Chapter 14

Sesshomaru POV

I knocked on Rin's door early Saturday morning one week after we got back from Regionals. I had noticed that the violin she was using was beginning to show its age so I was going to take her to an old friend's shop to pick out a new one. Not that she knew about this. Yet

It took a few minutes but I finally heard footsteps approaching the door. It opened and I stood looking at Rin's mother, still in her bathrobe. Rin's mother was very well known in the music world and actually one of my idols, not that I was going to tell Rin.

"Hello, Mrs. Blackwell," I said politely, "is Rin home?"

Mrs. Blackwell smiled and said, "Good morning, Sesshomaru. Yes, she's in but not out of bed yet. Would you like to come in?"

I smiled and walked in. "Sorry, Ms. Blackwell," I said, "but I plan on forcing Rin to enjoy my company for the day. Do you mind?"

Rin's mother looked at me for a long minute before a grin spread out over her face. "Up the stairs, second door on the right," she said, "I'll have coffee and muffins waiting for you."

I laughed in delight. Oh yes, this truly was an amazing woman. I ran up the stairs, taking two at a time and softly opened Rin's door.

The room was purple with posters on every wall and half a dozen shelves all filled with music trophies. I smiled at the sight of the Regional and State ribbons on one of the shelves and then turned my attention to the bed.

Rin was curled up in a tight ball and covered with at least three blankets. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, eyes closed with long lashes curled, and long black spread out to cover the entire pillow. I actually thought she looked angelic which I was sure was going to last all of five more seconds.

I stood over the sleeping girl and said in a loud, clear voice, "Time to wake up Rin!"

For a second, nothing happened and then Rin sleepily opened her eyes and blinked up at me. I watched in amusement as she slowly realized there was someone in her room who was not her mother or father. Rin's eyes stretched in surprise, then shock.

"Sesshomaru!" she shrieked and sat bolt upright, clutching the sheet to her chest. "What in world are you doing here?" she demanded and then looked around the dark room and down at herself in a nightgown. Her face flushed even more and shouted, "Sesshomaru!"

Another grin broke across my face and I answered smoothly, "Get changed, Rin. We're going shopping."

She blinked up and me. "What?"

"We are going shopping," I repeated patiently, "for a new violin for you. So get dressed and come on down. Your beautiful mother has coffee and muffins waiting." With that I turned and walked out the door, shutting it behind me.

As I was going down the stairs I heard Rin yell, "MOM!"

I laughed at Mrs. Blackwell's expression of innocence as I walked into the kitchen and helped myself to a chocolate muffin. "She's not a morning person is she?" I asked Rin's mother.

"Not in the least," Mrs. Blackwell said with a smile, "Anyways what are you guys doing today?"

"Shopping for a new violin," I said carefully, "the one she's using is getting pretty old and she will need a new one before Nationals and needs plenty of time to practice."

Mrs. Blackwell turned and studied me for a very long moment. Finally she said, "I think this is a good thing for her, Sesshomaru. I also think you have been very good for her these last few months. Just… keep an eye on her will you. She may not act like it but today's going to be another big step."

"I'll keep both eyes on her, Mrs. Blackwell," I promised, very seriously.

Just them Rin came pounding down the stairs and into the kitchen with a scowl on her face. She was wearing a bright orange casual dress with black leggings and big black boots. She stood staring at the two of us with an extremely menacing look.

Luckily, Mrs. Blackwell jumped right in. "Good morning, Rin," she said brightly, "Sesshomaru's here to take you shopping for a new violin! Isn't that nice of him?"

Rin glared at me and answered coldly, "Oh yes. Of course it is." She grabbed a muffin and chewed on it, still glaring in my direction.

I didn't say anything but as soon as she finished, she leapt up and said, "Ok, let's roll. Don't worry Mrs. Blackwell; I'll have her back to you by four this afternoon."

Rin's mom waved her hand at us and exclaimed, "Oh, never mind me! You two take all the time you need."

Rin shot her mother a nasty look but allowed herself to be dragged out the front door. "You know," I said conversationally, "I'm rather surprised your mother just let a strange boy come and drag her daughter away to do who knows what."

"My mom knows you," Rin replied sourly, "Besides, she's a good judge of character or at least she was. Where are we going anyway?"

"To see my family's old friend, Mr. Holland. He owns an instrument shop and truly is one of the best. If you are ever going to find a new violin it will be there," I replied.

Rin was silent for a while and finally said, "Ok."

