Author's Note: Welcome to the first chapter of Dreams Aren't Always Fantasy. This chapter is quite long as of yet, so yeah.
Dreams Aren't Always Fantasy
Chapter 1
I was sixteen and still rode a bike to school. Most people get a car by the time they're sixteen. I guess I shouldn't complain, though. It helped keep me in shape and it got me some fresh air every day. I could have gotten a ride from a friend if I wanted to, but I didn't. I didn't have to worry about being late or anything like that.
I, Okada Rin, was never late for anything. At worst I was only five minutes early. Today I was going to be half an hour early. Just how I liked it. I'm not rich, I'm not poor. I'm comfortable. My parents and I live in a moderately sized three bedroom house with rice paper doors like most houses in Japan. The extra bedroom housed all of the books that I had collected over the years. They varied from graphic novels to suspense to romance to mystery. I could never make up my mind about what genre I liked best, so I figured it was best to have all of them.
I wasn't exactly the most popular girl in school. As a matter of fact, most people tended to hate me. I was the 'geeky shy girl' to them. I got straight A's, sat at the front of the class, raised my hand to answer each question, and liked to help the teachers after school. So, maybe I was a teacher's pet. That didn't bother me.
Though people didn't like me, most just left me alone. All except for one group. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Kouga, Naraku, and Miroku. Naraku never did anything to me and generally Kouga and Sesshoumaru were busy making out with their girlfriends. So, Inuyasha was the one that picked on me the most. Miroku, bless his pornography loving little heart, was the one that stuck up for me. Whenever I was running he'd pick me up, put me behind him, and calmly talk to Inuyasha. His girlfriend Sango was nice to me, as well. We didn't really talk, but whenever Miroku wasn't around she would beat Inuyasha if he was being mean. On some occasions Kouga would pick on me, too. It wasn't that often, though. And when he did it was just verbal abuse. He never physically hit me.
I don't know why they hated me. I thought I was a pretty likable person. Sure, I didn't talk much and during most of my free time I had my nose in a book, but I was friendly. I helped new kids find their way around school and I held doors open for people if their hands were full. But, I guess it was based on my social status. Since I wasn't rich they thought of me as lower in status. Oh, well.
The other boys girlfriends, Kagome, Kikyou, and Kagura, were all right. Kikyou never spoke, except to Naraku, and Kagura was usually busy with Sesshoumaru. Kagome would attempt to keep Inuyasha off of me, but it didn't work too well. When he did get to me she would help me up and smile apologetically before running after him. Kouga's girlfriend, Ayame, was much like himself. She wasn't exactly a genius, but she wasn't stupid. Her fiery red hair reflected her personality perfectly. All of them were rich. All of them were gorgeous. And all of them turned heads when they walked down the hall. Simple as that. The hierarchy of my school is like this: If you're rich, you hang with them. And if you hang with them, you're automatically popular. If you're like me, then watch out. Bow to them if you get the chance and then run.
I don't know why Kagome stayed with Inuyasha. I guess because he treated her marvelously. There was a rumor my sophomore year that he beat her. That was quickly ended when Inuyasha beat the person that started it. I believe Kagome beat him up, too, but I could be mistaken.
Finally, I was in front of the school. I parked my bike in the bike rack and chained it before walking inside. Just as I suspected, it was deserted. Sure, there were the teachers, but the halls were empty. I walked into the cafeteria, where they sell coffee, hot chocolate, muffins, and other such of the nature in the morning, and bought a cup of coffee and a chocolate chip muffin. Not the most nutritious breakfast, but I'd burn off the calories throughout the day.
"356 yen." The cashier stated. I pulled the money out of my pocket, handed it to her, and walked out of the cafeteria. The breakfast wasn't what brought me here so early. I could have actually had a healthier breakfast at home. But, home didn't provide one of the best views of Tokyo. I climbed the stairs, passed the second floor, third floor, fourth floor, and finally came to a small door. I twisted the door knob and climbed another set of stairs. Before long I was standing on the roof of the school. This was why I came so early.
The air was still brisk and I was actually thankful that I wore my sweatshirt everyday. I leaned over the railing, looking out over the city. The lights of night clubs were out, there were few cars on the roads. The city had not yet awakened. The sun was just about to peak over the horizon. Taking a sip of the beverage in my hand, I allowed the hot liquid to warm my throat. I took a bite of my muffin and begrudgingly swallowed. I wasn't anorexic or anything, but my size I used to my advantage. I could run faster than most people on the track team and if Inuyasha was about to catch up to me I could easily slide between people's legs. And I could fit into my locker in case I needed to hide. I didn't want to lose that advantage.
I finished the muffin and coffee and disposed of the trash in a nearby trash can. With one last look at the sky, I opened the door and walked back down the stairs. I had had my caffeine and my sugar. I was ready to make it through the day. I peaked around the corner of the door and, seeing no one, made my way to the first floor. It had taken me longer than I thought to finish eating and students were starting to come in. Now, I had to be on the lookout.
"Hey, Rin." I jumped slightly and got ready to run when I heard the person laughing.
"Shippou." I replied. The little fox demon was about three inches or so taller than me and in the same grade. We had been friends ever since our freshman year and he had grown accustomed to me jumping whenever he came up behind me.
"Inuyasha's still outside, so chill. He's trying to decide how to torture you today." Shippou laughed quietly, patting my shoulder when my face paled. "Chill, Rin. Miroku and Sango are both here so he can't touch you. And Kagome seems rather pissed. Maybe she'll sit him again."
