Disclaimer: la la la… I don't own Inuyasha… la la la… you get the drift :)
A Cool Kind Of Punishment
- Chapter Twelve : Shopping, Dining and Dancing
Mr. Tsuyame wearily pushed open the door but surprisingly… he met resistance. Sparing no brain power to think he leaned all his weight onto the offending block, willing it to move. His eyes abruptly widened as he heard a moan.
Was The Blob in his home right now? Was there some mass-murderer who moaned roaming the streets lately? Was there some kind of Law Fiend prowling around, wishing to destroy the Constitution?
No! The law need to be protected and preserved! No Law Fiend would be alive while he, the Man of the Tsuyame House, was around! With a sudden and stupid spurt of bravery, Mr. Tsuyame stood straight, proud and tall, before pushing the door open very, very hard.
As you can see, Mr. Tsuyame was drunk on weariness and devotion… to the law books of Australia.
The moan sounded again, and as quick as- as quick as it takes a cake to be devoured, Mr. Tsuyame threw his suitcase at the Law Fiend…
… who just happened to be his daughter.
Oh dear.
Dear Diary,
I have never ever been beaten or spanked by my father.
I HAVE however, been scalded (accidentally in the bath when I was six), been scalded again (dinner), burnt (hot dinner), burnt again (hot tea) and occasionally a dull push into a table or into a wall. Once I even accidentally fell down the stairs because my dad rushed passed me too quickly and threw me off balance.
But the ONE incident that TOTALLY leaves the others behind is when my FATHER - my father of all people! - decided to swing a SUITCASE at my head!
What a way to wake up.
Getting slammed in the head with a big rectangular prism covered in cow hide.
Absolutely fabulous.
I told this to my father nonchalantly, just to rub in the shame. I re-adjusted the icepack on my jaw and grated my teeth to numb the pain.
"I said I was sorry…" my dad mumbled reproachfully. "It wasn't my fault you decided to sleep right behind the door!"
"And was it my fault you decided to have paranoid delusions about the Law Fiend?" I sneered. Well as good as sneering could get while I was currently smothered in ice and the attacker still happened to be holding the offending suitcase.
"How'd you know about the Law Fiend!" my dad demanded, aghast.
"You talk aloud when you're being all brave and cool," I pointed out.
"There's nothing cool about having a Law Fiend in your home," my dad said crossly.
"There was nothing fiendish about me!" I protested indignantly. "I was just lying around, sleeping, when all of a sudden someone decided to disturb the peace! With a freaking suitcase!"
"Well what was I to think? I try to open the door and all I can hear is this groaning!"
"You could've thought that I had just possibly fallen asleep and call for pizza after you carried me up to bed"
"Or maybe you should've thought before you decided to sleep right there"
"Dad, you keep bringing out the same words! People can faint; people can trip over and fall unconscious! That's something that does happen!" I was getting seriously heated up over this situation. "What doesn't happen is some disturbed lawyer pretending that the world is at risk as long as the Law Fiend prowls the night!"
"You can skip the next two days off school" my dad said shortly.
"You were right all along dad, maybe I should've slept elsewhere" I quickly said, pride losing the fight against such a deal.
How could anyone choose to miss a four-day weekend?
So here I was, spending my Saturday at my dad's office, waiting for death.
OK, it's not like as if some maniacal killer was gonna jump out from the filing cabinet and beat me to death with a Mr. Smith's law file, but still, I was dieing.
Of boredom, to be exact. Is it actually physically possible to die of boredom? I mean, could the passing of slow time actually be enough to corrode the epithelial that make up our most effective shield against the harsh outer world? Or could the emotion (or lack thereof) slowly eat away at our brain cells, eventually leaving us as nothing but… very bored, very brain-dead people?
Oh, the horror of it all!
… Just kidding. So anyways, like I said, there I was, just sitting there. Staring into space.
… And more staring.
Do you ever get the feeling you've been made redundant? Like as if all of a sudden you finally realized how small you were in this world and then the fact that you may not be anything important hits you so hard in the chest that-
Ok, umm… I think I'll shut up now. After all, I have better things to worry about than my contribution to global warming. Like dieing of boredom… err, I mean, the Sesshoumaru and Naraku situation.
I sighed and swung around on my chair as, once again, I replayed the hour after school on Wednesday. I had avoided thinking it about it for the whole day, cautious not to let my father worry even more than he had so far. Sure, he had let me off school the last two days to let the bruise die down to a sickly yellow (easily covered by my shaggy excuse of a fringe), he had still left me in the care Ms. Kentlyn.
And the look they shared before he walked out the door was enough to tell me that I wasn't exactly being discreet about my current social situation. In fact, if anything, I might as well have connected a big neon light to my forehead and walked around with it blinking "Give me my medication".
Well, OK, maybe not, but still, it was obvious that I was acting a little strange lately. I mean, falling out of trees, coming home late at night with a fever and severe scrapes on my back and sleeping behind doors wasn't exactly normal teenage behavior. Or even odd teenage behavior. It was downright weird.
And it wasn't just worrying my father, it was worrying me too. I frowned violently as chided myself for wondering if the Ice Prince worried about me.
Of course he wouldn't worry about me, Rin. If anything, he should fear me.
Somehow that didn't sound so convincing, even in my own head. I sighed again and once again, his words reverberated within my skull.
