Deviant Variations
Chapter Four: Help isn't that bad...
Mentally, the workload Sesshoumaru bore affected him little, but physically he was approaching the beginning stages of burn out. This little truth of the schooling world hit him in English. While his seemingly ancient and talkative English teacher droned on about the difference between 'Shakespearean English' and 'Olde Englysh' to students who knew full well the difference. Concealing a yawn, Sesshoumaru jerked his tired eyes open and put them back on the current lesson, a rerun for the ages. A short while later, Sesshoumaru's eyelids began to droop again.
"Mr. Inuyokai, of all the people to dose off in my class, I suspected you the least." Mr. Hotsuma said bemusedly. Sesshoumaru, startled, shook his head in an effort to wake his eyes and responded,
"I am terribly sorry to have disappointed you. It won't happen again." Mr. Hotsuma nodded, and began explaining McTeague. Suddenly, it hit Sesshoumaru, 'I haven't even started reading that yet!' He internally panicked and added the small book McTeague on his list of things to do.
"Mr. Inuyokai, is anything wrong?" Mr. Hotsuma asked, noticing Sesshoumaru's current emotion.
"Oh," Sesshoumaru began, surprised by the sudden intrusion, " Nothing's wrong Mr. Hotsuma." Sending a doubtful glance at Sesshoumaru, Mr. Hotsuma nodded and continued with his lesson. In a matter of moments, Sesshoumaru had sensibly added the new challenge on his to do list and felt the shock and stress melt away.
Sesshoumaru's mind suddenly fell blank to the lesson, and exhaustion became harder and harder to combat. In a brief minute, Sesshoumaru felt his mind leave him entirely and sleep overcome him. The bell soon rang, and Jaken stirred Sesshoumaru from his rest and inquired,
"Hey, you OK buddy?" Sesshoumaru nodded and rose slowly from the uncomfortable desk.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Sesshoumaru said and began to walk out of the room, but Mr. Hotsuma suddenly demanded his presence.
"Sesshoumaru, I'm worried about you. You seem out of it today." Mr. Hotsuma noted, rotating his chair to face Sesshoumaru.
"There's no need to be Sir. I'm just tired today, that's all." Sesshoumaru explained respectfully. Comprehending Sesshoumaru, Mr. Hotsuma added,
"Just take it easy on yourself. You don't want to burn out anytime soon, especially with two weeks left."
"Thank you for the advice Sir. I'll consider what you've said." Sesshoumaru stated mechanically then walked out of the classroom, rubbing his eyes.
Jaken waited for Sesshoumaru and commented as they began to walk down the hall,
"What'd he ask you?" Jaken inquired, Sesshoumaru shook his head and replied in-between yawns,
"Nothing..." They continued to walk down English Hall, and onto the other potion of Sophomore Hall.
Kagura soon found their was little to do at home besides sleep and watch reruns of old eighties TV shows. Happily consuming a bowl of Easy Mac, Kagura enjoyed the peace of her normally rambunctious home. She sat, slouched, on a deep-seated sectional, and watched a pointless show called MacGyver. Kagura wondered silently what the point was of a show where no one so much as got injured in any other way than mentally. Kagura dozed off; perfectly content and unchanged from when she originally awoke nearly an hour and ten minutes ago; the memory of being forgotten, and receiving an ISS gone from her mind.
While Kagura forgot the world, it seemingly forgot her. Her presence, which was normally small to begin, made her absence barley noted with exception of Miss Kariuno, who delighted in torturing her rebellious student. The lacrosse players still flung balls via a netted stick, and the seniors maintained a pathetic game of Hacky Sack, and Naraku still plotted and connived.
"My Sesshoumaru, you look awful..." Naraku jeered to Sesshoumaru, who bore the look of a male medusa combined with Polyphemus.
"Thank you." Sesshoumaru groggily responded as he set books into his bag.
"Your welcome. Workload pretty heavy, eh?" Naraku said, starting his latest attempt in getting Sesshoumaru to attend his party.
"No, I do not accept your bribe." Sesshoumaru commented, cutting to the chase. He rose, and stalked away from Naraku.
"I wasn't even going to mention it Sesshoumaru. Excuse me for being a concerned acquaintance. You ARE tired." Naraku added with a tone of slight sarcasm and drama.
"You're excused now leave me be." Sesshoumaru barked dully, and walked further ahead. Naraku sighed and strode up to Sesshoumaru again.