I laughed uneasily, glancing at the door of the school. "That's wishful thinking, Shippou. She was massively angry that day." I replied. "Anyway, I better run."
"Aw, leaving so soon?" He pouted slightly.
"Actually, I should have been running about four seconds ago." I waved and then bolted down the hall. Shippou turned around and saw my reason. Inuyasha was in the doorway, but his attention was on Kagome.
"Come on, Kag. I won't hurt her, I promise. I just want to mess with her head a little." Inuyasha begged.
"If you harm one hair on her head I will say the word and laugh my butt off." Kagome growled. He smiled, kissed her cheek, and walked inside.
"Hey, twerp. Where'd she go?" He asked Shippou.
"I don't believe I know of whom you are speaking about." Shippou replied.
"I'll give you three seconds to answer me, runt." Inuyasha cracked his knuckles threateningly.
"She went that way, then that way." He pointed forward then to the right. Inuyasha gave him a fanged smile and ran after me. "Run, Rin!"
The shout just barely reached my ears when I saw Inuyasha come around the corner. I squealed and looked around. No where to go. 'Can't go up, he'll catch me if I try to go around, so best to go underneath.' I thought to myself. I ran towards him and dropped to the ground, propelling myself between his legs. Once I was behind him I stumbled to my feet and took off in the opposite direction.
"Come back here, Okada!" He yelled before running after me again. Miroku came into my line of sight and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"He's gone completely mental." I stated.
"Okada, I'm going to kill you!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"Save me, please!" I jumped behind Miroku, using him as a sort of shield.
"Now, now, Inuyasha. Violence is really no way to solve your obvious hatred towards young Rin." Miroku chided. He had the tone of a father berating his son for making a mess.
"Come on, Miroku. I don't want to hurt her, I just need to get my exercise in for today." Inuyasha replied.
"So go punch something in the gym. Humans are not exercise equipment. I believe Lady Kaede has told you that." He hid a laugh as he quoted the eccentric gym teacher. Inuyasha growled quietly before stomping off towards Kagome.
"Thanks, Miroku." I bowed slightly and calmly walked to my locker. That was how my day usually went. Get chased by Inuyasha, sometimes get caught, other times hide behind Miroku while he talks to him, and then just walk away.
I opened the metal contraption that held my books and pulled out a hair brush. 'Stupid idiotic dog demon. Always makes me mess up my hair.' I ran the brush through my hair, wincing as it pulled at a tangle.
"You know, you should really stand up to him." Shippou pointed out.
"And then get beat even worse that I do now? I don't think so." I replied. He sighed gently and turned to me.
"Rin, you're like one of the fastest people in the school, you can handle a sword better than most guys, and to top it off you can argue with anyone about anything and win. You could so kill him if you wanted to."
"But, I don't want to. I'll stick with being his human punching bag for one more year, then it's off to college."
Shippou sighed again and pulled a piece of paper out of my hair. "You've got dirt on your sweatshirt." He pointed out. I glanced down at the article of clothing, swore quietly, and took it off.
"Damn it, I just washed this thing last night." I grumbled. I threw it into my locker and pulled another one out, putting it on over the long sleeved black shirt I was wearing.
"Why do you insist on wearing a sweatshirt every day?" Shippou asked.
"Because it keeps me warm and it's comfortable. I'll see you in anatomy." I gave him one last wave before walking to class. First period was drama. It was one of my favorite classes. Can you imagine me, little miss shy girl of the junior class, standing on a stage and feeling at home? I couldn't either. But, it turned out that I had 'natural talent'. I started off getting minor parts in school productions and slowly but surely progressed to the lead.
I stepped into the drama classroom, smiling at the emptiness. Gachi, the drama teacher, wasn't really a stickler about punctuality, so most people arrived a few minutes late. Again, I wasn't going to complain. It gave me time to play the piano that was in the corner of the room. Yes, I played the piano. I began taking lessons when I was about six or so, and I must say, I was pretty good. I sat on the bench in front of it, placed my feet on the pedals, and slowly began to play.
As I've said many times, I'm a quiet person. And that's how I played. Slow, quiet classical music that my fingers had memorized. I heard the door creak open and instinctively turned to see who had just walked in. No body was there. It wasn't that unusual. Students were walking through the halls now and one of them probably just accidentally pushed the door. I finished playing the song, stood up, and turned around. Lo and behold, there stood Sesshoumaru. Where in all the seven hells did he come from? He didn't have this drama class. From what I heard he had third period drama. Not first. He couldn't be here. I was going to die!
"Are you just going to stand there staring at me?" He asked. His voice chilled me to the bone.
"Yes." I replied. "I mean no." I hastily corrected. I jumped at a loud 'bang' sound and squeezed my eyes closed. 'Not again.' I thought, pulling my hand away from the piano. The thing covering the keys on the piano had, once again, slammed onto my fingers. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and walked back into the hall. Apparently someone was waiting for him by the door. I bit my lip, trying not to notice the pain that surged through my fingers. I put my thumb in my mouth and sat in my usual seat.
"That hurt." I muttered.
"Rin, you're always so early." The teacher commented, stepping into the class.
"It prevents me from getting trampled in the hallway." I replied automatically. We always had this discussion.
"Has Inuyasha been hassling you again?" Gachi asked.
"No more than usual, sensei. And as I've said before, it gives me more exercise." This conversation was going no where.
"I've told you repeatedly, Rin, that you are the last student in this school who needs to worry about exercise. If you want to exercise then you should think about going out for a sport. The boys could certainly use the extra speed." We laughed and the bell finally rang. "And what do you know, you're the only one on time… again."
