City of Angels

by Rikaku

General Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I own this plot, Touken-san and Yoko-san.

Genre: Romance/Angst/Adventure (I hope…)

Written: December 30, 2005 December 31, 2005, and January 1, 2006

Posted: January 2, 2006 - Revamped: January 13, 2006

Author's Note: Next chapter. Virtual popcorn to any who wants some!

Chapter 1: Student Selection

---

Jumping up and down, a young woman shouted up the stairs to her best friend. For once in their lives, she would make sure that they got to school on time and not five minutes after the bell rang. Stomping her foot, adorned in dark brown buckle shoes, the girl nearly screamed in frustration. Clothed in her school's mandatory black pleated skirt and white blouse, she ran up stairs, her black hair swishing behind her.

"Sango-chan! Move! Now!" She hissed out once at the top of the stairs, her mahogany eyes glaring at her best friend, Sango Uyamuya, who was currently trying to get her feet in her size-too-small buckle shoes, the exact same as her friend.

"Coming Kagome-chan! Geez!" Sango stood up when she finally stuffed her foot into the shoe, and turned to her backpack. Grabbing everything, she sprinted down the stairs and heard Kagome follow. Turning her chocolate eyes toward her best friend, Sango and Kagome pushed open the door and called out, at the same time, "See ya!"

Dashing as fast as they could, Kagome's shoulder length hair swaying freely, and Sango's brown hair in a ponytail, they made a regular sight for anyone who lived on their street. Screaming at each other to go faster, they hurried along to their school, Kyōiku High.

Kagome Higurashi, the daughter of the wealthy Kajiya Higurashi and Satsuki Higurashi, living in a shrine with her mother, brother, and grandfather – on her mother's side – was more like an average girl than most people would assume. She lived with her mother after her parents divorced when she was 7 and Souta, her brother, was 3 ½. Living in middle class with her mother, she never really cared that much about money, rather preferring to spend time with her family and best friend Sango.

Sango Uyamuya was like Kagome, living with her father in a middle class residential area. Her brother and mother also lived with them, however, as of two weeks prior, her mother had to be taken to the hospital due to a motor vehicle accident. Kohaku, her younger brother had also been in the car, and was in the hospital for a couple of broken ribs when he had slammed into the dashboard since his seatbelt didn't lock fast enough. Like Souta, Kohaku was only 14, while their sisters were 17 ½.

Due to their casual attitude about life, both girls were friends with almost everyone in the school. They had fun laughing about how bad of grades they got on certain reports or project, or even how their parents were weirding them out. One of the most hilarious things to talk about was Sango and Kagome's constant tardy record, and how, no matter what they did, they were always five minutes late for school.

Gasping for breath, the two made it to the front steps with just minutes to spare. Surprisingly, though, there was no one in sight to laugh about their tardy record with. Glancing at each other, they both asked the same question, "Where'd everyone go?"

--

Inuyasha had never been to such a crowed high school in his entire life. Pushing through everyone, he finally made it to the office door so he could pick up a schedule.

Flinging the door open, he stalked inside, fully intent on getting his 'space.' Sighing happily, for once in his life, Inuyasha relaxed a little and spotted the secretary talking on the phone, motioning him that she'd be with him as soon as possible. Raising an eyebrow while he sat down, he muttered a few words and glared at the floor, dropping his backpack at his feet.

Inuyasha blinked for a few minutes before realizing that he would probably have to change his personality towards others an awful lot for anyone to buy that he was a former student of Muzukashii High. Most of the students there, he had been informed by Yoko-san, would curse regularly, so his quiet, calm demeanor would have to be put aside for the 'wild side' as Yoko-san called it.

Shaking his head, he sighed again. Never having been one to party, Inuyasha had no idea if he had a wild side. But, if cursing out loud was the requirement, then he would certainly meet it. Maybe he could finally let his thoughts be heard about this stupid world.

Yoko-san also said that students from his 'former' school had superiority complexes and huge ego, so fights would have to be near constant for the charade to hold. If anyone cared any less, Inuyasha would be glad to break a few other people's bones once in a while. He'd been passive for too long.

