Oh good lord, I'm sorry about the mixup. Cleaning up my doc manager now! Here's the real chapter!
Corona
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 10: Fresh Air
Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha and co. Simple as that. I also don't own anything by Matt Bukovski.
Nothing changed between them, although he was disturbed to realize that her seeming indifference to their kiss rankled. She still blushed and smiled shyly sometimes, but for the most part she was doing a better job of pretending it had never happened than he had initially thought she would. After the first few days, they settled into their normal routines, although he hadn't taken her to the gym as he'd said. No one said a word, but he felt like the whole troupe knew. It was an unsettling feeling to say the least.
It wasn't until they began working on a new routine, the one that had been suggested before, that the kiss was removed from the table entirely. The routine itself had sounded wonderful, if ambitious and more theatrical than he liked. Everyone had come up with ideas and those had been whittled down and pieced together to create one very solid, outstanding routine.
Practice however, was harder than ever. Everyone was involved, which meant neither he or Inu Yasha could direct the movements as they normally did. Within the first hour Sango had thrown her hands in the air and stomped away. Miroku had followed, promising to bring her back.
Kohaku's endurance had given out soon after, and he was the focal point of over half of the routine. Even Inu Yasha was complaining. Kagome's part was finished after the first segment, and she watched helplessly as everyone grew more and more frustrated. When Inu Yasha threw the suburito down and stalked to the cooler, her gave in. The routine was too difficult.
"I didn't realize it would be this hard," Kagome sighed as he sat a few feet from her.
He didn't acknowledge the statement. They'd all practiced various forms of kata, so memorizing moves wasn't a problem. It was the lack of direction. Neither he nor Inu Yasha could do it, and he highly doubted the one available person could.
"It wouldn't be so bad if Kagome could help everyone with their positions," Inu Yasha grumped as he plopped into the grass and chugging from the water bottle, emptying it immediately.
"Why can't I?" Kagome asked, looking slightly offended. "It's not like the moves aren't written down. And I'd just be reminding people of where to be, right? It's not rocket science."
No, it wasn't, it was worse. One person trying to coordinate that many people would be a nightmare.
"It's worth a shot. Can't be any worse than what we're doing now," Kohaku finally sighed, sitting up from where he'd sprawled in the grass. Inu Yasha walked back to the cooler and threw a water bottle at the teenager, who caught it and doused his head before finishing the bottle off in the same manner Inu Yasha had.
"I'll go get Sango and Miroku," Inu Yasha informed, leaving them. Kagome was already moving for the notebook that had the routine mapped out in detail. When she looked down at it, she paled considerably. Saying nothing, he moved into position, the suburito held poised.
Miroku and Sango came back, Inu Yasha gesturing wildly with his hands. Whatever he was saying stopped before they joined the group, and everyone moved to grab their props. Sango looked doubtful, and Miroku's expression was shuttered, bland, giving nothing away. Inu Yasha looked like he was being led to his own execution. Kohaku was the only one that looked remotely confident in what they were going to attempt.
"Okay, we're going to do this slowly," Kagome informed them. "Kohaku is led in, the chain wrapped around his wrist and presented to Inu Yasha."
The boy walked forward. Kagome's commands rang out in the air, precise and clear. They shuffled and their practice weapons came into contact slowly. It was hardly better than the chaos of before, although they were moving to every step perfectly. It was just slower than any of them had ever moved before, and it grated against their already exasperated tempers.
It took almost an hour to go through the routine. When they finished, everyone stepped back, looking only slightly less frustrated than before. However, Kagome took a page from his book, surprising him when she began calling out the directions again at the same pace.
The props clattered as they made contact. Inu Yasha glared at him, mouthing 'your fault' more than once with a glance in the small woman's direction as she kept calling out the steps, every once in awhile correcting someone's placement. By the time she was finished, even he was ready to gag her.
"Break," She rasped, moving for the cooler and beginning to toss bottles at everyone. Each one was caught and drained almost immediately. Inu Yasha looked ready to throw the water bottle at her when he stopped and shrugged.
"At least we're doing it," He finally sighed.
"I'm sorry," Kagome murmured. "I don't really know what I'm doing. But you guys are getting the steps, just like they've been written down. It's just hard to try and tell five people where to go at the same time."
The others softened slightly at her words. In the heat of their anger, they had all forgotten that unlike them, she hadn't trained for years in any sort of martial art, and that routines were still a completely new experience for her.
