Disclaimer: Is there a point to this? I KNOW I don't own Inuyasha! (sobs) Are you happy now that you've rubbed it in? (sob sob)

A Cool Kind Of Punishment

- Chapter Five : It begins

As usual, Rin slowed down as she passed the Izuki Estate, admiring how the fine dewdrops clung to everything. Hearing a few footsteps on the path behind her, she turned around and saw Inuyasha stepping into a limousine. The door closed behind him and the limousine started off.

Just as Rin began thinking 'posh bastards' the limousine stopped beside her and the window wound down slowly.

"Hi Rin. Did you want a lift?" Inuyasha poked his head out the window.

Rin bent down, about to say yes when she caught sight of Sesshoumaru. Her eyes narrowed.

"No thank you. I heard a good walk can make the brain 20 more active. Not that you would no anything of brain activity, right? Sesshoumaru?"

Not waiting for an answer she walked on, oblivious to Sesshoumaru's inner smirk.

Dear Diary,

Do you know what I wanna be when I grow up? A journalist. Not the type that sits at the computer all day typing up lame-ass articles, or the type that writes bullshit rumors about other people. I want to expose things. I want the truth to be out there. Is that so stupid of me to expect just the truth?

I guess that's why I'm always spying on people. Practice for later life, you know? But Sesshoumaru… surely he'll be a lot harder. I have to start somewhere.

So why not start during class? Not Math… Mr. Dillon is just waiting for me to slip up… not Science either, those giggly girls will be all over him… so I guess it's English then huh? Trust the Ice Prince to wreck my favorite subject!

"Rin! Favorite Shakespearian quote!"

What the?

"Favorite Shakespearian quote! Or weren't you listening?"

Oh, right, I get it now.

Usually when Ms. Ruskit, English teacher extraordinaire, sees you with your eyes glazing over, she springs upon you the weirdest questions. Examples being "What was the last piece of homework you did last night" and "What's your signature font?" This Shakespeare one is just another one.

"'Hell hath no fury like a pregnant woman'" I answered, the class laughing.

"I remember no such Shakespearian line," Ms. Ruskit said, although she, too, was smiling.

"'Either thou art most ignorant by age, or thou wert born a fool'" I quoted with mock-anger "Miss, of course my first quote was Shakespearian. Anything with words like that is considered so, right? And Shakespeare was known to be sexist"

Ms. Ruskit sighed in mock-despair.

"My dear Rin, I hope you aging another year does not mean your mouth continues to spurt things about my age, nor does it mean you will continue to spout out such smart-alec remarks. Your cute, cheeky looks won't save you for much longer, you know"

Yep, you heard her right. I'm 15 now, my birthday being yesterday, Sunday May 2nd. I'm only one more year away from applying for my license, and another three years from being legally allowed to drink (1). Of course it also means I've gained another years worth of wrinkles, and that I'm only two years away from my HSC. Such responsibilities, but that's life for you!

A note landed in my lap.

Checking to see if everyone else was distracted I opened it up to read.

'Your cute, cheeky looks may not save you for much longer, but your beauty will daze them'

Oh. My. God.

"What is it?" Theresa whispered to me, glancing at the note. Too dazed to say anything, I simply slipped the small, fragrant, blue square sheet to her. Theresa held it between her and Pristine and, they silently mouthed the words as they read. As one, the both glanced at me, before looking at each and silently communicating with their eyes. Once again as one, they looked at some person behind me from the corners of their eyes, but before I could follow their path of vision they both returned their gazes upon me, with very secret smiles.

"Lemme guess, you're not gonna tell me right?" In return I got two nods. Sighing, I returned my attention to Ms. Ruskit.

"Today I'm going to be giving out an assignment" groans were heard from the class. "Basically all you'll be doing is composing a newspaper with a partner I have assigned you with" Theresa, Pristine and I shared worried looks. "The sheet I'm giving out right now should pretty much detail what you'll have to do. I'm giving you all 'til end of term which, might I add, is incredibly lenient for an advance class like this. The partnering goes as follows…

… Philip Zhang and Gina Smith…

… Pristine Sayuki and Theresa Nauya…"

Although both of them seemed happy to be partnered up with one another, they looked at me sympathetically. I reached over and clasped Pristine's hand.

