Along the school corridor
Rin quickened her footsteps to her tutorial class. She was going to be late. At the corner of her eye, something caught her attention… or rather, two girls looking suspiciously familiar. Where did she see them before? Even from her end, she overheard their brief conversation.
"Such a weirdo… asking us to whack her up. Who in the right mind would do a thing like that?" commented one of them.
The other answered. "Yah, but no cares. With the money she gave us, let's go for a drink tonight." With that, they left.
YES! They were the ones who cornered Kagura the other day. WHAT? They were asked by… by… Rin instantly realized what had happened. It was all a plot by Kagura. She had purposefully asked to be beaten up to gain Sesshoumaru's empathy! She wanted Sesshoumaru to tend to her, she wanted his attention!
Forgetting her class, the girl reset her course to the basketball club.
At the club room
Rin spotted the one she was looking for right away. Kagura was her usual self, giving her the cold shoulder but the girl was insistent to speak to her.
"Kagura, I know everything. You set me and Sesshy up to make us believe that you were beaten up. But you hired them to do that, didn't you?"
Not the least affected by the fact that her plan had been exposed, Kagura simply sat down on a chair rather comfortably. "Oh, you found out. Big deal!"
Rin's brows furrowed. "Why did you do that? Why did you hurt yourself on purpose? You know, Sesshy, Naraku and everyone will be worried about you."
Kagura heaved a laugh, covering the corner of her mouth. "I told you. Sesshoumaru will always try his best to protect me. You're jealous, aren't you?"
Well, Rin wasn't really angry at being cheated. She merely felt sorry for the seemingly stubborn and extreme girl. She had deviated too much. "Kagura, it's no use. You can't expect anyone to love someone who's dishonest. If you really love Sesshy, you should express it in a more accurate way. You can tell him how you feel but please, don't hurt yourself anymore."
Kagura's sarcastic laughter instantly filled the room. "Don't pretend like you're some angel. Remember how you looked that day, so afraid that I'll be hurt, running to Prince asking him to come to me, then so disappointed and depressed that Prince carried me off. You're just a pathetic loser."
As the girl continued to chuckle, Rin found herself getting more and more enraged by that last comment. She had deceived her, deceived everyone and yet, there wasn't even one bit of remorse.
"You're just sour I've won. LOSER!" Kagura's last words were the last straw. Rin raised her hand and gave the girl one tight slap!
"What are you doing?" Rin turned. It was Sesshoumaru… and Naraku standing at the doorway. "Rin, why did you hit her?"
"Prince…" Kagura immediately acted out for sympathy points. "I don't know what I did but… Rin… she just hit me out of no reason?"
"No, Sessh…" Rin ran up to the boy, trying to explain for she knew this could really seem like her fault. "She's at fault. She deceived everyone first."
But Sesshoumaru, he wasn't about to believe her. "Really? Don't you know her wounds have not healed completely?"
"Rin, how could you be so cruel?" Even Naraku's accusations were forceful and hurting.
The girl started to tear in desperation. She felt so wronged, misunderstood. "Sessh… Why are you always on her side? Don't you know that it'll just make her get worse and worse? Can't you see she has already deviated? I don't know what you're thinking."
"Really?" Sesshoumaru was still too heated up to really listen. "I don't know what you're thinking either. If you find that it's so difficult, then perhaps, you're not suitable here."
When Rin heard that, her tears flowed relentlessly. "Right. I've had enough. I no longer want to be…be just a toy to you. I'm just a little game you enjoy playing. You were never serious. You never intended to!"
Those words wounded the boy, flooding all logics and composure. "Okay then, since that's how you feel…"
At that, the girl dashed out of the room sobbing as Sesshoumaru slammed both his hands onto the wooden table frustrated with how the situation had overblown out of control. Did he just lose her forever? Was that the end of the possibility of them?
Now, the only one person who was in the best of moods strode up smugly toward Sesshoumaru. "Prince, forget about her. I'll always be here for you. Always." She attempted to give him a pat but the boy shoved her aside.
Kagura's eyes flew wide with shock.
"Kagura, for the last time, I said… Don't call me Prince. I'm not your Prince."
"You are, you are always." She tugged on his hand, almost begging for acceptance. "You'll always be there for me, right?"
Sesshoumaru was silent as if deep in thoughts. Finally, he gave his reply. "Don't ever expect anything more than friendship from me. It's … not possible between us. Never."
His words cut a deep wound in the girl's heart. She gave a loud chuckle. "And who is the one you like, Rin? Prince, she's too innocent and naïve for you. She can be nothing more than your toy."
"THAT… is for me to decide." Sesshoumaru intoned rather coolly.
