[AN]Reviews! ^_^ You've all made me a very happy authoress... Sorry I didnt update yesterday... I was... um... busy... doing homework... Yeah, homework. ;;;
Ashura: *storms in and smacks Mage* You werent doing homework dipshit! --;; You were reading fanfics after school, then bad stuff about Disney films when you got bored of that...
Mage: I swear that pillar on the Little Mermaid art really DID look like a... um... male thingy... oo;;; And the dust in the Lion King really does look like it spells sex!!!
Ashura: *sighs and shakes head* You are much too mature for your age...
Mage: Be glad I am, or you wouldnt exist pal. --;
Ashura: Well, since you didnt update yesterday, I'm going to make sure you write your review responses and update quickly. --; *stands over Mage with the most horrible thing of all... her algebra homework oo;;;*
Mage: OO;;; EEP! WRITING, WRITING!
~*~*~*~*~Review Responses! YAY!~*~*~*~*~
Mewchild: I'm glad you agree with the Sess/Kag being icky too! =D Maybe a few of us Sess/Rin fans should get together and start a Sess/Kag hate group... Hmmmm.... *starts plotting* Oh, you actually read my rant? Wowies ^^; Didnt think anyone would...
serena: Arigatou! ^^;
Liz.Q: *staring in shock at review* Oh... my... Ra... That sounds exactly like something I'd say oo;;;; Talk about deja vu... I have a Sesshy plushie too! =D His name is Sesshou-plushie... cuz I'm too lazy to give him a real name. Oo;; OOOHHH COOKIE! *eats happily* Arigatou! By the way, I read your bio! ^^; We love/hate all the same couples! YAY! I love Bankotsu/Jakotsu too... ^_^ Jaky-sama sooo totally belongs with Ban-kun... *re-reads next to last line of your bio and cheers loudly* WOOHOOOOO! (*Ashura thwacks Mage and yells at her to start the next review response...*)
duckknight: Yeah, I've read some of those fics! Captive Soul, Cinder Rin, I think a couple others too... Yes, Angel64 *IS* a damn good authoress! And I'm not exactly sure if counseling plays a super-huge part in this, except to get Sess and Rin to get to know each other... My almost non-existant mind, and my plots, wander often... Oo;; About my age, people say I'm more mature than other 13 year olds... They just dont know HOW mature. ;;;;
Ninetales122: Oh yes I did stop there! ; I'm the authoress so I can do that... And more will come... I've got 13 chapters pre-written, but I've got writers block on 14...
Cookie6: Arigatou! ^^;
tikimoof: Yesssss... We loveses LotR, dont we preciousssss? *hugs a bagel Oo* Well its fairly ring-like ;; And thanks! ^^;
~*~*~*~*~End Review Responses~*~*~*~*~
Ashura: *mutters and whacks Mage* This has been one LONG authors note...
Mage: Then quit boring the readers with your gayness!
Ashura: MY GAYNESS IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE!
Mage: OH GO MAKE OUT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND!
*Mage and Ashura get into a huge dustcloud fight with lots of yelling and shameless hair-pulling, leaving the audience to read the next chapter...*[/AN]
===============================================
The bell rang, dismissing students from their 5th period classes. Sesshoumaru left amidst the crowd and put his things away in his locker. As he was shutting his locker door, Kouga popped up.
"Hey Sess! Excited about the program?" He said cheerily. Kouga always seemed happy, unless he was involved in a fight with Inuyasha. "I signed up too ya know. Wondering who you're going to get as a partner?"
"Yeah..." Sess answered simply, walking down the stairs to the special needs classroom. Kouga bounced along at his side, talking about the program and how happy he was to be getting out of chemistry 3 days a week.
They, along with a group of other seniors, milled about outside the special needs room unti Ms. Takahashi and the teachers aide Kanna stepped out. Ms. Takahashi held a clipboard and pen in her hands.
"Hi!" Ms. Takahashi greeted them brightly. "Thank you all for signing up for the Student-to-Student Counseling and Tutoring program. I'm sure youre all ready to get started," Several mutters of 'yeah, whatever' were heard. "So I'll let you all know who your partners are!"
Glancing around at the group of seniors, Kanna thought in disgust, 'They're only here to skip their 6th periods... None of this lot actually want to make a difference in someone's life...'
