Corona
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 6: Effectual
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inu Yasha, more's the pity. I would have made that series a thousand times more awkward than it was. I also own no rights the Thrillseekers or M.I.K.E.
Kagome was on top of the world even though her whole body felt as if it had been stuffed into a blender and then pounded like mochi. Her mother hadn't commented on the late hour when she had walked in the night before, and had only reminded Kagome that they were welcome to come study at the shrine anytime.
Sleep had hit hard and fast, and she felt well rested when she woke. The sun was shining and she felt like small animals would come dancing in from the background at any second, singing some obnoxiously bright and happy song that she would be compelled to lead. She texted Sesshoumaru to see where he was and found him in the library. He hadn't said a thing when she brushed his hair and braided it. He'd only reminded her about their plans and she'd had to leave for her first class.
Her pop quiz had been a breeze and her second professor had handed her back her paper with a smile and an A.
Between her second and third class everything screeched to a halt. Kujaku and Kouga both approached, both looking extremely unhappy. Steeling herself for what was coming, she was unsurprised when they launched into a lecture about the half brothers.
"Kagome, I know you're a really good person," Kujaku began. "But you haven't dealt with someone like Sesshoumaru before."
"He's an ass," Kouga snapped impatiently, earning a nod from Kujaku. "He doesn't care about fire at all. He's only out to make money and keep his stupid little business going. It's all business to him," He told her. "I worked with him, I know. He doesn't care about the people in his troupe, they're all just numbers."
"Sesshoumaru doesn't help people unless there's some sort of gain for himself," Kujaku told her as she sat down on the bench next to her. The older student's hand rested on her knee and her dark eyes were sympathetic.
"Kagome, we're just looking out for you. He may be pretending to help you, but he's after something else," Kouga bit out, voice harsh.
"What would he be after?" Kagome asked them, growing more and more uncomfortable. "It's just some kata. It's not like I'm some amazing martial artist with something to offer," She reasoned.
"Sweetie, Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha both are known for being ladies men," Kujaku began delicately.
"Look, I know Inu Yasha got drunk and slept with Ayame. I know he screwed up his relationship with his girlfriend. I know Ayame screwed up hers with you," Kagome bit out, feeling defensive of the half brothers. "But they're not bad people. So they're rough around the edges? You guys are too, and you're both wonderful."
This was said without the least bit of spite or sarcasm, but her friends' faces darkened at the comparison.
"Kagome, Sesshoumaru is just going to use you," Kujau started again.
"What has Sesshoumaru done besides be a slave driver?" Kagome snapped hotly, suddenly feeling queer. Her whole body chilled and she moved her knee from Kujaku's hand. "I know he pushes people. I feel like I've been worked over by a steamroller. But what else?" She demanded.
"He's an insensitive, uncaring asshole," Kouga snapped. "That should be enough."
"You know how many people have said that about you?" Kagome asked him, brow quirking. "Look, I'm becoming friends with them. There's no ulterior motive here. If they want something besides someone to teach, then that's their problem," Kagome assured them. "Which is beside the point. Neither of them have any interest in me."
Kouga looked ready to say something, then stopped, his teeth clicking together and beginning to grind. Kujaku was shaking her head sadly.
"Kagome, you're too trusting," She started.
"And you're too cynical," The younger woman accused. "Is it so hard to believe they might want to be friends?"
"Do you want a friend like Inu Yasha? Look what he did to me," Kouga snorted. "And when I told Sesshoumaru I wanted him gone from the troupe, Sesshoumaru told me to suck it up or I could leave, like I'd done something wrong."
"They were disowned by their dad. They're all each other has left," She reasoned. "Even if they act like they hate each other, they don't, okay?"
"So after a week you know them better than I do? I've known them for most of my life. Trust me, they hate each other."
"Well maybe they've changed," She replied stubbornly. Kouga snorted once and shook his head.
"Look, we're just trying to look out for you. If you want to jump into that mess, fine. We'll be waiting when you're finished being a number. Maybe," He ground out, turning on his heel and stalking away.
"He's just mad. We'll be there when it goes south," Kujaku sighed.
"Is it so improbable that they might just want to hang out with me and teach me?" Kagome asked, leaning back against the bench and turning her face to the sky. "I know I've only known them a week, but Sesshoumaru isn't a bad guy. Yeah, he can be a real jerk sometimes, Inu Yasha too. I don't really blame them though. We've all got families and security. They don't have any of that."
"Kouga said they were disowned because they couldn't get along," Kujaku observed.
"Well, it seems like it's fixing it. Inu Yasha is helping Sesshoumaru show me the forms. They fight and call each other names, but it seems like that's just their way of getting along, you know? And they're not bad guys. Both have helped me with stuff."
"What kind of stuff?" Kujaku asked stiffly.
Kagome shrugged, hoping to evade answering, but the woman's hard eyes piercing through her killed her chances.
