Hey! Too tired to write much. But here's ur ch. SOOOOOOOO sorry about how
long it took, but things got hectic. N e way, here goes nothing.
Disclaimer- tired, me no own inu. There done!
I LOVE YOU, reviewers! Y Ou guys are sooooooo amazing!!!!! 190 Reviews!!!!!!!!! Mwah! You guys ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Library Climbing
Steamed fogged the glass door of the shower, as Sesshoumaru rested his head upon it, allowing the hot spray of water to flow onto his back and trickle down his tense muscles, relaxing them after the stressful day he had just had. (A/N:: *Bats away drooling fans* BACK! I say BACK! I kno, I just had to put a shower scene in here, after all the boy has to bathe right? I might even put another one in I think I like these)
The water dripped like warm, summer's rain off of his lithe muscles as he relaxed under the full force of the heated spray. His fine, silver hair heavy with water hung down his back as he pondered the day's events. (A/N:: I kno I have lots of thoughts but that's just my writing style. Don't worry this day will soon be over)
Bringing a rare smile to his lips, Kagome's laughing chocolate gaze floated into his mind's eye as he remembered how the day had begun, only to quickly turn to a frown as he remembered how it had ended. The move had become nothing but an excruciatingly long, tense ordeal after his family's arrival, and he was not fool enough to think that it was merely the normal tensions within his family causing this discomfort. No, it had something to do with a past pain, and the relationship between his brother and Kagome.
He knew that it was not some petty argument or such that had caused this pain, the pain he had seen in her eyes was too deep, too crushing for it to be so. He knew that Kagome was far too strong to allow something so trivial to affect her so strongly. After all, it was her strength that had first drawn him to her in the first place and first won her his respect.
* * * * * * Flashback * * * * * *
A flustered Kagome leaned up desperately attempting to grasp the book far out of her reach.
"Drats" (A/N:: I kno, I kno, but I say drats! I;m keeping drats alive! Besides she doesn't curse in the manga or anime) she muttered under her breath. "Come on! Just a teensy bit closer. Okay, a lot closer! I need you to write the stupid essay for that arrogant baka,' she said as she finally abandoned all of her self-regard and began to jump up and down trying to reach the book.
Striding down the aisle, Sesshoumaru caught sight of her actions. Amused, he hid behind one of the numerous bookcases to watch her desperate attempts to snatch the book from the shelf.
So this was the girl that had sparked his interest with her defiant attitude in his class that day.
He smirked as he watched her hop up and down wildly swinging her arms to try and grab the book before gravity inevitably overtook her and she fell to the ground only to leap up once again. (A/N:: Errr, sorry if that's confusing)
She had not seemed the typical overly brash and disrespectful freshman trying to play-up their importance when she had boldly met his accusing gaze after arriving late. Nor was she some simpering coward frightened of the mere thought of an angered professor. Instead he had seen a pride in her, a spirit that refused to be broken and intimidated or held back by anything for that matter, which was a truly rare thing in today's coddled society.
Finally fed up with her futile attempts that were obviously getting her nowhere, Kagome glared at the offending book, one hand on her hip. "Come on!" she yelled, part of her mind registering that it was definitely odd behavior to yell at a book, and expect it to jump down off the shelf. But she ignored it, after all it wasn't like there was anyone there to see her. She was in a very secluded section of a gigantic library. Besides she had had a very bad day, and was in desperate need of a rant.
"This has been a horrible day, and I could really use a break right about now! The universe owes me one with the luck I've been having. I mean not only do I have an arrogant, cold-hearted jerk for a teacher, well technically a TA but in that class it's basically the same thing. But I also managed to make him angry the first day AND he assigned us an impossible paper, which I'm almost positive he wouldn't do normally. I NEED you to write that paper, so please come down," she begged with her hands clasped in front of her before realizing just how ridiculous she looked at that point. Almost being able to hear, Inuyasha's half-mocking, half- insulting laugh, she finally threw caution to the wind.
With a disgruntled humph, she slipped off her shoes, which while not exactly high-heels would not be suitable for what she planned to do. "Fine! Be that way! But I'll get you one way or another!" she yelled at the book. With determination shining in her deep brown eyes, she grabbed a higher shelf of the great wooden bookcase and set her feet on a shelf a few feet off the ground. Refusing to look down and scare herself more than needed, she began to climb up the shelves with her eyes set on her goal.
