Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha anddd I don't make a profit from this story.

-This chapter is kind of short (sorry!)

Sesshomaru opened his eyes slowly, feeling well rested but slightly confused. Where was he and how did he get here?

"Oh good, you're awake" InuTaisho said.

Sesshomaru sat up slightly, taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in one of his fathers guest bedrooms.

"What happened?" he asked. He remembered seeing Rin at the restaurant, his father dressed ridiculously, and Bankotsu placing his hand on Rin's waist. He grew instantly angry.

'How dare he touch what is mine'

But what happened after that? He remembered trying to follow her, but nothing after that.

"Dad drugged you cus you were about to kill that guy. You've been knocked out since yesterday." Inuyasha said from across the room.

Sesshomaru looked at the clock located on the table by the bed he was on. 9:50 p.m. So it was Saturday night?

"Where is Rin?"

"She's probably home. Listen, you didn't handle that situation very well. Remember what I told you? Just court her, don't stalk her."

"Quiet Inuyasha" InuTaisho said, frowning slightly, "After all, you and I were no better when it came to..pursuing our mates."

Inuyasha folded his arms across across his chest and turned his head away so the two demons wouldn't see him blush. "Feh, doesn't mean he should go and try to kill a human boy. I thought he was going crazy"

"Inuyasha. You of all people should know that love can cause you to sometimes act a little crazy" InuTaisho laughed, remembering some of the insane things he had done when concerning Izayoi.

Up until this point, Sesshomaru had been ignoring their rambling.

"Love?" he said more to himself than his father. Love was something he always considered to be a useless emotion. Something he never intended on experiencing.

"Yes, I've found that love indeed makes you do crazy things, insane things actually. In a way, it's like you lose yourself, you have no power over yourself, you can't even think straight." he smiled "Although I never once imagined I would be talking about this with you Sesshomaru. I've had a hunch, but I must ask. Do you love her Sesshomaru?"

Did he love her?

Wasn't it too soon to be thinking of love? However, even if she didn't know, he had known her for years, watching her grow..

'Love..such a foolish thing.'

And yet, from the moment she had piqued his interest years ago, she'd been firmly lodged into his mind. Her beauty, her sweetness, her gentle kindness, her playfulness. He had come to admire her. He often felt a strong need to protect her from anyone or anything that dared to even think of harming her in any way. He could still feel her, the warmth of her skin as if it was only moments ago that he had touched her. The thought that someone else would hold her close filled him with rage. She was his, only his.

And...he was hers.

"I think I do" he said slowly, quietly. He said it so quietly in fact, that both InuTaisho and Inuyasha weren't sure if they had really heard it.

Looking at both of them now, Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, "Hn. It is none of your concern."

He stood up from the bed and walked out.

Rin grabbed her blanket and wrapped it tightly around her as she watched the young woman on tv search her house because of a noise she heard.

Trying to turn on the hallway switch, the woman cursed when she noticed the electricity was out. Suddenly, a loud crashing noise came from what had to be the basement, and the young woman slowly and nervously started walking down the dark hallway and toward the noise.

"Ohmygosh don't go down there, call the cops" Rin whispered as she stuffed a handful of popcorn in her mouth. Suspenseful music filled her ears as she watched the young woman slowly walk down the steps with a small flashlight in her hand. The music was slowly getting louder and Rin placed her now empty popcorn bag on the floor before covering half her face as she watched.

Once at the bottom of the stairs, the woman looked around slowly, trying to listen for any noises. After searching for a moment, she berated herself for being so nervous. Turning around to go back upstairs, the light shown upon a man with a knife. She dropped the flashlight and screamed just as-

'THUD, THUD'

Rin let out a squeak and jumped up, falling off the couch and landing painfully on her side. 'Who would be here at this time?' she thought, slightly irritated.

Muting the tv, she slowly made her way toward the front door. 'I just had to watch that scary movie..'

Before opening the door, she nervously peeked out her living room window to try and see who it was. A figure she was sure she recognized, stood in the rain outside her door.

Rushing over to her door, she unlocked it and swung it open, "What are you doing here?"

"You will accompany me on a date tomorrow."

How long had he been in the rain? Had he gotten some kind of sickness and was now delusional?

