Chapter 8

"I'm so happy! I aced my math test!" Kikyo said excitedly at lunch.

"Nice" Sesshomaru replied, trying his best to sound positive despite the fact that he was failing his math class. He stuck his chopsticks into his tray and began shoveling rice into his mouth. The whole Jakotsu thing was still bugging him.

"It was so weird too, because I didn't have time to study and I forgot to write notes…god must really like me," Kikyo continued in a chatty tone. She suddenly stopped talking and looked Sesshomaru in the face. "What's the matter? You seem a little out of it."

"Uh…it's nothing" Sesshomaru lied. "Just hate Mondays, that's all."

"Oh. Well anyways…"

As Kikyo blabbed on about grades and school, Sesshomaru stared across the cafeteria and noticed Jaken whispering to some of his other friends and pointing at him from the table where Sesshomaru used to sit. Then he saw Jaken get up and head towards him and Kikyo.

"…so with three AP classes, I'll probably be able to sustain my 4.0 GPA, assuming I get an 'A' in each--"

"Hey Sesshy" Jaken said, interrupting Kikyo. He took a seat next to his old buddy and grinned. "When were you going to introduce me to your new girlfriend, huh?"

Sesshomaru felt a blush creep up onto his cheeks. "Um…Kikyo, this is my good friend Jaken. Jaken, this is Kikyo."

"Pleasure to meet you Kikyo" Jaken said, shaking her hand. "You sure are pretty."

"I know" Kikyo said, smiling.

Jaken chuckled, then leaned in towards Sesshomaru. "How'd you finally win her heart?" he whispered into his friend's ear. "She rejected you the first time, didn't she?"

"Oh, I have my ways" Sesshomaru whispered back, not wanting to re-tell the entire story of how they hooked up.

"What are you boys talking about that you have to whisper?" Kikyo asked.

"Nothing" Jaken replied simply. "Hey Sesshy, you and Kikyo are welcome to sit with us if you'd like."

Sesshomaru looked over at Kikyo then back at Jaken. "Nah, we'll just hang out here. But thanks for offering."

"I see…wanna be alone with the chick, eh? Well, see ya later then. I always have my cell on, so feel free to give me a holla."

Sesshomaru nodded, and after doing the handshake that guys often did, Jaken returned to the other table.

"That friend of yours is quite charming" Kikyo commented, taking a bite out of her turkey and cheese sandwich.

"Yeah, he's one of a kind" Sesshomaru replied, starting to gather up his things.

"You're leaving?"

"Um…yeah, I have to go. See you after school" Sesshomaru said, leaning across the table to kiss Kikyo's cheek.

She smiled and watched him go, wondering what could suddenly cause him to leave with such haste. Sesshomaru headed out of the cafeteria and down a corridor, not exactly sure why he felt the need to leave. Maybe being with Kikyo was overwhelming him a bit. He had fantasized about this ever since Kikyo transferred to the high school, and now that he had her it just wasn't the same. All of a sudden his thoughts were interrupted, because Jakotsu had popped in out of nowhere (he was getting good at that).

"Where are you going, handsome?" he asked in his girly voice. His face was right in front of Sesshomaru's, a little too close…

"Just…somewhere. I dunno" Sesshomaru mumbled, trying to push past the love-struck boy.

"Mmm, I suspect that someone needs a hug" Jakotsu said, moving into his path and almost stepping on Sesshomaru's feet.

Sesshomaru, about to trip, instinctively grabbed Jakotsu for support and immediately regretted it. Jakotsu blushed slightly and took Sesshomaru's hands in his own. His eyes glittered. Disgusted, Sesshomaru pulled his hands away from Jakotsu roughly and shoved past him.

"You'll miss me!" Jakotsu shouted behind him. "No one can last long without some love! Someday you'll come crying to me, wishing me to take you back…"

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes. The guy had totally lost his mind. He walked into his next class, finding the room quite empty. But as he took a seat, he realized that someone else was there that he never expected to see…Akiko. She had her binder out and was furiously scribbling down notes, obviously getting a head start like she always did. Sesshomaru eyed her wearily, taking out his own stuff and pretending to work. But he just couldn't concentrate. He couldn't help but notice Akiko's slumped form and sleep-deprived eyes. She just wasn't herself, and Sesshomaru knew that it was his fault. I should go apologize he thought, getting up. He strode over casually, just as he did after class when he asked her to the dance. Akiko didn't seem to notice him, or if she did she was purposely ignoring him.

"Um…hey" Sesshomaru said.