'Was the girl insane?' Sesshoumaru wondered as he watched her actually attempt to climb up the impressive, but admittedly dangerous, ancient bookcase. His earlier offense at her insults fading as he watched in almost fascination as she slowly made her way to the book her now knew she needed to write her paper. The same kind of fascination that drives us to stare fixated at the television when a car chase that you know will end in a horrible, bloody crash is on.
'Well, I must admit she is determined' he thought with a smirk as she worked her way up the shelves 'Determined but stupid'. She could have just as easily asked for assistance or fetched one of the many stools or ladders scattered around the bookcases. Tensing and unconsciously moving forward, he watched as her socked foot slipped against on of the shelves, only to relax as he saw her catch herself and regain her balance with no trouble, and continue on her way without fear.
Not wanting to surprise the girl and cause her to loose her balance, he continued to watch her from the shadows behind a bookcase a while away from hers. He unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, as she seemed to finally reach her destination, and saw her hand clasp around the thick spine of the book.
Smiling in triumph, she began to slowly make her way down, only to realize that it was far more difficult than the way up, particularly when she held a heavy book clutched in one hand. Unwilling the let go of her prize, Kagome cautiously made her way down the bookcase using only one hand. Unfortunately, climbing down bookcases one-handed was NOT one of her numerous skill.
Sesshoumaru's breath caught in his throat as he saw Kagome slip and lose her already precarious balance on the bookcase. Her arms flailed wildly as she lost her grip on the hard wood of the shelf and began to fall. The world seemed to slow around him as he ran out of his hiding spot, hoping to catch the girl before she met a much harder landing on the hard, unforgiving floor of the library.
(A/N:: you guys kno I;m not that evil)
His eyes widened in horror as he saw her hit the ground hard, her hand still stubbornly clinging to that damn book. Her head cracked against the ground dangerously, and Sesshoumaru felt guilt and foreboding well up inside of him as he ran toward the now prone form of the girl.
Even if she was a defiant fool, she did not deserve to die falling from a bookcase.
Noticing that she was unconscious, he knelt down beside her relieved that he could see her chest slowly rise and fall in deep rhythmic breaths. Checking her for serious injuries, he discovered that aside from the blow to the head, which had knocked her unconscious, the arm she had landed on was injured and her ankle was twisted in a very unnatural way though not broken.
He gently lifted her into his arms, careful not to further aggravate any injuries that she had. Running to the university infirmary, he silently cursed himself for not being quicker or helping her reach the book himself. He glanced down the notice that she was groggily opening her eyes, and relief coursed through his veins like a cool, refreshing breeze on an oppressively sizzling summer day. (A/N:: hey its 4 in the morning and I;m tired give me a break here)
Kagome felt a shooting pain run through her arm and ankle as she gradually regained consciousness, not the mention a throbbing headache. As she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into twin pools of molten gold filled with concern and almost palpitating with a tangible relief. The intensity of the gaze made her want to hide within her skin, as she felt it sweep through all of the layers she had buried herself under when she had been hurt and betrayed, leaving her more exposed and raw than she had ever felt before. However, she felt fixated upon those shifting amber pools, unable to look away, feeling like a deer caught in headlights unable to flee from its oncoming doom.
Slowly she remembered what had happened to probably lead to her current situation, and cursed her own stupidity. Suddenly feeling shy, she muttered, "Umm, could you please put me down? I think that I can walk on my own."
Sesshoumaru blinked several times before her words sunk into his dazed mind. Shaking himself out of the stupor that her sluggish gaze had sent him into and disturbed by the unfamiliar way those chestnut eyes seemed to throw him off balance and make his breath catch in his throat, he immediately put as much distance between the injured girl and himself as he could and abruptly dropped her onto the grass beneath them.