The white-haired college student sighed and listened as Ms. Takahashi read out the list of partners.
"Kouga and Ayame, Rika and Takaku...." Sess listened for his name. She called off several people and finally came to the bottom of her list. "And Sesshoumaru, may I speak with you for a minute? The rest of you can go on in and get to know your partner."
The others filed into the classroom and the door shut. Ms. Takahashi turned to Sess. "Sesshoumaru, do you know any sign language?" She asked, looking kind of worried.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I took a course on it last summer. I might be a little rusty though. Why?"
"Because I wanted to pair you off with Rin. She's a perfectly intelligent girl, but she lost her voice two years ago after witnessing a traumatizing event. She hasnt told anyone just what she saw though. That, and the death of her cousin Kikyo left her mute." Ms. Takahashi stated sadly. "So now she speaks in sign language or writes. Do you think you can do this?"
"Yes, of course Ms. Takahashi." He said, inwardly groaning. He hardly remembered ANY sign language. Ah well, this 'Rin' person would just have to write what she had to say, at least until the knowledge came back to him.
"Great! Thank you so much Sesshoumaru, maybe you will be able to get her talking again." The teacher gave him a grateful smile and went back into the room to check and see how everyone was doing.
Slowly, as if he was being taken to his own execution, Sesshoumaru followed.
~*~
6th period came quickly, almost too quickly for Rin. She felt a wave of depression as the late bell rang. The mute could hear Ms. Takahashi and Kanna talking with several seniors outside the door. Breifly, Rin wondered who she'd be paired up with. Would her partner be totally horrible, or overly perky and cheery? Rin didnt think she could stomach either of those personality traits...
Finally the older students filed in and parted, going off to find their assigned partners. Rin felt a wave of nervousness as she watched them. No one had come up to her yet...
Damn, she had spoken too soon! A guy with long dark hair in a ponytail and blue eyes walked up to her.
"Hey, are you Ayame?" He asked, blinking at Rin. She shook her head and pointed to the chestnut-haired girl in white in the corner.
"Ah, thanks." He left her desk and joined Ayame at hers. A sigh of relief from Rin.
Maybe she'd get lucky and Ms. Takahashi wouldnt find a partner for her. Rin highly doubted that, but she could hope...
Ms. Takahashi came in a few minutes after the seniors did, a certain silver-haired guy following her.
Rin gasped slightly. It was the guy from lunch! 'What is HE doing here?' She thought to herself.
~*~
Sess entered the noisy room, glancing around at all the talking students. Which of these girls was Rin? Then he noticed the dark-haired girl from lunch, sitting alone in the corner.
'What is she doing in here? Did she sign up for this thing too?' He wondered, skirting around desks and chairs. Leaning against the wall near the girl, he looked at her and asked,
"Hi... Uh... Which one them's Rin?" He asked, looking around the classroom.
The girl signed something, fingers flying. He blinked in confusion. He could understand sign language, but not when someone was signing that fast. The girl slapped her forehead and took out paper and a pen. He glanced at the paper as she wrote: I'm Rin, why do you ask?
'SHE'S RIN?!' He was surprised, yet at the same time, he felt he should have known. 'No wonder she couldnt tell me her name at lunch...'
"Ah, um... I guess we're partners, Rin..."
'Partners?!' Rin could hardly believe her ears. She was going to be stuck with this guy 3 days a week for a whole month?! Someone up there obviously liked her...
Her pen flew over the sheet of notebook paper as she wrote. ~Ah, okay then...~
"So... First we should get to know each other right?" Sess asked hesitantly. Rin nodded. "Okay... I'm Sesshoumaru Iizuki..."
~My name is Rin Higurashi.~
"Higurashi?" Sess blinked in confusion. That last name seemed familiar to him. "Are you Kagome Higurashi's sister?" A nod from Rin. "Ah yes... I think I've heard my brother Inuyasha speak about you..."
~Well this is unexpected... I'm partnered up with my sister's boyfriend's brother...~
"Yeah... So, uhh... Getting to know each other... um... uh... What's your favorite color?" He stammered out. 'Damn that sounded so stupid!'
