Chapter 12
Gentle knocks against the light wooden door frame alerted the woman sitting behind a computer screen.
"Hello? Can I help you?" Bokuseno's secretary asked.
"Yeah. I'm looking for Principal Bokuseno? Is he available?" Sara asked, walking in.
"Give me a moment. I'll go and see." The woman gave Sara a judging look.
"Thank you." Sara walked around the office, viewing the pictures of achieving students and teachers that had been awarded.
She was pleased that the title of the best teacher had repeatedly gone to Sesshomaru. However, it also sat unwell with her. Was Sesshomaru the best because he wanted to be?
Sara couldn't wait for Sesshomaru to start working for his father and quit this god-awful hobby of his.
"Mam. May I ask if you are a parent of one of our students?" The secretary asked worriedly. She didn't trust this skimpy-looking woman.
"I'm a relative. Of a student who just started here. Rin Miko. She was harassed in school by two boys older than her. They were pulling up her skirt." Sara explained angrily.
"That incident has already been dealt with. And I don't see you listed as one of Miss Miko's guardians. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave." The woman answered back with attitude.
Just as Sara walked up to confront the woman, Bokuseno opened his door. "Sara. I thought I recognized your voice. How are you?" Bokuseno greeted Sara respectfully.
"I'm well. I just wanted to talk with you about an incident with my niece the other day." Sara began.
"It's already been handled. I've reached out to the girl's mother and haven't received a word back. Perhaps you can let her know I've tried getting in touch?" Bokuseno answered.
"My sister is very busy. I am more than happy to-" Sara was cut off.
"I'm sure not so busy for her only child, though. Thank you for coming in and sharing your concern. I'll let Sesshomaru know you stopped by." Bokuseno said with a bravado that silenced both women.
"Thanks...I actually wanted to stop by and see him. Can someone please take me to his class?" Sara asked.
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Taisho's class started five minutes ago. He doesn't like to be disturbed. We'll let him know you stopped by." The secretary answered with an attitude.
Sara understood she'd continually be mocked and judged. She smiled and turned to leave. "Don't tell my fiancé I was here. He'd be heartbroken if I couldn't see him." Sara said with her own mocking grin.
"Ha! If you were Mr. Taisho's fiancé, I'm sure you'd know where to find his classroom, sweetheart. So stop foolin yourself, and don't you dare try and fool us. That man is as single as it comes. Goodbye. You can see yourself out, I'm sure." The secretary answered rudely.
Bokuseno looked questionably at Sara. Sesshomaru would have surely told him he proposed? Bokuseno decided to ignore the spat between women and continue on with his work.
Sara stormed out with a shocked expression plastered to her face. She couldn't believe that Sesshomaru wouldn't tell Bokuseno. She knew how close the two were!
Sara knocked on the closest classroom door she could find, hoping they'd take her to Sesshomaru's classroom.
~oOo~
Sesshomaru stood from his seat and smiled at Rin. The students more familiar with Sesshomaru's mannerisms couldn't believe the hell that he was about to bring upon her.
None could believe that the girl who had been pining over getting on Sesshomaru's good side all this time would resort to cheating.
"Miss Miko.-Sesshomaru approached her desk slowly after he locked his classroom door.-I believe you have something exceptional for me today." Sesshomaru crouched down to her level.
Rin blushed and looked at her teacher, who was now so close to her. He was so handsome she couldn't believe it. "You mean like the fruit salad I made the other day?" Rin asked, unsure as to what the "exceptional" thing was.
Sesshomaru chuckled mildly and brushed back loose strands of her hair. "Aww, is that not just the sweetest, most innocent thing you all have ever heard?-Sesshomaru held Rin by her chin, his eyes warm and soft and his smile comforting and gravely misleading.-No my sweet precious Miss Miko, you have something much more special for me. May I please have your homework assignment." Sesshomaru released her chin.
"Oh. Um, yes.." Rin said nervously. She reached into her notebook and retrieved the piece of paper.
