InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Through Music will Bridges Forge ❯ Prelude ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: This fic is set in Tokyo, Japan and has a lot to do with Tokyo University. Now, I've never lived in Japan, nor have I ever been there, so I don't how the university system works. That said; please forgive any discrepancies that occur within the fic, such as the description of the environment, the classes, the timetable etc. Or, alternatively, let me know, and I'll do my best to fix it. Alrighty, that's all I have to say… Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Inuyasha doesn't belong to me. It's all Rumiko Takahashi's. I'm just borrowing (much to my dismay). ^_^;;

Through Music will Bridges Forge

Chapter 1 - Prelude

The rain fell as crystal droplets from the moonlit sky. Lightly tapping against the slightly parted windows, they ran a trickling stream along its side. A slight breeze blew into the room, bringing with it the scent of ozone, while gently ruffling the tresses of the ebony-haired girl seated within.

Unaware, her body swayed of its own volition as her fingers flew across the rows of ebony and ivory. Music poured forth, and within it, one could sense her desires, her hopes, and her passion. On and on it went, lifting the nonexistent listener higher and higher, until her fingers abruptly slowed, trickling into a gentle finale. The wind sighed. It was over.

Opening her cerulean eyes, she focused once again upon her surroundings. 'Why is the room so cold?' she thought irritably. She always felt rather moody afterwards. The piano lulled her into a fantasy world, one where the possibilities were endless and everything could be controlled from beneath her fingertips. The real world was quite different, and the conclusion of the score brought it all crashing down on her. Of course she was annoyed.

Eyes flickering quickly around the room, they came to rest upon the partly open window. With a groan, she rose to her feet, wincing as she stepped upon the partly damp floor, and slipped it shut. A swift glance at the clock hanging above her piano revealed that it was well after midnight. She should get to sleep soon if she expected to wake up early enough for her daily two hour commute.

With a shake of her head, Higurashi Kagome strode out of the living room and towards her bedroom. A fond smile touched her lips as she gazed briefly at a picture of her family. Mother, Souta, grandpa, her lips formed the words. 'At least I'm not disturbing anyone anymore,' she thought as sleep overtook her.

* * * * *

The insistent beeping of the alarm clock woke her. 'Arg, impossible, I just fell asleep… it can't be 5 am already!' were her groggy first thoughts. Cracking open an eye, she peeked at the offending device. Bold, red numbers stared unblinkingly back at her.

5:30

"Aaaah!" shrieked Kagome as she bolted out of bed.

Running a brush roughly through her hair, she sprang into the living room, wildly stuffed all her books into her bag, dropped the brush on the floor, and was out the door in a blink of an eye.

"Oh please, please, please don't have left yet," she muttered as she raced towards the bus stop. It wouldn't do to be late on her first day. She was in luck; the bus was just pulling in. Thanking the fates, she hurried onto the bus, smiled at the driver, then sat down gratefully near the back. The few people already onboard gazed at her curiously, then returned to their own thoughts.

As the vehicle rolled along, she allowed herself to relax and her mind wandered. Her life had changed so drastically within the past few months. She had graduated, top of her class no less, and moved away from her family in order to start university. With her grandfather's help, she had managed to find a lovely one-bedroom apartment where she currently resided. It was a little far from Tokyo University, where she was now attending, but she knew she was one of the lucky ones. To her mother's initial dismay, Kagome had decided to major in music; the piano to be exact. Her mother had pleaded with her to reconsider; giving her all sorts of reasons - other professions would give much better pay, it wasn't the most practical thing occupation, her grades were high enough to get into the most fought-for fields - but her heart was set. Ever since she was a little girl she had loved music. It had been her friend when she needed one, her emotional outlet, her escape. Upon seeing her conviction, her mother had reluctantly conceded. Kagome still remembered the pensive look her mother had given her, but her words were sincere.

"I'm still not sure you're being practical," she had confessed, "but you've grown up. You've never been one to make rash decisions, and if this is what you want, then I want it too. I want you to be happy." A warm smile lighted Kagome's face at the memory.

"…hello?! I'm talking to you here! Move over wench!" A rather caustic voice interrupted her private musings. She snapped out of her reverie and glared at the young man standing belligerently before her.

"What do you want?" she retorted, before she could stop herself; temper flaring to match his, while her eyes took in his rather unusual appearance. Long, silver hair cascaded down his back and his golden eyes glowed with irritation.

