Dokyusei
by Nana
Chapter 8
Tactics
***********************
Kagome did not believe her eyes. "Where…where did they go?" She asked, gazing wide-eyed at the empty lawn.
"Nothing…happened?" Sango said, walking over the area where they had been almost ten minutes ago.
A cursory inspection of the nearby premises yielded nothing.
"He couldn't have crawled away that fast if he were beaten to a pulp," said Sango logically as they returned to the lawn. "So I guess they really didn't get into a fight after all."
"What made you think Inu Yasha would be the one to get beaten into a pulp?" asked Kagome a bit flatly.
"Well, Sesshou Maru is the school's Kendo champion after all," Sango said. "You just don't mess with people like that."
Kagome sighed heavily. "Well, I guess that's all there is to it. It's really a good thing nothing happened. I don't think I can stand this much excitement all in one day."
"Don't let him get to you," said Sango, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Look, would you like some ice cream before going home? We can stop by the café outside."
"Sure."
They walked slowly out of the school, talking as they went.
"How's it going with Inu Yasha and Science Lab?"
"Just awful. He's really making things so difficult," said Kagome. "I mean he's totally exasperating! And noisy, and rude, among other things…"
Sango smiled. "Really?" She said. "So what's Kagome's type when it comes to guys?"
Kagome sighed, beginning to smile as well. "Definitely not someone who's violent and prone to picking fights, or for that matter, somebody who's selfish, malicious and short-tempered. He should be kind, considerate…"
As she trailed off with a wistful expression on her face, Sango said, "So definitely not someone like Inu Yasha, huh?"
"Definitely," Kagome said with alacrity. "How about you, Sango-chan? What's your type?"
Sango was suddenly looking a bit flushed. "Oh, the usual, I expect," she said.
"You mean cool, calm, intelligent--something like that?" teased Kagome.
"Something like that," said Sango.
"Like Fukuzawa-senpai, perhaps?" Kagome prodded, grinning.
"Of course NOT!" said Sango, hotly. "Kagome-chan…!"
For a moment, words appeared to fail Sango as she tried to voice out something that could properly describe the guy's crimes.
"That guy is absolutely disgusting! He's shameless, ruthless, completely devoid of morals, and a sukebe to boot!" She finally said.
Kagome remembered what he had said to make Sango nearly jump out of her skin earlier when they had visited the sophomores' domain. Of course he was just teasing Sango, but why would he even think of doing it, in the first place? And there had been something beneath the caressing tone Kagome could not put a name to which made the tease something a bit more than meets the eye.
"He seems to like you," said Kagome.
Sango shook her head. "He does not," she said, bitterly. "He just thinks I'm this big challenge he has to overcome. I'm his current project, if you'd like to put it that way."
Kagome stared at Sango.
"He's got it into his head he's irresistible, so the first girl who comes along who openly gets revolted by the idea gets to become a freak-- someone he has to examine more closely," said Sango.
"Sango…"
"Don't worry, though," Sango said quickly. "He's not going to get to me."
"Good for you, Sango," said Kagome. "I guess we've got our share of annoying boys to deal with."
"There's no running away from these types in this school, unfortunately," said Sango. "Of course, there are some who are really not that bad."
"Takagi-senpai?" Kagome asked gently.
Sango smiled almost sadly. "He's already got a girlfriend," said Sango with finality, as if closing a case. "All the good ones are already taken."
Kagome found that she could not say anything to that.
After all, even Inu Yasha, with his foul temper and his notoriety, had somebody like Kikyou, however briefly.
"There's the cafe," Sango pointed out. "C'mon. And let's talk about something else, shall we? What are you doing this weekend?"
Laughing, they set out to cross the street, not aware that somebody had seen them from a distance and, after a moment's pause, decided to follow them…
************************
Fukuzawa leaned back into his seat, satisfied. Across him, fellow debate team members Aoki Jun and Hachi continued to stare at him as they digested what he had to say.
"So she ran away," said Aoki, finally.
