Alright! Now it's time to get to know our other main character.

(As a side note, thank you to the reviewer for posting blogspot FAQs on sessXrin and sessXkagura – feel free to check them out via the reviews page. Just to be clear, I am being sincere in my thanks. I found it to be an interesting read.

However, I will reiterate the point that I am aware Rin and Sesshomaru having a relationship is non-canon. This story, though it does go back to Feudal Japan later on, is primarily based in the near future. Through Rin's many lives her and Sesshomaru's relationship will grow into what it is today – for the sake of my plot development. So yea… hope that appeases y'all.)

Enjoy =]

"Rin! Are you even listening to me!?" Maya yelled, exasperated.

Rin's head snapped around to look at her friend with whom she was linked arm–and-arm.

"Sorry. Got lost in my head, I guess."

"Yeah nothing new," Maya sighed. "You've gotten another call from that agency. They seem to really want you to work there."

"Again? Jeez, I applied to that temp. place hoping to work as a cashier or bag groceries, not work at a corporate law firm."

"But it'll pay so much better! And you'll meet lawyers! Hot lawyers!" Maya practically squealed.

Rin rolled her eyes and let go of her friend in favor of batting her arm lightly. "Maya!" she reprimanded playfully, "You know I'm dating Ken. I'm a one man woman."

"Yea, yea but there's not harm in looking! Plus Ken-taaaa is so… uptight." Maya said 'uptight' as though it left a bad taste in her mouth.

Rin bit back a laugh. "It's pronounced Kenta and it's a perfectly respectable Japanese name."

"To go with the perfectly respectable stick up his," Rin covered Maya's mouth before Maya could finish.

"He really isn't that bad. Drop it okay?"

Now it was Maya's turn to roll her eyes. "Ok, ok. Yea. But, if a girl has to describe her boyfriend as 'really not that bad' you now there's a problem. Just promise me you'll at least go for the interview. We could use the money Rin. Apartment's not going to pay for itself."

Rin ignored the first part and waved a hand dismissively at the latter; she didn't really want to talk about work or Ken.

She'd go to the interview but she pretty much knew the outcome. There was no way in hell she'd get the temp job. It was a secretarial position and though she could type fast and knew how to answer a phone, all her other skills were lacking. No matter how many episodes of Mad Men she watched, she'd never have that kind of lady-swagger.

As if that wasn't enough of an issue, things with Ken weren't looking up. He was everything her parents wanted for her. Though born in America, she was raised with pretty traditional Japanese standards and Ken was - for all intents and purposes- a dream catch. He was a native born Japanese man from a respectable family on a fast track to working at a prestigious architecture company.

In that sense, things couldn't have been better. But in every other...

Maya was right; Ken was definitely a stick in the mud. He had little to no sense of humor and they shared none of the same interests. Already a college graduate, Rin still couldn't figure out how he had had any interest in her when she had been a lowly sophomore. Now over a year later, they were still together and Rin had absolutely no idea why.

Maybe it was because neither of them was going to find anyone better, an utterly depressing thought by anyone's standards. She wasn't even 21 and Rin was already settling in the love department.

Maya had started talking again but Rin wasn't listening. She loved Maya to bits, but half of what came out of her mouth was 'kinda' 'sorta', for lack of a better word, inane.

Rin looked around, not focusing on anything in particular when someone caught her eye.

A man exited the café she usually studied in and began walking in the same direction as her. He was across the street but even from that distance he was hard to miss. He was easily over six feet tall with a shock of brilliant white hair that fell way past his shoulders and was pulled back in a low ponytail. As if that wasn't enough to make him stand out, his suit looked like it was worth a million bucks, literally.

Perhaps best of all, if his profile was anything to go off of, with a chiseled jaw and a sharp straight nose, he was a total babe.

A bus passed between them before Rin could scrutinize Mr. Tall-Not-So-Dark-And-Utterly-Handsome any further. She craned her head to the side in an effort to see around but by the time the bus pulled away, he was gone. He probably went into a building or around a corner or wherever super wealthy businessmen went but Rin couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that she hadn't gotten a better look at him.

It wasn't until she looked back in front of herself that she realized her best friend/roommate was staring at her.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Rin asked in return, feigning innocence.

"That! Him! Do you know Mr. Yummy?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Well, at least you are admitting to staring at him! Not that I blame you. He puts Ken to shame!"

