InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Sweetest Escape ❯ Pressing ( Chapter 21 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, Rumiko Takahashi does.
Author's Notes:
YAY! Best Drama 1st place, Best IYKG Romance 3rd place! WOOT WOOT! Too cool.
Thanks to everyone who voted, nominated, or seconded for me—it means a lot!
Happier chapter? Hmmm—maybe!
Enjoy!
Chapter 21: Pressing
“…For our final story, Daisuke, be ready to show that Lion pride! We have a scholarship recipient amongst us! Aoko Yamaguchi, a senior this year, is the recipient of the illustrious Goro Oichi Scholarship! She competed in the famed Renaissance Youth Art Competition this weekend, and was awarded first place for her piece `Righteous Indignation'. To top it all off, Aoko has been awarded with a full scholarship to attend Tokyo University next fall! We are fortunate enough to have Aoko with us in the studio to day to fill us in on the details of her victory. Tell us, Aoko: what types of things were running through your mind when your name was called for first place? What inspired you? You've got the floor.”
“Well, Akira, it was absolutely mind-blowing. I swear, I couldn't even speak when they said my name; it was the most incredible feeling you can imagine. I'd worked so hard to create a piece that I felt would be worthy of Mr. Oichi's scholarship. I was so surprised when I heard my name! It was truly exciting to…”
Inuyasha's fist clenched angrily at the morning announcements. `That bitch,' he thought murderously.
“…The competition was so stiff, too! But I think that I really earned my place. It was truly an honor to be recognized by such an accomplished man,” Aoko gushed, quite atypical of her normal scornful attitude.
“That's wonderful, Aoko. Thank you so much for speaking with me today.”
“You're very welcome, Akira. It was my pleasure.”
“As you all know, there is a college and scholarship fair going on in the gymnasium. In addition to that, we have a special treat. Not only will Aoko's winning piece Righteous Indignation will be on display, as well as some of her other works, but Goro Oichi himself will be in the gymnasium to answer questions about the other scholarships that he sponsors. Seniors, we invite you to survey your options for the future, take advantage of the opportunity to pick a multi-millionaire's brain, and to take a peek at award-winning art. That's all for our announcements today. Have a great day, Daisuke!”
The bell rang for dismissal. Inuyasha, the last one out of the classroom, hesitated at the doorway. Usually, he would meet Kagome at their lunch table or in the library.
He turned in the opposite direction of the lunchroom. There was no sense in taking Kagome with him. She'd only try to talk him out of it.
~
Inuyasha allowed his eyes to flick passively over the mounds of brightly colored brochures that were heaped on the folding tables. The names, some well-known, some shrouded in obscurity, jumped out at him from their place cards. Chiba University, Fujita Health University, Hiroshima Institute of Technology…Tokyo University. The mill of students around him buzzed excitedly, discussions of bright futures took place on all sides. College recruiters talked animatedly, emphasizing the glorious aspects of their respective schools as students soaked up the information like sponges.
“Fujita Health University is one of the premier colleges in Japan for health studies. I'm sure you'd be very happy here.”
“Hiroshima Institute of Technology offers only the best for its students. We rank very high in terms of student happiness.”
“Tokyo University is without a doubt one of the most prestigious universities in all of Japan. Our reputation precedes us, and it is common knowledge that a graduate from our school is a graduate that will be well-paid.”
He sighed wistfully, if not a bit sadly, looking away from the few students that sent scornful, snide glances his way. `You have nothing to worry about. I'm no competition,' he told them in his mind.
He was suddenly reminded of the daydreams he'd had—before the competition had been ripped away from him. He'd seen himself in college, away from his father and brother, away from all the bad things he'd experienced. He'd seen himself and Kagome walking around campus, hand in hand perhaps. Happy. Carefree.
`So much for that bullshit,' he thought sourly, shaking his head to rid it of ridiculous, unattainable thoughts. Annoyed, he growled loudly at one particularly snobbish looking boy, a sophomore perhaps, and bared his fangs. The boy jumped, startled and taken aback, and quickly scuttled away.
