Disclaimer : I do not own Inu Yasha.
A/N: Heyaa everyone ^_^!!!!! I'm so happy that I could updating this fic! Actually I was very busy last 2 months... I thought that I would never be able to updating this fic! But I want to say many thanks to Duck Duckling who keeps me motivate to write this chap , and also BJ chan, my beloved beta reader! For Wintry Rose thanks for the correction and information! And for everyone who had review the last chapter! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Now, into the story :
I walk through many seasons
Many day has passed
Many Love I throw away
Just to meet you
The special person only for me
Playing with Fire
+ Chapter 06+
New Year's Panic! : Part 1
"Happy new year, Sesshoumaru-san. How are you?"
"Ah, it's nice to meet you, Sesshoumaru-san. Happy new year!"
"Happy new year, Sesshoumaru-san. May this year bring happiness to you!"
"Happy new year, Sesshoumaru-san!"
"Happy new year, Sesshoumaru-san. My name is ... from... it's nice to finally meet you."
Sesshoumaru nodded and returned greetings for more than an hour. His throat was dry and he felt that his neck would break if he didn't get away from this boring party as soon as possible. His sharp, golden eyes scanned the room to find his father chatting seriously with some stranger... Yet, somehow this stranger looked familiar for him.
'Maybe I've met them in some business or something,' Sesshoumaru thought, turning to look at his stepmother. She was chatting cheerfully with her relative. He had met his stepmother's family in the past, but only at special occasions. Well... as if he ever care anyway...
Then his gaze fixed on a very familiar person. Inu Yasha, his half brother. He was talking with some guests and, of course, with his girl friend, Higurashi Kagome, beside him. Higurashi Kagome, the first woman he had ever considered to be a real beauty. No, it wasn't as if Sesshoumaru had feelings at Kagome. In fact, he felt nothing toward his stepbrother's girlfriend. Still, she was the first woman who treated him like a real person. Kagome was the first woman who saw past his money and the fame that surrounded him. She was different. There was no other word that could fit her appearance or psyche better than beauty. And he admired her for it.
Then he suddenly remembered about the mini version of Kagome. Mikage Rin. She was such an interesting person, even though Sesshoumaru had only met her 4 days ago. She was still naive, which explained why she seemed to have a thousand different faces and emotions. Sometimes, Sesshoumaru could easily read her mind. Other times, she was so unpredictable. She was different from him. Too different. Maybe that could explain why he couldn't stand to be with her Somehow, Rin could make the difference seem to lessen and that was why, sometimes, he felt as if Rin could understand him, even thought it's only for 5 minutes or so...
"Let me introduce you. Sesshoumaru-san, this is Tohruu and his girlfriend, Ringo."
"And... this is Sesshoumaru-san, my BOYFRIEND."
Sesshoumaru shook his head to clearing his mind from that scene. He knew Rin had said that lie because she was trying to protect her pride. He also know that the statement was just a simple lie. However, he couldn't stop replaying that scene over and over in his mind. He knew that it was just some worthless words from a young girl, not an important person. Just a teenager. He knew that. So why should he care at the time if those words didn't affect him? Why should he care now?
'Okay... what's wrong with me?' Sesshoumaru asked himself. He was so busy living in his own world that he hadn't realized that Kagome was walking toward him, followed by an irritated Inu Yasha.
+++
"Damn! It's already 7! I only have 15 minutes before Ayaka arrives and I still haven't dressed or eaten yet!!! What a great way to start a new year!!!!" Rin mumbled as she dressed. Maybe her cousin were right. She shouldn't have ignored her cousin's advice last night but Ayaka and the other were asking her to come to the temple last night to see the Joya no Kane (New Year's bell ringing). She had gotten back home at around 1 in the morning.
Rin hurried to the living room as she finished dressing. She found Mrs. Higurashi watching the Kohaku Ura Gasssen ( Year's end song battle). Rin's eyes then focused on the 2 plates of Toshikoshi Soba ( Year-crossing noodles) on the table.
"Ohayo, Rin-chan! Happy new year! I was scared you wouldn't wake till noon. You know it's not good if you wake up late on New Year's," Mrs. Higurashi said when she realized that Rin was standing in the doorway. Rin nodded and smile as she went and took a seat beside her aunt.
"Well... Happy new year too, Aunt Natsu. (AN : I made up this name) Anyway, where's Kagome nee-chan?" Rin asked as she didn't see her cousin at the room.
"Oh, she went with Inu Yasha to attend some party. Anyway, do you have plans to go to the temple to pray?" her aunt asked.
