Chances Not Worth Losing
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha.
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The first day of the veto session was always the slowest. The day was always spent reading all of the bills that the Governor had sent back in some form. Once they were finished with all of the readings, Sesshomaru sat in the office of the President of the Senate, and both of them waiting for the Majority Leader to join them. Sesshomaru was greatly surprised when the Minority Leader of the House and the current Governor also walked in. Sesshomaru stood to shake hands with the men and then they sat down so that they all could see each other. The Governor started, "Sesshomaru, as you know, I am going to run for President in two years, and I want to devote more energy to that. Therefore, I am not going to run for election again this upcoming election cycle."
"Martinez and I have agreed," the President of the Senate started. "That we want you to run for his seat."
"But I haven't been in politics long," Sesshomaru protested. Internally he was excited about this opportunity since his dream would then be partially coming true.
"We thought about that," the Governor admitted. "But you had been working under Representative Smith for 15 years, and you have finished an excellent first year as a state senator. It also helps that your father is well known in this state for all of his political experiences. We think this could be a great opportunity for you, especially knowing that this is a step in the direction you wish to go politically."
"I thank you for the confidence; however, there was something I needed to speak to you about first. I have decided that I want to court a human." All of the men leaned back in their seats and the room became dead silent. "I have denied my love for her long enough."
The Minority Leader finally spoke up, "Do you realize what happened to your father for the same weakness?"
"Yes, I do, and I will not allow that to happen to me. I would never allow that to happen to me."
"How do you know if she wouldn't be using you for your position?" the Majority Leader asked.
"She is different. I know that it doesn't matter to her what I would do for a living." He sat there for a minute before proposing, "I am going out to dinner with her at the Chesapeake tonight. If you don't have any plans, eat there tonight and stop by my table to meet her. Then we can discuss this further tomorrow." They all agreed that it was a good plan.
--
Rin stood in front of the mirror trying to get her hair to lay just right. When Sesshomaru had asked her to go out to dinner she became as excited as a high school girl. To her, this meant that Sesshomaru wasn't as ashamed of being her friend.
She had quite a bit to talk to him about. In the two months he was in Roselle she had changed jobs. While she enjoyed being an auditor, she just couldn't pass up an opportunity to become a lobbyist for the teachers' union1. Now she would be able to influence policies more directly and see Sesshomaru more often.
Sesshomaru arrived just on time and knocked on the door. Rin tried to keep herself from running to the door, but she was sure he could hear her hurried footsteps. "Sesshomaru, it's great to see you again," she said as she opened the door.
"Same here," he replied in an emotionless voice.
Rin turned around and grabbed her purse and coat from the couch. After locking the door she got into the car and waited for him to walk around and get inside. Once inside the car he was speeding off to the restaurant. They didn't say anything until they were seated and had ordered. "So what did you do over your break?"
"The usual."
"Lots of meetings, golf outings, and dinners?"
"Pretty much."
"Are you going to ask me what I did?"
He eyed her curiously. It was obvious to him that she had something important and exciting that she wanted to tell him. "What did you do over the past two months?"
"I changed jobs! I am now a lobbyist for the teacher's union."
His face remained expressionless, but his mind was racing. This was yet another part of his dream that was coming true. Two things from that dream had come true in one day, so it had to be a forecast of what was to happen in the future. Not wanting to let her know what was running through his mind, he tried to keep all excitement from his face and his voice. "Is that so?"
"Yeah. I'll be able to see you more often."
"Well, sort of. I have been offered the chance to run in the gubernatorial race."
Rin's eyes opened wide. "Really? That's great!"
"There's one problem. Tomorrow I will be discussing something about my personal life that could keep me from gaining votes."
"What could be so serious that you would have trouble getting votes? For gosh sake, you are the son of a former president."
"I cannot discuss it now."
"Why not? I thought we were friends."
"I wish not to speak of it now." He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. That meant that he would not continue this part of the discussion.
That would not stop Rin, but the arrival of a few guests at their table silenced her. She looked up to see the Governor and his mate standing at their table. "Sesshomaru, it is good to see you again. Have you given a second thought to what we proposed this afternoon?"
Sesshomaru rose and shook hands with both the Governor and the First Lady. "I have, and if we can get through this small problem I would like your endorsement." He looked at Rin and then back at the Governor. "May I introduce you to a friend of mine?" They turned to look at Rin, who rose to shake both of their hands. "Governor, this is Rin Ito. Rin, this is…"
"The Governor and his mate," Rin finished his sentence.
"It is good to meet you again, Rin," the Governor said. "How are things working out for you at the union?"
"Quite well, thank you."
"Good. I am always a big supporter of the teachers' unions."
"And that's why you'll probably get a good endorsement from us when you run for president."
He nodded to her. "Well, I see your food coming, and I would hate to keep you from eating. I'll just talk to you tomorrow, Sesshomaru." He turned to Rin, who had just sat down and told her, "And it was nice to meet you again."
"Same here," she told him. They followed the host, who had been patiently waiting, to their table. Sesshomaru sat down and their food was served. "Why won't you tell me what this problem is?"
"I told you that I don't want to talk about it, and that is that."
"You could at least clue me into what is going on? Is it because I'm a lobbyist now?"
'She just had to say that?' He was somewhat cornered now. "No, it is something personal that I wish not to divulge at the moment. You will hopefully know in good time." 'If my dream is a forecast of our future you will know later.' He started cutting up the lobster tail sitting on his plate leaving Rin watching.