Inuyasha shook his head, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets as he made his way through the gymnasium. Despite the densely packed area, there was no need for him to say `excuse me' or `pardon'…not that he would have anyway. But students automatically moved out of his way, parting like the tide from the shore, shooting poisonous glares in his direction, whispering as though he couldn't hear.
“What's he doing here?”
“How dare he think he can just show his face anywhere he wants?”
“Disgusting.”
“Filthy.”
“Freak.”
He glowered, his face darkening as he sidestepped around a table. `I can hear you, you fucking idiots,' he growled menacingly in his head. Most of the time, he could do a fairly decent job of ignoring the comments, the barbs, the insults. But today, every single little word, every sideways leer, every pointless threat worked its way under his skin and chipped away at his thin patience. He'd been raging all day, ever since that night at Kagome's house. His moods were swinging, back and forth. He slipped in and out of moods of deep melancholy and absolutely consuming fury. The constant switch that he was helpless to stem was taking a toll on him, and the temper that he could feel building was just barely bridled within him.
He'd even let it slip a few nights ago.
~
“Where the fuck have you been?” his father demanded. He'd just slipped into his room's window after staying the previous night and most of that morning with Kagome and her family. Changing his clothes quickly and jogging down the stairs, he'd rushed to make his father's breakfast, knowing that he was late in doing so, and that the older man would be pissed.
“I've been upstairs,” he lied quietly.
“You're fucking full of shit,” his father hissed. “I'm gonna ask you again. Where the hell have you been?”
“Upstairs,” he repeated through clenched teeth. He didn't turn around to face the man; he simply went about preparing a meager meal for the insatiable demon to devour, undoubtedly without leaving him a scrap. Normally, he was expected to turn around and address his father head on, not ignore him and deny him the respect he thought he deserved. He heard and felt the raucous growl that ripped from the man's throat.
“Just who the fuck do you think you are, half-breed? Huh? Who the hell do you think you are, answering me like that?” Taishou sneered. He reached forward and yanked Inuyasha's ponytail hard, causing the boy to yelp. Inuyasha set the utensils he'd been using onto the counter, his hands slowly curling into tight fists. “You think you're grown? You think you can just disrespect me? I'll show you a thing or two—”
Inuyasha whirled around and, using the blade of his forearm, knocked his father's arm away from him just as it was surging towards his face. The older demon was so shocked that he didn't immediately move to make a second blow. He only stood, mouth agape, eyes staring at the huffing teen in front of him. His shock lasted seconds before his face split into an angry mask.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” he bellowed. His hand shot out quicker than Inuyasha's eyes could register and caught the collar of his shirt, jerking him forward. He sent a dizzying blow across the boy's left jaw, sending his head spinning. “Huh? What is wrong with you? Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten your place?”
Inuyasha spit out the blood that had quickly coated the interior of his mouth, his eyes blazing with fury. He painfully turned his head to face the man, his blood boiling, his skin turning hot.
“I know my place!” he shouted, frothy blood flying from his lips. “I know it better than I know my own fucking name!”
Taishou's eyes flew wide with surprise and incredulous fury. He gave the boy a hard shake, his collar still gripped in his fist tightly.
“How dare you use that language with me? Hm? You got a death wish?”
“Only for you,” Inuyasha muttered darkly, unsure if he'd truly intended for the man to hear. Either way, he did.
“You've gone crazy. That's the only explanation for this…this…madness! You've gone absolutely fucking crazy, you little shit! I swear to you, I'll knock the crazy right out of you!”
Before he could land his punch, Inuyasha ducked out of the way, ripping his shirt out of the man's grip with some effort. He staggered backwards, still dizzy from the jab to the jaw, and steadied himself on a chair. Taishou advanced on him, fists balled and ready. Inuyasha gripped the chair tighter in his hand, and just as the man was close enough, he shoved the furniture at him with all of his might, managing to trip him up a bit.
Inuyasha took the small chance and bolted up the stairs. Taishou, however, being much faster and stronger and not to be held up too much by a mere chair was right on his heels. In a split second of pure panic, Inuyasha ducked into his room, and just as the man was entering after him, he flung the door shut, slamming it as hard as he could manage. Some part of him derived a small pleasure out of hearing the dull thud of wood against flesh, and his father's subsequent string of curses.