"There's no need to be so cold about it, but you look like you could use some help. Wouldn't it be great to have one less thing to toil against every night?" Naraku said with a forked tongue that prodded at Sesshoumaru's will.
"Nice try, but no, I can handle the challenge." Retorted Sesshoumaru, as he sped up.
"OK, fine. Maybe you CAN handle it, but why don't you let me help? I mean, what is the worst that could happen? Worst-case scenario: You hate the party, and leave early. How is there a huge problem here?" Naraku reasoned. Sesshoumaru halted his steps and turned sharply to face Naraku, he suddenly thought Naraku's proposition, for the first time he really considered it.
'I have everything tested; all we need to do is build the bridge. Naraku takes Shop anyway and it would make things easier on me...' Sesshoumaru thought, and said cautiously, "Fine." Naraku grinned at his victory.
"I am glad to know that you accept, come to my house sometime before six and we'll get some construction done." Naraku said, walking away desiring to tell his good news to Kikyo. Sesshoumaru mentally kicked himself in the head for agreeing and silently trudged to his still wrecked car.
Sesshoumaru, back at his house saw a phenomenon. On the way to his room, where the egg drop materials he had gathered the night before resided, he saw Inuyasha in his room and for once his head in a book and not on it. Even stranger, a girl with black hair who had a similar face to Kikyo's sat on the seldom-used desk chair.
"Kagome, I don't want to study for this history final right now. Can't we do something else?" Inuyasha asked in impatience, slamming a yellow highlighter down dramatically.
"You're so A.D.D. Inuyasha! We haven't been studying for even an hour! It's a wonder you pass!" Kagome stated, while highlighting portions of history notes in a wire bound notebook. Inuyasha grew agitated and exclaimed,
"I didn't invite you here to tell me how lazy I am! Go home, I'll be fine on my own!" Kagome looked insulted and retorted,
"I will, I study better alone anyway!" She pranced out of the room after hastily gathering her things, slamming the door loudly. Inuyasha muttered under his breath,
"Bitch." Sesshoumaru opened the door delicately and smirked,
"That went well..." Sesshoumaru added to his smirk and left Inuyasha to his bitter self.
Cruel and heartless at it sounds, Sesshoumaru found amusement at Inuyasha's inability to grow from his childhood stage to adulthood maturity. These light thoughts even helped the pain of the day's happenings as he drove to what Sesshoumaru thought would be his doom in Naraku's high suburbia home. Slightly impressed by the grandeur of the brick home, Sesshoumaru momentarily admired the simple elegance of the entire set up. Sesshoumaru got out of the drivers side, and before closing the door, he grabbed the bag containing all the previously tested materials. With the bag in one hand and the physics notebook in the other, Sesshoumaru strolled up the gray flagstone walk.
With her drugged up and idiotic brother still not home from whatever he did in his spare time, Kagura was in relative peace.
'Ahhh, silence; what a beautiful thing!' Kagura thought with a sigh, and laid back into the deep seated sectional, ready to take at least her third nap of the day. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring its irritable multi-toned, Stepford Wives like tune. "Fuck it, "Kagura said aloud, and fell back into a light daze. Moments later, the tune repeated, again waking Kagura. Groaning, Kagura stood and walked slowly towards the warm oak colored front door. She opened it harshly and retorted to the visitor, expecting it to be one of her brother's friends, "Got your panties in a twist?"
Sesshoumaru was in a state of surprise as Kagura, the freak of nature, and so-called Atomic Communist answered the door.
"I'm looking for—"Sesshoumaru began ignoring Kagura's previous statement, and then stopped as he saw Kagura's eyes widen, and she uttered bitterly,
"Wrong address." Kagura said simply and slammed the door in his face abruptly.
' OK, that was odd.' Sesshoumaru discerned, and rang the doorbell again.
Kagura was equally confused at Sesshoumaru's presence and knew that he was far too intelligent to gamble his life away with a stupid hoodlum like her brother. The doorbell however differed in Kagura's opinion and repeated its annoying ring tone. Kagura turned slowly, and opened the door again. Feeling the urge to slam it, Kagura kept her fingers on the knob.
"I'm looking for your brother." Sesshoumaru spat out quickly, hoping the door would not again slam in his face. Kagura smirked and said with amusement,
"Not my brother." Her hand at ready, Kagura gave the door momentum and prepared to slam it in Sesshoumaru's face again. Kagura pushed the oak door towards the frame, but Sesshoumaru caught the door midway and allowed himself entrance into the modern house. Kagura looked doubtfully, recovering from Sesshoumaru's action.
