1

A large black iron gate opened before us when Kisuke pulled onto a hidden driveway of a road I didn't see labeled with any signs indicating that this was the school. A major red flag that he should just turn the car around right now and leave me at home. At home I could take care of myself without being ordered around by strict professors and a strict headmaster. Mom and Kisuke could call me every other day to check up on me much easier.

When I looked around the area he drove along, all I saw was a long wall of forest, forest, and forest on both sides. Not my cup of tea. I enjoy the life of the city, surrounded by the sounds of passing cars, people yelling at each other, and being able to go on walks and not have to worry about an animal predator looking to make a meal out of me. "What a lovely area, Kisuke!" I heard my mother's cheerful voice upfront.

"Isn't it lovely my dear. Rin, what do you think?" I looked forward to seeing Kisuke looking back at me through his rearview mirror with that same charming smile that won my mother's heart.

"Very green and wet." It looked as if they had a torrential downpour just recently. Possibly last night or this morning.

"You'll get used to the change!" Nope. Never. At least the rain in the city has its own musical tone to it when it hits the shingles at home. That was my white noise when I wanted to sleep peacefully. Here, the rain made it look like it would play the song April Showers from Disney's Bambi with it hitting the leaves.

"Are you sure I have to go here?" I crossed my arms, slumped back into my seat, looking back out the window.

"I know it's a big change, Rin. But I promise you'll grow to love it out here." How does that answer my question? "Remember you do get your own room and bathroom again." Still doesn't answer what I asked earlier. "I made sure your room has the best view on campus!" Ugh, I give up.

"Rin, dear." My mother turned back to look my way. "Please, don't take this the hard way. It's a big change that Kisuke and I talked about for a good few weeks. We want you to be able to open your horizons and meet others that might one day be your friend." Friend? More like fake friends. The girls I went to school with before acted fake and wanted to be my friend only because I was considered new money with a new style of clothes, they dreamed of owning one day. Outfits I wore after school. They hated that I was getting designer clothes that hadn't hit the shelves yet. Clothes they cried to their parents but didn't receive because they didn't have connections like Kisuke does.

"You know how I feel about meeting new people. I didn't make friends at my old school. What makes you think I'll make friends here?" I didn't even have any friends even before I was brought here. I like to keep to myself, and it will always stay that way.

"Well, you never know. Kids here might be different from the ones back home in the city!" I'll believe it when I see it. Which I know won't happen. When mom turned back around to face the front, "oh! I think I can see the school!"

I looked ahead to see a break in the trees and what looked to be a bit of a blue sky and dark grayish-white clouds. Looks like a storm will brew soon. When Kisuke pulled into the open area, I saw the school that will be my home for the next however many months I will be here. My new home was a large off-white stained marble stone castle built many years ago. Many towers from one end to the other, front and back what my eyes could see. Stained glass windows with the same design of what looks to be white dog. A castle for King Arthur and his many knights of the round table to live in. Gold flags blew with the wind, with the same symbol of a dog, but in black this time. Very odd for a symbol I must say. The dog looked more like a beast of a mythical dog.

When Kisuke pulled up by the steps I would soon walk up, the doors of the castle opened, and a petite woman came out and walked down the steps of the castle in a very proper way with her hands overlapping one another, palm up in front of her. Well fuck. It's one of these types of schools that teaches etiquette for girls like me. Etiquette that I don't have and don't want to learn. Something that I do not need to be taught.

Mom and Kisuke both got out first and I followed after they both stood before whoever this lady was. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Kiyama. I am the headmistress, Shima, Izayoi." She smiled at them blithely. Her long black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. She wore what all headmasters wear if they ran a school: a black pencil skirt, with matching blazer, and a white button-down shirt underneath. Her shoes were black heels, instead of the regular shoes I'm used to my old headmaster wearing. Then her welcoming gaze turned to me, "and you must be, Yamaguchi, Rin!" I kept my mom's original last name instead of taking Kisuke's. I wouldn't dare take my birth father's last name as it means nothing to me. He's a deadbeat dad that left mom when I was seven.

