BlueMoon Goddess: Alright guys, I promised you that there was going to be a sequel and here it is! You had to know that Sesshomaru HAD to take part and acquire himself a mate, too. I've been going over this fic for the past month, just to make sure that everything would be perfect. So I hope you all enjoy the first chapter and happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, its characters, or the plot 'Dragon King,' which this fic is based on.

Summary: He shouldn't have agreed to this. He despised humans, and the last thing he wanted to do was mate with one. However, with the success of the previous year, Sesshomaru has no choice but to compete in this year's forage. Especially if he wants to have heirs. So he'll choose a mate. He'll just treat this like any business transaction he's ever done. No emotions involved. That should be easy. Right?

Prologue….

He really didn't want to be here.

Of all the times it was required for Sesshomaru to make a visit to the human realm, it had to be to check on his business dealings. For a demon Lord being around for centuries, it had gotten boring just being a ruler of a vast amount of land and doing the same tasks every single day. Therefore, he decided to build a couple of companies from the ground up and oversee them. Thanks to his intellect and hard-work, his businesses had made it as one of the top companies in the entire world along with being placed within the top three in the Forbes Global list. To this day, both his companies have never dropped below fifth place. Really in a sense, he was still a ruler in a way within this realm.

Though, just because he started these companies, for the last few years he didn't have the need to visit the human realm in order to oversee them. Luckily, once technology advanced and teleconferencing software came about, he frequented the human realm less and less. Not to mention it helped that he had a great staff to oversee his businesses and he trusted them, at least to make sure his companies didn't go down in the stock market.

However, today was one of those days where he sadly had to make a visit. Apparently, there was a certain situation he needed to sort out for his company in New York and the staff he hired couldn't figure out what to do. If that was the case, what the hell was he paying them for if they couldn't handle something like that? The excellent news for his organization was that he and his team were able to fix the problem. The bad news for Sesshomaru was that instead of taking a few days to sort through the problem, like he hoped it would take, it took them a month and a half to fix it. Again, what the hell was his staff for? Maybe it was time to let go of some employees and hire some newer blood. Some of these people have been around for years and maybe it was time some of them retire.

Even though this took longer than he desired, at least he would be able to leave tomorrow. Since he had to be in the human realm, he had decided a few weeks prior to pay a visit to his other company in California to make sure everything was running smoothly. At least at that one, his employees were competent. Thankfully, after a few more meetings, he would be able to return to the demon realm.

Sesshomaru checked his designer watch and when he saw the time he frowned. That certainly took longer than he wished. Since it was close to dinner time, he decided to get something to eat before heading back to the hotel. While walking down the street, he ignored all the stares he was receiving from insignificant humans, mainly the women. Every time he frequented this realm, he managed to turn heads from various women and even some men. Like he was interested in these lowly creatures. He already had to deal with them during his business connections and trades, he certainly wouldn't stoop so low as to lay with one of them.

Besides a few bold women trying to talk to him, he made it to his destination and he could relax a bit. This French bistro was one he liked to frequent whenever he was in Manhattan. He rarely ate food from this realm because, he felt that most humans didn't know quality food if it bit them in the ass. However, there were a few restaurants that served high quality food that was excellent for his high standards and this bistro was among one of them.

He was about to cross the street when he noticed a small figure standing in front of the glass windows. When he got closer he noticed it was a little girl with long black hair with the right side of her hair tied up into a small ponytail jutting out from the side of her head. He recalled seeing this human girl around before…but from where? Ah, now he remembered. For the entire month he's been in New York and whenever he was out, he used to see her around certain parts of Manhattan making her way down the blocks and looking into various café's and food shops with a certain longing on her face. Once he got a closer look at her, he noticed that she was wearing a red dress with black dots over it that reached below her knees along with a brown sweater that was the same length of the dress, which he noticed, were too sizes too big for her. Taking a closer look, he saw that her clothes were a little dirty and there were small holes in the black tights she wore.