"It's alright. A couple more times and we'll get a better feel for it. Can you read faster?" Inu Yasha asked. She nodded, smiling tremulously. Everyone tossed their water bottles in the general direction of the cooler and moved back into position.
The commands came more quickly, and the pace seemed to suit everyone. Both he and Inu Yasha were already memorizing the moves, their minds clearing and bodies taking over. Miroku likewise was able to be right where he needed to be the whole time. Sango and Kohaku were both having trouble, although everyone was helping them, making the job easier.
It was the first time he had really worked with the group instead of telling them how to move. It was a strange feeling, almost kinship as he helped Kohaku again and again with nods and small gestures. Kagome's directions became more and more hoarse, and when they had finished, she could barely speak at all.
"Okay, I think Kags needs a break," Sango informed all of them haughtily.
"You're just tired," Inu Yasha sniped as they all broke position and moved back to where their things lay. Already Kagome was gathering up the empty water bottles in her arms and walking for the trashcan nearby. It took her two trips but she got them all, gracefully accepting the new empty ones from where everyone downed more greedily.
"Practice is going to suck when it get's hotter," Inu Yasha groaned. "You think the gym will let us practice inside?" He finally asked.
"Doubtful," Sesshoumaru rumbled as he tossed the practice sword as his half brother. "It was only because of Kouga that we were given such access before." It wasn't an accusation, although it sounded like one.
"Have you ever thought of talking to him?" Kagome asked as she shouldered her bag and accepted half of the bokken.
"No, he's royally pissed, and nothing's going to change that," Inu Yasha snapped, his mood altering considerably. His strides were long and uneven as he made for the car ahead of them. Sango shook her head and made a disapproving noise.
"He and Kouga were good friends, although they always acted like enemies. Thinking about it only makes him mad," She informed Kagome.
"But it was a mistake," Kagome started, stopping when Sango shot a disbelieving look in her direction. Nothing more was said on the subject, although she couldn't help but think about it. The whole thing was a mess, but she didn't understand why the two men couldn't talk it out. They had obviously been good friends, and Ayame's jealousy had more than a hand to play it in.
She couldn't help but remember the venomous stares she had received when she had first started hanging around the pack. Even though she'd never thought of Kouga as more than a friend, Ayame had treated her like she was an interloper, someone intent on stealing him away. Often the jealous female would flirt with other men, trying to make Kouga angry, only to fail. It wasn't difficult to imagine her intentionally using a drunk Inu Yasha to get at him and the whole thing going too far.
As always the males were relegated to one car for 'girl talk', and Sango seemed to grow more antsy and excited as they neared her vehicle. It wasn't until they got inside and pulled out of the park that Kagome's thoughts on Inu Yasha and Kouga were railroaded by Sango's impish grin and too loud confrontation.
"So Inu Yasha said you and Sesshoumaru kissed."
"What?" Kagome shrieked, mortified that anyone knew about that. She hadn't said anything to anyone about it. The whole situation was tinged with embarrassment, each time she remembered the incredible heat the shame of his rejection soon followed, even if she had understood his reasoning. But had he mentioned it to Inu Yasha? She couldn't imagine him giving up such a secret willingly.
"Inu Yasha guessed. He's been sitting on it until the other day. For awhile he wondered if you guys were just hiding it like Miroku and I, but decided you weren't. So spill." It was a command, softened only by the puckish smile on her face.
"We were testing out the new fuel, and afterward I wanted to play in the rain," Kagome sighed. "Inu Yasha told me that I should just do it, and I was an idiot and believed him."
"An idiot? Did he reject you?" Sango asked, surprise coloring her words as she glanced briefly at her friend.
"Not immediately. He kissed me back. It was-" She stopped here, unsure of how to describe it. Her first real kiss had been movie quality, or at least it had felt like it. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered how feverish she had felt, something warm growing in her belly and uncoiling outward.
"Hot? Sexy? Sloppy?" Sango supplied, trying to get a feel for where Kagome was going.
"Amazing," She sighed, hands going to her over warm cheeks. "Afterward he pulled away and just started driving. I thought I'd royally messed up, he wouldn't talk. And then he kissed me in the elevator-"
"Twice? You guys kissed twice and you're still acting like buddies?" Sango demanded, incredulous.
