Author Note: Thank you for my lovely beta reader : BJ chan! Without your help, this chap won't come out ^_^, and for everyone who had reviewing the last chapter, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS! I asked for 50 reviews but you give me 61!^_^ Thank you so much! *bows*
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 07+
New Year's Panic! : Part 02
She used to love this white, cold substance called snowflakes.
Rin tried to wipe away all the snowflakes that lingered on her kimono after her fall. The wetness had started to spread on her Kimono but the heat on her cheeks was still there. The embarrassment wouldn't go away so quickly. She kept her head down, trying to hide her embarrassment. At least she wanted to save her face from everyone's stares. Now she removed her fingers in slow motion, hoping that all of the stares and whispers from everyone had stopped.
She used to like the feeling when it melted because of her touch.
'Damn! If only I hadn't spaced out, if only I had watched my step, if only I hadn't fallen!' All the regrets danced in her mind. Yes, if only she hadn't fallen... she might still be walking with Sesshoumaru but not like this! She had never asked to fall down nor asked to be the center of attention like this! Look at her. She now didn't even have courage to walk away from that place, to run away! Where the hell was Sesshoumaru when you need him?
She also used to admire the beauty that they created as they fell from the sky.
Wait a minute... where was... Sesshoumaru...?
But now, all of the elegance was crushed into the ground, broken into pieces.
"That damn arrogant self centered jerk!" Rin cursed silently as she remembered that man, the man she thought she could at least depend on when she needed his help. Well... he had helped her before but... was it really too hard to help her now? Or was it too shameful just to admit that she was his companion and to save her from this embarrassment she was faced with? Maybe it was a shame to know her... Was she that unworthy?
Just like another time, when...
Rin stood up in anger at the thought. He can think of her as a lowly, shameful, arrogant, immature girl but she wasn't the type of girl who would sink in embarrassment like this! She was strong and she would prove it!
"Just wait and see, you jerk!" She cursed softly. Rin was about to walk when she suddenly stopped.
Love converted into hate...
"You are okay, I believe."
There he was, the man Rin thought had left her. Sesshoumaru. His cold stoic visage didn't change a bit.
"Drink, it could warm your body," he said as he saw the wetness on her kimono. Well, it was more like he was giving a command but she accepted the warm tea he handed to her.
'Well... I was wrong, I guess,' Rin thought. Then she smiled secretly.
Hate converted into love...
+++
"Rin!!!!" A high-pitched scream had escaped from Kagome's mouth when she spotted her cousin while Rin, along with Sesshoumaru and the other visitors, looked at Kagome when they had heard the scream. Kagome instantly ran and hugged Rin, who had been sitting on the wooden bench.
Sesshoumaru looked at the two girls, who were hugging each other as if they hadn't meet for a hundred years, with an unusual _expression on his otherwise emotionless face. He was surprised. Inu Yasha smiled at his girlfriend's behavior and placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder in reassurance. 'At least Kagome isn't acting like a mother who had lost her child anymore,' he thought. Ayaka raise one of her eyebrow as a response in seeing the earlier scene, then she smile and walking beside Rin.
"Ano... Kagome nee-chan... can we..." Rin said, hoping her cousin would release her from the deadly hug. Rin was getting embarrassed since everyone's eyes were set on them. Plus... she needed some air to breathe.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rin-chan... I got carried away..." Kagome apologized as she released the younger girl. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw the dirt covering Rin's kimono and Kagome shot Rin a sharp glance. "Now...can you explain me about this dirt, Rin?" Kagome then turned to Sesshoumaru. "Care to explain, Sesshoumaru-san?"
"Um... I-I actually fall down, it's not his fault anyway. I was thinking about something else and I wasn't paying attention, so I fell," Rin said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"...And I didn't pay much attention to her either. I shouldn't have ignored her in the crowd."
Everyone looked at Sesshoumaru in shock as he spoke, especially Rin and Inu Yasha. They never expected Sesshoumaru to say anything. Even Sesshoumaru couldn't believe he was admitting to his own mistake but the most surprising thing was: Sesshoumaru was defending Rin.
The most unusual thing he had ever done.
