ChosenMibhar: I've caught up in my academics so the break I took helped. Without further delay, here's chapter 14.
Chapter 14: I will protect you
A few days had passed since her appointment and Kagome was wondering when Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Kilala would return. She felt herself growing more concerned with each day. After all the reason why they left in the first place was to help her. If anything was to happen to them, she would not be able to forgive herself…
"Earth to Kagome, come in Kagome!" a voiced called. "Kagome!"
Kagome gasped awake when a pair of fingers snapped in front of her face. "Huh?" she asked.
"Thank Kami, I thought you went brain dead!" Yuka said. "What's with you? You been spacing out all day!"
"Not to mention falling asleep in all your classes!" Eri added. "You really need to take care of that narcolepsy, Kagome" she said concerned.
"I'm just a little tired…" Kagome admitted dryly. This accelerated pregnancy is starting to get to me…'
"Kagome get up!" Ayumi said as she stood up. "Vice principal Ishikawa is here to introduce our new teacher!"
Kagome followed pursuit immediately after she noticed the whole class standing respectfully behind their desks.
A man in his early fifties stood before the class. "I have announcement to make students" Ishikawa said. "Since professor Yamamura is still recovering from his bypass surgery, he will not return for the last nine weeks. So we have arranged a permanent home room teacher for the reminder of the school term. Now if you please, welcome Mr. Kitsunehi" he waved his arm in the direction toward the door.
The class applauded politely as a four foot tall man in his in his late teens stepped into the room. He was dressed in a teal colored suit that contrasted nicely with his silky ginger hair and his jade eyes sparkled with anticipation. Kagome blinked. He seemed strangely familiar…
He bowed politely and addressed the class. "Hello, I am honored to be your teacher for the remainder of this term" His voice was clear and smooth. Kagome felt herself getting hypnotized by it.
"Man he's so young; how can he be a teacher?" whispered one girl. "He could pass as here as a student!"
"Oh he sounds sooo hot!" squealed another. "Kami I hope he's not married—"
"Yeah" agreed another one. "He's kinda cute but he's too short for my taste!"
"Who cares how short he is! All I care is how good he is in bed!"
Vice principal Ishikawa scowled when he overheard the gossip. "Ahem!" he said clearing his throat. Silence fell in the room once again. Once Mr. Kitsunehi finished his speech the class applauded and sat back down.
"I will take my leave, Good luck, Kitsunehi-san" Vice principal Ishikawa said and left.
Mr. Kitsunehi passed out a few handouts. "Since we only have a few seconds left, we will do nothing today—" he managed to say before the bell rung.
"However I will give you all a quiz next Monday!" he told t the leaving crowd. "Just to get a general idea where you guys are—and oh, Miss. Higurashi, wait a sec! I have to give you something!" he called to Kagome as she was about to exit the room with her friends. Kagome walked to his desk. "Yes?"
The teacher reached into his brief case, pulled out a white envelope and handed it to Kagome. Kagome looked at in her hand. "What is it Sensei?" she asked.
"That is a letter from Principal Ginn. I believe it's about your absences" he said.
"What about them…?" Kagome asked with an uneasy feeling coming to her stomach.
"A week ago, the teachers were required to turn in their attendances records" he explained. "In order to crack down on students will high unexcused absences…you see this school was graded as a 'B' school last year until we failed in classroom attendance. It brought the school's grade down to a 'C' and the principal was not happy"
Kagome felt sick. She was obvious partly to blame.
"You are required to make an appointment with the Principal to discuss your absences or you may not graduate…"
"WHAT?" Kagome gasped.
"Yes" Mr. Kitsunehi said with an empathic nod. "I can already tell you're a good student, please don't repeat a year here Miss. Higurashi" he encouraged softly.
"Thank you Kitsunehi-Sensei" Kagome said politely. Why did this guy care so much? He didn't even know her and he was treating her like an acquaintance. Mr. Kitsunehi clicked his brief case close and walked toward the door. "Your welcome and please take care of those absences" he said. Kagome nodded as she placed the envelope in her backpack's pocket. 'Great, something else to worry about…'
As Mr. Kitsunehi opened the door, her three best friends Ayumi, Eri and Yuka nearly fell on him. Kagome sweat dropped. That's what they get for eavesdropping.
"Sorry Kitsunehi-sensei!" the three girls chorused blushingly.
"W-we were um—waiting for Kagome!" Eri tried to explain.
Mr. Kitsunehi chuckled in amusement. "It's alright" he said with a bright smile. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, ladies. Remember to study for Monday's quiz"
"Yes Kitsunehi-sensei, we will!" they responded. With a nod of approval, Mr. Kitsunehi locked the classroom door and walked down the hallway.