After the initial shock had worn off, the unease of the girl's presence threw him off-balance. A feeling which he distinctly disliked. The intense, intimate gaze he had just shared with her left him feeling exposed, as if she had penetrated all of the walls of ice he had spent his entire life building around him with her deep, emotional eyes. (A/N:: I know theres OOC in here, but u have to admit that this whole 'gazing deeply into each other's eyes' happens quite often with Kagome and even happened in like the first month with Inuyasha several times in the "real" series)
Slipping back on his normal icy mask, he cast a cold glance on the girl that was now sprawled on the ground clutching her injured arm, the accursed book now laying in her lap discarded in favor of protectively holding her pained limb. (A/N:: all throughout this she never left the book behind, she held it in her uninjured arm when he carried her, talk about dedication to your schoolwork)
Gasping from her abrupt drop, Kagome quickly left her slightly abashed, meek state behind in favor of outright fury at her "savior".
"What was that for?!?!" she shouted her anger, only growing as she recognized just who had been carrying her.
"As you said so yourself, Higurashi-san. You are conscious and can walk by yourself, and obviously no longer need my assistance." Sesshoumaru coolly replied, seemingly unfazed by the furious girl that was now glaring up at him.
Furious at his chilly demeanor and callous behavior, Kagome pushed herself to her feet, wincing slightly at as the pain in her ankle increased. Leaning almost all of her weight onto her uninjured leg, she swayed slightly as she stood.
With a grim, stubborn determination and a fury at the man who had "saved" her, she managed to take a whopping four steps before crumpling to the ground.
Sesshoumaru, who had been stoically watching her vain attempt to walk, reluctantly made a decision, and with a sigh of resignation he walked over to the girl and quickly scooped her up once again.
Kagome was so shocked at the unexpected action and her sudden change in elevation that she instinctively tightly gripped the front of his shirt. Only to turn about 70 shades of red when she realized what she was doing. Quickly switching gears due to the realization that she functioned much more easily when angry than embarrassed, she decided to demand an explanation.
"What are you doing?!?" she asked, shocked with his behavior.
"Taking you to the infirmary, since you are obviously unable to do it yourself," he said with his usual impassive voice that constantly seemed to be demeaning to Kagome's ears.
"I don't need your help. I can walk there myself perfectly fine!" she snapped, more viscously than she had intended to, the pain making her even more short-tempered and irritated. "I said to put me down!"
Tired of her complaints, he swiftly set her onto her feet without another word, and stepped away, watching slightly impressed as she managed to stand alone for a full five second, before passing out from the combined pain of her head, arm, and ankle.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
She stood carefully, determined not to see the arrogant man behind her see her pass out. Kagome felt waves of pain wash over her each second that she stood and slowly felt blackness seep into her mind despite her desperate struggles to fight it off until finally she slipped into the dark abyss and crumpled to the ground for the second time that day.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Expecting the fall, Sesshoumaru smoothly caught her before she hit the ground and proceeded to carry her to the infirmary with no more fuss and great deal less anxiety over her welfare.
'No one that headstrong and determined would allow a bookcase to defeat them,' he thought with a smirk.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Walking home from dropping the still unconscious girl off in the infirmary, the silver-haired young man noticed a thick tome lying the grass, seeming out of place with its surroundings.
Flipping through its yellowed pages with one long, elegant hand, he recognizing the advanced book as the same one that insane girl had risked her life to reach. Not quite knowing why at the time he slipped the book into the maroon backpack slung on his shoulder and continued on his way.
* * * * * * * * * * * End Flash Back * * * * * * * * *
Sesshoumaru smiled at the memory, softening his golden eyes unconsciously. 'She was always so determined not to let anything stand in her way, I don't think that she would let something from her past keep her down either,' he thought as he quickly finished bathing, knowing that Kagome would be dropping by soon to make sure that the first night in his new apartment seemed less lonely.
Interested he thought back to the events of the day. He had no idea what Sakura and Kagome had spoken of in the kitchen, but his curiosity was plaguing his mind. Especially since afterward, Sakura seemed to be rushing his family out of the apartment and into the car with a tactful speed that left Sesshoumaru's head spinning. Particularly, since the behavior was completely out of character from the woman, who would normally have far over-stayed her welcome, which was actually worn out the second that she had stepped through the door.