Rin's stomach was in a flutter. She couldn't tell if she was dreaming or not. Had Sesshomaru honestly just spoken to her and touched her like that?
Sesshomaru held the paper in shock. Why? She was the only one who was trying to improve. Instead of asking as she should have, she resorted to cheating? Sesshomaru felt like someone had just punched a hole through his gut.
He was foolish to think she was different. Sesshomaru believed she valued knowledge, the desire to learn, truly learn.
How foolish he was. No girl or woman was different. They were all the same. That innocent smile that drove him mad was probably as fake as Sara's. Why he ever believed that someone could simply and genuinely be happy to learn something was beyond him.
Sesshomaru had learned that a long time ago back. He was wasting his time with this generation that relied on smartphones to give them the answer to all their problems.
"Miss Miko. This paper has absolutely no flaws. Everything is perfect in every simple way. There is one thing I'd like to ask you, though, if you'd humor me.-Sesshomaru dropped the fake sense of warmth and kindness he had worn.-Why on earth do you believe me so dimwitted that I'd not notice this was a computer-generated paper? Do you honestly think that because you chose a particular writing style, I would not have noticed? It has been years since someone was foolish enough to cheat in my classroom. And you, Miss Miko, walking in and thinking yourself better than every other student here have just proven how truly naive you are. What did you think was going to happen? Did you think I'd praise you for cheating on your homework? Did you think I'd quietly speak with you after class about something so vile? Or do you perhaps not see this as something so gravely disrespectful?-Sesshomaru smiled sadistically-My dear sweet Rin, despite my extreme disappointment in you. I must thank you. You see, come Monday I will only be teaching two classes a day instead of the usual eight. I will have half the student body in my classroom come Monday morning and afternoon. You, my dear, have just earned them the most excruciating and most torturous form of education they will ever experience in all their life. And I will make sure to let them know it is thanks to you." Sesshomaru said, smiling and ripping Rin's paper.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to.." Rin struggled. She wasn't sure what was going on. He was so gentle? So kind? He saved her the other day.
"Just wanted to what? Do better? Get a better grade? So does everyone in this classroom. The only difference is they all work hard and study and do as they are told. While you waste my time and theirs with thinking you belong in this school." Sesshomaru said coldly.
"I'm sorry. I..." Rin had to keep herself from crying. She had obviously hurt her teacher a great deal. That was not her intention at all.
"I could care less. You, Miss Miko, are not sorry for the action. You are sorry that you were caught in said action. Please get out of your seat. Your work will be done besides my desk from now on. I will not allow you to sit with my students who actually work hard for their pathetic grades.-Sesshomaru pointed to a closet in the back of the classroom.-There is a small folding table and chair in the closet in the back of the classroom. You may retrieve it and set it up for yourself." Sesshomaru leaned against his desk.
"Yo, come on. Cut her some slack. You don't gotta be that heartless with her." Inuyasha stood to assist her.
"Sit! Down! Inuyasha! If Miss Miko dislikes her treatment, she may leave my classroom and return to kindergarten, where she belongs! Until than! She will do as I say! How I say!" Sesshomaru said aggressively.
Inuyasha sat down and mouthed the words sorry to Rin.
Rin began tearing. Sesshomaru thought of her as a child. She was foolish to think a man like him would see her as a woman. No one did.
Rin struggled with lifting the two items across the classroom. Some students snickered and mocked her. Others that knew her, like Ayame, mouth the words sorry as Rin walked by.
Kohaku struggled with his fear and his moral obligation to help his friend. Inuyasha barely even knew her, and he was able to say something and literally stand up for her! Kohaku should be able to do something?
Rin set up the table and chair beside Sesshomaru's desk shaking.
"Oh? What's the matter? Did you struggle with the task without the assistance of my brother or the use of cheating? Was it so difficult for you to realize that you are the lowest graded student I have? The only student who does not deserve to even be at this school?" Sesshomaru mocked heavily as Rin sat down shamefully.
