A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. SessRin has become my new favorite ship, so I couldn't help but write about them. I'm also SO excited for the Inuyasha anime sequel! Please read and review!

Chapter 1:

There he was seated in the front row with the rest of her friends and family. Clad in a three piece black suit, not a hair of his silky white hair out of place, he sat with disinterest until he saw her.

Gliding across the stage, Rin shook the university president's hand and received her diploma. While the others cheered loudly, Sesshomaru smiled slightly. He couldn't help but feel proud. The poised woman on stage was a far cry from the small slip of a girl he met many years ago. She used to be a jumble of skinny limbs with chubby cheeks and frazzled hair. Now, she was a woman with a petite yet curvy figure, full red lips, and sleek ebony locks. Her ivory skin was without any blemish and looked soft to the touch. Her most admirable characteristic was her happy disposition. She was always smiling or laughing. This visible lightness was contagious, even to the normally aloof Sesshomaru.

He had been looking forward to this day for months. It had been five years since he had been able to see Rin in person. Clients overseas had kept him busy and out of the country. As much as he hated to be away, it was for her. With an established company, he could relax and return to Japan to be with her. It would be a surprise to her though.

Over the years, they kept in touch through short phone calls and exchanging gifts. While he had been gone, he made sure that she was taken care of. Whether it was piano lessons, a school trip, or new kimono, he provided it for her. With Sesshomaru's vast personal wealth and strong sense of responsibility to Rin, he saw no reason to deny her. Anything she wanted, she got. However, she was not entitled nor greedy. Every gift she received whether from him or another was received graciously.

Rin was truly a wonderful woman. Kind, smart, beautiful, honest, and polite. With her, he never felt the need to keep up his image as the ruthless businessmen. She accepted all of him - his dry remarks, his workaholic tendencies, and his soft smiles.

After today, they wouldn't be apart again. Rin was taking a position at his company as an analyst, so he would be able to see her and keep an eye on her. It took some convincing since she insisted that she didn't want to get a job because of personal connections. She believed that a job should be earned based on skills not relationships. However, she relented after he made her go through the same tedious interviewing and onboarding processes as the other employees. She was able to see that Sesshomaru would hold her to the same standards as his other employees.

Finally, the ceremony was over. He would see her before anyone else. Without a word, he found Rin. She was talking to a group of friends.

"Rin," he spoke.

"Sesshomaru-sama!" she exclaimed. Her face lit up with joy upon seeing him. Turning back to her friends she said, "I'll catch up with you guys later." She waved and joined Sesshomaru under the shade of a nearby tree.

"How long are you here for?" she asked.

"I'm here for good." Her eyes went wide until her lips curled into a sweet smile. "That's wonderful! Your family has missed you."

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrows.

"It's true! Even Inuyasha has. He'd never say it, but I can tell." The brothers didn't have the best relationship, but they cared for one another. Inuyasha, while brash and poor at communicating, had shown signs of missing his elder brother. For example, every year he'd complain that Sesshomaru wasn't there to help him plan their father's birthday party. It was more of a criticism, but it showed that he missed him on some level. At least that is what Kagome told Rin.

"And what about you?" he inquired. He knew that Rin missed him, but he wanted to hear it.

"I've always missed you," she replied softly with her eyes now glued to the grassy ground. "Have you?"

"You need to ask?" He lightly cupped her face to look into her cinnamon eyes. Flushing a light pink, she placed her hand atop his.

"No." She smiled at him knowingly.

"We should find the others." He retracted his hand, and they went to find the rest of the group.

"Rin-chan! Congratulations!" A heavily pregnant Kagome waddled over to Rin and embraced her.

"Congrats squirt," Inuyasha commented.

"Graduating two years early and with highest honors is no small achievement," Toga added. Beside him, his wife Izayoi nodded in agreement.

"And with a job already," Kaede said. She came over to the graduate and lovingly squeezed her shoulder.

"Thank you everyone." Looking around at the group, she beamed.

"Before we go to the restaurant, let's take some photos!" Izayoi reminded the group. Inuyasha groaned until Kagome smacked his arm.

