A/N: Hello one and all! I don't have much to say right now...less talk, more story. Who gets to read today's disclaimer? Hmm...Jaken and Jakotsu...who ever should I pick? Jaken! Jakotsu's a member of the Shichinintai...so she can't do it...besides she'll end up running off after Inu-kun so she can kill him...Jaken, take it away!
Jaken: Hai, Aki-sama! Hmm...Aki-sama does not own Inuyasha. Only the plot and characters she created. Aki-sama wishes she did own it, but she does not. Now I must go accompany Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin...
And my faithful reviewers...Angie, LoL...you're so silly...lay off on the Kool- Aid, sweetie! Don't want you going crazy on me now...Dragon Man 180, Yes, we should do that...some soap would be good...Sanosa, well, you and Angie both want Sesshy and Hana together...And now, Ch. 36! (Major fluff warning for this chappie...)
Chapter Thirty-Six: Itazurana Kiss
Mei Lhi happily skipped upstairs, Higurashi-san commenting on her mood.
"You're certainly very happy all of a sudden." She said.
"Kyo is coming back tomorrow...I might even see him at school!" Mei Lhi replied.
"Well that'll be nice!" Higurashi-san said understanding.
Kagome sat at her desk, trying to read her math study guide. When Mei Lhi entered the room, Kagome looked up.
"Oh, Mei-chan, you're back." She said.
"So...we are going to school tomorrow, right?" Mei Lhi asked.
"Yeah...don't worry..."
"I just thought of something...what are we going to say about my hair? It's silver again..."
"Ummm...I'll think of something in the morning...you should get ready for bed, Mei-chan..."
Mei Lhi nodded and removed Tetsusage from her hip, going to the bathroom change clothes. She did all the normal nightly things anyone does in Kagome's era and crawled into a sleeping bag that lay on the floor of Kagome's room. She fell asleep instantly, her mind elsewhere. Kagome gave up on studying shortly after, falling asleep on her desk.
Inuyasha appeared in the window about fifteen minutes later and saw Kagome asleep. He slid the window open, careful not to make a sound. And just as carefully and quietly, he laid Kagome on her bed and tucked her in, going outside to sleep in the tree.
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In the morning, it was chaos. Kagome forgot to set her alarm, woke up late, and almost didn't eat breakfast. Mei Lhi had Kagome on her back, leaping light posts, on their way to school. Both were hungry and still very tired.
At last, the school came into view.
"Finally!" Mei Lhi breathed.
Two minutes until the late bell rang.
Mei Lhi and Kagome flew through the front doors. The halls were empty. Everyone was in class. Mei Lhi jumped from the bottom of the stairs on the first floor, all the way to the third.
'Almost there...one more leap should do it...' She thought.
Another leap, and the pair reached their intended floor, Mei Lhi stopping in the hall long enough for Kagome to get off her back. Both slid the doors to their classrooms open, closing them with a sharp snap. The two of them made it to their seats just as the bell chimed.
Kanemori-sensei began to take roll but was interrupted when the door slid open. The principal walked in, a student following him in.
"Gomen Kanemori-san, but it appears another student has transferred into your class. You don't mind do you?" The principal said.
"Not at all. I've got an empty desk in the room." Kanemori-sensei replied.
The principal nodded at someone standing outside the door, motioning him or her to come in. The new student was a boy.
Mei Lhi surveyed him, seeing something familiar about him.
The boy handed Kanemori-sensei some papers.
"Hmm...yet another transfer from Shinjuku..." Kanemori-sensei muttered.
The class seemed very interested in the new boy, the girls more interested in particular.
"Alright, I'd like you all to welcome our new student, Oda Kyoshima from Shinjuku." The teacher announced.
Mei Lhi nearly fainted.
'I don't believe this...' She thought.
When Kyo turned around to face the class, every girl swooned. Mei Lhi rolled her eyes at them.
"Oda, take the seat next to Higurashi. Higurashi, stand up."
Mei Lhi stood up, ignoring the jealous stares of the other girls, and flashing some of them menacing glares in return.
Kyo walked over to Mei Lhi, laughed and smiled.
"Well, who would've thought, eh?" He said.
"I wasn't expecting this either..." Mei Lhi muttered.
A girl nearby turned to Mei Lhi.
"You know him?" She asked.
"'Course I do...I've known him since I was little..." Mei Lhi replied.
"Kawaii! Childhood friends reunited!" Another girl exclaimed.
"Silence! Take your seats! Higurashi, since you know Oda, you can show him around the school and help him with anything he needs." Kanemori-sensei said firmly.
Mei Lhi nodded, sitting down, Kyo sitting also.
"Alright, we're going to take our history exams by the end of this week. That way everyone has a chance to review...those of you that were here for the last two weeks did horribly on the pop quizzes, so therefore we need to review the material...so let's start with a few questions...you'll all be in teams. Each row going across is a team. We have eight rows, so eight teams. I'll keep score. Now, only team members may discuss answers with one another. Anyone who does otherwise will find their points from their team deducted and the teams sharing information will be disqualified. Anyone from the team can answer a question, raise your hand and wait to be called on...now, I'll begin..." Kanemori-sensei explained.
The class nodded in understanding.
"First question, name one title used in the Sengoku Jidai."
Mei Lhi raised her hand.
"Hai, Higurashi?"
"Um...daimyou?" She replied uncertainly.
"Correct. Any others?"
Kyo raised his hand.
"Oda?"
"Shogun."
"Excellent. Anything else?"
Mei Lhi raised her hand again.
"Would a miko count?"
Kanemori-sensei nodded.
"Looks like you two know a lot about the Feudal Era..."
'Well I only live there...' Mei Lhi thought.
Kyo glanced at her; she glanced at him, both understanding that they were thinking the same thing, and smiled.
"Alright, question two..."
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In Kagome's class, the miko girl was struggling through a math test.
'Why...why is math so scary?' She thought.
She looked around the room, desperately searching the room for answers. She spotted her friends, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi working, looking confused. Hojo kept glancing at her, one occasion both made eye contact, Hojo giving her a thumbs-up. Kagome quickly turned away, turning away to calm herself down. She glanced out the window, seeing red, then turning away.