Some light giggling could be heard by the door, followed by a chuckle. "Come on, not now, Sesshoumaru. I have to go. Myouga's going to fry me if I skip class again." Kagura pushed him gently before walking away. I rolled my eyes in disgust and pulled a book out of my bag.
'Please, tell me that he doesn't really have this class first period. It could have just been my imagination. I mean, isn't having him as my gym partner punishment enough?' Apparently it wasn't. Because, as students slowly began to filter into the classroom, so did he.
"Now that everyone has joined us." Gachi began. "We have a new addition to our class. Everyone already knows him, so I won't waste time with an introduction. We will be putting on a production of Romeo and Juliet in three months. The casting has already been decided upon and it is as follows: Miroku will be playing Tybalt. Hojo will be Friar Lawrence. Shippou will be Mercutio. And our stars are Romeo and Juliet, played by Sesshoumaru and Rin. Others will be decided upon at a later time." The room instantly became quiet, and then filled with shouts of unfairness.
"Sensei, I must agree with my classmates this time. I thought I heard you say Sesshoumaru and I were the stars." I laughed.
"That is correct, Rin. And the casting was picked according to skill, so you should be honored." Gachi replied.
"I am, sensei, but, that's absurd. That would actually mean that you expect us to work together." I continued laughing.
"Yes, I do. Is something wrong with that?" My laughs subsided into whimpers.
"That's impossible, Sensei. See, I, we, cannot work together."
"And why is that, Rin?" She asked.
"He hates me! You can't honestly expect us to work together in a civil manner." I was trying not to start bawling hysterically.
"You can at least wait to read about your characters before you decide whether or not you can work together." Gachi scolded. I frowned slightly and folded my arms in front of me. I was usually calm, but this I could not stand for. The teacher began passing out sheets of paper to the people who had parts. Finally, I received mine.
'Juliet - The daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet. A beautiful thirteen-year-old girl, Juliet begins the play as a naïve child who has thought little about love and marriage, but she grows up quickly upon falling in love with Romeo, the son of her family's great enemy. Because she is a girl in an aristocratic family, she has none of the freedom Romeo has to roam around the city, climb over walls in the middle of the night, or get into swordfights. Nevertheless, she shows amazing courage in trusting her entire life and future to Romeo, even refusing to believe the worst reports about him after he gets involved in a fight with her cousin. Juliet's closest friend and confidant is her Nurse, though she's willing to shut the Nurse out of her life the moment the Nurse turns against Romeo.'
"Sensei, can I speak truthfully?" I asked. She nodded. "I can't play Juliet!"
"Why not?" Gachi questioned.
"You mean besides the fact that Sesshoumaru and I are sworn enemies and Juliet has to kiss Romeo in the play?" The teacher nodded. "Then absolutely nothing."
"There is no way I can kiss that inexperienced… twit." Sesshoumaru chipped in.
"I'll take the inexperienced part as a compliment, thank you very much." I replied. "And there is absolutely no way that that player is coming anywhere near me in that sense."
"You would be considered lucky if I kissed you. Even I have standards about whom I kiss."
"Oh, that's a shock right there. Seriously. " I hissed.
"Calm down, you two. Yes, there are a couple of kissing scenes in the play. Yes, you two are expected to kiss each other. What seems to be the problem though?" Gachi interrupted the argument that was going back and forth across the room.
"Simple. My girlfriend won't allow it. And there is no way that I am going to lower myself by kissing someone who probably doesn't even know where her lips are in the first place." Sesshoumaru rose from his seat and went to the teacher's desk. At least he had enough common sense to keep the conversation somewhat private.
I scoffed and stood a few feet away. "I'll have you know that I have an A in anatomy, so of course I know where my lips on. And it's not like I want to kiss you either, stupid incompetent, bumbling jock."
"Do you know how to use them, though?" He lifted an inquisitive eyebrow, a smirk on his face. He had me there. "If you can't come up with a valid argument I suggest you shut up."
"That's enough, both of you. I have spoken with Kagura, Sesshoumaru, and after a little deal she has agreed to this. She was in no position to reject my offer in the first place. Rin, you'll have to get over your self-pride and do this." Her tone was serious, but still quiet.
"Can't I just refuse to take the part? I mean, this goes strictly against my policy, sensei." I begged.
"And what policy would that be? No kissing until you're married?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"No. No kissing anybody whose IQ is lower than that of an amoeba." I smiled sweetly.
"Watch it, insect. I've thrown books heavier than you." He threatened.
"I've made guys bigger than you cry." I replied.
"Oh, yeah. What'd you do? Argue with them until they finally realized how stupid you are?" He was in for it now.
"Don't test me, Konoe. I could kill you in three seconds flat just with my hands." I growled.
"Assuming you could reach any vital areas." He replied.
"I said that's enough, you two. Now if you start again I will have to give both of you detention." Gachi snapped. "Rin, you do have the option of backing out of the performance, but I must beg you not to. No other student has the capabilities you do nor the personality."
"What, the personality of a stick? That shouldn't be too hard to find." Sesshoumaru muttered.
"You should talk, idiot." I answered.
"That's it. Detention, both of you. This afternoon, forty-five minutes. Now that you have successfully spent the entire class period bickering with each other, you're dismissed. Grab a script by the door." The bell rang a second after she completed her statement.
"Detention, sensei? I've never had detention in my entire life. He'll rip me to shreds." I told her.
