Higher Education by SunsetMiko
Chapter 35
Each prompt in this chapter is labeled with which challenge it goes with.
Prompt: Fauvism: A movement in painting characterized by vivid colors and free treatment of form. It was popular in Paris during 1905/early 20th century. Some call Matisse a leader of this movement.
Guilt filled Sesshoumaru as he walked across campus towards the apartment building. He'd told Kagome that he had a meeting with an advisor and she believed him. Why wouldn't she? He'd never lied to her before, but now he had. Now he'd violated the trust that she had in him, all so that he could surprise her later. He wasn't sure it was worth it anymore, but it was too late to do anything about it.
The taiyoukai made his way into the lobby, quickly spotting the woman waiting for him. She handed him a clipboard full of papers to fill out and led him to the elevator, ready to show him the apartments still available for rent. On the short ride up, he looked over the forms with a sigh. He'd had no idea that doing something that was seemingly so simple would require so much effort. They needed his schedule, his records at his current dorm kept by his resident advisor, his G.P.A., his financial history with the university, and more. This was going to take longer than he'd planned.
"So, why are you looking at apartments?" the woman asked him as she led him out of the elevator and down a hallway, slipping the key into a door.
"I am in a serious relationship," he explained, "and I intend on asking her to live with me, something we cannot do in the dorms." He wasn't used to talking to strangers, let alone telling them things about his private life. Of course, he hadn't had much of a private life before recently to talk about. This woman seemed kind, however, and she was there to help him so he decided to trust her and tell her the whole truth.
The older woman smiled at him. "Isn't that sweet. So, does she know you're doing this?"
"No," he told her. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Well, we still have seven open apartments on several levels. The prices go up the higher the floor. How much would you be able to afford? Are your parents helping you?"
"My father gave me permission to select the best apartment available. The cost is unimportant."
"Oh. Well, do you still want to see the cheaper ones? The furniture is different in each apartment, so you might like one of these better than one of the more expensive choices."
"What is the difference between the cheaper and the more expensive options?"
"Size, mostly. The better ones have bigger closets, a bigger bathroom and living room. Even bigger beds."
Size wasn't so important to him, not nearly as much as the look of the place, and he made his decision easily. "Then, yes, I would like to see them all."
The first option was done in browns. It seemed dark and dingy, definitely not what he was looking for. Another was all white and felt sterile, like a hospital. The bright yellows were a bit too much in one apartment, and in another he simply despised the furnuriture itself. It was too modern chic with strangely shaped chairs, couches, and tables. Definitely not his style and he doubted Kagome would like it either.
They went up floor after floor, with Sesshoumaru growing more and more frustrated. He'd expected it to be a difficult decision because several of the options were nice, but reality seemed to be the opposite. He just prayed that he would fine at least one he liked, or could at least live with.
They walked through one done all in blacks and burgundies that felt too gothic. The taiyoukai sighed as he rejected it, knowing he only had two other options, both of them on the top floor. His guide could sense his disappointment and she crossed her fingers as they got out of the elevator. She opened the door to the apartment on the left first, revealing nothing but black and white. It was actually quite attractive, but it felt too restrained for Kagome.
The final option was very similar to the one across the hall, except in addition to the black and white, there were bold swaths of color. Instantly, Sesshoumaru knew it was perfect. Kagome was bright and bold and he had a feeling that she would love this apartment.
"This one," he told the woman. "I will take this one."
Prompt: Itinerant: traveling from place to place. (Obscure Word Challenge)
The woman smiled brightly. "Great! Now, the kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pots and pans, utensils; just about everything you might need. Everything is inventoried so anything that comes up missing when you move out, you will be charged for out of your security. You have to supply the bedding and towels. It is a king sized bed, so you know when purchasing your sheets. There are only four apartments on this level, with no one above you, so it should be relatively quiet."
"Anything would be quieter than the dorms."
"So you think she'll like it?"
"I certainly hope so," he said nervously. "This place, it feels like her, if you know what I mean."
"I do," she replied with a smile. "I'll give you a few more minutes to look around, but then I have another appointment to show the remaining apartments. There will be more paperwork as well."
"Father said for you to fax the lease to his office so that his lawyers can look it over," he explained. "I am supposed to make sure that having two residents is allowed, not just one."
The woman nodded. "That is fine. You can have the keys once the paperwork is done and approved and the deposit and first month's rent has been paid."
"How long does that usually take?"
"If your father gets the lease back to us quickly, I can start processing your paperwork today after my appointment. You'll have to collect all the necessary references today, but then you could be moving in on Sunday."
Sesshoumaru smiled. Quick was a good thing. He didn't want to have to spend a single night without her. He would, however, have to go shopping for bedding. Perhaps Kagome could help him, but then he would have to tell her about the apartment first. He wanted to walk her in blindfolded so he could have a dramatic reveal, to take her through knowing that the place was really his.