Soon after his family returned home, Sango and Miroku had left as well, because Sango had a lesson at the dojo to teach with Miroku as her promised ride there. Which basically left Kagome and Sesshoumaru with the task of dismantling the gigantic pile of boxes stacked in the living room.
Seeing the emotionally exhausted girl pale at the sight, some evil, vindictive spirit had taken over his body and told her that he could handle it by himself. Practically shoving her out the door, muttering complete nonsense about her being too exhausted and already having done enough, he proceeded to have one of the single WORST Saturdays of his entire life, as he set out unpacking the numerous boxes.
Quickly finishing his shower, he stepped out into the now steam-filled bathroom, wrapping a towel around his waist, and draping another over his soaking hair.
He sighed as he remembered exactly how much work he had left to do before his apartment was even remotely guest-friendly, feeling the headache that had faded in the relaxing shower return full-blast.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Kagome felt a cool breeze sweep through the courtyard, ruffling her bangs, as she focused all of her concentration onto the small target ahead of her. She felt the tensions of the day slip from her shoulders as her entire world narrowed into the single point. Carefully aiming with the shaft of the arrow, she drew back her arm and released.
With a soft twang, the arrow sped away from young girl and embedded itself into the target with a thunk.
In one smooth motion, she reached back for another arrow, only to have her hand meet with nothing but air.
Snapping out of the meditative state she had fallen into while practicing with her bow and arrows, she realized that a thick cluster of arrows was deeply embedded into the target, and that there were no more in the quiver on her back.
She felt the desperate need to unwind fade, and an exhaustion seep into her very bones, as she packed up and prepared to head to home for the day. Smiling she remembered her promise to stop by Sesshoumaru's apartment that night, only to wince as she remembered the gigantic pile of boxes she had left him with. She felt guilty leaving him with such a large amount of work left, but the days events had left her drained, and she had needed some time on her own to sort through her emotions.
But to make up for she was going to bring him a nice dinner, and hope that the giant pile hadn't managed to gobble him up when she had left. Since Kagome was a normal, unskilled, hectic college student dinner meant one thing. TAKE-OUT!!
A/N:: Yee gods! Finally done with chapter!! Hope you guys like it!
READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please ^_^
Disclaimer- tired, me no own inu. There done!
I LOVE YOU, reviewers! Y Ou guys are sooooooo amazing!!!!! 190 Reviews!!!!!!!!! Mwah! You guys ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Library Climbing
Steamed fogged the glass door of the shower, as Sesshoumaru rested his head upon it, allowing the hot spray of water to flow onto his back and trickle down his tense muscles, relaxing them after the stressful day he had just had. (A/N:: *Bats away drooling fans* BACK! I say BACK! I kno, I just had to put a shower scene in here, after all the boy has to bathe right? I might even put another one in I think I like these)
The water dripped like warm, summer's rain off of his lithe muscles as he relaxed under the full force of the heated spray. His fine, silver hair heavy with water hung down his back as he pondered the day's events. (A/N:: I kno I have lots of thoughts but that's just my writing style. Don't worry this day will soon be over)
Bringing a rare smile to his lips, Kagome's laughing chocolate gaze floated into his mind's eye as he remembered how the day had begun, only to quickly turn to a frown as he remembered how it had ended. The move had become nothing but an excruciatingly long, tense ordeal after his family's arrival, and he was not fool enough to think that it was merely the normal tensions within his family causing this discomfort. No, it had something to do with a past pain, and the relationship between his brother and Kagome.
He knew that it was not some petty argument or such that had caused this pain, the pain he had seen in her eyes was too deep, too crushing for it to be so. He knew that Kagome was far too strong to allow something so trivial to affect her so strongly. After all, it was her strength that had first drawn him to her in the first place and first won her his respect.
* * * * * * Flashback * * * * * *
A flustered Kagome leaned up desperately attempting to grasp the book far out of her reach.
"Drats" (A/N:: I kno, I kno, but I say drats! I;m keeping drats alive! Besides she doesn't curse in the manga or anime) she muttered under her breath. "Come on! Just a teensy bit closer. Okay, a lot closer! I need you to write the stupid essay for that arrogant baka,' she said as she finally abandoned all of her self-regard and began to jump up and down trying to reach the book.
