Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Unto the Few ❯ Learning Curves ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter 10: Learning Curves

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Kurama was startled awake from a light doze by footsteps stomping his way, quickly.

The curtain around Kagome's bed was unceremoniously yanked open by Yusuke, who was puffing and red in the face.

“Yes, Yusuke?” Kurama asked mildly. “What can I do for you?”

“So you thought I'd let you get away with skipping classes without me, huh!”

“I had no intention of—“ Kurama was interrupted as Hiei materialized behind Yusuke and kicked him in the back of the knees, dropping the loud teen. The shorter man quickly stepped on top of the growling youth and rubbed his nose into the cold, stone floor with relish.

“Hiei, what the hell? Get off of me, you runt!”

“I think not, detective. You are being incredibly rude.”

“Since when do you give a fuck about being rude? Pot calling a kettle black and all that stuff.”

Hiei rolled his eyes and stepped off of Yusuke. “Why did you miss class.”

“I was getting to that point, you know!” Yusuke snapped. “Anyway, what gives? Since when do you miss class for any reason, fox boy?”

Kurama sighed as Madame Pomfrey bustled over to see what the ruckus was about. After ensuring they would behave and quiet down, she conjured seating for the two newcomers, though only Yusuke sat down. Hiei stood at the foot of Kagome's cot, eyeballing the sleeping girl with the mix of boredom and slight disdain with which he regarded everything not directly relating to him.

“How did you find out I had missed a class?” Kurama asked the two.

“We ran into Yukina as she was leaving Astronomy and she said you weren't there. She said she hadn't seen you since you ran off with Kagome at lunch.” Yusuke eyed his red-headed friend closely, looking for answers.

“Which, by the way, has caused rumors to run rampant already,” Hiei added waspishly. “What happened to laying low?”

Kurama could tell they wouldn't let up until they had answers that satisfied them. The trouble was that he wasn't entirely sure what the answers were, yet. “I became very upset with Mr. Malfoy at lunch--”

Yusuke snorted. “Chya, we noticed.”

“So did everyone else in the Hall,” Hiei added, not giving Kurama an inch of leeway.

Kurama returned Hiei's natty comments by giving him a slant-eyed look that promised he would pay him back at some point. “I'm well aware of what transpired before I brought Kagome here.”

“Oh, really? Then why don't you enlighten us because everyone else seems to think you're romantically involved with Kagome and that you just started an open war in your own House by going against that blonde brat.”

“Yusuke, your diplomacy is lacking yet again.”

“I just want to know what the hell is going on with you and her. If there's anything between you, I mean, I suppose that's alright, since Kagome's pretty cool and all that, even if she is a miko, but—“

“Let me stop you there, Yusuke.” Kurama sat up a little straighter. “The only `thing' between Kagome and I is completely platonic.”

“Then why did you skip class just to sit up here with an unconscious girl you are `platonically' involved with?”

Kurama mentally smacked his forehead. The detective was unyielding. He supposed he would give Yusuke the best answers he could come up with…and if nothing else, he would lie. “I was preparing to leave when Kagome began to have a nightmare. She thrashed around and was shouting something about a curse, a traitor, and she brought up that InuYasha fellow again. Madame Pomfrey dosed her with Draught of Dreamless Sleep, but I thought I would remain to attempt to get some answers from her when she woke.”

“And what makes you think this girl's nightmare is interesting enough to skip class for?” Hiei's interest was piqued now, as well. Kurama had always had a good nose for sniffing out mysteries, which meant some excitement for them both.

“Since we're asking questions here, Hiei,” Kurama began conversationally, “why don't you tell me how you knew what Kagome saw during her boggart test?”

Hiei glowered. If he wanted to be included in this new mystery, he would have to divulge some information of his own. Damn fox was too smart for his own good. Grudgingly, he admitted, “I overheard her telling Yukina a little about the experience that night. After she fell asleep, she had nightmares until morning.”

“You watched her all night?” Yusuke was incredulous. “Maybe you're the one with the romantic--”

Hiei snapped, “No, you blockhead! I simply overheard her as she spoke in her sleep! It wasn't that difficult to hear—she wasn't quiet about it.”