"He told me it couldn't happen again, that if we did anything more, I couldn't be in the troupe. He doesn't want me to risk that."
Sango was quiet for several minutes before she muttered something about rules under her breath.
"I didn't tell him about you and Miroku," Kagome supplied. Sango nodded once.
"I didn't think you would. I just think the rule is stupid and he's being an idiot. If he planned on following the rule, he shouldn't have kissed you a second time. Stupid male," She muttered as she turned into the parking lot of the bathhouse. Kagome shrugged and got out, unprepared for Sango's sudden brusqueness towards all of the males getting out of their cars.
When she received several questioning looks, she shrugged helplessly, not wanting to tell them that one male's actions had incited her disfavor with all of them. Everyone paid and went their separate ways. After her first time she had brought her own supplies, and each time she stripped she became less and less self conscious. Both women chattered as they walked to the showers and bathed, Sango complaining about how the new routine taxed her muscles.
"It'll be really beautiful once you guys get it down though. I'm just sorry I can't do more to help," Kagome said, her voice carrying over the wall separating her stall from Sango's. Grateful to shampoo her itchy scalp, lathering her hair generously, she almost missed the woman's reply.
"It's not so bad. It's just going to take practice. Maybe we can add a fight scene between you and Kohaku at the end."
"I don't see rope dart and fans mixing very well," Kagome called back before shoving her head under the shower and rinsing her hair out. Sango's response was lost in the sound of water and shrugging it off, she conditioned her hair and began soaping her body down. It wasn't until she got out and joined Sango in the bath that the woman looked expectantly at her.
"What?" She asked dumbly.
"What do you think of Sesshoumaru winning, and instead of having you dress as a man, Kohaku play a woman? It's only a little change of makeup and the last few steps of the choreography. He can pretend to kill Kohaku, and you spring up as the spirit of the fallen woman, determined to get revenge on the daimyo?"
It was a good idea, although she wasn't entirely sure how the others would feel about it. Already they were frustrated with the steps. Changing things probably wasn't a good idea, especially not for her.
"I don't want to upset the others," Kagome began, only to have Sango shake her head vigorously. The smile on the other woman's face worried her. It was obvious Sango was planning something, and she had no idea what it was.
"Relax, I'll take care of it," Sango assured her as she sank deeper into the water, humming her contentment. Wary of this sudden upswing in her friend's mood, she nodded once and slipped into the waters. However, unlike her troupe mate, she was unable to relax.
It wasn't until Monday that Kagome spotted Kouga. His ponytail bobbed as he walked, obviously in no rush to get anywhere. Calling out his name, he turned and smiled at her, a toothy grin that made her nervous. Steeling herself for what she was about to do, she caught up with him, giving a half whispered greeting.
"Where have you been? We've missed you," Kouga said, elbowing her gently as they walked through the campus, no destination in mind.
"Schoolwork, among other things. Lots of training," She admitted, inwardly wincing when his eyes darkened and the easygoing smile pulled into a frown. "I need to talk to you about something," She finally said, and his frown only deepened.
"What about?" He asked cautiously.
"You have to promise to listen first." She had never liked setting conditions for a conversation, but the situation between Kouga and Inu Yasha bothered her, although she also admitted -if only quietly and just to herself- that she was grateful for any distraction from the memory of her kisses with Sesshoumaru.
"I'll listen,"He finally agreed. Not waiting any longer, she drug him over to one of the semi secluded benches beneath the tress and made him sit next to her.
"I want you to answer me honestly. Have you thought about talking to Inu Yasha?"
He immediately shot up and would have gotten away if she hadn't still been holding onto his arm. As it was, she almost tumbled from the bench and got drug behind him. Angry blue eyes stared down at her, his lips pulled back in a snarl.
"Did he put you up to this?" He ground out. "Because it's a really shitty thing-"
"No," Kagome interrupted, tugging him back down onto the bench. "He's pretty adamant that you'll never forgive him-"
"Damn straight. That son of a bitch deserves to be castrated," Kouga shouted, ignoring the curious stares of passing students and faculty members.
"Did you ever give him a chance to explain what happened?" She demanded gently, still not letting go of his hand. "It might be more important than you think."