There was also the matter of his unnatural girlish appearance. Everyone at the office made fun of him, but he usually avoided fights. Yoko-san had allowed him to practice his reaction at the high school if he were to be insulted in a similar fashion. So the last person to call him a fag at the office had ended up with several broken bones. No one had been able to get over Inuyasha's ability to kick ass, but, as far as they were concerned, it was a one time only thing.

Finally being called on by the secretary, Inuyasha jumped up and told them his name, or rather alias. The name had been running around in his head ever since he was in Kyoto, for his undercover work, so, figuring it was as good a time as any to use it, he told Yoko-san. In this high school, he would be known as Shihai Satsujin, the ruling homicide – or as Inuyasha preferred to be referred to as, the ruling homicide maniac.

Of course, Yoko-san had only agreed to that because Inuyasha 'insisted' that he would require a gang name. If anyone bothered to ask, Yoko-san informed him that he should just make up another name on the spot, or tell them his real first name. Deciding that making up names that didn't have anything to do with life and death, Inuyasha decided that he'd just use his real name for the registration, with the exception of his last name being Satsujin, not Tōshi, to the high schoolers.

"Satsujin, Inuyasha Shihai." Inuyasha coldly informed the woman manning the desk. He looked her over, deciding that she wouldn't be a threat to his protégé.

Looking up at him, the woman whistled lowly. "Damn, you're good-looking. Too bad you're one of those bad boys with the hot bodies that are still in high school." She muttered, obviously not counting on Inuyasha to hear her.

Lightly smirking, Inuyasha decided to give his act a try; ego was one of his big problems, since he didn't exactly care what others though of him in reality. Usually he'd say, 'Well, that's life, ma'am,' or nothing at all, but he decided a little fun was in order.

"You ain't too bad lookin' yourself, babe." He winked at the woman when she looked up at him, blushing lightly. She coughed out a 'thank you' before handing him some papers.

"Here is your schedule, Satsujin-san. The bell should ring in a few minutes. There is also a map in the pile, for your use. Have a nice day." She called as Inuyasha walked out the door with his papers.

"You too babe!" He called back, chuckling mentally to himself at how fun it was to make people embarrassed. On his face, though, he had a drop-dead sexy smirk, and kept shooting it to the female population. 'This is a lot more fun than Kyoto! Kami! High schoolers are such morons!' Inuyasha inwardly snickered.

Walking along, his smirk slowly formed into a more thoughtful expression as the hallways were relieved of students rushing to their first classes before the bells rang. Knowing how he was supposed to act, he figured this would be a lot more difficult than a normal high school operation.

In most investigations involving a high school, it was based upon drug and alcohol smuggling. When that was the case, Inuyasha could easily blend into the background and observe all of the suspects. As of now, he was supposed to get close to his subject, befriend her, and then stalk her for a month or two. While he was an expert at stalking, he wouldn't kid anyone on his social skills. Those were almost completely absent.

'To fit in, one must play the role. One must feel the change. One must become one's character.' Inuyasha reminded himself of his own words. He would really need to feel this character if he were to remain undetected. 'Then again, I'm always playing a character.' Turning towards the window at the end of the hallway, he stared out of it. 'Except no one knows I play the part…'

--

Rushing down the hall, Sango and Kagome bolted to their first class, almost making around the last corner when Sango ran right into someone. Falling back, Sango grabbed Kagome's offered hand before looking in the direction of the other person, about to give them a hand.

"Sorry!" Sango shouted once looked towards the person. But she was surprised to find that he hadn't landed on the floor. He blinked a couple of times, as if he were in a daze, before shaking his head and muttering, "S'okay."

Looking the boy up and down, it was quite surprising when neither Kagome nor Sango could recognize him. Surely they would have remembered someone like this! His hair, oddly long for a boy, was tied back into a high ponytail and was shining dark blue in the hall lights. The boy wore a black shirt and dark blue jeans, held up by a worn out belt, chains strung everywhere they could be possibly stay. On each of his arms, there were gloves that went to his elbows with the tips cut off, and he wore combat boots. When he looked up, his eyes bore into their own; dark violet eyes.