"I am." I wore dark tight skinny jeans, my half-cut leather waist biker jacket, a dark navy-blue tank top tucked in, and my black ankle boots, with a five-inch heel. I enjoyed the punk style. My long raven hair, which had a dip dye of hot pink at the ends, was pulled into a high ponytail, and hung off my right shoulder. I wore my black sunglasses that covered my red swollen eyes that were nearly dry for how hard I've cried.

"Welcome to Shikon Academy my dear. I hope you love your new home while you attend here." She continued to smile so happily and wide at me. "Why don't I show you to your room Rin," she snapped her finger and soon came out what looked to be servants? "Please gather Yamaguchi, Rin's belongings and take them to the west tower at the top, please." She never took her eyes off of me, gestured a hand for us to follow, but mostly me.

Mom and Kisuke linked their arms together and followed behind the headmaster. I waited ten seconds there deciding whether or not to break into a run, going the opposite direction, but then I remembered I can't run in heels, and made my way up the stone steps one at a time. Walking through the antique wooden front doors, I stopped when we got into the foyer. It was a bright lit room to where I thought it would be dark and eerie for being out in the middle of nowhere: Addams Family style. Instead, it looked more like Cinderella's castle. It actually reminded me of Kisuke's home. "So beautiful. How old is the school, Mrs. Shima?" I heard my mother ask as we were led down the hallway towards some hidden stairs behind long cream drapery. I noticed a few pairs of female students coming out from behind the curtain. They were dressed in what looked like uniforms. They wore a black blazer, a white button-down undershirt, and black skirt. Their shoes looked to be the usual ugly brown loafers that every schoolgirl wears. We walked past them, and I felt their eyes on my back and not giving a care to look back their way. Yes, I'm dressed differently and who cares. Haven't they ever seen a city girl before?

"The castle itself is close to seven hundred years old, Mrs. Kiyama." Seems much older. "The school was first open in the late nineteen-twenties." I wouldn't be surprised if she was lying. "My husband and I made sure that the school is always kept up to date with everything new that comes in through the years." I wonder how long it took to get actual plumbing and heating installed.

"That's amazing! Isn't that amazing, Rin?" Mom turned her head and looked my way with that smile she always carries.

How do I find a school I know that is way more than seven hundred years old cool? "I guess." We walked up the enclosed, rounded staircase, five steps behind one another. My heels echoed all around us with each step I took, and I didn't care. I love my heels. They were designed by Dolce and Gabbana. The heel part was in the shape of the letter D and was gold encrusted. Though I'm not much of a designer product owner, Kisuke got them for me because he knew that it was my style. He was right.

The walls around us held what looked to be ancient paintings of people I don't remember studying about in school. I guess I will learn about them here. One of the paintings that did catch my eyes was of a tall man with long silver hair past his waist, in all white haroi attire, and a black plated chest armor. Two or three swords rested against his hip and his eyes pierced gold. Strange I have to say. He doesn't even look human. More like… like an alien from another planet that came to earth centuries ago.

I don't know how long I looked at this painting when I heard, "Rin? Where did you go?"

"Coming," I called out, as I still couldn't look away. This alien was quite handsome. Handsomer than all the boys back home. What makes this alien more different is the markings on his pale face. A purple crescent moon in the middle of his forehead and two thin maroon triangles on both sides of his cheeks. "So handsome," and I finally made it the rest of the way up the stairs. When I said those words, I felt like I was being watched by the exact painting, but I didn't look back, and kept my eyes forward.

The hallway looked the same as it did down in the foyer, bright and a bit more whimsical. Too much for my taste. Silver sconces lit up the hallway about ten feet from each other. "Each wing contains the dormitories for our students. The back west and east wings are the girl's section and the boy's dormitories are in the front north and south wings." When I looked at the pale-yellow wooden doors, they held names of the students who were attending. Some looked like they were being shared by more than one person. "These halls here are the shared dormitories for the girls who like to share with multiple groups." The mean girls back home would enjoy these types of rooms. "Rin, your room is up these stairs here."

