Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Authors Note: This was originally a Dream Novel I wrote, After my editor told me I sucked, I felt discouraged. With that in mind I wanted other people's input, thus I posted it on if you know what I am…Even after you know what I did, would you still loveme?" I heard him ask weakly, I looked up, only to be caught in his fierce gaze once more. It had been the first time I had been able to glimpse fear in his lifeless eyes.
"If yes, I'll tell you what I am." he continued in a low voice, placing his ice cold hand over mine.
"But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." – Genesis 2:17
Knowledge
My school is known for two things, wealthy families and intelligent students. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happened – that is, until he came along….
I arrived at my school, Shousetsu Academy at exactly 5:45 am, and as expected, nobody had arrived yet. Everything was shrouded in a dim blue light.
It was calm, cool and refreshing.
There I sat under the Sakura tree, watching the petals fall; it saddens me, knowing that summer is slowly but surely slipping away. Entranced by the beauty of it all, I failed to notice the figure that had approached me.
I gasped in shock and looked up at him. He was dressed in a senior uniform, had pale skin and long hair which was neatly braided. His skin seemed flawless – except for the diamond shaped scar on his forehead, which was fortunately hidden under his bangs. Finally, I slowly eased myself back into reality.
'Oh my gosh! I must've looked like a complete idiot just staring at him like that!' I thought angrily, blushing at least three different shades of red.
I cast my eyes towards the ground as we stood in silence. Reluctantly, I looked up again and almost immediately I lost myself in the endless abyss of his obsidian eyes.
He looked at me, eyebrows creased in confusion, jaws clenched, fists tightened – was there something I had possibly done to upset him?
'Impossible.'
I thought to myself, we had only just met – right?
I swallowed hard, the breath hitched in my throat. The look in his seemingly lifeless eyes was telling me to run, but for some unknown reason, my body just refused to respond.
"Shikon no tama." I heard him whisper, his fists shook violently, his breathing coarse, it was almost as if he was trying to refrain from killing me.
"Are you alright?" I asked in the softest voice I could manage at the moment. He just looked back, his features like a statue carved in marble, never changing.
"Kagome!" Upon hearing the familiar voice I turned around to discover my friend, Jun Kato.
"Jun! Long time no see! How was your summer?" I asked as my eyes drifted back to where the braided man once stood.
"He's gone." I whispered, shocked beyond belief.
"Who's gone?" Jun asked, looking at me with a worried expression on her face.
"It's nothing." I replied quickly. "I'm probably just imagining something again." I laughed ruefully, my eyes still fixed on the place in which he stood.
"Are you're feeling ok? You seem a tad bit flushed." Jun told me, placing a hand against my forehead. "Wait!" She exclaimed. "I know what's going on here!" she smiled; her glasses glinted evilly in the dim light.
'Not good!'
I thought, "Know what?" I asked weakly. Did I really want to hear her response?
"The heartless Kagome has finally fallen for someone." she concluded. My faced paled.
"You aren't serious." I demanded, my eyes narrowed slightly.
"Isn't it that guy you were just talking to?" Jun inquired.
"You saw him too?!" I asked, my usually calm composure had now completely vanished.
"I know I don't have 20/20 vision, but I'm not completely blind." Jun replied pushing her glasses up for emphasis.
"We had better get to class now." she told me, looking at the expensive diamond encrusted Rolex watch that was strapped around her wrist.
'Rich people.' I grimaced, shaking my head. Not many people knew this – actually – I wasn't even sure if anyone knew… That I was Shousetsu Academy's one and only scholarship student.
"We're in 9-1 this year!" Jun chirped happily as we progressed through the school's massive hallways.
"Well this is my locker" I began, stopping to pull out a slightly crumpled piece of paper from my blazer pocket.
"Yep, 106" I verified, setting my briefcase on the ground carefully.
"Mine's a little further down the hallway, good luck with your senior classes! I'll see you in homeroom, ok?" Jun said, bowing respectfully before she departed.
"Ohayo gozaimasu." A low hushed voice sounded from behind me and in an instant, I knew who it was.
"Ohayo." I bowed. His voice sent chills up my spine.
"Hey, you're in the senior class? You look kinda…" he trailed off.
"Young?" I finished, shaking my head. "I take advanced classes, I'm only in grade nine though" I admitted, carefully placing my briefcase in my locker, taking out the necessary binders and textbooks I needed for the upcoming classes.
"What classes do you have first?" he asked in such a way that I was shocked beyond words. He was polite.
'Great! First this guy looks like he's going to kill me, now he's acting like a complete gentleman.'
"Science, History and Calculus." I replied hastily.
'I better watch out, this guy reminds me of the big bad wolf… He's trying to reel me in…I'm not about to let that happen.'
