Summaru: The second year starts and there is a new guy at the High School.
Sequel to Coffee Break
A/N: This is a gift for Ruddcatha. I hope you enjoy it!
This is a sequel to the infamous attempt at High School AU from the crackiest of all the foxes. Actually, a sequel is probably a bad word, but its a series of little shorts that make a plot of sorts.
Coffee Break: New School Year
Spring warmth was seeping into the old building of the school from the outside, finding its way through the opened windows inside the classrooms. The corridors were full of young people, who were chatting and greeting old friends. The first year students were making new friends and trying to find their classes.
Higurashi Kagome walked among the crowds with a happy smile on her face, clutching at the strap of her book bag. Wisps of stray hair flew from the neat bun secured on top of her head with a pair of kanzashi that resembled two miniature katana stuck in her hair do.
The first day classes were over and the students were either starting cleaning the classrooms and corridors or going to socialize in the clubs. Kagome was walking towards one of the club rooms, the one she knew would house a certain person. She was almost to the door with the name tag 'History Club' stuck to it when Rin found her and grabbed her free hand.
"Kagome!" the petite beauty called out happily. "Long time no seen!"
"Hello, Rin," Kagome couldn't help, but smile. With the students around, most of the staff used last names or at least honorifics, but Rin would be cross if Kagome tried to add one or address her by anything else than her first name. Kagome guessed that since they were friends - and were going to be family in a few months - it was okay to drop the formalities on the corridor like that.
"There's a new guy!" the math teacher whispered - well, more like squealed to be heard over a gaggle of girls passing by and carrying what looked like a...
"Was that a ..." Kagome's mind clearly didn't register Rin's announcement. The English teacher stared after the girls, one or two cast a glance back at her and bowed their heads before carrying on, giggling and chatting with the rest. Most of them were human, some were youkai, there was even a hanyou girl among them, a bat, judging by the looks of it. Rin pouted at seeing Kagome staring at them and not paying attention to her exciting bit of news.
"They made it for their favorite teacher," she said, a hint of teasing in her voice. She quickly cheered up when Kagome scowled.
One of the girls knocked at the door and when it opened, it revealed a tall man with broad shoulders and a messy man bun of silver hair, dog ears sticking out of it. His golden eyes widened when he laid his gaze upon the thing between the giggling girls.
"A gift, Akita-sensei!" said one of the students. "From the Art Club to the History Club."
Inuyasha scratched behind his ear with a hand. Kagome noticed that tidbit because her fiancee had this habit of doing it with his foot if he had a chance.
"A paper machete coffee mug that looks just like mine? And what are we supposed to do with it?" he asked, bewildered. He glanced up over the meter tall structure and saw Kagome and Rin standing there and watching the show, as were many other present nearby. He scowled at the wide audience. "Keh! Let's haul it in, we can put in it the dry flowers the Gardening Club dumped in our room half an hour ago."
.
Kagome waled briskly down a corridor. Only a few stragglers of the student variety were around, hurrying to finish their assignments and leave the building. Kagome was carrying a bunch of papers, smiling as she was done for the day already. Just a minute ago her meeting with the English club ended. The club was a new one, created for all the students interested in broadening their language skills and knowledge of the western culture, especially movies and literature. They ha planned the look of the club room for the year, the students wanted to hang their favorite quotes from movies on the walls and Kagome was pretty excited to see what they will bring the net time they meet.
So deep in thought she was that she didn't have time to dodge when a person came from a corridor to the left of the main one she was walking in.
'Oh!" she she gasped as she stumbled back after colliding with a tall man with broad shoulders. Her papers scattered everywhere as she looked up to the man. He was dressed in a formal suit, his dark hair neatly brushed, his face pretty handsome. He looked startled himself, then concerned when he saw her sitting on the floor.
'Oh, my, I'm so sorry!" he apologized and bent down to offer her a hand to help her up. 'I didn't look where I was going... Are you okay/"
"Kagome!" at the same time a petite woman walked from behind the man, hurrying to the rising English teacher. "I'm so sorry, I guess I stole all Hojo-san's attention!"
Uh, it's okay," Kagome ran her hand over her skirt to brush some dust off of it. Her butt hurt a bit.
"This is Hojo Akitoki, our new computer science teacher," Rin introduced the man. "And this is Higurashi Kagome, our English teacher."
"It's nice to meet you," Kagome giggled because they both said the same words and bowed at the same time.
"Once again, apologies for knocking you off of your feet," Hojo offered and scratched the back of his head. "I'm not that air-headed to run into people usually."
"Oh, it's okay," Kagome turned to gather her papers. "But if you don't mind, I'd not say 'no' to some help with this."
"Of course!" with three people on the task,, the papers were collected in no time at all. That done, the pair went on their way towards the common room. Kagome glanced at them as they turned a corner, smiling when she noticed a particular awestruck look in the new teacher's face. Then she walked to her office to leave her papers there and join the assembling teachers for the first coffee this school year.