Rin would've defended Ken under normal circumstances but it was hard to when Maya couldn't have been more right. It wasn't every day that she saw super model quality men walking around.

Maya continued to talk about the mystery man like he was a sexiest hunk of meat on planet earth, which wasn't far from the truth. Rin only half listened as she lost herself in her own thoughts again.

By the time they reached their apartment, Maya seemed to be over him and went back to bashing this-and-that, as per usual.

Rin went over and looked at the message pad where Maya had taken down a number and a name. Rebecca at the US branch of Taisho Industries. There was a local number listed below.

"Maya," Rin called as she held up the paper. "I thought you said that the law firm called me back. This is for some other company."

"Oh yea," Maya shrugged and fell back on the couch dramatically. "Those people called too. Apparently you'd be the little helper for the secretary of one of the head honchos. Said she needs an extra pair of hands for a couple months."

"And the other one?"

"It isn't there too?" Maya said, though the hand covering her face muffled it.

"No," Rin said as she resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Oh well. Sorry about that, "After a long pause she continued, "but the lady seemed pretty eager to have you. Plus beggars can't be choosers."

Rin stopped herself from calling her roommate a rather obscene string of words in favor of putting her purse down on the kitchen counter with a satisfying –thud-.

"Well, at least I wouldn't have to know how to do everything myself." Rin muttered to herself before pulling her cell phone out of her pocket and dialing the number.

It ran twice before a high feminine voice picked up.

"Tashio Industries. This is Mr. Tashio's personal assistant Rebecca speaking."

Rin stared at the paper pad, horrified. The Mr. Tashio! As in the owner?! The owner of this super high profile company?!

"Hello?" The voice on the other end brought Rin back to her senses.

"Ah yes. This is Rin Sato. I am calling you back regarding a temporary position at Tashio Industries."

"Oh Ms. Sato. I am so glad you called back. I'm hoping this is about scheduling an interview and not declining."

"No! I mean yes! Sorry," Rin pinched the bridge of her nose and leaned against the counter. "Just got out of an hour long seminar, my mind is a bit muddled. "

Rebecca laughed, it was high and musical and Rin could imagine the woman being a gorgeous secretary who probably worked for a fat middle-aged man that hit on her day in and day out.

"Would you be able to come in tomorrow for a quick interview?"

Once again Rebecca brought Rin back into the moment. Rin felt the need to smack herself. Why couldn't she focus!?

She quickly went through her schedule in her head and nodded at the woman on the other end who, obviously, could not see her.

"Yes. I am free after two."

"Excellent. Come by around three? Just head on up to the top floor, that's the fifty-sixth floor. "

"Alright. Thank you." Rin responded, slightly bewildered.

"Great. See you then!" Rebecca hung up and Rin slowly brought the phone away from her ear.

Maya looked over at Rin as she stuffed her phone into her back pocket and asked through a yawn, "Did it work out?"

"Sorry, I'm not sure I know what 'Diieee-doo-tok-ow' means."

Maya shot her an incredulous look and repeated herself sans yawn.

"Yea. I have an interview tomorrow."

"Awesome," Maya replied, turning back to the TV, "Plus I hear the owner is, like, one of those Top 50 single hotties or something. Better watch out little Rinny-pooh. You might get involved in an office romance."

"Doubtful," Rin said with a snort as she crossed the living room into her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

With a frustrated huff, Rin sat down on her bed and pushed her jeans off her hips and down her legs. She lay back in only her bra and panties and stared up at the ceiling.

She would have been lying to herself if she said she hadn't given that mystery guy a second thought; she couldn't stop thinking about him. Perhaps that was because she had wanted to wrap her legs around him and…

Rin covered her eyes with her left hand and whined.

If only Ken wasn't such a stickler for rules. They had yet to get past making out with the occasional grope - usually on her part. Honestly, he was more of a blushing schoolgirl than she was.

He had his whole wait-until-marriage thing but Rin couldn't wait to have some guy rip of her clothing and ... Rin sighed. When, or rather if, she ever had sex with Ken, it would never be anywhere near as primal as all that.

But that man….

Rin rolled over onto her side and slide her hands under her cheek. She didn't know a thing about this guy but she had already decided what he was like it bed…. Jeez…. She needed to pull herself together.

Sesshomaru sat behind his desk and only half listened to his assistant as she rattled off lists of names and meeting times. He knew she would remind him before each one; it was only a formality that she went over his entire schedule every morning.