"Yup! Me and Ayaka will go together!" Rin said happily and started to explain to her aunt about the reason as to why she was going with Ayaka and what they were planning to do after visiting the temple. Her aunt smiled at her childish behavior and allowed Rin to continue until she remembered something. Mrs. Higurashi placed a hand on Rin's shoulder.
"That means... you need to change your clothes." Mrs. Higurashi said with a motherly smile on her face. Rin stopped her story, her mouth dropping open in shock.
"No way! I'm not going to wear a kimono!!!!! It's still snowing out there!!!" Mrs. Higurashi ignored her protest and dragged her into her room.
15 minutes later...
"Ah... look at the beautiful young woman..." Mrs. Higurashi said proudly, examining her work. Now in front of her, Rin was standing, wearing a yellow kimono with a flower design on it and a red obi that circled her small waist. Her hair was pulled up in a simple high ponytail and wrapped with red ribbon. She did not wear any make up since she refused to use it but her natural appearance made her look more beautiful and displayed her feature as a Japanese woman. Strong yet beautiful.
Rin actually felt annoyed at the kimono she was wearing because it constrained her movements. But for her aunt's sake, she had to appreciate her efforts. Mrs. Higurashi had changed her into a beautiful girl anyhow.
"Thank you, Aunt Natsu. You did a really good job," she smiled shyly. This was her first time acting and talking like a sweet girl in a new year. Her aunt assumed that it was a good sign.
"But, Aunt Natsu... I guess I need to practice walking with this thing first..." Rin said as she stood up wearing the geta (A/N: Japanese traditional shoes which is have high heeled) on her feet. "Or I'll fall."
Then, within a minute, the sounds of someone hitting the floor was heard, followed by the sound of a sigh...
+++
"Whoa!!! It is sooooo... crowded!!!!" Rin yelled in amazement as she and Ayaka, her best friend, stood in front of the temples gate. Ayaka gulped and nodded, also amazed of the many people here. But she was more concerned about how they could pass the sea of humanity in less than an hour. She doubted that they could reach the temple without getting separated or lost... knowing Rin to be a clumsy girl...
"But Rin... I doubt if we can get to the temple safely..." Ayaka said anxiously, so many negative thoughts running through her head. Rin then grinned at her friend's worries and placed both of her hands at Ayaka's shoulder, trying to cheer her.
"Daijobu! You're with me, Ayaka-chan!" Rin beamed, but in her excited, high spirited mood, Rin didn't realize that when she turned to spin around, her feet would slip, not forgetting to mention the fact that she was wearing geta... and sure enough, she fell onto the snowy ground.
"That's what I'm worried about, Rin-chan..." Ayaka giggled and took Rin's hands, trying to help Rin stand up on her feet again. Rin took Ayaka's hands with an embarrassed blush forming on her cheek. She had hoped no one here had noticed her fall but then she heard someone chuckling.
"Hey, if it isn't Rin and Ayaka. What are you guys doing here?" Rin was hoping it was just her imagination that she had heard that familiar voice. Was fate that cruel?
"Oh, Happy New Year, Ringo-chan! It is really a coincidence that we've met here!" Ayaka greeted and bowed as she faced the owner of the voice. Rin sighed and spun around carefully, not wanting to fall down again. Then she smiled in annoyance.
"Ringo-chan! Happy new year, what are you doing here anyway?" Rin greeted and bowed at her.
"Me and Tohruu had promised to meet here. Anyway, Rin, where's your boyfriend? I thought he would've come with you." Ringo asked as she noticed the absence of the good-looking man she had met 4 days ago. Rin bit her lips and anticipated that she would have to tell Ringo another lie when she felt someone tugging on her sleeve. Rin cringed as she saw the threatening look in Ayaka's eyes. She could tell that Ayaka wanted an explanation for Ringo's earlier statement.
Then, her lips moved uncontrollably, again...
"Well, he said he had some business to do, so he couldn't accompany us," Rin lied, her eyes looking somewhere else. It was her habit when she was lying that she couldn't look directly at her opponent's eyes. Luckily, Ringo didn't know her habit, but Ayaka knew... and she recognized it now.
"Oh well, he is a famous man, anyway. He wouldn't want to go with you to this place, even though you are his girlfriend. I wonder why he's with you." Ringo started to insult Rin again and both Ayaka and Rin raised their eyebrows at Ringo's words.
"Do you mean... you know him? I mean you really know him?" Rin asked in curiosity. Ringo looked at her funny.
