Summery: A FF/Inuyasha mix. Please don't run away because I said that! I give credit to Striking Falcon and the story "Cross of Blades" to giving birth to this bizarre mix. I decided to write it and have some fun. If it's REALLY horrible, please tell me. A girl who's training to become a SeeD has some unusual adventures with the others.
Warning: SesshomaruXOC, AU, and very bizarre story. (smiles widely, hoping no one kills me for this idea)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, FF, or the characters. I own my stuff, last names, and spells and aeons that don't appear in any games or show. To note: Zewek is my own creation Aeon. I don't describe him in the story, but it's a turle-like form with bird elements. Use your imagination, people!
Please review if you read. NO FLAMES! Comments, ideas, criticism, and suggestions are welcome.
"Alex, you're going to be late again," Sango Reymin commented, looking at her friend sympathetically.
"I don't care anymore," the brunette, with pale-blond streaks, moaned into her pillow, "I'm never going to make it for a SeeD."
"Oh, come on," Sango replied good-naturedly, dressing in their uniforms, "It's not that bad…is it?"
"I fried Headmaster Leonheart yesterday," Alex groaned again, rolling out of her bed, "With Air Cast."
"Ow," Sango winced, and then brightened. "Hey, cheer up! Tomorrow we've got a break, and you only have to survive two classes today."
"Both advanced," Alex Cooper reminded her friend and dorm-mate, "With Spell-Mistress Lulu and Summoner Yuna."
"They're both nice," Sango offered, and Alex shot her a glare. Brushing her hair out of her blue-gray eyes, she began to dress as Sango finished.
"I pity the beginners, though," Sango continued, "I heard Administrator Selphie's in a foul mood."
"Lucky us," Alex muttered, shoving her feet into her boots. Looking around, she blinked. "Where're my daggers?"
"Over there," Sango pointed toward the door, "You left 'em there last night, remember?"
"Oh," Alex shrugged, and clipped her magically-enhanced blades, which were in sheaths similarly powered, to her belt. "Well, I'm gonna run and get something to eat. Class isn't for another hour, okay?"
"Sure," Sango nodded, as her friend ran out the door, "I'll catch you at lunch!"
"Can I sit?" Miroku, adopted brother to the Wolf demon Koga, asked teasingly.
"As long as you don't try anything," Alex retorted, "Remember, I share a dorm with your girlfriend."
"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, his black bangs hanging in his eyes. "So, what's your first class?"
"Lulu," Alex told him, "And then Yuna. Pretty light day, considering our schedule lately."
'Hmm-mm," he nodded, having a mouthful of pancakes in his mouth. Swallowing, he grinned at her. "How's Sango?"
"She's meeting Kagome at their class," she told him, "Where'd Koga go?"
"He's got a class with Inuyasha in a few minutes," Miroku thought, "I've got Lulu next as well."
"Cool," Alex nodded, and then sighed. "What're you and Sango doing tomorrow?"
"We're going into the Calm Lands district," Miroku told her, "We're borrowing a couple of Chocobos. Wanna come?"
"Nah," she shook her head, "I'm not gonna tag along on a date. I'll probably end up training extra tomorrow, as usual. Thanks for the offer, though."
"Well, if you want to come, feel free," he offered, "I don't mind, and I know Sango won't either. I think Kagome and Inuyasha are coming, too."
"That makes it a double-date, then," Alex reminded him, "I'm definitely not tagging along. Isn't Koga going, to make sure Inuyasha stays away from Kagome?"
"No, he's gonna put in some extra Combat training with Sesshomaru," Miroku said, "And practice summoning Cindy – the Earth-based Aeon, remember?"
"Ah," Alex nodded understandingly. The Aeons the students were allowed to handle were temperamental, and not all of the students could handle their Aeons that well. Luckily for Alex, Valeflor responded instantly for her, but Yojimbo was still learning.
"Ixion is still giving me trouble," Miroku lamented, frowning over his Lightening-based Aeon. His girlfriend, Sango, was able to summon Shiva with almost no problems, much to his embarrassment.
"You'll get it," she comforted him, "Yojimbo still won't reply quickly. I got knocked out of a battle waiting for him a few days ago. Maybe you, Koga, and I can train together."
"That'd be great," Miroku nodded, and then glanced at the time. "We better get going, or we'll be late again."
"I don't need anymore late fees," Alex agreed, and the pair ran out of the cafeteria.
"Cutting it close, aren't we?" Spell-Mistress Lulu asked quietly, raising an eyebrow as they arrived in the training room panting. Their classroom was protected by deflecting barriers, to ward off any miscast spells the students attempted.
"Sorry," Alex said, straightening up.
