TWENTY-TWO FRIDAYS

DISCLAIMER: The characters of Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

A/N: This is my first story ever, an Inuyasha (modern AU) high school fic. It's also my first time to write, so please bear with me as English isn't my native tongue, but don't worry I'll make sure to express my thoughts clearly as I could.

CHAPTER ONE – Farewells and Hellos

LAX, CA

"You sure you'll be okay in there all by yourself?" Aunt Kaede asked her as she straightens Rin's scarf. It's her first time to head back in Japan after almost ten years. An exciting yet frightening new phase in life, being on her own seemed tough to do. Rin will surely miss her two and only remaining family, Aunt Kaede and her husband Uncle bill. They were the ones who raised her since she was six, yet somehow there exists a part of her which tells her to go back home as she feels incomplete without it.

Without them… Rin had decided.

Kaede had arranged for her to transfer to Tokyo High, one of the best schools in Japan which specializes in Academics, Sports and Music, too which she hoped to be a member, yet they didn't have slots for beginners. She has heard of the award-winning school music group called "KTM-12", best known for their magnificent music covers. Rin had been gifted with a beautiful singing voice she hoped to use after so many years of not talking because of the car accident which took out her entire family a decade ago.

"Honestly Auntie, we've talked about this a hundred times already. I'm sixteen and strong enough. Okay? I'm a big girl and I really want to do this." Rin said and gave her a nice reassuring smile that everyone loves.

"I agree, the place seems to be in a safe location anyway. Great start for you kiddo." Uncle Bill agreed.

"Fine. I gave you a cellphone with my number on it, make sure to call when the plane lands, the address, papers, credit cards, pocket money…"

"Yeah, yeah..." Rin started to roll her eyes in a bit of annoyance, but was touched at her aunt's words all at the same time.

"And don't give me that look. Take good care of yourself, alright?" Kaede tearfully said. She had treated Rin as her own even she is her dear sister's daughter since she and Bill cannot have kids of their own. "I'll miss you baby girl, and I'm so proud of you."

"You know I'll miss the both of you most. I love you Auntie, thanks for everything." She turned to kiss Kaede and Bill on their cheeks, even though she grew up in America she has never forgotten to be polite towards others.

"Calling all passengers to board Japan Airlines Flight 997…" Rin, Kaede and Bill group-hugged each other for the last time, said their farewells and best wishes as Rin tackles a new chapter in her life. Independence sounds great, she thought.

Rin started to gleefully run through the boarding gates after fishing out her passport and ticket in the bag that Uncle Bill and Aunt Kaede had given her as a present for her sixteenth birthday just last November. Aunt Kaede and Uncle Bill is in the events business so they were able to provide Rin some ridiculously expensive stuff that she mostly didn't need.

She stopped at a full-length mirror and took in her reflection. Dressed in a brown leather jacket, white shirt with a drawing of a girl with butterflies covering her body, bleached cutoffs, ankle-length brown boots and a scarf, Rin Ishikawa looked very girl-next door yet very pretty. At 5'3'' her beauty was innocent and angelic, her brown doe eyes are equipped with long doll-like eyelashes, a dainty upturned nose, creamy complexion and small but very soft peach tinted lips. Her hair which was flying out like crazy when she was younger, was now tamer with new wavy raven locks which complements her heart-shaped face. Her dazzling smile which captivates the hearts of almost everyone who she gives it to, is basically plastered on her face as she now walks down the aisle to find her seat inside the plane.

Her excitement was almost uncontainable she almost dropped her carry-on luggage while putting it inside the compartment. Sitting down, she fished out her iPod and began to play a song which reminded her of mother singing. She closed her eyes and listened to the song reminiscing as she waits for the thirteen-hour flight on the way home.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high…

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby…

As the song finally ended, Rin had slept smiling with only a single thought on her head.

Otousan, Okaasan, Oniisan, Otoutosan, wait for me.

Hokkaido, Japan

It was a quite a chilly, spring in Hokkaido where one of the Takahashi's mansions reside. A beautiful day it is indeed with the Sakura trees in full bloom, various colors of flowers have surrounded the entire area, much to Izayoi's delight. It was going to be their last on their four-day short trip, and one person with long beautiful, silver hair cannot wait to be back at school.