"What, are you deaf?! I said, 'move over!' What part of that don't you get?!" he hissed.

Kagome looked around, startled. The bus had filled up and the seat beside her was the only one left.

"Oh… um… gomen." she stammered sheepishly, a faint blush painting her cheeks. Hastily, she stood up and shifted closer to the window.

"Feh" was the only response as he slumped onto the seat beside her.

Kagome's anger reignited. 'What an arrogant, stuck-up jerk!' she thought as she resolutely turned her face away from him and glared out the window. Theirs was a frosty silence, contrasting sharply with the chatter of the passengers.

* * * * *

"Final stop, TokyoUniversity. That's Tokyo University. Would all passengers please exit the bus. Thank you… and have a nice day!" the cheery voice of the driver rang out from the front.

Without a backward glance, the silver-haired young man turned on his heel and left. 'Hmph!' thought Kagome, 'someone should really teach him some manners!' as she trailed after him.

All thoughts of her rude companion fled as she took in her surroundings. Tokyo University was so beautiful! Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, immersing herself in her new environment. Opening them again, she beamed at nobody in particular and set off in search of her classroom.

* * * * *

Takeda Inuyasha scowled. Here he was, his first day at the most prestigious university in Japan, and all he could think about was his stupid brother. 'Why can't you just disappear already?' he thought savagely. Now they were once again on the same campus and he didn't like it one bit.

To make things worse, he'd had to take public transportation to school today. One such as he should be above such demeaning actions. But his idiot brother had taken the car, having left before him, and the family driver was on sick leave. His mind returned to the girl that had sat next to him. 'Perhaps he shouldn't have been so rude,' he reflected, 'but she had behaved like such a baka! Sitting there so serenely…' Okay fine! So he'd wanted to spread his bad mood, but who could blame him. After all, misery does so love company…

Shooting a disgusted look at a nearby girl, who squeaked and ran off, he marched towards his first class. As much as it may amaze some, due to his gruff exterior, music was his passion…

And he looked forward to it.

* * * * *

The silver-haired man stood in the middle of the great hall. He let the quiet of the room wash over him and tried to make the most of it. No doubt it would soon be broken by the pointless chatter of snivelling idiots who fancied themselves musicians. He doubted it. He, Sesshoumaru, knew what a true musician was, and they were few and far between. 'At least I will have the pleasure of terrorizing the freshman,' he thought as a rather sadistic expression crossed his face. He was a senior and he knew the power he held.

For it was his final year in these sacred halls. Soon he would be free, thrust into the world of business, following in his father's footsteps. The thought gave him a bittersweet taste. He would be forced to do things he, in all honesty, couldn't care less for. 'It matters not,' he chided himself sternly, 'you've studied business for the past three years and that is what you shall do. You have responsibilities, unlike that childish brother of yours. He has no obligations, he has freed-' Sesshoumaru ruthlessly cut off that line of thought before it got out of hand. He turned to the more pleasant side of life. Because of his hard work in the past three years, he'd fulfilled the requirements for business early, and would now be studying his true love, if ever he had one, the art of music.

* * * * *

Walking along a path lined by sakura trees, Kagome heaved a heavy sigh. She'd passed this same building at least three times now! It was time she admitted the inevitable. She was lost. It was to be expected, she supposed, she'd never had a very good sense of direction. Lifting her hand to shield her eyes from the sun, she scanned the area for anyone who looked to be a returning student. 'There!' she thought, relieved. A girl with long, dark tresses sat quietly upon a nearby bench, apparently engrossed in her reading.

"Excuse me," began Kagome, a hint of desperation in her tone, "could you tell me where the music building is please?"

The girl looked up, a slight smile gracing her features.

"Certainly," she responded politely, "It's actually quite a distance from here, but I happen to be heading there myself. Would you like to accompany me?"

"Oh, thank you so much! I thought I'd never be able to find my way around this maze that is Tokyo University!" Kagome confessed, laughing, "I'm Higurashi Kagome; it's nice to meet you."

"Okinawa Sango, likewise," she responded, "I'm assuming this is your first year here, Higurashi-san?"

"Oh yes, it is indeed. I'm majoring in music, but the building is just so… elusive!" Kagome proclaimed with a grin, "But please, call me Kagome."

Sango couldn't help but smile. The girl was so cheerful and open!

"Alright Kagome," she laughed, "It's actually my first year here too. I just happen to know my way around campus because my family and I have visited quite a few times. Now, it feels a little surreal, actually being a student here."

