(Divider)
Rin let out a soft sigh as her eyes fluttered open at the start of a new day. She felt fully rested and ready for the work ahead of her. This would be her first day on the job as head chef. She almost squealed out loud in delight at the idea. Her life long dream had finally come true!
Instead of jumping out of bed and prancing around like a kid who just found twenty dollars, Rin slowly climbed out of bed before sluggishly tugging on a pair of jeans. She grabbed for a plain white T-shirt that she kept in her dresser drawer, and quickly put in on before fluffing out her dark wavy locks.
One good thing about working as the head chef meant that she could go to work in whatever she wanted. Since no one but the employees would see her in the kitchen, there was no need for her to dress up.
She would've been pleased with her somewhat put together look if she hadn't found Sesshomaru in her kitchen looking as good as any front page magazine model would.
He had on a one piece black suit with matching leather shoes and a silver tie. The darkness of the suit brought out his fair skin, as well as his rather hypnotic auric eyes. No, Rin no! Her mind screamed at her as she mentally shook her fan girl self back into gear. She would not fall for Sesshomaru's good looks again. They were supposed to remain friends. Or, more like well known acquaintances.
"Good morning," she beamed, as if completely forgetting about the fact that they had almost made out on her couch the night before. It was all part of her plan to keep their relationship on a friendship basis for the remainder of the week. Afterward the facade wouldn't be so hard to keep up when they lived in two different places.
"Why would you wear that on your first day?" he asked her while taking in her appearance with a slight smirk. Oh, so he finds my outfit funny does he? Rin thought as she sent him a slight glare.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" she asked back defensively. Just because a flashy suit materialized on his body didn't make him the fashion police all of the sudden. His smirk widened slightly as his eyes traveled down from her face to her chest.
"It leaves little to the imagination," he merely replied. Rin glanced down at her shirt only to let out an embarrassed gasp to see that she had on a black bra that really did leave little to the imagination. She had to have slept in her sexiest bra too!
Well, I was half expecting to go back to Kohaku's place last night, Rin thought dryly, knowing that those thoughts had been completely unmoral related. What was a lonely girl supposed to do? Act like little miss innocent?
Rin hurriedly crossed her arms over her chest to hide her apparent peep show while holding in the need to cry out a second time in embarrassment. I feel like such a sleaze ball, Rin thought angrily, it almost looks like I'm coming onto him, instead of the other way around.
"I'm just gonna go change now," she muttered while hurrying away to her room to grab a more suitable shirt. Feeling like she should dress a little more formally, Rin settled on a red blouse that she had hoped to wear for a special occasion. She supposed she could dress up for her chef position this once.
After changing shirts, Rin re-entered the kitchen (after checking herself out in the mirror, twice) with a big grin and two long strands of her hair pulled back by a red ribbon.
"Does this look better?" she asked, giving her guest a quick twirl before landing gracefully back on her two feet. Sesshomaru gave her a once over before turning those golden eyes away, but Rin hadn't missed the approval that had shined in his eyes.
"I'll only be gone for a short while today," she informed him while reaching for her wallet and keys that were on the kitchen counter, "so I'll be making dinner tonight," she added with a smile before giving him a friendly wave goodbye.
After she shut the door, Rin let out a large breath she had been holding before resting against the door. To think, she had actually needed to fake being the way she had been since Sesshomaru's arrival. Why now did something that came to her so naturally feel so...unnatural?
"Oh well, can't dwell on it now," she murmured to herself, "I'll figure it out when I get back,"
(Divider)
Sesshomaru watched Rin leave before glancing back at the suitcase that sat idly in the corner of her living room. Rin hadn't asked about his suit, or even noticed the suitcase at all. Was she that absent-minded to her surroundings?
"A pretty girl, but quite foolish," Sesshomaru stated while propping up on the chair he had been sitting on since the sun had come up. He knew that whatever forces had been in play since he met Rin were watching him now, and had to know that he was fully healed. So, why was nothing happening? No messengers had arrived at Rin's doorstep, and no mind messages had been sent to him either. Had they left him for good?
No, he thought, that'd make things too easy.
As far as he knew, the mission was still on. Which meant that he still needed to take Rin's life. The thought slightly bothered him, a development that seemed to have almost suddenly arisen in him. Since when had he cared for anyone other than himself?
It had to be the condition he was in, it was the only reasonable explanation. He would not go as far as to say that he had developed feelings for the girl. She was nothing to him, merely a pawn in a vengeful man's scheme, not to mention the only thing standing in his way to getting all of his power back.
As far as I am concerned, she is my enemy, he thought as his golden irises took over his eyes and turned his round pupils into small slits. He erased all the feelings he had felt resonating in his chest at the thought of Rin, letting his predatory instincts take over. He would get the girl eventually, now all there was left to do was wait.
(Divider)
Rin pulled into a parking spot at the back of the restaurant and cut off the engine of her car before climbing out. She glanced at the spot she parked in with glee, she was now able to officially park in the chef section (not that she hadn't been parking there before on the sly). She stood there, admiring her good fortune, before she was tapped lightly on the shoulder.
