Chapter Seven: Arranging the Board

"A true leader always keeps an element of surprise up his sleeve, which others cannot grasp but which keeps his public excited and breathless."

-Charles de Gaulle

She had a moment of channeling her un-remembered friend Sango but it was little avail.

"OW!"

Kaname's face had barely budged and her hand hurt like hell.

"What is wrong with this guy that I can't even slap him for being rude?" Kagome thought and glared at him when he turned the shocked expression her way. "I told you to stop! What is wrong with you! You...hypocritical old narcistic...flea!"

She pushed herself up, about to storm off when one of his hands stopped her by grabbing her arm at the elbow. "Kagome..."

"Let go." Kagome said with a bravado she didn't feel.

"It would be best if you listened to her." The cold voice made her turn her head so quickly her neck popped with the effort. The new professor she'd recognized was standing there in one of the suits he often wore to the day classes.

"Sesshomaru..." She commented.

Another scene flashed in front of her. She was opening her eyes fearfully and a sword had been paused inches from herself and the girl she'd seen before in her visions that she was holding protectively behind her. It was the slightly younger and not tattooed version but his face was so close she was certain it was him.

"I apologize...I must be late for class. Forgive me professor Sesshomaru. Kagome, please don't come out at night again." he said softly, his previous calm soft demeanor had returned completely. "Stay well."

He released her and she blinked at him in further confusion as he headed out of the room.

"This will be more difficult than I predicted." Kaname thought with a small smile despite the fact he'd fed on school grounds and it was very likely the new teacher knew. None of the others would say anything to him. "Best to get to planning the next act."

"He fed from you." It wasn't a question. The man didn't give anything away, a castle of strength where most men were barely leaning pillars. "Interesting...he didn't bite you?"

"No he didn't." Kagome said blushing at the teacher as it was a tad embarrassing. "but I told him to stop."

"As he says, it would be wisest for you to avoid being out in the evenings like this. Why are you here?" It was all business.

She sighed and explained the story again, repeating. "I -didn't mean- to get lost. Please tell me who you are. How did you know to check here in the nurses office this late? If you are teaching the night class you have to know they wouldn't need the nurse."

"In so knowing...it seemed odd that the light was on." Sesshomaru stated quietly. "Whoever it is you think I am, you are mistaken. It would be best if you didn't continue to pursue this issue."

"I know that's not true..." Kagome stepped forward when he started to turn away. "Please...I've seen you...and a girl dressed in a old styled orange and green kimono. With a small imp creature. You had facial tattoos and wore old armor...you were fighting usually...but I know it has to be you."

He'd tensed when she'd mentioned the kimono then turned back when she mentioned the facial tattoo's, watching her silently. "You imagination is great but..."

"Stop." Kagome was on the verge of tears after everything she'd gone through tonight. "I need to know I'm not just crazy...a year of my life disappeared and you are the only thing that's given me any sort of real clue as to what it was. But non of it makes sense, but you have to know, you have to remember me. What about Rin?"

"Come, the event with the moon dorm leader must have been distressing." He commented, lifting her for the second time that evening a random man just decided to carry her. "I'll return you to your room and then come to teach the night class."

Kagome couldn't help it, she started crying and dug her face into his side as he carried her. She knew she was incredibly close but she couldn't break the wall her brain had set up no matter how many small windows she found to glance though along it's length. It was too much at once, Kaname had taken advantage of her and it was sickening that some part of her had enjoyed it. It made her wonder if she really was helping Zero or just trying to help herself. Was the part she couldn't remember of her life something similar? She'd been doing dangerous things and thats why her family didn't want her to know?

The return was quicker than she thought it would be. She thought she'd locked her door but when they stopped he was setting her on her bed and frowning at the way she was shaking a little. He took off his jacket - it was already stained thanks to her crying, putting it around her shoulders.

"Stop sobbing." He ordered, and she found it easier to listen when being faced with those golden orbs. "You aren't crazy, except perhaps for your actions with the hunter turned vampire. I wasn't certain at first...there are always humans that look like other humans...but if you knew Rin then you must be the one Inuyasha traveled with. How are you here?"

