Chapter 14
"Do you have to go see that douche bag again today?" Sana asked as we walked down the school hallway.
I laughed at how straightforward she was. If Sana was anything, it was brutally honest.
"Nah, that ass hole counsellor can go invade someone else's life today," I told her while rolling my eyes, "I swear, it's like he gets off on hearing about people's issues."
"Well that's not very polite Abukara," Hiten's voice cut in, sounding mock hurt, "I like to think I'm helping all of you youngsters."
I scoffed, glaring at him as he walked beside us.
"Then go bother a student that wants your help," I hissed, turning to go to my locker.
'And knock that stupid smirk off your face...'
Sana just went into her locker beside mine, silently gathering her things. I couldn't say that I blamed her; it would be awkward to try to get in the middle of the bickering.
"Oh come now Abukara," Hiten teased, leaning against the lockers as I went through mine, "I thought we made some progress last time. I would like to touch base on these issues with your father."
At the mention of my father I turned and gave him a heated glare.
"My father and my life are none of your business. My issues and problems have nothing to do with you. I go to your stupid office because I have to, not to talk and make friends with you," I told him with frustration before I slammed my locker closed, "Now if you excuse me sir, I'm going home."
"Ah, you truly don't disappoint Abukara," Hiten laughed, "Oh well. I'm looking forward to next time."
Both Sana and I watched as he walked away with a grin on his face.
"Yeah, I see what you mean about him getting off on it..." she said lowly, shuddering, "you should just make up a bunch of bullshit and throw him off your trail. Tell him you can see ghosts or something."
Again I laughed at her words. She always knew when to say the right thing.
"Enough about that ass hole. What's the status report on you and Shin?"
We started to leave the school and Sana went into explanation mode, telling me in length how happy he made her. By the smile on her face, I didn't really need all the stories to see that truth. If I were to be honest, it made me kind of jealous. Her and Shin could go out together inn public and have all the fun they wanted. They could openly kiss or hold hands without the judgement of other people. Together they could go out and just be normal.
A smile made it to my face as she told me about their latest date to the movies. I was happy for her above all things. For as long as I had known her she had had a crush on Shin. It made me happy that after all that time they had finally ended up together. Their relationship may have been normal, but they were cute together. If Shin made her happy, then that was good enough for me.
We said our goodbyes; Sesshoumaru's house being in the opposite direction of Sana's. I walked to wait for the bus to come; secretly hoping that I could make it back home before Sesshoumaru. Every day he would be there to welcome my home. For once I would like to be able to do the same for him.
As I waited for the bus, someone caught my attention from the corner of my eye. It was a dark haired woman who was standing tall just a few metres away from me on the sidewalk. It looked like she was talking on a cell phone as she turned her head and saw me looking at her. A small scowl formed on her lips and my eyes widened. She really looked familiar.
'Isn't that the woman that Sesshoumaru was seeing before me? What was her name? Rin?'
She continued to scowl as she continued her conversation on her phone. After a nod she ended the call and her eyes locked with mine.
The woman stared at me for a few moments and I could feel my nerves starting to get the better of me. She definitely didn't look all that happy to see me there. All of a sudden she started to walk in my direction and I glanced in the direction of the bus, as if willing it to arrive.
'Come on, come on...' I pleaded silently.
Just as the woman was only a few feet away, the bus arrived and I rushed to get on. I wanted nothing to do with this woman; knowing that nothing good would come of it.
Taking a seat on the bus, I looked out the window and was grateful when the woman didn't get on. I was having a decent day and the last thing I needed was some jealous ex girlfriend coming and making a mess of it.
'Why did she have to look at me like that? I was minding my own business...'
My brows pushed together at the thought. Why did so many people know so much about me when I knew next to nothing about them? Shaking my head, I pushed the thought away.
"Not gunna let her ruin my day," I told myself; watching the road while I waited for my stop.
It wasn't a very far ride from the bus stop, but it was too far to just walk too the time.
