Chapter 4
The early hours before dawn were spent very differently from Sesshomaru's prior morning.
He awoke before his dog's and ran his shower. He entered his bedroom once more and began to do push-ups, a single set of a hundred, and then began crunches, a single set of a hundred as well.
By the time he finished, he would be sweaty, and the water would finally be tolerable. A short walk to his bathroom and Sesshomaru stripped his underwear and stepped inside his shower.
By the time he finished in the shower and got dressed, his dogs would finally wake. He led them down the staircase and opened his back door.
Ah-Un went about their business as he readied their breakfast and his own. Sesshomaru decided on a bagel with cream cheese. He didn't feel like pulling pots and washing dishes this morning.
Glancing at his empty kitchen, he realized his overbearing girlfriend was correct. He had no actual food in his house. Plus, he was running low on bathroom necessities.
His bagel popped out of the toaster more burnt than he preferred, but it didn't matter. He smeared his cream cheese around and began eating as he went through his phone's e-mails and messages.
Ah-Un barked loudly at the sound of Sesshomaru's phone ringing. It only rang twice, but still, the unfamiliar noises set his dogs off.
"Quiet, eat your food.-Sesshomaru settled the animals as he answered.-Good morning Jaken.-Sesshomaru swallowed his chewed food and took a sip of his coffee.-Why are you calling me?" Sesshomaru asked after he swallowed.
"Good morning, sir! My apologies for interrupting your morning! Your car is still here. I guess the gentleman that repaired your tire didn't think to return it to your address? Shall I bring it for you?" Jaken inquired.
"No, I can jog to work today. Thank you, Jaken. Just make sure to-" Sesshomaru was cut off.
"Oh, I've already made sure to park in the opposite lot Mr.Taisho. No hooligans will get past me today!" Jaken announced.
"Thank you. I have the utmost trust in your word. I'll see you in about an hour." Sesshomaru hung up.
He wasn't planning on leaving for school more than two hours before it began, but he had no choice. Jogging to school would take more time than driving there.
Sesshomaru spilled out his coffee mug and left it dirty in his sink. Jogging up the stairs, he changed quickly into jogging pants, a t-shirt, and his sneakers.
He folded his intended outfit and shoes for school into a gym bag and placed the long strap over his shoulders. Thankfully he glanced at himself in the mirror before taking off.
Sesshomaru removed his glasses and tied up his hair in a low bun that sat on his neck, and strapped on a fitness band to monitor his heart rate. He patted both dogs' heads before opening his door to leave.
/
"Inuyasha, do not forget what I told you. I also expect this attitude of yours to subside by the time you return home. Otherwise, you can go and stay with your brother." Toga lectured his youngest through the rearview mirror.
"Yeah, whatever. Can I go now!?" Inuyasha retorted, not bothering to look his father in the eyes.
Because of Toga arguing and yelling all night long, Inuyasha didn't have the chance to speak with Kagome all night.
The young couple had slept together on the phone every night since they became official. On nights when Inuyasha couldn't call her because his family was crazy, he knew it would be a problem the next day.
Kagome always assumed he was talking to some other girl or out with some other girl. It broke his heart that his wild and loose past bothered her so much, but she was his now and his future. And he'd never dream of hurting her.
"Drop the attitude, young man. Last warning." Toga said sternly while unlocking the car door.
Inuyasha stepped out and considered slamming the door. Even though Inuyasha was known for being disobedient, he knew when his father meant business.
He closed the door and took off running into school in hopes of being reunited with his girlfriend once more.
/
"Wake up, wake up on a Saturday night! Could be New York, maybe Hollywood and Vine London, Paris, maybe Tokyo! There's something going on anywhere I go tonight, tonight, yeah tonight!" Rin sang muffled as she brushed her teeth.
She was excited to start school today and turn in her extra credit report.
Rin brushed out her hair occasionally using the squishy pink hairbrush as a microphone and began dressing in her school uniform.
"Well, Good morning.-Rin's mother gently smiled.-You certainly are in a good mood." Kikyo observed while still in her nurse's uniform.
"Good morning, mama!-Rin happily kissed her mother on her cheek!-Yes! Very good mood! Is Kohaku here yet?!" Rin smiled largely.
"I haven't seen him. I just got back, so I'm going to rest before unpacking some of these boxes. Don't forget that your auntie will be here later, ok? So don't be late." Kikyo hugged and kissed her young girl.
"I won't! Promise! Get some rest, mom! Love you!" Rin ran out with an explosion of energy!
She barely waited for Kohaku to pull into the driveway before she ran up to the passenger side door to enter the older body car.
