Chapter Three: Just the First Day

Love is a strange emotion. When one thinks of it, a conflicting multitude of thoughts arise. Love is pitiful and marvelous, empowering and parasitic. It is hideous; it is beautiful. It is weak and strong at the same time. Love has started wars, ended wars, caused the depression and death of millions, as well as caused uncountable others to be thrown to the heights of ecstasy. So is love truly such a pure, lovely thing? I think it is a mixture of both. Just as nothing is purely good or evil, so is love.

-Unknown

"Did he just kiss you?" Eri whispered as she returned to her friend, she'd given Albel a wide birth and stared in disbelief after him and back at Kagome. "Are you okay? Do you want to report him to the teacher?"

"I don't wanna start more trouble." Kagome answered with a frown. "What the hell is the matter with everyone Eri?"

"Just that guy I think." Eri patted her friends shoulder. "I guess on the bright side it's sort of a compliment right? You are really pretty Kagome...but I wouldn't go out with him. We can just cancel and make it another time if you want."

"I dunno." She answered honestly...her cheek was still a little warm where he'd kissed it.

"What the hell did he mean by that? He'll be good just for me?" Just thinking about it had her skin flushing further.

"Oh my god Kagome...are you okay?" Yuka and Ayumi had caught up and each of the friends had a horrified shocked expression with concern mixed in. "What did he say?"

"He wanted to take Kagome to the beach with us this weekend." Eri commented when Kagome didn't answer. She was still pretty distracted.

"He kissed you didn't he?" Yuka asked with a frown. "Even if it was on the cheek, what a jerk."

"At least he didn't kiss her on the lips." Ayumi commented and hugged her friend. "It's okay, you want us to walk with you to report him? Maybe we can get him suspended for a few days."

"I dunno." Kagome repeated. "I'm not sure I'd want to piss him off Ayumi."

"You can't just let him treat you like that. Come on Kagome...you know that." Eri was the one that broke in to cheer her on that time.

"She's right." Kagome thought with her own frown starting to form. "What if he's some tough guy...I can't just let him walk all over me."

As she considered it she bristled and ignored the bad feelings he tended to give her and waltzed right up to him instead of the teacher. Slapping him across the cheek as hard as she could, her hand stung from the resounding sound but she ignored it as it wouldn't do well to wince while yelling at someone.

"Learn how to act you jerk, don't you touch me again, ever! Why would anyone want to go anywhere with you? Of course I don't...just leave me alone." She stormed off while he was still gaping at her after he'd turned his head back, a reddish mark starting to form on his face. He didn't even glare, he seemed too shocked to react, just staring after her.

The instructor frowned a little but didn't yell at Kagome as she stormed off toward the locker rooms, she apparently had a reason as he'd never seen her angry like that and wasn't surprised given the other attitude he'd already seen from the new kid.

A few of the boys were on the ground laughing, which then got a glare from the red eyed Albel before the demon like boy turned and headed for the male's changing rooms.

"What a asshole, good thing you smacked him Kagome." Yuka laughed as she returned. "That'll teach him, did you see the look on his face...he wasn't such a bad boy then."

"I still think she should have just told the instructor..." Eri commented lightly. "What if he wants to retaliate?"

"I think it was a brilliant idea." Ayumi apparently didn't share the worries. "Guys like that need a girl to just shut them down so they don't think they can do that. What did he whisper to you anyway Kagome?"

"I don't wanna talk about it anymore." Kagome groaned, her temper had probably just gotten her more trouble than she really wanted. "Everything seems to have gone crazy sense the last time I was in school."

"Well they just arrived too so only sense you got back." Ayumi nudged her friend jokingly as they chattered while they got showered and dressed again. Kagome had to smile some at the teasing, her friends always managed to make her feel a little better.

Lunch was next and normally she looked forward to it but she was a bit apprehensive as she finished getting dressed and waited for the bell to ring. What if Eri was right and he decided to attack her back? Her temper would be the death of her one day...but she couldn't just let him get away with acting like that...she definitely didn't want to date a guy like that. She wasn't even sure she wanted to date at all.

At least food might help a little bit. She chatted with Eri as they waited in the lunch line, Ayumi and Yuka had brought their lunches. "Science next, did you finish your report? It's due today right?"

"Yeah and yeah." Eri smirked a little, picking out things as they went along the areas with foods to choose. It wasn't exactly gourmet but it would hold them over. Kagome normally fixed her lunch but she'd been in such a rush she didn't have the chance. "What about you?"

