Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 38

Each prompt in this chapter is labeled with the challenge it is from.

Prompt: Fulgurant – (adj) Flashing like lightning; brilliant, dazzlingly bright. (Stella's Word Prompt Game)

Sesshoumaru was absolutely livid and he was determined to locate his brother, wherever he might be. Inuyasha would pay for trying to ruin his relationship with Kagome. Nothing was more important to him. Just the thought of losing her made his stomach twist into knots. Purposely trying to break them up was vicious and hateful, just like the hanyou, but he was still surprised. He hadn't expected his brother to return after the beating he received the night before. He'd expected the fool to run home to their father where it was safe.

The taiyoukai searched the crowd, but the constant flashing of the colored lights made focusing on any one person difficult. He leaned down close to Kagome, speaking softly into her ear. "He may not realize that we know he is here. Let's go outside where it is less crowded." The miko nodded, a wicked smirk on her face. She took his hand and led him through the throng of dancers towards the kitchen. They made their way past more partiers playing drinking games and making out on every available surface of the room.

Neither of them dared to look behind them to see if Inuyasha was following as they exited the back door, heading out onto the patio that was lit only by blinking Christmas lights. Kagome found an unoccupied corner and leaned against the wooden railing surrounding the patio. She pulled Sesshoumaru close, dragging his lips to hers for a passionate kiss, hoping to assure Inuyasha that they had no idea of his presence. The taiyoukai's hands found her waist and lifted her to sit on the railing, taking his place between her thighs, pressing close. He almost forgot all about his brother as he covered her throat and shoulder with kisses, making the miko moan softly.

Inuyasha had, in fact, followed the couple outside, not realizing just how exposed he was in the less occupied area. They didn't appear to be paying attention to anything other than each other, which lulled him into a false sense of security. Just because his first attempt to ruin their relationship had failed didn't mean he was giving up. No, he was devoted to his plan and he wasn't ready to accept defeat. He was just waiting for another opportunity to present itself.

Sesshoumaru continued pressing kisses to her throat as Kagome tilted her head to the side, allowing her to see over his shoulder. Her eyes flicked over the area rapidly in search of the hanyou she desired to kill and she spotted him standing near the back door. She buried her hands in the taiyoukai's hair and her lips brushed his ear as she whispered to him.

"He's out here, by the door. He looks like hell, too. What are you going to do?"

The taiyoukai was silent for a long moment. What was he going to do? What did he have to do to get through to his brother? He couldn't understand why Inuyasha wanted to break them up. He finally had something good in his life and his brother wanted nothing but to take it away from him. Did he not want their father to be proud of him? Was he afraid of competition, that the old dog wouldn't like him as much if he had another son he could acknowledge in public without being humiliated?

Was Inuyasha jealous of what he had? Kagome was a prize, that he knew, and the hanyou had made it obvious that he was interested in her as well. Did he honestly think that if they broke up, that the miko would run into his arms? He was disgusting, rude and vulgar, and Kagome would never be interested in him, whether she was available or not. Inuyasha would never win her over.

Did he want to just beat him up again? Would that teach the fool anything at all? He had no idea and the taiyoukai sighed. "I do not know. What do you think I should do? I do not think that hitting him will get through to him, even though he more than deserves it."

Prompt: Streak – (vb) To make long lines of a different color on or in something. To go or move very quickly. To run through a public place naked in order to get attention. (Stella's Word Prompt Game)

Kagome sighed. She had no idea either. "Let's just confront him and see how it goes," she suggested. "That is, if he doesn't run away scared when he realizes that you know he's here."

Sesshoumaru caught Kagome's waist and placed her gently on her feet. He pressed his lips to her forehead and warned her that he was going after the hanyou. Then he disappeared from her sight, streaking across the patio faster than she could see, stopping directly in front of a very startled and cornered Inuyasha. The hanyou's eyes widened in shock and Kagome laughed at his expression as she made her way to their side.

"Why would you attempt to damage my relationship?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

"Because you don't fucking deserve it!" Inuyasha exclaimed angrily. His entire body was tense, his muscles like tightly coiled springs ready to snap. He refused to be caught unprepared for a fight. Not this time. Sesshoumaru was not getting the jump on him again. "You don't deserve her! You don't deserve anyone!"