Setting down her pen, she decided to sign again, though slowly. *Blue... And black. Whats yours?*
"Uhh... probably black... or white..."
*White isnt a color, its a shade silly.* Rin signed to him slowly, smiling ever so slightly.
Sesshoumaru stared at her a bit, lost in those honey brown eyes. It was the first time he had seen her smile. 'Her smile is so amazing...' He thought to himself.
Rin cocked her head and blinked. *Take a picture, it'll last longer.*
He realized he was staring and the slightest tint of red covered his cheeks. "Oh, uh... sorry..."
*Its okay.*
"So uh... Rin, do you have any hobbies?" 'I must seem like such an idiot to her right about now...'
*I paint... I like to draw too... What are your hobbies?*
"Uh... I like fencing..."
*Are you in the fencing club?* Her hand motions remained slow so he could understand.
"Yeah... So... could I maybe see some of your drawings sometime?"
*I'm not very good... but if you want to I guess I dont mind...*
"Okay..."
The two were less tense after a while and began to talk/sign animatedly. Rin had to take up writing what she wanted to say again because she couldnt keep up the slow signing any more. By the end of the period they knew most of each other's likes and dislikes.
Ms. Takahashi had been watching them from her desk or from around the room. Smiling to herself, she thought, 'Those two get along nicely... I bet he asks her out by the end of the week.'
Kanna sat on a desk at the far end of the room, glancing at all the talking students, especially Sess and Rin. 'Maybe this was a good idea after all...'
Sesshoumaru and Rin felt that only minutes had passed when the bell rang, dismissing everyone from their 6th period. Feeling slightly disappointed at having to go so soon, Sesshoumaru waved goodbye to Rin and she signed *Bye... Seeya Wednesday...* He nodded and left the room.
Reaching his locker, he smiled a bit. Rin was nice, he had decided. Suddenly he was looking forward to the next month.
~*~
After school was over Rin walked out of the special needs classroom and went to her locker. She twisted in the combination and took her homework out, stuffing it into her black messenger bag.
Kagome, Eri, Yuki and Ayumi crowded around Kagome's and Rin's lockers, talking happily. Rin wasnt listening; her thoughts were focused on Sesshoumaru.
'Hey... he said he was in fencing club... Dont they have practice today? Cant hurt to look...' She thought to herself, grinning inwardly. She would just take a peek...
The younger girl tapped her sister on the shoulder. Kagome turned and looked at her.
"Yeah Rin?"
Rin slung her bag over her shoulder and signed, *Kagome, I'm going to stay after school for a while today. I...* She thought quickly. *...have to ask Kanna about some problems on my math homework...*
"Okay Rin, we're going to head home, okay?" The mute was glad her sister believed her lie. She'd never hear the end of it if Kagome knew she was staying after to check out a guy's fencing practice.
Kagome and her group of friends strolled out the door, engaging in another animated conversation.
Rin flitted out the doors and ran across campus to the gym, bag bouncing on her hip. She peeked through the glass on the double doors.
Inside, two figures had already started a match. She couldnt tell who they were because of the protective masks on their faces. The rest of the team hadnt arrived yet.
Her eyes were locked on the current match, particularly the taller figure. He moved with such grace and agility; it was almost ethereal. The shorter moved with equal grace, but he didnt have the regal, majestic aura about him as did the first.
Rin softly opened the door and sat on the bleachers inside, on the top. Weapons continued to clash, meaning they hadnt noticed her. She practically became invisible when she wanted to.
The match continued still as the other members of the fencing team came in, one after the other. Rin recognized one of them; a tall boy with black hair in a small ponytail and teasing violet eyes. It was Miroku, a 'friend' of Kagome's and the school hentai. He may grope, but he was harmless. Rin never knew him to grope a girl who wouldnt slap him.
"DAMN!" The shorter of the figures down on the mats shouted, dropping his weapon. The taller smirked, though it was hidden by his protective mask. They took off their mask thingies and she saw the taller had been Sesshoumaru. The other, another silver-haired, golden-eyed guy with dog ears. Inuyasha.
"I win." Sesshoumaru said in a taunting voice, smirking. Rin stood and began clapping, a faint smile on her face. Both Iizuki brothers jumped at the sound, which sent Rin into a fit of silent giggles.
