Title: Forget Me Not
Rating: PG
Note: Yay! You guys seem to be able to tolerate this silly little story! Oh, I could SO bounce around right now. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write a review: I know they are bothersome and stuff, but I have to admit reviews keep me jazzed and excited about writing. So that's cool!
Hmm. Well, bad things do seem to happen when I brainstorm a new story in the middle of the night. It has come to my attention I've been misspelling Kagome's last name. (I'm also pretty much spelling Hojo's name wrong. Ignore that, eh? Thanks) Oooops. Heh. It's been too long since I actually even looked at the manga much less watched the anime!
Anyway, I plotted this story today and while it isn't as long as my other stories (7 pages compared to Falling Stars' 16 page outline or Demonheart's 11), this one seems to have a little more fun of a feeling. I guess that may be due to the fact that FMN takes place in modern times… or maybe its because I have a surprise coming up soon I think you Sess/Kag'ers will love! Okay, I'm chatting too much again. Thanks for all the support, folks. It really makes all the difference in the world!
-Celyia
PS: Please dont get annoyed with one part of Sess's description. I have a good reason why it *looks* to be the way I described it! Bear with me! :-)
Chapter 3
Death walked into the large office, wearing a blue polyester suit, his dark eyes reflecting a sort of stilling anxiety- the kind you would find in a patient waiting to undergo a root canal with no anesthesia.
"Hiro!" the man called, his hand raised in a friendly wave, "Come on in! Come on in! I heard you've got news for me."
Death shifted uneasily, a part of him dying to correct the rather genial looking man, but… well, no one corrects the Boss, not if they wanted to live, anyway. And Hiro, regardless of what he called himself now, wanted very much to continue living.
"Yes, sir," Death said, pulling at his collar as he watched the Boss place the DVD on pause.
"What a terrible form. Gosh, what bad form indeed," the Boss clucked, his arms folded across his chest as he nodded at the big screen. "That stance… look at the way his wrist is turned! I can't figure out, no, not for the life of me, how Agasi ever made it. Really. The tennis world has so many great figures… too bad they are all dead right now."
Shrugging, the Boss flicked off the DVD.
"Ah, well. So, Hiro, give me the good news," he ordered, sitting down upon the polished, black lacquer desk. With a pleasant smile, the Boss pushed back a bit of thick, wavy hair as he waited.
Death bowed low, almost tempted to kneel before the man, as he started speaking.
"We have discovered, sir, that the target is now teaching. Our source wasn't certain if it was at a high school or university level, but from what we know, it will be at a school that has an archaeology program," Death breathed, the sound shaky and uncertain. So far, so good, he thought as he wrung his very mortal hands nervously. The Boss didn't seem to be too upset, but then, Death admitted with a grimace, he rarely did.
"We have narrowed the search down to nine schools, sir: each with an archaeological program and a new instructor participating in it. We expect to locate the target within the week," he finished, his voice stronger as the Boss seemed to be quite interested in the news.
"Hmm. He's teaching now, is he?" the Boss laughed, tapping a well-manicured nail upon his tanned cheek. "I can't imagine it. That bastard? Teaching humans? I'm tempted to just leave him there to rot."
Death chuckled politely as he watched the Boss carefully for more clues how to respond to the man's words.
"Oh, well. Can't do that. Would be so messy if he ever found actually found it and undid the binding spell… but before you get him, Hiro, get a video of a couple of his classes? That should provide some amusement."
Nodding humbly, Death slowly backed towards the door. "Yes, sir. It will be done, sir."
"Good, good. Oh, and Hiro?"
"Yes, sir?"
"If you get this job done before the week is over," the Boss smiled as he turned back on the DVD of Andre Agasi at Wimbledon, "I'll get you some new business cards made up … ones that have your new little moniker printed on them. What do you say to that?"
Death smiled weakly as he tried to nod enthusiastically.
"Thank you, sir."
"Good, good," the Boss waved at Death pleasantly. "Got to keep the employees happy, right Hiro? I mean, 'Death'." The Boss chortled as he winked at the younger man. "Okay, on your way now. Ta-ta!"
Death nodded, bowing deeply as he left the office.
"How'd'it go?" a rather plain looking woman lifted her head as Death walked back into the reception room.
"I'm still alive," he breathed in relief.
"Oh, yeah," the woman, whose name was something like Naoko or Miriko or some other innocuous –ko, giggled. "You were in luck. He's been watching Agasi's muck-ups at Wimbledon all morning, so he's in a pretty good mood. So… what did he promise you this time, sugar?"
He shook his head in confusion as he leaned against the wooden desk.
"Business cards printed with 'Death' on it instead of my birth name."
Nao/Miri/?-ko's finely plucked eyebrows shot up high onto her waxen forehead. "Business cards? What does a, if you don't mind me saying it, an assassin need with business cards?"
Death shrugged, his shoulders finally relaxing since he received word that morning that the Boss wanted to see him.
"Hell if I know."
* * *
"You know," Hojou started as he dropped two eggs into the glass, "I really wish you wouldn't do that."
"And I really (you have no clue how much, Hojou-kun!) wish you wouldn't do that," the young woman choked out as she watched the man drink the green concoction down in a single gulp.
"Aw, Kagome-chan, it's pretty good and it is really good for you, too," he smiled as he held up his glass to her in a rather late toast. "Especially with your history of illness, you should really start your day off with some. Here, I'll make you a glass…"
"Oh, please, Hojou-kun! It's okay… I've had my…um…raw egg quotient for the week," the girl insisted, immediately standing up and out of the chair she had been relaxing in.
The young man shook his head sadly. "Seriously, Kagome-chan, you really need to take better care of yourself. If you won't have any of the vegetable juice…"
Nice euphemism for it, the girl thought as she slowly backed out of the kitchen.
"… then at least miss the class. I mean, you aren't even in it, Kagome-chan! You shouldn't be sitting out there, not in the rain."
