Don't Get Too Excited. As of March 2021, I've completed a story-wide edit, which rejigged some of the chapter numbers. So this isn't a NEW chapter.
Go Ahead, Get Excited. Unexpected is coming off of hiatus. You'll have a new chapter this weekend. That gives you time to enjoy a (newly edited) reread so you'll be ready. More news on my website: ForthWrites dot com
Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this confrontation... especially for the one whose job is on the line. A nod of recognition is bent toward Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.
Called on the Carpet
Mid-February…
Sesshoumaru flipped through Dr. Kyoushi's file, looking for ammunition. Over the years, he'd dealt with his share of conspiracy theorists, outsiders who'd caught a glimpse of something they shouldn't have. They applied for access to the Founder's Collection, hoping to find facts within the old fables.
He listened to their stories, steered their perceptions, and planted little doubts. Only the most stubborn ever clung to their fantasies. The rest wrote them off as fluke or figment.
As Sesshoumaru perused the professor's records, something told him that Miroku was much worse than stubborn. He is mysterious in his own right.
Dr. Kyoushi's academic career was nothing less than exemplary, not that Sesshoumaru would have hired him otherwise.
Excellent references.
Impressive vitae.
Worldwide connections.
Miroku Kyoushi was an expert in his field. One aberration caught the dean's attention. Three years ago, the man taught an art class. Japanese calligraphy. Interesting, but probably inconsequential.
The credentials were there, but personal information was scanty at best.
A drifter, originally from Japan.
Unmarried, and no sign of any dependents.
Disposable.
Miroku's emergency contact information designated an address in Japan, and Sesshoumaru turned to his computer to do a quick search. His eyes narrowed in thought over the results.
A temple. That might explain why he's interested in the wrong subjects.
A yellow sticky note with his secretary's handwriting indicated that the good professor had recently changed residences. As of October, his mailing address included the line, in care of Souta Higurashi.
A single brow slowly arched, and another foray into the internet confirmed his suspicions. It's definitely time to call in Dr. Kyoushi for a meeting.
Miroku stuck his hands in his pockets and gazed out the mullioned windows onto the cold, snow-packed courtyard below. He had a sneaking suspicion he was about to be sacked. Well, at the very least, Dr. Saiga will not renew my contract. Still, the timing could not be worse. I have just made the discovery of a lifetime... of several lifetimes! I have no desire to leave this place.
On the bright side, Shippo had implied that as a monk, there was a possibility that he could find employment with one of the youkai clans in the area. To Miroku, that sounded like a dream come true.
"Dr. Kyoushi?" called a nasal-voiced secretary. "The dean will see you now."
"Thank you, my dear woman," he replied, with a shade less charm than a lady deserved.
She ushered him into the formidable office, and he smiled bravely at his superior. "Dr. Saiga," he greeted, offering a small bow.
"Please, sit down," Sesshoumaru commanded, gesturing toward one of the chairs facing his desk.
"Thank you, sir," Miroku replied mildly. He'd learned long ago that a little respect went a long way with stuffy types like Saiga.
"I thought we should talk," the dean began, folding his hands together on the desktop. "Your recent extracurricular activities on the campus made me curious, so I reviewed your file."
"Ah." He still wasn't sure what direction Sesshoumaru was going.
"You have never stayed long in one place."
"True," Miroku agreed readily.
"Did you wear out your welcome?"
Ignoring the barb, he replied, "I have been offered permanent positions many times, but I was always ready to move on."
"So you are a vagrant by choice?"
Could he be more poisonous? Miroku had always been able to get along with just about anyone, but Dr. Saiga didn't inspire much in the way of friendly feelings. Usually, a dean evinced better people skills, but this one acted as if Dominion University was his dominion.
"You could say that," he replied, wondering if there was a point and if they'd ever reach it.
"Your residence changed recently," Sesshoumaru remarked casually. "You are living in Archer?"
"That is correct. I am staying at Red Gate Farm, an apple orchard. They let me play with their bees during my off hours."
"And this farm... it is owned by the Higurashi family?"
"Yes, sir."
"Are you by any chance acquainted with Kagome Higurashi?"
"Lovely woman," Miroku replied, though his tone held a note of caution. "Why do you ask?"
Sesshoumaru's smile was cool and calculated. "We were introduced not long ago by Dr. Johnson."
"Ah, of course," he replied, relaxing somewhat. "Mutual acquaintances of mutual acquaintances, and all that." He heaved a sigh and peered around the room, unobtrusively avoiding eye contact.