Sesshoumaru put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes in mock irritation; the amber pools gleamed with amusement and mischeif. "And just what are you doing here?"
Rin grinned and leapt down the bleachers gracefully. *I felt like watching you practice silly.*
"Ah, okay. Prepare to be bored out of your mind."
*I wont be bored. That little spar was quite interesting.*
"Only because I'm the best." He grinned and was thwacked over the head by Inuyasha.
"You wish. Hey Rin-chan." Inuyasha said. She waved and smiled... until she felt a hand on her rear end. She jumped, instinctively slapping the guilty one. Miroku rubbed his cheek, which now sported a bright red handprint.
"Wow, she hits almost as hard as Sango-chan..." He muttered in amazement. Inuyasha fell over laughing and Sess chuckled a bit.
Miroku turned to Rin and took her hands in his, gazing into her eyes. "My lady, will you do me the honors of bearing my child?"
The mute's eyes widened in utter disbelief. He was asking her to BEAR HIS CHILD?! THE NERVE! The grin on Miroku's face spread.
"I'll take that as a yes!"
Sesshoumaru, eye twitching, promptly whacked him over the head. "She doesnt want to bear your child Miroku, Rins just mute and cant say 'hell no' like i know she wants to."
Rin nodded her agreement.
"Ahhh, gomen ne Rin-san. I use that line on every pretty girl I see, but I'm trying to stop." He said sheepishly, rubbing the new lump on his head.
"You should stay away from other girls Miroku, you already have a girlfriend. Sango will NOT be happy if you keep using that pathetic pickup line." Inuyasha stated, eyebrow raised.
"Yes..."
The instructor came into the gym then and the team moved onto the mats to practice. Rin sat back on the bleachers and watched.
~*~
After practice, everyone began heading home. Sesshoumaru tossed his bag into the backseat of his Jeep, seeing as he had driven to school today and noticed Rin walking across the parking lot.
"Hey! Rin! Wanna ride?" He called out; she looked like she had originally planned to walk home. She jogged over and signed an okay, sure.
"Your house is on the way to mine anyway." He said with a smile, getting into the driver's seat. Rin climbed in on the passenger's side.
*Thank you, I appreciate it.*
"No prob." Sess started up the Jeep and pulled out.
~*~
They sat in silence on the drive to Rin's place on Arrow St. He pulled into the driveway and Rin signed another 'thanks' to Sesshoumaru. Mrs. Higurashi, at seeing the white Jeep containing her daughter pull into the driveway, ran outside, a worried expression on her face.
"Rin! Rin, where have you been?! Kagome said you stayed after to ask Kanna about some math problems, I thought you had been kidnapped! It shouldnt take that long to get homework help!"
Rin got out of the jeep and before her mother could hug her or say anything else, she began to sign an explanation for her lateness.
*I did, but then... I decided to stay longer and watch the fencing club practice. Sorry I was so late.*
"Call next time Rin!" Then Mrs. Higurashi noticed the silver-haired senior in the drivers seat. "Oh, who's your friend?"
*This is Sesshoumaru Iizuki. Ms. Takahashi partnered us up for the counseling program.* The faintest shade of pink stained Rin's porcelain cheeks as she signed to her mother.
"Oh, nice to meet you! Arent you Inuyasha's older brother?"
"Yeah..."
"Would you like to stay for dinner Sesshoumaru?"
"No thank you, I really need to be getting home..." He said. It probably wouldnt have been a good idea.
"Oh okay... Well you're welcome to come on over any time you want."
"Alright. Thank you Mrs. Higurashi. Bye! Seeya tomorrow Rin." He said, pulling out of the driveway and drove off.
'Tomorrow? But... tomorrow's Tuesday, we dont have a counseling session tomorrow...' Rin felt heat rising in her cheeks. Just how in the world did she get so lucky?!
===============================================
Mage: *by now, is staring at a cornflakes box and wondering why there's a rooster on the front* .....
Ashura: I hate my life... *painting nails*
Mage: .....I HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION! O.O;;; CORNFLAKES ARE MADE OUT OF ROOSTERS!!!
Ashura: *shakes head* What ARE we gonna do with you? --; *turns to readers* You! Yes, you! can make a difference in a stupid person's life today! All you hafta do is leave a review!