"You really like her, don't you Prince. I can tell. But… don't forget, she's about to become your sister. No one in your family will approve of this. NO ONE!" Kagura's fist tightened with increasing agitation.
To her surprise, Sesshoumaru merely turned to take leave. He stopped slightly at the door. "If… I really love someone, I don't care a damn what anyone else thinks about it."
"PRINCE!" Being totally ignored, the girl collapsed onto the floor sobbing out her displeasure.
"Kagura…" Naraku reached out his hand, lightly patting her on the shoulder in an attempt to offer some form of consolation.
"Tell me, am I really so detestable?" The girl wailed afresh at her own statement, punching his chest in anger.
Naraku winced as the strokes fell upon him. "Of course not." He caught one of her hands and instantly, Kagura knew he was getting at. She shook him off.
"Kagura, tell you, what can I do for you to make you happy." He pleaded. "I'll do anything."
The girl did a quick thinking. "I don't want to see Rin again."
"Are you saying that if Rin disappears, you'll be happier?"
She nodded.
At the park
Rin sat by herself on a lonesome swing, half pondering about the happenings that afternoon, Sesshoumaru's unfeeling words, her own vindictive ones… In the end, they were the only ones who got hurt… their relationship had suffered. Has she made a wrong choice? Should she have stuck to Inuyasha instead? Well, the captain and her had become friends again. He was so forgiving, kind as ever and she had hurt him too in the past. Perhaps, she really wasn't quite ready for relationships of this level. She was still too immature. Is that why Sesshoumaru's starting to detest her?
Soon it was getting late and unknowingly indulging in her own musings, Rin didn't realize that it had started pouring. The girl decided to quickly make her way homeward. As she neared her house, a familiar silhouette caught her sight. She rubbed her eyes to clear her vision a little. It was someone unexpected.
It was… Naraku!
"Are you looking for me?" The girl was puzzled about his visit at such unearthly hours.
To her immense shock, he flashed out a long wooden baseball bat and the girl noted, his eyes, they weren't gentle as before, they were filled with an encompassing sense of malice! "Kagura will be happier if you disappear. Rin, go away, don't stay with Sessh anymore."
Rin gulped silently. What was he trying to say? He wants me to give Sesshy up? If not, what will he do? Her eyes trailed down the length of the seeming weapon.
Kagura's house
I don't want to see Rin again…. Will you be happier if Rin disappears?
Their exchanging conversation repeatedly echoed in the girl's head. Well, she hated Rin, that's for sure, but… to see her get hurt? What will Naraku do to her? She was well aware of the boy's past. He used to fight along side Sesshoumaru. He too could be extremely ruthless. Will he really go look for Rin?
Kagura picked up the phone with her shaky hands, dialing a number that she thought would possibly save Rin.
"Prince, is that you?"
"What do you want?" He knew it was her.
"Prince… I mean, Sessh… Naraku… I'm afraid he'll harm Rin." Her voice was intense with jitters.
"What?" Sesshoumaru was instantly concerned. He was still edgy over his little quarrel with Rin but still, he could not deny that he genuinely cared about her. "Can you be more specific?"
"Rin, I'm afraid she'll be in danger."
"Why? What happened?"
"I-I… It's all my fault. I told Naraku that I'll be happier if… if Rin disappears forever…"
Sesshoumaru did not even bother to hang up. He simply flung the phone aside and rushed out of the door as fast as he could.
No, I can't let anything happen to Rin. I gave her my promise…. He recalled the night they rode the bike together.
I cannot keep danger from finding me… But I promise… I'll always protect you… always…
Even Sesshoumaru himself couldn't understand why he was getting so worked up over his soon-to-be ne-san? Is he truly in love with her? Frankly, till now, the boy hadn't an answer. He never once believed in love. He never believed he needed it. Still, he preferred to cast such thoughts aside. Rin's safety was of utmost importance!
"Rin, tell me you'll leave Sessh and I'll let you off. Don't force me to hurt you." Naraku raise his bat in a threatening manner.
"I know you're not that sort of person. You're never hurt me. It's useless like this, Nak, don't you understand by now?" The girl still wished to talk him out of it. She didn't believe he'll do it. "No one can be forced to love another. Violence and lies will only put more distance between two people. They can never be brought together like that. Love… Love needs sincerity."
"Shut up!" Shaking the rain water from his hair, the boy pretended he didn't hear her, even though he knew she made sense. "I just want her to be happy. Don't you understand? Nothing else mattes, not even you!"
"Sessh will never love Kagura even if I disappear."
"We'll know when you're really gone!" He let out a loud yelp, closed his eyes to mask his own guilt as he swung the bat toward the girl.
