Title 07/10/2011

"Rin, Sesshomaru's at the door." Her aunt said, leaning around the doorframe of Rin's room. "Says he wants to talk."

Looking from her book, Rin nodded and climbed off her bed, heading downstairs, her aunt following who then went into the lounge. Sesshomaru was stood in the doorway, a bag hanging by his side. She smiled at him. "Good morning. What you doing here so early?"

"I came to bring you this." He held out the bag. "Courtesy of the Behn twins."

Rin blinked then looked down at the bag, taking it and opening it. "A… a new uniform." She looked up at him, smiling. "Thank you."

Sesshomaru stood in the doorway, looking at her then lowering his head to look at his shoes. "Rin… remember when I asked you to stay for dinner with me a few months back? You said I could have a 'rain check'." He looked over at her, trying to smile. "I… I need to call it."

Rin flinched. "Ah… your father?"

"He won't stop. He keeps pestering me, night and day. I haven't had a moment's peace." He sighed, running a hand back in his hair. "I'm sorry to have got you caught up in this but… well… my father doesn't like being told no."

Rin gave a small smile. "It's alright Sesshomaru. I… I guess I could come for dinner."

"My mother and Inuyahsa will be there as well… if that's puts you at ease."

"I guess so… but… what would I wear?" She felt a knot grow in her stomach. There was no way she could go to dinner with probably one of the most powerful and richest families in the country in jeans and a t-shirt.

Sesshomaru shrugged one shoulder lightly. "It won't be too formal. How about that dress you wore to the theme park?"

Her heart leapt into her mouth and she blushed. "I… I fought you'd forgotten about that."

This time Sesshomaru's heart stopped a little and he looked at her. She was staring down at her feet, avoiding his eyes. "Why would you think that?"

"Well… you never talk about it. I thought… I guessed… I'd done something wrong or… something."

Sesshomaru huffed slightly, stepping over to her, holding her cheek and lifting her face while leaning down. He kissed her lightly and leant over her ear. "As if I could forget that day."

Her heart pounding, Rin looked at him, rubbing her face lightly against his cheek.

He leant away from her and kissed her forehead. "So you'll come for dinner?"

"Alright."

"Tonight?"

"If… if that's what you want."

"I want you to be comfortable."

Rin sighed and nodded. "I'll be alright. Tonight."

"I'll send a car to pick you up… about half five."

Nerves crept into her and she just nodded.

"I'll see you then." He kissed her forehead again and walked away, back to the waiting car.

Rin stood for a moment then closed the door. Tini was staring at her with a wide smile. "Grab your bag." She said, disappearing.

-0-

Sesshomaru took a deep breath as he watched the car approach the house, standing by the front door. For some unknown reason, he felt nervous. It's just dinner. You do it every night. There's nothing special about it tonight, just because Rin's coming.

He watched the car pull to a stop and straighten his back, stepping over. He opened the door and held out his hand. A woman's took it and stepped out. He blinked as she stepped out, smoothing her dress down.

"Rin… you look amazing."

Rin tried to smile. "Thank you." She said, picking at the dress. "Tini overheard us."

Sesshomaru tried not to react, looking over the light pink knee high dress with a soft pink bow at the front. Her hair was up and her face just with a touch of lipstick but nothing else to disturb her natural appearance. She looked stunning. He smiled at her and took her arm in the crook of his arm. "Shall we?"

Too nervous to really speak, Rin nodded and they walked inside, Sesshomaru leading her to a room off the side of the hallway. Inside were three people, Inuyahsa and Sesshomaru's parents, his mother sat in a long yellow and blue dress. All the men wore near identical black suits with ties. Normal dinner? Rin mused to herself as Sesshomaru lead her over to them.

Inutasiho Taisho's eyes widened as he hurried over to her, taking her hand again and kissing the back. "Rin, I am so glad you agreed to come."

"Thank you for having me."

"Now, come, sit next to me and tell me all about yourself. What's it like being a scholarship student?"

"Inutasiho dear, let the girl breath first." His wife said, standing up with such elegance, it was as if she was floating. She smiled at Rin and held out her hand. "Inukimi. It's nice to meet you properly Rinee."

Rin took her hand lightly, trying to smile.

Over in the corner, Inuyasha gave a one handed wave. "Yo."

"Inuyasha, I hope you're going to be more sociable than that."

