A/N: Nothing belongs to me!
~oOo~
Rin stood outside of Tokyo University, staring up at the looming brick structure and wondering how in the hell she had gotten into this situation.
The hotpot was warm and heavy in her mittened hands, tiny water droplets condensing on the glass lid. She counted them as she tried to steady her breath. Oh dear god, lend me your strength.
She spared another glance at the enormous school immediately felt the urge to flee. "Come on, Rin. It's not like you're going to war. You're delivering food to Daichi's friends. Just doing chores." Stupid Daichi and his stupid video game not allowing him to deliver this stupid soup! She groaned internally.
Part of her, a very small voice of logic and reason in the back of her head, reminded her that she had done this thousands of times, to his home when he was younger and to his dorm with her mom or brother.
Not alone! The overwhelming majority of her screamed. Not directly to his dorm! Oh god, what if he has a girl over? Crap crap crap! What were you thinking Rin?! She turned sharply on her heel, starting towards home, where it was safe and warm and there was absolutely no chance of embarrassing herself in front of a certain someone…
Rin skidded to a stop when she remembered that her mother was home for the day, and a chill far colder than that of the December air ran through her, remembering the last time that she had chickened out of delivering food to him.
She swallowed thickly. There was no way she was getting out of this. Knowing her mother, the woman would call him later on to make sure that he had enjoyed it, too!
Kami, I'm so screwed. I'm committing seppuku.
Rin took another steadying breath. She was overreacting. Besides, she had known him for years! What was one small delivery to his apartment, where he lived on his own and they would be completely alone as soon as he closed the door, where he undoubtedly relaxed by taking off his clothes after a long day of classes…
She felt blood rush to her face. Fantastic, now I'm going to look like a freaking tomato when I go in. I'm sure Sesshomaru finds that very attractive.
While the thought of going inside to see him was terrifying to her, it also made her heart flutter excitedly. It had been two months since she'd seen him last, at his family's Halloween party, and even then she'd barely had the chance to talk to him - not that she had the guts to do so anymore, without making herself look like a complete moron. Of all the people to fall in love with, why did it have to be him?
I mean, it's not like you could've gone for someone in your league, right Rin? She thought bitterly.
Rin groaned again, for the fifth time since she had set out. "How exactly did I get myself into this?" She whimpered.
~oOo~
Fumiko Inoue was, despite her motherly disposition, a self proclaimed evil mastermind.
She stirred the hotpot for the last time, shifting her cell phone so it was balanced between her jawbone and shoulder. "You're sure this will work, Izayoi?"
"Absolutely positive." A giddy voice assured from the other end of the line. "Sesshomaru will be completely taken off guard when he opens the door to darling Rin instead of Daichi. You gave her the scarf and perfume to wear, right?"
"Better," Fumiko grinned. "I've sprayed the scarf with that perfume already, and I'll force her to wear it as she's leaving. That way she won't have time to turn down the offer before she goes."
Izayoi squealed on the other line. "Perfect! That works like a charm, I'll tell you. I used to wear it when Inutaisho and I first started seeing each other. If Sesshomaru was still considering keeping his feelings to himself after not seeing her in two months, this'll do the trick."
"Oh, Izayoi." Fumiko sighed. "You're a blessing to my daughter. I can't even say his name anymore without her turning red as a tomato. It's pitiful, really. Did you know I found an old notebook of hers the other day, with his and her names written all over it?" She giggled. "Ah, young love. I wish they would just get on with it and end this shy puppy dog act already!"
"Don't worry, dear, I've been checking up on Sesshomaru too. That boy that asked her to the festival, Kohaku? When I mentioned it at dinner he nearly had a fit! Inutaisho and I were positively overjoyed!" Izayoi sighed then, too. "Do you remember when they used to walk home together? And then when Rin proposed to him when she turned nine?"
"Of course I do," the other woman laughed. "She had me make them both rings out of dandelions she found outside school. And Inuyasha was the flower boy."