"And you think I don't feel the same way?"
Same way about what, I pondered. He wasn't exactly a nice girl, or even a girl. He had no lack of company, and it was hard to think that maybe Sesshoumaru was scared of anything, let alone being alone and envying someone else!
And Naraku! He-who-was-once-deemed-sex-god-of-Year-Eleven had come onto me!
Very disturbing considering he had killed the last girl he had come onto.
I rubbed my temples and mentally shook myself. It was nothing to worry about. He was a teenager; he had a right to let his hormones get the better of him.
Yet what he said about Kikyo and myself slightly weirded me out. But it didn't mean he was going to kill me too, right? I mean, that was the stuff that happened in overrated romancey-drama novels, not real-life.
And then the memory of Sesshoumaru helping me out of the situation came to me.
It wasn't like he had to, but still, he had. In fact, I had even heard him running back after disregarding us when he walked past. SO why had he come back?
So there I was, previously bored, previously worried and now puzzled, when who should walk through the office door but an Izuki.
The elder Izuki to be exact. My dad strode out of his office at that moment, coffee mug in hand.
"Rin, I told you I liked two sugars! And I know I told you that I liked to stir my own coffee?" At that moment my dad noticed Inutaisho Izuki - The Inutaisho Izuki! - and set down his mug then familiarly clapped the white haired mans hands in his own and shook them. Mr. Izuki smiled genially and chuckled.
"Like to stir your own coffee, Tsuyame? Just like I hope you like to personally handle my file?"
"Of course" my father answered, before taking a thick pale yellow folder that I had noticed was clamped between his side and his arm and handing it to Mr. Izuki. The taller man (that is, Mr. Izuki) flicked through it, his brow furrowed in light thought, before patting my dad on his back in a mateship-ly way.
"Good job, as always, Tsuyame! I trust that all the investors and stockholders have all been notified? And that all my affiliates have been faxed the files and the invitations?"
"Yes, yes" dad answered. I had no idea what was going on, but in that moment I recognized the signs of fatigue in my dads eyes and his roughly done up tie. Obviously this… deal that they were talking about had been a real strain on my father for at least a few weeks. A sudden rush of guilt overcame me. For the past two weeks I had been totally self-involved, not noticing anyone else's troubles but my own. My thoughts raced towards my friends - how were they feeling? I had been absent from school a lot lately, and I worried that already I was drifting away from them.
And from myself.
Once again, anger washed over me in violent waves. I hated myself so much! What was happening to me? I was beginning to label people (examples being the Ice Prince and the less intellectually inclined group), I was ignorant, and what was worse? I think I was beginning to fall behind on homework!
The last thought broke something within me and I struggled to restrain my tears and laughter. At least I had gotten that part of my life in order. And everything else was…
Well, I had figured out the problem for the second time that week, each time shocking me just as hard. I resolved to make it up to everyone - be nicer, less ignorant, less assuming and more caring.
With that done with, I immediately moved to the phone when-
"Err, Rin? Where you off to?" came my dad's voice and I closed my eyes sharply.
So much for being less ignorant, I had totally forgotten where I was! I laughed nervously.
"Err… I was just on my way to um… alphabetize your files…" Alphabetize files? Geez, Rin-poo, that's real great! My dad looked at me oddly.
"Um… Inutaisho, I'd like you to meet my daughter, Rin" I smiled charmingly at Inutaisho and politely bobbed my head.
"Pleased to meet you, sir" I chimed. My dad rolled his eyes at my perkiness and spoke.
"And Rin, this is Mr. Inutaisho Izuki, a very important client" my dad slightly stressed 'important' as well and I immediately took the hint.
"Always a pleasure" he said kindly and I immediately took a liking to him. I walked over to shake his proffered hand and opened my mouth to charm the pants off him when…
… well, you know, it's like I actually wanna see Inutaisho without his pants. 'Cause I don't. Really. Even though it's obvious where Sesshoumaru got his good looks from…
ANYWAYS, I WILL STOP THIS TRAIN OF THOUGHT NOW BECAUSE IT IS GROSSING ME OUT.
So yes, like I was saying, just as I had reached out my hand to shake Inutaisho's one, when all of a sudden a breathy, low voice entered.
"Father, Inuyasha is getting impatient" I swung around, still tingling from the sensation of his breathe tickling my baby hairs and was shocked to see his chin only a few centimetres away. I stepped back too quickly and stumbled backwards. I felt my two ponies whipping past my ears and my eyes widened before closing as my hand reached out… I slipped closer towards the ground…
… before someone grasped my forearm and fluidly pulled me back up, a hand sliding about my waist in doing so. I pried open one eye and then closed them again.
"Sesshoumaru, please let me go" I muttered, a slow blush spreading over my cheeks.
"You said it, not me," he whispered back and his arms slipped from around me. Immediately I fell back and I grabbed onto Sesshoumaru instinctively. I glared at him and he smirked back at me in a 'Look who's come back' kind of way. I balanced myself properly before stepping back from the circle of his arms. I turned towards my dad to tell him I was going, only to see that he was refraining from laughing. And that Inutaisho was waggling his eyebrows at Sesshoumaru.
Waggling! Oh the shame!
