Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 10

All prompts in this chapter are from Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2.

Prompt: Heartbreak

"Wow," Kagome said. "You look more nervous now then when I first found you at the toga party. What's wrong?"

"If these girls do throw themselves at this Sesshoumaru, which I still doubt, what am I supposed to do?" He'd been in panic mode for most of the morning as he realized he had no idea how to handle amorous females. He needed to know how to tell them no, that he was taken, without actually saying so, since Kagome had no idea he had fallen for her.

"Do whatever feels right. If you like her, go for it. If you're not interested, just tell her that."

"Go for what?"

Kagome laughed. "A hot make out session would do you worlds of good," she said.

Inside, Sesshoumaru's heart sunk into his stomach. She wanted him to be with other women. Surely that meant she had no interest in him romantically. If she did, wouldn't she be bothered by the thought of him with other females? Why would she encourage him to make out with someone else? Well, he had no intention of doing so. He wanted Kagome and only Kagome. No other woman would do.

"You believe I would 'make out'," he said awkwardly, "with someone I just met?"

Kagome smiled at him, the sight of which made the ache in his heart fade somewhat. "It won't hurt you. People do it all the time."

"Not people like me," Sesshoumaru replied, his lack of confidence obvious in his tone.

"And what, exactly, are people like you? Who do you think you are?" Kagome had wondered for a while now what social group Sesshoumaru associated himself with.

"I am an outsider," he said softly.

"Not anymore," Kagome declared. "Not if you don't want to be. You can't be an outsider if you have friends, and you are most definitely my friend." The miko's heart ached at the very idea of him making out with another female, but she wanted him to experience everything, whether he chose to do it with her or not. She wished he would take a hint. Seriously, she'd kissed him. How much more blatant did she need to be?

Prompt: Prosperity

Sesshoumaru couldn't help the small smile that showed on his face at her words. She was right. He wasn't alone anymore and he was lucky he wasn't. He really was blessed the day that Kagome found him. If she wanted him to attend this party, he would go, but he would not do anything with any other female. Only her. He wanted only Kagome and he prayed that he could figure out a way to win her over.

"Now, are you good? Can we go?" she asked, studying his face.

The taiyoukai nodded. He was startled when Kagome grabbed his hand, entwining their fingers. He walked alongside her, glancing every few seconds at their clasped hands. Her smaller hand felt so right in his larger one and he loved the physical contact. Yes, she'd done it before, at the parties, but that was to make sure he didn't get lost in the crowd, not because she desired it. Perhaps this was a sign, albeit a small one, that he was making progress.

They were still holding hands when they reached the sorority house and she led him through the crowd in the house to outside by the pool. She grabbed them both drinks on the way past the bar before studying the area in search of a spot to settle in. Finally she saw it, two open lounge chairs at the far end of the pool a bit away from everyone else. They were perfect and Kagome guided the taiyoukai to them.

She handed Sesshoumaru one of the cups she held in her left hand and smiled. "Sit down and drink up!"

The taiyoukai looked at the lounge chair as if it were a foreign entity, making the miko laugh.

"Just sit down and then turn and stretch out. It's not difficult."

Without a word, Sesshoumaru followed her instructions. He ended up sitting in a semi-reclined position watching the miko as she set down her bag and pulled out a large towel. She covered the lounge chair with the towel before removing her shirt. His eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight of the small triangles of black fabric barely restraining her full, perky breasts. He saw as she untied the fabric of her skirt, letting it fall to the ground, and he had to fight back a groan.

"Well, what do you think?" Kagome asked.

Did she really expect him to tell her how she looked? What was the correct answer? You look beautiful? But beautiful didn't do her justice. She looked downright edible, but he couldn't tell her that. Gorgeous? Stunning? Utterly delectable? Sesshoumaru almost shook his head to dislodge the thought of how good she might taste, all the while searching for the right term. Hoping to buy some time, he twirled his index finger at her, asking her to turn around, and she did, turning just slowly enough that he had time to burn the sight of her ass into his memory forever.

He swallowed hard before going the safe route. "You look good," he said flatly.

Prompt: Specter

Kagome huffed. "Just good? Do you know how hard it was for me to wear this bikini? I had to talk myself into it, and I only look good?" she teased.

Sesshoumaru thought he'd genuinely upset her until he saw the small smile on her face. His shoulders fell as he relaxed and the miko laughed.

"That's always a loaded question, 'How do I look?'. There is no safe way to answer it."

"Then why did you ask?"

Kagome grinned at him. "Because your reaction was priceless. If you like this one, I'm sure you'll like some of the others even more. Some of the girls have the tiniest bikinis I've ever seen. Just keep your eye out and you'll see them."