“Hmm,” Kurama reclined thoughtfully back into his seat. “And that's when you heard her mention this InuYasha?” He tried to get Hiei back on track before he walloped Yusuke again.

Hiei grew quiet again, uncomfortable with being so involved in the conversation. “Yes. She also spoke of a curse and a traitor in that dream as well.”

“I wish we knew more about this chick,” Yusuke plopped his chin into his hand and stared hard at the sleeping girl. “I mean, we know she's a powerful miko. If there's a curse on her, shouldn't she be able to, I don't know…lift it or heal it or something?”

Kurama sat forward suddenly, the gears in his mind whirling. “What if that's it? The soul scar Yukina found in her, what if it's this curse she keeps dreaming about?”

“If that were true, she wouldn't be able to lift the curse until the one who put it upon her either died or forgave her.” Kurama's mind was awhirl with the possibilities.

“Or the priestess could be killed.” Kurama and Yusuke stared hard at the hybrid, who shrugged as if to say, `It's a valid possibility.'

Kurama thought it best to move on. “Perhaps that is what led her to Britain in the first place,” he surmised. “She mentioned to me that she left Japan to start over, but I suspected from the beginning she was running from something.”

“Whatever put the curse on her would have to be pretty damn powerful, considering the level she's on. And if it's something she's running from, that should be a pretty big clue to us that it's bad ass.”

“Unless she's a coward,” Hiei suggested, his opinion of the human girl plummeting at the thought.

“She's not a coward,” Kurama argued. “She wouldn't run from a fight. I don't see that in her.”

“How do you know?” Yusuke pressed.

Kurama turned calculating eyes on his teammate. “How do strangers know by looking in your eyes that you are dangerous?”

“Maybe it's because I'm built like a brick shithouse and--“

“Walk with the swagger of a rooster?” Hiei interjected.

Kurama cut in. “Please, be serious, both of you.” Once he felt he had their attention again, he continued. “If you've paid Kagome even the slightest amount of attention, you would have seen exactly what I'm talking about.”

“Yes,” Hiei agreed abruptly. “I've seen it.”

Yusuke appeared confused. “I don't know what you guys are talking about…Kagome is really quiet and her physical strength is, well, she's pretty weak. I mean, she can shoot that bow of hers and the psychic power in those is damn scary, but otherwise she seems real shy—keeps to herself, always got her nose stuck in a book, you know.”

Kurama and Hiei turned identical looks on the detective.

“What!” Yusuke exclaimed, “What's with that face?”

“You just made the fox's point,” Hiei said, as if it should be obvious to Yusuke.

When Yusuke still didn't appear to understand, Kurama stepped in. “Yusuke, how did the people I went to school with in Japan view me?”

“Well that's obvious, you were a total nerd, always showing off and getting perfect scores and—Oh. So…you're saying that this bookish, shy thing Kagome has going on is a cover up for some secret life?”

Exasperated, Kurama nodded as he tried to keep his patience. “It would appear that way. I believe we need to find out what, exactly, Kagome is trying to run away from…Before it catches up with her.”

==

Hiei and Yusuke left Kurama alone soon after, agreeing that it was best for the fox to remain behind and question Kagome. No one felt comfortable with the thought that Kagome's secret past may be putting them all in danger.

In the quiet after his teammates' departure, Kurama remained silent and thoughtful, though his train of thought wandered past what he'd discussed with his friends and back to the questions he needed to ask of himself; such as, why did he feel the need to protect the priestess? Why did he act on those feelings when he knew Kagome could look after herself? Most importantly, he needed to figure out why he felt an attraction to the girl.

His first reaction was, “Of course I'm attracted to her…she's a fit young woman with desirable features,” but soon he had to wonder if that was it.

After mulling the possibilities over for another half hour or so, he decided that it must be the mystery attached to her. He had always loved a good mystery. Once he had solved it, he would no longer feel so drawn to her. Logically, it made sense. Kagome was similar to himself in two base and important ways; she had a fighter's background and she had secrets. That alone would be enough for his interest to be roused. The tidbits she had shared with him over the last few months only intensified his curiosity and seemed to solidify his new theory.

