InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Yin & Yang ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7 By: duchesscarml

She was going to be late!

Kagome sighed when she opened her eyes and they focused on the clock at her bedside. 7:42 was staring at her in huge red numbers. Her mother had sent over a new clock to replace the one that had an untimely demise a couple of days ago. She laid there for a moment and stared at the red numbers.

There something she should be doing, she knew, but she didn't have all her brain functioning to know what that was.

Then it hit her… hard!

7:43!! Her fist class started at 8:15. She was so late… and it was Chemistry first! If there was one thing Professor Myoga did not tolerate was tardiness. He was so anal about someone interrupting him when he was talking. She, personally, thought his lectures could use more interruptions.

Kagome jumped up and dashed for her closet, trying not to break her neck in the process from tripping over an imaginary obstacle in the carpet. She decided to forgo the shower and grabbed her pink sweats with the white stripe down the sides and a tee that read 'I'M AWAKE, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?' in pink letters.

She ran into the bathroom to brush her teeth as she tried to shove her feet in to a pair of tennis shoes and pull her hair up into a ponytail all at the same time. That done she grabbed her bag, books and keys from the desk then sprinted from the room.

This was not going to be a good day, she sighed to herself as she glanced at the clock on her way out the door. It read 8:03.

OOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooOOOOO

She was ten minutes late. Kagome flashed the teacher an apologetic smile in hopes he'd take that as a cue to continue what he was doing and pay her no attention.

She had no such luck.

Whispering a sorry to the fourth person, who's bag she'd stumbled over trying to get to the nearest vacant seat, she fumed to herself over how such an obviously boring class could be so packed. Just when she was getting to the seat she had her eye on, she froze mid step when she heard the dry voice addressing her.

"So glad you could join us, Ms. Higurashi."

Kagome grimaced to herself before turning around and pasting a smile on her face.

"Yes, professor, I'm sorry. It won't happen again, sir."

"I hope not, Ms. Higurashi," he said gravely. "Take your seat."

"Yes sir," she sighed and sat. She moved to put her bag on the floor and froze again, when the teacher's dry voice reached her once more.

"And Ms.Higurashi," Myoga paused and waited for her to look at him, "please see me after class."

"Yes sir," she nodded and tried her best not to frown at the little man.

"Now, where was I…" he looked around for a second as if to emphasize just how problematic her being late was to his class. "Oh, yes! Open your books to page 381…"

Kagome sighed once more and opened her book and this tine she let her frown show as the professor had turned to look at the board behind him. He was like a flea; forever nit-picking. He just couldn't let things go. Its not like she was that late, and besides he was always five minutes late getting to class so in essence she only missed five minutes of him talking, which was nothing in her opinion. She missed more then that when she was there on time, since she inevitably fell asleep and usually missed a total of probably twenty-five minutes of the entire class.

Kagome opened her book to 381 and tried to pay attention to what the professor was saying. She knew this was going to be a bad day and so far she was still right.

OOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooOOOOO

Kagome sighed as she exited the classroom an hour and a half later. She couldn't believe he threatened to report her if she didn't treat his class more serious! Yeah, right! Kami-sama, it was only ten minutes!!

Kagome fumed as she stumped around a corner and promptly ran into a hard body blocking her path.

She flailed her arms out, waving them repeatedly, to find her center but couldn't. So, she shut her eyes and waited for her bottom to follow her books to the floor when she suddenly felt a strong arm wrap itself around her waist and pull her close to a hard body.

Kagome slowly cracked open one eye to stare into a familiar pair of ice blue ones. She smiled in appreciation as she blinked her eyes open.

Kouga.

"Thank you, Kouga-kun," then she started to frown as she recalled why they were standing so close, "sorry for running into you."

"It's quite alright Kagome," he assured her as he released her to pick up her books. "How are you feeling today? Did you sleep well?"

"I slept fine," she sighed then threw an irritated look over her shoulder down the corridor she'd just come from. "But, this day has not started well."