Sesshoumaru wanted to sigh. He had no desire to see other scantily clad females, not when he had the one he wanted right beside him, making herself comfortable in her lounge chair. If only he could tell her that. He hated not having the confidence to simply announce his interest. He feared that if he did so, she would push him away because she didn't feel the same. No, he couldn't risk the friendship that they had for the dream that would never come true anyway.

"Damn, you look even paler in the sunlight. You're white as a ghost. Do you want some sun block so you don't burn?"

"Demons do not get sunburns," he assured her. "Did you not desire to swim?"

"Not yet," Kagome said while inspecting the pool. "It's a little wild in there. I'll wait 'til it calms down. You're going to join me, right?"

Sesshoumaru nodded, quickly emptying his cup.

"You want some more?" she asked.

"You do not need to get up for more drinks," he replied.

"Who said anything about getting up?" she said with a smile. "I brought my own." Kagome pulled a bottle of liquor from her seeming bottomless bag and handed it to him. "Help yourself."

Sesshoumaru refilled his cup and took a sip of the new alcohol. "Not bad," he said with a small smile that made Kagome's heart beat faster. She loved it when she made him smile.

The taiyoukai drank his second cupful quickly, knowing that he was going to need it to make it through this party. He had no interest in going in the pool, but if she wanted him there, he would be there.

Prompt: Altar

"What in the world are they doing?" he asked a short time later, watching as females sat on the males shoulders in the water.

"Playing games," Kagome replied. "The girls are going to try to knock each other off the guys and into the pool."

Sesshoumaru couldn't help but stare. What would it be like to have Kagome on his shoulders like that? To feel the heat of her core pressed against the back of his neck? It was enough to make him thankful for baggy swim trunks. He glanced back at the miko and sighed softly before returning his eyes to the show happening in the pool. Would she desire such a thing? He knew he was strong enough to hold her up and he wouldn't mind the feeling of his hands on her thighs. The taiyoukai emptied his cup and poured himself another.

"Whoa, there, big guy," Kagome said with a grin, moving the bottle out of his reach. "That's a lot in a short period of time. I want you to go in the pool with me. I don't want you to drown in it."

The taiyoukai reveled in the pet name she'd given him. No one had ever kindly called him out of his name. The bullies had all kinds of different names for him, but he'd never had an affectionate pet name before. It made him feel as if he were special to her.

"I will be fine," he assured her.

"Just like when you promised me you could find your way to your room?" she teased. "I'm just trying to keep you from praying to the porcelain god." When he made a confused face, she explained. "On your knees with your head in the toilet. It's no fun."

"I have no intention of throwing up."

"Neither did I. Neither does anyone, but if you drink too much too fast, you'll be doing it whether you want to or not. Just... slow down, for me, okay?"

Sesshoumaru nodded immediately. For her, anything. He watched as she downed the contents of her cup and poured her second.

"Is being here that stressful?" she asked, feeling guilty for bringing him somewhere he was uncomfortable.

"I do not belong here," he replied.

"You do too. You're here as a sister's date. You belong here as much as any other guy."

"Date?" Sesshoumaru asked, both surprise and hope in his tone.

Kagome's cheeks flushed a brilliant red and she stammered for a moment, searching for the right answer. "Well... See... You... You're my plus one so to everyone else, that makes you my date, even though we just came as friends."

"Oh," the taiyoukai said softly, disappointment filling him. If she had considered this a date, then he would know that they were moving towards something more than friendship, but she didn't. He was fully and completely stuck in the friend zone.

Prompt: Raid

They lay side by side on their lounge chairs in silence for a while until Kagome rolled over to lie on her stomach.

"What are you doing?" he asked curiously.

"Trying to tan evenly," Kagome replied.

Sesshoumaru's head tilted to the side as he stared at her ass for a long moment. His fingers twitched with the desire to touch her and he fought not to pant for breath. Gods, she was gorgeous. If only he could tell her that. Suddenly a voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"You keep staring like that and she's going to burst into flames," Miroku said with a grin.

"Miroku!" Kagome exclaimed, sitting up quickly. "What are you doing here?"

"I had to crash the party and raid the bar. You know I don't miss functions like this."

"Which girl was foolish enough to bring you as her date this time?"

"Ummm, I want to say it started with a D, but maybe I'm thinking that because she had a set of D's that didn't quit!"

The miko laughed, rolling her eyes at her friend's behavior. "You're terrible."

"And yet you love me," Miroku replied, his grin never faltering.

"There must be something seriously wrong with me."

"Nah," the monk assured her. "And if you don't believe me, ask Sesshoumaru. I'll bet he thinks you're perfect."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened at the monks words. Was he trying to embarrass him? He was doing a damn good job!