Next chapter Enjoy :D
-Done by Alex-
Chapter Two---------------The Challenge--------------
Kagome
sighed wearily, nodding to Sango.
"Well, we'd better get to
class now... Before the bell rings..."
The first class was
Sword Mastery 101, and she didn't want to be late. Sango nodded back,
heading down the hall to her own class.
"See you
later!"
Kagome began to walk toward her classroom, which
wasn't far away. Opening the door to the class and quickly shutting
it behind her, the bell rang. The room before her was very large.
Sections of the room were divided into squares about nine feet
lengthwise and across; the area was necessary so there wouldn't be
any "accidents". Even though they usually used wooden swords,
they could happen and had. She stepped across the room to her
assigned square, which happened to be just in front of their sensei's
area. The sensei, Mr. Nirake, smiled at her, flashing his large white
teeth. Students began to file into the room, obediently going toward
their assigned spots. Kikyo was one of the group, and her area was to
the left of Kagome's. She pranced toward the cupboard with her chin
held high to the other side of the room. Unlike Kagome, most of the
population of the sword class kept their swords in the cupboard.
After retrieving her sword, she walked toward her spot. Kagome cast
her an angry glance, but kept her comments to herself in front of the
teacher. After the room had calmed down a bit, Mr. Nirake began to
speak.
"Alright, class, today we will practice a basic
technique. As you all already know," he paused, feeling this was
very dramatic moment, "everything mounts off of basic techniques…
So, thus, we must practice these moves as much as possible."
Kagome
let out an irritated groan of disapproval with the rest of the class.
She had mastered these move in her very first class. People began to
start swinging their swords half-heartedly through the air and toward
imaginary opponents. Kikyo pushed her hair behind her shoulder,
smiling smugly at Kagome. Voice laced with a mocking tone, the slut
spoke:
"C'mon, Higurashi, better practice that swing."
Kagome
rolled her eyes, taking out her wooden sword rather more roughly then
needed and lashing it through the air, pretending that it was Kikyo
whom she was slicing through. Kikyo did the same, nearly falling over
in her high heels. Mr. Nirake watched his class, a smug expression on
his face. He instantly grimaced in displeasure as Kikyo stumbled.
"Miss Midorikawa, please refine from wearing high
heels."
Kikyo's face wore a very ugly expression as he said
that. The teacher once again raised his voice to address the whole
class.
"Next, will someone please demonstrate the 3rd
basic technique?"
Numerous hands shot up, Kagome's being one
of the first. Mr. Nirake's eyes swept expectantly to her, and he
called her to the front of the class. Kagome, sword clenched firmly
in hand, walked the short distance to the front of the class. She
raised her sword above her head and brought it downward in a single,
quick motion. Shows really how basic one of the basic techniques are.
Their sensei clapped his hands together in pure delight.
"Very
nice, Ms. Higurashi! You may return to your area now."
Kagome
did just that, receiving the benefits of Kikyo's envious expression
as she returned.
"Tonight's assignment will be a three-hundred
word essay on Japan's feudal era, and how swords played a very
important role in that time period."
With a wave of his hand, he
dismissed the class.
The class exited the room, obviously eager to
get out. Kagome weaved in between people as she headed back to her
dorm room. She trudged up the steps and into the correct hallway. As
it came into sight, Kagome saw that Sango had beat her to it. She was
leaning on it, her legs crossed and the key that was attached to a
string swinging in her hand. She was whistling a tune with no rhythm.
As Kagome approached, Sango grinned and shoved the key into the lock
and opened the door for her.
"Took you long enough. How was
sword class?" She asked, running a hand through her thick hair and
sitting on one of the beds.
Kagome growled. Sango should know the
answer to that one.
"Kikyo was the same as ever!" She answered
simply, picking up her bag from the corner of the dormitory and
throwing it over her shoulder. Sango raised an eyebrow, yawned, and
looked to the clock in the middle of the room.
"Kagome… You
really shouldn't let Kikyo get at you like this."
Kagome shook
her head; she had heard this a thousand times.