Mage: Rhyme! =D
Ashura: *storms in and smacks Mage* You werent doing homework dipshit! --;; You were reading fanfics after school, then bad stuff about Disney films when you got bored of that...
Mage: I swear that pillar on the Little Mermaid art really DID look like a... um... male thingy... oo;;; And the dust in the Lion King really does look like it spells sex!!!
Ashura: *sighs and shakes head* You are much too mature for your age...
Mage: Be glad I am, or you wouldnt exist pal. --;
Ashura: Well, since you didnt update yesterday, I'm going to make sure you write your review responses and update quickly. --; *stands over Mage with the most horrible thing of all... her algebra homework oo;;;*
Mage: OO;;; EEP! WRITING, WRITING!
~*~*~*~*~Review Responses! YAY!~*~*~*~*~
Mewchild: I'm glad you agree with the Sess/Kag being icky too! =D Maybe a few of us Sess/Rin fans should get together and start a Sess/Kag hate group... Hmmmm.... *starts plotting* Oh, you actually read my rant? Wowies ^^; Didnt think anyone would...
serena: Arigatou! ^^;
Liz.Q: *staring in shock at review* Oh... my... Ra... That sounds exactly like something I'd say oo;;;; Talk about deja vu... I have a Sesshy plushie too! =D His name is Sesshou-plushie... cuz I'm too lazy to give him a real name. Oo;; OOOHHH COOKIE! *eats happily* Arigatou! By the way, I read your bio! ^^; We love/hate all the same couples! YAY! I love Bankotsu/Jakotsu too... ^_^ Jaky-sama sooo totally belongs with Ban-kun... *re-reads next to last line of your bio and cheers loudly* WOOHOOOOO! (*Ashura thwacks Mage and yells at her to start the next review response...*)
duckknight: Yeah, I've read some of those fics! Captive Soul, Cinder Rin, I think a couple others too... Yes, Angel64 *IS* a damn good authoress! And I'm not exactly sure if counseling plays a super-huge part in this, except to get Sess and Rin to get to know each other... My almost non-existant mind, and my plots, wander often... Oo;; About my age, people say I'm more mature than other 13 year olds... They just dont know HOW mature. ;;;;
Ninetales122: Oh yes I did stop there! ; I'm the authoress so I can do that... And more will come... I've got 13 chapters pre-written, but I've got writers block on 14...
Cookie6: Arigatou! ^^;
tikimoof: Yesssss... We loveses LotR, dont we preciousssss? *hugs a bagel Oo* Well its fairly ring-like ;; And thanks! ^^;
~*~*~*~*~End Review Responses~*~*~*~*~
Ashura: *mutters and whacks Mage* This has been one LONG authors note...
Mage: Then quit boring the readers with your gayness!
Ashura: MY GAYNESS IS NOT THE ISSUE HERE!
Mage: OH GO MAKE OUT WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND!
*Mage and Ashura get into a huge dustcloud fight with lots of yelling and shameless hair-pulling, leaving the audience to read the next chapter...*[/AN]
===============================================
The bell rang, dismissing students from their 5th period classes. Sesshoumaru left amidst the crowd and put his things away in his locker. As he was shutting his locker door, Kouga popped up.
"Hey Sess! Excited about the program?" He said cheerily. Kouga always seemed happy, unless he was involved in a fight with Inuyasha. "I signed up too ya know. Wondering who you're going to get as a partner?"
"Yeah..." Sess answered simply, walking down the stairs to the special needs classroom. Kouga bounced along at his side, talking about the program and how happy he was to be getting out of chemistry 3 days a week.
They, along with a group of other seniors, milled about outside the special needs room unti Ms. Takahashi and the teachers aide Kanna stepped out. Ms. Takahashi held a clipboard and pen in her hands.
"Hi!" Ms. Takahashi greeted them brightly. "Thank you all for signing up for the Student-to-Student Counseling and Tutoring program. I'm sure youre all ready to get started," Several mutters of 'yeah, whatever' were heard. "So I'll let you all know who your partners are!"
Glancing around at the group of seniors, Kanna thought in disgust, 'They're only here to skip their 6th periods... None of this lot actually want to make a difference in someone's life...'
The white-haired college student sighed and listened as Ms. Takahashi read out the list of partners.