"We're just about to start today on Third-Level magic," Lulu announced to the class, "As you know, each element has three spell levels, except for Water, which has four, due to…what?"
Looking around, she waited for a student to volunteer the information.
"A duel-elemental property," Alex offered, "Water is also Ice."
"Very good," Lulu nodded, and turned back to the lesson. "Besides the five elements – Fire, Ice and Water, Air, Gravity and Dark, Lightening, and Earth, there are other types of spells. Light is under the Healing class, Support, Defense, Flare, Combat, and Status. Each of you excels in one, or two, types of spells. Pair up with someone with an opposite element or spell immediately."
Proficient in Air and Gravity, two completely-opposite elements, along with some Healing, Alex looked around for a partner. Miroku had paired up with a student that had Water.
"Having trouble finding a partner?" Lulu asked her, and Alex nodded in embarrassment.
"Yes, Spell-Mistress Lulu."
"You've got quite a talent, being able to manipulate spells of such opposite powers," Lulu mused, looking around. "I think you should be paired with someone that has powerful spells, instead of just an opposite element." Pausing, Lulu called over a nineteen year-old student, two years older than Alex. "Sesshomaru Taisho!"
"Yes?" he asked coolly, peering at the two women.
"Alex Cooper will be your partner this exercise," Lulu told him, "Alex, this is Sesshomaru Taisho."
"I know," she nodded, and smiled hesitantly to the older half-brother of Inuyasha. He merely gazed at her, and she couldn't tell whether he was annoyed or just being aloof.
"All right, everyone have their partners?" Lulu asked. Seeing nods, she cast separate barriers around each team, to prevent unnecessary injuries. Standing in the middle of the room, she nodded. "Cast a Third-Level spell, but do not attack! Let your partner counter with a Third-Level of their own, but again – do not attack! Begin!"
"I believe I shall enjoy beating you," Sesshomaru informed Alex, and quickly cast the Third-Level Flare spell, Atom.
"I'm more powerful than you think," she retorted, and blocked Atom with Gravity Crush, nullifying the attack.
"Hm," he murmured. They stopped as Lulu erected more powerful barriers.
"Those of you with two spells – use them now!" she called, "Attempt to bond the two spells into one! Do not aim for your partner! Anyone who does will face immediate expulsion! Begin!"
To Sesshomaru's surprise, Alex was one of the few who began the complicated process. Her right glowed black, with the power of Gravity Crush, while her left had an almost-transparent look to it.
"Air Cast," he realized, "How can a mere human possibly control, much less bond, two such opposite elements?"
Alex frowned in concentration, and pushed her hands together. For a moment, a white light began to glow – in the next instant, however, Sesshomaru shielded himself as the barrier broke, and a blast shook throughout the room.
Uncovering his eyes, he narrowed them when he saw Alex lying on the ground, almost unconscious.
"Alex?" Lulu asked, kneeling by her, "Alex, can you sit up?"
"Ow…" she winced, supported by Lulu and Miroku, "Yeah, I think I can…"
"I shouldn't have asked you to combine them," Lulu said shortly, "It's too dangerous." Turning to the other students, she sighed. "Stop for now. I'll continue explaining the properties of magic to you."
"You all right?" Miroku whispered, helping Alex stand. She nodded, obviously bruised.
"It's amazing that she survived, much less remained conscious," Sesshomaru thought, covertly observing her as Lulu began to speak again.
"I already explained the levels for Elemental magic. For the others, however, there are many spells on equal levels," she continued, "Healing, for example, has only one attack spell, but it's on the Fifth-Level of magic – White Burst. First-Level has only Cure, while Second-Level and Third-Level is combined with Curaga, Dispel, and Esuna. Fourth-Level is Heal, as you all know."
The students remained silent, memorizing information which could one day save their lives. Looking around, Lulu nodded in approval.
"Some spells – of any category – use more physical energy to cast than lesser levels," she informed them. "For example, Water Sweep both attacks the enemy and cures any status on your members, and is a Third-Level spell. Flarega, on the other hand, is only a Second-Level spell, but uses much more effort, and can only be effective when used by someone of great physical and mental strength. Understand?"
As the nodded, Alex cast a glance at Sesshomaru, remembering how easily he had summoned the Third-Level Flare Spell.
"He doesn't even seem out of breath," she thought ruefully.
"All of you have the power to access all the categories of magic," Lulu told them, "If you couldn't, you wouldn't be here. Although you may be more proficient in some than others, it's in your best interest to study all spells of all categories. You never know when you may need them. For the remainder of the lesson, choose a partner who specializes in a spell you'd like to learn – preferably a higher-level spell – and vice-versa. Teach each other the properties of the spell, and practice casting them. Once you've found your partners, I'll erect more barriers."