He was a dog demon, a rare beauty. His aristocratic bone structure that he got from his biological mother and his father combined made him look truly intimidating and fearsome, pale porcelain-like skin, his eyes that had the color of the most spectacular sunset that one has ever seen, his markings which made him all the more mysterious, long, silver hair as soft as silk, a lean yet muscular build that matches his 6'5'' height, a deep baritone voice that had the power to command tens of thousands of people in the workforce, much less a student council and finally, that blue crescent moon he got from his mother, a royal family symbol he carried with pride. His character was quiet and cold, one that can even compete with the harshness of winter.

What a completely idiotic idea this is, a so called family vacation as his father had put it. What a complete waste of time, as he should be rendering his time with much more important things than spending it with his stupid half-brother who only knew to eat ramen, his step-mother who he never grew to accept and his father who knew nothing of Sesshomaru's misery. Why he put up with everything was due to his own maturity, one he had to use to cope with such difficult circumstances. Grabbing a John Grisham book that he had read twice, he quietly sits down on a corner to try and forget his annoyance.

After a few minutes of peace, a familiar noise from his own version of hell was calling out his name. From the corner of his eye, a silver headed half-demon with tanned skin and wide eyes that almost had the same color as his, appeared on the doorway.

"Hey jackass, it's lunchtime, better be at the table before food runs out" Inuyasha grunted out loud,

"If you feel the need to finish all of Izayoi's cooking then by all means go for it" Sesshomaru replied bitterly, desperate to send his half-brother away. Idiot.

"Keh! Fine, just don't come crying when I do. And just so you know, I wouldn't invite you if Dad hadn't told me to, so I guess you better get your royal ass on the dining room right now." He said before he whisked out of the room to join both of his parents.

"Hn." Unlike him, he really has no manners. How incredibly foolish of that half-demon to think that he could summon him to the dining room just like that. How utterly despicable of him to think that he would even lay a finger on those dishes that woman had made. Gracefully rising on his seat, Sesshomaru dragged himself to where his parents are at right now. He sits down across Inuyasha, and nods to his father.

All the while Sesshomaru didn't talk except when his father would ask him some very important questions, while Inuyasha had been blabbering on how he hated to go back to school, the only reasons he was there was to see his ex-girlfriend Kikyo Fujihara, the student council Vice President who recently broke up with Inuyasha three months ago ,and to tease Kagome Higurashi, the cheerful and adorable young lady who Izayoi wanted for Inuyasha. Unlike his half-breed brother, Sesshomaru likes to bury himself with school activities and obligations, not because he loved school but because of his bleak relationship with his very own family.

The day ended in silence as they all got home. Inuyasha fell asleep on his bed early not preparing for the full day ahead tomorrow. Sesshomaru tried to get some rest but he couldn't. He snatched his phone on the bedside table and saw several texts from his girlfriend, Kagura.

"Why haven't you been calling?"

"Will you come pick me up at school tomorrow?"

"You should know better than to ignore me, don't tell me you've left your phone back home while you were having fun in your little trip."

"Are you cheating on me?"

Cheating, huh? He thought. Kagura can become quite a nuisance these days. Their relationship has been going on for at least seven months. At first, things were sailing smooth. She was the most beautiful girl at school, even who never succumbs to female charms somehow captured a bit of his attention. They went on several dates, sent her expensive flowers and gifts, and even slept with her thrice- which was no problem at all- he knew how to please a woman. The Student President and the school's cheerleading captain, it was a match made in heaven—or so everyone thought.

About three months later rumors spread about Kagura dating several guys while in a relationship with Sesshomaru. One of them was Hakudoshi, a gorgeous demon who has white-lavender hair. Sometimes he could smell his disgusting stench all over her after their cheerleading practice. He got so angry and made a plot for him to be expelled at school. No, he wasn't angry because he loved Kagura, he is not the one to believe in love, but rather insulted by a person who tried to take away what was his. The demoness stopped cheating altogether when she knew Sesshomaru found out about her affair, she apologized to Sesshomaru tons of times and had tried to make up for everything. What good would it do, though? It's not as if he will ever trust her again. Sesshomaru couldn't care less so he let her game go on just until he finally gets tired of her.

