Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 18

A quick note: I know some people don't like it when Inuyasha is made out to be the bad guy, but I'm going for a role reversal of sorts, with Inuyasha being the bully and Sesshoumaru the victim instead of the other way around. (Even though I guess I do usually make him a jerk anyway. I honestly love the guy, I swear!) I don't usually write this kind of note, but I've already gotten at least one rather rude review about making Inuyasha the bad guy and I can see the backlash coming. If you don't like it, no one is making you read it.

Thanks to all my readers and thanks for all of the reviews and support. Most every review makes me smile and encourages me to write more. I'm glad this fic is being so well received. I was worried turning Sesshoumaru into a nerd would be considered blasphemy.  ;-)

Prompt: Hemlock (You will be my death) (The Language of Flowers Challenge)

"Now, tell me everything. Who's coming?" Kagome demanded, sitting back down on her bed.

"My brother," Sesshoumaru growled.

"I didn't know you had a brother. You never told me."

"Because I wish I didn't," he said darkly while walking back and forth across her floor.

"Is he really that bad? I mean, he can't stay with you for long. The RAs will kick him out. Besides, it can't take too long to decide if he wants to go here or not."

"You do not understand. Inuyasha is one of those people, a jock, a frat boy, the kind that finds a great deal of enjoyment in my suffering. He is the reason I chose a university far from home, as far as father would allow. He cannot go to school here. He simply can't. It will ruin everything."

"Sesshoumaru, come sit down," she ordered. "The pacing is making me dizzy."

The taiyoukai obeyed immediately, sitting down beside her on the bed. Kagome was soon behind him, rubbing his tense shoulders. "So he's a bully. Why in the world would you think he could take me from you?"

"Because he is the kind of male you belong with, Kagome, not a nerd like me. You deserve someone who knows what they're doing, that can treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

The miko huffed, offended by his words. "I have no interest in dating a bully. I had enough of that in high school. Sesshoumaru, I like what we have. I like you just the way you are. I'm enjoying your learning curve and I love knowing that I'm your first. I like the way you're treating me. I don't want anyone else. And please, don't call yourself a nerd."

"Why not? It is what I am. It is all I am," he replied. Her hands felt so good on his shoulders and he wished they could go back just ten minutes. If only he had known, he wouldn't have answered the phone, despite risking his father's wrath. He would have continued on with the woman who meant the world to him, knowing that his time with her would quickly be coming to an end.

"You're more than just a studious guy. You're fun. You have a great sense of humor. You just have to stop hiding so much, so everyone else can see what I do."

"Father said that I could easily show Inuyasha around because I have no social life. That is who I am, Kagome. He has known me a great deal longer than you have."

Prompt: Eggplant (Heal all of your sickness) (The Language of Flowers Challenge)

The miko rolled her eyes and moved around Sesshoumaru, straddling his lap once again. She caught his cheeks with her palms and made him look into her eyes. "You. Need. To. Stop," she said, emphasizing each word. When he took a breath she put her finger over his lips, her heart aching at the look in his eyes. "You are too hard on yourself. There is no way your father knows who you really are, not if he is the way you say he is. You are who you want to be, so who do you want to be, Sesshoumaru?"

"I want to be whoever I have to be to be with you," he murmured softly.

Kagome smiled sadly and pressed her lips to the crescent moon on his forehead. "You're here with me right now, so I guess that means I like who you are."

"But you have been trying to change me."

"Not change you, Sesshoumaru, just give you confidence and a better self image. You're so focused on what you are that I don't think you know who you are. You... I would never try to change who you truly are inside. That's what I'm trying to uncover, the real you, and so far I adore what I've learned about you."

"Adore?" he repeated.

Kagome giggled. "Of course that's what you focus on. Yes, I adore you. You're absolutely adorable, and not in a cute kitten kind of way. In a 'I really think I want to have a relationship with this guy' kind of way."

"You... You do?"

The hope on his face made Kagome's heart beat faster. It was as if all his worries and fears had been washed away by her words.

"I do, so now can you believe that your brother isn't taking me away from you? No one is taking me away from you. I'm happy right here. You know, if he does take over your bed, you can always crash with me. We already know we both fit in the bed and it was really nice, being held all night."

"I have never slept better than that night and it was not due to my level of intoxication. You would share your bed with me again?"

"In a heartbeat. When will he be here?"

Prompt: Tabula Rasa (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2)

"He will be here tomorrow."

"That was fast." She didn't know where he was coming from, but it couldn't be very close. His father had to have known long before today that Sesshoumaru's brother was coming to intrude on his life. It made Kagome like his father even less.

"Father did not think I needed any warning or time to prepare."

"Jerk," she muttered. "And how long will he stay?"

"The fool will not leave before evaluating the parties on campus, so at minimum a week."

"Oh," she said with a smile. "Then we can show him around while showing him that you're different, more confident. That you can party with the best of them."