"Oh! In that case, maybe we're in some of the same classes! Though I must say, you seem older…"

Chattering happily, the two girls headed towards their mutual destination

* * * * *

Inuyasha trudged into the classroom and flopped into a seat in the front row. 'Geez, it had been harder to find this place than I'd expected.' Turning around, he surveyed his surroundings with a critical eye. The room was a common lecture hall; the professor would stand in the front, while the seats were placed on a slight upward slant so the students in the back wouldn't have an obstructed view. His golden eyes peered disinterestedly at the few students who had already arrived, dismissing them with an air of superiority, when a flash of silver abruptly caught his eye.

"Sesshoumaru" he growled under his breath. 'What was that bastard doing here? He couldn't be taking a music class as well, could he? He couldn't be taking this music class could he?'

At that precise moment Sesshoumaru looked down from his position in the back, as though he had heard his name uttered, though, from such a distance, it was impossible. He was silent; the look he shot his brother delivering the message perfectly. Said look was charged with cold hatred, strong enough to stun a lesser being with shock. But not Inuyasha; Inuyasha had been through these sparring matches with his brother his whole life. He responded with his own glare; a heated glower filled with suppressed fury.

'So, big brother thought he would upstage me again, did he?' Inuyasha thought bitterly, 'Always so perfect, always doing everything right. Well I'll show him! I got into this university without any help from father despite what he may think. His stupid little brother is about to give him the biggest surprise of his whole god-damned life.'

They broke off eye contact as more students began trickling into the room.

* * * * *

Sango and Kagome stepped into the room with the last tide of students. 'Hrm,' Kagome noted curiously, 'we seem to be one of the last students here.' She cleared her head of the thought and trailed after Sango, who had taken a seat in the front row, one of the few remaining. Quickly, she slipped into place beside her just as the professor entered the room. He was a diminutive figure, but the air around him couldn't be mistaken for anything other than authority.

"Oh…" she murmured softly.

She didn't notice the surprised glance of the silver-haired young man beside her.

* * * * *

Myouga-sensei walked into the lecture hall and surveyed his two hundred-or-so students. They looked to be a good batch, though one never knew these days. He smiled inwardly as he spotted the two flashes of silver. Those two brothers were so alike; it was a pity they didn't get along. Well, this would be the best chance they had of resolving their differences. It had been no coincidence that their schedules were virtually identical. Their father, Takeda Inutaisho, an old friend of his, had specifically requested it of the university, hoping to bridge the void between them before Sesshoumaru came to him to learn the nuances of the business world. Their father was a wise one, for he knew the importance of firm bonds before entering the ever-competitive atmosphere of large corporations. Perhaps, perhaps, the binding power of music is just what they need… Upon seeing that he'd captured the attention of the mass of students, Myouga-sensei cleared his throat.

"Good morning. As I'm sure you're all well aware, you have chosen to come here to study music history. Seeing as though this is a requirement for those wishing to complete a degree in music, I am certain you will all want to achieve results that reflect the best of your ability. Unlike most other classes in the music curriculum, the criterion for this course is relatively straightforward…"

He continued, while the students regarded him with all manner of expression on their youthful faces. His wrinkled gaze returned to Sesshoumaru, noting his apparent disinterest, then on Inuyasha, following his eyes to his object of interest. Why, the young girl held a remarkable resemblance to his niece. 'Yes,' he decided, 'this would be an interesting year indeed.'

* * * * *

"Whew!" exclaimed Kagome as the lecture came to its conclusion. "Myouga-sensei appears to be rather strict, ne?"

"Hai," observed Sango quietly, "But, he is also very knowledgeable. We will learn much from him."

Smiling her agreement, Kagome gathered her books and stood up. She turned, getting ready to leave, when her eyes met golden ones. 'It's that guy from the bus!' she thought crossly, 'of all the rotten luck… has he been staring at me this whole time?!' To her astonishment, the young man most obviously eyed her from head to toe, then remarked condescendingly,

"You aren't as pretty as she is."

"…?!"

"Kagome?" Sango's voice interrupted her, "Are you ready?"

"Oh, yes, of course! Let's go!" Throwing a glance behind her that was now puzzled as well as angry, Kagome and Sango headed towards their next class: performance.