"As in Naraku?" Kagura asked, closing the door lightly. Sesshoumaru peered about the entrance way and said, as if it was a side note,
"Of course, we're working on a physics project." Even more skeptical, Kagura explained,
"Naraku...working...He isn't even here." Sesshoumaru glanced briefly at Kagura and restating her last four words,
"He isn't here?" Kagura nodded and said, opening the door,
"That's right, Good Bye." She motioned to the space leading outside.
Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru responded,
"No, I'm not leaving until I have a chance to work on this project. Will he be home soon?" Kagura shrugged her shoulders and shut the door.
"Your choice."
Sesshoumaru watched Kagura walk away, and pursued her,
"You haven't answered my question? When will Naraku be back so I know I'm not wasting my time here?" Sesshoumaru observed the defiant intensity, and noted the anger in Kagura's voice as she explained, almost seething with hatred,
"I have no fucking clue, but either way you're wasting your time here." Sesshoumaru stalked off, not wanting to deal with Kagura's mind games, and was about to the door when he heard a boisterous,
"I'm home Peach!" Kagura said darkly in embittered response,
"Well, there's your man now...Enjoy him." Sesshoumaru glanced over to Kagura before making an appearance to Naraku, Sesshoumaru quickly glanced back at Kagura, and for the first time her melancholy look left an impression in his mind. Kagura also felt this, and looked away in slight confusion for Sesshoumaru's face also left an impression.
Kagura cringed as she heard Naraku say to Sesshoumaru,
"I apologize if my sister bothered you, she's a little off. I solemnly promise to NEVER leave you alone with the freak again." Kagura didn't know why she cared what her brother said about her, or why Sesshoumaru's non-existent reply elevated her mood.
Naraku and Sesshoumaru sat in the warm and light-filled kitchen, while pulling out the materials Sesshoumaru began to explain each items statistics.
"The Bamboo Kabob sticks are thin, but strong unless confronted with a direct hit on a hard surface, fire resistant as well. I figured I could use these for the portion we drop on the ground. If they make direct contact they'll absorb some of the force out of the fall by breaking." Naraku held the kabob and asked,
"So this'll go on the bottom then?" Sesshoumaru smiled patronizingly and added,
"As I said, they'll absorb some of the blow. And these, "Sesshoumaru stated, extending a toothpick towards Naraku, "also absorb the hit, it just depends on how much you want to take away. The amount deferred can be determined by the arrangement of these and could almost prove more effective. Likewise, both the Kabob and Toothpick can be used as other parts, but our best bet would be to combine these." Naraku nodded and picked up the Q-Tip,
"And what purpose would this serve?" Naraku asked.
"Ahhh, that," Sesshoumaru responded, "Very easily it can provide soft yet strong support for the structure immediately surrounding the egg."
"Tell me, why can't we just use bubble wrap for padding and leave it at that?" Naraku asked, already bored by Sesshoumaru's assessment of the project.
"Because Naraku, it doesn't work without a structure to support it, and it's technically cheating when Mr. Daimyoske wants a complex and sound design. It's not all results, you have to use some theory."
"I understand. So, what do we do next?" Naraku asked, knowing full well what the next step was.
"Obviously we build the structure. I have the hot glue, tacky glue and rubber cement for the final construction. Let's get started, all we have to do is follow the plans. I'll write everything out when I get home; theories and such." Sesshoumaru said, pulling the blue print out of his physics binder.
"Alright. Here we go." Naraku added dully and began, for the first time in at least a year, working on a project.
Sesshoumaru found that Naraku's assistance actually did help in maintaining what Mr. Hotsuma called a position above burn out. When he arrived home from the projecting that day around six thirty, Sesshoumaru had only to study for an AP Government test, and begin memorization of his speech on the true story of St. George. Pacing in his room, and reading off of note cards Sesshoumaru's mind drifted from the true or false adventures of the famed saint to the self-prescribed demon Kagewaki Kagura.
'It's funny; Kagura seemed different when her brother wasn't around. Kagura was alive and emotionally there, and not dead. She normally seems like a shade around Naraku.' Sesshoumaru shook these distracting thoughts out of his head and continued to memorize the speech. Mrs. Inuyokai silently opened the door and asked her step-son,
"Are you coming down for dinner tonight?" Sesshoumaru turned and looked at his stepmother, meeting her eyes he said, almost smiling,
"I think I will tonight. Be down in a minute." Mrs. Inuyokai smiled, and closed Sesshoumaru's door, bidding him goodbye.