"Kouga and Ayame, Rika and Takaku...." Sess listened for his name. She called off several people and finally came to the bottom of her list. "And Sesshoumaru, may I speak with you for a minute? The rest of you can go on in and get to know your partner."
The others filed into the classroom and the door shut. Ms. Takahashi turned to Sess. "Sesshoumaru, do you know any sign language?" She asked, looking kind of worried.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "I took a course on it last summer. I might be a little rusty though. Why?"
"Because I wanted to pair you off with Rin. She's a perfectly intelligent girl, but she lost her voice two years ago after witnessing a traumatizing event. She hasnt told anyone just what she saw though. That, and the death of her cousin Kikyo left her mute." Ms. Takahashi stated sadly. "So now she speaks in sign language or writes. Do you think you can do this?"
"Yes, of course Ms. Takahashi." He said, inwardly groaning. He hardly remembered ANY sign language. Ah well, this 'Rin' person would just have to write what she had to say, at least until the knowledge came back to him.
"Great! Thank you so much Sesshoumaru, maybe you will be able to get her talking again." The teacher gave him a grateful smile and went back into the room to check and see how everyone was doing.
Slowly, as if he was being taken to his own execution, Sesshoumaru followed.
~*~
6th period came quickly, almost too quickly for Rin. She felt a wave of depression as the late bell rang. The mute could hear Ms. Takahashi and Kanna talking with several seniors outside the door. Breifly, Rin wondered who she'd be paired up with. Would her partner be totally horrible, or overly perky and cheery? Rin didnt think she could stomach either of those personality traits...
Finally the older students filed in and parted, going off to find their assigned partners. Rin felt a wave of nervousness as she watched them. No one had come up to her yet...
Damn, she had spoken too soon! A guy with long dark hair in a ponytail and blue eyes walked up to her.
"Hey, are you Ayame?" He asked, blinking at Rin. She shook her head and pointed to the chestnut-haired girl in white in the corner.
"Ah, thanks." He left her desk and joined Ayame at hers. A sigh of relief from Rin.
Maybe she'd get lucky and Ms. Takahashi wouldnt find a partner for her. Rin highly doubted that, but she could hope...
Ms. Takahashi came in a few minutes after the seniors did, a certain silver-haired guy following her.
Rin gasped slightly. It was the guy from lunch! 'What is HE doing here?' She thought to herself.
~*~
Sess entered the noisy room, glancing around at all the talking students. Which of these girls was Rin? Then he noticed the dark-haired girl from lunch, sitting alone in the corner.
'What is she doing in here? Did she sign up for this thing too?' He wondered, skirting around desks and chairs. Leaning against the wall near the girl, he looked at her and asked,
"Hi... Uh... Which one them's Rin?" He asked, looking around the classroom.
The girl signed something, fingers flying. He blinked in confusion. He could understand sign language, but not when someone was signing that fast. The girl slapped her forehead and took out paper and a pen. He glanced at the paper as she wrote: I'm Rin, why do you ask?
'SHE'S RIN?!' He was surprised, yet at the same time, he felt he should have known. 'No wonder she couldnt tell me her name at lunch...'
"Ah, um... I guess we're partners, Rin..."
'Partners?!' Rin could hardly believe her ears. She was going to be stuck with this guy 3 days a week for a whole month?! Someone up there obviously liked her...
Her pen flew over the sheet of notebook paper as she wrote. ~Ah, okay then...~
"So... First we should get to know each other right?" Sess asked hesitantly. Rin nodded. "Okay... I'm Sesshoumaru Iizuki..."
~My name is Rin Higurashi.~
"Higurashi?" Sess blinked in confusion. That last name seemed familiar to him. "Are you Kagome Higurashi's sister?" A nod from Rin. "Ah yes... I think I've heard my brother Inuyasha speak about you..."
~Well this is unexpected... I'm partnered up with my sister's boyfriend's brother...~
"Yeah... So, uhh... Getting to know each other... um... uh... What's your favorite color?" He stammered out. 'Damn that sounded so stupid!'
Setting down her pen, she decided to sign again, though slowly. *Blue... And black. Whats yours?*
"Uhh... probably black... or white..."