Kagome was of interest because she was an interesting person, and once he had figured her out, he wouldn't feel the need to pay her so much attention. He could then move on to the next intrigue.

Satisfied with himself, Kurama relaxed and waited for Kagome to wake up.

==

Shortly, Kurama heard the tell-tale signs that his charge was awakening. As her breathing sped up and her eyelashes fluttered, he prepared the questions he had for the priestess.

When Kagome's eyes opened, he gave her a few moments to regain her awareness. As he'd thought she would, she immediately sensed his presence beside her.

“Where am I?” was her first pragmatic question.

“The Infirmary Wing. You've been sleeping for several hours.”

“I dreamed…my grandfather was dead.”

Kurama paused. He hadn't expected this, but guessed it was because she wasn't used to the Dreamless Sleep potion and perhaps was still drowsy. “Kagome…I'm afraid that wasn't a dream.” He hoped that was diplomatic enough.

She became very quiet. “Part of me hoped everything was a dream.”

“Everything?”

Kagome looked up at him and he could see the shadows of the beast that haunted her. He just wished he could tell what it was.

When she didn't answer, Kurama decided to press his luck. “Why don't you tell me about the dream you were having?”

Kagome's lips pursed slightly before she replied, “I dreamed about my…grandfather.”

“Liar.”

She was surprised at his boldness. “Excuse me?”

“I heard what you said during your nightmare. I want you to tell me about it.”

Damn. She was caught and they both knew it. But what to say…? Kurama had been very kind to her, but she wasn't exactly sure what to make of him. Even after spending several months studying with him over the summer, she really hadn't learned that much about him. Not that she'd asked…

`Maybe he really wants to know why I have nightmares…He might be genuinely concerned. You know, like a friend might be? Remember friends, Kagome? You used to have those…' Kagome struggled to recall exactly how she used to act around her friends Yuka, Ayame, and Eri. It had been nearly seven months since she'd even been around them. She considered Yukina her friend, but outside of the koorime she hadn't disclosed much information about herself.

Still confused, she looked to Kurama to guide her answer. “Why do you want to know?”

“It must've been very scary,” His voice was kind. “I thought you might want to get it off your chest so maybe you'd stop dreaming about it.”

“Fat chance,” Kagome sighed. “I've had the same dreams for months and months.” She bit her inner cheek—`Oops…Hope I don't sound like a freak now…' Furtively, she glanced back at the red head. He appeared interested, which both encouraged Kagome and made her more anxious.

`If I tell him what I'm really dreaming about, he'll want to know the whole story and I'm not ready to talk about that now…maybe not ever…I wonder if I could tell him just enough so that he's satisfied and I don't have to go—there. Maybe if I just tell him a little bit, we could be friends?' Kagome paused at that thought. Did she want Kurama as a friend? Did he even want her as a friend? `One way to find out, I guess.'

“I dreamed…” She stopped herself. “I'm not sure how to say it…”

“It's alright. Take your time.”

“I dreamed about my…past. I was remembering my friends.”

“Go on,”

Kagome reminded herself to keep it simple. “And my—I mean, he wasn't really my—but he was—we weren't ever—“ So much for simple.

Kurama picked up on her faltering words. “What was his name?”

“InuYasha.” The word slipped past her lips almost of its own accord. His name left a feeling of hollow emptiness that was void of sadness but full of numbness.

Kurama sat back. So this InuYasha was Kagome's love interest at some point. From her reluctance to speak of him, he had to guess it didn't end well. Should he push her further? Maybe just a bit…

“From what I could make out about your dream, it sounded very violent. Do you think you dream about it because it was so traumatic or because it's…unfinished business?” There. That was vague enough, in case her dream wasn't an actual event but a mish-mash of memories and it also covered the theory he had that Kagome was running from a powerful enemy.

“I really don't want to talk about it anymore.”

…Unless she decided to be uncooperative. “Kagome…I really think it would help ease your mind if you talked to someone about these matters.”

“I already have. With Yukina.”

Hm. Kurama would have to pay the ice maiden a visit…He was certain she would give him details if he told her Kagome's health was at stake. But now Kagome seemed to have gone completely cold and he couldn't leave her in such an uncomfortable state…

“I'm very sorry if I've upset you, Kagome. I'm just concerned. If these dreams are re-occurring, that has significance and I'm worried about how it's affecting you.”

