Disclaimer: I do not own characters; other than the ones I create, the rest belong to Rumiko Takahashi. Sorry for the last chapter, I know I went through and saw some mess ups, I'm sorry about the eyes, they are green, (Tsuyoumi eyes) and Rin is in middle school ish, she's 14 and ending 8th grade gosh I'm so sorry for those mess ups.

Thanks for the review and please enjoy~!

Umi No Hana


Chapter 2: Never Fret

Rin mumbled under her breath as the teacher hit the chalkboard, over and over, the chalk coming up as bits of dust particles in the air. The board was covered in the white scratched lines, mixtures of numbers and letters scaling across the expanse of the black board. Her notes were similar, though with doodles scratched along the sides of the paper, obvious boredom leaking through her hand movements as she kept glancing dark eyes up to the ticking clock that looked as though it hadn't moved for hours. The drone of the teacher barely reached her ears as a student behind her began drumming a tune, his speed increasing by the minute. The air in the room felt pressured, like electric was traveling through the air and making all breath deep and long. Rin gulped, looking out to the doorway seeing shadows run pass and she sucked in a breath, chilling her mouth. "Are there any questions from what we have reviewed from Chapter 8?"

The teacher adjusted his glasses, the thick frames hanging on his nose, fogging with his deep breathes. The air was tense as everyone in their seats stilled with excitement, energy rolling off of them in bursts as they wished to get to lunch quickly. The teacher frowned slightly, "Ok, if there are no questions… I will see you tomorrow for class." As soon as he finished his sentence the room erupted in a frenzy, students jumping up and running to the door at breakneck speed, clamoring to escape the boring class.

Rin only stared, her mouth open in a silent gasp and then closing in a small giggle. Standing she closed her book and pushed her pencils into her waiting backpack, glancing over at her friend she giggled again, walking over to the red head and poking his cheeks, "Shippou-kun?" Other than a grumble and yawn he didn't stir, making her huff and press more into his side with her pointer finger, "Heeeey Shippou-kun!" She had leaned down to yell into his sensitive ears, making him cry out and fall back out of his seat.

Whines escaped his lips as he fought to open his teal blue eyes, glaring up at his close friend. "Ouchie!... Rin-chan!" He grumbled again, sitting up and dusting off his pants and butt, turning half lidded eyes at the younger girl, "You didn't have to scream… I could hear you just fine, coulda woken me with a hug or a pat or something!" Shippou stuck his tongue out at her, starting to turn and grab at his writing utensils and stick them in his backpack as well, "You're almost as bad as that Inuyasha, geez, my poor ears, violated constantly, and by my own best friend." He watered his eyes and showed Rin his best baby face, though it only made her snort.

Moving a hand under her ear to the back of her hairline, Rin flicked the dark brown hair behind her, her locks softly falling back to lay against her school uniform. Glancing at her small watch on her wrist she frowned, "Mou, Shippou, how am I going to get sweet bread now?!" She pointedly stared at the door way, students still dashing down the hall though some slowing with a worried face, they knew as much as her there would be no more bread after that rush. Letting out a sigh she picked up her backpack and rummaged through, pulling out her small bento box, "Well, Okaa-san made Otou-san's favorite, which is my favorite as well! Plus, I got a fresh egg!" She clapped her hands as she sat at a deserted desk, across from Shippou who had whipped out his own little lunch. Breaking apart their chopsticks they both offered up their thanks, "Ittadakimasu!"

Rin ate slowly, glancing at Shippou ever few seconds, making him finally twitch and whine at her, "Nani Rin-chan?"

His response was her shrugging lithe shoulders, rummaging around her nearly empty bento box. Her lips pursed and then opened, "I heard… that Otou-san might be leaving sooner…" Her voice had deflated from it's usual happiness, causing Shippou to stop eating and glance at his friend, a sad frown coming onto his face, emerald eyes gleaming from the sun filtering in the room. "I thought he just got back a few nights ago…" The dark haired girl nodded, a look of disdain running across her face before her smile reappeared, "Hopefully he'll send a transmission this time… it's… easier when he talks to us in between sailings."

The young fox demon smiled sadly at his friend, he understood her pain, though his parents were around, possibly too much at times, seemed to stifle him more than love him. "Well, maybe you can hang out with him more this weekend, there isn't any homework possibly, since Kanasaki-sensei is going on a fanciful trip with his dearest lover!" Shippou batted his eyelashes and made a flattering pose with his hands, eliciting a goodhearted laugh from Rin.

She bent over holding her stomach as she laughed more at his displays of love and Kanasaki-sensei; the teacher showed more emotion than a pregnant woman that was for sure. "S-shippou-kun! What if he heard you, you'd get a big ugly 0 on your next test!"

Shippou grimaced at that, remembering all to well when the teacher had caught him impersonating him before, he got more than a red ugly 0, more so he got big red hand prints on his bottom from his ever loving father after hearing about his, 'horrendous' acting skills. Letting out a grunt and looking towards the door, Shippou mumbled, "I couldn't sit for a week!"

It made Rin go into another giggle, though silver caught her attention as it wafted by the door. Stopping she jumped up, heading for the door, but shouting to Shippou who was confused from her quick departure, "I'll be right back Shippou-kun!" Turning out the door, she glanced down the hall where she saw her object of attention; upperclassman Sesshoumaru Nishiokoku. His gracious walk, stoic face and shoulder length silver hair swayed behind him as he continued walking down the hall, seemingly ignoring everything around him.

