You're all gonna kick my ass now, aren't you? Ehe... I probably deserve it. It's been WAY too long since I last updated, and for that I am truly sorry. –bows- I write when I can though, cause I DO have a life outside of fanfiction. (collective gasp from audience) Well... –pokes fingers togther- Not MUCH of a life, but still... That, and other stories have been taking up my time. My first original fic to be precise, A Boyfriend For Christmas. If you like yaoi you could maybe check it out for me )... (End shameless advertising.)

Anyway, I do believe I shall do review responses now...

Liz.Q – HI LIZZY-HERMANA! –tackleglomps- I lurve you. X3 –tackleglomps Gumo- I lurve you too Gumo-chan! X3 –takes pity and gives Anti-Liz spray-

Retta – Aha! A reviewer that asks questions! I like, I like. XD Now on to your questions. I don't know if I'm going to put Kohaku in here, but if I do he'll be with Souta, 'cause I like Kohaku/Souta-shipping. ; They're just the CUTEST! As for Kagura, she was in the first chapter, but I dunno if she's going to be in here anymore. It depends on if I come up with a good part for her. Thirdly, no she isn't Sessy-kun's wife. She just wishes. XD Don't we all though? Fourthly, no I haven't mentioned Sesshoumaru's wife's name. It's a surprise! Though I dunno if many people are going to recognize her when she makes her entrance... Uh, oops. Gave away too much. -skulks off- I didn't say that, nooo...

Tamashi-no-Hikari – Haha, I know. X3 I like making them take it slow. I'm su evil.

G27 – Err... Not to sound rude, but um... Leaving a bajillion "update soon" reviews won't make me update faster. oo; It just sorta ticks me off. Plenty of constructive criticism and comments on what parts and lines you liked might make me update faster though... hint hint.

Cattiebrie393 – I agree! Jaken is fun! X3 I lurve him. And yet I lurve to bash him. Hehe...

SimpleOne – Hee! More questions! –goes into uberhappybouncy mode- As you will see in this chapter, yes he will ask her. As for what would happen to her job at the daycare... You'll just have to see. XD

Foxfire02 – X3 You'll have to wait and see when I drag Bankky-kun into this whole mess. And yus, Fluffy is a sweetie! D

Johns-in-makeup – Hee, funny name. XD Anyway, glad you like it! I try my best to make everything not-so-serious, cause I'm really not a very serious person... I agree totally! Kagura/Sess can die and rot in hell! At least Kagura can die and burn in hell. Fluffy's too pretty to burn.

Also thanks to:

West Fullmoon

Helava

Animegirl007

New Fan

Lynn-Minmay

Jochnap

Erica6060

Mini Nicka

Sweet Chaos

SAM777

Shushimi

C'fay

Jakie Marie

Me just me

Seig1308

...Random note... My spellchecker officially hates me. It also hates Japanese names and pennames. –blinded by red lines- I'm not even going to look through this... And keep in mind that I haven't had this beta-ed. My beta's really busy lately and I hardly ever hear from her, which is sad. Cause I lurve her. Anyway, yeah. If there's any mistakes, I'm sorry and if you point some out I'll probably change em.

Two weeks passed by fairly quickly. Sesshoumaru had settled into a routine; drop the kids off at the Shikon Child Care Center with Miyazawa-san and her co-workers, go to work, pick up the twins at 5:30, and then go home to have dinner and spend some time with them.

By now the silver-haired man was seriously considering hiring Miyazawa Rin to be his kids' live-in nanny. Every day after he picked them up, they both had stories to tell him of how much fun they had with "Rinrin" and "Jakky", but especially Rin. Even Aikou seemed to like her, and Aikou didn't normally like anyone but her father and her brother.

Sesshoumaru walked into his office and dropped his briefcase by his desk. He had just gotten to work after dropping off Aikou and Koushi. He practically fell into his chair before pressing the button on his intercom. "Higurashi, what is on the agenda for today?"

A voice from the intercom answered. "You have a meeting with the head of Three Dragons Advertising Corp. in fifteen minutes, then a business lunch with Kaimei Ashura of Southern Technologies."

"Clear my schedule for today. I'm taking the day off." Sess was almost surprised at the words that came from his mouth, but shrugged it off. He needed a day off, plus he didn't want to deal with both Gekkabajin Hidenka of Three Dragons -AND- Kaimei Ashura of Southern Technologies in the same day.

"Yes sir Iizuki-sama."

Jaken chose just that moment to barge into his boss's office, stuttering.

"B-but Iizuki-samaaaa! You can get away with that sort of thing when it comes to Mister Kaimei, but Miss Gekkabajin and her assistants will be absolutely livid! You know how vicious those women can get!" He shouted, bug-like eyes wide.

