InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Lining ❯ Chapter One: Lost Instructors ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Good day, reader! Did you have a good Fourth of July weekend? I have!! As you can tell…its been generous with ideas for me! And THAT'S good for you…since it gave you something to read today!!

I'd like to take the time now to thank my reviewers if I may…

THIS STORY ROCKS!!!!! (*lol* I know that's definitely not your real name, but I felt I should acknowledge you, so…) Drake220, Numisma, mofaf, Alabaster Dragon, Sango Chan, Ickabod, Wolf Demon, Cold Demon Lord, Mad Hatter, Albino Elf, Sesshomaru, Baby Boy, Venus, TLC, Diva Queen, Albus the great, Sexy Hanyou, Ginta & Hakkaku, and Video Vixen. WOW!! I was so surprised to see 20 reviews in under a week…thank you so much, guys! If I've missed your name, please contact me and let me know, now!

I've also added a 'dance and movement vocabulary' at the end of the chapter for anyone with questions on what the words mean.

Hope you all enjoy this next chapter! And don't worry, this story does mainly focus on Sango and Miroku, but I'm trying something different by using different POVs throughout the story, and today's POV is…*drum roll*…Kagome!!

ON WITH THE STORY!!!

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Chapter 1: ~ Lost Instructors

It was such a beautiful day in downtown LA, which is great because there aren't many 'nice days' there for Kagome Higurashi during her days as a secretary at one of the best performance studios in the area.

~*~

I could feel a serene smile cross my lips as I sat back in my office chair in front of the large screen computer on my desk. I was filing in the newest name for the 4 o'clock Monday Preschool Ballet class.

In big bold letters, the name space read: SHIPPOU LOCKE

"Locke?" I whispered as I stretched my arms over my head, looking at the ceiling through my small reading glasses. Not many parents allowed their boys to enroll in dance, especially in ballet. I wondered on it for a moment with my eyebrows scrunched together in thought. "Where have I heard that name before?"

I didn't have much longer to think about it as a familiar man's voice startled me from down the hall.

"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE!?!?!"

I fell over in the comfy chair, taking it back with me with one leg still over the seat while the other was in a knee-to-chest position.

I sighed loudly to myself, thanking God that I had decided on wearing pants this morning instead of the usual skirt. I clumsily sat up from my place in the floored chair, looking around for my glasses that had to have flown off my face during my fright.

I heard my door click open while I was on the floor on my hands and knees, still searching for my spectacles.

Some sort of a feminine giggle was heard behind me…probably because whoever she was had a great view of my black fabric covered ass from the doorway.

My black frames peeked at me from their spot under my desk, and I grabbed for them. Hurriedly, I put them back atop the bridge of my nose as I looked through them at the amused face of Faythe Carrack.

"Hey, Miss Kagome," the shy soon-to-be high school senior said through her almost unnoticeable braces, her big, brown doe eyes smiling at me as I got up off the floor.

"Did he scare you, too? …with his outburst, I mean…"

"Yeah…" I sighed while turning around to wipe at my rear end. "Am I clear?"

"Clear."

Faythe gave another small giggle as she fully entered my small office, shutting the door carefully behind her as I fixed my chair back into an upright position.

"Well," she started, tucking some of her long, sandy brown ear behind an ear, "As you've heard from Senor Miroku's yelling…Senora isn't here, and…um…" her eyes suddenly found the floor interesting, her voice softening some, "I was wondering…"

I smiled at her; dressed in her usual Thursday night rose-colored leotard and tanned tights, I knew what she was going to ask.

"Its alright, Faythe, you know I don't mind helping you with your solo," I took a second to look up at the wall clock as she visibly relaxed some, "especially since you're mom's paying for the studio time…I'll tell you what," I grinned as her eyes snapped up to mine. "How about you go ahead and get on your toe shoes and get the music ready. I'll be in there after I save this last entry to the files…room 3 is the one you're using, right?"

She gave me her usual energetic flash of teeth, "Right."

As Faythe exited out the door, I leaned down to save the entry, and again the young boy's last name caught my attention.

"…Locke…"

Flipping my hair over one shoulder, I decided on figuring it out later as I saved the application to my hard drive.

*~*

Walking out the door, I pushed my drooping glasses back up my nose as I locked it. Turning around, I looked down as I smoothed out the wrinkles in my white silk shirt. I started walking forward, shortly bumping into the last person I wanted to see at the moment.

Putting a hand over my heart, I took a deep breath as I looked up at my boss, a scowl placed all over his face.

"Do you know where--"

I cut him off, "No, Miroku, I have no idea where your sister is."

God help me, I am SUCH a bad liar.

"Are you sure?"

'I know exactly where she is…its just that she'll decapitate me if I tell you.'

"Yes."

I must've been getting better at lying, because he ran a hand through his long bangs with a deep sigh, giving me a defeated look with his dark violet eyes.

I placed a hand on my good friend's shoulder, giving him my best 'it'll be okay' look, "Don't worry, you know she'll be alright."