"Oh, and you do?" Kagome asked in a snarky tone. "He's a wonderful man and you're nothing but a juvenile with a smart mouth and a filthy mind."

"Fuck you, bitch," the hanyou spat. He was surprised when Sesshoumaru suddenly had his hand around his throat, squeezing firmly. The taiyoukai had moved faster than he could see, again! It wasn't right and he snarled in frustration, the sound cutting off as Sesshoumaru's grip tightened.

"With respect or not at all," the taiyoukai reminded him. "You should go home before I knock out the rest of your teeth."

"You couldn't do it if you tried. In a fair fight, I'd take you down in an instant!"

"A fair fight?" Kagome repeated. "And what do you call last night?"

"A fucking sucker punch," the hanyou exclaimed angrily. "Right now, right here, I could kick your ass into next week."

Sesshoumaru raised one brow at his brother. "You truly believe so?"

"I know so, you fucking loser!"

The miko smirked. "So why don't we find out for sure? There's enough room back here in the yard."

The taiyoukai turned his focus to Kagome, never releasing his brother's throat. "You wish for me to fight again?"

"I wish for him to shut the hell up. If it takes you beating him up again, I think it's worth it."

"Why not? You afraid?" Inuyasha asked arrogantly. He was certain he could take his brother. Not only did he have all the fighting experience, but he was stone sober and he'd watched Sesshoumaru do shot after shot. The taiyoukai was intoxicated, so surely that would slow him down.

"Not of you. Not any longer," Sesshoumaru said confidently.

"Then let's do this."

Sesshoumaru nodded his agreement and loosened his grip on the hanyou's throat. "We will not begin until we are in the yard, so as to not cause damage," he told his brother.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

A crowd had gathered during their altercation and the people watched eagerly as both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha headed off the patio and into the yard. Kagome forced her way to the front lines, eager to see the hanyou beaten once again. She wasn't concerned in the least, even knowing that the taiyoukai was tipsy. He was twice as fast and twice as strong as the half demon. There was no way Inuyasha was winning this fight.

"Do not forget, little brother, that there is no security guard to keep me from injuring you severely."

The hanyou huffed. "You got lucky last time. It's not going to happen again."

Prompt: Birl: to spin or cause to rotate (Obscure Word Challenge)

Both brothers glanced at the gathered crowd as several people yelled for them to stop talking and start fighting. Noticing that the taiyoukai was distracted, Inuyasha closed the distance between them at top speed, ready to slice his brother's chest with his claws. The hanyou was surprised when Sesshoumaru caught his wrist before his claws could reach him. He twisted Inuyasha's arm behind his back and people cheered. The hanyou managed to wriggle himself loose, but not before Sesshoumaru landed a punch to the back of his skull, which sent his head spinning.

Sango pushed her way through the gathered spectators to Kagome's side, a concerned expression on her face. "I thought you said Sesshoumaru was gentle. It sure doesn't look like it."

The miko rolled her eyes at her friend's concern. She knew Sango meant well, but she didn't want to hear it. "Inuyasha showed up again trying to trick us into breaking up. He more than asked for this."

"I still don't like the thought of you being with such a violent man."

"He's only violent when the situation calls for it. You don't know him like I do, Sango. There's nothing to worry about."

Sango fell silent, watching the battle between brothers along with everyone else. The hanyou kept charging the taiyoukai, attempting to get a hit in on him, but every time Sesshoumaru was able to block it. The crowd cheered them on, calling for bloodshed, laughing as the hanyou was knocked down again and again. The longer it went on, the angrier Inuyasha became and his swings grew wilder, making it even easier for Sesshoumaru to toss him away.

Prompt: Galumph: to move in a clumsy manner or with a heavy tread. (Obscure Word Challenge)

Eventually, the taiyoukai grew tired of simply blocking his brother's hits. He glanced in Kagome's direction, checking to make sure she was still there, before swinging. His fist connected with Inuyasha's already bruised cheek and the hanyou fell backwards, landing hard on the ground.