'Wait...what the?' Her brain reeled.
She looked out the window again seeing Inuyasha in a tree, holding two bentos.
'Oh Kami...I forgot to grab our lunches on the way out...arigatou, Okaa-san...and you too, Inuyasha...I'm glad Okaa-san had you go after us again to bring them...'
Inuyasha made a motion to say that he would be waiting on the roof, and then jumped up, disappearing from sight.
Kagome sighed with relief.
'At least he didn't make a scene like last time.' She told herself.
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It was three and a half hours later when the lunch bell rang. Mei Lhi rose from her seat, Kyo being swarmed with all the girls in the class. Mei Lhi rolled her eyes again, going for the door.
"So...Oda-kun...are you seeing anyone?"
"Please, pick me!"
"No, not her! Me!"
"Uh...um..." Kyo said, feeling his face growing warm.
"So, do you have a girlfriend or not, Oda-kun?"
Kyo finally calmed himself and began to speak.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you all...as nice it would be to have your companionship, I can't...I'm already seeing someone." He managed to say.
Mei Lhi stopped, now interested.
"Who?"
"Who is she?"
"When I knew Mei in Shinjuku, we were together...but instead of breaking it off, we tried a long-distance relationship. But since we've been brought back together again, we can finally go back to how everything was before..." Kyo answered.
Futari ga kitto deaeruyouna mahou wo kakete (To make sure the two of us meet, I cast a spell)
Ryoute wo sotto kasanetehora hohoemukara (Our hands are gently touch, and then look at me smile)
It was Mei Lhi's turn to blush. She had frozen again. But this was far worse than when she had frozen last night.
Gradually the crowd moved away from Kyo, and he finally reached the door where Mei Lhi stood. The hanyou girl slid the door open and walked out.
'I can't believe he just said that...' She thought, feeling her face burning.
She stood in the hallway, waiting for Kyo.
Kyo walked up to her, stopping by her side.
"Hey..."
"Were you serious..." She asked.
"Hm?"
"Were you serious...about what you said back there?"
"That?"
"Yeah...did you mean it...or were you just saying it?"
Kyo turned to her.
"Let's take a walk, ne? This hallway isn't a good place to say this kind of stuff..."
Mei Lhi nodded, both of them starting down the hallway, going downstairs.
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"Kagome-chan! Come sit with us for lunch!" Yuka called.
"Alright, I'm coming...but I can't stay long..." Kagome replied.
"So...did you hear about the new boy in Kanemori-sensei's class?" Eri asked, striking up a conversation as they walked.
Kagome listened interestedly.
"No, I didn't hear anything about that..." Ayumi said. "How about you, Yuka- chan, Kagome-chan?"
"Nope...not a word." Yuka said.
Kagome shook her head.
"Well, according to what the girl's next door say, he moved from Shinjuku...just like your cousin Kagome-chan...and it turns out that they know each other...in fact, just now, a whole bunch of girls went up to him and tried asking him out, but he said that he was already seeing someone..." Eri began.
All three girls were looking at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Here's the interesting part, though...when he was asked who he was with...he said it was your cousin, Kagome-chan..." Eri finished proudly.
"You wouldn't happen to know his name would you?" Kagome asked.
"Oh yeah...they said he's Oda...Oda Kyoshima..."
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Imamade zutto ienaimama kakushitetano (Until now, unable to say it, I've just been hiding it)
Tsuyogatteru soredakenano mitsukedashite (I'm only acting strong, that's all it is, please see through it)
Kyo had led Mei Lhi to an empty area outside. They found a place against a fence, both sitting down and leaning against it. From there they could see other students gathering for lunch, but the students couldn't see them.
"Mei...as for what happened in there...I want to apologize for what I said...I made a decision on my own, without your consent, or even considering how it'd make you feel..." Kyo began.
Honto no kimochi kitsukanai furishite
Totsuzen futari koi ni ochitano
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Dakishimetaino
(We pretend not to realize how we really feel
And suddenly, we fell in love
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be with You
Let Me Be With You
I want to hold you tight)
"I...I didn't mind...because...because I...I kind of..." Mei Lhi stammered. "I kind of...like you..." She finished, her face flushing.
Kyo's eyes widened slightly.
Mei Lhi turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment. Kyo turned her way and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her body lean on his.
"Mei, you wanted to know...if I really meant what I said...?"
"Yeah..."
"I...I really did mean it...would you...would you accept it?"
Machiawasemade atogofun mattete
Sonoatofutari koi ni ochitano
(Just wait five more minutes until we can meet
And after that we fell in love)
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"Um...I'm really sorry, but I have to go look for Mei-chan..." Kagome said, excusing herself from her friends.
It was half-true. Kagome was curious to know what was going on between Mei Lhi and Kyo, but she knew that Inuyasha would be waiting for her on the roof with her lunch, and if she lingered any longer, she'd have one angry hanyou breathing down her neck.
Her three friends turned to one another giggling innocently.
"See you later, Kagome-chan!" They said in unison.
Kagome waved, and turned around, going in the opposite direction.
She made her way up the stairs and reached the roof, seeing the half-demon waiting for her.
"Here..." He said tossing one of the packages at her.
Kagome caught it and sat down, Inuyasha sitting by her side.
It was silent for a few seconds until Inuyasha looked around noticing something.
"Where's Imouto-san?" He asked.
"I don't know...hey, that's the first time you've referred to her as your little sister...the only other time was when her youkai blood took over..." Kagome noted.
"Feh...what of it?"
"Nothing...I guess you two are just getting closer..."
"Did you even tell her I'd be here?"
"Um...no...my friends dragged me off before I could tell her..."
"In that case, since she's not here I'm gonna eat her lunch..."
Kagome laughed.
'Where is she, anyway?' She wondered. 'I haven't seen her since this morning...'
Inuyasha opened the other package and started eating; Kagome began eating her food in silence.