Sango and Miroku sat at the window of the common room, each with a cup of their favorite drink. Neither of them spoke, obviously enjoying the easy silence after the whole day of meeting old and new students. Kagome smiled at them, after the who kidnapping incident the pair seemed to at last have some peace and space to be together. Sango smiled brightly at her and the biology teacher at her side gave her a nod, his own smile shining in his dark eyes.
She waved a hand at them as she was closing the door and was about to make a bee line towards the electric kettle on them. The other teachers were almost all already in the common room as well, Rin was filling the electric kettle for the next round of coffee, Hojo picking a spare cup from the assortment in the cupboard.
Kagome made her way there as well and snatched the pair of giant mugs from a shelf.
"These are big," Hojo commented pleasantly.
"Yeah, they are," Kagome put a pouch of handmade cookies in the white one before placing it back on its spot, then she went to put coffee in her own. Hojo blinked at her actions. "This one is mine, the white one is..."
Guess who brought gingerbread!"called a cheerful voice from the doorway. Kagome turned and saw Ayame walking in with a box of heavenly smelling food. The arrival of cake in the hands of the red-haired wolf caused a flutter of action as the gingerbread got divided and handed off. Kagome returned to her mug just in time to get it filled with water by Rin. She nodded her thanks for the other woman and then noticed Hojo near her, hugging his cup of coffee and looking at Ayame a bit warily.
"I'm not used to youkai," he shrugged when he caught her eye, a sheepish expression on his face. "I guess I'll have to get used to it."
"Yeah, we have lots of youkai and hanyou here at the school," Miroku, sitting nearby, nodded at that. "I believe you are sharing the office with a hanyou, if you have the same one Nazuna had?"
"I haven't met Akita-san yet, but I heard he is a hanyou," Hojo nodded. Kagome grinned, and took a sip of her coffee, the divine liquid so good after a whole day of work.
"He hates sitting there," she said. "In his office, I mean. You'll meet him soon."
"Ah yes, he prefers to roam the corridors in search of his stolen coffee mug," Miroku teased.
"Hey, I don't borrow his mug nowadays!" Kagome defended herself, blushing when her friends snickered at her expanse.
"That's good, because I plan to use it" barked a voice from the doorway and Kagome turned to see her favorite historian stepping inside. "On alert, the ancient crone is just behind me!"
"I believe I have some purifying salt in my pocket somewhere," Kaede shook her head, stepping inside the room after the hanyou, "I believe it might be educative to see if it works on hanyou.."
"Keh!" Inuyasha smirked and pulled a chair for the principal. Kagome smiled as she watched him make a bee line towards the white mug in the cabinet.
His ears twitched cutely when he curiously inspected the pouch and then smelled it carefully. Then he gave her an amused look and tied it back before putting it in his pocket.
"What was that this time?" Sango asked. When he merely shrugged and went to make his drink, she looked to Kagome, who mouthed 'puppy biscuits'.
.
Hojo was definitely smitten by Rin, Kagome was sure of it. Not even a month passed since the new year started and he asked the math teacher on a date.
"He wants to go to a museum with me," Rin informed Kagome, a light blush of excitement on her face.
"Ah, that's awesome!" Kagome grinned at her. They were the first ones to arrive at the common room and used this chance to chat a bit.
Seeing Rin with sparkling eyes and a big smile, Kagome was happy for her. Hojo was a nice person, a bit prone to being an air-head, but he meant well. He was not prejudiced to youkai and hanyou, but he was still skittish around more explosive ones, like the janitor Kouga or Inuyasha. That was nothing strange, since Hojo had been living in an area where there had been few youkai among the population, but Kagome was sure he was going to get used to it easily enough.
To be honest, a part of her hoped to see him meet Rin's dad before he got used to meeting youkai.
.
Karma struck not even a day after Kagome thought that, and she got started by a youkai herself.
She opened the door to Inuyasha's little house, planning on letting herself in and making some real food for him to eat for a change, before he came back from driving Sango home. The PE teacher's car was in a shop, so Inuyasha was helping her get home. Miroku had offered at first, but Sango had objected to riding on the back seat of his bicycle.
Kagome opened the door to the house and walked in, kicking off her shoes and putting her bag on the table near the door. Then, carrying the bags of ingredients, she went to the kitchen.
She put the bags on the counter and turned around when she heard a noise,ready to see Inuyasha who probably had gotten home before her.
"Ah!" she gasped when she saw a man standing in the door, silver hair falling over his shoulders and the t-shirt and sweatpants combo of comfiness..
He lacked dog ears. He also lacked a moon on his forehead. Which left only one male from the Akita family. The one she'd never seen in normal clothes before.
"Hey, soon-to-be daughter-in-law." Touga greeted her with a grin. "Did you buy some meat per chance? My son has only instant noodle here.
"Why... why are you here, Akita-san?" she asked when her heart started to beat slower.
"I came to visit," Touga shrugged. "I hope I didn't ruin any romantic night plans?"
"What? Oh, no, no," Kagome hated how hard she blushed at that. "I just wanted to make him a real dinner."