"Of course, who doesn't know the famous, talented, successful, the most wanted bachelor, Sesshoumaru Tashigi ( A/N: I made up this name). But I guess no one knew his taste, right? Man... I guess no one would have believed he had a Lolita complex. Plus, he chose a clumsy girl like you? I heard your cousin is going out with Sesshoumaru's little brother, am I right? Both of you are the same, I assume." Ringo said as if she was giving a lecture with her disdainful tone.
Rin's blood was boiling at Ringo's words. Ringo could think that Rin was a lowly person but Ringo couldn't just mock her cousin, Kagome. Nor could she mock Sesshoumaru, in this case, because he wasn't dating her. It was all Rin's fault for lying at Ringo and making her think that way. Rin knew that Ringo wouldn't be saying those mean words if only Rin hadn't lied to her. It was all her fault, but... she wouldn't let her cousin's name be dragged into this mess. Kagome had nothing to do with this. Nor did Inu Yasha. Rin's hand tightened, ready to punch Ringo straight in her smirking face, but a voice stopped her.
"Incorrect. Inu Yasha is my half brother," a familiar cold, yet calm voice echoed in Rin's mind. Rin eyes were still fixed on Ringo's face, which looked as if she was going to die soon. Rin didn't dare look at the owner of the voice since he had obviously heard all Ringo's words, surely guilt wash over Rin's body.
"Anou... T-Tashigi-san and Higurashi-san, ex-excuse me!" Ringo said in discomfort and then left them. Rin finally looked at them as she hear Kagome's name being mentioned. Yes, fate was cruel to her today.
There they are: Kagome, Sesshoumaru, and Inu Yasha.
"Oi, Rin, Ayaka, what an interesting friend you've got there," Inu Yasha said sarcastically, referring Ringo.
"Oh, hi! Happy New Year Kagome-san, Inu Yasha-san, and..." Ayaka said.
"It's Sesshoumaru Tashigi." Kagome added as she saw that Sesshoumaru wasn't going to talk. In fact, Sesshoumaru was busy looking at Rin, who was looking at her cousin with a lot of guilt and uneasiness.
"And Tashigi-san, Happy New Year," Ayaka added and bow. Her eyes never left Sesshoumaru. Ayaka was obviously studying the man's features and admiring what she found. Sesshoumaru then greeted her back when he realized that Ayaka had greeted him.
"Well, since this is a COINCIDENCE we meet here, why don't we enter the Temple now?" Kagome said, smiling at Rin, then Sesshoumaru.
'No!!!! Kagome nee chan must be heard what Ringo had said, especially the 'boy friend' thing. Well, that's explains Kagome's suspicious eyes...
+++
'Kami-sama!!!! Please help me here! Help me! Help me!!!!!!' Rin yelled for help in her mind as Kagome shot her a 'You-have-to-explain-to-me' look. They were all walking together to the temple. Ayaka was chatting with Inu Yasha but Rin knew she was eyeing Rin from the corner of her eye. Kagome was walking beside her in silence, as if she was giving Rin the silent torture treatment. As for Sesshoumaru... he was walking in front of them, making a way for them so they could pass safely through the throng of people who also wanted to go to the temple.
15 minutes later, Rin hadn't realized that she had become separated from the others in the huge crowd since she had been looking down at the ground as she walked. That is, until she bumped into someone and realized that Kagome, Ayaka, Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru were nowhere to found. Only peoples she didn't know were shouting for her to get moving. Rin panicked; there was no way she could survive alone! She didn't even know where she was now. She could only see peoples passing her and feel them pushing her to move.
And she was scared to be alone like this...
"Damn crowd!" Rin cursed, hoping she would calm down a bit but it failed. Rin walked in a panic. She wanted to run, scream, and get away from this crowd but every time she walked into the opposite direction of the streaming people, she got carried even further from the gate. Someone crashed into her side, causing Rin to fall down. She was expecting her body hit the snowy ground but nothing came. Instead, she felt a hand grabbed her wrists to stop her body from falling.
"S-Sesshoumaru-san..." Rin whispered as she recognized the man holding her. Sesshoumaru looked at her in relief for a split second before his face reverted back to his emotionless _expression.
"Are you alright?" he asked in his calm voice. Rin, still in shock, just nodded. She didn't know what to say or do so she just stood there, her eyes locked with Sesshoumaru's golden eyes.
"Are we going to have a staring contest or shall we continue walking to the temple?" Sesshoumaru asked.
"Ah... gomen nasai! Let's - Let's go!" Rin said swiftly and walked quickly to hide her blushing.