He sighed, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep.

That night, he dreamt of long, wavy brown hair and light brown doe eyes.

Rin stopped at a grocery shop to gather supplies for the two weeks to come. She missed home terribly and it was sort of magical how fluent still she is with her Japanese, and how she easily found her way to places she would like to go to. The mall where she and her family used to go still stood and it made her cheer up. The house she lived on was placed on such a nice community, her neighbors to the left of her house was even surprised to see her at the doorstep, thinking she was just a nobody but as they got a closer look, they knew immediately it was their deceased neighbor's daughter. It was nice to finally again meet someone you know who would gladly share a cup of tea with you and even help you clean the old, dusty house. Imagine clearing up ten-year old dirty particles on every corner of the room all alone. Thank kami for vacuum cleaners. After ten days of patience and hard work, the place was finally livable.

She headed on to the checkout counter when a society magazine caught her eye. It was a cover of a beautiful looking dog demon family- an image of perfection. Prince Charles of England can eat shit if ever he meets the very handsome head of the family, Inutaisho Takahashi. The woman beside him, a human for certain, is a sight to behold wearing a champagne-colored beaded gown with a diamond-encrusted belt which surely is worth a million bucks. Also in the photo two impeccable-looking young men who both had their father's silver hair but looked very different to each other. The younger son seemed cockier and is very attractive with his olive-toned skin, but what caught Rin's eye was the elder brother who had pale skin, soul-piercing eyes and strange markings, exuding a more mysterious aura. His looks were beyond beautiful, he can easily pass as a sex god. If I ever had a boyfriend who looked like him, no, scratch that, a trophy boyfriend. It'd be like winning the lottery!

Which was one in a hundred million chances of course. In short, IMPOSSIBLE. Just who do you think you are, silly girl? Her subconscious said.

"NEXT PLEASE!" the woman in the cashier yelled.

Oh crap I'm daydreaming again aren't I? "Gomenasai." She mumbled as she began to unload the things from the cart. Afterwards, Rin went home and prepared her bag for her first day.

Finally lying in bed, she prayed to the gods that tomorrow will somehow be good to her. She has seen forums from the internet about transferees in Tokyo High being bullied on the first week of their classes by some demons. These stories involve a student being duct-taped on a pole, horrible school cafeteria sessions which causes some to eat food inside a bathroom cubicle. Bikes smashed, and lockers filled with either trash, a dead, rotten rat, used adult diapers, or materials. Half of these students immediately requested for a transfer, and she hopes it wouldn't be the same for her.

If it did happen, won't someone come and save me? Her thoughts suddenly tuned in to the pale, beautiful silver-headed man from the magazine, she didn't even know why.

She snapped her eyes shut and fell asleep.

Morning.

Another school year has begun and so has Rin's twenty-minute weekly ride to school. To say that she was excited was an understatement, as waking up at 5 a.m. is rather unusual for her. She adored the new uniform she purchased inside the school one week before classes started. It was a white long-sleeved shirt topped with a red tie and navy blue pinstriped jacket, matched with a navy blue checkered skirt. She wore her waist-length hair in a low side ponytail and her face free of make-up. There are students inside discussing which classes they might be in, wondering if their friends or crushes will be at the same room as theirs. The Junior Year is comprised of seven classes, thirty students each. Rin felt bad that she didn't know a single soul in school, but all would change today. She was determined to make a lot of friends here in Japan.

Entering the school, she saw herds of juniors and seniors fighting over a chance to look at the bulletin board where all class schedules are pinned. Demons of course, have used their sharp eyesight to get their schedules, other demons use brute strength and pushed weaklings out of the way, that includes her of course.

"WHAT THE HELL!" someone cried out from behind her.

Four stunning demonesses which she easily identified as snotty cheerleaders were the ones she accidentally bumped into when she was pushed backwards along with other students.

"Sorry I didn't mean to…", Rin said as she stood up brushing up the dust off her skirt.

The tall, seductive demoness with the ruby eyes interrupted her, "Well, maybe you should try to watch your back next time when weak humans such as yourself are pushed back! Don't you know who we are?"

