After an unprecedented email, Sesshomaru finds himself struck by the uncanny resemblance of the sender to his long-lost love. Through a series of blunders, the two folks strike an uncanny friendship and become life-long pen pals. After discovering the girl's awful living conditions, Sesshomaru proposes a quick solution to get her out, and avoid unnecessary paperwork and processing.

Fumbling with the flashdrive in her hand, Rinako sighed. Years ago, she had promised herself she would never chase happiness away. But, with the overwhelming stress of work and her atrocious roomate; Rinako barely suppressed the urge to cry.

She looked to her left, and then towards the right as tears filled her eyes. She looked down at the paper on her desk and typed in the email address listed. After uploading the contents of the flashdrive, she typed:

Good Afternoon Seita,

Here's your animation WIP that hasn't been completed.

I am very sorry to hear about your wife's hospitalization. But, Ashitaka-san has been onto me to contact you during these trying times. I finished as much as I could, but I can't cover anymore. Finish the last slides, and I will run them by boss before the deadline.

Please Seita, I'm saving you from hot water,

Rinako Tetsuhara

After sending the email, Rin allowed her tears to freely flow within the cubicle. She tried so hard but pushed herself to the max. Being an animation technician at Japan's shady Vizo!Anima had been nothing but a never-ending nightmare.

She hadn't left the office in 9 days.

9 days since a proper bath, or a decent meal, or even a nap lasting more than an hour.

All ungodly times of the day and night she was working, barely taking a break until Ashitaka slacked off. She was desperate, and finally resorted to emailing Seita with her personal email for some reprieve.

She couldn't stay another day.

Footsteps shuffled behind her, and Rin went back to sketching on her wacom tablet

Ashitaka seemingly materialized behind her.

"Rin I checked your activity log and you were inactive for 3 minutes and 34 seconds. What were you doing?"

Rin stifled the urge to jump, and calmly responded, "restroom break."

God, I hate lying. But, I have to…

"There's a rule stating restroom breaks may be no longer than 3 minutes. You're either going to take a write up the next time it happens, or buy yourself a piss-pot. Do I make myself clear? I better not see you go on another break until your lunch." Ashitaka measured Rin's reaction.

Rin carefully nodded, "Yes, Ashitaka-san. It will not happen again."

The hardened old man stomped off; presumably to chew out some other poor employee.

Rin continued sketching until she heard a ping from her computer. Gathering the courage to look up, she noticed that she had received an email. She was so grateful, but also understood that she was playing with fire.

I will wait until my next 15 minute lunch break to check; but Lord knows my next break is almost 8 hours away.

Rin continued animating for the next 8 hours without reprieve. Without a restroom break, or, even a break for water. Ashitaka had been hovering over her like a hawk, but she knew that she needed to stick out the next few hours. She didn't understand why Ashitaka had been hovering when she was working without pay anyways.

I don't understand why I'm here, I love animating. But I don't love it enough to the point where it's killing me. I haven't even been offered insurance and I've been working here for nearly four years. I need the money, but I'm not even able to make ends meet. Especially with Tadano moving out every second, I'm often getting saddled with the whole month's rent. Sometimes even when she's there she doesn't even help out...

Rin grimaced at the borderline pedophilic scene she was drawing for the new anime they were producing. She hated how each of the young women in these newer shows were becoming more younger looking by the day, and how these plots were nothing but ecchi disguised for these perverted men. Ultimately, she abhorred that young middle schoolers would sometimes even come across these shows. No respectable animation studio would take these projects. But being that she had no family in the registry, she couldn't get a decent job. Not even a decent apartment. No social welfare services would be willing to help her, because she was no longer a warden of a state. Thereby, they had no obligations toward her.

