Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 13

All the prompts in this chapter go with Avadrea's Oddities Challenge.

Prompt: Foudroyant - Rare stunning, dazzling, or overwhelming

Kagome bolted down the stairs to the ground floor, slowing down in the lobby. She walked out the front doors and stood for a moment at the top of the stairs leading down to the sidewalk. The miko scanned the area in search of Sesshoumaru and after a moment, she spotted him.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. The taiyoukai was surrounded by a crowd of girls, some Kagome recognized from the pool party. Sesshoumaru looked incredibly uncomfortable, his eyes shifting back and forth in search of a way out of the situation. She'd known that showing off his incredible body would bring the girls by the dozens and she could only hope that he didn't forget all about her because of his new popularity.

Kagome walked down the stairs slowly, stopping once she could hear what the girls were saying. They were lobbing questions and comments at him without giving him a second to reply, which would overwhelm anyone, but it was worse for the introverted taiyoukai.

"You must work out!" "I love your hair!" "Do you have a girlfriend?" "Who was that girl with you at the pool?" "How come I've never seen you on campus before?" "Do you want to come back to my room?" "You're so hot!" "What's with the dress shirt?" "You really should be topless all the time." "You wanna take me out?"

Kagome rolled her eyes at the immaturity and shallowness of the school's female population and hopped down two more steps. She knew the second Sesshoumaru spotted her as hope blossomed on his face. He locked eyes with her and she could almost hear him begging her to save him.

The miko sucked up as much confidence as she could, drawing from a well inside her that she didn't know existed, and began pushing her way through the crowd. She had to throw a few elbows and shove a few girls to make progress, but it was worth it. Sesshoumaru needed rescuing and it was her fault he was the center of attention in the first place.

Prompt: Ebullience - 1.high spirits; exhilaration; exuberance. 2.a boiling over; overflow.

Kagome stopped directly in front of the taiyoukai and reached up, cupping his cheeks, gently turning his face down as she rose up on her toes. She pressed her lips to his, seeing the shock in his eyes before they fell closed. She moved her lips slowly, allowing him time to learn the movement, and soon he was kissing her with as much passion as she was showing him. One hand moved to rest on her side while the other buried itself in her hair while her hands remained on his cheeks.

He couldn't believe what was happening but he was grateful and thrilled all the same. Her lips were so soft and she tasted sweet, like candy. He ached to deepen the kiss, but he had no idea how to involve his tongue so he continued to allow her to lead him. Their embrace and kiss lasted over a minute and it took everything Kagome had in her not to laugh at the many complaints of the girls around them. The kiss was exhilarating, however, and she found it easy to focus only on it, blocking out the jealous whining.

Finally she pulled back; smiling as Sesshoumaru leaned forward, trying to follow her lips with his. He instantly felt foolish. He made himself look so desperate, so needy, trying to continue the kiss when she sought to end it but his head had moved without his permission, seeking to continue such a pleasurable sensation. Sensing his embarrassment, she caressed his cheek softly before moving her hands to his shirt. "You don't need this buttoned so high," she said. "Let's undo a few of these."

Sesshoumaru mentally groaned as she once again began unbuttoning his shirt. It still felt like she was removing his clothing, even though he knew she wasn't. He stayed still, allowing her to adjust his shirt so that he looked more casual. Without her, he looked like an uptight fool, and he was extremely grateful for her help. He was even more grateful for her attention and he completely forgot about the other girls around him, almost as if they had disappeared instead of complaining loudly about Kagome's actions.

Once she was satisfied with his shirt, she took his hand and led him out of the crowd. They stopped a few yards away, once they cleared the group of females, and Sesshoumaru turned to Kagome. "Thank you for saving me," he said, his genuine relief visible on his face.

"Well, it was my fault they wanted you so it was only right to come to your rescue. Those particular girls should leave you alone, at least for a while, now that they think you're with me. That doesn't mean other girls won't show an interest, but if you want, you can say that you're not on the market."

Sesshoumaru's heart ached at her words, 'they think you're with me'. Did that mean that he really wasn't with her? Was that incredible kiss just for show? Just the touch of her lips to his sent electricity shooting through his veins and he knew that she was it for him. Too bad he had no idea what she had in mind.

Prompt: Feat - A dangling piece of curly hair.

Deciding that he needed to know if the kiss meant anything to her at all, Sesshoumaru turned to face her completely, his hand still held in hers. His free hand came up to play idly with one of the curls framing her face.

"You look beautiful," he murmured, fighting to find the courage to speak the necessary words. "Why... Why did you kiss me? You could have simply pulled me out of the crowd."

Kagome's eyes shot up to meet his. Did he not like their kiss? What he offended by it? Had she gone too far too fast? She knew he was attracted to her, so why would he complain about such a mind-blowing kiss? Or was it not as good for him? The miko sighed heavily. "Sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have done that without warning you."

Now Sesshoumaru was confused. She was apologizing? But she'd done nothing but give him the best first kiss out of anyone in the history of the world. What was she sorry for?