"Good morning!" Rin beamed.
"Rin! Careful! I could've run over you! Are you ok?!" Kohaku asked nervously.
"I'm perfectly fine, Kohaku! You drive too slow to cause damage." Rin giggled.
The two began in small talk as they drove back to the school. Rin's excitement could not be contained, and Kohaku adored it!
He was over the hill at how the young girl he met so long ago never changed. She had grown and moved away, but when they spoke, it was as if time stopped and just allowed them to be themselves.
Before tragedies.
Before aging.
Before awkward feelings.
Just a boy and a girl who were and always will be best friends.
/
Kagome sighed sadly as she hung up a lightweight yellow sweater in her locker. It was chilly this morning, and she assumed Inuyasha would have walked her to school, but she was wrong.
He hadn't called her all night, and he hadn't called her this morning. He hadn't even messaged her!
Kagome was furious, mostly hurt, but she wore sadness on sleeves of anger. He'd better have a good excuse! He always tells her he got busy, or he didn't have the time, or he fell asleep! Kagome knew none of that was the truth, though.
She just wanted the teen heartthrob she had fallen in love with, to be honest with her. And she knew he was always hiding something.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha said her name as if asking permission to approach her. His eyes were filled with sadness, and his voice was heavy with pain.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome answered back with all anger leaving her body in an instant. Something terrible had happened. She could make that much out.
Inuyasha and Kagome ran to each other, hugging the other tightly.
They both stood and just held the other for a long while. Even though it was only a few hours apart, they both were clearly hurting.
"Mia, I love you. I need you to know that. Do you know that, honey? How much I really and honestly love you?" Inuyasha looked down into her warm brown eyes.
"Yes, I love you to puppy. Truly, really, and deeply love you." Kagome held his hand to her cheek and kissed his palm.
Inuyasha smiled and leaned forward to kiss his girlfriend's lips. Even as angry as she was with him, he knew she wore a vanilla lip balm just for him. She knew he loved that sweet taste, and she did it just for him.
Inuyasha loved the little things she did for only him. After all the bad, she was always good.
"I...love you..so...much, Mia," Inuyasha said between kisses.
"Puppy...I...love you, I love you puppy." Kagome moaned softly into their kiss.
Inuyasha lifted his girlfriend and helped her legs wrap around his trim waist. The two began making out and grinding against the other as they usually did.
/
Sesshomaru took long, even breaths as he jogged the long distance to the school he worked.
He paid no mind to the multitude of cars or other joggers he passed. He didn't make a habit of wearing earphones and listening to crumby music as he jogged.
Sesshomaru enjoyed the silence. The faster he ran, the more silent the world around him became. The voices, the memories, the betrayal, the problems, the stress, all of it just disappeared.
He wasn't one for cardio workouts, but he had no other options. Or so he told himself anyway.
As Sesshomaru turned the corner to his school, his breathing became heavy and his chest tight. He slowed and stopped at an old oak for a moment.
He leaned forward, grabbing his knees as he took in deep breaths. His heart rate was high, but it did not concern him too much as he knew it would drop soon now that he had stopped running.
Sesshomaru removed the beeping band that told of a dangerous heart rate and slowly walked into the school.
He decided to walk around right to the back of the school, which had quicker access to the gym, which had quicker access to the showers.
He did not make it a habit of showering in school, but on multiple occasions, he had no choice.
Jaken, the janitor, waited for the teacher he had come to respect as his friend, knowing where he would be.
"Good morning Mr.Taisho! I thought you might be thirsty, seeing as you had to jog all the way here. It must be nice to be still so young and healthy. Of course, I was never as in shape as you." Jaken said jokingly, handing the cold water bottle to Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru acknowledged Jaken by nodding his head. He worked hard to catch his breath and accepted the cool beverage offered.
"Good morning Jaken. Thank you for this.-Sesshomaru finished the water in a minute.-Is everything?" Sesshomaru stopped to catch his breath as Jaken cut him off and walked him into the gym.
"Oh yes! Your car is as good as new! I took the liberty of washing it for you as well. I'll see to get a second coat of wax on it before school lets out." Jaken said, retrieving Sesshomaru's bag and setting out his clothes.
"That is not necessary. I appreciate your kindness." Sesshomaru said, still out of breath.
"You are most welcome, Mr.Taisho! It is truly my pleasure! I'll give you some privacy and go tidy up your classroom once more." Jaken waved as he slowly walked out.
Sesshomaru said nothing as his heavy breathing continued. He sat down on a locker room bench and continued struggling to catch his breath.
"Oh! By the way, Mr.Taisho! Principal Bokuseno would like a word with you in his office." Jaken spoke halfway down the hall.
