'Are you happy with this place?' Akihiro held open the door for Rin to enter a small yet up-market café that specialised in many types of udon.

'Yes, this is fine!' Rin stepped through and a waiter guided the pair towards a table near a window, overlooking a bustling city street with the commuters below going home from work in the cool of the evening.

'Thank you for taking me out' Rin bowed to Akihiro as she took her seat, and he smiled – but she thought he seemed strangely nervous.
They were handed menus, and Rin ordered the cheapest item listed.

'Are you sure you don't want more? I can cover for you' Akihiro assured her.

'No, it's fine! I had a big lunch anyway' Rin smiled in return, hoping he would not touch the topic again. It was awkward enough that he had noticed her choosing the cheapest option.

Once the waiter had taken the menus and given the pair some refreshments and an entrée, Akihiro cleared his throat.
He did not really know how to approach the topic he needed to broach; - after all, his proof had disappeared before his eyes.
He could still only half credit what he'd seen himself – how was Rin going to believe him?
He'd been far too taken aback to take a photo of the specimen, let alone foreseeing that it would de-materialise and rob him of his proof.

'I asked you out tonight, not just for the pleasure of your company, but because I wanted to know a bit more about your friend – Hakai, was it?'

Rin almost choked on the drink she was swallowing; her eyes flew to Akihiro's face.

'Yes - Hakai was there last night – but what did you want to know?'

Akihiro shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to think of ways to raise the subject without sounding like a total weirdo.

'I'm sorry, it must seem strange for me to bring up such a random topic. It's just that after you left, he said a few things to me that got me thinking about a science experiment I am working on at the moment – he himself expressed an interest in the same subjects I study'

Rin's eyes started to light with a bit more understanding of the left-field turn of conversation.
Ah, so her new friend was passionate about his work and had perhaps found a like mind in Hakai? It was interesting, but she didn't know how she could help him much.

'I see' she sipped on her drink again 'well, as I said I've only known him just over a week now' she nibbled on some of the entrée. 'And I had no idea he was interested in science. If you like, I could ask him to contact you, as we go to the same school?'

'N – no, no that won't be necessary' Akihiro brushed his hair back from his face, not knowing how to move forward.

'My father owns a prestigious hospital in Tokyo' Akihiro tried a different tack. 'Does Hakai seem above his year level academically? Our family hospital offers scholarships to promising students to begin their study early on to become doctors'

Rin looked with even more interest at her dinner partner, wondering why he was directing these questions at her?

'From what I know' Rin furrowed her brow to try and gather a reasonable answer for the young scientist 'he does seem to have an interesting view on things' she used the descriptor 'interesting' in a way that signified 'strange' rather than lending a good meaning to Hakai's views.
'To be honest, having had a few conversation with Hakai, his mindset seems – how would you say – almost - archaic'

Akihiro's eyes immediately drilled Rin's gaze; his dark eyes narrowed.

'Archaic? In what sense?' He sounded just a bit too invested, and Rin seemed like a kitten treading unawares around a discussion she did not understand.

'W-well' she stuttered, feeling a sense of discomfort 'his father is an army general, and Hakai often speaks of bloodshed; he seems to be a fan of war – he doesn't understand peace, or seem to like humans as a whole – he is not easy to get along with; proud and aloof' Rin watched as Akihiro's face seemed to drain of all colour.
'Um, Akihiro-kun, are you ok?' Rin's hand grasped his across the table, as he really seemed unwell all of a sudden.

'No, I am fine' he said in a weak voice 'it's just, this wine is sitting ill on my empty stomach' he achieved a wan smile.
The description Rin had just given him sounded exactly like characteristics attributed to the ancient spirits known as demons. So now he not only had the DNA sample (that unfortunately he could not show anyone else) but a first-hand account of Hakai's personality.
Bloodthirsty.
Human hating.
A demon was both these things.
But he couldn't just blurt out to the cute girl in front of him that he believed her classmate to be an incorporeal monster – not without secured proof. He needed another hair, or saliva sample, then capture an image of the live DNA.
How was he to do that? How could he approach the creature again with such knowledge of his true nature and not run from sheer fright?
Akihiro had no idea what sort of powers the being might have – if any. He wanted to know why such an ancient force was embodied in this time and place, why he seemed to want this human girl.
For a sacrifice? Perhaps demons really did eat the souls of virgins to satiate their power?

