Universe: Inuyasha (Modern AU)
Pairings: SessKag, insinuated SanInu (if you really squint).
Genre: Fluff, Slice of Life, Highschool
Disclaimer: Come on guys...we all know the characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi-senpai. (le sob).
Author's notes: This was originally in my "Teacher (with benefits)" drabble series, but due to popularity I thought it made more sense to have as its own stand-alone piece.
Tale As Old As Pre-school
888
Kagome Higurashi inched ever so slowly to the edge of her seat, heart hammering against her chest. Even though her teacher, Mr. Akiyoshi, was still talking and class was not over, her notebooks had been put away and her backpack was discreetly slung over her shoulder. Blue eyes snapped toward the clock on the far-off wall, seeing that there were only seconds left before the bell rang. Her foot twitched impatiently.
"And remember to read chapter three and four, which will be coming up in next week's test. Have a great day, class dismi- Hey, Higurashi! I'm not done talking yet!" The older man squawked as the petite schoolgirl jumped out of her chair and flew to the door.
"See you tomorrow, Mr. Akiyoshi! Bye guys!" Kagome called behind her, already sprintiing down the hall to her locker.
"Sheesh, what's her hurry?" Ayumi, one of Kagome's classmates, asked as she put away her school books. Rei, another of her classmates, shook her head with a small smile on her face. "You know how Kagome is, always energetic and raring to go. Girl can never sit still in class."
"But haven't you noticed that she always runs off like that on Wednesdays?" Ayumi questioned, her voice dropping conspiratorially. They were making their way out of the classroom, unaware of the two students following close behind, overhearing the conversation.
Rei put her finger to her lips, intrigued as well. "Now that you mention it, you're right. I wonder why. Maybe-"
"Don't go off creating weird rumors about Kagome now!" A rough voice spat.
The girls whirled around to see the classroom rebel, Inuyasha, throwing his backpack over his shoulder and standing only a few feet behind them. With his wild white hair, amber-yellow eyes and bad-boy attitude, Inuyasha was a shoe-in for the title of "School's Resident Hottie". Despite his boyish good looks though, most of the girls were too terrified of him, and no one except a few select students could keep up with his sudden outburst and constant mood-swings. Kagome, bless her understanding heart, was one of them. The other one was the school's popular athlete and tomboy beauty, Sango, who was standing discreetly beside the angry youth.
"We weren't! We were just curious!" Rei reassured him, waving her hands defensively. She flinched as Inuyasha scowled further, prepared for the onslaught of insults sure to come her way.
But before the boy went off, Sango put a halting hand on Inuyasha's shoulder and turned to the two gossiping girls with a smile. Rei and Ayumi let out a sigh of relief, immediately put at ease; Sango had a very serene aura about her, capable of calming down others - especially Inuyasha.
"If you two really must know" Sango spoke firmly but amiably, "Kagome always picks up her brother at pre-school every Wednesday without fail. It's a very special day for her."
"Wow, Kagome must really love her little brother." Ayumi clapped her hands in delight, imagining the pretty raven with a miniature version of herself, since she had never seen Kagome's sibling.
"Keh, don't be an idiot!" Inuyasha barked, spitting to the side and shouldering past the ditzy duo. "She wouldn't be that excited over something so small. That fool is a lot shallower than that." He huffed and stomped down the hallway, muttering under his breath.
"That wasn't very nice." Ayumi said, pouting at the boy's retreating back.
"He's right, though." Sango said, smiling indulgently at Inuyasha's back, to the surprise of both girls. "That isn't the reason why Kagome is so excited for Wednesdays. You see...
…She has a crush on someone."
"Souta-chan! I'm here!" Kagome sang cheerfully from the doorway.
Shikon Pre-School & Daycare Center was thirty minutes away on foot from her high-school, but Kagome always managed to cut the time in half by flat-out running there. She tripped twice and nearly passed out from the head-rush of running non-stop for so long, but she wasn't the school's star track-and-field athlete for nothing. After obsessively checking herself in the window reflection of the colorful building and brushing any fly-aways with her hands, Kagome breezed into the classroom with a bounce in her step. The classroom was empty, most parents already having arrived to retrieve their young ones. The last one eased by her, nodding politely as she walked hand in hand with her charge, a tiny girl with curly hair in pigtails.
With a hasty scan of the room, Kagome quickly pin-pointed the little bundle of joy that was her baby brother Souta.
At the tender age of five, Souta was the spitting image of his mother and so cute he could easily be mistaken for a girl. Soft-spoken, obedient and sweet-tempered, Kagome adored teasing him just to get him to flash that bright smile of his. At the sound of his big-sister's voice, Souta stood up from the floor where he had been playing with blocks and ran to his sister. Kagome laughed as he slammed into her legs, crushing them in a hug.