“Just go away!” he screamed. “Just leave me the hell alone! My entire weekend's been fucked up enough! I don't need you pounding me!” came his panicked cries.
~
Of course, his father hadn't left him alone. He'd given Inuyasha the punishment he'd intended to give, perhaps with even a few extra slaps for his unexpected insubordination. Inuyasha smiled grimly. He may have been left with numerous injuries, but he'd never forget that it was the first time he'd been able to make his father bleed in return. That door had connected quite soundly with the older demon's nose.
He hadn't surprised himself too much. Not this time. He was fed up. Fed up with everything. As soon as the man had come to him, ready for a fight, ready to pummel him after he'd already been pummeled by a deep blow to the pride, Inuyasha had caught a spark. The consuming wrath that shot through him had fueled him enough and given him enough recklessness to at least attempt to strike his father back.
`What a difference public humiliation can make,' he thought dryly. A streak of obscenely bright red caught his eye, and he knew he'd found his target. He turned to the gaudy, obtrusive painting that glaringly stood out against the pale paint of the gym walls. He could have picked up any newspaper and seen it, and avoided this real-life meeting. But he couldn't bear to do that. If he did, he would most assuredly be thrown into another deep bout of depression at the sight of his empty space on the far end of the picture. He didn't want to see where he'd been edited away.
He approached the award-winning painting with slow, measured steps, his eyes narrowing in scrutiny. It was flanked by four of her other pieces. The angst-laden, bitter names sounded contrived and overdone: Girl: Abandoned, The Isolation of Me, Saving Me from Myself, I'm My Own Regret. All were portraits of herself, desolately staring into some unknown space, in different poses and outfits. He frowned in distaste. He stood in front of the canvas she'd won for, arms crossed, his mouth set in a straight line.
“Don't do anything stupid.”
“Stupid like what?” he queried coolly, immediately recognizing the nasally voice that so relentlessly grated on his nerves.
“Stupid like clawing my pieces to shreds.” Inuyasha snorted derisively.
“I wouldn't think of it,” he said evenly. He could feel Aoko exhale with relief. “Unlike you I don't play dirty,” he added, satisfied when she flinched. “You're a real piece of work, you know that?”
“What's that supposed to mean?” she asked, automatically defensive.
“Exactly what I said. You're a fucking piece of work,” he snapped. She didn't respond. She only stood silently beside him, examining the picture as though she'd never seen it before. “A self-portrait. How very fitting.”
“Were you expecting something else?”
“I was expecting decent work. But, hey, I guess it really doesn't matter. Because Goro Oichi only cares about the publicity he's going to get from sponsoring you. He doesn't give a shit whether you're actually good or not.”
“You don't have to insult me—”
“I'm not insulting you. I'm telling it like it is.”
“Well. Don't be so jealous, Inuyasha.”
“You fucking underhanded bitch!” he hissed. “You cheated!”
“No,” Aoko said in a cold voice. “No, I did not cheat. Not in the least.”
“You ratted.”
“I did what I had to do to get where I need to be. And now, I have what I want.”
“You took everything away from me!” he hissed, whirling to face her. “Do you realize that?”
“You would have beat me!” she blurted, her face splitting. “There. I said it. You would have beat me.”
“…what?”
“You're good, Inuyasha. Really good. It would not have surprised me if you beat every participant there. That portrait was that incredible,” she said earnestly. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed at her, wondering what game she was playing at. She stepped closer, her eyes flitting around the busy gymnasium before locking with his. “But I'll be damned if I let some pitiful half-breed beat me at what I'm good at.”
“You're not good,” he said bluntly. “You paint like shit.” Aoko looked horribly wounded for a second, and Inuyasha took a sick pleasure in hurting her with his words. It happened so rarely—that he got the chance to inflict the pain. He was surprised when she smirked.
“Who's got the money, huh? Me or you?” she whispered. “I think we both know who came out on top.” She smirked and gave him a hard look to which he growled. “I've got no problem with playing dirty. Just so long as I end up the winner.”
Inuyasha's growl increased in volume exponentially, and it took all of what little patience he had not to snatch the canvas off of its easel and smash it over her black and orange head.
