(Author's Notes)

Heya people! Two chapters already, I'm on a roll again! This is a good thing 'cause I hate having writers block! Work tended to get in the way too. Hopefully in mid-August when I return home, I can use the couple weeks I have of nothing but free time to major think and major update. Until then I'll do my very best.

(Story)

Once inside, the five-some formed their own little territory on the side of the gym. They didn't start dancing right away. They didn't want to tire themselves out before the night even began. Rin couldn't help but dart her eyes around the gym looking for Sesshomaru. He'd already told her he was helping DJ the Homecoming, so she followed the speaker wires with her eyes. She finally found him, sitting at the table with another senior looking over music options. As they both glanced over the crowd, Sesshomaru caught sight of Rin. He smiled slightly and nodded at her, acknowledging her. Rin smiled and returned the nod, instantly feeling safer just knowing that he was in the same room with her.

However, as Rin continued glancing around the room, there was one face she couldn't see…Kohaku. Sango had told her that he'd already caught a ride her with a few of his friends, but they hadn't arrived yet. Just as she was about to ask Sango if she'd seen him here yet, she noticed a boy with a familiar looking, poofy, high ponytail. Problem was, he was sneaking his way on the side of the crowd and heading for the back door.

"Hey, Sango…" Rin said as she gently tugged Sango aside from the others. Sango leaned in to her, noting the hint of concern in Rin's voice.

"Rin, what's wrong?" Sango whispered to Rin.

"Do you remember when I told you about Kohaku, and you told me to let you know if I thought something was wrong?" Rin replied. Sango quickly faced Rin with a stern look, like she was getting ready for one of her martial arts matches. Rin nodded her head to the door. Sango and Rin moved away from the group to head to the back door of the gym. Kagome couldn't help but notice the two sneaking away, so she slipped away from the boys when the two were caught up in a conversation. By the time Kagome reached them, the two were already poking their heads out the back door.

"Girls, what are you doing all the way back here, come back to the dance floor so that we can catch some good music!" Kagome said as she approached them. Sango turned around with a hint on anger in her face. Rin had completely ignored her.

"…What's going on?" Kagome said, finally worried. Sango tilted her head toward the exit of the door.

"See for yourself while I go get a teacher…before I kick my brother's puny, sorry, little ass myself!" Sango said as she quickly walked past Kagome to find a teacher. Kagome stood there in a moment of confusion until she came back to her senses and peeked out the door. There she saw Kohaku and his friends gathered in a circle together. When Kohaku turned around, she finally saw why Sango was so pissed. He laughed at his friends before taking a gulp of the beer that was in his hands. She immediately turned to Rin.

"Rin, come here…" Kagome said as she grabbed her sister's shoulders, pulling her back through the door. However, before she could get another word out of her mouth, she saw Sango come back with not just a teacher, but the principle. They both walked out the door and Sango knew exactly where to lead them. Kagome didn't even want to know what she had in store for her brother and his friends. Kagome shook her head as she turned back to her sister.

"Rin…you feeling ok right now?" Kagome said with a look of concern on her face. Rin finally tilted her head back up, and she definitely had a sense of dark anger about her.

"Yeah…I'm fine. Seeing him with the alcohol just…brought back a thought I thought I'd locked away forever." Rin said, her eyes locked in a distant past. Kagome brought and hand to her sister's face.

"Yeah I know…but hey…" Kagome said as she stroked her sister's hair.

"Don't let is ruin your evening, ok. Just dance with us and… get lost in it tonight…ok?" Kagome said. Rin shook her head as she came back to her senses.

"Yeah, I just need a couple minutes, then I'll be back…ok" Rin said reassuringly to her sister. Kagome nodded her head in return and respected Rin's request, leaving her alone by the door for a few minutes. Rin then stepped outside and just took a moment to observe everything, the trees, the moonlight, the garden the Nature Club had grown around the school. She breathed in the cool and crisp night air. The bitterness of it alerted her to nature as it gave her goose bumps. She wrapped her arms around herself as she lost herself in nature for a moment. Even the music was blocked out. It was quiet, and muted to her until…

"Rin?"

(Author's notes)

I've already started writing the next chapter down in my notebook, so we'll see how much farther I need to write stuff down before I can completely plan out my next chapter by just stream of consciousness. Until then, again, please don't be mad since I'm working very hard to earn money that'll get me through the next school year! O.o