It wasn't until she mentioned a new temporary employee, by the name of Rin that he tuned in.

"Excuse me?"

Rebecca, not used to Mr. Tashio acknowledging her during these routine agenda meetings, stopped mind-sentence and cleared her throat.

"I mentioned that with the new merger I would need to hire a secondary assistant for you in order to handle the amount of paperwork. You graciously agreed."

"Ah"

"If you'd like to interview her yourself, I'm sure there would be no problem. She seems like a promising young woman."

"That won't be necessary."

"Well, I have the girl coming in today. In the afternoon. Her name is Rin Sato. She will be here after you get back from your meeting."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed fractionally. "I see. And where did you find Ms. Sato?"

"She uhh," Rebecca stammered before regaining her composure, "I was given her name by a temp agency. As I said, she seemed competent over the phone."

Sesshomaru leaned back in his chair and dipped his head in the barest of nods. It was both agreement and dismissal.

Rebecca nodded back and quickly turned on her heel, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Sesshomaru watched the door closed and debating the best course of action. If he were a lesser demon of human, he would have showed his frustration by way of pinching the bridge of his nose or groaning, but he was Sesshomaru. He was a demon Lord.

Then again, no one was looking….

Closing his eyes, Sesshomaru breathed in deeply. Was this 'fate' again, playing him the fool? He had had a plan and now she was coming here. Still, he could work this to his advantage. If she came to work at his company for the next couple months, it would be easy to become a part of her life, to get to know her.

He could keep her late at night and after everyone else left…

Sesshomaru loosened his grip on his desk. He hadn't realized he had been holding it until he heard the oak tabletop cracked beneath his fingers.

Though he was loath to admit, it had been a while since he - as his human subordinates so quaintly liked to put it- had 'gotten any'.

Not that he needed to fornicate. He was perfectly capable of being celibate for any length of time. Before he had met the Original Rin, he had not copulated in probably a century.

It was humans, not demons, who had such a hard time controlling their sexual urges.

Then again, such distinctions as human and demon served little-to-no purpose anymore.

In a time where demons were only a thing of myth and legend, Sesshomaru played the part of his own great great, great…. and so on grandchild.

A –ping- from his computer reminded Sesshomaru of his lunch meeting with Mr. Grayson, the go-between for his acquisition of Edgewood Steel Inc.

He briefly considered canceling in favor of brooding but quickly dismissed the idea.

Rebecca's voice came over the intercom soon after with it's usual tinny sound.

"Your car is outside Mr. Tashio."

Sesshomaru pressed the little red button with the intention of thanking Ms. Collins but then thought better of it. He rather disliked his employees getting 'comfortable' with him. Even after all this time, he still never considered himself to be equal to everyone around him. He was better than every demon and human; that wasn't going to change with any length of time.

But, truth be told, Ms. Collins was his most reliable human assistant yet, at least for an American. He still had his reservations about the United States; most everyone on this side of the world seemed unrefined.

Rising, Sesshomaru buttoned his suit jacket and smoothed it out as if there were creases, a habit he had picked from spending so much time around humans who constantly fretted over their appearance. He also was acutely aware that humans tended to flit around to the point of irritation.

He crossed his vast office in with cat-like grace and opened the door. Ms. Collins was immediately on her feet with his overcoat in hand.

"I won't be needing that, Ms. Collins," Sesshomaru informed her; he only referred to employees and clients by last name. He had no interest in anyone thinking it was okay to broach any sort of personal subject with him.

"Yes, Mr. Tashio. Also, your brother wanted me to inform you that he plans to stop by in the near future."

Sesshomaru stopped before reaching the elevator and turned back to his assistant who was still looking at him.

"If he calls again please inform that he may stop by if he so chooses but if he tries my patience he will not be granted access to any establishment I currently own. If he isn't careful I will soon own the building he resides in which, by that same sentiment, will cause him to become homeless."

He didn't wait for a response. That was the longest statement he had ever made to any employee and Ms. Collins was not only reeling from his verboseness but from of his outright hostility towards his brother, a person Ms. Collins had never had the pleasure of actually meeting.

Outside, his driver/agitating-as-all-fuck servant, Jaken was waiting for him.

Long ago, Jaken had sought out a magical remedy for his short, pudgy, green and all together unattractiveness. Though he was still not what any woman would dream of, he was now of average height and physique, minus of course, his slightly green pallor.