For the first time in many years, Naraku didn't feel pressured to finish a project at the last minute, and he found time to manipulate his parents out of the house for the upcoming Friday party. This was particularly easy to achieve, since they were more concerned with Kagura's skipping incident than Naraku's scheming, and at school the next day Naraku confirmed to his friend Itsumo that the party would occur. By third period, all of the senior class and some of the juniors received the latest news.
The egg drop also went historically well for any project involving Naraku, despite the egg hitting Mr. Daimyoske on its way down. Relieved by one less project and confident about his performance on the AP Government Test, the only thing Sesshoumaru had left to worry about was Naraku's shindig.
However, things did not seem so sunny for Kagura. Her skipping warranted her seven vengeful teachers and a testy Assistant Principle. On top of the new tragedy, Kagura despised her brother's parties. She painfully watched him con her parents into leaving the house and taking Kanna to Grandmother's for the weekend, leaving plenty of time for clean up. As kegs and coolers of illegal alcoholic beverages arrived, Kagura glared at them and stalked upstairs, taking necessary refuge for the night.
Sesshoumaru pulled up the elegant brick house around 7:40 P.M. accompanying him was Inuyasha, his best friend Miroku and their respective dates Kagome and Sango.
"Inuyasha! I can't believe I let you talk me into coming! My mom is going to kill me if she finds out where I am!" Kagome complained shrilly.
"Kagome, its not a big deal. Just say you were studying or going to track thing." Inuyasha reasoned, not exactly listening to his supposed significant other.
"Easy for you to say! My mom is not as dense as yours Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed. Setting off Inuyasha's fiery temper, a bitter and loud argument began betwixt the two. Miroku and Sango were so engrossed in each other that little fazed them. As they kissed deeply in the back seat, Sesshoumaru found himself in hell. Shutting his eyes, Sesshoumaru breathed in deeply and snapped,
"Alright, out of the car! Inuyasha shut up your date." Kagome looked sorely offended and Inuyasha smirked, having won the battle. Sesshoumaru then turned his attention to the making out couple, "Miroku...." Sesshoumaru said irritably, then he stated loudly, "Lover boy! Out of the car, there will be plenty of time for that later. "Doing as he was told, Miroku exited the car with his arms around Sango's waist. Now, Sesshoumaru himself got out of the vehicle and walked up to the front door and noticed it ajar. Cautiously pushing it open, he fell into an unfamiliar world. Music blared, and drinks were being passed around freely. Inuyasha and his friends had begun circulating and were immersed in this strange new world. However, Sesshoumaru was not alone in this silent discomfort, he could not see but Kagura observed him from the door. A ghost of a smile shimmered on her face for a moment and Kagura disappeared into her room while Sesshoumaru strode boldly toward the living room praying for the best.
End Chapter 4
Rissi's Ramblings-
'ello! How is everyone doing? This chapter has been really, really difficult to write and put together! I hope it satisfies. I appreciated all of your reviews, you guys are really too kind. One can only hope this chapter is good enough to get the same reception.
Zero27- Thank you, I believe one of my friends who read it called it 'pathetic teen drama'. Hehe. Thanks for the suggestion, and as always, enjoy this chapter !
Iyazoi-I don't know, they'd have to be pretty dense tho....Sesshoumaru scared me too, I think I went overboard on him last chapter. What a silly writer I am! Here is your update, enjoy!
Migele-Thanks, and I aint sayin a word! Enjoy this chapter.
Chibi horsewoman- LOL, she should, shouldn't she. I'll make sure to take that in for later chapters, and it's ok if you forgot to review. In fact, I even missed your presence.
Kagura37-Yes, poor Kagura. Enjoy this chapter!
Kagome Goddess of Light- Thanks, so do I, and as I said, I think as an author I went overboard on that ;; And now that I've gotten past those three I can actually write social interaction! Yay!
DemonFireGirlHotaru: Wooot, that's a mouthful of a name! Thanks, but it really isn't that much blushes Kikyo is more of a.... personal creation based on some biach I totally hate in my school. She graduated but it doesn't matter. Don't worry those two will meet hehe.
Ciao, and thanks for reviewing!