"Gods sent you to deliver my son from the foul instant noodle addiction," he grinned. "If I help, may I be included among the lucky ones to taste your cooking?"
Kagome laughed at that. "Of course, Akita-sama," she said, but he wagged a finger at her.
"You can call me by my nae or as father," he demanded. "Or you may address me as the great Inu no Taisho."
That last sentence was added with a mischievous glint in his eye, the one she'd seen often in Inuyasha's face.
"Okay then, let's start on the dinner before Inuyasha comes in and stops us," she said and together they started unpacking the bags.
.
Hojo sat in the common room, alone and cradling his latte as if it was the only solace in his life. She knew that pose well, she'd seen and performed it many times before. There were just some days that were bad. Hair didn't want to obey you. Students, usually so obedient, students became willful. A podcast you followed for years ended and you didn't know what to do.
The only difference was that Hojo sat in the corner of the room, sighing over his latte of solitude and gloom.
"What's wrong, Hojo-kun?" Kagome asked, concerned. He was usually so perky. She walked closer and sat near him, ready to provide support.
"I saw... You know..." he sighed yet again. "I went to fetch Rin-chan fro her office to have coffee together and... She was having a guest. A man."
Uh-oh. The weeks after their first museum date the pair had been pretty clearly headed towards the relationship land. Kagome felt sorry for the poor guy, but not for long. She was pretty sure it was but a misunderstanding.
"Oh, it was probably a parent," she waved a hand. "People sometimes come to talk to us in private about their kids."
"No, it wasn't that... I overheard the... I didn't mean to, but the door was cracked," he said, still not lifting his head. "He reminded her that they were meeting this Saturday. You know, I invited her to go for a movie with me, but she declined and... Is she seeing someone else?" he finally looked up and Kagome smiled at him brightly.
"Ah, it had to be her dad them," she said. "He visits her when he's in the area and they go to the opera and such."
"Oh," the gloom cloud lifted form Hojo's brow. "That's... That is pretty cool. I never knew she had such a great relationship with her father, she never speaks about him."
Kagome grinned, a bit wickedly, as she pointed to the doorway. It was her Inuyasha side talking when she spoke.
"He is living pretty far away and visits rarely," she informed him. "You should go and introduce yourself. He's very protective of her and would probably like to know the man taking his little girl on dates."
"You're sure it's okay to disturb their meeting?" Hojo asked, sitting straight.
"Of course. I'm pretty sure he appreciates honorable ways of doing things and honesty," she said. It was truth. "Go, make a good first impression:
Gods, she felt bad after sending Hojo to see Sesshomaru. Like, it all was in theory right, Sesshomaru would definitely want to meet him pretty soon anyway, but she hadn't warned Hojo.
Oh well, she told herself as she went to make herself a cup of black delight, it wasn't like Hojo would faint upon seeing him. He worked here, surrounded by youkai, for over two months now.
Fifteen minutes later Hojo came in pale and moving a tad stiffly, his eyes looking straight ahead of him.
"He's a youkai," he informed her as he picked up his col latte.
"Uh," now she felt really guilty. "He'd a good guy, you know... Did it gone well?"
"Oh, yes... I think..." the coffee seemed to help, because the man relaxed and even smiled a bit. "He said that if I'll ever make Rin cry he will hunt me down and make my life a living nightmare."
"Ah, yes, the usual dad talk," Kagome said lightly, but inside shook her head. It was just like Sesshomaru to say something like that.
"And then he said he would allow happy tears," Hojo added after a second.
"See? He likes you! I told you, he appreciates honest, brave people," Kagome grinned, guilt finally lifting from her heart.
"I must learn about opera," Hojo declared. "So maybe I can impress him a bit more."
"Uh, you know, it always felt like a dad-daughter thing to me," Kagome said hesitantly.
"Oh, that makes sense," Hojo grew thoughtful. "In this case I'll impress him by learning all there is about his kin and family."
"I don't think..." Kagome started, but at the same time Inuyasha came in, scowling. "Oh, hey, what's wrong?"
"The asshole came by an told me to train him if Rin actually starts to date him," the hanyou pointed at the surprised man with whom he shared the office.
"Me? Train for what? And why you? What...?" Hojo stuttered.
"You're going out with my niece, so you better prepare to meet my brother's expectations," Inuyasha didn't sound threatening, despite the fact that his words could be read that way. He sounded like a person given an impossible task. He sighed as he sat down beside her and Kagome patted his hand to comfort him a bit.
So, maybe sending Hojo to meet Sesshomaru already wasn't the best idea, Kagome mused as she sipped her coffee. She was sure that things were going to work out in the end, even if Hojo didn't meet Sesshomaru's expectations (which, it seemed, included some intensive training overseen by Inuyasha; probably fighting or some other youkai stuff) Rin would still date him if they wanted to continue their relationship. Sesshomaru could be invincible, but he couldn't forbid his daughter anything.
This was turning out to be an eventful school year and Kagome was certain that there wasn't going to be a dull day in the high school led by old Kaede.