Ch.3 – Kagome meets Yusuke
"Shippo come here quick!" Kagome calls out worryingly.
He runs over and jumps into her arms. "What's wrong Momma?" He looks up at her with fear in his eyes.
"Shh… just be still for a little bit. Someone is here." She stands there, very still, protectively holding her kit.
Kurama is finally able to have a clear view of the field. –Youko, there's no one there.- He sounds confused.
-There has to be. We heard them laughing.-
-No one appears to be there. And if they're hiding then they know we're here. We're clearly not wanted, lets go home.-
-Not till I see her again. I must see my Kagome.-
-She's scared of you right now.-
-But I finally found her again!-
-Calm down Youko. If you still want her broken heart you need to give her some space.-
-Grr…-
-You may not like it but she is more dangerous when protecting her kit. You saw what she did to that hanyou 500 years ago. Do you want the same thing to happen to you? It is not safe to approach her yet.-
Youko sighs in defeat and they leave quickly.
Kagome, sensing the threat to her kit has left, slowly loosens her protective hold on Shippo. "Lets eat dinner before that demon man comes back." She puts Shippo down and walks over to the picnic basket. Shippo follows her.
(The next day)
"Time to wake up Shippo." Kagome gently nudges him.
"Can't I sleep a little bit longer? Please Momma?"
"I'm sorry little one. But if you don't get up now then you'll be late for school."
"I start school today!?!" Shippo shoots up in bed.
"Yes." Kagome laughs. Shippo is out of bed and getting his school stuff ready in a matter on minutes. "Someone's excited." Kagome leaves to go make breakfast. While Shippo is eating Kagome gets ready for school and changes into her uniform. "Ready to go?" She asks half an hour later.
"Yeah!" Shippo grabs his backpack and runs outside to the car. Kagome drops Shippo off at the middle school and drives to the college. She walks into her first class, History, and is stopped by the teacher.
"Class, please say hello to our new student!" Everyone becomes silent and stares at her. "Please introduce yourself."
She looks around the room nervously; the guys on the edge of their seats while the girls ignore her completely.
"… My name is Kagome."
"And? Tell us something you like to do." The teacher urges her.
"… I enjoy archery." She looks at the teacher questioningly.
"Alright, you can have a seat next to Minamino over there." He points to a redhead in the back of the room. Kagome quickly walks to her new seat and sits at her small desk, being watched like a hawk the entire time. "Ok! Now that we're done with the introduction, back to class!" The teacher drags over a clean chalkboard. "Start taking notes." He flips the board over revealing what seems to be like thousands of notes. "I'll be back in a few minutes. And when I come back your notes better be finished. I'll check them for a grade." He walks out of the room.
"So Kagome, what else do you like to do besides archery?" The guy sitting in front of her turns around and leans forward on her desk, getting a little bit too close to her face.
"I like to get my work done. So could you please move so I can finish my notes?" She asks, smiling at him sweetly. He falls out of his chair and the redhead next to her known as Minamino stifles a laugh. The girls look over at Kagome with a malicious gleam in their eyes. Kagome just stares at her notebook and continues taking notes.
"We have an archery club if that interests you." Minamino speaks, still taking notes.
"Are you trying to get me to go somewhere with you for any special purpose?"
"No. I just thought since you said you liked archery you might want to join the club we have. They go to tournaments and compete against other schools." He pauses before adding. "You don't have to go if you don't want to."
The rest of class went by without a word between the two. The teacher came back and gave a long lecture and then an immediate quiz to determine who actually listened. After a 3 hour-long class they were dismissed. Kurama slowly got up and picked all his books off his desk, heading towards the door.
-I can't believe that girl didn't talk to us the whole time! This is all your fault Suichi! Your hopeless even with my help.-
-Just because she's pretty doesn't mean I like her.-
-She completely shut down the innocent conversation you tried to start. Quite ruthlessly I might add and with a smile on her face. She has a cute smile.-
-Youko…-
-You need to do something other then complete missions for that stupid toddler. I think this Kagome will be happy to give you something to do.-
-The fan club will try to get rid of her.-
-Not if you get to her first. Quick before she leaves!-
Kurama notices that Kagome is on her way out of the door. She quickens his pace to catch up with her in the hallway. "Excuse me, Kagome."
She turns to face him. "Oh, Minamino. I'm sorry about earlier, I just… I'm not very good at dealing with guys."
"That's ok, and it's Suichi, but you can just call me Kurama. I know you didn't appreciate the guy in front of you trying to hit on you during class. But I was wondering if you would like me to show you where the archery club is." He is surprised to find her thinking it over instead of like all the other girls in school who would just scream, be giddy and try to hold him.
"Well… I don't have a class next so that would be nice I guess."
"They have their own field set up with targets and a shed filled with equipment." He starts to walk outside. She matches his pace, walking alongside him.