"I'm kind of worried about Mei-chan...I haven't seen her since this morning..." She said.
"Hmph...she's here...I know she is...I can feel it..."
Kagome found that even though she had a meager breakfast and arrived at school half-starved, she wasn't very hungry.
"Inuyasha..." She said, touching his hand lightly to get his attention.
He turned to look at her, his eyes quickly glancing down at his hand before reverting to the young miko's face.
"What?" He asked through a mouthful of rice.
"I'm not very hungry...you can have the rest of my lunch..."
Inuyasha swallowed.
"Oh...arigatou, Kagome..."
Kagome nodded silently.
Inuyasha finished what would've been Mei Lhi's lunch and started on Kagome's.
Kagome was lost in thought.
'I'm still worried about Mei-chan...I still haven't seen her...and if what Eri- chan said is true, then Kyo is going to school here...and I hope everyone's ok back in the Sengoku Jidai...I hope nothing bad has happened...'
Inuyasha turned to her.
"Kagome? Daijoubu?"
"Inuyasha...?"
'He actually cares?'
"Kagome...what's wrong?"
"Oh Inuyasha...I'm having such a bad day today...I woke up late, hardly had any breakfast, was almost late to school, most likely failed my math exam, I can't find Mei-chan, I'm worried that Naraku might attack while we aren't there or something back is going to happen back there, I'm so tired, Hojo won't stop looking at me, my friends said there's a new kid in Mei-chan's class and that there's the possibility that it's Kyo...what's the worst part, the day is only half over and so much has happened already. And I'm thinking, all this has happened...I'm almost afraid to know what's going to happen next..."
'What the hell is she talking about?' Inuyasha thought feeling very confused.
Kagome wrapped her arms around of Inuyasha's and cried on his shoulder.
'She's CRYING?!!! KUSOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!'
"Kagome...please...don't cry...you know I hate it when you cry..."
Kagome looked up at him with a tear-stained face.
"I'm sorry...Inuyasha..."
She continued sobbing into his fire rat haori until she fell asleep on his shoulder.
'Great...just great...she's asleep now...can this get any worse?!'
Her grip on his arm fell slack, and she started tilting, about to fall over. Inuyasha's arm shot out and caught her, his arm around her, holding her body up against his.
'Kuso! Now I have to hold her up! I don't think it can get any more worse than it is now...'
He breathed in her scent, and rested his head on hers, he found that he suddenly felt tired, his eyes closing slowly as sleep took him.
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Mei Lhi turned to him, her eyes wide, and her blush growing darker.
"Yes..." She said barely above a whisper, looking downward in an attempt to hide her steadily reddening face.
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Nakitakunaruno
(Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
I just want to cry)
Kyo gently lifted Mei Lhi's chin with his forefinger, so he could look into her gold-amber orbs. Mei Lhi looked into his dark eyes as he looked into hers. Kyo cupped her face in his hands, and drew it closer to him.
She gasped from surprise when she found that the next moment she felt Kyo's soft lips pressed against her own. Her eyes widened with surprise. But the shock didn't last long; she melted and closed her eyes in bliss, returning the kiss with a fiery passion. She could feel her spine tingling and her heartbeat quickening.
The tender feeling spread through them, both of them feeling their blood become slightly warmer.
They broke apart shortly after, Mei Lhi leaning her head on Kyo's shoulder. The couple staying that way until the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. Together they stood and walked back to class, hand in hand.
Tsunaidate wo sotto hanasutoki
Fuan ni naruno Fuan ni naruno
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Dakishimetainoni
Dakishimetainoni
(When we let go our joined hands
It makes me uneasy, It makes me uneasy
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
I just want to hold you
I just want to hold you)
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"Kagome...wake up..." Inuyasha said quietly.
"Mmm?"
"Wake up..."
"Huh-what?"
"A really loud noise woke me up, and all the other ningen started walking back inside..."
"Oh...arigatou Inuyasha...the bell must've rung..."
Kagome stood up.
"Will you be here when school is over?"
"Hai...I'll be here...have Imouto-san get me or something..."
"Un. I will. See you, Inuyasha!"
Kagome opened the roof door and made her way downstairs to her class.
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After another agonizing couple of hours, the bell chimed again, signaling school was over for the day.
"Don't forget to study the entire section on the Warring States period!" Kanemori-sensei instructed as his students started walking out the door.
Mei Lhi walked out carrying her satchel, lazily scratching a spot behind her hidden ears. She saw Kagome walk out of her classroom, and then stretched and yawned.
"Kon'nichi wa, Kagome-chan." She said.
One of Kagome's friend's, Ayumi came out. Close behind her were Eri and Yuka.
"Oh Mei-chan! Just who we wanted to see! Can you come with us for a second?" Yuka asked sweetly.
"Um...yeah...hang on..."
She saw Kyo heading for the door, and mouthed 'I'll be right back' and followed Kagome's friends a little further down the hall.
"So what did you want?" She asked.
"Is Kagome-chan seeing anyone? Because we're trying to set her up with Hojo- kun...but Kagome-chan's been so sick that she's been missing all her dates." Eri said.
'Oh...my...GOD!' Mei Lhi thought feeling very irritated.
"Yes. She's seeing someone."
"Who?" All three girls chorused.
"My brother, Inuyasha."
"That violent, selfish, two-timing guy?" Ayumi asked.
"Yes, him."
"I can't believe that she's with that guy!"
"Wait, how do we know you aren't making this up?" Yuka asked suspiciously.
"You're not the type to trust people, are you, Yuka-chan?" Mei Lhi said.
"That's me!"
"Well, Inuyasha is real. You've just never met him because he's been busy..."
"Yeah, busy with that other woman..."
"Don't mention Kikyo in front of me..."
"Her name is Kikyo?"
"You know what? I'm getting kind of sick of this conversation. I'm leaving."
Mei Lhi turned on her heel and walked back to over to where Kagome waited with Kyo.
"What did those three want?" Kyo asked.
"Oh just wanted to ask about Kagome-chan's love life...I got annoyed with them so I left." Mei Lhi replied.
