The perfect date

by lmgurl92

Inuyasha Takashi has it all, he's handsome, smart, rich, and charming, everything Kagome needs to make her perfect older sister completely green with jealousy. He'd be the perfect date to her sister's wedding, but there's only one catch He's her boss...

23. PART 2: Please come back around

PART 2:

Chapter 23: Please come back around

!

!

!

(A couple months later)

She was lying in bed staring at the ceiling. The lights were off so she couldn't make out much, but she could see some of the floral moldings on the wall adjacent from her. She had her phone in her hand, and though it was around three or so in the morning she was contemplating making a call. It was crazy, but this usually happened to her. She'd be lying down, ready to sleep but she couldn't. He kept playing around in her head over and over again, and then all of a sudden she'd feel extreme guilt go through her, so much so that some nights she'd just lay her head in one of the pillows and cry. Tonight was no exception, though not only guilt filled her, but regret, and emptiness.

This wasn't supposed to be how she was feeling; she was supposed to be relieved. Maybe a little depressed for the first couple of weeks, but here she was two months later and she was still crying herself to sleep. When was she going to get over him? Of course deep down she already knew the answer, she was never going to. You don't ever get over the love of your life, but she had to keep some kind of hope she would. She had to move on, become the old Kagome who only cared about moving up the corporate ladder and achieving financial bliss. Now she couldn't care less, she just wanted to see him, but of course he didn't want to see her.

Why would he? She just took off the morning after his party with no goodbyes or warnings. He probably hated her; he probably wondered why she'd accept his proposal of moving their relationship forward then just take off. He probably thought she was lying, just humoring him. The thought of him assuming she was toying with his emotions hurt her even more, but she just rolled herself over in bed to face the window. He'd be coming back from the trip tomorrow, he'd then find out she had already moved away, that she had accepted an offer with his older brother. She could imagine him already knowing and being even more upset. Why couldn't her timing with him be perfect? Something always seem to come up and ruin things.

She felt like she should apologize but she couldn't bring herself to call him, sometimes she'd lay with her cell phone and imagine how that conversation would go, but she already knew how Inuyasha would take it. He probably wouldn't answer his phone; she hadn't heard anything from him since the night she left. He hadn't tried to call her, email her, or even send any sort of letters. That told her already how pissed he was. And now that she was staying in one of Sesshomaru's spare apartments she probably would never see him either. They could go months without talking, and what if by that time he moved on. That caused her stomach to twist painfully, because she could never see herself just moving on from him…ever. She stared out the window for a moment then moved center again, the phone still in her hands. She couldn't continue doing this…she had to talk to him, she couldn't continue to just assume where they were relationship wise. She was beginning to think she made a humongous mistake just leaving. She should have talked to him first; obviously just quitting him cold turkey wasn't working. She needed him.

She rose up from the bed and headed out of the room towards the living room. She had been living in her new apartment for weeks now but it always seem to surprise her how spacious it was. It disoriented her slightly; it was so different from living in a studio apartment. Now she lived in an apartment with an open huge kitchen, a loft space joined by a spiral stair case, four bed rooms' two and a half bathrooms and tons of living space, though she thought it was extremely excessive and it cost her a fortune to furnish, if it wasn't for the raise in her pay she wouldn't even be able to afford it.

She was still getting paid thank goodness. There was no way she'd be able to make her monthly payments towards the apartment, which was also extremely expensive. She moved towards the open kitchen and took a seat at one of the three stools Rin had bought her near the granite island. She still had her phone in her hands, and she was just staring at it. She was going to make the call…she told herself she would. It was early in the morning, there was no way he'd answer, and she wouldn't leave a message, but at least he'd know she tried to call. At least he'd know that in the two months she kept away it wasn't just because she was ignoring him.

She quickly dialed his number and stared at it on her phone. Her heart was beating, her stomach was on a tilt and whirl moving rapidly, and she almost felt like vomiting. She bit her lip and quickly pressed the speaker button and pushed the phone away from her, hearing the first ring. If he picked up the phone at that exact moment then she could hang up and her number would hopefully never appear on his call history. She rose up a bit wanting to get the phone when the ringing stopped. She bit down on her lip hoping she'd hear the automated voice message system, but she never did, the other line was quiet.

She narrowed her eyes waiting…hoping to hear his voice. "Hello…" she whispered meekly. She didn't hear anything right away just the rustling of something that sounded like a bed spread. "Is anyone there?" She asked.

"Yeah…yeah…Kagome" her breath halted in her chest. He sounded the same not too upset or angered. He actually sounded surprised and a bit groggily, like he was just waking up. She paused for a minute grabbing her phone and staring at it, she wanted to say something, but she was completely tongue tied. "Hello…." He said again. Her heart increased beats and she hung up the phone quickly.

As soon as she did it, she was embarrassed. All this time away…she thought she was over this sort of feelings, but she wasn't. She was still a bit of a spazz, she imagined being like this forever, anytime she had to be near Inuyasha. She stared at the phone hoping he'd call back, but he never did. Why would he answer the phone? Could it be he wasn't upset, that shocked her slightly, but made her feel instantly better. Maybe she should call him back. She bit her lip as she reached for the phone once more, but automatically she rethought it.

If he wasn't upset then why wasn't he calling back? And why hadn't he called her in all this time? She was so confused. She set the phone down and looked around the spotless kitchen. She could detect every nonexistent stain and blemish. She had to clean. She had to get her mind away from it all.

!

!

!

(Part 2 CH. 23)

Rin POV

Later that day

She rushed out of her convertible handing her keys to Ayame in the passenger seat. "Park it for me…" She demanded and Ayame just rolled her eyes.

"It's not that big of a deal. What am I supposed to do with the table?" She demanded, but Rin just ignored her. It was around three in the afternoon and she was in the garage of Sesshomaru's old complex. It was of course Kagome's now, but she would never consider it that. Now that she knew Sesshomaru's angle she knew exactly what he gained from allowing Kagome to lease his apartment. She left the business trip four days after Kagome begging her to choose any apartment in the city but Sesshomaru's.

It was extremely close to his branch of Takashi Corporation, and she could picture him going up to see Kagome, sleeping over, claiming he wanted to be up early for work. It just made her blood boil thinking about it. Today was the last day of the trip, both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru would be heading home, and she had just gotten a text from Inuyasha saying he was taking a plane and he needed her to pick him up from the airport. That was not good, what if Sesshomaru decided to fly home too, what if he got up earlier than Inuyasha, and was already at Kagome's place.

She couldn't allow it; ever since she got back she spent most of her time in the complex. She went shopping with Kagome to furnish it, but from time to time she bought a few things. She had just gotten a nice wooden corner table to put near the balcony in the main room when she had gotten the call. She had to hurry and make her way down town to check on Kagome, hoping Sesshomaru wasn't there. She could picture him stopping by to check on her when he landed. She was one step ahead of him; tonight she'd just sleep over and intercept his little visit.

She made her way to the elevator calling Kagome again, but she didn't answer the phone. She hated when she did that. It just worried her even more. She had so much on her plate when it came to Kagome. She had to find a way to get her and Inuyasha back together. Detour Sesshomaru somehow and then she had to ensure that everything was in order for Kagome's sister's wedding in a few days. It was the most prying she ever did in her life in such a short period of time, the major problem was, Kagome wasn't as easy to manipulate anymore. Of course that was a good thing. Rin wanted to ensure that she wouldn't be manipulated by her sister, but it was awful when it came time to persuade her to decline Sesshomaru's apartment offer. Or when she wanted her to go back on the trip and reunite with Inuyasha, or even when it came to talking about him with her. It was like she had some wall up now and she wasn't letting anyone infiltrate it.

The elevator doors opened and she rushed out into the hall, passing several double door apartments till she landed on Kagome's. She pushed her purse onto her arms and knocked on the door several times continually. No one came and her nervousness surged even more, the idea that Sesshomaru could be in there made her sick to her stomach. He didn't deserve her, he deserved to be rejected. It would do him some good; he needed a good shot to his self-esteem. She knocked a few more times then pulled out her purse and went for her spare key. Kagome had warned her about using it any time she wanted, but she felt as if this was an extremely valid reason. She pushed the key into the door and twisted then pulled the door opened.

As soon as she came into the foyer she froze at the smell of cleaning products. She hadn't walked in and been completely immersed in it since the trip, something must have been bothering her. "Kagome…" she called while pulling off her heels. She took off her jacket and draped it over her arm. "Kagome…" she said again, she left the foyer hall and entered the main living room. The dark oak wooden floors were newly polished, the wooden entertainment center and matching furniture all dusted. The balcony doors were open trying to mask out the smell of furniture cleaner, but it wasn't working. The open kitchen was immaculate, but she didn't pay too much attention to it. She went towards the master bedroom and opened the door, she had cleaned it as well and both the window and balcony was opened also. She walked in deeper going towards the on suite bathroom. "Kagome…you in here?" She asked, but it didn't seem like it. She backed tracked and went out into the hall, checking both of the guestrooms on the way.

It wasn't until she heard the vacuum running did she know exactly where she was. The only place that had carpet in the house was the loft area. She ran towards the small spiral stair case. She could already see her moving around up there from a distance; she climbed up and looked around seeing her clean the small office place she placed to the side. "Kagome…" She said relieved that Sesshomaru wasn't up there with her. She couldn't hear her but she scrambled up into the loft and jogged to the other end snatching the cord from its socket. "Kagome"

She turned around in shock. She still had her matching pajamas on. They were striped. Her hair was in a bun but a few weeks after coming from the trip she had gotten her bangs cut, so they sat to the side of her forehead, just before her eyes. As soon as she saw Rin she looked instantly surprised then annoyed.

"I've called you like a dozen times." She said but that didn't seem to register with her. "Is Sesshomaru here?" She bluntly asked and Kagome threw her a confused look. She didn't take the time to hear Kagome out instead she went for the spare bedroom up in the loft and threw it open. Of course no one was in there, it was the only bedroom in the apartment that wasn't furnished at all either. She backed up and out again. "Was Sesshomaru here…did he call? Why haven't you been answering your phone? I called both the house phone and your cell phone all morning?"

"They're down stairs? Why are you here and why the hell are you asking about Sesshomaru?" She asked and Rin paused for a moment thinking about the question. She decided to ignore part of it and answer the one she felt obligated to.

"What I can't come visit you from time to time. You live so far now. I want us to stay close?" Kagome narrowed her eyes then turned away from her going towards the stairs. She stepped down into them and Rin followed behind her. "So you've been cleaning this place all day? What's going on?" She just shrugged while walking, she was definitely going through something, but she pretended like she was perfectly fine. "Have you packed at all for your sister's wedding?"

"No not yet. I will though…I've been busy."

That had Rin a little confused, she had been off work for weeks now, what could she be so busy doing. Cleaning an already immaculate apartment? "Okay so do you want me to buy some clothes…ooh we can go shopping again? We haven't done that since we bought the furnisher for the apartment.

"Tempting…but I have enough clothes." She said sarcastically. And Rin just stared at her stopping in her spot. Kagome had been unnaturally rude these few weeks. She tried ignoring it though; she was obviously going through some things. Besides the whole Inuyasha problem her sister didn't hesitate to call relentlessly. She always had new things to dump on her, and she never let Kagome get a word edgewise. She could see how that would upset her, but she didn't have to take her frustrations out on Rin.

"Okay…okay…well what do you want to do today? We can get lunch. Ayame's on her way up."

"Sesshomaru called he wanted me to look over some stuff for him." She mumbled walking down the hall. She wasn't exactly lying, but Sesshomaru had called weeks ago and emailed her 'the stuff.' She was done with the paper work already; she just wanted to wallow in her own self pity alone.