Rin nearly collided against him as she went after him; his strong hands went out automatically gripping her so she wouldn't fall back. Her smile entered his clear vision making him frown slightly, "Mizumoto-san?" Seeing that his hands were still on her thin shoulders he quickly pulled them away, a glare coming from his golden eyes directed to her.

Rin sighed, "Well, I was just going to say thanks for the tip you gave me for last weeks Algebra test!" Her cheeks had a dusting of pink and her lips sucked in between her teeth, she rocked back on her heels and smiled bright, before bowing low in respect, "Arigato Gozaimasu Nishiokoku-san."

With that she walked away, a little awkwardly but quickly, dipping back into her classroom and leaving Sesshoumaru to raise a delicate silver brow in her direction. Letting out a sigh he turned back towards the hall, his attention back to what he was doing before the girl had interrupted him. "Foolish." And with that he was gone.

Rin zipped back into the classroom, Shippou's confused face looking at her as she entered with a dazzling smile. "What happened?" his voice filtered out, stopping Rin as she sat in her seat.

"A-no? W-what happened?" Her voice carried a confusing air, as she stared puzzlingly at Shippou who had started to grin at her.

"Waaah Rin-chan, going after him? A crush?" He lifted a ginger eyebrow at her, making a suggestive face.

Seeing this, Rin's face turned bright pink, steam practically coming out of her ears as she went on to tell Shippou he was crazy, "Tondemonai! N-nooo! I- I was only thanking him for the- the tips for last weeks test!"

Shippous snickered, turning away and holding his stomach now, pointing a finger at Rin's red face, "B-but your face says otherwise!" He stated in between breaths.

Rin frowned, her lips coming together in a pout and her arms folding in a huff, "Upperclassman Inuyasha told me his brother did wonderful in math so I just asked… you know I suck at it!"

Shippous only laughed harder, falling out of his chair as Rin went on to pout and grumble, her face still bright pink with embarrassment.

"Mou Shippou-chan~" The sweet voice that left her sounded evil to the kitsune ears making him stop and glance in her direction. Seeing her head faced down he grimaced, "N-nani Rin-chan…I was- was only joking…" The girl only smiled at him, her face hiding her revenge for the boy, "Daijobudesu." Shippou wailed internally, that voice and set of words only meant she'd be getting him back later. Hanging his head he let out a dejected sigh, " Kowai on'na!"

Rin only snickered at the kitsune. Shaking her head and finishing off her bento box, stealing a rice cracker from Shippou's, ignoring his whine. She glanced at the door way, "I wonder when Kagome-chan and Sango-chan will come by today?" She glanced over at Shippou, his own shoulders coming up in a indefinite shrug, "Maybe they're going to be late? Lunch is already half way over..." He caught Rin nibbling on her plastic chopstick, a scrunched face and determined eyes seemed to sound off to him, "I kinda hope Kagome-chan comes to visit, she always brings yummy snacks..."

The girl frowned at her friend, "I don't care about the snacks silly, I wanted to ask her about the garden club meetings... I want to go to the Botanical gardens this week, but I want to hang out with my otou-san too... Maybe her can come along..." She sat back in her chair, brown eyes looking up at the white ceiling in a far off glance. She did want to spend time with him, since she was still in school and was in exam and tests week. She was upset she hadn't been able to spend time with him, mainly falling asleep or being to busy with studying since her okaa-san demanded she did it to keep her grades up. Glancing at the door again she broke out in a smile seeing Kagome and her friend Sango walking in, big smiles on their faces.

"Konnichiwa Rin-can, Shippou-kun!" Kagome came over with Sango trailing behind her, the older girls already in their gym clothes for next period. Rin nearly scoffed when she eyed Shippou, his tongue practically out of his mouth from glancing at the two older girls. Kagome spoke up, directing the younger girls' attention back, "Hey were we still going to the Botanical Gardens this weekend? I heard they have a new exhibit on healing plants and totally wanted to check it out!" Kagome nearly squealed, her happiness showing along with Rin's excitement, though the younger spoke up quickly, "I sure hope so.. though... Well otou-san might be leaving earlier than intended..." The sadness tinted the sentence made Kagome smile sadly, though perked up with a thought, her hand coming up in a pumped fist as she happily told Rin her idea, "Why don't you have him come with us? I bet it'll be relaxing and he won't be stuck at home alone and you can hang out with him doing stuff you love!"

Rin thought for a second, that is what she had in mind but she didn't want to intrude on the clubs outing with her father, "Shikashi Kagome-chan, are you sure that's alright?" The raven haired girl nodded, her smile beaming, "Definitely! Plus your dad is hilarious I'm totally fine with it!" The two smiled at another, glad they could come to a conclusion though they glanced at Shippou and Sango, both just looking at them with soft smiles.

"Jeez Rin, what's so much fun about a plant.. I mean.. it's pretty and all but.. you can't do anything with it!" Shippou gave her an incredulous look though glanced at Sango when she spoke up, "Some of our marital arts moves are named after plants Shippou-kun, just because you don't see their value doesn't mean they don't have one." The younger nodded, a small blush on his face from embarrassment making the three girls giggle at his uncomfortableness.

Hearing the three bells clang and jingle, the two upperclassmen waved their goodbyes, heading out to the fields for their classes gym period, leaving the other two to slowly trek back to their seats getting ready for the last class of the day; Japanese Literature.


Nishiokoku: Western kingdom, ruler

Mizumoto: water, base/origin,

Daijobudesu: It's ok

Kowai On'na: Scary woman

Kitsune: Fox

Tondemonai: No way!