Rin frowned, the television in the background continued its report about kidnappings in the region increased by nearly 40 percent, and that schools in the local area were taking preventative measures against the exponential targeting of young middle school girls. Especially following the case of Marino Kagayo, a girl who was kidnapped at 13 and found alive at 15 only 3 miles from her school. A local disturbed hikikomori had targeted the girl for companionship. Unfortunately now that the girl was reintegrating into society, she wasn't accepted. She had fallen behind in her studies, and had fallen behind her peers. And instead of compassion, the girl was treated with revulsion. Her parents had only taken her back in out of obligation, but if they had a choice they would have institutionalized her due to shame.

Rin's. Skin. Crawled.

Thank God, I'm no longer a part of that age range. Growing up nowadays is even more dangerous than when I grew up. I didn't have to worry about these things, I only needed to avoid beatings at home. Rin's mind wandered further, also why do they keep demonizing the hikikomori. These are people with real, crippling, depression borne of over expectation. These 'reporters' that are targeting these young girls are perverted and influenced by these animes. The government should crack down on these shady authors and animation studio producing these kinds of filth, not hurting genuinely suffering people.

Her break arrived, and Rin walked to the microwave to heat an instant soup. Going back to her desk Rin remembered the email she received earlier. Quickly she looked around to make sure that Ashitaka or any of the other supervisors weren't looking. She opened her email and saw that the response she received wasn't from the correct address. Curiously, she opened it anyway.

Good evening Ms. Tetsuhara,

It seems as though your email was sent to the wrong address. Consider forwarding this email to the correct recipient.

Best,

Shigeto S. Taishou

Rin quickly forwarded the email between slurps, then briefly considered whether she should respond to the original recipient.

Shaking her head, she started replying between applying lip balm.

Deepest apologies Taishou-san,

Rin grimaced again, and decided she'd just make a draft to spill out how she truly felt.

I'm going through a very tough time right now; and under a tight time constraint and unnecessary stress I sped and sent this email to the wrong recipient. Albeit, i'd like to make light of the situation. Perhaps maybe we could become penpals? I could use a stress reliever during these mundane days.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Rinako Tetsuhara

Rin smiled despite herself and while distracted she hovered her finger over the save draft button in Gmail, but she heard a yelp somewhere in the office. In that short span, while her attention was occupied; she accidentally clicked send. Panicking, Rin tried to click the unsend button but realized that 34 seconds had elapsed. She was four seconds away from saving herself immense embarrassment.

Rin face planted on to the break room table.

Good Lord! I sound so desperate in that email! No respectable person asks, "Can we become friends?" in a mistake email. But then again, I am pretty desperate... Not for romantic love, but rather just for platonic companionship. Working at this job where I have no friends. Can't get into respectable University or even a community college because of my family; or better yet, lack thereof...

Rin checked the time, to see that she only had one minute left for her 15 minute lunch break. She prayed that Ashitaka would see that she had been at work for nearly 10 days. Hopefully she would be released to go home. But then again that was asking too much, another coworker had stayed at work for 21 days with no days off and had unfortunately left in a stretcher. It wasn't all that uncommon where she worked anyways. But she had just come off a 32-day stretch with one day off only to practically come back, and live at the office for another 10 days. Being paid by the sketch was a nightmare, because it seemed as though end's meet could never be made.

Why do I even pay rent when I could just live at work? It's plausible, considering some of my other coworkers live at the job. Some even might go to the Internet cafe and stay there on their night off...It's not like Tadano would mind, anyways...

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly at the email he'd received on his job portal, the girl in the Gmail icon circle resembled Rin so much, even down to the mole on her left cheek under her eye. In his office, he pulled out his phone and took a screenshot of the icon. He then went to images and zoomed in.

Was this some sick joke? Played by the Kami themselves?

Sesshomaru debated with reaching back out to the young woman, but heavily shirked from the idea. Maybe his hopes were just getting the better of him.

His Galaxy Note 9 vibrated on his desk, alerting him to the latest email received on the office portal.

He scanned the email, and tightened his lips. What if the email was sent by a scammer who had known his past history? Was this a ploy? Why would "she" want to continue some form of communication with someone she didn't even know?