"Mei-chan, Inuyasha is on the roof. He told me to tell you to go get him when school is over." Kagome said.
"Oh, he's here too?"
"Yeah...I was surprised to see Kyo...I heard rumors from Eri-chan about him...and Eri-chan mentioned something about you two being together..."
"Could we not talk about that right now?"
"Oh...sure..."
Mei Lhi started blushing a little, Kyo suddenly started looking at his feet to hide his own blush. The three walked down the stairs and outside, Mei Lhi jumping up to the roof.
"Chotto..." She said.
"Ma...it took you long enough..." Inuyasha replied smugly.
"Shizuka ni soshite just jump!"
Inuyasha smirked and jumped down, Mei Lhi following. The moment they reached the ground, Inuyasha started yelling.
"What the hell is he doing here?!" He demanded.
"He goes to school with me now...he's in my class..." Mei Lhi replied calmly.
"Kagome, if anyone's having a bad day, it's me!"
Kagome laughed.
"Come on, let's go already..." She said.
Inuyasha crouched down, Kagome getting onto his back. He took off, Mei Lhi and Kyo following.
The four of them reached the Higurashi Shrine; Kagome getting off Inuyasha's back, running inside the house, kicking her shoes off.
"Kaa-chan, Jii-chan! Souta! I'm home!" She called.
Kagome found a note on the refrigerator.
"Went with Souta and Jii-chan to the store. Should be home before 7:00. If you all get hungry, there's plenty of ramen in the cupboard and leftovers in the fridge. Love Mom." She read.
"Where's Higurashi-san?" Inuyasha asked.
"She went with Souta and Jii-chan to the store...so I guess we're here alone..." Kagome replied.
"So...Kagome...do you have any homework?" Mei Lhi asked.
Kagome shuddered.
"Math..." She answered. "What about you?"
"Don't have any...although everyone except me and Kyo does..."
"Why?"
"We played a game to review about the Sengoku Jidai. We knew all the answers...so we didn't have to do anything...and the homework we did have, we finished it in class..."
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Kagome sat looking at her math paper frustrated.
'I really don't understand this...' She thought miserably.
"Want help?" Mei Lhi asked.
"You won't get it..."
"I can try, can't I?"
"Go ahead..."
Kagome shoved the paper at the hanyou girl. Mei Lhi's eyes skimmed through the miko's work.
"You've been careless, Kagome-chan...you've made the same mistake twice in one problem..."
"I did? Where?"
"Look here...it says that it's squared, not cubed. You keep writing it cubed...that's why you're confusing yourself..."
And so, for the next twenty minutes or so, Mei Lhi helped Kagome correct her mistakes, until finally they finished the paper together.
"Don't forget your name and date at the top."
"Arigatou, Mei-chan. That really helped. When did you get so smart?"
"I don't know...but if you need help with anything else, just call me, ok? I'm gonna go look for Kyoshi-kun..."
"Kyoshi-kun? When did you start calling him that?"
"I just made it up right now...It's cute isn't it?"
Kagome nodded.
Mei Lhi walked outside where Kyo sat with his back leaning against the Goshinboku Tree's trunk.
A breeze swirled around them. Red and gold leaves flew around in spirals.
"Kyoshi-kun..." Mei Lhi said softly.
"Hm?" Kyo replied. "Did you make up that new name for me just now?"
"Yup."
Mei Lhi sat next to him.
"Why'd you come to school? What made you want to go?"
"Because...the Ryuu Order wanted me to go for your protection...and Kagome's..."
"Is that the only reason why?"
"Mei, even if they hadn't told me to go, I still would've gone anyway...because...I wanted to see you..."
"Me?"
"Yes...do you know why, Mei?"
"Iie..."
"Nanode...Ai shiteru..." He whispered in her ear.
A/N: Ok, I'm strongly considering Sesshy and Hana being together...hell, I've already made plot lines in my head...for them in this story and the sequel...now the song is from "Chobits" it's called "Let Me Be With You". I love that series...so kawaii...The chapter title itself, yes I ripped it off from Day After Tomorrow (The band, not the movie!), but they won't mind because I'm giving them credit here...I put fluff in this chapter on purpose, and the original title "School is so Troublesome" didn't fit. So "Itazurana Kiss" is the first thing that popped into my head. Anyway, I'll just put my crappy little Japanese translations in now...
Aki's Mini Dictionary:
"Itazurana Kiss" – Mischievous Kiss
Gomen – I'm sorry, Excuse Me
Kawaii – Adorable, cute
Daimyou – Name for a lord or nobleman (something like that)
Shogun – (Don't even know why the hell I even put this here, since I don't even know the proper definition!) Similar to 'daimyou' but I read that during the Warring States era, they were losing power to the daimyou...I think...
Miko – Shrine maiden, priestess, etc.
Kami – God, deity
Okaa-san – Mother
Imouto-san – Little sister
Ne – Ok, yeah, right? (I'm translating it as it would sound best in the sentence it's used in...)
Arigatou – Thank you
Sengoku Jidai – Feudal Era, Warring States, Warlord Era...(don't even both asking me about the years, because I don't know...)
Daijoubu – Are you alright?
Kuso – Damn it, shit, fuck (depends on how it's used)
Ningen – Human being
Kon'nichi wa – Hello, Good Afternoon
Chotto – Hey you
Ma- Oh wow, Well (Inu-kun uses it as 'Well,')
Shizuka ni – Shut up
Soshite – And
Jii-chan – Grandfather
Kaa-chan – (see 'Okaa-san')
Hanyou – Half demon
Un – Yes (used by women under 18)
Goshinboku Tree – God Tree (I think I've heard it translated at 'Spirit Tree' somewhere...) The 500 yr. old tree on the Higurashi Shrine.
Ryuu – Dragon
Iie – No
Nanode – Because
Ai shiteru – I love you (corrected now...misspelled it in the previous chapter)
Now, anyway, if anything's been mistranslated or misspelled, please let me know in your reviews...please stay tuned for a hopefully less fluffy Ch. 37! Comments, questions, concerns? Review or email me. On a side note, this is the longest chapter I've written!
