To darkest flare: Thank you for your review. Most of the chapters are already written and they are all about this length. And the variety of genres is coming, don't worry…thanks for replying. Gives a writer a fuzzy feeling.
Chapter Two - Get Schooled
After a week, Inuyasha could walk again. Kagome studied dutifully with Kaede-baba on using her miko powers for healing. She managed to shorten Inuyasha's healing time by a few days. A few youkai had attacked the village in search of the Shikon no Tama, but Kaede's barrier held strong; at any rate, Miroku and Kagome worked together to defend the village while Sango and Inuyasha were incapacitated.
Kagome switched her living space and attentions from Inuyasha to Sango. Although Sango was still very weak, she had enough strength to smack Miroku and sense when he was groping her; he would take advantage of that as soon as he could. Also, she wanted to avoid the awkwardness of sleeping in the same vicinity as Inuyasha while he was nearly healed.
"Kagome? Are you there?" Sango moaned one evening as she stirred. Kagome looked up from the textbook she was studying.
"Rest, Sango! Don't move." Kagome massaged her friend gently into a calm relaxation. She concentrated on what Kaede had told her about dulling pain, a sort of spiritual anesthesia. Sango's tension unwound almost instantly.
"Thanks," she sighed. "My whole body…it aches. It hurts."
"I understand."
"How is Inuyasha?" mumbled Sango.
"He's fine. He's walking again."
"That's good to hear. I also heard the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls is complete."
"Yes. Our quest is over. Naraku is dead."
"Are you going to keep the jewel?" Sango asked, turning over on her side to face Kagome, who had sat herself back a bit.
"I…I don't know. I think so. I was born with it. I guess it only makes sense that I keep it."
"Is Inuyasha going to make his wish on it? Will he become a full youkai?"
Kagome had completely forgotten about the purpose Inuyasha had been with her this year and half. He could have killed her for it, if Kaede hadn't been quick with her rosary charm. Thinking of the rosary charm, Kagome wondered if it was really necessary any more. Would he want it taken off if she returned to her time? These questions that had been pushed aside or not even posed took up the forefront of her mind.
"I don't know," sighed Kagome. "I hope not. I really hope he won't want that. I don't know if I would give it to him."
"Me too. Who knows what will happen?"
A moment of silence passed before Kagome closed her eyes.
"I'm going to go back home tomorrow. If all goes well, you probably won't see me for a very long time."
"What? Kagome-chan, are you saying you are through here?" asked Sango with mournful eyes.
"I am. Naraku is gone and the Jewel is complete. All of my reasons for being here have been fulfilled."
"What about Inuyasha?" asked Sango earnestly.
"What about him?" said Kagome, gritting her teeth, trying to sound casual.
"I…in my mind, I cannot envision the two of you apart like that. I cannot. Not for Kikyou, not for Houjo Akitoki or Kouga. It just doesn't seem right."
"Well, it's Inuyasha's wish, isn't it?"
"Who said that?"
"Well, it's my wish, then," said Kagome with a bit of irritation at herself. "I want to go back to school and have all my old dreams back. I was really smart in school, Sango! That was a long time ago. I still want to become a veterinarian and a movie star's wife. Or something like that."
"I don't know what any of that means, but I guess if it makes you more content than your companionship with Inuyasha, that is what is best for you, Kagome-chan."
"Right," sighed Kagome. "Thank you, Sango-chan, for everything. Your friendship has meant a lot to me. I hope you will have a very happy life and I can visit you from time to time."
"Hie," said Sango, closing her eyes, a small tear being shed.
"Rest tonight, Sango," said Kagome, lying down in her sleeping bag and zipping up the cover. "We'll be sad tomorrow, okay?"
"Kagome, I'll miss you a lot," cried Shippou, tiny tears pouring down his cheeks. It was dark the next night, but she still saw the tears reflecting in the early moonlight. He rubbed them away with his small hands. "Promise you'll visit."
"I promise. You'll be happy staying with Miroku and Sango, right? And you'll behave?"