* * * * *

The room was much warmer than the history lecture hall; it had an air of closeness and friendly intimacy. 'So everyone would be comfortable, to minimize the nervousness that comes with performing,' marvelled Sango, as she appreciated the subtlety of the décor. The chairs formed a semi-circle around the make-shift stage. It was obvious performance classes were much smaller in size, as there were only about twenty seats.

The classroom quickly filled up. Her eyes were drawn to a black-haired young man who had a mini ponytail trailing down his neck. Stylish sunglasses covered his eyes despite the fact that they were indoors. 'Oh great,' she sighed, 'one of those 'dark artist' types. How cliché.' Little did she know that he was anything but.

Soon, all the students appeared to have arrived. They sat silently in their seats, staring blankly ahead, and waiting for the arrival of their teacher. A quiet blanketed the room until the entrance of the sensei, whose appearance sparked a surge of whispers.

She, like Myouga-sensei, was old, but that wasn't the odd aspect of her guise. It was the fact that she sported a black eye-patch. 'Like a pirate,' Sango mulled with an inaudible chuckle. Her other eye, however, belied her ancient appearance. It gleamed with intelligence and good-humour, giving a hint of the wisdom and strength beneath. She spoke, the gravely sound projecting to the far corners of the room.

"I am Kaede-sensei, and I will be your performance teacher. Although your private instrumental lessons will be taught by other instructors, who specialize in your area, I am the one who will be putting together the group performances and recitals. I'm sure you remember me from your auditions."

A few students nodded in response.

"You are all highly capable musicians and I hope to see the true extent of your abilities. Now, in order for us to become acquainted with one another, I would like each of you to stand up, state your name, and the instrument you specialize in. This will give you a better idea of the types of group pieces you will be practicing, though I will tell you in advance that everyone here is either a keyboard or strings player."

She gestured towards a young woman seated closest to the door.

"Please, do begin."

She cleared her throat and said hesitantly,

"I am Takahashi Yuka, a pianist."

The girl next to her smiled and continued,

"Kobayashi Emiko; I play the piano."

And so it went on.

"Watanabe Miroku, I call the devil's instrument my own… the violin," the pony-tailed young man proclaimed with a flourish and a wink at the young lady beside him. 'Oh, so he's a playboy,' Sango thought with a grimace.

"Takeda Inuyasha, cello," came a gruff voice. Sango looked curiously to Kagome as she stiffened with surprise.

"Matsumoto Kouga, cello."

It was her turn.

"I am Okinawa Sango, the viola is my instrument," she said with dignity, catching the glance Watanabe-san shot her way.

"Higurashi Kagome, piano," recited Sango's new friend.

"I, Takeda Sesshoumaru, am a violinist," a frigid voice stated. 'Brothers?' Sango wondered inquisitively, looking back and forth between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru. The family resemblance was blatantly obvious. 'Yep,' she decided, 'definitely brothers.'

The list went on, ending with a little boy who looked far too young to be in university.

"Ito, Shippou, the viola."

Kaede-sensei clapped her hands, effectively bringing all eyes back to her person.

"Wonderful, we have a good distribution of the instruments. Now, most of you have private lessons every afternoon, so I may a well talk about your first project, a group performance. You will be organized into sets of two to four people, depending on the piece you perform. After your sessions with your private instructors this afternoon, they will let me know in further detail about your style and ability, for there is always some variation, and you will know your partners tomorrow. I suggest this group performance be taken seriously as it will be presented at the winter festival. Now then…"

* * * * *

Sesshoumaru walked towards the cafeteria, slightly disgusted. He despised group performances. In the past the other 'musicians', he thought the word with a sneer, had never been up to his level. He doubted this assemblage of students would be any different. He, Sesshoumaru, is, and would always be, superior.

He spotted sunlight glinting off hair so like his own some distance ahead of him. Following his brother's line of vision, he noticed the two girls Inuyasha was apparently following. 'Oh, Inuyasha,' he mocked silently, 'do you so quickly replace one infatuation with another? Kikyou led you around like a dog on a leash, but now that she's gone, are you so frantically searching for a new master?'

His disgust grew.

* * * * *

Inuyasha was annoyed. He didn't like the obsession he was beginning to develop towards the Higurashi girl. Despite what he had said to her earlier, he still couldn't shake off her astonishing similarity with Kikyou. Were they related somehow? He had to find out.

He followed them into the cafeteria, and quickly placed an order. Out of the corner of his eye, he determined where the two girls where sitting. Grabbing his food, he headed towards their table and sat down, ignoring their curious stares. What did he care what two wimpy girls thought? He wasn't prepared for the row that was coming his way.

