Disclaimer- I don't own Inuyasha, or The Great Gatsby book that I really need to return to the library.

...do you like my title? How lame, I know xD;!

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A silver car sped down the rode, going too fast in the rain that beat down on the sidewalks of the city. Zipping by, it splashed a petite girl carrying a small plastic bag. Normally, this would cause the average person to sigh, or maybe utter obscenities under their breath.

But not Rin.

Brushing the dirty water from her pale yellow skirt that was filled with holes; she smiled up at the clouds, just thankful that her bag remained dry. After all it was Kohaku's birthday tomorrow, and she had saved for two weeks to buy him a gift! ...although on the 4-odd dollars a week Rin made selling bird seed at the park, the best gift she could buy for her friend at the second hand shop was a small embroidered music box, that played a slightly-off key melody. But the song made Rin smile; it was some how so sincere and beautiful in its imperfections. She hoped Kohaku would feel the same way.

Rin arrived at the park after a few minutes, still huddling Kohaku's birthday gift to her chest in the rain. Finding his tree, Rin approached the huge roots that twisted into a small half-circle. Bushes framed the tree's base, and this made a perfect, comfortable little nest for the boy who was sleeping on a tarp in the center.

Maybe I should come back tomorrow? Rin thought to herself, But I did really want to show him his gift tonight…

Just then, Kohaku began to stir. Slowly, his eyes blinked open. Rin's shining face smiled down on him.

"Rin? What's the matter? Is something wrong? You're soaked!"

"No, no! I just got your birthday present right now, I really wanted you to open it!" She grinned.

"Oh!" Kohaku sat up. "Rin, it's alright, I know you don't have-"

"Shh!" Rin put her finger up, and handed him his present without another word.

Kohaku unwillingly took the small bag from Rin's hands and unwrapped. The small music box fell out into his hands, and Kohaku rubbed his fingers across the faded print fabric. He looked up at Rin.

"Open it." She beamed, and he complied.

A pretty tune filled the air, despite the rain's pounding getting stronger. The song mingled with the taps of the water drops, and played at the ears of the two listeners, both mesmerized by the sweet melody.

"Isn't it pretty?" Rin smiled.

"It's beautiful Rin! Thank you so much! But really, I hope it didn't cost you that much!"

"Not at all Kohaku! You're turning 19 tomorrow! I- A-CHOO!" Rin sneezed.

"God Bless you! …Rin, did you walk through the rain all that way to the city shops?" Kohaku asked, as Rin sneezed again.

"It wasn't that far, really! Plus that rain means the flowers in the park will grow." Rin loved the flowers that lined the thin walk that snaked through the park, as well as her and Kohaku's secret spot. The flowers made actually having to live there not bad at all.

"Well, Rin please, take my blanket. You're shivering!"

"No Kohaku! I'll be fine." Rin got up to leave. "Happy-almost-Birthday!" And she left before he could insist upon anything else.

It was only a short walk from Kohaku's tree to Rin's picnic table. But when Rin went to snatch her tarp and blanket that held all her little trinkets wrapped up in it, she couldn't find it. Meanwhile, the rain was getting even harder, and the winds were picking up.

"Someone wouldn't have stolen it, would they?" Rin would never admit it herself, as she constantly tried to see good in everyone, but the homeless who inhabited the park were often suspicious and very dishonest, and not only pick pocketed from the rich city elite who visited the park, but also from their own kind as well. Giving up her search, Rin wormed her way under her picnic bench, and prayed that the storm would pass soon.

--Sesshoumaru

A tall, handsome young man sat behind the wheel of a sleek, silver Mercedes, speeding through the downpour on his way home from work. Showering a figure on the sidewalk in rain, Sesshoumaru continued on, his face void of all emotions. The rain was getting harder, and he wanted to get home as soon as possible. Driving up to gates of a huge marble stoned mansion, he entered the security code, and they slowly screeched open. The sun had already set- it was ten o' clock. But Sesshoumaru had gotten ahead on tomorrows paper work, so he was content enough. Well, only as content as one could get, doing paperwork late into the night.

He briskly walked up the stone steps, and unlocked the door, casually brushing the rain off his shoulders. Setting down his briefcase, Sesshoumaru was just happy to finally be able to have some peace and quiet, away from chattering clients and secretaries and-

"SESSHOUMARU! HOW LONG DID YOU PLAN ON STAYING AT WORK?"

–half-brothers.

"Maybe if you got a job, you'd understand the necessity of staying late." He said nonchalantly.

"MAYBE IF YOU WEREN'T SO STUPID, WE COULD EAT EARLIER!"

Inuyasha's mother Izayoi insisted that dinner would not begin until everyone was there, and of course Inutaisho, his and Inuyasha's father, agreed with whatever she said. But this little rule made Inuyasha extremely angry, as Sesshoumaru would sometimes purposely stay late. His brother's unhappiness was one of the things that could always bring a smile to Sesshoumaru's cold features.

"Inuyasha! Would you please stop yelling and sit down! You're brother works very hard, and until you get a job, you are not allowed to complain!" Izayoi scolded.