"I'll wait in the car" we both grated out simultaneously. We both glared at each other and I was aware that both his father and my father were putting their heads together and nudging each other and laughing with their eyes! And then to make matters worse, we both turned around at the same time to walk out of the office! What was happening! This time the older men (who were like little rascally three-year-olds that I'd like to- ) burst out laughing. I grated my teeth and clenched my fists. I opened my mouth to speak my mind when-
"Come on, Sesshoumaru, we might as well take Inuyasha home…" chuckled Inutaisho. "We wouldn't want to play the part of Knight in Shining Armour while your little brother is waiting…"
Knight in Shining Armour! Just when exactly did he-
OK, then, I admit it. He saved me from falling and he saved me…
… from Naraku.
"Little half brother" Sesshoumaru corrected, a slight frown marring his features.
"Yes, of course, of course…" Inutaisho hastily said, and together they walked through the office door. I hmph'ed, moved towards a chair and sat down with a heavy thud. I glared at my father before pointedly ignoring him.
"Oh look, Rin, Mr. Izuki and I didn't mean anything by it! It's just… to see your two kids getting all flustered around each other and then ignoring each other when it's obvious that they- "
"Don't say it, dad!" Abruptly my dad shut his mouth and a sudden curiosity came over me. I tried to resist asking the question that was currently attacking me with sharp little knives, but to no avail.
"Dad!" I blurted out, and my dad, who had been sipping his coffee, chocked on his coffee and I have a sneaking suspicion it went up his nose too. "What did you mean by… both of us being flustered?"
Immediately my dad's face lightened up and a wicked grin replaced choking.
"Well, my dear Rin, you see-" my dad began with a flourish.
"Dad, shove it. I want an answer not your life story" I cut in curtly. My dad shot me a reproachful glare and began again.
"Well, it's just that Sesshoumaru seemed to lean in awfully close to you and then you seemed to shiver and actually enjoy it, and then you fell and he caught you and then you two stared into each others eyes for a second too long and then when he let go of you - quite reluctantly, I must add - then you blushed-"
"It was a flush, thank you very much" I interrupted loudly. My dad waved his hand about dismissively.
"Whatever, the point is, when you looked away, Sesshoumaru stared at you a bit longer before turning away before glaring at his father. But really, the most important bit I forgot to tell you was that…" my dad paused to keep true to suspense before I hissed at him to continue. "My dear, Rin, you can't tell me you didn't notice the way he kept sneaking looks at you from the moment he walked through the door?"
My mouth dropped open and my dad folded his arms in a sign of appreciation at my shock. He reclined back in his chair, and to my gratification…
… he abruptly toppled over.
"'Oh, dear! I was such a fool all along! Can you ever forgive me, Bruce?" Lily cried, ashamed at her show of infidelity at the Circus with the evil leather-wearing clown, Krusty.
"Say no more, my love!" Bruce whispered back, huskily, gathering an extremely willing and voluptuous Lily into his extremely muscly arms. "Just kiss me, KISS ME!'"
Before Pristine and myself could realise anything, Theresa had yanked the book from my grasp and hidden it behind her.
"Aww…" I pouted with Pristine, "We were just getting to the really juicy part!"
Theresa glared at us in reply and took the book - creatively named Love Abounds - Love is Everywhere! - and opened it to the page we were up to.
"'Why are you so eager, my love Luce?' " Theresa began, extravagantly and Pristine and I glanced at each before surrendering ourselves to gales of insane, very insane laughter, "'asked Lily. 'Bruce,' Bruce corrected gently, before hefting Lily over his shoulder. 'I am feeling particularly randy as of now, so please, just shut up and let me ravish you!'"
"Um…" Pristine quietly interrupted, "Theresa?"
"Yes?" Theresa asked politely, still grinning. I followed Pristine's line of vision to outside the changing room itself and saw three guys and their mothers staring in at Theresa, who unfortunately was only half-wearing the dress she had been trying on, and even more unfortunately so, hadn't noticed yet.
"You might want to look in the mirror, Theresa" I told her quietly. She looked to her right, towards the mirrors, and gasped before running back into her stall. "You could have at least dropped the book, Theresa!" I called to her stall. She growled in response and I grinned at Pristine.
"What are you doing with such a… lively book like that anyways?" Pristine asked.
"Lively? It's more than just lively!" I told Pristine quietly. She waved at me to be quiet as Theresa spoke up.
"And what are you doing looking through my bag?" Theresa shot back.
"I don't have anything to pay for my dress with" I told her sweetly.
"Liar!" she yelled.
Right. I suppose you're wondering where the hell we are, what the hell we're doing, and why the hell we're doing it.
Well, see, after my father had spectacularly and successful managed to create a domino affect within his office, he had handed me his credit card as I rolled around the floor laughing.
Me: What's this for?
Dad: Just a dress and some shoes and whatever else. Formal wear. Just shut up and do all that womanly exercise that all females love.
Me: What for?
Dad: If I let you buy that damn Joybee (1 - Wow, first note in ages! Anyways, a Joybee is this new range of MP3 players that I am ABSOLUTELY desperate to get my hands on drool) will you just buy the damn dress and never mention what just happened?
Me: (note: My presence in the room had been non-existed upon hearing the word "Joybee")
So yes, here I was, three weeks later, going shopping with Theresa and Pristine, who coincidentally, had also been given some cash to buy some formal wear. But please note that they had been given cash which meant they couldn't just buy any expensive thing, they had to actually find a 'reasonably priced' dress (at which Theresa fervently explained to me that there was NO decent dress that was at a 'reasonable price') that fitted them, looked good on them and matched various made-up faces and accessories.