Another reason why he couldn't stand humans. Most were filthy and some didn't know how to present themselves. Giving her a quick look on uninterest, Sesshomaru walked into the bistro and didn't pay the human girl another mind.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Finally, he was able to go back home.

The next evening, after spending the entire day at the company, Sesshomaru was proud to say, even though he didn't show it, that it was doing better than he thought. Despite the little hiccup from before, everything was still running smoothly, and besides a few check-ins and updates, everything was up to his standards. After he goes over some last-minute paperwork, he might be able to leave first thing early morning.

Sesshomaru was just about to head back to the hotel when he noticed a figure within the little park on a bench. When he got closer enough for him to see, he noticed that laying on a bench was the same girl he's been seeing all month.

'Hmph. Pathetic.' He internally grumbled in disgust. This girl should be at home instead of hanging out in a park when it was getting late.

When he was a few feet away from her, he noticed a few things. She was wearing the same clothes from yesterday. Of course that wouldn't be a problem, or really his concern. However, when Sesshomaru thought about it, he noticed that for the times he's seen her, the girl had been wearing the same outfit. She never wore anything different. Another thing he noticed was that he saw a small tent next to the bench. Was this girl living there? That would explain why she wore the same clothes everyday and why she was always roaming the street.

Either way, this matter didn't concern him. He was tired and all he wanted to do was have dinner, look over some last minute paperwork and go back home. Sesshomaru was walking past her and started to make his way out of the park when something pulled at his chest. What was this feeling? Why was he recalling the looks of sadness that crossed her face whenever she looked through the shop windows? Better yet, why did her face suddenly make him want to stop and help her? To ease the growing feelings he wasn't used to feeling, he figured he should follow his instincts and help the girl. So he walked back towards the bench and stood in front of the young girl.

Sesshomaru got a good inspection of her, and noticed that she had brown eyes that looked dull, something that a child her age shouldn't have. They should be bright and shining. Speaking of age, from what he could assume, the girl looked to be about nine or ten years old.

Noticing a shadow standing in front of her, the girl looked up and noticed the stranger. She looked at him wearily, but what got her attention was how he looked. She never saw a guy looking like him before. Long silver hair and eyes that were gold. Maybe he was foreign? But she wanted to know what he wanted from her. She didn't think she would have any problems being in this area since it had a flow of people and was well lit at night. Plus, it was one of the only places where she was able to be left alone and no one bothered her. Not like the other places she camped out in.

"Why are you not at home?" Sesshomaru asked her.

Instead of answering him, she just stared down at the ground in front of her. When she didn't answer him, he asked her, "Are you living here?" Again, she didn't answer him, but he saw her try to sink further in the seat. Deciding he's got his answer, he started to walk away from her.

The girl kept her head down and didn't say anything else. However, Sesshomaru stopped and turned his head, noticing the girl hadn't moved. "Why are you still sitting there? I am sure you have not eaten, so you will come with me. I will treat you to some food."

She looked up at him with a shocked look on her face. The girl was surprised that this stranger was actually going to feed her. It wasn't often that people actually stopped to give her the time of day. Normally, everyone else just ignored her and kept going about their day. She got up from her spot on the bench but didn't move forward. She learned about the dangers from going with strangers and she was being cautious.

When Sesshomaru saw that she still didn't move he assumed that the girl was just being cautious, and for that he was glad to know the girl had some common sense. Some humans loved to lure young women into promising to help them and they wind up kidnapped or worse. However, all he wanted to do was make sure this child at least had some food in her stomach and nothing more.

He decided to try another approach, "I assure you that I just want to give you a meal. That is all. I will not harm you in any way…you have my word." He was wondering if he assured the young girl enough, and he knew that he had when he started to move and make his way towards him. Once she was standing by his side, he continued on.

-0-0-0-0-0-

They had made it to Bistro 365 in record time. It was an establishment he hadn't frequented before, but it was the closest one that was close to the park. Once they were inside, they were immediately seated in the back of the dining hall within a private booth. He had some questions he wanted answered and he didn't want prying ears overhearing them. In addition, for the way she was dressed, he didn't need others staring at the girl.