Kagome smiled as she grabbed her backpack, getting ready to make a run for it.
"Hojou-kun, you know I need this class to graduate," the girl protested, helpless to watch as the man fetched a couple more eggs from the refrigerator and several green vegetables.
"Take it next semester."
"You know I'll end up voiding my award if I don't graduate this semester. Plus, I've already paid the money to register for challenging the class," Kagome winced as she watched the man toss the broccoli and cucumbers into the blender.
"I'm not saying not to challenge it, Kagome-chan. You know that. I'm just saying that I don't think you will accomplish much by torturing yourself."
"It's hardly torture. It's just a little a little rain…"
"No. It isn't. What if your chronic pneumonia flares up? Or your malaria? And it's a known fact that rain would inflames arthritis!"
Grandfather, the girl grumbled without hostility as she watched Hojou's innocent face as he continued babbling about various diseases, you couldn't have been a normal grandfather, huh? You had to read that dumb medical encyclopaedia.
"I'll ask Maru-sensei if I can sit in the hallway, okay? I'm sure he'll let me," she shouted over the screams of the tortured vegetables being torn apart in the blender. "He doesn't hate me as much as he used to."
Hojou chuckled as he turned the machine off. "No one could hate you, Kagome-chan."
"Yeah," she said softly, her thoughts roaming to the past. "Yeah, they could. And have." With a shake of her head, she waved at her roommate. "Sorry. Gotta run. See you later?"
The young attorney just smiled as he poured the vegetable juice into an airtight container and placed it carefully into the immaculate refrigerator. "Okay, Kagome-chan. I'm putting it on the top shelf. I haven't added the eggs yet because you aren't supposed to put those in until you are ready to drink…"
"Uh…"
"Promise me that if you get wet at ALL you will drink the vegetable juice? Please?"
"Yeah, sure," the girl lied through clenched teeth. "Thanks, Hojou-kun."
"Okay! Have a good day then!" he said as he looked at his rather expensive watch. "I should probably go in a minute myself. Be safe!"
"You, too," Kagome wished as she rushed out the door, grateful that the man hadn't pushed the juice too hard this morning. She was so running out of excuses.
He's a mother hen, Kagome thought, torn between fondness and annoyance. Umbrella at her side as she raced down to the bus stop, the girl couldn't help but reflect on her old friend.
In the eight years she had known the young man, Hojou hadn't changed much at all. Most people she knew had been warped by the years, shaped by the cynicism and worry that seemed to predominate this time until nothing was left but sarcastic remarks echoing from a hollow shell.
Not Hojou, though.
Hojou still believed in the basic goodness of mankind. People were kind at heart, the world was a beautiful place, and while there was life, there was still hope. Living with him was like living with a male Pollyanna and while there were times she wanted to throttle him, she was still grateful he was in her life.
After all, he had changed her life for the better.
Smiling brightly at Hatamoto-san as she stepped onto the old bus, Kagome quietly took a seat near the back.
There was a time she had needed to be loved so badly, she thought as she leaned against the striped vinyl seats. After… coming back, the girl had been haunted by dreams of her friends and the man she had loved. It had taken a couple months for her to actually understand she really wasn't going back and when that happened, it was a blow she was barely able to withstand.
She actually had scars on her arms and legs from trying to jump back into the old well, even as a part of her understood that her role was over in this drama over the shikon no tama. It was now up to Inuyasha to decide what would become of the small jewel and it really bugged her that she would never know for certain what the decision was. A part of her hoped that he used it to become human for she hated the insanity bestowed upon him if the tetsusaiga ever was lost, but she did have the sneaking suspicion he had used it to resurrect the fallen miko, Kikyou.
Her own soul's former incarnation.
It would explain why she had been transported, with no warning, back (without even going through the well!) to her own time.
"I hope he did," she whispered, oblivious to the stares she received for talking to herself by her fellow passengers. Kikyou was her and if she couldn't be with Inuyasha with this incarnation, then Kagome was grateful as hell she was at least with him in another incarnation.
It didn't make the pain any less, but what it did do was make it bearable. And it made it easier to continue with her own life.
Hojou, her knight carrying salves and orthopedic shoes instead of a sword, came along when she needed someone most. He was there to listen and to smile, and to adore her. Although she would always worry what would happen if he ever discovered that all her illnesses had been a lie, Kagome soon discovered he needed to take care of her as much as she needed to be taken care of.
Good thing he faints at the sight of blood, she thought as she imagined the young prosecuting attorney as a doctor instead. If he ever discovered…
The innocent man with the heart of gold would be crushed. After all, he pictured himself as a modern day warrior fighting to protect the innocents of the world, she knew. And maybe, in his own way, he was.
She just hoped that his law career wouldn't jade him like it seemed to do to others all too often.
"Oh, damn," Kagome muttered as she felt the bus roll to a stop. Scurrying to gather her things, she leapt up and darted to the opening door. "Thanks! See you, Hatamoto-san!" she yelled, grateful the old man had stopped even though if she had been too distracted by her thoughts to notice her stop had come up.
Sighing at the rain that seemed to be determined to break through her old umbrella, Kagome walked slowly across the campus, no more excited at the way she would spend the next hour than Hojou had been. At least, Kagome considered as she remembered the topic listed for the day on the copy of the syllabus Fui had given her, the lecture would make getting a little wet worth it.
Silently, she walked beneath the little windows that leaked the yellow fluorescent lights from the safety of the building, each one looking exactly the same as the one before. With the confidence of someone who had been doing the same routine for six weeks, she placed her backpack upon the wide, beige sill and propped her umbrella up protectively over it.
Regardless of what Hojou thinks, Kagome thought as she sat upon the sill, she could handle a little rain. Her books and papers (and undoubtedly the duct tape holding the backpack together) wouldn't. Notebook in hand and pen ready, Kagome waited silently in the rain as she stared through the window and into the forbidden warmth of the classroom.