"As long as I don't get matched up with the Ice Prince, I'll be fine"

"… Rin Tsuyame and Sesshoumaru Izuki…"

Spoke too soon.

Oh, my Guardian Angel, why do you mock me?

"Miss! You can't be serious!" Where did that come from? Well, you didn't think that I would let my first day of being a 15 year old be ruined by the warthog, did you?

"Pardon, Rin, dear?" Ms. Ruskit looked down at me, as though daring me to challenge her.

"You can't match me up with that ba – ah" I stopped myself in time. One with such a cute reputation such as mine should not ruin it by profane language.

"Ba – ah what, Miss Tsuyame? This isn't a matchmaking scheme, it's just a partnering assignment. I assure you that cooties are not contractible"

Scattered laughter filled the room. I was struck by a sudden idea.

"I was about to say brilliant, acing student, Miss" I crossed my fingers in between my back and my chair, so only Pristine and Theresa could see "It's not fair to the other students. No offence" I added to the class.

"I anticipated your consideration towards the class, so instead of doing a general newspaper, you two will choose a genre. Understood?" Not waiting for me to answer, she turned a girl with her hand raised.

Eyes wide and mouth open, I swiveled around in chair to face Pristine and Theresa. They both looked amused and worried.

"Go ahead" I grated out.

"Go ahead what?"

"Start telling me how fabulous this arrangement is because I can finally admit my 'true feelings'" I said, the last words sarcastically so.

"How'd you guess?" Theresa pouted. I rolled my eyes.

"I have no idea. It just might be something to do with the fact that I've been your best friends since kindergarten" Theresa continued to pout until Pristine nudged her with her elbow.

"We're wasting valuable teasing-Rinz time" As one they looked at me then at some point in the room behind me (I'm guessing Ice prince) and began to giggle.

"Girls," Ms. Ruskit interrupted "after class please, I'm sure Rinz here and Sesshoumaru have a lot of work to discuss"

"We'll continue this later" Pristine assured me before taking out a notebook and talking to Rin about the newspaper. I sighed and turned in my chair, looking for my 'partner'. I didn't have to look far; IT was sitting right behind me.

Wait a moment, how did the note get into my lap? And didn't my so-called best friends look at someone behind me? I mentally shrugged. Such matters would do me no good in a battle against the Ice Prince. Besides, he probably just took the chair from someone after they moved to work with their partner.

"Come on" I said impatiently, tapping the chair beside me "I can't work with my spine snapping itself trying to face you"

"Why not?" he said, innocently challenging me.

"Do you oppose to working side-by-side?" I questioned.

"Well in this case I am"

"And why is that?" The smirk surfaced. God how I hate that smirk.

"Because one of your blouse buttons are undone and you twisting around gives me, and only me, a good view of your black Berlei bra. Too bad it's not Victoria's Secret…"

I turned around viciously in my chair, hurriedly trying to find the offending button. Oh. My. God. Out of all the people to see my bra (how the hell did he know it was Berlei! And Victoria's Secret? What kind of pervert would… urgh!) it just had to be the one I wanted to see it least. Not that I want anyone to see it at all. Argh, what if he spills to the whole school that Miss-Lovable-Rinz gave him a one-on-one show in the English classroom?

Blushing furiously I made sure my uniform was properly done up before turning around to face him. My eyes glaring holes into the carpeted floor I opened my mouth to argue… just as the bell rang.

Picking up his books and pens, his smirk still on, he commented.

"Told you that girls were tripping over themselves to get to me" As he walked out of the room I banged my head on the edge of the table. How dare he make it sound like I liked him? Make it sound like I'm just another giggly girl? Like as if would take off anything for him? I am not the average girl! I have values. Idiot! Just because he's rich doesn't mean that… argh!