He tried admirably to right himself.

'Forgive me' he bowed 'it's been a long day!'

'It's ok' Rin said dubiously 'may I ask you, why do you want to know about Hakai so much, aside from the scholarly interest?'

'Oh, it's just that father wishes to know the character of those I recommend to him as scholarship candidates'

'I see' Rin began eating the main course that had been delivered to their table. 'And would Hakai fit the mould?'

'He may do. Sometimes being emotionally detached is best for a researcher, as they don't get their hopes up for break throughs and sink in to an irreparable depression when their investigation comes to a dead end'

'That makes sense' Rin nodded 'well, Hakai would be your person if you are after someone with a lack of empathy' her tone was slightly sour.

Akihiro dearly wished to know more; his mind was so flooded with questions that he barely knew how he was to focus on eating his dinner. To have been in the presence of a spiritual power beyond human comprehension last night haunted him, to think he had spoken so coldly to 'it' as well after Rin had left.
He wanted to study the being further; to watch its behaviours and habits. No wonder the thing had a name denoting 'Destruction'!

'I was wondering, Rin-san, if you would be open to me picking you up after school tomorrow? I would love to show you the lab I work in'

Rin finished her mouthful of food, wondering why this man seemed so clingy.
'I would love to, but I must work on an assignment! How about I visit you at your lab on the weekend?'

'That would be great' Akihiro smiled. 'Feel free to bring your friends as well, even Hakai – with his keen mind I'm sure he'd find the university resources stimulating'

What was with this focus on Hakai, for goodness sakes? Was Akihiro closeted gay and really wanted to be speaking with him as his date rather than her? She wouldn't be surprised, for Hakai had the sort of looks to make anyone feel weak at the knees, but if that was the case, she wished Akihiro would be honest about it instead of leading her on.

'That sounds good' she replied, partly forcing a smile.
'So, how often does your father hand out these scholarships?'

'Every three years' he answered – Rin noticed that his food was going largely untouched. 'Tokyo hospital is one of the most prestigious in the world. If someone is offered an internship there, they must be excellent indeed'

'Wow' Rin exclaimed, glad to be steering the conversation in a different direction. 'And do you want to work with your father once you've graduated?'

The boy smiled 'Maybe. I think I'll start there, as it's already a confirmed position for me. Then I will probably move to another country'

'Oh? Where would you go?'

Akihiro's thoughts were barely on this discussion, despite the loveliness of his dinner partner. He was keenly picturing Hakai's face and movements, his words and expressions – trying to tell himself that those were the traits of a demon – the eyes and voice of a demon! It was incredible and grotesquely fascinating.

'Probably America' he answered 'somewhere like New York'

'Yes, that would be amazing to visit. I don't know if I'd prefer Europe, if I was to move however' Rin mused. 'I like the cold weather'

'Do you? It makes me uncomfortable' Akihiro smiled 'I'd spend way too much money on the energy bill'

'True' Rin laughed 'it can get expensive. But there's nothing better than curling up on the couch with a hot drink and a blanket, watching a good show'

'It's nice in theory' Akihiro agreed off-handedly.

They continued chatting in this casual manner until the dinner was finished, and Rin felt rather slighted at the conclusion of the evening. Her new friend had seemed the most interested in their discussion at the start, when talking about Hakai.

'Let me know when you'd like to meet again' Akihiro bowed to Rin as they parted, and Rin nodded before turning away, making her way through the dispersing night crowd to get to her bus stop.