Striding down the aisle, Sesshoumaru caught sight of her actions. Amused, he hid behind one of the numerous bookcases to watch her desperate attempts to snatch the book from the shelf.
So this was the girl that had sparked his interest with her defiant attitude in his class that day.
He smirked as he watched her hop up and down wildly swinging her arms to try and grab the book before gravity inevitably overtook her and she fell to the ground only to leap up once again. (A/N:: Errr, sorry if that's confusing)
She had not seemed the typical overly brash and disrespectful freshman trying to play-up their importance when she had boldly met his accusing gaze after arriving late. Nor was she some simpering coward frightened of the mere thought of an angered professor. Instead he had seen a pride in her, a spirit that refused to be broken and intimidated or held back by anything for that matter, which was a truly rare thing in today's coddled society.
Finally fed up with her futile attempts that were obviously getting her nowhere, Kagome glared at the offending book, one hand on her hip. "Come on!" she yelled, part of her mind registering that it was definitely odd behavior to yell at a book, and expect it to jump down off the shelf. But she ignored it, after all it wasn't like there was anyone there to see her. She was in a very secluded section of a gigantic library. Besides she had had a very bad day, and was in desperate need of a rant.
"This has been a horrible day, and I could really use a break right about now! The universe owes me one with the luck I've been having. I mean not only do I have an arrogant, cold-hearted jerk for a teacher, well technically a TA but in that class it's basically the same thing. But I also managed to make him angry the first day AND he assigned us an impossible paper, which I'm almost positive he wouldn't do normally. I NEED you to write that paper, so please come down," she begged with her hands clasped in front of her before realizing just how ridiculous she looked at that point. Almost being able to hear, Inuyasha's half-mocking, half- insulting laugh, she finally threw caution to the wind.
With a disgruntled humph, she slipped off her shoes, which while not exactly high-heels would not be suitable for what she planned to do. "Fine! Be that way! But I'll get you one way or another!" she yelled at the book. With determination shining in her deep brown eyes, she grabbed a higher shelf of the great wooden bookcase and set her feet on a shelf a few feet off the ground. Refusing to look down and scare herself more than needed, she began to climb up the shelves with her eyes set on her goal.
'Was the girl insane?' Sesshoumaru wondered as he watched her actually attempt to climb up the impressive, but admittedly dangerous, ancient bookcase. His earlier offense at her insults fading as he watched in almost fascination as she slowly made her way to the book her now knew she needed to write her paper. The same kind of fascination that drives us to stare fixated at the television when a car chase that you know will end in a horrible, bloody crash is on.
'Well, I must admit she is determined' he thought with a smirk as she worked her way up the shelves 'Determined but stupid'. She could have just as easily asked for assistance or fetched one of the many stools or ladders scattered around the bookcases. Tensing and unconsciously moving forward, he watched as her socked foot slipped against on of the shelves, only to relax as he saw her catch herself and regain her balance with no trouble, and continue on her way without fear.
Not wanting to surprise the girl and cause her to loose her balance, he continued to watch her from the shadows behind a bookcase a while away from hers. He unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, as she seemed to finally reach her destination, and saw her hand clasp around the thick spine of the book.
Smiling in triumph, she began to slowly make her way down, only to realize that it was far more difficult than the way up, particularly when she held a heavy book clutched in one hand. Unwilling the let go of her prize, Kagome cautiously made her way down the bookcase using only one hand. Unfortunately, climbing down bookcases one-handed was NOT one of her numerous skill.
Sesshoumaru's breath caught in his throat as he saw Kagome slip and lose her already precarious balance on the bookcase. Her arms flailed wildly as she lost her grip on the hard wood of the shelf and began to fall. The world seemed to slow around him as he ran out of his hiding spot, hoping to catch the girl before she met a much harder landing on the hard, unforgiving floor of the library.
(A/N:: you guys kno I;m not that evil)
His eyes widened in horror as he saw her hit the ground hard, her hand still stubbornly clinging to that damn book. Her head cracked against the ground dangerously, and Sesshoumaru felt guilt and foreboding well up inside of him as he ran toward the now prone form of the girl.
Even if she was a defiant fool, she did not deserve to die falling from a bookcase.