Fukuzawa smiled.
"Because you said what you said." Aoki didn't bother to hide his razor- sharp tone from Fukuzawa. They were, after all, fellow sophomores. "Big deal."
Miroku leaned on the table, raising his brow at an unimpressed Aoki. "So what are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is, any freshman when faced with a head-on assault like that in a corridor of sophomores would react the way she did. That doesn't mean she thinks you're something," said Aoki indifferently. "All in all, I'd say you can't draw a reliable conclusion from that encounter."
"But what about that episode in the canteen? The track field?" Hachi asked, trying to defend Fukuzawa-sama. "Surely those incidents will warrant some merit--"
"Look Fukuzawa," said Aoki, not bothering to acknowledge Hachi's presence. "I'm not saying she's not responding to you. Hell, she's responsive, all right, but that's a long shot from saying she likes you. You should know that! More than anything, she's outdone herself by showing you how much she hates your guts."
"But--but that's a start," pointed out Hachi. "She wouldn't be hating Fukuzawa-sama's guts like that for nothing! The fact that she does means she likes him, right?"
"Hachi--what kind of fallacy have you just invented?" Aoki turned to him, effectively shutting him up.
Fukuzawa stared at Aoki coolly, inwardly acknowledging he had a point. Not that he would ever acknowledge it in Aoki's face.
"What would it take, then?" he asked.
The problem of Galatea was becoming more and more complex.
It was clearly not enough that he could make Mikagi Sango react. What was the point of proving she could respond, when she could not respond positively? What he had so far was a set of conjectures derived indirectly from her reaction, but face it: The conjectures were not solid evidence.
And inconclusive evidence could not hold in any grounds of debate.
He needed more solid proof--something short of her clinging to his arm-- that would effectively clarify, once and for all, that he could make her like him.
But was that really his primary objective when he started? When he crossed that track oval to declare open war, had he really wanted to make her like him?
Not really, thought Fukuzawa truthfully.
When he crossed the track field, he had one thing clear in his mind: he wanted to see how much he could rattle her.
Because to be perfectly honest, he really did not think he could like a girl like Mikagi Sango. And she had to be put in her place.
So how did this come about? Why were they sitting here in a corner of a small café discussing possible tactics to bring a mere girl to heel?
Because, Fukuzawa said to himself, you're absolutely going nowhere with her…and admit it, after you took one good look at her, you've decided she could be worth all the trouble after all…
"How about eliciting some jealousy?" Aoki suggested. "That would make for more solid, more tangible evidence."
Hmm…Fukuzawa had to acknowledge it was not a bad idea.
The chimes above the café door sounded as it opened, and amidst the chatter within the room, Fukuzawa looked up to see his chance come in.
"Well, well, look who decided to drop by," he said, allowing a smile--a full, delighted smile--to show on his face as he stood up. "Well, Aoki, you're about to see your suggestion tested."
Quickly, surely he made for the two girls who had entered.
Sango turned just in time to see him heading their way, and her face paled. There was nowhere for her to run, no way for her to dodge him in this place…
But he wasn't even looking at her for a change. He was brushing past her, striding over to Kagome.
"Ah, Higurashi!" he said to a startled Kagome and, before she could register what he was about to do, he had grasped her hands tightly in his.
"Imagine seeing you here," he said, hoarsely. "You're indeed a sight for sore eyes…this, this must surely be a sign!"
"EHHH…?" Kagome cried, her eyes wide.
From the corner of his eyes, Miroku could see Sango start in intense surprise before her face began to turn furiously, furiously red.
Well, there you have it, Aoki, he laughed inwardly. Before I finish with her, there's no way you're going to mistake THAT for anything else!
But he was not allowed to carry on.
"What…the hell…do you think… you're doing?" a voice from the doorway asked.
Miroku turned to see a strange sight. A boy with long, white hair and furious, amber eyes stood just inside the door.
"I--Inu Yasha!" gasped Kagome in total shock. What was he doing here???