* * * * *

Miroku entered the cafeteria. He thanked his lucky stars. Inuyasha, his good ol' comrade-in-arms (well, sort of) in middle school, had somehow ended up in the same class as himself in university. It would be good to have a reunion of sorts.

He spotted Inuyasha beside two other girls he'd noticed from his performance class. One, in particular stood out. Okinawa had spoken with such stateliness; she'd made the simple introduction something more…

As he approached the table, he plastered his best charming smile on his face, all the while silently practicing his favourite 'pick-up' line, 'Sango-chan, would you bear my child?'

* * * * *

A shriek rang out, briefly catching the attention of the other students. The moment passed, and most looked away, once again engrossed in their individual conversations. One, however, did not. Sesshoumaru discretely scrutinized the group, a shadow of surprise flickering in his pale golden eyes. The Okinawa girl had slapped Miroku, hard. A red handprint was flawless evidence of that, perfectly imprinted on his face. 'Hm,' he thought disinterestedly, instead turning his piercing gaze towards the two who held more of his curiosity. Kikyou's double had snapped her mouth shut and was staring at Miroku in shock. Inuyasha looked disgusted. As for Miroku himself… he was grinning like an idiot.

As if recovering himself, Inuyasha blinked and turned to the girl beside her.

"What are you to Kikyou?" his brother demanded hotly.

The girl looked startled.

"Kikyou…?"

"Yeah, wench! Now spit it out!?" Though the words were spoken rudely, Sesshoumaru's sensitive ears caught the twinge of genuine curiosity behind them. 'Tactless, as usual,' he thought disparagingly.

The girl seemed to have reached her limit.

"Okay, I don't know who you are, I've never seen you before today, and you just take the liberty of walking up to me and demanding things of me. Whether or not I know this Kikyou person which I don't, by the way, is none of your business! My name is Kagome, hear that? Ka-Go-Me! I have no relation whatsoever to this girl you're so hung-up on! And I have never seen such a rude, arrogant, stuck-up jerk!" she exploded, "Now, if you would just leave me alone, I would like to try to have a pleasant lunch."

With that she turned away with an air of superiority, clearly dismissing him. 'She has fire,' Sesshoumaru mused, a spark of interest lighting his eyes, 'perhaps the resemblance to Kikyou is purely superficial.'

He returned his watchful gaze back to his brother and realized he was staring at… Kagome, flabbergasted.

"Hmph," Sesshoumaru muttered impatiently. Enough was enough. Straightening, he walked smoothly to where the little group were seated.

* * * * *

"Why, has the mutt lost his way?" a cold voice rang out mockingly from behind her, effectively breaking the tension at the table. "Oh, look how quickly he searches for a new master. Disgraceful."

Kagome whirled around, regarding the speaker with astonishment, the world falling away as she met his eyes. 'What an unusual shade,' she thought distantly, then more coherently, 'He's… beautiful! Can a guy be pretty? Handsome isn't the right word… his features are far too exquisite…" She shook herself mentally, berating herself for her lack of attention. Catching the smirk he sent her way as he noted her reaction, she frowned, 'Or perhaps he's just like his arrogant brother.'

For she too had noticed the striking similarities between the two.

Inuyasha stood up, a low growl sounding from his throat.

"Sesshoumaru. What do you want? Get lost."

"Tsk, tsk. Now, is that any way to greet your senpai?" was the icy reply, "Show some respect."

A snarl was the only response.

Sesshoumaru raised a fine brow, "As crude as ever, I see, little brother. I only wished to bestow upon you some well-intentioned advice: do attempt to conduct yourself in a fitting manner. You actions will reflect poorly upon the family name, and I, Sesshoumaru, will not tolerate anyone who dares such a thing."

Inuyasha stiffened.

With a last glance at those assembled, he swept out of the cafeteria. All eyes followed his departure.

* * * * *

Sango tapped Kagome's shoulder, catching her attention.

"I'm going to the private music lessons now. I hope to see you afterwards," she whispered, all the while never taking her eyes off Miroku; she didn't trust him, not one bit.

Said person smiled widely at her, apparently having overheard.

"Why, my dear Sango, allow me to escort you!"

He received no response as Sango ducked her head, fighting the urge to beat the smile off his face, and stalked off.

"Sango!" he called as he hurried after her.