"Yes, I will."
"Good. Here," she said, opening her backpack. Inside was a large bag of suckers and chocolate. She gave it all to the kitsune who eyed it dolefully. "This is all yours. Don't eat it all at once, I won't be back with more for a long time."
Shippou hugged her tightly in response.
"Get off of her," grunted Inuyasha. He was in a bad mood. "You can't just go around like that with women. You're too old for that, Shippou."
"Really, now, Inuyasha," said Kagome with annoyance. She gave Shippou a last kiss on the forehead before he bounded back to Sango's feet. She had already exchanged bows with Miroku and a hug with Sango. All that was left was Inuyasha's farewell.
They stood opposite each other for a moment, just looking at each other, not sure what to do.
"Well, go already," he waved her away. "I want to get some sleep tonight."
"Fine," she sighed, not letting the tears in her eyes get the best of her. "Have a good life, Inuyasha." She grabbed an arrow out of her quiver. Inuyasha didn't even flinch when she brought it close to his neck; he simply sniffed curiously.
"What are you doing?" he asked. She grabbed the cord of the rosary and ran it along the edge of the arrowhead, snapping it. The beads glowed a light purple before falling to the ground, useless. He gasped, disbelieving. "Kagome!"
"You're released. You won't have to worry about me saying…" she paused and watched him brace himself, "…'osuwari' ever again." He opened his eyes, but he hadn't even been so much as tripped.
"Say it again," he demanded.
"Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari. Sit, boy," she commanded. Nothing happened. He simply stared at her in wonder. She gave a small, pained smile.
"Good bye, Kagome," chanted three of her traveling companions. Inuyasha was still spellbound in watching her. She leapt over the side of the well into the darkness.
She had crept up to bed that night and slept soundly without even waking her brother. In the morning, her mother greeted and welcomed her home.
"How long are you staying for?" asked her mother. "Do you need anything?"
"Mom, you're talking as though the Sengoku Jidai is my new home," sighed Kagome. "No, I'm going to stay over here. I'm not going back for a long time. School starts in a week! I can't be absent for another day or I'll never graduate."
"You're not going back?" cried Souta. "Wha-what about Brother Inu?"
"Inuyasha belongs in his own time," said Kagome. "And I belong here with all of you."
"It's a shame, really," sighed her mother. "Such a nice boy has to live in such a volatile time period."
"He can handle himself."
"Who will protect you, Kagome?" asked Souta.
"I—I can protect myself, baka!" Kagome snapped at her little brother.
"Kagome, be nice. Besides, it's very lucky you came back today," said her mother. "The school board has scheduled a hearing for you today."
"A hearing?" asked Kagome in surprise, nearly dropping her cereal bowl. "Why? What did I do?"
"It's more like what you didn't do," added Grandfather. "You've been absent so much they're thinking about making you retake your last year of junior high school before you go on."
"WHAT?" cried Kagome. "This can't be happening! I can't…all my friends…"
"You'll truly have to impress them at the hearing," encouraged her mother. "Study very hard before you go."
"I will!" Kagome said, standing up suddenly. "There is no minute to spare!" She rushed upstairs and tore open her backpack, dumping everything from trinkets of the past to candy wrappers (she insisted that Shippou not throw them on the ground and litter in the past) to find her textbooks. She grabbed four of them and began poring over them in preparation for the hearing.
"Higurashi Kagome," the panel leader announced. Four officials were positioned behind a long table facing Kagome, who sat in a single desk in an otherwise empty classroom. "Why have you missed so much school?"
I've been saving the world from a vicious youkai, because of which your ancestors were saved and alive, gave birth to your grandparents who were born and exist, therefore you exist, she wanted to say. Naraku probably would have wiped the humans off the face of the earth, along with these stony-faced judges.
"I've been horridly sick," she said weakly.
"So we've seen from the colorful list the attendance office has given us. Malaria, small pox, everything from the rarest diseases to the common cold."
"It's been a horrible year. I spent the summer abroad receiving treatment from a specialist," she lied on a whim. "I should be in excellent health this year; I've never felt better."