"I don't know who you are but it's clearly not my fault bumping onto you." She pointed to the gigantic ogre demon who scared the heck out of the students in the front line.

YOU WENCH! You dare to blame others for lacking strength on your filthy human knees! The demoness spat bitterly.

"Maybe she forgot to eat her breakfast, Kagura."Another demoness with lavender-white hair chimed in. The four of them laughed until they were cut off by a strong spiritual presence behind their back.

"I see you're busy with your first bully for this school year ladies." Rin looked behind and saw a tall, beautiful, intelligent-looking woman with the long, purple-black hair.

"And what makes you think you can threaten us, Miss Vice President? Planning to send us to discipline on first day, aren't you?

"No worries, I don't intend to. Although the next time you get caught, I'll make sure to cut off the budget for your lovely costumes this year, let's see how brave you are dancing naked on your next cheering competition. Surely the men would be delighted, don't you think? Now leave her alone." The lady menacingly smiled.

Four pairs of eyes widened in shock. It's true. The student council was in control of 30% of the school budget, those are for extra-curricular activities such as cheerleading. They are not the ones to mess with. "Why you! Don't think you have the last of this, Kikyo." Kagura and the girls left in anger, glaring at the two human women still in the midst of other students.

Wow that girl's amazing. Rin thought. "Thank you for saving me. My name is Rin Ishikawa." She held out her hand and Kikyo shook it. "It is no problem, I am Kikyo Fujihara, are you a new student?"

"Yes, it's my first day. I was trying to get to my schedule when those four girls cornered me just because I bumped into them. I was pushed back actually." Rin replied.

"Is that so? Hold on a second." Kikyo went to the front as she grabbed a whistle from under her coat, and instructed all the students to form four straight lines. Students made way for her as she observed how inorganized all of them were and she loathed it, but is now using her power to beat bullies like Kagura and her little friends and those other who cause trouble in school. She wanted to run as President but ended up being VP, as Sesshomaru Takahashi beat her by a hundred votes. Where is he, anyway? Oh, of course.

Where the shrieking fan girls are, there would be the two of them be. Sesshomaru and his half-demon brother Inuyasha, who was her former boyfriend. Kikyo broke up with him three months ago because of her desire to be in the student council, and a boyfriend was no place in her life at the time being. He looks well today, she thought. Her eyes turned to the other silver-haired demon, who was now walking gracefully towards her. "You're late, Mister." She muttered.

"Hn." Comes his usual reply. "What was that commotion earlier about?"

"Funny you do ask, your girlfriend caused trouble on a transferee a moment ago, the students were disorganized but I took care of it."

Sesshomaru did not reply, but it was clear that he was not pleased. His eyes spotted Kagura, glaring at him probably because he did not pick her up today. She was mad at him, and somebody else received her wrath.

"Your taste in women is quite awful, don't you think?" Kikyo laughed.

"As do yours." Sesshomaru spat back, obviously referring to the hanyou.

After the students have finished getting their schedules, the school principal has given his welcoming speech on the stage. Rin watched as the principal made way for "KTM-12" to play an opening number. It was a song called "Sing". Everyone was delighted to hear them play again. Soon the school atmosphere was filled with good music, setting great vibes for Rin's first day at school. She gently swayed her head to the light-heartening beat of the song and went to her room as soon as it ended.

"Rin-san!" She turned around to see Kikyo walking towards her direction. She stopped and spent half a minute to tell her to be careful in the school while there are bullies both human and demon lurking around waiting for the next victim. Apparently, the student council had been working on significantly decreasing bully cases in school. She told Rin her class was at J-1 and to not be afraid to contact her when needed. Kikyo handed her number and went on to class after Rin thanked her for the last time.

She, too also proceeded to her home room at J-2, east wing of the school. Nakamoto-sensei, who was their class adviser had made them introduce themselves to the class as usual. Most of the demons in J-2 were of wolf demons, including twins named Ginta and Hakkaku who will have already earned their places as class clowns, and a pretty girl named Ayame Kaneko who had auburn hair and a pair of gorgeous emerald eyes. She was a member of the volleyball team. There was also Shippo Akebuchi, a fox demon, the youngest in class who is fond of pranks and magic tricks. It was Rin's turn to introduce herself in front of the class and all of her classmates watched her intently, never having seen her before. The human and demon males were fussing over such a new cutie classmate of theirs, Ayame rolled her eyes in irritation because some of the remarks were not very innocent ones.