"Do you mind if I stick with you today? I'm new here." He asked in a somewhat innocent tone. But I was not one to be fooled.
"Of course." I kept a blank expression on my face as we made our way down the hallways.
The trip to the classroom was fairly silent; he only ever said three words; 'Shikon no tama'. In the eerie silence that followed our journey, I could think of nothing but those three words, 'Shikon no tama'.
"Something wrong?" He asked, aware of my pensive state. I shook my head quickly.
"I'm just… Thinking" I answered slowly, my head turned around to face him, his eyes flickered to mine, then, reluctantly, he looked away.
"Exactly what are you thinking about" he pressed, the tone of his voice darkened slightly. I was baffled at the harshness of his voice, was he hiding something?
"The concepts of knowledge" I replied, hoping to silence him – at least for the duration of our trip.
"There are some concepts of knowledge that would better remain unknown" he replied smoothly, his voice, monotonous and uncaring. I sighed in response, sharply turning into a classroom, I said,
"I'll be leaving now…" Turning to leave, I never expected him to grab my wrist.
Letting out a small gasp of shock I looked up from his hand to his eyes. "Don't go" he told me, and with those words said, I yanked my hand with all my strength – still no effect, he was far too strong.
"I'm going to be late for class!" I exclaimed.
"It doesn't matter" he replied. Beyond shock, I growled.
"What's your problem?!" I yelled angrily, my other hand rose, poised to slap him.
"Ah, Higurashi- san, I was just looking for you! I need you to escort our newest senior student." A middle aged man said, looking up from his attendance book, he paused.
"Ahh, I see you both have already met! How perfect!" he exclaimed, grinning maliciously.
"Akiya-sensei!" I bit out, "Class is starting in less than 3 minutes, kindly ask this man to let go of me" I told him. Akiya was an odd teacher… He was always smiling, always smiling so maliciously….
"I'm afraid I can't do that" He smiled, placing a hand on my shoulder, me and my senpai stood still, we had not moved an inch since he arrived, he still had a vice like grip on my wrist.
"Why not!" I pleaded, yanking on my hand once more.
"He's a new student… I'm afraid you'll be stuck as his guide until he acquires enough knowledge about this school" he said, giving both of us a nudge into the classroom.
"This isn't fair!" I complained, as Akiya - sensei shoved me into a nearby seat.
"Have fun!" He called back in his never fading sing song voice. Groaning in frustration, I slammed by head into the desk, willing to fade into nothingness.
I pushed myself up and looked at him, how I wished I could wipe that cocky smirk off his face – permanently. Immediately, he took a seat beside me and leaned back ever so slightly on his chair.
"This is the start of a horrible year" I mumbled, burying my head in my hands.
"Hey you" he called.
"What is it?" I asked in a slightly annoyed tone. "I have a name you know" I continued, I hated it when people used pronouns to address me.
"What is your name?" he asked me, folding his hands together.
"Higurashi, Higurashi Kagome" I replied, "And you?"
"Bankotsu" He retorted in such a tone that I didn't even bother asking him for his last name.
"Kagome."
I looked at him for a moment before speaking. "Yeah what is it? Is there something you need?" I asked.
"You have something on your face" he said, using a hand to brush it off, as soon as his hand made contact with my skin I bolted away. His hand was as cold as ice, if not, colder. It reminded me vaguely of my father's hand, just as it had fallen limp when he died, when he died the warmth I knew him for had left him, his body welcomed a cold distant feeling… The same feeling I had gotten around him – around Bankotsu.
I saw a look of hurt on his face as he looked down on his palm, he flexing his hand open, and then clenching it shut, his fists trembled uncontrollably.
Raising a hand up, I touched my cheek lightly, still feeling the remnants of his ice cold touch.
"Gomen" he said quickly, averting his eyes from mine.
"…That's alright…" I said slowly, uneasy at the tension between us at that moment. The homeroom bell sounded and I turned around in my seat, the whole room was quiet, however, I couldn't hear Bankotsu breath, but that was impossible – he had to be breathing…
"Ohayo Gozaimasu minna-san" Tsukasa- sensei said, stepping into the classroom, loosing her footing slightly due to her high heels.
"Ohayo Tsukasa- sensei" the class replied in unison, however I sat quietly, thinking as I always did, asking myself questions, that do not fit within the context of knowledge.
The second bell sounded shortly after Tsukasa- sensei finished her opening announcements.
Gathering up my belongings I headed downstairs to the science lab, doing my best to avoid Bankotsu, I hated being around him, I hated that feeling. As soon as I reached the science lab I was disappointed to find out that he was already there, sitting silently, he raised his finger and beckoned me towards him.
I shook my head in disappointment as I made my way towards him.
"Leave me alone" I pleaded; he did nothing, but stare at me with the same blank expression in his eyes.