When she turned to her right, she spotted one of the waitresses standing there in her uniform. Rin recognized her instantly. She was Marie, a good friend of hers that had been hired around the same time Rin had. She gave her friend a warm smile in greeting.
"Oh Rin! I heard about your promotion, congrats!" the girl giggled, her dark haired pigtails bouncing on the sides of her head with each giggle, "there's also been gossip buzzing around that you have a man living at your place! Is that true?"
"Well yeah, but it's only temporary," Rin answered with a shy laugh, "wait a minute, since when do you know that I have a guy staying at my place?" she asked in surprise.
"Kohaku was here earlier asking for you, but I told him that your shift didn't start for another hour. He seemed pretty bummed out, not to mention he muttered something along the lines of that girl's probably sleeping around with the guy she's taking care of. Me, ever being the curious one, had to ask what he was talking about, so he told me. Poor guy looked so jealous the entire time," Marie swooned, "if Kohaku were my man, I'd keep him around all the time,"
"If you know the whole story, then why are you asking me?" Rin asked in slight confusion.
"To make sure Kohaku isn't going around telling lies about my favorite girl," Marie replied, almost as if that fact were a given.
"Yes, it's true," Rin sighed, figuring that nothing could get past Marie for very long, "I found him injured on the side of a road one night and took him to the hospital. The nurse mistook me for a friend of his and told me that I should watch over him. I panicked, and just accepted without really thinking about it first. A fact I really regret now since he kissed me last night and now I don't even know what our relationship is anymore," Rin explained,
"Wait just a minute! He kissed you?" Marie asked out loud in surprise, "why I outta go over there right now and show that low life that no one takes advantage of my friends!"
"You got it all wrong, Marie," Rin hurriedly replied, "it wasn't like I didn't want it," she added before she could stop herself. She let out a surprised gasp at her own words before her cheeks blushed a bright shade of pink.
"Oh, so you liked it, huh? Well that changes everything," Marie practically purred in delight, "now I gotta see this man of yours that's got my Rin all bashful," she teased.
"No you don't," Rin answered with an awkward giggle, somewhat fearing this overexcited Marie she was staring at, "let's just forget I even brought him up," she added hopefully, but nearly toppled over when Marie gave her a wink before shaking her head.
"There's no way gossip this juicy is staying on the down low," she assured her, "if you bring in a picture of this mystery man tomorrow morning, then I'll promise to keep my mouth shut, deal?" she asked. Rin really felt like she didn't have much of a choice. What Marie said goes around their restaurant. If she wasn't spilling out stories, than no one would be. She was where everyone got all the best gossip about the hired help. Rin heaved a long sigh.
"Deal," she grumbled, "now can I please go inside? It's freezing out here!" she asked while Marie gave her a playful smile and quickly grabbed a hold of her hand.
"But of course, my dear," she giggled while dragging Rin inside with her, "that way I can tell if your blushing for real or not. Do you know that you're adorable when you blush? It's too cute!"
(Divider)
A few hours later Rin found herself standing outside of her apartment, trying her hardest not to cry. It wasn't that big of a deal, she told herself, so I messed up a customer's order, there's no need to be upset.
She kept telling herself that as she fumbled around for her keys in her jean pockets. When there were no keys to speak of, Rin panicked as she set her wallet on the ground to continually search for her keys in her pockets. Right when she was about to fall on her knees and cry, she grabbed for her wallet and checked inside. Thankfully, her keys were in there nestled between some dollar bills and store credit cards. Rin felt like celebrating right there in the middle of the hallway.
She unlocked her door quickly before calling out an "I'm home!" cheer at the entrance. When there wasn't an answer, Rin looked around only to find that Sesshomaru was no where in sight. Where had that man gone to?
One thing she did notice that seemed amiss was that there was a heavenly scent floating around her apartment. It smelled a lot like garlic and pasta sauce, two smells that always made Rin's mouth water.
She followed the scent into the kitchen to see that two places at the table were set with matching silverware and utensils. On each plate sat a large mountain of lasagna, the two pieces looking surprisingly professional.
Did Sesshomaru do all this? Rin though in wonder, and even noted that he had poured them two glasses of wine as well. She hadn't had a bottle of wine in her apartment since after the break up with Kohaku. Which meant that Sesshomaru had gone out to get those things for dinner.
"Do you like it?" a baritone voice asked from behind her. Rin let out a squeak of surprise before whirling her head around to see Sesshomaru standing behind her, his larger frame bent forward slightly so he could comfortably place his lips next to her ear.
"It – It's wonderful," Rin stammered with a blush as she hurried to put distance between them. For keeping their relationship at a friendship level, Sesshomaru was making things very difficult.
His brows furrowed forward as he studied her for a moment. Rin though that he had reacted because of her action, but was surprised when he spoke.
"You're upset," he merely said, his gaze so powerful as he studied her that Rin had to hastily look away to keep from outright sobbing in front of him.
