12/6/03
The Exchange Student
Chapter 6: Bad News First, Then the Good News (Part II)
~* Æ*~ Okay, I am stuck, stuck, Stuck! I don't know what to do. I think Sesshou's too ooc in this chapter, but if I change it, I'll never get to the point that I want to in this chapter. So I want your opinion. This chapter isn't done yet. I have more written down, but right now I need to know from you how ooc he is and how you think I can change it. The point of this chapter is to get Sesshou a bit closer to Kagome, at least enough to help her with her English, or at least agree to. Anyways, if you want to (actually I want you to, pretty please?), email me and I'll send you the rest of what I have written down, and please tell me what you think of it. ~* Æ*~
'...' - thoughts "[italics]" -Japanese
~* Æ*~
Last time:
~*~
He took carefully measured steps towards Naraku. For each step he took forward, Naraku took one backwards.
"Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru, please! That's enough."
Kagome's voice, begging, made his steps falter. He looked back at her. Her lip was split and blood was slowly trickling down her chin. The sight did nothing to alleviate his anger. He turned and lunged at Naraku.
~*~
"Sesshoumaru! Please, I don't want you to get hurt!" Kagome started to make her way to the two brawling men, when someone grabbed her shoulders. It was Yume.
"Wait! You'll only get hurt again. Look the ambulance is nearly here, and so are the cops. Can't you-"
Kagome pried her hands off of her shoulders. "No! I can't-"
"Listen! Can't you hear the sire-"
"I can't understand a word you're saying! I can't understand Japanese!" Kagome yelled out at the top of her lungs, while roughly pushing the girl's hands away. She realized was using the girl as an outlet for her frustrations, and felt vaguely guilty, but it just felt too good to let it out. . .
"Listen, doctor is coming! And police!" Yume made up for her broken English by pointing down the street where the flashing lights of mobile cars and an ambulance can be seen. "See? You wait here. Don't get hurt. Police take care of it. Okay?"
Kagome grudgingly agreed not to attempt to break apart the fight physically, but did not refrain from shouting. "Stop it! The police are coming! They'll be here soon! Sesshoumaru!"
As before, entreaties went unheeded. Both men continued to exchange blows. Naraku has abandoned the thought of fleeing now. He has sustained far too serious injuries to both his body and to his pride to give up now without returning the favor to his foe. He has gone on the offensive, but was hard pressed to find any weak points in his opponent's defenses. Sesshoumaru blocked with his arms, occasionally landing in a blow or two. He took his time; though his punches were farther apart, they packed more power behind them.
Sesshoumaru was vaguely aware of someone shouting at him, and the faint keening of sirens, but he was too absorbed in the fight. He knew that it was not wise for him to block out the outside world entirely, but right now, he couldn't bring himself to break enough of his concentration to lend some to his surroundings. He had just gone back on the offensive, when two arms grabbed him from behind and started to pull his away from Naraku. He spun around on one heel, arm stretched back prepared to hit who ever was behind him unconscious when he heard, "Police!"
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a policeman preventing Naraku from advancing on him in much the same manner as he was detained. Sesshoumaru relaxed his stance and turned to face the one who yelled out.
"Put your hands up!"
Sesshoumaru reluctantly did as he was told. "Officer-"
"Quiet!" He pointed his gun at Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru scowled at this.
"What happened here? We were called to the scene of an accident and we arrive here at the scene of a street fight!"
"Please allow me to explain. It all began when-"
Naralu growled, interrupting Sesshoumaru. "He attacked me!" He gestured to his battered and bloody face. "I demand that he be put behind bars!"
"I wouldn't have attacked if you did not try to hurt my-" here Sesshoumaru faltered. What does he call her? "-my companion!"
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome appeared just in time to corroborate his claim. She frantically pushed aside two of the policemen surrounding the two combatants. "Sesshoumaru, are you all right?"
All eyes shifted from Naraku and Sesshoumaru to the girl. Kagome quickly scanned his body for injuries. His clothing was ripped in a few places, noticeably his knees and elbow. Kagome did not realize when she took a sharp intake of breath as her eyes fell on his shirt. It was splattered with blood. Kagome only prayed it wasn't his.
As she reached for his hand, Sesshoumaru pulled away. When Kagome looked up at him questioningly, pleadingly, she saw his face. She winced. Blood was dribbling out of the side of his mouth. His bottom lip was swollen and split open.
"Oh. . ." Sesshoumaru, who had looked away, brought his eyes back to meet with hers at the obvious pain and remorse behind that single, softly spoken word. She hesitantly extended a slightly quivering hand to brush the blood away, just waiting for him to move away again, or yell at her, or- or...
