Sesshoumaru hesitantly expanded his awareness as he approached his classroom. He relaxed when he only felt the presence of one reiki user and recognized the aura as belonging to a student he'd had in the past, Miroku Murasaki.

Shippo gave him a knowing look when he arrived in the classroom and he ignored it. The kitsune was fiddling with a laptop computer and small camera and talking on his cell phone.

"Okay Kagome, can you see all right?" He asked and Sesshoumaru paused mid-stride for half a heartbeat before resolutely continuing to the blackboard. "Hey Professor! Say something to Kagome so we can check the audio feed!"

I'm going to dismember that kit. He mentally growled. "Good morning."

"Did you hear him all right?" Shippo looked disappointed at the response. "Are you sure? I can make him talk more… Okay, class is going to start soon so get some popcorn ready and if you have any questions you can text me and I'll ask him."

"Welcome to Youkai History and Mythology. I trust you have all read the required texts?" Sesshoumaru asked in a tone that conveyed his completely lack of trust in their studiousness.

In the three hours that followed the only semi-intelligent questions came from Miroku and texts sent to Shippo's phone. Sesshoumaru was beginning to wish that he could trust himself around Kagome as he suspected he could have a debate with her on par with those that he had with Sango when she was still his student. Kagome's questions were surprisingly objective, they naturally had a human perspective but they showed insight into youkai culture.

At the end of class Shippo waited until the other students had left before turning off the webcam and facing his mentor.

"So, you finally found a mate." His tails flicked, belying the interest that he'd learned to mask from Sesshoumaru.

"Watch yourself kit."

"I was just going to congratulate you on your choice. She seems like she could actually hold her own against you."

"It is not a choice, you know that." Sesshoumaru's jaw tightened as he gathered the papers on his desk. "While the actual science is more complicated than your little fox brain could comprehend-"

Shippo snorted a laugh. "Yeah yeah, I remember the lecture Professor-sama. Two people compliment each other perfectly on a molecular level, down to the junk DNA in their system. One case was even documented where the brain waves, or aura, of two mates were mapped and they were perfectly in sync. A scientifically proven fairy tale."

"Numbingly simplified. Yes."

Shippo rolled his eyes. "You know, most youkai would be ecstatic to find a true match… even if there mate was human."

"You presume much." Sesshoumaru snapped his briefcase shut and flicked his braid over his shoulder.

Their eyes locked on each other, Shippo's unusually challenging gaze searching Sesshoumaru's for the minute cues that expressed the inu taiyoukai's true feelings. As he looked Sesshoumaru let loose a flare of youki, reminding the kitsune of his place as alpha. Shippo dropped his gaze submissively, acknowledging Sesshoumaru's dominance and smiled nervously.

"This whole thing really has put you in a bad mood." He muttered and retrieved his backpack, stowing the laptop and other gear.

"Will you be dining in the cafeteria or at home tonight?" Sesshoumaru asked, extending the invitation to placate the kitsune. He was rewarded as Shippo raised hopeful pistachio eyes to his. "Rin has complained of your absence."

Shippo chuckled and followed Sesshoumaru out of the classroom, locking up behind them. "Well if Rin-chan demands my presence then I am obligated to put in an appearance."

"Hn."

"Does Rin-chan know about Kagome?" Shippo asked carefully, not putting any inflection in his tone.

The only indication that the older taiyoukai had heard was his lengthened stride, practically making Shippo jog to keep up.

"Professor-sama, you yourself told me that these kinds of connections are impossible to ignore once made."

A low growl should have been warning enough but Shippo ploughed on. "At the very least you should explain to Kagome why you ran… er… exited with such haste."

The growl rose dangerously, almost loud enough to be perceptible to human ears.

Shippo pretended not to notice it. "If she doesn't know she may take another suitor."

The growl stopped as abruptly as Sesshoumaru's stride and Shippo knew he'd hit a nerve.

"That won't happen." He stated confidently and started stalking the corridor again. "The bond is already present. It will not be so for any other male."

"But the bond didn't just happen the second you laid eyes on her, youkai erm… partners, aren't love at first sight." He dropped his voice as they emerged outside where students milled about before lunch, not wanting to be overheard. "The bond's existed since she was born."

"Your point?"

"So she's probably felt that other males are… unsatisfactory her whole life and learned to ignore that feeling." Shippo rolled his eyes as his mentor's eyes widened slightly at the implication.

The growl returned, loud enough to make the other students give him an even wider birth than usual. "Unacceptable."