InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 11 )

Modern day Tokyo

It had been two weeks since the assignment had been given out and the due date for the papers had come and gone, now was grading time. Kagome's Music Appreciation teacher, Mr. Hagomoto had just finished his last class for the day and was now dedicating himself to grading his papers before the end of the weekend so he could hand them back out on Monday. Sometimes he truly missed teaching at a university. It seemed that most of his students were taking his course because they hoped it would be an easy `A'. None of them seemed to truly want to learn how to appreciate the art of music and the skill that it takes to write the songs he wanted them to listen to and consider. But he had learned to appreciate the constructiveness of his students. One student wrote that he considered the song to be about a stray dog looking for a home and no one wanted him. Another student wrote that she didn't understand why such a song should even be considered but she felt that Michael Jackson shouldn't sing songs about experiences he was never exposed to. While another complained that he didn't understand it at all and guessed he would have to say that he considered the song to have an awesome beat and rhythm and without considering the words would dance to it if it played at any of the parties he attended.

Though most teachers would fail such papers Mr. Hagomoto gave credit to any paper that showed itself to be unique. He wanted to encourage creativeness and tried to be as open minded as he could but it was hard to do that with junior high students. College students sought his class because they were music majors. They already had an appreciation for music but wanted to learn the different ways to appreciate music, even if it wasn't the kind that you usually listened too. They were able to realize the meaning of the music by how it affected them or things in their life. Mr. Hagomoto had just about given up the hope that one of his students would be touched with an understanding hand. That was until he got to Kagome's paper. He wasn't sure what to expect from Higurashi, for he had been forewarned that Kagome had several severe illnesses and would more than likely miss a lot of class but he had checked into her records and saw that before the 8th grade she was an excellent student. Hardly ever absent and always made top-notch grades, it wasn't until she became sick that her attendance and grades started falling. He figured if anyone had time to listen to music and consider it would be Kagome so he adjusted his glasses and leaned back in his chair and began reading.

20 minutes later

Mr. Hagomoto finished reading Kagome's paper for the third time. It was only three paragraphs long and yet it spoke volumes. Finally, he thought as he laid it down and digested what he read. He had given the song out as an assignment for several years and never has anyone written that it made him or her understand someone better. How it made them realize the depths of a persons suffering and finding understanding in the process. He could imagine Higurashi listening to the music and crying tears of empathy for her friend as she came to terms with something she might not have truly understood. He wondered if her relationship with her friend had changed any with the discovery that she made. Had she found a clearly insight into the soul of this orphan? Did she realize new things about his behavior and attitude that she hadn't before? Did she realize that the trust that he placed in her, probably for the first time in his life, was the hardest to give and the fiercest in its loyalty? So many thoughts and questions went through his mind that he found himself considering the song he assigned and found that he too felt bad for Higurashi's orphaned friend, and though he envied that what seemed like a good friendship; he was thankful that he didn't have to realize the harsh truth of a friends life through a song assigned for school. He then felt bad for Kagome, from her paper that she wasn't aware of what to expect from the song and he was sure that what she got wasn't it.

He was also impressed by her boldness. She was the only student to ever admit to him that she took his class because she thought it would be an easy grade for her. Then she went on to dare him to fail her because she didn't look at the song in the author's point of view. How extraordinary was young Higurashi, Kagome. Mr. Hagomoto hoped that her understand was rewarded by her friend finding the words needed to free himself of his past to her as he wrote a 100 on her paper in red mark, and after consideration wrote something on the bottom.