Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha in any way shape or form. The beautiful manga and anime belong only to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own the idea of the Lying Games or the figure of A from the Pretty Little Liars. Those ideas belong to Sara Shepard. But Kira and Kenji belong to me. Also, I created the sorority.
Summary: When seventeen year old Rin Fumiko began her first year at Shikon University, she didn't expect to be to be courted by the powerful and dangerously sexy Sesshomaru Takahashi. She didn't expect to fall in love. And she damn sure didn't expect to get caught up in her lying games. As Rin tries to keep a mind-blowing secret from him, she's also trying to keep herself and her friends safe from an unknown figure with ties to her past. Who is this stranger? Why is he after her and her friends? And what will happen when Sesshomaru discovers the truth?
Chapter 5: The Charm
Rin groaned as she walked out of Sesshomaru's English classroom after being informed that he was in the one he taught history in. She officially hated the guy now. Okay, not really, but she was definitely heated. Luckily, she had removed the sweaty clothing from earlier and wore something lighter.
Rin donned a cute little crinkled, one-shouldered floral dress that fell to the middle of her thighs. It was lightweight, colored taupe and rose, and had a woven light brown belt that looped around the loose dress, revealing an hourglass figure for Rin's petite frame. The brightness of the dress really showed off the light tan Rin had acquired over the summer. Her bracelet was still around wrist and her earrings were feathery and grazed her shoulders. Rin sported some sexy shades that were studded with diamonds and her lips were simply glossed, revealing the natural pinkness of them. And she wore simple ballet flats. She looked cute and no, it wasn't for Sesshomaru. At least…that's what she had told herself when she was dressing.
Once at the door, Rin shoved it open to reveal Sesshomaru reading at his desk with reading glasses on. Note to self: avoid teacher if he's wearing reading glasses. Definitely sexy. Ignoring the sexiness, Rin huffed and stomped towards a seat, one by the window. She grinned inwardly, feeling Sesshomaru watch her body as she sat, crossing her legs.
"You're late," he told her expressionlessly. Rin rolled her eyes. Tell me something I don't know.
"Well, maybe you should specify which classroom you're teaching in. You do have two." They stared at each other before Rin lowered her gaze. "Alright, I'm here. What now?" Sesshomaru went back to reading, ignoring her question. Rin sighed, removing her shades and sitting back in her seat. Without wanting to, her eyes fixated on him.
The light blue shirt he wore really brought out his light skin and silvery hair. The shirt stretched at the impressive chest beneath it down to the narrow waist and whatever else that was hidden below his desk. His muscular arms – which held her when they danced and in her dreams – were slightly flexed as he held up the book, captivating her. But those damned eyes. She'd seen them somewhere before –
"Because of your behavior in class, I am assigning you an extra credit assignment that you will work on in the afternoons of the days you don't have me for the next two months." She hadn't even noticed he had moved until he dropped a heavy history book onto the desk. Rin jumped, startled.
"What the hell?" She snapped. Sesshomaru stared down at her.
"I brought you in here to work, not daydream," he said with a slight smirk, amused. Rin blushed at being caught staring. Asshole, she snapped at him mentally. She glanced at the book.
"I got smart with you in English. Why are you giving me a history book?" Not to mention, the book was huge. It was a weight Rin could use for lifting. Screw going to the gym!
"Because I want to. Any objections," Sesshomaru challenged. Rin didn't reply. She clenched her jaw instead. "Good. Now, you will be here taking notes for two hours. I expect you to answer all of the questions on page fifty." Rin gaped at his back when Sesshomaru walked back to his desk.
"This is a book about dog demons. You said that we wouldn't go into specific demon groups until second semester." Not that Rin really had much to complain about. Sesshomaru was a dog demon, right? Maybe the book could answer her questions, like the reason why he is the way he is. She wanted to get to know him.
"Do you always question your superiors?" And she wanted to punch him.
"Are you always this insufferable?" Sesshomaru didn't reply, so Rin flipped through the pages.
"This is a lot of reading in two hours." Sesshomaru shrugged and took his seat, picking up his book.
"Well, then maybe you should stop wasting time," he said with an amused grin. Rin shot him a glare. Well, there goes horseback riding with Kira.
For almost an hour straight, Rin read the book and answered annoyingly complex questions that made her hate life. Sure, she played the eye game with Sesshomaru; when one wasn't looking, the other would stare. But now, the game was getting old and by this time, Rin couldn't answer any more questions.