"I'm sorry. I just thought you were grading me unfairly. So I did this to see if there was an error in my work or if it was just something personally you had against me." Rin shook as she answered.
All Sesshomaru's students gasped. No one was dumb enough to speak to Sesshomaru that way.
Sesshomaru began laughing and palmed his face, exasperated. "Are you serious? You will honestly blame your lack of study or attention on the theory that I have a vendetta to exact?-Sesshomaru removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. After removing some of the pressure of the headache, he was now going to be dealing with, he placed his glasses back on and exhaled angrily.-I grade you according to your sloppy work. It is not to my standard of acceptance. I could care less about you, Miss Miko. I don't care if you are here or not tomorrow. However, with your very disrespectful tongue and lack of knowledge, I would recommend this. Since you are so obviously incapable of taking responsibility for your inadequate behavior, I suggest you drop out of school and begin your career as a streetwalker now. For you see, my students attend this school with the hopes of achieving actual careers. Ones that require the use of their brain, not the skill of laying on their back wishing they were somewhere else." Sesshomaru slammed a book on her table.
Rin gasped and began crying. She honestly had no idea what to say. The fact that Sesshomaru thought so little of her broke her heart.
"I have studied. I stood up all night these past two nights just working on my homework for this class!" Rin said while crying.
"Now, you wish to blame your mother's lack of parental responsibility on me? This is absolutely amazing! However! It makes my day just that much better.-Sesshomaru got his cellphone out and dialed Kikyo's number.-I cannot wait to address these issues with your mindless parent, that has obviously looked you over as the insignificant pest you are." Sesshomaru said, waiting for Kikyo to answer.
"No! Please! I'm sorry!" Rin cried.
"Mrs. Miko! Hello! This is Sesshomaru Taisho, your daughter's English teacher. Your daughter seems to believe that her cheating and lack of sleep are due to the difficulty of my classroom. However, since she is the only student struggling with this, I have no choice but to believe you are at fault for mediocre parenting. So with that said, since your child is under the age of eighteen, child services will be called. The principal and I will speak with them about her behavior in school, and then they will speak with you about your neglect at home. Thank you so much, Mrs. Miko, goodbye." Sesshomaru hung up as Kikyo was still talking.
"Why are you doing this! You were so nice?!" Rin said, feeling horrible. Her mother was probably livid! Rin didn't want her mother to think she was a bad parent. Kikyo wasn't. She tried her best.
"Nice? What Miss Miko have I ever done to make you think I was being nice? Oh! I know. You are referring to the incident in school yesterday where you looked like you were being molested? Yeah, that's literally in my job description. If I see any student being bullied, taunted, or harassed, I am to intervene and send the student responsible for causing said ruckus to the principal and determine if the other student messed with is alright. I would literally do that for the two students who harassed you the other day BECAUSE IT IS MY JOB!" Sesshomaru yelled.
Rin sat and stared angrily at Sesshomaru. She couldn't stop the tears running down her face.
Sesshomaru turned his back to her and cleaned off his glasses. "Now, those of you who are returning students know what to expect. Those of you who are now experiencing my class for the first time, allow me to explain how things will go from now on. Not only is Miss Miko going to be punished for her idiocy, but all of you will as well." Sesshomaru began explaining how the class will run from this point on.
As he took his seat, he made open remarks to Rin about everything she was doing wrong, all while doing his work. The one upside to this all was now he had a reason to be staring at Rin without it coming off as odd or creepy.
No one would know why he was eyeing the young girl as intensely as he was.
~oOo~
Sara had given up on trying to find her fiancé. She had received a call from a client that made her drop her hunt for Sesshomaru and move on with the rest of her day.
Just as she had finished signing some final paperwork on yet another house sold, she received a call from a crying Kikyo.
Sara tried hard to calm down her friend and understand what was happening but couldn't make it out over Kikyo being so nervous.
"Sis, calm down! I'll try and be over as soon as I can!" Sara hung up and rushed inside to finish up her business.