"How could anything change that he slept with my fiance? Kagome, I know you're a sweet girl, but this isn't any of your business. Inu Yasha was a dick, and I don't-"
"He went to his father's building that day," She said, louder than she had anticipated. Desperation began eating at her conscience. She hadn't meant to reveal even that much, but Kouga was proving to be as stubborn as Inu Yasha. "He went to his father for help after Sesshoumaru's accident and got kicked out. He went to see you at the bar and got drunk. Ayame wanted to make you jealous. He didn't set out to hurt you. I know he mad a mistake," She continued, grateful for the stunned silence. "But he misses you. I won't say he's blameless, but he doesn't remember what happened. Just try talking to him. He is sorry for what he did."
It all came out in a rush, and she was surprised he even understood what she'd been saying. But he nodded dumbly and leaned back against the bench.
"I didn't know he'd gone to his dad. I mean, I know he kept trying to get in contact with the old bastard and was given the cold shoulder. Shit, I remember him back then. The troupe wasn't earning a whole lot and creditors were coming after them for Sesshoumaru's hospital bills, fucking merciless bunch. I offered to help them out, my folks are so stupidly rich they'll never spend all the money. He couldn't accept, pride or some stupid thing. I don't blame him for getting wasted though."
"They're doing a lot better now," Kagome sighed, finally letting go of his wrist and allowing herself to relax for the first time since hatching her plan.
"I've missed the shithead," Kouga finally admitted. "Life's been really boring without him to piss off."
"He probably feels the same," Kagome snorted, rolling her eyes. "I'm supposed to meet him at the diner to help with some chemistry homework in about half an hour. I can probably get Sesshoumaru to just drive me to their place so I can help him study there."
Kouga nodded, then eyed her curiously. "What is up with you and him anyway? I've seen you two walking together sometimes. Rumor has it you braid his hair every morning. For that matter, what the fuck happened to their hair? Everyone's been dying to figure it out, neither of them will say a word."
Going for the easy answer first, Kagome chuckled lightly. "Their makeup artist Koharu confused a hair conditioner with bleach. It was pretty funny, in retrospect. I've never heard Inu Yasha scream like that."
Kouga was choking on his laughter, bent double at the waist with both arms holding his stomach as he guffawed and sputtered, trying to breathe. Thumping him soundly on the back twice and finding there was no change, she rolled her eyes again and let him get it out. When he finally stopped his face was a hideous shade of red and tears filled his eyes.
"Koharu was never very bright," He sighed, wiping his eyes. "So what about you and Sesshoumaru? You two an item or something?"
"No!" She sputtered, blushing furiously and hating her traitorous body.
"But you do like him," Kouga stated flatly.
"It's not like that," She sighed, eyes dropping to her lap. "You can't tell Kujaku or the others, okay?" Another condition, and this one more important than the first. If he made up with Inu Yasha, he was bound to find out anyway.
"Okay. Go ahead and shoot."
"I'm in the troupe," She mumbled. Instead of blowing up, the man next to her inhaled deeply.
"I figured something like that would happen. You've gotten really good with your fans, and Kujaku may not recognize a routine when she sees it, but when you were showing off the other day-"
"I was not showing off," She sputtered indignantly.
"-I recognized that it had to be part of a mock battle. It's fun, isn't it?" He asked. Kagome nodded, smiling as she thought about the new friends she'd made and the work she was putting into the troupe itself. Despite their hiccups with the new routine, it was worth it. She had no doubts it would be amazing by the time they performed it for a crowd.
"Well, I'll keep my mouth shut to the pack. You do need to tell Kujaku soon though. She's been on edge ever since you started hanging out with them."
"Why? It's not like I can't be friends with everyone."
Kouga's pointed stare only served to further confuse her, and when he smiled sadly and ruffled her hair she pulled away, concerned.
"Is she mad at me?"
"Nah. Just possessive of her own. It seems you're just too much fun to not attract all sorts, even the Ice King."
"He's not that bad," Kagome defended. Kouga gave her another pointed stare before standing and stretching.
"Look, the shithead probably wouldn't appreciate knowing you told me, so I'm just going to say you persuaded me to hear his side of the story. But I'm going to go meet up with him, maybe go train somewhere and pound his ass into the ground."
With that he was off, not even saying goodbye, leaving Kagome to roll her eyes for a third time and mutter 'males' darkly under her breath. When he was out of site she pulled her phone from her pocket and and flipped it open. Hopefully Sesshoumaru was still on campus and wasn't in class. After pounding out a brief text message asking if he was free, she waited. Almost immediately her phone buzzed a response. He was in the library studying. She was halfway there when her phone rang, an unfamiliar number registering on the caller id. Flipping it open, she answered, ready to inform whomever it was calling that they had a wrong number.