Jaken: Hai, Aki-sama! Hmm...Aki-sama does not own Inuyasha. Only the plot and characters she created. Aki-sama wishes she did own it, but she does not. Now I must go accompany Sesshoumaru-sama and Rin...
And my faithful reviewers...Angie, LoL...you're so silly...lay off on the Kool- Aid, sweetie! Don't want you going crazy on me now...Dragon Man 180, Yes, we should do that...some soap would be good...Sanosa, well, you and Angie both want Sesshy and Hana together...And now, Ch. 36! (Major fluff warning for this chappie...)
Chapter Thirty-Six: Itazurana Kiss
Mei Lhi happily skipped upstairs, Higurashi-san commenting on her mood.
"You're certainly very happy all of a sudden." She said.
"Kyo is coming back tomorrow...I might even see him at school!" Mei Lhi replied.
"Well that'll be nice!" Higurashi-san said understanding.
Kagome sat at her desk, trying to read her math study guide. When Mei Lhi entered the room, Kagome looked up.
"Oh, Mei-chan, you're back." She said.
"So...we are going to school tomorrow, right?" Mei Lhi asked.
"Yeah...don't worry..."
"I just thought of something...what are we going to say about my hair? It's silver again..."
"Ummm...I'll think of something in the morning...you should get ready for bed, Mei-chan..."
Mei Lhi nodded and removed Tetsusage from her hip, going to the bathroom change clothes. She did all the normal nightly things anyone does in Kagome's era and crawled into a sleeping bag that lay on the floor of Kagome's room. She fell asleep instantly, her mind elsewhere. Kagome gave up on studying shortly after, falling asleep on her desk.
Inuyasha appeared in the window about fifteen minutes later and saw Kagome asleep. He slid the window open, careful not to make a sound. And just as carefully and quietly, he laid Kagome on her bed and tucked her in, going outside to sleep in the tree.
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In the morning, it was chaos. Kagome forgot to set her alarm, woke up late, and almost didn't eat breakfast. Mei Lhi had Kagome on her back, leaping light posts, on their way to school. Both were hungry and still very tired.
At last, the school came into view.
"Finally!" Mei Lhi breathed.
Two minutes until the late bell rang.
Mei Lhi and Kagome flew through the front doors. The halls were empty. Everyone was in class. Mei Lhi jumped from the bottom of the stairs on the first floor, all the way to the third.
'Almost there...one more leap should do it...' She thought.
Another leap, and the pair reached their intended floor, Mei Lhi stopping in the hall long enough for Kagome to get off her back. Both slid the doors to their classrooms open, closing them with a sharp snap. The two of them made it to their seats just as the bell chimed.
Kanemori-sensei began to take roll but was interrupted when the door slid open. The principal walked in, a student following him in.
"Gomen Kanemori-san, but it appears another student has transferred into your class. You don't mind do you?" The principal said.
"Not at all. I've got an empty desk in the room." Kanemori-sensei replied.
The principal nodded at someone standing outside the door, motioning him or her to come in. The new student was a boy.
Mei Lhi surveyed him, seeing something familiar about him.
The boy handed Kanemori-sensei some papers.
"Hmm...yet another transfer from Shinjuku..." Kanemori-sensei muttered.
The class seemed very interested in the new boy, the girls more interested in particular.
"Alright, I'd like you all to welcome our new student, Oda Kyoshima from Shinjuku." The teacher announced.
Mei Lhi nearly fainted.
'I don't believe this...' She thought.
When Kyo turned around to face the class, every girl swooned. Mei Lhi rolled her eyes at them.
"Oda, take the seat next to Higurashi. Higurashi, stand up."
Mei Lhi stood up, ignoring the jealous stares of the other girls, and flashing some of them menacing glares in return.
Kyo walked over to Mei Lhi, laughed and smiled.
"Well, who would've thought, eh?" He said.
"I wasn't expecting this either..." Mei Lhi muttered.
A girl nearby turned to Mei Lhi.
"You know him?" She asked.
"'Course I do...I've known him since I was little..." Mei Lhi replied.
"Kawaii! Childhood friends reunited!" Another girl exclaimed.
"Silence! Take your seats! Higurashi, since you know Oda, you can show him around the school and help him with anything he needs." Kanemori-sensei said firmly.
Mei Lhi nodded, sitting down, Kyo sitting also.
"Alright, we're going to take our history exams by the end of this week. That way everyone has a chance to review...those of you that were here for the last two weeks did horribly on the pop quizzes, so therefore we need to review the material...so let's start with a few questions...you'll all be in teams. Each row going across is a team. We have eight rows, so eight teams. I'll keep score. Now, only team members may discuss answers with one another. Anyone who does otherwise will find their points from their team deducted and the teams sharing information will be disqualified. Anyone from the team can answer a question, raise your hand and wait to be called on...now, I'll begin..." Kanemori-sensei explained.
The class nodded in understanding.
"First question, name one title used in the Sengoku Jidai."
Mei Lhi raised her hand.
"Hai, Higurashi?"
"Um...daimyou?" She replied uncertainly.
"Correct. Any others?"
Kyo raised his hand.
"Oda?"
"Shogun."
"Excellent. Anything else?"
Mei Lhi raised her hand again.
"Would a miko count?"
Kanemori-sensei nodded.
"Looks like you two know a lot about the Feudal Era..."
'Well I only live there...' Mei Lhi thought.
Kyo glanced at her; she glanced at him, both understanding that they were thinking the same thing, and smiled.
"Alright, question two..."
-------------------------------------------------
In Kagome's class, the miko girl was struggling through a math test.
'Why...why is math so scary?' She thought.
She looked around the room, desperately searching the room for answers. She spotted her friends, Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi working, looking confused. Hojo kept glancing at her, one occasion both made eye contact, Hojo giving her a thumbs-up. Kagome quickly turned away, turning away to calm herself down. She glanced out the window, seeing red, then turning away.
'Wait...what the?' Her brain reeled.
She looked out the window again seeing Inuyasha in a tree, holding two bentos.
