Trusting (to) Love

(09-23-05)


Sorry it took so long for me to write this chapter, I had to do a lot of background work to keep myself straight, who was taking what classes with who, who they were sitting by, who was friends with who, who the teachers were and what subject they taught- still working on that one.

But I thank you all for sticking with me. And for those of you who haven’t already figured it out, I have been using my author’s homepage to keep you updated on how I’m doing with the next chapter and when I think I might have it out.

Please continue to feed me reviews, I live for them and they make me work faster and better- knowing that my story is overall liked. Thanks again to all of my readers! (Check out my sister’s story ‘One Life’ if you haven’t already!)

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Chapter 4 – The Second Day

Rin walked out of the family room not really knowing where she was going or what she was going to do. She clutched the envelope to her breast as she walked. She walked down the hall and turned into the den, seeing a basket chair in the far corner she went and sat down, curling her legs up she rested her forehead on her knees and sighed to herself.

‘What the hell.’ Her head was beginning to pound with the force of a headache. ‘I came here to get away from people that would pry and try to help. All they do is bring the pain back up to the surface. I’m not ready to talk, to tell them what happened.’ Rin massaged her temples then ran her fingers up into her hair to grip the hair on either side of her head, like she was ready to pull it out if need be.

Pulling her hands out of her hair Rin bent her legs back down and into the Indian style, letting the envelope fall down into her lap. She stared at it for a second before grabbing the over-stuffed envelope and hurling it away from her and across the room, only to have it twirl in the air and land on the couch five feet away.

Curling herself back up into a ball Rin began to rock herself as memories stormed back into her mind.

Toshiro glanced back at the door, he saw her. Rin backed further into the closet, trying to hide. The smell of her garments and her family’s garments hid the smell that she was hiding in the closet, but if she were seen she wouldn’t stand a chance. Her brother’s eyes told her everything. “Hide, keep safe, we can’t let them get you. Do you know what would happen if they saw you? They would rape you. Don’t let them see you. We can’t lose you, not like that. Keep safe. I love you. I’m not going to make it, just make sure you do.”

Tears ran down Rin’s face as she nodded her head. She knew her family was going to die.

A sob escaped Rin as she fought the memory. ‘I don’t want to remember. Please go away. I don’t need to remember. Stop.’ “STOP!” Rin’s head jerked up, she had spoken, no not spoken, yelled. Her eyes focused and she froze. Standing not five feet away from her was Sess. And he had stopped.


Sess walked in through the still unlocked front door to see his father walking up the stairs. Dismissing him, Sess turned to walk towards the kitchen when he saw her. Rin was in the den, in the basket chair, curled up and rocking herself. She looked like a fragile doll that was about to shatter. He quietly stepped into the room and down the two steps and slowly made his way to her only to be stopped about five feet from her by her yell. “STOP!” Rin had yelled and jerked her head up. ‘Did she hear me coming?’ then it hit him, she had actually said something.

“Rin?” Her eyes had focused and found him for a moment she looked scared. There were tears in her eyes and she began shaking her head and biting her bottom lip. He understood she feared something, but what? She wasn’t afraid of him he knew that. Then what had scared her? “Come Rin.” He held out his hand and waited for her to grasp it.

She looked dazed, like she had just woken from a dream and was now trying to tell if this was dream or reality. “Rin.” Sess said firmly. Finally she slowly reached out her hand and took his. Sess lifted her out of the chair and began leading her out of the room. Rin stopped and picked up the envelope on the couch and let him lead her out of the den.

Sess led her up the stairs and into her room. Flipping on the light Sess walked Rin over to her bed and let her sit. He turned and closed the door, locking it out of habit. He turned again and leaned up against the door and watched her, waiting for something.

Sess stood still and quiet for a full five minutes before he spoke. “So you aren’t actually mute. You just don’t speak. Why?” The question demanded an answer; Sess demanded an answer. He didn’t get one.

He walked over to the girl and stood in front of her and forced her chin up so she had to look at him. “Answer me, I know you can.”

She shook her head. But didn’t look away from his eyes.

“You will speak to me.”

Her eyes were defiant. Again she shook her head.

He released her. “Maybe not now, but soon.” That said Sess walked out the balcony door and into his own room.


