InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Playgrounds of the Mind ❯ Greetings and Salutations ( Chapter 3 )

Playgrounds of the Mind

Chapter Three: Greetings and Salutations

[Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi]

Author's note: A big thank you to all my wonderful reviewers. ^_^ Please let me know of any other comments you may have.

Kagome looked up at the large gates of the school. There was an inscription she noticed, she cocked her head, straining to see what was written.

Aureate Winters Academy

Established 1871

Down the Well

"Down the Well?" Kagome knitted her eyebrows in slight confusion. What was that all about? This school just kept getting stranger and stranger. The taxi came to a halt some ten meters from the front entrance, whose doors were wide open as returning students and freshmen alike glided in and out of the building, hauling luggage or showing their parents their new dorm assignments. Kagome sighed. She already missed her family and it had not even been a week! How am I going to survive, Kagome internally wailed.

"That'll be $76.50, miss." Kagome jarred back to reality. She searched her purse for the necessary bills and tipped the cabbie generously. He unloaded her baggage and with a small wave, drove around the cul de sac and merged into the busy streets at the end of the perfect lawn. Kagome felt so abandoned and lost right at that moment.

"Are these yours?" She turned around and noticed a young man pointing to her things. He was holding a clipboard and had a pencil behind his ear, another in his breast pocket, and yet another in his hand.

"Um yes," Kagome nodded.

"Great, I'll have some one take care of it! Now your name please?"

"Kagome Higurashi."

"Ah yes!" his eyes shone with some interest. "If you'll kindly follow me, I'll take you to your orientation group." Kagome walked across the lawn, giving her baggage one last look as if worried she would never see it again.

"Alright, the boy said," scanning the clipboard, "we're all here. Let's get started, first some introductions. Let's begin with you, he indicated Kagome, who was standing at the edge of the small assembly, not more than twelve people. She repeated her name again. The naming procession went around in a circle.

"Hey everyone, I'm Shippou Edward Fox," said a cute looking redhead. He grinned at everyone, seeming at ease in the new surroundings.

"I'm Rin Sarah Jerome. Um, most people call me Rin", stated a shy young girl, nervously pulling at strands of her well-shaped black bob. At least I'm not the only one who's nervous, Kagome thought with some relief.

"Hi. My name's Kanna Helena, I'm Kagura's sister if anyone knows her", a pretty, pale haired girl said, seeming to sigh as she did so. After her introduction she fell back to staring out into space.

The names continued, and Kagome lost track after a while, her thoughts in constant turmoil, she could not keep her attention focused on the group leader or any important information he could be dispelling. Concentrate Kagome, she mentally berated.

"Alright, fantastic people! Now I'm going to give you all a tour of the campus and some little historical tidbits along the way." He grinned, indicating the group to follow. He walked at a brisk pace, his tie and jacket blowing all over the place as he widely waved his arms and pointed to different things. As they walked toward the inner part of the driveway, the orator stopped and waited for everyone to catch up. He smiled in apology. Suddenly, a black-haired boy with tons of bracelets clinking, walked over and slung an arm over the guide's shoulders.

"And here we have the best looking people on campus, not to mention the most in-demand dates", he stated in a jovial manner. The boy indicated himself, followed by a slender, tall girl with a long, high ponytail at the crown of her head, and lastly to a tall, lanky boy, with stunning golden eyes and take-your-breath-away waist=length pale platinum hair, almost white looking in the bright sunlight. The guide laughed and playfully shoved the boy standing next to him.

"Guys, this is Miroku David Monk, our school's resident pervert."

"Hey!" Miroku complained. The girl doubled over in laughter and the other boy simply snorted and nodded sagely.

"Watch out for this one, girls! And this is Sango Miranda Davis, our school's honorable exterminator." He laughed and gave Sango the thumbs up sign. "She can explain it to you later, if she has time, but it's a funny story, try to find out from an upperclassman if you can." He walked over and made a show of presenting the other boy. "This is the famous Inuyasha Alexander West, the "half-demon" of Aureate Winters. Soon to be full-demon, once his brother graduates.

