Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 2

All prompts used in this chapter are from Riku Ryuu's Random Prompts

Prompt: Nail

Sesshoumaru awoke in his dorm room slowly, his head pounding painfully. He couldn't believe what he did the night before. He drank alcohol, danced to loud music, and even nearly got into a physical altercation, all at the whim of a female. He'd touched her in ways his hands had never experienced as they danced. He'd never touched a girl before at all, so last night certainly was one full of firsts.

How he had ached to kiss her when she helped him into his room at the end of their evening, but he knew she would never want such a thing. She'd done all she had in the hopes of bringing him out of his shell and teaching him how to have fun, but she wasn't interested in having a relationship with him. He was lucky she'd labeled him a friend and the last thing he wanted was to ruin that friendship. It really was the only one he had.

He went out of his way to be invisible to the student body. It was safer that way. If no one saw him then no one would bully him. He'd had enough of that in middle and high school to last him until the day he died. He'd never really had many friends, though the nerdy crew did tend to stick together. He wouldn't call them friends, however. They were merely people living similar lives to his own, with similar interests. Kagome was different though. He felt like they had a real connection, something he'd never experienced before. This was all scary and new and he would do whatever it took to keep her happy, to keep the friendship going.

He groaned as someone pounded on his door so hard it sounded as if they were nailing it shut. The concussive sound was not helping with his headache at all, so he rose quickly from his bed and stumbled to the door. Sesshoumaru threw it open, ready to complain to whoever was on the other side, but then he saw her.

Prompt: Socks

Kagome stood in the hall with two cups of coffee in her hands, though she nearly dropped them as she took in the sight of her friend. Sesshoumaru hadn't bothered to grab his glasses, let alone throw on a robe, and so he was standing before her in nothing but boxers and socks. He looked amazing and Kagome swallowed hard. How had no one seen this side of him before?

Sure, she liked the glasses and thought he was cuter with them on, but his eyes were amazing, a deep swirling gold that sucked her in. His body wasn't what she'd expected of a nerd at all. His chest and abdominal muscles were deeply defined as if he were carved out of marble. His arms and legs weren't bad either, and it took several moments for Kagome to come to her senses and speak.

Prompt: Jellyfish

"I... I brought you some coffee. I thought you might have a wee bit of a hangover," she said, guilt in her tone. She'd pushed him to drink, trying to loosen him up, and she didn't doubt his head was aching right about now.

Sesshoumaru nodded and accepted the cup she held out to him, sipping carefully at it. The heat of the liquid running down his throat reminded him of how the liquor burned on the way down and for a moment, it felt as if they were still at the party. If only he were still touching her.

"Thank you," he replied, his stomach churning at the new addition.

"I brought aspirin too, if you need it," Kagome said softly. Her arms felt like jelly as she held the bottle out to him. He still hadn't realized how underdressed he was and she was enjoying the view, though she was concerned about others passing in the hallway. He didn't need half the school seeing him mostly naked. "You might..." she started, unsure of how to word it. "You might want to get dressed."

Only then did the taiyoukai realize his state of undress. He was instantly mortified and quickly grabbed the sheet off his bed to cover himself from the waist down. Kagome giggled softly and turned around to give him the time to pull on some clothing, watching him in a mirror as he rushed around the room searching for pants. Feeling guilty for peeking, she closed her eyes and waited for him to tell her it was safe.

Prompt: Hair

Sesshoumaru tugged on a pair of slacks and then pulled on a button down shirt, buttoning it as quickly as his fingers could move. He couldn't believe he'd answered the door half-naked! He'd made a fool of himself in front of the only person whose opinion mattered to him. He picked up his glasses and slipped them on before running his fingers through his long, disheveled hair. Once he thought he was as neat and put together as possible, he cleared his throat.

"You can turn around," he told her. "It is safe."

Kagome turned and smiled at the sight of him. "I like your glasses," she said thoughtfully. They made him look smarter, sharper, and cute as hell, if she did say so herself. Looking him over more closely, she giggled. "You missed a button," she informed him, setting her cup of coffee down to catch the front of his shirt.

Prompt: Paradise

The taiyoukai almost swallowed his tongue as Kagome began unbuttoning his shirt. No woman had ever undressed him before, and while he knew cognitively that that wasn't what she was doing, it sure as hell felt like it. He stayed perfectly still while his mind raced at a hundred miles per hour. Her fingers brushed against his bare chest as she began buttoning the shirt correctly and he felt as though he'd died and gone to heaven. Her hand was soft and warm and he ached to feel her touch again. It would make it even better if she did so intentionally, but he doubted that would ever happen.

