Chapter Ten: Pie the Goran Form

You've got me jumping like a crazy clown,
And I don't feature what you're putting down
Since I kissed his lovin' lips of wine,
The thing that bothers me is that I like it fine!
Hey, hey -- set me free

-Stupid Cupid Lyrics

Kagome was both still nervous and relieved when she woke up the following morning. It was good that she didn't seem to be sick after being stuck out in the cold for so long but she still was embarrassed by her behavior of late.

"I thought men were suppose to be the ones that worry about the physical stuff." She sighed as she pushed her cheerio's around the bowl with her spoon. "I've been absolutely awful...I can't believe I started doing...-that- with Lezard."

"Kagome. I'm going out grocery shopping." Her mom announced from the hallway outside of the kitchen. "Grandpa's out working in one of the store rooms and Souta's at a friends house. Good luck with your tutoring."

"Thanks mom. See you later." Kagome called after her, trying to do her best to sound normal despite her clouded thoughts. It apparently worked well enough cause she heard the door close a few moments later.

"At least I'll get some help with my math today." She was trying to look on the bright side of things. "Maybe it'll be enough that I won't end up failing my class."

That was a constant concern for her and if she could get anything stressful off her mind it would be a relief. She was only half done with her cereal and still distracted when she heard the knock at the door, pouring it down the trash compactor before rushing over to answer the door. Smiling at the blue haired teenager that was on the other side. He had on clothes pretty similar to his uniform but without the tie and a backpack over a single shoulder.

"Hey, come on inside." Kagome cleared the way. "We can work on things in the living room."

"Afternoon." He took his shoes off and followed her to the correct room, setting his bag down and starting to look over the notes she'd left on the table to get an idea of where she was. "Finding correct distances...a lot of people have trouble with these."

"That's encouraging." She smiled some as she sat down. "I was just starting with some pie the goran form or something."

"Pythagorean Theorem?" Ishida blinked at her a couple times and shook his head. "Yes, that's the correct formula to use with these problems. Once you've done the work you'll need to work in the Distance formula because that's just the first half of completing it."

"Okay. How does the first part look?"

The day passed slowly but well enough, Kagome found that Ishida seemed to be a little edgy but was very patient with her and when he took some time he wasn't a bad teacher. He came off as a bit pretentious at times but overall she had to admit that by the time she'd finished her homework she understood the assignment much more than a lot of the work she'd had the year before.

Her mother seemed surprised when she returned to find that the tutor was a boy but as they weren't doing anything inappropriate she didn't linger much longer than a basic greeting.

It wasn't until they were going over a few other things she'd had problems understanding that her stomach rumbled and she remembered she hadn't even finished breakfast.

"I think we've gotten far if you'd like to stop there." Ishida commented.

"Um...yeah. Would you like to stay for lunch?" Kagome was okay with a break and food was definitely on her mind after the grumbling from her belly.

"I wouldn't want to impose..." He'd started to shake his head but Kagome broke in.

"It wouldn't be imposing Senpai. You were nice enough to take your afternoon helping me. Making lunch seems like a fair trade." Kagome interrupted before he could say anything else. "I was planning to make some soft noodles with some chicken and a salad earlier."

"That sounds good." Ishida was a little off, he didn't get people wanting him to stay or repay him for lessons very often, it was a new experience. "Thank you Kagome. Are you sure I'm not imposing?"

"Yes. Of course not." Kagome insisted, smiling when he agreed to stay. She hadn't gotten to cook for anyone in a while sense mom usually worked on stuff and it would be a nice chance. "You can watch T.V. if you want. Might take me a bit, be back soon."

"And off she goes." Ishida thought after her, glancing at the remote and still open books on the coffee table. "I guess at least she wants to prepare food safer than Orihime's combinations."

He leaned back in his chair, not sure what exactly to say or how to react to her. It wasn't as if he was usually interested in girls...it was an anomaly that he was even interested in her. Generally he would have reacted poorly to her comments during the math session and likely treated her like an idiot...but it was sort of cute the way she got names wrong and chewed on her lip when she was concentrating.

It helped that she seemed to pick things up pretty well once he'd been able to explain some of the logic behind the formula's used. She was smarter than he would have given her credit for. He closed his eyes, shook his head, and reached for the remote. Anything to break up the thought of the way her bangs waved gently in the air when she leaned over her papers. He wasn't at all used to and not sure if he was entirely ready for whatever this was.

Butterflies were slamming about in his stomach at the idea it was looking more and more like a date instead of a study session. After lunch he would need to say he had his own homework project to work on and needed to go.