"Really, well when did he call? What did he want?" Rin asked. She tried to make herself sound as disinterested as possible. Kagome ignored her though, heading into the kitchen and opening the fridge. She looked inside for a moment then closed it. She couldn't eat she just needed to clean. "Well maybe we could have a sleep over. We'll order take out. I have to run back home and…"

"Why would you do that?" Kagome asked narrowing her eyes. "Why would you drive all the way home just to make the two hour trip back over here?" She asked and Rin was taken aback at her tone. She wasn't facing her but everything she needed to know was in the tensing of Kagome's slight figure.

"Because…" she whispered, "I want us to stay close. I told you that."

"Well Rin it's impossible. We're not close anymore." She stated. She walked around her and towards her sink. She bent over getting a spray bottle and a roll of paper towels. She was about to clean her windows and balcony doors again. "Obviously I live too far to stay that close. Stop forcing it."

"I'm not forcing anything…what's wrong? You're bitchier than usual." Kagome ignored her getting up. She put the bottle down and unwrapped some of the paper from the roll. "I'm trying to stay friends, but you're pushing me away." She took the bottle and walked away towards her living room and balcony. "And now you're ignoring me."

Rin watched her from the kitchen as she walked out into the living room. She didn't know what to exactly say. She sighed slightly, how could she help her if she didn't want to be help? It was definitely another bump in the Kagome road, but she wasn't going to give up that easily. Obviously something was upsetting her. She had to find out what it was. She went around the island and out onto the wooden floors. "Kagome…" She said. "I don't know why you're more upset than usual, but I'd like to help."

"I don't need your help…you don't understand" She mumbled and Rin stared at her as she bent over and began cleaning the glass doors. She sprayed them continuously then cleaned the same spot. Her head was completely somewhere else. She kept thinking about Inuyasha, wondering why he answered the phone. Wondering why he didn't call her back. Wondering how he felt about her. Every time she thought about it more stress piled up. She hated staying on the subject for too long. She hated feeling like everything was out of her control. That was one of the reasons she adapted this meaner façade. She felt like with everything that was going on she couldn't let her guard down.

"I know but how am I going to ever understand if you don't tell me?" She asked and Kagome looked up at her for a moment. She seemed like she was contemplating things. Rin waited patiently, but she never said anything. She just stared at the glass French doors for a moment. It was fairly cold outside; they were at the tail end of winter. It had come and gone so fast, but it was still freezing outside. She was freezing but she pretended it didn't faze her. "What happened?"

"Nothing…" she lied, she stood up and closed the door to the balcony locking it. She stared outside for a moment facing away from Rin. For some reason, all of a sudden she felt the overwhelming urge to cry. Throughout the whole day she had avoided them, but they snuck up again. She bit her lip, why did they have to come now? Why couldn't they wait till late at night, when the thought of him caused crippling depression?

"Nothing, that's why you've been cleaning like this, I know when your upset Kagome. This place smells like bleach…tell me." She sighed turning to face Rin suddenly. She wasn't crying but she looked like she would be soon enough. She walked past her towards her couch set, taking a seat on the floor in front of her tan ottoman.

"I'm just being a stupid baby…" She mumbled.

"Is it Kikyo? Did she call again?" Rin asked. Kagome didn't say anything and she decided that must be the problem. "Ignore her Kagome. You're set for that stupid trip back home. You're a different person now."

"It's not my sister." She whispered. Rin waited and she knew exactly what it was. She wasn't going to mention his name though. "I called him this morning…" she widened her eye putting a hand to her mouth and creeping forward slowly. "And he answered the phone…" she put her hands over her face but she didn't say anything, she paused for an unusual amount of time. "I'm just…I'm such an idiot. I thought…" she cried silently in the palm of her hands and Rin sighed slightly crouching near her. "I thought I could get over him, but I should have listened to you."

"Kagome…listen it's not too late. I'm going to help you get him back." She whispered. She put a hand on her friend's shoulders as the front door opened. Ayame was standing to the side as two of the apartments attendants came in holding a rather large box. She looked annoyed but when she spotting Rin and Kagome she quickly gave them a tip and eased them away.

"What happened?" She asked closing the door after they had left. "Kagome what's wrong?"

"Sshh…" Rin whispered putting a finger to her lips. "She's just a little upset. Bring the box over here…"

"I can't haul that box anywhere it's huge, the tables already set up in it." Kagome looked up at that slightly. She pushed tears off her face and stared at the giant box.

"Rin…" she said almost as if she was exhausted. "Stop buying things…"

"I know… I know, but this is a great piece. It's tall with a rounded top. You put it off in a corner and you know put vases and stuff on top. It's going to be so cute near the balcony." She said but she didn't need to sell it too much. Kagome was so overwhelmingly sad and distraught she just nodded and rose up slightly from her spot. She walked towards her matching tan couch and laid down with her head in the cushion. "So um…what did he say?" Rin whispered, but she wasn't going to push Kagome to answer if she wasn't up for it. "When you called him?"

She shrugged, "I hung up…I was scared." She whispered and Rin looked to Ayame. She didn't say anything, they just shared a look then Rin gestured towards the kitchen nook. Ayame pulled off her leather trench and set it on a cute wooden bench near the front door. She walked quickly but as quietly as her heels on the wooden floor would allow towards the kitchen.

Rin met her there and took a seat at one of the stools near the marbled bar. "Kagome called Inuyasha?" Ayame asked incredulously. "Is that why she's crying?" Rin nodded looking off towards Kagome's figure. She was still crying softly into the couch.

"Yeah…she's been trying to avoid talking about him all this time, but I guess she wasn't really over it…listen, I have to pick Inuyasha up from the airport." She whispered and Ayame nodded like she already knew that. "Stay here with Kagome, I'll run to the apartment pack us up a few things and we'll sleep over. I have this feeling that Sesshomaru is going to make an appearance tonight and that's the last thing she needs."

"Okay…what are you going to tell Inuyasha?" She whispered and Rin just shrugged sighing slightly.

"I need to convince him to patch things up. But we don't really have the time." She turned back around looking at Kagome but she hadn't moved from her spot. "I promised her that everything will go smoothly at her sister's wedding, and I have no doubt that she'll be able to handle herself without a fake date…but if I could get Inuyasha to go with her…"

"Wait your plan from before… you want her to do that fake fiancé thing?" Ayame asked. She didn't seem to approving of the plan and Rin thought it about it again. It was the only thing that could work. Kagome had a wall up; she could if she wanted to stick up for herself when it came to her sister. She changed a bit from the girl months ago who allowed her sister's taunts to get the best of her. She didn't need some guy tagging along anymore, but on the same token she needed Inuyasha…it was all so complicated.

"Kagome's family is extremely old fashion. They're going to want her settled already." Rin said with a shrug. "She really doesn't need that sort of pressure from them right now…but anyway that's not really why I'm doing it. Since Kagome moved all the way over here she's further from Inuyasha. Once she starts working she'll be with Sesshomaru all the time, and as soon as that happens who knows…she needs some time alone with him."

Ayame seem to agree a bit. "How are you going to go about it?" Rin furrowed her eyebrows. That was going to be her biggest challenge. She had no idea how to go about any of this. Especially not with Kagome in her stumper, and she already knew how stubborn Inuyasha could be.

!

!

!

23

INU POV

He stuck a playful eyebrow up as he let his lips turn into a pleased smile. He had the cart filled with his luggage to his right. Rin had a grin on her face when she saw him. He seemed pretty much the same, not a crying wreck like his other half miles away. She pressed a button to her baby blue convertible unlocking the trunk. She didn't hesitate to run towards him, throwing her arms around his shoulders and giving him a huge hug. He lifted her momentarily then set her down. "You think all my shit can fit in the back of your tiny ass convertible?" He joked and she rolled her eyes stepping back.

"You can use the back seat…" She said with a roll of her eyes. He only smiled stepping away from her to go for his cart. She watched him trying to sense any sadness in his disposition, there was none. He looked like his normal, overly handsome self. He still had business casual on; he must have gone straight to the airport after a meeting. He wore a white button down with a solid black tie. She watched him put his things in her car. "I missed you so much. I was extremely bored without any one to annoy." She joked and he smiled slightly nodding.

"I figured, that's why I rushed back."

"Your brother and dad flew back to?" She asked, she tried to seem like she didn't care, but she needed to know when to expect Sesshomaru. He shook his head closing her trunk and opening her back seat. "Oh so their driving back…wow what a drive. Where was your last town again?"

He didn't say anything for a moment just piling his things in. "Uh…I don't remember…everything is a blur at this point. It wasn't too far. I was just sick of driving around." She nodded balancing back and forth on her toes. When he was all done he pushed the cart towards her making her move out of the way quickly. It rolled towards the bushes near the back entrance of the airport. "Wow mature…" she said and he smiled again.

"Get in the car I don't want to have to bring it back in." He said and she walked forward pulling open the driver seat door. He was already sitting comfortably in the passenger seat. "So how have you and Ayame been?" He asked while turning slightly for his seatbelt.

She pulled out of the airport and to the highway. "Um…we're good, been spending a lot of time near your brother's branch." She mumbled, he didn't make any physical reaction to her words but he was getting good at hiding away his true emotions. Instead he turned forward keeping a casual look on his face. "You know…because of Kagome…" She stole a side glimpse towards him but he didn't react at all to her name. Instead he tensed slightly.

"Oh yeah…" he said and she nodded. "How is that…I mean…how is she?" He asked mentally cursing himself at the stuttering. He knew Rin would bring the topic up, he had been telling himself to seem unfazed by it. Just drive along and pretend to be fine with it all, but of course it didn't work. He had an urgent need to know about her. Even after everything, even though he knew she was now working for his brother…even though he knew she moved into one of his apartments. He still wanted…he still needed her. "I mean how are all of you?"

"We're fine…holding up well without you." She joked and he nodded. "Miroku and Kouga are great; I think they came back a couple weeks after me and Ayame." She mumbled then turned to face him slightly. She began a funny story about something revolving his friends and he tuned her out staring off towards the speeding cars beside them.

"Yeah…" he nodded awkwardly ignoring her. He truly didn't care how Miroku and Kouga were doing. He couldn't give two shits about what Ayame was up to. And though he loved Rin like she was a sister he couldn't bring himself to care the slightest about her story. He just waited for Kagome to be mentioned. When she didn't show up in the story he ignored it completely.

"Isn't that funny? He's such an idiot." She shook her head with a smile on her attractive face.

"Oh you know what…I forgot to tell you thanks for that party you threw." He said and Rin's gorgeous smile spread a bit farther.

"You liked it?" She asked and he nodded though he didn't. He hated it after Kagome left, and the morning after when she up and left completely he not only hated it, but he despised everything.

"Yup…so fun…" He mumbled putting his hand on the side of his chair to bring it down slightly. Rin turned to face him sensing the sarcasm. It wasn't the type of cynicism Inuyasha typically used. When he wanted to be cynical he was direct about it. She could usually hear it in his voice, see it on his face, but now he was lying back with his eyes closed. He wasn't trying to be sarcastic; he was trying to be nice. That was very unlike him. Something was definitely bothering him.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Did you get my gift?" He nodded but he was just lying. He only opened one gift at that party and it was Kagome's. The rest were stored away in his suit cases. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it…" she mumbled and he nodded.

"You had better things to do." She didn't like the way he said that. But she deserved it, she told herself at the time that she was only distracting Sesshomaru for Inuyasha and Kagome, but now she knew she truly did it for herself. She was over him completely now. The only thoughts he evoked in her were true disdain and disgust.

"Yeah…" she scratched the back of her head slightly while staring ahead. She didn't say anything but the further she went the more depressed she became. She had to fix things between Inuyasha and Kagome, she just had to. If things didn't work out she would be the one to blame. She had Kagome bawling her eyes out and Inuyasha here trying to pretend everything was fine. She could see through his façade. She knew he was upset, and he had every reason to be, but with Kagome and her new icy disposition she couldn't get through. Everything was caving in around her and to make matters worse she had to deal with Kagome's sister's wedding. She had to chase Sesshomaru away, and for the first time she literally had no plan. Things weren't supposed to end up like this. They were supposed to be easier, but Sesshomaru had been right. She saw things like a movie, but these were real lives she was messing around with.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, but even though she tried to take deep breaths and come to terms with everything. She couldn't keep the tears from falling down her cheeks. She continued driving but leaned forward and began crying hysterically. Inuyasha opened his eyes in the passenger seat sitting up immediately. "Rin…what the hell's wrong?" He asked. He was legitimately concerned as he watched her heave her shoulders forward and cry.

