Chapter 11

Everything was going according to plan. P.E. had been a lost cause since they were forced to run to 'test their endurance in case of emergencies' as Izumo had expected.

Their 'trap' was rather simple: since Shiemi wasn't able to talk to Rin during breaks or P.E. because of his non-stop studying, she would have to do it in the short thirty minutes she had left after class. But the thing was, Rin would never talk to her directly if she managed to actually ask him. So Izumo had passed him a note when she gave back their demonology test -to which he had scored nothing less than an 80/100- at the teacher's demand. From what the dark haired girl had told Shiemi, Rin would come around the fountain at the center of the academy's high school after class so that she only had to wait for him there.

That was precisely what Shiemi was doing. She kept playing with her fingers and arranging her hair but nothing could lessen her apprehension. Maybe he would guess this was a trap and wouldn't come? Maybe he wouldn't even want to hear what she had to say? She had to keep her resolve strong, no matter what the eventualities could be. She kept waiting behind the fountain as not to be spotted immediately.

Rin walked tiredly to the place Izumo had indicated. He reread the note in his hand without paying much attention to where his feet carried him without caring. He knew he wasn't about to get lost.

*Go to the big fountain in the high school. I have something important to tell you. And don't make me wait! -Izumo.*

He sighed, folding and putting the small piece of paper back in his pocket. He avoided coming by the fountain whenever he could because it somehow made him remember the time he spent with Shiemi. He didn't want to think back to these happy memories and be reminded of how miserable he was without her now.

Sure, Yukio was overjoyed about his improving grades. Actually, he had never seen his younger twin prouder of him than when he spotted him studying at his desk after school instead of stealing his mangas. Rin sighed again. Maybe that made Yukio happy but it wasn't his case… It just got his mind off things a little.

God, how he missed Shiemi… Whenever he stopped studying his thoughts drifted back to her. He didn't know why but whenever they talked about plants in biology or in pharmacology for Cram school, it reminded him of Shiemi among the blooming flowers of her garden. Worse, the color green alone made him think of her beautiful emerald eyes. These gorgeous pools of green where he so often lost himself…

Rin shook his head back and forth. 'Can't I have a break!?' he thought desperately, clenching his teeth and fists. 'I don't have time for this, whatever Izumo has to say, it better be quick. I have to go back and study before I completely lose it…'

He let out a bitter laugh. He had never been eager to study in his whole life. So of course this change in his personality was quite a shock. "Geez, what happened to me…"

A voice at the back of his mind replied 'Shiemi happened.' And he knew it was right. Rin let out a frustrated growl before looking up. He hadn't noticed it but there stood the tall fountain in front of him. He didn't leave his tortured mind enough time to bring back the memories of Shiemi as he called out:

"Izumo? You're there?" He walked closer to the stone edifice. She wasn't anywhere to be seen. 'A prank?' he mused. No, Izumo would tear his head off for ever thinking she could do something as childish as that.

"Well, obviously she's not here…" Rin muttered grumpily. Seriously, making him come for nothing? He had better things to do than being assaulted by his thoughts all the way here and back to his dorm.

As he was about to turn around and leave a small crystalline voice stopped him. "Wait!"

He knew that voice all too well, even though he had done his best to avoid it all week. He didn't turn around but tried to peek behind him with the corner of his eye. There stood Shiemi in her flowery dark pink kimono, with pleading emerald eyes and hands joined like in prayer in front of her heart.

Rin remained still for a while as no one spoke a word. 'What does she want? What have I done wrong again? She made it loud and clear last time that she didn't want to see me anymore…' His anguish thoughts flooded his mind once more. 'Now what, she's gonna ask me to come back? No, I won't let her. She's done enough to me… But…No!'

"What now?" He spat between clenched teeth.

His voice was icy cold and shocked Shiemi who was used to Rin's joyful tone whenever he talked to her. She summoned up her courage and told him seriously:

"I need to talk to you."