"He really is sweet" Eri admitted as the blush on her face darkened.
"I know" Yuka sighed. "If only he was two feet taller then I would dream of him!"
Ayumi rolled her eyes. "Say would you like to go to Wac Donald's today, Kagome?" she asked hopefully. "We hardly hang out anymore…"
Kagome hesitated. She needed to get home. When she was about to answer 'no', her stomach rumbled loudly in hungry protest. Kagome frowned down at her abdomen. 'You are so greedy' she complained mentally. 'What happened to the four plates of rice and five steamed fishes from lunch?'
Kagome heaved an inaudible sigh as she handed over her last 500 yen and measly change to the cashier. That was it until next week's allowance. She knew soon, especially with a baby on the way, she had to stop getting these causal luxuries.
When Kagome sat down at the table with her friends, she grunted. Her skirt was cutting tightly into her midsection. She knew it wasn't good for the baby and decided that this may be the last day that she would wear her school uniform.
Kagome nibbled on her meal quietly as she half listened to her friends' conversations. They talked about the usual: boys, exams, school and celebrity gossip. It mattered very little to her.
"So what school are you applying to, Ayumi?" Yuka asked suddenly as she slipped her coke.
"I wanted to go to Kaio but I'm not sure—"
Coke squirted from Yuka's nose. "That's the best High school in Tokyo!" she said as she blotted her face with a napkin. "Are you sure you can get into that school?"
"Well Ayumi is defiantly smart enough; I'm sure they'll allow her in" Eri defended. She turned to Ayumi. "But how will you pay for tuition? It's an expensive private school!
"I'm hoping to get a scholarship to go there"
"Wow, that's hard to get too since it's so competitive"
"I know but I'll try" Ayumi said bravely. "If I can't get a scholarship to Kaio, I'll go to Tenmado"
Yuka whistled. "The second best High school then?" she asked. "You aim high, Ayumi!"
"You have to if you want your education"
"True…"
"So what are your plans?" Ayumi asked and then took a bite from her sandwich.
"I want to go to a local private school called Haze so I can easily transfer to Tokyo University" Yuka explained.
"Good plan. It's direct transfer from that school if you get the right credentials"
Yuka nodded. "That's the only good thing about that" she said. "So what about you Eri?" she asked.
"Well I was just thinking about going to the public High school. They have really cool student exchange programs there that will pay for all your tuition to colleges in Beijing!" Eri explained happily.
"You're right" Yuka said. "That's cool way of traveling out of the country for free" she commented. She then looked toward Kagome. "So what about you Kagome?" she asked including the modern miko in discussion.
Kagome was snapped out of her thoughts as all their eyes were adverted to her. "Well I…" Kagome began but then she sighed. "I'm not sure right now" she answered honestly. "I don't have an education plan…"
All her friends looked at her aghast as if she had said a forbidden word. "But at least you're thinking about the entrance exams right?" Eri asked. "Your score determines what type of high schools accept you—"
"And don't forget about your GPA" Ayumi added. "The schools look at that too! Your exam scores and GPA also determines—"
"What scholarships you can apply for!" Yuka finished for Ayumi. She glared at Kagome. "Honestly do you think about the future at all?" she asked.
"I try not to" Kagome answered weakly.
Yuka sighed darkly. She hated to see her childhood friend like that. "What's with you?" she asked. "Ever since you started dating that two timing boyfriend of yours you've been sick, tried and run downed! And now you're barely passing in academics—"
Kagome felt herself snap. Her stomach was beginning to contract and this wasn't helping. "Look, I do care about those things but got bigger fish to fry right now!" she yelled. An uneasy silence fell across the table.
Ayumi was the first one to talk. "Like what?"
"I um…" Kagome trailed. She guessed she couldn't keep it a secret forever. Soon all will 'show' and then her friends will be wondering why she wasn't up front with them in the first place. "Guys…can I tell you something…" Kagome whispered. At her tone, her friends leaned over the table near her. They felt like they were about to get the scoop on something big. "But you can't tell anyone until I say its okay, okay?" she asked.
The trio made quick hushed promises and beckoned Kagome to continue. "Well…" Kagome hesitated. She inhaled as if she was regretting what she was about to say. "…I'm pregnant"
Her friends' mouths were gaped open like dead trouts hanging on a fisherman's trophy wall. It would have been comical if the situation wasn't about her. "YOU'RE PREGNANT?!" the three of them screamed together.
"What?!"
"Please tell me you're joking!"
"I can't believe you let that two timing jerk impregnate you!"
