Music from the Heart
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.
Chapter 03: Enter Wind Dancer Kagura
My alarm begins to beep at what should be six o'clock. I mumble as I reach my hand toward the sound, patting it until I hit the button that disables it. I climb out of bed, walking straight ahead ten steps and then to the left fourteen to reach the bathroom. I search the counter for my toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing my teeth in deep darkness.
Once I am done with my business, I walk seven steps out of the bathroom and then turn left. My right hand moves to contact with the rail of the stairs. Gradually I make my way down, following the scent of freshly baked bread and eggs, leading me to the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later I finish my breakfast and my mother leads me to my room, helping me dress in my school uniform. She brushes my hair, which falls a little beneath my shoulders and curls upwards at the ends. Sometimes she remarks I look like a doll, but I don't want to be categorized as an unmoving figure.
Ten minutes later Shippo arrives. Together we walk to school and talk. It's always been this way, except the part about holding hands. It's just a way to lead me places of which I cannot see.
"Shippo?" I ask softly as we walk.
"Hm? What is it Rin?"
I hesitate to say, "Do people get... weird ideas when we're together?"
"Sometimes," he says casually. "But who cares what they think? We're just like brother and sister, right?"
I nod, smiling, "Right. Plus, I'm sure you like some girl, don't you?"
"Uhh..." Shippo replies, a bit too quickly.
'He's probably blushing...' I think, giggling.
"I'll tell you about it later," Shippo replies. "We're here."
"Rin, may I speak with you?"
My ears hear the sound of my teacher, Shouga Sensei. She knows I'm blind --- every staff member should, really. I nod and Shippo takes me to her.
"We've a quiz today, shall I give it to you now or after school?"
It's always nerve-wrecking to have an oral quiz, but I think I'm getting used to it. Still, I'd rather be taking quizzes alongside the class. "I'd like to take it now." I nod to Shippo, motion him to leave.
"It's only ten questions," she says. "All right then, let's begin."
As I answer the questions, almost easily, I begin to hear voices behind me.
"Why does she always take the quiz before us?"
"Perhaps she's helping someone cheat!"
"Shh! Listen to her answers, idiot!"
I answer the last question, earning a perfect score. The chatter dies down as I turn slightly towards the class.
'Now this feels awkward,' I sigh, walking to my desk. I gasp as I trip on something --- probably a backpack someone dumped on the floor. Someone grabs my arm, helping me regain my balance before I hit the floor.
"You okay, Rin?" Sango asks.
I nod slowly, clutching my hand to my desk. "Thanks."
"Sure."
"All right class, time to take your quiz."
The class mumbles and I lay my head on my desk, closing my eyes. 'I'm tired.'
Someone taps me on my shoulder and I glance up. "Hn?"
"The quiz is over," Kanna's soft, delicate voice says. "I thought your hearing was top-notch."
"Ahh. . ." I blush slightly, turning to the front of my class. I lift my pencil and pretend to be copy notes. A thought hits my head as I do so.
'... How does she know my hearing is top-notch?'
# # # # # # # # # #
I take a deep breath, clutching my books to my chest. In front of me was the door to the music room, where I would hopefully meet that boy again. Slowly I reach for the cold doorknob and turn it, feeling the familiar cold air rush by me again. As I take a step inside, I feel a burning hard impact on my cheek.
"You were here yesterday with Sesshoumaru-sama, weren't you?!"
"She was!" a girl cries. "You can't take him away from us! No one shall be near him unless we permit it to be so!"
'What the...?' I sit on my knees, rubbing my hand against my wound. 'This is... .I really don't know what this is.'
Someone tugs my hair and yells into my ear, "You can't go near Fluffy! Understood?!"
"Who's... Fluffy?"
Another gasps and shakes my shoulders, "You may not call him that! Only those in the Sesshoumaru fan club have the privileged to call him 'Fluffy'"!
The warning bell sounds.
"Aiiie, let's get going, shall we?" a calm voice says. "I think the girl has gotten the point."
Footsteps fade, and the door slams, causing a sound to make me flinch. Something drips onto my knee.