"Hello, Kagome speaking."
"Kagome Higurashi?" A distinctly feminine voice asked. It sounded vaguely familiar, although she was having a problem placing it.
"Ye-es."
"Oh good. My name is Izayoi. You met me briefly at a party some time ago. I was the one to direct you to the bathroom."
Izayoi. Mrs. Kenjo. Inu Yasha's mother.
"How did you get this number?" She asked, immediately suspicious.
"I have my ways. I would like to speak to you, if possible. Today."
"Today?"
"Now, as a matter of fact. I'm currently two blocks from your campus in a little cafe. Please, it's very important."
"Why don't you talk to Inu Yasha instead?" Kagome bit out, surprised by the venom of her tone. There was a long drawn out sigh on the other end of the line.
"That is what I wish to speak to you about. Please."
The woman's voice was thick, as if she was going to cry. Despite her better judgment, Kagome agreed, asking which cafe and hanging up abruptly. Punching in a brief note to Sesshoumaru that she was meeting someone for a quick coffee and to let her know before he left campus, she began walking in the opposite direction of the library.
With each step she took more and more questions popped up, as well as resentment towards a woman that would abandon her son so completely. Inu Yasha obviously cared for her, if his previous reaction at the mention of her was anything to go by. Her fury crept into her legs, moving her more quickly than she realized. Others moved out of her path, hurrying past the girl with the cloudy expression, as if she'd blow at any second. Before she realized it, she was at the cafe, staring at the doors.
Determined to give the woman a piece of her mind, she yanked the door open, ignoring the angry clatter of the metal bell on glass and stomped in, looking for the infamous Izayoi. Immediately spotting her in a corner, she stalked over and plopped down in the seat, readying to unload a volley of insults when she saw the woman's bloodshot eyes.
"Thank you," Izayoi sighed, a wealth of gratitude in the words. "Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me. I imagine you have a few questions."
"Why don't you just call Inu Yasha?" Kagome demanded. "He misses you." Her accusation was louder than she realized, garnering attention from several of the other patrons, all looking away when Izayoi's eyes glanced at them almost nervously.
"My son is very stubborn, as is his half brother. Both get the trait from their father," Izayoi began. "They have been forbidden to contact me, and in turn I am not to contact them."
"Your husband is a jerk," Kagome bit out, glaring at the waitress that came to take her order, scaring the teenager off. Izayoi chuckled darkly.
"Don't I know it. Just because I love him does not mean I am blind to his faults. He refuses to even check up on them, although I have availed myself of a detective's services. It was how I came to be aware of Sesshoumaru's accident. I tried to tell my husband, but he will hear nothing of our sons."
Kagome listened to a mother worried about her sons, plural, because she obviously cared for Sesshoumaru as much as Inu Yasha. Several napkins were shredded in her hands as Izayoi explained her situation, how she had secretly paid the debt Sesshoumaru owed to the hospital and used her money to pay for the troupe's tuition.
"In most cases I have had an intermediary approach the other members, but I wanted to speak to you directly, especially after some of the things I have read in the investigator's reports."
"You've had me followed?" Kagome whispered furiously, suddenly feeling as if she'd been run over by a bus.
"Only after, well, the man I hired said you and Sesshoumaru seemed to have a relationship."
"Just because we hang out," Kagome started, stopping when Izayoi quirked a brow, reminding her too much of Sesshoumaru by half. "What makes him think we're in a relationship?" She asked flatly, afraid she already knew the answer.
"Let's just say I had the courtesy to throw those pictures away," Izayoi snorted, a glimmer of the woman from the party showing through. "I don't mind, in fact I think you two would be good together-"
"We're not," Kagome interrupted. "I'm part of the troupe. There's a no dating policy. His rule."
Another snort and Izayoi's dark eyes rolled to the ceiling. "He always was a stickler for rules, especially if they were his. Another trait he inherited from his father. But as I said, I have used different agents to offer scholarships to the other troupe members, through different foundations. I trust you can keep this a secret?"
"Why?" Kagome asked, suddenly suspicious.