"I can party with you," he clarified. "Everyone else makes me uncomfortable."

"Just think. How surprised is your brother going to be that you have a girlfriend?"

"You are... my girlfriend?" he asked, fear warring with joy. He knew nothing about relationships and he knew he would somehow ruin it. Still, it was the news he'd been waiting for, that she was truly interested in him, that he wasn't just a pet project.

"I am," she replied with a smile, leaning in for a kiss. The enthusiasm with which his lips moved over hers told her everything she needed to know. He was happy that she'd put a label on their relationship, even if it did scare him at the same time. She wasn't worried. She knew he would do fine. He would be a good boyfriend, probably a great one, because he cared so much about her. He did little things to make her happy, including bringing her cupcakes. That was an excellent start, even though she didn't want him spending his money on her.

"Does that make me your boyfriend?"

"The two kind of go hand in hand," she replied with a grin.

"And you will not be with other males?"

"I'm like you, Sesshoumaru. I'm not interested in anyone else. Just you."

She watched as her words sunk in and she knew the moment he accepted it for the truth. His eyes lit up like a child on Christmas morning when they first spot the pile of presents. He looked so happy and she was thrilled to have made him so. Suddenly his face fell and she had to inquire what had changed.

"He will not believe that we are together," Sesshoumaru said after a long moment of thought.

"Then we'll just have to prove it to him."

"He will try to seduce you away, just for the knowledge that he took you from me."

"And he will fail," Kagome replied, her tone full of conviction. "You don't know it's going to be that way. Maybe he's changed while you were apart. He might not be such an ass anymore. You should give him a chance, start fresh. Wait and see how he behaves before judging."

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily. "He will never change, Kagome."

"And if he's still a jerk, we'll deal with it then. You just need to not let him push you around. You've got more confidence than when we first met. Surely you can stand up for yourself."

"With you by my side, perhaps, but just the two of us... He will tear me down bit by bit. He knows my weaknesses. He knows what affects me the most and he will use it against me."

"You need to not let him," she said, trying to make him see that he was stronger now. "Look, let's not think about it right now. I'm hungry. We totally missed lunch but we have three cupcakes!"

Sesshoumaru couldn't help but smile at her attempt to make him feel better. He really didn't want to be thinking about his brother and what would come with him, not when he was with her. It was a waste of time and energy, stressing over that which he could not change. He should be happy, as he always was in her presence. Things were even better now that she was officially his girlfriend. They should be celebrating having figured out what they wanted to be to each other, not worrying over what Inuyasha might do.

"Or I could take you to lunch," he offered. "We've been in this room for hours."

"Would you have rather been somewhere else?" she asked with a smirk.

"Never," he replied quickly, "But you deserve a real meal after working so hard on your presentation and... well... what happened after."

"You mean the making out?" she inquired, her smirk widening.

"Yes, that," he said, feeling his cheeks flush pink with his embarrassment. He couldn't even describe what they'd done together properly!

"And the groping," she teased.

"That especially," he answered smartly, flirtation seeping into his tone. She was playing with him and he loved it, once he caught on at least. "So, may I take my girlfriend to lunch?" he asked.

"I guess. What'd you have in mind?"

"We could go to the deli again if you want to walk. Otherwise, we can take my car and go anywhere you like."

"You have a car?" Kagome asked in surprise. She'd had no idea. She was just so used to walking everywhere that she hadn't even considered the possibility.

"I do. Perhaps you could assist me in selecting some new clothing after we eat?"

The miko smiled. "I'd love to, but only if you really like the jeans and t-shirts. If you're uncomfortable in them, if you like your suits better, then you should wear them."

It was Sesshoumaru's turn to smile. She truly cared what he wanted and would be by his side no matter what he chose to wear. "I enjoy the more casual clothing," he started. "Plus there is the benefit of people no longer looking at me as if I do not belong."

"You don't need to fit in with them if you don't want to, but you do look damn good in a t-shirt and jeans. Of course, I liked the swimming trunks even better," she said playfully, running her hands over his bare chest, knowing that he was going to be buttoning his shirt soon.

"I believe you would prefer me just like this," he murmured in her ear, pressing his lips just below the lobe.

"I definitely like having access to these muscles. See, I don't understand that. How could you not think you were attractive? You're ripped like a Greek god. Women will fall to their knees for that kind of muscle definition. Surely you knew that."

"Fall to their knees?" he asked, making Kagome giggle. She whispered an explanation in his ear, laughing once more as his cheeks flushed darker. "I have always worn suits," he explained. "No one has ever seen my body before."

"But didn't you know that your body was attractive? You should have known that just from watching the jocks with their girlfriends."

"I have never thought of myself as attractive, no, but then the bullies did a very good job of ensuring that I had no self confidence."

Kagome smiled before pressing her lips to his once more. "And now?"

"I feel better about myself," he confessed. "Thanks to you. Now, I would like to show off my girlfriend to the world. Where would you like to eat?"