"I'm fine…I'm fine…" she said but she began another bout of sobs. "I'm just…I'm hormonal." She said and he narrowed her eyes.

"Pull over let me drive." She shook her head wiping furiously at her tears even though they continued to spill out.

"No…don't be silly, how was your plane ride."

"Rin…"

"I'm fine really?"

"No you're not…come on what's wrong?" She shook her head again and he stared at her as she tried to clear the tears before they came out, but she was never quick enough. "Rin…I know something's wrong tell me." She continued shaking her head as if the whole thing was absurd. "Rin…"

"OKAY OKAY! YES SOMETHING'S WRONG!" She shouted and he widened his eyes in shock. "Everything is wrong…Kagome's at her apartment crying her eyes out. She's been depressed for the last two months. You're sitting here as if everything's fine. It's not! I know what Kagome did to you! I know it's not fine. You're brother…he's the devil himself…he's been trying to keep you guys apart. Then Kagome has a sister just like Sesshomaru but bitchier and she has to go to her wedding, and she needs you there, but you won't go. And her family's going to tear her apart I just know it. Kagome's gotten all bitter and mean and she won't let me in. She keeps pushing me away, and now you're sort of doing it to!" She explained in one deep breath. She turned around to face him, but he seemed lost trying to sort out everything she just said.

"What?" He asked after awhile and with that she pulled quickly off to the side of the highway. "What are you talking about? What's going on?"

"Listen Inuyasha I have to come clean…" Rin admitted. She wiped at her tears and unbuckled her seat belt. "I need you to help me…please."

"Okay…" he said with a nod. "Tell me first what's going on." She fully intended to. She had to get it off her chest.

"I'll start from the beginning. Okay you know when you hired Kagome as your secretary on the trip?" She asked and he nodded as if he knew already. "Well I was jealous of her…I didn't want her to take Sesshomaru away from me." He opened his mouth about to interrupt but she put a finger up. "Let me finish first…" she thought for a moment remembering where she left off. "I was jealous so I wanted to see her, find out how she looked like. When I saw her I thought….hmmm…she's really cute even with her God awful sense of style. I just knew she could be so pretty if I just…"

"Rin…go on with the story." He interrupted in annoyance. She nodded seeing she was going off topic a bit.

"Well I wanted to ensure that she looked like that all the time, so I picked her up from your job so I could get to know her." She looked down at her fingers, flicking her nails rapidly. "Then I really got to know her, and she was really cool. She told me she came from this small town and she has this brother and her grand pa….and ooh this sister who's a total bitch. I mean the worse… she bullies her and makes her feel awful and her moms no better. I sort of felt bad so I wanted to help. So I thought I'd give her a makeover, make her gorgeous and she'd go back to her sister's wedding and prove her old town wrong but…" She bit her lip and Inuyasha waited. He didn't understand where his help came into this story but he continued listening.

"I just…well…I knew she'd need a date. Like in the movies…you know, to make her mom appreciate her. The perfect guy and I sort of thought that guy…I thought that guy could be you." She admitted and he looked away slightly. "I wanted you to agree to take her, but I knew you wouldn't, so I decided to make her into the type of girl you'd like. I wanted to make you guys fall in love, but um…I didn't account for her to fall for you so hard." She whispered and he felt his blood run cold. He silently waited for her story to continue. "Anyway she liked you a lot and everything was going great but then your brother…your fucking brother." She cursed looking away. He could see the anger light her eyes.

"What… what about him?" He asked.

"He saw Kagome and what I did to her and he liked her." She said and he let his mouth open slightly as realization came through. He was so in a daze at the information. "And he knew that she liked you. I mean everyone knew she liked you, but you….you were so clueless…" She decided to continue on and leave that fact alone. "So your stupid worthless piece of shit of a brother decides to take her from you. And that's the reason why Kagome went to the dinner with him. He asked her before you, and he must have told her it was all business." He nodded realizing it must have all been true. It sounded like something Sesshomaru would do. "So she went with him but she really wanted to go with you…then when you found out and you were upset it just gave him time to swoop in, offer Kagome a job and an apartment. And she took it thinking stupidly maybe it would give her another shot with you." She shook her head sighing.

"Any way all of this doesn't matter anymore…it doesn't matter if you can't forgive her. She didn't leave because she didn't want to be with you. She left because your brother conned her into signing a contract that activated the morning after the dinner..." She looked up at him. He was staring through her towards the woods that divided the north bound traffic from the south. "You see Inuyasha…she loves you, and she's at her apartment crying her eyes out, cleaning like crazy, obsessing over a depressed call she made to you last night, and just wallowing. And your brother is going to come back from the trip and swoop her away, and I'm trying to stop it, but I live too far now to intercept everything."

"Okay…okay…yeah… I get it. I understand now, but what do you want me to do?"

She took a deep breath and looked up at him. "I want you to take her to her sister's wedding. I want you to pack your bags and spend the month you have off down at her hometown. Get to know her family get to know her more…I don't know. Help her prove herself…" She smiled slightly. "Fall in love all over again. Give her a reason to be with you, not with your brother…make her happy again. Only you can."

He thought that through for a moment and stared down at his armrest. "How do you know all this?"

She laughed dryly. "I always knew how she felt about you…and I knew how you felt about her…but I didn't find out about Sesshomaru's plan till the night of the dinner. I went to his hotel. I didn't sleep with him…but he overheard me on the phone and we got in an argument afterwards…one thing led to another and he told me." He nodded slightly and moved to stare forward. "So Inuyasha will you?" She asked. "Please do it for Kagome…and if not for her for me or for yourself…for anyone. I don't know, just say you will. I'm through planning things behind your back. I'm just…I'm coming clean. Just…please." She stuttered. She never had more hope for anything in her life. She just sat there waiting for his decision.

"Rin…I…I" He sighed loudly and shook his head. "I can't Rin…" Her heart sunk immediately and she turned away from him.

"What do you mean you can't?"

"I just can't."

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T?" She shouted and he turned towards her just as upset.

"I can't okay…Kagome's a big girl. She could have told me what was going on. She had the chance. I just…I can't keep on putting myself on the line for her okay. No matter what…it's not as simple as just getting up and going with her to some wedding. That doesn't fix everything. I haven't seen her in months. Months and…and honestly…" he stopped talking and Rin waited. She could feel the tears resurfacing.

"Honestly what…? Honestly you don't love her anymore?" She asked and he shook his head. "Honestly what then Inuyasha? Honestly what?"

"I love her…that's just it, that's why I can't do it. If she wants to be with Sesshomaru, then she should. If she wants to be alone she should. She should do whatever makes her happy." He whispered.

"YOU MAKE HER HAPPY YOU MORON! YOU DO!"

He sighed. "Then why didn't she stay?" He asked looking towards her and Rin stared at him shaking her head as the tears came down.

"She would have…I told you already."

"She could have told me…and I'm sick of being the reason behind her tears…doesn't it always seem like she's crying because of me? How is that happy?" He asked. "I made her cry so many times…I said so many things. I might not be what she needs." Rin interrupted disagreeing and he rolled his eyes. "You don't understand…" He snapped and she went quiet. "You butted yourself into our lives, but it's not all cut and dry, this isn't some chick flick this is my…this is our lives."

She was so sick of hearing that. First from Kagome then him, it was like she was the wretched one because she just couldn't understand. How could she? She was just a little brat who annoyingly pushed herself into their problems. This might not have been a movie, a chick flick, or a fairytale….that was true, but Inuyasha loved Kagome and she loved him. That was the simplest thing she had ever heard, what she couldn't understand was why Inuyasha was being such a weak coward.

"Get out of my car." She whispered. He heard what she said but ignored it. "Did you hear me?" She asked.

"What?"

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY CAR NOW!" She screamed. She turned around grabbing the key from the ignition and unlocking the trunk. She opened her door and ran towards it. She pushed it open and grabbed all of his stuff; she then proceeded to throw his things on the side of the highway. Cars began to slow down to watch her angrily toss his lighter bags out into the woods to her left.

"RIN WHAT THE FUCK?" He shouted. He was out of the car wanting to stop her. She pulled with all her strength the bigger suitcase and left it on the pavement. "Rin what fucking gives?"

"WHAT FUCKING GIVES! WHAT GIVES IS I WANT YOUR BAGS OUT OF MY CAR, AND I WANT YOUR PATHETIC ASS OUT AS WELL!"

"Hold on… what the hell are you talking about?"

"I'M TALKING ABOUT KAGOME! I TOLD YOU THAT THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE IS SITTING AT HOME CRYING. SHE THINKS LEAVING YOU WAS THE WORST MISTAKE OF HER LIFE! SHE'D LITERALLY GIVE ANYTHING TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND! THAT IT'S NOT THAT EASY! YOU ARE AN INSECURE PIECE OF SHIT! YOU KNOW IT'S THAT EASY! YOU KNOW SHE'D TAKE YOU BACK!" She pushed her hands into her hair pausing for a moment and turning away. She let her anger simmer down for a moment and she turned to face him."Kagome loves you!" She said in a loud whisper. "You love her! What isn't simple about that? You're being pathetic, and I don't have time for it." She turned leaving him to stand there dumbfounded as she went to the back seat of her car and pulled out his bags. "There are plenty of taxis driving up and down this highway, throw a thumb up and give them that Takashi smile and I'm sure they'll be falling all over themselves to give you a ride, but as for me. I have a friend two hours away in a whole different district depressed and crying and I have to see to it that she's okay."

She turned away quickly getting back into her car and pulling back into the highway. He stared at her as she drove off. He had nothing to say. He let her words set in completely and he realized how idiotic he was being. Why would he just give up? Why would he let her leave? He shook his head and walked towards the zipping cars watching a few cabs go by. He waited for a cluster to zip forward before taking her advice and sticking a thumb up. A few slowed down but one pulled on to the curve. So things weren't that simple between them, but if Kagome loved him then why the hell wasn't he going after her. Instead of wondering all this time why she didn't stay, he should have been making her stay.

!

!

!

23

"How is she…?" Rin asked while dropping her purse and coat on the wooden bench in the foyer. There happened to be a coat closet to the right, but she seldom used it when visiting. There was no one in the living room forcing her to look towards the open kitchen. Ayame was sitting on a bar stool while Kagome was at the stove. She wasn't crying anymore, but she wasn't exactly happy. She had gotten dressed; she had on sweats and a long sleeve shirt. She was probably about to start dinner. "No no….don't bother…" Rin said quickly.

Kagome looked forward towards her. Rin had two miniature suitcases dragging behind her. She set them to the side and took a seat near Ayame. "I ordered us takeout from the road so you don't have to worry about a thing." She said and Kagome just nodded turning off the stove. She hadn't started anything, she just placed a few ingredients out, the pot had water in it she was going to boil, but honestly she didn't even know what she was going to make. "So what did you guys do without me?"

"We watched movies." Ayame said with a shrug. "How about you…did you take care of everything?" She asked with an eyebrow up. Rin knew exactly what she was getting at but she didn't have good news to report back. She silently shook her head and Ayame widened her eyes… "Why" She demanded loudly and Kagome who was dumping the pot of water in the sink turning around to face them. They both went silent immediately as she gave them a questioning look.

"It's sort of getting late…" She said, "I'm going to get ready for bed. Just tell me when the food comes." She said and Rin gave her a soft smile, she returned it half heartedly and continued off to her room. They both watched her leave then turned to face each other.

"What happened…he said no?" Ayame asked incredulously.