Of course, when I asked them what the occasion was, they merely answered "Nothing big" and when I had told them about my dads offer about the Joybee and for me not to ask what the reason for the dress was, they shared a meaningful look and Pristine muttered, "I don't blame him"
I pondered this. I mean, my birthday had passed and getting full marks on a test didn't even call for much attention anymore, let alone formal wear. I decided to let it be and let my friends drag me from shop to shop…
… to shop to shop…
… and to shop…
… and oh why, benevolent deities of the skies! Why must you punish me? What have I done to deserve all this shopping?
It was Saturday and I had been nice enough to wake up at nine o'clock (see that? Nine o'clock!) just for my friends so that I could accompany them on their shopping spree with a promise of frequent snack breaks in between.
It had three hours now and not a snack break in sight. An ice cream stall here, a café there, but to my consternation, we just kept walking. I sighed for the umpteenth time while staring and Pristine roughly turned my face to the current shop that we were in front of. They both pushed me inside and forcefully plonked me onto a chair.
I slumped dejectedly and watched disinterestedly as Pristine and Theresa sifted through a rack of dresses, talked to the manager of the store, pointed at me, and then darkly muttered to each other in the corner with a manic gleam in their eyes that made me pray for an escape.
Any escape. The clothes rack catching on fire, the shop (not to mention the rest of Sydney; the place we were shopping) pulverizing into a billion specks of microbes, me getting struck by lightning… and the list went on.
Theresa came towards me with a predatory look and before I could run - run for my life! - she backed me, and the chair I was sitting on, back against the wall.
After what seemed like five minutes of playing the staring game, she stepped back and magically pulled a red dress out of nowhere.
"NO" I said, finality in my voice. Theresa whined and I repeated myself. "You're wearing red too remember?" I reminded her.
She gasped. "You're right! Thanks so much, Rin! Imagine if we actually showed up wearing the same color!" she whispered, scandalized.
"I know," I drawled back wearily. I had gotten away from wearing some dramatic color yet again, but there were only so many excuses I could come up with to match each color. I sat there in a state of suspended boredom, hunger and fear (yes, fear), before Pristine, Theresa and the manager came in, each carrying a large multicolored pile of fabric. Realizing that they were all different shades and designs of dresses I stood up, tripping over the manager, the pile of clothes toppling onto her.
I was tired, hungry, bored and not a very happy Rin. I ran to a random rack of clothes and stood next to it, staring back at Pristine, Theresa and the manager. I am sure that I had adopted a manic gleam all of my own.
"Look," I started, "I've gone three hours without any drink or snack and-"
"Of course you went that long without eating! You'd never fit into anything if you ate!" the manager interrupted.
I made a funny, repetitive sound and put up one my hands to shut her up. I motioned to the rack.
"Since I've had the worst of luck for the past week, I figure that the Law of Averages will finally come into my favor, and finally bring me some good fortune. I am going to randomly pick a dress, and if I like it, I will try it on and tell you the adjustments I want to make to it. If it doesn't feel good I will once again," and the occupants of the changing room held it's breathe, "randomly pick another dress. This will continue until I find a dress that fits me well and feels just right. Now, if any of you make a peep or a move towards a rack, I will buy that dress and wear it on the night"
I pointed to a dress in the '50's and over' section, a garbage green one that had puffy shoulders. The manager choked on a sob and muttered something which I could only make out as "God forbid it… please…"
Satisfied, I reached out my arm, shuffled blindly through the dresses and picked out a light-weighted dress. Not even glancing at it, I strode into the changing stall, closed my eyes and took a good ten minutes to somehow slip off my clothes and slip on the dress. I strode out of the stall - secretly glad that I hadn't heard the thud of anyone fainting - and spun around, not letting my eyes open to see the mirrors.
"Feels good enough," I said, trying to fill the silence.
"Looks good too," Theresa said ponderously, as though wondering what I was doing not paying for it yet.
"No, no, no!" the manager's voice rang out. "I have an even better variation of this dress… a new arrival…" she drifted off and I heard a few distant shuffles, several random clinks of clothes-hanger against clothes-hanger and finally a few shuffles back into the room. A pause in the room and I nearly threw myself into some random area just to break the stillness.
"Don't look, Rinz" Pristine warned lowly. "She's just trying to buy a more… unsuitable and more expensive dress because the one you're wearing was on the 'last seasons' rack, and so is therefore on sale"
I looked down and gasped at the abomination that was currently being held up by the manager.
A short, shiny, tight, low-cut, horrible golden dress. That looked like it belonged to… to… that looked like it belonged in a torture chamber!
First let me point out why I didn't like the dress.
1. It was short. Like the kind of short you wear when you're incredibly desperate and on the rebound or just incredibly old.
2. It was shiny. I don't do shiny.
3. Tight. I want to breathe. I want to eat. Please.
4. Low-cut. Like as if I actually am of age to wear something like that. That and my dad will probably return my much-prized Joybee.
That done and said, I totally ignored the manager and strode back into the stall, closing my eyes as I slipped off the dress and I pried open the door and thrust the dress outside. I felt someone take it from my hands and I opened my eyes and dressed freely.