"Alright, Kaede and Rin first." Izayoi quickly directed everyone for pictures. The last pairing was Sesshomaru and Rin.

He wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her close. Trying to fight back a blush, Rin smiled brightly. A ghost of a smile appeared on Sesshomaru's visage.

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered.

"What is it?" he replied.

"Is Oni-san smiling?" Inuyasha almost laughed at the question. He turned to look at his brother who immediately glared at him.

"Of course not! Look at that mean face he's making." His wife glanced at her brother-in-law and frowned. She could have sworn that she saw him smiling.

"All done. Let's go to the restaurant," Izaiyo announced.

"Finally," Inuyasha grumbled. His mother gave him a stern look, and he balked.

"I'm hungry! That was a long ceremony! "he defended.

"Time to go Inuyasha." Kagome grabbed his arm and dragged him to their car. The rest of the group, save Sesshomaru, laughed at the couple.

"Rin, I'll drive you," Sesshomaru stated. "If that's permissible to Kaede." He looked at her for confirmation.

"Go on child. I can drive on my own." With her guardian's blessing, she followed Sesshomaru to his car. It was a sleek two door silver car with all of the bells and whistles - seat warms, surround sound, and a built in GPS. Rin wasn't fazed. It only made sense that a successful businessman would have a top of the line car.

Like the gentleman he was, Sesshomaru opened the passenger side door for Rin before he got in the car. During the short car ride, Rin informed him of small things like her friends' plans after graduation, how she decorated her apartment, and shopping with Kagome for baby clothes. He listened with rapt attention, occasionally asking a question.

When they arrived at the restaurant, he pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and gave it to her.

"You didn't need to get me anything Sesshomaru-sama! It's a gift for you to be here."

He shrugged. "It's impolite to show up empty handed to celebrations." She giggled and shook her head. She opened the box and gasped. It was a gold necklace with a yellow daffodil pendant. Daffodils were her favorite flower because they symbolized resilience and new beginnings. They also reminded her of her first meeting with him.

Flashback

Hiding behind a tree, a young Rin peered ahead at the stranger sitting beneath the tree. He looked to be 17 or 18 years old. He had long white hair and pale skin. From his expensive looking suit, she deduced that he was upper class. What was a rich guy like him doing in the middle of a forest in a war torn village?

Rin couldn't help but be curious from his foreign appearance. The people of her village had tan skin, dark hair, and wore farmer's clothing.

The setting sun reminded her that it was almost dinner time. She left the clearing to get some water and food. In her hut, she discovered that she had run out meat. She went to the town's center and quietly took a fish from the reserves. Once she had cooked the fish and returned to the stranger, he was asleep. She didn't want to disturb him, so she left the food and water next to him. She would come back tomorrow and check on him.

When she got back to her hut, there was a group of villagers waiting outside her door.

"Rin! You know you're not allowed to take from the town's food stock more than once a day." The village man grabbed her by the collar of her kimono and threw her to the ground. Kicks and punches from the other villagers followed, but Rin stayed quiet. Ever since her family had been murdered by bandits, she had been unable to speak. Even if she could speak, it wouldn't do her any good. No one cared about what she had to say.

The next day, she left her hut early in the morning to find the mysterious man. She took some berries with her. Along her journey in the forest, she came across yellow daffodils. She plucked one.

He was in the same spot she last saw him. Nervous to approach him, she kept her head down and kneeled as she offered him the food and flower.

"I don't need your help girl," the deep voice spoke. He surveyed her appearance and felt a sliver of sympathy. She wore a too small kimono with tatters and dirt. Her hair was matted, and her face was bruised.

Insistent on helping him, she raised her arms again.

"Where did you get those bruises?" the boy asked, ignoring her offering. A grin broke out on her face and revealed a missing tooth. He felt a slight pull to do something to help the abused girl.

"Where is your family?" he questioned. Her grin faded into frown, and her eyes began to water.

"Do you have any family?" She shook her head.

Sesshomaru took the yellow flower and stood up. "Follow me if you so choose." Rin followed him back to his home in Tokyo.