"Sesshomaru, go home, you're going to get sick" she said worriedly.

"Is that a yes for tomorrow then?" he asked.

"No" she said firmly. Why was he making this so hard? "Now go home!"

She quickly closed the door and locked it. 'He won't stay there, he'll definitely go home'

What had gotten into him all of a sudden? Sighing, she walked into the living room to turn off the tv. Throwing out the popcorn bag, she grabbed her blanket and headed upstairs to her room.

Sesshomaru walked to the side of Rins house, smirking when he saw her balcony. How convenient. Leaping up, he landed on the railing.

Rin threw her blanket on her bed. Not at all tired at the moment, she decided to take a shower. Grabbing the hem of her shirt, she was about to pull it up when she heard another knock.

Why did it sound so close?

Slowly turning, startled brown eyes met amused golden eyes.

Rin tried to give him the dirtiest look she could muster, but it came out as a pout and Sesshomaru fought the twitching of the corner of his lips, knowing if he smiled she would most likely grow more irritated.

Stomping over to the door of her balcony, Rin unlocked it and slid it open. "What is wrong with you!?"

"I refuse to leave until you agree to join me for dinner tomorrow" he said simply. He would not take no for an answer.

Rin groaned in exasperation. In the back of her mind she knew he truly would not leave unless she agreed. Why did he have to be so difficult? "If I say yes, you'll leave?"

He nodded.

"Fine. One date" she said. 'Its only dinner..that's it. Nothing more after that.'

Sesshomaru smirked and slowly leaned forward, closer to her face.

Without realizing it, her eyes fluttered shut. Her heart hammered in her chest as she felt his warm breath against her lips. Sesshomaru's smirk formed into a soft smile; one no one else would witness, as he gazed upon her face. Leaning forward so his lips were next to her ear, he whispered softly, "I look forward to tomorrow, Rin"

Rin couldn't say anything, her throat felt constricted and she felt a mixture of both excitement and nervousness flow through her entire body.

"I will pick you up tomorrow at six."

He sounded further from her now. She slowly opened her eyes and saw that he was already gone. Placing a hand over her still hammering heart, she hoped she could at least get through tomorrow's date and then get on with her life without having any more of these feelings.

(Sunday Morning)

Sesshomaru impatiently paced back and forth in his room, waiting for his half brother to pick up the phone.

A groggy and irritated voice answered, "What the hell do you want?"

"You will inform me what human females enjoy on these..dates. I have asked Rin to dinner for today." He didn't like that he had to rely on his half brother. But he did have experience in this sort of thing, and Sesshomaru wanted Rin to fully enjoy their time together tonight.

"Seriously!?" came the loud and excited voice of Inuyasha's mate. "That's great! We'll be over in a minute!" she exclaimed. He heard Inuyasha start to voice a complaint before she hung up.

Sesshomaru rubbed his temples. He didn't want them to come over, he only needed quick advice.

o~O~o

"Hi Sesshomaru!" Kagome said happily, standing on his front porch. Inuyasha stood behind her, seeming moody.

Sesshomaru said nothing as he stepped aside to allow them in. Kagome immediately walked over to the kitchen and leaned against the counter while Inuyasha rummaged through the refrigerator, looking for something to eat.

"So where are you taking her?" Kagome asked.

"Odaiba. I thought perhaps after eating at Hibiki, I could take her to shop for something that pleases her." He had thought almost all night about where he would take her. This date would be much better than the one she had with Bankotsu. He would make sure of it.

"I'm sure she'd love that" she assured. "If only someone" she looked over at Inuyasha, "would have the same idea."

Inuyasha seemed oblivious to whatever Kagome was saying, he was too absorbed in eating the steak Jaken had prepared just yesterday.

"Anyway, what do you plan on wearing?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. Surely she did not doubt that he had no idea on how to dress appropriately.

"A suit." he answered. Isn't that what men wore on romantic dates?

"No." Kagome said firmly. Walking over to Inuyasha, she grabbed one of his ears before saying excitedly "Let's go shopping!"

Ignoring her mates complaints, she continued to pull his ear as she walked toward the front door.

Shippo looked around the park once more before grabbing his skateboard and turning to walk home.