"Wow." That was the only word
that escapeed from Inu Yasha's mouth to show his surprise at Sesshoumaru's
unusual act.
"Well, are you OK, Rin? Are you hurt?" Ayaka said, trying to break the
strained silence.
"No! I'm fine! I just fall down, but I'm okay. Sesshoumaru-san already gave me a hot chocolate, so I'm not really feeling cold," Rin said groggily.
"Rin, are you ok? You look...
tired." Ayaka asked in concern. But Inu Yasha speak up first before Rin
answered.
"Hmmm....? What's this? Sesshoumaru actually caring?!" Inu Yasha asked in a
teasing tone, making Rin blush while Sesshoumaru just ignored his
half-brother's comment, his _expression never changing.
"Hm... I guess I need to interrogate you at home," Kagome said, eyeing Rin
with a look that Rin didn't like at all. That look meant that her cousin was
planning something evil.
"Oi, Rin. Are you okay? Your face went all red!" Ayaka said again, hoping this
time Rin answered her. Rin touched her cheek and felt a hotness on her skin.
"Oh... she's blushing so... hard!!!" Inu Yasha started to tease again. Then
Kagome started to smile slyly and, along with Inu Yasha, started teasing.
'Wait a minute... why do I feel the world spinning?'
Rin could still hear Kagome's
and Ayaka's panicked voices calling out to her. She could feel Inu Yasha
supporting her body and ... that face...
If only the unconsciousness hadn't overtaken her, Rin would have been laughing
so hard...
Because at least... she had gotten another _expression from Sesshoumaru other than his usual stoic and anger expressions...
And to her surprise, it was...anxiety.
+++
"I can't climb down!!! It's too high!!!" A little girl of around 8 years yelled at her friend, who was looking up at her from the bottom of the tree.
"Come on, Rin! I know you can do it! Plus, you promised me that if I help you
up, you'd go down by yourself!" The boy, of the same age, yelled back,
ignoring the terrified look that started to form on the little girl's face.
"But... You're so mean Kou-chaaaaan!!! You helped me to climb up! Then why
don't you help me down!!!! It's too high!!! I'm scared!!!" The boy shook his
head and give her a sign which meant 'Go down by yourself!' and with that, he
spun around and left Rin pleading helplessly in the tree.
"Kou-chaaaaan!!!!!" This time Rin yelled as loud as she could. She didn't care if her throat was getting dry after having yelled before. The boy turned around and opened his mouth to yelled, but nothing came as he saw that scene...
Rin was falling. He ran as fast as he could, his hands ready to catch her...
Rin saw his eyes... those beautiful dark eyes that revealed so many emotions but most of all... anxiety...
(AN: This dream had something to do with someone in Rin's past, who will be Sesshoumaru's rival in the future... guess who is he???)
--------
Rin's vision was still blurred as she opened her eyes after fainting. She
blinked her eyes several times and tried to move from her earlier position but
she felt dizzy. Her body refuse to move.
"Rin! You're awake!" a familiar voice greeted her ears before she could see
clearly. It was Kagome, who was sitting in the chair next to Rin's bed.
"Kagome-nee-chan? What happen?"
Rin whispered, her strength slowly returning. Rin then looked at her cousin,
hoping she will find some answers from Kagome's face.
"RIN! I told you last night! DO NOT SLEEP TOO LATE! NOW YOU SEE THE
CONSEQUENCES! You're lucky you only fainted. What if it had been worse? Do you
think I would be happy???" Kagome snapped Rin with anger and worry.
"Huh?" It was all that Rin could say. She was confused. What did Kagome mean
by sleeping late causing her to faint?
"You don't have any idea, do you? Your body was weak since you didn't get
enough sleep. I heard from mom that you only sleep for what? 3 hours? Then,
you don't even eat breakfast! Are you planning on suicide or something?"
Kagome explained. Rin nodded in understanding, then gave Kagome a look which
meant that she regretted everything she had done. She knew Kagome couldn't
resist it.
"I'm sorry Kagome-nee-chan... I won't do it again," Rin whispered, her head
hung down and a hint of regret in her voice.