"I told him everything and he just..." Rin shrugged not knowing how to exactly sum it up. She was still upset but she tried to mask it. Kagome didn't need Inuyasha. She would get over him…she needed someone who was sure of what he wanted.

"Just no…like he flat out said no?" Ayame didn't seem believing of it. "He couldn't just say no…"

"Not in so many words…"

"Okay well then what did he say? Maybe he's just upset." Ayame said and Rin stared forward as if she didn't want to talk about it. "I know you're not just going to give up. Kagome's been a mess since she left. I mean we have to do something. We'll come up with something; we'll get him to change his mind. He'll want to if we get him to see her…"

"That's not going to work." Rin said interrupting her. She was abrupt and a bit cold, but she didn't exactly snap or yell. "We're being dumb okay…something's aren't supposed to work out okay." She got up from her stool. "Our job is to make sure Kagome feels fine. That she gets over all this…we should stop feeding her fantasies. I mean life isn't a fairytale." She mumbled and Ayame turned to face her. She had a confused look on her face as if she had no idea what her best friend was getting at.

"What?"

"You heard me. Not everything works the way you want it to. Life just…even if two people love each other there is no guarantee that they'll get together. That's life." Rin mumbled. She slumped down on the couch and crossed her legs. The television was on but the volume wasn't loud enough to catch her attention. She stared at the girl on the screen laughing before turning to face the balcony. It was dark outside it had to be close to ten. She had wasted her day away driving back and forth trying to convince Inuyasha of something he'd never go for.

Ayame was staring at her from the kitchen. She rose up and walked towards the couch. "So what, we're just giving up?" She asked and Rin shrugged. Even if she could get Kagome to move on from Inuyasha there was no guarantee she could keep her from Sesshomaru. "Rin that's not like you." Ayame said she was about to continue on when there was a knock on the door. Ayame backed up and sighed while turning to the left to head for the foyer. She opened the door seeing a delivery boy. "Foods here…" she called out.

"Just give him a tip. I paid over the phone." Rin called out and Ayame nodded looking around the foyer for her purse. She grabbed it near her coat and Rin's on the wooden bench.

"We need to move our stuff or Kagome's going to go through another cleaning meltdown." She called while grabbing a five from her purse and turning back to the delivery boy. She smiled and took the food from him. She turned around again and headed to the kitchen. "I'll make a plate for Kagome…" She said and Rin just nodded but before Ayame could get to the kitchen island there was yet another knock. She turned back around looking over at the door. "Is that the door again?"

"Did you leave something? Sometimes they make you sign these little paper receipts when you pay with a card." Rin said and Ayame thought back to her quick exchange with the delivery man and Rin already knew she hadn't signed anything. "I'll get the door this time." She said and Ayame nodded.

"Ask if he has anymore sauce?"

Rin rolled her eyes heading into the foyer and opening the door. "They don't just carry around sauce I think. Besides you have to be more specific." She turned around ready to be handed something, but when she witnessed who was really at the door her whole train of thought just disappeared. He was leaning confidently against the doorway his arms crossed and a small smirk on his handsome face. Although he wasn't expecting to see her he didn't show the shock on his face. He actually secretly was more pleased by her appearance.

She had on a pair of waisted jeans showing off her very petite figure. Her shirt was just a black tank top and her brown hair was down and parted on the side. He had seen her more elegant before, and although she seemed extremely casual at the moment she still struck him as beautiful. Her face for the last couple months played in his head constantly and he realized now that his memory didn't do her justice. She stood at the doorway staring straight up at him in shock. "Excuse me…" He said looking away from her as he slid pass the door into his old apartment. He looked around, it was pristine. A type clean, which he now understood Kagome was. He had paid a few people to take his furniture out during the trip and now the apartment was filled with her things. As soon as he walked in he noticed where he had placed a dining area she had an entertainment area. A large tan wrap around couch a light orange rug on the dark wooden floors. She had a small table off to the side near the kitchen. The entertainment section matched the floors; her sense of style was extremely homey. Night and day compared to him, he looked up seeing a red headed woman in the kitchen. She was standing over bags of take out. As soon as she saw him she ran a hand through her massive curly hair.

"Where's Kagome?" He asked bluntly. Her lips parted slightly almost like she wanted to say something. She then backed away from the kitchen going towards the master bedroom. She ran almost like Sesshomaru was her father telling her to go get stomething from his room.

Rin watched the back of his head. He must have just got home because he was still wearing business casual. He was so handsome in a bronze colored button down, black slacks and a tie. He turned around to look back at Rin. She wanted to say something rude to him; she knew he would do this. She had hit the head on the nail. She didn't know if it would be tonight but she knew Sesshomaru would rear his self-centered head eventually. She had so much planned out for this moment, she was going to tell him off, but she was feeling under the weather knowing he could pop up at anytime and she wouldn't be able to stop him. Instead she turned to put both her coat and Ayame's in the coat closet

He was watching her immensely as she closed the door and turned around. When she witnessed him staring she narrowed her eyes and he quickly looked away. Putting his hands in his pockets and turning away from her. She watched him as he tried to pretend as if he had never been watching. Ayame came out after awhile and Kagome peeked herself out of the door. She didn't want him seeing her completely in her pajamas. Her hair was still wet from getting out of the shower and she felt a bit inadequate. "Oh hi…" she mumbled faking a smile. He set his eyes on her face as it peeked out of one side of the double doors. She was fresh face and gorgeous as usual, unfortunately he couldn't see her fully. He couldn't ask for her to come out either, especially since her friends were in the house, something he hadn't expected. He didn't allow shock to show on his face.

He was feeling this strange combination of frustration yet intrigue, because even though he had come to see Kagome. He was more interested in Rin. So though his visit didn't turn out the way he planned he wasn't all that annoyed, not that disappointed either. He was beginning to realize he was more pleased then anything. "Just came by to see how the apartment was treating you." He said and he looked around. "Fine as I can see…it's uh you did a good job with it."

"Yeah…" she threw out a fake smile. "It's all Rin…she's good at this kind of stuff." He nodded thinking that through. "Thanks again for it…its right next to the branch. Uh did you get the files I sent?"

"Yeah yeah I did…I actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about." He lied. "But it can wait…I'll call."

"How was your trip back?" She asked, trying to find something nice to say. He looked up feeling just a tad bit awkward, her red headed friend was just staring at him. He looked over at her and she looked down at the counters quickly, pretending to be very interested in the bags of food sitting on the island.

"Uh…it was fine. So what is your name again?" He asked turning to face her. He just vaguely remembered her. He knew he should have known her, and maybe by speaking to her he'd appear slightly as the nice guy. He needed that, especially since he knew Rin was against him completely and he needed to win Kagome over. How would he know she wasn't telling Kagome malicious things about him? Though in all honestly he sort of wanted to appear as the nice guy for Rin and Rin alone. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Me?" Ayame asked in total shock. She put a hand on her chest astonished he'd be speaking to her. She was very attractive with her unusually wined curly red hair, her porcelain skin, and dark green eyes. He was about to answer her question when he realized he knew her at a younger age. She was one of Inuyasha's friends, he had seen her earlier too during the trip. "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes…you're my brother's friend...right? I recall knowing you from back home…"

"Uh yeah I'm Ayame…I'm not really Inuyasha's friend but…"

"Why are you wasting your time Ayame?" Rin interrupted. He turned to face her. She had her arms crossed and was leaning against the wall behind him. "He's just going to forget again a minute later. Hey Sesshomaru do you remember who I am?" She asked and he stared at her but not at all in the way she expected. His glance was expressionless as if he was thinking, then he threw her a slight smile. She felt her blood run hot and her own smug expression just cleared away.

"Rin…" he stated in a slight whisper… "I haven't forgotten…" She stumbled from foot to foot uncomfortably.

"Rin…" Kagome said from her spot. She gratefully looked away from his handsome strange glance to look at the master bedroom. Kagome was giving Rin the eye wanting her to be nicer. She then closed the door; she knew she should have come out. Speak to Sesshomaru, but she just couldn't. She wasn't in the mood to pretend right now. She was just overwhelmed with emotion. Rin watched her close the door and stood awkwardly. She wasn't frozen in her spot but she was over thinking the look he just gave her and trying to remind herself that the jumping butterflies in the pit of her stomach and the puttering of her heart was completely uncalled for. She didn't like him, he was a dick.

"Well Kagome's not feeling well…" Rin said while walking past him. She was hugging herself self consciously before taking a seat at the stool. He watched her. She was practically miniature in height; probably he'd guess around five foot tall. He was never really attracted to short women, but for some reason she was different. "So I think you should probably go."

"Are you kicking me out?" He asked with mock shock. Rin didn't bother entertaining his tone. She just stared forward looking towards Ayame as she continued shuffling through small containers of food. "Fine…I'll go, but uh…I need to speak to you." He said. Ayame stopped what she was doing and stared directly at him. Rin just tensed up slightly. "Please…outside."

"About what…?" she asked but he didn't respond. he just turned leaving the apartment all together. She stayed in her spot staring at the counter top.

"Rin…" Ayame said in amazement. "Aren't you going?"

"I want a whole thing of chicken for myself." She said ignoring Ayame's question and sitting up in her seat. Ayame stared at her pulling the food away. "Stop it I'm hungry…"

"You'll get food later…stop playing around Rin…go talk to him."

"Why would I do that? Anything he needs to tell me he can tell me here." She said with a shrug. Ayame gave her look a look and she took the break in attention to grab a box filled with chicken. "Pass me a fork please." She said and her friend seemed a bit stunned but she did back up and grab a fork from the drawer.

"I guess you are over him." Ayame mumbled. She had a plate set up for Kagome and she was about to turn around and head into Kagome's bedroom when the front door opened again. Sesshomaru stood at the door way.

"Listen I'm not leaving till you get out here. If you want I'll take a seat inside." He called out and Rin froze slightly. She had a large amount of chicken in her mouth and she had stopped chewing to hear him out. "Did you hear me?" She chewed slowly. She could hear the sound of her heart beating extremely fast and hard. He only looked at the back of her figure for a moment longer and then he dipped out.

Ayame turned back around to look at Rin. She was trying to pretend like she was over it, but Ayame could tell she wasn't. Her face was drained of color and she was trying really hard to pretend she wasn't withered in emotion. She didn't say anything though, she needed to check on Kagome and give her some food. She knocked on the door then entered. As soon as Ayame disappeared she quickly stepped off of her stool and headed towards the front door. She opened it not seeing anyone right away. She should have been happy but she was instead a bit upset that he wasn't there. She stepped out a bit more looking to the left and seeing no one. Did he leave? Why the hell would he do that?

"Oh there you are?" She turned to the right and was shocked to see how close he was. The door covered him completely but he shut it himself. He was leaning against the wall casually looking at her in total scrutiny. "You had me waiting." He whispered but she was still holding her chest in shock. He let a smile play at his lips. She wasn't impressed by his handsome façade. Not anymore anyway but her stomach did still turn rapidly. She backed up and stuck an eyebrow out in annoyance, but he found it adorable. "I hate waiting."

"I hate being bothered." She said and he walked closer to her. She felt herself tense as he slowly cornered her towards a wall. "What are you doing?" She asked. She managed to sound a bit reluctant even though the butterflies in the pit of her stomach were going insane. She felt herself hit the wall and he leaned forward, she wasn't born yesterday, he was going to kiss her. She should have stopped him, but she felt like she needed verification he'd actually attempt it. Why? She had no idea. He leaned in closer ready for her to stop him, when she didn't he set his lips carefully on the nape of her neck. Her blood went hot but she wasn't as bought as he thought she was. He leaned down wanting to kiss her lips but she moved away and pushed him gently. "Sesshomaru what do you want. It's not happening." She said.

Her arms were crossed and she was looking down the opposite direction of the hall trying not to make eye contact. He stared at her, that definitely never happened. No girl just ever denied him like that, and he already knew it would make him want her more. He had been thinking about her for the past two months, no other girl could do it for him. He tried ignoring it, but he realized even when he went on with his plans with Kagome tonight, seeing her was his only highlight. "So…" he said but she didn't look up at him. She just pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is that your plan…you know to keep me away from Kagome. You'll just always be around?" He asked and she turned to face him.