I pulled the string and got ready to get odd, gathering my backpack. A smile once again was brought to my face when I noticed that Sesshoumaru's car wasn't in the driveway.
'He must still be out,' I thought as I unlocked the door.
It still felt weird walking into someone else's house with a key. I knew that I was living here now too, but it was weird walking in without Sesshoumaru there. He had this presence that just filled the entire house while he was there. Without him, the house just felt empty.
Shrugging it off, I walked into the kitchen and looked around. There were chicken breasts thawing in the sink since this morning. I opened the fridge and looked at all the food on the shelves.
'There are a lot of vegetables... Maybe he was going to make a stirfry?'
At the thought, a small smile made its way to my face. What would Sesshoumaru say if he came home and I had made dinner for once? Would he be upset? Happy?
"There's only one way to find out," I stated aloud, grabbing some vegetables out of the fridge.
Today was going to be a good day.
He sighed as he got back into his car. It had been a long day of going to different schools looking for a job. He had been out since Kuae had left for school and it was now into the afternoon. It wasn't until he came to a university that he finally seemed to have some luck. The dean had met with him and things had seemed to go over well; the man asking about his skills and capabilities.
Leaning back against his headrest, he closed his eyes for a few moments. It wasn't that he was in desperate need of a job. He had enough wealth that he could easily retire at an early age, but it wasn't a lifestyle that appealed to him. He believed in being a hardworking individual to get the things he wanted.
Feeling the small amount of stress leave his being, he opened his golden orbs and glanced at the time.
'Hn... Kuae must be bored at home on her own,' he thought while starting the car and heading for the road.
Things had seemingly improved since he had found her in the park. The smile was back on her face and that was all he could really ask for. He knew that things would be difficult for them; not everyone would approve of a ten year difference relationship, let alone one of a student and a teacher. People would comment or stare with disapproval. Such things did not bother him, but for Kuae they were a heavy stress.
'She just wants to be a normal teenager.'
It had never been his intention for things to progress as far and as quickly as they had. When he had first met her he had no intention of pursuing her. She had no intention of even seeing him as a human being with the way she would glare daggers at him. He smirked at the memory. Perhaps that had been when he had changed his intentions.
'Maybe we could do something a normal couple would do,' he thought as he pulled into the house driveway.
The lights in the kitchen were on and the sight made him raise a brow. Did Kuae decide to do her homework in the kitchen for once?
Grabbing his bag from beside him, he made his way from the car to the house. His curiosity to the girl's actions only increased when he opened the door and was hit with a wall of smells. It smelt sweet but sour with a hint of too much garlic...
Deciding to investigate, he ventured further into the house to the kitchen. There she was, standing in front of the stove constantly stirring whatever was in the large frying pan. His golden orbs went over her form and a small smile found its way to his lips. Her brows were furrowed and there was a small frown on her lips, but her eyes were focused on her task. It was strangely endearing to see her trying to do something domestic.
'I don't even think she knows I'm here,' he thought before slowly making his way over to her.
He enjoyed trying to play tricks on her; it was a game that she thought she could win against him. Unfortunately for her, he wasn't so easily startled.
"Damn it," Kuae muttered to herself, lifting an arm to the spice shelf to grab something.
He took that as his chance to wrap his arms around her waist and she immediately let out a squeal.
"God damn it Sesshoumaru!" she gasped, trying to squirm away from him, "When did you sneak in here?"
"I do not sneak," he told her, kissing her cheek, "You were just too busy to notice me come in."
She scowled playfully at him before it was quickly replaced with a smile.
"Welcome home."
"Hn," he murmured before kissing her on the lips.
As he pulled away his golden orbs caught sight of what he had smelt when he came in the door. It looked to be a stirfry of some sort, but the sauce was a terrifying dark colour and the vegetables were cut into large strange shapes. If he were to be honest, upon first glance he didn't really know what he was looking at...
