If he wasn't paying attention, he would have missed it. A woman with waves of black hair billowing down her back and chocolate brown eyes stared directly through the blacked-out window, entranced by what she could not see. On the other side, the beast stared back, stilled from his frenzied pacing, his clawed hand touching the window. In that moment, his blue irises flashed gold, and his violent growls gave way to a single whimper. And then it was over, the woman shook her head, seemingly believing she imagined it, and continued on her way.

Sesshomaru bolted up from his chair and sprinted to his door. For in that moment, the only thing he could think was that he would not lose sight of this woman. Not when he'd watched what she'd done. Once out the door and onto the sidewalk, he searched, seeing her walk toward the market. Slyly he doubled back around the block. The interception needed to look natural, for the last thing he wanted to do was scare her. She was still 10 meters away from him, walking unconcernedly. He mimicked her casual pace, but the moment they passed, he let his shoulder graze hers.

"Pardon me," he murmured, making eye contact with her, then nodded and was on his way.

Now he knew her scent, but more importantly, soon he would know her name. Sesshomaru looked down at the phone in his hand - her phone. He allowed himself the slightest curl of his lips. Humans really were hopeless against his speed and precision. He hoped he would have at least a bit of time before she discovered it was missing.

In his office, Sesshomaru had time to think. He was sure he had seen what he thought he had seen. His security camera was always pointed at the street above the beast's window, and when someone approached, he always watched. Most of the time, the beast merely growled and lunged toward the window when they walked by, completely oblivious to the danger trapped behind the one-way glass. Not even demons paused at the window, so strong was the barrier placed upon it. And yet, the woman clearly paused her walk, and looked directly at it. At him. And the beast had stilled - looking up, enthralled at the woman who could not see him.

All those years ago, when his brother had lost himself, Sesshomaru had nearly put the beast out of its misery. Yet, every time he tried, a voice sang to him: "have hope, she's coming." and he stayed his hand. Instead he caged the beast and hid him away, a secret only he and his mate now knew. The beast paced and growled, bent on killing its captor, mindless save for bloodlust and the misery of being trapped. It would have been a mercy, and yet, Sesshomaru heeded the voice. Perhaps because he too wanted to hope that his brother would one day come back to him.

Sesshomaru made swift work of the woman's phone (she really should have cleaned the screen once in a while - it took him exactly 3 guesses to find the right passcode…). Kagome Higurashi, fortuitously unique, he mused. Her name was all he needed, for he knew his mate was up to the task for what must happen next.

"Rin," Sesshomaru called, still delighting in the way her name sounded upon his lips.

His beautiful mate was to his door in mere seconds, and upon seeing his face, came directly to him, searching. He knew his eyes had given him away, for she always knew.

"Something has happened," Rin said, warmth and light in her lovely brown eyes, "Tell me what it is and what you need from me."

Sesshomaru looked down at the 'borrowed' phone.

"I believe the one who will bring my brother back has come," Sesshomaru said calmly, allowing his excitement to dance within his eyes, "And this is her phone."