"The problem with you Sesshomaru is you always think everything revolves around you." She said with a shake of her head. He shouldn't have cared about what she said, but he did. He wanted her to like him. The idea angered him slightly. He took in the annoyance in her dark brown eyes. He really liked the shape and color of her eyes; they had played around in his head since she marched out that night. They were so wide, round, and the deepest shade of chocolate. "I had no idea you were going to come down here tonight…" She lied. "But I'm happy that whatever you were planning to do didn't work out." She let a slight smile play at her full lips. "You deserve a bit of rejection, it'll humble you."

"Do I now?" He asked and she rolled her eyes as he walked in a bit closer. "I thought I told you I always get what I want."

"You know what? If you didn't get what you wanted as often. You'd be a lot more appealing." She said and that made him pause for a moment, but only for a second. He still managed to corner her again, and when she was about to push him off he put an arm around her waist tightly lifting her towards him and kissing her. It was the most abrupt passionate kiss she had ever experienced. It made her toes curl and her body smolder with heat. She could feel the goose bumps rising and even though she didn't want to kiss him, she was actually disgusted by the idea. She did, and she kissed him hard, her hands clenching at his shirt. He felt her passion go through him and he backed up slightly.

"How appealing am I now?" He asked and she rolled her eyes though she was still extremely heated and trying desperately to simmer down. "Get your stuff you should come with me." He said and she looked away again putting a hand to her lips slightly to wipe off any excess spit. He tried to come in again for another kiss but she pushed him away.

"You are so…it's never going to happen." She turned to head back into the apartment but he grabbed her by the arm making her turn back around. "Stop it…leave me alone."

"What's the problem? I don't get it?" He admitted and it was the first time he ever confessed ignorance. She stared at his overly handsome face but didn't say anything. He let his eyes survey her face for a moment. He didn't know how to rephrase the question so she'd answer quicker, but he did like just staring at her.

She looked away after awhile. "Why would you…because you're disgusting. I mean why would you want to leave with me, when your real choice. The girl you want to take to your parents is in there. You came all the way here for Kagome right?" He sighed loudly understanding what she meant. When did she become so self insured, obviously he under calculated her. She wasn't good for one night, which really was a pity because he had this theory. Maybe if he finally slept with her she'd get out of his mind.

He shrugged… "I don't plan things out like that." He lied.

"Bull shit…" she said with a slight smile and he knew the look of her face at that moment would be burned in his memory. He gulped silently… "I'm not going to sleep with you. Ever…I'm not interested, I know it's hard for you to believe this, but I don't like you." She said and he stared at her for a moment then focused his attention on the wall beside them. Her arm was still in his grasp but when she slowly turned to leave he held on to it for a bit longer, though he already knew he wasn't going to try to get her to leave with him. He just didn't want her to leave, what the hell was wrong with him? She turned wanting to know why he hadn't yet released her, she was going to say something, but when she took a look at his face her words vanquished just like that. He wasn't looking at her, but his reaction to what she said…why did it seem like he cared?

"Fine…" He mumbled letting her go. She quickly looked the other way knowing if she continued to stare at him she'd change her mind. She rushed quickly back into the apartment. He pushed his hands into his slacks staring at his old apartment's doors for a while then turning away.

!

!

!

23

2 weeks later

Kagome narrowed her eyes as she looked at the dress. It was gorgeous but she wasn't sure it was her style. As soon as she saw it in the shop mirror she could picture herself wearing it to her sister's wedding reception. She would take off that hideous bride's maid dress and slip into something like this. It was black and backless, a bit short, but the hem of the dress flared before tightening around her body. What she really loved about it wasn't that it held onto her figure well but the modest feel of the top. It was sleeveless yet a turtle neck, she'd love it if the rest of the dress followed suit. But that's what people wore when they wanted to make a statement. She could picture her sister wearing something like this. Everyone in town would think she was so gorgeous. She twisted in the mirror looking at her bare back. She liked seeing the hem flare and twist when she turned but she still thought it was too short.

"I think you should get it." One of the employees said. She was looking at herself in the mirrors sitting outside of the dressing room. "You look fabulous in it; honestly you have the perfect figure." Kagome smiled widely and she swept her bangs to the side.

"You think…" She said. Her face was a bit red in embarrassment. She turned around spotting Rin who was on the other end of the shop trying on shoes with another employee. She sort of wanted her opinion, but if Rin saw the dress she'd force her to get it, and she wasn't really sure if she really wanted it.

"Yes…look at you." She smiled again and twirled in the mirror. She thought about her fantasy, and although she knew this was extremely mean, she sighed and bit her lip glancing up at the older woman.

"Uh…okay do you have this in white?" She asked and the woman smiled and nodded. She watched as she stepped to the side and left. She shouldn't be happy about this but she was. Wearing white to someone's wedding was extremely impolite. Especially when that someone was your older sister, she looked at herself one more time then went back into the dressing room to get dressed. The way she saw it was Kikyo had already stolen her wedding theme so she was just evening up the playing feild.

She got out of the dressing room and headed out of the shop towards Rin. She was staring at her feet in a pair of brown wedges. When she looked up she spotted Kagome. "Hey do you like these?" She asked pointing out her heel with a smile on her face. "They're really cute aren't they?"

"Uh yeah…I like them." She mumbled and Rin smiled sitting back down to take them off.

"So did you like the dress? Did you try it on?" She asked and Kagome just nodded as Rin switched off her shoes for her black leather boots. It was warming up outside but it was still a bit chilly so she was properly dressed in a dark long sleeve burgundy dress. She had a black belt on the waist and her hair was down in curls. "You didn't like it."

She pushed another hand past her bangs hiding them. She did that often, confusing Rin to no end. Why would she get bangs if she was just planning to sweep them off her face all the time? The rest of her hair was in a high up ponytail but still fell down her back. She wore a casual waisted black skirt with a white skinny belt. The skirt was long and flowed down to the ground, but was figure hugging. She had on a white long sleeve crop top over it with black stripes. Only a bit of her waist was exposed though, she looked especially cute and to Rin's surprise she had dressed herself. It was a nice in-between of modest but trendy which Rin found out was very much Kagome's sense of style "Oh uh…I want to see it in white."

Rin looked up in shock while getting up. "White…? What an awful person you are." She said sarcastically and Kagome smiled meekly for a moment. "I think it's a great idea. All eyes will be on you."

"Really…" She mumbled thinking it over. "You don't think it's much."

"No…Kagome come on, did you see that bridesmaid dress she wanted you to wear?" She asked while boxing the shoes. "She was intentionally being a bitch…that's why I told you to buy something for the reception." Kagome didn't say anything she just watched as Rin walked her way to the front of the boutique. "Oh I forgot to tell you…I have a surprise for you."

"You really shouldn't…" Kagome whispered. They had been going shopping for her trip back home over the past couple weeks. It sort of helped her get over a few things but he still seemed to creep into her mind from time to time.

"No you're going to like it. I'll show you when we get back to the apartment." She was about to say something else when the woman who had been helping her met them at the front counter. She had the white version of the dress in her arms and Rin caught a look at it. "Oh my gosh…Kagome it's so cute." She just smiled as Rin gestured for the woman to pass it to her. She laid the dress out and flipped it around. "Backless…you've come a long way. I love it…you have to wear it at the reception." She didn't seem too sure but she got her purse out anyway. If she decided at the last minute she couldn't wear it, if maybe her sister had changed. Which she knew wasn't likely, she had talked to her a few times over the phone, but if by chance she did she wouldn't wear it.

"So you want it?" The woman asked and Kagome nodded. "It's very elegant…gorgeous choice." She just smiled while the woman punched in a few things in the cash register. "It's 550, on sale." She halted looking up, but Rin clapped her hands and laughed pleased almost as if she had just witnessed a bargain.

"Wow…that's…wow." She said but she pulled out her debit card any way. She could afford it now, but a few months ago if someone told her she'd be paying half a thousand dollars for a dress, she would have laughed in disbelief. She waited momentarily got her card back and the dress in a fancy white box with a string to carry it. She placed the box in her other shopping bags, before walking towards the exit. "I think we shopped enough for awhile. If we keep going to these fancy boutiques I'm going to be broke."

Rin laughed slightly following behind her. "If you want I'll pay for a few things for you."

"No…no don't worry. I have enough clothes to last me years." She said and it wasn't a lie. She had bought enough clothes for her trip and with the additional clothes Rin had gotten her months back she was set for awhile.

"Well I think all the outfits you bought will be perfect for going back home honestly. We just got to coordinate when to wear them…" They walked through the mall for a bit longer. They were still in Sesshomaru's district, she wasn't sure how the malls worked here, but she was hoping there was a restaurant close by. "Okay do you want to go get something to eat now?"

"Yea…sure…" She mumbled, she was thinking about a few things for a moment. Getting those strange butterflies she sometimes had when she thought about going back home. They walked down a widened hall towards eating areas; she turned to the right seeing a casual café, a bit less formal then some of the other restaurants nearby. "Let's just eat here," Rin turned around to face her nodding. She was going to say something when her phone began to ring.

"Hold on, get us a seat." She said taking her black miniature clutch out and pulling out her phone. She didn't even bother looking at the caller I.D. "Hello"

"Rin…" It was a man's voice, and though she hadn't been answering Inuyasha's calls for weeks now. She knew this wasn't him. She narrowed her eyes looking down at the phone. It was an unknown number. "Hey…" He said, but the man's voice was familiar. It didn't take long for her to recognize who it was.

"Why the hell are you calling me?" She asked as she felt her heart beat quicken. She hadn't talked to him since the altercation a couple weeks back.

He didn't say anything for a moment but when she sighed in annoyance he decided to continue on. "It's nice to hear from you too. What are you doing?" He asked and she bit her lip watching Kagome across from her find a seat by the glass windows.

"I'm about to fuck a guy that's not you." She said bluntly and he smiled laughing a bit over the phone. She bit down on her own lip trying to keep from smiling. "What is it that you want?"

"Well you'll have to tell him to hold on." He said ignoring her question slightly. He was in his branch's office. He was off, but sometimes he came in from time to time to work. He knew she was lying, just annoyed slightly by his call. Something he could literally say no woman had ever been.

"Sesshomaru…please, what do you want?" She asked and he sat up in his seat.

"I want to know what you're doing tonight."

"Not you…"

His smile returned slightly again. "We'll see," he mumbled making her roll her eyes. "I need a date tonight…I wanna know if you're interested.

Her lips parted in shock and she turned away slightly. Kagome wasn't looking towards her at all. She was opening up her bags and taking a look at all her clothes, but Rin moved away anyway in shock. "What?" She asked incredulously and he let a very self ensured smirk play at his lips. "I mean…I'm not interested."

"Sure you are… it's tonight. I would have given you more notice but you've been avoiding my calls."

"I don't answer unknown numbers…and I don't think I'll be able to make it." She lied putting down her bags and crossing her arms. She felt weird about the whole thing. Why was he asking her to be his date?

"Why is that?" He asked bluntly.

"Because we had this conversation already. I'm not interested…" He nodded a bit letting that soak in, but he didn't take it at full value. "What? Did you already ask Kagome and she turned you down?" She asked. She could see that happening, but it was odd that she wouldn't tell her.

"No I haven't, you're my first choice." He admitted, and just like that her animosity vanished. She had to admit she was still a bit jealous of Kagome, but not in an aggressive way. In the end she knew that she would always be Sesshomaru's first choice, but now he was telling her different. Did this mean he actually liked her? Could she let her guard down? There was a long silent pause as she thought that through. "So anyway I think you're going to say yes." He said and she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Why is that?"

"Because if you don't say yes I'll ask Kagome. She'll probably agree to it, and I know that's not something you want."