"I finished it but I'm not sure how well I'll do." Kagome shrugged a bit. "I've been so busy and only recently got more or less caught up...I just hope I'll be able to stay that way."

"I hope you'll stay feeling better too Kagome." Eri agreed. "I'll lend you my notes whenever you need them. You know that."

"Yeah." Kagome grinned at her, her friends notes had been a godsend for some of her assignments. "The doctor seemed to think everything was looking better though so I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed."

She paused as she just barely bumped into the person in front of her. She'd been talking to Eri over one shoulder and they hadn't been close to anyone else so she had lost track of things. She turned to meet the violet gaze of Lezard and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going..." She glanced him over and he didn't seem too disturbed. "Um..."

Eri slipped buy the pair and smiled at Kagome, she had been amongst the votes that thought she should thank the cute classmate for helping earlier.

"Not a problem. No harm done. I just stepped in to get a muffin." He held up a poppy seed still wrapped in plastic. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Kagome nodded, walking with him toward the checkout then. "I wanted to thank you for standing up for me with Albel this morning."

"Well, it seems as if my intervention wasn't actually needed." Lezard answered easily with a smirk. "You are rather capable at defending yourself it seemed during the gym period."

"Yeah well...I can have a temper at times." Kagome blushed a little as she remembered the slap, her hand stung for several minutes after. "Still thanks."

"Just what a gentlemen should do but you are very welcome Kagome." He said calmly. "I think women with a temper are more attractive. Though I suppose I should consider how much pain I want in my cheek before I ask you to a movie."

He winked at her and headed off after setting down the dollar for his muffin, leaving her blushing like so many men had lately...

"I'm not that pretty...maybe there is some universal joke..." Kagome thought as she gave over her lunch card and waited for the teller to punch everything in. "Ayumi could have told all the new people to ask me out to make me feel better? That sounds like something she would do..."

"Heya Kagome...this is Seto..." Yuka introduced the boy that had sat with the table that usually didn't...though she had met him that morning. "He wanted to sit with us...I guess he's offering to make the trip to the beach a group class thing. Help pay for folks...isn't that nice?"

"Really nice." Kagome agreed in surprise as she sat down across from him, it was the only seat left that didn't take climbing over people to get to. "Do you think you'll be able to get enough people involved?"

"It's already flying around the lunchroom." Yuka chuckled as she gestured at where Ayumi was speaking with another table not too far away. "Who wouldn't want to go to a bash thrown by the Seto Kaiba? I figure we'll get a lot of people that aren't even a part of the class that show up at the rate Ayumi's lips move."

"Isn't that right?" Eri agreed with a chuckle.

"I still don't know if I can go." Kagome answered honestly. "I want to but it really depends on me finishing the last of the work I have to catch up on and not getting too much homework this weekend. If it's not too bad then I guess some fresh air would be good for me while I'm still feeling well."

"You get sick often I hear. Do you know what's wrong?" Seto piped in for the first time, he'd been sitting there with a quiet prestige until then.

"Not really...I keep getting a lot of things. I guess I just have some sort of poor immune system. The doctor seems pretty confused about it...a lot of what I get isn't really related at all. Though I feel pretty good today." She answered and shook her head. "But thats not really polite conversation for lunch like this...I'm sorry. You like the beach?"

"Not really." Kaiba looked away as he seemed to realize he'd been watching her. "I already thought all the new students should get a chance to mingle with the old students and people were saying some of the class was already planning to visit so it seemed a good time to do it as folks only started this week."

"Well with tomorrow to spread the word too...I'm sure there will be quite a bash." Eri commented with a smile. "I hope someone asks me there as a date. That would be nice."

"You could ask Albel, he's free." Yuka commented softly and got a horrified look from her friend.

"Not funny!"

Kagome laughed at that and saw even Kaiba give a small smirk. It was nice that even if one of the new kids was rich, he seemed a little more normal...even his eyes and hair were usual. "So...whats with all the kids with contacts that are new? Is that a popular thing in Europe or something?" Kagome asked, she was curious.

"I dunno." Eri answered. "I thought it was sorta odd myself. But yeah, I think Albel is definitely the oddest."

"He looks like that guy from the labyrinth but with darker hair." Yuka offered in her usual more subdued manner.

One of the other students that usually sat with them nearly spit out their soda and people burst into laughter at the comment. "Wow, he really does."