"Kagomenee-chan! You came!" he piped, bouncing at her feet.
There was that smile she loved so much.
Kagome regained her balance, smiling back just as wide. "Of course I did, silly! Did you behave?" She asked, poking his nose with her finger playfully, much to his delight.
Souta noded enthusiastically. "Yup!"
For the past year, Kagome had been responsible of picking Souta up every Wednesday, since their mother would work overtime at her job. Kagome didn't mind the long walk, since she adored her younger sibling, and the daycare was on the way to their house as well. Petting the top of Souta's head distractedly, Kagome subtly scanned the room, searching for someone. No, she didn't mind coming to pick up her baby brother, she looked forward to it. But what she really looked forward to the most was…
"Leaving already, Souta-kun?"
Kagome spun around to face the owner of the voice and the reason for her fluttering heart.
Sesshoumaru was one of the teachers at the daycare and in charge of Souta's group. Impossibly tall, with wide shoulders and a fit body that no amount of clothing or aprons could disguise, Sesshoumaru was a beautiful specimen to behold. Merely five years her senior, it was only natural that Kagome would feel attracted towards the young teacher.
Despite their limited interactions, Kagome could swear he too felt the attraction. Although his lingering looks might actually be concern due to the fact that Kagome was always on the brink of keening over from her fifteen-minute sprint. Nonetheless, she would seduce the beautiful teacher, if it was the last thing she did.
Now if only she could untangle her tongue long enough to actually speak to him…
Sesshoumaru wore his long, white hair in a braid that day. His bangs were pulled to the side with a pin, in the customary way he did whenever he was cleaning up the daycare after a long day's work. Despite wearing his habitually bored expression, Kagome saw the way his sharp yellow eyes softened as he addressed the small boy at her feet.
Souta turned that bright smile to his favorite teacher, nodding. "Uh-huh! Kagomenee-chan is here!"
"Hn." He acknowledged with a grunt, seeming uninterested. Some would argue that Sesshoumaru was much too serious to be a preschool teacher, but his somber demeanor often worked in calming down even the most rambunctious of children. And he seemed to have a soft-spot for children, since Kagome never saw him raise his voice or lose his patience with them (although he was quick to get annoyed with impertinent parents - especially the ones who hit on him).
"I can see that." The man said simply, dragging his gaze from Souta to the young woman in front of him. Molten gold met blue sky as their sights crossed. Ugh, so beautiful!
Kagome remembered her manners long enough to bow clumsily at the man.
"H-hello, Sensei." She said meekly, spine straight with nerves. Lightning-yellow eyes stared back coolly. No answer. "Um, well…"She grabbed Souta's hand, ready to make her usual flustered getaway, when his voice gave her pause.
"Thank you for your hard work coming here every week. I know it must not be easy for you to rush here after school." He spoke in a very formal speech pattern, one that was both old-fashioned and extremely endearing to her. On anybody other than Sesshoumaru, it would have sounded absurd. But with him, it was as if he was a great lord from a different time period.
Uwah! He's actually talking to you, Higurashi! Quick, say something!
"N-no, not at all, Sensei!" She took another deep bow, nearly tumbling Souta over in her haste, though she quickly caught him. "Thank you for taking such good care of my little brother! He always speaks so fondly of you at our home!" she stumbled over the words in her nervousness.
"Of course, it is my duty and pleasure." He replied graciously, and she could've sworn she saw him smile as he knelt down next to the toddler. "Souta-kun speaks of your family a great deal as well. Tell me, child, are you not happy that your sister is here to pick you up?" he asked the boy kindly, holding his tiny hand in his larger one.
Souta seemed delighted at the attention. Kagome was just surprised – this had been the most she had ever heard the man speak. Besides the usual social niceties, he never spoke more than two words at her. She found she rather liked his voice. Low, rough, sensual…
"Yes! And sometimes, if Souta is extra good, Kagomenee-chan will buy ice-cream for both of us!" Souta declared with glee.
"That sounds delicious." His teacher agreed, then- "But Souta-kun…you must remember to invite me next time." Sesshoumaru chided him playfully. "Perhaps your sister will allow me to accompany her." Souta laughed giddily, excited at the prospect, but Kagome's breath caught at the implication of that. Going out… with Sesshoumaru-sensei?
Sesshoumaru was looking up at her from his position next to the young child, waiting for her reply. Kagome became flustered once more under those watchful yellow eyes.