"Each one of them is extraordinarily talented in their own way, outside of their ability to perform, and each one is driven for their goals. Even Koharu has received a scholarship. They have more than earned it. If they find out they came to my attention because they work with my sons, do you think they would continue to accept the funding?"
Experience told Kagome they wouldn't. Not only did they all seem to hold Izayoi and her husband in exceptionally low regard for their treatment of their sons, but each person's pride probably wouldn't allow them to accept what they saw as a handout.
"Fine, I won't tell them," She agreed.
"You are are the same. Exceptionally gifted and driven, you've always placed within the top five of your class and earned minor scholarships to help alleviate the cost of your tuition."
"I don't want a free ride," Kagome said. "I don't need pity."
"Don't reject me before I tell you what you'd be receiving. I know your mother has taken out a substantial loan for your tuition. I'm not offering this because I pity you. I'm offering it because you're a promising prospect. My husband's company regularly hands out scholarships, I'm not so different, I merely have a different way of scouting out possibilities."
"What's the catch?"
"There is none, no strings, no fine print. I will provide funding until you achieve your masters or leave school, whichever comes first."
Her masters. The amount of money Izayoi was offering up to her boggled the mind, and for a minute she wasn't sure she could breathe.
"And if I end up having to leave the troupe?" She asked, flinching even as she said it.
"Why would you have to leave the troupe?" Izayoi asked, lips turning down into a frown.
"My mother isn't aware of it. If she finds out-"
"Kagome, I will not cut off funding if you and my sons end contact. From everything I've seen you're a bright girl that's persevered despite your circumstances. Although I'm curious why you hide such a wonderful talent from your mother, I'm sure there's a good reason."
It was a gently worded demand for an explanation. For the first time an adult female, someone her mother's age, was talking to her without any hint of censure about her secret. Something about the woman made Kagome want to trust her.
"My mother wants me to do well in school. She thinks performing is too much of a distraction. To her, the troupe is just my study group. Every time we go out I lie, and it's just been-" At this her words began to wobble, and it was her turn to sniff delicately, trying to keep the tears in check. When Izayoi's hand covered her own, a knowing smile on her lips, the whole mess in her head spilled out. The specter of her mother that hung over her as she practiced and danced and performed, the lies that churned in her stomach and even Sesshoumaru's obvious rejection of her tumbled out in a garbled mess.
The whole time Izayoi listened, squeezing her hand at the right times and making reassuring noises. By the time she was finished, her nose was ready and stuffy and her eyes were bloodshot.
"Well, I certainly understand now," Izayoi said with a sad chuckle. "I have an idea that might help, if you're willing to let me add a stipulation to your scholarship, one that would give your mother little room to argue."
"Why?" Kagome asked, wiping her face with a napkin.
"I will admit to having you followed after seeing those pictures. It takes a very special woman to care about Sesshoumaru."
"Just because he lost an arm-" She started, but Izayoi shook her head, a real laugh escaping at last.
"Sesshoumaru is Sesshoumaru, arm or no. I'll admit that I can understand how hard it can be to care about such a strong personality. But, to be perfectly frank, I don't know you well, and yet I want to see you happy. I've watched my sons through pictures, and the troupe. Their life seems consumed by it and school. I want to see their new family happy and successful."
Kagome was quiet for a minute before nodding once, trusting the woman's words implicitly.
"What would the stipulation be?"
"That you have at least one physical activity to offset all the studying. Healthy mind, healthy body, that sort of thing. If you can provide proof-"
"I have copies of the photos Shippou took for the website promotions," Kagome offered. "And I have a video of Sesshoumaru and I."
"That would be perfect, as long as your mother didn't get angry that you'd been going behind her back," Izayoi pointed out shrewdly.
"If I'm getting a scholarship that requires I do something physical, she'd forgive me. Eventually," Kagome muttered.
"Well, I'm sure there's a way to word the terms to keep her plenty distracted and grateful you did have such a hobby."
"You can term it a martial art, Sesshoumaru is teaching me tessenjustsu."
"Perfect. Now one last question before I go home and pretend I was being a dutiful housewife."
"What's that?" Kagome asked, brow raised.
"How did their hair end up white?"
By the time Kagome was finished telling the story, both she and her new benefactress were laughing so hard they were crying, drawing curious stares from the patrons once more. When Izayoi left, Kagome was shocked to realize she felt a hundred times lighter than she had before. A small miracle had occurred and she was being given the chance to be open about the troupe and her activities.