I walked outside and took my father's credit card from my pocket with some trepidation, wondering what disaster I had bought. At that moment I regretted closing my eyes while changing to avoid having to look at what I had just chosen. My mouth dropped open as I realized that the dress was already in a bag, the top taped together.
"You just have to pay for it now!" Theresa chirped, obviously pleased I had finally chosen my dress.
"Mmhmm," Pristine agreed, "we had it taped so it would be a surprise for you when you got home!"
"You mean you taped it so that when I saw it there would be no two best friends for me to murder" I corrected her sternly.
I got no answer because Pristine and Theresa had taken both my hands and skipped me out the door.
"Now for some shoes!" Theresa squealed, and I immediately started cursing the Gods above.
Secretly, I was glad.
I was glad I looked good in this dress. I mean, I wasn't the kind of person who liked going to some high-class society dinner looking like I just had a snack in a bin. I was, however, the kind of person who liked showing up at some high-class society dinner looking pretty nondescript.
And tonight I looked like neither because tonight I looked nice. As in really nice. And I don't mean beautiful-drop-dead-gorgeous-ha!-I-look-better-than-you-any-day-Kagura! but hey-Rin-I-noticed-that-you-aren't-just-wearing-some-kids-dress kind of nice.
I don't usually go on about my clothes like Theresa, I'm just one to throw together something 'normal' looking, but I had to admit that for a random pick, the dress was rather nice. I found that I had been pleasantly surprised when I had open the bag early this afternoon to get ready for whatever the occasion was, a week after buying it.
It was a simple golden-brown dress, the hem whispering against the top of my calves and a sensible v-cut neck with two spaghetti straps. It was rather loose, without actually looking too loose and I breathed a sigh of relief. I slipped on the pair of black ballet-slipper style shoes, thankful Theresa had taken into account I wasn't really going through the 'high-heeled stilettos' phase yet. I clasped on a simple white gold wrist chain my father had bought me a year back and swept my hair back into a loose and messy bun, letting a few thin ropes of hair dangle down from the top. I put on some mascara and lip balm to get appease Theresa's need for me to 'look like the cute sex-goddess you are', as she says.
Which really does disturb me.
I quickly put the thought out of my mind and as I walked downstairs I wondered where my dad was taking me. I took my woolly black shawl from my father's arms and draped it over my shoulders absent-mindedly and let him guide me to the car.
I was shocked when my father blind-folded me.
"What's this for?" I asked.
"For your own personal safety" he muttered lowly and I felt more than slightly apprehensive. I mean, wouldn't you if everyone around you was avoiding the subject of some dinner party or whatever then blindfolded you? I felt like I was about get pushed over a cliff or something and that the clothes was just to give me the last chance to feel all prettied-up.
God, I'm morbid.
I huffed and pulled out the bottom half of my dress from out under my legs to avoid creasing it before folding my arms across my chest and mentally readying myself for whatever that was about to come.
I heard my dad's voice talking into what I guessed was an intercom because he kept saying stuff like "My name is Shigure Tsuyame… my name is Shigure Tsuyame… it's on the list…" (2 - I named Rin's adoptive father after Shigure from Fruits Basket because somehow, just as I was typing this bit out, it popped into my head that Rin's dad is similar to Shigure somehow… and have you noticed 'Tsuyame' sounds like 'Ayame'? ARGH! Now all I need is a Hatori!) I felt that car slowly move into what seemed like a very winding road and in my frustration I tore off the blindfold…
… only to be faced with the Izuki Manor. Instead of wasting my breathe on yelling at my dad I reached for the door handle. My dad braked suddenly and I was forced to use my hands to steady myself against the dashboard.
"Rin, I know you're angry, but please, for the sake of my career, can you please bare with it, for just at least an hour?" I ignored him but reclined back into the seat of his BMW. A few cars were in front of us, each successively being driven off by a valet parker when he spoke to me again, softly.
"Rin… a few weeks ago on that night, after you had fallen from a tree or whatever, you told me you would tell me if anything was wrong. Are you alright with this? Last I remember of this place, that Sesshoumaru kid handed me your shirt, all torn up and bloodied. If something horrible really did happen here, we'll have a talk and I won't force you to go in"
I looked up, about to lie to him and say that Sesshoumaru had attacked me, when I saw his face. I knew how much this case really meant to him. If, in a few months time, the results of his work finally pulled off, he would exclusively work for Mr. Izuki and we would be incredibly well-off. Even more so than we already were. I swallowed my lie and my face softened into a small smile.
"I'm just too stubborn, daddy. I'm sorry, let's just go in and see how incredibly wealthy people live, OK? And if we're lucky we might be able to swipe a valuable thing or two, huh?" my dad grinned back enthusiastically at me in reply and drove up to waiting valet parker. He got out of the car, said a few small things while handing his car keys over before coming to my side of the car and opening the door. I stepped out gracefully and stood up straight. My father offered me his arm and I slid my arm through the crook of his elbow before smiling and moving towards the open doors.
"Good evening Madam, Sir," an oily voice reached us. There was a tall reception desk and I looked at it, confused. I would have sworn that the voice had come from this place…
"And a good evening to you too, Jakken," my father greeted back.
"Yes… good evening…" I muttered. I looked at my father before leaning over the desk. I gasped as I realised who it was that talking.