Sess walked over to his stereo and flipped it on turning it up a bit. He sighed and fell backward onto his bed throwing an arm up to cross over his forehead, hiding the crescent moon that was there. The music played softly for about a minute before the lyrics began:

So close, no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else matters


Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
and nothing else matters


Sess groaned lightly to himself, thinking ‘She can speak, the question is why doesn’t she…’

Rising, Sess pulled off both his shirts and tossed them in the hamper that was in his closet and walked out onto the balcony again unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans as he walked. Leaning his forearms against the rail Sess looked up into the night sky. ‘It will rain tonight.’ Sess inhaled a deep breath, the rain always calmed him. But the rain wasn’t the only thing he could smell. Her smell was always there, hiding, but there nonetheless. Sess looked to his left, he couldn’t quite see into the room unless he moved closer… He moved closer.

Leaning his right hip up against the railing, Sess looked into the room. Rin was sitting on her bed, one leg bent and tucked under her. She was looking at that stupid envelope again, but the look in her eyes was distant. The front of her shirt dipping a little to reveal the swell of her breasts, it was a beautiful sight.

‘This is ridiculous, I am staring at her as if I’ve never seen a creature so lovely.’ Sess paused for another moment before walking back into his own room, stripping down to his boxers and turning off the light. He laid down and turned his head into his pillow and inhaled. All of his muscles suddenly went lax. ‘It did linger.’


Rin sat on her new bed in her new room in this new house with her new family and stared down at what was left of her old life.

“Rin, if you don’t get out here soon we are going to leave without you!” Toshiro yelled through the door. “Come on! You know we don’t care how your make-up looks, your just going out to a movie. You’ll just be in the dark, why are you even bothering with any make-up?”

No answer. “Rin?” Two seconds later Rin opened her bedroom door to stare down the hall at her brother, who was standing outside the bathroom door. She walked over, opened the door and turned off the light.

“Sorry, I guess I just left the light on.” Rin grinned at her brother’s sour face and laughed.

“Oh, ha ha, very funny.” Was his sarcastic reply.

“I thought it was. I think you might have scared the fuzz out of one of the towels though ya know?” Rin replied looking into the bathroom. “Try to be a little nicer next time huh? I don’t know if we’ll have any towels left if you keep that up.”

Rin turned and walked down the stairs to her waiting parents, who each had a smile and slight rosy color in their cheeks. “Are you ready m’dear?” Her mother asked innocently.

Nodding her head Rin turned to see her brother grumbling his way down the stairs and shooting daggers with his eyes at Rin.

“Now then what was this movie again?” Michio asked his wife as the family walked out the door.


Rin wiped a tear away that had been rolling down her cheek and sniffled. She turned and pulled out the drawer to her nightstand and slipped the envelope in and sighed when she heard the drawer close.

After changing, turning out the lights, and crawling into bed Rin turned to stare out of her balcony door and into the sliver of night sky she could see. ‘Please, let there be no dreams tonight.’ She prayed silently to herself.


Rin awoke to the sound of her alarm clock going off. Not wanting to be pulled from the warm nest of blankets she hit the snooze button and curled back under the sheets for an extra 15 minutes of sleep; or at least tried to.
Knock, knock, knock.

“Rin?” It was Inutaisho. “I know your tired but you do have school again today. Are you up?” There was a pause in which Rin sat up and glared at the door. “Rin? I’m going to open the door.” He warned. Rin glanced down and saw she was wearing her moon and star pajamas.

The door started to open and Rin grabbed up the bedding that was in front of her to cover her exposed stomach. A blush had started to work its way up from her chest to spread up her neck as Inutaisho’s head peaked around the door.

“Ah, good, you’re awake. Breakfast will be ready in half and hour and it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes to get to school, so you only have a half hour to get moving. He started to close the door before adding, “You’d be surprised at how fast that half hour actually goes with having to fight over the bathroom.” He left, pulling the door closed behind him.

Rin threw down the covers in a flurry. Morning was definitely not her favorite time of the day right now. She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and got up. Picking out clothes that she would need she grabbed her robe and put it on, heading for the bathroom.

She arrived just in time to see Inuyasha step out of his own room heading for the bathroom as well. Inuyasha spotted her and made a leap to reach the bathroom first, but Rin was already there and laid her hand on the doorknob and shook her head.

The doorknob was pulled out of her hand as Sess stepped out of the bathroom. He walked in between the two and down the hall, stopping at his door to look back.

Rin had walked into the bathroom and started up the shower completely ignoring Inuyasha.