Chapter Four: Help isn't that bad...
Mentally, the workload Sesshoumaru bore affected him little, but physically he was approaching the beginning stages of burn out. This little truth of the schooling world hit him in English. While his seemingly ancient and talkative English teacher droned on about the difference between 'Shakespearean English' and 'Olde Englysh' to students who knew full well the difference. Concealing a yawn, Sesshoumaru jerked his tired eyes open and put them back on the current lesson, a rerun for the ages. A short while later, Sesshoumaru's eyelids began to droop again.
"Mr. Inuyokai, of all the people to dose off in my class, I suspected you the least." Mr. Hotsuma said bemusedly. Sesshoumaru, startled, shook his head in an effort to wake his eyes and responded,
"I am terribly sorry to have disappointed you. It won't happen again." Mr. Hotsuma nodded, and began explaining McTeague. Suddenly, it hit Sesshoumaru, 'I haven't even started reading that yet!' He internally panicked and added the small book McTeague on his list of things to do.
"Mr. Inuyokai, is anything wrong?" Mr. Hotsuma asked, noticing Sesshoumaru's current emotion.
"Oh," Sesshoumaru began, surprised by the sudden intrusion, " Nothing's wrong Mr. Hotsuma." Sending a doubtful glance at Sesshoumaru, Mr. Hotsuma nodded and continued with his lesson. In a matter of moments, Sesshoumaru had sensibly added the new challenge on his to do list and felt the shock and stress melt away.
Sesshoumaru's mind suddenly fell blank to the lesson, and exhaustion became harder and harder to combat. In a brief minute, Sesshoumaru felt his mind leave him entirely and sleep overcome him. The bell soon rang, and Jaken stirred Sesshoumaru from his rest and inquired,
"Hey, you OK buddy?" Sesshoumaru nodded and rose slowly from the uncomfortable desk.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Sesshoumaru said and began to walk out of the room, but Mr. Hotsuma suddenly demanded his presence.
"Sesshoumaru, I'm worried about you. You seem out of it today." Mr. Hotsuma noted, rotating his chair to face Sesshoumaru.
"There's no need to be Sir. I'm just tired today, that's all." Sesshoumaru explained respectfully. Comprehending Sesshoumaru, Mr. Hotsuma added,
"Just take it easy on yourself. You don't want to burn out anytime soon, especially with two weeks left."
"Thank you for the advice Sir. I'll consider what you've said." Sesshoumaru stated mechanically then walked out of the classroom, rubbing his eyes.
Jaken waited for Sesshoumaru and commented as they began to walk down the hall,
"What'd he ask you?" Jaken inquired, Sesshoumaru shook his head and replied in-between yawns,
"Nothing..." They continued to walk down English Hall, and onto the other potion of Sophomore Hall.
Kagura soon found their was little to do at home besides sleep and watch reruns of old eighties TV shows. Happily consuming a bowl of Easy Mac, Kagura enjoyed the peace of her normally rambunctious home. She sat, slouched, on a deep-seated sectional, and watched a pointless show called MacGyver. Kagura wondered silently what the point was of a show where no one so much as got injured in any other way than mentally. Kagura dozed off; perfectly content and unchanged from when she originally awoke nearly an hour and ten minutes ago; the memory of being forgotten, and receiving an ISS gone from her mind.
While Kagura forgot the world, it seemingly forgot her. Her presence, which was normally small to begin, made her absence barley noted with exception of Miss Kariuno, who delighted in torturing her rebellious student. The lacrosse players still flung balls via a netted stick, and the seniors maintained a pathetic game of Hacky Sack, and Naraku still plotted and connived.
"My Sesshoumaru, you look awful..." Naraku jeered to Sesshoumaru, who bore the look of a male medusa combined with Polyphemus.
"Thank you." Sesshoumaru groggily responded as he set books into his bag.
"Your welcome. Workload pretty heavy, eh?" Naraku said, starting his latest attempt in getting Sesshoumaru to attend his party.
"No, I do not accept your bribe." Sesshoumaru commented, cutting to the chase. He rose, and stalked away from Naraku.
"I wasn't even going to mention it Sesshoumaru. Excuse me for being a concerned acquaintance. You ARE tired." Naraku added with a tone of slight sarcasm and drama.
"You're excused now leave me be." Sesshoumaru barked dully, and walked further ahead. Naraku sighed and strode up to Sesshoumaru again.