"I thought I would try to surprise you..." Kuae nearly murmured; her tone full of doubt, "But then it kind of turned into this..."
"It smells interesting," he told her honestly, "I shall set the table."
She gave him a small smile before continuing with her task of stirring the vegetables around.
Turning to the cupboards, he went about the task of grabbing the plates and silverware. As strange as her dish looked, he was not about to deter her from trying new things. How else does one get better without practice?
"How was your day?" she asked him curiously.
He could tell that Kuae blamed herself for him being jobless. No matter how much he told her that it did not matter, she could not be convinced otherwise. That was just the way she was.
"A dean at a university sounded interested in my areas of expertise and skills," he explained as he set the table, "I am hoping to hear back from him soon."
"Really?!" she wondered excitedly, turning back to look at him with a hopeful expression.
When he nodded his head in response, her smile only grew.
"That's so awesome! I knew today was going to be a good day."
As she turned back to the stove, he walked back to her and once again put his arms around her waist. His lips pressed against her cheek before slowly kissing behind her ear and nipping at her neck. Just with her smile she would make his heart beat faster. A genuine happy smile was such a rare thing from her. Yes she grinned and laughed all the time, especially while with her friends, but the feeling of happiness rarely came from her.
"Don't get flirty, supper is almost ready," she reprimanded him; a laugh lacing her voice.
Pulling her waist against him, he tightened his hold before nipped at her ear. Oh how he wanted her...
A hand slid down her hip to play with the waistband of her jeans before her hand smacked it playfully.
"Do not ignore me," he murmured into her ear only to have her start laughing.
"Don't you ignore me," she teased, "I want to eat whatever the hell this turned into."
He let out a chuckle before kissing her cheek and pulling away. At least she wasn't offended by the fact that her stirfry looked like the thing that came from the Black Lagoon.
Dishing out the plates, they both sat at the table. While she looked at her own concoction skeptically, he willingly grabbed his fork and took the first bite. It was both salty and had lots of garlic; it wasn't the worst thing that he had ever eaten. Kuae watched him with a doubtful expression, clearly wondering if it tasted how it looked. He merely answered her unasked question by taking another bite. She smiled then and began eating it herself.
"I'm sorry that it doesn't look nicer," she laughed, "I don't even know how it happened."
"Looks aren't everything," he told her simply before giving her his own smile, "Smell and taste are important."
"Yeah I guess so," she agreed.
It was time like this that he enjoyed the most. It wasn't complicated or awkward; it was peaceful. He wanted to spend more time like this with her, to make more memories.
"Would you like to go out tonight?" he wondered, hid golden orbs locking with her green ones.
Her fork stopped midway to her mouth and she stared back at him with wide eyes. Was it truly that shocking of a question?
"Like where?" she wondered, her fork lowering back to her plate.
"Perhaps the movies? You always seem excited when you speak of Hanaki going with Lee," he said as he watched her reaction.
Kuae seemed nervous at the idea of them going out into public. He almost wanted to sigh. What did he have to do to make her feel that she belonged beside him?
"We don't have to if you don't with to. I-"
She cut him off, "No, it's not that I don't want to. I would love to go. It's just..."
Her brows pushed together and she looked down at her plate. He wouldn't push her for an answer, he would wait. He knew that this was all new to her; he just wanted to show her that there was truly nothing wrong with what they were.
"Are you sure you want to walk around with me as a date?" she asked quietly, not looking at him.
"Kuae, I am not ashamed to walk with you on my arm, and neither should you be. We are not wrong in being together."
He went to her side of the table and turned her head to meet his gaze. He kissed her lips gently before placing one on her forehead as well.
"If you continue to doubt this then I would be more than happy to repeat the other night's performance after the park," he told her with a smirk, watching as she instantly blushed.
"I want to go to the movies..."
"Good girl," he praised, giving her another kiss, "Now finished your dinner before it tries to eat you instead."
