I've just been going at it trying to get this whole thing loaded so I can start on my next in the collection. Maybe I'll be done by the end of the week.

OXOXOXO

"Rin, why do you look so…"

"Normal?" Sango finished Ayame's question.

"Because I am normal," she answered biting into her burger before stealing a fry from Kagome.

"Yes, but why?" Ayame spread the dressing over her salad.

"Because I swore that there'd be no regrets this time."

"Is there anything to regret?" Sango pried.

"Well, other than the fact that he admitted he loved me and still didn't want me, no." All three stopped.

"He what?" they asked loudly together.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. But to be fair, he said we couldn't have a relationship because he wanted to protect me."

"That's sweet," Ayame said slowly, "but awfully stupid. Nobody can protect someone else all of the time. And in the meantime, he's making you both miserable.

"You're preaching to the choir," Rin said and stole another fry.

"Right," Kagome said, the cogs in her head obviously turning. "So let's preach to someone that could use it. Sango, you have his number?"

"Oh, no guys-" Rin's eyes widened.

"Actually, I do."

"Please don't, I don't-"

"Here." Sango handed her cell phone to Kagome.

"I'm begging, no-"

"Found it!" Kagome pressed it to her ear. "It's ringing." She punched the speaker button and laid it in the center of the table. The next thing Rin heard was Shirly's bubbly and annoying voice.

"You've reached the office of Sesshomaru Tashio, how can I help you?"

"Shirly, right?" Sango said personably. Rin had told Sango every little detail.

"Uh, yes?"

"I'm Sango, Miroku's wife?"

"Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to speak with the elder Mr. Tashio immediately. It's important."

"Well, I'm not usually supposed to do this, but alright. He's got ten minutes before his next meeting. Will that be enough?"

"Oh, plenty. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Don't worry about it. One moment."

Rin had kept silent until then, hoping Shirly had enough sense to tell them buzz off. Rin supposed she should have known better. "All right guys, this has gone far enough. When he picks up, I'm-" A click, signaling they'd been connected, interrupted her. Three hands immediately clamped over her mouth.

"Sesshomaru Tashio." Just hearing his voice sent her heart racing.

"Hi there, I'm Ayame, close and personal friend of Rin."

"And I'm Kagome, but ditto on the other stuff."

"And for the sake of drama and continuity, I'm Sango. Hello Sesh, how are you?"

"What can I do for you ladies?" Even someone as unaccustomed to Sesshomaru as Kagome or Ayame could tell he was guarded.

"Well, you see, the three of us have something important to discuss-"

"-with-"

"-or dictate to-"

"-you." Ayame smiled and shook her head. She'd never figure out how Kagome and Sango did that.

"Right. How dare you?"

"I'm not required to explain anything-"

"Look here, bub, we're not your lackeys that you can order around and intimidate into doing what you want. Now, want to know where you get off ditching our friend again?"

"You have no idea what you're missing out on."

"She's more than you can ever deserve."

"Then I wonder you took the trouble to call in that case," he interrupted their tirade.

"Because no matter how pathetic you are," Sango said into the speaker, "Rin loves you and we love Rin." His end was quiet for a moment.

"I commend your loyalty, but I question your taste and tactic. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting."

The three hands left Rin's mouth as scattered applause broke out through the diner. Rin wiped her eyes.

"Thanks for trying, guys."

Sango replaced her phone and snapped her purse shut. "No problem, sweetheart," she patted her hand on the table. "No problem."

Oxoxoxo

Sesshomaru padded down the hall to his high-priced meeting room. Even at the head of the long table, his mind was nowhere near the graphs. It was killing him to go about his day as normal when there was a sick freak to catch. But all the advice he had been given was to act normal and hope he made the usurped leader of the Inside would make the next move. Sesshomaru had been assured by multiple lackeys that he would have tried something by now, but nothing had happened. He was eroding away inside, just waiting.

He told Rin that yes, he loved her, but no, they couldn't have a future. It was said in private this time, with no witnesses, hoping it would make a difference when he went back to her, asking forgiveness.

Rin was under 24-hour surveillance from his people. The three teams that switched out were hand-picked by himself. He felt like he was using her as bait, but trying not to. He was the one making many scheduled appearances, announcing each in multiple newspapers. The freak still hadn't made a move. Bastard.

"Mr. Tashio?" He snapped himself back to the present.

"Pardon me, gentlemen, I have something to attend to." His leaving left many jaws scraping the ground.

Oxoxoxo

It had been many years since Sesshomaru had ventured into Jersey. He had almost taken a wrong turn a time or two. And as much as he was dying to drive right over, there was a stop he needed to make first.

Just around the corner from Rin's apartment was a van disguised as a plumbing truck. Sesshomaru pulled over and got out.

"Any news?" he ordered as he stepped up into the truck. Being experts, his employees composed themselves at his sudden appearance rather quickly.

"Maybe." One of them slipped his headphones back on his head. "We have a bogie, not sure yet if he's friend or foe. He claims to be a new neighbor." On the screen was a view over Rin's shoulder at the front door. A blonde, bearded, horn-rimmed wearing man stood smiling at her. Sesshomaru grabbed a free set of headphones to listen in.

"-I'm not so sure, I just met you," Rin was saying.

"I'm very sorry, but I don't have a cell phone. I just need to use your phone for one moment."

"I'm sorry, I'm just not comfortable letting strangers into my home."

'Good girl,' Sesshomaru thought proudly.

"How about I get you some change and you can use the toll phone out front?" He looked a little miffed, but Sesshomaru blinked and the expression was gone.

"I wouldn't turn down any help offered by a beautiful lady." Rin gave a half-hearted laugh.

"Well, wait here, I'll be right back." The man waited until she was out of eyesight before winking at the camera and heading off after her. Sesshomaru had the headphones off, van door open, and car engine started in under five seconds.

OXOXOXO