"Oh, she'd better be dead. That's about the only excuse I'll take from her for leaving me with 4 additional classes to teach as well as my own…"

I massaged his stiff shoulders a bit, smirking a little. "Yeah, well…you know I'd help, but…"

"Don't worry about it, Kag…I know you can't move around too much while your hamstring is still healing…" he paused a minute, tugging the collar of my dress shirt back into place. "Faythe told me you were going to help her with her solo…are you sure--"

I smiled at his concerned face. "Don't worry…you're so busy right now, and Faythe's so professional, all I really need to do is watch for details and tell her how to fix them, I don't really have to actually USE my body to help her."

Miroku chuckled, mussing my hair a bit.

"…and besides…she's such a wonder to watch…"

"Yes," he agreed. "Faythe is very graceful," sighing, he added, "if only her parents had the money to send her somewhere to meet her growing standards."

I gave him a small smile, shaking my head.

"Even if they did, you know Faythe would want to stay here with--" I caught myself, knowing I probably shouldn't bring up his sister's name at the moment, "…Senora."

"Yes," he started his trek towards room 1, where the Pre-Teen Tap class would start soon, "unfortunately."

~*~

"Ready?"

I pressed the 'play' button to the CD player, the music of one of my favorite songs filling the mirrored room.

.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.It's not warm when he's away.:.

Faythe started by jumping straight onto her toes, which to me seemed hard to hold since her arms where wrapped around her torso, not out to help her balance.

But she held the pose perfectly, her beautifully arched feet catching my eye first off as she started moving.

.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.And he's always gone too long anytime he goes away.:.

I had to admit, Faythe's movements were a tiny bit on the jerky side, but the emotion written across her entire face just blew me away. She always literally threw herself into her performances…wondering if she's dancing to the music, or if the music is playing to her dancing.

.:.Wonder this time where he's gone.:.
.:.Wonder if he's gone to stay.:.
.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.And this house just ain't no home.:.
.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

Her eyes were downcast, looking at the floor, as if she were ashamed of loving the boy in the story set to music. Suddenly stopping the flow of her body, her muscles tensing from the energy in doing it so fast, her eyes set straight forward. Tilting her chin up, she looked very defiant and determined as she began her fouette's.

.:.And I know, I know, I know, I know.:.
.:.I know, I know, I know, I know.:.
.:.I know, I know,.:.

Spinning out of her series of dizzying turns, Faythe parted her lips with her eyes closed, undoubtedly concentrating on her body's control as she continued with a small set of jete's.

.:.I know, I know, I know, I know,.:.

.:.I know, I know, I know, I know,.:.

I felt myself smile some, feeling so honored to be in the ballerina's presence. She was fluidly crossing from one end to the of the floor to the other with an almost inhumane speed.

.:.I know, I know, I know, I know,.:.

Damn…wasn't she dizzy yet?

.:.I know, I know, I know, I know.:.

…I sure was…

She kept going with such an unbelievable control over her body's motions, spreading her arms out wide before bringing them up above her head in perfect timing with the next line of words.

.:.Hey I'll leave the young thing alone.:.

She recovered quickly from the sudden line of movement, opening her eyes to look up, as if to the sky or heavens, with a sad, heart-wrenching ghost of a smile before reaching an arm up as if to reach out towards what it was she needed.

.:.But ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.Only darkness everyday.:.

I noticed she seemed more comfortable, all the earlier jerkiness gone, as she went on through with the dance.

.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.
.:.And this house just ain't no home.:.

Her cheeks were flushed very generously, I'm not sure if it was from exertion or excitement…and her mouth was slightly open to receive a little more oxygen.

.:.Anytime he goes away.:.
.:.Anytime he goes away.:.
.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

As the music began to die down, I felt kind of sad to let it all end. As she prepared for the ending with one hand resting on the opposite shoulder, the other across her stomach to lay on her opposing hip, I realized how much I'd want to see her performing in a ballet production some years from now…

.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

Ending with a slide into a split, she must've been too tired to notice the one mistake she'd made throughout the entire sequence…the one thing that peeves a performer the most.

"Faythe, honey, don't forget to point your feet! Senora would beat you if you did!!"

She pulled her legs together, already taking off her left shoe, "Yes, Miss Kagome."

I gave a something of a laugh in the back of my throat as I got up out of my chair to turn off the CD player.

Looking up and over to across the room, I saw two faces peeking at us through the observatory window. With I snort, I said, "Looks as if you have a couple of admirers, there, Faythe."

She kept her eyes glued to her feet with another shy smile, "Yeah…"

The door opened, and the two observers came in with awed faces looking in Faythe's direction as she stood up, her shoes in one hand and her wavy hair now tumbling down to her butt.

"That was so…" Kouga searched for a word, his bright azure eyes aglow with admiration, "astounding, Faythe…are you going to compete with that piece?"

She pulled on her warm-up shorts, shrugging with her gaze still slightly bashful from his praise. "Only if my mom can save up enough money for the entry fee."