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned around to face Pristine and Theresa. Both had sympathetic looks on their faces.

"We heard what he said…" Theresa said "Rinz… why didn't you tell us that you wanted him that bad?"

I gaped at them. He was a perverse bastard and here they were, teasing me! White-hot anger replaced shock. Was no-one here going to empathize with me? My hands violently gripped the table's edge as I stood up. No longer blushing I stood up, knocking my chair over. My supposed best friends gasped. Never had I ever been this angry.

"I believe schools out" I said in a low monotonous tone.

Leaving them in shock I rushed out of the door angrily. I didn't want to be here anymore. I wanted to be alone. Where no one could annoy me, or tease me. I distantly heard Pristine call out my name out the window urgently as I walked onto the grounds. Who gave a damn what the hell they had to say for themselves?

I took the shortcut home. As I made my way across a large unkempt park, I paused, looking at the grove of trees to the side. They looked so peaceful and undisturbed.

Up until now.

I trampled my way through the uncut grass, cursing and kicking while I did so, into the grove and sat at the base of a tree. I closed my eyes and leant my head back. After a while, the suns glare was close to blinding me, so I brought my knees to my chest and lay my forehead there.

The sun began to set, and I stood quickly, brushing dead leaves and dry grass off my school skirt. I continued on my way home slowly.

I slipped the key into the door. The regular action oddly soothed me and I stepped into my home. My sanctuary. I stomped upstairs towards my room, slamming the door behind me. I slammed myself into the swivel chair at my computer desk without changing out of my uniform and pulled out various assignments, essays and homework sheets. I cracked my knuckles and began to punch the keys on my keyboard. If I couldn't spill my rage at Mr. I-Am-A-Perverse-Man-Who-Stares-At-Victoria's-Secret-Catalogues, then I would instead take it out on my computer. Within an hour or so, all my work was done. Even the report that wasn't due until Term Three. Frustratingly bored, I grabbed my big, stuffed polar bear and collapsed into my giant beanie bag.

My private phone rang. Looking at the caller ID I saw that it was Pristine calling me.

I yanked on the phone line violently.

As I let my anger take over my thoughts, it came to me.

An evil grin on my face, I took off my uniform and stuck my legs through my favorite, navy blue trousers and slipped on a white sleeveless skivvy. After pulling my hair into a bun, I grabbed my digital camera and note taker (2). I checked the clock. It was 6:30pm. Dad wouldn't be home until 10 at least because of some client. Shoving my keys in the pocket at the bottom of my pants, I opened the front door and started walking the usually long route towards school.

Two can play at the underwear game, my dear Sesshoumaru.

A/N: Is it just me or are the chapters getting shorter and shorter? And my imagination not keeping with me? Argh, I think I lost Sesshoumaru's character! runs around trying to look for it Ah well, at least it's longer than last chapter…

Thank you for reading my fiction this far! I really appreciate it; knowing that my story doesn't suck or anything like that! Each chapter I keep waiting for the one flame that ruins the whole entire story… (sniff, sniff)

IceSugarHigh: yes, incredibly evil, because you sorta figured it out! gasp But you'll have to read the chapter after… well I can't say can I? Hehe, I think I am also evil… muffins are good… very good!

San San as Herself (who would she be if she wasn't? O.o): hehe, don't you mean dudette?

Much thanks, hugs and affection to the following!
C'fay
RyuJouyou
Lynn-Minmay
CometsChaos
Nekurahime
Swimchick1614
Anee
Animegirl
Rin/Sessh

A lot of you are thinking that Rin likes Sesshoumaru… but raises eyebrows that's not what I intended for it to look like but… I guess the blushing kinda tipped it that way, eh? Well, a future chapter has a minor twist that may shock you all! cackles evilly

Next Chapter: Black bra's, half-naked Sesshoumaru's, blood, sweat and tears!

(1): I heard that in America, the legal drinking age isn't until 21. In Australia it's 18.

(2): You know those THINGS, kind of like a recorder? Does anyone know what the proper name is?