"Am I bleeding...?" I touch the damp part of my knee, and then touch my cheek. "Yeah, that's not good."
I standup quickly, extracting a handkerchief from the pocket of my skirt and dab it on my bloodstains.
"Is something wrong?"
The voice makes the back of my hair stand. It was the boy's voice. "I'm fine."
"I smell blood."
"It's nothing, really," I turn to his direction. "Is your name... Sesshoumaru?"
"Hn," he replies, placing a cold finger on my cheek. "You are...?"
"My name is Rin," I grab his wrist. "I'm fine, really."
"Hn." He moves his hand away.
I clasp my hands together, my fingers tapping each other slightly as I follow his footsteps. Counting, I stop in front of the bench. "You'll play for me, won't you?"
"I'll play," he says coolly, "But not for you."
"That's harsh."
"Hn."
'Why do I bother?' I cross my arms.
I close my eyes, listening to him play. I wonder why a boy so cold and quiet would play such beautiful music. Did he lose someone? Or did something happen to make him become this way? Perhaps it's useless to ask these questions...
His fingers press the last notes, and the pedal echoes his notes until they fade away. "Hn."
"Sesshoumaru-sama," I say slowly, "Did you write this yourself?"
"... Yes."
"It's very beautiful."
"Hn."
"Can you... play another?" I sit on the bench, facing the opposite direction he is. "Your music makes me feel... happy."
"Hn," he begins to play another song.
'Who is he playing for? Me? Himself?'
"Why do you play, Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"That's none of your concern," he snaps.
I tilt my head down. "Sorry."
# # # # # # # # # #
"Look at her dance!"
"Ow!" I move my foot away from Shippo. "Why did you stop?"
"Because Kagura is rehearsing," he whispers. "She's the best dancer here... heck, in the whole school district! I wish you could see her, Rin!"
"Ah, I understand," I nod. "How good is she?"
"Too good," Shippo says. "Wind Dancer Kagura. Her movements are fluid as if the wind was guiding her, even when there's no music around."
"Feh. It's obvious she's only showing off because of the competition coming up."
"What competition?" I ask.
"It's called Tokyo's Talent," Ayame explains. "Everyone in Tokyo gathers to Tokyo Tower, where people show what they can do."
"Here he comes!" a girl squeals. "Kagura is so lucky!"
"What's happening?" I whisper.
And then I hear it... the music I know so well. It's the music Sesshoumaru plays; the first song he played for me today; the one he composed himself.
'I see,' I close my eyes. 'He plays... for her.'
# # # # # # # # # #
SilentBrat- Thank you! :D
Fiery Demon Fox- They are a cute couple! I only wish Rin was seriously older in the series. But since youkai don't age, Sesshoumaru will just have to wait!
RQ- Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Demon Exterminator Barbie- Hn, maybe I'll read that fic when I get the chance. So the fic isn't based on the movie?
Chibi-Sorrow- I'm getting way to lazy to update. -.-
Lil-Rinny- Music is romantic Ohohoho. Okay, maybe not in this fic's case. .;
Merlin's Flamethrower- Interesting, you say? Is that good or bad? -Sweatdrop-
atashi-wa-Yume- It's too hard to write in her POV! TT I think random chapters will be regular POV. [I think it's called third-POV?] Oh yeah, she wasn't blind until a month ago, but it'll explain later in the story.
UgLyDaRkFaErIe547- Thank you for reading! Sesshoumaru's feelings are hard to write about. Ee;
KitKat07- Beta? What's that mean? Is it just... editing or something? I've heard it around I hate grammar, but mostly because my teacher was really a tennis coach, and he was extremely lazy at teaching things. And to think, I'm going to be a junior and I'm so screwed for college! I'm ranting. Xx; Oh well. I think you're exaggerating a lot on my story being great. T.T;; Thank you for your offer! Please explain beta to me a little more...? I am with stupid.
Wild Cherry- I'll try to update! Too lazy... it's the summer, really!
Author's Note: I've finally updated, but I'm getting bored with this fic. Sorry, I might discontinue this. It's either I'm too lazy, or because it's hard writing in a blind girl's POV.