It was highly understandable from Rin's viewpoint for her to be frustrated with the evening – it had not gone as she had expected. She had hoped to talk more about each other – not the damned invisible third wheel of Hakai that seemed to occur in every situation she was in since the blasted guy had shown up to her school.

On Akihiro's behalf, he was slightly upset that his interest in a new girl had coincided with such an earth-shattering discovery.
But he was first and foremost a scientist, and despite the lures of a pretty face, he was far more bent on the obsession of a hitherto un-researched life form. What would it mean for the world if he could capture and dissect such a being?
What could it do for human advancement and technology?
Their powers of morphing and shape shifting were surely merely just the start of what this could offer to science.
Of course, demons were littered in stories within literature and mythology – but as far as he knew, apart from detailed descriptors of the beings, they had not been studied with methodical precision.
He began to read any book he could find on the monsters as soon as he got home, early in to the morning.
The definitions and accounts varied widely.

From denizens of hell, carrying out tortures and torments to doomed souls in medieval European folklore, to the original Greek meaning of Daimon – that of a divine spirit who even directly inspired the writings of Socrates, sources of light and great knowledge.
There were so many layers and levels of demon, from the lowest mindless vermin who possessed filthy farm animals, to the highest arch-demon and Royal demons of immense age, power and intelligence.
These were the ones worshipped as God's – credited for bringing the elements to humanity, teaching them metallurgy, the art of agriculture, the use of herbs and flora for magical pursuits and spells – how to mine iron ore and trade in currency – how to harness the power of fire for the glorious advancement of the mortal world.
These Gods were sacrificed to and followed by almost every ancient pagan society on earth.

Akihiro felt certain this Hakai must be one of the lower demon forms, for he appeared very human; surely a high-ranking demon would be fearsome to behold and though he'd been beautiful, he was by no means terrifying.
So, a human could control these lower demons with religious artefacts and Latin words, perhaps even just the name of the Judeo-Christian God?
It was worth a shot.

~!~!~!~!

Rin felt very tired after her long day at school and having travelled in to the city for a strange meeting with Akihiro. There was no way she could call it a date.

'How'd it go?'

Rin's phone buzzed with a messaged from Ayami, making her smile with real warmth for the first time that night.

'It was ok. He wanted to know a hell of a lot about Hakai, which was very weird'

'Oh? That is very weird. Why's that?'

'He said something about being likeminded. I don't know, I think he's probably just gay'

Ayami sent a laughing emoji in return and then said:

'Well I don't blame him. I'd like a date with Hakai-kun myself'

'Why don't you ask him out? I can even put the idea in his head while we do this damn assignment together'

'Oh would you?'

'Of course, anything for Aya-chan' Rin was smiling as she chatted with her friend on messenger, but she wasn't really watching where she was going – and bumped in to someone as she was typing.

'Oh God, sorry!'

'Close but not quite' came the person's deep reply and Rin looked up as soon as she stepped backwards to see none other than the subject of her conversation with both Akihiro and Ayami.

Rin had the wry thought that she wouldn't be surprised if her thoughts had manifested the pesky guy, as she'd been forced to talk about him so much with everyone.

'Oh – you'

'You sound extremely disappointed' was his cool rejoinder, and Rin faintly blushed.

He looked as though he'd been on a long run or something – his hair was spikier than usual, swept across his handsome face, and his Adam's apple seemed quite pronounced. He wore jeans and a black hoodie that contrasted with his pale skin and white hair, that almost seemed like a halo. Rin wished she could honestly disagree with everyone and find him unappealing – but the sad truth was that she did find him almost painfully attractive. Even his silken tone of voice made her ears turn red.

'I didn't mean – '

'But you did' he cut her off. 'Where are you going?'

Sesshomaru looked her up and down, she seemed as though she was dressed up – not quite as much as she had been last night, but nearly. Her pretty hair fell around her shoulders and she seemed rather meek in comparison to her usual self; she was refusing to meet his gaze.
He had just left his modelling agency and had been on his way to ensure she was safe during night time.

