A week passed by since the publication of that magazine, and Rin had figured that Sesshomaru was pleased with what she wrote. Then she got a call from him, "I have a deal to make with you. Can I talk to you over lunch?"

"Not today. Tomorrow?"

"How about dinner tonight?"

"That I can do. Where and what time?"

"Skyline at seven o'clock again."

"Fine."

She arrived right on time to find that he was late yet again. He was only five minutes late this time. "Do you always make it practice to be late?"

He ignored her question and said while sitting down, "Good evening. I have a proposition for you."

"I'm listening."

"My father has been diagnosed with cancer. He wants me to marry before he dies."

"You want me to find someone who will marry you?" she asked raising her voice slightly.

"I want you." She raised an eyebrow unsure of how to respond. "You need to get married to keep your job."

"And you're doing this to get your inheritance."

"That's only a part of it. He's threatening to cut me out of his life entirely."

Sadness flickered in his eyes, and Rin couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "What are the conditions?"

"You and I get a condo. Separate bedrooms, separate finances."

"No children?"

"No children. When I go to social functions you are to attend with me."

"I'll go only if you give me the money I need to get the appropriate attire."

He nodded his head as he continued, "I'll allow for you to embellish about our marriage in your column as long as you don't use my name. I'll help you find a job, and when we divorce after his death I'll provide something for you."

"I can agree to that." She leaned forward and placed her crossed lower arms on the table. "When shall we elope?"

"I can call a judge right now." He pulled out his cell phone. "Nine o'clock?"

"Sure." She took out her cell phone and called Eri. "Eri! I'm getting eloped!"

"To whom?"

"Sesshomaru Matsuo," she laughed.

"What?! I thought he wasn't ever going to bother you again."

"He offered me a good deal." She then went on to explain the terms.

"I don't know about this, Rin. It doesn't seem right."

Rin glanced at Sesshomaru out of the corner of her eye. "I don't know why, but I think I can trust him. Please, Eri, be a witness. I can't get married without you being there."

"I guess so," she said hesitantly. "Where and what time?"

"Hold on a second." She handed the phone to Sesshomaru. "She needs directions." He took the phone and started talking to Eri. Rin started eating since it was already 7:35.

After dinner Sesshomaru followed Rin back to her apartment so she could leaver her car there. They arrived together a few minutes after nine. The lady of the house answered the door and showed them to the living room. Eri and a gentleman were seated while another gentleman, who Rin guessed to be Sesshomaru's father, approached them. Angrily he asked, "Sesshomaru, what is the meaning of this?"

"Father, meet the woman I'm going to marry," he said showing off Rin. "This is Rin Yamamoto. Rin, this is my father."

Rin flashed a smile at the man who was soon to be her father-in-law. "Pleased to meet you." She extended her hand. "What may I call you?"

He shook her hand and answered, "Toga." He looked at Sesshomaru, anger burning in his similar amber colored eyes. "You just met her last week, and you're already marrying her?"

"She's exactly what I want in a wife."

"How much can you know about her after a week?"

"We both want to have almost separate lives when we marry."

"Then what's the point in marrying?"

"With all due respect," Rin started. "Sesshomaru and I are straight forward thinkers who would rather spend little time getting to the important information. After the past week we know enough about what each other needs and wants, and we need and want most of the same things."

"Can't you at least wait to find out if you love each other?"

"You know as well, or even more so than we do, that love is something built up over time. It can be built through marriage just as well as before marriage."

"Sesshomaru, Rin, please at least wait to be married properly with all of your family there."

"I don't have family. All I have left is my best friend. Besides, if we have a wedding the press will be all over it with Sesshomaru being the future owner of Taiyoukai Corporation and my column."

"What about your mother and your brother," he asked Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru raged, "She is not my mother, and I will not have her coming to something that does not concern her! As for Inuyasha and his wench, they have as little desire of coming as I have of them being here."

Rin immediately figured out that this was a sore subject for him. Instinctively her hand rested on his lower arm. Immediately she realized that was the wrong action to take, so she withdrew her hand. Looking up at him she could see no emotion. She turned again to Toga and stated, "We couldn't get married without you at the ceremony. Please, give us your blessing." She gave him a sad and pleading face.

Toga's eyes moved from her and rested on Sesshomaru. He took in a deep breath before saying, "I will stay only if both of you tell everyone at a family dinner on Saturday."

"Thank you," Rin responded as she leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek.

The ceremony took place, and the judge's wife was the only one to shed tears, which she later attributed to being tears of sadness for the couple since they did not know what they were getting into. The couple retired for the night in Sesshomaru's apartment. Rin borrowed a shirt and his bed, so Sesshomaru slept on his couch.