Noticing that she was unconscious, he knelt down beside her relieved that he could see her chest slowly rise and fall in deep rhythmic breaths. Checking her for serious injuries, he discovered that aside from the blow to the head, which had knocked her unconscious, the arm she had landed on was injured and her ankle was twisted in a very unnatural way though not broken.
He gently lifted her into his arms, careful not to further aggravate any injuries that she had. Running to the university infirmary, he silently cursed himself for not being quicker or helping her reach the book himself. He glanced down the notice that she was groggily opening her eyes, and relief coursed through his veins like a cool, refreshing breeze on an oppressively sizzling summer day. (A/N:: hey its 4 in the morning and I;m tired give me a break here)
Kagome felt a shooting pain run through her arm and ankle as she gradually regained consciousness, not the mention a throbbing headache. As she opened her eyes, she found herself staring into twin pools of molten gold filled with concern and almost palpitating with a tangible relief. The intensity of the gaze made her want to hide within her skin, as she felt it sweep through all of the layers she had buried herself under when she had been hurt and betrayed, leaving her more exposed and raw than she had ever felt before. However, she felt fixated upon those shifting amber pools, unable to look away, feeling like a deer caught in headlights unable to flee from its oncoming doom.
Slowly she remembered what had happened to probably lead to her current situation, and cursed her own stupidity. Suddenly feeling shy, she muttered, "Umm, could you please put me down? I think that I can walk on my own."
Sesshoumaru blinked several times before her words sunk into his dazed mind. Shaking himself out of the stupor that her sluggish gaze had sent him into and disturbed by the unfamiliar way those chestnut eyes seemed to throw him off balance and make his breath catch in his throat, he immediately put as much distance between the injured girl and himself as he could and abruptly dropped her onto the grass beneath them.
After the initial shock had worn off, the unease of the girl's presence threw him off-balance. A feeling which he distinctly disliked. The intense, intimate gaze he had just shared with her left him feeling exposed, as if she had penetrated all of the walls of ice he had spent his entire life building around him with her deep, emotional eyes. (A/N:: I know theres OOC in here, but u have to admit that this whole 'gazing deeply into each other's eyes' happens quite often with Kagome and even happened in like the first month with Inuyasha several times in the "real" series)
Slipping back on his normal icy mask, he cast a cold glance on the girl that was now sprawled on the ground clutching her injured arm, the accursed book now laying in her lap discarded in favor of protectively holding her pained limb. (A/N:: all throughout this she never left the book behind, she held it in her uninjured arm when he carried her, talk about dedication to your schoolwork)
Gasping from her abrupt drop, Kagome quickly left her slightly abashed, meek state behind in favor of outright fury at her "savior".
"What was that for?!?!" she shouted her anger, only growing as she recognized just who had been carrying her.
"As you said so yourself, Higurashi-san. You are conscious and can walk by yourself, and obviously no longer need my assistance." Sesshoumaru coolly replied, seemingly unfazed by the furious girl that was now glaring up at him.
Furious at his chilly demeanor and callous behavior, Kagome pushed herself to her feet, wincing slightly at as the pain in her ankle increased. Leaning almost all of her weight onto her uninjured leg, she swayed slightly as she stood.
With a grim, stubborn determination and a fury at the man who had "saved" her, she managed to take a whopping four steps before crumpling to the ground.
Sesshoumaru, who had been stoically watching her vain attempt to walk, reluctantly made a decision, and with a sigh of resignation he walked over to the girl and quickly scooped her up once again.
Kagome was so shocked at the unexpected action and her sudden change in elevation that she instinctively tightly gripped the front of his shirt. Only to turn about 70 shades of red when she realized what she was doing. Quickly switching gears due to the realization that she functioned much more easily when angry than embarrassed, she decided to demand an explanation.
"What are you doing?!?" she asked, shocked with his behavior.
"Taking you to the infirmary, since you are obviously unable to do it yourself," he said with his usual impassive voice that constantly seemed to be demeaning to Kagome's ears.
"I don't need your help. I can walk there myself perfectly fine!" she snapped, more viscously than she had intended to, the pain making her even more short-tempered and irritated. "I said to put me down!"
