InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Kagome ❯ Music in the Afternoon ( Chapter 2 )

A/N : I do not own the characters featured in this work of fiction, they are copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi, et al. This work is merely a fan's musings in a 'what if' environment. Some of the characters are represented as variations on the original premise (everyone has matured, relocated, and many have cycled to another incarnation). It is my greatest hope that no one be offended, hence the ...

 

 

 

FINDING KAGOME

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

There was an air of expectation among the student's of Kagome's after-school class. They knew that today she would be announcing what role they would play in the city-wide cultural festival to be held in the late spring.

 

There was much rustling and shuffling of feet, laced with whispers and a few giggles as Kagome took her place at the head of the classroom.

 

“If everyone would please take your seats, today will be a short class,” she announced, as she nodded to the raised hand midway through the room. “Yes, Rin?”

 

“Miss Higurashi, will we be doing a play??” the excited girl asked, looking at her friend beside her who was shaking her head and covering her face with embarrassment.

 

“Was that your question, Rin? Or was it really Christine's?” Kagome grinned, Rin was always speaking up for the painfully shy Christine.

 

“Um. . .” pondered the girl, looking around as if she could find the answer sitting near her. “Both?” she looked hopefully at her teacher.

 

“Ah, I see. . .” nodding, she looked around the room. “The answer is yes, and no.”

 

“Huh?” The little girl's confusion spread around the classroom, as the student looked at each other not understanding how it could be both.

 

“Let me explain,” continued their teacher, “What I want to do is bring together some traditional dance, also telling a story. Traditional Shinto dance is called Kagura. Can you all repeat that for me?”

 

In unison the group said the name, struggling to imitate the accent that Kagome had used.

 

“Kagura also includes the music, which I am composing. We will have a flute, which I will play, Shamisen which my friend Selene will play, and a hand drum which will be played by my friend Michael.” At this she nodded toward the back of the room, where upon turning around the students found a tall man they had not heard come in.

 

“Hi kids!” He grinned and winked at Kagome, then took a seat at the rear of the classroom.

 

“The story this dance will tell is one that has been told in my family for generations, about a hanyou and a miko, who search to find a magical jewel. It is a long story so we will just do a small part of it for the dance.”

 

“Higurashi-sama, what is a hanyou?” asked one of the boys from the first row.

 

“Good job, Tyler,” Kagome smiled, they were learning. Little steps. “Hanyou is a word rarely used today, it describes, a person who is of two different races. The hanyou in this story is half human and half demon.”

 

There was a collective “Oo” and “Ah” to this piece of information, and Kagome grinned mischievously, as she continued with her explanation. “Miko as you know, means priestess. My mother is a miko, and I am have had some training to carry on the tradition.”

 

There were nods among the group, some of whom came from families that came to her mother for counsel.

 

“The story is about a young miko, who in her travels finds a strange young man stuck to a tree with a magical arrow. She takes pity on him and removes the arrow that keeps him there, to discover that he is not a regular boy, but a half demon, with very bad manners, and a bad temper.” She looked around the room for a moment. “You, Hiroki. . . you will make a perfect Dog-boy.”

 

The class broke out into laughter as the boy blushed and tried to dissolve into his desk.

 

“Dog-boy... great...” he whined pitifully. “Will I at least get to wear a mask?”

 

“No, but you get to wear ears!! Nice puppy ears! How's that?” Kagome giggled. Her friend Michael snorted from the rear of the room, unable to keep his amusement at bay.

 

“You know something, Hiroki. . . the dog-boy is the hero in your sensei's story. Even with his bad temper, and poor manners, he is a strong fighter and saves the miko on numerous occasions. So. . . you get to play a hero!” Michael smiled fetchingly at the boy, who was beginning to set a bit straighter in his chair now.

 

“But. . . puppy ears???” he screwed his face up as he looked back at his teacher. “Can't he just look like a normal guy?” he pleaded.

 

“I understand, but the answer is no. He isn't just a 'normal guy' and for this he can't look like one, something has to set him apart.” Kagome glanced at her watch, then compared it to the room clock on the back wall. “The costumes are already being made, we will meet up at the park in a couple of weeks to rehearse, I have put in a request for a bus for those who cannot get their own transportation, OK class? Let me know and I will get the release form for you if you need to go on the bus.”

 

She looked at Michael and held out her hand. As he walked to the front to handed her a slender velvet bag, she continued with her instruction.

 

“The dance we will be doing is in the traditional style, however, the story is not. I will be available to discuss this with your parents should they have any questions, and if they have objections then you will be excused from the performance...”

 

The room started to buzz with mutterings again. “HOWEVER. . .” Kagome continued and the room quieted, “if you are excused from the performance, you will still be expected to assist with the production work. We need everyone's hands to build and paint the scenery.”