Once they took their seats, a waiter came by and asked for their drink orders.

"I will have a glass of Chateau Margaux 1787 and they girl will have the Voss water." Sesshomaru told the waiter.

"Sir, we only sell that wine by the bottle and not the glass."

"Then I will have the bottle." He stated firmly, earning a startled look from the waiter.

"Y-Yes, sir. I'll give you a few minutes to look over your menu and be back shortly with your drinks."

"There will be no need." Sesshomaru said, closing his menu and handing it to the waiter. I will have the filet mignon au poivre with a side of charred brussels, and the girl will have the chicken paillard."

"Excellent choices sir." The waiter said, taking the menus. "I'll put those in and be back shortly."

Once the waiter left, Sesshomaru turned his attention to the girl in front of him. As soon as they sat down, the girl had looked at her surroundings in wonder and awe. It was obviously that she'd never been in a place like this before. However, after being seated for twenty minutes, she still hadn't said a word. Even after their food arrived, she still refused to say anything. Though from the way she was eating her food, it was obvious that she missed a few meals.

"Why are you living in the park?" Sesshomaru asked her, after a sip of his wine.

The girl stopped eating and looked at him. However, instead of giving him an answer, she just put her fork down and didn't give him a reply. "Surely you have a home that would be more comfortably then staying in a tent." He added.

When she still didn't answer and just looked at her plate, Sesshomaru gave an irritated sigh. Fine, if this girl didn't want to say anything, then it wasn't his concern. At least she was getting a meal out of him, so why did it matter to him.

"…I don't have a home."

He looked at her surprised that she actually spoke. "What do mean you do not have a home? Where are your parents?"

The girl looked down sadly again. "I don't have any parents."

"Do you not have any relatives or others you stay with?" He inquired.

"I stayed in Brooklyn with the Walnut family. I was placed there after my family died a two months ago." She started pushing her food around her plate. "But for the past couple weeks, I've been living in alleyways, bridges and different parks until I finally managed to sleep around here."

"Why did you leave?"

"Mr. Walnut…well, he…" The girl looked like she was struggling to say what she wanted, but Sesshomaru could easily guess what she was trying to say.

"If that is the case, why did you not tell someone?"

"The last time I tried, I got beat up. I didn't want to get hurt again." She said, sadly.

That feeling returned within him. Again, a girl like herself shouldn't have had to go through something like this. He knows that the world is a cruel place and that sometimes bad things happened to good people. It was just unfortunate and horrible that this girl had to be one of the ones who had to suffer.

"A teacher has not bothered to ask what was wrong with you?"

"I don't go to school. Mr. Walnut pulled me out after I told the principal what happened to me the first time he hit me. But last month when he umm…came into my room one night, I was able to hit him until I ran out of the house. I've been living on the streets since then."

Sesshomaru was getting irritated the more she explained her story. It was weird that he was feeling so much anger for this poor girl when he truly had no reason too. He shouldn't care what happened to her because after he fed her, he would most likely drop her back off where he found her and never see her again. However, deep within the corners of his soul, he knew that he couldn't just allow this girl to let her leave his sight without having a place to go. He couldn't drop her off a police station or social services. They could just send her back to the Walnut household, or she would just end up at another household that could cause her harm as well. With those options out the window, there was only one other route to take.

For the next ten minutes they finished their meals in silence and Sesshomaru didn't ask her any more questions. "Are you finished eating?" He asked, after seeing her empty plate.

"…Yes." The girl replied. "Thank you very much for the meal. I'm not sure how I can repay you back but—"

"I am going to take you where you will have a roof over your head and three meals a day." He informed her, standing up from his seat. "First, though I will take you where you can acquire yourself some new garments and other essentials you may need."

The girl couldn't believe what she was hearing. What was this man going on about? "What?"

"I said I am taking you somewhere to live." He told her again. "You will not have to worry about anyone hurting you anymore. You will be safe where you are going."

"Why are you doing this?" She asked, confused.