The door suddenly closed right in Inuyasha’s face while he just stood there glaring at it in anger. Sess watched as Inuyasha’s right ear twitched in agitation.

Inuyasha turned and noticed the eye that followed him, “Shut-up, I just thought that I would be nice to her as it is her first day here, and let her have the bathroom.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.” Was the dry response. Inuyasha looked at Sess startled. “She would smell good all day without having to bathe, whereas you will always smell like a soiled mutt, but at least the soap can cover your smell while you are in there.”


Breakfast was short and simple. Rin had a bowl of cereal, and a freshly made that morning blueberry muffin, Sess drank a glass of orange juice while Inuyasha stuffed his face with ramen, muffins, toast, juice, and an apple, core and all. Sess gathered his school supplies and walked into the den to also gather some of Rin’s supplies that she didn’t have the previous day that she needed.

Inutaisho walked into the room and tapped Rin on the shoulder. “Before I forget, Rin, your uniform as been ordered but will take a few days to get here, OK?” At her nod he continued, “Sess will give you a ride to school, and I have already called the school and talked to Principal Kaede, she will inform your teachers that you cannot currently speak, but that your voice will heal soon enough for you to join in on your classes.”

Inutaisho squeezed Rin’s shoulder lightly before she got up and followed Sess out to his car.

Right when Rin opened her door another car pulled up and honked its horn loudly, making even Rin wince. Peering into the car Rin saw Miroku, he flashed her a quick and brilliant smile as Inuyasha raced out of the house and jumped in the car. The wheels screeched as Miroku hit the gas and flew back out of the drive.

Rin got into the car as Sess started it up, the drive to school was completely silent except for a feminine snort of laughter when Rin saw a pulled over Miroku and Inuyasha who had been speeding, this also brought a smirk to Sess’s face.

They arrived at the school sooner than Rin thought they would, they had about twenty minutes before the first bell. Sess led her down the hallway until they reached her locker, handing her schedule, he leaned up against her neighboring locker to wait.

Sess mentally groaned, he could smell that creature miles away, and it appeared that his suspension was over and he was back at school again. “Jaken.” He greeted as a short toad demon stopped directly beside him.

“Sesshoumaru! I have returned to you, I apologize for the inconvenience that I have caused you. I hope you can forg-“

“Quiet.” The toad demon had been following him around for about 3 years now, all because he, Sess, had had an argument with another demon in school about something-or-other. Needless to say, he, Sess, had beaten the demon soundly. It had also appeared that this little toad had been being bullied by the demon and as thanks has been following Sess around practically becoming his servant. ‘I’m sure if he could he’d breathe for me too.’ Sess thought idly.

Done with her locker Rin turned around only to stop in mid-step. There was a little toad demon talking to Sess, no kissing his ass would explain better what the toad was trying to do. He was tripping over his words to get them out fast enough; he was apologizing for not being here the last few days. ‘What? Not being here to clean Sess’s boots?’ In truths that is what it sounded like to Rin’s ears.

“Done?” Sess suddenly spoke, pulling Rin’s attention off the groveling demon. She nodded her head and Sess took a hold of her hand and gently pulled her after him, leaving a dumbfounded Jaken behind to scramble after them.

Sess led her through the hallways, in, out and around crowds, until they reached the same area of the school that the art classroom was in. He stopped outside a door labeled A4. ‘Choir.’ Rin paled slightly.

Jaken slid to a halt behind Rin by slamming into her leg, causing her knee to buckle unexpectedly and Sess’s reflexes to kick in and catch her, bringing her firmly up against him. He turned to see what had caused the action. Jaken was already kneeling on the floor groveling, begging forgiveness and mercy. Sess glared at the toad causing him to squawk when he looked up. Sess glanced about the hallway, and seeing no teachers, kicked Jaken in the stomach, sending him rolling down the hall.

Bringing his attention back to the woman in his arms Sess looked down at her and into her wide eyes. He was holding her so gently and tenderly; to anyone looking, and people were looking, it was more of a romantic embrace than rescue from falling embrace.

Sess’s eyes darted down to Rin’s lips and watched mesmerized, as her red lips parted slightly to take in a breath. ‘What would they taste like?’ he wondered. ‘Like the fresh, dark red raspberries they so resembled?’ Abruptly Sess pulled away and set her down gently.

Pulled from her fantasy of this hot, hot, hot demon about to kiss her, Rin shook her head slightly. ‘Duh, what were you thinking? Like he’d want to kiss you anyway.’

