Disclaimer: Cali, Ry, and Lynx are mine, Ezekiel is my husband's. Everyone else belongs to all those famous people. Someday...someday...
ALRIGHT FOLKS! Another shortie today. Take what you can get!
Kagome113287: Hehe, thanks! I'll update as soon as I can!
Silver Rain Drops: Thanks for reviewing! I'm a little miffed about the lack of reviews as well, but what can you do, right? I really haven't thought about the ages of the teachers yet, but I'll get around to it as soon as I can. And Kikyo WILL get what she deserves. Whether or not she dies hasn't been decided yet. But I'll think about it! Thanks again!
Cold Kikyo: Once again, thanks for the review!
darkangelprincess24: Hehe, it'll be good, I promise. Just like cats and dogs...:)
Chapter Eight – Of Cats and Dogs
Kagome stood in the shower, body still rigid with shock, letting the rapidly cooling water pour over her. She shook her head and blinked for about the thousandth time, only to return her gaze to the same slightly chipped tile.
The hysteria had calmed to a dull roar as Lady Kagura began to read off the list. Ironic, that they'd be so confused and upset and afraid, and yet so willing to hear the woman out without much complaint.
Kagura cleared her throat. "Please keep in mind that we'd like to keep this same room chart for the rest of the year, so only request a room change if there is a serious problem." Her voice was calm and commanding, much like Naraku's, as her bright red eyes shifted amongst the students, quieting them further with her glare. She smiled wanly and began to read.
Kagome closed her eyes and tilted her head up to face the downpour. The list still rang through her mind, as well as the emotional outbursts that followed.
Sango and Miroku…poor Sango had looked ready to either cry or kill Miroku, or perhaps both. Needless to say, Miroku was pleased. But then, Kagome figured he would have been happy with whichever female he had been placed with.
Shiori and Shippo…both had the decency to look first surprised, then something close to horrified, before ending up looking shy and sheepish at the same time. Cute couple, Kagome remembered thinking.
Tifa and Cloud…Tifa had turned a violent shade of red…and Cloud showed no concern one way or the other.
Ayame and Kouga…Ayame had seemed pleased, but Kouga began ranting and raving as soon as his name had passed from Kagura's lips. This brought an angry and somewhat hurt glare from Ayame before she huffed and looked away pointedly.
Winry and Edward…Winry had positively leaped from her seat and run down the table to hug Ed from behind. He looked properly mortified.
Ryfen and Ezekiel…Ryfen had grinned and shot a thumbs-up to Ezekiel, who simply smiled and nodded in return. No problems there, at least.
Kikyo and Bankotsu…that one had thrown Kagome for a loop. Kikyo had looked Bankotsu up and down with an air of mild disgust before turning to listen to Kagura again. Bankotsu puffed out his already over-puffed chest even more, and Kagome had a distinct urge to stick a pin in his chest to see if it would deflate.
Lynx and Kurama…another pair that really had no problems with the arrangement. Lynx had relaxed from her tense perch on the edge of her seat, and Kurama had glanced up from swirling his water around in his glass to nod slightly.
But the silence had fallen again, as Kagura paused for a breath. Kagome could almost hear the gears working in everyone's head, and she closed her eyes as a mortified blush sprang onto her cheeks. Kagome and Inuyasha…
…and Caligo.
He had seemed pleased at first, even giving Kagome's hand a little squeeze, but at the mention of the neko youkai at the end of the table, that comforting little squeeze had turned into a painful deathgrip. She had glanced up only to find him looking back and forth between her and Caligo, a look of complete and utter confusion on his face. Kagome gave his hand a tug, trying to make him release his grip, but it took a few tries and a pained whimper to get him to pay attention.
Kagome opened her eyes and shut off the water, lifting her hands to wring out her hair before wrapping a towel around herself and stepping out of the shower stall. The bathroom was a good bit larger than the one in her old room, but then, it and the bedroom were made to accommodate three people. She wiped the condensation from the mirror before running her brush through her hair, trying to delay her return to the bedroom for as long as possible. She dried off and dressed as slow as she could, then, with a deep breath, she opened the door.
Two ears - one canine, one feline - flicked in her direction, letting her know that she had been noticed. But otherwise, the two figures standing before her were motionless.
Inuyasha and Caligo were engaged in a staring contest, Caligo mirroring Inuyasha's normal annoyed pose. The only difference was the soft smile playing over the neko's features, while the hanyou's scowl remained in place. Kagome sighed and flopped on the nearest bed, which happened to be queen sized.
The staring contest continued for a few more minutes, punctuated by Inuyasha's ears flicking irritably and Caligo's smile growing wider. The tension was nearing a breaking point. Three…two…one…
"CUT IT OUT!" the irritated hanyou exploded. "Damn both of you cheaters! I can't very well stare at both of you at the same time!" He threw up his hands in disgust and stalked over to the single bed in the corner and flopped down on it, turning his gaze out the window. Kagome sighed and turned her attention to Caligo, who had watched the whole thing with the same little smile. Kagome was quite well shocked when she got a closer look.