"Ok?" I asked, surprise at her quick agreement.

Rin nodded, totally serious. "I've been avoiding this for way too long," she said simply, "I won't be much help at Nationals without a new violin so now is as good a time as any. Besides, I only accept from the best."

"Then we're going to the right place," I said with a grin. We walked in silence and I once again marveled on how comfortable we could be with each other and have no need for words. After fifteen minutes of walking and a short taxi drive we were there.

Rin cocked an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "This is it?"

I glanced at her in amusement, totally unsurprised with her reaction. Instead of a large and ornate building in the middle of the city, we were on a back street staring up at a little shabby but endearing house. "Mr. Holland likes to run his business from his home," I said, "but don't worry, as soon as you walk in, you'll understand."

Rin shot me a disbelieving look but obediently opened the front door. A little bell rang and we walked into the shop. Rin stopped and said, "Wow."

I bit back a grin and led her further into the store. The walls were lined with about every string and percussion instrument imaginable. There were violins, harps, cellos, violas, drums and many, many more.

Rin stared about her in utter delight and exclaimed, "This is so cool!"

"I'm glad to hear it," said a voice from our left, "I'm always happy to hear when someone appreciates my work."

We turned to face a man in his early sixties wearing a tweed jacket and warm smile. "Hello, Mr. Holland," I said, "this is the girl I was telling you about, Rin Blackwell. We're looking to get her a new violin."

"All your instruments are beautiful," Rin said slowly, reaching out to shake hands.

Mr. Holland smiled and said, "Thank you miss. And may I say, Rin Tsukimori, I am one happy soul to see you playing again. You truly are magnificent."

Rin stiffened for a moment, then realized. "Thanks, Mr. Holland," she said, "Want to show me some of these great violins?"

"It would be a pleasure," the man replied and the two off them were off into their own little world. Meanwhile, I was content to take a seat and simply watch them. Mr. Holland was incredibly knowledgeable and would be able to get Rin the best violin around, I had no doubt.

We were at the shop for the better part of two hours as Rin finally decided on a violin and tried to get Mr. Holland to lower the price. I walked over and saw that Rin had picked out a truly beautiful piece. It had dark wood, was slender and had perfect strings. Smiling, I turned away. It was the exact violin I had noticed over an hour ago and had decided it would be the one I would have gotten. Great minds think alike.

"Thanks a lot, Mr. Holland," Rin said, a little teary eyed, "this is such a great violin. I'll always play it to the best of my abilities."

"Abilities that stretch farther than any young lady I've ever met," Mr. Holland answered gently.

We walked out of the store with Rin clutching her new violin case as if it was the most precious possession in the world. Come to think of it, it very well might be.

Rin looked up at me with a wild grin, the wind blowing her hair all around her face and exclaimed, "I had forgotten how good it felt to get a new instrument! I always felt like there was nothing I couldn't accomplish."

"Me too," I said softly, thinking about all my violins over the years.

Rin stared down at the ground and muttered something under her breath. "What was that?" I asked. Rin sighed dramatically and looked up, saying, "Thanks Sesshomaru. I needed a little push and you were there to help."

"Oh, believe me," I said lifting my hands out in front of me, "it was my total pleasure."

The girl turned her evil eye on me and continued, "I am not saying that walking into my room like you owned the place was the best way to do it."

I reached down and tweaked her nose. "Oh come on," I replied cheerfully, "you're cute when you sleep. Wouldn't have wanted to miss that."

Rin turned beat red and spluttered, "You're such a-"

My laugher cut through her words and she fell into a furious silence. After a while she calmed down and we began to talk about Nationals. We both agreed it was going to be absolutely amazing.

We reached Rin house an hour later after a stop at the café we had ran in to each other while Rin had still been refusing to join us. Rin went up to her front door before turning around and saying, "You know in a strange way I had fun today."

"Me too," I answered, "That violin will do you well. Mr. Holland is the best around."

"I don't doubt that for a minute," Rin replied, "see you soon, Sesshomaru."

As I waited for my driver to pick me up, out of sight from Rin's house, I continued to think about the black haired girl. For such a long time and had resented her and tried to beat her, only to fail almost every single time. I had never really thought of her as a real person during that time, just another obstacle to overcome.

Now, here we were, best of friends and going to Nationals as a team, not against each other. As my car pulled up I decided that I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

Sorry for the long delay, there were technical problems on both my beta's and my computers. Anyways hope you all enjoy and REVIEW!