"I met Sango, one of the troupe members. I was rude and asked about Sesshoumaru's arm. She started crying when she talked about it, mostly because she still hadn't told anyone how much it scared her. Inu Yasha saw that she was upset afterward and went off on me a little. When he found out that it wasn't really because of me, he apologized. He's really protective of them. And I think he really regrets the Kouga thing."
"Why would you say that?" Kujaku asked, doubt obvious.
"Call it a feeling. I accused him of sleeping around and he clammed up. It was like I'd slapped him."
Kujaku sighed and leaned back.
"There's no rebuilding that bridge."
"I know, but it's not like he's just strolling along whistling a happy tune," Kagome reasoned, trying not to be angry at the almost grateful way Kujaku had made her declaration. "He made a mistake, one that didn't involve me in any way. What kind of person would I be if I judged and punished him for it?"
Kujaku was silent, lost in thought as she gazed up at the blue sky.
"What about Sesshoumaru?"
It was Kagome's turn to be silent and stare at the sky.
"He's different. I don't know what he was like before his accident. But he's determined, and he drives himself as hard as he pushes me. I guess he just doesn't want to waste his time teaching someone who won't put their all into it. It can't be easy adjusting to life suddenly being different, especially when everyone seems determined to treat you like you're incapable."
"He was always a rude, driven asshole," Kujaku said into the silence.
"He's not always an asshole,' Kagome reasoned. "Just sometimes. Usually he's pretty nice, to me at least."
Kujaku swung her eyes to the young woman next to her and wanted to bury her face in her hands. Kagome was gazing dreamily at the sky above her, a small half smile playing on her face.
"We did a burn together,' She finally said. "It was after he started explaining the kata to me. Kujaku, if you'd seen it, you'd understand. He has a lot he can teach me. I can grow as a dancer and maybe make another friend."
After years of being too busy for friendships, the budding relationships with Sesshoumaru and the troupe were as important to her as the ones she had formed with the pack. If she had to choose, she was pretty sure she'd give up on trying to form relationships altogether. Despite being new at forming such bonds, she was certain real friends didn't make you pick and choose between them.
"I'm not asking you to be friends with him or Inu Yasha. But please don't keep trying to warn me off of them. You know how well that works."
Kujaku snorted. It was she that had encouraged Kagome's rebellious streak by convincing her to sneak out and to start playing with fire. It seemed karma wasn't wasn't any time with her punishment.
"I'll hold my peace," Kujaku agreed reluctantly. "But if either of them hurt you, I'll bury them."
Kagome's tinkling laugh filtered into the air, spreading through the commons area.
"They won't," She said with such confidence it rocked the older woman, and she was thankful the oblivious onna was staring at the sky and couldn't see her expression.
Hey asshole," A voice called out. Intent on simply ignoring it, and the speaker, he continued walking towards his next class.
"Cripple, have you gone deaf too?" Inu Yasha shouted, startling many of the other students. Knowing if he ignored it, the family stain would only get worse he stopped and waited. Inu Yasha caught up, glaring at him for several seconds.
"What do you want?" He finally asked.
"Kagome's friends, the other pyros, they were warning her off of us," Inu Yasha finally admitted.
"Did she tell you this?"
"Well, I saw her and then the others joined her, one of 'em was Kouga." At the mention of his former best friend his voice trailed off and Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes.
"You eavesdropped." It wasn't a question.
"Well yeah. Look, they're telling her all sorts of shit-"
"I know. She won't listen," Sesshoumaru supplied confidently before beginning to walk again. Inu Yasha followed, expression thoughtful, a look Sesshoumaru wasn't used to seeing on him.
"They kept saying we're just out to use her, and she said we weren't. I mean, she was so confident in us," He sighed. "Is that what we're doing?"
"No. She knows the terms of her employment and her lessons. If her employment ends, then she'll go on with her life. If she's intelligent, she'll be thankful for the knowledge she walks away with," Sesshoumaru rebutted. "Do not tell her."
"I know," Inu Yasha groaned. "It still feels wrong though."
"Once we have access to our accounts once again, they'll be rewarded for their loyalty," Sesshoumaru quipped.
"It's not that. It just feels like we shouldn't hide this."
"It is none of their concern. Employment ends. This is temporary for all of them," Sesshoumaru reminded him. "They all have bigger dreams than making fools of themselves and their craft for drunken morons."
Inu Yasha nodded again, although he looked more than a little dejected. For a minute Sesshoumaru wondered if he would pry open the lid on that particular can of worms.
"It's not much longer, and it is getting easier," He reminded his half brother.
"Says you," The younger scoffed. "I've lost my girlfriend and best friend."
Sesshoumaru refused to remind him of all that he'd lost. Instead she gave a one shouldered shrug and began veering away from the younger heir. Inu Yasha's thoughts were not amusing, and the idiot could easily bring the whole thing down on them. As far as the others were concerned, they had been disowned and were desperate for cash while they went through university. To them, there were no conditions of their return home and to their prior lives. If they were to find out so late in the game, everything would fall apart.
He damned his little brother's conscience and prayed the fool didn't get drunk any time soon. He wasn't sure if he could fix a mess of that magnitude.