Akiko squinted at her paper for a few seconds, said "Aha!" and wrote something down, not paying any attention to the guy standing right in front of her desk.

"Look Akiko, I know you're mad at me, ok? I came to apologize" Sesshomaru continued, hoping she would quit her act and listen. Amazingly, she did. Akiko put down her pencil and looked up at him, her eyebrows still furrowed from concentrating so hard.

"I just want to say that I'm really sorry about last night. I acted like a complete jerk, using you like that. I won't lie to you—there was a hot chick I was trying to make jealous, and I couldn't find any other girl that would go with me to the dance. You were the only one that accepted" Sesshomaru blurted out all at once, wanting to get everything off his chest. "I didn't expect you to find out about my plan, but you did and it was completely wrong of me. Whether or not you realized it shouldn't have mattered, because either way I was being an ass. I want to be friends with you. You're really a sweet person, and I think we should start fresh. What do you say? Do you forgive me?" he asked, staring at Akiko for a response, or any reaction at all.

Akiko reached up and pulled earphones out of her ears. Sesshomaru's heart dropped. She didn't hear anything I said!

Then she neatly put away her binder, pencil, and loose paper, put on her backpack and walked out of the room without a word. Sesshomaru just stood there, staring blankly at an empty seat. He had no idea how angry he had made her! He was so bad at judging women's feelings.

"What did you do to her this time?" came Uchiro-sensee's voice.

Sesshomaru turned around to face his math teacher. "I didn't mean to…I mean, I didn't think my actions would have this kind of effect!"

"Tsk tsk! Guys never think before they act" said Uchiro-sensee. "Now I'm no counselor, but I am a guy too and I've had similar experiences. So here's a little advice. First of all, women are very sensitive. So never say something to a girl that you wouldn't say to your mom. Secondly, they are very hard to predict. Just go with the flow of things, and if you sense danger then back away. Don't get lured into a false sense of security just because the girl is 'hot', or whatever guys these days refer to them as. This is just my advice, and you can choose whether to accept it or not. I'm sure you've gotten imput about such things from others as well, whether they be your parents or friends."

"You should be a counselor" Sesshomaru said. "You're so good at it."

"You know, maybe when I'm old and retired I'll become one" Uchiro-sensee chuckled. "So, I'm guessing this had something to do with last Friday's dance?"

Sesshomaru nodded.

"High school is full of hook-ups and break-ups. Just expect the worst and trust me, you'll live through it."

Suddenly bell rang, and students slowly began filing into the room.

"Thanks for the advice" Sesshomaru said with a smile, then returned to his seat.

The rest of the day went by quite fast, and already the last bell of the day was heard. Sesshomaru walked out the double doors to the front of the school and was heading to the parking lot when he remembered that his car had been stolen the other night. Oh yeah he thought dismally. He changed directions and headed to the bike racks instead, where he had locked up his bike. On the way he spotted Kikyo, sitting on the curb, waiting for someone.

"Kikyo!" Sesshomaru called, waving at her as he approached.

Kikyo stood up and strode over to him. "You'd better explain yourself, buddy" she said sternly.

Sesshomaru looked at her quizically. "What did I do?"

"You know exactly what you did. Don't try and deny it! You ditched me at lunch to be with someone else!"

The realization of Jakotsu clinging to him at lunch struck like a thunderbolt. Shit! She saw that?

"You look surprised. Did you think I was just going to let you go without figuring out why you were leaving so suddenly?" Kikyo questioned.

"It wasn't what it looked like!" Sesshomaru said hastily, not wanting Kikyo getting the wrong idea. "I don't even know that guy. He's just some weirdo that has an unhealthy obsession with other people. I swear, it's nothing!"

Kikyo eyed him suspiciously. "If you're lying to me, I'll kick your ass."

"I'm not! Seriously" Sesshomaru insisted.

But Kikyo still didn't look satisfied. "Prove it" she stated bluntly.

Sesshomaru grinned sheepishly. Uhhh…prove it? For a few moments he just stood there like an idiot staring into Kikyo's face. Then suddenly it became obvious what she wanted. Duh! Why didn't I think of that in the first place? Sesshomaru thought, internally smacking himself. He took Kikyo's head in his hands and kissed her. Kikyo responded by wrapping her arms around Sesshomaru's neck, kissing back passionately. He knew that was what she wanted. Their embrace tightened, and Sesshomaru's hands made their way to Kikyo's hair. They had created their own little bubble, isolating them from the rest of the world. Neither wanted the moment to end.