Sesshoumaru blocked other people from pushing them. Hell... if only he hadn't agreed to come with Kagome and Inu Yasha. He wouldn't be standing here, protecting this little girl from this crowd. Well... regret always come too late. Fortunately, the air was still cold and the snow still falling slowly so they wouldn't start sweating. He kept his bored _expression on his face even though he knew some people, especially women, were starting to gossip about him or his features. He then studied the girl in front of him: Mikagi Rin.
Actually, he was surprised when he saw her in front of the gate today. She look... beautiful yet strong at the same time. He suddenly forgot about the wild and high tempered girl he had met 4 days ago. Instead, there is a new girl standing in front of him, Mikagi Rin had changed into a good-looking, delicate, yet dangerous girl. His thin lips curved into an undetectable smile as he remembered that Ringo girl's words. Lolita complex, huh? If only he could laugh. He probably would have kept laughing until his stomach hurt.
Rin watched Sesshoumaru from the corner of her eyes. They had been walked about 10 minutes or so. She then started to admire his looks again. It wasn't forbidden to admire a bishounen, right? Today, he wasn't wearing a hakama / kimono, like the other men were, but his usual business suit and a coat. She wondered if he ever wore clothes other than his formal clothes.
'Hm? I guess I should remember something... about him... but what?' Rin asked herself as she tried to remember what that something was but failed. 'It must have something to do with Sesshoumaru... um... what... ugh! I forget...wh-'
"...I guess no one would believe he had a Lolita complex. Plus, he chose a clumsy girl like you?"
Rin gasped and covered her mouth with her hands as she remembered that thing: those sharp words from Ringo. She then hurriedly looked at Sesshoumaru and bowed.
"I'm sorry!" Rin bowed as deep as she could. Sesshoumaru knitted his eyebrows together. He didn't understand what Rin meant. Plus, they were in the center of the crowd!
"Why?" he asked curiously, his eyes never leaving the girl's still bowed form.
"About Ringo's earlier words. It must have hurt you. I'm sorry! If only I didn't lie to her, she wouldn't have said those mean words! You could put all the blame to me! I'm sorry!" Rin bowed deeper and deeper, her eyes closed tight and her face bright red. Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to speak. Then he sighed and placed his hand on Rin's shoulder.
"It's not the right time to apologize. Now, stand up straight. We're blocking the way for everyone," Sesshoumaru said, taking her hands. He dragged her past the crowd, which was staring at them with avid interest.
"Um... Sesshoumaru-san, do you forgive me?" Rin asked carefully. Sesshoumaru sighed and said without looking back,
"I never took your friend's words seriously. " Upon hearing that, Rin smiled a brilliant smile.
+++
"Phew... at least!!!!" Rin smiled happily as they reach the front temple. Then she smiled at Sesshoumaru, who was standing beside her, before she closed her eyes and clapped her hands. And she began to pray.
'... I wish... wait a minute... what should I wish this year... last year I only had two wishes, ugh... I always have trouble with wishing. Maybe I need to write a note before wishing, ... oh yes! I wish for my family to have a good health, fmom and dad in heaven... I wish they happy, Day Walker... I hope we'll get succeed soon, and... um... and... I wish... I could find the special person only for me...' Rin wished. Actually, she was embarrassed at her last wish. It just wasn't like herself to wish like that. But sometimes, peoples could change, right?
"Are you finished?" Rin opened her eyes instantly when she heard Sesshoumaru's impatient voice. Rin then smiled and nodded.
"So... Sesshoumaru san, what do you wish this year? I mean how much did you wish? I have 4 wishes!" Rin said. Sesshoumaru raised his eyebrows. Actually, he hadn't been to the temple on New Year's since he moved to America a long time ago, so this question was just foreign to him.
"I... did not wish for anything," he confessed. Rin widened her eyes in shock, then knitted her eyebrows together.
"No way! Does it mean you don't have anything you desire?" Rin asked, not believing what she had heard. Sesshoumaru nodded in agreement.
"Let's just go. The other people want to pray too," Sesshoumaru changed the subject and turned to leave the temple. Rin stared at Sesshoumaru's back before she decided to follow him.
'There are so many things I don't know about him... Believe it or not, I guess I want to know more about him.'
+++
"Where are they?" Kagome yelled in frustrated as she saw more unfamiliar faces. It had been more than half an hour since they began searching for their lost companions but they had found nothing.
"Maybe they went to the temple, dedicated to pray first, then went searching for us," Ayaka said. She kicked her geta as she continued to lay her back against the wood bench.