*White isnt a color, its a shade silly.* Rin signed to him slowly, smiling ever so slightly.
Sesshoumaru stared at her a bit, lost in those honey brown eyes. It was the first time he had seen her smile. 'Her smile is so amazing...' He thought to himself.
Rin cocked her head and blinked. *Take a picture, it'll last longer.*
He realized he was staring and the slightest tint of red covered his cheeks. "Oh, uh... sorry..."
*Its okay.*
"So uh... Rin, do you have any hobbies?" 'I must seem like such an idiot to her right about now...'
*I paint... I like to draw too... What are your hobbies?*
"Uh... I like fencing..."
*Are you in the fencing club?* Her hand motions remained slow so he could understand.
"Yeah... So... could I maybe see some of your drawings sometime?"
*I'm not very good... but if you want to I guess I dont mind...*
"Okay..."
The two were less tense after a while and began to talk/sign animatedly. Rin had to take up writing what she wanted to say again because she couldnt keep up the slow signing any more. By the end of the period they knew most of each other's likes and dislikes.
Ms. Takahashi had been watching them from her desk or from around the room. Smiling to herself, she thought, 'Those two get along nicely... I bet he asks her out by the end of the week.'
Kanna sat on a desk at the far end of the room, glancing at all the talking students, especially Sess and Rin. 'Maybe this was a good idea after all...'
Sesshoumaru and Rin felt that only minutes had passed when the bell rang, dismissing everyone from their 6th period. Feeling slightly disappointed at having to go so soon, Sesshoumaru waved goodbye to Rin and she signed *Bye... Seeya Wednesday...* He nodded and left the room.
Reaching his locker, he smiled a bit. Rin was nice, he had decided. Suddenly he was looking forward to the next month.
~*~
After school was over Rin walked out of the special needs classroom and went to her locker. She twisted in the combination and took her homework out, stuffing it into her black messenger bag.
Kagome, Eri, Yuki and Ayumi crowded around Kagome's and Rin's lockers, talking happily. Rin wasnt listening; her thoughts were focused on Sesshoumaru.
'Hey... he said he was in fencing club... Dont they have practice today? Cant hurt to look...' She thought to herself, grinning inwardly. She would just take a peek...
The younger girl tapped her sister on the shoulder. Kagome turned and looked at her.
"Yeah Rin?"
Rin slung her bag over her shoulder and signed, *Kagome, I'm going to stay after school for a while today. I...* She thought quickly. *...have to ask Kanna about some problems on my math homework...*
"Okay Rin, we're going to head home, okay?" The mute was glad her sister believed her lie. She'd never hear the end of it if Kagome knew she was staying after to check out a guy's fencing practice.
Kagome and her group of friends strolled out the door, engaging in another animated conversation.
Rin flitted out the doors and ran across campus to the gym, bag bouncing on her hip. She peeked through the glass on the double doors.
Inside, two figures had already started a match. She couldnt tell who they were because of the protective masks on their faces. The rest of the team hadnt arrived yet.
Her eyes were locked on the current match, particularly the taller figure. He moved with such grace and agility; it was almost ethereal. The shorter moved with equal grace, but he didnt have the regal, majestic aura about him as did the first.
Rin softly opened the door and sat on the bleachers inside, on the top. Weapons continued to clash, meaning they hadnt noticed her. She practically became invisible when she wanted to.
The match continued still as the other members of the fencing team came in, one after the other. Rin recognized one of them; a tall boy with black hair in a small ponytail and teasing violet eyes. It was Miroku, a 'friend' of Kagome's and the school hentai. He may grope, but he was harmless. Rin never knew him to grope a girl who wouldnt slap him.
"DAMN!" The shorter of the figures down on the mats shouted, dropping his weapon. The taller smirked, though it was hidden by his protective mask. They took off their mask thingies and she saw the taller had been Sesshoumaru. The other, another silver-haired, golden-eyed guy with dog ears. Inuyasha.
"I win." Sesshoumaru said in a taunting voice, smirking. Rin stood and began clapping, a faint smile on her face. Both Iizuki brothers jumped at the sound, which sent Rin into a fit of silent giggles.
Sesshoumaru put his hands on his hips and narrowed his eyes in mock irritation; the amber pools gleamed with amusement and mischeif. "And just what are you doing here?"