"Can I do the paperwork in the lobby?" he asked. It wasn't as if he could go back to Kagome's dorm room and fill out all the housing forms in front of her.
"Of course. When you finish, you can leave it at the front desk for me. All the other required forms can be faxed to or dropped off at my office."
The taiyoukai nodded his understanding. He had only a few hours to get all the paperwork necessary. He'd have to go to the financial office to get his tuition payment records. He'd have to get a print out of his G.P.A. and his class schedule and then speak to the resident advisor on his floor. Hopefully the guy wouldn't be too busy to get him a copy of his records. They couldn't say much. After all, he never caused any trouble. There would be no entries of his breaking any rules, nothing that could keep him from being approved at the apartment building.
Kagome might worry when he was gone longer than he'd told her, but it would be worth it when he saw the look on her face, assuming she was happy with him. He had no guarantees that the miko would be pleased with what he was doing, only wishes and hopes, but he had to risk it because he couldn't survive without her in his life and in his bed.
Prompt: Don’t Stare At Me (Soundtrack Challenge 2)
Inuyasha glared at himself in the large mirror over the desk in his motel room. He looked like hell, so much worse than he'd expected it to be. He'd had ice on it all night but the entire left side of his face was still purple and black. His eye was swollen shut, his bottom lip was puffy, and his nose looked crooked. His jaw still hurt terribly, especially when he tried to speak or eat. He'd taken a shower a short while ago and the amount of blood that washed off of his face and body had surprised him.
That morning, he'd gotten an email from his father advising him that his flight would leave Saturday afternoon. He was stuck in this hellish town for another night! Sure, he could go to a liquor store and stock up to make his night survivable, but he still hadn't had a moment of fun on his whole trip. It just wasn't right!
The hanyou growled at his reflection. He couldn't believe Sesshoumaru had done this to him. Even with his speedy healing, it would take days for his face to go back to normal. He opened his mouth and flicked his tongue over the point of a new fang pushing its way through his gums. He checked with his thumb and confirmed that his front teeth were growing back as well. This was absolutely humiliating and he found himself glad that he didn't know anyone but Sesshoumaru and Kagome at this university or he would never live it down.
His brother needed to pay for what he'd done. That loser had gotten lucky and it sure as hell wouldn't happen again. He'd underestimated the taiyoukai, but no more. The next time he would be ready and he would make Sesshoumaru regret his actions. He would beat him like the pathetic loser he was, tear him back down to size and remind him that he was a worthless piece of shit.
A smirk pulled at his lips, though it quickly faded as pain bloomed in his face from the movement. He could still follow through with his plan. He could still tear Sesshoumaru and Kagome apart and make sure that every bit of confidence and self esteem his brother had gained was gone for good. They would likely be at the biggest party happening that night, and so would he.
Inuyasha nodded to himself. He would head to Greek Row and figure out where the shindig of the night was. Even if he never spotted them, even if they weren't there, at least he would have some fun. He sure as hell wouldn't have any sitting around his motel room watching TV on one of only three channels that came in clearly. No, there was a party somewhere and he was going to find it. Maybe he could even get laid. Girls liked tough guys. They didn't have to know that he'd been the loser of this particular, incredibly one-sided battle. He'd just tell them the other guy looked worse. Dumb, drunk bitches wouldn't know the difference.
The hanyou hoped he would find them, however. He wanted nothing more than to ruin this relationship for his brother. Sesshoumaru didn't deserve a woman like Kagome. He didn't deserve a woman at all! The taiyoukai had gotten cocky and he needed to be knocked down a few pegs, back to where he belonged, at the bottom. Screw his father's orders. The old dog might be happy that his pathetic excuse for a son was finally coming into himself and developing into a real inu, but he wasn't thrilled in the least.
Once it was done, it was done. There would be no going back for Sesshoumaru, not after Kagome dumped him. She would believe that he'd done something inappropriate with another female at the party and she would never forgive him. She'd practically made the taiyoukai, had molded him from a lump of clay into the type of man she wanted, and knowledge of his betrayal would be too powerful to ignore. No matter what he said or did, she would never change her mind. She would never take him back. No, it would be over and done with, and Sesshoumaru would be crushed. He would go right back to being the pathetic creature she'd started with, a lump with no real potential and definitely no confidence. Without her to shape him, he would be nothing and Inuyasha would be able to stomp him into the ground once again.
He still hadn't figured out exactly how he would convince her that Sesshoumaru had betrayed her, but he wasn't too terribly worried about it. It would come to him. An opportunity would present itself, he was sure of it. The universe would supply him with what he needed because the taiyoukai having a girlfriend was simply unnatural. No one as pathetic as him was meant to be happy. Sesshoumaru was on this planet only for the amusement of others, as a butt of their jokes and a target for their aggression. Tonight he would go back to being exactly that and nothing more.