Sesshomaru knew it irked Jaken to forever look like and be surrounded by the creatures that he despised but it wasn't as if Sesshomaru actually cared about Jaken's feelings.

The weaselly little toad did little for Sesshomaru save being his last loyal follower. Very few knew who he was anymore. Very few were alive to know; demons were practically extinct.

"Hello, Great Lord!" Jaken said with a deep bow.

Sesshomaru reigned in his annoyance. Jaken was anything but subtle and his voice was as grating as ever.

Jaken must have sensed this because he immediately opened the door for Sesshomaru and silently waited as Sesshomaru climbed inside.

Jaken slid into the driver's seat of the limo and adjusted his rear view mirror.

Their eyes briefly met and Sesshomaru gave him a glare that would freeze a rupturing volcano.

Jaken visibly gulped and kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead rather than on any reflective surface where he might accidently see his Master.

Rin stood in front of her mirror in the fifth possible outfit for the interview.

She turned around, her eyes trained on her waist high skirt until the last possible moment. With a frustrated sigh Rin unzipped the skirt and threw it onto the pile of clothing that was slowly advancing off her bed and onto the floor.

She pulled on a pair of dark grey slacks and put her hands on her hips. Pants were probably the better option.

Shucking off the shell top, Rin buttoned herself into a pale blue shirt and after a moments thought, left the top two unbuttoned; it allowed the tiniest bit of cleavage to peak through.

She went into the living room where Maya whistled at her from the kitchen.

"Looking good there Sato! Knock their socks off!"

"I'll settle for a lot less than that. Perhaps a pleasant surprise, but thanks. It's not too much right?" Rin asked as she spun around by the front door.

"Not at all! Tell me all about it when you get back. Lord knows I'll need a break from Chem. studying. I swear Professor Amzi is a sadist!"

"Sure." Rin replied but she was more focused on stuffing her keys, wallet and whatever else she needed into her purse. With only one arm in her coat, Rin waved a good bye and shuffled out of the door.

The train ride to Tashio Industries was quicker than Rin had anticipated so she arrived almost 20 minutes early.

As she came out of the subway, amidst all the usual semi-skyscrapers one building stood out. There was something modern yet classic about it. The combination of both steel and glass with older stonework, created a beautiful dichotomy that Rin couldn't quite describe. She wondered why Ken had never taken her to see this building; he liked to take her around the city on architecture walking tours.

To say the building was impressive from the outside would have been an understatement. Thus, when saying the lobby was 50 times more impressive, it meant otherworldly.

The security guard in the lobby directed her over to a wall of elevators.

"May I ask where you are heading ma'am"?

"I have an appointment with 's personal assistant. Rebecca Collins?"

"No need to sound so unsure ma'am. Ms. Collins said you'd be arriving shortly." The guard smiled warmly at Rin and relieved a tiny bit of her nervousness. Alas not enough of it to stop her from jumping when the elevator dinged and the doors opened like a gaping maw into what looked like a room.

The security guard must have noticed Rin's astonishment.

He chuckled softly and said, "It's like a floating room isn't it. A gilded cage."

The reference wasn't lost on Rin but at that moment words were. She nodded and stepped inside the elevator, which rivaled the size of her bedroom. The guard reached around and pressed 56.

He smiled at her once more and tipped his hat as the doors closed and Rin was left alone.

Rin supposed she shouldn't have been surprised when the elevator rocketed up at breakneck speed, but nevertheless she almost toppled over when it came to a sudden stop at some unknown floor.

As if holding onto the railing like her life depended on it wasn't embarrassing enough, the one person Rin hadn't been able to stop thinking about but assumed she would never see again, walked into the elevator and turned around without so much as a backwards glace in her direction.

Rin immediately straightened up and looked straight ahead… at the back of her mystery man. She hadn't realized just how tall he was from across the street. He had to be at least 6'6" maybe closer to 7'.

Rin couldn't help but audibly swallow.

The elevator doors finally closed and they shot up again. Prepared this time, Rin held on tightly while the stranger stood there like nothing special was happening. The elevator stopped again on another floor; the wall just outside said 52nd, and the man got off, still without acknowledging her.

As the doors closed, Rin couldn't help but feel disappointed; her throat tightened with the thought that she had wasted a once in a lifetime chance to actually speak to him.