-Why didn't she get excited?- Youko asks confused. –All the other girls get excited. Doesn't she think we look pretty? Are we not pretty enough? What wrong with her?-
-She said it herself. She isn't very good at dealing with guys.-
-But we're not just a normal guy. We're THE guy. The one every girl wants. Why did she not swoon before us and our charm? This is all your fault. If I was in control she'd be begging for a kiss.-
-Well I'm in control and I choose to give her space.-
-Loser.-
-Your just jaded.-
"Kurama?" He comes back to himself to find Kagome staring into his eyes.
-I love her eyes.-
"Are you ok? You were staring off into space for a while."
"I'm sorry. I was just thinking."
"What about?"
"Well, I was wondering if you like to shoot a few rounds with me at the targets."
"So you want to challenge me to a shoot out, what for?"
"Just for fun."
"Ok." They reach the shed and pick their bow and arrows. Then they head over to the neatly lined up targets. "Good luck." She states as she readies her bow.
"Same to you." He does the same. "Go." They shoot all 13 of their arrows one after the other and then go to the targets to see who won. Kurama's arrows are scattered on his target while Kagome's arrows completely cover the center ring.
"I guess you win. You're really good at shooting."
"Thanks. I've had a lot of practice." –If you can call killing demons practice.-
"The archery team would be proud to have you on their side and not a competitors."
"Are you on the archery team?"
"No. I'm not very good at archery, as you can see." He gestures to his target.
"I could help you." She offers, smiling up at him.
-Say yes you stupid human!-
"Are you sure you would want to teach me how to shoot better?"
"Not all my classes are booked. I have some free time if you would like."
-If you don't say yes right now I'll take over and say if for you!-
"I would appreciate it if you would teach me." He gives her one of his best smiles, one that his fan club would go crazy for.
"Ok. So when do you have a free class?"
-Why didn't she feint? She didn't even flinch! What the hell!
-Calm down Youko.-
-No! She should've dropped dead like all the other stupid females in your school do! Why the hell is she so different? This isn't fair!-
-I like her better this way. I'm sick of those other girls getting all dramatic.-
"I have the next class free today."
"Really? Me too. That's good. Then we can start now." She starts to take her arrows out of her target. Kurama copies her. They both go over to the shooting line. "Ok, now lets see how your stance is. Draw your first arrow. He does this and she gently repositions his hold on the bow and steadies his grip by placing her hands over his. Together they carefully draw the string back, getting ready to shoot at the target.
-She's very gentle. And she smells kind of like coconut. She has a very soft scent.-
-She smells good. You better not mess this up Suichi. I want that fox.-
Kagome removes her hands from his. "Now shoot." He releases the bowstring and the arrows flies right into the center of the target.
Kurama runs over and looks at his arrow skeptically. "Did I just do that?"
"Yes, you did. Congrats."
"… Can you show me how to do that one more time?"
"… Ok." Kurama goes back over and she corrects his grip on the bow for the second time. He shoots his second arrow and hit the same spot as his previous arrow.
"Wow. Good thing I removed the other arrow from the target or else the other arrow would've been smashed."
"You did very well –"
"Yo Kurama!" A boy with short black hair and green eyes comes running over to them. "What are you doing out here in the archery range? Combat practice isn't until this afternoon you –" He stops as her finally reaches them and see Kagome. "Who are you?"
"Introduce yourself first, you came over." She replies calmly.
"I asked you first." Yusuke points out.
"Doesn't matter. A guy must introduce himself to the lady first. Or have you never met a girl before?" She states.
-She's feisty. I like her. I like her a lot.-
-Not many girls stand up to Yusuke. Only Keiko and Boton.-
-She's the perfect challenge for you.-
-Shut up.-
"Fine! Names Yusuke."
"Nice to meet you Yusuke, I'm Kagome." She smiles at him and offer him a hand to shake. "You must be a friend of Kurama's since you were shouting his name."
"Ya well, he's supposed ta be somewhere right now so bye." He grabs Kurama's sleeve and starts to pull him away.
"Where are you going?" She asks innocently, stepping right in front of Yusuke.
"None of your business! Now get out of my way!"
"Well it is my concern. You're dragging away my friend whom I'm teaching archery."
"You're teaching Kurama archery?"
"Yes. Do you think I'm incapable of doing so?"
"I don't think girls are good fighters."
"Really? A fight is what you want is it?"
"Listen, I don't have time for this. I don't want to hurt a girl so just get out of my way."
"Do you think I can't fight?"
"I know you can't. You're a girl. The only thing you could do is slap me-" SMACK! The sound fills the air and slowly dissipates.
"Then I challenge you, Yusuke. What kind of fighting are you best at?"
"You can't beat me and I've got somewhere to be." He tries to walk around her but she steps back in his way. He attempts to pass her a second time and fails.
"Pick a fighting style or I'll pick for you."
"… Hand-to-hand combat." He finally starts to get aggravated.
"Very well. Here are the stakes. If I win, I can continue teaching archery to Kurama. If you win, you can drag him off to where ever the hell you're going."
"We're going to fight now?"
"Yes. Why? Are you not prepared?"
