Chapter 6

" Mr. Taisho? Is Mr. Taisho here this evening?"

Mr. Hishino looked around the small classroom and continued roll when he did not see Sesshomaru. Unusual for colleges to take roll, Mr. Hishino did it since the class was only made of twenty-one students, and he was familiar with everyone. Also, Mr. Hishino was an Elementary/High School teacher before he became the university's Japanese History professor. So he was so used to taking roll, he just stuck with it, his students going along with it.

Kagome was in the back of the classroom, listening to her favorite song on her new MP3, "Ichirin no Hana" by HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR. She got her MP3 just the other day, a present from her mother. The same day Sesshomaru kissed her. When she got back into her room, she was out of breath, tingly all over. It was when she sat her coat on the chair by the door did she see a small package on the end table by their chair. Kagome was so happy when she got the MP3, she put music on it all night long after Sango went to bed, even some American music.

So when she closed her eyes as Mr. Hishino was droning on, she did not expect to feel someone sit down beside her and brush her thigh with their hand. Kagome's eyes shot opened and darted to the side, where Sesshomaru was now, a grin playing across his face. Kagome glowered at him and purposely moved herself away from him. She was also uncomfortable from his easy grin. Sango noticed that one day and told her that Sesshomaru never did that unless he was mocking someone, but his grin right then seemed very genuine, not a hint of malice in it.

Mr. Hishino glanced upwards briefly as Sesshomaru came in, and frowned slightly when he noticed that the delinquent pupil sat by his best student. He knew of Sesshomaru's reputation, and did not like him getting close to Kagome. Hishino's feelings towards Kagome could be considered as an overprotective father to his daughter. Hishino, whose first name is Daisuke, has always tried to protect his students from bad influences. So when Sesshomaru sat by Kagome, you can guess what his feelings were.

Kagome moved her stuff to the middle of the table, effectively separating her from Sesshomaru. While Mr. Hishino was turned away from them to answer another student's question, Kagome felt something brush her elbow. She looked down and saw a folded half sheet of paper, and looked up to Sesshomaru, who was looking straight at the teacher, giving nothing away. Slowly covering the paper and putting it in her lap, she opened it.

Last night. Forget about it.

Kagome froze, clenching the piece of paper tightly. 'Forget about it? How the hell can I do THAT?' she thought furiously. She wrote a quick message and casually tossed it to Sesshomaru, who concealed it with his arm. When the teacher's back was turned writing a quick note on how the Japanese planted and harvested rice before machinery on the white board, he read Kagome's response.

Go to hell.

Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile. He looked over at Kagome, and she was looking relaxed, but her fists were clenched tight in her lap. Sesshomaru slumped into his chair, his legs falling wide open under the long tables. His leg pressed against hers, and he mentally laughed in glee when she tried to shift away from him, so far at the edge of the table that Kagome was in danger of being in the aisle.

Mr. Hishino looked up towards Kagome, ready to give her a question, when he suppressed a smile at her facial expression.

"Miss Higurashi, I realize that for a young lady, Mr. Taisho is extremely handsome, but would you please care not to fall out of your chair? I would not want you to get hurt in my classroom."

Kagome flushed a deep crimson when everyone's attention shifted to her, and hastily scooted back over to her normal spot, cursing the day's turn of events, and how Mr. Hishino could have gotten it so wrong.

"Now Miss. Higurashi, do you think you could answer my question now?"

Kagome straightened up and looked at Mr. Hishino.

"Yes Sir."

Mr. Hishino nodded, and walked across the room and back.

"Miss Higurashi, why did the proud nation of Japan seclude itself from the outside world, while the rest of the world was enjoying trade and useful ideas?"

'This is a piece of cake' thought Kagome.

"Japan thought that they were superior and knew everything there was to know, and therefore did not need to deal with the rest of the world, which they thought of as inferior to themselves. Unfortunately, this led them to falling behind the times while the rest of the world was expanding. They finally let in one American trader who convinced them to give up their isolation, and the rest is history. Now Japan is one of the world's most technologically advanced nations."

Kagome cleared her throat at the end of her lengthy reply, her face feeling hot like all the other times a teacher calls on her in class. She really hated being called on, because then she felt like an idiot if she gave the wrong answer, and also because everyone always stared at you.

Sesshomaru was looking at Kagome, face blank but completely absorbed in her. Kagome felt her face going redder, for the fact was she knew Sesshomaru was staring at her, as, when she looked around the room, did half the class.

"Very good Kagome. Now, who can tell me why...."

Kagome blocked the teachers voice out as another note was slipped her way. She felt kind of irritated. 'What, are we still in high school? Geez....' Nevertheless, she took the note and read it.

You know what you make me want to do?

Oh....tingly feeling alert. Kagome felt the sensation start at her head, wind down her stomach, circle around a certain area, and flow to her feet. She sucked in a breath of air. Damn man. He was infuriating her.

'Who does he think he is, making me feel like a schoolgirl over a little note?'

Kagome scribbled a reply and slid it over to him, where he picked it up, making sure his hand brushed hers and lingering ever so slightly. Kagome jerked her hand back to her as if she had been branded, and Sesshomaru suppressed a laugh. Glancing at the note, it took even more willpower.

Jump off a bridge?

He glanced over at her, where she glanced at him, shrugged, and turned back to the lecture. Sesshomaru looked at the clock by the door and saw to his delight that class would be over in another ten minutes. A quick glance at Kagome and he knew hat she wasn't really listening to the teacher, but was aware of every move he made.

'Just a quick test....' Sesshomaru thought.

He lowered his hand under their table, and since they were so close to begin with, it was quite easy to get a good grasp on her knee. Sesshomaru grinned when he felt Kagome jump at the contact, but all she did was glare at him and hastily scribble down the next set of notes Mr. Hishino put on the huge projector. Sesshomaru was about to do more when the bell suddenly rang, and everyone got up to leave. He cursed under his breath when he realized that the clock in the classroom was seven minutes slow. "Convenient..." he muttered under his breath.