Under the Influence of Love

A Bakura Ryou– Sesshomaru-Sama tale

Senayalayasha-Sama

Summary: Ryou, a student in Sesshomaru's Honors English 4 class, studies diligently until falling asleep in his teacher's classroom after class hours and things between the two become more than just a student – teacher relationship. (Note: Sesshomaru has two arms.)

Chapter One: Beginning

Ryou awoke one morning at five, three hours before he had to be to school. It was the second of April, a Monday, and next to him on the floor lay Bakura. His dark had a little too much to drink the night before, and had swaggered into his bedroom after three and passed out on the floor.

Ryou brushed his hair back from his face and looked tiredly at his snow white arms, gently rubbing them. He was dotted with bruises of all sized, most from Bakura, but a few from the bullies at school. He really didn't like to think of how he got them, but as the thoughts drifted through his tired mind, he remembered that he was going to have a substitute teacher in his Honors English 4 class for the remainder of the year.

Groaning, he rolled over onto his front and stretched like a cat before pulling the covers off and getting up quietly to get dressed. Bakura suddenly grabbed his ankle and gazed up at him with a look that told Ryou that he had a killer headache, and he wasn't happy that he had almost been stepped on.

"Where are you going? It's not even light out yet!" Bakura growled. Ryou flinched at the gruffness of his dark's voice, but finished putting on his school uniform and grabbed his school bag, cell phone, shoes, and ran out the door before Bakura could even get up.

Once outside, he looked around frantically, trying to figure out which way to go. Seto was to the right, but if he went there, he'd just throw him out. Jounichi was to the left, like Yugi and the Pharaoh, but they probably weren't even up yet. Tea was across the street living with Honda, and Duke lived somewhere kitty-corner from his street a few blocks away. Marik and Malik were out of the question since they were lunatics and had tried to lock him in their bedroom once or twice when he came over for tea on Ishizu's invitation.

Deciding on Jounichi's as Bakura came running out of the house, he put his book bag over his shoulder and ran like a bat out of hell.

Down the street, Sesshomaru was driving his silver Lamborghini to his favorite coffee shop that was only open from three to six in the morning for a roasted marshmallow mocha and a jelly-filled blueberry éclair. He stopped at the stop sign across from Ryou's street to see the boy running out of the house and look around as if looking for quick escape.

Sesshomaru leaned over his steering wheel a little to get a better look and studied the teenager with his golden eyes that were hidden with bright green eye contacts and a pair of thin glasses. "What's going on over there?" he asked quietly. A second later, Bakura ran out the door after him as Ryou took off towards the direction that Sesshomaru was heading without a second thought.

Stepping lightly on the gas, Sesshomaru moved forward and caught up with Ryou, rolling down his window and stopping next to him, leaning out the window as Ryou paused, eyes wide with fear.

"Want a ride?"

Ryou ran without thinking, trying to ignore Bakura's screaming behind him of all the cruel things he'd do once he caught him. Suddenly, a Lamborghini drove up next to him and a handsome black-haired male with bright green eyes leaned out of the driver's window and said in a cool, sexy voice, "Want a ride?"

Chancing a quick glance at Bakura, who had more than halved the distance between them, he sprinted around the front of the car and opened the door and dove in head-first, closing the door as the driver sped off. Bakura tried to catch up, but eventually let up and stood on the sidewalk, screaming at the two in the car as they drove off.

"Thanks…" Ryou panted as he tried to catch his breath.

"I'm Sesshomaru-Sensei. Nice to meet you," he said, holding out a hand. Ryou took it and shook it.

"Bakura Ryou."

"If you don't mind my curiosity, why were you running from your brother?" Sesshomaru asked. Ryou lowered his head.

"He's not exactly my brother…"

"Boyfriend maybe?" Ryou blushed.

"N-no, it's not like that!" he said hurriedly. Sesshomaru laughed softly.

"Kidding. Anyway, why were you running from him?"

"He…drank too much last night and passed out on my floor. He's scary when he's hung over, and I didn't want to talk to him this morning, so when I ran, he came after me…"

"Are you sure that's the reason? You don't need to report this man?" Sesshomaru asked. 'He's adorable,' he thought. 'Just like a porcelain doll.'