The albino neko before her could only be described as a punk. Multiple piercings adorned her delicate ears, and her right eyebrow also had a simple gold ring through it. She was dressed in a blood red tank top, which showed off a tattoo of an ankh on her left shoulder, and a pair of worn-out black jeans. Spiked bracelets adorned both wrists, and she wore a pair of simple black sandals. And she was now giving a toothy grin, causing Kagome to shiver slightly.
"Well now, hello to you…Kagome, wasn't it?" A small, clawed hand was extended, and Kagome took it carefully. Inuyasha growled slightly from his pouting place, but Caligo stuck her tongue out at him, making Kagome giggle. "I'm Caligo Hebeny, and it looks like we'll be roommates for the rest of the year." She glanced at Inuyasha for a moment, then leaned over to Kagome's ear. "Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare..." she whispered conspiratively before straightening and winking.
Kagome was baffled. "Uh, excuse me?" But Caligo only shook her head and strutted off to the bathroom, humming softly. Once the door was closed behind her, Inuyasha was at her side.
"Oi, what did that furball of a feline say?" He was frowning, arms still crossed over his chest.
"I heard that!" came a sing-song voice from the bathroom, which only served to further darken Inuyasha's scowl.
Kagome simply shrugged and shook her head. "I have no idea what she said, or what it meant for that matter." She shook her head again. "All I can say is it reminded me of Latin or Greek or some other dead language like that." She turned to Inuyasha suddenly and gave him a swift hug.
The look on his face was priceless, and Kagome giggled.
"No more fighting with her, okay? I think she'll be alright." She beamed and rubbed her hands together. "Alright, let's figure out sleeping arrangements."
"I'll take the single bed." He said quickly. "You and that damn feline can sleep together."
"I heard that one, too, mutt." Caligo chuckled as she stepped out of the bathroom. "And unless you want your little girlfriend here covered in claw marks every morning," both were sporting fierce blushes by this point, "then I really shouldn't sleep with her. I've been told I thrash around a lot, and I often have nightmares that leave my pillow in tatters." She had said this all matter-of-factly, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha gaping at her. She gave them a small smile before silently walking over to the single bed in the corner and flopping down on it, curling up into a completely awkward but very comfortable looking position that only a cat can master.
Kagome and Inuyasha were left staring at each other, blushes still intact and getting worse with each passing moment.
The morning dawned bright and chill. Kagome yawned and stretched out in the huge bed before remembering what had happened last night. With a start, she sat up and peered around. Caligo's bed was empty, but neatly made. There was no sign of the neko in the room. Her eyes continued on until they found Inuyasha, and she relaxed slightly.
He sat against the wall under the room's solitary window, the rusty old sword he always seemed to carry wrapped in his arms. His chin rested against his chest, and he was soundly asleep.
Kagome smiled slightly and rolled out of bed, wandering over to him as she rubbed her eyes. She knelt down next to him and poked him gently. "Inuyasha? Come on, you big puppy, time to wake up."
The hanyou simply grumbled and, with a movement she couldn't follow, reached out and grabbed Kagome's arms, pulling her onto his lap and wrapping his arms around her, burying his face in her hair.
Time froze.
Kagome was simply too shocked to react as Inuyasha began nuzzling her head, making nonsense noises in his throat and starting up that doggy purr that he had used to calm her down.
"…smells…good…" came the muffled whisper, and Kagome let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding.
"Inuyasha? Inu, come on…let me up, okay? Breakfast, Inu!" She was getting desperate, but at the mention of food, the hanyou's stomach gave an annoyed rumble. He grumbled and lifted his head to yawn hugely before looking back down at her blearily. It took him a few moments to register what was going on.
His eyes went wide and he practically shoved her off his lap and scooted into the corner, dragging his sword along with him. "I…I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I didn't…I didn't do anything to you…did I?" His voice had gone from frantic to panicked in a moment, and Kagome fast got over her own indignation about being shoved around.
"No, no, no! You were a perfect gentleman last night. Nothing to be worried about. I just came to wake you up, and…you…you hugged me…" she ducked her head slightly, blushing furiously. "Nothing to worry about." She mumbled.
Inuyasha had wandered back over to her side during her little confession, and lifted her chin to face him.
"If it was…nothing…then why are you blushing?" A soft, sly smile was spreading across his handsome face, and Kagome once again forgot how to breathe. She let her eyes flutter closed, listening to his soft intake and release of breath.
Oh, gods, he's so close…oh, just give me strength, just this once….please, don't let me get weak now… Her eyes opened slightly and she gave a faint smile before leaning forward and kissing a very surprised hanyou.
The kiss was brief, no more than a faint brushing of lips over lips, and once it was done, Kagome stood quickly and strode off to the bathroom, leaving Inuyasha staring dumbfoundedly after her. A soft chuckle sounded from somewhere in the room, and Inuyasha broke out of his reverie to scan the area, growling low in his throat when he found his target.
Caligo sat crouched on the top of an old armoire in the corner of the room, looking down at him with a Cheshire-like grin on her pale face. "She loves you, you know." She purred without breaking her smile. "I'll see what I can do about getting a friend of mine enrolled here so I can get out of you two lovebirds' hair." Grinning all the more at yet another dumbstruck look on the poor hanyou's face, the neko leapt down from the armoire and strode from the room, pausing to wink at Kagome, who had just emerged from the bathroom.
"I'll see you two down in the chapel, hm?"