Higher Education by SunsetMiko

Chapter 9

All prompts are labeled with the challenge the correspond to.

Prompt: Shyness (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2)

While they waited for their food, the pair sat in awkward silence. Finally, the strain got to her and Kagome sighed. "It doesn't make sense," she declared. "If we can talk so easily through texts, we should be able to have a simple conversation over a meal."

"I agree. What would you like to talk about?"

The miko was silent for a long moment before sighing again. "I guess it's just easier to share when you don't have to see the other person's reaction."

"Are you afraid that this Sesshoumaru will judge you?" he asked. Really, it was the other way around. He wasn't sure what to say to her, what was appropriate conversation, and he was terrified to say the wrong thing. Kagome was a social creature and he didn't understand her difficulty with the situation. She should be able to converse easily.

The waitress arrived, carrying their lunches, giving the miko a brief reprieve from answering his question. The truth was, her mind was full of things to say but she couldn't settle on any one topic. She wasn't sure what would interest him and she didn't want to seem boring. They were on a date! At least, she thought it was a date. She had no idea what he considered what they were doing.

Prompt: Pariah (Stella's Word Prompt Game) Words: 300

Deciding to go with the next thing to pop into her head, Kagome smiled. "What are you doing this weekend?" she asked. "Any big plans?"

"I have no plans, except my studies. Why? What are you going to be doing this weekend?"

Kagome's smile widened. "My sorority is having a pool party Saturday, one last time before it gets too chilly and we have to close up the pool for the winter. I thought it sounded like fun. You wanna come?"

He thought about it for a long moment. Could he go to a pool party? Could he walk around half dressed in front of the popular crowd? What would they think of him? Finally, he decided. If Kagome wanted him to go with her, then he would. He would subject himself to just about anything to be by her side. "I would have to go shopping again," he told her. "I do not have swimming trunks."

"Or appropriate shoes," Kagome added. "Oh, this will change everything," she said with a grin. "Just promise me you won't forget who pried you out of your shell in the first place, okay?" She knew that once his shirt came off, she wouldn't be the only one interested in him. It might not be the best idea, alerting other females to the incredible body he was hiding. Now she would have competition for his affection and he would likely be overwhelmed by the attention.

Sesshoumaru was confused. What would change everything? Why might he forget her? How could she possibly think that he could forget her? She was always on his mind. Always. "What will change things?" he asked.

Kagome grinned widely. "When those girls get their eyes on your body, you won't be a social pariah anymore. They'll be all over you."

Prompt: Follow Up (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2)

"I doubt that." Really, why would his body change his level of popularity?

"I don't." Kagome took a bite of her sandwich before moaning softly. "Wow, that is good."

"I told you they had good food," he agreed.

From that point on, the ice was broken and conversation flowed easily as the couple discussed their school projects and other work they needed to do. They compared professors and teaching techniques. The pool party didn't come up again until they were finished and ready to head back to campus.

"Do you think... could you..." Sesshoumaru stammered nervously as they stood side by side on the sidewalk. How he ached for her to kiss him again, and that desire was making speaking clearly impossible. Finally, he managed to spit it out. "I may need help selecting my new trunks," he confessed.

"And shoes," she added playfully. "Sure, I'd love to. Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow afternoon if possible."

Kagome quickly agreed and they set a time and a place to meet the next day. The walk back to campus was pleasant, as the threat of rain had passed and the sun was shining through the dissipating clouds.

"Ugh," Kagome groaned. "I have so much work still to do today and tomorrow. I need to make more progress this weekend before I go out partying than I did last week. I got like zero sleep Sunday night cramming it all in. At least we're not going out tomorrow night, just Saturday during the day."

"Will you be able to accomplish your goal?" Sesshoumaru asked. He really didn't care one way or the other if they went to this party, so long as he was with her. The idea of walking around half-naked and exposed worried him and he wondered if the miko would allow him to wear a shirt. The thought of everyone staring at him as Kagome described had him nervous already. He didn't want the attention of other females, only one: Kagome.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've got an early evening class tonight and a morning one tomorrow, then I'm done with classes 'til Monday. There's the research paper and presentation and then the regular class work, recopying my notes, reading chapters. You know."

"But you will have time to help this Sesshoumaru shop, will you not?"

Kagome turned to him with a bright smile on her face. "I'll make time for you, Sesshoumaru."

Prompt: Advice (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2)

"Well, there's good news and bad news," Kagome said as she looked over the store's selection of swimming trunks. "Everything is on sale because it's the end of the season, but it's really picked over. Not a lot of choices."

"Does it really matter? Can we not just find one that fits and purchase it?"

"No! We have to find one that goes well with your coloring, something that suits you."