Alex, looking around again in despair as everyone quickly avoided her – not that she could blame them, after what had happened – jumped almost a foot in the air when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Sesshomaru?" she asked in surprise, turning around to see him. To her annoyance, she had to tilt her head to see his face, while he was able to look down his nose at her.
"It seems you're able to control very opposite elements, and live," he said calmly, "I would like to learn Gravity Crush. You seem proficient in casting it."
"Well, I'd like to learn Atom," she said, "Or Flarega. Flare is pretty easy for me."
"We have a deal," he nodded. Alex grinned at the aloof student, and ignored the look he gave her.
"I'll start first," she offered, "You know the properties of Gravity, right?"
Sesshomaru nodded, rolling his eyes. "Yes, of course. Gravity is the opposite of Air, and is the combined effort of Earth and Combat spells."
"Yep," she nodded, "When you use Gravity Crush, you merely concentrate on an area you want to disintegrate. Take this chair, for example." Alex dragged over a chair, one of the many consumable props Lulu provided her students with to practice.
"I'm going to focus on that left front leg, all right?" she pointed at her target, and Sesshomaru nodded. He watched her intently as she formed a fist, and opened it slowly. In her palm was a ball of darkness, which was quickly growing. Suddenly, it appeared by the target, and enveloped it.
When Alex closed her hand again, the darkness disappeared, taking the leg with it.
"Impressive," Sesshomaru admitted, against his usual disdain.
"It's actually easy," she told him. "Gravity has the power to teleport from one area to another instantly, like a black hole, kinda. All you do is have a point of formation, and a point of contact. My point is my hand," she said, "Some people's points are their eyes, or nose…usually somewhere in front of them, where they can easily see the spell they're casting."
"Mine is my hands as well," he told her stiffly, and fisted his hand. "I'll disintegrate the other leg," he informed her calmly, and she nodded.
Copying her movements – or rather, using his own similar motions – Sesshomaru managed to form a ball of darkness, but when he teleported it, it appeared in the ground.
"Stop it!" Alex ordered. Breaking concentration, Sesshomaru disengaged the spell before he absorbed the floor.
"That was close," she offered, seeing his sullen look, "It takes a while to get it, if Gravity isn't one of your proficiencies."
"The danger of spell-casting," Lulu was saying to a pair sternly, "Is that you lose concentration of your surroundings in most cases, and your focus turns inward. Always, in anywhere other than in this room, pair with a fighter. Either fight in Combat, cast magic, or combine them, but never work with another student proficient in magic. The risk of both of you casting at the same time is too great."
"Good point," Alex agreed, and turned to Sesshomaru, who still appeared to be pissed off. "My turn to learn now. Which one?"
"Seeing as how you can cast Third-Level spells so easily, I believe we shall attempt Atom," he said smoothly. "Flare spells take an immense amount of physical energy, and can't be used often. But when they do, they're incredibly powerful, making them an essential magic to learn."
Alex nodded, listening to him.
"Flare, unlike Gravity, isn't formed of a combination of spells. Instead, it takes a combination – literally – of physical energy and magical ability. The more you have of either, the more powerful the spell, making Flare a very flexible spell as well."
"And Atom's merely an enlargement of Flare, right?" Alex asked, and Sesshomaru nodded.
"Correct. To form Atom, concentrate on a target. We'll use this chair, again," he told her. "Imagine your focus point wrapping around the target, crushing it. Since Flare uses this technique, only hand-point users get the most out of it," he added, and Alex giggled. "Once you've got that, imagine all the elements at once combining, and forming a giant explosion. If you get it right, the target will be destroyed."
"And if it's wrong?"
"You get blown up," he replied calmly, "Try it. If I do it, we won't have a target."
"All right," Alex glanced at him nervously, and then began the technique he had described. It took a shorter time to focus the energy than it had verbally explaining it – only a matter of seconds – and Alex frowned in concentration.
To both of their surprises, the chair was caught in a flash of red-black light. When it died down, there was nothing left except a blackened mark.
"Impressive," he said again, before he could catch himself. "I'm surprised she didn't blow herself up along with that blast, though." He blinked in surprise when he realized Alex was beaming up at him, pleased with herself.
"Damn," she grinned, "That was pretty good, wasn't it?"
"Don't get cocky," he warned her, "Any Flare level can't be used more than once every half-hour – and the more powerful it was, the longer it takes until it's safe for you to use it again."
"Gotcha," she nodded.
"Very impressive, the both of you," Lulu nodded, "I think perhaps the two of you should be regular partners here. It seems you can teach other a lot of things."
Sesshomaru glared at Lulu, but she ignored him. Alex hesitated, and then nodded.
