AN: Just a shout out to all those who commented; I appreciate it! meghanmoo, Esperanza Lane, theuver, Taraah36, Starrilight-Hotary thanks for all the support. Lady Silverfox (sorry to disappoint but the 'Mating' thing isn't really my type of writing hope that doesn't discourage you from reading) thanks for the reviews everyone :)
Hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own none of the Inuyasha characters.
The Puzzle that Made Love Chapter 2:
The Boy Known by Everyone
Sesshomaru Rumitashi; he's by far the most respected and well-known student in my school. President of both the senior class and the student council club, not to mention the captain of the school's tennis team; they would never have won the championships had it not been for him, or so I've heard. With neck-length tresses that were as damn near the color white as blonde could possibly get, and golden-brown eyes as piercing as the sharp ends of knifes (not to mention his striking muscled physique) it's no wonder he's every girl's target choice in a boyfriend.
I've never spoken to him before as you can well imagine; I was willing to bet the skirt off my thighs he didn't even know my name. He's the big senior and I the little freshman. His test scores are always topnotch, and I'm averagely in the middle. He's known by everyone, and well…I'm lucky enough to have friends that known my last name.
Needless to say, neither he nor I have much in common; he's just too far out of my league to even attempt at befriending. I didn't need to have straight A's to know how popular a guy he is. As far as me and popularity goes …well let's just say we've never seen eye to eye.
To me popularity was like staring at the peak of a large mountain and knowing right away that any attempt at climbing it will only leave me feeling hurt in the end (both mentally and physically)…so what was the point in even trying. It wasn't like that for him though, if you could only see his face in the halls as he embraces the crowd of students around him you'd know he had reached the top of that mountain, and I was more than ok with letting him have it.
"S-Sesshomaru," I mumbled under my breath; gawking at the beautiful student before me dressed in his after school tennis uniform; the standard shorts and polo shirt. He must have recently returned from practice, had I not been so entranced within his cold stare I would have paid more focus to his strong calf muscles, or the smooth way he carried his tennis jacket over his shoulder.
I could barely move under his impenetrable gaze, so I knew right then that I could kiss my chances of running away goodbye. "I-It's not what it looks like, I was just….um…."
I really suck at excuses! What's worse is I suck even more at lying, I couldn't tell a fib to save me life. I could say that I had thought this was my locker, but it was the middle of the school year who forgets their locker after that amount of time? Plus, my actual locker was on the opposite side of the room how would I explain that? Oh, and let's not forget I was also on my knees with his mail in my hands; I practically had the look of a thief written all over me.
I could feel the sweat gather on my forehead, including under my breasts which was a bit awkward to say the least. A short silence passed before any one of us spoke again, this time it was my captor who spoke with a tint of sarcasm in his tone.
"I see," he said as an elegant eyebrow rose, and his hands slowly moved their way from his pockets into the open locker over my head to pick up his shoes. I could see his eyes dart toward chest, and nearly yelped in shock to see that familiar sweat leave a small stain beneath the lower area of my bra, which to my luck seeped through my white buttoned down shirt. Now I hated myself for having given away my school jacket a few weeks back.
At that moment I couldn't help but think what a jerk he was being. I mean sure I was the one who accidentally opened his locker, a fact which I'm more than positive he's figured out seeing as how he was acting, but he doesn't have to tease me about it. To top it all off he especially did not have to point out my sweat stains. Did he not see how embarrassed I was before!? The nerve of him to add salt to an already bleeding wound.
That's Sesshomaru for you though; a big, absolutely breathtaking, all around drop dead gorgeous ASSHOLE!
He was popular yeah, and he was attractive, oh yeah, but despite his status and good looks he's always held his nose a tad too high for my liking. The guy walked around as though every surface he stepped on was a red carpet, and every student was just another fan waiting in line to greet him. No angel-like face was enough to make me see past his self-centered personality.
"It was…just a mix-up," I quietly countered, and not a soul on earth was capable of making me spill the name of the one I mixed up his locker with. I have my reasons, or reason, rather. Seeing as how the man who holds my heart and the devil before me share the same last name it's not a hard reason to guess.
Yes, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru are brothers, and to make the situation even more complicated they're hardly what you would call a loving family. Needless to say not too many people see them in the same room, and those that do witness fights that make UFC matches look like child's play. From what I've heard their family troubles date back all the way to when they were young, so making them see each other more as brothers rather than enemies was a lost cause at this point.
Sesshomaru must never know of my feelings for Inuyasha. True, since they weren't very close he could simply not care who crushes on his younger brother, but on the off-hand that he's having a bad day the beans could spill and my secret would be tangled in a brother's feuds. I'll be an input in one of their fights, where's the romance in that? Inuyasha will never see me as a potential girlfriend, Sesshomaru must absolutely never know.