Ryou shook his head. "No, I just need to move out. I really don't have anywhere to go, though…" he said, looking down at his hands in his lap. 'He's really nice, and really handsome. But, something isn't right about him. Something about his appearance makes him seem almost fake…' Ryou thought. 'Maybe I'm just imagining it.'

"Would you like to join me for some coffee?"

"Oh no, please, you've done more than enough by helping me get away from him. I couldn't…"

"No, it's nothing. I was heading to my favorite coffee shop anyway when I saw you running. I insist," Sesshomaru said as he drove up next to the curb and parked outside. As Ryou got out, Sesshomaru came around and took his small hand in his long, slender one and helped him out, Ryou's sleeve was jerked up his arm and it revealed a large black bruise.

Before he could ask about it, Ryou pulled his sleeved down and looked away as he blushed from the hand contact. Sesshomaru's hands were peculiarly warm and cool simultaneously and he found it slightly sensual.

Sesshomaru closed the door and guided Ryou inside with an arm around his shoulders, bending down and whispering in his ear, "This is the only place in Domino open this early. They have the best coffee and pastries in town." Ryou felt his cheeks redden even more at this and he didn't fail to notice that Sesshomaru's impossibly soft and smooth lips brushed his ear. Whether it was intentional or not, he couldn't know.

"What would you like?" Sesshomaru asked. "A white chocolate mocha, or roasted marshmallow mocha, or a cappuccino…?" Sesshomaru asked.

"Um…roasted marshmallow mocha, please…" Ryou said.

"What about doughnuts, or something to eat?"

"No, I'm fine. I eat at school," said Ryou.

"Alright. Why don't you go find a seat, Ryou? I'll be there in a minute." Ryou went and sat down at a corner table and took out his make-up to cover up his bruises.

A second later, Sesshomaru came back with the drinks and set Ryou's in front of him as the teenager tried to put away his make-up. Sesshomaru lifted an elegantly shaped eyebrow as he sat down and leaned over the table, crossing his arms and studying the silver-haired teen. Ryou sat stiffly and gazed back uncomfortably into Sesshomaru's unnaturally vibrant green eyes with his deep chocolate brown ones.

"You're a student, right? What school do you attend?" Sesshomaru asked softly, sitting up and taking the lid off of his mocha and mixing it up as he continued to keep eye contact with Ryou.

"Um…Domino High…" Ryou said, lifting his mocha and taking a small, delicate sip, Sesshomaru watching him like he was a specimen under a microscope.

"Really? I'm teaching there later…Ms. Shiata's Honors English to be more specific," the older male answered. Ryou's head snapped up, his eyes alight with shock and happiness.

"Oh, she's my last hour teacher! Ms. Shiata's really cool, you know. We're reading Edgar Allen Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne in class. We finished Shakespeare a few days ago. She's really emotional, and when she reads, she puts on costumes and dances around the room to make it more interesting," Ryou said, leaning over the table and smiling a little. Sesshomaru smiled back gently, but it was kind of a cool, disconnected smile.

"Then I hope I can be a good substitute for her. To be honest, I'm actually kind of excited that I'm going to be teaching you." He chuckled as he took a sip of his mocha.

"Really? Why?"

"I've only known you for all of, what, fifteen minutes and I already like you. You seem bright and perspective, and silently outgoing. I like students like that," Sesshomaru said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his long legs and drinking his mocha, an arm draped over the back of the chair.

Ryou got a good look at him and his outfit from that angle. Sesshomaru was wearing a light gray business shirt, a simple black tie, and a pair of black slacks that emphasized a slender waistline, strong yet delicate hips, and a nice backside. On the floor next to him was a large fluffy abomination the color of pale flesh, and on the back of his chair was a black leather trench coat. His slender, cool eyes were inquisitive, and his small glasses added to his already intellectual appearance. Not only did he look sexy, he oozed it and dressed extremely well. Ryou watched his long fingers wrap around the cup he was holding and blushed a touch.

"Is something troubling you, Ryou - Chan?" Sesshomaru asked. Ryou snapped out of his daze and shook his head, drinking his mocha to avoid answering questions. At about a quarter to six, the employees were alerting the customers to prepare to leave soon, and Ryou and Sesshomaru went back out to the car.

"Well, where to, Sesshomaru – Sensei?" Ryou asked as he put on his seatbelt.

