Tags: Alternate Universe - College/University, Possessiveness, Implied Relationships, No Plot/Plotless

"What's that?"

That being a thin, plain, white tooth with two small holes in it, one having a multicolored string through it, the other untouched. Inuyasha held it out for Kagome to take.

"What's it look like? Obviously it's a fang."

"Well, yeah, I can see that, thanks. I mean…" She gingerly pinched the sides of the phosphorescent tooth to hold it up to the light. "Is it yours?"

"Yeah, I'm definitely creepy enough to keep my own tooth around my neck," Inuyasha retorted snidely, snatching it back. Ignoring her protests, he looped it back around his neck and tucked it under his clothes, right underneath his mother's rouge and Kagome's locket.

"It's Sesshomaru's," he clarified, and her eyes curiously prodded around his neck again. "Gave it to me as protection or something. That guy's batshit crazy—getting all paranoid over some wimps. It's not like they're gonna kill me or anything. They can't kill me. He knows that."

"I think it's really sweet that he cares so much," Kagome cooed, and he grimaced. "Really, it is! I've seen him on campus, and he doesn't look like the type to, you know. Help."

Inuyasha snorts. "'Course he doesn't because he doesn't help anyone. I betcha he's never stooped low enough to even think about helping another person besides himself."

"But doesn't that mean his protection is that much more valuable?" Her smile was bright, earnest, and he fidgeted in his seat. Unable to keep eye contact, he fiddled with his necklace instead.

"…Yeah, well. It's probably because of our old man. Nothing to do with me. Never has been." He cleared his throat. "Anyways. You couldn't have called me out here just to ask about this thing."

"No, but now I'm curious! What does it do?" She leaned forward, and he leaned back. "If you wish on it hard enough, will he suddenly appear out of thin air? Or is there a tracker hidden inside?"

"It's not like that."

"Then?"

"It's…look, it's just a stupid tooth, alright? Nothing more to it. So if there's nothing else, I'm going back now."

He stood up out of his seat abruptly and Kagome instinctively grabbed for his shoulder.

"Wait, Inuyasha, I'm sorry—"

But instead of his shoulder, she grabbed the strap for his necklace, and he stiffened. He knew he was there even before he felt the change in the air.

"Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru was directly behind him, and Inuyasha swirled around and threw his hand out, shielding Kagome behind him.

"There ain't nothing to see here," he hissed, and Sesshomaru's cool gaze regarded her.

"So it seems." Still, he gave Inuyasha a quick once-over. Inuyasha shivered when their eyes met but kept his stance firm. Even though they were in a populated cafeteria, Inuyasha refused to let his guard down. Sesshomaru was a demon before he was a student, and he had no sense of propriety, only priority. But there was nothing to worry about; whatever Sesshomaru saw, he was satisfied with. He turned around and started walking away.

"After your business is concluded with the girl, you will return to my side," were the last words Inuyasha could pick up with his human ears, and Inuyasha scoffed underneath his breath.

"Yeah, like I'll listen to you," he muttered, and Sesshomaru paused, his head inclining towards them. Then, as if Inuyasha hadn't said anything, he left, and the air loosened around them. Sighing in relief, Inuyasha turned back to Kagome, a near-apology on his lips, but she looked too fascinated for his tastes. He decided to leave the apology for later—he really wasn't interested in answering questions that he himself didn't know the answer to.

With the high density of people already keeping him on his toes, not a minute passed before he gave her a flimsy excuse and made himself scarce as well.

Despite Kagome's teasing remarks, he definitely did not go back to where Sesshomaru waited patiently outside their campus, arms folded, head tilted back. In fact, he went the opposite way to where Miroku, Sango, and Ayame were. And about the texts in the group chat asking where he was and when he would finally meet up with them?

Nothing more than a fever-induced hallucination.