"Guys!" Kagome whispered infuriated. "Keep it down!" but it was too late. Everyone sitting in the Wac Donald's diner room had heard the news. Kagome recognized a few faces as she glanced around especially her classmate, Junko Kato. Kagome slapped her hand over her face. "Oh Crap…" she whispered. That girl was a motor mouth: by tomorrow everyone at school will know she's in the family way…
"So um…is this a congratulations" Ayumi asked a little uneasy. "Or a—"
"No, no!" Kagome said, cutting her off. "It's a congratulations!"
"When is your due date?" Eri asked.
"April 29th" Kagome said. She was glad they were answering easier questions.
"Wow! That's like a month away!" Eri peeped around the corner to look at Kagome's stomach. "You don't look big…actually I can't tell you're pregnant at all! Are you okay?"
"Yes the doctor says I'm on schedule" Kagome said. However she didn't tell them about the baby being an accelerated pregnancy.
Yuka however didn't share Eri and Ayumi's enthusiasm. "I can't believe you would—I mean…" she trailed. She released an angry sigh. Not looking at her friends she got up briskly and collected her trash. "I gotta go. I won't tell anyone, bye" she said thinly. She threw her wrappings in a nearby trash bin and left.
"What's wrong with her?" Eri asked uncertain as she watched Yuka walk out the restaurant.
"Never mind her" Ayumi said shaking her head. She then turned to Kagome. "I'm glad you're having your baby, Kagome"
"Thanks Ayumi" Kagome said with a smile. Kagome got up as well. "I gotta get home myself, bye"
"Bye Kagome!" Ayumi and Eri said together.
Kagome felt like her mind was in a fog as she walked home. She usually would take the sidewalks threw the city but today Kagome decided to take a shortcut through the allies. She was about halfway home when she was suddenly attacked by a man dressed in black.
"Hey Lady" He whispered into her ear as he pulled her closer. "Give me all your money and I'll let you go"
'Ah crap I'm such an idiot!' Kagome cursed to herself. 'I was just asking to get jumped by wandering into these back allies by myself'
Kagome kept calm and responded. "I'm sorry but I don't have any money—"
"You're lying" he said flatly. "I hate liars!"
Kagome was beginning to panic. "R-really! I'm telling the truth! I just spent my last yen at Wac Donald's!—Ahhh!"
He pressed a gun to her stomach. Kagome was terrified. "Please I told you I don't have any!" she cried. "But I have other values! I have a cell phone and an iPod! Please don't hurt me, I'm pregnant!" she begged him desperately.
"And you think I care, wench?" he asked. He punched Kagome in the stomach. Kagome gasped and fell over clutching her stomach. It was now contracting painfully. He pulled Kagome's face to his. "Now, I'm asking you nicely one more time, give me the money!"
Kagome suddenly felt a dangerous pulse of energy vibrate from her stomach. "Let me go" she advised the robber coldly. The man laughed.
"I'm asking you nicely once more" Kagome warned as she felt the power build inside of her. "Leave me alone"
"You really are a stupid wench—what the heck? Ahhhh!" the man screamed as he was thrown back against the walls of the surrounding building by an unseen force. "Wench!" he screamed as he open fired on Kagome. A blue barrier covered Kagome and reflected the bullet's back at the robber.
Kagome heard the sickening impact as the bullets entered the man's skull. It was like the sound of someone stepping on popcorn. He then fell over and laid motionless. The barrier around Kagome depleted as she propped herself against the side of the wall gasping. She placed a hand over her abdomen. "That was you…?" Kagome asked uncertainly.
A warm wave swept across her vibrating from her womb. 'Yes' the feeling answered her. You have protected me and now I will protect you'it said and faded away into dormant.
I think this may be one of the very abnormal things Taineko has told me to inform her about…' Kagome thought to herself. Almost shakily she rose to her feet and headed home using the sidewalks this time.
It was a cloudy day in the Feudal era as Sesshomaru and his pack rested in a floral meadow.
Sesshomaru was resting comfortably against a tree until he suddenly felt a sharp pain erupt from his stomach as if someone had punched him in his gut. He looked down at his midsection in deep thought. Rin quietly came up beside him, noticing his intense posture. "Is something wrong, Sesshomaru-sama?" she asked softly.
"We are going east" Sesshomaru replied as he began to walk ahead. His pack followed him obediently as they travelled toward the village of Bone Eater's well.
-TBC-
ChosenMibhar: When I was typing this up an idea came to me… Where I live, students would get in trouble if they missed too many days without an excused absence so why should Japan be any different on that part?
NOTES:
GPA: 'grade point average'
500 yen equals about 4.50-5.00 in American money. I think…
Sensei: basically means 'teacher'
Kitsunehi—literally means "fox fire" in Japanese
Kitsune: fox
Hi: fire