Kiss and Control

Inuyasha heaved the large book-bag over his shoulder with literally no effort. He had purchased it on a whim early this morning, and it had already come in handy. Since he didn't have a car, he was currently using the local transit and the occasional taxi as his means of transportation. The black sack had proven useful already by fitting all of the cleaning supplies inside of it. After hauling a couple of grocery bags (all non-spoilables...he was still scared of the fridge) on the bus, he had learned from his mistakes. From now on, if it didn't fit in his backpack, it would be considered not necessary, and would be left. He had managed to clean the bathroom and his bedroom - at least he wasn’t afraid to put his stuff on the floor anymore, and he could take a shower. Though the stuff had wreaked havoc on his nose and eyes, the cleaners had done their jobs. The windows were fixed too - he had ripped the nails out, and they could open now.

He had decided that he wouldn't wait for Friday, he would go and find the girl today. Not that he was ever patient, but he really needed to get out of the apartment, and figured on at least getting a little work done. He had done his research on the small town. There wasn't really anything special here with the exception of a new university. Why anyone would put one in this little suburb was beyond him, but it only worked in his advantage, so he couldn't complain. With a college in the area, new young people came and went like the common cold. Being twenty-three, he fit in perfectly with the hundreds of other grungy young people. He had worried at first about having to cut his hair, but it seemed that long hair was now officially "In", so his locks could stay.

Tucking away his blue cell phone in his right pocket, he left his red Nokia sitting on the bed. The blue was specifically for contact with his employer - not that he expected a call, but it never hurt to be prepared. Secretly, he had been hoping for an order to abort his current assignment, and to just go for the target. But according to his employer, Higurashi senior was a paranoid SOB, (as most business tycoons) and had miles of paperwork to keep his fortunes and businesses out of "the wrong hands" if he should happen to die in an "unnatural way". Not that this mattered to Inuyasha. He knew a hundred ways to kill a man in seemingly natural ways – there were poisons that couldn't be detected even after death. Hell, for all he cared, the geezer could just fall asleep with a cigarette burning, but his employer was very specific on how he wanted it done.

It would have to be in the public eye, where no one would contest. Somewhere with lots of witnesses. Higurashi would have body guards, and probably most of the city’s finest in present company, so the attack would have to come from within the inner circle, where no one would look to point the blame. A heart attack would be nice, though Inuyasha’s employer wouldn't object to a deadly stroke or an aneurysm.

Everyone would be sad - the young Higurashi heart-broken at her father’s early demise… and then Naraku Onigumo would step in to save the former Shikon Corporation from the confusion and potential collapse over the loss of its founder.

Owning almost forty percent of its shares, he would soon buy the remaining shares, at unbelievably reasonable prices. The young Higurashi, knowing nothing of the business world, would ultimately step down and go on to make her living with the undoubtedly large fortune she will inherit. The world would go on, and Inuyasha could go back to his quiet life, with his own fortune to secure both his and Baba's future.

Inuyasha had to suppress the urge to call the old woman to check on her - after all, it had only been three days. She would just berate him for calling, and tell him that if he was so concerned, he should just finish up with work so he could come home. Naraku had given him a fairly large advance, so he had been able to stock the house with supplies sufficient for at least three months.

With a sigh, Inuyasha left the small prepaid phone where it lay and made his way out the door. He supposed he could have caught a bus, but he preferred to walk. The college he was visiting was only twelve blocks away, and on foot, he could better map out the area in his mind. The backpack was only stuffed with his new pillow, just to make it look full, so it wouldn't be a pain. It was only one o’clock, but he had been up since five. He would find the girl, and try to get a feel of her schedule. After all, if he were to become as intimate with her as his employer had planned, a twice-a-week meeting wouldn't do.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Walking through the large campus, at least in Kagome’s eyes, was nothing less than terrifying. The words "fish out of water" came to mind, though it wasn't quite correct. More like, “fish out of water, tossed into a big tank with lots of other fishies, then scooped up and chopped into sushi”.

She didn't doubt that many of her teachers did in fact have large butcher knives stashed in their desks (beneath the paper clips and sticky notes, mind you...) to handle some of the more troublesome students.

As the day went on, her mood had gone from optimistic to "someone just ran over my dog." She quickly discovered that her old high school satchel was NOT sufficient enough to carry all of her books. A duffel bag might have sufficed. After only two classes, her neck and shoulder had begun to ache, and her body felt like a stick in the mud, slowly tilting to one side. She had bought all of her school supplies, as any good girl would, but realized early on that her money might have been better spent on a back-brace.