“I swear, I'll—”
“Is there a problem here, Ms. Yamaguchi?” a smooth voice questioned. Inuyasha closed his eyes and immediately closed his mouth as well. “Is there a problem? Half-breed?”
“No, Mr. Oichi. There's no problem. Inuyasha was just…admiring my work. He was just saying how I deserved to win and congratulating me,” Aoko lied easily. Oichi smiled his condescending approval at Inuyasha, who returned the look with a blank stare.
“Well, as long as there's nothing but encouraging words being exchanged—”
“It sucks,” Inuyasha interrupted abruptly. “She sucks. Your entire competition sucks, and it's rigged, and it's unfair.”
“Well. Someone seems a bit jealous,” Oichi smirked haughtily.
“Jealous,” Inuyasha snorted. “Yeah, right. If that's the kind of bullshit you award money for—completely fake garbage from some spoiled princess who's never had any hardship in her life but likes to pretend as though she does—then I don't want to be a part of it anyway!” he lied. He wasn't sure if Oichi and Aoko could see through his farce. He prayed that they couldn't see just how badly he actually did envy her. That would completely rob him of his credibility.
“Hey, you don't know what I've been through!” Aoko shot back angrily.
“And you don't know what I've been through. I guarantee you that you haven't come close to the hell I live in. You stick some red paint on a canvas and try to pass it off as suffering with a bullshit title. I can see right through you,” he spat acidly.
“That is quite enough,” Oichi said in a voiced that allowed no room for argument. He turned to Inuyasha, his tiny mustache twitching with every move that his upper lip made. “I think you should go now.”
Inuyasha had every desire to do just that. He wanted nothing more in that instant than to just bolt out of there and find Kagome. But the mere fact that he'd been told to get out rather than leaving of his own accord made him stop and defy.
“This is my school. I have every right to be here. Just as much right as anyone here,” he said defiantly, if not a bit shakily. Oichi gave him a smug look.
“You think you have rights. Foolish half-breed. I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. You'd do well to leave with a bit of grace, lest you shame yourself any more by staying.”
“I have a right to—”
“You think you have more rights than I, simply because you are a student here?” Oichi scoffed and snorted. “Naïve, foolish half-breed. I think you are truly unaware of just who I am. I am Goro Oichi, one of the most powerful men in this entire country. I own thousands of acres of land that the likes of you would never even dream of seeing. And you think that you have clout over me simply because you go here? Hm. Don't make me laugh.”
“Now do what you're told, like a dog should, and leave. Or should I arrange more escorts for you?”
Inuyasha bit the inside of his cheek. They'd drawn a crowd by now. After all, who didn't want to see the useless, stupid, hindrance of a half-breed get chewed out by a business mogul? His face heated as he saw the fascinated expressions of his peers out of his peripheral vision. Ducking his head, he straightened his backpack on his shoulder and pushed through the throng of nosy teenagers to the exit.
~
“You should have seen it, Kagome,” Inuyasha groused. “It was the biggest mess of paint I've ever seen. A complete waste.”
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he said sulkily, turning onto his back on her bed. She gave him a sympathetic look from where she sat at her desk across the room. Inuyasha frowned deeply. Honestly, he wasn't quite sure whether her painting was truly hideous. He had to admit to himself that at the moment, he wasn't quite able to judge it objectively. He was able to admit that it was quite possible his critical eye was clouded because, well…he'd wanted to win.
Kagome watched Inuyasha begin to stew, his dark brows drawing down and together, his lips pursing. She hated seeing him like that: angry and irritated. He'd been incredibly touchy ever since the night of the competition, his patience for almost anything running quite short. It was all she could do to simply watch and try to placate him, knowing that nothing she said would truly ease the frustration he was feeling.
She stood, leaving her history homework in favor of the grumbling, attractive boy stretched out on her bed. She sat on the edge of the mattress, right beside his waist.
“Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?” she asked softly. He frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, managing to look even more like a pouting child.
“No,” he said briefly. Kagome smirked and placed a hand on his stomach gently, hoping she didn't inadvertently hit any bruises or scars. His eyes popped wide from their narrowed position and glanced at her hand before looking up at her. She smiled and leaned down to kiss him.
“You sure?” she whispered against his mouth.