"I'm sorry, Rin, but you should have stopped when I told you the first time. Now, go. You don't want to be late for anatomy." She replied.
"Yes, ma'am." I muttered dejectedly before walking out of the room. 'I'll kill him in gym.' I thought decidedly.
"Detention… me. Oh, mom is so going to kill me when I get home. That is, assuming I survive with him." I groaned and walked into the anatomy class.
"Not having a good day?" Shippou asked, already in his seat.
"That's putting it lightly, Shippou." I answered. "I have just received my first detention."
He turned to me in disbelief. "What? Detention? You? From Gachi? Are you sure she gave it to the right person?"
"Complete sentences, I beg you, Shippou. But, yes. Detention. Me. From Gachi. And you'll never guess who I have to serve it with, either." I put my head on my desk, my hands resting in my lap.
"Who?" Shippou asked excitedly.
I looked up just in time to see the very person walk into the classroom. "Him." I whined. Shippou's bottom jaw fell.
"Is Gachi aware that this is an immediate danger to your health?" He asked incredulously.
I nodded. "Not only that, but she expects me to kiss him in the upcoming play."
"Stop spreading such slanderous lies, Okada." Sesshoumaru barked, causing me to jump slightly. "I'm the one that is being forced to kiss you. You're just the lucky one receiving the action." He stalked to the back of the room where Kagura would soon join him.
"Rin, I understand if you don't come to school tomorrow. Or for the next few months." Shippou placed a 'comforting' hand on my shoulder, shaking his head.
"Shippou, I so want to murder you right now." I lifted my head just as the teacher walked into the room.
"Good morning, good morning, good morning. A new day, and a new chapter. Meaning, a project. Listen carefully as I tell you who you will be partnered with." The teacher, Akio, stated. Ears perked up around the classroom, everyone listening intently. "Yumi and Hojo. Ayame and Kouga. Kagome and Inuyasha. Kikyou and Naraku. Sango and Miroku. Yuki and Daichi. Kagura and Shippou." There was a slight pause.
"Dear God, no. Shippou, please tell me…" I started.
"And Rin and Sesshoumaru." Akio ended. I let out a long moan, burying my face in my hands.
"Question: Is it National Hate Rin Day?" I asked.
"I see you have an objection, Rin." The teacher said.
"I don't mean to be disrespectful sensei, but that would be putting it lightly. Is there anyway that I could get a different partner?"
"That brings me to my next point: All pairs are final. And cooperation while working on the project is worth half your grade. Everyone, gather your books and other materials and follow me to the library." I bowed my head in a defeated manner.
"Shippou, kill me before he has the chance to. Please." I begged as I pulled myself from my seat.
"Rin, I have some advice for you. Girl to girl." Kagura told me. "If he gets out of line, just slap him. Or, if you just feel like getting him back for all the times he's tortured you, slap him." She laughed quietly, quickening her pace to catch up with her boyfriend.
"You'd better be nice to her, Sesshoumaru." I heard her hiss.
"Oh, come off it, Kagura. The only thing I would possibly do to her is say a derogatory comment. And even if I did go further I doubt she would even notice what I was doing." Sesshoumaru replied.
"Konoe Sesshoumaru!" Kagura growled. "I swear, if she has a mark on her body…"
"Calm down, Kagura. I won't lay a claw on her." He promised. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
"You better not." They followed the rest of the class into the library, leaving me and Shippou to enter last.
"Okay, find a place to sit so I can explain the project. Sit next to your partner, though." The teacher said quietly. Again, I groaned. Not only did I have to work with him, I had to sit next to him, too.
"Come on, the quicker you sit down the quicker you can get to work." Kagome and Inuyasha were at the same table as Sesshoumaru and I took the last remaining seat. Kagura, Shippou, Miroku, and Sango were next to us with Ayame, Kouga, Kikyou, and Naraku behind them. "Here's the assignment: Create a replica of your partner. Include all body parts and try to make them as proportionate as possible. I am not grading you on artistic ability. You can use books and the computers as reference for measurements and whatever else you need. Remember, cooperation is half of your grade. Now, go.
The library filled with the noise of chair legs scraping against the floor as the students went to the shelves crowded with the books and the computers at the back.
"This will be sufficiently awkward." I muttered, standing up. Sesshoumaru stood up as well and walked to a book shelf.
"Sex?" He asked me. My jaw dropped.
"Is that all you ever think about?" I replied before the question registered in my mind. "Female, idiot."
"Well, you'd never be able to tell with the way you dress." He said matter-of-factly. "You look like a twelve year old boy. And I actually think even one of them might have more a chest than you do."
"Are you making fun of the size of my breasts?" I questioned, lifting an eyebrow.
"Wow, you actually noticed."
"I thought so. Hey, wait!" I said indignantly before slapping him. "Pervert."
"I told you be nice to her, Sesshoumaru." Kagura hissed from the other side of the shelf.
"All I said was that her breasts are practically non-existent." Sesshoumaru replied.
"Rin, kick him in the shin before I do it myself." Kagura murmured. I heard Shippou stifle a laugh and I hid a smile. I reached for a book, but couldn't reach it.
"Joy." I muttered, standing on my tip-toes. Nope, still couldn't reach it.
"Aw, does the little shrimp need help?" Sesshoumaru sneered.
"Sesshoumaru, help her. She's half your grade, you know." Kagura replied, glaring at him through the books.
"Fine." He replied. He reached a hand above my head and easily pulled the book down. "Think about some high heels next time."
