Rin Birthday 3

'Another year. Another year is about to go by.' Rin clutched the shoulders of a befuddled and slightly frightened Shiki. Rin's eyes were surrounded by patchy redness that gave away she had been crying recently. Her hair was tussled and her clothing dishevelled. 'I'm getting older. It can't keep happening.' Rin pulled Shiki in close and shook her vigorously 'You're young aren't you? You also help people don't you? Teach me how to be young again! I don't want to lose touch!'

 

Shiki anxiously darted her eyes. Rin had ambushed her in public. 'Sure I can help you but there's no way to make you younger.'

 

'I just need to do something to help me feel younger again. I need to go back to how I was before my birthday comes by again.' Rin pleaded 'I need to do something girls your age do.'

 

Shiki nervously chuckled 'Just what do you think girls my age do?'

 

Rin paused for a moment 'Um, sleep overs? Girl talk? Gossip?'

 

'Well I guess we could do that. We could get some of the girls together and have some fun.' Shiki nodded.

 

Rin let go of her grip on Shiki and grinned like an idiot 'I'd love that. We could chat, play games and wear cute pyjamas.'

 

'Fer shuh.' Shiki smiled back 'Let me just make some calls and we can arrange something next week.'

 

Shiki put together a guest list and got whoever she could for Rin's sleep over. She went for a mix of young, other shy or self-conscious girls, and some familiar faces so Rin would be comfortable. Rin's students Miyabi, Imu and Murasaki would attend. Miyabi showed up in something lacy becasue she wanted to try something girly and Imu, in her plain stripe 2-piece pyjamas wanted to find a new avenue to be appeal to Miyabi. Murasaki was brought along by Imu to get her out of her room and to Imu's surprise she came along; with Bebe and some handheld consoles. Rin's former student Mirai also attended because after all she knew how to connect with a mature woman.

 

With those guests in mind Shiki also invited her bestie Murakumo, who had to bring along Kotarō otherwise he'd cry and howl if left alone. Yagyuu reluctantly accepted after Hibari made plans and left her alone, being with Shiki and friends was better than wallowing in misery. The last guest would be Daidouji, who wanted to defend her, real-to-her, pillow-fighting title belt and finally use her cute teddy nightgown.

 

It was supposed to be a get together but there was very clear cliques and divides. Miyabi and Imu paired off, with the wallflower Murasaki tucked away behind them. Everyone secretly wondered why Murasaki wore something so small and revealing to a girls sleepover, what they didn't know is that Murasaki hadn't bought a new nightgown in years and she had to squeeze into something way too tight for her new chest. Murasaki was content to just watch people talk, every now and then she'd sit up as if she had something to say but kept quiet. Daidouji and Yagyuu paired off on the opposite side of the room and no one questioned why Dai called Yagyuu "Big-sis."

 

Shiki, covered head-to-toe in hot pink, sat herself between Rin and Murakumo and to keep the guest of honor company. The floor in front of them was padded with girl's magazines and they stuffed their faces with sweets. 'Hey, Riny, what's your favourite lip gloss or balm?'

 

Lip gloss? Rin wore make up but she must have skipped this fad. 'Huh? Oh I don't know.'

 

'You don't know what you're missing!' Shiki's jaw dropped and she scrambled to her draws and pulled out armfuls of tubes that she dumped out onto the floor and started picking at her favourites. Lip gloss was her new obsession. 'This one is melon, this one is chocolate, this one is lollipop.' Shiki turned and started piling them in Rin's lap 'Oh and this one is mango! I love this one!' Shiki popped open the lid and dabbed the sweet smelling gloss over her lips. The scent caught the curiosity of the other girls and they took a tube for themselves. Even Murasaki reached out for a purple tube that caught her eye.

 

'You should try them out with your boyfriend.' Shiki made kissing noises to tease Rin.

 

'I don't have a boyfriend.' Rin hanged her head. 'There was a guy years ago that I thought things would work out with but it didn't.'

 

'Oh what was he like?' Imu asked.

 

'Older guy.' Daidouji scoffed 'She thought he was so cool.'

 

Rin blushed 'Hey, at least I have some kind of love life!'