Not being a morning person, Kagome had been slow to get going and was almost late to her first class. It seemed all of the afternoon and evening classes had been filled with seniors, older and wiser people who knew enough to register for such classes last semester. Though she had prepared herself, she was still disappointed to find that she didn't know anyone in any of her classes. Deciding to save herself from sitting next to the "Farting guy" or the "Queen bitch" she had sat herself near the back of the classroom.

This was her second mistake.

Though she may have indeed pictured placing herself next to Farting Freddie, she had also managed to sit just out of her teacher’s voice range. As she struggled to grow better ears, a devious task itself, her teacher began to read from a notepad. Well, her efforts must have had some success, because she could clearly hear the words "Kagome Higurashi" leave his lips. Before her brain could process the situation, her body responded.

"Here!" she said as she stood.

At least fifty pairs of eyes turned to stare at the girl as if she had sprouted a second head. Her teacher, Mr. Alan, glanced from his notepad to look over the rapidly reddening young woman.

"Yes...I can see that."

Whether he was being sarcastic or only playing, she couldn't tell because his expression never changed.

Why, oh why, had she assumed he was taking roll?

A wise man once told her, assume makes an "ass" out of "u" and "me" And, whoa buddy, did she feel the truth behind those words.

Mr. Alan seemed to weigh the girl with his eyes as he calmly placed his note pad aside.

" May I assume that you have some input on the theory of relativity? Or would you kindly take your seat and stop disrupting my class?"

The words were not said with any particular mirth, but they could have been poison with the way her legs collapsed beneath her, whether in embarrassment or in obedience to this man, Kagome couldn't tell.

As her face flashed through shades of red that didn't even have names, Mr. Alan continued as if nothing had happened. Needless to say, she hadn't said a word through the rest of the class. To afraid to stand on her traitorous legs, or draw more attention to herself, she remained in her original seat, and pretended to take the notes she couldn't hear.

The other classes had gone more smoothly - at least, she hadn't made an ass out of herself... but she still hadn't managed to get all the notes, and she now had a ton of homework.

What she really wanted to do was take a couple of aspirin and call it a day. College was supposed to be fun, it was supposed to be her time to relax. Now she realized just how stupid that idea had been. Sure, she might be able to get a couple of B's, but they wouldn't be on purpose. One day in, and she already felt like she was drowning. In high school, she was the smart girl, but not here. Everyone here was smart, most smarter than her, not that she expected them to be stupid. She just felt so out of place.

She really wished her friends hadn't opted for other schools. Maybe if they were here, she wouldn't have felt so alone.

Kagome sighed as she spotted a soda machine. At least she could get a drink, even if she didn't have the aspirin to go with it.

Digging around in her pocket, she fished out a couple of crumbled one-dollar bills. Smoothing one out as best she could, she started to slip it into the slot when a hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Kagome jumped, and couldn't help the gasp that slipped out as she looked up to meet the prettiest cerulean eyes she had ever seen.

"Don't do that..." said the boy with a smirk. "It'll only take your money."

His hair was long and black, held back in a ponytail. With his long hair and pretty eyes, someone might have mistaken him for a girl if not for his masculine body and deep voice.

"I, uhh...thanks," she said, fully aware that he hadn't yet let go of her hand.

Releasing her wrist with one smooth movement, he grasped her fingertips and leaned down to press his lips against the back of her hand.

Kagome’s heart fluttered as her cheeks reddened. Did he just... Oh My God...

"I'm Kouga, and you are?"

It was in that moment of silence, when she was torn between shock and interest that she realized what this guy reminded her of. Those crystal-clear blue eyes, that charming, yet devious smile... he was like a wolf. A big bad wolf, and if she wasn't careful, she didn't doubt that he might just gobble her up. And the scariest part by far was that she wasn't sure she would mind...

"I'm Kagome, and uh, thanks again. I'm new here, so I didn't really know..."

At last, he released her hand. "New huh? Freshman, then..."

'Fresh meat, that’s what he meant to say...' said the evil little voice inside her head.

"Um, yeah, this is my first semester actually."

"Well, I'm only a sophomore myself, but I know this campus fairly well. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask..."

He flashed her a smile that could melt a girl at ten paces. Kagome nodded dumbly as he walked away, leaving her feeling more frazzled than before.

"Kouga, huh?" she said as she pocketed her money. He was gorgeous, she wouldn't deny that, but there was something dangerous about his aura.

'But isn't that what you wanted?'

Kagome shrugged, maybe this college thing wasn't so bad after all...

As she walked away, her nose scrunched, what was that smell? Was someone smoking?

"Yuck!" she said as she waved her hand in front of herself as if to clear the non-existent smoke from the air.