'Oh Kami...I forgot to grab our lunches on the way out...arigatou, Okaa-san...and you too, Inuyasha...I'm glad Okaa-san had you go after us again to bring them...'
Inuyasha made a motion to say that he would be waiting on the roof, and then jumped up, disappearing from sight.
Kagome sighed with relief.
'At least he didn't make a scene like last time.' She told herself.
-----------------------------------------------------
It was three and a half hours later when the lunch bell rang. Mei Lhi rose from her seat, Kyo being swarmed with all the girls in the class. Mei Lhi rolled her eyes again, going for the door.
"So...Oda-kun...are you seeing anyone?"
"Please, pick me!"
"No, not her! Me!"
"Uh...um..." Kyo said, feeling his face growing warm.
"So, do you have a girlfriend or not, Oda-kun?"
Kyo finally calmed himself and began to speak.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you all...as nice it would be to have your companionship, I can't...I'm already seeing someone." He managed to say.
Mei Lhi stopped, now interested.
"Who?"
"Who is she?"
"When I knew Mei in Shinjuku, we were together...but instead of breaking it off, we tried a long-distance relationship. But since we've been brought back together again, we can finally go back to how everything was before..." Kyo answered.
Futari ga kitto deaeruyouna mahou wo kakete (To make sure the two of us meet, I cast a spell)
Ryoute wo sotto kasanetehora hohoemukara (Our hands are gently touch, and then look at me smile)
It was Mei Lhi's turn to blush. She had frozen again. But this was far worse than when she had frozen last night.
Gradually the crowd moved away from Kyo, and he finally reached the door where Mei Lhi stood. The hanyou girl slid the door open and walked out.
'I can't believe he just said that...' She thought, feeling her face burning.
She stood in the hallway, waiting for Kyo.
Kyo walked up to her, stopping by her side.
"Hey..."
"Were you serious..." She asked.
"Hm?"
"Were you serious...about what you said back there?"
"That?"
"Yeah...did you mean it...or were you just saying it?"
Kyo turned to her.
"Let's take a walk, ne? This hallway isn't a good place to say this kind of stuff..."
Mei Lhi nodded, both of them starting down the hallway, going downstairs.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"Kagome-chan! Come sit with us for lunch!" Yuka called.
"Alright, I'm coming...but I can't stay long..." Kagome replied.
"So...did you hear about the new boy in Kanemori-sensei's class?" Eri asked, striking up a conversation as they walked.
Kagome listened interestedly.
"No, I didn't hear anything about that..." Ayumi said. "How about you, Yuka- chan, Kagome-chan?"
"Nope...not a word." Yuka said.
Kagome shook her head.
"Well, according to what the girl's next door say, he moved from Shinjuku...just like your cousin Kagome-chan...and it turns out that they know each other...in fact, just now, a whole bunch of girls went up to him and tried asking him out, but he said that he was already seeing someone..." Eri began.
All three girls were looking at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Here's the interesting part, though...when he was asked who he was with...he said it was your cousin, Kagome-chan..." Eri finished proudly.
"You wouldn't happen to know his name would you?" Kagome asked.
"Oh yeah...they said he's Oda...Oda Kyoshima..."
--------------------------------------------------------
Imamade zutto ienaimama kakushitetano (Until now, unable to say it, I've just been hiding it)
Tsuyogatteru soredakenano mitsukedashite (I'm only acting strong, that's all it is, please see through it)
Kyo had led Mei Lhi to an empty area outside. They found a place against a fence, both sitting down and leaning against it. From there they could see other students gathering for lunch, but the students couldn't see them.
"Mei...as for what happened in there...I want to apologize for what I said...I made a decision on my own, without your consent, or even considering how it'd make you feel..." Kyo began.
Honto no kimochi kitsukanai furishite
Totsuzen futari koi ni ochitano
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Dakishimetaino
(We pretend not to realize how we really feel
And suddenly, we fell in love
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be with You
Let Me Be With You
I want to hold you tight)
"I...I didn't mind...because...because I...I kind of..." Mei Lhi stammered. "I kind of...like you..." She finished, her face flushing.
Kyo's eyes widened slightly.
Mei Lhi turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment. Kyo turned her way and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, letting her body lean on his.
"Mei, you wanted to know...if I really meant what I said...?"
"Yeah..."
"I...I really did mean it...would you...would you accept it?"
Machiawasemade atogofun mattete
Sonoatofutari koi ni ochitano
(Just wait five more minutes until we can meet
And after that we fell in love)
-----------------------------------------------
"Um...I'm really sorry, but I have to go look for Mei-chan..." Kagome said, excusing herself from her friends.
It was half-true. Kagome was curious to know what was going on between Mei Lhi and Kyo, but she knew that Inuyasha would be waiting for her on the roof with her lunch, and if she lingered any longer, she'd have one angry hanyou breathing down her neck.
Her three friends turned to one another giggling innocently.
"See you later, Kagome-chan!" They said in unison.
Kagome waved, and turned around, going in the opposite direction.
She made her way up the stairs and reached the roof, seeing the half-demon waiting for her.
"Here..." He said tossing one of the packages at her.
Kagome caught it and sat down, Inuyasha sitting by her side.
It was silent for a few seconds until Inuyasha looked around noticing something.
"Where's Imouto-san?" He asked.
"I don't know...hey, that's the first time you've referred to her as your little sister...the only other time was when her youkai blood took over..." Kagome noted.
"Feh...what of it?"
"Nothing...I guess you two are just getting closer..."
"Did you even tell her I'd be here?"
"Um...no...my friends dragged me off before I could tell her..."
"In that case, since she's not here I'm gonna eat her lunch..."
Kagome laughed.
'Where is she, anyway?' She wondered. 'I haven't seen her since this morning...'
Inuyasha opened the other package and started eating; Kagome began eating her food in silence.
"I'm kind of worried about Mei-chan...I haven't seen her since this morning..." She said.
"Hmph...she's here...I know she is...I can feel it..."
Kagome found that even though she had a meager breakfast and arrived at school half-starved, she wasn't very hungry.