And Kagome. What would she think?
Nothing. She had no right to. He'd only known her a week. Technically less, if he were being picky. Even though they'd spent a majority of their free time together, it didn't mean she was of any actual importance. He respected her determination and drive. Teaching her was proving to be a pleasant distraction from the ever present reminder of his status as outcast from his family and from society. That was all.
Shaking his head to clear it, the action only shifted the braid hanging down his back, serving to remind him of her again.
Kagome was surprised when Inu Yasha sat down in the booth across from her the next afternoon. He looked slightly apologetic and he twiddled his thumbs while he looked down at the smooth surface of the table.
"Hey Inu Yasha," She greeted, closing her textbook and sticking her pen into her messy bun.
"Hey," He mumbled.
Strange. He was always loud.
"I was listening this afternoon," He blurted, still unable to meet her eyes. "It was an accident, but I didn't leave. I'm sorry."
For a minute she wasn't sure what he was talking about. When it hit her, she couldn't help but smile warmly and put a hand on top of his clenched fingers.
"It's alright. Don't make a habit of though, okay?" She asked, pulling her hand away and gesturing for the waitress. Inu Yasha mumbled for a coke and Kagome leaned back in her seat and perused his face curiously.
"Are you sick?" She finally asked.
"What? No," He protested. "Why would you ask something like that?"
"Because you're acting like it. Seriously Inu Yasha, it's alright if you overheard my conversation. I should be apologizing anyway," She admitted. "I didn't mean to hit a sore spot last night. I didn't think about it until I got home, and what I said probably came out wrong in the context. If it was hurtful, I'm sorry."
"You didn't mean it," He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "You're right though, I do miss them. Both of them. Heh, look at me. I'm not going to unload on you after yesterday. Dealing with Sango is enough. Thanks by the way. None of us realized how much the accident affected her. It'll be good for her to have another girl around."
"I still feel like a jerk for bringing it up. It's not my business," She sighed, looking down into her soda. The waitress came back and sat Inu Yasha's cup down with a napkin beneath it and a wink. He pulled it out and looked at it, blushing.
"I'll never understand why they do that," He muttered.
"She give you her number?"
"Yeah, but when they put a glass down on it that water on the outside always blurs the numbers. If they write tiny then it makes it impossible to call," He huffed.
"You could always ask her for a copy," Kagome giggled. Inu Yasha shook his head, looking chagrined.
"Nah, kills the thrill. At least for me. Besides, I haven't really wanted to date since Kikyo left," He admitted, taking a long swig of his soda for effect.
"Inu Yasha, you can tell me to mind my own business, but why did you sleep with Ayame? Kouga said he's known you his whole life and that you were friends."
He shrugged and inhaled deeply, looked like he was going to say something, then stopped and exhaled.
"It was after Sesshoumaru's accident," He finally said. "I kept trying to call our dad and let him know. And ask for help. Something. The bills were enough to kill us and I had no idea what to do. He wouldn't take my calls. That day I went to his office and got thrown out before I could even get to the elevator. I just gave up. I went to the bar and Ayame was dropping by to see if Kouga was working. When he wasn't she got really pissy, said he was with some girl he'd been chasing. We got drunk. She kept hanging all over me, trying to make Kouga jealous if he walked in, and I just wanted to forget everything. I don't really remember everything," He admitted.
"I know it's not an excuse," He said, holding his hands up when she opened her mouth to say something. "It was just one of those really fucked up days. Kouga found us together. I'd say her plan backfired. He didn't get jealous, he dumped her. And he told Kikyo before I could."
Kagome knew Inu Yasha had messed up big time, but she couldn't help feeling sorry for him. He looked so forlorn as he spoke.
"Thanks for defending me earlier. And Sesshoumaru. I know we're not the easiest people to get on with."
"Easier than you think," She told him, smiling. "Remember, my mom loves making me feel bad for doing anything but studying."
"Sesshoumaru mentioned something like that," Inu Yasha agreed. "You know, you're not so bad. Even if you are a brat."
"Hey," She snapped, using her straw to flick soda at him. "It's not like you're not," She countered. He sobered instantly and she hit another sore spot.
"I kind of had a question," He hedged.
"Go ahead and shoot."
"I need help."
"With?" She asked when he didn't elaborate.
"I'm failing my chemistry class," He admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "I'm already on academic probation. If I don't pass-"
He didn't have to finish. Academic probation was the last step before getting kicked out.
"That's it?" She asked, surprised.
"That's not enough?" He snapped, blushing hotly.
"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to belittle it," She rushed. "It's just, after our talk I expected you to ask me to talk to Kouga or something," She admitted.
"Nah, that asshole's too stubborn to listen to anyone," He joked, although it had a bitter edge to it.
"It's okay. Chemistry is one of my better subjects," She told him. "Have you got your book with you?"
"Yeah," He said as he pulled his bookbag up and opened it. Two heavy textbooks thudded onto the table and Kagome's eyes widened.