Her touch, light as it was, still sent pain shooting through him. Still, he kept himself from wincing or crying out, and continued to looked down upon her. No weaknesses allowed.
Kagome looked at the crimson liquid on her fingers. 'It's warm. . . and such a nice vivid color, too. . .' She gazed at it, almost as if she didn't know what it was. She lifted her eyes to his face and was caught in his golden gaze again. She felt her throat constrict.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered. Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes. Now that it was finally over-the scare, the terror, the worry and the dread that came with it are, for the most part, gone-the last few minutes were catching up to her. It left her feeling drained. And she still has to contend with the feeling of guilt that threatened to overwhelm her frayed nerves and the realization that everything really was happening. "It-It's all..."
"Why haven't you seen to your injuries yet? There are paramedics waiting to treat your wounds. See to it." Sesshoumaru couldn't muster any venom to add to his quiet rebuke. He just. . . didn't want to see her cry. 'Hmph. Really now. She should see to her injuries first.'
"How could I do that, when you're standing here-NOT getting the attention *you* desperately need, since you're far more injured than I am?" She was still on the verge of crying.
"'Desperately'?" He repeated, a few degrees colder. His white eyebrow, marred with crimson blood, arched. 'Hmph. Women. It's only a few scratches.'
"Yes! Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me you're not hurting?"
Sesshoumaru looked her in the eye and said, "I'm not hurting." He can be a good liar when he wants to be. But, as he said this, Sesshoumaru saw something flash in her azure eyes. She knew he was lying. Kagome struggled to put a smile on her face, but only came up with a sorry excuse for one.
"Still you're coming with me." Without waiting for his consent, she latched onto his hand and pulled him in the direction of the ambulance.
"I have to stay here and explain what transpired to the officer."
"No, go ahead with your girlfriend. She's obviously worried about you and is very upset. It would reassure her if you went with her. I will talk to you after you see to your own injuries." To Kagome he said, "Go ahead young lady. Take him to the ambulance."
Sesshoumaru growled at the man as he was dragged away. "She is not my girlfriend." 'Why would he think that?'
The middle aged policeman chuckled. "No, eh?" He turned around and walked over to the scene of the accident.
Chapter 6: Bad News First, Then the Good News (Part II)
~* Æ*~ Okay, I am stuck, stuck, Stuck! I don't know what to do. I think Sesshou's too ooc in this chapter, but if I change it, I'll never get to the point that I want to in this chapter. So I want your opinion. This chapter isn't done yet. I have more written down, but right now I need to know from you how ooc he is and how you think I can change it. The point of this chapter is to get Sesshou a bit closer to Kagome, at least enough to help her with her English, or at least agree to. Anyways, if you want to (actually I want you to, pretty please?), email me and I'll send you the rest of what I have written down, and please tell me what you think of it. ~* Æ*~
'...' - thoughts "[italics]" -Japanese
~* Æ*~
Last time:
~*~
He took carefully measured steps towards Naraku. For each step he took forward, Naraku took one backwards.
"Sesshoumaru? Sesshoumaru, please! That's enough."
Kagome's voice, begging, made his steps falter. He looked back at her. Her lip was split and blood was slowly trickling down her chin. The sight did nothing to alleviate his anger. He turned and lunged at Naraku.
~*~
"Sesshoumaru! Please, I don't want you to get hurt!" Kagome started to make her way to the two brawling men, when someone grabbed her shoulders. It was Yume.
"Wait! You'll only get hurt again. Look the ambulance is nearly here, and so are the cops. Can't you-"
Kagome pried her hands off of her shoulders. "No! I can't-"
"Listen! Can't you hear the sire-"
"I can't understand a word you're saying! I can't understand Japanese!" Kagome yelled out at the top of her lungs, while roughly pushing the girl's hands away. She realized was using the girl as an outlet for her frustrations, and felt vaguely guilty, but it just felt too good to let it out. . .
"Listen, doctor is coming! And police!" Yume made up for her broken English by pointing down the street where the flashing lights of mobile cars and an ambulance can be seen. "See? You wait here. Don't get hurt. Police take care of it. Okay?"
Kagome grudgingly agreed not to attempt to break apart the fight physically, but did not refrain from shouting. "Stop it! The police are coming! They'll be here soon! Sesshoumaru!"
As before, entreaties went unheeded. Both men continued to exchange blows. Naraku has abandoned the thought of fleeing now. He has sustained far too serious injuries to both his body and to his pride to give up now without returning the favor to his foe. He has gone on the offensive, but was hard pressed to find any weak points in his opponent's defenses. Sesshoumaru blocked with his arms, occasionally landing in a blow or two. He took his time; though his punches were farther apart, they packed more power behind them.