 

“Thank you, Mikey,” she whispered as she removed the antique ornate enameled flute from the bag. She then smiled putting her finger to her lips, effectively quieting the classroom and held it to her lips to play a short but haunting melody.

 

Relishing the depth of the tone that came from the ancient instrument, her fingers slid over the openings like it was an extension of her own body. Michael dropped to sit cross legged on the floor, as entranced as the rest of the class.

 

When it was over, the classroom was filled with silence as the students sat in awe.

 

“Did you like that?” Kagome bit her lip, it was her first public performance of the piece which she intended to play as an opening to the dance.

 

“Wow!” said a chubby little boy in the second row, his mouth still agape. “I could feel that! It was so pretty!” The rest of the class nodded in agreement and the room filled with murmuring.

 

“This flute was given to me by my great grandfather, it has been in the family for over 200 years.” She'd had to raise her voice to be heard above the class. “He taught me the basics of how to play when I visited Japan a few years ago.”

 

She took a breath and tried to remember the chubby little boy's name. Was it Harold? Something like that... she turned to look at her class roster.

 

“I think I have found our kitsune, Michael-sama.”

 

“Hmm. . . indeed?” he turned around to look at the redheaded boy who had been so outspoken about the music. “I think you are right, Higurashi-sama. A perfect match, I would say.”

 

“Me?” chirped the boy. “You want me to be a fox? Do I get to wear a mask?” He was grinning ear to ear.

 

“Yes, you!”Kagome giggled, feeling the vibrations of his enthusiasm all the way to the front of the room. “A perfect match I think, Connor. . . I will need to talk to your mom. I don't want you to cut your hair again before the festival. The kitsune is a redhead too!”

 

“Wow, Miss Higurashi, you sound like you know these characters personally!” the boy mused. It struck Kagome that he sounded much more mature than his appearance. He must be older than he looks, she thought.

 

“Well, the story is very old, and has been told in my family for generations. And it's a personal favorite of mine, so in a way. . . Yes! I do know the characters!” She grinned. “We have a lot of work ahead of us in the next several weeks. I know we have a vacation coming up, so we will meet again in two weeks time. Are there any questions?”

 

“Higurashi-sama, I have a question. .. ” Michael looked around the room at the young eager faces. “Hm, but, I think it will have to wait for later...”

 

“Hentai,” she whispered under her breath at her friend, then blushed profusely, turning away toward the blackboard, to hide it from the students.

 

“Always,” he whispered back, as she looked down at him and kicked at his knee with a giggle..

 

“Ok then, everyone have a great vacation. . . see you in two weeks!” dismissing the class she reached to put her flute back into it's velvet covering. Michael stood and brushed his pants, still grinning over her reaction to his 'near question'.

 

“I'm going to tell Selene on you, you brat!” she was still blushing, as she gathered her belongings preparing to vacate the classroom.

 

“Excuse me, Sensei...” Kagome looked up to see it was Connor, the redheaded boy. “May I ask you a personal question?”

 

“Yes, of course you can, Connor,” she replied as she gathered up her bag.

 

“Is Michael-sama your. . . boyfriend?” His green eyes flashed as he looked back and forth between the two of them, a hint of consternation crossing his open features. Kagome and Michael exchanged surprised looks, and simultaneously started to giggle. “What's so funny??” The boy asked, as a scowl crossed his face.

 

“Nothing. . . really. . .” laughed Kagome, trying to stop the giggling fit the innocent question had invoked. “Michael is my friend, Connor.” Could it be this child understood the connotation of Michaels little joke? Kagome thought. “He is a very old friend, but we are not romantically involved if that is what you mean.”

 

“Not that I didn't try, if you recall,” Michael snorted.

 

“Oh, OK. . . I was wondering is all,” the boy looked relieved.

 

“Kagome-sama is as available as the air. . . but” Michael leaned down to whisper in the boy's ear, “she isn't looking. She's waiting for her knight in shining armor. I tried but I just don't look good in that kind of getup.”

 

“Oh quit!” Kagome pushed against Michaels shoulder, then leaned down to whisper to the boy, “Don't listen to him. He's happily engaged to my best friend.” She winked, and a flush melted over the boy's face.

 

“I gotta go now,” he stammered and turned to run out the door.

 

“Hmm. . .” Michael pondered arms crossed, hand to his chin as he watched the boy beat a hasty retreat. “A case of kitsune love? The fox version of puppy love?”

 

“Oh brother,” Kagome gave an exasperated sigh, as they headed to the door. “He is a bright one though, I think he saw through that little joke of yours.”

 

“I get the feeling he's older than he looks, do you?” Michael pulled off the band holding his long black hair in place and ran his fingers though it.

 

“I don't know, but I do know that I don't need you putting ideas into my student's heads, you pervert!”

“And proud of it, I will have you know.”

 

Kagome smirked as she locked the classroom door, Selene sure had her hands full with this one.

 

“Does Selene have to work tonight?”