"Why apologize from something so... good?" he asked nervously.

"I... I thought you didn't like it," she said, looking away almost as if she were ashamed.

Sesshoumaru chuckled, turning her face back toward his with one bent finger under her chin. "I have never enjoyed anything as much as I did that kiss. I merely wish to know what it means." Finally! Finally he had the confidence to come right out and ask what they were doing, what they were to each other, and he waited with bated breath for her answer.

Kagome smiled up at him and his heart fluttered in his chest. Her smile was dangerous. She was so beautiful when she smiled that she could convince him to do anything she desired. He couldn't resist doing whatever it took to make her smile again.

"It means that you're a quick learner," the miko replied. "You picked that up like a fish to water."

"I was a good kisser?" he asked. He knew she had at least some experience with kissing, more than he had for certain, and it was a relief to hear that he had pleased her.

"Very good, like you've been doing it all your life."

"Is that all the kiss meant? That I am not completely inept when it comes to physical affection?"

"What do you want it to mean?" Kagome wasn't sure herself what it meant; only that she had enjoyed the hell out of it and wanted it to happen again.

Sesshoumaru sighed in frustration, realizing that they were at a stalemate. She apparently had no intention of answering his question fully and completely, only in roundabout ways, and he didn't have it in him to ask directly if he would now be considered her boyfriend. He was hoping for a straight answer, but had no chance of getting one out of her right now.

Though he was frustrated with her, he still wanted nothing more than to be in her presence, and so he smiled at her. "Shall we enjoy the festival?"

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't pushing her for an answer that she didn't have. "Of course!"

Prompt: Whet - sharpen can be used literally or figuratively. Commonly used term "to whet one's appetite"

The festival had not only many booths and food trucks filled with amazing smelling exotic foods, but booths full of crafts available for sale and others demonstrating aspects of specific cultures. Then there were the others, the local businesses just looking to get more exposure, sprinkled throughout. As they made their way towards the first of the booths, Kagome was handed a tote bag for all the freebies they would come across.

The scents of the various foods were making Kagome hungry and soon she was standing in front of a food truck, studying the menu, looking for something she'd never had before.

"You want anything?" she asked.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. He didn't think he could eat with the way his stomach was churning. Being so close to her, having finally tasted her sweet lips, it was incredibly difficult not to kiss her again. The butterflies were back and he feared that if he ate, it would come right back up. The taiyoukai pulled out his wallet only for Kagome to wave him off.

"I wish to pay," he said. Really, if this was in any way a date, he was supposed to be the one to pay. He wanted her to know that he had money, that he could take good care of her. Sure, maybe it was showing off a little, flashing a wallet full of hundred dollar bills, but he didn't have many other redeeming qualities in his mind, and so he clung to this one. He wanted to be a good date!

"I've got this. You don't have to spend your money on me," she argued, slipping between him and the food truck to hand her money to the amused attendant first. "Put your wallet away."

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily but did as she asked. The last thing he wanted was for Kagome to be upset with him.

"Oh, letting me pay won't kill you," she said, rolling her eyes at his dramatic sigh.

They stood waiting for her food for several minutes before it was ready and the pair hunted down a place to sit. Eventually they found a grassy area not covered by a booth or a food truck and made themselves comfortable on the ground. Kagome took a small bite of the sandwich she'd selected, her eyes widening at the flavor.

"You have to try this!" she announced, holding the sandwich in front of his face.

Sesshoumaru had to fight back a groan as his stomach protested. "I am not hungry," he replied.

"But it's so good! I've never tasted anything like it!"

The taiyoukai locked eyes with her, begging her to understand that he couldn't eat at the moment. She seemed to read his mind through his eyes and she smiled, pulling the sandwich back to her own mouth.

"Are you still tipsy?" she asked. "Is your stomach upset?"

"I am fine, simply not interested in food at the moment," he lied. His stomach was definitely upset, tied in knots caused by all his unanswered questions.

The first sandwich only stimulated Kagome's appetite and Sesshoumaru watched as she sampled things from several other food trucks as they came across them walking through the festival. Besides eating, the miko also stopped at every booth, signing up for contests and collecting freebies. He had no idea what she would do with the multitudes of magnets she stuffed in her tote, but she seemed to enjoy getting them. After a few booths, Kagome managed to encourage him to enter the contests as well, to double their chances of winning. Most of the prizes were silly and frivolous, but it didn't matter so long as she was enjoying herself and he was in her presence.

He followed her into a booth filled with handmade jewelry, watching as she admired the various items, checking price tags as she went. When she tried on a bracelet, only to check the price and put it back, Sesshoumaru smirked. As soon as she proceeded to the next booth and was adequately distracted filling out a contest entry form, he quickly purchased the bracelet. He didn't know if buying her a gift was appropriate, but he didn't care. He just wanted to see her smile at him. Sesshoumaru tucked the bracelet into his pocket and caught up with the miko before she realized he was gone. He would give it to her before they parted ways for the night. Perhaps she would give him another kiss in thanks. He could only hope.