“Well. Maybe you could do that,” he amended. She grinned and leaned on her forearms, each on either side of his head and leisurely kissed him. Inuyasha groaned into her and his hands groped for her waist. He returned the affection deeply, their lips moving sensually together in a now well-practiced rhythm. With a sudden heave, Inuyasha lifted the girl up and moved her so that she precariously straddled his middle. With a squeak, she pulled away and held her lower half over him.
“I don't want to hurt you.”
“You won't hurt me,” he said breathlessly, shaking his head.
“You're not bruised at all?” she asked cautiously.
“It's no big deal. I'll be fine,” he insisted, and slipped a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her down to his mouth again. “Now get back down here,” he joked huskily against her lips.
“Well, look at you, getting all bossy,” she giggled, obliging him with little resistance.
“You do that to me,” he whispered. Surprising her, he kissed her cheekbones, trailing light kisses across each side of her face to her temples. Taking his dear sweet time, he made his way down the column of her neck, tracing the line of the prominent vein with his lips. He even laved her collarbones with attention, the slight moisture of his lips making her shiver when exposed to the cool air. The tips of his ears brushed her cheeks, and, needing to reciprocate the affection he was showing, she turned her head slightly to kiss the triangles, smiling against the fluffy surface when his next inhalation came ragged to his lungs. She kissed the outer shell of each ear before cupping chin in her hands and dragging his face back up to her so that she could attend to his lips again.
His hands slid across her thighs, smooth as silk and cool to the touch. Perhaps it was because she'd done a mad dash outside of the shrine to get her forgotten camera out of her car without bothering to put on proper pants…not that it bothered Inuyasha. No, no, he was perfectly content to watch her prance around the house in the tiny little `lounge' shorts. If it was fine by her, it was fine by him. He'd simply enjoy the view…and the feel. The tips of his claws inadvertently dragged across her skin, and she gave a hard shudder. He paused for a moment, fearing that he'd hurt her, or at least freaked her out. Not so. The girl continued her attentions, ignoring the fact that for a moment, he'd stopped. `This girl is too good to be true,' he thought absently as he picked up his pace once more.
“Hey, Inuya—Whoa!”
It took less than half of a hot nanosecond for the two impassioned teenagers fly apart from each other, Kagome swinging her leg from over Inuyasha and pressing her back against the wall. Inuyasha shoved himself away from her, and ended up a messy heap on the floor. Both looked at the child, guilt written over each deeply blushing face.
“Eeee-www! Mo-om! Kagome and Inuyasha are kiss-ing!” Souta exclaimed rather loudly, his nose wrinkling in distaste. “On the bed!” he added. The couple's eyes popped widened to a comical width and Kagome moved to leap from the bed. Her legs however, tangled in the lumpy blankets, and she landed on Inuyasha's lap.
“That's so gross! Inuyasha, don't you know that girls have cooties? You could get the—”
“Souta, shut up!” Kagome hissed from her ungraceful position on the floor, astride her boyfriend.
“I'm telling Mom!”
“For fuck's sake, kid! Shut your trap!” Inuyasha interjected. Kagome finally managed to detangle herself from the binding sheets and ran to grab the boy and clap a hand over his mouth before he could make it out of the door.
“Mmmphf!” he protested.
“Souta, listen. You can't just go blabbing to Mom, okay?” Kagome said quietly in his ear. “Now I'm going to let you go, but you have to promise that you'll be quiet, okay?” He nodded. “Okay.” Kagome slowly lifted her hand away from the boy's face.
“Chocolate,” he said immediately.
“Huh?”
“I want chocolate,” he answered simply. Kagome scoffed.
“Oh, please! You are not blackmailing me.” Souta raised one eyebrow and then shrugged. He took a deep breath.
“Mo—ack!” Kagome clapped a hand over his mouth once more.
“Okay, okay!” she hissed angrily. Souta frowned and gave her a look that clearly said, `Let me go.' Kagome released him. “Fine. I'll give you some damn chocolate. Stinkin' brat,” she muttered. Souta grinned at his prize, then turned to Inuyasha, still on the floor.
“And from you…I want you to play video games with me. For…for two whole hours!” he exclaimed as though he'd just come up with an insidious plot.
