Author's Note: Final chapter... of the first arc! :) I'm so excited to say this. The best parts will happen in the next arc, no matter how long it becomes. I hope you enjoy this. Thank you for your support, and please review.

If you enjoy this you should read Inali Grimalkin's Sesshomaru stories.

Updated: November. 29, 2012

Something had changed- that much was for certain. Sesshomaru could feel it prick at his instincts; Rin's silence was another clue. He arrived much earlier for his dinner that was usual, and he stayed much later for the week.

Rin was courteous as ever, but her incessant chatter had lessened to a polite babble; she had yet to call him Lord Sesshomaru. The fact that he found this worrisome made him ornery. This led to many misunderstandings and issues in the rest of him life.

Just the day before he had snapped at a particularly needy client. Rather than making up for it by apologizing and whispering sweet nothings, he had tossed her money on top of where her pitiful figure lay on her bed, and slammed the door behind himself on the way out.

Now, it was a chilled Sunday evening. Winter was fast approaching, and wasn't doing it casually. Having enough, he slipped into Sonny's at well after midnight following a fitful nap. That enough was frustrating- Sesshomaru didn't nap. Ever.

With a sour, tired look on his face, he sat at his table. He did not look at the menu, but laced his fingers on the table in front of him, sitting straight as he ever had. He was one of three customers in the building, but it took the waitress a good ten minutes to grace his table; even then she did so grudgingly. He did not wait for her to say a thing, but spoke first.

"Sit." He gestured to the seat across from him.

"I'm sorry sir, but I am currently working." She gestured around, but was met with a cool smile.

"But i am the only patron at this time," he stated. Rin was about to argue, but looked up to see that he was indeed correct. The other two regulars had already paid and stepped out. Little did she know that Sesshomaru had called ahead to Jaken. He had offered his a four-figure sum of money to speak to his customers and arrange a completely private atmosphere.

"So, sit," he nodded. She did, though she looked at the sugar dispenser with dedication. Sesshomaru leaned back and studied her face. He noticed a few things. One, she looked tired; two, she was pale; three, she was frustrated. He tried to think of the best tack to take. Truthfully, with all his training he was still flying blind. All he really knew was that beneath her constant papaya scent was an uncommon and subtle sorrow.

"Well, are you going to order?" She wondered calmly.

"No, I came to talk," he admitted. She finally looked up, eyes flashing.

"So, you've finally worked up the courage to confront me?" Her voice was hard, and uncharacteristic. It nearly made him flinch, which caused him to growl quietly. It was not quite quietly enough to go unnoticed, however and Rin's eyebrows raised. "Did you just growl at me?" Sesshomaru looked away.

"Not at you specifically..." He saw her try to hold back a giggle as he returned his eyes to her face.

"The only way it seems that this will work is if you and I talk, so I'll start. Yes, I am an escort. I have been for a while."

"And what are you going to do about it?" Rin asked. The question stumped Sesshomaru.

"I don't follow your meaning," he admitted, annoyed with himself for sounding so idiotic. Rin sighed and ran a hand down her face.

"I mean, you have to have realized that sleeping with and lying for women that obviously may as well be faceless to you isn't a fulfilling career. It can't make you happy."

"I excel at it." Sesshomaru could feel unwelcome resentment rising. "They want it, and who am I to deny them? Lying comes easy to me."

"And, when are you going to stop lying to yourself?" Her voice was gentle, and her eyes were sad. They were sad for him. He stared at her until she spoke again. "I saw it in your face the other day; you're disgusted with what you do. You're lowering yourself from the Lord that I know you to be." She had said it all quickly and had to take a few deep breaths. He looked down and inspected his perfectly manicured nails.

"What do you expect me to do?" He asked dryly. She reached out and put a hand over his. When he looked at her she was smiling.

"First, you need to get a new job. You're a smart man, you'll figure it out."