* * *
"Good morning," he snarled as he walked into the class, his briefcase slamming against the podium. Not even sparing a look for the students as the quickly hushed to a dead silence, he took his position behind the wooden structure.
Teaching left a lot to be desired, but he had to admit he loved the pungent smell of fear so early in the morning. It was so much better than that disgusting stimulant they called coffee, anyway.
"Six weeks. Three days a week. One hour a day. Do the math. Even you people should be able to get it right. Eighteen hours of the semester have been wasted since you cannot get a simple little concept into your vacuous little heads. If this incompetence continues, I will start handing out pop exams and your miserable grades will suffer even more for it," he growled, hiding his amusement at the look of alarm on his students' collective faces.
"Now that we have that out of the way, I have another announcement," Sesshoumaru growled, practically feeling the hope of 'Maybe he's announcing his retirement?' floating through the room. Oh, he'd crush that idea in a moment. Yes, some days this job was… tolerable. He adjusted his sunglasses casually, careful not to touch the heavy stage make-up that covered the markings on his face.
"I will be conducting a dig once the rain has stopped for a suitable amount of time," he said, reflexively looking out the window into the rain beyond.
She's here, he thought in wonder as his eyes fell on Higurashi's small figure as she listened intently. Frowning as he realised he had moved slightly to see the woman's face, even though on student sat right in front of the girl's features. All he could really see, beyond the fact she was sitting there, soaked, was the way straggles of soft, black hair escaped from the impromptu bun she had fashioned on her head. Shaking his head violently, he turned back to his students.
"I will allow the highest ranking pupil in this class to volunteer his holiday to participate…" he continued as his eyes turned back to the girl sitting out in the rain. Sesshoumaru never even entertained the idea that Higurashi would show up today, even though, now that he thought about it, she had yet to miss any more classes. "…yes, to volunteer his holiday to participate in this excavation."
"Where's the excavation…"
"Silence. Did I give you leave to speak?" he barked out instinctively, his voice missing the usual bite.
Damn woman is distracting me, Sesshoumaru admitted silently. Perhaps he should…?
Absolutely not. What did he care if some mere human insisted on ridiculing herself by sitting out in the rain? She was nothing to him. She was nothing to him when she was … was it Kikyou?, she was nothing to him when she was that little girl… Ka…Ka… some infantile "k" name, anyway. At least in this incarnation, the girl had enough sense to get a non-"K" name, although Higurashi really wasn't very feminine.
"So keep that in mind," he finished, feeling actually quite inarticulate as his sensitive ears picked up on Higurashi's delicate sneeze.
Let the kitten drown, he told himself as he pointed a finger one of the students in the first row. "You. What is listed as today's topic on the syllabus?"
The young man looked startled as he shuffled through his folder.
"I … I …"
"You were told at the beginning of the semester to keep the syllabus with you at all times," Sesshoumaru said, his voice low and dangerous as he forced himself not to look at the girl sitting outside the window.
"I have it some where, sir…"
"Did I give you permission to speak?"
The boy cowered back, his head nodding timidly as he continued sifting through the mess, pale hands shaking. "Indirectly, sir."
Oh, damn. I did, Sesshoumaru realised. He looked back out the window, stifling the sigh that wanted to escape his throat. The girl is a pest, he decided, and like all pests, she was distracting. He had to regain control…
He should just allow her to sit inside.
Absolutely not, Sesshoumaru growled, only to realise the sound was audible.
"Found it!" the boy said triumphantly as he lifted the syllabus into the air. "The lecture for today is supposed to be on the legend of … Inuyasha. Did I even say that right?"
"Close enough," Sesshoumaru grunted as he walked to the door. Perhaps she hadn't known his half-brother in this life, he thought as he opened it, but the irony of having her in the room as he lectured about his brother's story appealed to him.
Yes, he'd allow the girl to come in for today. Just for today because it amused him. The next time, though, regardless of how hard it rained, Higurashi would just have to remain outside.
* * *
Maru-sensei had stopped speaking, Kagome noted as she looked up from her notebook and tried to peek in through the window.
"Kago," the body blocking her view hissed, "Maru-sensei just left without a word. Sorry, I think he saw you."
Kagome sighed as she looked at her stuff.
"It's okay, Fui-san. He heard me sneeze. There's nothing can do about that," Kagome cocked her head to the side as she placed her notebook into the backpack. "I'll just come back for next class. He should know that he can't get rid of me so easily."
"So I've gathered," Maru-sensei's soft voice carried to her ears, the sound almost as soothing as the lightening rain.
Startled, the girl jumped up off the sill and looked around.
"No security?" Kagome asked hesitantly, her eyes searching for the now familiar looking figures in blue that had "escorted" her away from the window on three separate occasions.
"Would it actually help?" the man shrugged, a shred of resignation in his voice. "For six weeks now…"
"Eighteen hours," she chirped in, remembering the first announcement he made earlier. Maybe she could…
Wait. Was that a smile?
Trick of the light, Kagome decided as she took a step closer to the professor.
"Seventeen, you imbecile," he corrected without heat, his face actually appearing to be more startled than angry. "You missed the first class. If you have eighteen apples and take one away…" Maru-sensei mocked, his arms folded across his chest.
"You gain a hundred yen?" she replied, only to slap her hands across her mouth as she remembered it probably wasn't a good idea to provoke the man.
Even though a pair of expensive sunglasses shaded his eyes, Kagome could not miss the look of contempt the professor tossed her way.
"You, Higurashi, are a nuisance. For six weeks now, you have distracted my class and my lectures with your infantile insistence on attending when you are clearly not wanted…"
"Sir," Kagome interrupted, swinging her heavy pack upon her shoulders, "I'll leave for today. I give you my word. But you may want to go inside. There is no reason for both of us to get drenched."