Rin laughed over the phone and it made him smile. "Are you black mailing me to go out with you?" She asked.

"Yeah…actually I am. See I've been thinking. I'm willing to back away from this whole Kagome thing. You know allow you to continue playing match maker, but I'm going to need something from you." She shook her head waiting for him to continue. When he didn't she decided to.

"And what's that?"

"That's just it. I'm going to need you." He said and she froze when she heard that, dropping the phone in shock. She put two hands over her mouth in surprise as people stopped walking to stare at her. She quickly bent over and grabbed the phone quickly putting it back to her ear. "Did you hear me?" He asked.

"Uh huh…" She was trying to fight a slight smile from showing on her face. "I hope you don't mean sexually, because…"

"Not at all…" he interrupted, "I want you to be my date." He found himself fidgeting slightly at his desk. Tapping his pen waiting for her answer…

She had a huge smile on her face. She seriously felt like doing a dance. She had no idea how much she liked him till he finally acted as if he might like her. "I uh…and if I don't take you up on your offer?" She asked.

He moved up in his seat, upset that she might actually be giving him that as an answer. Why the hell was he so hung up on her? "I think you know how blackmailing works."

"Okay let me get this straight, you'd use Kagome…force her to come with you to some dinner, continue to pursue her. Take her from your brother, the guy she actually loves, for no real valid reason… if I don't agree to come with you. You are a piece of shit." She said bluntly and he looked down at his desk, just waiting, although honestly it didn't sound very promising. She stared down at her heeled boots for a moment before smiling. "All that just so I'll go to a dinner with you?" She repeated again. "Wow you'd do all that…for me." He narrowed his eyes realizing for a moment that she wasn't scrutinizing him. She was flattered.

"So what do you say?"

"I really don't have a choice." She said biting hard on her lip so her happiness wouldn't show. "When are you going to pick me up?" She asked and he smiled.

"Probably around nine tonight, I'll be in the lobby of the apartment." She nodded not knowing what to say, she was frozen once again. "So uh it's an investment dinner so you know…look your best." He paused for a moment smiling slightly."I look forward to seeing you."He hung up after that and she screamed in excitement, making people stop in their spots but she didn't care. She grabbed her bags and ran into the restaurant finding Kagome waiting patiently at a window booth. "Guess what" She said taking a seat across from her. She looked up from her phone waiting. "Sesshomaru asked me out!"

"Oh…wow…Rin that's great." She said though she wasn't nearly as excited as Rin wanted her to be.

"It's to some fancy dinner. I have to buy a cocktail dress…I have to buy more shoes…" She put two hands on her face trying to contain her excitement. "I can't believe he's asking me out just to ask me out. He's not doing it to have sex nothing." Kagome smiled and Rin understood she didn't quite understand the gravity of the situation.

"That's really great." She said and Rin stared up at her. She was putting something in her phone but she tried to be as happy as possible.

Her reaction had her thinking; she shouldn't go out with Sesshomaru. After everything he did, she basically promised herself she wouldn't do it, and now she was betraying herself. She slumped slightly in her seat a bit as she watched Kagome continue to jot things into her phone. She paused slightly at times and continued. "So…uh…hey what are you doing?" She asked and that brought a smile on her face.

"I'm coordinating clothes. You know so I know what to wear on the trip." She said and Rin just stared at her. She wondered how it felt like to be OCD. It looked like a hassle but Kagome genuinely seemed happy to overly schedule and clean. "I'll let you take a look when I'm done." She nodded at that as she continued to press random buttons. A waitress finally came after awhile setting two menus on either side of their tables.

"So Kagome…" Rin said ignoring the young woman in front of them. "You don't think I should go out with Sesshomaru do you?" Kagome had set her phone away and was looking down at her menu. She paused when Rin asked the question looking up.

"Why don't you think you should be going out with Sesshomaru?" She asked Rin studied her features, she seemed legitimately shocked. That made her feel a bit better, she wasn't judging her. The waitress walked away promising to come back a bit later. "I thought you liked him?"

"I do…well I did….I did and I do, but I sort of promised I wouldn't go out with him." Kagome smiled slightly and Rin tried to return it. "What do you think?"

"I don't know why you wouldn't…" She said passively. It was like she didn't have a care in the world and it was then that Rin decided to tell her. It had been a couple weeks and although Kagome was up for putting a smile on her face Rin wasn't buying it. She missed Inuyasha...they couldn't even mention him in a sentence. But it was good that Sesshomaru had finally decided to back off.

"Well because…" she mumbled and Kagome closed her menu deciding what she wanted. "Hey are you ready for your trip tomorrow?" She asked and Kagome just nodded.

"I'm all set but what were you saying?" Rin pretended as if she didn't know. She didn't want to upset her. "You know the whole 'well because' thing you were about to say?" She asked and Rin nodded.

She opened her menu and stared down at it for awhile, she only looked up when she realized Kagome was staring. "It was nothing...ignore me." She said shaking her head. "They have bagel sandwiches here…what the hell is that? Look a blueberry roast beef bagel sandwich." She pointed the menu towards Kagome. She looked down entertaining the notion but she still seemed extremely curious. "I think I'll get one…how about you."

"I'm getting the tomato basil salad." She said and Rin smiled nodding, Kagome always ordered salads that didn't meet her standards and she'd just play around with the lettuce. At first Rin had thought she was watching carbs but she ate decently when she cooked herself. It didn't take her long to realize it was an OCD thing.

"Yum sounds healthy." She said sarcastically while turning a page of the menu. She felt that staring feeling again and looked up seeing Kagome stare. "What's wrong?"

She shrugged. "I'm trying to figure that out myself." She said and Rin sat up at her bluntness. She forgot that Kagome wasn't one to just stay quiet anymore. She was pretty direct now. "What did you want to tell me?"

"I don't want to upset you." As soon as she said that Kagome knew what she'd say. She looked down at the table slightly playing with her fingers. "It has to do with the business trip." The waitress came at that moment and she turned to the left to give her order. It was a nice distraction from mentioning him. Rin stared at her for a moment then smiled up at the waitress giving her the order and passing up her menu. She waited a moment after she left to look over Kagome. "Do you not want to hear it?"

"Go ahead…might as well." She said.

"Okay you promise not to be mad?" She asked but she just looked forward, she wasn't going to promise that. "When you told me about your sister's wedding I sort of thought Inuyasha would be your perfect date…" She had no reaction, just a slight distant flinch at the sound of his name. "So I decided to get you and him together and…"

"Wait Rin…" she interrupted. "I know…" Rin widened her eyes in shock and Kagome just smiled. "I know…you try to set us up...it didn't take long for me to figure it out."

"Yeah but did you know that it was working…that everything would have been perfect but Sesshomaru liked you and sort of tried to steal you away from Inuyasha." Kagome froze at that, she had a disbelieving look on her face and Rin nodded. "Why would I lie? He told me himself. He wanted you that's why he offered you his apartment, the job; he wanted to pull you away from Inuyasha. And you...You sort of…"

"Fell for it…" she whispered looking off to the side. Rin nodded. She didn't say anything she let feelings that she tried to bury away emerge again, but she hid them and put a smile on her face. "Well…whatever…what does this have to do with you and Sesshomaru?"

"After he told me that I was disgusted. I told myself I should move on, stop obsessing over him. You know... which was actually super easy seeing as he doesn't like me anyway he likes you."

"Yeah but now he's asking you out and you should go," She said, "what happened between me and…" she hesitated for a moment feeling her heart sink. "It was my fault, not Sesshomaru's." Rin stared at her for a moment. Hearing her say that just reminded her of something. Kagome didn't like Sesshomaru, and nothing that Sesshomaru could ever do would change that. So why the hell was she so hung up on stopping something from happening that would never happen. Kagome wasn't a defenseless kid, if she didn't want to be with someone she wasn't going to.

"You're awesome…" Rin said with a smile and Kagome just tilted her head knowingly. "I know you don't want to hear this, but I do hope things work out between you and Inuyasha." Kagome tensed up and looked down at the table. "It might take a bit longer then I hoped, but I know he'll come around…"

!

!

!

23

INU POV

"I want to take my jeep out of the garage." He said over the phone. It was sitting on his floor as he zipped up his suitcase. "It's the newer model burgundy." He picked up the phone and stood up moving his suitcase from the living room to the foyer. "Can you also send someone to bring my luggage down? I'm going to head out for the day and I want my entire luggage in the car so I can just go when I get back."

"No problem Mr. Takashi." The man over the phone said. He pulled out the keys to his Corvette and opened his front door. His thoughts were racing but he didn't let any doubt fill him. He was waiting the last minute to do this, like he did for most things. He just couldn't work up enough nerve to lay everything on the line and admit how he felt.

He walked quickly down the hall of his apartment opening the door to the stairs and quickly running down. He exited in the garage going over to his lot and unlocking the door to his car with a simple touch of a button. He sat down in the driver's seat and backed out of the parking lot pulling out his phone trying to call Rin. She ignored the call though. He could always tell when she did; she would hang up around the second ring. He honestly hadn't talked to her in weeks. For good reason too, he seriously deserved it. Hopefully he could make things right. He drove down the road for a moment sighing and checking down on his phone for a specific number.

He found Ayame's, he never called her…ever, but he needed her now. She answered on the third ring to his relief. "Hello…" she said in a groggily voice, she sounded like she was still sleeping though it was well in the afternoon. Maybe she was napping.

"Hey Ayame?" He asked and she sat up in her bed. She had a mass of used tissue paper lying around her and a cold compress on her forehead. She felt like complete shit but she knew who was calling without checking the caller I.D.

"Inuyasha?" She said unbelieving. She hadn't heard from him in months honestly. Sometimes he'd try to come by the apartment but they'd be at Kagome's and he would leave folded up notes by the door. Rin never bothered calling him back, apparently she was mad at him for not taking Kagome back.

"Yeah it's me. Where's Rin?" He asked.

"She's with Kagome they went shopping or something…" She said and he narrowed his eyes listening to the sound of her voice.

"You sound like shit."

"Yeah I know I have the flu…that's why I'm not with them. What do you want?" She asked and he sat up slightly.

"Oh that's unfortunate. I sort of need your help." He admitted and shocked didn't quite describe how she was feeling.

"Really…" she said and he nodded realizing she wouldn't be able to see it. "What do you need my help with?"

"So um…I know you already probably know about me and Kagome." He said and Ayame sat up in her bed. "I sort of messed up big time. And I'm only digging a bigger hole for myself. I need to make it up to her."

She broke out in a huge smile, putting a hand to the speaking part of the phone so he wouldn't over hear her laughing and cheering. He did though and it made him smile a bit. "Um… okay…" she said clearing her voice and trying to sound serious. "I'd love to help, but I can't leave my bed. What are you planning to do?"

"I have a few things up my sleeve but I need some help from you."

She smiled slightly. "Sure…it's about time you came to your senses. I'm at home you can come over…but I'm going to need a few things first."

"And what's that?" He asked.

"You'll have to stop at the pharmacy…" He rolled his eyes but agreed silently.

!

!

!

23

"SURPRISE!" Rin screamed..."Put it on please." Kagome stared down at her bride's maid dress. It used to be a disaster of tan and turquoise. It still was but Rin had sewed it into a two part gown. She took the sheer parts that would have shown her navel and lined the new sweetheart plunging neck line with it. She did the same thing to the hem of the dress. Now it wasn't so much of a dress but a turquoise and ocean blue shelled mermaid skirt. She then took the turquoise color and used it for the off shoulder silk top. It ended at the waist to reveal her whole stomach, and there wasn't any sheer to help cover up. "It's cute now…right. You don't like it?"

"My sister's going to be mad."

"No…you said it yourself she was going to make your gown different then everyone elses. And since I kept the same colors it'll be fine. You're the maid of honor your dress can be a little different." She said and Kagome smiled at the gesture, but she didn't think she'd be able to wear this. It was too much, her sense of style had changed a bit, but she didn't wear clothes too revealing. "You don't like it?" Rin said knowingly and Kagome shook her head.