"What? I spend almost every day with her, she's in my class."

Sesshomaru glared at the half-brother then looked back at Rin. "Would you like a drink?"

Rin nodded quickly as she sat down next to Inukimi who then began a long and driving interrogation. She asked about Rin's mother, her father, her aunt, her nephew, her school work, her job, her home, her shopping, her hobbies.

The father wasn't much better, he asked about what she thought of the stock markets and the job industry, he asked about living in the city, about where she had travelled.

Sesshomaru tried to drive the conversation away from her, trying to trap it on his mother's fashion business or his father's international building company. Luckily, the man was quite proud of his work and Rin was actually quite surprised by the family history. Inutasiho had been born to the same level she was; having to work for everything. He has started a company that build good strong but affordable houses all around the world. "Many feared I wouldn't make it, selling such good houses at such low prices but here I am. And if I hadn't tried so hard… I would never had met my dear wife, would I Inukimi?"

Inukimi shook her head and leant closer to Rin. "I was thinking of going into interior design."

"I see." Rin said, taking a drink over the main course. "I have heard of Taisho buildings actually. You do a lot of charity work in third world countries."

Inutasiho lifted his glass dramatically. "Over seventy million donated last year alone."

"It's a great project." She said, smiling down at him and catching Sesshomaru's eye as he looked up at her. The table fell suddenly into a quick and uneasy silence. The father sighed suddenly. "So Rin… tell us… after you leave school… what are your plans?"

Rin shrugged slightly. "I… I don't really know. But I was thinking about politics."

Inukimi let out a small laugh. "Oh no dear, you are far too kind hearted for such a ruthless game."

"But I really think I could do a good job."

"I agree with Inukimi, turn your talents to something that matches your demeanour."

Rin thought for a moment and lowered her head. "Well… I don't know what I would be good at. I… I want to help people… I want people to know I care about them."

"Maybe medical then?"

Rin flinched. "No, I couldn't be a doctor… not after what happened to my parents."

"Hummm…"

Across the table, Sesshomaru gave a deep sigh. "Whatever you choose Rin, I am certain you will exceed."

Inuyasha looked up from his food as well. "Yeah, whatever you do, you'll be tops."

"Inuyasha don't talk with your mouth full."

The conversation soon changed again and the dinner soon drew to a close so they retreated back to the other room for more talking and drinks until Rin gave a stiff yawn. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She said, covering her mouth.

Inukimi smiled at her, putting a comforting arm on her shoulder. "Aww, you poor thing. You look exhausted."

The oldest son stood and looked at her. "I'll take you home."

"Actually son, why don't you and your father talk? I'll see to Rin. Inyuasha, don't you have homework to be doing?"

Inyuasha moaned as he was mentally shooed from the room and Rin left with the fashion heiress. Sesshomaru was left with Inutasiho. The older man smiled at him as he stood there, stone faced and bitter eyes. "Well?" he said at last, trying to get conversation out of his father.

The man smile grew and looked down at his after dinner drink. "She's a lovely girl. Smart, funny and alert. A little young for you but I can see why you are attracted to her."

"I see."

"But it's not her that has me so interested. It's what she has done to you." He took a drink and stood, walking around to refill his glass. "I mean, the other day… you looked ready to strike out at me. I was expecting it and I was ready for it… and you didn't. She said your name… and your anger vanished. I have never seen that in you before." He took a swig, walking back to his seat. "And then, there was you asking Inuyasha to come stay with us. You hate him. The last time you meet, you almost killed him." He took another drink. "I'm assuming this of course but I have a feeling she had something to do with it."

"Your point is?"

"Sesshomaru… for years, people have wondered if you were ready to take over the company. If you would understand what the point of it was. You saw numbers and words. I have been out there; I have seen what our company does, the life it creates." He sighed and shook his head. "If you had taken over before… the company might have boomed economically… but failed in its understanding and meaning."

"And you think I have changed?"

"You have changed. No question about it. You are a different man." His eyes and voice brimmed with pride. "That girl has changed you."

Sesshomaru said nothing because he already knew it. He knew he was different now because of Rin.

And he knew she was no longer just a friend to him. Spending dinner away from school, where he wasn't school council president or head boy, he knew the caring and protection he felt to her was more than duty.

It was in his very blood.

His whole body wanted Rin. He wanted her safe, happy and to be his.

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