Sesshomaru just looked at her before turning his head. "A young girl like you should be smiling, not frowning."

-0-0-0-0-0-

True to his word after leaving the restaurant, Sesshomaru had taken the girl to the nearest department store and picked out a few outfits and essentials she might need. Afterwards, after doing some research, he drove her to the Covington Boarding School for Girls, which was only and hour's drive. He had spoken to the headmistress of the school and was able to get the young girl admitted. Of course it helped that once he told the headmistress his name, she was quick to admit the girl, without all the necessary questions and such. Once Sesshomaru signed all the necessary paperwork, and they got a tour of the grounds, the headmistress took them to the dorms.

"And this is where you'll be staying young Ms." The headmistress said, once they entered a suite. It was a luxurious room that housed a full-sized bed with a white-chestnut nightstand on the left side. Facing the right corner of the room was a matching dresser and desk on the opposite side.

"You can place your clothes in the dresser over there." She said, pointing towards the dresser. "And in the morning, I'll go over your schedule along with the school's rules and other information that needs to be filled."

The girl entered the room and looked around in wonder. She's never seen a glorious room like this before. Heck, she's never even had her own room. Growing up, she'd always had to share a room with one of her brothers, and at her foster home she had to room with someone. However, this was the first time she was actually given her own space. Something to call her own. Not to mention, it was so spacious and clean.

"I'll give you two sometime to get adjusted. Then we can finish filling out her paperwork." The headmistress told him.

Once the two were alone, he turned towards the girl. "This school is one of the best in New York." Sesshomaru started. "The headmistress already knows you have no family and everything is already paid for. Once you graduate and are eighteen, you will need to forge your own path. However, just because you have been given a full ride here, do not expect to slack in anything you do here. Do you understand?"

All the girl did was nod. "Good. Now get some sleep. Since today is Friday, you will not begin your classes until Monday, so you will have time to get accustomed to your surroundings."

"Will you be coming back tomorrow?" She asked him.

"No. I will be returning back home and this will be the last time you will see me." He told her.

The girl gave him a surprised look. "How am I supposed to pay you back? Or if something happens."

"You do not need to repay me back. Also, you do not need to worry about finances. I personally set up a trust fund for you that should help you attend any university you desire along with a fund to support your for basic needs. The funding you can access anytime you wish. However, you will not have access to the trust until you are eighteen. Until then, the school should be able to provide you with anything you might need. Also, if you need dire assistance, the headmistress and the counselors you have should be able to assist you." With that being said, he started walking out of the room, until he felt her grab his arm.

"Umm…" She started, gripping his suit sleeve. "Thank you very much for helping me. You're the only one who's bothered to help me within the past month."

He just gave her a nod and released her grip on his sleeve before heading for the suite door. Sesshomaru paused once he was standing in the entry doorway. "What is your name?" After spending time with this girl he failed to ask her one of the most important questions.

"Rin. My name's Rin O'Brien."

Rin. So that was the girls name. It did seem to fit her. "Very well then. Have a wonderful life Rin."

"Wait." She called out to him, before he fully left the room. "What's your name?"

From looking at him, she guessed that he was hesitating in giving him her name. She didn't see the harm in asking him. She gave him her name after all, so it was at least something he hoped he would do for her. When it looked like he wasn't going to give her an answer, she dropped her head and started to make her way towards her dresser. She might as well start putting her new things away.

"…Sesshomaru."

Rin stopped at looked towards him, however before she could say anything, he was already gone.

"Sesshomaru." Rin said softly, a smile forming on her face.

Even though he said this would be the last time she saw him, she was going to find a way to pay him back for the kindness he extended to her. She was sure that she would indeed see Sesshomaru again. Sooner than she thought.

BlueMoon Goddess: So what did you guys think about the first chapter? I knew that it would be better to have them know each before things actually got started instead of them meeting during the forage. This makes it more interesting and more of a story. Now I have the first few chapters already written out, so depending on how I feel, I might put up the next chapter next weekend. So like I always say, until next time! ^_^