~oOo~
After class, everyone made a point to say something or give an angry look at Rin. Sesshomaru merely watched as she slowly gathered her things.
Kohaku came up to her and handed her a notebook he knew was personal.
"Rin. I'm so sorry." Kohaku said.
One of the students leaving the classroom shouldered Kohaku into Rin. Rin whipped her head at Sesshomaru angrily.
"What happened to that being your job!? Kohaku was just harassed!" Rin yelled.
Sesshomaru smiled at Rin and stood from his desk. "Mr. Wolfson, was Mr. Slayer a victim of harassment just now? Or is he simply light-footed and weak?" Sesshomaru asked, now standing in front of his desk.
"Second one," Koga answered, helping Ayame out of her chair.
They both liked Rin alright, but after today they had different opinions of her. She had just made hell worse.
"Mr. Wolfson, please do me the favor of shoving with all your strength myself and my brother," Sesshomaru asked.
Koga knew Sesshomaru was trying to prove a point. So he figured he'd take advantage. Instead of walking up to Sesshomaru first as he made it seem, he shouldered Inuyasha.
Inuyasha almost fell forward into Kohaku but caught his footing and stood his ground. "Hey, asshole! You were supposed to shove him!" Inuyasha growled.
"Yeah, well, I thought you'd make a better example!" Koga and Inuyasha butted heads.
"Amazing. Real men can catch themselves. Little boys will continue to stumble over until they have something to stand for. You may leave now." Sesshomaru answered Rin with a stare.
Kohaku looked to the ground shamefully. He'd successfully managed to make a fool of himself and fail at sticking up for Rin.
Sesshomaru made way to step out of his class, shouldering Koga, but Koga barely went forward.
The young student looked at his teacher fearfully. "Well done, Mr. Wolfson. You've further proven my point. Leave." Sesshomaru stood at his door, ushering his remaining students out.
The group walked out into the hall defeatedly. Both Inuyasha and Koga felt bad for the young freshman. They were good friends with his older sister Sango. They hadn't intended on messing with her younger brother.
"Yo, Kohaku." Inuyasha began.
"Inuyasha...Thank you for standing up for Rin like you did. I was too cowardly to say anything." Kohaku admitted.
"Yo, she doesn't need sticking up for. That girl is fearless as fuck." Koga complimented, bumping Rin lightly.
"Yeah. What Kogey said. You really are fearless and determined, Rin. I really wish you'd consider trying out for the squad. It would be great having someone with your spirit on the team." Ayame rubbed her shoulder.
"Don't pay him any mind. It's my fault he was this hard on you. I made the stupid comment that you may have had a crush on him like a few other girls in school. I'm sorry." Inuyasha admitted.
"Man, you totally screwed her over! Now your satanic brother is gonna make an example outta her!" Koga punched Inuyasha in the arm.
"Look! I didn't mean nothing by it! He and I were just joking around!" Inuyasha defended himself.
Kagome looked at Rin, who remained silent. She walked up to her and hugged her tightly. "Rin? You ok?" Kagome finally asked.
"My mom's going to think she doesn't do enough for me...She's going to be so hurt.." Rin began to cry once more.
Kohaku hugged his friend as Kagome did as well. Ayame then joined in the group hug.
Inuyasha watched unhappily. He understood that Kagome was only trying to comfort Rin, but he didn't like that some other boy was hugging her, even if it was some little punk like Kohaku.
"Alright! Break it up! Not much we could do about it now! We got other classes to get ready for." Inuyasha pulled Kagome out, growling.
"Puppy!?-Kagome said angrily. She gave her boyfriend a look that said we'll talk about this later.-Sorry, Rin. We'll meet up at lunch." Kagome said, waving as Inuyasha pulled her away.
Rin watched as Sango walked by and entered the classroom. She was beaming happily. She walked up to her teacher's desk and began in small talk with the man who had just torn Rin to pieces.
Was she one of the girls who was "crushing" on Sesshomaru? Rin looked over to the hall where two other girls were coming from. Her mind ignored her friend's chatter around her.