"I'll deal with them later. I simply do not feel like it today."

"B-b-but!"

"Do not question my actions Jaken. Get out of my office." Sesshoumaru shot the assistant a positively menacing, icy glare.

"Y-y-yes sir." My, how that toad can run!

Now what to do with his day off, the silver-haired man wondered. Focus on the twins maybe...

'I could always take them to the zoo this afternoon... And maybe schedule a business dinner with Rin. I do need to hire the twins a nanny soon...' Yes, he decided. That's what he'd do.

Rin practically fell over into a bean bag chair, sighing softly. It was only noon and she was already tired. By now, Suikotsu and Kikyo had had to return to work, and so she and Jakotsu were left alone with the kids at the center. Workdays seemed hectic without calm, smiling Suikotsu and lovely, kind Kikyo to help out.

Right now was probably the only peace and quiet Rin would get until 6 pm came around. It was nap time, and all the small children were sleeping on mats and blankets.

Her cousin fell into the beanbag chair beside her, closing his grey eyes. "I really think we should hire more help, Rin..."

"I don't disagree, but I don't think the daycare can afford it... Even with Iizuki-san sending his twins here, we're just barely making enough to survive..."

"Maybe we should vie for volunteers then? Unpaid interns?" He suggested, stretching like a cat.

"I guess it's worth a try. I'll print up fliers or something tonight..." Rin shrugged.

Come two o' clock, Rin found herself sitting with Aikou, Koushi, and a group of other little girls, dressing up Barbies for a glamorous pretend ball. She had giggled a bit when Koushi said he wanted to play too, and then she gave him a Ken doll to play with.

She looked quite confused when Jakotsu came in from the lobby. "Uh, Rin... Iizuki's here."

"What? But it's only 2! He's never here till 5:30!"

"I know! Go see what he wants, Rin!" Jakotsu suddenly grinned. "Maybe it's a date?" Rin stood and swatted at him playfully.

"Oh quit that! You are so immature!"

Jakotsu just grinned wider and shrugged. "One of us has to be!" Rin rolled her eyes and walked to the door, taking a minute to straighten her hair and light blue t-shirt, before she walked out into the lobby to meet with Iizuki Sesshoumaru.

She found him standing by the window, one hand in his pocket. He looked much more casual today, with his long silvery hair down and his tie undone. Two or three of the buttons on his collared shirt were undone also, revealing a hint of pale skin and toned muscle.

His golden eyes found her own brown ones, and he nodded curtly. The frost in his eyes did not dispel. "Hello Miyazawa-san."

"Iizuki-san." Rin inclined her head in a short, polite bow. "You're here early today."

"I took the day off."

"Would you like me to fetch the twins?"

"Not just yet..." He smirked slightly at her surprised and confused expression. "Miyazawa-san... May I call you Rin?" Rin nodded. "Good. You may call me Sesshoumaru... There really is no need for formalities."

"Alright then..."

"Now, I have a proposition for you Rin..." He turned to look directly at her, and she noticed the blue crescent moon marking and maroon stripes on his cheeks. "We can speak over dinner, this Saturday at The Skylight. I'll pick you up at 8." It was more of a command than a question.

Rin almost gaped at him like an open-mouthed fish, but managed to restrain herself. He was taking her to dinner, and at one of the finest restaurants in the city! He made it clear it was a business dinner, but still!

The brown-haired woman took a calming breath, and kept her voice as neutral as possible. "I suppose so." She briskly walked to her office and retrieved one of her business cards, which she had made herself on her home computer, and scribbled her address on the back. She handed it to him, and he pocketed it.

"I'll get Aikou and Koushi now..."

As soon as Sesshoumaru ushered his children out the door, he turned his head to look back at her. "Oh, and Rin?"

"Yes, Iizuki-san?" She said, stressing the 'Iizuki-san'.

"Wear something nice." He smirked only slightly, and left.

After work, Jakotsu drove Rin home, and went inside her apartment to talk over tea. They sat on the couch, each cradling a hot mug of herbal tea, while Rin poured out the story of what had happened that day to her cousin and best friend.

"Dinner at The Skylight!" Jakotsu gaped. "That's the most expensive restaurant around!"

"I know..." Rin sighed, sipping at her French vanilla tea.

"So what's wrong? You should be happy..." Jakotsu smiled gently. "This big, rich CEO is taking you out on a date at a nice restaurant this Friday!"

"It's a business dinner, not a date Jakotsu. I don't know what kind of business he'd have for me though!" He patted her on the shoulder, noting her anxiety.

"Just calm down Rin... Everything's going to go fine..."

"I'm just so nervous though... I just KNOW I'm going to make a fool of myself in front of all those rich people! They'll all sneer and go 'Oh look at that little poor girl, trying to fit in with the upper class! Must be Sesshoumaru's new whore!'" Jakotsu was stunned as Rin burst out crying, clinging to her cousin as if her life depended on it.