Kagome ate slowly but she wasn't really hungry, so many new boys and so many that seemed interested in her was making her nervous. She always had liked Hojo before, but now she wasn't really sure, she had been sick so much and he'd always been very thoughtful but now he was gone for she didn't know how long. Yuka was already dating someone...Eri and probably Ayumi too wanted to. She apparently had boys interested...

Something just didn't feel right about it...but that kiss on the cheek...

She frowned and kept pushing her food around.

"Do you have cell phones?" Seto seemed to be asking the entire table. Yuka raised a hand but no one else did. "Mom wanted me to have one sense we live so far from the school. Ayumi has one too. In case you need to get ahold of us?"

He nodded and they traded numbers. Kagome watched a moment before pondering her noodles, she had a bit more but hadn't eaten too much before the bell rang and she was off for her afternoon classes which would be a nice break. Choir, Health, and Mythology. Her afternoon's at least tended to be relaxed and so far so good on very little homework, if she made it through the rest of the day and the next day with not much she might actually be able to attend the party without too many issues.

Choir didn't have any of the strange new kids which was a nice break and Health had Seto, Albel (unfortunately in her opinon), and a few of the others whose names she didn't know yet.

Mythology and she'd be free for the night minus a few math problems.

It was bizarre to see the albino elf professor as she had taken to thinking of him. He was settled at his desk when she arrived, the room wasn't far from her art class so she got there early and had a chance to sit down before anyone else had walked in.

"Miss Higurashi, are you still feeling better?" He seemed nice enough when he asked but his voice was almost as unreal as the rest of him.

"Um yes thanks." She answered trying not to seem too nervous. "I have the old assignments here the teacher had asked for. Do you want them now?"

"That would be acceptable." He agreed, watching her with red eyes that seemed as if they were becoming entirely too common her first day back to class. She was really glad it was just today and Friday before the weekend.

She swallowed and leaned down to dig things out of her bag as he continued to watch her, it was a little too intently for her. She moved over and held out the assignments, it was a small pile but still a pile. "Sorry if they're a little unorganized, my brother messed up all my stuff...he has a habit of doing that."

"Younger siblings can be difficult." He commented, taking the pile and shifting his eyes to it to look it over just shortly before setting it down in one of the many piles on his desk. "You were doing well in this class before you were ill and I figure you will continue to do so. You have rather a flair for things but I hope you'll keep it up when it involves other histories than our own."

"Me too." Kagome didn't have to try to bullshit that, she wanted to do well in all her classes, even if it was often a class people didn't take seriously she really enjoyed it. "Um..."

"Yes?" He prompted after she paused for a moment.

"Why are you..." She stopped and shook her head. "No I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so disrespectful Professor, I'll take my seat now."

She paused when he took her hand to keep her from fleeing back to her desk, her blush back across her face when she glanced back. Though thankfully he dropped her hand immediately after she paused.

"It's all right Kagome. Ask." His voice seemed gentle then and she had to admit she felt worse.

"Um...it's just...you are so pale...and your ears and eyes..." She commented lowly. "I don't mean to be insulting Professor. I think it's attractive, but um...not that I mean I'm attracted to you...I just thought...it's um...I mean..."

He smiled a bit but cut her off before her rambling made her more embarrassed. "I plan to go over that with the class actually Miss Higurashi. Though I appreciate your compliment, many are less kind when they speak of it. Have a seat."

She nodded a little and hurried for her chair as more students began to arrive. Some of them were people she'd already knew from the class. Ayumi shared the class which made it difficult to work sometimes. Lezard was amongst those that came in before the bell rang. A couple of the other new people were there but she didn't know their names yet.

Once the bell rang the Professor stood up and waited only a moment for folks to quiet down. "Now I know some of you are new and for all of you I am a new teacher. I will take no nonsense and I consider the subject one of majesty so I expect you to work if you wish to remain in this class. I realize that my appearance is surprising to many so I'll divulge the reasons for it. I am an albino, which is why the windows have been shuttered early. I must be wary of too much sunlight. One of my parents had William's Syndrome, it is a rare disorder and some of the genetic issues reflected themselves in my appearance upon my birth. If you want to know more about it you can research it yourselves as this is not a health class."

The class continued and Kagome was happy to hear one of the stories she knew from Greek Mythology, where Persephone was tricked into becoming the bride of Hades for half the year and the reason for the winter and summer was the sadness of her mother; the goddess of nature, while her daughter was away.