'I – ' Rin tried to think of a lie, but ended with 'Just home'

'I am too, as it happens' he murmured. 'Do you mind if I join you?'

Rin would've stamped her foot in frustration if she could've – it should've been Akihiro walking her to the bus stop, not this person.

She inclined her head in permission and he fell in step besides her, his hands in his hoodie pockets. Rin found his elbows too close to her, and as the crowd pressed in on them, she was jabbed by the pointy appendages a few times.

'At another mixer?' Hakai raised a brow down at her.

'No' Rin dearly did not want to discuss her evening with Hakai – she didn't want to even see him; she'd talked enough about the nuisance of a man as it was; - not to mention, the tiredness behind her eyes made her an even more unwilling conversationalist.

Sesshomaru wondered about her moods; earlier today she had seemed to chatty towards him, and now she was cold as ice. He could hardly make her out, but it made him even more fascinated by her.

Rin thought the best thing she could talk about in order to stop him from asking personal questions was Ayami, and her plan to plant a seed in his mind regarding her lovely friend.
Perhaps, she could kill two birds with one stone regarding Akihiro as well?
Despite how wobbly Hakai's physicality made her, she was in no way bashful about speaking her mind to him in certain senses.

'Hakai-kun, I was wondering if you be against a proposition I have?'

Now what was the unearthly minx asking him for Kami's sake? Her tone was so timid that he wanted to kiss her – that would be his proposition.

'It depends what it is' he replied in a brusque fashion, trying to calm his more heated thoughts.

'Would you – go on a double date with me?'

The Demon Lord almost stopped dead in his tracks to turn and stare at the little woman. Instead, both his finely shaped dark brows disappeared under his moonlit bangs in surprise, and he kept his pace even.

'What?'

Rin blushed at his harsh monosyllabic reply.

'I – I know it seems a bit forward, but I've just seen Akihiro-kun, and even he suggested it.' She half-lied, but it was close enough to the truth.
'If you could, would you be interested in bringing Ayami meet Akihiro-kun and I for dinner this weekend?'

Of course, she had not meant for herself to go out with him. Sesshomaru clenched his jaw in annoyance at his own precipitous assumption.
So despite his warning, the weaselly little college squirt had decided to step in to his territory after all. He was certain the scientist knew his own true nature by now… the kid was playing with more than fire.
Perhaps, this would at least provide some entertainment to the Demon's painfully bored mind.

'Alright' he answered Rin's request with a slightly evil tone 'I agree'

Rin's eyes flew to his in astonishment, she had absolutely not expected the unpleasant man to oblige her.

'You do?' She blinked her eyes up at him.

She sounded so amazed that he nearly laughed. If only she knew his real reasons for agreeing so easily to her foolish invitation.

'Of course.' By now, they had reached the bus stop and Hakai motioned for Rin to go ahead of him on to the vehicle.

For an 8pm ride, it was still quite packed with night workers and Rin found herself seated in a window seat with her tall class mate next to her; it was too reminiscent of last night for her liking.

'Thank you for agreeing' she murmured, yawning. 'I didn't think you'd want to'

Sesshomaru's veiled hazel eyes slanted down at her. 'Why?' he asked simply.

Rin leaned against the window, hoping to maintain as much distance as possible between herself and his hard thigh.

'Oh – I don't know – your proud unbending nature, maybe' Rin was sounding more and more sleepy and Sesshomaru's lips twitched at her limp insult. It was almost like she was too exhausted to be angry at him and now she was merely reverting to an auto pilot form of rudeness.

'I see'

The bus's steady motion and the hum of the engine combined with the warmth of so many bodies in one tight space caused Rin's tiredness to overtake her. One moment, she'd been looking out of the window at the dark skies, and the next she was dreaming.

Sesshomaru watched as Rin's eyes fluttered shut, and he heard her breathing become deep and steady. The bus jolted over a pot hole and Rin shifted in her sleep, and without hesitation her pretty head rested on his upper arm.