Sess opened the classroom door they stood in front of and motioned Rin inside. “Class should start in fifteen minutes or so.” He waited for Rin to nod before heading off down the hall again with Jaken running after him.

Rin looked around the empty classroom. It was big and open, it had lockers in the back some big and others small for instruments of all sizes, music stands, drums, raised steps for students to stand on, a piano in the front of the classroom, and a white board on the wall in front of the steps. Directly to Rin’s left was a glass window, looking through it Rin saw who she assumed was the teacher talking to another student before class.

Rin walked over to the piano, it was an upright piano that was pushed against the wall, but was on wheels so it could be moved out into the open when necessary. She sat down on the bench and placed her fingers lightly on the keyboard pressing gently down on middle C with her thumb. The note rang out and echoed slightly before the walls absorbed the sound completely. Rin looked behind her, the teacher hadn’t even lifted her head and there were still no other students in the class. Rin moved her attention back to the keys, placing her fingers further down and slowly began to play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. ‘God I’m rusty.’ It had been close to three months since she had played and it felt like it had been longer. She let her fingers run away with her, the song practically played itself. Rin held the final notes longer than necessary and sighed silently, letting her shoulders drop forward slightly. She turned, and froze.

There were no less than ten students in the classroom sitting on the steps plus the teacher who was sitting on a stool in the front of the classroom. Too embarrassed to blush, Rin just sat there while her audience grinned and lightly applauded her performance.

Rin stood and inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment before walking up to the teacher and handing over her schedule.

“Ah, so you are Rin. Yes, Principal Kaede was here earlier today to tell me about your voice. I was wondering how I could have you pass the class if you couldn’t sing. Well it appears that I now have an answer. You shall play for the choir.” She smiled, “I am Lady Naomi, the choir instructor. I will go and see about getting copies of the music you will need. You will need to practice of course. There is a practice room off of another music classroom; it might be better for you to practice some before we start you off in the class. Rin nodded her head and Lady Naiomi turned and walked into her office.

Rin turned and scanned the room for a seat and immediately knew the class wouldn’t be all that horrible. There, sitting directly in front of her, were Ayame and Kagome, both were grinning at her.

When the bell rang a young man, Hojo, joined Kagome and seemed to be more focused on her than the class, and it didn’t escape Rin’s notice. Class went smoothly, no one questioned her or why she wasn’t singing with the rest of the class. When the bell rang again to signal the end of class Rin followed Kagome and Ayame out of the classroom.

The hallways were already crowded and Rin easily lost her friends. Standing up on tiptoe to look around Rin noticed there was a set of stairs that lead to the auditorium. Weaving her way through the other student Rin sat down on the steps and waited for Sesshoumaru to come and find her.


After leaving Rin in her choir class Sess had walked back down the hallway towards the front of the school. ‘If Jaken is back then that means that the others are back as well.’ As Sess finished the thought he saw the group he was looking for. Bankotsu, Jakotsu, Suikotsu, Renkotsu, Hiten, and Manten were all gathered on the steps that stood in front of a trophy case. They were an awesome sight, and anyone that knew of them knew to respect them. But they also knew that as much as Bankotsu seemed to be the ‘leader’ the real threat of the group was Sess himself.

Sess reached the group and took up a step on the top step and leaned back up against the glass of the case.

“So Sess we hear there is a new student among us, is she as pretty as everyone says?” Bankotsu asked with a smirk on his face.

“She is appealing to some.” Sess replied distantly.

“Would she be ‘appealing’ to me?” Bankotsu asked again.

Sess sent a glare to Bankotsu as he answered, “Most likely.”

Bankotsu smiled and turned to Renkotsu, “Did you hear that? She would be appealing to me. I wonder where she is and when I could talk to her.”

“She is in her classroom, and no, you may not talk to her.” Sess replied.

Almost startled Bankotsu turned back to Sess. “How would you know where she is? And who made you her bodyguard?”

“She is my responsibility, and you would do well to remember that.” Sess stood and walked down a hallway, through a glass door leading outside and to his first class, with Jaken trailing behind him.

“Well, I don’t know about you boys but I must say that I am interested in this girl. If she is worth Sess paying this much attention to her she must be something special alright.” Bankotsu declared.

“You might very well be stupid Bankotsu.” Renkotsu spoke, “Sess has already made a claim on this girl and yet you still pursue her.”