"S-sure!" She said brightly. "We can make it a date- Not a real date!" Kagome quickly amended, flushing all the way up to her roots at Sesshoumaru's quirked eyebrow. "Like a play-date! Yes, for all of us! We could even invite some of the other kids from the day-care, make it into a group activity. A field-trip, even. Everybody loves ice-cream! Make it "Shikon Ice-Cream Day with Sesshoumaru-sensei!" or something! And..and…" God, Buddha, someone - please stop my verbal diarrhea.
Sesshoumaru blinked and very slowly raised one hand to his lips, coughing, and Kagome had the ridiculous and mortifying notion that he was laughing at her. But when he took his hand away, the same blank expression remained.
"I will definitely think about it. The name could use some work, though." He said, and Kagome thought she heard an edge of playfulness in his voice. If it had been anyone else, Kagome would be sure he was teasing her. But this was Sesshoumaru, man with the world's best pocker-face. He wouldn't -
Suddenly Souta gasped, surprising both of the adults.
"Kagomenee-chan! You're bleeding!"
Kagome saw Souta's horrified face and followed his gaze downwards to her legs.
"Oh…"she said dumbly, looking down at her scraped knees. They were a bloody mess. It looked like she had not gotten away completely unscathed from her sprint to the daycare. Now that she wasn't fully concentrated on Sesshoumaru, she could actually feel the small injury throbbing.
"Your legs…" Sesshoumaru spoke in a hush.
"It's nothing!" Kagome waved her hand dismissively. "I tripped on the way here. I'll patch it up as soon as I get home-"
Sesshoumaru rose suddenly, frightening and silencing the young woman's rambling in an instant. He abruptly grabbed her by the arm, gently but forcibly, and pulled her towards one of the chairs near the chalkboard.
"Sit." He ordered with finality, cutting off any pathetic attempt Kagome might muster up to excuse herself. Instantly, Kagome sat, lips clamped shut like a scolded child. He nodded, seeming pleased at her obedience, and walked away. Beside her chair, Souta fussed nervously over his big sister. Sesshoumaru disappeared into one of the adjacent rooms and within seconds returned with a large white box. Kagome realized what he was planning.
"Sesshoumaru-sensei, really, you don't have to do this!" Kagome argued, blushing with embarrassment.
"Hn." He assented, pulling another chair and settling himself in front of the girl. "You are correct in that assessment. But I would not feel well allowing a young woman to leave my care under such conditions." He placed the first aid kit on one of the low tables where the kids sat at, and carefully began looking for something to clean her knees with.
"Besides, your brother told me you are a runner of sorts. Hurdles?" he questioned absently, taking out some cotton swabs and alcohol.
"Track-and-field." Kagome corrected shyly. "But-"
He made a sound with the back of his throat, cutting her off. "All the more reason to take care of your legs. They are indispensable to your athletic prowess." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and looked her straight in the eye. Kagome gulped at his proximity.
"If you are quite finished with your pitiful attempts of dissuading me from helping you, I would like to proceed with this." He sounded annoyed, but underneath Kagome could hear the thinly-veiled concern.
Kagome smiled weakly. "Can't argue with you, huh?"
"Your arguments, while endearing in their futileness, are no match to my superior dialectics."
She laughed, even though she was quite positive that he had given her a very backhanded compliment.
But he thought she was endearing…
"Souta-kun." Sesshoumaru's voice brought her back to the present, and she watched as the boy edged to his teacher's side, brow puckered with worry. "I shall take care of your sister now. In the meantime, you may pick out the book for tomorrow's story-time."
In an instant, all fears of 'booboos' vanished and Souta's eyes widened to the size of large saucers. "None of the other kids have ever picked out the book for story-time." The boy whispered in awe. "Sesshoumaru-sensei always does that."
"True." His teacher conceded. "But today, this Sesshoumaru-sensei is allowing you to do it." Sesshoumaru leaned down, all business. "It shall be our secret, Souta-kun. I trust you can do this."
Souta nodded, a look of pure joy overcoming his features. His chest puffed up in pride at being trusted with such a glorious task. "I promise not to tell anyone! Be right back!" and he ran to the other side of the room where the small library was.
"You know he'll want to pick them out from now on, right?" Kagome said with a wry grin.
Sesshoumaru lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "The task should keep him occupied for a few minutes and no longer worrying needlessly over his older sister."
"Souta is such a worry-wart. So…thanks for that." She smiled at him gratefully. The teacher averted his eyes and simply nodded.