Ms. Kentlyn's good-for-nothing husband! I turned towards my father to tell him but from the warning glance he discreetly shot my way, I realized he had already known. I let my dad lead me to the main room and I asked him how he had known. He then answered that Ms. Kentlyn had told him when he had told her about the bitter-yet-devoted retainer to the Izuki family. I nodded, automatically thinking up devious scheme's to get Jakken and Ms. Kentlyn back together when I spotted Pristine and Theresa from across the room.
"I can't believe it! You two both knew that I was going to be forced come here and you didn't tell me?" I asked them. Although I was one to quickly get over things (no point wasting precious energy being spiteful) I was still angry.
"Well that's the whole point of the word 'forced', Rin. We didn't wanna make it harder for your dad and tell you, thereby turning 'forced' into something much more serious" Pristine told me levelly.
"That and we really wanted to see you dance with Sesshoumaru!" Theresa grinned at me. I huffed, my discomfort already abated and turned towards the tables.
"OK, then, where are we sitting? Not at the kiddies table I hope…" I mumbled.
"No, we have the honor of sitting at the teenagers table" Theresa said sarcastically. We made our way over to the long table set up for the wealthy adolescent children of Sydney, stopping here and there to make polite chitchat with the wealthy elders of society.
"I hate being the heir to old money…" Pristine muttered.
"Don't you mean ye auld money?" Theresa smiled, trying to cheer Pristine up.
"Either way, the only reason why my family is only ever invited here is because we have connections to very powerful people" she said angrily.
"And the only reason my family is invited is because my grandfather was good friends with Mr. Inutaisho's father" Theresa said, also glumly.
I listened to them complain about their families and the reasons behind all their money before I decided to butt in.
"And how do you think I feel?" I said quietly. They turned to look at me and I continued. "How do you think it felt for me when my parents died? Murdered right in front of me? Do you know I still keep their clothes from that day? Still bloodied and torn? At least you still your families!" I whispered harshly, making sure to keep my voice at a normal volume. "And how do you think it felt, when all Year 7 found out I was adopted? That I had once come from the slums? Had once come from the depths of poverty itself? At least your name holds respect!" once I saw that their eyes held the right amount of shock and their blushes the shade of shame, I relented. "You don't need to feel sorry for me, but please, have a care for what you say. There are others that are far worse off than ourselves"
We walked to our table silently and found our nametags, which, luckily for us, were right next to each other.
"When are we eating? I'm starved!" I blurted out, realizing I hadn't ate since I had slid on my dress.
"Knowing these things, there's an hours worth of mingling starting from half an hour after the announced time of arrival, then there's half an hour of sitting at a table and delicately dabbing at the corner of our lips while we pretend to eat and drink, then the rest of the night is left up to the number of drunk people" Pristine said, taking a sip of her water, obviously preparing for a night of monotonous and pointless talk and formalities.
I sighed. "What's the point of being fashionably late anyways?"
"Maybe they slept in?" Theresa suggested.
"The invitation said to be here at six. How slept in can you get?" I retorted.
"Is 'how slept in can you get?' grammatically correct?" Pristine asked me snobbishly.
I snorted and took a look around. I noticed that Kagura Haruno had just walked through the door.
"Here comes Miss. Kagura-all-the-boys-love-me-I'm-so-popular-I-could-die-Haruno" I spat, but not loud enough so she could hear.
"Look at what she's wearing!" Theresa gasped. I looked her over and I had to grudgingly admit that she looked absolutely stunning in the burgundy number that she was wearing. Somehow, it managed to make every single other girl look somewhat dead and… dead? Great, it not only seemed to make us look dead, it made me think in a very… dead way as well.
I huffed and turned my focus towards the small plate in front of me, sending intense thoughts towards the large array of spoons and forks.
With my Jedi powers, I will transform this whole table of forks and spoons into SPORKS!
With my Jedi powers, I will transform this whole table of forks and spoons into SPORKS!
Or maybe not. Great, fifteen minutes into this pitiful social and already I was bored and pissed. Why was I pissed? Even I, one of the top academic achievers in Port Street was unsure. Perhaps it something to do with the fact she was flaunting her good manners with the rich elders and sending all the 'dorks' condescending looks, or perhaps it had something to do with the fact her giggling gang of chickadees were polluting the air with overly pungent perfumes (rivaling that of a skunk's), or maybe it was the fact that-
"Kagura is so onto Sesshoumaru right now" Theresa said with a relish. To my dismay I automatically whirled around to witness this familiar event before turning back around to the table, when I caught sight of Theresa's manic grin. Honestly, that girl probably has a whole Limited Edited Manic Theresa Collection. First there's the Manic Gleam, then there's the Manic Grin and I bet she has a Manic way of cutting her steak too. I brushed a stray tail of hair from my face and pointedly ignored her.
"You know Rin…" Pristine said slyly. "You wouldn't respond to anything and yet at the mere mention of some hoe landing her hands onto your man you-"
"He is so not my man!" I corrected, scandalized.
"I wouldn't blame you if he was though; I mean, look at that independent rear suspension!" Theresa remarked, craning her head to get a good view.
"No! No!" I cried out, appalled. "Don't talk about the Ice Prince that way!"