Oh, her mother would be angry, but only for a little while, especially in the face of such generosity. The scholarship itself still seemed too good to be true. Pinching herself, she winced when it hurt and a smile bloomed on her face.
"I'm not dreaming," She whispered to herself. Surprised laughter bubbled up from deep inside of her, still echoing in the cafe as she grabbed her bag and shot out, determined to reach the library. The first person she wanted to share the news with was Sesshoumaru. Ignoring the angry shouts as she barreled down the sidewalk at top speed, her carefree laughter trailed behind her. Had she turned to look at those that had been angry, she would have seen most of them smiling, her laughter infectious.
Halfway to the library she almost slammed into Kouga and Inu Yasha, both of who looked slightly subdued, but walked side by side.
"Whoa, what's the rush?" Kouga asked, grabbing her shoulders and stopping her. Panting heavily, she couldn't stop smiling, her whole body shaking with excitement.
"Full scholarship!" She finally got out. "I'm getting a full scholarship!"
"Really?" Inu Yasha asked, a grin forming to match her own. She nodded rapidly.
"I need to go tell Sesshoumaru!" She said, pulling from Kouga and waving over her shoulder, a promise to study with Inu Yasha later carrying to the both of them. Once again she didn't notice the looks of those she left behind, one smirking knowingly and the other groaning audibly.
When she finally made it to the library she had a stitch in her side and the librarian hissed a 'shh!' in her direction as her feet pounded on the floor. Easily spotting the head of white hair over a study cubicle, she ran to it, gripping the cubicle wall and panting heavily. Pale hazel eyes peered up at her, glinting with amusement.
"I'm going to get a full scholarship.," She breathed, smiling widely down at him. "I have to have at least one extracurricular activity to keep it. I can be honest with mom now!" She panted, ignoring another shushing sound from behind her and throwing her arms around his neck, her breath puffing heavily in his ear.
Too shocked by her statement to stop her, to move in fact, he listened to her heavy panting in his ear. When she pulled back she was laughing breathlessly. "Everything is amazing," She announced, eyes bright and breathing finally beginning to slow. He nodded, immediately suspicious. The others had received scholarships, all from different foundations and with different representatives suddenly showing up, each one as vague as the last. Kagome's windfall was tailored, specific.
"Do you know who is giving you this scholarship?" He asked at great length. Her elation calmed and she shrugged hesitantly.
"I just had my interview, the woman said she was from a foundation" She offered.
Someone was watching her, obviously. This cinched it. Someone from his family was throwing money at the troupe hand over fist, and he wasn't entirely sure why. Unwilling to spoil her good mood with his suspicions, he nodded and forced a small smile. It wasn't as if she hadn't earned the scholarship. It was just that she had the good luck to come to that person's attention.
"Hey," A voice snapped, interrupting their moment. "Kouga's back with the troupe," Inu Yasha announced, nodding once to the man at his side.
He stared at the both of them with narrowed eyes, waiting for an explanation.
"Why should I endanger the stability of the troupe by allowing this?" He finally asked when nothing was said.
"Excuse me," A new voice broke in. "This is a library. If you're not willing to be quiet, please leave. You've all caused enough of a disturbance for one day," The short gray haired woman sniffed disdainfully before walking away, dismissal evident.
He packed his things neatly and shouldered his bag, leading them all outside. Once outdoors, he turned back to them.
"Well?" He demanded quietly.
"Look, we got it sorted out, okay?" Inu Yasha snapped. "He wants to come back."
"I'm supposed to believe you two will actually behave like adults?" Sesshoumaru replied archly.
Kouga snorted and rolled his eyes before answering. "Look, I'm over the Ayame thing. I want to come back and work with the troupe. Say yes, because you know I'm an asset."
The surly moron had a point. He had put forth most of the initial funding for the props themselves, and the gym he worked out at was a perfect place to train and practice in the summer, and with him on their team they could easily get the space for themselves at later hours.
"Agreed," He finally said.
"It's a day for miracles," Kagome laughed, hugging his waist. "My scholarship has some stipulations. One of them is that I have a physical activity. Mom won't say a word about me burning now!" She announced. Kouga and Inu Yasha's eyes and grins widened simultaneously, reminding him of a cartoon.
"This is amazing. You completely deserve it," Inu Yasha said.