Why was he looking for her anyways? Perhaps it was because he was lonely. Miroku was hanging out with Sango again, Inuyasha was busy again, and Rin..well he wasn't sure he was ready to see her.

In the back of his mind, he guessed he always knew she would never have any romantic feelings toward him. It was a one sided love, but still he hoped that one day, she'd see him as something more than a friend. But it was obvious that she viewed him like a brother.

"Shippo?"

He turned and saw Yumi holding a shopping bag in one hand and waving at him with the other.

Walking over toward her, he smiled "Hey, I was looking for you. I was wondering if you'd like to hang out with me today"

She smiled shyly, "Really? I'd love to, I just have to drop this off at my grandmothers house"

He took the bag from her and smiled, "No problem, I'll walk with you"

As they walked and talked, laughed and joked around, Shippo was glad she had walked up to him in the park Friday.

Shyly, and hoping she wasn't being too forward, Yumi reached out slowly and interlocked her arm with his, something he didn't mind her doing. And suddenly, he didn't feel lonely anymore.

(5:15 p.m)

Sesshomaru once again found himself standing in the flower shop.

'This time, I will give them to her myself'

There would be no mistakes this time.

"Oh, hello there" came a sickly familiar surgery sweet voice.

"I need orchids again" he said quickly.

Didn't she ever stop smiling? Didn't it hurt to smile that wide and keep it plastered on her face constantly?

"Are they for the same woman?" she asked as she got the bouquet of flowers ready.

"I have simply asked you for the flowers. I have no desire for petty conversation."

Her smile, of course, hadn't faltered in the slightest. She did, however, stay quiet and prepare the flowers more quickly.

Rin stared at the mess of clothes scattered across her bed. Picking up a random shirt, she held it in front of her and turned toward the mirror.

"Nope" she murmured, tossing the shirt into the far corner of her room.

Glaring at the mess of clothes, she wondered why she was making such a big deal out of this.

She definitely didn't take this much care in picking out an outfit for her date with Bankotsu.

"I just don't want to look like a bum" she told herself.

Looking at a dress she had pulled out, she briefly wondered if Sesshomaru would think she looked pretty in it.

Shaking her head, she once again glared at the clothes. 'Or I can just throw on a t shirt and sweatpants to show I don't care about this date'

Looking again at the dress, she picked it up and threw it onto the growing pile of discarded clothes in the corner.

"He basically gave me no choice" she muttered to herself.

Looking in the mirror again, she ran her hand through her hair wondering if she should leave it out or tie it up.

Once again looking over at her clothes, she eyed one shirt she thought would look good.

Picking it up, she once again looked at her reflection in the mirror as she put the shirt in front of her. Nodding in approval, she smiled slightly. "Maybe with a skirt.."

Sesshomaru stood in front of Rin's door, flowers in hand, as he checked his wristwatch. He was about five minutes early, but that was acceptable right?

Dressed in a plane white, slim fitted dress shirt, accompanied with a pair of jeans; both things Kagome had picked out, he fixed his collar slightly, hoping he looked ok. Never in his life had he worried about if he looked good. It was obvious in the way the females he had encountered basically flung themselves at him.

But today he was going on a date with a female who was to be his mate. A female he had just recently realized he loved.

Everything had to be perfect.

Yes, he was slightly..nervous. But he would never admit it. He knew he shouldn't rush things, but he was growing rather impatient. He wanted her, and not in just the physical way. He wanted her to trust him, be open about her feelings with him.

He wanted her to love him.

Just knowing she was attracted to him wasn't enough. Sesshomaru wanted her to want him; to crave his presence just as he craved hers. To trust him intimately and emotionally. Yes, he was impatient to claim her, but he felt that if he had to wait for her to see he wouldn't hurt her, he'd be willing to wait for as long as it took.

The outcome would be worth it.

Reaching a clawed hand out toward the doorbell, he hesitated for only a moment. The nervousness he was feeling felt as if it was gripping his heart. Pushing any negative thoughts out of his mind, a look of determination replaced his usual look of indifference.

Yes, he knew, even if he had to wait years, it would be worth it.

Simply because Rin was worth it.

Pressing the doorbell, he straightened his posture and waited for her to come to the door.