"Thank you, Jaken." Sesshomaru lifted his arm, jesting to the older man he heard him.
He finally stood and began removing his sweaty clothes so he could shower. Shower! Fuck!
It completely slipped Sesshomaru's mind that he never had the opportunity to go to the store. He'd have to make that trip today if nothing obscene should happen to his vehicle again.
Sesshomaru just rinsed himself off. He hadn't really needed to wash since he had showered back home. He just needed to look refreshed and professional for the day.
Sesshomaru stood all of 2 minutes in the shower. He turned off the water, wrung out his hair, and began drying off with a towel.
He slid on his boxers, rolled up both socks, buttoned up his shirt, stepped into his pants, and slid on his jacket.
He made a simple knot in his tie, brushed out his long white hair, knowing it would dry quickly enough since he had used the towel to pat dry it earlier.
He then pulled out his glasses, cleaned off the lenses, and slid them onto his face.
Sesshomaru packed away his clothes into the gym bag and headed over to Inuyasha's locker to stow away his gym bag.
/
Kohaku and Rin continued in senseless conversation as Kohaku walked Rin to her locker. The young boy was relieved not to have to go to his.
"Oh? Ugh? Maybe we should come back another time?" Kohaku blushed, seeing how heated Kagome and Inuyasha's make-out session had become.
"Don't worry, Kohaku! It's fine, watch. Good morning guys!" Rin said, more comfortable now knowing the sexually excited couple.
Inuyasha and Kagome continued with their heated make-out and grinding session against the lockers. The world consisted of only them two. They heard and felt nothing aside from each other.
"Umm? Kagome? Inuyasha?" Rin awkwardly waited.
"We should just leave. You don't need anything out of your locker, and you can just put your bag in mine?" Kohaku offered uncomfortably with the public display of affection happening in front of him.
"Morning Rin! Hey Kohaku!-Sango came up from behind.-How'd your report come out?" Sango asked, smiling.
Kohaku waved at his older sister as she approached, relieved that his older sister would stop Inuyasha and Kagome's moment of passion.
"I think it came out really wonderful! I did a report on the whole Narnia series!" Rin smiled.
"Wow! That must've kept you up awhile?" Sango rolled her horny friends to the side so she could get Rin to her locker.
Rin giggled at the action. It amazed her how the teens never stopped even after being shoved?
"Um?" Rin and Kohaku eyed Sango confusedly.
"Don't worry about them. They always do this. The bell or Miroku will pull them out of it." Sango answered, knowing what the young girl and her innocent brother were gonna ask.
"Oh. Ok!" Rin smiled. She packed away her book bag grabbed her English book from the locker, and began in small talk with Sango.
Kohaku turned his back, trying to ignore the noises behind him.
"Wow, Kagome has the most amazing panties." A voice whispered from behind the two lovers.
"What was that!?" Inuyasha grumbled as he broke from his heated kiss.
"Inuyasha, don't bruise your knuckles while beating him again." Kagome kissed his cheek while catching her breath and straightening out her uniform.
"I won't, Mia's. I love you, babe!-Inuyasha kissed her back and then focused his attention on the perverted asshole who had a video camera out.-Now. As for you, ya sick bastard! What did you say about my Mia!!" Inuyasha growled.
Rin blinked for a moment, and in a flash, a familiar young man with dark hair was running down the hall.
"Come back here, Miroku!" Inuyasha yelled after.
"It's for a good cause! I promise you there isn't anything too exploitative about Kagome!" Miroku ran for his life.
"Yeah, well, there's about to be something extremely exploitative when I rip you a new asshole!" Inuyasha chased him down.
Rin looked back at Kagome, speaking to Sango about her new phone case. Was this really normal? Would Inuyasha get in trouble for running down the halls?
Rin shrugged, looking at Kohaku, and just smiled happily. She joined the girly conversation and anxiously waited for her first class to begin.
/
Sesshomaru took in the annoying sight of gathered teens at his younger brother's locker. If possible, he'd rather avoid them, but he couldn't exactly keep his gym bag on him all day.
Suddenly he saw his brother chase after one of his annoying young friends. Sesshomaru gave him a stern glare as Inuyasha rounded the corner.
Sesshomaru began his walk to his younger brother's locker to carry out his task of packing away his things.
"Oh, Good morning Mr.Taisho. You just missed Inuyasha." Kagome smiled. She was obviously still upset, but she hid it well.
Rin stared in awe at her teacher. He seemed so flushed, so steamy, so very different.