Tired of her complaints, he swiftly set her onto her feet without another word, and stepped away, watching slightly impressed as she managed to stand alone for a full five second, before passing out from the combined pain of her head, arm, and ankle.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
She stood carefully, determined not to see the arrogant man behind her see her pass out. Kagome felt waves of pain wash over her each second that she stood and slowly felt blackness seep into her mind despite her desperate struggles to fight it off until finally she slipped into the dark abyss and crumpled to the ground for the second time that day.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Expecting the fall, Sesshoumaru smoothly caught her before she hit the ground and proceeded to carry her to the infirmary with no more fuss and great deal less anxiety over her welfare.
'No one that headstrong and determined would allow a bookcase to defeat them,' he thought with a smirk.
~_~_~_~_~~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Walking home from dropping the still unconscious girl off in the infirmary, the silver-haired young man noticed a thick tome lying the grass, seeming out of place with its surroundings.
Flipping through its yellowed pages with one long, elegant hand, he recognizing the advanced book as the same one that insane girl had risked her life to reach. Not quite knowing why at the time he slipped the book into the maroon backpack slung on his shoulder and continued on his way.
* * * * * * * * * * * End Flash Back * * * * * * * * *
Sesshoumaru smiled at the memory, softening his golden eyes unconsciously. 'She was always so determined not to let anything stand in her way, I don't think that she would let something from her past keep her down either,' he thought as he quickly finished bathing, knowing that Kagome would be dropping by soon to make sure that the first night in his new apartment seemed less lonely.
Interested he thought back to the events of the day. He had no idea what Sakura and Kagome had spoken of in the kitchen, but his curiosity was plaguing his mind. Especially since afterward, Sakura seemed to be rushing his family out of the apartment and into the car with a tactful speed that left Sesshoumaru's head spinning. Particularly, since the behavior was completely out of character from the woman, who would normally have far over-stayed her welcome, which was actually worn out the second that she had stepped through the door.
Soon after his family returned home, Sango and Miroku had left as well, because Sango had a lesson at the dojo to teach with Miroku as her promised ride there. Which basically left Kagome and Sesshoumaru with the task of dismantling the gigantic pile of boxes stacked in the living room.
Seeing the emotionally exhausted girl pale at the sight, some evil, vindictive spirit had taken over his body and told her that he could handle it by himself. Practically shoving her out the door, muttering complete nonsense about her being too exhausted and already having done enough, he proceeded to have one of the single WORST Saturdays of his entire life, as he set out unpacking the numerous boxes.
Quickly finishing his shower, he stepped out into the now steam-filled bathroom, wrapping a towel around his waist, and draping another over his soaking hair.
He sighed as he remembered exactly how much work he had left to do before his apartment was even remotely guest-friendly, feeling the headache that had faded in the relaxing shower return full-blast.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~
Kagome felt a cool breeze sweep through the courtyard, ruffling her bangs, as she focused all of her concentration onto the small target ahead of her. She felt the tensions of the day slip from her shoulders as her entire world narrowed into the single point. Carefully aiming with the shaft of the arrow, she drew back her arm and released.
With a soft twang, the arrow sped away from young girl and embedded itself into the target with a thunk.
In one smooth motion, she reached back for another arrow, only to have her hand meet with nothing but air.
Snapping out of the meditative state she had fallen into while practicing with her bow and arrows, she realized that a thick cluster of arrows was deeply embedded into the target, and that there were no more in the quiver on her back.
She felt the desperate need to unwind fade, and an exhaustion seep into her very bones, as she packed up and prepared to head to home for the day. Smiling she remembered her promise to stop by Sesshoumaru's apartment that night, only to wince as she remembered the gigantic pile of boxes she had left him with. She felt guilty leaving him with such a large amount of work left, but the days events had left her drained, and she had needed some time on her own to sort through her emotions.
But to make up for she was going to bring him a nice dinner, and hope that the giant pile hadn't managed to gobble him up when she had left. Since Kagome was a normal, unskilled, hectic college student dinner meant one thing. TAKE-OUT!!
A/N:: Yee gods! Finally done with chapter!! Hope you guys like it!
READ AND REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please ^_^