"Get your hands off her!" Inu Yasha said, advancing slowly on Miroku just as Sesshou Maru had previously done earlier with him.
"Why?" Fukuzawa asked.
"Because," Inu Yasha said, seething with repressed rage, "You're going to have to deal with ME!"
With that, he let out a fist, swiping at Fukuzawa's head. Only it did not connect with solid flesh.
"Chotto!" Fukuzawa said as he casually ducked, feeling the boy's fist whiz above him. With astonishing, fluid grace, he swerved behind Inu Yasha, his face not even bothering to change its expression.
"You're really violent, aren't you?" Fukuzawa said calmly, with just a hint of annoyance. "Let's go outside for this kind of thing, shall we? There are too many people in here."
With that, he calmly walked out the café, his back to Inu Yasha. Kagome and Sango exchanged glances. How could he manage to even consider something like that, given the situation he was in?
"Apologize to her!" said Inu Yasha, following him outside.
"It's okay, Inu Yasha," said Kagome nervously as she caught up with him. "Don't worry about it!"
Inu Yasha turned to her, his expression one of wild disbelief. "What do you mean, it's okay??" He asked loudly.
"She's telling you not to sweat it, Inu Yasha," said Sango, coldly. "He's just trying to provoke you. He's not worth it."
She stared at Fukuzawa steadily as she said this, and Fukuzawa realized she had caught onto him. No doubt she had recognized Hachi and Aoki in the crowd of interested spectators and had pieced the puzzle together.
But there was no time for that now. Amidst Kagome's sudden cry of alarm, Inu Yasha let fly another punch, but Miroku was quick to dodge it.
"You do realize the gravity of what you're doing, don't you?" Fukuzawa told him coolly, as he easily blocked Inu Yasha's blows with his hands, moving with a startling fluidity as he dodged more blows. "Engaging a sophomore in a fight is not exactly a very wise move."
"Well, who started it, anyway?" Inu Yasha yelled. Fukuzawa merely chuckled, as if the whole thing were highly amusing.
Dammit, but why can't he get a punch through to this guy?! Who was he anyway?
At one point, as he swung past Fukuzawa, the guy even got hold of his arm in a vice-like grip
"Is that the best you can do?" He asked, smirking, as he flung Inu Yasha's arm away casually.
"Fight back, dammit!"
"You mean you think you can handle it?" said Fukuzawa, in amused disbelief.
"Apologize!"
"I didn't do anything to compromise her, if that's what you're trying to point out," said Miroku. "She doesn't have a boyfriend, after all, does she?"
And then, curiously enough, he stopped as a thought occurred to him. He dodged Inu Yasha's last blow and turned to Kagome, his eyes wide.
"Do you?" He asked, surprised.
Stunned, Kagome could not speak. Neither could Sango. Neither could Inu Yasha.
Fukuzawa turned from Inu Yasha to Kagome, taking in their stunned faces and misinterpreting them.
"Sumimasen," he said, scratching his head. "I didn't realize…well, you should have said something at the beginning…"
"Wha---what, you…" Inu Yasha was beginning to sputter indignantly.
"I apologize," said Fukuzawa formally to Kagome, bowing slightly at her direction. "I wouldn't have put myself out of line if I'd have realized earlier that you and Inu Yasha... Sumimasen…"
With that, he turned away and walked off, leaving the three to take in the sudden, startling turn of events.
"HEY!!" Inu Yasha said, going after him.
"Hey, hey, that's enough," said Sango. "It's all over."
"That…weird…assshole!" bit out Inu Yasha, angrily, staring at his retreating back incredulously.
"Sango-chan…" said Kagome, slowly. "I know this sounds crazy, but…you know, he's not really such a bad person after all…"
Sango shook her head as she watched him walk away, not believing Kagome, and not believing what Fukuzawa Miroku was capable of doing, either.
*********************
Vocabulary:
Chotto--for a moment; a little bit (like, "Now wait a sec")
Galatea--Pygmalion's woman statue
Sumimasen--excuse me
by Nana
Chapter 8
Tactics
***********************
Kagome did not believe her eyes. "Where…where did they go?" She asked, gazing wide-eyed at the empty lawn.