"Think about some high heels next time." I grumbled in a mocking tone. I glanced at the wall clock and walked to the front desk. The bell rang in thirty seconds.
"I'll give you some class time everyday to work on this so you don't have to at home, what with finals coming up. Have a nice day, everyone." Akio told the slowly gathering class.
After checking the book out, I slung my book bag over my shoulders, still looking at the clock. Once the bell rang I was on of the first people to leave.
"Hold on, Okada. I have a paper due tomorrow." Inuyasha threw a balled up piece of paper at me and I quickly caught it. "Don't forget."
I nodded slightly in response. He turned around, his hand around Kagome's waist and walked away.
"You know, you're only hurting yourself when you make her do your assignments." She whispered to him.
"How? That's how my GPA is so high. The girl's reason for existence is to do my homework." Inuyasha replied. That was followed by a muttered 'sit' and him falling to the floor. "I'll get you for that, Kagome."
"Oh, yeah? How's that, lover boy?" Kagome giggled as Inuyasha stood up. "Not that look, please. No tickling, Inuyasha."
"Take it back, Kag." He replied, his hands winding around her waist again, his claws tickling the skin under her shirt.
"Never." She laughed. Her face turned red as he continued tickling her. "All right, I take it back, just stop."
"That's what I thought." Inuyasha smirked lightly, kissing her neck.
"See you in gym, Rin. And I'm sorry about him. He's just a big puppy." Kagome called over her shoulder to me. I laughed quietly and headed in the opposite direction.
"Ahh, the phone." I pushed a coin into the coin slot and dialed my phone number. "Pick up mom." I muttered.
"Okada residence, Ami speaking." My mother spoke into the receiver.
"Mom." I replied.
"I was wondering when you were going to call, Rin." She answered.
"Have the doctors come yet?" I asked anxiously.
"Yes, they just left about five minutes ago." The tone in her voice suddenly changed.
"And? What'd they say?"
"I think it would be best if you just found out when you get home this afternoon…" She told me.
"Mom, please. What'd they say?" I asked again.
"Are you sitting down?" My mom questioned in response.
I glanced around the hall for a seat but found none, so I leaned against the wall instead. "Sort of." I replied.
"All right. They don't know if he's going to last through the spring." She said quietly. My breath caught in my throat.
"A-are they sure?" Tears were in my voice.
"Yes, honey. They're talking about just going ahead and ending his life now so that he doesn't suffer as much." She stated.
I braced myself against the wall, twirling the phone cord in my hand. "Is that Rin?" My father's gravely voice asked. I heard my mom reply with a yes. "Let me speak to her."
My mother must have handed him the phone because the next voice that spoke was his. "Hello, dearest."
"Daddy." I tried desperately to keep my voice steady, but he still must have noticed.
"No tears, love." He said gently. "I'm not dead yet."
"Daddy, you can't leave me now. You still have to march with me at graduation." I whispered.
"I know that, Rin, and I'll try my hardest to be there, but you know that I can't promise anything." He replied.
"I know, Daddy. But, I don't want you go." I squeaked, tears rolling down my face.
"You've known that I was going to die for quite some time now, Rin. And I don't plan on leaving anytime soon. I'll be home when you get out of school. Now, go to class." His voice quavered and he erupted into a fit of coughing. I could hear him trying to keep me from hearing the noise by covering the mouth piece of the phone. It was followed a click and then the dial tone. I bit my lower lip to keep myself from crying and placed the phone back in the cradle.
I turned around, seeing Sesshoumaru and Kagura at a stand-still behind me.
"Your dad again?" Kagura asked. She was one of the few people who knew about what was going on. I nodded slightly. "How is he?"
"Not too good. I have to go." I muttered and walked around them, heading for the roof.
NORMAL POV
"What's wrong with her dad?" Sesshoumaru questioned once Rin was out of hearing range.
"It's not my place to say…" Kagura answered hesitantly. "You would have to ask her."
"Oh. Well, I don't want to waste our entire free period talking about her. Come on." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. "I have detention this afternoon, so I'll be about forty-five minutes late picking you up."
Kagura groaned and leaned her head against her shoulder. "Argue with Rin again?"
"Yeah. This time she actually argued back, so we both have detention. Little shrimp thinks I'm going to maim her."
"She isn't that short, you know." Kagura replied.
"She's like five foot two. And it's not only her height that makes her a shrimp. She weighs less than Kanna does. And Kanna's a sophomore." With his arm still around her shoulders, they began to walk towards the front exit.
Rin finally made it to the roof, the door slamming closed behind her.
"It's about time. Free period is almost half way over." Shippou commented, turning around to face her.
"Sorry. I had to call my mom. The doctors stopped by the house today." Rin replied.
"Oh. How's he doing?" He asked gently. As much as she tried to fight it, her lower lip quivered and fresh tears started to roll down her cheeks. "Rin, don't cry." He slowly walked over to her and pulled her into a hug.
"They say he isn't going to last through Spring and that it would be best if they just killed him now so he wouldn't suffer." She told him. Her body shook but she could at least control the sobs escaping her mouth.
"Is he going to march with you at Junior graduation?" He asked.
"He said he can't make any promises." Rin replied, leaning over the edge of the roof. "I can't lose him, Shippou. I know I still have my mom, but it's not the same."
Shippou gently rubbed her back and stared at the sky. "I don't know what to say to make you feel better, Rin. I've never been in this type of situation. I mean, I have two perfectly healthy parents, an older brother. I'm sure he'll be fine, though."
"Anyway." She sighed. "How'd things go with Kagura today?"