Sesshoumaru held a small wad of cotton and a bottle of alcohol in his hands. He looked up into her blue eyes, almost apologetic. "This might sting." He warned, inching his seat as close as possible till he was placed directly in front of the young woman. While sitting, Kagome's already precariously short green skirt had hitched up higher up her thighs and it would take minimal effort for one of those elegant hands to slip beneath and-
Kagome bit her lip, trying to think cold, cold thoughts. Instead, she focused on the pain.
It wasn't unbearable. Kagome could feel the skin of her knees stinging, the heavy aroma of the alcohol making her nose scrunch up in distaste. Very quickly, Sesshoumaru finished cleaning her knees and put the bloody swabs away. "Does it hurt? Feel any sprains? You were not limping when you came in…" he said, inspecting the clean skin with probing fingers.
Shaking her head, Kagome tried not to think of the long tapered fingers brushing against the sensitive skin on the back of her knee. Those large, masculine hands that spoke of hidden strength, despite the carefulness with which they cradled her leg, were everywhere, sending shocks of electricity all the way to her belly. Her mama had always been the one to take care of her cuts and bruises when she was younger. No one from the opposite sex had ever touched her legs this way. It felt strange and intimate, despite the almost detached medical precision that Sesshoumaru was doing it with. His palms were rough on her soft skin, and Kagome tried to push back the till-then unexplored side of her that wanted to grab his hands and bring them up, up, up…
Kagome shook her head again, clearing the fog in her mind, and looked for a distraction. She should take advantage of his sudden outspokenness, not daydream. Sesshoumaru had taken out the roll of bandages and was pulling out long strips for both legs.
"So, you're pretty good at this. Fix up a lot of scraped knees, do you, Doctor?"
Kagome heard a curious low, rumbling sound coming from the man and with a squeeze of her chest realized he was chuckling. "I do not know about the doctor part. But working at a daycare center, it would be irresponsible not to know even the most basic of first aid." He explained matter-o-factly, attention fully focused to wrapping the bandage.
"That makes sense." Kagome responded distantly, hyper-focused on the long, slender fingers grabbing the back of her right calf and lifting her leg a bit higher to better access the knee. Her skirt inched further.
"Children are clumsy. I am used to caring for them in this manner." Sesshoumaru continued as he grabbed one of the longs strips and began wrapping it around her leg.
Kagome felt the sting of insult poke into her pride, hard. Suddenly all sexy thoughts abandoned her. So he lumped her in the same category as all the preschoolers he cared for?
There was a growing hotness behind her eyes and suddenly she felt so stupid. What the hell was she doing? She was just a high-school girl and he was an adult. Why would he ever think of her like a woman? She never stood a chance…
"Just taking care of another awkward kid, huh?" Kagome tried to keep the petulance out of her tone. She saw Sesshoumaru's eyebrows knit and he looked up into her eyes, a very odd expression on his face.
"No…" he said, his voice somber. His hands ceased their movements, and Kagome felt the slightest of pressures on the back of her knee where his fingers rested. His eyes were intense and Kagome could not look away, hypnotized.
"Kagome, I do not think of you as a child. At all."
"Oh." Kagome breathed.
In all the weeks of her coming there that had been the first time he had ever called her name. At a loss, she looked down at her lap, praying he would not see the bright blush that was settling across her face like a heated wave. There seemed that neither had anything to say after that confession, and thus both remained quiet. She watched as his hands continued their movement and wrapped the bandage around her knees, tying a clever knot on each.
"There." Sesshoumaru murmured at last, lightly smoothing down the band over her knee with his hands. "It is finished."
"Thanks..." Kagome said, her voice small, her throat dry.
A tense silence followed. Kagome did not dare look up into his eyes, unsure of what she would find there and instead kept her gaze stubbornly on her lap.
His hands were still on her knees.
Kagome let out a shaky breath.
"Sensei-"
"Kagome-"
"Sesshoumaru, you absolute dog, what are you doing?!"
Both of them jumped, rattled, Kagome more so than Sesshoumaru (he was really good at controlling his facial expressions). Kagome's eyes searched for the source of the boisterous voice and landed on a man leaning on the doorway. He wore jeans and a tight navy sweater, with a gold chain around his neck. The man was quite handsome, around Sesshoumaru's age as well, and his hair was pulled back into a low, short ponytail, bangs brushing above intelligent grey eyes.
He was leering at them.
"Playing hanky-panky in a children's daycare. And with a high-schooler, no less!" He tutted, strutting over to the couple. "Such shameful behavior; I would never expect it from you."
"Of course you would not, Miroku, since hitting on women indiscriminately is more your style." Sesshoumaru hissed, removing his hands from Kagome and standing up. "This is the guardian of one of my wards, and I was providing auxiliary help-"
"You don't have to explain to me at all, Sesshomaru." Miroku said in his most theatrical, grave voice. "It is to Buddha to whom you must repent."