"Hell," the other boy, known as Josh stated, making Faythe and myself both look at him, his gray eyes trained on her face, "I'd be glad to give you some of the money I've saved up…beautiful art in motion such as yourself should show off your talent every once in a while."

Faythe blushed, fidgeting with the strap of her bag from where it sat on her shoulder. Kouga and I both looked at each other with a smirk, and he winked before turning his attention back to Faythe's wildly fluttering brown orbs.

"I originally came here to ask if you think you could help us with Miroku's," he cleared his throat noisily, "extra classes. That is, if you have the time, Miss Carrack."

Faythe shook her head vigorously, shuffling into her slide-on shoes as she made her way to the door, Josh right behind her.

Kouga looked at me as I placed my glasses atop my head, "Hey."

I raised an eyebrow as I turned around, folding up the chair I'd used and setting it against the closest wall.

"Hey yourself," I caught myself in the wall-length mirrors, fixing my unruly hair into a makeshift bun as he walked up beside me.

"Since when did you start back to work?" he began. "You'd busted up your leg pretty bad the last time I'd checked."

"Yeah, well…" I turned back around to face him. "Most of my job's done while sitting behind a desk…I just shouldn't dance for about another couple of months."

"Ouch."

"Not really." I laughed, "I'm not all that great anyway, so it doesn't matter much to me."

He gave an understanding nod, though his eyes dared to argue.

"So, did you get Shippou's application yet?"

"Yeah," I gave him a confused look. "Do you know him?"

He laughed, putting his hands into his sweat pant pockets. "I should…I am his father."

"Oh!" I smacked my forehead, "I thought I'd heard that name before…silly me." I paused a moment, my hand rubbing at the back of my neck, "But wait, your last name's Wolfe…isn't his last name filed as Locke?"

He nodded, scratching at his nose. "Ayame enrolled him."

"Ah." I grinned, "Its been a while since I've seen her…how old is Shippou now?"

"He'll be 4 this next October."

"Wow…Kouga, I hate to admit this…but we're getting so old."

He draped an arm over my shoulders, escorting me out of the room as I turned out the lights, "Indeed we are, Kagome…indeed we are."

I sighed to myself as I leaned into my childhood friend's slight embrace.

~*~

Kouga left Kagome to her office, where she gathered her things to go home for the night. She kept thinking to herself on how lucky Kouga was, to have a child to love. Her dream had always been to start a family straight out of college…

Unfortunately, the one she'd dreamt of living it with had left some years back, leaving her to fend for herself as she awaited his return.

…though he still hasn't come back.

She sing to herself, looking out the window of her office at the faint stars that shone through the dusky sky of sunset, the moon covered by a few clouds not too far away.

.:.Ain't no sunshine when he's gone.:.

.:.And this house just ain't no home,.:.

.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

A tear fell down her cheek, unnoticed as Kagome pressed her forehead against the cold glass of the bare window, closing her eyes tightly.

.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

.:.Anytime he goes away.:.

'Why did you leave me…with not even so much as a goodbye, Inuya--'

Pounding her fist into the window, she wiped her face quickly. The sound of her heels could be heard as she walked out of the room, locking the door, and went down the hall.

Kagome passed by room 1, noticing how big the class was, Miroku and Kouga doing their best to hold up the 30 something kids who were trying out their tap shoes.

Down the other end of the hall, Kouga's voice could be heard calling out combinations from room 2 or 4...where the senior dancers were having their weekly modern dance class, whereas Faythe, a STUDENT herself, was having to help as well.

"You know," she said to the empty hallway, her mind back on the boy she once loved, "Miroku could really use your help…you jerk."

After that, she pulled her frames back over her eyes with a shake of her head, lugging her stuff outside as the door shut with a slam.

.:.Anytime he goes away….:.

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Dance Vocabulary:

Fouette': (fweh-TAY) Lift one leg and hop while turning, the leg stays in the air until after the hop.

Jette': (zhuh-TAY) A leap usually obtaining height and distance.

Modern Dance: A highly individualized form of artistic expression which began as a rejection of traditional ballet concepts; there is not a single approach to technique.

Leotard: Looks mostly like a one-piece bathing suit; used by dancers to show off body lines while performing.

'Toe' or 'Pointe' Shoes: Dance shoes of a pink or neutral color, made with hard arches and hard boxed toes to protect the toes and balls of feel, with ribbons to tie to the ankles.

*~*

A/N: I kind of wanted to keep going with Sango's view…but a little light on Miroku's problems seemed like fun. I bet you won't guess who the sister is…hah! You don't, because *I* don't even know yet. *evil laugh*

I'd like to thank Faythe Carrack for allowing me to insert her name in my story! I actually called her up for permission, and she even read over the drafts for me!!

THANK YOU FAYE FAYE! I LUV U!!

Of course she did blush and stutter a good bit when asked, but we made the arrangement for in order for me to use her name, she'll be the one to introduce Miroku's sister. She's working on it as I type, and whoever-the-surprise-may-be will be inserted maybe around some later chapters. Again, thank you my special reviewers! You're all very close to my heart…

Cheesy, yes…but also true…

Much love to ya,

Kitty

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