"Nothing…happened?" Sango said, walking over the area where they had been almost ten minutes ago.
A cursory inspection of the nearby premises yielded nothing.
"He couldn't have crawled away that fast if he were beaten to a pulp," said Sango logically as they returned to the lawn. "So I guess they really didn't get into a fight after all."
"What made you think Inu Yasha would be the one to get beaten into a pulp?" asked Kagome a bit flatly.
"Well, Sesshou Maru is the school's Kendo champion after all," Sango said. "You just don't mess with people like that."
Kagome sighed heavily. "Well, I guess that's all there is to it. It's really a good thing nothing happened. I don't think I can stand this much excitement all in one day."
"Don't let him get to you," said Sango, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Look, would you like some ice cream before going home? We can stop by the café outside."
"Sure."
They walked slowly out of the school, talking as they went.
"How's it going with Inu Yasha and Science Lab?"
"Just awful. He's really making things so difficult," said Kagome. "I mean he's totally exasperating! And noisy, and rude, among other things…"
Sango smiled. "Really?" She said. "So what's Kagome's type when it comes to guys?"
Kagome sighed, beginning to smile as well. "Definitely not someone who's violent and prone to picking fights, or for that matter, somebody who's selfish, malicious and short-tempered. He should be kind, considerate…"
As she trailed off with a wistful expression on her face, Sango said, "So definitely not someone like Inu Yasha, huh?"
"Definitely," Kagome said with alacrity. "How about you, Sango-chan? What's your type?"
Sango was suddenly looking a bit flushed. "Oh, the usual, I expect," she said.
"You mean cool, calm, intelligent--something like that?" teased Kagome.
"Something like that," said Sango.
"Like Fukuzawa-senpai, perhaps?" Kagome prodded, grinning.
"Of course NOT!" said Sango, hotly. "Kagome-chan…!"
For a moment, words appeared to fail Sango as she tried to voice out something that could properly describe the guy's crimes.
"That guy is absolutely disgusting! He's shameless, ruthless, completely devoid of morals, and a sukebe to boot!" She finally said.
Kagome remembered what he had said to make Sango nearly jump out of her skin earlier when they had visited the sophomores' domain. Of course he was just teasing Sango, but why would he even think of doing it, in the first place? And there had been something beneath the caressing tone Kagome could not put a name to which made the tease something a bit more than meets the eye.
"He seems to like you," said Kagome.
Sango shook her head. "He does not," she said, bitterly. "He just thinks I'm this big challenge he has to overcome. I'm his current project, if you'd like to put it that way."
Kagome stared at Sango.
"He's got it into his head he's irresistible, so the first girl who comes along who openly gets revolted by the idea gets to become a freak-- someone he has to examine more closely," said Sango.
"Sango…"
"Don't worry, though," Sango said quickly. "He's not going to get to me."
"Good for you, Sango," said Kagome. "I guess we've got our share of annoying boys to deal with."
"There's no running away from these types in this school, unfortunately," said Sango. "Of course, there are some who are really not that bad."
"Takagi-senpai?" Kagome asked gently.
Sango smiled almost sadly. "He's already got a girlfriend," said Sango with finality, as if closing a case. "All the good ones are already taken."
Kagome found that she could not say anything to that.
After all, even Inu Yasha, with his foul temper and his notoriety, had somebody like Kikyou, however briefly.
"There's the cafe," Sango pointed out. "C'mon. And let's talk about something else, shall we? What are you doing this weekend?"
Laughing, they set out to cross the street, not aware that somebody had seen them from a distance and, after a moment's pause, decided to follow them…
************************
Fukuzawa leaned back into his seat, satisfied. Across him, fellow debate team members Aoki Jun and Hachi continued to stare at him as they digested what he had to say.
"So she ran away," said Aoki, finally.
Fukuzawa smiled.