Raising an eyebrow, the boy questioned, "Shouldn't you be getting to class?" Before they could answer, he stalked away and turned another corner. Staring after him like fish, Kagome glanced at Sango and asked, "Who was that guy?"

Shaking her own head, Sango turned in the direction of their class and began to walk with Kagome beside her. "Beats me, but it's probably a new kid or something. Did you see that get-up? Biker, definitely. He doesn't have a school uniform yet!"

"Yeah. But he seemed okay. I mean, he didn't even yell at you for running into him!" Kagome said happily, clapping Sango on the back as they entered the classroom right as the bell rang. The took their separate seats and waited for the teacher to come in.

--

Wandering around the halls aimlessly was not Inuyasha's idea for a good time. Stepping around another corner, he muttered, "That school map is a year and a century old."

Finally he stumbled upon someone who wasn't in a hurry to get to class. Rolling his eyes skyward in dismay, he carefully tapped the person on the shoulders. "Konnichiwa, sir." He stated in his most polite tone. The stranger turned around and gave Inuyasha a look over before saying, "I'm guessing you are the new student?"

"Correct. I am hopelessly lost, and require direction." Inuyasha issued the man a curt bow and straightened, lookin him in the eye. The other man raised his own eyebrow and looked at Inuyasha like he was a foreign object.

"Young man, are you sure you're from Muzukashii High? You are far too polite… No matter." The man smiled as Inuyasha just shrugged. "If you are looking for your first class, I'd be happy to escort you there myself."

Blinking in surprise, Inuyasha simply nodded and said, "Domo arigato. I'd appreciate that. But you needn't bother. I simply require directions."

"That is quite all right, seeing as I'm headed that way." The man smiled and then walked off in the direction that Inuyasha had just come form. 'It would appear that my luck is horrible. That is, horrible at best…' Inuyasha thought sullenly, strolling behind the man guiding him.

"I don't believe you quite know who I am… My name is Touken Ōatari and I am your homeroom teacher." The man in front spoke quietly, so as to not disturb the classes they were passing. "I got a notice this morning saying that you would be coming today, and that I would be your homeroom teacher. I hope that you have a good time here at Kyōiku High."

Smiling lightly, and quite happy that he got a good impression on his first teacher, he stated, "It is a pleasure to meet you." The man ahead simply nodded in acknowledgement as they approach a door steadily. Turning back towards Inuyasha, Touken-san smiled and said, "Wait for your cue. Surprise them all with your superior vocabulary, eh? Might just get them to shut up for once!" Winking, he entered the room, leaving Inuyasha outside, alone.

Looking about the hallway, Inuyasha decided that this was quite a respectable school, but could go quite a ways in means of security. There were just far too many places for a person to slip through the doors without ever being questioned, or checked for firearms. Sighing, and slightly wishing he had taken an Advil in the morning, Inuyasha decided to stop thinking that way. 'Kami, only two years in the police force at the firm and I'm already too clogged up with their thinking…'

Leaning against the wall, refraining from hitting his forehead against it several times, Inuyasha waited for his cue to enter the room. He listened to light laughter, and then heard Touken-san calm the class before speaking again. In that instant, he managed to remember… "Fuck! Where the hell did my backpack go!"

--

The teacher walked into the classroom slowly, waiting as all of the student quieted down. Rarely had Kagome and Sango seen their homeroom teacher late, but for once they were glad that it wasn't them slinking into the room. Looking carefully at the teacher, they noticed a small, but devilish smile forming on his lips. He was up to something, and they weren't sure that it would be a good thing.

"Touken-san! You're late!" One of the students chided.

Kagome and Sango turned to the student. The boy was their own age, and had a reputation that preceded him. His name was Miroku Tanoshii, and he was the pervert of the class of 2005. Miroku was quite your regular looking man; actually he was quite handsome by the standards of most of the female population. He usually wore dark colored shirts, like the navy blue dress shirt he was currently wearing, and black dress pants. With his dark blue eyes and black hair, he was a babe-magnet… until he groped the girls, that is.