"Perhaps I should not have brought a woman to a clothing store," he teased. "You are making this so much more complicated than if I came alone."

Kagome huffed. "If you don't want my help, I can leave. If you do, well then let's get you in the dressing room." She handed Sesshoumaru several choices that she'd selected as they talked and nudged him in the right direction. "I'll be right outside the door. I wanna see them all."

Sesshoumaru sighed heavily but accepted the colorful trunks and made his way into the dressing room. It felt awkward, trying on clothing, knowing that she was waiting for him, ready to judge how he looked in each selection. When he had the first option on, he opened the door and stepped out.

"Take your shirt off," Kagome instructed. "You look silly in a button down shirt and swimming trunks."

"Here?" he asked, instantly turned on by her demand that he remove his clothing.

"Guys can go topless. Don't worry about it. I can't judge the looks like this. It needs to come off." Kagome tried her damndest not to smirk as he unbuttoned his shirt slowly, like a man walking to his execution. "Come on," she said with a grin. "It's not a big deal."

Finally, Sesshoumaru finished unbuttoning his dress shirt and opened it, sliding it down his arms. He couldn't bring himself to look at Kagome, worried that she would be disappointed in his appearance, but he should have been watching her face. It would have definitely given him a boost of confidence.

The miko swallowed hard to keep from drooling and her hands balled into fists at the overwhelming desire to trace the dips of muscle definition on his chest and abdomen. He looked absolutely delicious and again she questioned the intelligence of showing him off in such a way. He was going to have girls throwing themselves at him and he wouldn't have a clue how to handle the situation. He would be completely overwhelmed!

Forcing herself to focus on the task at hand, Kagome shifted her focus from his pale skin to the trunks he was currently wearing. "Nope. That doesn't compliment your coloring. You're so pale! Don't you ever get out in the sun?"

"I wear suits. Even if I was in the sun, I would not tan."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "We're going to have to do something about that. Maybe you'll get some color tomorrow. Go on. Try the next one."

Prompt: Attendance (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge 2)

This continued for several minutes until they found the right pair of trunks. Sesshoumaru knew it the instant he saw Kagome's eyes. The seemed to glaze over slightly and he watched as she licked her lips. Yes, she definitely preferred this pair. He was still surprised by her reaction. Did this mean that she found him physically attractive? He breathed in deeply and couldn't help but smirk. She was aroused, and by him! This was good news, right? He hoped so.

"Perfect," Kagome whispered.

"I was thinking of wearing a shirt," Sesshoumaru said hesitantly, unsure of how Kagome would react.

"A shirt? Why?"

"Because I am uncomfortable showing so much skin."

Kagome laughed. "You sound like a girl getting a makeover. It's perfectly normal for guys to be topless when swimming. Wearing a shirt isn't necessary."

"Still..." Sesshoumaru started.

"Oh, all right," Kagome said with a dramatic sigh, flipping through the sleeveless shirts to find one that matched the trunks she had chosen. Finally she found one and handed it to him. "Put it on. Let's see." The taiyoukai did so and Kagome sighed again. The shirt wasn't tight enough to show off his body, but it would cling to him once he got it wet. She supposed it would do. Besides, he would likely desire to remove it once it was soaking wet anyway.

The couple quickly selected a pair of sandals for Sesshoumaru before checking out. Now he was ready for the party the next day and they set out to walk back to campus. Kagome smirked at the thought of his reaction to her bathing suit. He'd nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw her in her oversized shirt. What would a bikini do to his sanity?

As they walked, they talked, Sesshoumaru questioning the proper etiquette for a pool party. Kagome did her best to explain, assuring him that he would do fine. He just needed to relax and be himself, or a more laid back version of himself.

"Are you certain that you want this Sesshoumaru as your escort?"

"Getting cold feet?" she asked.

"No, but I do not want to embarrass you." The last thing he wanted was to make a fool of himself and affect Kagome's social standing. It had to be hard on her popularity to be hanging around with a nerd in the first place. He could only make it worse with his ignorance of social rules. He was going to be surrounded by sorority girls and frat boys and just the idea of it was stressing him out.

"Trust me; you're not going to embarrass me. You are, however, going to make all the other girls jealous of me. You have to come. I absolutely can't go alone."

"You wish to make the other females jealous?" Kagome didn't seem like the kind of girl to flaunt what she had to make others green with envy, so this didn't make sense to him. Why would she be so enthusiastic about making her own sorority sisters jealous?

"For one reason and one reason only. You need to see that you're physically attractive. When you see all those girls drooling over you, it'll do wonders for your confidence. Give your ego a boost. Drag you further out of your shell. I'm trying to help you."

Sesshoumaru sighed softly. Tomorrow was going to be a stressful day.