"BAH! Is all this family talks about is work!?" But Izayoi began serving dinner, and Inuyasha's angriness melted away with ramen.

"Actually, speaking of work Sesshoumaru, the company picnic is tomorrow in the park isn't it?" Inutaisho asked.

Sesshoumaru cringed.

Company picnics.

How he loathed them.

Because with these picnics also came an open invitation for employees to bring their family, which meant snotty, screaming children, pushy spouses, and slutty girlfriends.

"Yes, it is."

""Well I expect to see you there Sesshoumaru." His family knew how much he hated…people, but Inutaisho insisted that if their company, which dealed with international relations, could not establish good relations within their company, how could they with other countries? It was a saying he loved all too much, which meant it was one Sesshoumaru hated.

Inuyasha snickered at his brother's uncomfortableness, but Izayoi say quickly to this.

"Inuyasha! Don't forget you are going as well!"

"Whaaaat?" He whined. "I don't work for them!"

"Neither do I, but we are both going to support your brother and your father!"

"FEEH!"

--Rin

Rin awoke with a ringing sound in her head. The sun was shining brightly down, more then normal, perhaps making up for the rain the other day. Rin had drifted into unconsciousness sometime last night from exhaustion, and now she felt miserable. He body ached, her chest heaved from coughing, and her head pounded, as there were more voices in the park then normal. Peeking her head out from under her table, Rin saw a great mass of people mingling amongst each other. Hanging from two trees, Rin could make out a banner that read "Inu-national Company Picnic" in huge letters, with smaller writing in quotes that read "Make could relations within, to make good relations without!!". Rin ducked down in confusion as a giggling couple walked past. What was going on? Some kind of picnic? There was always an occasional birthday party, but never this many people!

Just then Rin gasped as a tablecloth covered her view of the picnic-goers. She quickly snuck out from under it, before anyone could notice, and hurried to find Kohaku. He would know what was going on! But some sort of game had been set up in Kohaku's usual sleeping spot, and so Rin decided to go look in the secret spot that they had played in when they were younger. It was behind a small building that used to sell charms, but that had been abandoned a while ago. But for some reason in the patch of soil behind the building, the flowers bloomed in great abundance, in a huge variety of colors, despite the trees whose leaves acted as a thin canopy above it.

Rin dashed towards the building, turning a sharp right.

"Kohaku, do you know what's going-" Rin stopped short.

A man was sitting there, leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed, and his chest gently rose up and down steadily. The sun shined through the foliage warmly and gently, sparkling against his porcelain skin and long silver hair. If Rin had not known better, and the man had not been dressed so formally, she would have thought it was some sort of fairy, sleeping among the flowers. But suddenly, one of the man's eyes opened, peering at Rin. He seemed a bit taken a back, as he eyed Rin's shabby clothes.

"…you don't work for me, do you?"

--Sesshoumaru

A few hours earlier, Sesshoumaru had arrived at the park, dreading the day to come. Inutaisho had given Sesshoumaru a banner to hang, and he visibly winced as he noticed his father's horrible saying plastered across. Then, his father had insisted on games. Games. And to top it all off, Inuyasha would not shut up about how horrible it was to be there. Not to mention the repulsive homeless people who plagued the park. Oh, how he loathed company picnics.

He desperately needed to get away, and the only place was behind an old run down shop at the back of the park that was overrun with plants. But the sun drifted down lazily as he rested against the side of the building, and before he knew it, he was out. That is, until a loud voice had woken him up. He looked over to see a young woman, dressed in disgustingly dirty clothes.

"…you don't work for me, do you?" Surely someone so horribly dressed was not here for the company picnic.

"Umm, no I don't think so…" She broke off, as she began coughing, causing Sesshoumaru to look up at her face.

Her features were so soft and sincere, but she looked so fragile at the same time. Her eyes were beautiful, warm, and deep, like liquid chocolate, and her hair was dark brown, with a pleasant sheen, despite the mud that caked it. It occurred to Sesshoumaru that her face did not match her attire at all, despite the fact that she looked a little tired and sick. A sharp cry of laughter from the picnickers broke Sesshoumaru from his daze.

"Well, if you did, you'd still be better than half of these idiots." Sesshoumaru mumbled, playing with a daisy as his feet.

"Y-you…you shouldn't talk about people that way…"

Sesshoumaru looked up at her in slight shock, although no surprise showed whatsoever on his face.

"What did you say?"

"I...I said that you shouldn't talk about people that way.…everyone has some good inside them, y'know." And then she smiled.

A totally innocent, genuine, pure smile.

But before she could say or do anymore, Sesshoumaru got up without a word, and moved past her, back into the hectic fray of the picnic. He was soon mobbed with associates and employees, and was forced to shake this hand and that hand. But despite all efforts to shake that image from his head, that bright smile was imprinted into his mind.

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AN: First chapter is complete!! Hope you enjoyed it :). If you could let me know how I'm doing so far, I would very much appreciate it!

Thank you kind reader!