"That's good news," said another judge. "However, your progress last year in your studying has been greatly hindered. It may be in your best interest to repeat the year."
"Oh, please, no!" Kagome cried. "I mean, I don't think that's necessary."
"Why is that?"
"I…I can handle the next year. I very much want to go onto high school and graduate with my friends. I have a tutor that can give me extra help." She thought of Houjo-kun and his valiant efforts.
"A tutor is a good show of effort," a third official spoke. "If the student has the dedication to work hard enough."
"She has lots of dedication!" a voice from the door.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped, hoping her eyes didn't fall out of her head in surprise.
There was the hanyou in his red haori, a baseball cap, and Tetsusaiga at his side. He gave the impression that he had knocked down the door, though he had only flung it open.
"Excuse me? Who are you?" asked the first judge, irritated at the interruption.
"I'm a witness on Kagome's behalf, that's who," said Inuyasha with spite. "She works really hard."
"Why do you say that?" asked the last judge, humoring him.
"I've been with her while she's away. It's annoying how much homework she does. Her nose is always in one of those big books. She tries as hard as she can to get away and go to school. I try not to let her, but she insists. Always taking those 'tests' or whatever. So she's really smart. You have to let her stay in school. Let her do what she wants."
"Although I don't improve of this intrusion," the first official said tritely, "your track record speaks for you. You have had outstanding marks until this year. The test you took today demonstrates that you at least have a picture of what was taught in your curriculum. I think that through tight discipline you should be able to manage your first year of high school. Make use of your tutor and try not to be absent anymore."
"Arigato!" she cried, clutching the sides of the desk. "Thank you so much."
"That will be all, Higurashi. You may leave now."
Kagome left the room quickly, dragging Inuyasha by the sleeve of his red Firerat cloak. After the door had been closed, she flung herself into Inuyasha's arms, embracing him tightly.
"Get—get a grip, Kagome," Inuyasha mumbled, blushing and pushing her away.
"I passed! I passed, I can go into high school! Thank you for speaking for me! Thank you so much Inuyasha! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so happy I could dance all the way home!" she cried, jumping up and running down the hall. Inuyasha easily kept stride with her.
"You never thanked me that much for saving your life before," he barked at her.
"Oh, this is much more important than life or death," said Kagome breathlessly. She jumped an entire flight of stairs and fell over. Inuyasha picked her up and set her back on her feet, to which she immediately started running again. She was out of the school and she took a deep breath.
"YESSSS!" she cried, waving her hands around.
"Calm down, wench," Inuyasha chided.
"Oh, Inuyasha," said Kagome suddenly, stopping in her tracks. "Why are you here?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, looking away.
"I mean, we said our good byes. I'm meant to go to high school now. I can't see you everyday like before."
"I came here because I want to stay here with you," he said.
"Inuyasha," gasped Kagome. Is he admitting something? Will he confess his feelings? But his next words deflated her hope.
"If you get killed and the Shikon Jewel is stolen, then that creates problems for me."
"So you still want the stupid jewel," sighed Kagome.
"Wasn't that what this was all about in the first place?"
"Yes," said Kagome with irritation. "I thought we established that I would guard it. There aren't any youkai in my time period, Inuyasha, nothing's threatening me."
"What about the Noh mask?" Inuyasha shot back. "Stuff like that is bound to crop up. I doubt you'll be able to fight a weak youkai with those miko powers of yours."
"Speaking of miko," spat Kagome, "shouldn't you be chasing after Kikyou?" She watched his reaction carefully. His eyes narrowed.
"Shouldn't you be having Kouga's ugly brats?" He eyed her just as intently.
"Shouldn't you be sniffing some other dog's butt?"
"Shouldn't you be working the corner tonight?"
"Baka!" she shouted furiously. She almost called out 'osuwari', but remembered she had broke the rosary.
"Whore," he mumbled.
"Where are you going, anyway?" she glared at him.
"Where I sleep when I'm on this side. In your house."
