Teacher's Pet

Chapter 25: Stubborn Kagome

Kagome and Kanna walked to cheer practice together. By some miracle, Kanna had been able to put off reporting in to Naraku the previous day, but she knew that she would have to today. Kanna watched Kagome out of the corner of her eye.

"What is it Kanna? You're burning a hole into the side of my head." Kagome said playfully.

"You're taking all of this very well." Kanna commented.

"This?" Kagome was confused.

"You and Inuyasha and the entire school.

Kagome shrugged. "I ignore it for the most part. People are gonna talk, regardless of what happens. Might as well decide what they're talking about."

Kanna kept walking in silence. She understood what Kagome was saying, but she couldn't comprehend it. Not caring about what people said about her was something she simply couldn't do. It wasn't as if Kanna was going around searching for approval, but at the same time, she wanted people to think good things about her. Finally, she spoke, "I wanna be more like you."

Kagome shook her head. "No you don't."

"But your life is so perfect."

Kagome scoffed. "That's how it seems to people on the outside. I lost the only man who cared about me when I was a very young girl. My father took care of me, stood up for me, he protected me. He was my everything. When he was alive, I was always happy. But when he died, Sota was still a baby so I had to step up. My mother buried herself in her work because Sota and I look so much like our father. My mother keeps money in my bank account to make sure neither I nor Sota bother her."

Kanna could hear the emotion in Kagome's voice. No one would be able to tell just by looking at her that Kagome carried a lot of sadness inside of her heart.

Kagome smiled at Kanna. "Ready to cheer?"

Kanna blinked. The change of emotion in Kagome took her by surprise. "How do you…" Kanna couldn't figure it out.

"I don't like to stay sad. I put on a big girl face and continue with my life. The world isn't gonna stop for me, so I can't stop for myself."

Kanna genuinely admired Kagome for being as strong as she was. She truly wished that she had that type of strength. They entered the gym and Kagome began cheer practice like they hadn't just had the conversation they did.

"Hey Kags, what do you have planned for the day?" Sango asked after practice was over.

"Um…" Kagome bit her lip. She'd planned on keeping an eye on Kanna since she had to report back to Naraku.

"We're going out." Inuyasha came behind Kagome and put his arm around her waist.

"Yeah." Kagome quickly agreed, thankful for Inuyasha at that moment.

"Aww! That's so cute!" Sango squealed.

Kagome rolled her eyes. "If you say so." She spotted Kanna heading for the door and ran to catch up with her. "Good luck. I'll be watching you. Be vague this time until we can figure out something to tell him."

Before Kanna could as how Kagome would be watching her, she'd already disappeared. How is she gonna watch me? Kanna wondered as she walked towards Naraku's classroom. A better question is…what am I gonna tell him? Kanna could hear her heart beating in her ears. She was beyond nervous as she slowly made her way towards the door. A sigh of relief washed over Kanna as she noticed that Naraku was talking to a student.

"Just a moment Kanna. I will be with you shortly." Naraku cut his eyes at her over the top of the young girl's head he was already talking to.

"We've gotta go! Now!" Kagome threw her bag in her car.

"Why are we moving so fast?" Inuyasha asked, trying to keep pace with Kagome.

"I need to get to the house. I've gotta watch Kanna." She started her car and sped out of the parking lot.

"Wait…what?" Inuyasha grabbed the handle of the door as Kagome zoomed through the streets.

Kagome shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Just go along with it." They arrived at Sesshomaru's condo faster than usual and Kagome tossed her keys on the table. She rushed up the stairs and sat with her legs crossed in the middle of Sesshomaru's bed. She closed her eyes and focused her energy outward.

"What are you doing?" Inuyasha was at the door.

She opened one eye and flared her aura at him. "Shhh! Go watch for Sesshomaru."

Inuyasha knew not to question Kagome again, so he did what she told him to do.

""If course. You have a great chance of leaving out of here with an A." Naraku's voice.

"Oh thank you Mr. Onigumo! I was worried!" The young girl said with a smile of relief.

Naraku placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "I try to help the best way I can."

The girl nodded and left the room. Naraku turned to the board to erase what he'd written that day. "Close the door, Kagura." He heard her enter the room.

"Alright." Kagura closed the door. Naraku turned around to look at Kagura and Kanna. "Speak, girl."