She always felt a little bad for Persephone, being tricked as she was even if she did care about Hades he couldn't have really loved her if he was so quick to poison her.

"I want you all to spend the rest of the hour reading the story after this one and to write a report on what you think of the representations presented by the story of Hades and Persephone. Quietly. The report will be due Monday after the weekend." He was very serious but he had told the story very well. Kagome had to admit she'd been wrapped up in it...but now she had to read about Zeus and his lovers. Zeus was such a jerk...

She finished the story moments before the bell rang and she moved to put things away so she could get ready to go home, pondering what she could write about in her report. Her and Eri left together, thankfully without further accident from boys.

"Wow, Professor Ghaeleon's sorta dreamy." Eri commented once they were clear of the room. "He has such a gorgeous voice."

"He did tell the story really well." Kagome couldn't help but smile some, usually their professors were older men or women that were pretty stuffy, some of the new staff being cute was a nice refresher. "It's sort of sad that he can't really go outside much though. You know?"

"Yeah. And about one of his parents having some sorta health problem." Eri added, she had always been a bit of a bleeding heart. "It just gives him more depth. Man, too bad they're way older...I'd never get a guy our age, more or less a Professor."

She giggled when Kagome did. "Speaking of older men, what's this I hear about some upperclassman from Karakura giving you his jacket?"

"Borrowed...it was cold and I was up really early cause Souta changed my alarm without telling me, the little brat." Kagome did her best not to blush as she remembered the encounter that morning to add into everything else that had happened that day. "I'm gonna try to work on the report tonight, if I don't get much homework tomorrow maybe I'll actually be able to go Saturday."

"I dunno if I'll go." Eri answered as they dug through their lockers seeming down...

"Why not?" Kagome asked as she shoved the jacket into her backpack, she'd be a little chilly but it was better than the looks that would accompany wearing it, she'd try to iron it before she gave it back to him as it was definitely gonna be wrinkled.

"I think it's turning into more of a couple's thing. I know a lot of single people are going but even Ayumi got a date today." Eri commented with a sigh. "I think it's my hair...it's too plain...maybe I should dye it."

"I think you are great Eri. You shouldn't worry so much. Maybe you should ask someone tomorrow. I know you keep looking at that boy in gym whenever he's running." Kagome teased as she watched her friend shake her head negatively.

"Kagome...there is no way I could do that!" She sounded abashed. "I just gotta hope someone will ask me maybe. I guess I could ask Ayumi to find someone."

"That's never a good idea." Kagome winked at her friend and the pair laughed as they reached the landing to wait for the train. "You'll find someone great Eri."

"Well, I want them now." Eri muttered with a small smile still. "Too bad I'm not like you, a bunch of the boys keep looking at you and Yuka said she caught a bunch talking about thinking you were cute. You are lucky."

"Eri...Albel asked me out...lucky isn't the word I'd use." Kagome rolled her eyes, trying not to look a little worried. That many boys couldn't like her right?

Eri laughed at the comment. "Okay well, maybe I don't wish I was exactly you but I wouldn't mind a few of the boys."

"If I could give them to you I would." Kagome commented. "I don't know if I really even like anybody."

"But you think some of them are cute." Eri pointed out with a impish grin. "At least the Professor. Maybe you should ask him."

Kagome elbowed Eri and shook her head negatively. "Shhhh." Some of the other students were looking at them when she'd said that. "You said the same thing."

"Yeah yeah." Eri rubbed her side but was still smiling. "What about Lezard? He saved you this morning and he's been pretty nice to you. Then there is this mystery guy from Karakura High."

"I honestly don't know Eri." Kagome sighed. "I mean, Lezard was nice but he looks a lot like Hojo and that seems like it would just cause more rumors. Albel is a definite no. Don't even mention any of the teachers again."

"What about this mystery guy or Seto?" Eri asked as they both glanced toward where they heard the train coming.

"A multi-billionaire probably isn't interested in any of us from the school Eri." Kagome said honestly. "And I dunno, he seems sorta distant. The schools frown on upperclassmen and lowerclassman dating."

"That all that's stopping you?" Eri pried curiously. "He did give you his jacket."

"Eri!" Kagome blushed a little, she was being as bad as Ayumi. "He was just being nice. He probably is just a nice person. People doing that sort of stuff doesn't mean they think you are cute or want to date you."

It was Eri's turn to roll her eyes. "Kagome, you aren't as fun as you used to be. If you are so worried about the rest of the class why not just ask the upperclassman to come. It'll definitely be a slap to Albel if he shows."