Muttering incoherently under his breath, their teacher smiled a 'devil-escaped' smile at Miroku before saying, "I think you'll be happy to know why I was late, though. It seems as though there was a lost person, one with very long, shiny black hair and long, long legs, Tanoshii-kun." Whistling, Miroku leaned back into his chair and grinned. "As it turns out, this person is our new student."

Miroku whooped, along with half of the male population. "So, where's the beauty?" Miroku questioned, his grin growing broader. Sango made a disgusted noise in the back of her throat and hissed out, "Hentai." Everyone laughed at Miroku's expense, but quieted down once Touken-san began to speak again. "Our new student is waiting outside the door. Everyone, I am pleased to present our student, transferred from Muzukashii High, Satsu-"

"Fuck! Where the hell did my backpack go!" An annoyed individual outside yelled in an enraged and slightly bewildered tone.

Touken-san blinked at the interruption from outside and turned to the class, his eyebrows furrowed. "Please do excuse me. I need to see what-" The class of twenty-three students heard something fleshy hitting against the wall next to the door.

"Shit! I left it in the office! Bloody fucking hell!" The same voice from before intoned.

Wincing at the strong language, Touken-san left the room, and the students began to chatter. Sango and Kagome went to sit near their other friend, Kikyou, and began to discuss whom that could have been. Surely, by the way Touken-san had talked about the new student, couldn't it have been a boy. The angry being slamming into the wall was most definitely a creature with the Y chromosome and all of its problems.

"I vote Kouga-kun was an idiot today." Kikyou offered, smiling deviously. She turned around to see the rest of the students. "I don't see him in here today, so it has to be that baka!" She laughed along with Sango and Kagome, who were bobbing their heads in agreement.

"But how would his backpack end up in the office?" Kagome asked. An entire class of incredulous looks met that query. Before she could prepare herself, the entire class shouted, "How do you think, Kagome-chan?" Waving her hands in a 'peace, good men' gesture, Kagome laughed with the rest of her friends.

--

Inuyasha muttered a string of curses that would cause the worst men in the world to cower in fear. He ran a hand through his bangs and slapped his own forehead. He hadn't had enough hindsight to remember to pick up his backpack on the out of the office. Boy was he in trouble.

To his right, the door squeaked open, before a few more in the hallway opened as well. The teachers all popped their heads out and gave him a short glare before springing back into their own rooms to teach. It was then Inuyasha realized exactly how loud he had yelled his frustration. 'I've never had to carry something around with me constantly. Not my fault.'

Looking up, he noticed Touken-san gazing at him. 'Oh yeah. Whoops.' He inwardly bashed his head a few good times. Inuyasha let out his best sheepish grin and said, "Sorry. That was uncalled for. I left my backpack in the office and I can't find it…" Scratching his head slightly, he gave another sheepish grin to the teacher.

Shaking his head, Touken-san looked at his new student in wonder. "You know boy, this is the first I have ever heard of a student from Muzukashii High apologize for cursing after losing anything he or she owned. No wonder you transferred here." Smiling Touken-san pointed down the hall. "The office is that way; the third door on the left. I'll stall and have fun toying with the students while you grab it. Knock twice when you are back."

He re-opened the door to his classroom and said quietly, "Get to it boy." Flashing one last smile, Touken-san disappeared into the class, where all of the noise ceased almost instantly. Inuyasha, in turn, sprinted down the hall and towards the office.

--

Looking up from their chattering, the class quieted at once, wanting to learn who had gotten in trouble for yelling obscenities in school while classes were in session. Touken-san looked at them and smiled before sitting on his desk. Raising an eyebrow, he stated, "I just had a talk with our new student," then to make it seem like there were two people out there, "and the person said that the one who yelled had left his backpack in the office." The students looked at him dryly.