"Inuyasha..." She said, touching his hand lightly to get his attention.
He turned to look at her, his eyes quickly glancing down at his hand before reverting to the young miko's face.
"What?" He asked through a mouthful of rice.
"I'm not very hungry...you can have the rest of my lunch..."
Inuyasha swallowed.
"Oh...arigatou, Kagome..."
Kagome nodded silently.
Inuyasha finished what would've been Mei Lhi's lunch and started on Kagome's.
Kagome was lost in thought.
'I'm still worried about Mei-chan...I still haven't seen her...and if what Eri- chan said is true, then Kyo is going to school here...and I hope everyone's ok back in the Sengoku Jidai...I hope nothing bad has happened...'
Inuyasha turned to her.
"Kagome? Daijoubu?"
"Inuyasha...?"
'He actually cares?'
"Kagome...what's wrong?"
"Oh Inuyasha...I'm having such a bad day today...I woke up late, hardly had any breakfast, was almost late to school, most likely failed my math exam, I can't find Mei-chan, I'm worried that Naraku might attack while we aren't there or something back is going to happen back there, I'm so tired, Hojo won't stop looking at me, my friends said there's a new kid in Mei-chan's class and that there's the possibility that it's Kyo...what's the worst part, the day is only half over and so much has happened already. And I'm thinking, all this has happened...I'm almost afraid to know what's going to happen next..."
'What the hell is she talking about?' Inuyasha thought feeling very confused.
Kagome wrapped her arms around of Inuyasha's and cried on his shoulder.
'She's CRYING?!!! KUSOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!'
"Kagome...please...don't cry...you know I hate it when you cry..."
Kagome looked up at him with a tear-stained face.
"I'm sorry...Inuyasha..."
She continued sobbing into his fire rat haori until she fell asleep on his shoulder.
'Great...just great...she's asleep now...can this get any worse?!'
Her grip on his arm fell slack, and she started tilting, about to fall over. Inuyasha's arm shot out and caught her, his arm around her, holding her body up against his.
'Kuso! Now I have to hold her up! I don't think it can get any more worse than it is now...'
He breathed in her scent, and rested his head on hers, he found that he suddenly felt tired, his eyes closing slowly as sleep took him.
-------------------------------------------------------
Mei Lhi turned to him, her eyes wide, and her blush growing darker.
"Yes..." She said barely above a whisper, looking downward in an attempt to hide her steadily reddening face.
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Nakitakunaruno
(Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
I just want to cry)
Kyo gently lifted Mei Lhi's chin with his forefinger, so he could look into her gold-amber orbs. Mei Lhi looked into his dark eyes as he looked into hers. Kyo cupped her face in his hands, and drew it closer to him.
She gasped from surprise when she found that the next moment she felt Kyo's soft lips pressed against her own. Her eyes widened with surprise. But the shock didn't last long; she melted and closed her eyes in bliss, returning the kiss with a fiery passion. She could feel her spine tingling and her heartbeat quickening.
The tender feeling spread through them, both of them feeling their blood become slightly warmer.
They broke apart shortly after, Mei Lhi leaning her head on Kyo's shoulder. The couple staying that way until the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. Together they stood and walked back to class, hand in hand.
Tsunaidate wo sotto hanasutoki
Fuan ni naruno Fuan ni naruno
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Dakishimetainoni
Dakishimetainoni
(When we let go our joined hands
It makes me uneasy, It makes me uneasy
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
Let Me Be With You
I just want to hold you
I just want to hold you)
-----------------------------------------------
"Kagome...wake up..." Inuyasha said quietly.
"Mmm?"
"Wake up..."
"Huh-what?"
"A really loud noise woke me up, and all the other ningen started walking back inside..."
"Oh...arigatou Inuyasha...the bell must've rung..."
Kagome stood up.
"Will you be here when school is over?"
"Hai...I'll be here...have Imouto-san get me or something..."
"Un. I will. See you, Inuyasha!"
Kagome opened the roof door and made her way downstairs to her class.
-----------------------------------------------
After another agonizing couple of hours, the bell chimed again, signaling school was over for the day.
"Don't forget to study the entire section on the Warring States period!" Kanemori-sensei instructed as his students started walking out the door.
Mei Lhi walked out carrying her satchel, lazily scratching a spot behind her hidden ears. She saw Kagome walk out of her classroom, and then stretched and yawned.
"Kon'nichi wa, Kagome-chan." She said.
One of Kagome's friend's, Ayumi came out. Close behind her were Eri and Yuka.
"Oh Mei-chan! Just who we wanted to see! Can you come with us for a second?" Yuka asked sweetly.
"Um...yeah...hang on..."
She saw Kyo heading for the door, and mouthed 'I'll be right back' and followed Kagome's friends a little further down the hall.
"So what did you want?" She asked.
"Is Kagome-chan seeing anyone? Because we're trying to set her up with Hojo- kun...but Kagome-chan's been so sick that she's been missing all her dates." Eri said.
'Oh...my...GOD!' Mei Lhi thought feeling very irritated.
"Yes. She's seeing someone."
"Who?" All three girls chorused.
"My brother, Inuyasha."
"That violent, selfish, two-timing guy?" Ayumi asked.
"Yes, him."
"I can't believe that she's with that guy!"
"Wait, how do we know you aren't making this up?" Yuka asked suspiciously.
"You're not the type to trust people, are you, Yuka-chan?" Mei Lhi said.
"That's me!"
"Well, Inuyasha is real. You've just never met him because he's been busy..."
"Yeah, busy with that other woman..."
"Don't mention Kikyo in front of me..."
"Her name is Kikyo?"
"You know what? I'm getting kind of sick of this conversation. I'm leaving."
Mei Lhi turned on her heel and walked back to over to where Kagome waited with Kyo.
"What did those three want?" Kyo asked.
"Oh just wanted to ask about Kagome-chan's love life...I got annoyed with them so I left." Mei Lhi replied.
"Mei-chan, Inuyasha is on the roof. He told me to tell you to go get him when school is over." Kagome said.