"Anyway, eh…
Kagome… Let's just go to history class. Nothing better to do
here."
Kagome didn't protest, and briskly walked out of the
room. Sango caught up with her before she reached the staircase and
tossed the key to her,
"You're turn."
Kagome nodded and
continued her way to history class: one of her least favorite
subjects. As she came to the entrance to the classroom, she halted,
waiting for Sango to catch up. Kagome gingerly opened the door to
history class and stepped inside, Sango just behind her. The room had
nothing unusual about it: A black board on one side of the room, a
few shelves of books on either side of it, and numerous rows of
chairs with desks lined across the room. Kagome sat down at her desk,
watching as Sango headed a few rows back to her assigned seat. Kagome
opened her desk, pulled out her history book, and placed it before
her. Ms. Manshali bustled about her own large desk, muttering things
to herself. Ms. Manshali was a plump women, with a droning voice and
possible fashion issues. The bell rang, and their teacher let out a
small squeal of surprise. Kagome barely heard this though, as she was
thinking delightedly of how Kikyo wasn't in this class with her.
Propping her head onto her hands, she stared ahead.
Ms. Manshali's
voice droned on for about an hour and thirty minutes, sending Kagome
lulling between dream world and reality. History class had this
effect on her. She recognized Sango as she went to the chalkboard,
wrote down an answer, and went back to her seat. She briefly caught
the words,
"…no homework from me tonight, as Mr. Nirake
already gave you homework involving history, but a test
tomorrow."
Kagome straightened up, stretching her arms above her
head. Students began to shove their way out of the room, eager for
lunchtime. Kagome stood up, placed her unused history book shamefully
back into her desk, and walked quickly out of the room with a sigh of
relief.
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Kagome
took a ravenous bite of her store-bought deli sandwich, stuffing it
into her mouth. She had skipped breakfast that morning, and hadn't
eaten anything since. Math class had been good: she'd aced her
exam. She was back in the familiar room of her dormitory, her
personal belongings scattered throughout, mixed along with Sango's.
She was now sitting on her bed across from Sango, finishing up her
lunch. Kagome's lunch was the same as hers: a turkey sandwich, the
only food suitable for lunch they apparently had stashed in their
small refrigerator.
"Hey, Kagome?"
"Yeah?"
"We
going to do something tonight?"
Kagome paused before
answering. The only homework she had to do was for sword class, the
history assignment, and practice with her katana. Chewing
thoughtfully, she glanced back at Sango at a loss.
"Well,
sure, but what?"
Sango blinked at her.
"What about
rock climbing?"
Kagome blinked back. Rock climbing?
Narrowing her eyes and placing her sandwich into the tray on her lap,
she voiced her doubts:
"Since when have you been interested
in rock climbing?"
Sango narrowed her eyes and
defiantly returned the glare back to her.
"Since
today."
Kagome rolled her eyes and picked up her sandwich
again.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Alright…
Ready, Kagome?"
Kagome nodded and balanced herself against the
rock wall, a drop of sweating running down the side of her face. She
had pulled her hair into a ponytail to keep it out of her face. Sango
stood beside her, her hair pulled into a ponytail as well.
"Okay…
On your mark, get set…" Sango's voice paused.
"-GO!"
Kagome
hurled herself at the first rock in front of her, grabbing it with
surprising accuracy. The white powder on her hands helped. She
latched herself onto the wall and began to climb. First to touch the
purple rock on the ceiling won, and Kagome had no intention of
losing. Her calves tightened as she balanced on a particularly narrow
rock grasping onto the jagged one in front of her. Sango was just
beside her, racing ahead with all the strength of a professional.
As
quickly as the race started, it finished.
"I win," announced
Sango's voice from far above her. Kagome sighed and let go,
bouncing off the wall with her feet as she began her descent to the
ground. Rock climbing just wasn't her thing. Her feet told her she
reached solid ground, and she unstrapped the harness around her
waist. Sango landed neatly beside her.
"Good job." Kagome
said, reaching behind her head and tightening her ponytail. "I knew
you didn't want to come here for nothing."