"All ready? What happened?" he asked in concern.

Kagome grimaced, but shuck her head in the negative. She didn't feel like talking about it, nor did she have the time too. If she didn't get moving she'd be late for her next class and after being late for the first one and seeing how much that got her she didn't want to be on the receiving end of anymore…talks.

She bid Kouga a hasty goodbye as she thanked him for her books then, promising she'd see him at lunch; she sprinted off down the hall to her class.

OOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooOOOOO

Kagome blew her bangs out of her eyes as she walked into the cafeteria. She looked around for anyone of her friends, but saw no one. She was surprised she hadn't seen Miroku yet. He was usually the first thing she'd see and even though she was late this morning that still wouldn't have stopped the once lecherous monk from showing up.

'Where was he?'

"KAGOME!"

Kagome was startled out of her musings as she swung around in the direction of the voice. She waved as Ayami made her way over to her.

"Hey, Kagome," Ayami smiled at her friend as she came to a stop in front of her.

"Where were you yesterday afternoon? Eri and I stopped by your room and you weren't there."

Kagome frowned when she thought about what she had been forced to go do yesterday and all her anger at one silver haired, golden eyed demon came flooding back, but she wasn't about to tell Ayami about that. It was too embarrassing; not to mention humiliating.

"Oh, I was out." She shrugged lightly to play it down and tried to wipe the frown off her face. "I had to take care of something."

"Oh." Ayami gave her friend a searching look. She could see the emotions flicker in her friend's eyes, but couldn't decipher what they meant. "Kagome, are you alright?"

Kagome could see the concern on her friend's face. She didn't want Ayami to worry about her, but she was not about to tell her what Sesshounaru made her go do. Besides, she really didn't think her friend would understand her upset anyway.

After all, this was the same girl who thought she was a party girl who would sleep with more then one guy at a time. And not just two guys at a time, but three!!

"I'm fine Ayami," she smiled then added when she saw the doubt on the other girls face, "really I'm fine. Where's Eri?"

Ayami recognized a change of topic when she heard one. She sighed and figured it was something Kagome didn't want to talk about, so she let it go, for now. She figured her friend might be going through some kind of illness. Lord knows, Kagome was always sick in high school.

"She's at the table with that friend of yours," she giggled with a slightly glazed look in her eyes, "you know the one? Miroku?"

Kagome's eyes narrowed as she looked in the direction Ayami indicated. She nearly blew a fuse, as she could see even from where she was standing that Eri was flirting shamelessly with her-

She frowned when she realized what she was thinking. Miroku wasn't her anything… the pervert. Right? He was just a really good friend who had a wondering hand… a frequent wandering hand at that.

But, knowing this didn't stop her eyes from flashing in anger when she saw Eri reach across the table to place her hand on top of Miroku's.

She was sitting close enough to him, leaning across the table as far as she was, did she really need to touch, she fumed to herself. Kagome took a step towards them to ask her friend just that, when she felt a hand land on her shoulder from out of nowhere causing her to nearly leap out of her skin in surprise.

"AHH!!"

Kagome spun around, her heart thumping in her chest, to see who was trying to kill her. She blanched physically when she saw who it was as all the blood drained from her face. He was the last person she wanted to see right now.

Sesshoumaru.

She was still angry at him and when she remembered exactly why she was mad with him all the blood that had drained came rushing back. Her face was turning beet red as she glared up at the handsome demon before her.

How dare he!? She couldn't believe he had the audacity to approach her. Wait. What the heck was she thinking; of course she could believe he would. He had no consideration for others feelings. And did she just think he was handsome? Humph!

Sesshoumaru would have sighed if he was the type of person to do that. He locked eyes with her angry blue orbs and arched a perfectly shaped brow at her. He could see by the look on her face, not to mention the glare she was giving him, that she was still angry.

