidently. 'Why the lip gloss then?' That small contriving voice in the back of her mind giggled at her. She took a deep breath, ignoring it, then left her bedroom. He wasn't in the kitchen and it took her a moment to find him on the couch, comfortable with a cup of tea and another awaiting for her on the coffee table. He had his phone out in his free hand and was focusing intently on it. Rin cleared her throat to alert him of her presence, but of course he already knew she was there. He motioned for her to sit next to him on the couch.

"I'm glad you made yourself at home." Rin heard the sarcasm in her own voice. His eyes rose from the backlight of the phone and focused onto hers. There was mirth glittering there, and she felt her heart skip a beat. "You should do your dishes." he responded and nodded towards the overflowing sink. Rin colored again and sat down, taking the mug of tea off of the table. She took a sip, blowing softly on the steaming drink. "Thank you for the tea." she murmured and Sesshomaru nodded in acknowledgement, eyes back on his phone. They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes until Rin gathered her courage enough to speak. "You said you were protecting me from Naraku. Why?" she watched him as she asked, hoping to see some kind of reaction. If he would take over her house she would at least ask tactless questions. He stopped his typing on his phone, but his face showed no reaction. "I had assumed Naraku's affections were unwanted. Thus my seeking him out. Naraku while having no record, is a dangerous ancient demon. And you are family by law now, I would do the same for any of my family, or valued employees." He answered her levelly and returned to typing.

Rin felt her face fall. "Oh. Of course." She couldn't hide the disappointment in her voice, despite how much she wanted to. Sesshomaru looked to her again, and this time he held her gaze. There was something in his eyes that drew her in there, something yearning. Rin felt captivated by him once again, and she realized his face was moving closer to her. 'Is he going to kiss me?!' She was completely engulfed in his eyes, and she felt dazed by the realization that he was sliding across the couch and closing the distance between them, fast. His hand reached out and cupped her cheek so gently she barely felt it. He used this to pull her lips to his. Rin felt her eyes close impulsively after a moment of paralysis, and his lips then completely captured hers. The kiss was soft and sweet. His hand slipped down to her neck and tilted her head back as his tongue traced the edges of her lips delicately and cautiously. Rin's heart was pounding and that same warmth that only he could draw from her began spreading again into her stomach and quickly lower. Desire, that's what it was. It was frightening to be able to suddenly name it, acknowledge what the decisiveness in his actions and what it meant to her and her body's reaction to it. His tongue continued to tease her lips as he dominated the kiss with a restrained ferocity. His scent surrounded her and the warmth radiating from him was making her dizzy. His hand was still cold on her neck, but his (what might be?) passion fueled it. While he massaged her mouth he took a playful nibble on her bottom lip, seeming to demand more and she broke the kiss then, as a reflexive small moan slipped from her.

A growl rippled from him at her noise of passion and suddenly he was a rushing force upon her. Both of his hands were on her shoulders now and he pulled her closer, reconnecting their mouths and forcing her lips open with his strong tongue immediately. Then he was in her, and Rin had no idea what to do. She froze, completely stunned by this new development. Luckily he did, and he immediately drank her deftly, guiding her with a strength that made her melt back into his hands with the sensations she had never experienced. Her tongue soon responded timidly to his ministrations. Another instinct she had never known she had. She began to answer his experience with some massaging of her own. This time he moaned, low and soft, and she cherished the echo it caused in her mouth. He became tense suddenly, and taking one more gentle and quick nibble on her bottom lip, almost wistfully, he pulled away. In a flash he was back where he had been sitting previously, his hands in his lap. If she didn't know better she might have thought he had never moved an inch. The only difference from previous to his actions was the lack of phone in his hands. Rin, on the other hand, was panting with want, her cheeks tattooed with her flush and completely confused. 'What the hell?!' her mind screamed in sad panic. 'Did I do something wrong? Was I not doing it right? Sure I've never done that much before, but he seemed to be enjoying it...' "I apologize Higurashi-san, that was completely inappropriate." He sounded bereft and a little frustrated. His apology hurt. Her vision was spinning and she was still caught up in the hot desire flowing through her veins, but as she opened her mouth to answer there was a knock at the door.

Sesshomaru was off of the couch instantly and answering it. He typed the security code into the panel by the door, and with a hiss the door unlocked. He opened the door and in swept Kagome like a hurricane, completely enraged. "Rin, are you okay? How dare that snake do this to you, I'll kill him!" she sat next to Rin on the couch and wrapped her in a tight hug. Inuyasha followed behind her, and his nose crinkled once inside. He caught sight of Rin's face (the kiss still lingering on her face transparently unbeknownst to Kagome who had missed it in her anger) and his eyebrows shot upwards. He grinned toothily and mischievously, then turned to Sesshomaru whose face was as blank as ever. 'Of course.' Rin thought, angry again. It had been full of life just moments before when he had kissed her, but now it felt as if he were pointedly not trying to look as if he were just passionately making out with her. She supposed to those who knew him they would see it transparently as well. He did not meet Inuyasha's gaze however. He was also resolutely not looking at her either.

Kagome finally released her and began looking her up and down, searching for damage. "I'm fine 'Gome, I promise." she focused back on the girl before her and Kagome hugged her again. "Thank goodness! That bastard is going to pay." The relief in her voice was palpable. Sesshomaru cleared his throat, still avoiding Inuyasha's gleeful looks and Rin's curious eyes. "I will return shortly, once I have eliminated this problem." "Mhmm, you do that." Inuyasha crossed his arms across his chest and Sesshomaru finally shot him a withering look as he swept out the door, not even saying goodbye. "Take care of what problem?" Kagome asked, suspicious. Inuyasha's grin widened (somehow) and he responded with a mocking tone: "Well, I would assume Naraku. He did threaten his mate after all." Kagome bristled and Rin gasped softly. Kagome turned away from Inuyasha then with clear dismissal and focused back on Rin. "Rin are you sure you're okay? You look upset." Kagome asked, clearly worried, and Rin looked to her, uncertain where to begin. "They kissed!" Inuyasha called out and burst out laughing. "Oh, I can't believe he finally worked up the balls to do something about it, this is so great!" he howled, bending over himself. Kagome's mouth fell open and she whipped around to Rin. The guilty look on Rin's face told her everything however, and she sighed exasperated. "All right, tell me what happened." Kagome said, trying to speak over Inuyasha's continuos laughter.

...

A/N: yay! Finally, some romantic progression! Sorry it took so long, but we'll be moving quickly now. I know, I know, Rin could never best Naraku especially if he were to be using powers on her, but give me a little wiggle room this is an alternate reality and I am bending it to my plot whims. I appreciate your tolerance, truly. Some more mild story deficiencies will be popping up, so grit your teeth and bear it for now for the sake of LOOOOOOVVVEEEEE! And smut. Thanks to The Shins! And you! My beautiful readers! I couldn't love you all more if I tried! Please review, follow, favorite, you know le drill. As always for T-Bone.

XOXO