The Demon Lord's eyes widened slightly, and he seemed to be transfixed by her face leaning so comfortably against him, her body relaxing in to his side. This was almost like when he'd flown with her in his arms – but this was a time when he didn't have to hide his identity.

Her round soft breast pressed against his elbow, and Sesshomaru became aroused by her warm luscious body. Curses on the Kami who made human women so appealing!

The bus pulled in at a stop to allow an older couple off. The lady bent down to the Demon and patted him on the shoulder softly.

'You are a very lovely couple' she said sweetly to him, and Sesshomaru dubiously inclined his head slightly at the woman.

No one on this bus knew what he wanted to do to this girl sleeping against him; how he wanted to make her swallow her insults towards him – pushed down by his tongue plunging down her throat as he took her from behind.

By the time they reached the home stop, Rin was still fast asleep. There seemed to be nothing for it but to pick the woman up, or the bus would go to the depot with them.

For a Demon even limited by human form it was an easy matter to bend down and lift Rin's dead weight from the seat.

Her head nestled against his chest and he could hear her steady heartbeat, feel it against his own chest.

His golden eyes saw how sweet her face was when she wasn't scowling at him angrily; she seemed almost angelic.
How could such a small, lovely thing be a filthy human? It seemed entirely incongruous.
So distracted by having Rin in his arms flush against his chest, Sesshomaru barely noticed the shadow creatures that emerged from the darkness to trail them. It was well they did not attack for fear of the Demon, or he might've been confronted unawares; and instead the parasitic vermin merely followed them from the safety of the dark pools of night cast by surrounding trees and buildings.

Rin was dreaming of being back in the arms of her spirit guardian again, and the presence was rocking her back in forth in his arms, sending her in to an even deeper rest. He smelt wonderful, and she could even hear his heart beat as her head rested against his chest in her subconscious. It was a wonderful sensation; one that warmed and enfolded her.

Mrs Urihara was still awake at the hour of 9pm when there was a knock at the door.
Usually Rin never knocked as she always had her own house key on her; this caused the older lady to look through the peep hole to see who it could be at such an hour.
In the limited view finder, Rin's mothers' eyes turned round as saucers; she saw a tall male carrying her precious daughter bridal style.
As though suddenly endowed with the reflexes of a samurai warrior, Mrs Urihara flung open the door in shock and beheld the most coldly beautiful man she'd ever set eyes on, holding her seemingly unconscious daughter in his arms.

'Excuse me, are you Rin's mother?' Sesshomaru finally saw the woman he'd heard speak so often, but not seen.

'Y-yes' she replied with a ghost of her own voice, remembering to stand aside to let the vision of aesthetic perfection in to their small home.

'What's happened to her?' Her motherly instincts took over the initial shock and she hovered like an anxious bee around Sesshomaru as he went to lay Rin on the couch.

'She's just asleep' he replied 'excuse the intrusion'

'A-asleep? How, what?' Poor Okasan was a complete mess at having such a princely presence in her house.

Sesshomaru breathed in and raised a slightly annoyed brow at the mother of the girl he coveted.

'I ran in to her in the city and we were taking the same bus home, where she fell asleep. There was no waking her, so I took her home'

Mrs Urihara found his voice to be hypnotic and she peered up in to his gold flecked eyes, noting his white hair.

'You wouldn't, by any chance, be the new student?'

He didn't reply, rather allowing his silence to be an answer.

'Rin has talked about you' the older lady mentioned, in a way that made Sesshomaru believe that it was not in a necessarily good way.

'She was right about the looks part' Okasan muttered as she shuffled towards the kitchen. 'Would you like tea?'

'No, thank you, I should leave'

'No, by all means, you've done me a favour by making sure my daughter returned home safely!'

You have no idea. Sesshomaru thought darkly.

'So how did you know where Rin lives?'

'She told me' he replied effortlessly.

'Oh! I'm surprised, she didn't seem too keen on you' Okasan wasn't shy in saying the truth.