“I'm fine. Thank you.” Kagome's clipped tones suggested that Kurama had, indeed, overstepped the boundary.

“…I had better be going, then. I hope you feel better soon, Kagome.” Kurama dipped a slight bow and drew the curtain to leave.

“Wait.”

Kurama stopped.

“I'm sorry. You don't have to leave. I just…don't like talking about that subject. At all.”

The kitsune turned around, all traces of smug satisfaction wiped away by the time he was facing Kagome again. “It's alright. I apologize as well…it wasn't my place to coerce you.”

Kagome gave a slight smile. “If that was coercion, I got off easy.”

“I can stay with you awhile longer, if you like. Madame Pomfrey should be dismissing you soon and then we can walk to class. It's almost time for Care of Magical Creatures.”

Kagome smacked her forehead. “Classes! I completely forgot…how many have I missed?”

“We have missed two classes and what was left of lunch.”

“Oh, that,” Kagome moaned. “Malfoy is a real jerk. What makes him think he has the right to talk to me like that!”

“Maybe he likes you,” Kurama joked.

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I guess I do have the innate ability to attract jerks.” She paused to consider her remark. Kurama appeared interested as well…not good. Better change topics. “So, do you think you could call Madame Pomfrey over so we can go? I don't want to miss any more than we have to.”

Honoring her wishes, Kurama let his questions go unanswered and rose to get Pomfrey.

==

The pair arrived outside of Hagrid's hut just as the half-giant was finishing his start-of-term speech. Kurama took Kagome by the wrist and deftly led her through the small crowd to Yusuke's side.

“Nice timing, fox-boy,” The detective muttered.

“I do what I can,” Kurama retorted.

“Yo, Higurashi. You feelin better?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Glad to hear it. We practically had to drag Yukina to her next class, you know. She wanted to stay with you.”

Kagome blushed. “Ah…I'll have to find her after class and reassure her.”

“You do that.” Yusuke switched his attention to Hagrid, who was leading the class off toward the Forest. “C'mon, we'd better catch up.”

They trailed the rest of the class, filled with sixth-year Gryffindors and Slytherins, and found Kuwabara and Hiei waiting for them at the tail-end of the group.

Nodding silently to the newcomers, the students brought their focus around to Hagrid, who was standing near a knee-high box which was covered by a large cloth.

“Gather roun' everyone, gather roun'. Now, I've decided that you're all sorely lackin' in knowledge a beasts that can turn themselves invisible. Today, we're goin' to study a beast known as a Diricawl. Now, these are very skittish, so if we're to have any chance of getting it to turn visible, we need to be very still and quiet…Why don't you sit on the ground? There, that's a good lot…”

Kurama turned his head slightly when he heard a specific voice muttering complaints about being made to sit on the grass and dirt. Gently, he rubbed his hands over the grass at his side and, with a thought, sent thistles to pop up under Malfoy's bottom. When the blonde erupted into cries of outrage, he turned his head to look with mild curiosity, just like everyone else in the class. With further satisfaction, he listened as Hagrid deducted ten points from Slytherin because of Malfoy's outburst and likely disruption of the Diricawl.

Hagrid begged the class to settle down so they could view the animal. “Now…everyone be real quiet and still…there's two of `em in here…a mated pair. Take notes on their appearance and see if you can tell me which is the male and which the female.” There was a brief rustle as students pulled out their parchment, quills, and ink. “Alright. Here we go.”

He gently pulled the cloth away from the glass cage as the class held their breath in anticipation.

Suddenly, the creatures inside the cage were in view.

“But—but that's a dodo bird!” Kuwabara gaped. The muggle-born and transfer students stared openly. “We're going to study a dodo bird?”

“Shut up, you idiot!” Yusuke elbowed the redhead.

The dodos blinked once and abruptly disappeared; the entire class moaned.

“Way to go, you numbskulls.” Hiei muttered.

“Hey, I'm not the one with the big mouth over here, `kay?” Yusuke growled.