It was pleasantly awkward, and something he missed once he walked out the door after they'd finished lunch. It was good but he knew it wasn't right for him to linger...or to consider the idea that he should have kissed her when she leaned over to hand him something on the table.

Too honorable to give in to such things he'd excused himself and left but found himself eyeing the stairs and wondering if it was the right decision.

ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo ooooo

"I'm an idiot." Kagome frowned. "I'm also a real bitch if I keep thinking about so many different guys. At least I pulled away and he didn't kiss me. Though I wouldn't have minded the chance to touch his hair...I bet it's soft."

She gritted her teeth and went back to scrubbing the dishes with great intensity. "How can I say I want to concentrate on school and not boys when I keep thinking about every guy that's a little nice to me? I am such a hypocrite...what happened to most of the boys being so-so...all the men I meet lately are way too attractive for anyone's good. It's very unfair and they should be more spread out!

The thoughts were interrupted by something she saw out of the corner of her eye. It looked like a flash of light out in the shack that housed the old well for the shrine. She'd never much liked the place, it was creepy and once her grandpa told her it was there so no one fell in and died she tended to avoid it unless the cat was lost inside.

There was a strange lack of her usual nervousness as she watched it this time. She hadn't thought about it in weeks really, it was always just a part of the landscape she didn't take time for. Were kids out there messing around? Sometimes some of the neighbor kids would come and mess with things and piss off grandpa but it could be unsafe in there if someone playing around fell in.

With a sigh she moved to put her shoes on and walk over to the door, what met her eyes was just another of a line of strange events her life had become.

He was perhaps the most beautiful man she'd ever seen other than possibly Ghaleon, but then she wasn't sure either the professor or the creature before her were actual human. His hair was so silver it glinted gently with the light coming from the door, enough that it was obvious no one could grow that color naturally. A midnight blue quarter moon tattoo was in the middle of his forehead, framed by those surreal shimmering bangs. There were also magenta lines along his cheeks similar to claw marks. He had what seemed like the biggest fur boa she'd ever seen hanging over one of his shoulders and odd spiked armor over his chest. Adding to the otherworldly-ness he was wearing a kimono with a red pattern and had paired swords hanging in a yellow and blue sash.

It was his eyes that had her locked firmly at the top of the old rickety steps of the shack. There seemed to be almost no emotion behind them, she was getting used to a superior expression but this was exceptionally different than what she'd witnessed before. They were gold, not yellow but a clearer more unique shade of honey that seemed to cut right into her.

"You are the girl that traveled with Inuyasha." It wasn't a question, she was pretty sure, though she had no idea what he was talking about he seemed to recognize her. Something about him was familiar but she was very sure she'd of remembered ever seeing someone like this.

"Um...what? Why are you here?" She managed finally after he spoke to find her voice.

"You do not recognize me." Again, she was certain it wasn't a question. He seemed slightly contemplative but he gave away almost nothing else.

"No..." She answered anyway, not sure what else to do. "Are you hurt?"

"An interesting spell." He had to admit that he'd expected the magic to fail when she saw something familiar to her. "I require you to accompany me."

"Um...who are you?" She was definitely confused.

"Curious..." Sesshomaru pondered as she stared at him, she wasn't afraid or nervous, or even grudgingly respectful as she'd been on occasion. She didn't recognize him whatsoever. As curious as the well was...returning her memory seemed wiser to do before leading her near Inuyasha but it was likely difficult to manage without more memories of her past. It would probably be a lot for her mind but returning with her was the fastest way.

"What are you...!" Kagome blinked, unable to do more than ask before she found in the air. He'd vanished in an instant and lifted her from the ground without a hint of warning. Jumping back down into the well a blue glow circled him. Kagome screamed as they fell.

"Why do I attract all the psychos!"

End Chapter

Yeah, it's what it is. I was backed in a corner as to how I wanted to do the Ishida interaction and I'm not happy with it. The chapter was planned to end where it did regardless of length and I apologize. I like that Sesshomaru was all: 'well it could send her brain into shock...okay lets go.' That makes me giggle. This will probably be edited in the future if I ever go back through this.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Moonlit - Do what I can!

Ayjah - I luvs Sesshy. He's such a bastard really...

Kage Otome - Yeah, most of them have an agenda of their own on top of awry spells. I have notes to keep myself settled how I want things going and who is up to what.

SheDevil - Yeah. I just fail at spelling japanese names. I luvs him a lot too.

Veil - More curious than worried and Ghaleon is so neat...too bad he wasn't cooler in the second game.