(Author's notes)

Ok, here's the other chapter, just like I promised! ^_^

(Story)

Sesshomaru was now sitting on a blanket placed on the corner floor of the greenhouse. Sesshomaru couldn't help but think how warm and cozy it was in the greenhouse rather that the crisp chill outside; and he was truly grateful to Rin's Aunt for making them so comfortable. Every once in a while, he would look up from his own notepad to see Rin wandering around the greenhouse, inspecting the colors and textures and smells of the different flowers in the greenhouse. Rin eventually returned to the blanket and sat down next to him as she jotted down more ideas on her notepad.

"Any luck?" Sesshomaru asked.

"I think so! It'll definitely have to be a creative thinking passage though, and not a poem like I was planning before!" Rin said as she excitedly write down more ideas and notes. Sesshomaru just smiled at her excitement. However, it slowly disappeared as he heaved a sigh and readied himself to ask her about the ticket.

"Rin, I know that it may not be any of my business, and I'm sorry if I'm getting into something too personal but…did you really buy your own Homecoming ticket? From what I last heard, Kohaku was supposed to give it to you." Sesshomaru asked. Rin heaved a small sigh before answering.

"Yes, I bought it myself. I just got so sick of playing cat-and-mouse with the idiot that I just had to show him that I was done with his games! I was done with his attitude. I left him a text and voicemail telling him that that I was done. I'm tired of this mess!" Rin exclaimed in frustration as she stared at her list.

"…I'm sorry that you had to do that Rin." Sesshomaru apologized.

"No, don't be. I'm glad that this whole ordeal is over. I've been getting myself so worried over somebody who clearly doesn't want to deal with me! I'm not going to go frantic over somebody who doesn't even care!" Rin exclaimed again. At this point, she'd set down her paper and pencil next to her in frustration, and Sesshomaru wondered if maybe he had upset her too much by bringing up the question.

"Because…I know that this may seem selfish but…I'm one of those kinds of people that doesn't like their efforts to go to waste! I don't like to be with people who I offer my friendship to and they think that they can just ignore me, and give nothing back to me! One, that's just heartless! And two, I'd feel…I'd feel…" Rin explained. As her voice grew quieter and she tilted her head away from him, Sesshomaru was starting to think that he might really have upset her. But before he could even reach out and touch her, she glanced back at him with watery eyes. Sesshomaru felt his stomach turn a bit as he saw that face. That face that was smiling and laughing, like it was a few minutes ago, was now transformed into sadness and a desperate need to cry.

"…I-I feel like such a failure as a friend! That I'm just not good enough for somebody, or anybody! That I can…afford to be forgotten…" Rin said. She was now fighting with her voice to stop trembling, and her eyes to stop watering. She then noticed that she was crying in front of Sesshomaru, and she turned her head away and brought her hand to her eyes to rub the tears and soft sniffles away. However, she couldn't hide from him for very long. Before she'd fully wiped her tears away, she felt Sesshomaru's long arms wrap around her petite shoulders and he pulled her toward him. All Rin could do was just sit there and let herself be held.

"…Rin, don't say such silly things. There's no way that you could ever be forgotten..." Sesshomaru said as he held her. Rin then started to feel herself sink into his arms as she heard those comforting words.

"You're too kind for people to forget your gentleness. You're too generous for people to forget your smile…you're just much too special to be forgotten by anybody. So please, don't talk yourself down like this. It won't do you any good." Sesshomaru said as he started to loosen his grip. He loosened it, but he didn't let her out of his arms as she slowly stared up at him. Rin just stared in awe at this man who was being so kind to her and telling her the things her shaky heart needed to hear.

"…If I can't talk myself down, then…can I at least cry for a little bit longer?" Rin quietly asked. Sesshomaru didn't say a word, but he did nod his head in consent as he gently looked down at her. With that nod, Rin tilted her head down and let herself fall into Sesshomaru's chest again. Sesshomaru just held her as he felt a warm teardrops fall onto his chest. She didn't sob, but he did manage to hear a few more soft sniffles then there was before, and then eventually a few hiccups. At that moment, Sesshomaru just caged her in with his arms; caged her in from all of the hurt and troubles of the world. And, he couldn't help but notice for a spit second, that he had of feeling of protection for this freshman, that he wanted to protect her from this torment again.

Oh Rin…you're making me go soft…you truly are too special to be forgotten…certainly by my standards.

With that thought, Sesshomaru gave her one final tight embrace, helping her squeeze the rest of her tears out onto his chest.

(Author's notes)

Ok, I feel so much better now and that I didn't let you guys down. As always, please comment! ^_^