“Oh, I’m not stupid I just want to see what is so special about this girl that she has most of the school talking about her. If whatever is going on between her and Sess is that serious than I’ll let him have her, but if not… well then, I might have her.”

The bell rang and the surrounding students began to break up and head to class. ‘Yes, if this girl so special I may have to pay a visit to her today.’ Bankotsu rose and wondered off to his own class.


Sess sat down on a stool in his own classroom and waited for the bell to ring. Toutousai was sitting on his desk in the front of the ‘classroom’ with his hammer laying against his shoulder.

Jaken came running into the classroom, panting. “Sesshoumaru, must you always walk so fast? I can hardly keep up with you.” Sess didn’t reply. Hiten soon joined them at their table and class began.

The room was filled with the clangs of metal hitting metal, the hiss as hot metal was doused in water, and the occasional scream or curse of pain from a student who wasn’t paying enough attention to what they were doing.

Sess worked up a nice sheen of sweat by the time class was dismissed and welcomed the breeze that hit him when he walked out of the class and back into the school.

Sess found Rin outside of her classroom, sitting on the steps leading to the auditorium. Her next class was History, the sooner he get her there the better.

“Ready?” He asked holding out his hand to help her up. Again Jaken was behind him but this time he knew not to gawk and that if he were to touch her again he would be severely punished. For whoever this girl was, she was to be protected by Sesshoumaru and no one should be disrespectful to her.

Sess held onto her hand as he led her back down the hallway to her locker.

Rin was becoming used to her hand in Sess’s; his hand was warm and comforting. She began to relax again when Sess suddenly came to a halt and she ran into his back, but she didn’t step away immediately. Sess’s other hand came around to hold her hip and hold her where she was.

Rin knew something was up, but she couldn’t see around him, he was too tall and was holding her in place so she couldn’t lean either way.

“I already told you that you may not speak to her Bankotsu.” Sess’s voice was cold and there was a clear warning in it.

“You do realize that by attending this school along with her I might run into her somewhere or have a class with her don’t you?” The voice wasn’t deep, it sounded like someone who was use to getting his way.

“You don’t however need to seek her out. But I can see that you will not relent until you’ve seen her.” Sess gently pulled Rin out from behind him. “Now you may be on your way Bankotsu.

Rin stayed halfway behind Sess, for whoever this man was, he wasn’t her friend. He had long black hair that was braided behind him, he was not very tall at all, and had a purple diamond tattooed on his forehead. She didn’t like him, not one bit. And obviously Sess didn’t care for him either.


Why, she was beautiful! The rumors hadn’t done her justice. Her hair fell like silk down her back; her eyes were a deep chocolate with amber flecks in the center. She was shorter than him by about 2 inches and her skin was soft and pale. He couldn’t see all of her but he knew he liked what he saw. ‘I want her.’ Bankotsu declared to himself.


A growl worked its way up Sess’s throat. He could smell the interest that Bankotsu had towards Rin. And he didn’t like it. He had purposely made it clear that any interest towards Rin was forbidden. “Move.” His voice had deepened to keep the growl contained, but the threat was clear, and he pulled Rin back behind him.

“I don’t see why you are so protective over her, it’s not like I’m threatening her. I’m your friend Sess, why would I purposely provoke you?” Bankotsu smiled brightly before bowing slightly and walking off down a hallway. ‘Wait till I get you alone little girl.’


Sess swept Rin around to his side, placing an arm around her waist and pulled her gently into a secluded corner. “You must stay away from him, do you understand? You must never be alone with him.” Rin nodded, gazing into his eyes. Sess took a deep breath and tried to relax. She was fine, she knew to beware of Bankotsu, and she was fine. He inhaled again as the bell rang, signaling class had started. The hallways were empty and Sess let his head drop down onto Rin’s shoulder and inhaled her sweet scent.

If Rin would speak she would have been speechless for all of 2 seconds. Sess pulled his head back up and was once again composed and cool to the world. Without another word Sess took her to her locker and then to class.

Rin walked in the classroom and immediately wondered where the teacher was. Someone had been calling role and had stopped when she came in.