"Fine. I'm starting to see why Sesshoumaru stays with her and doesn't move on to some other girl. She's really smart and nice. You know, she's one of the only reasons why Sesshoumaru hasn't beaten you up, yet. That and he's said that it's a waste of his time to fight someone who can't fight back." He replied.
"I think someone's got a crush." She joked. "Crush, thy name is Kagura."
"Shut up, Rin. I do not have a crush on her." Shippou snapped defensively. "What about you? Have fun hanging around Sesshoumaru for yet another fifty minutes?"
"Hah!" She laughed. "God, I want to kill him. And I just may in gym."
"Well, you do that. For now, I have to go to Drama. You know we're putting on another production, right?"
"Yeah. You got the part of Mercutio. I'm Juliet." Rin replied. Shippou looked at her quizzically.
"Who's the other lead?" He asked.
"Sesshoumaru." His name came out as a hiss. Shippou stifled a laugh, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"Think of it this way, Rin. Your first kiss is only going to be a stage kiss." He laughed.
"Shippou…" She began, a forced smile on her face.
"Three seconds to run, right?" Shippou replied. She nodded. He hurriedly removed his arm from her shoulders and ran down the stairs.
"Come back here, Shippou!" Rin shouted, quickly running after him.
"Come on, Rin. It was just a joke. Can't you just let me live until after the play? It's my first major role." He begged.
"Be happy we're friends, Shippou." She answered, glaring at him for a second before smiling. "Have fun in Drama. I have to get to Calculus."
"You know, you're really scary when you're the one doing the chasing." Shippou grumbled before walking to the drama class.
"I'll see you at lunch, Shippou." She replied with a laugh before going to Calculus. Rin entered the room, freezing instantly. "What are you doing in here?" She asked Sesshoumaru.
"Waiting for class to start, if you must know." He answered coldly.
"I thought you had first period Calculus." She muttered.
"I did, but since I got switched to first period Drama, I got moved into third period Calculus." He hissed.
'Joy. Kami, you must hate me.' Rin thought, sitting in the front row.
"Welcome, class, to another exciting day filled with math." The teacher stated. "Here's the thing. I have a family emergency to take care of, so we aren't doing anything today. And this is the assignment: It has just hit me how little you all know your classmates. Pairs are posted by the door, I would like you to spend the class time talking to these people to get to know them better."
Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone stood up, rushing towards the paper taped by the door. Rin stood up once most of the class had sat back down and slowly trailed her finger down the list of names. She strained herself to see higher, squinting at the names.
"I must be reading this wrong." She muttered to herself. "A brilliant day to forget my glasses."
"No, you're not reading it wrong. It seems like we're stuck together again." Sesshoumaru replied.
"Can't you just say 'hi' like normal people instead of making me have a heart attack like that?" She growled, glaring up at him.
"Can't you have the common decency to not glare at your superiors?" He retorted. "Especially those who happen to hold your fate in their hands in eighth period."
"That's a weak threat, Konoe. Even for you." Rin replied, scampering off before he could argue. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and walked back to his desk, sitting opposite of the one she had chosen.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before he finally spoke up. "Are you going to ask me anything?"
"I don't think so." She answered as she flipped the page of the book she was reading.
"What grudge do you hold against me?" Sesshoumaru questioned. It wasn't what she was expecting.
"Pardon?" Rin asked in response, looking at him for a second.
"You heard me, Okada. I've never done anything to hurt you unless Kaede specifically told me to in gym. Yet, you obviously hate me. Why?"
"You may not be the one beating me up everyday, Konoe, but you have never lifted so much as a finger to stop the abuse your brother subjects me to. And sometimes emotional abuse hurts just as much as physical abuse." She mumbled.
"Finally, a glimpse into the mind of Okada. Now, put down the book so we can get this assignment over with. I can't get a zero for something so simplistic." He grabbed the book she was reading, glancing at the cover. "Hannibal? That explains some of the threats you come up with." He snapped it closed and placed it on the desk beside him.
"It happens to be an excellent book, thank you very much. But, ask whatever you want and I'll answer." She replied, hoping she could find her place in lunch.
"How old are you?" He asked.
"Sixteen." Rin's answer was short, but it gave the information asked for. "You?"
"Just turned seventeen. When's your birthday?"
"December 1st. Yours?"
"You're a young one, aren't you? November 25th."
"I'm not that young. Only a year younger than you." She answered. "Past relationships?"
"Getting a bit personal, huh?" A smirk formed on his face. "Started dating Kagura in eighth grade. She's been my only real girlfriend since. Any boyfriends the entire school doesn't know about, Okada?"
"Nope. I'm not into the whole dating ritual crap." She replied. "Have you ever cheated on her?"
Sesshoumaru scoffed. "Do you think I'm stupid? I know a good thing when I see it."
"But how have you managed to have sex with almost every girl in school and still remain loyal to her?"
"First off, who said anything about 'almost every girl'?"
"You haven't had sex with me, and from what I've heard, Kagome, Kikyou, Sango, Ayame, or Kanna." Rin replied.
"One, Kanna is Kagura's sister. That's never going to happen. Two, like Inuyasha, Naraku, Miroku, or Kouga are ever going to let me have sex with their girlfriends, even if they break up. Three, we still have a year of high school. That's plenty of time to have sex with you."
"Keep dreaming, Konoe. I plan on staying a virgin forever and then joining the convent." She answered.