Smiling sadly, her heart falling as she realised that the one lecture she wanted to hear beyond reason was the one she wouldn't get to hear, Kagome shook out her umbrella and opened it.
He almost looks confused, Kagome thought as she watched black brows knit together in an otherwise impassive face. Actually, she decided as she took his slight hesitance as an opportunity to study him, he is almost good-looking.
You lie, girl. He's gorgeous, Kagome admittedly ruefully as she noted the tall, muscular figure that hid beneath the trench coat. His stomach did bulge a little, but few men's (and especially professors) didn't. Long, silver hair (he doesn't look very old. He can't be more than 30 and even that sounds too old. Maybe premature?) had been pulled back into what she could only call a loose queue.
Great. I hate it when men have better hair than I do, Kagome thought as she brushed a hand through her own hair. Even now his hair is better than mine and his is completely wet!
Oh, yeah. It's raining, she remembered, immediately standing up on her toes as she brought the grey umbrella up over both their heads. Without a word, he took the umbrella from her hand, and she didn't need to be able to see his eyes in order to know he was staring at her.
He's got a pretty face, she suddenly realised as she studied his features. Actually, it's closer to angelic than just merely pretty. It's a shame he hides behind that terrible coat and sunglasses.
"Come," Maru-sensei spoke abruptly, only to make Kagome wonder how such a softly spoken word could ever sound so annoyed.
"Excuse me?"
Still carrying her umbrella, Maru's long legs carried him quickly into the building. With a shrug, the girl followed him, her pack beating against her back with her jog.
Silently, he tossed the dripping umbrella upon the desk closest to the door.
"We no longer have enough time for a lecture on the original subject, so instead I will now give next week's lecture," Maru-sensei stated as he stood behind the podium, completely ignored the surprised young woman who stood within the shelter of the door.
Shyly, she took a seat right next to her drying umbrella. Still, the professor said nothing, even as she pulled out her notebook and pen.
I'm in? Kagome thought warily as she shot a questioning look towards Fui.
Looking as startled as Kagome felt, Fui just shrugged and flashed the wet student a victory sign.
Oh my god, Kagome beamed brightly as she looked up at the lecturing professor.
I'm in!
Next time: What exactly was Sesshou thinking while he was out in the rain? Be sure to tune in next time as chaos erupts when Death starts stalking closer to home.
Response to Reviews:
Cherie: Mysterious? Yeehaw! I don't think I've had a story called that before. Hope this chapter answered a few questions... (if it didn't raise a few more. *grin*)
Naatz: You got it! And thanks for reading. :-)
Bunny-Butler: Great name, even though "bloody" and bunnies don't seem to go together. *grin* But thanks!
Kaora: *HUUUUUUGGGGSS*! That just cracks me up! I sure hope this story isnt disappointing!
Phoebemoon: *grin* I think you just managed to sum up the whole plot of the story in four lines. *GRIN* Shhh! Don't tell anyone else!
Calophi: He's sooooo ... difficult, isn't he? Thanks! As for Kagome recognizing him... *GRIN*
Amisu Bad, eh? I'm sure Sess would love to hear you say that. Thanks! :-)
Abacus: Damn right :-) You realise that without you and the other original reviewers kind words, I would have never continued in the first place. So thanks cuz I'm having a lot of fun now!
Ladyrissa: Thanks! I take that as a great compliment especially considering your own work. *grin*
Oxygen: Yeeeeeehaw! Thanks for the welcome. :-) Your review completely stoked me since I know I've felt that way when reading some of the great fics around here, like Shunu's Full Circle and Tamysan's Five Days. *GRIN* And yeah, I kinda had to wonder at my timing myself because I started uni that morning, too. Ah, ce la vie. Hey, thanks for the cool review. It is so appreciated.
Bishonen no Hime: Thanks!!! Hope you liked this part. :-)
Jessica: *cowers in fear* I'll do better next time, Ma'am. Really! Don't hurt me! :-)
sakka chan: Yay! You think it's original? Really? Yay! I kinda thought since I was doing the whole university/school thing, I'd bore the hell out of you guys. :-)
Totally-wicked: Yeah, I love S/K fics too. I can't get enough of em (which is prolly why I have 6 of them going right now... at least I havent posted all of them, yet. That would undoubtedly drive you guys nuts). As for anonymous reviews, when you login, go to Settings. There will be an opion that says "Anonymous Reviews". Make sure that it is not checked otherwise you can't get anon reviews. Hope that helps!
Vernal Equinox: You and me both, babe. *faint* Actually, I wish *anyone* I knew resembled Sess... make for some great eye candy. :-) And of course I'm sooo bad to Kagome- she has to earn the right to be with Fluffy! :-) *GRIN* Well, this chap only took me a day but it did cause me to sorta ignore FS today. Oh, well. That's what tomorrow is for, right? :-) Thanks! *pumps fists* Thanks, VERNIE!
Beth: *grin* Ooooooo. I already have that moment planned. I so hope you like it.
Neko-Yokai: You got it! :-) Thanks. You flatterer. :-)
Embyr: Poor Sess! *GRIN* Just wait... he'll get his just desserts in the end! Thanks!
FishyKittie: Woo! You think its original and good! Yay! Okay, now I'm happy! Thanks so much!
Phantom: Yay! Thank you! Thank you! *takes a happy bow* Poor Sess! I couldn't *help* it, though. After being so mean to Kagome, he *needed* karma to bite him on his oh-so-fine butt.
Char: Yeah! Without you, I would have just kept it a oneshot so thank *you*! Oh, and a girl is always cruel to the ones she loves. *grin*
Fangboy: As you commanded! :-)
Fawkes: Hope I wrote enough. Just wait til next chapter! :-) Thank you!