"Yeah!" Pristine reiterated. "It's one of the more important modern rules! Never infringe on another girl's property!" To drive the point home to a blank Theresa, she nudged her head in my direction. My mouth dropped open and I readied myself for a debate when she held up her hand to stop me. "Come on, Rin, I mean, someone had to say it and it wasn't gonna be you"
A slow chime rang over the large hall and every head spun around towards the 'podium' where there stood some official looking men and Inutaisho. Wearing a grin large enough to rival that of a Cheshire Cat's, he waved his arm towards the other men and announced in a loud voice how proud he was to "join you in business", and "how I hope we will make the world a better place". This, I mentioned to Pristine and Theresa, was extremely ironic considering one of Inutaisho's many businesses was dedicated to collecting, preserving and making swords.
"Well, in a way, he is making it a better place considering he gave his sons two of his best swords" Pristine said.
"And in what way does that make this a better place?" I asked.
"Well, Sesshoumaru looks dead sexy on the end of those swords. So dangerous…" Theresa breathed a sparkling light in her eyes. I rolled my eyes at Pristine and started to delicately eat from the plate that had just been set down by a waiter. An hour of small talk went by, filled with much giggling (from young and old, desperate and dateless females) when a band started setting up in a corner of the large room. They began to play soft music and I watched as a man smiled charmingly at a blushing woman, taking her hand and tugging her towards the dance floor. I stepped out of my chair, leaving my friends to converse by themselves and walked towards my father.
"Dad…" I whispered. "You said one hour, right?"
My dad frowned at me, opening his mouth to say something before catching site of something behind me and shaking his head instead. I sighed impatiently. I admitted to myself that although it was a lovely night and that I would have loved to stay with Theresa and Pristine, there was just a gut feeling that I didn't belong here… not right now, at least.
Preoccupied, I hadn't noticed the two men greeting my father.
"And a good evening to you too, Miss. Rin. I trust you are enjoying yourself?" I jumped slightly, then turned and smiled nervously, pulling a wisp of hair behind my ear.
"Of course, Mr. Izuki. It's been a wonderful night. I hope you both are enjoying your night" I turned to curtsey to the other man only to hear a very unpleasant scratching voice that was the object of many girls' desires.
"Any night would be enjoyable without you, Tsuyame. There was an odd stench following you the moment you came in"
Damn Sesshoumaru. Trust him to give me nightmares tonight. Trust him to look just as good as sex on two legs. Trust him to make me feel inadequate…
"I think what you're smelling is Kagura, or perhaps her posse" I said dryly, not bothering to really argue with him.
"Or maybe even one of the older ladies" he said distastefully and I laughed. From the corner of my eye I noticed my father and Inutaisho whispering conspiratorially behind their hands and I rolled my eyes.
I mean, come on, it wasn't like Sesshoumaru and I were actually friendly or anything. Well, actually, I suppose you could call it friendly considering our history. But honestly, it wasn't like we were gonna get together or anything. Because we weren't.
Right?
Right.
"Sesshoumaru... why don't you show Rin a good time and take her out onto the dance floor?" Inutaisho suggested slyly.
"I'm not dancing with him!"
"I'm not dancing with her!"
We scowled at each other and I inwardly blamed him for deciding to protest at the same time as I.
And then it happened again.
We folded our arms and turned away from each other in perfect unison. We then both hmph'ed before I began to tap my shoe against the cool marble floor in annoyance and Sesshoumaru did a hair-flick.
And the worse thing about it was that every time we looked back at each other to check that we weren't doing the same thing, we would always end up doing that at the same time and then blush!
Think of how our dad's would have reacted at that. Can you tell how they reacted?
Well I can tell you how they reacted!
They chuckled! My dad dared to chuckle at ME!
We glared both glared at them, which caused their chuckles to grow heartier.
"Oh you kids are priceless" Inutaisho said, still heartily chuckling his life out. He grabbed my hand and put it into Sesshoumaru's before pushing us towards the multiple lovebirds', who were all dancing to a slow song. We both looked back at the two men, stricken expressions on our faces.
Oh well, at least as stricken as Sesshoumaru gets. Which is probably just a small eye twitch or something. And really, I think he's always got some mean look. Probably some kind of new age accessory.
But really, I'm digressing. The real problem at that moment was that I was about to get roped into dancing with Sesshoumaru. It wasn't as though I had forgotten the promise to myself to be nicer to him, but I didn't think 'being nice' included 'being forced to dance' with him. And also, I promised myself to be nicer to him, not to be nicer and also have the female population of Port Street hate me.
And with my reasons in order, I made a move to march right back to my previous spot next to my father when he took out a small mp3 from his pocket and made a move to drop it. My eyes widened and stepped back to Sesshoumaru. I gazed into his eyes levelly.
"Sesshoumaru, I want you to know that although I really don't want to dance with you, I have to because of some very… material problems" I squeezed out and roughly assumed a position with him. He raised an eyebrow in reply and slipped and arm around my waist and took my hand.
After a few minutes of blushing and avoiding his eyes, I sighed and decided to get over myself. I leaned my forehead against his shoulder and I was glad he didn't object.
"Your hair smells nice, Tsuyame" he said, nonchalantly, and I wondered how many girls he had swooned to death with that one line.
"Likewise, Izuki" I smirked. We danced a little longer and I looked up at Sesshoumaru. He turned to look at me, and gave the merest of smiles and in return, I smiled back genuinely in contentment.
This was nice, I decided. This was how I wanted to stay forever.
Of course, like with all good things, it had to come to an end.
