-Three-

"Wow," Sango commented as she said down. She turned and looked at Mr. Taisho's retreating figure. "What was that about?"

"He was just giving me the times for my detentions." Rin said it before she could stop herself. She mentally slapped herself before glancing over at Kagome, who was looking down and playing with the food on her tray.

"I'm sorry, Rin. I shouldn't have passed the note," she said gloomily.

Rin placed her hand over Kagome's. "Don't worry about it. It's only detention. I'll survive." Kagome's eyes still shone with guilty tears, so Rin took a moment to think of what to say when a sudden idea came to her. "I'll tell you what: you lend me that little black dress you have hanging in your closet this Wednesday night and then we'll be even. Okay?"

Kagome's eyebrows furrowed. "Where are you going Wednesday night?"

"Ooh!" Sango's smile went bright. "You got a hot date?"

"No!" Rin objected. "We have a hot date."

Both girls looked confused. Miroku, who sat beside Sango, looked like he'd rather be anywhere but with the three giddy girls.

"We have a hot date with the club."

The other two instantly smiled. At the same time, the trio squealed, "Sinister Magic!"

Sinister Magic was the nearest club from the school. The girls went there nearly every Wednesday—if school didn't get in the way—because that was the night Ayame worked. Ayame was the senior that took in all three girls in their freshmen year. She worked part-time at Sinister Magic and Wednesday was the night she worked at the bar and allowed the girls to drink. At the end of the night, she usually called a taxi for their ride back to the school. They call her big sister.

"I'll tell Hana," Sango volunteered.

Rin nodded. "Good. She should meet Ayame."

They finished their lunches just as the afternoon bell rang. After clearing their tables, they went back out onto the cloudy campus.

"Looks like the first rain of the season," Miroku commented. That was the first thing he said throughout lunch. He must have been ditched by the boys. Rin held back her giggle.

"Hopefully a storm?" Rin added.

"Why do you like storms so much?" Sango asked. "A few drops are okay, but a full out storm? No, thank you!"

Kagome chuckled. "This is my building. Catch you guys at dinner."

They waved and continued walking. Sango left after a few more yards. Miroku told Rin a few jokes before separating with her to go to the East Building. Rin continued walking. The North Building was her destination; English was her subject in the building. Rin trudged through. After a few silent moments, she heard a sudden clap of thunder that made her jump a few inches off the ground.

Rin smelled the rain before it fell onto her cheek. She touched her skin where the drop hit. Pulling her wet hand away to look at it, she smiled. Rain was the type of weather she would choose over anything. She could sit in her window-seat and draw peacefully while the tap tap tap of the tear drops from the sky fell against the cool glass.

Rin reached the North Building just as the warning bell rang. She got to class and sat down just as the final bell rang. She dug through her book bag until she found what she was looking for. The two pink slips sat inside the side pocket. Rin took them out while the teacher droned on about Kami knows what. One was scheduled after dinner tonight. The second was for tomorrow right after class.

I'm screwed. Rin thought. Before she knew it, time was running so fast that she only got a few notes in between staring out the window as the rain fell and glancing at the clock, anxious for the bell to ring.

When the bell was three minutes from ringing, the teacher placed English packets at the front of each row. The students passed them back as they took one. When Rin got hers, she could only think of how much she didn't write for notes while the teacher spoke and how she barely paid any attention to her explanation on how to do the homework.

Now I'm doubly screwed.

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Rin sat down at her usual seat in her history class: the back right corner right by the window. She was here, at this desk, only five hours ago. She was in this room five hours ago. She and Mr. Taisho touched chest just five fucking hours ago!

Breathe, Rin. Just breathe.

Rin's eyes wandered out the window while other students filled the class. Mr. Taisho was absent again as the teenagers took their seats and began to gossip. Apparently Naraku and Kikyo broke up (surprise, surprise!). They've been on again, off again for a year now. Naraku was the school's "bad boy" and Kikyo was the school's "tough bitch". Rin didn't really pay any attention to them; they weren't going anywhere with their lives.

Koga, she could feel, was glaring daggers at her.

If looks could kill, I'd be dead five minutes ago.

Rin didn't look his way, for fear he might make a motion or mouth something that would force Rin to ride her anger by standing up, walking over to him, beat the living shit out of him and earn herself another detention. She would beat him up more if that happened.

Rin sighed as she stared out the window. The final bell rang just as a few students squeaked in and sat down before Mr. Taisho arrived. It was a few tense moments before Rin could sense his presence in the room. She didn't dare look toward him. She was afraid he would stare back at her. Rin counted to ten before turning forward and facing her teacher.

He was choosing a piece of chalk from the box set on his desk. His name was still written on the board from this morning. Rin watched as he wrote beautifully on the blackboard the page numbers that they had to copy from. He sat back down and swept the room with his eyes, looking for any student not doing what their supposed to. As his eyes got closer to Rin's desk, Rin leaned over to reach into her book bag. She allowed the feeling of something creeping up her spine to settle over her body before grabbing her book and hoisting it to her desk.

She opened her book, but suddenly lost the page numbers. When she looked up, she couldn't help but steal a peek at her sex god-like teacher. He was shuffling papers around on his desk, looking completely like a normal teacher. Rin physically shook herself and opened her book to the proper page number. Sighing, she went to work.