"You have Higarikou?" She asked.
"Yeah, he's-"
"Amazing," She breathed. "He was my favorite professor last year!"
He stared at her as if she'd lost her mind.
Sesshoumaru was surprised and slightly annoyed to see his younger brother and Kagome bent over the table focusing on a chart in a textbook. They didn't even notice his presence and he watched for a moment as Kagome went over a complicated formula, breaking it down into steps. He was shocked to realize that she looked happy going over it.
Inu Yasha moved to grab his drink and realized he was there.
"Hey Sesshoumaru," Inu Yasha smiled, looking as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "Kagome's helping me study for the chemistry test next week. You never told me she was smart!"
"I'm not smart," She rebutted bashfully, blushing hotly. "I just like science."
"Keh, smarter than I am," His half-brother declared.
Sesshoumaru decided not to mention how easy an achievement that was.
Kagome slid over, offering a seat next to her by patting the padded bench and going back to the book in front of her. The waitress came over and took his order for a drink.
"Oh, could you bring a large basket of onion rings?" She asked. When both brothers flinched she blinked obliquely.
"Allergic," Inu Yasha muttered, red faced.
'Not precisely true, but close enough,' Sesshoumaru thought to himself.
"Oh. Then how about two large orders of fries?" She offered, chuckling weakly. The waitress nodded and went off while Kagome went back to the book and pulled the pen from her hair, causing a lock to pull halfway out and stick up comically.
He said nothing as she started scratching notes on a piece of paper, explaining them to Inu Yasha. When the waitress came back with fries, he had been pulled into the discussion, not that he had to say much. Kagome had either understated her intelligence or her love for the subject, or both. She was breaking everything down in a way that was easy for the younger of the two men to understand. Sesshoumaru found watching her fascinating. She looked almost as happy as when she was doing a burn.
"Have you thought about making your major science?" He finally asked. She stopped and shrugged, running a hand through her already mussed hair.
"I've never thought about it," She admitted. "I have no idea what I'd do."
"Become a mad scientist," Inu Yasha chuckled. "Surrounded all day by strange vials filled with different colored liquids."
"I'd probably end up blowing up my lab in a burst of green-" She stopped, blue eyes widening.
"Inu Yasha you're a genius," She murmured absentmindedly, mind turning inward.
"I'm sure that is the first and only time you will ever hear that. Savor it," Sesshoumaru mused, although he was still focused on the suddenly very quiet onna.
"Kagome," Inu Yasha prompted.
"Nothing," She said, coming back to reality. "It's just an idea I have to look into."
He wanted to know what could make her eyes shine like that. She looked fit to burst, and for a minute he wondered if she even remembered what she had been doing before or that they had planned to work on the routine.
"Strange woman," Inu Yasha muttered.
Half an hour later Kagome was stretching and rubbing her eyes.
"If I look at this any longer my head will explode," Inu Yasha sighed. "But thanks, I think I get it now."
"If you need anymore help let me know. Higikarou likes slipping surprise questions on his tests. I think I've still got my notes from that class stored away somewhere if you want them."
"That would be awesome," Inu Yasha answered thankfully as he stuffed his textbooks back in his bag. "You guys want to go practice? It won't be long before it gets dark."
Kagome made a noise of agreement as she put money on the table. She told them she was going to the bathroom and they both watched her walking to the other side of the diner, gazes intent.
"You know, she likes you," Inu Yasha mentioned.
Sesshoumaru scoffed.
"Hey, if she can explain anything science related to me and make me understand it, she's got the patience to deal with your stubborn ass," He muttered.
There was a distinctly feminine screech from the directions of the bathroom and the door flew open and the subject of their 'conversation' came stalking towards them, obviously irate.
"When were you guys going to mention my hair looked like this?" She snapped hotly, finger pointing at the disheveled mess her hair had become over the course of the study session. Several thick strands had been pulled halfway out, sticking in every direction comically.
"Hey, you have the hair part of a mad scientist down," Inu Yasha offered.
She was sputtering angrily, and Sesshoumaru was vaguely reminded of a cat fluffing out it's fur.
"You-That- I will-"
"Besides, Sesshoumaru thought it was sexy," His half brother interjected, smirking as he left the pair behind and headed for the door.
Her face blanked and went ghost white before suddenly flooding with red. Not even bothering to look at him, she grabbed her bag and spun on her heels. He followed, wondering if she'd try to pull the half-wit's hair again. When she did nothing but ignore the younger brother as she waited by the car, he shrugged mentally.
Of course, she also refused Inu Yasha's offer of the front seat.
Kagome walked past the two brothers through the parking garage and ignored the elevator completely. Leaving them behind in the dust, she sprinted up the stairs, eager to get some space between them before she had to face them again.
Was she really so obvious? She'd liked guys before, but she'd never had time to act on it, much less time to spend around them. Mortification wiped away any excitement she had felt from her earlier idea, killing her enthusiasm and leaving anxiety in her wake.