I still didn't care that my heels echoed in the halls. A few doors opened for a few girls to peep their heads out to see me walk by and walk the now smaller narrow staircase up to what will be my room. This staircase didn't haven't paintings, but the same drapery curtains, and sconce's going up and down along the side walls.

The door at the top of the stairs opened and I followed in behind everyone else. When I stepped over the threshold, I was all but unamused with my room. It wasn't anywhere near my style. It was too non-grimms fairytale for my taste. It was as if a nursery and mother goose had a baby in the one-hundred-acre woods, this would be the room. I'm more grimms fairy tales: like a teen version of little red riding hood met mother gothel in a duel for the red robe. A robe of invisibility and longevity. Something that I wish existed, but not longevity, so I can escape this hell hole I brought too.

"What do you think, Rin?" Mom was walking around the room with all smiles. Of course, mom would smile. This is her style after all. Back home I was at least allowed to have my room the way I wanted it to be a color that suits my soul, posters of my favorite bands of the nineteen-eighties, and much more. Here I don't see that happening.

"Very whimsical," I removed my sunglasses finally and stuck the temple in my front jean pocket.

"It is whimsical!" The headmaster came before me with that same stupid smile. "I wanted it to stay that way since it's been like that since the castle was finished being made." Like I care. "There's such a history within these walls that it's been said that demons once ruled these lands and were the first to live in this castle." She placed her hand against the wall.

"Like that painting back in that staircase?" I pointed over my shoulder. I don't believe in demons, but if I did, and they were real, I would have found my clique to hang out with, though I am human myself, I would feel like I found people I could relate to and call my friends.

"Yes, like the one you saw back there. A very interesting thing about that painting, Rin. It is said that he was a very powerful demon that fought a great battle that won him this castle. A castle he lived in with his beautiful human wife." A story I would read if it was written today.

"That's kind of up your alley, Rin. Haha." Mom knows me too well. She's the reason I like the dark fairytales, because they all come with their own personal endings that you don't see in kid movies. "Is there more to the story? I think you caught my daughter's attention!" Kind of, but not really. I'll continue to listen if there's more.

"Well…" Headmaster Shima had a look I know all too well. It was a look of when you think there's going to be a happily ever after ending, but in reality, there wasn't going to be one. "The demon lord and his human wife had several wonderful years with one another, living a life of peacefulness, with hopes to have a family together, but tragedy struck when the female was killed by an unknown assailant when she went on one of her daily walks outside the castle grounds within the forest. Her beloved demon husband, who loved his wife so dearly, couldn't bear to live without her, took his own life so that they could be together in the afterlife." A story I would still read. I love an unhappy ending that turns to tragedy. It's almost like Hans Christian Anderson's little mermaid with a twist. Or more Romeo and Juliet where their parents were friends, accepted their marriage between their children, but someone else didn't, and ended the life of the girl to cause the husband pain. "There's rumors that they didn't find each other and that they both haunt these halls in hopes of finding one another."

"Will Rin learn more about the history of this school and about the late demon lord and his wife?" Kisuke asked, placing both hands along my shoulder.

"Rin, will in fact learn about the history. She will be learning a lot more than what she has learned at her school in the city." I can only imagine she is just saying that because I basically know everything from Japanese history to American history.

After the bedroom tour, the headmaster showed every other place in and out on the school grounds. Nothing yet here really caught my eyes. "So beautiful and look at this amazing view you get to wake up to everyday, Rin." I would rather wake up in the city, go for my morning walk, and get my special tea I have every morning. All I see is a boring courtyard where students looked to be dining on a meal, trees all around, and nothing much else that meets the eye.

"Yes, everyone here loves waking up to this." I won't.