How does a female know she has a mate with a dog demon? What the hell kind of question was that? Rin damn sure didn't know the answers and the text wasn't specific enough. All it talked about was that dog demons were possessive, protective, albeit overprotective, and one of the most passionate creatures known. Rin glanced at Sesshomaru. She faintly wondered how passionate he could be. Stop it, she warned her mind.
"You've been sitting here for the last ten minutes daydreaming. You're not exactly the best student, are you?" Rin shot him a look.
"You're not exactly the ideal teacher, bub," she shot back and smirked. "I can't get this last question. Other than that, I'm done." Sesshomaru up from his desk and walked to Rin's desk. On instinct, Rin backed away slightly. She missed the smirk on his face as he peered down at her book, invading her personal space.
"It's a simple question, really," he said. Rin, having forgotten to breathe, exhaled heavily before giving him her signature glare.
"Well, if it were so simple, I'd have the answer, don't ya think?" Sesshomaru stared back at her face and Rin inhaled sharply. His eyes were so intense, the golden color intensified and smoldering. And they were unusually close, so close that if Rin wanted to, she could lean over and press her lips against his. She was even fantasizing how his lips would feel. Rough, maybe? And definitely warm. What would he taste like?
It's still summer and it's hot, she told herself mentally. And the heat's making you think irrationally. She really wanted to believe that, but the warmth pooling between her legs said otherwise.
Rin watched as Sesshomaru's eyes darted from her eyes to her lips and back again, causing her to swallow and lick her lips, which felt dry at the moment. His right hand – which had currently been gripping the edge of the desk – moved. Rin didn't know if this was by accident or not, but when he lowered the hand, his claws softly grazed her exposed thigh before reaching up to his pocket.
Her skin burned where his claw had been. She exhaled again and watched him pull a pen from his pocket. Sesshomaru marked her paper with an A- before staring back at her.
"When a female is born, her mate will automatically sense that she exists, no matter where they are on the planet," he explained. "A mark, a symbol of him, will appear on a random area of her body. It will burn when she is born, thus causing her to cry loudly enough for her mate to know where she is. Then, at a certain age, she will start wearing something – anything – that symbolizes she is his. She will never take it off. Dog demons have specific things that their mates will have; necklaces, watches, and charms, etc. It's a matter of who your mate is."
Rin was fixated on his mouth as he spoke, how eloquent and perfect he sounded. How his lips moved. She found something to truly obsess over and Kami, the way they moved as he spoke made her wonder how they'd feel against hers, against her skin…
"And when they finally meet? Does the courting automatically happen or what?" Rin didn't know what possessed her to ask, but she found herself intrigued. So, was there supposed to be fireworks? And what happened if they just didn't like each other? Sesshomaru's eyes held a dark emotion in them, bordering on something and…lust. Oh Kami.
"That is completely up to the female, if she accepts the courting," he told her. Rin didn't notice how close they had gotten.
"But how can she not? If two people are meant to be, how can either deny it?" Their faces were too close, but Rin for the life of her could not pull away.
"Again, that is completely up to her…or in this case, them." It was just like that night at the bar. They were just so close and –
!
The timer on Sesshomaru's desk went off, signaling that it was time for Rin to leave. She pulled back instinctively, breathing heavily. Sesshomaru stared at her for a long time, the faintest hint of…is his eye turning red? Rin gasped.
"S-Sesshomaru?" Sesshomaru blinked, the normal golden color returning to his eyes. He turned from her abruptly, leaving Rin feeling cold and empty without the heat he'd been emanating.
"You can leave now." Rin didn't need to be told twice. Gathering her bag and pen, she practically raced out of the room and down the hallway. She stopped and leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath.
What the fuck was wrong with her? Rin sighed and placed her hand on her forehead, trying to control her breathing. Her bracelet jingled and something caught her eyes. She glanced at all of the charms before settling on the puppy charm. She remembered the way her mother had looked at her when she first saw it, as if she knew something Rin hadn't at the time. Observing it, her eyes fell on the puppy's golden ones. Time stopped.
Her puppy charm had gold eyes and was white. Sesshomaru had golden eyes and silvery-white hair. Sesshomaru said mates held things symbolizing their alphas, or mates. Rin's eyes widened. Holy. Fuck. This was not happening. She couldn't be….it wasn't possible!