"Good morning Mr.Taisho." Sango stepped aside, realizing he would have only one real reason for being down a hallway past his classroom.
"Miss Higurashi, Miss Slayer-Sesshomaru acknowledged both students as he proceeded to his younger brother's locker.-I seen. Make sure you are all in class on time." Sesshomaru opened the locker door, hanging his bag inside.
"Good Morning Mr.Taisho! You look very well this morning." Rin blushed. She hadn't meant to comment on his appearance, but it just slipped out.
Sesshomaru glanced over his shoulder and raised his brow at the young girl. He wouldn't respond to her foolish compliment as many other students attempted with him.
He barely hummed, acknowledging her. He closed Inuyasha's locker and handed Kagome Inuyasha's English book.
"Do not be late." Sesshomaru walked off toward the principal's office.
Kagome smiled awkwardly and nodded her response, not wanting to speak. Her future brother-in-law could be terrifying at times. And now was one of those times.
"Rin!-Sango playfully hit the girl's arm a little harder than she had actually meant.-What did I tell you!? You can not butter up Mr.Taisho!" Sango whispered.
"I wasn't? I just got nervous.-Rin admitted.-Why are we whispering, by the way?" Rin asked Sango and Kagome.
"Because Sesshomaru could probably still hear us. He could be pretty scary at times. I know I've said some silly things before." Kagome smiled, still whispering.
All three girls giggled quietly, while Kohaku just smiled awkwardly, not knowing what else to do.
/
"Ah, Mr.Taisho. Principal Bokuseno has been expecting you. I'll let him know you have arrived." The Vice-principal spoke kindly.
Sesshomaru acknowledged her with a nod as he looked around the room at awards and graduation ceremonies that the school had framed.
Sesshomaru was Bokuseno's hardest-working teacher. Not to mention a close friend to Sesshomaru's family.
Bokuseno had offered Sesshomaru the job as teacher when Sesshomaru moved back to town to take care of his mother.
Bokuseno was more like a father to Sesshomaru than his birth father had ever been. He always had Sesshomaru's best interest at heart, even if it seemed cruel at the time.
This made Sesshomaru feel a certain obligation to the older man. Sesshomaru often donated to the school what he could and would take pay cuts for the school not to suffer.
He wasn't exactly working here for the pay to begin with, but the fact that his smaller paycheck insured more books in the library or better supplies in the classroom was enough for Sesshomaru to accept the smaller check.
Soon the door opened and the older man stepped aside to allow Sesshomaru inside.
"Bokuseno." Sesshomaru greeted taking a seat across from the older man's desk.
"Sesshomaru. My apologies for disturbing your time. I have a request to make of you. And it won't be easy. However, if there is any who are capable of such a task it is you." Bokuseno started.
Sesshomaru sighed and awaited the favor his long time friend and boss would ask of him.
/
Sango waved off her friends as she had class of her own to attend.
Kagome, Rin, and Kohaku began the short walk to their English class.
Inuyasha came up behind Kagome wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her cheek sweetly. "Hey Mia, I can't believe you was gonna leave me." Inuyasha pouted.
"I'd never leave you puppy! I thought you was waiting for me in your brothers class. It normally doesn't take you that long to beat up Miroku." Kagome kissed him back on the lips sweetly.
"Fuckers gotten faster.-Inuyasha chuckled.-Did I miss anything?" Inuyasha walked into the empty classroom.
"Nope? Looks like we're the first ones here. Not even Mr.Taisho's here? That's odd?" Kohaku mentioned.
"Jerks probably on his way now." Inuyasha huffed angrily.
"Hope he got his car back." Kagome sat on top of her desk pulling her boyfriend down by his neck and kissing him longingly against his lips.
Inuyasha settled himself between his girlfriends legs and was happy to indulge in her delicious taste.
Kohaku removed his book bag from his shoulder and was about to take his first steps forward.
"Watch it punk!" Koga elbowed Kohaku to the ground.
"Kogey that wasn't very nice." Ayame walked over the fallen boy and sat in her usual spot beside her boyfriend.
"Kohaku, you ok?" Rin crouched down beside her friend, offering him a sweet smile.
"Yeah! Completely fine." Kohaku began getting up with help from Rin.
All Sesshomaru's students walked in and was properly seated as they should be. It was two minutes before his class.
"Is Mr.Taisho ever late to his class?" Rin asked saddened.
"Nope." Inuyasha answered now that he and Kagome had broken away from their make out.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon Rin. No need to worry." Kagome smiled now sitting beside the boy she loved.
"I'm not worried..." Rin blushed.
Luckily everyone hadn't paid her much attention as they began opening their English books and readying for their teacher from hell.