"Tell me, will Rin be able to visit the local town or village?" There's nothing on the internet that caught my eye. So, I don't see myself leaving. I'll go to class and retire to my room after a meal. If I'd had to go to the library for research, then I'd go, and get that done, but there's always my new laptop that Kisuke recently bought just last week, and I'll do my research on that.

"Of course, if you see that path there," she pointed to what looked to be a freshly paved walkway with students dressed casually already walking along. "The town is about a mile out and the students tend to go there mostly on Friday after school or on weekends." Not me.

"You'll have to make a day trip to go out, Rin!" Nope. That same feeling, I was being watched again returned, I looked behind me seeing no one, and I looked up to a tower seeing no one still. I'm just going to put it off as students here coming to check out the new girl and leaving very fast.

"We do recommend going in groups since you are new here. Don't want you to take the chance of taking the wrong path by accident and end up at the forbidden temple." Forbidden temple? "I see I caught your attention, Rin." Not really, but I have a feeling you'll tell me a story about it. "The forbidden temple is a very sacred ground and considered to be where the lord's wife was either killed or buried. But to this day we are unsure." I would rather hang out there. It would be my type of serenity. "You're allowed to visit, but not enter." At least I can visit. I don't want to disturb what could be sacred grounds of the dead.

"There you are, Izayoi!" A male voice called from behind me.

"Ah, hello dear!" When I turned around, I saw a very striking tall man coming our way. His hair was a jet short black, skin an odd tan for someone here in Japan, and what looked to be dark brown almond eyes. "Everyone, I would like you to meet our other headmaster of Shikon, who's also my husband, Inu no Tashio."

"I also go by Toga," he came before us, holding his hand out towards Kisuke.

"What a privilege to meet you, Toga. I am Kiyama, Kisuke. And this is my wife, Shima, and my stepdaughter, Rin." Kisuke has never introduced me like that before and still hasn't asked to adopt me.

"Pleasure to meet you all. How do you all like it out here so far?" He linked his arm into his wife's arm.

"I love it. I don't know about Rin yet, but we're hoping in a few days she'll grow to love it." Wrong. So wrong. I'll write in my diary of how much I hate it here already.

"It takes time. My sons were the same way when we decided to send them here too. But they grew to love the area and are always out when they don't have piles of schoolwork. I'll have to introduce you to them, Rin." I will not say this out loud, but I am not in the mood to meet your sons for the duration of my stay that I am here.

"I think you mean our youngest son wasn't too pleased about coming here, dear. Sesshomaru on the other hand had no problem with change."

"What do I say, Sesshomaru takes after me, haha," he threw an arm behind his shoulder, holding the nape of his neck. When he regained his composure, "Rin, I hope you do enjoy your time here. I promise you'll find things here that might pique your interest." The only thing that remotely caught my interest was the forbidden temple. But I don't see myself visiting.

I only nodded.

"Well, speaking of my oldest son, here he is now." This other headmaster was looking right behind me. Kisuke, my mother, and I both turned at the same time, to see an older boy who is the resemblance of his father; slight paler, short jet-black hair, but one or two inches shorter, dressed casually, eyes of stuck-up teenager, and a walk of I'm too cool to be around the likes of you. Like I would ever hang around someone like him. When he came to stand before us, "everyone, I would like you to meet my son, Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru this is Mr. and Mrs. Kiyama. This is also their daughter, Yamaguchi, Rin. She is our newest student who is now joining us."

I watched as he eyed my mother and Kisuke first, before landing on me. I watched as his eyebrows raised for a moment and went back into place where they belonged. What's his deal? Hasn't he ever seen a typical high school girl like me before? "Hello," was all he said, keeping a hand stuck halfway in his jean pocket, and thumb sticking out. Then he proceeded towards some stairs going towards the forest, leaving us behind. Typical stuck up rich boy.

When he was out of sight, "don't mind my son at this time. He gets a little tense when the final class releases. So, do you have any questions?"

