Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or the characters; that honour belongs solely to Rumiko Takahashi.
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Higurashi Kagome was a bit of an enigma to Sesshomaru. He knew that she was younger than him; believed her to be the same age as his younger hanyou brother, Inuyasha.
Yet she was in his higher advanced classes, barring mathematics, and physical education. It spoke of her intelligence, something he appreciated considering most young females acted like complete air heads.
Many of the females, and some of the males knew her well, but he had never seen her before this year. After subtlety questioning Inuyasha, he had found she had moved away for a few years to attend training for her miko abilities, apparently she had excelled and had been granted permission to return and finish high school.
He found that curious, most miko's upon reaching fulfilment of their spiritual training did not bother to further their education and took up positions as shrine maidens.
And he knew that she was in line to inherit her families shrine; it was a well known one within the area, many, including youkai visited it during the holidays and festivities to offer prayers to the kami's.
In his musing, he almost missed the approach of a group. Slanting a glance downwards from his position up within the tree he had taken refuge in for a semblance of peace away from the school populace during lunchtime break, he recognize the group of softly chattering females as they settled beneath him.
Unsure for a moment as to whether he should stay in his chosen (hidden) spot, or if he should announce his presence, he waited in silence.
He paid little attention to their meaningless conversation, until one sat up straight and waved, calling out in greeting. "Kagome-chan!"
Freezing in place, Sesshomaru watched as the female on his mind joined her friends, treating them to a warm smile. "Sorry I'm late."
"Not at all." One said, what was her name? Ah, yes...Eri. "We just arrived ourselves."
Kagome nodded, and bent to seat herself gracefully, tucking her long slender legs beneath her. She was in just the right position, and Sesshomaru fought the urge to move (hide, hide, hide!) when her azure eyes glanced up to him with a faintly questioning look.
Realizing that she had been aware of him when approaching, he withheld his huff of air and looked away in seeming disinterest. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the small tilt that touched her pink lips before her attention was garnered by her friends.
"So, Kagome-chan, I hear someone asked you to do an exorcism on the girls locker room?"
She emitted a delicate snort. "Taka-sensei. A lot of girls have been complaining of feeling like their being watched while changing and swear they have been groped by an invisible hand." She rolled her eyes as the others murmured. "Taka-sensei asked me to see if I could purify the locker room and see if there was any mischievous spirit."
"Was there?" A girl leaned forwards eagerly.
Sesshomaru highly doubted it, and Kagome confirmed his thought, giving a light chuckle. "No, Ayumi-chan."
A couple girls looked disappointed, but soon they moved on to other discussions.
Surreptitiously observing the petite miko, Sesshomaru found a rather grim look within her eyes, and pondered over it.
Soon the bell rang and he watched on as the gathered females broke apart and headed to their classes. He heard the absentminded farewells Kagome gave to her friends as she walked in a different direction.
Curious, he jumped and landed smoothly on the ground and masking his youkai followed at a discreet distance.
It was well that he had a free class available at this moment, he was intrigued about what was bothering the miko.
Looking around the doorway that she had entered into, he paused and looked on bemused at he scene within.
Kagome stood glaring with a dangerous expression at male sitting in a chair before a computer, holding his hands to his head wearing a pained look.
"This is the third time, Miroku." She stated angrily. "You swore to stop peeping on the girls locker room! You're lucky its me and not Sango that knows about this!"
"I can't help myself," he sighed. "All those pretty girls as they slowly strip-"
A low dark sounding growl emitted from the raven haired girl, the sound of it startling the inuyoukai watching momentarily. It was an incredibly accurate noise to come from a human throat.
Miroku gave her a charming, bright smile, reaching out to clasp her dainty hands in his. "Dear lovely Kagome, has anyone mentioned that you are looking particularly...lavish today?" He leered at her curved form.
Her eyes flashed before the poor male slid to the ground unconscious, a foolish smile still on his features. "Idiot," she murmured, but with an under current of fondness. Stepping past him, she leaned forwards and plucked up a small device.
Turning, she gave a small smile to the doorway. "May I trouble you to offer assistance, Taisho-sama?"
Stepping within the room, hiding his shock to her knowledge of his presence, he leaned in the door jamb and cast a curious look to her.
Holding out the piece of machinery, which looked like a small handheld computer, her smile grew. "Melt this."
Blinking, he arched a brow.
"It's his little spy wear for peeping on girls," she explained to his unasked question. "I've already fried the circuits twice before now, but he apparently has spare parts to fix it. If you would, melt it with your poison. I can get his hidden camera from the girls locker room later."
Sesshomaru directed a bored look to the still unconscious male. "You are familiar with him?"
"That letch is a childhood friend." She admitted cheerfully.
"Hn." Carefully he took the device from her, minding his claws and without a second thought brought forth his poison. Metal and plastic turned to goo in mere seconds.
Kagome watched with her bright gaze fixed on his hand thoughtfully, and with a hint of curiosity. He found her lack of fear to one of his most feared weapons interesting as he flicked his claws clean of the mess.
"My thanks, Taisho-sama," Kagome clapped her hands together and bowed. "I owe you."
His eyes watched the mass of her black hair slide over one petite shoulder and expose her slender throat. "Just make sure the fool desists."
"Of course," she replied with a small smile.
He turned away, and stopped (because Taisho Sesshomaru did NOT hesitate). "Lunch."
"I beg your pardon?" Kagome looked over, confused.
Turning his head enough to see her from over his shoulder, he contemplated her. "A lunch," he said mildly. "It will suffice for your debt to this one."
"Oh!" Her pretty visage brightened as she smiled in understanding. "Alright."
Nodding curtly, he forced himself to leave, and stroll along casually, giving away no hint to the anticipation that filled him.
Tomorrow would not come quick enough to satisfy his eagerness as to what the mysterious Higurashi Kagome would do for his lunch.