"Oh, he's here too?"
"Yeah...I was surprised to see Kyo...I heard rumors from Eri-chan about him...and Eri-chan mentioned something about you two being together..."
"Could we not talk about that right now?"
"Oh...sure..."
Mei Lhi started blushing a little, Kyo suddenly started looking at his feet to hide his own blush. The three walked down the stairs and outside, Mei Lhi jumping up to the roof.
"Chotto..." She said.
"Ma...it took you long enough..." Inuyasha replied smugly.
"Shizuka ni soshite just jump!"
Inuyasha smirked and jumped down, Mei Lhi following. The moment they reached the ground, Inuyasha started yelling.
"What the hell is he doing here?!" He demanded.
"He goes to school with me now...he's in my class..." Mei Lhi replied calmly.
"Kagome, if anyone's having a bad day, it's me!"
Kagome laughed.
"Come on, let's go already..." She said.
Inuyasha crouched down, Kagome getting onto his back. He took off, Mei Lhi and Kyo following.
The four of them reached the Higurashi Shrine; Kagome getting off Inuyasha's back, running inside the house, kicking her shoes off.
"Kaa-chan, Jii-chan! Souta! I'm home!" She called.
Kagome found a note on the refrigerator.
"Went with Souta and Jii-chan to the store. Should be home before 7:00. If you all get hungry, there's plenty of ramen in the cupboard and leftovers in the fridge. Love Mom." She read.
"Where's Higurashi-san?" Inuyasha asked.
"She went with Souta and Jii-chan to the store...so I guess we're here alone..." Kagome replied.
"So...Kagome...do you have any homework?" Mei Lhi asked.
Kagome shuddered.
"Math..." She answered. "What about you?"
"Don't have any...although everyone except me and Kyo does..."
"Why?"
"We played a game to review about the Sengoku Jidai. We knew all the answers...so we didn't have to do anything...and the homework we did have, we finished it in class..."
----------------------------------------------
Kagome sat looking at her math paper frustrated.
'I really don't understand this...' She thought miserably.
"Want help?" Mei Lhi asked.
"You won't get it..."
"I can try, can't I?"
"Go ahead..."
Kagome shoved the paper at the hanyou girl. Mei Lhi's eyes skimmed through the miko's work.
"You've been careless, Kagome-chan...you've made the same mistake twice in one problem..."
"I did? Where?"
"Look here...it says that it's squared, not cubed. You keep writing it cubed...that's why you're confusing yourself..."
And so, for the next twenty minutes or so, Mei Lhi helped Kagome correct her mistakes, until finally they finished the paper together.
"Don't forget your name and date at the top."
"Arigatou, Mei-chan. That really helped. When did you get so smart?"
"I don't know...but if you need help with anything else, just call me, ok? I'm gonna go look for Kyoshi-kun..."
"Kyoshi-kun? When did you start calling him that?"
"I just made it up right now...It's cute isn't it?"
Kagome nodded.
Mei Lhi walked outside where Kyo sat with his back leaning against the Goshinboku Tree's trunk.
A breeze swirled around them. Red and gold leaves flew around in spirals.
"Kyoshi-kun..." Mei Lhi said softly.
"Hm?" Kyo replied. "Did you make up that new name for me just now?"
"Yup."
Mei Lhi sat next to him.
"Why'd you come to school? What made you want to go?"
"Because...the Ryuu Order wanted me to go for your protection...and Kagome's..."
"Is that the only reason why?"
"Mei, even if they hadn't told me to go, I still would've gone anyway...because...I wanted to see you..."
"Me?"
"Yes...do you know why, Mei?"
"Iie..."
"Nanode...Ai shiteru..." He whispered in her ear.
A/N: Ok, I'm strongly considering Sesshy and Hana being together...hell, I've already made plot lines in my head...for them in this story and the sequel...now the song is from "Chobits" it's called "Let Me Be With You". I love that series...so kawaii...The chapter title itself, yes I ripped it off from Day After Tomorrow (The band, not the movie!), but they won't mind because I'm giving them credit here...I put fluff in this chapter on purpose, and the original title "School is so Troublesome" didn't fit. So "Itazurana Kiss" is the first thing that popped into my head. Anyway, I'll just put my crappy little Japanese translations in now...
Aki's Mini Dictionary:
"Itazurana Kiss" – Mischievous Kiss
Gomen – I'm sorry, Excuse Me
Kawaii – Adorable, cute
Daimyou – Name for a lord or nobleman (something like that)
Shogun – (Don't even know why the hell I even put this here, since I don't even know the proper definition!) Similar to 'daimyou' but I read that during the Warring States era, they were losing power to the daimyou...I think...
Miko – Shrine maiden, priestess, etc.
Kami – God, deity
Okaa-san – Mother
Imouto-san – Little sister
Ne – Ok, yeah, right? (I'm translating it as it would sound best in the sentence it's used in...)
Arigatou – Thank you
Sengoku Jidai – Feudal Era, Warring States, Warlord Era...(don't even both asking me about the years, because I don't know...)
Daijoubu – Are you alright?
Kuso – Damn it, shit, fuck (depends on how it's used)
Ningen – Human being
Kon'nichi wa – Hello, Good Afternoon
Chotto – Hey you
Ma- Oh wow, Well (Inu-kun uses it as 'Well,')
Shizuka ni – Shut up
Soshite – And
Jii-chan – Grandfather
Kaa-chan – (see 'Okaa-san')
Hanyou – Half demon
Un – Yes (used by women under 18)
Goshinboku Tree – God Tree (I think I've heard it translated at 'Spirit Tree' somewhere...) The 500 yr. old tree on the Higurashi Shrine.
Ryuu – Dragon
Iie – No
Nanode – Because
Ai shiteru – I love you (corrected now...misspelled it in the previous chapter)
Now, anyway, if anything's been mistranslated or misspelled, please let me know in your reviews...please stay tuned for a hopefully less fluffy Ch. 37! Comments, questions, concerns? Review or email me. On a side note, this is the longest chapter I've written!