Chapter 3: Secret Identity

Back to a few weeks later, Monday morning …

Who thought college should start at 8am?

"Yash! You gotta let me copy the answers to the last 2 homework problems, there's no way Professor Kaede will give me more time. I was with Sango all weekend and totally ran out of time. I finally convinced her to -"

"You can stop there Miroku. I really don't want to know the details. You can copy if you want, but the answers are probably trash, Sesshomaru kept me busy all weekend."

"Again? The company can't wait till you graduate? I've barely seen you outside of class the last few weeks."

"It's not the company. Well not totally. With dad's accident, he's forcing me to learn all the family history and stuff. Also, he basically quadrupled all my kendo lessons. Damn and I thought my family was normal compared to yours apart from my name."

"Mushin may be eccentric but otherwise he's a pretty normal drunkard. Although he does claim the crimson vigilante is a youkai."

What!? "A y-youkai? C'mon how could he possibly think that!"

"I know it's impossible to convince you that youkai really do exist, but I know they are! I've seen one! And Mushin really has a solid basis. That red outfit of the vigilante? They finally got a clearer image of it yesterday! It resembles the robe of the fire rat in the historical records, which totally makes sense! It has protective properties. Why would the vigilante want to wear something so gaudy if he didn't want to be seen? I mean at least the odd black beanie he wears makes sense, even if it doesn't match."

Grr. How'd they get such a clear picture? At least a household of monks would be the only ones to jump to THAT conclusion.

"Maybe that's just his theme, feudal era-y youkai superhero."

"Superhero? He's gotta do something a bit more impressive and super-y to earn that title. Besides there's no such thing as a good youkai, so chances are this is all some related self-serving vendetta."

"Huh? Wait, what do you mean by no such thing as a good youkai? I know I've heard stories about youkai helping humans."

"Hmm speaking as if they're real now?"

"Keh! You know what I meant!"

"Do I? Anyways, I'm just referring to the fact that friendly youkai usually have something to gain too. Be it that they see humans as inferior and thus sometimes aren't worth the effort of dealing with or they believe they'll get something worthwhile in exchange for helping. Youkai are rarely selfless."

"But what about hal-"

"Class! Settle down." Having an 8am class came with the downside that the Professor wasn't awake enough to deal with unruly students.

"Shit! Give me your homework before she collects it!" The harsh whisper was not whispered quiet enough.

"Miroku!"

"Yes ma'am?"

"What use could you possibly have for your peer's homework? You may stay after if you have any questions. Otherwise, would everyone please bring their homeworks to the front."

"Dude! The one time you don't shut me up about youkai. Dang it, this is gonna hurt my average."

"Your problem."

No such thing as a good youkai? I know Sessh is an ass, but dad always seemed amazing. Keh! Most of Miroku's nonsense is just nonsense. What does he know for real? I'm half youkai too. I can do something selfless.