"Oh, yeah? This is the twenty-first century, Okada. No one, and I mean no one, stays a virgin past freshman year of college. Now, stepping away from intimacy, how's your home life?" Sesshoumaru answered with a smirk.
"Fine." She replied after a moments hesitation.
"I'm a demon, Okada. I can easily tell when you're lying. The point of this assignment is to get to know each other, which we can't do if you are going to lie about your home life."
"What makes you think you know me well enough to judge whether or not I'm lying?" Rin snapped in a defensive manner.
"I never suggested that I knew you. I simply stated that you were lying, which is now quite obvious seeing as how you're getting so defensive about it. Does it have to do anything with your father? I heard you speaking to him before free period…" Sesshoumaru replied.
"I told you, my home life is just fine." Her eyes glanced at the clock in the front of the room. "And it appears we have run out of time." The bell rang and she jumped from her seat, grabbing the book that was still on the desk next to Sesshoumaru's, and walked out of the room, slinging her book bag over her shoulders.
She forced some hair out of her face, trying her best to stifle a groan. 'I won't let him crack me. He can try all he wants, but I won't let him. We may have the exact same schedule but that doesn't mean I have to speak to him.' She thought.Rin forced her way through the thickening crowd of students, finally managing to get to the stairs.
"Hey, Rin… Bye, Rin…" Kagura's voice trailed off as she ran as fast as she could without bumping into anyone. Kagura turned towards Sesshoumaru, who was slowly but surely forcing people aside so he could join his girlfriend. "What did you say to her, Sesshoumaru?"
"Absolutely nothing that should have made her respond like that. Trust me. Akata simply assigned a personal assignment since he had a family emergency and we were paired together." Sesshoumaru replied.
"I'll ask again, Sesshoumaru. And don't test me, it's only lunch and I still have government. What did you say to her?" Her voice became a dangerous hiss.
"I asked what her home life was like and she got all defensive. So, I asked if it had anything to do with her father and when the bell rang she just ran out. Now, can we please go to lunch? I'm starving." He put on the most innocent face he could muster.
Kagura's eyes turned ice cold, her hands balling into fists. "You know, you're a genius Sesshoumaru and you know I love you to death, but even Kouga would have enough sense not to ask about her father!"
A growl emitted from Sesshoumaru's throat at the comparison she had made.
"Don't growl at me, you over-grown puppy." She snapped, hitting him on the back of his head. Sesshoumaru smirked seductively and grabbed the offending hand.
"You know it turns me on when you call me that." He whispered huskily, his breath tickling her ear.
"Don't start anything you can't finish, Sesshoumaru." Kagura replied.
"You tease me, Kagura. You should know better than to tease a dog demon." Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, leading her towards the cafeteria.
"But the danger will make it all the more pleasurable later." She laughed quietly as he steered her into the line and bought some oden and a bottle of water.
Sesshoumaru purchased some rice and a bottle of Sprite.
"How can you drink that stuff?" Kagura questioned, her voice filled with jealousy.
"Simple. It tastes good and I'm not obsessed about my body like some people." Sesshoumaru answered, giving her a gentle kiss before settling himself in the grass with the rest of their group, pulling Kagura into his lap.
Rin busted onto the roof with such speed that even surprised herself. Shippou had yet to arrive, which wasn't really that odd. The lunch line could take a while to get through. She leaned against the railing on the roof as she had done during free period, her bottle of water held tightly in her hand.
"You know, trying to catch up with you in the halls is like trying to catch up with a cheetah. Utterly impossible." Shippou grumbled as he closed the roof door.
"Well, you know me. Don't wait for anyone." Rin laughed slightly, glancing over her shoulder at him. "How'd drama go?"
"Most excellent. Kagura and I got main supporting roles opposite you and Sesshoumaru." He replied.
"I know, they're talking about it down there." She pointed over the roof, leading Shippou's eyes to the group on the ground.
"Oh, yay. We can eavesdrop today." He smiled and sat down next to her.
"It isn't eavesdropping. They shouldn't be talking so loud." A snort of laughter escaped him as she tried to explain her rationale.
"It's a perfectly legitimate argument, Shippou." Rin muttered defensively.
"You just don't want Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha to find out so you can move when you get home this afternoon."
"Of course, that's a factor as well. Mom's got the night shift tonight, so I have to take care of Daddy. I can't exactly do that if they've broken a rib or something." She took a sip of water, slowly swallowed it, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Is that all you're having again?" Shippou questioned, looking incredulously at the bottle of water in her hand. Rin sighed and closed her eyes.
"Do you have to start this now, Shippou? It looks like Sango's about to beat Miroku up. He rubbed her butt again." She glanced over at him for a second before turning her attention to the bickering couple below her.
"I'll gladly put an end to the argument as soon as you eat something." He replied.
"Like what? The lunch line's closed by now." Rin replied.
"Well, have some of my rice, then." He held the container out for her.
"It has shrimp in it…" She grimaced slightly, looking at the piece of shrimp lying on top of the rice.
"So? It's good for you." Though Shippou persisted he knew it was useless to resist 'the force'.
"I'm a vegetarian." Rin replied bitterly. "You know that, Shippou."
"Come on, Rin. There are some vegetarians who still eat fish."
"Well, I'm not one of them." Since he still held the container of fried rice in front of her, she pulled the chopsticks out of her hand and picked up the piece of shrimp. "Bye, little guy." She turned the edge of the roof and released the piece of food from the chopsticks.
The conversation below ceased as the shrimp landed on a rather irritable hanyou's head. "Okada…" He began dangerously, ripping the shrimp out of his silver hair.