"It's nothing," she reassured him weakly, "just a bad day at work is all,"
"Come," he stated as he rested one hand on her back while the other pulled out a chair for her at the table, "sit," he added when Rin just stood there, ogling him like a love-struck school girl. She blushed slightly before sitting down on the chair provided her for, which was gently pushed in towards the table. Sesshomaru made his way around to the other side as he sat down as well before their gazes locked once more.
"If you do not wish to speak of what happened at work, then I will not pry," he informed her suddenly, "but if it bothers you enough, I'm here to listen," he invited.
"Thanks, but it really wasn't anything major," Rin replied with another weak laugh, "it was just a silly mess up in the kitchen. I read the food order wrong and gave the customer the wrong dish, nothing too drastic. If only the manager hadn't gotten so mad...or the customer hadn't yelled out that I wasn't competent enough to read a stop sign. But I can read! And I told him that too! I don't even know why I'm going on like this about it, it's best to just forget about it,"
"If that's what you desire, than it shall be done," Sesshomaru replied with a slight flick of his hand, "and it will never be spoken of again,"
"Thanks," Rin replied, her shoulders relaxing after telling someone about her small episode at work. She felt better now that her bottled up emotions had come out. She wondered why telling Sesshomaru about her problems felt so therapeutic all of the sudden.
"Did you make all this?" Rin asked, motioning to the spread on the table.
"No, it simply appeared on your table like magic," he told her levelly. Rin blinked a couple of times before she realized that Sesshomaru had tried making a joke. A joke. The sheer thought that he would go through the all the trouble, hear her out, and try to make her feel better seemed almost too much to handle. Rin did the only thing she could do in a situation like this, she burst out laughing.
She didn't know why she did, or if Sesshomaru's joke was really all that funny, but she felt so good in that moment. It just felt right to be doing all of these things with Sesshomaru, as if they had done it all before.
"Do you find me funny?" Sesshomaru asked, as if baffled by the idea. Rin only laughed harder in response.
"I'm sorry," she apologized between breathes, "but it feels so good to laugh," she added before holding onto her sides as her laughter came spilling out of her mouth.
"I do hope you plan on eating soon," he pointed out when Rin nearly toppled over her chair after a near collapse from the lack of air to her lungs. Rin gave him a slow nod before wiping away the stray tear at the corner of her eye before grabbing for a fork.
"Let's dig in!" she grinned before falling into another fit of laughter. Sesshomaru merely stared back at her idly, but Rin didn't miss the slight rolling of his eyes.
(Divider)
Rin sat in her car with the promised picture of Sesshomaru in her hand. After much persuading, Rin had ranked up enough courage to snap a quick picture of a sleeping Sesshomaru. A picture that she hoped he'd never find out about.
She had been too nervous to ask him outright for a picture, since she'd have to explain why she needed the picture. An explanation she knew wouldn't go very well. Either he'd stare at her like she was some kind of alien, or get down right agitated with her. Not wanting either response from him, she merely sneaked out during the middle of the night to take the picture.
Staring at it now, Rin kind of wanted to keep it for herself. Even in sleep Sesshomaru looked too beautiful to be real. Having this picture also reminded Rin that he wasn't just a fragment of her imagination either.
"Being as beautiful as he is, I wouldn't put it past me to imagine someone like him to keep the loneliness away," Rin muttered to herself. She glanced out at the back entrance to the restaurant, and within seconds saw Marie running towards her.
So, she didn't forget about the picture, Rin thought with a heaved sigh. And here she had thought the Queen of gossip would have spared her. Sigh.
"Hurry up, Rin! I want to see this man of yours!" she squealed through the car window once she made it to Rin's car. Rin gave her a sheepish smile before killing the ignition and getting out of her car. She handed Marie the picture while turning around to lock her car door.
"Oh! He's even more handsome than I imagined! It's too bad you couldn't get a picture of him awake though," Marie pouted before her expression brightened when Rin turned back around to face her, "but I bet he's got super sexy bedroom eyes, doesn't he?" she asked in glee, with which Rin only shrugged.
"I guess," she replied.
"You guess?" Marie asked while resting her hands on her hips, "is that anyway to talk about your man? You should be telling the whole world about this hunkster you got camping out at your place!" she insisted.
"But he isn't mine," Rin assured her.
"That's nonsense Rin, and you know it! If this guy had any other women, they'd be scouting the streets for him right now," Marie said, "and if he were my man, I'd keep him chained up in my bedroom," she added with a wriggle of her brows as Rin let out a laugh.
"Knowing you, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a man chained to your bedpost," Rin teased as Marie swatted playfully at her friend.
"You're too much sometimes Rin. If only I could convince you how great you really are, than maybe you'd be as confident as some of these fools are who work here. You should see Haru! He walks around the restaurant like he owns the place! And he's just a bell boy! Oh, and Kimi, now she's a girl with a little too much attitude..." Marie continued with her gossip all the way into the kitchen. Rin merely shook her head at her friend, but listened intently. She couldn't deny herself the guilty pleasure of listening to at least a little gossip.
(Divider)