'What? What do you want!? You're gonna crush me again!? I don't want to feel like this! I don't want to be like this anymore! …Please…' This inner battle was driving him insane. He wanted to shout at her, tell her to get away from him before she did more damage to his bleeding heart. His defense mechanism had more or less worked during the past days and he didn't want it to break just with a couple of words.

But at the same time he knew he missed her deeply, that her warmth would mend his heart. They said time would make it all better but Rin never was a really patient guy. This was slowly driving him insane and by the time anyone noticed how bad his condition was, it would already be too late and time wouldn't be able to change anything.

If he took one more blow he would be over, he knew it. So he didn't let her end the overwhelming silence and did the only thing that he thought would save him.

"You don't think you've done enough!?" He hollered, trying not to let too much of his pain show through. "You didn't want me near you anymore, so why are you here!? Leave me alone! I'm better off without you!"

Shiemi remained silent. 'What happened to him? This is not the Rin I know.' She thought frowning sadly.

"Go away Shiemi! I don't wanna see you!" Rin continued shouting, his back still facing her.

She saw the trembling fists at his sides, the pointed end of his clenched teeth and deep frown behind his bangs… She swallowed nervously. How much pain had he been through because of these misunderstood words? 'I made him like that?…' She thought, still silent.

"What are you still doing here!?" He growled. "Fine, you're not gonna leave? I'm off then…"

He was about to retreat but Shiemi didn't let him. She made to grab his wrist but he shook it free violently. She spoke nonetheless.

"Rin, I'm sorry! You…"

"'You're sorry'? So what!? You think that's gonna change anything!?" He yelled, turning to her this time. His eyes were so dark and he looked really hurt. "You're bored with Renzo so you come back to me!? Well, that's not gonna work!"

This wasn't true, she didn't think of him so lowly. How could he even believe that? She had to clarify things now.

"Rin, please…" Her voice sounded weak as she held back her tears.

"No, the damage's already been done…" He trailed off, directing his gaze to the ground.

He was leaving. Rin was walking away and she wasn't able to tell him anything. She couldn't let that happen, Shiemi had to do something. But what? She knew him well enough to tell he said all these horrible things because he was really hurt all this time, but how could she make him understand how she truly felt when he wouldn't let her say a word!

Then it ticked. Shiemi's eyes widened for a split second as she realized what she had to do. Rin was too upset and stubborn to listen to her, so her only alternative was…

She ran to him quickly before he passed through the gate that led out of the high school. Rin heard her coming nearer but only hastened his pace. He would ignore her even if she followed him all the way back to his dorm. That was the last thing he could do, take the beating and wait until it was over. He hated this feeling of helplessness more than anything but he was entirely drained after all he had said. He didn't have any defense system to protect himself anymore, this mad rant of his had signed his death warrant. He had hurt himself in the process because, all he wanted in the end was to be with Shiemi, not make her go away…He couldn't take any of that back now, only brace himself before she answered him.

Shiemi finally reached him and Rin couldn't have been prepared for what hit him. She collided with his back and encircled him with her thin arms in a shy hug. The young demon's eyes widened.

He briskly turned to look at her. His eyes were so full of shock and confusion…Maybe even more pain. Shiemi could only look up at him with tears in the corner of her own eyes, hoping he would understand.

He didn't. Right now his mind was a pure storm of thoughts tangled together. Frustration, sadness and sorrow, confusion, hurt…His heart ached so badly, but his brain wouldn't let him understand why. 'Why is she doing that!?' he thought, eyes wide and filled with questions he couldn't answer.

He shook himself free of her embrace with a low and half-hearted "get off" to try and walk away. Shiemi saw in his eyes that he still didn't get it despite all her efforts. Yukio always said he was slow to understand things… She had one last resort but it could either get her point across to him or make him disappear from her life forever. Still, she had to try. She had promised herself that today was her last chance. So in the ever so short moment when he faced her, Shiemi made her last move.