"Nuh uh. I am not sleeping under the same roof as you." She spotted a bench on the sidewalk that they treaded upon. She sat down, crossed her legs, and turned up her nose.
"Wench, you can't sleep on the street," he argued. Immediately she regretted her words. He was only showing concern for her. At least she hoped it was her and not the Shikon no Tama.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I can't believe I let you make me mad on the happiest day of my life." She sighed, looking down at the signature on the paper that said she could advance. "I'm sorry I said cruel things."
"Hmph," he said, but he brought his nose down from its lofty height. It was far too much to hope for that he would apologize in turn, but she would settle for him accepting her own apology. "Let's get home. Your mom has dinner waiting."
"How do you know?" she asked, surprised. "Can you smell it all the way from here?"
"There are a million smells in this city. I can only smell you right now."
"Oh."
"The first place I looked for you was in your house. Your mom said you were at school and they were going to kick you out for not studying. I had to say something because the idea that you don't study is worth shit. Your mom was making dinner last I saw. She told me to fetch you if I could."
"Thank you, Inuyasha," she said. "For sticking up for me."
"Keh. Why are we standing here?" he asked. Kagome stood under the alcove for the bus stop.
"We need to catch the bus to get back home. I can't walk that far. It'll take all night."
"Weakling. Get on my back," grumbled he. She obliged, sat, and grasped his shoulders, glad she was able to fly like this again. They bounded over the buildings. She felt like Mary Jane with Spider-man from those comic books Souta read that Kagome sneaked from time to time. Except there was no messy web with this. She saw her family's home in the shrine on the outskirts of the city. Inuyasha leapt high and landed easily on the ground. Kagome hopped off of his back.
"Come on!" she cried, grabbing his hand. "We have to tell them the good news."
After a lovely, congratulatory meal of red rice, Inuyasha revealed that he intended to stay with Kagome.
"Oh, you must stay here at the shrine!" Mrs. Higurashi exclaimed. "You are most welcome."
"Th-thank you?" Inuyasha choked out. The words were mostly unfamiliar to his tongue.
"Kagome, Inuyasha must be enrolled in your school."
"Wha…?" cried Inuyasha, falling over. "No, I'm not going to no school, lady."
"Inuyasha!" exclaimed Kagome. "This is your chance of a lifetime. You can get a good education here. EVERYONE goes to school."
"I don't want to go to no school!"
"How are you supposed to protect me if you can't even be where I am for half the day, huh? What are you going to do, wait outside all day?"
"I…I…" he stammered. "I can't even read."
"Hmm, that is a problem," said Kagome. "I think I can solve it, though."
"Rub this, Inuyasha, it brings good luck," said Grandfather, holding out a bone of some sort. "It's a rabbit youkai foot. Verrry lucky. I rubbed it this morning when I entered that contest for a trip to Hawaii!"
"Jii-chan…" Mrs. Higurashi warned.
"I think…I think I can help you, Inuyasha. Come up to my room. Thanks for dinner, mom, it was delicious!" Kagome dragged Inuyasha by the wrist up to her room.
"What the hell is this, Kagome?" asked Inuyasha, aggravated by the fact he had been led away from food. "You can't teach me your whole life's worth of learning in a few days."
"A charm…a charm Kaede taught me," said Kagome, rummaging through the contents of the items she had dumped on the floor that morning from her backpack. She found it among the candy wrappers. It was a bracelet with a few beads on it, clicking together as she jangled it. "But it needs my teeth…and I'm not going to knock my own out. Oh wait!" She cried out again and rummaged through the desk until she found the little box with her baby teeth in it. She strung the old teeth into the bracelet.
"What are you doing?" asked Inuyasha as she began to tie the bracelet on his wrist.
"It's a spiritual connection," said Kagome. "Kaede uses a bracelet like this when she has a patient and doesn't know what's wrong with him. A piece of jewelry like a necklace or a bracelet made with the giver's teeth creates a bond between the wearer and the giver. She only uses it for a moment, though, to learn where the pain is and how to treat it. I think it'll work if I can give you the knowledge in my brain."