"There's no need to be so cold about it, but you look like you could use some help. Wouldn't it be great to have one less thing to toil against every night?" Naraku said with a forked tongue that prodded at Sesshoumaru's will.
"Nice try, but no, I can handle the challenge." Retorted Sesshoumaru, as he sped up.
"OK, fine. Maybe you CAN handle it, but why don't you let me help? I mean, what is the worst that could happen? Worst-case scenario: You hate the party, and leave early. How is there a huge problem here?" Naraku reasoned. Sesshoumaru halted his steps and turned sharply to face Naraku, he suddenly thought Naraku's proposition, for the first time he really considered it.
'I have everything tested; all we need to do is build the bridge. Naraku takes Shop anyway and it would make things easier on me...' Sesshoumaru thought, and said cautiously, "Fine." Naraku grinned at his victory.
"I am glad to know that you accept, come to my house sometime before six and we'll get some construction done." Naraku said, walking away desiring to tell his good news to Kikyo. Sesshoumaru mentally kicked himself in the head for agreeing and silently trudged to his still wrecked car.
Sesshoumaru, back at his house saw a phenomenon. On the way to his room, where the egg drop materials he had gathered the night before resided, he saw Inuyasha in his room and for once his head in a book and not on it. Even stranger, a girl with black hair who had a similar face to Kikyo's sat on the seldom-used desk chair.
"Kagome, I don't want to study for this history final right now. Can't we do something else?" Inuyasha asked in impatience, slamming a yellow highlighter down dramatically.
"You're so A.D.D. Inuyasha! We haven't been studying for even an hour! It's a wonder you pass!" Kagome stated, while highlighting portions of history notes in a wire bound notebook. Inuyasha grew agitated and exclaimed,
"I didn't invite you here to tell me how lazy I am! Go home, I'll be fine on my own!" Kagome looked insulted and retorted,
"I will, I study better alone anyway!" She pranced out of the room after hastily gathering her things, slamming the door loudly. Inuyasha muttered under his breath,
"Bitch." Sesshoumaru opened the door delicately and smirked,
"That went well..." Sesshoumaru added to his smirk and left Inuyasha to his bitter self.
Cruel and heartless at it sounds, Sesshoumaru found amusement at Inuyasha's inability to grow from his childhood stage to adulthood maturity. These light thoughts even helped the pain of the day's happenings as he drove to what Sesshoumaru thought would be his doom in Naraku's high suburbia home. Slightly impressed by the grandeur of the brick home, Sesshoumaru momentarily admired the simple elegance of the entire set up. Sesshoumaru got out of the drivers side, and before closing the door, he grabbed the bag containing all the previously tested materials. With the bag in one hand and the physics notebook in the other, Sesshoumaru strolled up the gray flagstone walk.
With her drugged up and idiotic brother still not home from whatever he did in his spare time, Kagura was in relative peace.
'Ahhh, silence; what a beautiful thing!' Kagura thought with a sigh, and laid back into the deep seated sectional, ready to take at least her third nap of the day. Suddenly, she heard the doorbell ring its irritable multi-toned, Stepford Wives like tune. "Fuck it, "Kagura said aloud, and fell back into a light daze. Moments later, the tune repeated, again waking Kagura. Groaning, Kagura stood and walked slowly towards the warm oak colored front door. She opened it harshly and retorted to the visitor, expecting it to be one of her brother's friends, "Got your panties in a twist?"
Sesshoumaru was in a state of surprise as Kagura, the freak of nature, and so-called Atomic Communist answered the door.
"I'm looking for—"Sesshoumaru began ignoring Kagura's previous statement, and then stopped as he saw Kagura's eyes widen, and she uttered bitterly,
"Wrong address." Kagura said simply and slammed the door in his face abruptly.
' OK, that was odd.' Sesshoumaru discerned, and rang the doorbell again.
Kagura was equally confused at Sesshoumaru's presence and knew that he was far too intelligent to gamble his life away with a stupid hoodlum like her brother. The doorbell however differed in Kagura's opinion and repeated its annoying ring tone. Kagura turned slowly, and opened the door again. Feeling the urge to slam it, Kagura kept her fingers on the knob.
"I'm looking for your brother." Sesshoumaru spat out quickly, hoping the door would not again slam in his face. Kagura smirked and said with amusement,
"Not my brother." Her hand at ready, Kagura gave the door momentum and prepared to slam it in Sesshoumaru's face again. Kagura pushed the oak door towards the frame, but Sesshoumaru caught the door midway and allowed himself entrance into the modern house. Kagura looked doubtfully, recovering from Sesshoumaru's action.