“Ah, you must be Rin. Did you get lost?” The voice was coming from the front of the classroom. She nodded her head and looked to the podium that was in front of the whiteboard. “Ah, I see no one warned you of me. If you look closely at the top of the podium you will see me.” Rin did as she was told and there she saw… a flea. “I am Master Myoga, the flea. Welcome to History Rin, you may take a seat wherever you wish.
Rin looked around the classroom, she saw Kagome, Sango, and Inuyasha. On one side of Inuyasha was Kagome, on the other side was another student that looked like a girl but her body revealed her as truly being a guy. Behind Kagome was Sango and the seat beside Sango, behind Inuyasha was empty, it was also in the last row. Rin went and sat in this seat. Master Myoga again took up role.

After role, and student handed out worksheets and handed Rin a History book, the rest of the class time was spent taking notes, reading, and filling out the worksheet. The were only a few interruptions, once when the ‘boy’ beside Inuyasha reached over and stroked his arm and Inuyasha nearly screamed, and the other when that same ‘boy’ again tried to rub the tension out of Inuyasha’s shoulders, Inuyasha had screamed that time.

“Ahhhhhh! Get off me Jakotsu, I don’t need your filthy man hands on me!”

The bell rang, class was dismissed and Kagome and Sango each grabbed one of Rin’s arms and dragged her out of the classroom.

“So, are you liking school so far Rin?” Kagome asked. Rin nodded.

“Have you had a lot of trouble finding your classes?” Sango asked. Rin shook her head.

“Do you know what you have next?” This from Kagome, Rin handed her the rumpled piece of paper that was her schedule.

“Oh you have Calculus? Wow, that’s with Master Raidon, he is Hiten and Manten’s Father. Do you know them?” Rin shrugged. “Let me think, who else is in that class, Sango?”

“Well, I know Hojo, Ayame, and Miroku are in there.”

“I think Kouga, Ginta, and Hakkaku are in that class too. So you’ll have some friends in there Rin.” Kagome led Rin to the Cafeteria and let go, “Well, you can have lunch with us if you want. We sit over there.” Kagome pointed out a table outside that already had Inuyasha sitting at it. Rin shrugged in indecision.

Kagome and Sango walked off to buy their lunches while Rin stood still not knowing which way to turn. She looked for Sess and didn’t see him. ‘Now what? I have no money to buy my lunch. What am I suppose to do?’

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the little stuck up princess.” Rin turned and saw Kagura. “What’s wrong? Where’s your bodyguard? Surely he didn’t just leave you here alone to fend off the wolves by yourself, or did he?”

Rin paled at the mention of wolves. “Oh dear, did I scare you? I didn’t mean to do that.” She laughed as another girl walked up behind her. This girl had short black hair and red eyes, like Kagura’s. “Yura.” Kagura greeted the girl. “What do you think? Should we take the precious princess under our wing and ‘help’ her out?”

Yura stood and gazed at Rin as if assessing her worth. “I think so, look at her hair, it’s gorgeous!” Yura reached out to touch a strand of Rin’s hair when a hand grabbed her wrist and threw it back down.

‘Sess!’ Rin’s mind screamed in relief.

“If you value your life you will not touch her, ever!” His gaze moved to Kagura, “I should warn you, don’t test me with her. You’ll regret it.” Sess took Rin’s hand and walked away pulling Rin behind him.

Sess bought Rin her lunch and took her straight to the old Oak, left her on the ground to eat, and leapt into the branches. ‘Damn, why do I feel the need to protect her so much? I just met her yesterday for God’s sake! What the hell is wrong with me? All she needs to do is just look at me with those chocolate honey eyes and I’m at her God damn beck and call!’ Sess growled deep in his throat as he glared out across the schoolyard.

Rin stared up into the branches of the Oak. He had come for her. True, he didn’t look happy about it, but he had come all the same. ‘Sess!’ She sighed happily and sat crossed legged on the soft earth at the base of the old tree and began to eat.

No sooner had Rin began to relax when a trio walked around the tree, they were wolf demons. Rin went pale and began to tremble. One looked back at her with a questioning glance but continued walking, proud and tall. He had black hair pulled into a high ponytail and was what some would call handsome. But Rin couldn’t get past the fact that they were wolves.

Sess noticed a change in Rin’s heartbeat, it had sped up; she had also began to tremble. ‘In fear? Of what?’ Looking around Sess saw Kouga, Ginta, and Hakkaku walking away from her sight; her eyes were following them without blinking.

Without forewarning Sess leapt out of the tree, gathered Rin in his arms, and leapt back into the branches and settled her against his chest. Rin’s momentary shock passed quickly and she eagerly snuggled into Sess’s comforting embrace. ‘I know I’m going to have to tell him soon, no one will leave me alone until a do tell someone something. Maybe this one was finally the right one to tell.’ Closing her eyes Rin let her heart relax and begin to slow, inhaled his scent and let calm begin to wash over her.