Hagrid cleared his throat. “Eh…right. Everyone shut yer traps for a bit…we'll see if we can't get them to re-appear…told ye they were flighty…”

The class settled down again, but Kuwabara had to ask, “Umm…sir? We're supposed to study dodos? Aren't they, like, extinct?”

“Obviously not,” Malfoy chimed in.

Ignoring him, Hagrid answered, “Yes, these are called dodos in the Muggle world and are thought to have been extinct for over a century, but really are just creatures that can disappear at will…Though they were hunted quite a bit by wizards for their meat and now are quite hard to come by.”

“So, how did you come by a pair?” Malfoy asked pointedly.

Without missing a beat, Hagrid replied, “I got connections too, ye know. Now, let's just all settle down and see if they'll reappear!”

Although the class remained quiet for nearly twenty minutes, the dodos failed to reappear and Hagrid was forced to dismiss the class early.

“Why don't we go find Yukina so she can see that you're alright?” Kurama suggested as they made their way back to the castle.

“That sounds like a good idea,” Kagome replied but was interrupted by an enormous growl from her belly. She blushed. “Eh…Sorry.”

“You've barely eaten at all today. I suggest we make a pit stop at the kitchen.”

“That would be fantastic.” Her tummy growled its assent.

==

After a short but extremely successful meeting with the kitchen elves, the two waited at the foot of a staircase for Yukina to arrive from her last class. Finally, the ice maiden made her way down the stairs as she chatted animatedly with new acquaintances; when she saw Kagome, however, she broke away and dashed down to hug her friend.

“Are you alright? I've been so worried-“

Kagome laughed a little and held her tighter. “How was your class?”

The three walked slowly down the hallway as Yukina recounted her tales from her first classes.

“And that's when the professor said-“

“I'm sorry, Yukina, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm suddenly feeling very tired. Would you mind if I went to my room for awhile?”

Yukina looked concerned. “Do you need someone to walk with you?”

“I would gladly accompany you,” Kurama offered but Kagome waved him off.

“No, no, it's fine. I just…need some alone time. Thanks.”

Yukina appeared to want to argue further but Kurama put a hand on her shoulder. “We understand. I'll come by before dinner to see how you are.”

Kagome nodded and turned abruptly down the hallway. Students parted for her and she walked faster through the path that opened up.

Kurama turned to Yukina after Kagome was out of listening range. He was trying to figure out a way to get Yukina to spill the beans on Kagome when the koorime beat him to the punch.

“I'm really worried for her, Kurama.”

“Why's that?”

Yukina shook her head. “She seems fragile, like she's about to break.”

The fox spirit tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “Maybe she already has.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Just small things I've gathered from our conversations. I'm worried about her, too.”

“What has she told you?”

“About InuYasha…” He crossed his fingers and hoped that Yukina would take his bait without having to elaborate further…all he really knew was the guy's name.

A look of understanding dawned on her face and Kurama knew he'd struck a gold mine. “I didn't know she'd told you, too…It took her quite a few weeks to even mention it to me…”

Saving face, Kurama jumped back in, “Well, she wasn't explicit. Quite vague, in fact…but I could tell how hurt she was.”

“It was terrible, her being taken from his time right when she finally confessed her love…” Yukina's voice became dreamlike, as if she were remembering a terrifically sad romance novel.

Kurama's heart rate slowed and he approached his next words with extreme caution. “So…how long has it been since she…saw him last?”

She chuckled. “About five hundred years, give or take.”

Kurama stilled the exclamation in his throat but Yukina saw his look of outright shock and confusion and was instantly wary.

“I thought she'd told you all of this?”

“I thought all there was to it was that she loved InuYasha and wasn't with him anymore…” He hoped playing dumb would get him off the hook; unfortunately, Yukina knew his ploys quite well.

“If Kagome hasn't shared this with you, it's not my place to, either.”

“I'm simply concerned for her well-being.”

“If you know anything about Kagome, you know that she survives. She'll get through this.” Yukina's voice was unusually firm, closing the subject.

Kurama knew when he wasn't going to get anything else out of a person. His intuition stirred and climbed through his gut like a siren's song. This puzzle was far from finished, and if he was right, and he usually was, things were about to get very interesting.

==