Don't Stand by TripleR
One
I wanted to write a Teacher/Student story but make it really in depth. I always loved this song by The Police and have always loved the concept, so I thought I would take my own shot at it. I don't own anything about inuyasha and am only borrowing anything I do for non-commercial fun! I hope you guys enjoy it!
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Sesshomaru Taisho stood at the front of the classroom, leaning with his hands on the desk and one foot crossed over the other as he watched his 5th period English students file in and take their seats. It was the first day, so they all still had a slight bounce in their step. Their joy at seeing their fellow class mates had not yet been overshadowed by the gloom of yet another entire year inside a classroom. Sesshomaru stood from his leaning position and walked over to close the door and lock it. He supposed anyone who was late would realize eventually they weren’t getting in.
“You all already know my name. If I care to learn yours, I will. I assume that if you care to learn your fellow classmates’ names, you will ask them, and I don’t feel like wasting time with introductions you’ve done in every other class today.”
He walked backed to the front of the class and picked up a pile of papers from his desk and began handing them out.
“The paper you are receiving is your syllabus. It contains every assignment for the whole year. It has a guideline of when things should be done. However, when you chose to do or not do your work is your decision. Everything you wish to receive credit for must be turned in by the date listed, figure your own schedule out at your pace.”
He paused for a moment and allowed the students to all receive their papers and look them over. He knew what most of them were thinking, a mix of relief at a flexible due date mixed with horror at the overwhelming amount of assignments.
“I run my classroom like a professor would a college class. Most of you here are seniors, you might as well get used to this now. Each month we will have a book assigned. Each class period you will come in and we will discuss where we should be in that book according to the syllabus. It is of course your decision to participate in discussion. However, know I always make new tests and like to incorporate questions based on discussions we had. Learning is not about memorizing. Learning is about taking the information, understanding it, applying it, and then taking it to the next level. Any questions so far?”
He looked around, expecting blank stares. He was slightly surprised when a hand in the middle of the room was raised. He looked at the owner and found it was a girl who seemed much younger than the seniors he expected to be in the class.
“Yes?”
The girl put her hand down and grinned, “So, what you’re saying is if I get all the assignments done within a few weeks, I can spend the rest of the year just talking if I feel like it and taking tests?”
Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, “I suppose… in theory, you could do that.”
The girl grinned even wider, “So, if I do that, do I get a prize?”
Again, the eyebrow, “A prize for what… Ms…?”
“Higurashi, Kagome Higurashi. I mean, would I get a prize for finishing so quickly. You know like, a medal or something.”
The class laughed a little and the girl laughed a little too.
Sesshomaru placed his hands in his pockets and tilted his head to the side, he paused a moment before responding.
“Well… Ms Higurashi, if I understand correctly, you are basically asking me to award you for doing what you are here to do, which is your work.”
Kagome shook her head, “No, I don’t want an award for doing my work. I want an award for doing it faster and better than the rest of the people doing it. Excellence deserves to be shown it is excellent.”
She again received slight laughter from her peers. It appeared, though younger, the girl was well liked. Sesshomaru considered for a moment.
“I suppose if I were to do this, Ms. Higurashi. I would have to do it across the board. I couldn’t simply allow you to do it and not your fellow students.” The girl nodded in agreement.
“Very well then, Ms. Higurashi here seems to wish to challenge you all. So, here is what we will do. The first student to finish all of their assignments with a collective 95% or higher, within two months, will receive the option to take a final exam early to get credit for the whole year… as well as a letter of recommendation from me. Is this to your satisfaction?”
The students all began nodding and making noise talking to each other, betting each other on how fast they could finish their assignments. The only person who didn’t seem to be excited enough to talk about it was Kagome, who simply sat in her seat smiling. The bell rang again and all of the students began filing out, including Kagome.
“A moment, Ms. Higurashi.” Seshomaru walked around and sat in his chair at his desk.
Kagome walked up the desk and grinned, “What’s up?”
“I call you by your formal name, Ms. Higurashi, and I would appreciate the same courtesy.”
Kagome stood up a little taller and nodded her head, “Fair enough, Mr. Taisho.”
Sesshomaru nodded as well, “Ms. Higurashi, what grade are you in?”
“I’m a freshman.”
“And what, exactly, are you doing in a senior class?”
Kagome shrugged, “Actually, I think I got assigned to this class by accident, I was going to go to the office from here to find out.”
Sesshomaru stared. He took a deep breath, “If that is the case, why did you do what you did?”
She grinned, “Well, everyone seemed pretty freaked out. A contest always makes people feel better and get motivated. Plus, it’s easy. I’ve read most of the books on the list anyway, they should be fine.”
Sesshomaru shook his head, “Very well, Ms. Higurashi. I suppose that was all I needed, though I am a bit surprised you don’t wish to win the contest.”
“Well, of course I do! I guess I’ll just have to get my English teacher to make one. Is it alright if I go now, Mr. Taisho?”
Sesshomaru nodded, and the girl left. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. The girl was intriguing, and one thing was for sure, he would not be allowing her to switch her class.