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Forty-five minutes later, with Rin's hand throbbing uncomfortably, she had three front and back pages full of the history of animal demons. She learned in this section about cat demons. The next section was on forest and wood demons. The last was on dog demons. For some odd reason, she craved to read the last section and learn more about Mr. Taisho and his demon traits.

Rin glanced up at Mr. Taisho and found him writing down another page number. She turned to the page and found review questions on the section. She looked back up at the sound of the chalk scratching against the blackboard. They had to write the question and answer in full sentences. If a yes or no question, explain why. He put down the chalk and reached inside his desk drawer. He pulled out a rather large packet.

Before any of the students could groan, Mr. Taisho spoke, "This packet is for the semester. You will do assigned pages each week. Every Friday I will collect your packets, check on your work and return them to you on Monday. Everyone understand?"

Rin and the rest of the class mutely nodded. Rin noticed that Mr. Taisho wasn't very talkative since the first thing out of his mouth was about the homework at the end of the class. Why would you be a teacher if you don't talk?

Everyone opened their packets and skimmed through it. Rin noticed that nearly the entire packet was on the first two sections. The last two pages where the only ones about dog demons.

Rin couldn't think about it more because the bell rang just then and she stood to leave the classroom. As she walked by his desk, Mr. Taisho spoke.

"See you soon."

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Rin was thinking about how dumb her English teacher was for giving juniors a spelling packet when she heard a knock on her door. Throwing her pencil down, Rin stood and looked through the peephole to see who it was. Surprisingly, no one was there. Rin frowned and unlocked the door to open it. She leaned out into the hall. No one was there. Shaking her head, she looked down and saw a small box sitting by her foot.

As she bent down to get it, Rin heard a door open to her left. Quickly, she picked up the box and slammed the door shut. Sighing, she slid down against the door until her knees met her chest. Taking the small box into her hands, Rin noticed it was a jewelry box from Zales Jewelry Story. Why on earth would anyone get me jewelry?

Rin slowly opened the box. Inside she found something that took her breath away. Inside was a golden locket with a purple diamond in the top right corner in the center of a gentle flower. Rin almost unclasped it and put it on, but a thought made her stop. Who had given it to her and why?

Putting it back in the box, Rin put it in the drawer of the bedside table. She would deal with it later. Right now, she had to finish as much homework as she could until dinner—which was in an hour—because Mr. Taisho's detention fun was right after.

Fun . . . yeah, right.

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Rin reluctantly stood, put her shoes and thin coat back on and left her room. Just after she heard it click behind her, she realized she forgot her key. Screw it! I'll stop by Student Office and grab the spare after detention.

Rin strode to the dining hall. After a quick scan of the room, Rin noticed that her friends were over in their usual corner. After grabbing a tray and filling it with food, Rin went to sit with the girls and the guys that followed them around like puppies.

Hana was quietly talking to Kohaku. When she glanced up, Rin winked. Hana smiled and went back to her conversation. Sango and Miroku were arguing playfully about how many kids they want if they ever got married. Kagome was slapping InuYasha's hand every time he reached over to steal some of her food. Rin laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" he demanded?

"Where's your food?"

"In my belly," he answered. He reached over to grab Kagome's rice, but that only earned another slap. "Ouch! Jeez, Kagome. I just want a bite."

"Get your own food, mutt," Kagome mumbled.

"I told you not to call me that anymore!"

Rin could've sworn she say InuYasha's dog ears fall back slightly, as if he were hurt. Rin pretended not to see it, because if she commented on it, he'd go in a fit about how he wasn't pouting and how he needed food, yada yada yada.

Rin ate happily with her friends, completely forgetting about her detention, her lack of her room key, and the fact that she had the hots for her history teacher. She groaned when she glanced at the clock and found that it was time for her to take her leave and trek across the wet grounds. The West Building, where Mr. Taisho's class was, was one of the farthest buildings from the dining hall. Another groan and she stood.

Sango and Kagome looked at her silently—as if saying they were sorry and wished they could do something. Rin just gave them a sad smile and made her way to the door. She could hear InuYasha immediately ask, "Why's everyone so solemn? Who died?"

And immediately after that, Rin heard a thwack! and knew Kagome had hit InuYasha hard on the back of his head. InuYasha let out small howl of pain before he was silenced. Rin chuckled and just shook her head as she headed out into the rain.

Rin began to hum to herself as she made her way over the grounds, sloshing in the over watered grass and splashing in the puddles. She giggled as she sent up a spray of water around her. It was childish, sure, but it was fun. After a few more steps, Rin was near the West Building. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching. When the coast was clear, Rin began to twirl where she stood, her eyes closed. She went faster and faster, lifting her head to the Heavens, until her breathing was heavy and her whole body was completely soaked. Her wet hair stuck to her face since her hood fell off when she looked up into the darkening sky. After a few slowing twirls, Rin stumbled and nearly fell if it was not for the wall of the West Building being right behind her. Rin closed her eyes and took a breath before turning around and opening the door.

Here goes nothing.

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A | N : Review!