"I don't want you doing nothing funny to my brain, Kagome," Inuyasha warned.
"I'm going to make you much smarter, Inuyasha. Just trust me." With that command, he was unable to resist her.
"Fine. Do your miko thing."
"Okay. Put your hand here." They were sitting upon the bed. Kagome knelt beside him. She positioned his hand over her forehead, palm gently cupped around. She fiddled with the beads and concentrated on her kindergarten, whizzing over the memories of her class, not what she had actually learned, but what the teacher had said, what she had read, and everything that should have soaked through in her subconscious memories. She did the same for first grade, second, third…the end of primary school…
"Kagome!" Inuyasha called. Too late, she was deep in her memories, months flying by. He tried to yank his hand away, but she held fast to his hand. Just two more years…what was time anyway?…sixth grade was gone…
"Kagome! Kagome, stop it! Wake up!" So far away.
Seventh grade…
"Inuyasha, is she okay?"
"I don't know, she won't stop! She's in a trance or something."
Then eighth grade…it was over…she was done…it was all she could remember. She blacked out on her carpet.
"Kagome." A voice came from somewhere above her. Fluffiness surrounded her and a warm, wet towel was on her forehead. "Wake up. Kagome."
"Inu…yasha?" Kagome yawned. She didn't open her eyes. "Did I fall asleep?"
"You blacked out, baka. You exhausted yourself."
"What was I doing?"
"You were doing something with this bracelet on my wrist."
"Kagome, are you okay?" a warm female voice asked next.
"Yeah, I'm just really sleepy, Mom," Kagome said quietly.
"We'll let you get your rest, then. Souta, Father, let's go. Let's leave Inuyasha and Kagome alone, he'll take care of her."
"Okay," the other voices agreed begrudgingly. She heard feet shuffling out the door and it being snapped shut.
"Are you still here, Inuyasha?" she asked. She waved her hand around hoping to grasp something. She still didn't want to open her eyes. Her hand first smacked the side of his face, then his ear. He grabbed her hand first roughly, then tenderly.
"Yeah, where'd you think I went? I don't have a room."
"You can use mine as long as you like."
"Hmph."
"Did it work?" she asked.
"What?"
"The…thingy. Did it work?"
"I didn't know what the hell you were doing Kagome, except scaring everyone. You hold my hand on your forehead for an hour, then you start to sort of convulse…scared the hell out of me."
"Are you okay, Inuyasha?"
"I'm fine. Are you?"
"Just tired. Can you reach one of my textbooks?"
"You're going to study at a time like this?"
"No, you are."
"Kagome, I can't read."
"Open the book. Do you understand it?"
"Well, I can't see it. It's very dark in here, it's nighttime now."
"Turn on the light, baka," sighed Kagome.
"Light? Turned on? You're the baka. There aren't any candles in here, and I know because I don't smell wax."
"Near my door. There is a switch, a white thingy sticking out. Put your finger under it and push it up. Not hard."
"Damn ninja light," he muttered as it came on.
"Look at the words in the textbook. Read me what it says, Inuyasha."
"I'm telling you, I can't—wait. What is this?"
"What?"
"I can understand it. That word is 'atom', that one is 'is'. 'An atom is the smallest whole particle of an element.' I understood that sentence."
"What does it mean?"
"An atom is the single unit of an element," explained Inuyasha. From the tone in his voice he was no longer reading the text book. "…as a opposed to a compound, the other kind of pure substance, which has its smallest particle being a molecule."
"I think that's right, Inuyasha. Keep reading."
"Compounds are chemically combined and cannot be separated using physical means. Typically the characteristics of an element in a compound are completely different than the same element not part of the compound. For example, NaCl, or salt, is…Kagome?"
"Zzzzzz," was the response.
"What happened to me?" he asked. He flicked the switch again, and the ninja light vanished, leaving him in the dark. He tried the switch at her desk table, turned the light on there and read into the night.