"You do know me?" She blinked as it sunk in that he'd been acting for some reason outside. "I don't know...I don't remember anything. Even you I can only remember in broken moments and flashes of visions. Human? Are you a vampire like the others?"

"Nothing so weak." He answered, the normal mask of indifference firmly in place. "You knew me as Lord Sesshomaru, demon lord of the western lands...though my control has reached slightly further I rarely interfere in courtly affairs myself anymore."

The name he'd mentioned, Inuyasha, had made her heart twinge and shutter, but she couldn't remember anything else from his words as she'd hoped. Dreamed that just speaking to someone she'd known would return it all at once, but it'd been just that. Though now at least she had some hope.

"You knew me though?" She was excited at that much, if he could talk to her then she might start to unlock more of her past. The rest of the gravity of his words hadn't hit yet.

"I did, though we only ever met in passing and even more rarely spoke." He answered, considering her quietly. "But you cannot tell people of it, it's something I must deny during my time here."

She nodded instantly. "Sure...but can we meet another time...can you tell me what you remember?"

He waited a long while and she feared he would outright deny her. It was at least something when he finally replied. "I will think about it. For the moment, rest and avoid going out in the evening hours in the future."

"Sure...when can I talk to you again?" She asked as he headed for her door.

"Sunday. I'll find you if you go into town in the afternoon." He didn't even turn around. She heard the door lock behind him and remembered professors have master keys as she laid across her bed with a sigh. Things hadn't been completely awful that day after all.

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The next morning in class it was difficult to concentrate on the lesson. She'd had time to relax and think over what was said to her. In particular the fact that the new teacher had called himself a 'demon lord' which seemed worse by far than a vampire somehow. Though she couldn't feel the same augmentation in aura when she was around him that she did the vampires.

She'd continued to have strange dreams involving him in combat, to include one where he'd been completely covered by energy and still managed to escape and survive an attack that very much seemed as if it should have killed him.

All the more reason to worry, almost never in her memories was she in a city of any kind, which makes her wonder if during the last year she'd even been at home. "Could I have run away? I guess what I do remember is frightening enough that I can understand grandpa, mom and Souta not telling me anything. They were just trying to protect me."

She paused when Yuuki leapt up from her chair and ran off during one of the small breaks, glancing after her with a slow blink while Yori called after her. There was a twinge of something amiss but she knew she didn't have the same rights to run around the grounds as freely and waited.

As it was she was so distracted she didn't think about it too much. The next class was history and she didn't want to miss the chance to watch Sesshomaru for any other clues to her past. Even the broken visions were usually new eventually and so she ever so slowly started to write down what she did see, not at all paying attention to the actual lecture.

By the time it was over and lunch was starting she didn't spend more time at lunch than it took to get down her small meal and head back to class. She needed to catch up on some of the chapters they'd gone over while she was daydreaming about remembering her missing time.

It was unexpected when she returned to see Zero half-sleeping on his desk like he'd never been gone for the majority of the week. She frowned at him but then headed up the stairs and nudged his arm. "Hey, you were gone for a while there."

Violet eyes glanced up to her tiredly, he didn't respond though, just starting at her for a few long seconds before stretching his arms out.

"Nothing to say?" She frowned at him. "Are you..."

"I'm fine." He answered coolly without letting her finish. "You are being nosy as usual."

She punched his shoulder and resisted the urge to twitch as he was tougher than she. "Don't be so high and mighty, I've been worried about you! So has Yuki."

"I know." He was more muted when he answered, glancing down and his eyes were incredibly sad. "I'm sorry to have worried you."

She blinked at the unexpected apology and shook her head, leaning forward to hug him around the shoulders for just a moment. "No more just standing there when someone's pointing a gun at you eh?"

"So people keep telling me." He commented, considering the way his master and Yuki both had yelled at him for his attitude. "I'm fine."

"Good, you better be!" She hopped back down the steps to her own seat. "You still owe me a trip into town."

"I do?" He eyed her skeptically.

"Yes." She nodded seriously. "I need to go into town on Sunday and you should come with me."

"Mmm." The noise non-committal as he put his head back down to keep resting after glancing at the clock.

