Disclaimer: I do not own Rumiko Takahashi's characters, I only own the ones I created (i.e/ Rin's parents). Please Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Heart Felt Ritual

Previously on Umi No Hana: Stopping mid hit she had a confused face on, "Ano, he isn't the nicest person though... what happened?" Rin hunched over frowning, embarrassment showing clearly in her non vocal motions, "Ah well... I had been holding back from crying about.. ya know Otou-san.. and I bumped into him and well... yea he gave me it..." Her eyes widened at the realization and she bounced up, narrowly missing Kagome's face by a hair's width, "I have to return it to him later!"

Kagome fell back against her bed, her hand coming up to her lips, a finger resting upon a soft petal. "Well, I guess, since it's his... and he may want it back? If he says something mean I'll punch 'em!" Kagome raised her fist fiery and determined while Rin put her hands up in retreat, "Waaah K-Kagome-chan, n-no need to do that!"

Rin puffed her cheeks out, sticking her pink tongue out at Kagome while the other giggled leaving the younger on the floor. "Warui Rin-chan~" Kagome hid her smirk behind her hand as she pulled out her backpack; the contents full of papers and homework that the older girl had collected over time.

Rin quickly huffed and crossed her arms looking stubbornly away, red in the face and beyond embarrassed. "W-well… a-at least I don't have marks on my neck." She whispered haughtily, though Kagome answered back with ease, "Pft! Yet." The comment made Rin turn back nearly falling over with how fast she went, her mouth sputtered her face now steaming, "N-Nani?!" Her puttering stopped as Kagome went into another fit of giggles, falling back on her plush bed, slim legs kicking in the air. "Bakajo…" The young girl stood, heading over to Kagome's desk, tugging her book bag along with her as she began getting items out to start studying.

"Ano Kagome-ane, you should focus on your homework! I know it's been piling up…" Her response was a shuffle of papers and a studious looking Kagome, her eyes hard on the booklet and binder in front of her. Rin stifled a 'Ha!' as she turned back to her work.

The two girls focused on their studies; the scratching of lead to paper and small huffs and whines from either girl if they came along anything difficult. Rin nibbled on her pencil tip, eyes glazed over in concentration as she glanced at her older notes and Sesshoumaru's handwriting on a similar question.

She blushed at the thought, she had been so afraid to ask him and though he was gruff he seemed to accept her plea to help. That had been the same day she had coerced him to take her home on his bike. She giggled to herself quietly, ok maybe coerced wasn't exactly the right term. More like she jumped him and demanded he take her home. She had been whining about her aching muscles from strenuously studying and he had offered none other than his iconic, 'Hnn' response in which she turned to him excitedly, sparkly eyed begging for a ride on the back of his bicycle. After a few whines and puppy eyed glances he had resented and allowed her to get on back. She knew he was slightly unsettled with her gripping him, which probably explained how he got them to her house so quickly.

She twirled the gnawed on pencil around her fingertip, her attention detaching from her homework to the older teen.

He was such an enigma, he wasn't mean nor nice, he hated large amounts of attention on him so he was popular in the high school, but not exactly the showy type wishing to stay to the sidelines and unnoticed. He would evoke a threatening air around him and the stoic look and impassive eyes made him a stone pillar. Heat rose to her cheeks as she thought about how she would constantly bump into him; stone was cold, he was oddly warm and soft to be exact.

Shaking her head her bangs bounced back to her face one long piece threatening to fall into her eyes least she move it. Running her hand back to push it away she looked at the ceiling. He had shown a side she hadn't expected, though apart of her was happy, he hadn't asked like most, but more so was just there for her to cry on for a moment.

Doe eyes slid to her bag, his handkerchief sticking out slightly, the silvery blue darkened where her tears had hit it. She leaned her head back down, biting the inside of her cheek as she gripped the pencil. 'Incessant thoughts swirling when I need to focus.' With one final glance at her bag she went back to her work, the scratching resuming until Kagome let out a loud yawn and "Done!" yelp.

Kagome glanced over at the younger girl, "Isogu Rin-chan! I want to eat green tea cake." The raven haired girl walked over glancing over Rin's shoulder taping her gently. The younger girl glanced up with a small smile, "Hai Kagome-chan." Leaning back in the chair, she stretched her arms up giving her back a nice crack making Kagome grimace slightly at the noise.

As the older walked out the room talking about the sweet treat Rin rolled her shoulders, glancing around the room wondering where her usual pillow was. Spotting the smaller item she bent down to grab it, though her eyes caught on a small pink and shiny paper. Blinking she grabbed hold of it, looking at the image of a plastic balloon from what she could gather. Looking closer the color drained from her face as she finally allowed it to click in her head. Dropping it as though it was fire she sped away from the room her face red and her heart beating erratically.