Voldersnort: Oh, flatterer! :) Thanks! I'm so glad to see you still around! Yay! And bah! You won't have to make a decision on which one should be updated because both will me. I like Forget Me Not but Falling Stars is my *baby*! :-) Thanks so muuuuuch! :-)
Rating: PG
Note: Yay! You guys seem to be able to tolerate this silly little story! Oh, I could SO bounce around right now. Thanks to everyone who took the time to write a review: I know they are bothersome and stuff, but I have to admit reviews keep me jazzed and excited about writing. So that's cool!
Hmm. Well, bad things do seem to happen when I brainstorm a new story in the middle of the night. It has come to my attention I've been misspelling Kagome's last name. (I'm also pretty much spelling Hojo's name wrong. Ignore that, eh? Thanks) Oooops. Heh. It's been too long since I actually even looked at the manga much less watched the anime!
Anyway, I plotted this story today and while it isn't as long as my other stories (7 pages compared to Falling Stars' 16 page outline or Demonheart's 11), this one seems to have a little more fun of a feeling. I guess that may be due to the fact that FMN takes place in modern times… or maybe its because I have a surprise coming up soon I think you Sess/Kag'ers will love! Okay, I'm chatting too much again. Thanks for all the support, folks. It really makes all the difference in the world!
-Celyia
PS: Please dont get annoyed with one part of Sess's description. I have a good reason why it *looks* to be the way I described it! Bear with me! :-)
Chapter 3
Death walked into the large office, wearing a blue polyester suit, his dark eyes reflecting a sort of stilling anxiety- the kind you would find in a patient waiting to undergo a root canal with no anesthesia.
"Hiro!" the man called, his hand raised in a friendly wave, "Come on in! Come on in! I heard you've got news for me."
Death shifted uneasily, a part of him dying to correct the rather genial looking man, but… well, no one corrects the Boss, not if they wanted to live, anyway. And Hiro, regardless of what he called himself now, wanted very much to continue living.
"Yes, sir," Death said, pulling at his collar as he watched the Boss place the DVD on pause.
"What a terrible form. Gosh, what bad form indeed," the Boss clucked, his arms folded across his chest as he nodded at the big screen. "That stance… look at the way his wrist is turned! I can't figure out, no, not for the life of me, how Agasi ever made it. Really. The tennis world has so many great figures… too bad they are all dead right now."
Shrugging, the Boss flicked off the DVD.
"Ah, well. So, Hiro, give me the good news," he ordered, sitting down upon the polished, black lacquer desk. With a pleasant smile, the Boss pushed back a bit of thick, wavy hair as he waited.
Death bowed low, almost tempted to kneel before the man, as he started speaking.
"We have discovered, sir, that the target is now teaching. Our source wasn't certain if it was at a high school or university level, but from what we know, it will be at a school that has an archaeology program," Death breathed, the sound shaky and uncertain. So far, so good, he thought as he wrung his very mortal hands nervously. The Boss didn't seem to be too upset, but then, Death admitted with a grimace, he rarely did.
"We have narrowed the search down to nine schools, sir: each with an archaeological program and a new instructor participating in it. We expect to locate the target within the week," he finished, his voice stronger as the Boss seemed to be quite interested in the news.
"Hmm. He's teaching now, is he?" the Boss laughed, tapping a well-manicured nail upon his tanned cheek. "I can't imagine it. That bastard? Teaching humans? I'm tempted to just leave him there to rot."
Death chuckled politely as he watched the Boss carefully for more clues how to respond to the man's words.
"Oh, well. Can't do that. Would be so messy if he ever found actually found it and undid the binding spell… but before you get him, Hiro, get a video of a couple of his classes? That should provide some amusement."
Nodding humbly, Death slowly backed towards the door. "Yes, sir. It will be done, sir."
"Good, good. Oh, and Hiro?"
"Yes, sir?"
"If you get this job done before the week is over," the Boss smiled as he turned back on the DVD of Andre Agasi at Wimbledon, "I'll get you some new business cards made up … ones that have your new little moniker printed on them. What do you say to that?"
Death smiled weakly as he tried to nod enthusiastically.
"Thank you, sir."
"Good, good," the Boss waved at Death pleasantly. "Got to keep the employees happy, right Hiro? I mean, 'Death'." The Boss chortled as he winked at the younger man. "Okay, on your way now. Ta-ta!"
Death nodded, bowing deeply as he left the office.
"How'd'it go?" a rather plain looking woman lifted her head as Death walked back into the reception room.
"I'm still alive," he breathed in relief.
"Oh, yeah," the woman, whose name was something like Naoko or Miriko or some other innocuous –ko, giggled. "You were in luck. He's been watching Agasi's muck-ups at Wimbledon all morning, so he's in a pretty good mood. So… what did he promise you this time, sugar?"
He shook his head in confusion as he leaned against the wooden desk.
"Business cards printed with 'Death' on it instead of my birth name."
Nao/Miri/?-ko's finely plucked eyebrows shot up high onto her waxen forehead. "Business cards? What does a, if you don't mind me saying it, an assassin need with business cards?"
Death shrugged, his shoulders finally relaxing since he received word that morning that the Boss wanted to see him.
"Hell if I know."
"You know," Hojou started as he dropped two eggs into the glass, "I really wish you wouldn't do that."
"And I really (you have no clue how much, Hojou-kun!) wish you wouldn't do that," the young woman choked out as she watched the man drink the green concoction down in a single gulp.
"Aw, Kagome-chan, it's pretty good and it is really good for you, too," he smiled as he held up his glass to her in a rather late toast. "Especially with your history of illness, you should really start your day off with some. Here, I'll make you a glass…"
"Oh, please, Hojou-kun! It's okay… I've had my…um…raw egg quotient for the week," the girl insisted, immediately standing up and out of the chair she had been relaxing in.
The young man shook his head sadly. "Seriously, Kagome-chan, you really need to take better care of yourself. If you won't have any of the vegetable juice…"
Nice euphemism for it, the girl thought as she slowly backed out of the kitchen.