"Because you said what you said." Aoki didn't bother to hide his razor- sharp tone from Fukuzawa. They were, after all, fellow sophomores. "Big deal."
Miroku leaned on the table, raising his brow at an unimpressed Aoki. "So what are you saying?"
"What I'm saying is, any freshman when faced with a head-on assault like that in a corridor of sophomores would react the way she did. That doesn't mean she thinks you're something," said Aoki indifferently. "All in all, I'd say you can't draw a reliable conclusion from that encounter."
"But what about that episode in the canteen? The track field?" Hachi asked, trying to defend Fukuzawa-sama. "Surely those incidents will warrant some merit--"
"Look Fukuzawa," said Aoki, not bothering to acknowledge Hachi's presence. "I'm not saying she's not responding to you. Hell, she's responsive, all right, but that's a long shot from saying she likes you. You should know that! More than anything, she's outdone herself by showing you how much she hates your guts."
"But--but that's a start," pointed out Hachi. "She wouldn't be hating Fukuzawa-sama's guts like that for nothing! The fact that she does means she likes him, right?"
"Hachi--what kind of fallacy have you just invented?" Aoki turned to him, effectively shutting him up.
Fukuzawa stared at Aoki coolly, inwardly acknowledging he had a point. Not that he would ever acknowledge it in Aoki's face.
"What would it take, then?" he asked.
The problem of Galatea was becoming more and more complex.
It was clearly not enough that he could make Mikagi Sango react. What was the point of proving she could respond, when she could not respond positively? What he had so far was a set of conjectures derived indirectly from her reaction, but face it: The conjectures were not solid evidence.
And inconclusive evidence could not hold in any grounds of debate.
He needed more solid proof--something short of her clinging to his arm-- that would effectively clarify, once and for all, that he could make her like him.
But was that really his primary objective when he started? When he crossed that track oval to declare open war, had he really wanted to make her like him?
Not really, thought Fukuzawa truthfully.
When he crossed the track field, he had one thing clear in his mind: he wanted to see how much he could rattle her.
Because to be perfectly honest, he really did not think he could like a girl like Mikagi Sango. And she had to be put in her place.
So how did this come about? Why were they sitting here in a corner of a small café discussing possible tactics to bring a mere girl to heel?
Because, Fukuzawa said to himself, you're absolutely going nowhere with her…and admit it, after you took one good look at her, you've decided she could be worth all the trouble after all…
"How about eliciting some jealousy?" Aoki suggested. "That would make for more solid, more tangible evidence."
Hmm…Fukuzawa had to acknowledge it was not a bad idea.
The chimes above the café door sounded as it opened, and amidst the chatter within the room, Fukuzawa looked up to see his chance come in.
"Well, well, look who decided to drop by," he said, allowing a smile--a full, delighted smile--to show on his face as he stood up. "Well, Aoki, you're about to see your suggestion tested."
Quickly, surely he made for the two girls who had entered.
Sango turned just in time to see him heading their way, and her face paled. There was nowhere for her to run, no way for her to dodge him in this place…
But he wasn't even looking at her for a change. He was brushing past her, striding over to Kagome.
"Ah, Higurashi!" he said to a startled Kagome and, before she could register what he was about to do, he had grasped her hands tightly in his.
"Imagine seeing you here," he said, hoarsely. "You're indeed a sight for sore eyes…this, this must surely be a sign!"
"EHHH…?" Kagome cried, her eyes wide.
From the corner of his eyes, Miroku could see Sango start in intense surprise before her face began to turn furiously, furiously red.
Well, there you have it, Aoki, he laughed inwardly. Before I finish with her, there's no way you're going to mistake THAT for anything else!
But he was not allowed to carry on.
"What…the hell…do you think… you're doing?" a voice from the doorway asked.
Miroku turned to see a strange sight. A boy with long, white hair and furious, amber eyes stood just inside the door.
"I--Inu Yasha!" gasped Kagome in total shock. What was he doing here???