Rin grinned and leapt down the bleachers gracefully. *I felt like watching you practice silly.*
"Ah, okay. Prepare to be bored out of your mind."
*I wont be bored. That little spar was quite interesting.*
"Only because I'm the best." He grinned and was thwacked over the head by Inuyasha.
"You wish. Hey Rin-chan." Inuyasha said. She waved and smiled... until she felt a hand on her rear end. She jumped, instinctively slapping the guilty one. Miroku rubbed his cheek, which now sported a bright red handprint.
"Wow, she hits almost as hard as Sango-chan..." He muttered in amazement. Inuyasha fell over laughing and Sess chuckled a bit.
Miroku turned to Rin and took her hands in his, gazing into her eyes. "My lady, will you do me the honors of bearing my child?"
The mute's eyes widened in utter disbelief. He was asking her to BEAR HIS CHILD?! THE NERVE! The grin on Miroku's face spread.
"I'll take that as a yes!"
Sesshoumaru, eye twitching, promptly whacked him over the head. "She doesnt want to bear your child Miroku, Rins just mute and cant say 'hell no' like i know she wants to."
Rin nodded her agreement.
"Ahhh, gomen ne Rin-san. I use that line on every pretty girl I see, but I'm trying to stop." He said sheepishly, rubbing the new lump on his head.
"You should stay away from other girls Miroku, you already have a girlfriend. Sango will NOT be happy if you keep using that pathetic pickup line." Inuyasha stated, eyebrow raised.
"Yes..."
The instructor came into the gym then and the team moved onto the mats to practice. Rin sat back on the bleachers and watched.
~*~
After practice, everyone began heading home. Sesshoumaru tossed his bag into the backseat of his Jeep, seeing as he had driven to school today and noticed Rin walking across the parking lot.
"Hey! Rin! Wanna ride?" He called out; she looked like she had originally planned to walk home. She jogged over and signed an okay, sure.
"Your house is on the way to mine anyway." He said with a smile, getting into the driver's seat. Rin climbed in on the passenger's side.
*Thank you, I appreciate it.*
"No prob." Sess started up the Jeep and pulled out.
~*~
They sat in silence on the drive to Rin's place on Arrow St. He pulled into the driveway and Rin signed another 'thanks' to Sesshoumaru. Mrs. Higurashi, at seeing the white Jeep containing her daughter pull into the driveway, ran outside, a worried expression on her face.
"Rin! Rin, where have you been?! Kagome said you stayed after to ask Kanna about some math problems, I thought you had been kidnapped! It shouldnt take that long to get homework help!"
Rin got out of the jeep and before her mother could hug her or say anything else, she began to sign an explanation for her lateness.
*I did, but then... I decided to stay longer and watch the fencing club practice. Sorry I was so late.*
"Call next time Rin!" Then Mrs. Higurashi noticed the silver-haired senior in the drivers seat. "Oh, who's your friend?"
*This is Sesshoumaru Iizuki. Ms. Takahashi partnered us up for the counseling program.* The faintest shade of pink stained Rin's porcelain cheeks as she signed to her mother.
"Oh, nice to meet you! Arent you Inuyasha's older brother?"
"Yeah..."
"Would you like to stay for dinner Sesshoumaru?"
"No thank you, I really need to be getting home..." He said. It probably wouldnt have been a good idea.
"Oh okay... Well you're welcome to come on over any time you want."
"Alright. Thank you Mrs. Higurashi. Bye! Seeya tomorrow Rin." He said, pulling out of the driveway and drove off.
'Tomorrow? But... tomorrow's Tuesday, we dont have a counseling session tomorrow...' Rin felt heat rising in her cheeks. Just how in the world did she get so lucky?!
===============================================
Mage: *by now, is staring at a cornflakes box and wondering why there's a rooster on the front* .....
Ashura: I hate my life... *painting nails*
Mage: .....I HAVE COME TO A CONCLUSION! O.O;;; CORNFLAKES ARE MADE OUT OF ROOSTERS!!!
Ashura: *shakes head* What ARE we gonna do with you? --; *turns to readers* You! Yes, you! can make a difference in a stupid person's life today! All you hafta do is leave a review!
Mage: Rhyme! =D