In truth, he had figured that she would still be upset, with her temper it was a given, which was why he was now in the cafeteria looking for her.

Its not like he was there to eat.

An inexplicable part of him wanted to explain to her why he did what he had done, but a larger part of him-the more dominant part-knew that this Sesshoumaru explained himself to no one. Especially not a ningen.

While part of the reason he'd done what he'd done to her was for her own good, he knew another part was purely for his own satisfaction. For some reason he did not like the thought of Kagome laying with another man… and especially not with the hanyou or the perverted monk.

His eyes darkened at just the thought of such an event taking place.

In Sesshoumaru's opinion they'd each had their chances to have her for themselves, but they-for whatever reason-passed it up. They didn't deserve a second one.

Especially the half-breed. Who would choose a dirt miko over the lively creature in front of him? Wasn't it bad enough that the clay miko was a ningen? But, his idiot brother goes and chooses a dead one!

Speaking of which… that reminded him why he was looking for her.

Kagome had learned a long time ago, well technically a long time ago, that if you wanted to know what the Taiyoukai was thinking, his eyes were the only place to look. She watched as his eyes darkened with something she couldn't quite identify, but whatever it was it sent a shiver down her spine. Not exactly an unpleasant shiver either, but she wasn't going to think about that fact.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Kagome tilted her head to the side in question as she waited. When it became apparent to her that he wasn't going to say anymore she started to open her mouth to speak, but before she could even get a sound he turned around gracefully and walked away.

"Well, that was rude," breathed Ayami in indignation on her friend's behalf.

"Yeah, and he just assumes I'm going to follow him," she huffed in frustration, "the jerk!"

"Aren't you going to follow him Kagome?" asked Ayami worriedly, "isn't he someone important."

Kagome turned to look at her friend.

"In his own mind he is," she answered as she crossed her arms over her chest in a show of stubborness. "And no, I'm not go-"

She'd started to deny angrily, but quickly lost her train of thought when she looked up at the very moment he turned around to look back at her. Something about the way he was looking at her made her give in. It was almost as if he was asking her to go with him with his eyes, but that couldn't be could it? Sesshoumaru didn't ask anything; he, to put it nicely, requested… and always expected what he said to be obeyed.

He had to be the most arrogant person she knew, she thought with no small amount of annoyance. Then she sighed to herself, because she knew no matter how much he'd hurt, humiliated and pissed her off yesterday she was still going to go with him now.

It was his eyes that did it.

"I'll talk to you later, Ayami," she sighed as she moved towards the now empty door. He didn't wait for her.

"But," Ayami asked; confused, " I thought you weren't going Kagome."

"Yeah, " replied Kagome with a shake of her head. She couldn't explain her reasoning to her friend and didn't want to try… it was useless anyway. Because she didn't exactly know.

Kagome walked out into the hall and turned to her left. She wasn't sure if that was the way the once Taiyoukai had gone, but it seemed like a good choice.

And it was.

For she would have run into him if she hadn't stopped herself in time, as he stood with one shoulder leaning against the wall and his legs crossed at the ankles. He wore a nice pair of khaki pants with a crisp white bolo shirt that made his hair look even more silvery then usual. With his long hair hanging in a thick braid over his shoulder past his waist, she had to admit that he was beautiful.

"Where are you taking me?"

"There is something I would like you to see. Come."

After a moment Kagome nodded her head to show her agreement.

OOOOOoooooOOOOOoooooOOOOO

They'd been walking for almost ten minutes, neither saying a word, and Kagome was getting impatient. Because while they haven't been walking really all that long, they hadn't actually left the school either. If he wanted to take her on a tour of the campus why did it have to be now. Now, as far as she knew, the campus wasn't going anywhere, so couldn't this have waited til … oh, after she ate? She was starving!

Kagome was so deep into her own thoughts and her own complaints that she didn't notice that they'd come to a stop in front of a pair of double doors with two huge square windows on the top of the doors. But, that wasn't what made Kagome suck her breath in audibly.

