"Ms. Higarashi, why do I not see your name on the list of applicants for the upcoming dig?" Sesshomaru's voice broke Kagome out of her study stupor and brought her mind back to the real world and out of her text book. Multiple students looked up from their notebooks and toward the professor's cold authoritative voice. Some people did not move at all. Professor Tashio was notorious for keeping his students after class to finish his lectures, the fact that they had been done early was astounding. It was now the last 5 minutes of class and no one wanted to disturb the peaceful classroom in case he decided to keep them late again.
"Oh, I didn't apply, professor" Kagome spoke up making a few students turn their heads to her, curious about the person being directly addressed by their impersonal professor.
"Hn." He replied, seeming to be thinking for a second. He turned his gaze back to her and instead of saying anything he put one finger up and gestured for her to come to his desk.
"Yes, professor Taisho?" She asked, stopping a few feet away from where he was leaning lightly against his desk.
"You are my top student Kagome. This dig is a special privilege that I can't give to just anyone, only 5 students will be coming with me. I very highly encourage you to apply. Fill this out and give it back when you are done. Do it now" he demanded, handing her a fresh application, looking knowingly at her bag. 'Oh god. He knows I have the application filled out in my bag, all torn up and covered in demon guts, doesn't he? Of course, he does. He was there.' She thought to herself as she nodded her head nervously and went back to her seat. Thankfully she had already filled one application out, so the new one barely took no time at all. The class was almost over and she could see many people chomping at the bit to get out of class. It seemed professor Taisho was the only professor on campus who wouldn't let his students out when he finished early. When the bell rang she pretended to still be busy filling out her application and waited until most of the students had filed out, only a few girls were left straggling behind, no doubt trying to catch the attention of the handsome professor. Kagome huffed at the thought, 'as if he would notice some random human woman. Or would he?' The thought made her stop walking. 'I don't really know him here, maybe he would notice random humans. After all the world is full of them. Why do I even care?'
"Kagome." His cold voice once again broke through her thoughts.
"You seem to space out just as much now as you did then... Although, I suppose that's because then is really now for you, isn't it?" He mused softly, almost as if his words were only for himself.
"Application?" He stuck out his hand waiting for her to put the paper in it.
"Ummm. Is it a good idea? It's three weeks, I'm not sure I should be gone that long." She knew he would understand what he meant.
"Trust me. Everything will be fine. Nothing happens. Well, nothing I couldn't handle anyway." His amber eyes bore into her cerulean ones. "Or do you doubt me?" The corner of his lips twitched as if he was trying to hold back a smile his eyes full of laughter. Kagome's mouth fell open slightly at the sight, something she was not used to either in the past or here in the future. 'Is he teasing me?' she thought dumbfounded.
"NO!" She said a little too loudly, gathering the attention of a few stray students who had arrived early for Sesshomaru's next class. "I mean, no, of course, I don't doubt you Mr. Taisho" she said much quieter this time, averting her gaze and trying to ignore the slight embarrassment she was feeling. Sesshomaru let out a low chuckle at the heat on her face, causing everyone in the room to stop what they were doing and stare toward the front of the room. Not that the two in front would have even noticed at that moment. Kagome's cheeks went even more red as she stared at him, not believing for a second the sound that just came out of his mouth. He was still reclining against his desk, his arms holding most of his weight off the desk, amusement was written all over his face; the picture of total relaxation. She wasn't sure she would ever recover from this moment. He wasn't quite smiling, but it was the most positive emotion she had ever seen him direct at her. His posture was more relaxed than she had ever seen; even the rare occasions she had caught him in his sleep his body had been rigid with awareness as if he was a tightly coiled snake waiting to strike at any moment. Though Kagome supposed he wouldn't be too enthused with her comparing him to a snake.
"Good. I look forward to looking through your application. I'll be in touch Miss Higurashi." Kagome couldn't find her words at the moment, still a bit breathless from the warmth spreading through her from his laughter. She forced herself to nod her head slowly and turn around to walk away.
"Kagome." She cursed herself as her heart skipped a beat at the way his voice made her name sound. She tried to nonchalantly turn around, but the sides of his lips were turned up again as if he knew her secret.
"Your bag" he gestured to the ground where she had set her small blue book bag, much smaller than the big yellow one she used for her trips to the past.
"Oh, duh! I'm such a space cadet!" She exclaimed, embarrassingly, without thinking "Thanks, Sesshomaru!" She straightened from picking up her bag and saw his eyebrow cocked, amusement still filling his face.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry, that was incredibly rude! Mr. Taisho, I meant thank you Mr. Taisho" She thought for sure she was going to catch fire with the heat from her embarrassment now. She had called him by his first name in front of half a classroom full of her peers. She felt so stupid suddenly. His use of her first name, his teasing, the laughing, it had all thrown her off and she had been struck stupid.
"Do not worry about it" his voice was not the cold velvet smooth she was used to. His words were strained and rough and when her eyes met his she could tell it was from trying to hold back his laughter. Suddenly, and slightly irrationally, she was angry. He thought she was so funny, didn't he? Straightening her shoulders she nodded her head, huffed slightly, and marched out of the room, not at all aware of the eyes that had been watching the exchange.