"Five seconds to run, right?" She asked with a nervous laugh. She took a few quivering steps back, getting ready to bolt for the door.
"Wrong! I'm going to kill you!" He stood up, placing Kagome gently on the ground next to him, and jumped onto the roof, landing in front of my. "Mind telling me how that piece of shrimp got in my hair?"
"Umm… it loved you so much that it jumped out of the sea to give you a hug?" Rin gave another nervous laugh, still stepping backwards.
"Wrong answer, Okada. Since I don't want Kag to sit my ass to hell and back, I'll give you a three second head start." He flexed his claws threateningly and Rin squeaked, sent a glare at Shippou, and ran for the stairs leading off of the roof. "I'm going to kill you!" He took off after her. The other couples on the ground jumped up and ran to the front of the school.
Rin made it to the first floor, sliding on the tile as she turned a corner. Inuyasha wasn't far behind her until Kagome yelled 'the word'.
"SIT!" She shouted. Inuyasha landed face down, giving Rin just enough time to pull her locker door open and conceal herself inside.
"It isn't normal that she can do that." Naraku murmured. His hand was wrapped around Kikyou's, the thumb slowly tracing circles on her smooth skin.
"Tell me about it. Kanna can't even fit inside a locker. Comfortably, at least." Kagura replied. Inuyasha pried himself from the floor and glared at Kagome.
"What was that for!" He asked angrily.
"You're three times her size! Give her a break!" Kagome answered.
"She threw a piece of shrimp in my hair!"
"You cover her with dirt everyday!"
"That's different!"
"How so? You're the one covering her with something?"
"Yes!"
"Can I say something?" Shippou asked cautiously.
"What?" Kagome replied
"Keep him off of me and I'll tell you." He backed away from the enraged hanyou.
"He won't touch you, Shippou. Now, what is it?" To prove her point, Kagome latched a hand onto the sleeve of Inuyasha's shirt.
"I offered Rin some rice that had shrimp in it." Shippou stated.
"So…?" Ayame asked.
"I'm a vegetarian!" Rin's voice reverberated off of the metal lockers. Inuyasha growled and raised a fist.
"I am so going to kill you in gym, Okada." He hissed.
"Give her one bruise and you'll be sorry." Kagome replied sourly.
"How so?" Inuyasha challenged.
"Speak to me like that again, puppy, and you can say bye-bye to your sex life." She smirked and walked away. Inuyasha's eyes widened and he ran after her.
"It's amazing how she can do that him." Sango sighed. "Anyway, fifth period is about to start. See you guys later." She turned to Miroku and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips before walking towards the office. Ayame, Kouga, Kikyou, Naraku, and Miroku walked towards the stairs, leaving Kagura and Sesshoumaru alone in the hall.
"Why does he treat her like that?" Kagura asked. She walked to her locker and slowly twisted in the combination.
"He just doesn't like her. Never has." Sesshoumaru replied. He opened his own locker, which was next to hers.
"But why? You don't like her and you don't threaten to kill her everyday."
"It's not that I don't like her, it's just that I have a reputation to protect."
"Hey, guys." Sesshoumaru turned to see Kagome's little brother and Kagura's little sister standing behind him.
"Oh, hey, Kanna. Something wrong?" Kagura asked.
"No. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going out with Souta tonight and I won't be back till late." The sophomore replied.
"Is Rin in her locker again?" Souta questioned. Kagura nodded and Souta walked across the hall. "Combination, Rin."
"Is the psycho gone?" Rin asked.
"Yeah." He answered.
"46-16-47." Souta twisted in the numbers and opened the door.
"I don't see how you can still do this." He helped her out and straightened her disheveled hair.
"I'm small. That's how. Thanks."
"No problem. I know Inuyasha can be… a jerk." He grinned and walked away, his arm around Kanna's waist. The bell rang loudly and Rin groaned.
"Great. Health." Kagura laughed at her antics.
"Come on, Rin. It's only sex."
"Yeah. Gotta do it sometime. But, you might have to pay." Sesshoumaru joked.
"Haha, so clever." Rin muttered. She closed her locker just before she was swept along by the sea of students.
"Why do you have to rag on her like that?" Kagura asked. Sesshoumaru wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her by his side.
"It was just a joke." Sesshoumaru replied.
"You're always like that with her. Teasing her and crap."
"Like I said, I have a reputation to uphold. You know I'd never physically hurt the shrimp." They walked into the health room to see bananas and little packages placed on the desks.
"Learning how to put a condom on properly." Kagura could already guess the lesson plan. She smiled at the sight of Rin hunched down in her seat, Shippou sitting beside her.
"Would have been better if he had just killed me. At least then I wouldn't have to deal with this humility." She muttered.
"It won't be that bad, Rin. And think of it this way. It doesn't matter if you can't put a condom on a banana because you're never going to have sex." Shippou grinned. He picked up the wrapped condom and his grin disappeared. "Why do I get a small?" Kagura stifled a laugh and sat in the desk in front of him, leaving Sesshoumaru to sit in front of Rin.
"Everybody, take a seat. Do not eat the bananas, please." The teacher announced.
"Cucumbers work better. Unless the person has a crooked penis." A student laughed. Rin slumped further in her seat.
"Okada, sit up straight." The teacher ordered. The girl groaned, but sat up none the less.
"Is it possible to die of embarrassment, Shippou?"
Author's Note: 21 pages, 9000 words. Long chapter. Three reviews equals a happy authoress and an update. Next chapter will be the rest of the day and detention.