"Get your hands off her!" Inu Yasha said, advancing slowly on Miroku just as Sesshou Maru had previously done earlier with him.
"Why?" Fukuzawa asked.
"Because," Inu Yasha said, seething with repressed rage, "You're going to have to deal with ME!"
With that, he let out a fist, swiping at Fukuzawa's head. Only it did not connect with solid flesh.
"Chotto!" Fukuzawa said as he casually ducked, feeling the boy's fist whiz above him. With astonishing, fluid grace, he swerved behind Inu Yasha, his face not even bothering to change its expression.
"You're really violent, aren't you?" Fukuzawa said calmly, with just a hint of annoyance. "Let's go outside for this kind of thing, shall we? There are too many people in here."
With that, he calmly walked out the café, his back to Inu Yasha. Kagome and Sango exchanged glances. How could he manage to even consider something like that, given the situation he was in?
"Apologize to her!" said Inu Yasha, following him outside.
"It's okay, Inu Yasha," said Kagome nervously as she caught up with him. "Don't worry about it!"
Inu Yasha turned to her, his expression one of wild disbelief. "What do you mean, it's okay??" He asked loudly.
"She's telling you not to sweat it, Inu Yasha," said Sango, coldly. "He's just trying to provoke you. He's not worth it."
She stared at Fukuzawa steadily as she said this, and Fukuzawa realized she had caught onto him. No doubt she had recognized Hachi and Aoki in the crowd of interested spectators and had pieced the puzzle together.
But there was no time for that now. Amidst Kagome's sudden cry of alarm, Inu Yasha let fly another punch, but Miroku was quick to dodge it.
"You do realize the gravity of what you're doing, don't you?" Fukuzawa told him coolly, as he easily blocked Inu Yasha's blows with his hands, moving with a startling fluidity as he dodged more blows. "Engaging a sophomore in a fight is not exactly a very wise move."
"Well, who started it, anyway?" Inu Yasha yelled. Fukuzawa merely chuckled, as if the whole thing were highly amusing.
Dammit, but why can't he get a punch through to this guy?! Who was he anyway?
At one point, as he swung past Fukuzawa, the guy even got hold of his arm in a vice-like grip
"Is that the best you can do?" He asked, smirking, as he flung Inu Yasha's arm away casually.
"Fight back, dammit!"
"You mean you think you can handle it?" said Fukuzawa, in amused disbelief.
"Apologize!"
"I didn't do anything to compromise her, if that's what you're trying to point out," said Miroku. "She doesn't have a boyfriend, after all, does she?"
And then, curiously enough, he stopped as a thought occurred to him. He dodged Inu Yasha's last blow and turned to Kagome, his eyes wide.
"Do you?" He asked, surprised.
Stunned, Kagome could not speak. Neither could Sango. Neither could Inu Yasha.
Fukuzawa turned from Inu Yasha to Kagome, taking in their stunned faces and misinterpreting them.
"Sumimasen," he said, scratching his head. "I didn't realize…well, you should have said something at the beginning…"
"Wha---what, you…" Inu Yasha was beginning to sputter indignantly.
"I apologize," said Fukuzawa formally to Kagome, bowing slightly at her direction. "I wouldn't have put myself out of line if I'd have realized earlier that you and Inu Yasha... Sumimasen…"
With that, he turned away and walked off, leaving the three to take in the sudden, startling turn of events.
"HEY!!" Inu Yasha said, going after him.
"Hey, hey, that's enough," said Sango. "It's all over."
"That…weird…assshole!" bit out Inu Yasha, angrily, staring at his retreating back incredulously.
"Sango-chan…" said Kagome, slowly. "I know this sounds crazy, but…you know, he's not really such a bad person after all…"
Sango shook her head as she watched him walk away, not believing Kagome, and not believing what Fukuzawa Miroku was capable of doing, either.
*********************
Vocabulary:
Chotto--for a moment; a little bit (like, "Now wait a sec")
Galatea--Pygmalion's woman statue
Sumimasen--excuse me