Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 14

All prompts in this chapter are from Avadrea's Oddities Challenge unless otherwise noted.

Prompt: Trammel - Something that restricts activity, expression, or progress; a restraint.

Kagome smirked as she dumped the tote bag on her bed while Sesshoumaru watched. "I made out like a bandit candy-wise. And magnets too."

"What are you going to do with them all?" he asked in confusion.

Without a word, Kagome rose and moved a scarf hanging on the wall, revealing a white dry erase board full of little scraps of paper, each held up by a magnet. "I was running out."

"What is this?" he asked, leaning in close to read the flowery words.

"It's how I keep track of everything: my schedule, due dates for projects, exam times. Things I can't forget."

"Would it not be easier to keep track of things in the calendar on your phone?" he asked in confusion.

"Oh, I do, but making the board helps me remember and plan study time, blocking out projects step by step. I've done it since middle school, back when cell phones were just phones. I guess I don't really need it, but it's a habit now and doing it makes me more comfortable."

"Why not use sticky notes instead of magnets?"

"Because sticky notes eventually lose their stickiness," she replied matter-of-factly. 

"I see." He honestly thought her little board was adorable, but then he would like anything she did.

"Do you wanna sit?" she offered, realizing that he was still standing just inside the door. She motioned towards her bed and memories of sleeping with her in his arms flooded his mind. He nodded stiffly and moved to the mattress, sitting just on the edge.

Kagome rolled her eyes and climbed onto the bed, sitting cross-legged where her pillow belonged while hugging said pillow to her chest. "Today was nice."

"It was," he agreed, turning on the bed so that he could see her. "We should do it again tomorrow."

"Do what? There's no party tomorrow and we've seen the whole festival already."

"I'm sure we could find some way to pass the time." In truth, he just wanted to be in her presence. He didn't care what they were doing.

"I really need to start working on my fetish presentation, though. It's going to take a lot of work, especially looking for images that are just the right amount of graphic. That's really going to slow me down. "

Sesshoumaru chuckled and Kagome couldn't help but smile. He sounded so good when he laughed, so happy, and boy, was it a sexy sound. It shot right through her and instantly she was thinking dirty thoughts about the taiyoukai.

Prompt: Argent - silver or (especially in heraldry) silver-white

Wanting to be in Kagome's presence the next day, no matter what they were doing, the taiyoukai decided to offer his assistance. "I could help you with the presentation if you so desire. I have a lot of experience with slideshows."

"Really? I can't see you standing up in front of a class to do a presentation."

"I am not very good at public speaking, no, but I am very good at making the necessary visuals. It serves to even out my grade. I may do terribly on the actual presenting, but the presentation itself is good enough that I can eek by with a fairly passable grade."

"You mean to tell me you don't always get straight A's? I'm shocked," she said dramatically.

"I have received lower grades, but only due to my inability to speak in front of others."

"You're so damn cute," Kagome said with a smile. "I love how shy you are."

He was confused. Wasn't she trying to work the shy out of him? He did, however, love her calling him cute. He knew she was physically attracted to him, from both her comments and her scent, but it was nice hearing it said directly. He especially liked her use of the word 'love' while referring to him. "But are you not trying to change that about this Sesshoumaru?"

"No, you can still be shy. I just want you to be more confident, have a better sense of self-worth. You really wanna help me tomorrow?"

"It would be my pleasure," the taiyoukai practically purred at her, praying she would accept his offer.

"All right," the miko agreed, scooting closer to Sesshoumaru. "You know, those girls were right about one thing."

"And that is?"

"Your hair. It is just amazing," she replied, staring at his long silver locks. Her hand reached out slowly but before she touched him, she pulled back.

Sesshoumaru was somewhat amused by her hesitance. She was usually so confident and yet she hesitated when it came to touching his hair. She'd kissed him out of nowhere, just to rescue him from a group of females, but she couldn't touch his hair without permission?

The taiyoukai scooted further back onto the bed until his hair was nearly touching her hands before shooting her a smirk. "You can touch it if you so desire." In truth, he probably desired it a great deal more than she did. He ached for her touch in any way whatsoever and he knew he would enjoy her fingers in his hair.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Completely sure," he replied.

Kagome reached out hesitantly, finally brushing his hair with her fingertips. "It's so soft," she whispered, gaining confidence. Soon she had both hands buried in his long, thick locks and Sesshoumaru had to fight not to moan. It felt so right, so intimate, and he never wanted it to end. The miko went up on her knees directly behind the taiyoukai for a better view of what she was doing, pulling him backwards until the back of his head rested on her chest. He was confused as to how she intended to continue playing with his hair from this angle, but he really didn't care. A part of his body was touching her breasts and that was good enough for him.

Prompt: Unrecked - unconsidered, abandoned without thought

Kagome ran her fingers through his bangs, brushing them off to the side, before pressing her lips gently to his forehead. She wasn't actually thinking about what she was doing at the moment. It was just happening while her mind was completely focused on touching his hair. When she realized what she'd just done, her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to apologize, only to shut it again when Sesshoumaru turned his head and twisted just enough that they were face to face. He ran his nose along her cheek affectionately while trying to read her thoughts through her eyes.

"I... you..." he started, aching to press his lips to hers. He'd greatly enjoyed their first kiss, even if it didn't mean anything to her, and he wanted to feel it again, when there could be no other reason but her genuine attraction to him.

Kagome smiled, seeing the need and desperation in his eyes. "Is there something you want?" she whispered.