Kagome grinned at the attitude, she'd let him get away with it for now. Eyes turning to her books and opening the history one to consider the lesson they'd gone over while letting him rest behind her.

The rest of the day went by, she even sat through ethics despite her want to skip again. After class Yuki and Zero both had to vanish for prefect business and while she'd been hoping to speak to Zero more she headed back to her room and spent most of her night making up for both homework and the other lecture she'd missed during the day...

By the time evening started to fall she glanced out her window with a sigh, vague twinges hit her that made her slightly dizzy with the new activeness of the vampires but something seemed even more energetic than before. She paused as she was nearly finished with only a few math problems remaining and looked out her window, squinting and trying to see what all the energy in the air was about. A carriage had arrived and was moving toward the moon dorms...

"Another one?" She frowned a little at the idea of more vampires, she already got sick enough around them. It was getting better but she still didn't like it. "I wonder what's going on."

Curiosity wasn't enough to get her to budge that day. Despite the fact that new unknown vampires were even more threatening, there was the idea that if she went out and annoyed Sesshomaru then she may not be able to meet with him in two days time. She could pick out the uniforms of two day students and given one had short silver hair she could assume it was Yuki and Zero. Shortly behind them she could see Sesshomaru walking after their path not more than a minute or two difference apart.

She frowned and headed to lay down, all the active vampires were making her dizzier than usual. Not that she didn't have to deal with them being involved in the evenings, but tonight they were more involved. Some rare event for the blood-suckers was happening over there, it just made her want to sleep.

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The atmosphere at the moon dorm was very different from the lazy peace in Kagome's room. On the contrary there was an ambience of tenseness that would be difficult for anyone to dismiss. When Yuki and Zero arrived Yuki had given a moment to protest harsh words of the older vampire that had arrived and was speaking insultingly of the school.

"Cross Acadamy is peaceful." She intervened then hesitated a moment when the vampires turned toward her. "T..That's why... Chairman Cross said to make a contribution this time too... Um. You're Ichijou-senpai's grandfather, right? I'm here to welcome you."

She saluted seriously after pushing away the moment of nervousness, taking her job at the school very seriously.

"We'll bring you to the chairman's office." Zero added, still waiting just outside of the doors leaving the main area of the dormitory.

"Nevermind." The older blonde commented to his grandson, turning to follow the people that had arrived to escort him.

"Ichiou." The statement from Kaname stopped the older vampire and made Yuki pause to stare at the pureblood she owed her life to. Kaname just smiled to the older blonde, speaking softly. "I'll be looking forward to our next meeting."

"Me too." The older gentleman replied, bowing slightly. "I'll be going."

He left then with Zero falling into step and Yuki still standing staring at Kaname.

"Yuki." Kaname said her name fondly, curious why she was waiting. "Thank you."

She jumped and started to reply but a hand settled on her shoulder and she blinked at the new history professor in surprise. "Sesshomaru-sensai?"

"Yuki, attend to your duty." The silver haired man dropped his hand neatly off her shoulder again after the order. "Kaname, I expect that you'll have good reason as to allow all of night class to ditch their responsibilities. I realize that you required at least a small group with which to properly greet your elder, however, I shall require all of you to attend rudimentary classes for the time you missed."

"How dare you speak to Kaname sama like..." Ruka stepped forward angrily, the blonde had a fist balled. With her several of the usual suspects had taken aggressive steps toward the unconcerned seeming teacher. The rest of the vampires were looking at him in the same angry manner.

"Sesshomaru-sensai. You'll find I spoke with the Chairman and had permission for all of the students to attend this." Kaname said without the aggression of the rest of his fellows. "If you still wish for us to make up time we missed then we will be glad to do so."

"You have half an hour." Sesshomaru replied, still unconcerned even with the threat of the whole dorm of vampires. "I expect everyone to be on time."

He turned and left, ignoring the couple of whispered threats behind him.

"Kaname-sama?" Aidou asked with a frown. "He just..."

"Aidou." Kaname looked at him quietly. "It's fine."

"Who does he think he is." Ruka grumbled. "Another hunter?"

