Rising Sun

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter 4

Sesshomaru completed the math assignment long before Rin. A little unsure of what to do, he leaned back into the comforter, closing his eyes. If she needed any assistance, she would tap him on the knee, and in a few short seconds Sesshomaru would find himself bolted upright, expectantly awaiting the onna to voice whatever was causing the distressed crease of her brow. Subconsciously, he began leaning in closer to Rin as he explained the problems, slyly scenting her hair with his nose. Rin never noticed, otherwise she would have felt undoubtedly violated. But this was merely how inuyoukai investigated people they were with. Whether they were deceitful and cunning, or friendly and simpleminded, it was all clear in their scent.

His first impression of Rin's was not all that spectacular. She fell into the later simpleminded category, but that was understandable, being a schoolgirl and unexposed to the wide world around her. The generally honest person within her also did not surprise him. He could think of no apparent reason for her to lie.

While leaning back in his bed once more, Sesshomaru pondered the words of his father. Personally, he had nothing against Rin and her sudden, unexpected advances toward him. Aside from the fact he preferred solitude to the company of others that did not halt him in his search for her.

By her he meant his unnamed mate. She was in that school, somewhere, and he knew it. Despite it has been four years since he started dressing like a homeless person in hopes she would be able to see past the unsightly disguise and love him for not his money or his looks but for him…

Hopefully this little human onna would remain quiet about what she had seen today. The only reason he let her come was because he thought she genuinely needed help studying, and knew well enough to keep her trap shut.

"Sessho-kun?"

Why did she insist on that ridiculous pet name? They weren't even friends.

He opened one amber eye to glare at her. However, he quickly lifted the other lid, bringing her heart-shaped face into sharp clarity.

Wait a moment… why was she looking at him like that? Her eyes were soft and sparkling, unmistakably tender as she gazed at his long and lanky body on the bed beside her.

"Rin," he murmured, slightly uncomfortable. She edged closer to him, one of her small, slender hands reaching out.

Holy Kami, was she going to touch him? On its own accord, his heart began pulsating at twice its normal pace. Sesshomaru was, in actuality, not inexperienced in the ladies' department. He'd dated before, rather unhappily. It was his chichi-ue who suggested he set on the quest of discovering a permanent partner.

When Rin had hugged him yesterday, he felt himself react similarly. In all honesty, no one was brave enough to touch him without his permission, which was practically never. And as far as his disguise went, with oily silver hair and dirt encrusted cheeks, no one wanted to touch him.

Until today.

Sesshomaru froze, completely entranced by the way in which this onna fearlessly reached for his thick black rimmed glasses and pulled them off of his face. He blinked once, twice.

Setting the glasses in her lap, Rin smiled something so brilliant that it crinkled the edges of her large doe brown eyes.

"You are handsome," she said, and suddenly blushed.

Why was she blushing?

He did not reply, still stunned at her humanly nature and aspects. This was bizarre, even for him. How could she look at him and the word 'handsome' possibly come to mind? The other girls at the high school were especially infamous for reminding him everyday that his face was the most horrid creation of God.

Rin averted her eyes, twiddling her thumbs, "Um… I can ask you something?"

"…Hn." He still could not find his voice. She was playing with the ends of her hair now, shooting him shy glances beneath lush black lashes. Something in his mind clicked. Oh no, she wasn't… no, she couldn't be…

Flirting with him?

Involuntarily, his cheeks flushed red. That's something he hadn't done in years.

"There's this Sadie Hawkins Dance, you know, the one everyone's been talking about for a couple of weeks now, but I don't know if you pay any attention to those kinds of things. They're a lot of fun…"

Her voice faded in and out of his consciousness. Right now Sesshomaru was still trying to wrap his mind around the concept the onna was attracted to him. Preposterous!

"…girls ask guys…"

Whoa, wait a moment…

"…if you would go with me?"

Rin paused in her great rush of words, her fast-paced talk an obvious sign of the jitters. She was now holding her breath, waiting for his answer.

Needless to say, Sesshomaru had never been in such a predicament in his entire life, being asked to a high school dance, nor having a female in his bedroom, lingering over him, literally dying from lack of oxygen by not breathing.

And he had never felt this way around an onna, utterly nervous, like his insides were going to explode a dozen butterflies… he HATED this feeling!

Rin was still waiting.

Feeling like a coward, he muttered the first thing that came into his mind:

"Shower," and forgetting he was supposed to be clumsy, or human for that matter, Sesshomaru swiftly rolled himself off the bed, away from her, and sprinted lithely into his bathroom, slamming the door closed. He gripped the edges of the sink, panting lightly. Even through the layers of dirt he'd smeared across his cheeks, they were still violently red.

~oOo~

Rin blinked at the empty space on the bed where two seconds previously Sesshomaru had been dozing peacefully.

Wow, he moves fast she thought. A moment later she could hear his shower turn on.

"So is that a no…?" Rin felt her eyes sting a little with the threat of tears.

"Oh, I wouldn't say so," a warm, feminine voice chimed. A tall, beautiful woman was leaning against the frame of the door, a wry smile on her face. Toga had one arm around the woman's waist, looking equally amused.

"Dinner is about ready if you would care to stay with us, Rin-chan," she continued, gesturing politely down the hall.

Rin quickly stood and bowed. "I would be honored, Mrs. Taisho."

The woman giggled at that in a very girlish manner. "You can call me Izayoi, or 'Mom' would work just fine, too."

~oOo~

A/N: I almost forgot about this story. My sincerest apologies, and I hope everyone had a happy and safe New Year!