No. What was on the other side of those doors did that.

Babies. There looked to be about eighteen babies in the room all ranging in age from the oldest child; a little girl who looked to be around the age of 5. To the youngest ones who were asleep in their basinets and looked to only be a few months old.

Kagome opened the door silently and walked in. She vaguely registered that Sesshoumaru was entering the room with her. It was as if she was moving in a daze; she had to get closer.

Sesshoumaru silently steered her towards the side of the room where they could watch yet not disturb the babies sleeping or the assistants who were trying to take care of all the children.

"Who do all these children belong to?" she asked with a stunned look on her face.

"These children belong to children who go to the university. We provide them with free child care and help them get a job so they can take care of themselves and their children." Those that care to remember they have children, he thought to himself as his amber gaze feel on a little boy who looked to be no more then three years old.

Sesshoumaru knew that the little boy's mother had dropped him off at the day care on Tuesday morning and had not been back to get him since. That was nearly three weeks ago.

"These students have it much harder then the rest. Not only do they have to pay more for room and board since the school board will only allow them to stay in single rooms or suites along as the other occupants have babies as well, they also have to provide for their child."

Sesshoumaru stared ahead, not looking at her, he wanted her to understand why he brought her here, but he didn't want her to ask him questions and he knew that if he looked at her she would see more then he wanted her to. He had long since realized that she had the ability to see through him sometimes… when she wasn't angry at him.

Which, lets face it, wasn't often.

He cast his eyes around the room quickly, but didn't see what he was looking for. He knew she was here, because he could smell her scent. It hadn't changed in all these years.

Kagome stared at all the young kids and just imagined how hard it must be for the girls who were the mothers of all of them. She couldn't even imagine how they must struggle with class schedules as well as raising a child that depended entirely on them for everything. That had to be scary.

Then it dawned on her why Sesshoumaru had brought her there. He wanted her to see what her life would be like if she had a child while she was still young and just starting school. Would she even be able to go to school and raise her child? She knew her mother would help her and allow her to live at home, but she wouldn't want to do that to her mother. Not forever.

But, why did he care so much? Did he really worry about her that much or was there something else to why Sesshoumaru had brought her here.

Kagome turned her face up to his and was about to speak when the sound of the door opening and closing distracted her.

She turned to look into a very familiar pair of chocolate brown eyes. Except now there was a kindness in them that she didn't remember being there before. There was also a tiredness there that spoke of a hard life, but a genuine smile was on the familiar face that belied a happiness that was deeply felt.

"Kikyo…" Kagome whispered in shock as her wide blue eyes met those brown ones. And just like in the past they would still be a mirror image of one another if not for the different eye color.

"Hello," the other girl smiled at her in confusion. She'd never met this girl in front of her, but there was no denying the similarities between their faces or the fact that the other girl knew her. "Have we met before?"

Kagome couldn't answer her because she was too busy processing what she was seeing before her. The one girl she'd hoped never to see again for many reasons, but mainly because this girl was the one reason Inuyasha had never been hers, was now standing before her. And she seemed to be more like the Kikyo Inuyasha use to speak of and not the vengeful and hateful woman she remembered.

She had to shake her head roughly to clear it of the cobwebs so she could stammer out an answer, for the girl was beginning to give her strange looks.

"Ah… umm no, no I don't think so," she answered weakly. At the confused look in the other girl's eyes she added, "Perhaps we have a class together."

Kikyo nodded her dark head slowly as she thought about that. It was possible that she shared a class with the other girl even though she was sure that the younger girl was a freshman. Many of her classes were mixed, so it was indeed possible, but she didn't think she would forget seeing a girl who practically had the same face as herself.

"I guess…" she trailed off as she continued to wonder about it, but her train of thought was interrupted when the reason she was their came shooting out of door to her right.

"Mommy!" screamed a little voice.

