Chapter 20: Overprotective Homeroom Teacher

…

"SHIPPO?!"

"Hello Kagome." He smiled a foxy grin—the kind of grin you can only see at Shippo. He looked easy-going—as you would usually see on other young men like him. But the professionalism is also there—like you would normally see on teachers.

"Sensei! You know Higurashi-kun?" The female teacher, Miyako-san asked.

"He's a close friend of my father."

WHAT?! If looks can kill, Shippo must have already been lying dead on the ground. But he seems oblivious—or more like ignoring my death stares.

"And your father is?"

"Oh. My father's name is Inu Sesshomaru." More shocked faces and gasps can be seen and heard inside the classroom.

"I remember now!" Renge dramatically stood up. "You visited Kagome-kun last month! And Sesshomaru-sama visited last week!"

Another set of gasps followed, the whispers are getting louder.

"Isn't Kagome-kun a commoner?" One of my classmates loudly whispered.

"What's the connection between Sesshomaru-sama and Higurashi-san?"

The more I heard what they are saying, the more my blood is boiling.

"Maa Maa. Said Shippo to calm us down. "Today is Examination Day right?" That did the trick. "Now, open your laptops and wait for me to send you the first test." He opened his own laptop and then glanced at Miyako-sensei. "I can take it from here Sensei. Thank you very much." He gave another smile that made it harder for the female teacher to leave—but she did otherwise.

Our first subject, which is Calculus ended with a feeling of dread. It was followed by another two subjects before the lunch break. Throughout the examinations, I was stealing glances at Shippo, making sure he's still there. Whenever he's looking and smiling back, I'm always lowering my head to focus on the test.

When the lunch break came, he must have realized I'm going to bombard him with questions so he immediately arranged his things and went out. Instead, I was the one who was ambushed by my classmates—starting from Hikaru and Kaoru.

"What's up with that?" Asked Hikaru, then Kaoru. "Did you know he's going to teach here?"

I grumpily answered with, "I had no idea."

"You know him?" Akanai-san joined the conversation.

Kaoru answered. "We only met him once, when he visited Kagome at the club."

"Oh really? I've met him countless of times in the past." She cheerfully said.

"Misaki." Minami-san intervened.

She gasped, the gasped of someone who made a mistake. Then I instantly noticed her stole a glance from me before saying, "P-Please forget I said that." Then she retreated, Minami-san also glanced at my direction before retreating too.

"What's wrong with those two?" Hikaru crossed his arms.

"Beats me." Yeah. I know how they were able to meet Shippo countless of times. After all, yokais love gatherings. I don't know why they are still hiding that fact with me. It's not like I'll get mad at them about it—about them being yokais, siblings and cousins with Kasanoda.

"By the way," Haruhi tapped my shoulder from the back. "I thought Sensei's name is 'Shippo'?"

"O-Oh…" Yeah. Why did he change his name? "Takara is his real name. 'Shippo' is just a nickname I gave him." I lied, and another surge of guilt filled me. Always lying at Haruhi makes it hard for me to continue what I'm doing. Well, not just with Haruhi, even to all of my friends. Maybe this is the reason why Sesshomaru told me to gather some allies—because I can't handle this burden alone. And for some reason, a certain megane person came into mind. I still don't have the slightest idea why he's ignoring me.

…

Examination week means, students can go home early and club activities are cancelled. The first day ended without a glitch—or not. After the last subject, I waited for everyone to go home. The twins and Haruhi instantly understood what I meant when I told them not to wait for me and to go home first. Shippo also did the same thing. He must have known I won't forgive him if he escaped again this time so he stayed behind.

"So? What do you want to talk about first?" He started when we were sure everyone already left.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Is that the right attitude towards your teacher?" He smirked.

"Is that the right attitude towards your mother?" That made him silent, and all the playfulness in his voice also disappeared.

"Kagome—"

"Call me 'mother'!"

"That was centuries ago. I've had enough of playing dollhouse."

It hurts. But I covered the pain with anger. "Just a month ago, you happily called me mother. Why the sudden change of heart?" I said with spite.

"Because I have bigger responsibilities now."

"And what is that big responsibility of yours that made you change?"

"Father tasked me to protect you."

All the blood went through my head. I'm not angry, I'm in rage. "You, of all people should know that I can perfectly handle myself. "

"You don't know what's out there Kagome! Season's change, and so are the enemies. Those who oppose how we live our days—how we peacefully mingled with the humans are now are gathering. They are gathering because of that stupid thing you did when you visited the wolf tribe."

"What's that got to do with this?" Now I'm more confused than angry.

"Everything! It's got to do with everything!"

"W-What?"

"You may not know about this. But Kasanoda Clan's influence is on par with the Inu Family. They may have adopted half-yokais and humans into their clan, the direct line is still pureblooded. The Northern, Easter, Western and Southern Wolf Tribe have merged through inter-marriages and that is something you won't see with other clans anymore who mated with humans or Halflings. Even the proud Inu Clan is not pure anymore.

Is he talking about Inuyasha? It made me more confused.

He must have seen my confusion so he explained more. "What I'm saying is, some of the branch families who didn't adopt the Kasanoda Clan's way of living—living peacefully with human—but still remain loyal to the family were enraged when you, a human and not to mention the priestess who holds the Shikon no Tama got closer with their heir"

"WHAT? Sesshomaru didn't tell me that! He said other clans were mad that it seems I'm favoring Kasanoda Clan."

"That too. The enemies may have changed, but the only thing that remains throughout the history of demons is that, everyone wants the power of the jewel."

"But you just said they were mad when I visited the manor!"

"But it doesn't mean they don't want you in their family."

"What the hell?"

"They wanted you to marry Minami Ryoutarou."

"Ryoutarou?! My classmate Minami Ryoutarou?!"

"Yes him. But we all know it's impossible."

"Yes! It's impossible! How can they even—"

"It's impossible because you are the future Lady of the West."

"No! Not that!" I sighed. "You know what? I've had enough of this." I turned away from him and started walking towards the door.

"But you still haven't heard the most important thing!"

"Let's talk about it some other time okay? I'm tired already." I said without turning back.

"But Okaa-san!"

That made me turned back. "Now you're calling me that?!"

"Because you're still father's—"

"STOP!" My fists clenched. "I still regretted the day I went back home after we defeated Naraku. If I stayed, I would have watch you grown, and I would have made a family with Inuyasha. Even if I died of old age, I would still have no regrets because I died having all of you by my side when that day comes." I tried not to cry. "But that's just my wishful thinking right?" I laughed with no humor. "Ha. Now I'm wondering what if Inuyasha is still alive, then is he also like you? Always at the beck and call of Sesshomaru."

"You can't be saying that Kagome. He took care of you since the day you were born."

"Then where is he when I needed him the most? Where was he when my father died? If he's always there like what you are saying…he should have prevented my father's death."

"You know nothing Kagome. You weren't there when it happened. You don't know how much it affected us."

"Then tell me!"

"Are you sure you're ready for this?"

…

…

A/N

No! I'm not yet ready for a flashback! TT^TT

There are still a lot to reveal in this story and I'm kinda regretting making it like this because it became so much hard for me to write. *sighs*

Hoping I can update soon. I want to finish this as soon as I can.