The crowd cheered as the hanyou climbed slowly to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. Inuyasha stumbled around for a moment, trying to regain his bearings, before charging at his brother once again. He was like a bull barreling blindly at the toreador, not considering for a moment that he might be injured, running only on anger and hatred. He still hadn't realized that Sesshoumaru, even with no experience whatsoever, was better at this than him. He couldn't accept that. He'd been fighting all his life, throwing punches and slicing with his claws. He had to know more about it than his weakling brother.

The next time Inuyasha came rushing at him, Sesshoumaru caught him, twisting his arm behind his back before kicking him in the ass, knocking him off his feet and face down in the dirt. The hanyou pushed himself up on his arms, spitting dirt and grass out of his mouth, snarling in frustration.

"Just end this already," Kagome called out and Sesshoumaru nodded. He'd played with his brother for long enough. She was tired of watching and ready to head back to the dorms with her boyfriend, as far away from the crude hanyou as possible, and the taiyoukai felt the same way.

"You can surrender now and save yourself the pain," Sesshoumaru said, giving his brother the option to back down, though he knew the hanyou was too stubborn to take it.

"Fuck you," Inuyasha spat back. Realizing that running headlong at his brother wasn't working, the hanyou decided to try another approach, faking to the left before attacking from the right. He cursed as Sesshoumaru blocked the hit once again. His brother was just too fast. There was no way he could win this fight. Still, he refused to accept defeat.

Flashes of memories flitted through the taiyoukai's mind, remembering time after time that Inuyasha had attacked and injured him. One move stood out, as it had happened again and again, and when the hanyou approached, Sesshoumaru caught hold of him and punched him hard in the stomach. When he hunched forward in pain, the taiyoukai brought up his knee, hitting his brother in the face. Inuyasha collapsed to the side with a groan of pain and the crowd cheered.

Sesshoumaru rolled the hanyou onto his back, kneeling over his abdomen, and he punched his brother in the face. Inuyasha's hands flailed, trying to block the hits, desperate to cause the taiyoukai at least some pain. The hanyou's claws cut deeply into Sesshoumaru's upper arm on his left side and he swung harder in retaliation, sending Inuyasha's head spinning. The hanyou saw stars as his brother hit him again and again, the taiyoukai losing control of his anger and his beast in the process.

Kagome rushed to his side, grabbing at her boyfriend's right arm. "Stop now, Sesshoumaru. He's done." She had to yell it several times, but finally it got through and the taiyoukai's fist stopped flying. Inuyasha groaned in pain as his brother climbed to his feet, not sparing a second glance at the hanyou. His focus was entirely on the miko.

His eyes were glowing red, his markings jagged, and it was obvious to her that his beast was in full control. He ignored the injury to his arm, catching Kagome's waist. He pulled her body close and leaned down, pressing his lips forcefully to hers. The miko melted into his hold, allowing the beast the dominance he desired while a few party-goers helped Inuyasha off the ground.

Sango approached, determined to rescue her good friend from a vicious animal. She pulled at the miko's arm, only to let it go quickly as Sesshoumaru snarled at her. "Kagome!" she yelled. "Get away from him!"

The miko rolled her eyes in annoyance, turning to focus on her friend while the taiyoukai pressed hot kisses to her throat and shoulder. "I'm fine, Sango," Kagome tried to assure her friend.

"No, you're not. He can't even control himself!"

Growing irritated with the girl trying to take his woman away from him, Sesshoumaru's hands tightened on Kagome's sides. He lifted her feet from the ground, smirking wickedly as her legs wrapped around his waist for balance. Sango called out to her friend, but the miko merely waved her off as the taiyoukai walked away, heading towards the front of the house.

"Let's go back to my room," Kagome suggested and Sesshoumaru nodded. Slowly, as he walked with her in his arms, the taiyoukai's anger cooled and his beast receded. Seeing golden eyes once again, the miko smiled, happy to have her boyfriend back.

"If you had not stopped me, I might have killed him," he murmured, holding her body tightly to his. "Perhaps your friend is right. You are not safe with me if I cannot control myself."

Kagome shook her head. "I've never felt safer than when I'm in your arms."