"… then at least miss the class. I mean, you aren't even in it, Kagome-chan! You shouldn't be sitting out there, not in the rain."
Kagome smiled as she grabbed her backpack, getting ready to make a run for it.
"Hojou-kun, you know I need this class to graduate," the girl protested, helpless to watch as the man fetched a couple more eggs from the refrigerator and several green vegetables.
"Take it next semester."
"You know I'll end up voiding my award if I don't graduate this semester. Plus, I've already paid the money to register for challenging the class," Kagome winced as she watched the man toss the broccoli and cucumbers into the blender.
"I'm not saying not to challenge it, Kagome-chan. You know that. I'm just saying that I don't think you will accomplish much by torturing yourself."
"It's hardly torture. It's just a little a little rain…"
"No. It isn't. What if your chronic pneumonia flares up? Or your malaria? And it's a known fact that rain would inflames arthritis!"
Grandfather, the girl grumbled without hostility as she watched Hojou's innocent face as he continued babbling about various diseases, you couldn't have been a normal grandfather, huh? You had to read that dumb medical encyclopaedia.
"I'll ask Maru-sensei if I can sit in the hallway, okay? I'm sure he'll let me," she shouted over the screams of the tortured vegetables being torn apart in the blender. "He doesn't hate me as much as he used to."
Hojou chuckled as he turned the machine off. "No one could hate you, Kagome-chan."
"Yeah," she said softly, her thoughts roaming to the past. "Yeah, they could. And have." With a shake of her head, she waved at her roommate. "Sorry. Gotta run. See you later?"
The young attorney just smiled as he poured the vegetable juice into an airtight container and placed it carefully into the immaculate refrigerator. "Okay, Kagome-chan. I'm putting it on the top shelf. I haven't added the eggs yet because you aren't supposed to put those in until you are ready to drink…"
"Uh…"
"Promise me that if you get wet at ALL you will drink the vegetable juice? Please?"
"Yeah, sure," the girl lied through clenched teeth. "Thanks, Hojou-kun."
"Okay! Have a good day then!" he said as he looked at his rather expensive watch. "I should probably go in a minute myself. Be safe!"
"You, too," Kagome wished as she rushed out the door, grateful that the man hadn't pushed the juice too hard this morning. She was so running out of excuses.
He's a mother hen, Kagome thought, torn between fondness and annoyance. Umbrella at her side as she raced down to the bus stop, the girl couldn't help but reflect on her old friend.
In the eight years she had known the young man, Hojou hadn't changed much at all. Most people she knew had been warped by the years, shaped by the cynicism and worry that seemed to predominate this time until nothing was left but sarcastic remarks echoing from a hollow shell.
Not Hojou, though.
Hojou still believed in the basic goodness of mankind. People were kind at heart, the world was a beautiful place, and while there was life, there was still hope. Living with him was like living with a male Pollyanna and while there were times she wanted to throttle him, she was still grateful he was in her life.
After all, he had changed her life for the better.
Smiling brightly at Hatamoto-san as she stepped onto the old bus, Kagome quietly took a seat near the back.
There was a time she had needed to be loved so badly, she thought as she leaned against the striped vinyl seats. After… coming back, the girl had been haunted by dreams of her friends and the man she had loved. It had taken a couple months for her to actually understand she really wasn't going back and when that happened, it was a blow she was barely able to withstand.
She actually had scars on her arms and legs from trying to jump back into the old well, even as a part of her understood that her role was over in this drama over the shikon no tama. It was now up to Inuyasha to decide what would become of the small jewel and it really bugged her that she would never know for certain what the decision was. A part of her hoped that he used it to become human for she hated the insanity bestowed upon him if the tetsusaiga ever was lost, but she did have the sneaking suspicion he had used it to resurrect the fallen miko, Kikyou.
Her own soul's former incarnation.
It would explain why she had been transported, with no warning, back (without even going through the well!) to her own time.
"I hope he did," she whispered, oblivious to the stares she received for talking to herself by her fellow passengers. Kikyou was her and if she couldn't be with Inuyasha with this incarnation, then Kagome was grateful as hell she was at least with him in another incarnation.
It didn't make the pain any less, but what it did do was make it bearable. And it made it easier to continue with her own life.
Hojou, her knight carrying salves and orthopedic shoes instead of a sword, came along when she needed someone most. He was there to listen and to smile, and to adore her. Although she would always worry what would happen if he ever discovered that all her illnesses had been a lie, Kagome soon discovered he needed to take care of her as much as she needed to be taken care of.
Good thing he faints at the sight of blood, she thought as she imagined the young prosecuting attorney as a doctor instead. If he ever discovered…
The innocent man with the heart of gold would be crushed. After all, he pictured himself as a modern day warrior fighting to protect the innocents of the world, she knew. And maybe, in his own way, he was.
She just hoped that his law career wouldn't jade him like it seemed to do to others all too often.
"Oh, damn," Kagome muttered as she felt the bus roll to a stop. Scurrying to gather her things, she leapt up and darted to the opening door. "Thanks! See you, Hatamoto-san!" she yelled, grateful the old man had stopped even though if she had been too distracted by her thoughts to notice her stop had come up.
Sighing at the rain that seemed to be determined to break through her old umbrella, Kagome walked slowly across the campus, no more excited at the way she would spend the next hour than Hojou had been. At least, Kagome considered as she remembered the topic listed for the day on the copy of the syllabus Fui had given her, the lecture would make getting a little wet worth it.
Silently, she walked beneath the little windows that leaked the yellow fluorescent lights from the safety of the building, each one looking exactly the same as the one before. With the confidence of someone who had been doing the same routine for six weeks, she placed her backpack upon the wide, beige sill and propped her umbrella up protectively over it.
Regardless of what Hojou thinks, Kagome thought as she sat upon the sill, she could handle a little rain. Her books and papers (and undoubtedly the duct tape holding the backpack together) wouldn't. Notebook in hand and pen ready, Kagome waited silently in the rain as she stared through the window and into the forbidden warmth of the classroom.