All they were saying was that it'd be ok. And to just ignore him. So it didn't deserve attention.
"I heard a rumor from Kagome that Mr. Taisho loves chocolate! So I found this man-catching brownie recipe in In the well magazine! Soon I'll be Mrs. Sesshomaru Taisho!" The girl opened her school uniform one button and stuck out her large breast.
"You look incredible!" The girl's friend said.
Rin watched as they entered. She was so confident and beautiful, and curvy. She had shape, and she was wearing a red lacey bra, from what Rin could see.
"I made these for you, Mr. Taisho." The girl set a tupperware down on his desk, removing the lid and sticking her breast out even more.
Sesshomaru grabbed the lid from her hands and lifted the plastic container. He headed toward his door and threw the container and its contents in the garbage before closing his door and locking it.
Rin caught his gaze momentarily as he closed his classroom door. He didn't look mean or hateful. His eyes looked hurt...? Why was he hurt? She wasn't the one who had torn him to pieces!?
Rin stormed off, not saying a word to her friends. Everyone watched in confusion as the young girl walked away.
~oOo~
Kikyo rushed as quickly as possible. To the school her daughter attended. Rin had never acted out like this before? It had to have been a misunderstanding? Her daughter would never do something so distasteful.
Kikyo's mind raced with worry. Was she a terrible parent? Was she at risk of losing Rin? Could they even do that at her age?
Kikyo began crying as she drove. This would never have happened had her husband Onigumo still been around.
He was so caring and so strong. He managed everything in their home and was always the stable parent who remained calm in cases of concern or worry. He never overreacted or became overwhelmed.
Kikyo missed him now more than ever.
~oOo~
At lunch, Rin was sitting with her friends who were still trying to speak with her when Sesshomaru approached.
Everyone shot Inuyasha a look that said make him go away. So Inuyasha cleared his throat and stood.
"Sit down, Inuyasha. Miss Miko, come with me to principal Bokuseno. Your mother should be here shortly." Sesshomaru stated coldly.
Rin stood up in anger and followed. This only made Sesshomaru grin and roll his eyes. He wondered if Rin even realized she looked like a baby bunny who had a carrot taken away. Her angry face was laughable, not intimidating as she presumed.
Rin was silent the entire walk there. Sesshomaru never bothered to look at her as they walked to Bokuseno's office.
Rin began thinking back to earlier. Inuyasha had said that he and Kagome washed her heart-shaped container. Which would mean Sesshomaru didn't throw it out. He took it home? They ate out of it? So why did Sesshomaru throw away that other girls?
"Sit down." Sesshomaru said coldly.
Rin looked around and realized she was in the principal's office already. How she hadn't noticed how fast they were walking totally escaped her. She was relieved her mother hadn't gotten there already. Rin didn't think she could face her.
Sesshomaru and Bokuseno began to speak on behaviors and attitudes that Rin had shown in school. Rin didn't really listen to what they had to say. She was just lost in her own thoughts.
She wanted to understand what had happened. She wanted to understand what was going on. She wanted this fear in her gut to just go away. She didn't want to move and go back to an all-girls academy.
Kikyo soon stormed in aggressively. She immediately demanded an explanation as to what was happening and who permitted anyone to speak with her daughter without her presence.
Rin was in complete terror seeing her mother so angry. She must've been so scared? Rin immediately began tearing at the sight of her mother. Kikyo was probably so disappointed in her.
As Kikyo yelled and went off about how wonderful her child is, she rarely gave a chance for the child welfare agent to speak.
Soon they silenced Kikyo and explained how she neglected to be present when her daughter was harassed, neglected to acknowledge the situation, neglected her daughter's health and well-being, and safety. Her daughter, as old as she was, didn't even know her address to get home.
The agent continued to speak lowly of Kikyo, which led both frightened Miko's to believe Rin would be taken away this afternoon. That was until Sesshomaru began to talk.