"They were quite the pair." Izayoi agreed. "A little push in the right direction will do them both justice."
Fumiko lifted a hand to her forehead. "The soup is done. Ah! Okay, I'll put the phone down on the counter so you can hear - if she puts up any resistance, remember what she says so we can tell the story at their wedding."
Izayoi's grin was audible in her words. "Mission start!"
The older woman carefully angled her cellphone so that the receiver was towards the stairs. "Rin, darling!" She called. "I need you!"
The muffled "Hai!" That came in response was followed by the sound of clumsy steps down the stairs. Rin appeared at the bottom, her black hair tumbling messily down her shoulders, wearing her statement Hello Kitty leggings.
Fumiko tsk'd. She'd prefer to dress Rin up before sending her, but she'd have to take what she could get. Picking up the wrapped soup, she smiled.
"Dearest," she started in her sweetest voice. "Could you do me a favor? Izayoi and I are so worried that Sesshomaru isn't getting enough home made food lately, with his exams coming up and all. And since Daichi's busy, would you mind delivering it?"
At the sound of his name, Rin's pallid skin turned beet red. "S-Sesshomaru?" She stammered. "I-I don't, I mean, I shouldn't - can't Daichi do it?" She looked at her feet. "I'm not even dressed!"
"Nope." Fumiko said, smiling brusquely. "I need you to. You've been to the apartment two or three times with Daichi before, dear, can you remember where it is?"
"Y-yes, but mom-"
"Wonderful, then!" She clapped her hands together. "Throw on a coat, and get going! Be sure to bundle up, it's cold - and waste no time, we don't want the soup getting cold."
As Fumiko spoke, she steered her daughter towards the door, quickly forcing her arms through a coat. Catching sight of the royal blue scarf hanging up in the doorway, she snatched it up and wrapped it firmly around Rin's neck and shoulders. The young girl was still stammering and red when she was pushed out the front door with the hotpot in hand.
"But mom, I-!" She started.
The door slammed behind her, and after a split second, the slight click of a lock sounded.
Rin looked down at the pot in her hands. What exactly….just happened?
On the other side of the door, Fumiko scuttled over to the phone and scooped it up. "She's out of the house! I locked the door just to be safe."
"Ah, Fumiko!" Izayoi sighed happily. "You, my dear, are an evil mastermind."
~oOo~
Rin sniffled deftly, the cold making her nose wrinkle up. This sucks, she pouted. She was in no way mentally prepared to interact with him. Why was she always the one tortured? Daichi was his best friend, after all. Shouldn't bringing him food be his responsibility?
"Man up." She chided herself. She had two options. Number one, stand outside the university until she inevitably froze to death or was abducted. Two, walk through the doors and deliver the soup to Sesshomaru.
"You can do this. You just have to hand over the soup and go," she reminded herself, taking a measured step with each word. "No talking, no hugs, no embarrassing stumbling. You're a big girl, Rin. Sixteen is a very mature age." The buzzer and doors loomed ahead of her. Fingers shaking, she pressed down on the cold button.
"Hello, Tokyo University. All classes are suspended today. How may I help you?" She jumped when the voice of an elderly woman buzzed out.
"U-Um, my name is Inoue Rin!" She stammered. "I'm a friend of Takahashi Sesshomaru-san, bringing him food!" Really, Rin? Using san? Great choice, now you sound like a child and like you're scared out of your wits."
"Just a minute." The woman replied. A loud click sounded, and the alarm over the door beeped for disarm. "Takahashi-san hasn't written for any visitors, but your brother has been around often enough. Step right through, dear."
Rin gulped, pulling open the door with a shaky hand and stepping inside. Couldn't the old lady have turned her away? Dry heat blasted her face and the door closed with a clang behind her.
She cast one last look at the streets of Tokyo behind her, and tried to calm down her heart, which was thudding in her chest.
No turning back now.
~oOo~
A/N: This is going to be a 3 part story, I think :) Any reviews are greatly appreciated!