"Finally", Inuyasha grumbled and looked cross. "I hate being called that!"

"Another great story you'll find out about in due course", the guide informed them. Wow, this school has a lot of weird inside jokes, Kagome mused. "Now if you'll follow me again-"

"Hey, Ken, why don't you let the transfer student come with us? Your tour will be pretty boring if she's stuck with a bunch of freshmen." He motioned to Sango and Inuyasha. "We could take her around before first assembly."

"Well, it's not really the school's policy, but . . " he trailed off looking towards Kagome. "You can if you want to." He smiled warmly, "you know, three guides will probably be better than sharing one."

"Uh, sure. Thanks," she replied, somewhat guardedly. She waved to the rest of the group and joined the trio. "Thanks for volunteering to show me around," she said, unsure of what to do next. Miroku grinned.

"No problem. So, as you know I'm Miroku, and this is Inuyasha and Sango. So, let's show her the real tour, shall we?" He grabbed Kagome by her wrist and started jogging. "We've got lots to see, so lets go!"

"Does it seem to you that Miroku acts more and more like a little kid with each passing year?" Kagome overheard Sango ask Inuyasha.

"Definitely", he replied. "And stupider, too." The two comrades ran to catch up to their juvenile friend. Miroku pointed to a building in the gothic revival style.

"This is the Science Building."

"That's the literature building, idiot." Miroku looked at Inuyasha. "It is? Huh. Looks different from when I remember."

"What could you remember? I don't think you paid attention at all at the end of last year when Ms. Kendall showed us an interactive tour of this campus." Sango chided.

"Well fine, Sango, since you've paid attention to every boring little insignificant detail that vertiginous woman spewed out all year, you can be the tour guide!"

"Alright, I will." She walked over and linked her arm with Kagome's. "Don't mind him", she jerked her head back to where Miroku was walking with Inuyasha, "he's sort of a clown. Well, as much of a clown as you can get away with being at this school."

"Um, yeah, about that", Kagome piped up. "Just how hard is it? I mean, are the teachers overbearing? And is the workload fatal if you get behind? I tend to catch a cold every winter, and-"

"Don't worry! Kagome, if you got in, you'll do fine!" Sango gave her new acquaintance's arm a reassuring squeeze. Kagome smiled appreciatively. "Besides, we have lots of group study sessions, and brainstorming sessions. We help each other out here."

"Sango, will you help me study??" Miroku yelled from behind. She snorted and threw one of her scrunchies at him.

"Woo hoo! Now I can add this one to my collection", he yelled triumphantly. Sango rolled her eyes. "The guy's such a dope," she mumbled. Kagome lifted an eyebrow and appraised Sango's words. She smiled to herself. I'll bet she doesn't really think so, Kagome reflected. Most people who acted the way Sango and Miroku did were really destined for each other. Or maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic, she sighed.

"Okay, let me show you the girl's dorm next." Miroku's face brightened at that. Sango glared. "Not you!"

"Excuse me? Guys are allowed in the hallways of the girl's dorm", he retorted.

"Yeah, well-heeled young gentlemen, not perverts like you", Sango taunted. Miroku made a show of pretending to look offended. Inuyasha shoved him into a hydrangea bush. Miroku crawled out covered in blossoms. "Inuyasha, you may accompany us", Sango called.

"It's alright, I think I'll stop and get breakfast." He nodded towards Kagome. "Nice meeting you. Hope I'll see you later. He took off, with Miroku tagging along.

"This way", Sango nudged. Kagome looked back at Inuyasha's retreating form, a pensive look on her face.

The famous `half-demon', eh? She made a mental note to ask Sango about it once they were inside the dormitory.

Sorry it's a bit short. Not much time this morning, but I thought I'd get something out there.

Please review!

Our friends Kouga, Yura, Hiten, Manten, Kagura, Naraku and Sesshoumaru are on the way.