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"Remember, six o'clock tonight….I'll meet you there… Don't be late…" Sesshoumaru's voice echoed in Rin's head as she took on a more hasten pace home, her hands clasped tightly around a paper bag full of woolen balls.
Rin's narration
This will be our first date together… Sesshoumaru and I… just the two of us smiles
Our first Christmas eve….
And tonight, I will give Sesshoumaru his first romantic Christmas present… one that's made out of love… all my love…smiles more broadly
This will be my best Christmas EVER!
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12 noon
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Her lips pouted into a distinct brood, Rin tried desperately to disentangle her fingers from the messy lump of wool that seemed to be everywhere but the right place. Fretfully, she slammed the whole bunchy ball on to her bed.
No way, mom's predictions came true… Darn! She and her big mouth! The girl mused as she recalled what was briefly transversed between Izayoi and herself about an hour back.
"Rin…." Izayoi entered the room, settling beside Rin on her bed and gently placed a Christmas card on the girl's lap. Rin's eyes lit up instantly, guessing correctly who the sender was.
"A Christmas card! It must be from Miroku-ni-chan!" Not wanting to wait another agonizing second, Rin opened the card and read it together with her mom.
"Aunty Izayoi, Rin-chan, how are you? It's been a while since I've written and I hope you are both well. Just as what sensei had wished for me, I've finished my masters and will be returning home soon. Teacher had always wanted me to become a lecturer like himself and it is also my wish to make him proud. So, I'll be starting to give lectures in some of the college this coming spring. Hope to see you soon…. Love, Miroku."
A smile curved up Rin's lips as she leaned her head slightly on Izayoi's shoulder. "Mom, of all of dad's students, Miroku-ni-chan is the only one who always remembers to send us greetings every Christmas. And every time we receive his cards, it always brings a special warmth to my heart." Izayoi nodded, couldn't agree more. Then, her gaze traced down to Rin's project on her bed. Her brows furrowed with immense curiosity.
"Rin, what's this you're making?" She picked up the knitting guide, half opened. "Wow… I didn't know that my daughter has come to that age where she knits a scarf. Tell me, tell me, who's this for?"
Rin got more and more nervous as her mom spoke, her mind churning dozens of excuses or acceptable reasons… anything but to tell her mom the truth, that this was for Sesshoumaru. "Erm… it's not for anyone special, mom… Anything, it's not even a scarf. It's a pair of gloves…"
"Gloves?" Izayoi covered her mouth hiding her chuckle. "Rin, don't say that I did not remind you. Remember your high-school days… your home economics lessons? Remember how you used to just buy from the stores and mess it up so that it could pass off as your homework?"
"MOM!" Rin just wanted to strangle her mother for that reminder, one which hurts her ears to listen. "Can you be a little more encouraging?"
"Okay, alright, I'm sorry." Izayoi patted and stroked Rin's hair soothing her. "I know. You've inherited it from me. We're both born with webbed fingers."
That did little to help situation and Rin's lips pursed. "MOM!"
"Alright, alright… I'll leave you with that….. Do your best!"
With that last statement, Rin's thoughts returned to the present as she looked down at the task at hand. She rolled her eyes.
Mom was never the sort with great wisdom, she mused as she nodded in agreement to herself. So, her words need NOT to be trusted.
She picked up from where she had left off. Yes, I MUST complete this… for Sessh…But this is so complicating…
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4 in the afternoon
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Still struggling with her intended gift, Rin's eyes floated dreamily as a perfect picture emerged in her mind.
Her head dipped, a blush appeared as she presented her gift to the one she loved. "Sessh… this is for you…"
"Wow! Rin! It's a pair of gloves? You've made this yourself? That's so sweet…" The boy proceeded to put on his Christmas present and it looked nothing but perfect from the top. Then, Sesshoumaru turned his palms up, revealing a gigantic hole smack dead in the centre. He looked up, completely baffled. "So, what's the meaning of this?"
"AHHHHHHHHHH….." Rin was triggered back to the real world and she stood up screaming her head off. "No way!" She made a solemn decision. "It must not come to that." Her eyes trailed to the clock on the wall. "Oh no! It's getting late… I must hurry… This will be… the greatest battle I've ever fought…"
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At six thirty in the evening
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"YES! YES! YES!" Rin hopped and danced about in her room, holding and swinging her completed work in her hands. "I did it! I can't believe I did it! It's PERFECT!" She sang out cheerily. "It must be the power of love!"
Carefully placing the pair of red gloves into a paper bag, Rin hurried off to meet her date for the night.
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Sesshoumaru looked at his watch for the umpteenth time, his amber eyes darken with every glace. Rin, I specifically instructed her not to be late. Where the hell is she?
His eyes narrowed on the tiny figure now skipping toward him. There she is…
Not able to conceal the elation in her heart, Rin caught sight of Sesshoumaru and strode in his direction, grinning almost perpetually… until he raised his voice at her.
"I thought I said six o'clock. Do you know what time it is now?" he pointed at his watch.
"I'm so sorry Sessh… I'm late because…" She wanted to show him the gift immediately but was intercepted.
"I don't care. You're eighty minutes late and you'll have to do eighty star jumps. NOW!" He teased, slightly amused that the girl was bending down, seemingly acceding to his command. He stopped her instantly. "And you're really going to do this in public, eh?" Rin stood up silently as Sesshoumaru beckoned her to follow him. "Rin, Ikuzo, let's go, we're late…"
Rin smiled as she started behind, still excited about their first date… alone… A familiar voice rang out suddenly, dashing all her hopes. She froze, rooted on the spot. "Rin, Sesshoumaru!" Rin turned around, her hazels shot wide open as she realized it was Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Rin, you're here already. Let's go in together and join the others." Kagome rounded her arm on Rin's shoulder pushing her along.