A/N: (sobs uncontrollably) I'm finished! All 7900 words of it! I was gonna put in TONNES more, but I wanted something out by the end of the month, so here it is! Next chapter man… God I don't know if I can deal with the plot overload in the next chapter. And just to clarify, I don't this Rin is crushing on Sesshie YET, I think that she's just learned to accept him and to know that he's an alright guy. Nothing romantically inclined yet. Sorry, so very, very sorry!
Blue Puppy: I love how you used the 'f' word, then put dramatic after it. It's wonderful I tell you!
Mewchild: Argh, sorry, not much plot this chapter round. But I'm a bit sorry to say that Sesshoumaru is still in the stages of denial, and he just thinks that she's better than the rest, and that he doesn't necessarily look at her as a love interest. Sorry to burst your bubble!
Trinity: ARGH! IT'S YOU! Lol, just joking lol, I love replying your reviews. Where should I start? OK, with the compliments thing, yea I don't think anyone really hates compliments, right? And I'm just really glad I'm able to make your day that much brighter. Argh! I KNEW it was Trinh but I didn't wanna say at the risk of sounding impetuous! I really like the fact you just tell me a lot of things about yourself, because I love doing the same thing. DO you mind I get your email? There's just something appealing about spilling your heart to someone halfway across the world and has been brought up a different way! I would LOVE to be able to draw, but in the end, I'm only able to write. A lot of people seem to envy me though, so I guess I should be grateful for that much. Yes, last chapter WAS rather short, but this is a gigantic 7900 chapter, so I hope you're happy now! I worked my butt off to finish this in the last few days, so you should be grateful! Haha, yes, Naraku I think will always be mainly portrayed as a bad person. Even I, who am a big fan, will be portraying him as a bit insane… in the sequel! Right now it's just a bit of an idea of a continuation, but I think I might actually go with it. It won't be as light-hearted as this one, rather, much darker, but I hope it will be just as well received. It's great that you ended up judging Sesshoumaru because that is EXACTLY what I was aiming for, and to know my favorite viewer felt this way just made me smile so wide, and it warmed up my Winter. Yeah, I speak a bit of Vietnamese, but I'm as fluent as my friends, who actually went to Viet School to learn the language. Argh! Look at how much I've typed! Hurry up and pass me your email so I can tell you more woman!
Chel Bel: Haha, I think Naraku's appeal lies in the fact he's just a pure badass to me!
Unknown Fool: YAY! A new reviewer has joined the ranks! Well, this world doesn't have any demons, and they don't have their ears of their 'tails' or their ears. They're pretty just normal people, so somewhat more athletic. I'm glad you enjoy the story!
Anuri-Chan: No! Borderline obsessive is good! I'm just really happy to know how much people enjoy my story!
IceSugarHigh: Argh! Not the ass! Lol, well, I put in SOMETHING about his ass, but sadly enough, not as you planned it! Oh well, can you really blame those girls for just wanting his body?
KitKat7: Thanks! You have almost no idea how much your reviews mean to me, and I'm sorry if it seems I don't review much on your story but I do it anonymously! A lot of people tell me how much they hate first person until they read my story, and it just really makes a difference to know that they appreciate my style of writing. Let's just say that we're both great writers, and people have learned to appreciate our styles ok? Shake on it! You love my title? (squee!) Originally this story was supposed to be different because Rin was supposed to have been caught when she broke into Sesshoumaru's home, and was then forced to do chores around his home in punishment. Eventually they came to love each other but I though the ending would be so dull if it ended that way, so I decided to add Naraku, because NO story is complete without our all-round-badass, right? And shhh, but there may even be a sequel if I feel up to it! And it's much more darker than this, I'm expecting!
Demon-Cat-Snowy: Yay! It's nice to know that my style isn't considered shabby or anything! Yea, I kinda know about the flaws because I don't know anyone who wants to beta for me who isn't a close friend, so I emailed your yahoo account to see if you'd want to, but I don't think you got it. So I'm asking you now, would you like to proof-read for me? Since I already keep a few people waiting for the chapters, it'd be great if you could do it ASAP, if you don't wanna do it, that's OK. I'm not sure what kind of ending it will be, happy or sad, or even an in-between, but I'm pretty sure that most people will be satisfied! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
MateriaThief06: I don't think it's a complicated storyline, just a very slow moving one haha! Do you think there'd be a great difference between an Australian and an American version of Rin and Fluffy? Maybe so, considering the lifestyles are different… but in the end, it's about romance so we'll see (wink)
Aku-Neko: hehehe, you may be surprised at Kagura's motives and reaction! I would LOVE to write a hot Rin/Sess scene but honestly, I don't believe PG-13 allows it (sigh)
I just ordered a truckload of hugs and kisses!
Lucy Loo, Dolphin-Slam, Chandral16, Chibi-yumi, Lynn-Minmay (awww thanks!), AndromedaBlack, Lily of the Shadow, Angel Trainee Flonne (I guess you're about to be intrigued!), Sassy, CometsChaos, Sesshoumaru's Fluff is Mine, Ger, C'fay (we'll just have to see won't we? -wink-) and I'myourbutterfly16.
Gah! You know how much time I spend on these reviews? This chapter I spent roughly two-three hours just replying! This is how dedicated I am to my reviewers and how much I truly appreciate them, so please review!