It was then, when he was carefully not-looking, that he saw something that drained the color from his face.
Sesshoumaru steepled his fingers and gazed impassively at his resident troublemaker, trying to divine the reason for the sudden evasiveness in his manner. What is he hiding? He was just settling on a new line of questioning when Miroku's expression underwent a sudden transformation.
Shock. Disbelief. Awe.
Frowning slightly, the dean turned to see what had captured the man's interest.
Although he was clearly staring at a point just over his shoulder, there was nothing of particular interest behind him. Framed blueprints of Acclamation Hall and a few diplomas hung on the wall.
"Is there a problem, Dr. Kyoushi?" he inquired.
Miroku blinked several times, then breathed, "You?"
"Me?" he inquired icily.
"You, too!" he muttered wonderingly.
The professor's brows drew together in concentration, and this time, it was Sesshoumaru's turn to be startled. A reiki-user? This man is unregistered!
In an instant, he was on his feet and circling the desk, scrutinizing the unanticipated spiritual powers emanating from Miroku. If he was sent to threaten me, the job is poorly done. Scrambling to his feet, the professor edged backwards, but a moment later he suppressed his flight instinct and stepped forward, hand outstretched.
Sesshoumaru flexed his fingers, poised to defend himself, but something was off.
This is no assassin's attack.
Actually, it was more of a caress.
Too startled to react, the dean held perfectly still as Miroku gently tracing lines he should not be able to see.
"I have only ever seen these in scrolls," he murmured.
Sesshoumaru stifled the urge to throttle the man and made one last attempt to play this by the book. "Dr. Kyoushi, it would be a shame to mar your record, but if you continue, I will be forced to charge you with sexual harassment."
The man's eyes widened, and chagrin spread over the man's face. "Oh, damn... this does look bad. Again."
"Again? Do you often make advances on your superiors?"
"What? No! Sir, I assure you, you are not my type." Squinting slightly as he studied Sesshoumaru's face, he added, "You are not even my species!"
There will be no going back for this one.
With a longsuffering sigh, the dean strode to the door, opened it far enough to lean out, and spoke to his secretary. "Reschedule my next meeting. I need more time with Dr. Kyoushi."
"Yes, sir," came the clipped reply.
Gently sliding the lock into place, Sesshoumaru strolled back toward Miroku, casually announcing, "Professor, you have overstepped your bounds."
"Ah." A hint of nervousness sent his voice into a slightly higher register. "My apologies, sir. I have always been a hands-on learner."
"Indeed?" Sesshoumaru replied, herding the man toward the corner, a blind spot where he knew there was absolutely no chance of being observed from any of the windows. "Tell me what you see when you look at me."
"Stripes," the man whispered. He reached forward once more, though he thought better of it and touched his own cheek instead. "And your hair...? I can't quite focus, but it seems brighter somehow."
He is strong if he can see past the illusions. This was a first for him, and he was not pleased about having to learn new tricks.
"Can I see you?"
"You have been gawking at me for nearly ten minutes," Sesshoumaru replied acidly.
"Staring is rude," Miroku conceded, though there was no end to his scrutiny. "So... can I see?"
Sesshoumaru considered the monk's eager request and his obvious ignorance of protocol. It's unusual for a reiki-user with his potential to be overlooked by recruiters. Hnn... there are ways to work this to my advantage. First, a few careful questions were in order.
"Why are you here?" he demanded. "What are you after?"
"Nothing, sir. You called me in."
True enough. Curious if it was possible to intimidate the man, Sesshoumaru pushed Miroku into the wall and wrapped a hand around his throat, adding the gentle scrape of claws for emphasis.
"Who are you working for?" he purred.
"Dominion University, sir," the professor replied bravely. "I have a contract."
"One that will not be renewed."
"Ah, yes," Miroku sighed. "I suspected as much."
With a grim flare of his formidable powers, Sesshoumaru dropped all guise of humanity and waited for a reaction. The man's eyes widened comically, but he quickly rallied. Sesshoumaru couldn't believe his ill luck. The fool is more fascinated than fearful, he realized with disgust.
"Magnificent!" Miroku breathed. "Do the colors signify some trait? Species, perhaps? Or maybe it is not the color but the shape... or placement. Or are they merely decorative?"
Sesshoumaru closed his eyes and tried to shut out the academic rambling.
So much for a shock and awe campaign. A first-timer should know more fear.
Thinking back, he realized something important, and his eyes snapped open. "You, too," he quoted, his predatory gaze sharpening. "You've encountered youkai before."