"No way! Rin would be searching for us first!" Kagome said, still in panic, her eyes still searching for familiar faces between the crowded.
"But... if she was with Sesshoumaru... well... knowing Sesshoumaru's mind... they must be going to pray first," Inu Yasha said.
"But, what if she didn't find Sesshoumaru? What if she's all alone and panicking? What if a bad man captured her? What if she got hurt? What if-" Inu Yasha placed his hands on Kagome's shoulders and looked at his girlfriend worriedly.
"She will be okay," he said firmly. " Just... don't worry, ok?" he continued. Kagome looked at Inu Yasha, her dark blue eyes starting to get watery. She know that Rin was old enough, she was 16 (or 17... I forget) for God's sake! But... she just can't get rid of this worries feelings.
"Don't worry, Kagome-san, knowing Rin... I guess even if she were lost, she will still come back alive. Don't worry," Ayaka smiled, trying to lighten Kagome up a bit. And she succeeded, for Kagome was nodding and smiling to response to Ayaka's words.
'Yeah, don't worry...' Kagome thought.
+++
"Whoa... Look! Look! There were so many charms and foretune-tellings!" Rin beamed as she saw the many stands that sold a large variety of foretelling. She started to check the stands one by one, totally forgetting that Sesshoumaru was still with her. He was standing not too far from Rin with that rarely emotion showed on his face. Yes, yes, Sesshoumaru was looking at Rin as if he saw an alien.
"Look! Sesshoumaru-san! Look! This is amazing! Why don't we try hamaya (an arrow with paper of prophecy tied on the arrow)? I wanna know my luck this year!" Rin said happily. Sesshoumaru just shook his head at Rin's childish behavior, but he let her drag him anyway.
After receiving the arrow, Rin hastily loosened the paper of prophecy that was tied on the arrow. Then she yelped in disappointment as she read the paper with a 'bad luck' written on it. In a second, her bright face was turned into a frown.
"Man! I can't believe I got the bad luck! Humph... I guess my wishes aren't going to come true..." Rin whimpered. Then she looked at Sesshoumaru, who still looked at her as if she were crazy. Rin just ignored it and looked at him curiously.
"How about you, Sesshoumaru-san?" Rin asked curiously, then her eyebrows knitted together when she saw that he hadn't opened his prophecy yet. Sesshoumaru then looked at his own arrow and slowly opened the paper.
"Lucky," Sesshoumaru read the paper. Rin's jaw dropped as she heard the word.
"Whaaat? Lucky??? It's not fair! Why could you get 'lucky' while I got 'bad luck'!!!! It's not fair!!!" Rin whined again. Seeing this, Sesshoumaru just rolled his eyes as he thought sarcastically, 'Yeah, lucky', while Rin keep complaining.
"Now, could you please stop? We must find Kagome and the others," Sesshoumaru said in a silky tone. Rin immediately shut her mouth. She then realized that she was acting like a 5-year-old kid.
'Sesshoumaru must be thinking I'm silly,' Rin thought as she followed Sesshoumaru into the gate, where the earlier incident had taken place. Sesshoumaru walked as if he didn't care about her, but actually, he was watching her from the corner of his sharp eyes.
'What a clumsy girl, she was deep in thought in a crowded place like this. She will never know if a car or group of peoples hit her. Who would care, anyway?' Sesshoumaru then ignored her presence and kept walking but a harsh sound of someone hitting the ground was heard.
'My, my, I'm really lucky.' He thought sarcastically.
+++
"I can't wait anymore!!!! Let's move from this place! We must search for them in the temple!" Kagome suddenly stood up as she started to move toward the gate.
"Wait! Kagome!" Inu Yasha called her name as he ran to follow Kagome. Ayaka, in other hand, just looked at them for a while before she decided to follow them.
"Oi, Kagome, can you just slow down? It's not like she'll get hurt!" Inu Yasha said angrily; he was really getting impatient. Then he hit Kagome from behind as Kagome stopped unexpectedly.
"What?" Inu Yasha asked, then his eyes widening in shock.
"Rin!!!!" A high-pitched scream was heard.
+++
A/N : So what do you think so far? Is it get better or worse? please send me reviews, I know you want it! ^_^ and one more thing, I hope you guys want to review so I could hit my first 50 reviews!!!! Don't forget, reviews means faster update!!!!
PS: Let me know if there are still many Rin/Sess fans out there, cause I feel it getting less and less... T_T
Ja ne!
-Yume