Kikyo, Kagome and Sesshoumaru all turned to the sound of the little voice. Kikyo stooping down to catch her daughter in a hug missed the look of disbelief on the other girl's face, and the warm look in Sesshoumaru's eyes at the sight of her daughter. Her waist length hair gracefully swept the carpeted floor behind her as she gathered her daughter's small body to her.

"Hello sweetheart. Were you good for Ms. Yamada today?" she smiled as she ran a hand over her daughter's hair and pulled gently at the pigtail sticking out at an angle on top, but a little to the side, of her small head.

The little girl beamed and nodded vigorously at her mother. Brown eyes shining.

"She was a wonderful handful as usual, Kikyo," said the tall, short haired girl that had come out of the daughter behind the little girl.

"Thank you Cyna," smiled Kikyo to the taller girl as she stood up. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yes. It's me and Mel in here tomorrow," replied the assistant.

Kikyo moved to take her daughters hand when the girl shot off towards the two standing a little away from her. She'd forgotten about them for a moment. Her eyes widened in shock when her daughter wrapped herself around the tall man's leg. Her eyes shot up to connect with very familiar golden orbs.

Sesshoumaru. She hadn't noticed him standing behind the young girl with him. And speaking of the other girl; why was she looking as if she'd seen a ghost. All the blood had drained from the girls face.

"Are you alright?" she asked in a concerned voice as she took a step closer to the girl, but the sound of her daughter's voice kept her from hearing any forth coming answers from the girl.

"SESSHOUMARU-SAMA!!" cried the happy child.

"Rin," he placed a palm gently to the top of the little girl's head. He could feel his youkai ears twitch at the high pitched yell.

He had been happy when he had found the human child two months ago. There was no denying the child had made a lasting affect in his life all those years ago. If it wasn't for this child he would have never recognized the feelings he had for the miko standing in front of him now. He would have never allowed himself to have feelings for a ningen in the first place.

Sesshoumaru could sense Kagome's distress at seeing the little girl and wanted to get her out of there before she did something drastic. He had thought about the shock she would get from seeing the little girl. He knew Kagome could handle seeing the other miko, but the little girl… that was a whole different story.

Kagome had grown to care for the little girl just as much as she had for the kitsune. He could smell the emotions churning through her and knew he had to get her out of there as she was slowly losing her grip on things.

"Remember what I said about screaming, Rin?"

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama," said the little girl as she tilted her face down to look at her feet guiltily, but just as quickly as she had lost her smiled it returned once more as she turned her face back up to the tall man she adored above all others, other than her mother.

"Rin is to use her indoor voice when inside and talking."

He gave a slight nod to the beaming little girl, but quickly turned his gaze to Kagome when he felt a huge drop in her emotions.

He didn't know how right he was.

Kagome faced had drained of all its blood when the little girl with the lopsided pigtail came running out towards them. She was trying to deny the possibility that this child could actually be… but, then Sesshoumaru went and said the name she was trying to convince herself couldn't be the child's then her world slowly took a dive as spots began to form in front of her eyes. Not only was the little girl who she remembered she was also Kikyo's daughter now.

For some reason Kagome was having trouble wrapping her brain around that belief, and the more she tried to the larger the spots in her vision became.

So she struggled with this as her emotions swam through her in turmoil. Kagome couldn't help feeling sad, joy at seeing the child again, fear at what she had probably been through, curiosity to whether she lived a full life, hope that perhaps another child she knew may be here in her world, and a deep, heartbreaking, sadness that he wasn't.

Kagome felt all of this until her vision slowly went black and she sunk into the oblivion that had been pulling at her since the little girl came running through the door.

Her last waking thought was an exasperated 'who's next?'

She never felt the pair of strong arms that caught her against a warm, hard chest and kept her from hitting the floor.

Sesshoumaru looked down at the girl in his arms and sighed inwardly as he pulled tightly but gently against him.

"Is Pretty Lady okay," asked Rin with a child's curiosity.