Sesshoumaru was vaguely aware of someone shouting at him, and the faint keening of sirens, but he was too absorbed in the fight. He knew that it was not wise for him to block out the outside world entirely, but right now, he couldn't bring himself to break enough of his concentration to lend some to his surroundings. He had just gone back on the offensive, when two arms grabbed him from behind and started to pull his away from Naraku. He spun around on one heel, arm stretched back prepared to hit who ever was behind him unconscious when he heard, "Police!"
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a policeman preventing Naraku from advancing on him in much the same manner as he was detained. Sesshoumaru relaxed his stance and turned to face the one who yelled out.
"Put your hands up!"
Sesshoumaru reluctantly did as he was told. "Officer-"
"Quiet!" He pointed his gun at Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru scowled at this.
"What happened here? We were called to the scene of an accident and we arrive here at the scene of a street fight!"
"Please allow me to explain. It all began when-"
Naralu growled, interrupting Sesshoumaru. "He attacked me!" He gestured to his battered and bloody face. "I demand that he be put behind bars!"
"I wouldn't have attacked if you did not try to hurt my-" here Sesshoumaru faltered. What does he call her? "-my companion!"
"Sesshoumaru!" Kagome appeared just in time to corroborate his claim. She frantically pushed aside two of the policemen surrounding the two combatants. "Sesshoumaru, are you all right?"
All eyes shifted from Naraku and Sesshoumaru to the girl. Kagome quickly scanned his body for injuries. His clothing was ripped in a few places, noticeably his knees and elbow. Kagome did not realize when she took a sharp intake of breath as her eyes fell on his shirt. It was splattered with blood. Kagome only prayed it wasn't his.
As she reached for his hand, Sesshoumaru pulled away. When Kagome looked up at him questioningly, pleadingly, she saw his face. She winced. Blood was dribbling out of the side of his mouth. His bottom lip was swollen and split open.
"Oh. . ." Sesshoumaru, who had looked away, brought his eyes back to meet with hers at the obvious pain and remorse behind that single, softly spoken word. She hesitantly extended a slightly quivering hand to brush the blood away, just waiting for him to move away again, or yell at her, or- or...
Her touch, light as it was, still sent pain shooting through him. Still, he kept himself from wincing or crying out, and continued to looked down upon her. No weaknesses allowed.
Kagome looked at the crimson liquid on her fingers. 'It's warm. . . and such a nice vivid color, too. . .' She gazed at it, almost as if she didn't know what it was. She lifted her eyes to his face and was caught in his golden gaze again. She felt her throat constrict.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered. Tears gathered at the edges of her eyes. Now that it was finally over-the scare, the terror, the worry and the dread that came with it are, for the most part, gone-the last few minutes were catching up to her. It left her feeling drained. And she still has to contend with the feeling of guilt that threatened to overwhelm her frayed nerves and the realization that everything really was happening. "It-It's all..."
"Why haven't you seen to your injuries yet? There are paramedics waiting to treat your wounds. See to it." Sesshoumaru couldn't muster any venom to add to his quiet rebuke. He just. . . didn't want to see her cry. 'Hmph. Really now. She should see to her injuries first.'
"How could I do that, when you're standing here-NOT getting the attention *you* desperately need, since you're far more injured than I am?" She was still on the verge of crying.
"'Desperately'?" He repeated, a few degrees colder. His white eyebrow, marred with crimson blood, arched. 'Hmph. Women. It's only a few scratches.'
"Yes! Can you honestly look me in the eye and tell me you're not hurting?"
Sesshoumaru looked her in the eye and said, "I'm not hurting." He can be a good liar when he wants to be. But, as he said this, Sesshoumaru saw something flash in her azure eyes. She knew he was lying. Kagome struggled to put a smile on her face, but only came up with a sorry excuse for one.
"Still you're coming with me." Without waiting for his consent, she latched onto his hand and pulled him in the direction of the ambulance.
"I have to stay here and explain what transpired to the officer."
"No, go ahead with your girlfriend. She's obviously worried about you and is very upset. It would reassure her if you went with her. I will talk to you after you see to your own injuries." To Kagome he said, "Go ahead young lady. Take him to the ambulance."
Sesshoumaru growled at the man as he was dragged away. "She is not my girlfriend." 'Why would he think that?'
The middle aged policeman chuckled. "No, eh?" He turned around and walked over to the scene of the accident.