And after she'd been so nice to him too! Inu Yasha was being cruel teasing her like that. She tried to move faster, of half a mind to outrun her own embarrassment when her foot tripped over one of the stairs, sending her flying face first to the ground.
Her knee struck another stair harshly and her palms scraped against the concrete, stinging unmercifully. Thanking the kami that she'd managed to catch herself before eating another step, she allowed the tears burning her eyes to leak out, grateful that it wasn't a full force crying jag. Shifting and leaning against a wall, her leg spanning the width of the step, she thumped her head against the wall behind her.
Several minutes later Sesshoumaru was walking up the stairs and stopped when he came onto the landing.
"Are you alright?" He finally asked.
She nodded weakly and he took the steps two at a time to reach her. Lifting her leg, he sat across from her and laid the leg back down over his. Gentle fingers ghosted over the scrape, checking it through the hole in her jeans, prodding it gently once. Blood was weeping from the torn skin and staining the denim.
"Anywhere else?" He asked quietly. She held her hands out without saying anything and he checked one, then the other. Dirt had embedded itself in the scraped flesh and they bled a little, but otherwise looked fine.
"Can you walk?"
She nodded again and stood. She ignored the pain shooting through her knee and tried to avoid limping as they took the last two floors slowly, silently. He said nothing as he unlocked the front door, merely gestured for her to go in first. He followed and walked past her, leaving her standing alone in the living room. When he came back, he had a pair of shorts in his hand.
"Change into these," He instructed.
"What?"
"Your knee needs to be cleaned and bandaged," He explained tersely. She nodded and took the shorts, walking quietly to the bathroom. It was a tiny room, with barely enough space to turn. Unzipping her pants, she tried to avoid bending her knee overmuch as she slid them down and kicked them off.
The shorts were big on her, and she wondered if they were Sesshoumaru's. The bottom of the legs reached halfway down her calves, making them look like a pair of oversized capri pants. Holding the waist up, she walked back out and saw him sitting with a towel and first aid kit next to him. Deft fingers were opening a bottle of peroxide. He poured some in a small cup and pulled out several gauze squares.
Taking a seat across from him, she watched him pull her leg out straight and tuck the towel under it.
"The bleach might do the carpet good," She commented in an offhand manner.
"It would hardly be noticeable," He replied absentmindedly as he poured peroxide over the scrape. She flinched when it began to sting and bubble, biting her lips when he wiped at it a gauze square. He repeated the process three more times before he was satisfied and swabbed it with antibacterial gel. Another gauze square went over it, followed by a large bandage.
She held out her hands, the worse of the two first, and let him work.
"Inu Yasha is sorry if he embarrassed you."
"It's nothing," She murmured, flinching again when he wiped at the broken skin.
"He often speaks without thinking."
"It's part of his charm," She muttered. Sesshoumaru made a rude noise in his throat and moved to the other hand. Just as he was finishing with it, the front door opened and the pair looked up at the newcomer.
"Oh, so that's what was taking so long," inu Yasha muttered, looking slightly disappointed. "Hey, I'm sorry I said something stupid," He grunted, moving over to sit next to them.
"Not yet you aren't," Kagome murmured, smiling brightly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Inu Yasha asked, growing suspicious and shifting away from the petite woman.
"You'll see," She promised, her voice light and cheery, making the man shudder.
"Done," Sesshoumaru declared as he screwed the cap back on the bottle of peroxide and began putting everything away in the first aid kit. Kagome stood and tested her leg, wincing slightly. Sesshoumaru grabbed the cup and she took it from his hand, other hand holding up the shorts.
"I'll pour it out while you grab everything," She told him, moving for the kitchen, a room she still hadn't seen. It proved to be as cramped and crowded as the bathroom, and she wondered how they even cooked in such a tiny space. After pouring the remaining peroxide out she passed the quiet younger brother and went back to the bathroom and changed.
Unsure of what to do with the shorts, she had finally settled on asking when a solid thump sounded in the other room. Jerking the door open she flew out of the bathroom and stopped when she saw Inu Yasha lying flat on his back and Sesshoumaru walking to the front door.
"Is everything alright?" She gasped, moving to help Inu Yasha get up.
"Fine," He growled, ignoring her hand and getting up on his own. Shaking her head, Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru and blushed.
"I didn't know what to do with these," She admitted. He moved on silent feet towards her and held the wooden swords out and took the shorts from her and disappeared behind her.
"Care to tell me what that was about?" She demanded in a whisper.
"Nothing," Inu Yasha grumbled under his breath.
Sesshoumaru joined them and the topic was closed.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Inu Yasha asked, his pale eyes on her hands.
"I'm fine," She growled. "Just get into position."
They had run through the routine once with Sesshoumaru guiding her. This would be her first time doing it without his help. He stood back and watched the pair, curious to see how she would do on her own.
He flexed his fingers, still angry that his half brother's stupidity had almost taken Kagome out of commission before she could really begin. Her knee was going to bruise badly, and it was only her determination that kept him from calling the rehearsal off.