The man faltered, confirming Sesshoumaru's suspicions. "Where? When?"
"No one said anything about other youkai," Miroku replied, his face a mask in innocent confusion.
"Oh, but you did." Fingers tightened ever so slightly, reminding the man that he was in a vulnerable position. "Who did you stumble across?"
"I really couldn't say," Miroku replied with a polite smile.
"You're lying," Sesshoumaru accused.
There was an edge to his tone when he replied, "I'm proving I can keep a secret, sir."
"An admirable quality."
"I aim to please!"
With a soft growl, Sesshoumaru muttered, "What am I going to do with you?"
"What species are you?" Miroku asked curiously.
"I am inu-youkai," he replied stiffly.
"A clan of dog demons," the man mused aloud. "Is Saiga the family name?"
"There have been many names over the centuries," he replied vaguely, more interested in Miroku's choice of words. "What do you know of the clans?"
He hummed thoughtfully. "Only that they employ those with spiritual aptitude?"
It was a leading question, and the dean considered the direction it was headed. "You wish to work for one of the clans?"
"It seems I'll be seeking employment by the end of the semester," he pointed out reasonably.
Sesshoumaru swiftly weighed his options and made up his mind. "Will my clan do? I am not currently retaining a reiki-user."
"You would be willing to hire me?" the professor asked skeptically. "You very recently ensured my future unemployment."
"It would be slightly less troublesome than ending your life," he replied with a faint smirk.
"Only slightly?"
"Hnn. Despite your obvious lack of manners and training, you could prove useful to me."
The monk's annoyingly upbeat attitude persisted. Still smiling, Miroku said, "While I find the prospect preferable to an early demise, I would like to know more about my potential role."
Miroku's scent betrayed his eagerness, and Sesshoumaru was almost purring in satisfaction as the professor played into his hands. The man's towering ignorance will work in my favor, and inducements are easy to come by. However, he made the pretense of stopping to consider. "I am the sole heir of two powerful houses, and my influence reaches into both human and youkai societies. Unlike those brought into the more sequestered clans, you could retain your current status and maintain academic ties."
"The best of both worlds?"
"Indeed. A commensurate salary would draw no undue attention, and I would arrange for your training as a reiki-user.
"Out of your own pocket?" Miroku asked, clearly fishing.
"I have deep pockets, professor," he assured, preening just a little. "Additionally, as my retainer, you would have full access to my personal library."
Comprehension dawned, and the man's excitement doubled, then trebled. "The Founder's Collection?"
"The same."
"Your library, sir? How long have you been here?"
Far too long. With a derisive sniff, he answered, "I would have thought that obvious."
"This really is your dominion," he muttered bemusedly.
Old resentments bubbled up, and Sesshoumaru flatly replied, "Such as it is. Are you satisfied, Dr. Kyoushi?"
"On the surface, it all sounds good," Miroku responded thoughtfully. "May I have time to consider your offer?"
"No."
"No?"
"Take it or leave it," Sesshoumaru said smoothly.
"What about a probationary period?" he suggested. "That would protect us both in the unlikely event that we are unable to establish a harmonious working relationship."
"All or nothing, professor."
"You drive a hard bargain, sir."
Sesshoumaru easily read the longing lurking in Miroku's eyes and smirked. "We are both used to getting what we want."
The man was less impulsive than he looked, for he didn't buckle under the pressure any more than he'd jumped for the bait. Instead, Miroku steadily met his gaze and announced, "I do have one lingering concern."
"Well?"
With a bland expression, Miroku gently tapped the hand that was still wrapped around his neck. "Do you regularly threaten the lives of your employees?"
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Would you prefer deceit?" Sesshoumaru challenged.
"No, sir, but I can see why you are short-staffed."
"Think of this as an occupational hazard." In a calculated effort to tip the scales, he taunted, "If you were properly trained, you might learn to defend yourself."
Miroku smiled winsomely. "In that case, I accept."
Withdrawing his hand, Sesshoumaru straightened and inclined his head. "I will have the necessary paperwork drawn up. How good is your word, Miroku Kyoushi?"
"I keep what promises I make."
"Then I require a promise." Sesshoumaru's appearance shifted, banishing all signs of his youkai features. "Your word will be your bond. Break it, and I will break you."
"Supplemental death threat duly noted, sir." Miroku adjusted his shirt collar and straightened his tie. "What pledge must I make?"
"Tell no one about our arrangement." With the monk's earlier reticence in mind, he added, "Neither human nor demon."
"I promise."
End Notes: Posted on January 15, 2011. 2,372 words.