"Anyway, our new student needs a little more time before being introduced, so I decided to play twenty questions with you all. I will try to answer any question you ask about anything, even those that are not yes or no." Leaning back slightly, Touken-san was pleased by his ingenious plan to keep his students occupied while Inuyasha got his backpack. "First up is… Tanoshii-kun. Ask away!"

Grinning, Miroku drawled out, trying to be dramatic, "So… who is our new student…? Hm?" Waving a finger in the air, Miroku looked up to Touken-san and smiled before saying, "Boy or girl?"

Touken-san grinned another of his famous devil-grins, the kind he flashed when there was a pop quiz and said, "Now, now, Tanoshii-kun! Let's have more fun than that! I think you'd be able to tell Satsujin-san's gender when our new student walks through the door. The answer for your first question is that our mystery student's nickname was Shihai Satsujin at Muzukashii High. That is quite worrying if you think about it though… 'Ruling Homicide'… Foreboding, ne, Tanoshii-kun?" Winking, Touken-san shushed Miroku's whistle of appreciation and pointed to Sango for the next question.

"I can think of several ways to take the nickname Shihai Satsujin, ne boys?" The females of the class looked on in shock and disbelief as the rest of the males in the room, excluding Touken-san who was married, got stars in their eyes. "Hot stuff!" Someone in the back shouted.

"By the Kami! Shut up Miroku!" Sango yelled, pegging the boy with a pen. "May I ask now?"

"Of course you may, Uyamuya-chan." Touken-san waved his hand to indicate that Miroku should, indeed, shut up.

"Okay. First of all, what happened to the guy cursing in the halls? Second, why is your hair fuchsia today?" Sango bewilderingly pointed to Touken-san's normally grayish brown hair that was unnaturally a dark pinkish color.

After several minutes of coughing, Touken-san managed to swallow and turn to Sango, showing his lightly pink painted cheeks, and then answered, "Well, I gave the boy in the hall a weird look and told him to go get his backpack and get back here as soon as possible. My hair… uh… That was an accident my children had with pomegranates… heh." He coughed one last time and scratched his neck while the class laughed in an uproar.

"Oh my! Pomegranates!" Sango chocked out, holding onto a girl sitting next to her to stay upright in her chair.

"Yes… Now may we please continue with the questions?" The teacher humbly asked, rather embarrassed by his aforementioned hair color. He blinked as he heard a knock on the door. Then another followed. Apparently Inuyasha had found his backpack without much of a problem; only ten minutes since he'd told the boy to run to the office and grab it.

"Okay class! Settle down!" Touken-san called, waving his hands in a 'sit down now' motion. "It appears that our new student is ready to come in." Half of the class whooped again; the boys for the fact that they were pretty sure that the new student was a girl, and the girls because they really hated suspense. Looking in the direction of the door, Touken-san said, "I think I'll introduce our new student! May I present to you, to one, the only transfer from Muzukashii to Kyōiku High…"

---

Huffing, Inuyasha half-collapsed against the wall; backpack and all. Running all the way back to his apartment, since he managed to forget his cell phone (quite required when one was a universal investigator) Inuyasha had just barely made ten minutes. 'Oh Kami, I'm never going to let this damn thing out of my sight!' He pulled himself upright and heaved a sigh, knocking at the door while he heard the entire class – at least, that's what it sounded like – laughing. The classroom had quieted, and to his chagrin, he heard Touken-san began to announce him into the classroom.

"From what I heard before, I don't think they're expecting a boy…' He swallowed his laughter before it could bubble to the surface. "Touken-san would be one tough opponent in a game of logic and words. If he were a threat, he would be a difficult enemy to conquer.' He complimented the teacher in his own mind. A buzzing sounded into his right ear, but Inuyasha ignored it as he heard his name being called slowly by the teacher; he turned the doorknob, swinging the door wide open…

---

Ending Note: 4,000 words exactly… Oh Buddha, I must have rewritten this at least ten times… School comes up tomorrow… We're all going to be swamped by homework…

Please comment. Whether it be by e-mail or reviewing, I care not. I just need input, seeing as I'm trying to become a novelist. Like that'll ever happen… grumbles

Sayonara.