Kanna looked at Naraku. The fear was evident in her eyes, but her voice was still soft, devoid of any emotion. "Kagome is handling whatever is thrown at her well."

"We know that dumb bitch!" Kagura raised her hand to strike Kanna.

"Cease!" Naraku barked. "You will no longer strike her, as you do so out of your own anger and frustrations. Kanna, give me useful information of you will be locked in the dungeon with Hakudoshi."

Kanna swallowed, hard. "She…she loves Sesshomaru. And he loves her. Taking her away from him would ruin him, and vice versa. They are their own weaknesses." She blurted out, not knowing what else to say. Of course it was true, but there was no other information to give.

Naraku frowned. "You've been with her for days and this is all you have?!" He lifted his hand and brought it down hard across Kanna's face. Her head snapped to the side and she fell onto her knees. Kagome watched as her lip split and Kanna put her hand to it, to try to stop the blood from getting on the floor since she was sure that she would have to clean it up later. Naraku's hands extended outwards and landed on Kanna's shoulders. "I will give you another week." He said, shaking her hard. "But if you don't have any useful information, I will take you to Hakudoshi." He continued to shake her.

Kagome screamed when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She let her energy flow to her hand and grabbed whoever was touching her.

"Miko! Focus!" She heard Sesshomaru growl.

Kagome finally opened her eyes. Her breathing was heavy and sweat pooled above her brow. "Oh…Sesshomaru…" she said weakly, then passed out.

She didn't know how long she'd been out. All Kagome knew was that when she woke up, there was a cold compress on her forehead. She rose from the bed slowly, hearing mumbling in the next room.

"It matters not what she wants to do. You should have been able to stop her." Sesshomaru's voice. And there was no doubt that he was angry.

"Kags is scary sometimes!" Inuyasha joked, then grunted. Sesshomaru must have punched him. "Look, she's really strong. She can handle everything she's doing. Have a little faith."

"You think it is because I lack faith in her that I do not want her to do this? No. I know she is strong, and if anyone can handle this, it is her. I just do not wish for it to be. I do not want her in danger."

"You fear for her safety just like she fears for yours. That's why she's doing this, to protect you. Give her some slack, she can really do this."

"Dammit I know she can! That is not my point! I do not want her to do any of this! She refuses to let go of that damned connection with Naraku when it is putting her life in danger! Sesshomaru's voice rose in the middle, then he lowered it.

"Calm down, Fluff. She knows what she is doing." Inuyasha was, for the first time, more level headed than his elder brother.

Kagome got out of the bed and walked to Inuyasha's room where the brothers were talking. She wrapped her arms around Sesshomaru and buried her head in his chest. "I love you, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru nuzzled her head, enjoying the fresh and fruity smell of her hair. "As I love you, my little miko."

"Don't be mad at me. Please don't."

"I am not mad." He rubbed her hair. "I am simply worried. I will do everything I can to keep you out of danger."

"I'm not in danger…" Kagome realized that was she was saying wasn't true. "Well…I can take care of myself. Don't worry. I've got it." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her lover.

Sesshomaru sighed. He knew there was no talking her out of this. Kagome knew what she wanted to do, and there was no way anyone could change her mind, not even the man she loved. "Kagome, I do not wish for you to do this."

Kagome smiled. "It doesn't matter. I'm the only one who can, so I will."

"You are stubborn."

"That I am. And I will remain this way for the rest of my life." Kagome looked at Inuyasha and nodded, her silent thanks to him. "Aren't you coming to bed?" She asked Sesshomaru.

"I will be up in a minute."

"Alright. Don't keep me waiting…" Kagome said sexily, and walked slowly up the stairs.

Sesshomaru watched Kagome's hips sway as she walked away. She was young, but she wore the weight of the world on her shoulders. And if you looked in her eyes, she was the happiest girl in the world because she wouldn't let you see her pain. What had Sesshomaru done to deserve such a girl? But a better question was, how was he going to make sure nothing happened to her?

Before he could answer that question, his phone rang. "Hello?"

Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru walked into the kitchen with the phone to his ear. He was sure that he'd heard a woman's voice on the other end of the phone. And he was also almost positive that she was trying to sound sexy when she'd said hello. What was that about? He shrugged and went upstairs, sure that it was nothing to concern himself with. Sesshomaru would never cheat on Kagome…would he?