"As in Naraku?" Kagura asked, closing the door lightly. Sesshoumaru peered about the entrance way and said, as if it was a side note,
"Of course, we're working on a physics project." Even more skeptical, Kagura explained,
"Naraku...working...He isn't even here." Sesshoumaru glanced briefly at Kagura and restating her last four words,
"He isn't here?" Kagura nodded and said, opening the door,
"That's right, Good Bye." She motioned to the space leading outside.
Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru responded,
"No, I'm not leaving until I have a chance to work on this project. Will he be home soon?" Kagura shrugged her shoulders and shut the door.
"Your choice."
Sesshoumaru watched Kagura walk away, and pursued her,
"You haven't answered my question? When will Naraku be back so I know I'm not wasting my time here?" Sesshoumaru observed the defiant intensity, and noted the anger in Kagura's voice as she explained, almost seething with hatred,
"I have no fucking clue, but either way you're wasting your time here." Sesshoumaru stalked off, not wanting to deal with Kagura's mind games, and was about to the door when he heard a boisterous,
"I'm home Peach!" Kagura said darkly in embittered response,
"Well, there's your man now...Enjoy him." Sesshoumaru glanced over to Kagura before making an appearance to Naraku, Sesshoumaru quickly glanced back at Kagura, and for the first time her melancholy look left an impression in his mind. Kagura also felt this, and looked away in slight confusion for Sesshoumaru's face also left an impression.
Kagura cringed as she heard Naraku say to Sesshoumaru,
"I apologize if my sister bothered you, she's a little off. I solemnly promise to NEVER leave you alone with the freak again." Kagura didn't know why she cared what her brother said about her, or why Sesshoumaru's non-existent reply elevated her mood.
Naraku and Sesshoumaru sat in the warm and light-filled kitchen, while pulling out the materials Sesshoumaru began to explain each items statistics.
"The Bamboo Kabob sticks are thin, but strong unless confronted with a direct hit on a hard surface, fire resistant as well. I figured I could use these for the portion we drop on the ground. If they make direct contact they'll absorb some of the force out of the fall by breaking." Naraku held the kabob and asked,
"So this'll go on the bottom then?" Sesshoumaru smiled patronizingly and added,
"As I said, they'll absorb some of the blow. And these, "Sesshoumaru stated, extending a toothpick towards Naraku, "also absorb the hit, it just depends on how much you want to take away. The amount deferred can be determined by the arrangement of these and could almost prove more effective. Likewise, both the Kabob and Toothpick can be used as other parts, but our best bet would be to combine these." Naraku nodded and picked up the Q-Tip,
"And what purpose would this serve?" Naraku asked.
"Ahhh, that," Sesshoumaru responded, "Very easily it can provide soft yet strong support for the structure immediately surrounding the egg."
"Tell me, why can't we just use bubble wrap for padding and leave it at that?" Naraku asked, already bored by Sesshoumaru's assessment of the project.
"Because Naraku, it doesn't work without a structure to support it, and it's technically cheating when Mr. Daimyoske wants a complex and sound design. It's not all results, you have to use some theory."
"I understand. So, what do we do next?" Naraku asked, knowing full well what the next step was.
"Obviously we build the structure. I have the hot glue, tacky glue and rubber cement for the final construction. Let's get started, all we have to do is follow the plans. I'll write everything out when I get home; theories and such." Sesshoumaru said, pulling the blue print out of his physics binder.
"Alright. Here we go." Naraku added dully and began, for the first time in at least a year, working on a project.
Sesshoumaru found that Naraku's assistance actually did help in maintaining what Mr. Hotsuma called a position above burn out. When he arrived home from the projecting that day around six thirty, Sesshoumaru had only to study for an AP Government test, and begin memorization of his speech on the true story of St. George. Pacing in his room, and reading off of note cards Sesshoumaru's mind drifted from the true or false adventures of the famed saint to the self-prescribed demon Kagewaki Kagura.
'It's funny; Kagura seemed different when her brother wasn't around. Kagura was alive and emotionally there, and not dead. She normally seems like a shade around Naraku.' Sesshoumaru shook these distracting thoughts out of his head and continued to memorize the speech. Mrs. Inuyokai silently opened the door and asked her step-son,
"Are you coming down for dinner tonight?" Sesshoumaru turned and looked at his stepmother, meeting her eyes he said, almost smiling,
"I think I will tonight. Be down in a minute." Mrs. Inuyokai smiled, and closed Sesshoumaru's door, bidding him goodbye.