"Good morning," he snarled as he walked into the class, his briefcase slamming against the podium. Not even sparing a look for the students as the quickly hushed to a dead silence, he took his position behind the wooden structure.
Teaching left a lot to be desired, but he had to admit he loved the pungent smell of fear so early in the morning. It was so much better than that disgusting stimulant they called coffee, anyway.
"Six weeks. Three days a week. One hour a day. Do the math. Even you people should be able to get it right. Eighteen hours of the semester have been wasted since you cannot get a simple little concept into your vacuous little heads. If this incompetence continues, I will start handing out pop exams and your miserable grades will suffer even more for it," he growled, hiding his amusement at the look of alarm on his students' collective faces.
"Now that we have that out of the way, I have another announcement," Sesshoumaru growled, practically feeling the hope of 'Maybe he's announcing his retirement?' floating through the room. Oh, he'd crush that idea in a moment. Yes, some days this job was… tolerable. He adjusted his sunglasses casually, careful not to touch the heavy stage make-up that covered the markings on his face.
"I will be conducting a dig once the rain has stopped for a suitable amount of time," he said, reflexively looking out the window into the rain beyond.
She's here, he thought in wonder as his eyes fell on Higurashi's small figure as she listened intently. Frowning as he realised he had moved slightly to see the woman's face, even though on student sat right in front of the girl's features. All he could really see, beyond the fact she was sitting there, soaked, was the way straggles of soft, black hair escaped from the impromptu bun she had fashioned on her head. Shaking his head violently, he turned back to his students.
"I will allow the highest ranking pupil in this class to volunteer his holiday to participate…" he continued as his eyes turned back to the girl sitting out in the rain. Sesshoumaru never even entertained the idea that Higurashi would show up today, even though, now that he thought about it, she had yet to miss any more classes. "…yes, to volunteer his holiday to participate in this excavation."
"Where's the excavation…"
"Silence. Did I give you leave to speak?" he barked out instinctively, his voice missing the usual bite.
Damn woman is distracting me, Sesshoumaru admitted silently. Perhaps he should…?
Absolutely not. What did he care if some mere human insisted on ridiculing herself by sitting out in the rain? She was nothing to him. She was nothing to him when she was … was it Kikyou?, she was nothing to him when she was that little girl… Ka…Ka… some infantile "k" name, anyway. At least in this incarnation, the girl had enough sense to get a non-"K" name, although Higurashi really wasn't very feminine.
"So keep that in mind," he finished, feeling actually quite inarticulate as his sensitive ears picked up on Higurashi's delicate sneeze.
Let the kitten drown, he told himself as he pointed a finger one of the students in the first row. "You. What is listed as today's topic on the syllabus?"
The young man looked startled as he shuffled through his folder.
"I … I …"
"You were told at the beginning of the semester to keep the syllabus with you at all times," Sesshoumaru said, his voice low and dangerous as he forced himself not to look at the girl sitting outside the window.
"I have it some where, sir…"
"Did I give you permission to speak?"
The boy cowered back, his head nodding timidly as he continued sifting through the mess, pale hands shaking. "Indirectly, sir."
Oh, damn. I did, Sesshoumaru realised. He looked back out the window, stifling the sigh that wanted to escape his throat. The girl is a pest, he decided, and like all pests, she was distracting. He had to regain control…
He should just allow her to sit inside.
Absolutely not, Sesshoumaru growled, only to realise the sound was audible.
"Found it!" the boy said triumphantly as he lifted the syllabus into the air. "The lecture for today is supposed to be on the legend of … Inuyasha. Did I even say that right?"
"Close enough," Sesshoumaru grunted as he walked to the door. Perhaps she hadn't known his half-brother in this life, he thought as he opened it, but the irony of having her in the room as he lectured about his brother's story appealed to him.
Yes, he'd allow the girl to come in for today. Just for today because it amused him. The next time, though, regardless of how hard it rained, Higurashi would just have to remain outside.
"Kago," the body blocking her view hissed, "Maru-sensei just left without a word. Sorry, I think he saw you."
Kagome sighed as she looked at her stuff.
"It's okay, Fui-san. He heard me sneeze. There's nothing can do about that," Kagome cocked her head to the side as she placed her notebook into the backpack. "I'll just come back for next class. He should know that he can't get rid of me so easily."
"So I've gathered," Maru-sensei's soft voice carried to her ears, the sound almost as soothing as the lightening rain.
Startled, the girl jumped up off the sill and looked around.
"No security?" Kagome asked hesitantly, her eyes searching for the now familiar looking figures in blue that had "escorted" her away from the window on three separate occasions.
"Would it actually help?" the man shrugged, a shred of resignation in his voice. "For six weeks now…"
"Eighteen hours," she chirped in, remembering the first announcement he made earlier. Maybe she could…
Wait. Was that a smile?
Trick of the light, Kagome decided as she took a step closer to the professor.
"Seventeen, you imbecile," he corrected without heat, his face actually appearing to be more startled than angry. "You missed the first class. If you have eighteen apples and take one away…" Maru-sensei mocked, his arms folded across his chest.
"You gain a hundred yen?" she replied, only to slap her hands across her mouth as she remembered it probably wasn't a good idea to provoke the man.
Even though a pair of expensive sunglasses shaded his eyes, Kagome could not miss the look of contempt the professor tossed her way.
"You, Higurashi, are a nuisance. For six weeks now, you have distracted my class and my lectures with your infantile insistence on attending when you are clearly not wanted…"
"Sir," Kagome interrupted, swinging her heavy pack upon her shoulders, "I'll leave for today. I give you my word. But you may want to go inside. There is no reason for both of us to get drenched."
Smiling sadly, her heart falling as she realised that the one lecture she wanted to hear beyond reason was the one she wouldn't get to hear, Kagome shook out her umbrella and opened it.
