Chapter 17: The Life Journey of My Rock
In unison our heads snap towards the sound of Takako's voice. Sesshomaru's arms tighten their grip around me as if Takako threatens to tear me away. My jaw opens and closes repeatedly as I attempt to conjure an explanation. All the stories I can make up are pathetic, so I turn to Sesshomaru for help. He stares at Takako with his face relaxed and unreadable. She slowly strides towards us.
"What…? What is the meaning of this?" she's glaring daggers at the man who holds me. "You sick freak! You're totally taking advantage of her."
"Takako, you have it all wrong," I try to explain, but her words cause a bad feeling to creep up my spine.
"Have what all wrong?! Just look at the big picture! Lonely middle-aged man can't get a woman his own age so he has to prey on younger girls. Sakura, you're an easy target given the state you've been in. He's playing a sick game!"
"Contrary to what you believe, I am 24-years-old," Sesshomaru replies coolly.
"How is he so calm when I'm borderline having a panic attack?"
"You're only twenty-four? How are you a teacher at Shikon Academy?" Takako interrogates.
"I obtained my degree in communication and certification in teaching when I was twenty-two."
"So? Shikon Academy is a very prestigious school. Someone fresh out of college could never teach there!"
"I have all the right connections."
"Oh, really? Who are they?"
"I am not obligated to answer your questions," Sesshomaru says with narrowed eyes.
"Then I want to see your identification card with date of birth! Sakura may be of age, but I'm not letting her fall into the clutches of some sick wrinkly pervert!"
"No problem there, Taks. He most definitely isn't wrinkly; on parts that I've seen, at least," I unknowingly say out loud. "Dammit, mind to mouth filter!"
My statement is rewarded with a raised eyebrow and smirk from Sesshomaru, and a cherry-faced Takako.
"You guys hash things out," I say pulling away from him with my head down. "I'm going to stand over there before I say more than I need to."
"What?! More than you need to?! How far have you guys gone?!"
"The kiss you saw was our first," Sesshomaru sighs. "That's how far we have gone. Sakura, I believe you need to be a part of this conversation."
The three of us walk to a nearby picnic table. I sit next to Sesshomaru and Takako sits in front of us. My arms are folded over the table while Sesshomaru and Takako have theirs in their laps. I sigh and begin.
"So shall we start with Sesshomaru allowing you to see his I.D.?"
"Oh, so you guys are on a first name basis. Well Sesshomaru, if that is your name, let me see the plastic!"
Sesshomaru pulls out his wallet and slips his I.D. from the slot. He carelessly tosses it in Takako's direction. I know that he is only cooperating with her because now she knows our secret.
"Date of birth: 18 of March, 1990. Alright, so you are 24," Takako declares giving Sesshomaru back his I.D. "And I'm going to conclude that the two of you want me to remain silent about this matter."
"Obviously."
"He means yes, please," I say elbowing him. "His career isn't the only thing on the line. I would be expelled from school if this got out."
"And I wouldn't want that to happen to you, Sakura," Takako smiles to me, "But you, why a student? All the ones your age think you're creepy?"
Sesshomaru narrows his eyes once again at Takako. In remembrance of his declaration only moments ago, a smile tugs at my lips and my eyes soften. I reach out and slip my hand into his. I understand if he refuses to tell her. His words are for me and me alone. They are special and not just for anyone's ears. He turns to look at me and his scowl subsides.
"Takako, you may not trust him yet, but I do. So trust me when I say that he's not the creeper you see him to be. He has taken good care of me since I returned to school, and he has saved me here and there. He is my rock."
Sesshomaru squeezes my hand and Takako looks back at us thoughtfully.
"Well, if he makes you happy, Sakura," Takako caves. "I won't tell anyone. Not even Yumi. But if you make her cry I will bring down the noise on your career, Instructor Cradle Robber."
"Takako, he's not that old!"
"He's out of college and works a grown up job! That's old on a different scale!" she teases. "Well, I'm just in the neighborhood to drop this off."
She pulls a dry-cleaner ticket out of her bag and hands it to me.
"This is for your outfits for the show next week. You look the same size since I saw you last year, so it should still fit."
"Thank you," I say tucking the ticket into my coats pocket. "Do you want to grab a hot drink with us?" I ignore the irritated look on Sesshomaru's face.
"Heh heh, next time. I have a lot of studying to catch up on," Takako gets up from her seat with a wink. "I will see you on Monday!"
I watch her walk away until she disappears among the crowd that formed outside of the park.
"Does my lady wish to grab something hot to drink?" Sesshomaru asks wrapping an arm around my waist.
"Hot tea sounds amazing," I respond leaning against him.
We get up and leave the park. I walk next to him as we make our way to the little café where he asked me to go steady over the summer.
"So, I understand that I am your rock."
"Most fitting, right? You are pretty rough around the edges."
"Sakura, I have exhausted the patience I have to tolerate sass on your friend."
"Ha ha, I'm only kidding… Sort of."
I wrap my arms around his waist as we near the café. Once there, Sesshomaru guides me to a couch in the back before heading to the counter. He returns with two hot cups of tea and places them both on the coffee table. He sits right beside me.
"You know… I don't know very much about you," I break our pleasant silence.