'Waaaaah I had no idea Kagome and I-Inuyasha-san waaaaaahhhh noooooo!' Throughout the night she continued to not look at Kagome, not that the package was open but the fact that it was in her friends room. She made small talk, giving small smiles, but at the back of her head she could just remember seeing it making her shake at times. Kagome sensing it would glance at the younger with a concerned face in which Rin would quickly shake her head and smile. 'Maa… my nerves are totally scrambled…' When she went to bed that night gladly she fell asleep into a peaceful sleep.

He slipped out in the early morning, the sun still asleep and the moon having descended nearly to the end of the horizon. Tsuyoumi sighed, his once bright, playful eyes regaining their glum as he gave one last glance to his wife. Sucking in a deep breath he closed his eyes reveling in the comfort of home before he had to head out to the ocean again.

Walking past his daughters room he glanced in, her sleeping figure small and bunched up, most likely curled like she usually slept. He gave a sad smile before moving away, a small chuckle running from his mouth as he remembered the night before, his dearest flower had been so upset, though as the night went on she had forgiven him like usual. A hit and a kiss on the cheek; which made him bellow with laughter at the smiling girl. Walking out of the quiet house he closed the door behind him, adjusting his shoulder so the duffle bag wouldn't slide off as he walked to the town docks.

The docks were lit with street lamps, the morning mist making the fog thick on the ground and towards the sea. The creaking of the older planks was constant as heavy boots clumped over them making a senseless melody to the seamen. Out towards the vast expanse of water the early morning sky gave an eerie reflection, the tip of the moon touching the surface as it slowly disappeared waiting to resurface for the next night.

Breathing in deep, Tsuyoumi glanced at the large grey and brown boats, the seawater glistening off the sides as barnacles clung to the bottom of the ships. Ropes and crates were tossed around; shouts and loud bangs were echoed around the docks, as they got ready for their month or more out to sea. Some men had the tell sign of sadness, others looking optimistic. The large man looked around among his coworkers; his sea family and smiled, letting out a loud cry, "We'll be home with our families again, we just need to work harder for them!" With the statement howls and battle cries rung through the air as everyone began working faster with the ships, getting them filled with the needed materials. Just as the last man got onto the boat Tsuyoumi was in he glanced again in the direction of the town. One final nod made him smile, "Watashi wa henkan shinakereba naranai…" And with that he walked back on the ship, his back turning not seeing the emerging shadow that ran towards the docks.

Rin pushed herself hard, she had woken to a draft and the house was eerily quiet. Her father snored, no matter where he was within the house she could always hear him. She didn't this morning. She had thrown on her robe and slippers and was tearing down the street, she always watched him go, and if she had slept a bit longer she would have missed him.

Hopefully it wasn't too late.

Huffing she continued, her eyes trained on the horizon hoping to not see the tall billows of smoke signaling that they were already on the ship and leaving. Though a few moments later as she turned towards the dock on the stone steps leading to the square in town, she saw it; the black cloud, curling up toward the sky like a flame, gasping she tripped over her foot, the slipper getting caught in one of the robes tying pieces. With a whine she got back up, ignoring the sting of her knee as she scampered to the dock, seeing the corner of a ship sailing away. 'No no I have to say bye to his face!' It had been a ritual since she was a young child; barely able to walk as a babe, she and her mother would always send him off with kisses and waves from the dock. His smile burned into their memories until they could see him again.

Rin stopped at the empty dock, frantically looking around through the morning dew and mist, "N-no…. O-Otosan?!" She glanced to the ocean, seeing the black smoke getting further away, the dark fishing boat already too far from the dock for her to jump on the boat if needed. She jumped and waved, but heard nothing other than the horn of the ship, which were the signals to the ships ahead. When they began to blend into the sunrise she allowed a tear to drop, wiping it away she tried smiling, "It'll be fine… I told him bye last night… Just a silly ritual…silly…" The young girl let out a deep sigh, looking forlornly at the disappearing boats, hoping everything would be alright. Turning she began walking back home, her eyes glancing back once again only to slowly slide forward. "Just a silly ritual…"

Chamina: rubs hands vigourously together heheheheheheheheheh ok! Now I know I had said there would be the chapter earlier but since I didn't get around to it I just made sure to put as much as I could in here…. Eheheheh just you wait til it hits… I'm not saying when. But I can guess some of you already know…

Ya know I always thought weird things for R&R, at first I thought it was relax and read, then read and review, then relax and review and then read and relax, urgh I don't know I confused myself again… Hoped you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Watashi wa henkan shinakereba naranai : I shall return

Isogu: Hurry

Warui: Come on, Chill out, etc. (informal)