The day was half over and soon she would be able to return home and be at peace for at least the weekend. ‘That’s right, I’ll have two days off from this stress before I have to come back. That will be so nice.’ Her mind yawned.


Sess followed Rin into her classroom. ‘Does he have this class too?’ She wondered joyfully. Sess walked up to the teacher and spoke with him briefly before coming back to Rin. He led her to a seat in the last row, in the corner.

“Ayame is in this class with you, her seat is this one.” He gestured to the one in front of Rin. “However, the three wolf demons that you saw earlier are also in this class, and they sit here.” Again he gestured this time to the row next to her and the last three seats of it. She would sit next to one. “There is nothing to fear… I promise you.” He barely spoke the last, but he had said it all the same.

He left. Rin was quiet as the class filed in, Ayame fairly squealed when she saw Rin sitting in the seat next to hers. She immediately began talking of how Rin was going to enjoy the class. Rin became even more withdrawn as the other three wolf demons filed in to sit in the seats next to her. Ayame was in front of her; the demon with the ponytail was to her left, the one with the mo-hawk sat to her own left, and the third sat in front of the black haired one. ‘Oh dear,’ was all Rin could handle thinking at the moment.

Ayame carried on until the bell rang then dutifully turned in her seat to pay attention to the lesson. It was by far the longest class Rin had been forced to endure all day. She was given a book and the assignments for the last chapter and review as well as today’s assignment. ‘At this rate I might be able to catch up by graduation.’ Rin thought sarcastically.

Rin noticed Ayame watching the black haired demon quite frequently and couldn’t help but wonder. Rin pulled out a blank sheet of paper, writing down her question.

‘Do you have a crush?’

Handing the sheet to Ayame over her shoulder Rin again started on her problem, finished and moved on as Ayame handed the paper back.

‘Why do you ask?’
‘You keep staring.’
‘I do not! Do I really?’
‘Yes, so what’s his name?’
‘Kouga.’
‘He is a wolf demon too. How did you meet him?’
‘Can we wait until he is not right beside me, please?’
‘I suppose, but you will indeed spill. Understand?’
‘Yes.’

Rin tucked the sheet back into her binder and resumed studying. Class was over fairly quickly after that and Rin followed Ayame out into the hallway only to see Sess already standing there waiting.

“See you later Rin, and you too will ‘indeed spill’.” Ayame giggled as she nudged Rin’s shoulder and walked off.

Sess simply took Rin across the hall and pushed her into the classroom before walking off again. ‘Gee, thanks.’ Rin sat down in the nearest desk and waited for the bell to ring. Kagome and Sango walked into that classroom talking and both gasped in delight when their gaze landed on Rin, they pulled her up to the front of the classroom and placed her in the second row, second seat and each took up their own, Sango to her left, Kagome to her left and up a desk. ‘I guess this day didn’t go all too bad.’ Rin thought idly as class started.


Sess walked into the History class and grabbed a sheet off the podium as he walked back to his seat in the back corner of the classroom. Sitting down he immediately knew that Rin had chosen his seat in her class earlier, he could barely smell her, but the scent was there. He pulled out a pencil and his book and started filling out the worksheet before the bell even rang.

Jaken soon joined him in the seat to his right. ‘Stupid little imp.’ Sess thought as he worked.

Master Myoga began role call receiving no reply from Sess when he called Tensaiga, Sesshoumaru. Instead Jaken called out for him. Sess finished the worksheet and in the middle of one of Master Myoga’s long tales of forgotten history got up and left, leaving the completed sheet on the podium beside the pile of blank ones.

Sess walked out of the classroom and down the hallway until he reached the library, here he could find the one demon he truly respected, not only because of his age but also because his vast knowledge of everything that had ever happened in the past thousand plus years.

Master Bokuseno’s roots ran deep under the school and his branches high above it. The school had been built around this great tree, placing him in the library at one end of the school and all the surrounding walls held nothing but windows to allow the sunlight to drift in. Here Sess could learn more knowledge than in any other place in the world. He had been known to stay here hours after school let out just talking to this wise, old tree.

“Good day young Sesshoumaru, and what are you here to talk about today?” The great booming voice of the tree greeted as Sess pulled up his usual chair.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

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