"Want to go to the park for a little while? It's still too early to go to the school."

"Yeah, okay," Ryou said.

Along the way, Sesshomaru asked, "How old are you, Ryou – Chan?"

"Um, seventeen, Sesshomaru – Sensei. What about you?"

"I'm thirty-one." (We all know Sesshomaru's older than that, but if I said some huge number it would've freaked Ryou out )

"Oh…I had no idea you were so much older than I was. You look so young," Ryou said, lowering his head slightly and gazing out his window. Sesshomaru looked at him.

"Do you have a crush on me, Ryou – Chan?" he asked, laughing a little under his breath. He watched the teenager redden to the tips of his ears. Arriving at the park, he parked the car next to the curb and unfastened his seat belt, leaning over the console to Ryou.

"Maybe…" Ryou whispered. Sesshomaru gently took his chin and turned his head to face him.

"It's okay if you do. I understand completely, Ryou – Chan," Sesshomaru said gently.

"But, the age difference – I'm a student and you're a teacher – that wouldn't be right…"

"But Ryou – Chan, you don't seem to understand me. I feel peaceful with you, calm, collected, happy. You seem so hurt, and I feel terrible knowing that there's nothing I can do as your teacher to help take it away. I know it would be wrong, but Ryou – Chan, I adore you…" Sesshomaru whispered.

Ryou looked at him with his large brown eyes, leaning against the car door to give himself a little distance from his teacher. Leaning over the console and looking up at him, Sesshomaru looked like a crouching lion, his hands resting on the leather interior and his thigh like great paws, his eyes looking at him as if he were the prey they intended to catch, his back arched a little at the shoulders, a leg in the driver's seat. "Sesshomaru – Sensei, you're frightening me. I like you too, and you rescued me and you're extremely nice, but I don't know…"

Sesshomaru reached up a long-fingered hand and stroked Ryou's cheek, watching him flinch away and close his eyes. He felt white-hot pain shoot through his body like a knife had been driven though him at the sight of Ryou being scared of him. "Ryou – Chan, you're so pretty…I want to take you into my arms and take away your fears. I don't want you to fear me; I want you to think of me as someone that you can come and talk to, someone that will protect you," Sesshomaru said, wrapping his long arms around Ryou's waist and hugging him.

"Sesshomaru – Sensei…" Ryou said quietly. A moment later, Sesshomaru sat up and combed a hand through his long hair while adjusting his glasses. Ryou still leaned back against the car door, his hands up by his head and his head turned to the right, his eyes closed. Sighing, Sesshomaru leaned over and shook Ryou's shoulder gently. He was asleep, and the circles under his eyes and the pale skin tone suggested that he was sleep deprived.

Sesshomaru sat Ryou up properly in his seat, laid it back and fastened Ryou's seatbelt again as he started the car and slowly started to drive around town. The whole time, Sesshomaru rested a hand on his chin and chewed thoughtfully on the inside of his lip as he scowled, thinking. It was hard for him not to stop the Lamborghini on the side of a country road and straddle the boy's slender hips, but his stone will kept him from doing so.

While sitting at stoplights in town, he took a moment to look over Ryou's figure, and he liked what he saw. In his school uniform, Ryou looked like a clergyman in a cassock and trousers, and it hugged his slight hourglass figure at the waist and shoulders, his pants accentuating very delicate hips and feminine legs as well as a very well-shaped ass. In his sleep, Ryou looked like a beautiful angel, his lustrous silver locks framing his face, and for the first time, Sesshomaru got a chance to gaze at his rosebud lips and long, black, full eyelashes.

Once the light turned green again, Sesshomaru bit down hard on his lip and nearly floored the gas pedal, trying not to think about it. Around 7:10, Sesshomaru drove to the school and woke up Ryou in a gruff tone that he didn't mean to use. Ryou shot awake and sat up, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands. "Thank you for today, Sensei…"

"No need. I'll get paid back in full soon," Sesshomaru mumbled, getting out and taking his briefcase out of the trunk as Ryou got out of the car and headed for the school, schoolbag in front of him as he looked at the ground and clutched the strap with both hands. Sesshomaru caught up and they walked into the school together before splitting up to go their separate ways. As they parted, both Ryou and Sesshomaru looked miserable.