"Must be if he's allowed to come here." Kain added with his own frown. "Come on, lets not start anything, Kaname wanted us to comply."

The vampires started to head away and Kaname considered after the strange silver haired new teacher quietly. He needed to learn more about him.

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Kagome blinked at Zero in surprise the following morning, a few others staring as well that were in the hall when he said he'd go with her into town but it needed to be today.

"Um, okay..." She agreed without taking too much time to think about it, it seemed unlikely he'd invite her again...ever. "When?"

"As soon as you are ready." He replied quietly, sending a glare at the people gathered to watch and they rushed away quickly.

Then they were off a few minutes later and Kagome was following him off into the town with him being mostly quiet as usual. She was staring as they walked though, it was nice enough out that she doubted the trench coat was for warmth. "How can you be out during the day?"

"All vampires can." He replied after a glance around and finding few people on the streets that early. "It just makes them more tired, slows reflexes, it's not comfortable."

"Oh." Kagome frowned some. "You don't have to come out with me if it's that bad."

He shook his head at her. "The movies tend to be dark correct?"

She smiled at that. "Not a bad compromise."

"I need you to wait for me though here." He'd stopped so suddenly she walked two more steps before pausing and turning around then noting it was the resteraunt where they'd rushed not even a full week before. "There's something I need to do first."

"Um...okay...you aren't going to be long?" She asked curiously, blinking at the bizarre comments.

"I should return soon. I don't want you to get hurt and this place is run by an ex-hunter." He explained glancing toward the slumiest of the slums in the city.

"You are going after one?" She blinked at the realization, wondering if the psuedo-date was just an excuse. "Probably not, he'd just leave if he didn't want to deal with me..."

He started walking away and she grit her teeth to bite back a remark, sighing and moving into the resteraunt to sit down and order breakfast. "That's assuming he even comes back."

She got her food and was picking it over quietly, still not sure what to think of all the things happening lately. She blinked suddenly as she heard a shot in the distance, it couldn't have been that far...there was a flash of dizziness. "Vampires...they're nearby. Night class and Zero..."

She tossed down money and rushed out of the building toward where she felt Zero before she could think to stop. Running into the yard of a building that looked condemned. She moved into the back entry and could sense a fourth unknown vampire now. "The one they're hunting."

There were sounds of struggled toward the front but as she started that way a green haired vampire landed near her, looking at her with a demented grin. "Another one? Lucky lucky me."

"How do I get myself into these situations?" Kagome thought with a frown. "What did I think I was gonna do anyway?"

"Is that's all that's stopping you from giving into your addiction of offering your blood?" Kaname's words from two days before haunted her thoughts.

The vampire pushed her hard against the wall and her eyes narrowed. No, she wouldn't just have come wanting some monster to feed from her blood, it was all a bluff. She was tired of this. "Get off of me."

She glared at the vampire, suddenly less afraid as it licked it's fangs while watching her.

"You smell so good too, nothing like the other ones..." It ranted, sniffing at her neck shortly before the flash of light sent it flying into the wall without mercy, it went so far it was stuck in the wall's frame and didn't appear to be conscious.

"Let go of me!" She could recall it, yelling it at some monstrous creature that was carrying her and going on about a jewel. She hit it and the flash of light occurred, it had to have been the first time...but the memories closed themselves quickly as they continued to do.

She blinked to try to come back to the present, as much as she wanted to remember, now wasn't the time to be having flashbacks. Her eyes cleared just in time to make out the magenta cross that accompanied the shot that went off split seconds before it cut into the vampire on the wall.

"Kagome?" Zero frowned at her as he stalked down the hallway toward her. "You said you'd wait at the diner."

"I was...then I heard a shot and I felt you fighting." She answered softly, she wanted to argue but the use of whatever power that was had left her more tired. "They said I wasn't normal...that I had holy blood...can I learn to fight these monsters?"

"You could have been killed." He hissed, he was angry at her.

"Zero, Kagome?!" Yuki rushed along from the main room with two of the night class members with her. Though they stood back watching Kagome warily. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Kagome answered, dusting some of the drywall in her hair out. "I just heard shots and thought I could help. Zero saved me."