"Sounds good to me," she agreed, and Sesshomaru was forced to sigh in consent.
"I can't believe you got along so well with Sesshomaru," Miroku mentioned, as they broke for lunch, "He's usually really aloof."
"What makes you think he was any different with me?" she asked sourly, sitting down, "He looked down his nose at me the entire lesson."
"Hey, guys!" Sango called, sitting down with Kagome. Kissing Miroku on the cheek, she flashed a grin at Alex. "Wakka was a doll – he's a great long-range teacher!"
"Yeah," Kagome agreed, "I'm learning how to fuse my spells into arrows." Kagome excelled in Support and Healing magic, while Sango dealt best in Water, making their respective Aeons Zewek and Shiva.
"Alex was paired with Sesshomaru for Lulu's class," Miroku told them, "She actually upstaged him – cast Atom her first try, but he couldn't manage Gravity Cast."
"It wasn't upstaging!" she protested, as Inuyasha strode up, with Koga close behind.
"Man, the Headmaster's a slave driver!" Inuyasha complained, slumping down, "It's like he was determined to kill us before we got a day off."
"I think he's still pissed that you nailed him yesterday," Koga informed Alex, who flushed.
"Sorry."
"No problems," Koga waved his hand, "Dog-Boy here got the crap beat out of him."
"What were you doing in Leonheart's class, Koga?" Sango asked curiously, "I thought you specialized in hand-to-hand – wouldn't you be in Zell's class?"
"I'm learning physical as well," he shrugged. The Wolf demon excelled in Earth magic, and could summon Cindy in a fight. Inuyasha, proficient in Fire magic, could call Ifrit into a battle easily.
"When I first came, I thought physical meant what hand-to-hand is," Kagome confessed, laughing, "Instead, I find out that it means fighting with a sword, daggers, or any short-range weapon!"
"I guess it's a combination of weapon and physical ability," Miroku shrugged, he and Sango in long-range Combat classes.
"I hope Yuna gives us an outside lesson," Alex said, "I'm dying to ride Valeflor again."
"Yeah, having any physical contact with our Aeons is awesome," Inuyasha agreed, taking a break from eating. Kagome rolled her eyes, but nodded her agreement as well.
"Well, my class is in a few, so I better get running," Alex realized, standing up. "Anyone else have her class now?"
"Um…I don't think so," Kagome shook her head, "Sorry."
"Oh well. I'll see you guys later, then!" Alex waved, running off.
"Welcome," Summoner Yuna greeted them politely, as her students gathered. "I'm glad you're all on time today."
Alex grinned, knowing that she had never been late to a Summoning class in her entire time at the Garden.
"Today, since it's the day before break – and the last day you'll be allowed to summon your Aeons except in case of emergencies," Yuna reminded them gently, and groans floated in the air. As Alex had hoped, they were outside, nearby the quad. "I'm going to allow you to summon your Aeons, but merely interact with them. There will be no Combat training today – enjoy playing with your Aeon, and strengthen the bond between the two of you. It's absolutely essential."
To Alex's surprise – and annoyance – Sesshomaru was also there, and looking as disdainful as ever. Mentally shrugging, she waited for Yuna to give the signal, wanting to summon Valeflor.
"Going to summon Valeflor?" Yuna asked her gently, and Alex nodded. "I think it would be wiser to work with Yojimbo, Alex."
"I've been Summoning Yojimbo, Summoner Yuna," Alex objected, "Valeflor hasn't been Summoned for weeks."
"Perhaps you can split your lesson today, then," Yuna suggested, and Alex nodded in agreement.
Performing an intricate dance with her hands, Alex waited as the symbol for the Aeon of Air formed around her on the ground, and stepped back as the giant Aeon shot up into the air.
Looking around, she grinned as she watched Miroku try to summon Ixion, and then run as the horse-like Aeon ignored him.
"Valeflor!" she stroked his beak. Gazing into his eyes, Alex sensed his approval, and climbed onto his back. Grabbing hold of his feathers, she shrieked with delight as they flew into the sky, high enough to overlook the entire Garden.
"So, Sesshomaru can summon Bahamut," she thought, watching as the Dog demon climbed onto the huge Aeon's shoulder. Miroku had finally gotten Ixion to stop running, and was now panting against a tree.
"Whoa!" she laughed, as Valeflor suddenly took a dive toward the ground. Yuna watched in approval as her students interacted with their Aeons. Stretching out her hand, Alex was able to touch the grass as Valeflor flew low over the ground, skimming the green blades. Swooping back up, she hugged him tightly, and he made a cooing noise.
I'm trying...I posted this for opinions. If it's really bad, I'll take it back down and work MORE on it. Please review!