He almost looks confused, Kagome thought as she watched black brows knit together in an otherwise impassive face. Actually, she decided as she took his slight hesitance as an opportunity to study him, he is almost good-looking.
You lie, girl. He's gorgeous, Kagome admittedly ruefully as she noted the tall, muscular figure that hid beneath the trench coat. His stomach did bulge a little, but few men's (and especially professors) didn't. Long, silver hair (he doesn't look very old. He can't be more than 30 and even that sounds too old. Maybe premature?) had been pulled back into what she could only call a loose queue.
Great. I hate it when men have better hair than I do, Kagome thought as she brushed a hand through her own hair. Even now his hair is better than mine and his is completely wet!
Oh, yeah. It's raining, she remembered, immediately standing up on her toes as she brought the grey umbrella up over both their heads. Without a word, he took the umbrella from her hand, and she didn't need to be able to see his eyes in order to know he was staring at her.
He's got a pretty face, she suddenly realised as she studied his features. Actually, it's closer to angelic than just merely pretty. It's a shame he hides behind that terrible coat and sunglasses.
"Come," Maru-sensei spoke abruptly, only to make Kagome wonder how such a softly spoken word could ever sound so annoyed.
"Excuse me?"
Still carrying her umbrella, Maru's long legs carried him quickly into the building. With a shrug, the girl followed him, her pack beating against her back with her jog.
Silently, he tossed the dripping umbrella upon the desk closest to the door.
"We no longer have enough time for a lecture on the original subject, so instead I will now give next week's lecture," Maru-sensei stated as he stood behind the podium, completely ignored the surprised young woman who stood within the shelter of the door.
Shyly, she took a seat right next to her drying umbrella. Still, the professor said nothing, even as she pulled out her notebook and pen.
I'm in? Kagome thought warily as she shot a questioning look towards Fui.
Looking as startled as Kagome felt, Fui just shrugged and flashed the wet student a victory sign.
Oh my god, Kagome beamed brightly as she looked up at the lecturing professor.
I'm in!
Next time: What exactly was Sesshou thinking while he was out in the rain? Be sure to tune in next time as chaos erupts when Death starts stalking closer to home.
Response to Reviews:
Cherie: Mysterious? Yeehaw! I don't think I've had a story called that before. Hope this chapter answered a few questions... (if it didn't raise a few more. *grin*)
Naatz: You got it! And thanks for reading. :-)
Bunny-Butler: Great name, even though "bloody" and bunnies don't seem to go together. *grin* But thanks!
Kaora: *HUUUUUUGGGGSS*! That just cracks me up! I sure hope this story isnt disappointing!
Phoebemoon: *grin* I think you just managed to sum up the whole plot of the story in four lines. *GRIN* Shhh! Don't tell anyone else!
Calophi: He's sooooo ... difficult, isn't he? Thanks! As for Kagome recognizing him... *GRIN*
Amisu Bad, eh? I'm sure Sess would love to hear you say that. Thanks! :-)
Abacus: Damn right :-) You realise that without you and the other original reviewers kind words, I would have never continued in the first place. So thanks cuz I'm having a lot of fun now!
Ladyrissa: Thanks! I take that as a great compliment especially considering your own work. *grin*
Oxygen: Yeeeeeehaw! Thanks for the welcome. :-) Your review completely stoked me since I know I've felt that way when reading some of the great fics around here, like Shunu's Full Circle and Tamysan's Five Days. *GRIN* And yeah, I kinda had to wonder at my timing myself because I started uni that morning, too. Ah, ce la vie. Hey, thanks for the cool review. It is so appreciated.
Bishonen no Hime: Thanks!!! Hope you liked this part. :-)
Jessica: *cowers in fear* I'll do better next time, Ma'am. Really! Don't hurt me! :-)
sakka chan: Yay! You think it's original? Really? Yay! I kinda thought since I was doing the whole university/school thing, I'd bore the hell out of you guys. :-)
Totally-wicked: Yeah, I love S/K fics too. I can't get enough of em (which is prolly why I have 6 of them going right now... at least I havent posted all of them, yet. That would undoubtedly drive you guys nuts). As for anonymous reviews, when you login, go to Settings. There will be an opion that says "Anonymous Reviews". Make sure that it is not checked otherwise you can't get anon reviews. Hope that helps!
Vernal Equinox: You and me both, babe. *faint* Actually, I wish *anyone* I knew resembled Sess... make for some great eye candy. :-) And of course I'm sooo bad to Kagome- she has to earn the right to be with Fluffy! :-) *GRIN* Well, this chap only took me a day but it did cause me to sorta ignore FS today. Oh, well. That's what tomorrow is for, right? :-) Thanks! *pumps fists* Thanks, VERNIE!
Beth: *grin* Ooooooo. I already have that moment planned. I so hope you like it.
Neko-Yokai: You got it! :-) Thanks. You flatterer. :-)
Embyr: Poor Sess! *GRIN* Just wait... he'll get his just desserts in the end! Thanks!
FishyKittie: Woo! You think its original and good! Yay! Okay, now I'm happy! Thanks so much!
Phantom: Yay! Thank you! Thank you! *takes a happy bow* Poor Sess! I couldn't *help* it, though. After being so mean to Kagome, he *needed* karma to bite him on his oh-so-fine butt.
Char: Yeah! Without you, I would have just kept it a oneshot so thank *you*! Oh, and a girl is always cruel to the ones she loves. *grin*
Fangboy: As you commanded! :-)
Fawkes: Hope I wrote enough. Just wait til next chapter! :-) Thank you!
Voldersnort: Oh, flatterer! :) Thanks! I'm so glad to see you still around! Yay! And bah! You won't have to make a decision on which one should be updated because both will me. I like Forget Me Not but Falling Stars is my *baby*! :-) Thanks so muuuuuch! :-)