"Today we will be starting our unit on biology" Tsukasa- sensei announced, pacing menacingly back and forth, to make sure that all of her students were paying attention.
"We will start our unit with the study of one of the most vital organs in your body, the heart."
Upon hearing the word biology, I yawned, during the summer I had already taken various university courses in preparation for the next school year.
"Now everyone, turn to your partner and listen to their heartbeat" Tsukasa-sensei smiled.
Unwillingly, I turned to Bankotsu and stared open mouthed at him. This was definitely one of those things I really didn't want to do.
"You know what?" I laughed nervously, "I think it would be best for you to listen to the pulse on my wrist." I said, holding my wrist out to him.
"This experiment's stupid… Let's just not do it" Bankotsu stated, letting his chin rest on his hands, his elbows rested comfortably on the table.
"Kagome, Bankotsu, is there something wrong?" Tsukasa- sensei asked, writing something down in her notebook.
"No everything's just fine" Kagome smiled, her wrist still held out to Bankotsu who glared at her before accepting her wrist. Slowly, he took it, wincing as it neared his ear. I bit my lip, his hand was ice cold, and pressing it up against his ear he listened intently.
"Relax" He told me, "Your uneasiness is making your pulse race…." He said, closing his eyes in thought as he concentrated on each timed, unsteady beat. I looked at him for a moment, he looked so peaceful in the state he was currently in, I didn't want to disturb him.
"Bankotsu" I called softly, taking my hand back from him. "I have to… Ano…" I blushed, as I reached my hand out to take hold of his wrist.
"No" He said in a firm strong voice, his eyes narrowed slightly, causing me to back away in fear.
"What?" I asked, my hand still outstretched for his. "I have no personal interest in this; I'm just following the teacher's instructions"
He paused and looked at me, "I have a pulse, what else is it you need to know" he told me bitterly, turning to face the other way. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I opened my binder and waited impatiently for class to end.
Closing my locker, I saw Bankotsu from the corner of my eye. "You" I breathed, turning to go the other way, I looked back - only to find out that he was following me. "Stop stalking me" I told him seriously, hastening my pace.
"You're supposed to be my personal guide remember?" He smirked, reaching out to put a hand on my shoulder.
"Personal guide and personal servant are two different things" I said, stopping to swat his hand off my shoulder.
"Now what makes you say that?" he asked, crossing his arms.
"Well let's see, you never let me out of your sight, you make me tag around everywhere with you and did I forget to mention? You're keeping me on a short leash! Seriously! Everywhere I look I see you!" I growled, balling my fists at my side.
"And that's a bad thing?" He asked in a voice that made it evident that he was indeed amused at my frustration.
"Yes, it's a bad thing" I reassured him. I continued down the crowded hallway, rushing, trying to get away from him.
"Jun-chan!" I yelled, hurrying over to her.
"Kagome-chan, daijoubu desu-ka?" she asked me, turning around to close her locker. "I didn't see you in homeroom today, are you ok?" she continued.
"I'm stuck with Bankotsu until he knows enough about the school" I told her ruefully, "He's completely unbearable" I said, recalling the morning's past events.
"Really?!" She asked in what seemed to be a shocked tone. She pointed one shaky finger down the hallway.
"What's wrong with them?" I asked, as I followed Jun to see just what was going on.
"Bankotsu-kun!!! Your hair's so pretty! Do you have a girlfriend? Anata wa totemo kawaii-desu!" They all squealed. Within the group of Bankotsu fangirls I could descry the girl who had intent on ruining my life, Horii, Risa. She was clinging onto his shoulder, he was smiling…. Did they possibly know each other?
Turning to me, Risa smiled evilly, turning back to Bankotsu who smiled back. It was then that Bankotsu had spotted me, he smiled.
"That's my girlfriend Higurashi Kagome" he told them calmly, pointing in my direction, then and there I thought I'd die of embarrassment. However, there was a slight sense of relief, so he had nothing to do with Horii Risa.
I rolled my eyes at the gasps that sounded throughout the crowd. "Don't worry everyone, Bankotsu-san is just joking" I smiled sincerely, it was the truth after all. I walked past him, as if nothing had happened.
"Oh get a life will you?" I scoffed, sticking my tongue out at him. His eyes darkened momentarily, he looked down, hiding his eyes behind his bangs. Then slowly, he looked up at me, a smile plastered on his face.
"A life huh?" He whispered to himself, he looked at me with a look of bloodlust in his never ending eyes.
"When you look at me like that… It's almost like… You lust after my death" I told him seriously, my voice wavering from fear as I attempted to keep my composure.
"In order to have life, you must take life. That's how the world works nowadays squirt" he told me, his eyes searching for something hidden within my own.
……………………………………………..
To be continued….