When the door opened – finally on the 56th floor- Rin stepped out into a large waiting room that was absolutely beautiful; there were floor to ceiling windows that provided a great view of the city.

Off to the left, was a conference room with glass walls and a large oval table. To the right was another set of glass wall where a lovely woman sat at a large desk surrounded by stacks of paper. Her office was pretty large. Behind her was another door that led into what Rin could only assume to be Mr. Tashio's office.

Rin sat down in one of the plush lounge chairs and waited, her purse in her lap.

The woman in the office looked up and smiled at her, beckoning Rin with a hand.

"You must be Rin. I'm Rebecca." She said when Rin opened up the glass door and stepped inside.

"Hi. Pleased to meet you." Rin smiled as she extended a hand.

Rebecca shook it without standing and gestured towards a chair, "Likewise. Take a seat."

Rin gingerly sat down and quickly looked around. "It is a lovely place."

"Yes, Mr. Tashio has particular tastes. About the job. It's a three-month temporary position that would start next Monday if all goes well. By the time you get back, you'll have a desk over there," Rebecca pointed to the other side of her very large office where there were a few file cabinets.

"You will be my assistant for the entirely of the merger and all of this aftershocks. But who knows. If things go well we might be able to find you a part-time job here." Rebecca smiled warmly and Rin could tell already that they would get along well, provided she got the job of course.

"That sounds wonderful." Rin said, her fingers drumming on her thigh.

As if sensing Rin's slight unease Rebecca turned to face Rin fully and revealed her very pregnant belly.

"This," Rebecca said gesturing down, "is the main reason I need to help. I am not as fast as I need to be to keep up with Mr. Tashio.."

Rin stared wide-eyed for a moment before recovering. "Shouldn't you be on bed rest? When are you due?"

"Next month. And normally yes but with Mr. Tashio…. Well he needs me to keep his life in order. And as I said, I need someone to step in for me. You'll be replacing me when I go on maturity leave for two months. Longer if it works out."

"I will… wait, did I just…" Rin was having trouble articulating herself. She hadn't expected it to be so easy.

"Well from what I can see you seem perfect for it. Can you type?"

"Yes."

"If I show you the filing system can you memorize it?"

"I think so."

"Can you answer a phone and redirect calls?"

"Mhm."

"Can you deal with a grumpy old man?"

"Uhh.."

"Kidding! Well, not really. Mr. Tashio isn't the warmest of people. But he will grow on you."

Rin nodded dumbly in response. This was happening a little too fast for Rin to be comfortable with.

"Speaking of the devil!" Rebecca joked as she pushed herself up to her feet and waddled out into the lobby with Rin in tow.

"Mr. Tashio. Welcome back. I take it everything went well at the lunch meeting. Also, I got a call from HR. They have requested, again, that you not fire employees by throwing them out, literally. It's grounds for a law suit. " Rebecca stated as she took the man-in-question's coat.

Rebecca looked over at Rin, expecting her to say something as well but found her new assistant staring at Mr. Tashio slack jawed.

For a moment, Rebecca wondered if she should've told Rin that Mr. Tashio tended to have that effect on people.

Meanwhile, Rin couldn't believe her eyes.

It was him!

The guy from the café! The guy from the elevator! And God, now that she could she his face instead of his amazingly sculpted back, there was no denying his appeal. He seemed to have all the "attributes" any woman could want in a man.

To say Rin was floored would have been the underestimate of the century. She had never dreamed of seeing him again – for a third time - but here he was, looking right at her! Her boss! Her….

"So sorry. I'm Rin Sato." Rin blurted out and then added as an afterthought. "Your new assistant. Well, your assistant's assistant."

"Rin, honey" Rebecca said as she put a hand on Rin's shoulder, "We should let Mr. Tashio get back to work. I'll show you around."

Rin silently thanked Rebecca from saving her from making even more of a fool of herself and followed Rebecca stiffly past the unbelievably tall man.

She could feel his eyes on the back of her head but she refused to turn around; it was too terrifying a concept. The hairs on her neck stood at full attention as she held her purse in an iron grip.

Maybe she was making a terrible mistake.

The elevator doors opened and Rin scurried inside only to turn around and see him standing there, still watching.

As the doors slid closed, Mr. Tashio held her gaze and Rin found it impossible to look away. She had been invisible before in the elevator but now he was staring at her with such intensity that it was like he was seeing into her soul.

It wasn't until they began their swift decent that Rin realized she had been holding her breath.