After consultation with his family and an adoption lawyer, Sesshomaru arranged for someone to adopt Rin. His brother's girlfriend Kagome worked part-time at a children's clinic and had told one of the pediatrician's about Rin, and the doctor offered to take Rin in. Kaede was an unmarried older woman who never had the opportunity to have children, but she had always wanted to do so. Being a children's doctor with a kind demeanor, Sesshomaru deemed her an acceptable guardian for Rin.

Yellow daffodils had an especially personal meaning to Rin. He couldn't have gotten her more thoughtful graduation gift.

"It's beautiful," she said in awe. "Thank you." She took the necklace and unclasped it. She struggled to put it on until another pair of hands aided hers.

"There," he spoke.

Rin and Sesshomaru were greeted with the tantalizing smell of gyoza and omelets when they entered the private dining room. Familiar faces filled the room.

The older crowd, Toga, Izaiyo, and Kaede sat at the far end of the table enjoying a bottle of sake. The middle seating was occupied by Miroku, Sango, and their three young children. Across from them, Shippo, Kagome's young cousin, was fighting with Inuyasha over the last piece of gyoza on their appetizer plate. Kagome watched with her arms crossed and nose turned up.

"It's the woman of the hour," Toga cheered, getting everyone's attention.

In an instant, Rin was swarmed with hugs, gifts, and congratulations. Sesshomaru sat at the end of the table and poured himself a drink. He didn't care much for social events, but he would tolerate it for Rin.

A door slid open, and a young man entered. Sesshomaru recognized him as Sango's younger brother Kohaku. He had befriended Rin in grade school, and they attended the same university. It had been years since he had seen the boy, now man. The tall brunette approached Rin with a gift and cheerful smile. In return, Rin hugged him.

Sesshomaru's face remained impassive as he watched them interact, but he couldn't help but feel displeased. Rin had not hugged him, but she hugged this man. Was there something romantic going on between the pair? The thought of Rin being involved with a male angered him.

Rin had always been too focused on school, family, and friends to date. Besides, she would have told him if she was interested in someone. She told him everything.

Once the waiter came, everyone took their seats at the table and ordered. Sesshomaru was unusually quiet for the duration of the evening, but hardly anyone noticed, except Kagome.

Her brother-in-law was a man of few words, but he had hardly spoken all evening compared to earlier in the day. Kagome glanced at him. He seemed to be staring intently at something. Following his line of sight, Kagome's eyes landed on Rin, who sat diagonally from him.

Her eyes darted between Sesshomaru and Rin, and a devious smile crept onto her face.

"Woman, why are you smiling like that?" Inuyasha asked. Whenever his wife got a terrible idea, such as taking him to a rom-com or redecorating their house, she had the same mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Nothing! Nothing at all!" she said nervously. "Do you want the rest of my sushi?" Inuyasha eagerly ate from her plate and forgot his earlier concerns.

Towards the end of the evening, people said their goodbyes and well wishes. After dessert was served, Sesshomaru noticed that Kaede looked tired, so he volunteered to take Rin back to her apartment.

He waited patiently until it was just the two of them in the room.

"Ready to go?" She nodded and yawned. They exited the restaurant and loaded her gifts into the trunk.

After a long day of graduation preparations, sitting through lackluster speeches, and a long dinner, Rin struggled to keep her eyes open. The dim lighting in the car wasn't helping either. Thankfully, her apartment was close to the restaurant. Sesshomaru parked the car and opened his door, causing the car's interior lights to flash. Fully awakened by the bright light, Rin got up.

Sesshomaru helped her carry the presents into her apartment.

"Is that everything?" she asked. He nodded.

"Good night Rin. I'll see you next week at the office." He turned to leave, but she threw her arms around his mid-section and held him tightly. Out of instinct, he reciprocated and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"I'm so happy that you're back," she spoke softly. She buried her head into his chest. One of his hands moved upwards to affectionately smooth her black tresses.

After some time, she pulled away enough to look up at Sesshomaru.

"Please don't leave for so long again," she requested with a forlorn expression.

"I won't," he promised.