"Fine, sorry for being concerned," He muttered as he brought his sword up.
They moved slowly, and he was proud when she did everything perfectly. Her face was a mask of fierce concentration, which was just as well. She looked angry, and it would translate well into the performances.
They got through the routine with only two mistakes on her part and one on Inu Yasha's.
"Faster," He rumbled. Inu Yasha only looked worried when Kagome smiled coolly.
They moved faster, Inu Yasha setting the pace. Kagome kept up, fumbling three times by the end of it.
"Half time," He instructed, and Inu Yasha looked at him as if he'd said something stupid. However Kagome was already in position and nodded once when the younger male looked at her. A tight nod was her response and he got into position. He lunged.
She fumbled her fan, letting it slip from her fingers and catching it deftly, giving Inu Yasha pause. Sesshoumaru felt a strange surge of approval when her other fan appeared and she began moving with both, utilizing what he'd taught her in the apartment and ignoring the flashy moves of the routine, throwing Inu Yasha further off balance.
She captured the wooden sword between the two fans and flipped it away from it's wielder, then lunged and smacked him on the side of his head solidly. When she stepped back, smiling smugly, Sesshoumaru almost wished he could clap. Inu Yasha was standing still and staring wide eyed at her. His hand came slowly up to his head when she'd smacked him and rubbed it as a grin bloomed on his face.
"I knew you'd be perfect!" He crowed before lunging forward and lifting her off her feet and swinging her around. "Perfect, perfect, perfect!" He kept laughing as he spun.
"Put me down before I throw up!" Kagome shouted, laughing with him. After he put her down she listed for a moment before regaining her balance.
"I knew it! Didn't I tell you Sesshoumaru? Not even a week and she's already starting to get it! You," He said, turning to Kagome again. "I bet we could go through it faster and you'd do fine," He declared, picking his sword up and getting into position. "Come on," He goaded.
Kagome shrugged, still chuckling and he watched her closely. When she got into position, Inu Yasha barely gave her warning, only a simple guttural cry as lunged at her. With a cry she brought her fan up in defense.
The wooden sword clattered against the metal tines over and over. With growing amazement, he watched her execute each step perfectly, looking horrified and belligerent at the same time. Her own shout as she darted towards him made him jerk back in surprise, the intensity of it matching Inu Yasha's.
It had been choreographed to take five minutes. If Sesshoumaru figured correctly, they had done it in seven, maybe less. Both had made small mistakes, but those had been few and few between. When they pulled away from one another, Kagome was panting lightly, sweat misting her forehead. She licked her lips and blinked several times.
"What just happened?" She asked, awestruck.
The wooden practice sword flew at Sesshoumaru and he caught it deftly, fingers curling at the end.
"Now try it with him," Inu Yasha stated as he walked away. Kagome's already wide eyes glazed over and she began shaking her head and moving backwards.
"Position," He commanded.
"I don't think-"
"Position."
She didn't move into form, only shook her head dazedly.
He lunged at her, not holding back. Her fan flew up and he moved the choreography perfectly, not giving her time to think. The faster he went, the less she fumbled and the surer her movements became. Blue eyes were stormy and her cheeks were flushed. They lunged and jumped, and though he had intentionally kept the steps simple and everything was choreographed, there was something charged about the way they crashed into one another over and over.
Far from being his first female opponent in any sense, he couldn't remember ever seeing one with such an intense gaze. It was as if she believed she was fighting. The longer they went on, the more he felt as if he was underwater, gliding through the air as if gravity had lost it's hold on both his partner and himself. Sound faded and they became the epicenter of a storm or movement, the silence broken only by the sound of his heart hammering in his chest.
He swept his leg out, knocking her onto her back and the fan went flying, ending the mock battle, although his mind remained still and calm, and yet overstimulated by the feel of the ground beneath his feet and the air against his skin.
Walking over to her, he looked down and saw her staring blankly at the sky breathing heavily. Her face was flush and for a moment he wondered if she looked like that after making love. Certainly she had looked as euphoric after spinning fire, and unmeasurable pride filled him that he had been able to push her to such a state as he opponent and not someone else.
"Almost five minutes exactly," Inu Yasha said as he jogged over. "Wow, I've never seen you look like that."
Feeling slightly startled by the sudden intrusion of his half brother, he tried to hide his own discomfort with the sudden shattering of that strange peace that had wrapped around both himself and the woman he'd been sparring with.
"That's as good as spinning fire. Why do people do drugs?" Kagome asked through deep breaths. The smile on her face spoke volumes to him, and he couldn't help but shaking his head. Tossing the sword to Inu Yasha, he bent over and extended his hand. Accepting it gracefully, she giggled as he hauled her up to her feet.
"That's the fastest I've seen anyone memorize one of the routines, except for maybe us," Inu Yasha commented. "And we've been doing it since we were kids."
"Me too," She responded in a breathless voice. "Mom's been teaching me the fan dances since I was a kid. The ones that have a partner require a lot of focus. This was like that, but so much better!"