"Together? The others?" Rin became clouded, her hazels still blowing up like a fish. Isn't this a private date between her and Sesshoumaru?
Noticing the girl's expressions, Inuyasha chipped in. "Don't you know? The basketball team is celebrating Christmas together. We've booked a Karaoke room and we're going to sing the night away." He turned to Sesshoumaru. "Hey Sessh, didn't you tell her that?"
Sesshoumaru frowned, looking down at Rin. He shrugged his shoulders. "I can't remember whether I told her or not. Anyway, no big deal. Let's go in."
As the loud music played in the Karaoke lounge mingled with the loud cheers of the basketball boys, the truth became more and more apparent to the girl.
Rin's narration
So! This is what Sesshoumaru mean by a date eh? And I'm dumb enough to think that it'll just be the two of us. (sighs) I must be the biggest idiot in the world.
This is really far off from what I've imagined it to be…
The girl watched enviously as Inuyasha and Kagome sang duets and then, she reflected on she and Sesshoumaru. Not only had he not told her that it was a group party, he didn't even attempt to be by her side, to keep her company, the entire night. He had preferred to be amongst the crowd, toasting with the boys, leaving Rin at a corner, alone.
Rin's narration
Like a real couple, no matter where they are, Inuyasha and Kagome wanted only to be by each other. It is so definite, so without doubt, unlike Sesshoumaru and I.
(turns to look at Sesshoumaru) From the minute we entered, he hasn't even look my direction once.
When will we be like them? When will we be start to behave like couples?
Even when Sesshoumaru hadn't taken notice of Rin's frustration, someone else did. It was Kagura. She saw everything, heaving little smirks, gloating at the girl's present plight.
"Prince, don't you have to celebrate Christmas with that over bearing grandmother of yours?" She started a casual conversation with the boy next to her, knowing fully well that Rin was watching them. "You do that every year, don't you?"
"I've told dad that the basketball team's partying tonight." Sesshoumaru laughed slightly, his eyes sparkled with pride that he had wittily managed to escape spending Christmas with Kaede.
Kagura passed Rin a glance, then, got back to playing and joking with Sesshoumaru. That just made Rin feel all the more worse.
"You know, Nak," Hojo began and Rin was drawn to the conversation at the next seat. "Talking about Christmas, I'm really glad that there's no gift exchange this year. I dread it."
Naraku couldn't seem to agree more. "Yah man… Gift exchange is dumb and I usually get boring candle holders and towels. These have to be the top first and second on my 'Lousiest Christmas Presents Billboard'…"
"Yes, yes…" Hojo intercepted eagerly. "And the third on the list, I must add, ought to be those ugly knitted scarves and gloves girls like to torture their boyfriends with. They're usually badly done without taste and we're forced to wear them nonetheless. It soooo destroys my cool image. Don't you think so, Rin-san?" He noticed the girl was listening.
Rin gulped, dumbfounded. "I-I'm not sure…" She stuttered, consciously putting the paper bag out of public sight.
Rin's narration
(sulks) AHHHH… Now I can't believe that I'm on the billboard for the third lousiest present this Christmas. Why am I such an idiot?
Finishing her song with Inuyasha, Kagome's line of vision fell upon her best friend. Rin hadn't been herself that night. Maybe she ought to find out why.
"Rin, why aren't you singing with the rest? It's really fun you know." Kagome started with a bright smile but noted in dismay that it wasn't returned with equal enthusiasm.
Rin merely heaved a lengthen sigh. "Kags…" She didn't know how to begin. "I-I… I mean… The music's too loud in here. I think I'll go outside and give mom a call."
From the corner of his eyes, Sesshoumaru caught sight of Rin leaving the room.
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Outside the Karaoke room
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Rin stormed toward the nearest dustbin, pouting and grumbling to herself as she went along.
What was I thinking, making this for Sessh? I almost became the joke of the basketball team this year. She looked at the bin in front of her and then at her present and just as she was about to raise her hand, a voice emerged from behind her.
"Rin, what are you doing out here?" She turned. It was Sesshoumaru. He had followed her out. "Come in and sing with us."
"I-I… Sessh, you go in first. I'll come in a while." She tried to wing him off but the boy was attracted to something on her hand.
"What do you have there in you hand?" His curiosity was aroused.
"It's nothing." Starting to sweat slightly, Rin hid the bag behind herself.
"No, I saw that you were carrying a paper bag the entire night." He squinted to look beyond her.
"I SAID it's nothing!" This time, the girl couldn't control the volume of her tone. "Go in and join the rest and STOP BOTHERING ME!"
Sesshoumaru smiled, eyeing the girl knowingly. "You're throwing a tantrum." He intoned calmly as if he was entertained by the mere possibility of it.
"I'M NOT!" She spat back instinctively, though knowing that he was right.
"Yes you are…" Tickling her chin lightly and with a wry grin, Sesshoumaru walked back to the room, leaving the girl even more agitated and disheartened.
Rin's narration
So what if I'm throwing a tantrum? ( sighs) You'll never understand how I feel… how I had wanted this to be a special night for the two of us and how it had turned out.
But now, this night, this present… (looks down at the bag), the mood had gone all wrong. Moreover, you'll never like this gift anyway…It's… lousy…and insignificant in your eyes…
With that, the girl flung the bag into the bin with a loud thud, instantly receiving stares from the waiters and waitresses of the lounge.
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