She set the harness
on one of the racks on the wall, beside many others. Kagome looked
around the room for a place to get a drink. The room was very large,
with tunnels at the sides, and even rocks on the ceiling for those
who could climb upside down. There was a wall for beginners,
moderate, and advanced. The room was virtually a large triangle. To
Kagome's relief, a Gatorade vending machine was located on the
beginner side. Hopping over to it, she popped in a few quarters,
selected a red bottle, and the drink rolled down into the compartment
where she would receive it. Twisting the orange cap and holding it to
her lips, she took a few gulps and turned back to Sango.
"Let's
go… I need to start on a history assignment Mr. Nirake assigned
us..."
Sango looked clearly disappointed at the thought of
leaving.
"You go – I'll stay and hang out here." She
said, adjusting the strap around her waist.
"Alrighty then. Can
I at least expect you to be back at around 7:00?"
Sango
nodded.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kagome stopped at the entrance to her dorm - #132 – and unlocked the door, letting it stay ajar. She picked up the rough mat at her feet and placed the key under it: for when Sango got back. She stepped into the dorm and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for a moment and breathing a sigh of relief. The long day was almost over. Picking up her school bag, she took out the necessary items for starting the history assignment and seated herself at her desk,
7:45. Still no Sango.
Kagome knew better not to
worry though – she had learned from experience, but it was the fact
that Sango rarely broke her word the intrigued her. Shrugging, she
placed the finished history assignment with a satisfied look back in
her bag and began to change into her nightclothes. She would at the
least get a good night's worth of sleep, and with nothing better to
do, she found no objections. Sango would be back by morning.
Tucking
herself into bed, sleep claimed her quickly.
The next
morning Kagome awoke to the sound of her alarm clock. She blinked
sleep out of her eyes and slapped the top of the alarm clock. It fell
silent. With a jolt, she looked to Sango's bed. She smiled with
relief. The punk was in her pajamas and tucked neatly into bed. Just
as everything should be. Kagome stretched and yawned loudly, hoping
to rouse Sango. When Sango didn't stir, she pushed the covers away
from her and walked the short distance to Sango's bed, shaking her.
"GET UP!"
Sango blinked. "Nnn… What time is it?"
"Time
for school. Hurry up and get ready… We leave in an
hour."
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Kagome
placed her hand on the sword strapped to her waist, eyes narrowing as
she glanced at the students swarming around her. Sango followed in
her wake. As soon as they found were in an area they could talk
freely without the noise of a hundred other people talking at once,
Kagome halted.
"Why weren't you back in time last night?"
Sango
blinked, apparently appalled by the question.
"Lost track of
time…" Her voice trailed off, and a grin appeared on her face.
"Why? Did little Kagome-poo miss me? If it bothers you, then
call me next time. You have a cell phone!" Sango's grin grew
wider and she nudged Kagome.
Kagome remained silent.
Sango
frowned. "It won't happen again."
The bell rang. The two
friends quickly said their farewells, and Kagome headed to her class:
Sword Mastery 101.
She placed her hand on the cool handle and
opened it, majority of the class already at their areas, still
babbling on about numerous things to their companions. She walked
briskly to the teacher's desk, placing her assignment on it and
keeping her hand on her sword the entire time. Kikyo sneered at her.
Today the whore was wearing an extremely revealing black top, but not
revealing enough to be addressed by one of the teachers, a red
miniskirt, and black high heeled boots that went up to her knees.
Kagome made a rude gesture with one of her hands. It took a moment
for Kikyo to realize what Kagome had just done to her, wearing a
blank expression for a moment or two before her face turning to a
look of pure shock.
Mr. Nirake stood up before Kikyo could do
anything else and, with a wave of his hand, silenced the class.
Kagome turned her full attention on him. He looked around the class
with a satisfied look, and began to speak:
"Today, class, we
will not jump directly into practice. We have a new student starting
today," he paused dramatically, "from Hirodaki Academy, a private
school for boys, Inuyasha will join us."
As if on cue, the back
door of the room swung open, and into the room stepped a smartly
dressed boy. Long, silver hair flowed down his back and cat-like ears
twitched upon his head. He surveyed the room with a hint of disgust.