"No…no…I do. It's so much better then what it was before." She admitted, and that was true but she still didn't like it.

"Yeah and it's really eye popping all eyes will be on you. So if you can't work up the nerve to change out of it and wear that cute dress you bought today you'll still be super gorgeous at the reception." Kagome smiled slightly, she didn't know if she'd be able to work up the nerve to wear this either. "Come on Kagome…what did I say? You have to be a bit confident and daring if you want to be treated differently."

She nodded; she had been trying to take that in for awhile. She told herself it every night so she could work up the nerve to call Inuyasha, but it hadn't worked. It did help her when it came time to choose clothes to wear back home, but she wasn't at this level yet. "Okay I'll…I'll take it with me."

"Of course you will… but try it on first." She seemed unsure and Rin sighed. "Come on…you'll like it once you try it on. That happens all the time, especially when you see how gorgeous you look in it." She didn't seem sure and Rin sighed checking the time on the huge clock. It was almost eight. She hadn't made up her mind on rather she would go to the dinner with Sesshomaru, but she had bought the gown and shoes so on the other hand she had.

"Um…okay maybe. But it's getting a little late and I have to wake up early to catch the plane. Oh and also we said we'd call Ayame when we got back…you know to make sure she's fine." She had every excuse in the book and Rin rolled her eyes. "Oh and it's almost eight you have to get ready."

"Okay okay… I got it Kagome you don't want to try the dress on." She turned out of the master bedroom going for her bags.

"No it's not that really…" she lied. Rin grabbed two boxes, one that had the gown in it the second with her shoes.

"I have to get ready anyway." She left going past her towards the bathroom. Kagome watched her for a bit then went back to her room to pack up again. She sort of felt a bit bad for not trying it on. She zipped up her last suitcase then rose up deciding she'd just get it over with. She'd have to do it anyway come wedding day, so she might as well. She picked up the dress sloppily holding it in her arms.

The idea of putting it on caused nerves to go through her. The whole trip made her extremely nervous, and she truly didn't want to go. She hadn't been back home for so long, she knew she'd be the talk of her town. They'd all wonder where she'd been. Then what if they thought her new look was slutty, and when she walked down the aisle with this gown on. They'd most definitely think she was a slut. She pushed her bangs out of her face before pulling up the mermaid skirt that sat snuggly around her rounded hips and positioned at the hips. She didn't look in the mirror just yet instead she pulled off her shirt to zip up the dark turquoise silk top. It plunged very low showing a good portion of her breast. It ended at the waist.

She took a deep breath deciding to finally go to the mirror. As she walked she could hear the sea shells that dangled around the skirt and the idea of it made her laugh. She knew her sister did it intentionally; it was a gaudy design choice for someone who had such great sense of style like her sister. Rin had tried to do the best with it, but the light blue sheer material that sat around the cleavage of the dress and ruffled around the folds of the skirt was almost laughable. She took a deep breath and turned to face her full length mirror and when she saw herself her smile faded for shock.

The dress was awful there wasn't much that Rin could do about that, but what she could do, and what she did do was make the dress flattering. It was revealing yet elegant like it had been made for her exclusively. The twisting of the mermaid skirt made it shine and the top matched. It reminded her of an actual mermaid; the skirt was the tail and the top a very elegant bra. The skirt fell down to the floor so beautifully she actually felt attractive. She turned around in the dress hearing the shells dangle constantly. It definitely made her happy. She left the bed room, quickly going towards the bathroom.

The door was closed but she knocked a few times. "Yes…." Rin said pausing at the mirror. "Is he here already, I'm almost done."

"No…no…I wanted to show you something." She let herself in and Rin turned away from the mirror to look up. As soon as she saw her she screamed.

"You look so good! I told you…it's great!" She called out and Kagome just smiled. "Now how about me?"

Kagome stood back slightly and took a good look at Rin. She looked beautiful. She had a dark violet cocktail gown that fit snug around the waist before flowing down. It reminded her of Cinderella's baby blue gown in a plumb purple. It didn't have any of the over the top additions. Just a sharp simple 'V' neck tightening at the torso before fanning out at the hip, it also ended right before her knees making the look a bit more casual then a ball gown. Her hair was up in a twisted bun with a swooping bang. "You look gorgeous…seriously. The gown…I love it." Rin smiled and turned back around to face the mirror.

"You think he'll think I look good…not that I care or anything." She said while leaning in forward with a tube of lipstick. She narrowed her eyes and applied it slowly.

"I think he'd be crazy to think anything else."

"Yeah…but I don't know. He's just…he usually dates models and tall gorgeous girls. That's who he's into, and I'm just…"

"You're just what…unbelievably beautiful." She said and Rin smiled at the mirror. The comment really warmed her heart. Kagome wasn't usually so nice. "Trust me he'll like it, you're a catch. I mean if Sesshomaru ever liked me it's because of you." She seemed disbelieving and Kagome just nodded "it's true…you're the one that did my makeup and my clothes and told me how to act. I mean…I really…I owe you a lot. You taught me how to stand up for myself, and even though not everything worked out amazingly with…you know who. I would have never even gotten the time I had with him if…" She paused for a moment her throat getting sticky. She could feel herself wanting to cry, but she just stopped talking.

Rin put down the lipstick and turned around. "Listen…Inuyasha will come around…and honestly Kagome. You were always gorgeous, it didn't take too much. Sesshomaru fell for you because you're smart and wife like. I'm not, so maybe you're teaching me a few things too." She just smiled slightly. She seemed like she was going to add something else but her phone began ringing. She moved out of the bathroom to get her purse. She needed to switch everything out into her clutch anyway. She walked quickly to the kitchen Kagome following behind. "I'm surprise you're not too uncomfortable with some of your stomach showing in the dress though." She said and she quickly looked down at the bridesmaid dress.

"It was going to show regardless…you saw the original dress." Rin smiled gagging a bit as she looked down at her phone. It was Sesshomaru, she had missed the call.

"That's him…" She could feel the nerves bubbling up again. "I better head downstairs." She began taking things out of her purse. "Call Ayame for me, make sure she's not dead. I'll probably come back around eleven."

"Have fun…lock the door when you get back." Kagome reminded, Rin nodded fixing her heels and heading to the door. "Don't forget I have to be at the airport at like five…I'll set the alarm but I don't want you to over sleep."

"I won't…I won't." Kagome watched her leave and followed her to the door closing it behind her.

Rin hurried down the hall running towards the elevator. She pressed the down button and stood back. Why was she allowing herself to get so out done over Sesshomaru? She was in control; she didn't need to impress him, she reminded herself. The doors opened while she ran a calculated hand over her dress. She realized she had forgotten her jacket but she was hesitant to go back for it. It was still a bit chilly even though it was about spring time, but she had forgotten to buy a suitable jacket for the occasion. She thought about it for a moment. Her dress had absolutely no sleeves, she didn't want to freeze. She backed up when the doors finally opened.

She was going to go regardless but when she saw Sesshomaru standing handsomely alone in the elevator she froze. He had a tuxedo on with a black bow tie. His hands were in his pockets and he looked frustrated. He was going to walk forward but he looked up and saw her. His expression changed automatically. As soon as he saw her he was filled with a mixture of content and awe. "Look at you gorgeous…" He said with a slick smile on his handsome face. She smiled looking away slightly; he could see a slow red creep on her cheeks. "Here I thought you were standing me up. I called a few times."

"Well I haven't decided completely if I should go. I could change my mind at any minute." She said and he just smiled. He backed up into the elevator and gestured for her to join him. She did and as the doors closed she could feel her nerves buzzing around in the pit of her stomach. "So a bow tie…" She said smiling slightly.

"You don't like?" He asked and she did, it was extremely fashionable on his part, especially with his narrow legged black slacks and the three center buttons that went down the formal under shirt. He was extremely handsome and if he wasn't such a dick he'd be perfect.

"No…I actually do…" He smiled happy to hear that.

"Great so after this little dinner you won't be hesitant to run back to my place." She rolled her eyes but the idea intrigued her slightly. She wanted to say yes but something halted her.

Instead she looked up… "We'll see…" The doors opened and she stepped forward but he stopped her. He quickly unbuttoned his long sleeve tuxedo over coat with one hand. He then draped it over her shoulders. She pushed her arms in it as her heart began fluttering. She couldn't believe he just did that. It was so overly sweet…so not what she expected Sesshomaru to do. And he didn't even seem like he had an ulterior motive. He just did it to do it He placed his hands back into his pockets. She watched him while he walked forward. He looked abrasively handsome in the buttoned tuxedo vest. "Thank you…" She mumbled meeting him as they crossed the lobby towards the glass doors.

"It's not quite spring yet." He told her and she smiled looking down. The door men opened both doors for them and although she was still confused about her feelings. She grabbed hold of his arm gently laying her head on his arm. He'd usually be turned off by that, he didn't like touching by women that didn't lead to sex, but when she did it he felt different. Maybe it was because of all the late nights during the trip he spent thinking about her. He didn't want to continue analyzing it; he just knew it felt…it didn't feel that bad.

The limo was parked in front of the building. She slipped off of him as the chauffeur opened up the car door. Sesshomaru made himself around to the other side. He took the time apart to look her over once more. He found her so extremely beautiful. Her eyes were extremely wide and round, her lips were pouty and full. It gave her a young adorable look that he never thought he'd find so unbelievably attractive. He slipped himself into the back seat and he waited for her to do the same, but she never did. She continued standing in her spot, he couldn't see her face but he stood up when he realized she wasn't going to sit down anytime soon. "What's the problem?" He asked.

He took a look at her face. She looked shocked; her eyes were even more wide than usual. And her mouth was partially opened. He furrowed his eyebrows following her glance off to the apartment's parking lot. It didn't take long for him to notice his younger brother leaning against a burgundy jeep and staring right at them. He had a slight smile on his face as he waved towards Rin. Sesshomaru glanced at his date again and her gorgeous face broke into a humongous smile. She put a hand to her mouth backing up.

"I knew you'd come!" She called out and he walked forward off the lot and towards the roundabout that hosted their limo.

"Then you knew better than I did." He said and when he finally got on to the sidewalk she ran heels and all to embrace him. He had been waiting in the parking lot for a while now. He noticed his brother pull up into the roundabout with his limo and he was about to leave. He automatically thought Kagome was his date, he was too late, but he couldn't bring himself to just go. He told himself he'd confront her anyway. Speak to her before she slipped into the limo, he didn't drive two hours to just turn back. He wasn't taking no for an answer anymore when it came to her. "I've been calling you…"

"I've been waiting for you to man up." She said as a comeback and he backed away from her.

"You look beautiful…" He told her and her smile only spread wider. Sesshomaru on the other hand rolled his eyes at the exchange. He didn't know rather to be annoyed or disgusted. And ultimately he was jealous. That was a feeling he not only wasn't used to having, but he also hated feeling.

"Yeah that's because we were on our way out." Sesshomaru interrupted and Inuyasha looked up at him.

"Oh…I'm aware…you look pretty handsome yourself." He joked and his brother just rolled his eyes. "Have fun." He stepped off to the side. It didn't seem too jeopardizing for him to allow Rin to go. That's when Sesshomaru realized that his brother wasn't here for her he was here for Kagome. He let the thought sink in as Rin waved one last time and headed into the limo. He usually enjoyed upsetting his brother, but obviously Rin didn't. He was willing to actually step aside and allow him to be happy for once. They both took their seats in the limo and Inuyasha waited for it to close before waving. It took off after awhile and so did he.

!

!

!

23

"I'll be there tomorrow Kikyo, tell mom that. I'll be there in the late afternoon." She said in annoyance. She pushed her suitcases off towards the foyer so it would be easier for her and Rin to put them in her convertible. "I have to talk to you later…I uh…I something's in the oven." She lied. She never talked to her sister for more than ten minutes. She hadn't talked to her mom at all for months. She set her phone down on the round table and went back for the rest of her bags. Every time she moved she could hear the annoying rattle of the shells on her dress. Why she still had on her brides' maid gown was beyond her. It made it extremely hard to walk and she had to do it constantly to bring all her bags to the front.