"Mrs. Miko. I do not believe your daughter is a delinquent. I truly believe that she has had the freedom to do as she pleases because you have raised her to be intelligent and mature. Her mind is more advanced than her body would lead anyone, including you, to believe. She has great potential, but she needs the proper guidance. I can understand your career being demanding; however, I'd suggest you consider a lesser position if possible, so you have more time for your child who so obviously needs you." Sesshomaru said as kindly as he could.
"Don't act like you know or understand anything about my daughter or our life. You are only doing this because she was exhausted from working so hard on something you would grade badly regardless of what she turned in! Point your righteous finger at yourself before passing judgment on others." Kikyo said angrily.
"I have. I've called the same people on my own family. I was given custody over my younger brother for six months until my father was capable of being less aggressive. I have no vendetta against your daughter or any of my students, despite what they may think. However, each of my students uses their free time, school time, or even the bus ride home to study. Had Rin been given supervision, I'm sure she would never have been in this situation." Sesshomaru answered back.
Bokuseno and the agent stepped in, saying that what Sesshomaru had said was true. He honestly had no line drawn on what he'd do for his students.
Kikyo was left dumbfounded by the time it was over. She had no idea what to say. Rin was silent and could not answer any question asked of her. She was still registering all the sweet things Sesshomaru had said about her.
Her mind was spinning when it suddenly all clicked.
She hurt him. Rin broke her teacher's passionate heart by doing what she did.
Rin began crying and looked at her mother. "Mama. I'm sorry. Mr. Taisho is right...I know you are busy...I know it's important what you do at your job...But I need you.." Rin cried out. She hadn't even realized how much she resented her mother's job.
How much she hated having to take care of herself or do things for herself. She wanted to be a teenager with no worries like every other teen her age.
Kikyo cried and held Rin. She had no idea that all of this was a cry for attention by her daughter.
Rin felt her mother's warmth and beamed happily. She wiped away her tears, stood up, and immediately hugged Sesshomaru tightly.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Taisho. What I did was wrong. My actions after were even worse. You've done nothing but try and help me, and I foolishly believed a silly rumor over believing in you. Thank you for being so stern and so passionate. And thank you for not losing hope in me. I promise you I will work as hard as I can to improve my schoolwork. Please forgive me for the disrespect and rude attitude I had given you earlier." Rin asked, finally releasing him and bowing.
Sesshomaru was in shock momentarily. He cleared his throat and pat Rin's head, not sure what else to do. "I will hold you to this, Miss Miko. Do not think you are off the hook Monday." Sesshomaru said coldly.
"I wouldn't expect to be!" Rin looked up with that radiant and genuine smile.
Sesshomaru was left speechless. Why? How? She couldn't possibly be happy? What on earth did she have to be happy about? Sesshomaru watched as Bokuseno escorted all out of his office.
He sat confusedly and speechless for a while until Bokuseno was able to get his attention.
"Sesshomaru. You should ready yourself. You'll be taking over gym while Toran is out." Bokuseno announced.
"Huh?! Come again? I thought I just heard you say you want me in physical education?" Sesshomaru asked.
"I did. You may go now." Bokuseno sat at his desk preparing to work.
"I wouldn't even know what to do? Why is it always me!?" Sesshomaru argued.
"Because no one else in the school is under fifty. I don't see the problem? You've covered her class before?" Bokuseno pointed out.
"For a day! She won't be back for months!!" Sesshomaru pointed out the obvious.
He really couldn't teach the students anything other than his workout routine. And that was strenuous on him, let alone on younger kids?
"I'm sure you'll be fine. Also, today after school, you will be taking over Toran's sexual education program." Bokuseno began writing out checks.
"I'm not paid enough for this." Sesshomaru said, falling back exasperated.
A/N: Hey all! Just wanna say thank you all for your comments and reviews! I absolutely love reading them and they motivate me to push this story out! Sorry it's been so draggy I am trying to find a flow that works and allows me to move forward into what we all are waiting for. Either way thanks for the support and reviews! I truly appreciate you all!