Convivial

By: The Hatter Theory

Simplify Your Life Week

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha

AN: Oh look! I'm behind again, playing catch up. But, I regret nothing. The walls are primed and ready for painting, and I got to go to six flags yesterday, so, no apologies. Sorry guys.

Mutt's Day was August 1st.

UPDATE 2 OF 2.


"This is very sudden Higurashi," Her adviser ventured, looking concerned and ill at ease at the same time. "The school year hasn't properly started, and it is possible for you to still make the transition, it would be an abrupt change. Have you fully considered all of the ramifications?"

"I would have to find a new thesis adviser, or postpone my work," She declared quietly. "However, the program looks like something that could help give me a new perspective that might help."

"I don't doubt it. Toyama did express regret that he wasn't able to see your presentation, given the praise it received. I could write a letter of recommendation, he and I have worked closely together before."

Kagome knew she was getting special treatment, but didn't have it in her to turn it down. After a night of crying, she had watched the sunrise and made the decision to put more distance between herself and her alpha. The level of her breakdown had only proven that being around while he began courting someone was going to distract her even more, and the program did look promising. While some might have called it a coward's move, she knew that if she was going to break away from her girlish crush and move on with her life, and let him do the same, it would be best to leave, at least for a little while.

And going to another part of Japan, another island entirely, seemed like a good starting point. A fresh start, a change from Tokyo would give her fresh eyes on her work. She hoped.

"I will write to him tonight. You have your paperwork in order?"

"I do," She answered, gesturing to her briefcase. She had spent all morning filling it out and making copies at the college's library.

Her former professor nodded, looking resigned. She wondered if he was actually going to miss her. Even though they'd had several lunch meetings going over her research and she had taken a class with him in the spring, she knew nothing about him, and she was positive he knew very little of her.

"You've been one of my best students, and one of the most hardworking. When you come back to Tokyo, I would like to continue working with you on your thesis."

"Thank you," She replied respectfully. The program itself would last for a semester, and she hoped that by the time she had finished, she could come back to Tokyo. "I will contact you when I come back."

He nodded, a mute dismissal.

She walked out of his office and closed the door silently behind her. Walking down the hall and away from his office for what could be the last time for months. And yet there was no fear, no nostalgia, no regret. Firm in her decision, she walked to the bus stop and waited patiently, alone, for the bus, and when she finally came back to the building, she was already steeling herself to face the still unfamilliar apartment.

However, she was waylaid, again, and told herself that until she left, she was going to start taking the stairs. It would be a half suitable replacement for the unused gym membership anyway.

"Mom," Shippou greeted, smiling warmly. "You're all dressed up."

The doors opened and they both stepped in. Shippou hit the button for her, pressing the one that would take her to the very top floor. She was grateful he lived one floor below her, and that she wouldn't have to explain her move, since he was obviously unaware.

"I had a meeting with my thesis adviser," She hedged, feeling badly for holding back but not wanting to chance telling him something that had not yet been confirmed.

"More work? I thought we broke you of that back in Nago."

"Academic's curse," She chuckled, managing to give the sound a warmth she didn't feel. What would Shippou say if he knew the truth? He and the rest of the pack had made their own assumptions no secret, and she wondered if he would be angry with her once he found out, and he was sure to find out. Secrets didn't last within packs, at least not secrets from youkai. From humans however...

Apparently it was easy to keep secrets from humans. At least she assumed they had all known what she had not.

"Dinner tonight?" He asked, looking hopeful. But she knew what he meant by dinner. Dinner at their- Sesshoumaru's apartment.

Facing Sesshoumaru was more hurtful a prospect than disappointing her son.

"I made plans," She lied, hoping he didn't catch on.

"Plans?" He suggested slyly.

"You are my son, even if you are older than me," She retorted, hoping to fend off further questioning.

He raised both hands in front of him in a defensive position, but his smile spoke well enough for him as the doors opened and he turned so that he was facing her as he stepped out.

"Fair enough, none of my business," He laughed, smile widening as the doors closed.

She hit the button to the correct floor the minute she was hidden from view, slumping against the wall. All of the tension seeped out of her, chilled by the cold of the metal seeping through her light blazer and dress shirt. Feeling as though she had walked a tightrope over a pool of sharks and just barely made it to the other side, she stumbled out and unlocked the door, then closed it firmly behind her.

Reality seemed to enjoy taking it's time catching up to her, and the fear that had been so conspicuously absent in her adviser's office manifested in shaking hands and short breaths, her heart palpitating almost painfully in her chest.

Hokkaido University.

Her blood seemed to churn violently in her veins, energy thrumming through it, impatient and anxious. Unable to stand still but not wanting to go out, she walked over to the dining room table and carefully unpacked her briefcase, pulling out her laptop and plugging it in, booting it up, and going directly to her email.

Nothing new had appeared, and she left the browser window up and began to pace.

Her mind touched on dozens of things, skittered across the surface of images, but refused to settle on anything. Almost manic she shifted from fear to relief to hope to anxiety. Shifting and revolving around the same things, images of the Hokkaido campus, of her room in the apartment above, of the red cabinets and most of all, of Sesshoumaru, she only felt bolts and stabbings of emotion, each thought feeding too quickly into the next for her to fully comprehend them.

She didn't notice the shadows tilting, stretching across the floor, nor did she notice her feet growing tired and cramping. Back and forth, back and forth, her mind circling itself again and again until it was nothing more than an incomprehensible tangle of confusion.

Her phone going off, vibrating in her pocket accompanied with loud chirps, did break through the trance like state she'd thrown herself into, and she scrambled for it, opening it carefully.

Her adviser's name blinked on the screen.

Exhaling deeply, she hit the answer voice and said what she hoped was a stable sounding hello.

"Higurashi-San?"

"This is she."

"I spoke to Toyama. It is a bit late, but you should be receiving the paperwork electronically tomorrow. I forwarded a letter of recommendation and took the liberty of sending the paper you wrote for the TA position as well. He was impressed."

She breathed a shaky sigh that could have been relief or resignation.

"Thank you," She said respectfully, knowing that it could have easily been her research project that had tipped the scales in her favor.

"Congratulations. Good evening, Higurashi-San."

She murmured a polite good evening, looking out of the windows for the first time. It was evening, the sky beginning to turn dark. She hadn't even realized how much time had passed. She did know that the almost instantaneous acceptance into the program had come with several strings being pulled, and she didn't know who or what had worked with her, but she was thankful.

At least she thought she was, she couldn't really tell.