She grunted at having lost for now, but she was sure that she could get it out of him somehow by the end of the week. Before she could open up the first crab leg another person was at their table. Actually, it was two people, the Minority Leader of the House and the President of the Senate. "It seems that this is the popular place to eat tonight," the President jested pointing at the Governor and First Lady.
"So it seems," Sesshomaru's emotionless voice expressed.
"Are you here on business?" the Minority Leader asked.
Sesshomaru looked between the two of them rather confused. Everything made more sense when Rin spoke up, "No, tonight we're friends. We went to college together."
The Minority Leader smirked. "Isn't that ironic?" Now was Rin's turn to be confused. "We'll leave you alone then. Sesshomaru, we'll see you in the meeting tomorrow." They left Rin and Sesshomaru alone again.
"Is it coincidence that everyone is eating here tonight or is there something I should know about?"
"Coincidence," Sesshomaru lied. "Don't think anything of it."
The presence of the leaders of the Demon Party put Rin on full alert. If she said anything that would upset any of them, she could endanger any future working relationships she or any lobbyist in her union would have with them. She sat there silently for most of the meal while Sesshomaru tried to engage her in conversation. Finally he tried a new tactic, "I been rather curious to know why it is that you are still single. I thought human women were obsessed with having children."
"Not all human women are obsessed with having children," she corrected him. "I would like to have children, but if I cannot have them with the right man then I would be content not having them. Of course, I'm almost getting too old to have children, and a woman at my age does have great difficulty trying to conceive."
"Then you are prepared to spend the rest of your days alone?"
"Less than you are, but it doesn't look like I will have much of a choice. Besides, I have friends that will be there with me to the end. Even if Miroku and Sango are both dead before I am, their children will return the favor. And you'll hopefully still be my friend by then." She gave him a small but insecure smile. She doubted that he would stay by her side when she was at her weakest. But then again, he did think that being friends with her made him appear weak and here they were eating a casual dinner in front of the Governor, President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the House.
It wasn't quite the answer he had expected. He had been hoping that she would hint as to whether or not she was interested in him. If he could have gotten her to confirm his suspicion, thanks to his dream, then he would feel more confident about pursuing her.
"Are you always going to be alone? Isn't it demon nature to mate and produce heirs?"
"I will do so when the time is right."
That hurt Rin more than she thought it would. She had always known that he never loved her, but now she knew that it would never happen. Hopefully he wouldn't find the time to be right until after she died. 'What am I thinking?!' she mentally yelled at herself. 'I can't believe I'm letting jealousy take over. Before today I had always thought that I would just be happy if I knew that he was happy with someone. Suddenly I'm acting like a stupid teenager in puppy love.'
"Let's get out of here. We've both got work in the morning."
Rin agreed and they paid their bills before they left. He walked her to her door since there were a few people outside that he didn't quite seem to trust even though she insisted that they were neighbors of hers. Once she got her door open she stepped just inside and flipped on the light before turning around to look at him. They stared at each other for what seemed like forever. Finally Sesshomaru said, "I guess I should leave now."
"Thank you for going with me to dinner tonight. Hopefully I'll get to see you soon?"
"Yes." He then whispered to himself, "Soon I hope."
"Good night then." She smiled at him and closed the door leaving him in the darkness.
--
The next afternoon the five men gathered in the Governor's office talking about their strategy for endorsing Sesshomaru. After not hearing them address the issue of he and Rin, he brought it up. "How do you feel about me and Rin?"
"I don't know her well," the Governor admitted. "However, she seems likes a perfectly wonderful girl. She kind of reminds me of my mate when we were younger."
"Yesterday you were all insisting that she would be taking advantage of me."
The Majority Leader of the Senate leaned forward and addressed this issue, "From what I understand, lobbyists for that union get paid pretty decently, and I remember when she used to work for the Auditor General, who pays his workers decently for state workers. Obviously she doesn't need your money. If she wanted an extravagant lifestyle, she is certainly barking up the wrong tree since I have never seen anyone with your money living so modestly. As for her hunger for power, that's something you've got to determine for yourself. Would she take advantage of you?"
"No."
The Governor spoke, "Then you have nothing to worry about. Actually, I think that your courting her could actually be quite an advantage. You would gain quite a few votes from humans who will think you are more compassionate than they paint the members of our party to be. The problem will come in the form of votes from the demons. They will be quite disappointed in the fact that you are in love with a human, but we will just have to make them realize that you are a better candidate to represent their issues since courting her won't change your ideology. Or will it?"
"If she is to become my mate, she will have to support my political ideology. But I refuse to use her as a tool to gain votes. I don't want her thinking that I'm using her. I love her, and I would give up politics for her to prove that I love her." He was surprised by the words that had just come out of his mouth. He had just stood up to the leaders and revealed his love that he couldn't even express to Rin.
"She's going to be an issue no matter what you want. Maybe you ought to talk this out with her before you decide," the Governor suggested. Perhaps he was right. His mate after all probably wasn't too comfortable at first with him being in the media and thereby gaining attention herself. "Why don't the two of you talk things over, and you call us when you decide what you want to do. If we don't hear anything from you in a couple of weeks we'll start looking for another candidate to endorse."
"I can handle that. I plan to talk to her tonight."
"Good luck. Women are entirely different creatures. Remember that when you are ready to talk about her involvement in the campaign." Wise words from a wise older demon.