Her eyes were glowing and her cheeks bright pink. With each deep breath her chest almost asked for his attention. Forcing his gaze to stay on her face, he allowed himself a small smile. She was soaked with sweat.
"Did you bring a change of clothes this time?" He asked as they began walking towards his car. She nodded mutely, eyes still lit with joy.
"You can grab the first shower at our place then," Inu Yasha said, his own smile reaching both ears. "I still can't believe how you guys did that. It was intense."
Sesshoumaru couldn't help but agree.
Kagome accepted the towel and washcloth from Inu Yasha with a quiet thank you, her hands still trembling. Unlike her first burn, there was nothing to bring her down, and she couldn't help but be proud of herself. Somehow she had fought Sesshoumaru and done well. Granted it hadn't been real, but something about it had felt so alive, charged. Even though there props hadn't been fire props and the flame she loved hadn't been included, the experience itself was as involving, as moving, as fire spinning.
The bathroom was tiny and she stripped quickly and threw her clothes in a corner before hopping into the small shower stall. It was nothing like what she had back home, but there was shampoo and conditioner and soap, which was more than enough. As she soaped up the washcloth it occurred to her that she was in Sesshoumaru's shower. The same shower he got naked in. Blushing furiously, she shook her head trying to clear it of those thoughts. If Sesshoumaru was naked in it, so was Inu Yasha. That mental image and the cool water were enough to kill any inappropriate thoughts.
After wetting her hair she grabbed the shampoo bottle and was surprised to see it was a good brand, an expensive one that she thought would be out of their price range.
"No wonder his hair is so nice," She sighed as she began lathering her hair. After rinsing it out she massaged some conditioner into it and began soaping up. By the time she was finished, Inu Yasha had banged on the door twice telling her to hurry up and 'stop being such a girl'.
Drying quickly, she let her hair hang in damp ringlets as she tugged on her pants and a tshirt that was an almost exact copy of the one she had been wearing before. When she opened the door, she saw Inu Yasha waiting, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Trying to catch a peek? Pervert," She accused, throwing her towel at him. He made an indignant sound and Kagome stepped aside, allowing Sesshoumaru to step in and shut the door behind him, locking it with a decided click.
"Hey, I've been waiting out here for a fucking hour!" Inu Yasha shouted.
"Were not, drama queen," Kagome muttered, taking her towel back and rubbing her hair down. "Besides, he's got to drive me home soon, and I don't want to ride in the car with a stinky guy," She told him.
"I can drive," Inu Yasha bit out, walking into the dining area and sitting at the table.
"Really?" She couldn't recall ever seeing him drive.
"Sesshoumaru doesn't like sharing his car," The younger brother muttered darkly as he pulled out a notebook and began working on something, his hand sweeping over the page in hurried strokes.
"What's that?" Kagome asked.
"Since you're able to start performing, I've got to adjust the rates for the troupe. If I don't, everyone gets paid less," He replied as he finished writing. "I'm just making a note to remind myself for the website."
"You have a website?" She asked, brow arching.
"We have a website," He corrected. "You're one of us now," He reminded her. She smiled. The pack had taken her in, but they'd never said those words. She had always been 'little sister' or 'Kujaku's girl' or something of that sort. The thought made her feel slightly guilty. She hadn't been back for a gathering since her first burn, and she'd only seen Kujaku and Kouga.
"Want to see it?" He asked, breaking through her reverie.
"Sure," She smiled. He left for a moment and she heard him rummaging through his room. He emerged from the hall seconds later with a small notebook laptop in his hands. He sat next to Kagome and she watched as he opened a browser and clicked on a shortcut.
The logo was the traditional kanji for 'ryuuko'.
"Dragon and Tiger?" She asked.
"Miroku said simple is better," Inu Yasha said in an offhand manner.
"Or he had you and Sesshoumaru in mind," She joked, referring to the mythic feud between the two creatures. Inu Yasha shrugged and sighed, nodding once.
"Probably. It sounds like his sort of humor. Look at this, this is our stills gallery. We've got this really annoying kid that does our photography for almost nothing. We're going to have to get some of you soon," He told her as he scrolled down the page. Kagome looked at the photos in awe.
"These are you guys?" She gasped. Most of the photos were of people in masks and costumes. Some were on them in less elaborate clothing with painted faces, but the photos themselves were surreal. Almost all of them had been taken at night and captured the performers and their props perfectly. Those taken at dusk and the day lacked the element of fire, and while they were technically very good photos, lacked the magic of the ones taken in darkness.
"Shippou's to thank for most of it. Without his photography and videos we wouldn't get even a quarter of the gigs we do," He replied. "I'll give him a call and tell him we need some more done."
"Who makes the costumes?" She asked, eyes still fastened to the screen. Everything was so beautiful, she was sure she would never fit in with the others. Each one seemed to carry the costumes and their props almost flawlessly, looking like spirits and demons in each photo.