He went back to the previous message that was sent, and decided to open the files that were attached. The email seemed to genuine to be a scam. The video player on the computer loaded, and an audio-free clip began to play. A debaucherous work in progress of a young woman getting into a pool played. Sesshomaru immediately closed the video player window upon realizing where it was going. It didn't take much to realize that no one in their right mind would send that purposefully to anyone.

Toying with the idea he responded:

It would be a pleasure Ms. Tetsuhara,

Although I'd ask for you to email my personal email. gmail. Seeing that you've emailed my main employee portal.

Also, I prefer you not to email me anymore of those WIPs.

All Thanks,

Shigeto S. Taishou

Rin stared listlessly at the screen in front of her, her hand cramped, her back ached, her legs were numb, and her stomach growled.

She was the epitome of misery.

She ran out of instant foods and realized she'd either have have to run to the convenience store or purchase some foods from the vending machine. But the vending machine was so expensive that she understood that if she brought food from there it would be deducted from her paycheck because she had no funds on her account. But, if she took the alternative route and went to the convenience store, she would most likely end up returning late from break and facing yet another pink slip; and possibly another dock on her paycheque..

Rin rubbed her head in irritation and confusion. It's been 2 days since the email blunder but she had been so tired and her eyes were so strained that any break needed to be taken with her eyes off of the screen.

Rin felt sleep overtaking her, and tried her best to fight it. She was on her fifth coffee for the day with an empty stomach. She rubbed her stomach when she heard a

Ashitaka passing. Unsure, Rin felt her stomach again and was shocked to feel her rib cage. In a panic she jumped from her seat and ran to the restroom. She hadn't really been looking at herself for the past few days, and even though she was at work; she had fallen into a depression. She merely washed up and would brush her hair without looking in the mirror in order to get to the production floor quicker. Ashitaka yelled after her as she ran into the restroom and Rin slammed the door behind her. After ensuring that no one was in the stalls she pulled up her t-shirt to reveal her gaunt form.

Just how much weight have I lost?

The young woman then leaned into the mirror I pushed her hair back to see that her skin had become pale and ridden with pimples, her jaw bone had become more defined and her cheekbones look hollowed.

Rin's outdated Kyocera cell phone went off, notifying her to yet another unread email. Carefully she turn down the volume and decided to read the most recent one. She almost rejoiced at the email from Seita; that is until she actually read the response:

Greetings Rin,

As you already know my wife had been hospitalized. As it turns out it was from stress, she had been working two jobs while I was working and I did not know because I was never home. Unfortunately due to the turn of events, I will not be returning.

I suggest you do the same. Let Ashitaka know that I will not be returning because I I'm cutting off all contact from here on out.

Best regards,

Seita Kanebo

Rin wanted to scream at the email but decided to hold her composure before Ashitaka came bursting in. She couldn't believe that Seita left her with the crap end of the stick! She couldn't tell Ashitaka or she'd be punished with finishing his entire section and only God knew how long it would be before she saw daylight again.

Rin pushed her phone in her pocket and cried until she vomited. She washed her face and retched again until her co-worker Sayumi checked on her.

"Rin, Ashi-asshole is lookin-Rin?"

The Ruddy haired girl ran to the sink at the farthest end of the restroom.

Sayumi pushed Rin's hair out of her face and called for an supervisor upon feeling her hollowed face.

Ashitaka came bursting into the female restroom, armed with verbal assaults to throw Rin's way. Upon seeing the girl Ashitaka left the restroom and returned with both cold and stomach upset medications.

Upon seeing the medicine Sayumi interjected, "I think Rin should go home, she doesn't look too good."

Ashitaka spoke over Sayumi, "Rin wait it out here, let's see how you feel within the next hour so that you can continue work. If you need to you can lay down under your desk, so you don't have to waste time in travel."

Rin nodded, and retched again. Sayumi cut the man a nasty glare.

After washing her face Rin started, "Thank you Sayumi, you're the first person to show kindness to me here."

Sayumi nodded and told Rin "to stay put."

She returned a little while later with some crackers and a mug of hot tea in hand.