"You know what this means, right?" Kouga announced. Kagome looked at him quizzically, her grin never fading. "Time for a celebration! We're going to the bar. Shithead, call the others and tell them to meet us at my bar."
"I have a paper-" Sesshoumaru began, but stopped when Kagome blue eyes met his, silently pleading.
"Please?" She whined, hands going to his and taking it in her own. Her eyes widened and he knew she was exaggerating her expression on purpose, she had to be. Nothing that comical could be anything but intentional. He hoped.
"Come on Sesshoumaru. Live a little," Inu Yasha coaxed. "Besides, if you don't, Kagome will cry."
"I highly doubt-"
"I will," She threatened, eyes already tearing. "I'll cry and be miserable when I should be celebrating."
Normally manipulations bothered him, and once spotted his defenses would slam into place and he'd stonewall anything and everything until the person gave up. However, Kagome's attempt was so over the top, so artless and obvious that he knew she was only trying to be funny, probably sure of his agreement already. And damn her, the silliness of her threat is what did him in.
"I will accompany you," He finally agreed.
"Whoo!" Kagome shouted, dropping his hand and slamming into him, her arms squeezing his chest. Both his brother and his annoying friend were smirking at him. Knowing smirks that would have bothered him, except Kagome was pressed to him, chattering at impossible speeds. Inu Yasha pulled his phone out and informed the others, only saying that they had two things to celebrate and demanding Sango bring Kohaku even if he couldn't drink. He had to repeat the name of the bar three times before rolling his eyes and snapping angrily, then ending the call.
"They'll meet us there. Kouga, I'll ride with you," Inu Yasha said as they walked towards the parking deck. He walked beside the trio silently as they began trading ideas at top speed, already coming up with new routines as they walked.
His earlier suspicions returned, an itch he couldn't scratch. Not knowing who was behind the money bothered him more than the troupe receiving money in the first place. His father was known to be a generous soul, his recent treatment of his sons notwithstanding. He could be behind it. It was the only thing that made any sense. His mother would never in a million years support someone besides her only child, and even she hadn't come forward to aid him.
He didn't notice he was frowning until Kagome elbowed him.
"None of that," She commanded sternly, then ruined the effect with a smile. He inclined his head silently, trying to ignore Inu Yasha and Kouga splitting away from them to get into a sleek blue sports car. Reminding himself that he only had to be patient, he slid into his own vehicle and unlocked Kagome's door.
"It really amazing how quickly things can just look up," She murmured quietly, blue eyes still shining as they left the campus. "If anyone had said this would happen a couple of months ago I probably would have said they were cruel. Now-" She sighed deeply, happily. The comment was left open ended, and he forced his doubts and suspicions to the back of his mind and allowed himself to be happy for her.
"I'm glad Inu Yasha and Kouga are talking again. Thanks for letting him come back."
"It was your doing," He intoned, following the sports car through traffic.
"Getting them to talk maybe, but they wouldn't have done it if they weren't ready. Both of them are just stubborn." Her laughter chimed through the car. "You were the one that gave the okay for him to come back."
He was not going to admit that the decision had less to do with Kouga himself and more to do with the gym he wanted to get into before the heat got too intense. Settling for silence he followed Kouga, inwardly muttering about the other man's crazy driving as they wove in and out of traffic. Considering the heap was a decade old and it's engine was probably on it's last legs he did rather well, at least he thought so. When they arrived and parked next to the sleek automobile and got out, making a point not to look at Kouga's expensive toy, all the while promising himself that he'd treat himself to a car the minute he had access to his funds again.
"Party!" Kouga shouted, fist pumping into the air. Sesshoumaru briefly longed for his paper until he saw Kagome's bright smile directed up at him, eyes glittering in the late afternoon sun.
A/N: I'd like to say thank you for the holy shnit amount of reviews I received! Between here and Dokuga my email was fairly flooded, and made birthday week all the better. I hope everyone had an amazing Thanksgiving, survived Black Friday (especially you poor souls working retail, I know it bites), and now deals well with Cyber Monday. Good luck and may you find everything you want, but most especially what you need.
I love Kouga. I love that he can range all over the place personality wise. I also love his and Inu Yasha's special relationship.
This chapter's song is by Matt Bukovski, Fresh Air (Manida remix). It's gorgeous. GO listen. (Shameless, shameless plugging).