 

“Nope, and she's excited about rehearsing with us. It's quite a break from her usual routine... OH, I nearly forgot to tell you!” He stopped grabbing Kagome's arm. “She got a promotion! She's a full detective now, can you believe it??”

 

“Wow! Already? She's only been on the force a year. . . isn't that some kind of record?

 

“I don't know about a record, but she certainly is special, that one.” He beamed proudly.

 

“So, have you two set a date yet?”

 

“Not exactly, but we know what we want to do for the ceremony. We want it outside, under the trees, Golden gate Park, your mom can do weddings right?”

 

“Ahuh,” Kagome nodded.

 

“You can't yet though, right?”

 

“Actually. . .” She stopped. “I could if I file the forms with the city, I just haven't had a need to.”

 

“Seriously??” Michael grabbed her shoulders. “Do it! Oh, please, Kagome. . . that's what we want. . . for you to perform the ceremony!”

 

Kagome was taken back for a moment, “You two have really talked about this?”

 

“Yes! It was you that brought us together! It just makes sense that you would make us legal!”

 

Kagome laughed at the 'legal', as they made their way toward the transit stop. The two had been 'hot and heavy' for some time now, she liked the idea of making it permanent for them. Sally refused to move in with him until the day they shared a surname. . . at least that's what she had told Kagome.

 

“Alright, I will talk to Momma about the procedure, and we can work out a good date, Springtime at Golden gate park is so beautiful, maybe we can get a permit for the gardens.”

 

“There you are, Monk!! I wondered where you wandered off to!” Selene shouted from half a block up from them. “I see you are sniffing around another pretty girl.” She raised her eyebrow and folded her arms in mock disdain.

 

“I cannot help myself, my dear Selene. . . this one is exceptionally ripe!” His eyes gleamed as he winked at Kagome, and rubbed his hands together as if in preparation for a tasty feast.

 

“Hey!! I took a shower!! I am not 'ripe'!!” Kagome retorted, walking up to hug her best friend. “He just told me, congratulations!!”

 

“Thanks, I can hardly believe it myself, to be honest. So. . . where are we rehearsing?”

 

“My place, I think there is enough room.” Kagome thought for a moment, mentally measuring her tiny living room and comparing it to the three of them and their instruments. She knew she should look for a bigger place, now that she had finished her credential process, and had a steady income. Though, the salary for a public school teacher still wasn't anything to write home about. But she preferred to live in the city, closer to work and to her friends, rather than at the retreat with her mother. The commute was a killer from there, she would be spending all of her spare time driving to and from work.

 

“Well then, get in!” Sally urged as gestured toward the brand new black GM hybrid she was standing next to. “We can take the scenic route, and give my new baby a workout.”

 

“This is yours?” Gasped Michael, circling the vehicle, gingerly touching the orange detailing around the fenders. “Is this the surprise you told me about on the phone?”

 

“ Mmhmm,” She nodded proudly. “What do you think, monk? Is it... me?”

 

“It's great, Sally!! Let's see what it rides like...” Kagome opened the back door and climbed in as Michael and Sally climbed into the front. Sally cranked up the music, some classic heavy metal, which was her favorite genre, rolled down the windows and floored it. Everyone was pushed back into their seats for a moment, then Kagome pushed her self forward shouting between them so she could be heard. “You have never explained to me why you call Michael 'monk'! That's a pretty weird nick-name to give your boyfriend!”

 

Michael snickered into his hand, then gestured to Sally, “Go ahead, my dear... explain it to the nice miko...”

 

“Does it have something to do with his post graduate work?” Kagome looked back and forth between the two, curiosity getting the better of her.

 

“Nope!” Shouted Sally over the wild guitar riffs, “It's because he's so lecherous!”

 

“How does that make 'monk' a good nickname for him, I don't get it...”

 

“It's simple really, Kagome,” Michael reached over to turn down the music and got his hand slapped for the trouble.

 

“Watch your hands, monk! That's mine!” growled the new detective. Michael raised both hands into the air, backing away against the door. “My dear Sally, I only wish to explain something to Kagome!”

 

“So explain already!! Sheesh you two!” Kagome huffed.

 

Michael leaned closer to Kagome's ear, “She says that I had to have been a monk in a past life, because I am so carnal now, I must be making up for lost time!”

 

“Oh my GODS!! And here I thought it had something to do with your doctoral dissertation!!” Kagome laughed heartily a blush high in her cheeks.

 

“Nope!” Sally made a sharp turn right, as they reached the beach. The sun was starting to set, and she pulled into a parking spot near the sand facing the water. Switching the play list on her on-board mp3 system to soft Koto and flute, she turned off the engine and sat back, “My favorite spot, my favorite time of day.” She took Michaels hand in hers, and the three watched the pink and orange hues of the clouds shift and glow as a perfect sunset played out before them.

 

 

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