“O-okay…” Inuyasha agreed slowly.
“Why did you come up here anyway,” Kagome groused, crossing her arms. Souta seemed to immediately forget his blackmailing and straightened.
“There's some old guy downstairs to see Inuyasha,” he said with a shrug.
“To see me? At your house? Why?”
“I dunno. Mom told me to come get you. Although…maybe if you guys hadn't been doing kissy-face you probably would have heard her calling you,” he added mischievously. The two blushed once more. Souta giggled at their ire and wrapped his arms around himself, suddenly puckering up at the air. “Ooohh, Inuyasha!” he squealed, making his voice high-pitched and screechy in his attempt at imitating Kagome. “Ooohh, Kagome!” he said, lowering his voice to imitate Inuyasha. He repeated his farce. Over an over and over.
“Okay, that's enough of that!” Kagome exclaimed, and promptly pushed him out of her room as he continued to mock them. “We'll be down in a minute.” She shut the door and leaned against it with a sigh.
“Next time we do that…remind me to lock the door.”
“Will do.”
~
The old man genteelly drank his tea in languorously slow sips, setting the tiny cup down on its matching saucer after every one.
“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Higurashi,” he said absently.
“Why, thank you,” she responded with a smile. “I don't know what's taking them so long, they should be—”
“Well, I don't know what he's here for! You've just got to wait and see!” Kagome's voice came.
“Why would he be trying to get to me at your house, huh? It makes no sen—”
“Ah, here they are,” Mrs. Higurashi said. “Come on, you two. Sit, sit,” she commanded, pulling out chairs for the both of them. Inuyasha slid into his seat, regarding the squat man with a cautious eye as the old man did the same in return.
“There's no need for the cap, boy,” the man said in a roughened voice, motioning to the black beanie that Inuyasha had tugged on before leaving Kagome's room. “I already know what you are.” Inuyasha blanched and shot a look at Kagome, only to find that she looked just as clueless as he. He frowned at the man, suddenly ten times more suspicious than he'd been before. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go on and take it off. I want to see them,” he urged. Inuyasha's frown deepened into a glare.
“And just who are you to tell me what to do?” he snapped irritably. He was not about to be ridiculed in the one place where he found solace.
“Oh, excuse me. I suppose that was rather rude of me,” the man chuckled, his grayed mustache quivering with his amusement at himself. “I am Gamyuo Oichi—”
“Oichi? Oh, then I'm definitely not taking off the hat. And I'm definitely not gonna sit here and listen to you,” he scoffed, beginning to rise from his seat.
“Inuyasha, at least listen to what the man has to say. He came quite a long way; all the way from Myajima,” Mrs. Higurashi said softly.
“It might behoove you to listen, boy,” the man said loftily. “There may be something in this conversation that could…benefit you.”
Kagome gave him a look that beckoned him to listen for only a moment. Inuyasha grumbled to himself and plopped back down in the seat.
“Now then. The Renaissance Youth Art Competition. A very prestigious event. My brother's doing. I understand that you were a participant in it, yes?”
“Yeah. What of it?”
“I understand that endeavor didn't go so well for you, correct?”
“You're here to rub it in my face some more?” Inuyasha countered.
“Why no. Of course not. I'm a grown man, and I'm much too old for childish teasing,” he scoffed.
“Then what do you want?” he asked abruptly.
“Inuyasha,” Kagome reprimanded under her breath. She nudged his thigh with her knuckle.
“Well, I suppose I should get to the point,” Gamyuo mused. “I'm here to offer you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity,” Inuyasha repeated as if trying on the word for the first time.
“Yes. You see, my brother and I are quite alike in some ways…in others, not so much.”
“Your point being?”
“I want to pay for your college education, Inuyasha.”
Inuyasha wasn't sure he'd heard him right. He wasn't sure that the words he thought he'd heard had truly been said. Perhaps the man had said, `I want to stay for a tour of the foundation, Inuyasha,' or `I want to slay alienation, Inuyasha' or some other oddly-placed, nonsensical phrase, but he hadn't, absolutely hadn't just said—
“Oh, Kami…” Kagome murmured. So she'd misheard as well?”
“I don't…I don't think I heard you right…” Inuyasha murmured, shaking his head. Gamyuo chuckled.