She went back into the master bedroom attempting to take it off when she heard a knock on the door. She automatically knew who it was. Rin had left her coat, and though it was warmer during the day the nights and mornings were still freezing. She grabbed her dark jean jacket and headed to the front. She smiled knowingly and unlocked the door twisting it open. "You forgot something?" She asked.

"Yeah…" He said taking her in… "You" the jacket fell to the floor her mouth fell opened and her hands went to her lips. Her emotions splurged out in complete chaos. He was standing in front of her. He had on a red v neck sweater and dark black jeans. He just stood in front of her unbelievably handsome and panting slightly. "I'm sorry it took me so long." He admitted but she was at a loss for words. "As soon as you left…as soon as you went back home I should have went after you." She continued staring frozen in her spot. "Kagome…"

Her eyes shifted slightly, she could feel herself fill with emotion and she knew tears would soon come. She also felt a bit light headed as if she could faint, but she held on by looking anywhere else but him. Her attention was on a rather large tree behind him. It was in a pot and a bit out of the way to be part of the hall décor. He noticed her staring and he backed up. "I uh…I thought to bring a house warming gift." He said lifting the potted tree up and setting it in the door way. "I understand completely if you don't want it."

"It's a tree…" She stuttered and he nodded. He stared at her face, she looked a bit different. She changed something; she was still unbelievably gorgeous though, if not more beautiful now. Her eyes were opened wide in shock, the darkest most beautiful shade of dark blue. He missed her eyes so much. But he was much more concerned with the color of her face. It was completely drained of color. She looked a bit sick. She also had on an unusual skirt. It didn't seem at all like something she'd wear. It was a long formal turquoise and deep blue skirt that hit the floor in twist and ruffles; it was completely filled with sheer fabric and shells. She had a turquoise matching plunging top to go with it. She looked unbelievably sexy; so much of her skin was visible. The skirt wrapped around her hips snuggly and flattered her figure.

"That is…uh…that's some dress. Are you on your way out?" She looked down, still in her daze before looking up with a widened glance.

"No… in this? No…I wouldn't…this is...this is my sister's bride's maid gown. Well it's my gown for my sister. I'm the maid of honor to her wedding." She stuttered and he smiled slightly. She let her eyes take in his handsome grin and she backed up slightly.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded…"Yeah I have to…I have to sit down."

"Can I…I hope this isn't forward but can I come in?" She gulped slightly yet nodded as she headed deeper into the apartment. He lifted the white potted tree and kicked the door closed with his foot. He watched her stumble slightly before sitting on a wooden chair near a rounded table. He looked around the apartment. He remembered being in here years before. It was one of Sesshomaru's first ever apartments when they had left home to take over their separate branches. He had moved out of it years ago. Now it was almost unrecognizable, she had decorated it completely different. Everything was neutral hues with offsets of colors. It was also ridiculously clean, which he knew Kagome had a habit of doing. "I like what you did with the place. It's really nice." He said. She didn't respond and he turned to look at her.

She had her head on the table and he could hear her sobbing slightly. "Kagome…" He said and automatically he knew he shouldn't have came. He stared at her for awhile hesitating. He had so much he wanted to say to her, but he couldn't if he knew it would upset her. "You know what. I'm sorry I should have called. I'll leave." He said and she looked up quickly at that.

"No…no don't please." She said. She had tears running down her eyes and she wiped at them furiously. "Don't go…" He stared as she stood up.

"Are you okay?" He asked and she crossed her arms self consciously. She looked down at the wooden floors. She seemed so unsure of herself. Didn't she know he was crazy about her?

"I'm fine…I was just…I wasn't expecting anyone." He nodded understanding that. Around the front of the apartment was a line of suitcases. She was obviously very ready for her trip tomorrow. "I should probably get changed. Can you please wait for me?" She asked and he stared at her.

"Of course, but you don't have to do that." He said and she waited in her spot for him to continue. "I came down here to apologize." She shook her head.

"I should…I should be the one to apologize I should have never left."

"Yeah but I know why you left. I should have gone after you…I can't believe I waited over two months to see you again. And I know you don't have to forgive me, but I'm really sorry." He admitted and although she was completely flattered by the gesture and ridiculously filled with happiness. She still couldn't help the amount of guilt that went through her.

"Yeah but still I should have never left." She repeated and he just stared. There was that difference in her beautiful face again, he just pin pointed it. Her hair was slightly different; she had gotten bangs, gorgeous. "I could have at least told you before hand, but I was afraid. I didn't want to ruin your birthday and I didn't want you to change your mind."

He stared at her not understanding exactly what she meant. "My mind…" he mumbled and he realized she meant when he had finally confessed he wanted to have a relationship with her. He smiled slightly. "I'd never…" he said. "I will always feel this way about you, and whenever it seems like I don't." He hesitated for a moment smiling. "Trust me…I'm lying." She smiled a bit too but didn't make eye contact. "I was afraid too though…" He admitted. He could feel his own nerves surface. "I thought maybe you were trying to tell me something by leaving." She looked up in shock and he absolutely loved her expression because it told him exactly what he wanted to hear. She shook her head and he smiled. Why was he so nervous before? She was obviously the same Kagome. He should have seen her a lot earlier.

He walked a bit closer to her smiling slightly. "I didn't... I meant what I said too." She whispered. He nodded believing her. Any resentment he was feeling was getting completely covered up with the idea of being with her. She wasn't making eye contact so she didn't notice him moving.

"I saw Rin…." Kagome nodded. "With Sesshomaru…" He was trying to make conversation loosen her up, because he was going to kiss her. There was no doubt about that, he had to. Ever since she opened the door he knew he would be doing it. She looked up realizing he was closing in, her heart began beating ridiculously and she tried to think about a response, but her mind was on him completely. "Sorry…" he said slightly seeing her think of a comeback. "I just…I'm going to um…I'm going to just kiss you. Rather than just…talk." He quickened his speed and made it across to her. He looked down for a moment taking in her face… he really missed that face. He put a hand gently on her chin and she reassuringly raised her arms to gently place them around his neck. She had no idea how happy that made him. To know she wanted to be kissed just as much as he wanted to kiss her. He lowered himself and touched her lips with his.

She felt the familiar electricity right away. Her blood heated up, goose bumps rose to the surface. She lifted herself slightly to stand on the tip of her toes so she could deepen their kiss. His arms went to the bare flesh exposed by her dress. When it came to kissing her, he always knew it to be extremely sweet like kissing no other woman before. He lowered himself from her lips kissing the bass of her chin; a new feeling erupted in her. The bottom of her stomach heated up and she felt a slight tingle play somewhere south. His hands slipped up her shirt past her bra, she felt him touch gently her breast toying around with her errected nipple, and automatically she jumped back.

As soon as she did she felt extremely embarrassed. She had never been touched in that way. "Are you okay?" He asked and she nodded quickly. Though her heart beats were out of control. She did want to kiss him again, it was something she fantasized about constanly, but she couldn't bring herself to. Here alone in her apartment she knew something could happen and it wasn't that she didn't like the idea, but she was afraid of it.

"Yeah…yeah…I'm fine. I just I hurt my arm earlier today, it's been giving me shooting pains." She lied and he lifted both of his eyebrows knowing she was lying. He wasn't exactly sure why she would lie though. "Uh…I'm really glad you're here." She whispered and he smiled, the slight doubt he was feeling disappeared.

"So you won't be completely turned off if we start where we left off? I really want to make us work." He asked and she just nodded trying to contain her own happiness. This wasn't happening. She was shrouded in disbelief. She had to hide a smile and he could tell. it helped his own grin grow a bit wider. "Okay good because I have a proposition. And if this is much…I mean I know we're just getting started but my car is filled with luggage and I would love nothing more but to pose as" he laughed slightly at the absurdity of the question but Ayame said it was the right move to make. Kagome looked up at him. "As your fiancé at your sister's wedding"

She stared up at him and smiled. "Inuyasha…you don't have to do that honestly" obvious humor clouded her voice. He put a finger up telling her to pause. He pushed a hand in his pocket and pulled out a small black box.

"Do you want me to get on one knee?" He asked and she laughed going towards him and pushing his hand slightly down.

"You seriously…don't have to do that…."

"I want to." He admitted. "You live so far now. I'd love nothing more than to spend the time with you." She looked away from him taking the box gently from his hand. "Ayame helped me pick it out. I mean if you want I'll tag along…I can be just your boyfriend. We don't have to lie." She looked up at that, Inuyasha Takashi her boyfriend. That just…it didn't make much sense but she supposed that was a fact now and she couldn't be happier.

"Unfortunately my family's really old fashioned so you'd have to be my fiancé." She said opening the box. When she saw the ring she closed it quickly. "Wow this is…wow…" He just laughed. "Is it real?" The diamond ring was humongous, it was a square shape and sat in white gold. there were actual smaller diamonds around it. She just couldn't accept it.

"Yeah it's real…" He took the box from her. "It's also a rental so don't get too excited." He gently lifted her wrist and opened the box. He pulled out the ring and slipped it slowly onto her ring finger. "Do you like it?"

"I love it…but are you sure? I mean you want to meet my family?"

"Well you had to meet mine so…" She smiled slightly looking down at the ring. She was still a bit unsure, a little more nervous now, but at the same time extremely comfortable. She didn't have to face her home town alone. She looked up at him; he had a handsome smile on his face and he lowered himself down to kiss her but she quickly slid away. As badly as she wanted to kiss him, as badly as she wanted to feel his arms around her, she couldn't. The thought of what it could lead to had her stomach feeling a mess and she was so nervous. Then she realized she was actually terrified. Inuyasha could get any woman he wanted to, and she was just a virgin, she'd embarrass herself compared to all the women he'd been with. She remembered the girl she found in his bed during the trip. How gorgeous she was…she couldn't compete.

He stared at her as she surveyed the ring. If he didn't know better he would say she had actually conveniently avoided kissing him, but he wasn't sure, and he actually doubted it. "I have to move more of my bags to the door."

"Don't worry about it. Tomorrow I'll put it in the car. You don't mind if we drive do you?" She looked up at him. "I got my jeep so we should be fine."

"Yeah…that would actually be a lot better." She said.

"Okay…" She smiled genuinely. Her nervousness about going back home was almost completely depleted. At the moment she was filled with joy about being here with him. It felt like she was in a dream, she'd wake up tomorrow missing him and wishing she could reverse time. It just couldn't be real. She walked over to the miniature tree, attempting to lift it.

"Oh don't worry about that…it'll be way too heavy." He said and she backed away. "Where do you want it?"

"Well honestly?" She asked and he turned to face her. "I don't want it." He stared at her and his face broke into a smile. He laughed slightly and she did too. "It's sort of horrible timing we're leaving and it needs water, and it's a tree…" she scratched the back of her neck slightly. "It seems really messy too…like when it sheds."

"It's a tree Kagome…not a pet, why don't I put it on the balcony." She nodded agreeing and he easily lifted it up and headed to the French doors. "Oh uh…I know this is a given." He said pushing the door open, Kagome turned around to face him. "But you don't mind me crashing here right? We'll take off tomorrow around five." The smile that was permanently attached to her face disappeared. He couldn't see her reaction though, he had left outside thinking it would be fine. And why wouldn't it be? She was his girlfriend now, but as soon as he asked the fear came back again, her body heated up. That strange tingling feeling filled the lower half of her body again. He came back in dusting off his hands… "We'll have a little sleep over." He joked…but she didn't laugh, instead she crossed her arms again subconsciously.

!

!

!

A/N super long 40 page chapter to christen the second part of the story! So excited to start it up with Inuyasha and Kagome dating and write about other problems besides their relationship! Oh and new problems! Kagome's super shy! I'm excited.