TheBeach
ByTorrenceE.
Chapter 2: Pecking Order
Musical Inspiration(see bio): Aerials – System of a Down, Chop Suey – System of a Down
She continued to complete the chart he had given her, careful to keep her eyes trained on her paper. So far Inuyasha had done most of the talking. Introducing the concepts of the lesson and what they would be doing while she had sat there barely taking it in but nodding all the while. Kagome sipped her water uneasily, counting the minutes until the lesson would be over.
They were acting like ordinary people for once. They weren't fighting, or bickering over stupid things. But she didn't like it one bit. It was almost… awkward. The silence was getting to be a nuisance.
She handed him her completed chart and he gave it a glance, his eyebrows lowering to form a frown. "No that's not what I told you to do."
She hadn't listened. "What was I supposed to do?" she glowered at the paper.
He had just explained it. "Well… first you read the text on the back and then fill in the traits and identify the factors." He indicated on the page, "Then, using that information you identify which one out of each is the most severe and prominent. Then…"
It was just too weird having him as her tutor. It was going to take time to adjust. She pretended to listen, but her eyes were focused on the sandy beach that she could see through the window. Inuyasha went on and on as her mind became increasingly void of thought.
She snapped out of her daze when the blinds were pulled down blocking her view of the beach. She looked up guiltily at his ticked off expression, her eyes unyielding to his angry glare. "Don't ask me to explain if you're not going to listen."
"Don't give me such confusing work." She looked down.
"You're a big girl, Kagome."
Kagome flinched when he said her name; a strong feeling of inferiority invaded her which she disliked very much. She pulled the chart towards her again, erasing what she had already done so she could restart. She could tell he was watching her as he sat down again, leaning back in his chair. She passed him the chart again when she'd finished and dropped her face into her hands. There was something about the mood, the ambience that was making her very uncomfortable. These lessons were not looking good at all.
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"What do you mean it's different?" Sango questioned, flicking up the salty water with her toes.
"I mean it's different, the way we interact with each other." She made various hand gestures "It's almost awkward Sango. I'd prefer if he yelled at me but we're both so silent and… reasonable."
"Reasonable? You and Inuyasha? Pfft. I don't think so." Sango smiled.
Kagome raised an eyebrow. "Do you not find it odd that after me and Inuyasha spent two hours alone in a room that we didn't try to physically harm each other? Or at least exchange insults?"
"I guess," Sango laughed, "But what's wrong with that?"
"It's just…" she trailed off, "I don't know… it's weird!" she flopped down on her back, squinting at the sun. "We haven't fought over stupid, petty things and we don't purposely make jabs at each other."
Sango joined her on the sand. "Well if you ask me it won't be long before you guys are back to normal. Obviously it's going to be weird for a little while, you haven't seen him in around three years and he's suddenly back in your life."
Kagome grumbled, not quite sure what was upsetting her so much. "He's different - there's something about him."
"He looks older." Sango smiled knowingly, "more mature."
Kagome squinted up at the bright blue sky. "I didn't mean in his appearance."
"Broader shoulders, thicker arms, stronger jaw…" Sango listed with a smirk, as if she was trying to tempt Kagome "tanner skin, brighter eyes, nicer hair, stronger looking…" she looked over at her friend, "wouldn't you agree?"
Kagome didn't say anything. To deny it was silly as he obviously had changed a lot.
"And don't forget that ghetto booty."
"He does not have a ghetto booty." Kagome laughed spraying her with sand.
"You checked?" Sango grinned.
Kagome laughed with her friend. She felt better now. And she was starting to wonder why she even cared that Inuyasha and her were, for once in their lives, acting like adults around each other. Perhaps it wouldn't be too bad if Sango's assumption that they would be back to normal soon turned out to be wrong.
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Sango turned out to be very right. It didn't take much at all to trigger an argument between the girl and the hanyou. In fact all it took was Kagome's ten minute late arrival to her second lesson without her homework. And it was amazing how an argument could escalate with them.
"You're late." He stated after she'd burst through the door as if nothing was wrong.
"No I'm not. My watch says I'm on time."
"You're not wearing a watch, idiot." He sneered.
She looked down stupidly, realizing he wasn't going to buy any excuse she had to make. "Sorry." She said emptily.
He frowned as she took her seat. "Where's the assignment I gave you?" he asked bluntly, realizing she wasn't carrying anything with her.
"Hmm?"
"The assignment."
"That was for today?" she put on an idiotic, disbelieving grin.
He tugged a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Okay."
Her smile faltered at his tone of voice. She could tell he was about to apprehend her.
"Obviously you're not exactly a disciplined person but-"
"I'll have you know I am a very-"
"I" he silenced her, "am not going to put up with it. As long as you are taking-"
Kagome rolled her eyes sharing with him a very unfriendly look. "Don't act like you-"
"Don't interrupt me. I don't fucking care if everyone else revolves around you because I don't. You will not come late to class and you will complete any and all work that I give you. Got it?"
"Oh I don't think so." She said shaking her head, "That is totally unfair."
"How so?" he leaned back, resting his elbow on the window sill.
"Well, I happen to have an extremely busy schedule as I am Kagome Higurashi. Not only do I have about ten other courses this year, but I also have a life. I have to eat and sleep to you know." She said indignantly.
"Ten courses my butt little girl."
She faked an appalled expression.
"And as for that busy schedule, I clearly saw you yesterday shopping online and sitting by the pool doing nothing."
Kagome was beginning to feel a little foolish. She was obviously wrong and he was clearly right. Maybe she should just apologize and let them get on with the lesson? But she was stubborn. And she had a good feeling that The Family Guy was on right then.
"Oh? What's that mom? Coming!" Her chair scrapped against the wood floor as it was pushed back and its owner hastily stood up.
Inuyasha idly stretched his foot under the table, curled it around the chair leg and yanked her forward and into it nearly breaking her neck in the process. "You're not going anywhere."
Her jaw dropped angrily. "You can't do that!"
"Stop acting like a brat Kagome, you're sixteen!" he snapped loudly. Normally he wouldn't hesitate to put her in her place with whatever insult came to mind first, but he had to remember he was a tutor, and she was a student – he was supposed to be the bigger person.
"Stop acting like my mother for Christ's sake!" she yelled right back standing to the side so he couldn't do that same trick with the chair again, "And I'm seventeen." She had had her birthday only two weeks ago. Kagome began taking short steps towards the door, not taking here eyes off him. She sighed, "You don't have any authority over me so stop pretending to."
He scoffed. "Uh, I think I do." His tone was patronizing.
She tried to frown but she looked more apprehensive than angry. She pursed her lips, hating his condescension. "You can't just order me around, Inuyasha. I'm not about to just take that."
He empathized with her; he would hate to be in her situation right then. But in no way did he sympathize with her. He stopped her attempt to leave with a hand on her wrist and after a little while they eventually got on with the lesson.
By the end of the hour he was overflowing with contained anger. He was skirting the edge of his self control and it wasn't doing him any good. She had successfully ruined the majority of his day. He noticed an evident change in her disposition. It bothered him that she was being bratty with him since he knew she wasn't like that with anyone else. It was probably because of his new position of control over her but she was just going to have to get used to that. If he could bite his tongue then so could she and if she knew what was good for her she would.
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Hmm… definitely not the most fun chapter to write. I kept having trouble with this one. Drop a line and tell me what you think. J
Torrence E.