For the first time in many years, Naraku didn't feel pressured to finish a project at the last minute, and he found time to manipulate his parents out of the house for the upcoming Friday party. This was particularly easy to achieve, since they were more concerned with Kagura's skipping incident than Naraku's scheming, and at school the next day Naraku confirmed to his friend Itsumo that the party would occur. By third period, all of the senior class and some of the juniors received the latest news.
The egg drop also went historically well for any project involving Naraku, despite the egg hitting Mr. Daimyoske on its way down. Relieved by one less project and confident about his performance on the AP Government Test, the only thing Sesshoumaru had left to worry about was Naraku's shindig.
However, things did not seem so sunny for Kagura. Her skipping warranted her seven vengeful teachers and a testy Assistant Principle. On top of the new tragedy, Kagura despised her brother's parties. She painfully watched him con her parents into leaving the house and taking Kanna to Grandmother's for the weekend, leaving plenty of time for clean up. As kegs and coolers of illegal alcoholic beverages arrived, Kagura glared at them and stalked upstairs, taking necessary refuge for the night.
Sesshoumaru pulled up the elegant brick house around 7:40 P.M. accompanying him was Inuyasha, his best friend Miroku and their respective dates Kagome and Sango.
"Inuyasha! I can't believe I let you talk me into coming! My mom is going to kill me if she finds out where I am!" Kagome complained shrilly.
"Kagome, its not a big deal. Just say you were studying or going to track thing." Inuyasha reasoned, not exactly listening to his supposed significant other.
"Easy for you to say! My mom is not as dense as yours Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed. Setting off Inuyasha's fiery temper, a bitter and loud argument began betwixt the two. Miroku and Sango were so engrossed in each other that little fazed them. As they kissed deeply in the back seat, Sesshoumaru found himself in hell. Shutting his eyes, Sesshoumaru breathed in deeply and snapped,
"Alright, out of the car! Inuyasha shut up your date." Kagome looked sorely offended and Inuyasha smirked, having won the battle. Sesshoumaru then turned his attention to the making out couple, "Miroku...." Sesshoumaru said irritably, then he stated loudly, "Lover boy! Out of the car, there will be plenty of time for that later. "Doing as he was told, Miroku exited the car with his arms around Sango's waist. Now, Sesshoumaru himself got out of the vehicle and walked up to the front door and noticed it ajar. Cautiously pushing it open, he fell into an unfamiliar world. Music blared, and drinks were being passed around freely. Inuyasha and his friends had begun circulating and were immersed in this strange new world. However, Sesshoumaru was not alone in this silent discomfort, he could not see but Kagura observed him from the door. A ghost of a smile shimmered on her face for a moment and Kagura disappeared into her room while Sesshoumaru strode boldly toward the living room praying for the best.
End Chapter 4
Rissi's Ramblings-
'ello! How is everyone doing? This chapter has been really, really difficult to write and put together! I hope it satisfies. I appreciated all of your reviews, you guys are really too kind. One can only hope this chapter is good enough to get the same reception.
Zero27- Thank you, I believe one of my friends who read it called it 'pathetic teen drama'. Hehe. Thanks for the suggestion, and as always, enjoy this chapter !
Iyazoi-I don't know, they'd have to be pretty dense tho....Sesshoumaru scared me too, I think I went overboard on him last chapter. What a silly writer I am! Here is your update, enjoy!
Migele-Thanks, and I aint sayin a word! Enjoy this chapter.
Chibi horsewoman- LOL, she should, shouldn't she. I'll make sure to take that in for later chapters, and it's ok if you forgot to review. In fact, I even missed your presence.
Kagura37-Yes, poor Kagura. Enjoy this chapter!
Kagome Goddess of Light- Thanks, so do I, and as I said, I think as an author I went overboard on that ;; And now that I've gotten past those three I can actually write social interaction! Yay!
DemonFireGirlHotaru: Wooot, that's a mouthful of a name! Thanks, but it really isn't that much blushes Kikyo is more of a.... personal creation based on some biach I totally hate in my school. She graduated but it doesn't matter. Don't worry those two will meet hehe.
Ciao, and thanks for reviewing!