Yeah, when can I go back out the way I came from to go home?

"When will Rin get her schedule? I want to make sure she knows where her classes will be held come Monday." Mom, you're not helping with this situation.

"One of our office workers will be around later today or tomorrow to bring Rin her schedule and show her where all the classrooms are located." I'm not looking forward to that one bit.

"Oh! Good. My daughter doesn't deal well with change after attending a different high school." Mom! "She gets lost easily" I do not… just that one time when I was twelve.

"Haha, that happens all the time here." She continued to smile. "Now then….,"

By the time we were done with the tour we were back in my private room. Only the three of us. I knew at any minute they would be leaving me for their honeymoon destination in Italy. It hurts badly. Though I don't care about going on their trip, I wished they would have asked me beforehand about my opinion whether I wanted to stay at home or be at a place that isn't home. A place of hell.

"Rin, dear." Mom placed her hands along my shoulders.

"Yes?" I already knew she was about to tell me. I won't cry in front of her. I'll save that for tonight.

"Kisuke and I must leave you now." I was right." We hope you have an amazing time here and I'll call you every morning and night. Please stay positive for me and at least give this place a try for a month." Does that mean I can leave in thirty days?

"I'll try." I won't do anything for a month, except going to class and doing my schoolwork.

Kisuke came up beside mom, holding his hand to me. "Rin, I want you to take this." I held my hand out for him to place a black plastic card with my name on it. "That's for you to use in case of emergencies. But if there is something you want to buy that catches your eyes in town, send me or your mother a text of what that item is." What is there to buy out here that will catch my eyes? The only thing of emergencies I would need were either tampons or pads. But I was stocked up for a good while.

"Thanks." I won't be using it at all unless necessary and I placed it in my wallet.

I was pulled into a hug by both of them. "I love you my darling. Have an amazing time." No, I won't have an amazing time here.

"I'll try," is the wrong answer. They both kissed my forehead, leaving me standing here in my room alone, and closing the door behind him.

Dear Diary,

I still can't believe I was brought to a private high school hours from home. A school that I don't want to be at. I should be going to the high school that I am used to attending. Yes, I can handle uniforms, but this is a bit much to my taste. They were ten times fancier than the ones that I was used to wearing. Plus, I have never seen a school serve you meals at your table. I was used to going up to the counter and retrieving what I wanted. Here, they give you a menu, and you select what they serve that day. I am the most indecisive person and had to look at the menu for five minutes until I decided to have traditional ramen. I'm not going to lie, it was great! Better than the ones in Tokyo, but I'm still not going to be happy till I'm home in my room, where I can have meals with mom, and Kisuke again.

Some people tried to have a conversation with me, but I completely ignored them all, and kept my ear buds in to draw out the sound of their voices. Thank goodness for my long thick hair to cover my earbuds. I haven't read the school handbook, which I don't care to, because I'm not sure if it's allowing or not, but I don't care what the rules in state. I also hope they don't have me redye my hair because I won't. If breaking school rules gets me out of here soon, then I'll take whatever punishment mom and Kisuke give me when I'm finally home.

Every day that I am here, I'll be writing to tell you how every day that I am here and how much I hate this place at night. Just how I am right now. For now, I'll be turning in for the night, and maybe I'll wake up back in my actual bedroom from this nightmare.

Rin

I placed my diary in my table side drawer, locked it up, laid back into my raised pillow, and looked up towards the ceilings at the chandelier that was lit dim. Dim enough that it won't disrupt my sleep. "I can't believe I have to be here for however long mom and Kisuke requested that I stay. There is nothing to do here but be bored out of my mind. It feels like a prison of hell that I cannot escape." Mom, I hope you have a better time being away than I will ever have.

I turned the table side lamp off, got under the covers, and rolled onto my side, facing the open door of my private terrace, and watched the window blow the sheer drape white curtains. Maybe, and hopefully, I'll awake back home in my bed from this nightmare of hell.