"Hhh... okay, but promise me to not make me worried again. You've already made
me worry two times today," Kagome said. Rin smiled and nodded; she knew Kagome
all too well...
"So... where are the others? Ayaka? Inu Yasha? Sesshoumaru?" Rin asked, her
body full of energy again. Kagome raised her eyebrow as she heard Rin's
question. There was something forming in Kagome's face but Rin couldn't
recognize what it was.
"Oh, they went back half an hour ago, after the doctor left," Kagome answered.
Then she smiled slyly as she remembered something. "So... Rin... are you in a
relationship with Sesshoumaru?" Upon hearing this, Rin's eyes went wide in
shock.
"Wha- what do you mean Kagome-nee-chan?" A blush was starting to form in her
cheeks again.
"Aww... come on! Don't play dumb with me! I heard your so-called-friend...
Ringo said something about you being his girlfriend! My, my, my, our little
Rin was fast..." Kagome said playfully and circled Rin's shoulder with her
arm. "I'm your cousin... no secrets between us, ne???" Kagome continued.
"I-iee!!! There's nothing going on between us!" Rin yelled in embarrassment,
her face was now all red.
"Come on... no secrets, remember?" Kagome keep insisting on Rin to answer
again and again, until Rin lost her patience.
"Okay, okay! WE DON'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP! I LIED TO RINGO!" Rin yelled in
annoyance. Kagome knitted her eyebrows together in confusion.
"I told Ringo that me and Sesshoumaru san were in a relationship... just to
protect my pride. I lied. And yes, I'm such a loser by doing that," Rin said,
expecting her cousin to laugh or tease her, but actually nothing came. In
fact, her cousin were horrified, with mouth open.
"Did... did Sesshoumaru agree to this?" Kagome whispered.
"Um... I don't know but since he didn't say anything about it... I guess,
yes," Rin answered. Kagome's eyes went wide again after hearing the surprising
fact.
"WHAT?!?!" she yelled, but to Rin's surprise, Kagome's voice wasn't the only one heard.
Ayaka and Inu Yasha who was now in Rin's doorway...
Not forgetting to mention Sesshoumaru, who was looking at them with disgust.
+++
Rin sighed after she told Kagome, Ayaka, and Inu Yasha the real story. Her dark eyes gaze at Sesshoumaru, who was obviously trying to ignore them. He was sitting far from them and looking outside from the window. He was definitely spacing out.
His long silver hair hung loosely down his back, with some of it hanging from
his shoulder to his board chest. The sunset was causing his hair to reflect a
golden color. It made him look irresistible. His usual business suit coat was
now gone, leaving him with his white long-sleeved shirt, which matched his
hair color, and khaki pants. His tall, well-built body would make everyone
want to worship him and... that beautiful face he had...
'Well... to tell you the truth, he now looks drop dead gorgeous, no... attractive?... um... maybe... angelic? Yeah, a demonic angel... or an angelic demon? Ha-ha...' Then Rin stopped her thought as her dark eyes met those golden eyes.
'Crap! I was caught!' Rin thought. She wanted to ignore Sesshoumaru's eyes on her but she couldn't. Taking her eyes from his meant losing, especially when she had been caught staring at him. She don't want to deal with the embarrassment; she already had enough shame for today and she didn't want to add more on her list.
And so... the staring contest began.
Until...
"Hello kids. I bought teas and cakes for you." Mrs. Higurashi suddenly opened
the door with foods on her hand. Then her eyebrow rose in confusion as she saw
Sesshoumaru and Rin staring into each other's eyes. Ayaka was smirking at
them, Kagome was smiling slyly and Inu Yasha was trying to hold back laughter.
"Well... I guess I came in the wrong time."
+++
30 minutes later...
Rin laid her back on her bed after Ayaka, Sesshoumaru, and Inu Yasha left. Her
body was starting to protest again. She needed some rest. 'What a tiring
day...' She frowned. 'But still... this was a really unexpected New Year.' Rin
then smiled as she rememberied how the staring contest ended with her as the
winner. 'Maybe he thought it was useless...that it was no use to fight against
a silly girl like me...' Her smile faded to a thin grim line at the thought.