They were friends, even though he didn't fully understand why, and they could never be more than that. Kagome was far too beautiful for him. She was a social creature that felt compelled to help him, but nothing more. He was likely nothing but a project to her, a charitable donation to mankind, but he accepted that because it gave him the chance to be close to an angel walking the earth. She was the most amazing woman he had ever had the pleasure to meet and the fact that she bothered to even look at him, that she saw him at all, made her extra special.

Prompt: Maid

When she finished buttoning his shirt, she stepped back and her eyes flitted around the room. Sesshoumaru glanced about and nearly blushed at the mess. Usually his room was meticulously clean, almost as if he had a maid, but last night when he was preparing to go to the frat party Kagome had insisted he go to, he'd torn the place apart in his nervousness.

"It doesn't usually look like this," he said while scooping dirty clothes from the floor. He quickly straightened the papers on his desk and the books on his shelves and Kagome laughed.

"I don't care if your room is a mess, Sesshoumaru," she said softly. "So, how are you feeling?"

Prompt: Fairy

"My head feels as though there is a small person trapped inside trying to pound its way out," he admitted, sipping at his coffee once more.

"So, you've got a fairy stuck in your skull, huh? I've been there, though I don't think I've ever heard it described that way before."

"Are you not feeling ill?" he asked.

"Nah," she replied.

"But you drank more than I did," he said in surprise.

"I'm used to it," she explained. "That and I drink a ton of water before and after every party. It helps with the dehydration. I should have had you do the same, but I didn't intend on getting you quite so drunk," she said playfully. "You have a low tolerance for alcohol, which is rare for a demon. So, you had fun last night, didn't you?" She knew that he had his doubts about whether he would enjoy himself at the party when she'd invited him along.

"I did," he admitted. "It was not exactly as I had expected it to be."

"I was so glad you came. You really need to get out and enjoy yourself. There's more to school than studying, more to life. So, you think I can get you to come out with me again?"

Without hesitation, the taiyoukai nodded. If she wanted him to go out with her, he would be there, damn studying and any other responsibilities. He wanted to be in her presence as much as possible. She made him feel different than he usually did. She made him feel alive in a way he never had before. It was new and exciting and he would follow her to the gates of hell if she asked him to, if only for the new experience.

Prompt: Kangaroo

Kagome bounced happily on her heels. "Yay! There's another party tonight. Is that too much too fast?"

Sesshoumaru quickly thought through his schedule. He had three chapters to read, a paper to finish, and an exam to study for, all for Monday, but who needed sleep anyways? He didn't, not if it meant spending more time with the miko. He would get as much done today as possible and then he would have all of Sunday as well. Everyone else partied Friday and Saturday nights, so he could too.

"That would be agreeable," he said, his wording making Kagome giggle.

"I'm glad. No special costumes for this one. I'll have to get you in though, so I'll have to swing by to pick you up."

"Is this an exclusive party?" he asked. The party the night before, he'd been able to walk right in. Why would he need her this time?

"The parties at my sorority have tighter security. You have to be invited by a member and you are my special guest."

Prompt: Sunset

"Special guest?" he said nervously. Did that mean she intended on introducing him to others? Surely she would know better than to show him off to her sorority sisters. He was no prize, that he knew, and he didn't want her to embarrass herself on his behalf.

"My plus one. We like to keep the guy to girl ratio as even as possible. Some frat parties are a total sausage fest." When Sesshoumaru made a face that said that he had no idea what she'd just said, the miko giggled again. "Too many guys, not enough girls. So the rule is we can invite as many girls as we want but each girl can bring only one guy. Guys go crazy trying to get into our parties."

"And you chose this Sesshoumaru as your guest?" he asked in surprise.

"Of course I did!" Kagome exclaimed. "You'll love it. We have better liquor. Party starts at sunset, so I'll swing by around eight."

"What should I wear?" he asked. At least for the toga party, he had no possibility of getting it wrong. He had no idea what regular party apparel was.

"A t-shirt and jeans is fine," she replied easily. "I have to go. I'll see you later," she said with a smile, raising her coffee cup before taking another swig. She headed to the door that still stood open and waved before disappearing into the hallway.

"Jeans and a t-shirt," Sesshoumaru repeated, sighing as he closed the door. He would have to go shopping.