Rin's eyes shut tightly, awaiting her end but…. suddenly… everything had turned silent. The girl opened her eyes, the moisture blurred her vision slightly. But she recognized that familiar figure. It was… Sesshoumaru, he was standing before her, shielding her and holding onto the bat!
"Sessh!" She cried out in appreciation but immediately noting that Sesshoumaru's arm was bruised taking that blow from the stick.
"Nak! What do you think you're doing? If you want revenge, look for me? Don't lay your dirty hands on weak defenseless girls!" He sent out a punch at his friend, hitting him on the left cheek.
"If you had treated Kagura well, would I have to do this?" Naraku swung out his own fist, boxing his leader on the chest.
"Do you want me to be with Kagura just out of sympathy?" Sesshoumaru kicked the boy, throwing him on the damp floor, rolling out a few feet. "Is that love to you?"
Displeased with his leader's last statement, Naraku instantly got up, headed for Sesshoumaru, pushing him down onto the ground with him. Both struggled, tugging at each other with unrestrained petulance. "Sessh, you're not fit to talk about love. Do you know what love is? Have you loved anyone in your life?"
Sesshoumaru let out a furious smirk. "Is this your way of confessing your love for Kagura?" He successfully shook off Naraku, getting up to his feet. Sesshoumaru, he could no longer contain his fury. It was blinding him out. He wanted nothing but to vent out this consuming frustration in him. Staggering to the bat, he picked it up, raising it as he charged toward his friend!
"NOOOOOOOO!" Rin shouted at the top of her voice, rushing up blindly to shield Naraku. She stared up at the oncoming attack in great fear.
Mere inches away from her, Sesshoumaru finally paused, the bat still hung in mid air. He heaved a few relieved pants, totally shocked himself at how Rin ran so valiantly to protect his friend.
"No, Sessh, you mustn't. Revenge will only increase hatred. You guys are long time friends, aren't you? Don't do this. You'll regret this for sure." The girl's tears flowed. "The last thing I ever wish to see is you doing the wrong thing again."
Even Naraku was silenced and taken aback. He had expected his head to be knocked completely out of shape. Sesshoumaru was well-known for his ruthlessness… but the girl… Why did she come to his rescue… especially when he had tried to hurt her?
After a short moment, Sesshoumaru flung the bat aside, reaching and pulling Rin to him. Turning to Naraku, he pointed with warning. "If you ever do this to Rin again, I swear… I'll hate you forever!"
"Yes, yes. Nak." The girl spoke too. "So, let's forget about the whole thing this time. Get some rest." That was all she could say. Sesshoumaru had started leaving, putting his arm round her shoulders and lugging her along with him.
On the way up the stairs, Sesshoumaru had preferred to keep silent. He needed time to think things through. Too much had happened lately and worse, he just almost killed his good friend!
"Why? Rin, why did you run up just now? Don't you know you might get yourself killed if I couldn't stop in time?" He stopped, pulling the girl closer to him.
"I-I wasn't thinking. I just know that you're good friends. Things shouldn't be like this for the two of you?" The girl intoned shakily.
"Are you nuts?" Sesshoumaru felt an aching pain in his heart as he gazed at Rin, his mind replaying that brave feat she had attempted a while back. He heaved a soft sigh. "If it weren't for you… If you weren't there… I-I could have killed Nak. Arigato."
Rin finally managed a slight smile that those tender words by the boy. But Sesshoumaru's focus was elsewhere now. He was inspecting her from head to toe.
"You're drenched. Let's get up quickly. You need a change of clothes."
The girl was instantly conscious of herself. She looked down at her thoroughly wet blouse but Sesshoumaru was chuckling. She peered up with curiosity.
"What are you laughing at?"
"You needn't worry. With a figure like yours, no matter how drenched you are, hardly anyone could be turn on enough to want to do anything to you…"
Rin's lips pursed with renewed annoyance as she followed him up to her apartment.
Rin's house
Izayoi was out at work still and the two were alone. Sesshoumaru waited as the girl took a warm bath and a fresh change of clothing. Soon, Rin entered the living room with two cans of warm cocoa in her hands.
"Sessh… why hadn't you dry yourself?" She sat down beside him. "You'll catch a cold like this." She took over the towel, as gently as she could, rubbed on his hair.
Before the girl had come in, Sesshoumaru's mind was like a whirlpool, his inner torment was eating him up. He could have killed his friend back there. But her soothing touch, the hint of her warmth as she sat next to him, it had brought to him a little comfort. Still, at this moment, he couldn't find it to forgive himself for bearing such violent urges. With a loud groan, he brushed the towel off.