“I said I want to pay for your college education, Inuyasha,” he repeated.
There it was again. That ridiculous thing that Inuyasha was positive the man hadn't said…he really needed to get his ears checked. Perhaps it was wax buildup?
“I know how unorthodox this is,” he continued, paying no heed to the fact that the boy before him was having a tiny mental meltdown. “However I don't trust the mail, and frankly, I wanted to see the look on your face. It's priceless.”
“Y-you…you're a liar…”
“No, quite the opposite. I'm telling the truth.”
“B-b-but…but why?”
“Why not?”
“You're related to Goro Oichi…he…he practically hates me. I…and I'm a hanyou…it doesn't make any sense…” Inuyasha babbled.
“Oh, I'm quite aware of your…condition. Believe me, that I thought long and hard about this decision before I made the trip down here. But, what can I say? I'm an absolute sucker for fabulous art,” he shrugged.
“F-f-f…fabulous?” Inuyasha echoed, dazed.
“Yes. Fabulous art. I try to surround myself with it,” he admitted. “I must say that there's nothing quite so intensely satisfying to me as coming home to walls and walls of amazing paintings and sculptures. I find it exhilarating.”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute,” Inuyasha muttered, holding up a hand. “What's the catch here? Your brother just eliminated me from his competition because of what I am, and now you want to give me money? What are you playing at?” he asked, suspicion lacing his voice.
“I'm not playing at anything. I think you'll find that I am not one to play games. I don't enjoy them.”
“But how can you—your brother just—”
“As I said before, while we are alike in some ways, in others, we are not.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“My brother and I were both blessed with hefty inheritances when our parents passed away quite some time ago. The ways in which we spent those inheritances couldn't be more opposite. As you well know, Goro is quite the publicity-man. He loves the limelight. I, on the other hand, choose to spend my money more quietly. It's one of the reasons you don't hear about me in the media nearly as much. However, make no mistake—I am every bit as rich and influential as my brother. I just happen to be a bit…wiser, if you will.”
“…”
“As I said before, this is quite unorthodox. Not only is my coming down here to meet with you odd, but the fact that you have a…mixed…heritage is not common in the least. And I debated with myself about this entire thing, but in the end, I decided, hell, why not?”
“Huh.”
“Make no mistake. This is not a scholarship or a grant or any type of traditional financial aid. This is me, filtering funds into your bank account. You do have one, don't you? Well, no matter, we'll fix that soon enough. I will fund whatever you need: tuition, room and board, a meal plan…perhaps even a small stipend, yes? Would you like that?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Hm. Not exactly articulate are you? Well, it's of no consequence. I don't care if you can talk. Just as long as you can paint. Do you work here? You have a studio of some sort in the basement?”
“N-no…I…got a flat…” he mumbled, absolutely dazed and in shock.
“Oh. Where?”
“In the…the warehouse district…”
“Hm. Well, that was unexpected. That simply won't do. Okay. Perhaps I can work something out at home…some sort of room or atrium…I don't know. I'll have to think about it.”
“I…I don't even know…what…how…why…”
“Don't worry about the trivial details, boy. While I can say that I am not doing this for publicity or glory, I can't say that I do not expect to derive some form of benefit out of this little arrangement,” Gamyuo said flippantly.
“What do you—”
“I want you to paint for me. I've told you: I love to surround my self with great art. You, I think, fit the bill. All I want is for you to do what you do best. That's what I want.”
“That…that's it? That's all you want? For me to paint?”
“Well, yes. I don't see that there's much else you can do for me…taking you public certainly wouldn't help my image at all. I can say I agree with my brother in that regard; you're practically media-cancer,” Gamyuo said snidely. “However I can't let a talent this rare pass me by. That would be foolish. A waste. Why waste?”
Inuyasha was practically mute. His tongue stuck quite soundly to the roof of his mouth, and he worked to pry it loose.
“I…I don't know how…to thank you enough…” he whispered.
“Don't worry about words, boy. They aren't your forte. Just paint for me. That's all the thanks I want.”
Author's Note:
So….how was that? Yay! Inuyasha goes to college! (In case you hadn't noticed, college is very important to me…)
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