"A lot of it is stuff we can switch from costume to costume. Anything from scratch is usually Miroku's work. It only looks elaborate, but it's not that bad. We have to keep the clothes light or risk passing out. Our performances can last up to an hour, and trust me, even in the middle of winter you start sweating while working."
"Yeah," Kagome agreed. "Tonight was chilly and I got all gross," She chuckled.
"Now think about doing that in a mask and costume, or even face paint."
"Have you guys ever just done simple costumes?" She asked. At Inu Yasha's questioning glance she continued. "You know, no face paint or anything. For the guys maybe just hakama. You all would make a ton just for women's parties," She teased.
"No," Inu Yasha bit out. "Masks or paints. We all have plans to do something besides this after school. It's better to keep our faces out of it."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize," She murmured, pulling back.
"It's not your fault," He apologized. "Sesshoumaru put a lot of thought into this when we started it up. We're just trying to keep everyone's reputations safe. Besides, it'll help you too, in case someone ever shows your mom a picture of us performing."
"Or gods forbid, she sees us," Kagome sighed.
"Hey, I need your schedule. That way I can work something out with Shippou and Koharu," He said, effectively halting her train of thought.
"Koharu?" Kagome asked.
"She does our makeup, she's pretty awesome, as long as she doesn't get around Miroku."
"Why?" She asked, not liking the look on Inu Yasha's face.
"She's had a crush on him forever."
"Bet Sango doesn't like that," Kagome sighed. Inu Yasha nodded and shrugged.
"No one else will do it for free though, and I think the only reason she doesn't charge is because of her crush. Her work is awesome though," He admitted. "So everyone puts up with it. Be right back, you want a soda?"
"Sure," She replied, still scrolling through the pictures.
She stopped and clicked on one, immediately recognizing Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha from their long braided hair. It was a high resolution image and took a few seconds to load, but she waited patiently and watched it gain more and more detail.
Sesshoumaru had his face painted white, although it reflected the red of the fire, making it yellow orange in the darkness. He wore nothing but hakama, his torso exposed. In his hand was a flaming sword sweeping across, creating a semicircle of fire around him. Inu Yasha held a strange, wider sword that was almost completely obscured by it's own flame. His face was painted black, and both looked like something out of her grandfather's stories.
"Pretty good, huh?" Inu Yasha asked as he sat again.
"It's fantastic," She admitted, still awed by the image of Sesshoumaru. Even with the face paint he looked ethereal, feline and predatory.
"I'm done," A voice said from the hallway as the subject of her thoughts walked out, damp hair hanging heavy and swaying with each step, droplets falling and rolling down his bare skin. Her heart hammered it's way up her throat and stuck itself there, swelling painfully.
Inu Yasha made an exaggerated coughing noise and snickered. "You're staring."
She spun and snapped the towel so quickly she surprised even herself.
"Holy shit!" Inu Yasha said from where he'd fallen backwards to avoid the towel. "It was a joke, I swear!"
By the time she looked up Sesshoumaru had gone back into the hall and she heard him moving around in his room, a dresser drawer opening and closing.
"I swear on all that's holy, if you don't stop-" She hissed.
"Just jump him already. You both need it," Inu Yasha grumbled. He reached over and opened a blank word document and typed her name.
"Write your schedule up and I'll call Shippou and Koharu tomorrow," He muttered, moving back into the kitchen. She did as asked and saved the document to his desktop just to be safe and stood, completely ignoring the unopened soda. Sesshoumaru walked out, running a hand through his hair.
She went to her bag, pulled out her secret weapon and pounced.
"We are not at school," Sesshoumaru sighed as she brushed his hair and braided it loosely.
"Are you complaining?" She retorted.
Inu Yasha stepped out of the kitchen, spotted his brother sitting in front of her while she played with his hair, and walked back into the kitchen without a word.
"No funny comments?" She demanded loudly.
"No. You'll just pull my hair again!" Inu Yasha snapped.
This chapter's song Effectual by The Thrillseekers vs M.I.K.E.
One of those little facts you learn once you get a dog: Dogs and onions apparently do not mix very well.
Once you start burning, you'd be surprised at how your reflexes change, and how aware you become of the areas around you. I'm not saying my power level is over 9000, but I have gotten a lot faster over the years since picking up poi and especially meteor, and it's the same for others into spinning. Balls of fire next to your face tend to do that. Kagome's essentially speeding up, becoming more aware because she's getting almost daily training sessions.
Also, CreArtive, this story will have more of the spirituality of burning in it, so no worries. I wanted this to be about people from very different backgrounds learning to respect it for what it is, and experiencing that moment during spinning that I think most pyros strive for with each burn. Part of this was inspired by IRL events. A friend in the community here started taking martial arts lessons to add to their style, and was met with more than a little ridicule in their class for it. Hopefully this story will evolve into people from both sides of the equation finding the middle ground that my friend (unfortunately) gave up on.
And, sorry this is late. I'm knitting boobs and helping out my mom and trying to get this thing finished. I'll have the next chapter up in the next few days, once it's edited. Thank you for waiting!