(Author's Notes)

Heya people! Another update, and one that actually came along kinda quickly! What new, well, the only big news I can share for this week is that I turn 20 today. I am SOOOOOO happy that I'm leaving behind my teenage years! I no longer have that icky 'een' at the end of my age!

Anyways, here's continuation of Freshman Year.

(Story)

Rin was back in the choir room changing out of her outfit back into her normal clothes. She'd had enough of being in uniforms and a dress all day long. Loose t-shirt, sweatshirt, and sneakers were heaven to her right now. However, her change of attire didn't stop people from recognizing her and congratulating her on her solo. She couldn't even get away from her family and Sango.

"Oh my gosh, gosh, Rin you were so good!" Sango said, hugging Rin and lifting her off the ground. Kagome joined in the hug.

"Rin, you looked like a star just now! You need to sing like that more often!" Kagome exclaimed. Rin felt herself get crushed by the girls hug.

"Y-yeah thanks but…I need to breathe to keep on singing…and living!" Rin wheezed out. The girls quickly let go of her.

"Sorry…you know I'm a hugger when I get excited!" Sango said to her.

"I know, I know." Rin said as she quickly forgave her.

"But hey, Kagome, tell Mom and Dad I'll be right there. I'm gonna go get a quick drink." Rin said. Kagome just nodded her head as Rin made her way to the hallway water fountain. She didn't get a chance to get a drink of water before her solo, so her throat was dry and irritating.

Rin once again had to pry her way through comments on her solo to finally make it to a water fountain. The cold water coating her throat felt so nice and fulfilling to her now dry throat. She gulped down the water until she needed to breathe a full air again. She quickly stood back up and was wiping her mouth when she saw a familiar face appearing from the crowd. She waved her hand over to him.

"Heya Sesshomaru." Rin said as he made his way over towards her. He stopped dead in front of her. He frightened her a little bit by how wide his eyes were.

"Rin…how long have you been singing?" Sesshomaru asked her. Rin just shook her head a bit, shocked by the random question.

"W-what?" She asked.

"You told me that you were interested in music but…I had no idea that you could sound like that!" Sesshomaru stated, a slight smile forming on her face. Rin felt herself blush a bit.

"I've always liked music, I just…never really wanted to sing in front of a crowd until this year for some odd reason." Rin said, not daring to tell Sesshomaru that she tried out for the solo for his approval. And by the look on his face, she succeeded.

"I've never seen you look like that before." Sesshomaru stated. Rin just looked at him.

"Looked like what?" She asked.

"So comfortable, deep, and relaxed. I've never seen you like that, not even in some of our writing exercises." Sesshomaru held his hands out to her, trying to form his words through them.

"You just…shined…" He finished, looking her dead in the eye with a look of wonder. Rin just stared back at him amazed at what just came out of his mouth.

"…You really think so?" Rin said, proud of herself. She was hoping that she would've gotten a smile or nod of some sort like he did in their writing sessions; but she never expected a stream of compliments such as that. Sesshomaru was about to respond when he looked behind her and stood straight up, straight faced. Rin turned around to see what he was looking at.

"Oh, Headmistress" Rin addressed their school principal. A lean middle aged woman with salt and pepper medium hair. She wore a simple navy blue suit with matching shoes and carried herself in a demeaning manner as she approached Rin and Sesshomaru. She stopped in front of Rin as she and Sesshomaru bowed at their headmistress.

"Good evening Sesshomaru, Rin." She spoke in a quiet but firm tone.

"Rin, first off, I'm so proud of how you performed tonight. You really have a gift for the stage." The Headmistress said as she smiled at an uneasy Rin. Rin just smiled and bowed at her in return. The Headmistress continued.

"Rin, you weren't aware of this because you are not a Senior this year, but we've had a music professor from a University come by and evaluate our program. He would like to have a few words with you." She stated. Rin immediately felt her stomach drop and her chest clench.

"O-of course ma'am." Rin replied. The headmistress then turned and two men, one middle aged and one elderly and wearing glasses, wearing suits, stepped forward.