Upon closer inspection, Kagome noticed, that he had long pointed, yet
manicured, nails… A hand rested calmly on the hilt of a sword,
strapped around his waist, and upon seeing that he did the same,
Kagome quickly took her hand off her own hilt.
"Mr. Takera will
be a student from this moment on. I assume you will treat him with
the same respect as you do for your fellow classmates. Mr. Takera,
your area can be… Hrmm… Mr. Heiko, move yourself up on square..
Yes… Mr. Takera, your new area will be behind Ms. Higurashi."
He
pointed to Kagome, and she blushed with being pointed out. Inuyasha
sniffed loudly, walking with an arrogant stride to where he was
assigned. He commanded a sort of uneasy attention.
"Now we will
practice our footwork, when you, if ever, need to attack an
opponent."
He drew out a long, slender katana from his belt and
brandished it, advancing on Kikyo with a series of complicated steps.
Kikyo shrieked, but the katana was already pointed at her heavily
powdered nose.
"That, my students, is the Tekiswicatem step
three. Repeat."
The class mumbled to their selves, some unsure
of exactly what he did, but majority did as they were told a best as
they could.
"Hey, wench."
Kagome bristled at being
addressed as such, and turned around.
Inuyasha stood before her
for a moment, then turned into a blur and, before she had time to
react, his sword was pointed at her nose.
"Now that is
the Tekiswicatem step three. Whatever that idiot did, was not
the Tekiswicatem step three."
Kagome blinked at him, slapping
his sword away.
"What the hell do you think you're
doing! Insulting our sensei like that.. AND you called me a
wench!"
Inuyasha seemed amused.
"Sensei? That?"
Kagome
huffed and turned around again, drawing her wooden sword and
brandishing it and repeating what Mr. Nirake had done moments
before.
Mr. Nirake once more called for silence.
"Now, class,
who wants the challenge of showing the class Tekiswicatem step number
four?" He rose a thick eyebrow challengingly, daring someone
to speak up.
Inuyasha's voice rang out behind her.
"I can,
Mr. Nirake."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked to the front
of the class. He stood in front of the sensei, so the whole class
could see, feet slightly apart and his sword held out in front of
him. Kagome blinked, and the whole class gasped. She'd missed
it!
Mr. Nirake was leaning back slightly, a look of surprise on
his face, and with the end of a sword pointed at his throat.
"That,
Mr. Nirake, is the Tekiswicatem step number four."
Mr. Nirake
stared at the point in front of him, his mouth slightly ajar.
Suddenly, the shock was gone from his eyes and he relaxed.
"Very
nicely done, Mr. Takera! No homework for you tonight!"
Inuyasha
lowered the sword, a smirk upon his face as he sheathed it.
Kagome
felt an unknown type of emotion stir within her. Was this what
jealousy felt like?
Inuyasha returned to his seat behind her,
looking extremely pleased with herself.
"Now, class, tonight's
homework will be a thousand word essay on the Tekiswcatem steps. I
expect it to be in tomorrow, typed."
The class groaned and
began to shuffle out the door. Kagome heard Inuyasha chuckle behind
her and begin to walk away. Quickly, Kagome turned
around.
"Inuyasha!"
At his name being spoken, he turned his
head to look at her.
"What, wench?"
Kagome struggled to
contain herself, flushing, and her eyes flashing with angry
jealousy.
"Meet me in the parking lot B, in front of the
school."
Inuyasha raised a silver eyebrow.
"Bring your
katana. We'll have a m-match in front of the school!"
Inuyasha
stared at her, and then burst out laughing.
"You! Face
me!" He snorted, beginning to control himself once more.
"Sure, wench. Let's see what you can do." The arrogant smirk
returned to his face. Kagome controlled the urge to smack it right
off.
"At 6:00PM tomorrow!"
Inuyasha began to walk to the
door once more.
"Sure, whatever, wench."
"You better show
up!"
Inuyasha rested his hand on the doorknob.
"And quit
calling me wench!"