"Don't bother about me. I-I'm a nasty person. Don't come near me. You might just end up like Nak one day." He hid his face purposefully from her.
Rin's heart turned, deciding to grant him that space to cool off, calm down. Then, she began with softness. "You know, Sessh, everyone loves you a lot. They care for you a lot too."
The boy's eyes instantly lit up with amusement. He held her fast not letting her go. "What did you just say?"
Greatly embarrassed by her own comment, Rin backed off, trying to break free. "I-I said… well, it's nothing actually." Her face was flushed.
But Sesshoumaru wouldn't loosen his grip for the world. "You said everyone loves me. Who's everyone?" He flashed a pretentious blurry look, as if he really wasn't sure. He wanted to hear it from the girl herself.
Rin knew she was blushing. Her cheeks felt like it was in flames. She began stuttering. "Erm… Everyone… Erm…" She thought hard. "That will be uncle, erm… Nak… Kagura…" She ran through every name but he wasn't satisfied till she named that one particular one… the one who meant something in his heart.
"Just three? Three's not everyone." He shook her, bringing her closer to his chest.
"Oh, there's also Hojo and mom…"
"But who's that one more person who loves me?" He lifted her chin, forcing her to match his entertained eyes. "You've finished counting with your left hand. How about your right? Who's that person?" He urged her on as the girl trembled, really really nervous.
Within a second, she decided. Raising up her right hand up and both her eyes shut tightly till it hurt, she blurted everything in a rush. "Hai! There's still me. Rin loves Sesshoumaru the most!"
Moments passed and she heard no response from him. Slowly and fearfully, she peaked. Sesshoumaru… he was just looking at her, his eyes were so soft, so tender. Then, he began chuckling. Rin frowned.
"That's so funny. I've never seen anyone confess their affections by raising their hands." His laughter only worsened how the girl felt. Instantly, she was totally conscious of herself and her own too bold words.
"If I'd known you'll say that, I'd preferred to say nothing." She tried to struggle free from him and get away as fast as she could but he stopped her, grabbing one hand and pulling her to him.
"I-I'm sorry." Sesshoumaru was apologizing. The girl was pleasantly surprised by thei sudden gentleness. "I shouldn't have said that."
Rin lowered her head as she felt him lacing his fingers with hers and how their heat mingled in the cold night air.
"You said you love me." He yanked her in for an encompassing embrace. That's all that matters to me." Finally, he had an inner enlightenment about this budding relationship. Such a soft fragile girl… where did she ever find that relentless courage to protect someone who had previously tried to hurt her? She's so pure, so innocent, so unblemished by this harsh unfeeling world, the one he'd experienced himself.
Could she become his source of solace, perhaps a hiding place… no… he corrected… a healing place, one that could perhaps one day heal him from his own heart, the heart that had turned cold after years and years of being… forgotten.
Rin, he noted, she was still directing her gaze to the ground as he released his hug, taking time to just admire her sweet delicate features. But… she wasn't letting him. With one careful finger, he raised her chin, lifting her eyes to meet his.
"Why, Rin? Why do you choose to be with a demon like me? I would never know when I'll blow up like that again."
The girl shook her head, showing much confidence. "The Sessh I've come to know, I believe with all my heart that you'll never hurt me. I-I feel … safe with you."
Even in her own heart, Rin was undeterred, Inu-no-Taisho's words chanting continuously.
Sessh… deep inside… he's a lonely boy…
Is he the one most afraid of being detested, of being alone? The girl wished to find out more about him, and perhaps one day, she could really reach into that place in his heart where no one had ever reached. Would she be able to sustain through all odds of this relationship?
Rin was alerted, her musings snapped as she heard his breath upon hers. He was… about to kiss her? She was right. It started with a soft peck but slowly, Sesshoumaru worked through her upper lips, then moving on to her lower. This time, it was not like before. It was for real.
Tin felt the distinct difference instantly. His kisses brought her many tingling unworded emotions… excitement, contentment for the moment, tenderness with a tinge of that danger ever present in him. Rin's heart rate shot up so fast she could feel it almost pounding into his chest.
One single wild thought made way into her mind. Sessh… he's so dominant and overpowering. Is he going to try something more intimate with her? Well, they ARE all alone at home without a chaperone. She froze, not knowing how she would react if he did. Is she going to let him? Will he force it on her? Say if he did, aren't they going just a little too fast for comfort? Her mind was an total, undecided wreck.
But… no.
Sesshoumaru did not make even a hint of any intentions of further advances. It took him some time before he finally found it in himself to stop kissing her. He brought her into his arms again and there, the two stood, just reveling in this tightly knitted warmth… a sense of warmth that they both needed… one way or another…