"Rin, this is Professor Hiroshi Sagisu." She pointed to the elderly man. Rin just smiled and bowed at them and they did the same. Sagisu then took one more step towards Rin, dismissing the Headmistress out of the conversation.

"Rin Higarashi, as your Headmistress explained to me, only the Seniors in your choir were aware that I was coming to your program because I was here to evaluate them and the program. You see, I evaluate them and help them decipher what they need to do or improve their skills to help them continue studying music when they enter a University. But, your performance tonight was so wonderful, I felt compelled to share this with you." He finished as he reached into his bag and pulled out a colorful booklet. He handed it to Rin, and gave her a moment to flip through it. It was obviously a musical program of some sorts. There was a band and choir and all of these different auditoriums that they were singing in. There was information about the people who ran the program, alumni, and the conductors, one of them being Sagisu. After she flipped through the pamphlet, Sagisu continued.

"This is a summer program that we reserve mostly for high school Seniors and college students, but I'm willing to make an exception for you. In mid-July, you will be traveling to a local University for a couple days preparation. Then, you will be attending a Performing Arts school abroad in America to study and hone their musical and English skills. After a three week study period, the group then tours around the Western Regions of America before returning home." Sagisu explained, showing her pictures of the Universities that she would be attending, a map of the touring destinations for the choir. All the Rin could do was staring at the pamphlet, wide eyed, and taken aback by what she was hearing from this man.

"S-Sagisu-sensei…I'm flattered that you think I could qualify for such a program, and this all sounds wonderful but…I don't know what made me get your attention tonight. Will all due respect what makes you think that a high school freshman is qualified to do something like this?" Rin asked looking back up, staring at the intense, stern face of this man. Rin felt her heart leap she felt so intimidated.

"Rin, anybody can learn about pitches, rhythms, adagio, fortissimos, pianissimo, forte, anybody can learn about the technicalities of music. But what you did on the stage just now, what caught my attention just now, was how you listened to the music that you were performing. You thought about that the words within the music meant, and used the technical instructions in the music to help the music tell its story. You perform the music and its story. Very few people have that gift at your age." He explained. He then tapped his finger on the pamphlet.

"This program isn't just a learning experience. At the end of all the classroom hours, we tour. We collaborate. We perform. We become ambassadors representing our musical talent and ability. You're skill would be invaluable to a program such as this, and give you a taste of what the professional music industry is like." He then took the pamphlet and flipped it towards the back, where a registration form was inserted into the program.

"I'm not asking you to make your decision now. Talk with your family, your Headmistress. If you decide not to attend the program, that's fine. But, if you're interested, fill out this program and have it sent to us by the end of February. Ok?" Sagisu finished. Rin was still taken aback by this offer, but managed to smile and bow, telling him that she understood. He just smiled and bowed back at her before turning towards the auditorium. Rin could only assume that he was off to meet the Seniors for their evaluations. Rin just stared at the packet in her hand and flipping through the pages. She couldn't believe what had just happened to her. She had initially tried out for the solo to gain the attention of Sesshomaru, she never expected that she would be invited to America to sing and tour with a choir. She was shaken out of her trance by the Headmistresses voice and a hand on her shoulder.

"Rin, why don't we go discuss Sagisu-sensei's offer to your parents and see what they think." She said, pushing her in the direction of the auditorium. Rin looked back nervously at Sesshomaru, who had his eyebrows furrowed in slight frustration. Any headmaster was thrilled to show off a student whenever they got the chance, and the Headmistress was no exception. He could tell she was going to try to convince her parents to let Rin go abroad…but he could tell that Rin felt rushed and overwhelmed by her attitude towards it. Sesshomaru quickly caught up to Rin and just stood by her side, walking with her. Just having him there, Rin felt much more secure and safe…like having a gentle giant of a guard dog by her side as she was thrown back into the fury of the auditorium and the rush or her Headmistress explaining the pamphlet to Rin's parents.

(Author's notes)

As always, review, comment, criticize, and most importantly if I don't update this before the holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! XD