"I'm Rin Ishikawa, 16, my family is pure Japanese but I grew up in California. I'm fond of going to the beach and playing music. It's nice to meet you all." Rin ended, afterwards, the adviser told her to sit on the second row just near Ayame. They caught each other's eyes and smiled.

After next three classes, the students went out for a thirty-minute break. Rin took her time off lunch for she was not hungry yet, instead roamed around the school grounds to explore. First she found the music club where some of the members chatting and some practicing guitar. She prayed there would be an opening soon. Her next stop were the school departments, she passed by the demon history department where there was a huge library. Probably not a good place to roam around when you're human and alone.

She stopped by a nearby bench under a tree and grabbed her sandwich from the brown paper bag she was clutching. She didn't want to face the cafeteria for now. I wonder where is Kikyo-senpai?

Five minutes later she heard a bunch of girls squealing over something. Or someone? They were all hiding behind the tree beside her though, she wondered why they would act like that. The girls seem as if they were spying on something. Out of Rin's curiosity she peeked out from the plantboxes, hearing a deep, manly voice that would make any woman swoon, talking to a math professor.

She finally stood up and saw…

Wait… is that…

He was the pale, perfect-looking demon from the society magazine she picked up last night. Rin couldn't believe her luck. She stood there and gaped. He was even more breathtaking in the flesh. He was studying, here?

Suddenly, the demon turned around in her direction as he felt several pairs of eyes watching him, in an attempt to scare them away. Handsome as he was, but the girls knew not to annoy him with all their flirtatious looks and excessive squealing. The demon simply felt disgusted by their mere presence although it wasn't showing on his face. Those girls who were nearby had run off already but one.

One girl had stayed.

The math professor was rambling on about a trip to Osaka when Sesshomaru was distracted by a sweet, flowery scent he has never encountered before and it was coming from the petite, raven-haired student whose back was turned from his as she watched the girls who were screaming earlier run off to their classes. All of his senses suddenly heightened, like a strange pull, him being drawn towards the girl who smells of mixed cherry blossoms and vanilla. Sesshomaru felt the need to see the girl's face right away.

The bell rang while Rin turned to steal one more glance at the demon again.

When she did, his amber eyes automatically locked to her chocolate ones.

He was already looking at her, silently scrutinizing her every angle. Her waist-length hair was brown and wavy, and her skin was creamy and rosy-pink that smelled of wildflowers. Her brown eyes were too large for her heart shaped face, button nose and peach-tinted lips he stared at far too long for his liking. She was an innocent, natural beauty, so small and fragile like a doll, Sesshomaru imagined how easy it would be carrying her around in his arms. Where in Kami's name did that come from? She's far from your usual type, he thought arguing with himself.

She blushed furiously under his intense gaze, thinking that she was losing grip but told herself to regain composure.

Finally, she gave the briefest yet most beautiful smile she has never given anyone before. Sesshomaru took a sharp intake of breath. At that short moment there were just the two of them, nothing else.

Oh no, I have to be back at J-2 for History, Rin remembered.

"As I was telling you Takahashi… you should already be studying hard for the upcoming… Hey, are you listening?" Mr. Bankotsu scowled at him. Sesshomaru faced his teacher again and replied "I heard you the first time." He let the teacher babble on while at the corner of his eye he looked to the girl's way again; she was already gone.

That smile, he thought. No one ever dared to smile nor smirk nor look at him straight in the eye in the fear of earning a deadly glance and a place on his mental shit-list. This young lady though, did not smell of fear nor aversion or even lust like other women do, just kindness and pure admiration.

From the depths of his mind, he knew it was something he'll never forget anytime soon.

And there goes my first chapter! (Please pardon me for wrong spelling/wrong usage of words/ grammar) I have been itching to get this story out of my head since September. Shall I continue? Please review and feel free to PM me for any questions/ clarifications/ reactions. Thanks for reading!