Rin's eyes widened even more as he saw her using the wrist she managed to capture to lean up to his face and press her warm lips against his. It lasted only a couple of seconds but it felt oh so sweet… She poured all her feelings in this kiss. He didn't even have time to realize what was happening and close his eyes before Shiemi pulled away and let go of his hand. She opened her eyes slowly, tears falling from them and gave him a very bitter smile.

"You…You understand now?" She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rin blinked once, to see if when he opened his eyes she wouldn't be there and he would realize it had all been an illusion. But here she was, crying in front of him. He didn't know what to do. Yell at her? Take her in his arms? Blurt out questions? Kiss her again? Should he hate her now? Should he forgive her, even if he wasn't really mad at her in the first place?

He kept staring at her wide eyed, mouth slightly agape and completely confused, unable to say a word or do so much as reach out his hand to her, even though he wanted to badly. Suddenly the silence was broken as the sound of small rain drops was heard around them. Soon the sky's tears and Shiemi's couldn't be told apart. Rin's silence and thunderstruck expression were slowly becoming unbearable to her, she couldn't tell what he was feeling and it was eating her alive. She let out a small whimper, thinking everything was lost, and ran off in the small rain curtain, her salty tears mingling with heaven's water on her cheeks.

Rin was left standing there, alone under the rain.

"She…She kissed me…" He stuttered, bringing a hand to his still parted lips.

'Is this real? Shiemi really feels this way about me? My feelings aren't unrequited? …' He fought off all the other feelings rushing inside him: sadness, confusion, anger. He could only understand if he shut them out. 'But why did she run off like that? Did I…Hurt her?' The memory of her running around the high school looking for him the other day flashed through his mind. She had desperately tried to talk to him and he had kept avoiding her, selfishly protecting himself. Then now, when she had finally managed to face him, he had yelled at her mercilessly.

'I…Didn't mean all that…' Rin massaged his forehead as he felt a head ache coming. 'I have to go apologize.' He knew that for sure but… He was still very confused. She had kissed him. That alone was really troubling him, but did she do it because she lov…Liked him or…?

Rin shook his head back and forth for the umpteenth time that day. That was way too confusing, he knew he couldn't sort this alone. 'I need to go find answers. Right now.'

Izumo watched as Rin seemed to be thinking a lot –something quite unusual for him- before finally making up his mind and going the same way as Shiemi had. She stayed hidden behind a large bush until he was gone. She had found the perfect hiding spot: under a tree so that she was protected from the rain, and close enough to hear everything that was said, even though Rin had been so loud, she could have heard him a mile away.

She stood up, her eyes still wide open in shock at what had happened before her just a few minutes ago. When Shiemi had told her she wanted to confess her feelings, Izumo had never believed the shy girl would go as far as to kiss the guy to make him get it. A dark blush spread across her cheeks as the scene replayed in her mind. This was way worse than when she read a shojo manga for the simple reason that this was real.

Izumo tried to shake off these thoughts but it was to no avail, she couldn't get rid of the pictures flashing in her head. She sighed, still blushing deeply as she got out her umbrella:

"Well, mission complete…I guess…"

A.N/: Another chapter done! Man... I'm sorry I don't update as fast as before but I used to have more time during summer vacation.^^"

I'll be in vacation again in two weeks though, so maybe I'll be able to write new stories faster then! Actually, I have a little sasusaku oneshot up my sleeve if anyone's interested, I could maybe post it earlier than planned...

Anyway, back to this story, the end is drawing nearer as you can probably imagine.^^

In the next chapter, Rin will go settle things with Shiemi once and for all (*insert dramatic music there*)

'Till then, tell me what you thought about this chapter! I know Rin's thoughts really were a sad thing to read (emo Rin?) but it was done on purpose. Actually, I was listening to "Sadness and Sorrow" from Naruto while writing this chapter!

Oh and, sorry if there are grammar mistakes in this chapter. I was quite in a hurry to post it...(my bad).

Don't forget I read all the reviews with a big grin on my face.^^

Thank you all for reading, stay tuned for the next chapter!