 

Daidouji brandished her phone for all to see on her mail app. There were dozens of messages from multiple guys. 'Look at these single men who want me and weep! I probably won't even message some of them back. Only the strongest will get to cuddle with me!'

 

'You have guys asking for you number?' Rin sighed 'I'm too busy working.'

 

'Well you're not alone in your troubles.' Miyabi put her hand on Rin's shoulder. 'Only people interested in me are girls.'

 

'I have an unrequited love too.' Imu spluttered 'They're just so handsome, bold, sensitive and a good listener. I just wish they'd notice me.' Yagyuu seemed to sympathise.

 

'I wish I could say the same but I have so many fanboys online I'll never be alone.' Mirai boasted.

 

'Me too. My followers grow every day.' Murakumo agreed.

 

'Online boyfriends don't count.' Yagyuu muttered and left Mirai and Murakumo pouting. Murasaki looked ready to cry.

 

'Hey, I was only teasing' Shiki took Rin's hand. 'You're not the only single lady here, it's not so bad. I'm not ashamed to admit I don't have a boyfriend. There's more to life, y'know?'

 

'I guess so.' Rin mumbled.

 

'Hey come on now, let's take our minds off of that stuff and have some fun.' Shiki tugged Rin's arm 'You want to try a chocolate facial mask?'

 

'Well the chocolate part sounds good.' Rin smiled. Along with alcohol, chocolate was another source of comfort for her.

 

Shiki took it upon herself to demonstrate. 'It's super easy, see?' She tied her hair back and smeared the mask over her face until her cheeks and forehead were coated in chocolate. 'Just gotta sit still and leave it there for a while. I like to read a book or magazine while I wait.'

 

Murakumo joined in and she enjoyed the sensation of her face being covered. She didn't even need a mask 'N e w t e c h n i q u e a c q u i r e d !'

 

The smell of chocolate caught Kotarō's attention and he pounced at Shiki to lick the chocolate off of her face. Shiki squealed and spat out of disgust from being covered in wolf slobber. 'Ew! Get off me! You can't eat it!'

 

'Oh so you'll make out with Kotarō but you won't practice a love scene for my manga?' Murakumo teased 'I'm scorned!' She would have left Shiki to languish but the chocolate would upset Kotarō's stomach so she called him off. 'Come on boy, that's enough.'

 

'Gross! Drool!'Shiki raced off to wash her face. When she got back everyone had splintered off, even Murasaki had joined a group. The only one by themselves was Rin, she flicked through a girly magazine with bewilderment. Shiki reprised her role as host and skipped over to sit next to Rin 'Hey, what's going on?'

 

'I just don't get it.' Rin bit her lip 'I go through these magazine's and I just don't understand any of these new slang words, or fashion styles or bands. I don't know any of these idols or fads. I'm so out of the loop.' Rin threw the magazine to the floor 'Even worse everyone else seems to be doing so much better than me. They all have their own lives and they're moving on. I'm still stuck in my rut. Everyone says it'll get better but it never does, I just stagnate.'

 

Rin's words had reached the entire room.

 

'You're not the only one that feels that way.' Murasaki peeped up.

 

'I don't really get these latest trends either.' Imu admitted.

 

'You shouldn't be bothered with children's toys.' Daidouji reached over to slap Rin on the back 'You should hang out with me and meet some people.'

 

Mirai spoke up 'You're the kind of woman I hoped to be. Well at least in a couple of ways.' Mirai glared at Rin's ample chest.

 

'And your dream to be the strongest encouraged me.' Miyabi pumped her fist 'Our pasts have so much in common. You taught me to never give up even after being bedridden for so long. I also love your cut-throat attitude when you teach. It's how shinobi should be!'

 

'You see?' Shiki smiled 'You're the coolest! Everyone thinks you're cool, strong and a total hottie!'

 

'I guess maybe it's not all so bad.' Rin nodded. Her eyes welled, still holding onto tears from long ago but now released out of joy. 'I dragged you all here because I was so scared of my birthday but it looks like I didn't really have anything to worry about.'

 

With her mind cleared Rin was able to enjoy herself. She was surrounded by people that would be there for her and she promised them all that they would party the night away. They all indulged with delivered food and sweets and their games and conversations would go into the early hours. Unfortunately Rin would be the first to doze off, her sleeping pattern from work nights would be her demise.