Kami, he hated it when girls cried! It was always so awkward! Just another reason not to date women, in his book.

He sighed and patted her comfortingly. "It's okay Rin... You're going to do fine." He gave her an encouraging smile. "Tell ya what! We'll go find you a nice dress right after work tomorrow! And Friday I'll help you get ready for your date!"

"Business dinner!"

"Fine fine, business dinner." A shrug. "Either way, you'll be the most beautiful woman in the restaurant!"

"Thanks Ja..." Rin sniffed again and dried her eyes on her sleeve.

Saturday seemed to come quickly. Much too quickly, Rin thought.

Anxiety gnawed incessantly at her insides all through the day, and she found it increasingly difficult not to chew on her nails, which she had just gotten manicured yesterday, along with her favorite cousin / best friend.

Why was she so nervous? It was just dinner, with a client! Not a date!

"Okay Rin... Just calm down. Don't let that Ice Prince get to you. Oh, I can so see how he'd smirk if he knew how much I dreaded this!" Rin stomped her foot childishly, before going to take a relaxing bath.

At 6, Jakotsu arrived at Rin's apartment and let himself in. "Hey, Rin-chan! I'm here! It's time to make you beautiful for your daate!" He said in a sing-song voice, happy that he had a chance to show off his superb makeup and hair-styling skills.

A piercing yell erupted from the bedroom. "BUSINESS DINNER!"

He held out both his hands, palms away from himself in an "I give" gesture, though she couldnt see it of course. "Fine, fine! Business dinner! Reowr, kitty, don't bite my head off!"

Jakotsu yelped as he heard his cousin produce a very realistic, very vicious cat-like hiss. "Ehe... he... he... You scare me sometimes..."

Rin stepped out of her bedroom in a bathrobe, her hair damp. She was grinning broadly. "Thank you, dear cousin."

Jakotsu grinned back and shook his head, grabbing the makeup bag he brought. He pulled out a brush and a comb, and bade his cousin to sit. "We've got work to do!"

Sesshoumaru stepped out of the limo, golden eyes glancing at the apartment building on Ookami Ave. Yes, this was the right place, he noted, glancing down at the business card on which the address of Rin's home was written. He tucked it safely into the breast pocket of his hand-tailored black suit jacket, and approached the very middle-class building.

He buzzed for Rin to let him in, which she did, and made his way up to her apartment like she requested. Pausing at the correct door, he rapped at the wood, face impassive.

Where Sesshoumaru expected Rin to answer the door, that Dakatsu Jakotsu man opened the door in her stead and let him in, nodding curtly.

"Rin will be out in a few minutes."

"Thank you." Sesshoumaru nodded back, rather icily, and sat down on the edge of the sofa to wait.

Truth be told, Rin was ready before Jakotsu ever let Iizuki-san in, but her cousin had told her it was good to make men wait before a date ("BUSINESS DINNER!"). She shook her head slightly, touching up her light makeup one last time, wondering why her cousin thought like a woman half the time, and yet claimed to hate them, excluding her (they had always been close), and Kikyo. He HAD to like his older brother's fiance.

A good ten minutes passed as she stayed in the bathroom, quieting her nerves and checking her hair and dress. Both were perfect, of course; Jakotsu had made sure of that. Rin glanced at the clock for the what felt like the zillionth time, and decided Iizuki-san had waited long enough. Quelling her nerves with a deep breath, she walked through the door into her bedroom, and then out into the living room, where Sesshoumaru sat regally on the couch, pristine in his dressy black suit.

Well here goes nothing.

Sesshoumaru stood as the door to what he assumed was Miyazawa Rin's bedroom opened with a soft creak, and he blinked twice at the emerging, feminine figure. Was this really the ruffled, casually-dressed woman that took care of his kids during the day?

Rin was dressed in a formal, but not too dressy, azure dress that went just past her knees, with shoes of a matching color. The dress was sleeveless, and not too lowly cut, its color accented by the lighter blue sheer shawl she wore about her shoulders. Her dark, shining hair was pulled up from her neck in a beautifully messy bun, held by a blue butterfly pin he had seen her cousin wear often. She wore no jewelry except a thin silver choker with a sapphire star pendant.

Regaining the use of his vocal chords, he nodded politely at Rin. "Shall we go then?"

"Alright." She replied softly. It didn't take a genius to see she was nervous.

Like a gentleman, he held out his arm, which she hesitantly took, and together they walked out to the patiently waiting limo.

Oh... I am gonna DIE... You all are gonna kill me for the cliffhanger... So eh... Review, hurt me, and let's get it over with. oo; -goes to hide in Liz.Q's bombshelter-