"A mix-up huh," I heard him say as he bend down to my level. "A bit nosy too I might add," he said as he eyed his letters in my hands.
"Here!" I hastily shoved them in his chest, and picked myself up to dust off my skirt. I've had enough embarrassment for one day, and with that said in came my poor excuse for an apology, "I didn't mean it," I said. "Really, had I known this was your locker," in that brief second we exchanged glances, "I would never have opened it."
I spoke nothing but the truth, and judging by his loss or words I settled with the impression that he understood it truly wasn't my intention to put each of us in this rather confusing predicament. I gathered my school bag, unaware of his lingering gaze, and bowed respectively; jerk or no jerk he was still my Senpai. "Forgive me for the trouble I've caused," I told him, and soon I began making my way to the exit while he in turn gathered his own belongings together.
I still couldn't believe I had mistaken his locker for Inuyasha's. I remember spotting my crush rummaging through this locker once before, however; looking back on that moment he was probably pulling a prank of some sort just to get under Sesshomaru's skin. I also couldn't believe I had talked to Sesshomaru Rumitashi; I guess there really was a first time for everything. It may have only been a chance accident, but still I can't imagine such an opportunity ever making its way to me again. I'll probably never talk to him anyway so…
"Your jacket," he suddenly spoke, catching me right as I was nearing the double doors.
"Huh?" I wondered, not expecting him to keep me any longer than necessary, "Pardon?"
"Where's your jacket?"
"M-My jacket," I mused, even more bewildered that he even cared to know. "I forgot it," I lied, after all what business was it of his finding out how I came to no longer possess it?
"That was careless," he bluntly remarked, making me puff up in frustration. I just had to remember to keep walking away; maybe one day I'll grow the backbone needed to spit back at that pretty face of his.
I walked till the wooden floors beneath my shoes turned to cold concrete, and my arms almost immediately wrapped around my body. It was cold…when did this happen? I hadn't realized how dark it had become; my little escaped with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Scary must have taken a longer time than I thought.
"Careless and unprepared," Sesshomaru continued to mock me from behind; both annoying yet delectable to the ears, never once did I think such a voice existed. "The weather report this morning predicted that temperatures would drop by nightfall," he, for some reason, felt the need to mention.
"I see," I said. "I don't really have time in the mornings to watch that stuff," I told him, not knowing why I bothered continuing our conversation. I began wondering if it had anything to do with how well the situation turned out in the end. I trusted Sesshomaru wouldn't report me to the school even though, given my circumstances at the time, he had every right to have me expelled. No detailed explanation, no request that I beg on hand and knee for his forgiveness; he simply took my petty apology and let the whole thing go.
"I'll keep in mind to watch it when I can," I smiled at him, thankful that he wasn't as pretentious a guy as I often envision him to be.
"Goodbye Sesshomaru," I wave from the edge of the sidewalk, never once expecting the reply he gave back.
I suddenly felt sheer warmth cover the goosbumps on my arms; material softer than a feather and warmer than any blanket I've ever owned settled on my chilly body. Upon twisting my head I came to realize it was his jacket draped over my shoulders.
"Goodbye Rin," he said to me as his strides continued crossing the pavement while the arm that previously held his jacket waved me farewell. My body stiffened beyond comprehension, and I felt a lump gather in the middle of my throat. My fingers clutched the end of his jacket like a lifeline; I no longer felt so cold…it must have been from his jacket…it was very warm…
He said my name…
He knows my name, I thought; the words repeating in my head over and over till I could no longer see him walking over the horizon. It then truly hit me like a brick to the head, I had his jacket!
"Wait!" I called out, though my efforts were pointless.
Regardless of how happy I was to know I wasn't quite as invisible as I had assumed, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of wearing something so…Sesshomaru's. It made fleece dwindle in comparison to the comfort it gave me, but still I didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea. I'll return it to him tomorrow, and then maybe I can try this whole thing over again.
Inuyasha's locker must be somewhere in that room and I'm determined to find it. Luckily, there's no need in rewriting that three-page long letter; the letter expressing my love down to the least intricate detail. The letter with my name neatly imprinted under the flap of the envelope, and three little heart drawn on the front surface. The letter I could not find in my book bag!
"Where is it?!" I freaked; my hands searching my bag till nerves had me flip it upside down to allow its contents to spill on the cold cement below. Books, papers, pencils, occasionally a piece of gum or two; in the end no letter. "It's gone!" I bellowed into the wind, how could this have happened?
Where could it have….Suddenly the scene of a careless schoolgirl shoving an arm full of letters into the hands of an egotistical schoolboy hit me harder than an anchor plunging down into the sea.
"SESSHOMARU!"