She needed help and fast.
"It's complicated," Rin cried out, sinking into the cushion of the sofa. Kagura smiled sympathetically at her play sister, leaning up from her bed.
"Sounds complicated, kiddo." Rin groaned before grabbing the smoothie she'd been craving all day. Immediately, a refreshing burst of cool strawberry and bananas electrified her taste buds and slid down her throat. Rin sighed.
"And what was with my questions? Ugh! I am so confused right now and this is only the first week." Kagura chuckled at Rin's expression.
"I know, right? First week and you've got issues and your friends have issues. Sucks to be y'all right now." Rin's eyes narrowed into slits at Kagura.
"Thanks for rubbing it in." Kagura shrugged.
"Just doing my job as your big sister." Rin sighed again.
"And these fucking texts –
"What texts?" No reply. Kagura sat up fully now. "Rin Mizuki Fumiko, answer me. What texts?" Rin gulped. Kagura meant business when she used middle names.
"Random ones. Nothing important…" Rin glanced at her phone, which hadn't gone off today. She was surprised there weren't any texts, especially after the way she had rushed away from Sesshomaru.
"Obviously, they're important if you mentioned them." Rin avoided Kagura's eyes. "Rin, what aren't you telling me?" Rin opened her mouth, but no words came out. Just as Kagura was about to start pressing the matter, a knock was heard followed by the door opening to reveal Kira. "Hey, Miss Cotton Candy."
"My name's Kira," Kira said. Kagura rolled her eyes and shrugged.
"Duh. We all know who your name is. Kenji's got it tattooed across his chest, remember?" Kira's cheeks flushed pink and Rin smirked. She remembered when he had gotten the tattoo. It had been painful for him and painful for her to watch. But once it had healed, the work was marvelous and every time he was shirtless, every girl sulked. Kira definitely had the boy by his heart strings and none of them could take him, not even Kanna, Kagura's slutty ass sister.
"I need help," Kira admitted, plopping down onto the couch beside Rin. Rin smiled at her best friend, holding her hand.
"You're not the only, sugar," Rin told her. Kira smiled. Kagura stared at the two girls with a chuckle before standing and clasping her hands together, looking all too sophisticated and motherly at the same time.
"Come on, girls. Tell Auntie Kagura what the problem is." Kagura stared pointedly at Rin, but it was Kira who answered.
"I think I need to break up with Kenji." Silence filled the room.
Rin's eyes were wide.
Kagura's mouth was wide open and her hands fell loosely.
No. Fucking. Way.
"WHAT!" Both girls yelled. Kira sighed, staring at her hands.
"I think it's time that I end this," Kira said. Before Rin could interject, she continued. "We go on days without talking or him just plainly avoiding me for reasons he has yet to explain. There's so many secrets going on and it feels like can't trust me. And what's a relationship without trust?" Rin turned in the seat to fully face Kira.
"Honey, are you sure? I mean, you love him –
"But it doesn't feel like he really loves me." Kira's eyes watered, surprising Rin. Kira cried, yes. But it had been so long since Kira truly cried in front of Rin. The last time she had seen the pink-haired beauty cry was when Kenji gave her a romantic speech in front of the entire cafeteria. A lone tear escaped Kira's eye. "If this is supposed to be love, then why does it hurt so much?"
Rin didn't have an answer.
"Because…love hurts. Love scars. And love is so beautiful, the pain seems minor. It's magnificent and its heartbreaking. Love is like a charm; you wear it every day and hope like hell it blesses you with something beautiful. Sometimes it does; other times, it doesn't." Kagura spoke dreamily, staring out the window as if she knew. As if she had loved herself. She shook her head and smiled at Kira sympathetically. "It's complicated…but then again, so is life. It's the decisions you make in life that can either uncomplicate things or make them worse." She stared at both girls, hoping that the words reached both.
Rin stared at the wall, blinking back angry tears. She was angry with Kenji for making his relationship with Kira so bad. She was angry that she wasn't a good friend and just told her the truth. She was angry that Kira was so vulnerable. She was angry that Kagura was so smart. She was angry because…she felt something and she didn't know what the hell it was. But she knew one thing…it damn sure wasn't love.
Kira swiped the tears from her eyes and stared at Kagura. The decisions you make in life, huh? Kira sighed. She knew exactly what her decision was. She just didn't know what the outcome would be.