The sidewalks weren't busy as we walked together after the movie was over. When we had first gotten there I was unsure of what I should do. The panic must have been showing on my face because Sesshoumaru's hand found mine and he began to pull me beside him. Not many people looked our way, and if they did they continued on their own way. It had been a relief and it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. So this was what it was like in the adult world. The movie had been good; it being one of the new superhero movies that came out. There had even been a moment where I was sure that even Sesshoumaru had laughed.
The thought brought a smile to my face and my hand squeezed his for a moment. It was starting to cool off at night now which made for good night walking weather. The summer heat was slowly making itself cooler for the fall.
"Did you enjoy the movie?" Sesshoumaru's voice brought me out of thought.
"Yeah I did. I was really interested when it first came out," I told him with a small smile, "Did you actually laugh at one point?"
"I am capable of such humour," he stated with what sounded like mock offence.
"Be careful Sesshoumaru, your mask might break if you laugh too hard," I teased.
A smirk found its way to his lips before he pulled me to him and a hand found the back of my neck. His golden orbs stared into my green ones as he bent my head back to look up at him.
"Careful Kuae, or else I'll have to preoccupy that smart mouth of yours," he said lowly, our faces only an inch apart.
Immediately a blush found its way to my face and I tried to turn away, but there was no escape. His lips pressed against mine before he gently nipped my lower lip and pulled away.
"T-that's cheating!" I stammered, embarrassment all over my face.
We were on the sidewalk in town, surrounded by people! If people weren't judging us before, they sure as hell were going to now.
As I looked around us though, no one was even paying attention. No one noticed us as an odd couple kissing in the street. To them we were just a normal couple; two people spending time together like anyone else. I could feel my heart calming down from its panic and looked up at Sesshoumaru. His golden orbs were watching me intently, probably waiting for me to realize what he had known all along. There was nothing wrong with the two of being together.
Suddenly I was embarrassed for a whole other reason; I had been worried so much over nothing. Didn't I always say that it was none of their business anyway? Sesshoumaru's smirk only grew at my reaction, as if he was wordlessly telling me I told you so.
"Shut up," I muttered, my brows furrowing.
"I didn't say anything."
"Yeah, well, your face says the whole thing for you."
He laughed lowly before leaving a light kiss on my forehead. We started walking again and my hand held his just a fraction tighter than before. He made everything seem to simple, like nothing was as heavy as I thought it was. It was like he took those things and just lifted them off my shoulders. It made me wonder if he had problems like that; things that felt so heavy that he could not shake off alone...
My thoughts were suddenly cut short as Sesshoumaru stopped walking, which caused me to stop as well. I turned to look up at him with confusion and saw his gaze had completely hardened. He was staring ahead and his eyes were locked on a single target. When I turned my head to look where he was looking, his grip on my hand became tighter.
Ahead of us coming in our direction, about ten feet away stood a guy with long black hair. His eyes were also staring back at Sesshoumaru with the same kind of expression. The stranger was also holding the hand of a girl with midnight black tresses and bright blue eyes. She seemed to be annoyed with him because she rolled her eyes and nudged him to keep walking.
"Sesshoumaru, what's wrong?" I asked, turning my gaze back to the silver haired man beside me.
A first he didn't answer and I could see his jaw slowly clenching together.
From the distance, I could hear the other couple arguing with one another.
"Don't be ruse and go say hello," she told the guy with frustration.
"I ain't gunna and you can tell he ain't gunna either."
From the sound of the guy's voice he sounded brash and honestly it made me feel kind of defensive. I didn't know how Sesshoumaru knew this guy, but it was clear that they didn't really like each other.
"Are you just going to stare at him, or are we going to keep walking?" I asked, arching a brow up at him.
I could almost feel the sigh that escaped him as he closed his eyes for a moment.
"Inuyasha," he said lowly, opening his golden orbs.
When I didn't acknowledge what he was saying and continued to stare at him with blatant confusion, his gaze looked down at me.
"My bother."
End of Chapter