* * * * *

Kagome chuckled slightly with amusement, and then checked her wristwatch. It was almost time for her lesson also. She looked at Inuyasha and hesitated. Though she was still fuming, she had felt a tinge of compassion upon hearing Sesshoumaru's words. It can't be easy having an older brother like that.

"Um… Inuyasha, about what your brother said. It was unkind of him, you..."

Inuyasha cut her off before she could finish, "Feh! I don't care what that stuck-up son of a bitch says!"

"Oh... of course." Kagome nonetheless gave him a gentle smile before leaving. As it was, she missed the look of wonder which flickered across his face.

* * * * *

'Here it is!' Kagome thought cheerily. She had found this building with little problem. Entering the music room, she smiled as she saw the baby grand sitting in the middle. The rest of the room was starkly, but tastefully decorated. The floors were made of a semi-reflective surface; the walls whitewashed and bare. A full-length mirror lined one wall, suggesting that this perhaps had once been a dance hall. Nevertheless, one's eyes were immediately drawn to the instrument that graced the area.

Unable to resist, she walked up to it and played a quick scale, taking in the feel of the piano, eyes widening with pleasure at the rich, velvety tone that sounded. It was so unlike her own, which had a lighter sound, sparkling and clear. No, this was darker, more subtle, with warm undertones.

Wishing to further acquaint herself with the instrument, she began the opening measures of Tchaikovsky's 'June'. Kagome began, softly, almost tenderly, allowing the resonance to wash over her. Continuing with gentle crescendo, the sound now filled the hall. Eyes snapping with electricity as she reached the climax, her fingers blurred over the keys, changing to mood to one with a certain amount of urgency, and then abruptly slowing down once more with a long series of trills. She was about to resume the original melody when the sound of clapping assaulted her ears.

Turning around, she took in the man standing beside the door. He couldn't have been older than mid-twenties.

"Good afternoon, I am Naraku-sensei, your piano instructor. You are Higurashi-san, am I correct?"

Numbly, she nodded.

"That was quite the performance. I am pleased. You have passion," his eyes changed subtly as he said the words, sweeping over her figure, causing her shift uncomfortably, "fire."

"Ar-Arigatou, Naraku-sensei."

* * * * *

Lost in thought, Kagome absentmindedly picked up her books, gently lowering the piano lid. Naraku-sensei was gone, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was about him, but something in the way he looked at her made her nervous. An involuntary shiver passed through her spine as she recalled the subtleties of his behaviour. The slight touches on her arm, the whisper of his breath by her ear as she played. Brushing it off, Kagome told herself that she was being ridiculous, 'After all, you hardly know the man! And, he's hardly done anything to warrant such an attitude. Besides, his skill as a musician is amazing.' She'd been left in awe as Naraku-sensei had briefly demonstrated how a slight change in the movement of the hands could make quite a significant difference to the listener. But… all the changes he had made caused the music to take on a rather, well, menacing, for lack of a better word, quality. It was very captivating.

Smiling to herself as she once again glanced at the piano, she whispered, "I'll be seeing you tomorrow."

With that she exited, blissfully unaware of the dark figure standing in the corner, watching her every move.

* * * * *

Sesshoumaru sneered at the woman standing next to him. He realized he probably should show more respect, she was, after all, his sensei. But he couldn't help it. It was not in his nature to be patient to people like her. Incompetent, snivelling, she was dull with no appreciation for the finer aspects of the art. He realized, with a pang of disappointment, that his hopes of actually learning something were once again out the window.

Perhaps, just perhaps, the group performances wouldn't be as bad as he expected. Maybe, there was a musician who could outshine him. Despite all appearances to the contrary, Sesshoumaru wanted someone to beat him, to show that he hadn't reached the pinnacle of his abilities. He wanted someone to guide him to new heights, begging to be explored.

As soon as the woman had finished speaking, dismissing him, he stood and walked out the room, leaving a very flustered sensei behind. He stepped into the open air and almost smiled at the beauty of the sunlight filtering through the trees. Taking his time, he glided along the well-worth path, his mind focused solely upon the serenity around him. Thoughts of the troubles of life fled his mind as he purged it of trivialities, content, for the moment, to simply be.

CRASH!

Sesshoumaru would have stumbled had it not been for his inordinately quick reflexes. He righted himself, drawing up to his full height, and glared coldly at the offender who had dared to run into him. The girl was still crouched on the ground, swiftly picking up her scattered books, all the while mumbling soft words of apology. Ignoring them, he stood to the side, frigid and aloof, waiting for her acknowledgement.