Sesshoumaru growled at him. Slamming the first-aid kit shut, he grabbed it and marched into the other room. The man turned to Kagome with a charming smile.
"Miroku, Sesshoumaru's best friend, roommate and ride home, at your service." He extended his hand outwards. Kagome took it, expecting him to shake it. Instead, he flipped her hand and kissed the top of it, causing a bright pink blush to appear. Miroku smiled again. "And who might you be, my fair lady?"
"She is not interested. Stop hitting on the family of students, Miroku." Sesshoumaru snapped, coming back into the room. He was no longer wearing his teacher's apron, but instead a grey leather jacket and complimenting red scarf.
"I could offer the same advice to you, my friend." Miroku countered with a lecherous grin.
Sesshoumaru ignored him and walked towards Kagome. He held out his hand, which she took, and he pulled her gingerly to her feet. "Can you walk?"
Kagome nodded, head reeling.
She could still feel the warmth of his hands on her legs.
After separating the book Souta had chosen and closing the daycare, the group made their way outside and began the trek towards the sidewalk. Miroku was quick to sidle up next to the young woman, an action that caused Sesshoumaru's eyes to narrow dangerously. Miroku ignored him and offered Kagome a winning smile. Quite the charmer, aren't you, Kagome thought amused.
"So let me guess. You're the famous Kagome, am I correct?"
Kagome stumbled, surprised. "Um, yes. Yes I am. But how-?"
"Call it intuition." He said with a wink. "Sesshoumaru mentioned a lovely high-schooler who comes to pick up one of his favorite students every week."
Kagome's chest constricted. "Sensei talks about me?"
"Only the one time." Kagome visibly deflated, and the man was quick to notice. He put an arm over her shoulder and with a conspiring gleam in his eyes, whispered in her ear. "If it is any comfort, Kagome-chan, he never speaks about anyone. Ever." He smiled at her awestruck look.
"What profanities are you telling her now, you perverted monk?" Sesshoumaru growled from very close. Miroku swiftly let go of the girl, hands in the air. defensively "Now, now, Sesshoumaru-kun, I was only asking if she had a friend."
Sesshoumaru threw another snide insult, which Miroku easily deflected, and soon both friends were bantering back and forth.
Kagome shivered, wrapping her arms around herself, already missing the warmth the monk had provided. Summer was ending. The evenings had been getting gradually colder, and although she had made sure Souta had been bundled up with gloves, scarf and a hat, she had forgotten her own at school. Sesshoumaru's sharp eyes noticed.
He grabbed her elbow, halting her. "What-" Kagome began, when suddenly she felt warmth settle around her shoulders and neck. She looked into bright yellow eyes as Sesshoumaru arranged his red scarf around her small frame.
"It would be quite problematic to catch a cold on top of injuring your legs." He explained.
Kagome was still trying to turn her face back to it's original color before red became her permanent hue. "But…don't you need it?"
"Fortunately for you, I am taking a ride with that idiot." He motioned with his head at said idiot, who was currently talking to her baby brother about the proper way of wooing ladies. "I will not have any need for a scarf inside a car."
"Oh…thank you." She replied dazedly. Sesshoumaru nodded, and walked towards his friend. Grabbing him by the collar, he began dragging him towards the car, saying something about corrupting the young with his mere presence.
Souta walked to his sister's side, and holding hands, both siblings watched the two odd grown-ups walk away.
"I'll send you back the scarf with Souta tomorrow!" Kagome called after him.
Without stopping, the young teacher replied, "You may hand it back to this Sesshoumaru next Wednesday..."he paused, a breath, "while we eat ice-cream." Sesshoumaru glanced over his shoulder, and Kagome could swear he was smirking.
Both men got into the car, Miroku waving an enthusiastic goodbye, and were soon speeding away.
Souta looked up at his sister, who was uncharacteristically quiet. The little five-year-old scrunched up his nose.
"Kagomenee-chan, are you sick? Your face is all red."
Kagome shook her head slowly, still amazed by the marathon of events since entering and leaving the daycare center. Her hand went to the red scarf, fingers fisting around the warm wool.
It smelled like him.
"I'm fine, Souta-kun." More than fine.
She looked down at her baby brother's concerned face, and smiled reassuringly. A thought then occurred to her, and feeling giddy and high, she said the one thing that could wipe away all sadness.
"So how about some ice-cream?"
Author's notes: If this isyour first time reading it, I hope you enjoyed! Please R&R and support me by reading my other stories!:)