"Zero..." Yuki glanced to him and smiled at him. "It's good you were here. We found the other girl, she's okay. Her memory will need to be altered and it would be good if she got to a doctor."

"We'll wait for you at the front." Tooya said calmly, Shiki following her wordlessly.

"I'll report to the Chairman." Yuki said, glancing between Kagome and Zero before moving after the other two night class members. Something just told her to leave them alone.

"I'm sorry." Kagome said softly. "I just...moved. I didn't stop to think about it. I didn't want to worry you."

"We need to discuss what you did just then, but later. Come on." He said shortly, heading after the rest and leaving her to frown a little guiltily after him. All her talk of not worrying others and here she was doing the same thing to him he'd done to her. Maybe he'd be able to help her figure something of that strange power of hers.

After they left they called and waited for emergency services to pick up the girl in the front of the abandoned building, then walked toward the inner city quietly. It was already into the afternoon, time seemed to just go by as fast as turning the pages of a book these days.

"I don't know by the way." Kagome spoke first. "How I did that...it's the third time I have while I've been here...but I can't remember when it started exactly. Only that I've somehow fought monsters before using it."

"You only don't remember a year right? There is no way you were trained as a hunter then." Zero pointed out, he didn't still sound as angry but given his normal attitude it was difficult to tell. "I have heard some stories about holy men and women. Though I have never met any myself at least one of the hunter's council was a priest in my youth."

"I can still remember teacher's stories about the awesome power of a trained holy man, it is beyond normal human bounds and so the vampires hunted out most with the ability in old days and rarely do they appear anymore." He explained with his frown set on his lips. "If you are one, then you'll be more a target for them than most."

She was quiet, taking things in and digesting with solemn shock.

Her blood then...is that why I hadn't been declining? I only recently even felt twinges of that damnable hunger...and it's easily pushed away when blood isn't right there in front of me. She doesn't smell like anyone else, it's logical to believe there is something more to her blood than a normal person..." He blinked slowly and glanced at her while she didn't notice. "Is that why the vampires hunted out her kind as well? More than average blood means more than average abilities acquired from it?

"I want to help." She said it with a nod. "Not really against the vampires at the school. They scare me sometimes but they aren't the monsters of the ones that you hunt. I don't want other people to have to suffer. Can you help me develop my powers?"

Zero blinked at her slowly, it was self-sacrifice that made up a large portion of a hunters belief system, better they put themselves in danger than others that weren't as capable. They didn't normally hunt with others but if he told the council about her they would want to control her life, take her away from Cross Academy.

"I can try." He answered at that thought, somehow he didn't like the idea of her being taken away. Then he couldn't be present to protect her. "But you have to be careful, if too many come to suspect what you have then they will want to interfere with your life."

"Bah." Kagome shrugged. "As if they'd be able to that easily. I don't belong to anyone. I just want to help and if I can join you then maybe it'd be easier on you too."

"Mmm." The noncommittal sound was likely gonna be a common answer, but it was better than him replying rudely she supposed. Progress was progress, however tiny.

"Ms. Kagome." The two paused to glance over to the history professor coming up the alley opposite them. "I did say Sunday you realize."

End Chapter

Whew, man, so much to keep track of! I'm up to the beginning of episode 9 in my little side fiction here. In case anyone was curious of some of what could have been happening on the side. I'll answer any questions as best I can if folks have them. As long as it doesn't ruin the plot that is! Enemies shall be showing themselves before much longer and Sesshomaru is there! Good times. Til next I update.

-Nera

Reviews: YAY! I luvs my feedback, every message makes me delighted!

Kuronueslover - That is one of the questions that's plot related and will be answered as time progresses.

Stebba-stud28 - another plot related question about Zero I can't answer yet. Sesshomaru is aware of Kagome but not how she got here exactly. He has a few ideas.

Kage Otome - Sesshomaru's not completely sure what he wants of Kagome yet. If she doesn't remember it could be for a reason. He's not unwise.

ihaveprobs - He knows now for certain but wasn't completely sure before.

Always - Yay chess!

Veil of Flesh - Zero's around see!