This was obviously where Rin inherited her bluntness from; the Demon smirked, glancing at the insensible girl resting on the couch.

'She isn't' he assented distantly.

'So, what made you come to our little town away from the big city?' Mrs Urihara asked him, motioning to a chair.

Sesshomaru wanted dearly to leave this place and get away from the home where the girl he desired lived; apart from it being strangely claustrophobic, her mother was asking him questions that would soon land him in trouble.

'I move around a lot' he dodged.

'Ah' Mrs Urihara shot him a piercing glance. 'I've seen you somewhere before' she remarked, as the kettle whistled in the background.
Sesshomaru merely held her gaze, waiting in a somewhat tense silence for what Rin's mother was going to pin him with next.

'You're in an advertisement or something aren't you?' Okasan pointed her finger in confirmation, nodding to herself.

'I am in a few' he let out a small breath, hoping to leave by edging toward the door.

Mrs Urihara beckoned him to the kitchen seating again. 'Sit, sit' she insisted.

'I don't wish to wake your daughter' he protested, hoping his harsh tone would put the woman off – but she almost seemed as stubborn as his own mother.

'Don't be silly, Rin sleeps like a dead person'

The Demon Lord hesitatingly sat down, his long legs bending a little high on the low seats.

'To think someone so handsome carried my daughter home' Mrs Urihara giggled to herself, placing cups in saucers 'Do you get your looks from your father? Is he single?'

Sesshomaru could've choked on his own breath, imagining Inutaisho hearing a human ask such a question.

'Ah – no, he is not' the Yokai Prince briefly pictured his powerful Demon father lounging in a celestial palace with Izayoi, eyeing Rin's mother with misgiving.
He wished her mother's keenness could be transferred to the daughter, then he'd not have such a hard time.

'Of course he isn't single' Mrs Urihara laughed 'I'm just joking with you, young man' she waved a hand, still laughing, making the Demon increasingly uncomfortable.
Was this how Rin felt in front of his own mother, by all the Kami's?

'Rin's been very worried about me, but I don't want her to be' Okasan seemed to dart off on an entirely different tangent, and Sesshomaru's eyes watched the older lady from the corner of his vision.
'Of course it's difficult when her brother and father live so far away. She wants to see them, especially Shippo, but they probably don't have the funds to come here. That's why my daughter's working to earn some money. Not just to help me, but to see her brother'

The Demon remained silent.

'Kohaku has been a very good friend to her, and I believe a good substitute for her brother – but she still misses him so much. So, I really do thank you for your kind gesture of bringing her home – it's no wonder she is so exhausted with all the pressure'

His golden eyes observed Rin's sleeping form.

'You aren't well yourself' Sesshomaru spoke in a low voice, still watching the resting girl.

'Sorry?' Mrs Urihara had stopped her pottering to look with slight shock at her unusual guest.

He did not repeat himself, and the older lady laughed with slight nervousness, wiping her hands on a tea towel.

'I don't know what Rin has told you, but she's wrong. I just get bad headaches, that's all'

The Demon finally turned his eyes to the older woman, catching her gaze in a look so perceptive that she almost fell backward. She looked at him in stunned silence for some moments, reading an unimaginable store of wisdom in his eyes; the older lady felt as though she was looking in to a window of Time itself.

'H – how do you know?' She whispered.

His eyes merely narrowed in a slight knowing smile.

'If you don't tell her, she'll only be angry' he warned nonchalantly.

Mrs Urihara raised a hand to her forehead.

'I don't want her worrying more than she is' the lady whispered, still transfixed by her guest's piercing gaze.

'Foolish' was all he muttered under his breath, standing.

'I must leave' he remarked, turning towards the door.

'Wait!' Mrs Urihara rushed toward him, grasping his forearm. 'Please, I'll tell her.' She held his gaze. 'But, how did you know, if Rin didn't tell you?'

Sesshomaru looked in her eyes a few moments more before turning and leaving without a word.