To his ire, she didn't even look up. Clearly distracted, she instead bowed to him with another quiet apology before walking off, never once looking at him. As she passed by, he couldn't conceal the fleeting expression of astonishment.

Cerulean eyes...

Melodious voice...

The pieces clicked.

Kagome.

* * * * *

"Watanabe-san," Sango breathed, desperately fighting the urge to… dare she do it again?

"Get your hand off me."

"Hm?" Miroku had what he knew to be the most annoying expression on his face, one of mild curiosity and genuine innocence.

SLAP!

She dared.

And just like that, Miroku was left rubbing his cheek with a slight grimace. 'Darn, that girl can hit,' he thought, with a sort of masochistic admiration, 'I do so love a challenge.'

And with that he hastened towards her, now more determined than ever.

* * * * *

Sango sighed. Watanabe-san had cornered her right after her viola lesson. Could she never get rid of him? She cautiously glanced behind her out of the corner of her eye and face faulted. Nope, apparently not. He was still there. Couldn't he just take a hint and leave her alone?

Spotting Kagome in the distance, she ran up to her, hoping her presence would put a dampener on Watanabe's lecherous tendencies. Coming closer, she frowned; Kagome looked as though she were lost in her own little world.

"Kagome?"

The ebony-haired girl looked up.

"Oh! Sango! How was your lesson?" she enquired courteously.

"It was quite good. I think I shall enjoy myself in the days to come. How was your lesson?"

No response.

"Kagome?"

Still nothing. Sango paused.

"But the sensei is rather strange, did I mention? He believes he's a leprechaun!"

...

"Kagome?" She bent over and waved her hand before Kagome's face, her expression almost comical.

"Hm? Oh, that's nice."

Sango sighed; there was no point trying to talk to her now. Her friend was distracted. She only hoped that Kagome would come to her if ever the need arose.

* * * * *

Kagome smiled softly to herself as she stepped onto to bus. It was already dark. She didn't mind it one bit; Tokyo was beautiful at night, and she'd always felt an affinity towards the tranquillity of darkness. The lights shimmered, a secular star field, filled with contemporary magic. 'Urban allure', she mused. It had been a busy, but satisfying day.

Her life had been enriched with the discovery of numerous souls, all of whom shared her deepest passion.

Sango… the poised young woman with eyes that shone with wisdom beyond her years

Inuyasha… brazen and gruff, and yet...

Sesshoumaru… one of exquisite beauty and icy aloofness, whose eyes burned as molten amber.

And finally, she shuddered slightly,

Naraku-sensei... the dark shadow, like the serpent who tempted Eve with the apple... but so abundantly endowed with musical affluence.

Nevertheless, something about him disturbed her deeply. It was as though the deepest recesses of her soul cried out in rebellion, expressing its desire to be away from him. It was ridiculous really; Naraku-sensei was exceptionally at what he taught. She could easily see why he had gotten the position, and she refused to let her childishness get in the way of her learning.

She looked up as she reached home.

Yes, she would enjoy whatever experiences life had in store for her. She hummed a lively tune as she stepped inside, going about her duties. Perhaps, she would even find someone who would understand her fervent devotion to music. Her expression darkened a moment, he never had. Kagome sighed as her watch beeped. Midnight. The day had come to an end.

She closed her eyes, snuggling beneath the covers, and the world went black.

* * * *

A shadowed figure stood, staring by a tall glass window, eyes fixed upon the outside world. Droplets of water seeped from the sky, before rain began to fall in earnest, pounding against the unsuspected earth in torrents. In the distance a brief flash of lightening brightened the sky and in that moment, Naraku's expression could be seen by any random passers-by.

His eyes were narrowed, glowing almost scarlet, while his mouth twisted into a grotesque parody of a smile. She would not escape him; she was only human, after all. It was by pure chance that he had found her, and he was not letting her go. It was only a matter of time…

'Music is well said to be the speech of angels.'*

'And I believe I've just found one.'

A/N: I hope it's believable that Kagome, Inuyasha, and Sesshoumaru are all interested in music. I wanted them to study something different, because although taking classes on Feudal Japan would be the most conceivable, I wanted to connect them with music somehow; which I adore, but the way. ^_^

*Quote by Thomas Carlyle.

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