He could feel her breath on his lips and he bit back a groan. She wasn't going to make this easy on him as he'd hoped. She was going to make him be the one to make the first move. Could he? Could he close the distance between them and kiss her? He hesitated for a long moment before realizing that she had to want him to do it. Otherwise, she wouldn't remain in such an intimate position with him for so long.

"There are a great many things that I desire," he replied before tilting his head slightly and touching his lips to hers. He could feel her smile against his lips and Sesshoumaru relaxed a quite a bit. He deepened the kiss, repeating the motions she'd taught him a few hours earlier. He found it was far easier than he'd expected and he twisted his body without pulling away from her so that he could slip one hand into her hair. His other hand started on her cheek and moved down her throat, caressing her skin softly. When the miko let out a little moan into their kiss, the taiyoukai couldn't help but smile.

This time, he was the first to pull away, afraid of making a fool of himself again trying to keep the kiss going after she was ready to end it. He waited for her eyes to open, seeing only happiness there, and his confidence jumped to a new level. He'd kissed her and she liked it!

Seeing the celebratory look on his face, Kagome leaned in and kissed him again, this time slipping her tongue out to slide along his bottom lip. Sesshoumaru gasped at the new sensation and her tongue entered his mouth, sliding along his own in a wholly seductive way. She traced his fangs one by one, sending shivers down his spine, before pulling away. She watched as he panted for breath, utterly overwhelmed by this new turn of events, and she grinned. "Yup, I was right. You're a pretty good kisser."

"That needed confirmation?" he asked.

Kagome's grin widened. "Well, it could have been beginners luck," she teased. "Now, I really ought to get some of my reading done tonight, since tomorrow will be spent on the presentation. I'd let you stay, but you're awfully distracting."

Sesshoumaru nodded his understanding while smirking like a fool inside. He distracted her? Well, it was only fair. She consumed his mind so much that he'd nearly missed an important deadline in one of his classes! "What time tomorrow?" he asked.

"Whenever you want," she replied. "I'll be here all day."

Prompt: Bluebell (Grateful, Constancy) (The Language of Flowers Challenge)

"Before I go," Sesshoumaru started, slipping his hand into his pocket. "There is something I would like to give you."

Kagome looked at him in confusion. What in the world might he have to give her? When she saw him pull something sparkly out of his pocket, she smiled. He was a sneaky man, all right.

"I hope this is the one you liked," he said, even though he knew for certain it was the one she'd tried on. He held the silver bracelet out to the miko and Kagome held out her wrist. With a smirk, Sesshoumaru carefully clasped it, taking her hand and turning it slightly to admire the way it looked on her.

"It's beautiful," Kagome replied. "When did you even buy this?"

"You were busy signing up for another contest," he confessed.

"I told you not to spend money on me," she said, annoyance in her tone. "You don't listen."

"If I desire to purchase a gift for you, I will do so," he answered firmly.

"I'm grateful, don't get me wrong, but that's not what I want from you, Sesshoumaru. I don't want you to think I'm only interested in you buying me things and taking me places. I'm not looking for a sugar daddy."

"Sugar daddy?" he repeated in confusion.

"A guy who basically pays for everything for a girl in exchange for her time and affections," she defined the term for him. "I wouldn't care if you didn't have a dollar to your name."

"Then what are you interested in?" he asked. What else was he besides an introverted nerd with no social skills and a fat wallet? Sure, she thought he had a nice body, but she couldn't have known that when she first befriended him. He had nothing else to offer her but the fact that he could support and provide for her the way she deserved, if only she would allow it.

Kagome rolled her eyes dramatically. "You, Sesshoumaru! I'm interested in you, in helping you up your confidence, in dragging you out into the world to experience more than just academics. I don't need to be spoiled to be your friend."

"And if I desire to spoil you anyway?" he asked with a small smile. He greatly appreciated the fact that she didn't care about his money. It meant she was truly in this, whatever it was, because of him and not his wallet, even though he was the one trying to show off his monetary worth in the first place.

Kagome couldn't help but smile back. "I suppose I can't stop you."

Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement. He loved the look on her face when she first saw the gift. It was so similar to when he'd surprised her with coffee a few days earlier. She was caught off guard and pleased at the same time and he wanted to see that expression on her face more often. "I will see you tomorrow. Text me if something changes."

How he wished they could spend the entire evening together, but he understood that she had work to do. He did as well, but he preferred being with her to completing his studies. He would be happy texting until the wee hours of the morning, but they wouldn't be doing that either because she would be busy reading. He would miss her more than he'd ever thought possible. Even though they would only be two floors apart, it would feel like opposite sides of the globe.

Sesshoumaru decided at that moment that he would throw himself into his studies headfirst in an attempt not to think about the miko. It would definitely be a challenge, as his mind was already replaying their kisses over and over.

Kagome nodded. "See you tomorrow."

The taiyoukai rose to his feet and began walking towards the door like a man to his execution. Kagome popped up behind him and caught his hand, turning him back towards her. Before he could ask what she wanted, she'd lifted herself up on her toes to kiss him softly. It was short and sweet and he didn't get a chance to respond, but he decided it was the perfect way to end their day together. He smiled at the miko and turned, opening her door. He stepped into the hall and turned back, looking at her one last time.

"Study well."

"You too," she whispered, slowly closing the door. "Tomorrow." It had never been so hard to close her door before, but the miko managed, reminding herself that he would be back soon. Kagome sighed heavily, one hand over her racing heart, and headed to her desk. She had work to do.