'But I don't care, as long as I win,' she added stubbornly.
'It's already 6 pm... I guess I'll take a bath, watch TV, eat, bug Kagome-nee-chan, and then sleep...' she thought as she looked at the alarm clock placed not far from her bed. She suddenly jumped from her bed as she saw the two hamaya (an arrow with paper of prophecy tied on the arrow) from the temple. The one with 'bad luck' written on it was her's, while the 'lucky' one was Sesshoumaru's.
'Damn it! He must have forgotten to take it!' Rin thought. She thought about giving it back to him but then she pushed away that thought. 'That hamaya means nothing to him anyway, so I don't see the point as to why should I give it back to him. Plus, if I go, Kagome-nee-chan would think there's something between us, even if I tell her that I just wanted to give him his stuff.' Rin nodded in agreement at her own decision and she went to the bathroom to take a bath.
"Rin-chan, Rin-chan!" Mrs. Higurashi knocked the bathroom door softly, but loud enough to make Rin turned off the water.
"What's wrong Aunt Natsu?" Rin popped her head out from behind the bathroom door.
"Actually I found this coat on your room today. Maybe this is Sesshoumaru's,
since it'd fit his size." Mrs. Higurashi showed Rin the expensive-looking
coat.
"Aa... I guess it's his. Just place it to my room and tomorrow I'll send it back to him or I'll ask Kagome-nee-chan to call Sesshoumaru-san so he can pick it up." With that Rin closed the door and started to run the water again.
"But Rin, today the weather turned colder. Even the snow is starting to fall again. You aren't going to let him freeze to death by leaving him in such thin clothes, right?" Mrs. Higurashi called out again, this time louder. She then smile as she heard the water being turned off again and within a second, Rin's head popped out from behind the bathroom door again.
"But he has the car, Aunty. Plus, he's probably at his house already, sleeping," Rin answered, annoyed. She didn't like the fact that her aunt was starting to acted like Kagome, trying to play matchmaker with her and Sesshoumaru.
"But I heard he was still having a party at some place tonight," Mrs. Higurashi started. "And he probably doesn't have anything to warm himself," she continued as Rin rolled her eyes.
"He is in a building, Aunt Natsu. There is no way he'll freeze in there," Rin said and closed the door. She grumbled under her breath and started to turn on the water again but then she remembered about the hamaya. She could give the hamaya and the coat at the same time and she wouldn't need to meet him anymore. Plus, she felt a bit sorry for him; he mightt get confused when he couldn't find his coat . Yes, that was the reason!
"Um... Aunt Natsu, since I'm going to buy shampoo, I guess I'll give it to him. Where is the party?" Hearing that, Mrs. Higurashi allowed herself a mysterious smile.
+++
"Mom, do you know where Rin is? Ayaka is on the telephone," Kagome said to her mother, who was watching TV not too far from the telephone.
"Oh, she said she's going to buy shampoo," Mrs. Higurashi smiled secretively.
"Sorry, Ayaka, but Rin isn't home right now. She's buying shampoo," Kagome said on the telephone and hung up after Ayaka had thanked her.
"Wait a minute... she'd just bought her shampoo five days ago with me..." Kagome looked at Mrs. Higurashi in puzzlement.
"... Plus... the snow is getting heavier outside..." Kagome said as she looked out the window.
"Well... honey, sometimes you can do anything for the one you love." Mrs. Higurashi grinned at her own choice of words.
"Oh... WHAT???" Kagome's eyes suddenly went wide in shock.
+++
Author Note: Here I go again ^_^, I'm sorry for not updating this fic for looooong time. It's because I hit a writer block lately and my school killing me! Thank's God the school over now, so I can updating my fics! But that doesn't means I can write freely starting from now, cause this Saturday I'm going to receive my test result, and IF I didn't get good mark, I'm not allowed to using computer anymore... well at least only sometimes in a month, that means... IF I get bad mark, the next chapter will be the announcement that I can't write often, maybe I'll stop this fic. No, this is not lie, this is the truth... So please wish me luck... and don't forget to sent me reviews! Ja ne!
-Yume