"What would you like to know?"
"Well, do you have any brothers or sisters? What are your parents like?"
"I have one half-brother who's younger than me. My parents divorced and my father remarried when I was a toddler. I stayed with my mother, but I still saw my father often. There was no bitterness between them. They just realized that they loved each other in different ways."
"I see. Are you close with your half-brother?"
"He's simply there."
"How about your step mother?"
"I only see her during family functions."
"Do they live in this city?"
"No, I'm originally from Tokyo."
"Oh, so they're all back there. Well, tell me all about your life growing up."
He raises a brow at me and I turn towards him. I rest one arm on top of the couches back and lean my head against my knuckles with a smile on my face. My posture alone tells him that I am ready for a story. With a sigh, he obliges.
"And be detailed! Fine details account for a majority of your grade in this assignment," he smirks at my orders then begins.
"I was born in Tokyo. When I was three-years-old my parents divorced and right after my father married the daughter of one of the first clients he had for his business. They had a son together, and as I grew older that kid began coming over when my father visited; which was often. Inuyasha was a nuisance. He often stole my toys and would cry when I wouldn't play with him. Father enrolled him into the same elementary school as me. He would often pick fights with the older students, and I would have to come bail him out. When we were teenagers not much changed except this time I would force him to stand up for himself. Somehow, I took his side even when he deserved what was coming to him."
"What would he do to provoke the older students?"
"There was one instance when he hit on the girlfriend of one of my classmates. Naraku didn't take it lightly, and was definitely pissed when Kikyo wound up leaving him to date Inuyasha for a little while. During that time Naraku and his friends made arrangements for a brawl against Inuyasha and his group."
"Wow, then what happened?"
"Unfortunately for Naraku he didn't know that Inuyasha is my younger brother. I still remember the fear on Naraku's face when he saw me standing next to him."
"So you're a big tough guy, huh?"
"I'm a skilled martial artist. In high school I dreamed of becoming a professional MMA fighter, but father sent me to college where I developed other interests."
"I would never have seen you as the fighting type."
"I have the body for it. You would know," he smirks and I flush.
"Continuing, my life growing up consisted solely of martial arts, school, and dealing with my kid brother. I didn't start dating until college…"
"Oh? And who was the lucky lady?"
"Do you really want to hear about this?"
"Yes," is my answer, but his expression has me uneasy.
"Very well, her name was Kagura. I met her on campus in the student center of the university. It didn't strike me as odd that she was there so late as many students stay late studying. Somehow, I recognized her and she seemed to recognize me as well. We sat together often and studied in silence until she finally spoke up one day. 'You're Inutaisho Sesshomaru, aren't you?' she asked me. 'I'm Kagura, Naraku's younger sister. Do you not remember me?' I barely did remember her. I recall seeing her cowering beside her overbearing brother before and after school. Over time we talked more and more and grew closer. It wasn't until we officially started a relationship did I find out how abusive Naraku was. He was the reason she stayed on campus late. She was avoiding him. Eventually, I talked her into moving in with me. The day arrived and I headed over to her house to help move things over. I felt something wrong as soon as I got out of the car."
"What happened…?" I ask as he pinches the bridge of his nose.
"I rang the doorbell three times, and still received no answer. I called her cell phone and the house phone over and over but she didn't pick up. It was odd because her car and her brother's car were parked in the driveway. She told me that their parents were on a weeklong business trip, so I knew they couldn't have had a family outing. Realization hit me, and I knocked the door down. The house was empty with an eerie feeling. I rushed to her bedroom, and there she was. She was lying on the floor, and it wasn't until I got closer did I see the blood and a knife jutting out of her chest."
My hands are covering my face now, and his fingers are rubbing his temples.
"I'm sorry I asked and made you recount that."
"It's fine. I had to recount it so many times that I don't feel anything anymore. I expelled all the anger I felt soon after when they tracked down Naraku. I made sure that prison beatings wouldn't compare to what I did to him."
"I'm sorry, Sesshomaru. We can talk about something else…"
"If I don't finish my life story are you going to give me a failing grade for incomplete work?" he smirks at me.
I listen to him continue on. After Kagura and coping with her loss. Moving on and meeting Sara; whom I have concluded is bat shit crazy and a stage nine clinger.
"So what made you want to move to Osaka?"
"A few of my college friends were from here, and after graduation they moved back. I needed a fresh start in a new town after graduation."
"And you became a student teacher at the academy."
"Indeed. A decision that lead to another magnificent thing in my life. It looks like they're closing the café now."
We get up and discard our empty cups.
"How about you, Sakura. Is it too soon to hear about your life story?"
"That is a conversation for another time," I say mimicking his words from a while back. He walks me back to my apartment and we walk in silence.
"I suppose I will see you Monday," I say in front of my door.
"I suppose you will see me Monday," he responds.
"Okay, then… Monday."
He nods. "Ugh.. Fine."
"Well goodnight, Sesshomaru," I turn and unlock my door. Before I can step in he grabs my arm and spins me around.
"Goodnight, Sakura," he pulls me close and immediately I feel his lips against mine.
Hi!
School is seriously kicking my ass... Word of advice: be careful when you take three years off and think that you can dive in full swing (12 credits).
Until next time!