"I don't think so Eri...that seems even worse reason to ask someone out." Kagome answered with a shake of her head. Moving to get on the train when it stopped at their station with the rest of the waiting students. It was always real busy at the first stop but tended to thin out quickly with other stops. Her shrine was far enough out that usually she didn't have too many others left by the time she reached it. Eri even got off at the next stop.

"Ignoring the cold again Kagome?" The girl blinked as she recognized the semi-new voice in her life. A blue haired boy was standing nearby holding one of the ceiling rings and smirking a little at her. "Lose my jacket?"

Eri glanced between them and smiled a little impishly again. "She hid it away in her bag so people wouldn't see her wearing it...it's all very clandestine...ow! Well it's true..."

She was interrupted when Kagome stomped on her foot, normally she was more gentle with her friends but that was really uncalled for! Ayumi was wearing off on her other friends way too much! Ishida still seemed vaguely amused when they looked back over.

"Uh yeah well, gossip and all..." Kagome gestured at her friend trying not to blush. "Um...this is Eri. Eri this is Ishida Senpai."

The exchanged small bows and Eri rubbed her foot. "Geez Kagome, you are getting mean. I was just joking around."

"You okay?" Ishida asked, he seemed to have a honest concern when people were hurt.

"I'll be fine thanks." Eri answered, blushing a little herself. "My stop here, I'll see you tomorrow Kagome. Nice meeting you Ishida Senpai."

She ran off before she could get a answer and Ishida eyed Kagome with a little smug amusement. "Mind if I have my jacket back if you aren't going to use it?"

"Oh...oh yeah." Kagome blushed finally then. "How can anyone like me? I'm so clueless!"

She dug it out and winced at how wrinkled it'd gotten in her rush to hide it, he looked at it but didn't complain, putting it over one of his arms. "You had trouble just cause I lent you my jacket? You must not have much to do at Inaho."

"Something like that." Kagome answered sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I could take it and iron it and give it to you tomorrow if you want."

"Riding the early train again?" He searched a little.

"Oh...well I can yeah. I feel bad for getting it all wrinkled when you were so nice to lend it to me." Kagome rubbed her hand on the back of her head, it was a common nervous habit for her.

"I can iron it, you should probably stay rested if you are ill as often as you say." He waved it off like it was nothing but seemed a bit disappointed.

"Yeah...I thought you had clubs after school?" She remembered him mentioning how busy he normally was.

"Generally I do but the teacher that runs it was out sick today so it was canceled." Ishida explained. "Would you like some help with your math today?"

"Well I have to work on a project for Mythology class." She tried to will the pink away from her cheeks. "I think Sunday would still be good...if you don't mind."

"Not at all." He seemed to answer pretty smoothly. "Sure you don't want to hold onto the jacket til you get home. I have a extra I could use and I could pick it up Sunday. So you won't get cold."

"No no." She shook her head, she was sure she sounded nervous. "I appreciate it but I really can't. You've already been so nice. I don't want to take advantage."

"It's not taking advantage if I'm offering." He pointed out with a smile. "But I'll respect your wishes. You seem on edge, bad day?"

"You have no idea." Kagome laughed at the question. "Thanks for the help and the talk though Ishida Senpai. My stop here. Have a good weekend til Sunday."

"Til Sunday Kagome." He repeated with his usual manner.

She smiled a little and headed toward the shrine, thankfully the stop wasn't far from the bottom of the steps. "Okay well, I think I can forgive the strange hair...he seems pretty nice and average. Now to work on Mythology."

She nodded to herself and started climbing.

End Chapter

Whew, this is already epic for me. I am still sorta getting stuff started, most of the main players are already around but I plan to have cameo's here and there and later on I do plan on putting Sesshomaru in...but it can't be right away. Oddly enough I actually have a vague outline planned for this. I feel a little weird but I hope people enjoy this odd little harem type story anyway.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

slypy - nay, twas Ghaleon. Guess no one plays the Lunar games anymore. This is gonna be a harem type story yeah. Not sure if it's exactly like the genre but it's pretty close.

Shrine Keeper - I don't think it's moving fast at all. Albel's just super direct. Hell, I thought I didn't have enough going on...huh...guess you never know what people will think. There will be more character depth and thought as I move on but i haven't reached the point where I'm going to be having narratives from the male leads.

Lovelywitch - I've never heard of any of those, what system are they for? What genre too?