"Later I'll get you some light food and a ginger ale to settle your stomach. Just go lay down under your desk until you feel better."

"I can't take this from you! This is too much, I cannot repay your kindness. When did you get these?"

"I went to the convenience store earlier and I made sure to take. my. time. Ashitaka got mad, but I wasn't feeling too well myself either. I'm going to quit tomorrow anyways."

Rin gasped, "You're so brave, I hope one day I could muster the courage to do the same."

Sayumi nodded, "How long have you been here, anyway? Are you a veteran or something?"

Rin laughed, "4 years"

"Whoa! I wish I were that brave. I've been here for only 20 days and I'm already at the end of my rope. Anyways let me walk you to your desk, so that you can lay down."

Rin stood, and allowed herself to be guided by Sayumi. Rin unrolled her sleeping bag while Sayumi positioned Rin' backpack under the sleeping bag to function as a pillow. As Rin finally settled into the sleeping bag and waved to Sayumi, she pulled the sleeping bag over her head after turning onto her side and decided to take a quick glance at her phone. When she looked she realized that it was nearly 3 a.m..

No wonder my body gave out.

She nibbled on some crackers and took a sip of tea from the mouthpiece in the mug. Suddenly she remembered the other ignored email that she had received. Rin read over it and turned a hot shade of red. She had totally forgotten about the attachment sent in that email.

Quickly she sent an email to the other address.

I'll be sure to remember that!

Goodnight Shigeto-san, I will get back to you as soon as I can! In the meantime, perhaps you could brainstorm a way to break the ice?

Bye-bye!

After sliding the phone back into her pocket for safekeeping, and to stop Ashitaka from realizing that some of the project was leaked. Rin fell into a dreamless sleep amidst the other stressed, murmuring, fretting workers at Vizo!Anima.

On the other side of the world,

Sat a very pleased demon.

Sesshomaru mulled over the email. He wasn't very good with introductions, or socializing for that matter. But the crippling loneliness of this new lifestyle had become unbearable. Solitary living was fine, that is until he had to work to pass the time. Rather, than being the true scholar that he is.

He worked for himself but it wasn't what he really wanted. Sometimes he found himself reminiscing over the Gold and Glory that accompanied his days past. Although he wasn't one to live in the past, having to erase an essential part of his identity was unbearable. He changed his name, and lived under the guise of a human man. Having to upkeep his mask on the daily was both emotionally and physically draining. Seeing as his youki needed to be held into that guise, and required more energy and focus than his humanoid form. Furthermore, tight spaces and crammed people stopped him from being able to release into his true form. Another part of himself lost was the ability to fight, to conquer, to battle. All of his desires lay ruined by the winds of time.

Many international treaties were put in place to protect the last remaining few of the demon species. Many people hunted demons for their proposed abilities, and unfortunately these new weapons had the ability to destroy them. It wasn't until recently he had integrated into human society, instead he had opted to travel and meander around the galaxy and world. He had traveled desolate areas, even resorting to becoming a scary fable within Southeast Asia. In some areas of the Latin Americas, uninhabited by future technologies, he was often regarded as a spirit, or Kami of some sort. But, traveling and staying on desolate Islands became boring, and to enter the field of Academia was even more so pitiable. He would have to work under peoples with less knowledge than him, and it would be harder to fake his identity within the world of Academia until he created some sustenance to the false identity.

There was nothing to demonstrate his power over, swords were a thing of the past, and kingdoms had rotted into the dust. The Western shiro fell into disrepair over the centuries, and Sesshomaru was even shocked to find that his mother had to taken to the humans as an act of survival. Albeit being successful, she still needed to hide her true form. They were no demons to conquer, no battles to fight, very little mysticism to explore, and no strength to gain. The only conquest that existed; was the corruptor of all men's souls; wealth was the only true conquest. He had the wisdom to many of mankind's questions. But his knowledge needed to be well kept and hidden, until he suffered through several degrees.

Maybe, a stress reliever during these mundane days wouldn't be so bad after all.

Fin

Chapter 1: Happenstance