Kagome adjusted the strap on her shoulder as she thought for a moment. She didn't have any more classes, and there wasn't any reason to stick around...besides she could get a nice bath at home - that would soothe her sore muscles. She could explore the campus more tomorrow. Today, she was beat, and nothing sounded better than her own bed.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Inuyasha shoved his hands in his pockets as he wandered the large campus. Never had he seen so many snotty, spoiled bastards in the same place. Arriving at the school, he quickly stuffed his hoodie in his bag along with his pillow. He was lucky he had been wearing a black dress shirt underneath. When he learned about the school, he had it figured for your run of the mill college, filled with the usual cliques - skaters, punks, goths, preps, etc.

What he hadn't expected were all these well-to-do rich bitches, wandering around in their collared shirts and two hundred-dollar slacks. What the hell was this? A college or a country club? If he was going to be on this campus often, he was going to have to expand his wardrobe to fit the part. He should have known the young Higurashi would go to such a prestigious school - after all, her daddy could afford the best.

It took a lot of control to keep from swiping the dirty looks from their faces. Maybe it was his blue jeans, or even his casual shoes, but something about him was obviously making their spider senses tingle. Nearly everyone had watched him as he walked, and some even glared as if their dirty looks would make him crawl back to the hole he belonged in. He supposed it had probably been bred into them by their parents, but these kids obviously knew he didn't belong. He wasn't "one" of them. Oh, if only they knew how right they were, it would make their pedicured toes curl!

Inuyasha supposed there were a few misfits among them, carefully disguised so that they couldn't be singled out. Like a pack of wild animals, if one stuck out too much, it ran the risk of being culled, or killed, to keep it from contaminating the gene pool… at least that’s what came to mind.

The place was also a lot bigger than he expected. Hell - the girl could be anywhere. She might not even have classes today. With a sigh, he spotted a few vending machines with no one around them - probably the kind that took your money. Whatever the reason for its lack of people, it would make a great spot for a quick break. Leaning against one of the machines, he took out his pack of cigarettes and lit one up. The smooth rush of nicotine and menthol soothed him. Being around a lot of people always made him tense. It was harder to have control in a large group, harder to tell where enemies might be hiding, harder to find an exit. The one thing he couldn't stand was not being in control of a situation.

He wasn't even halfway through with his Marlboro, when out of the corner of his eye, he happened to catch a glimpse of a certain raven-haired girl. Nearly choking on the smoke, he watched as she started to make her way directly towards him. Looking around for an escape, he realized that the girl was, in fact, in a daze, and the more he moved, the more likely she would be to spot him. Assessing the situation, he tossed his cigg behind one of the soda machines and stepped on it, as he slid into the ten-inch space between the machine and the wall.

Slowing his breathing to a bare minimum, Inuyasha’s human ears strained to hear what his eyes could not see. He half expected her to pop around the corner and ask him what kind of freak lurks behind vending machines...

When he heard the girl gasp, he flinched, knowing for sure he had been found out. He waited for the shriek, or at least the insults that would surely ensue...and he waited... and waited.

A male voice was the last thing he expected to hear.

He sighed inwardly as the new man introduced himself. So he was safe, at least for now.

The girl seemed nervous as she spoke. Being what he was, he was a good judge of character, and he could tell by the tone in the man’s voice exactly what he was after.

'Looks like the little girl has an admirer. How cute,' Inuyasha thought. Though another man in her life could complicate things, he was grateful for the distraction. After all, a rival male could always be dealt with later.

Their conversation was brief, and for that he was thankful - his hiding place was beginning to get hot. As he listened to the girl walk away, he couldn't help but peek around the corner. He smiled, amused when she stated her disgust and started waving her hand in front of her face.

'I don't smell anything....must have been the smoke....guess she doesn't like smokers...' Inuyasha suppressed a chuckle as he slipped out and began to follow the girl at a safe distance.

~*~*~*~*~*~

As Kagome walked off the campus, she felt as if she could finally breathe again. Her back and neck still hurt, but the overwhelming sense of freedom lightened her step. No longer did she feel like a small child, who just gone through their first day of kindergarten. Instead, she felt like the adult she was.

She had done it - she had made it through her first day of college mostly unscathed. Sure, it had been a little rough, but it was over, and it could only get better. After all, she wasn't just in high school anymore - she was in college. She was a young adult working on her future, free to do as she wished. It didn't matter that she had made a fool of herself, or that she hadn't gotten all of her notes. Notes could be made up, and soon everyone would forget about her little outburst. She would make friends, hell - maybe she would even make a 'special' friend. That Kouga guy seemed really nice...

Life would go on, and in only a few years, she would have her degree in whichever field she chose and her future would be secured.

Kagome was practically glowing as she prepared to cross the four-lane road that would take her closer home. After all, life was looking good.

But of course, the universe could not let such elated happiness continue.

Looking both ways before crossing, Kagome had just made it through the first two lanes of traffic, when the cosmos decided to throw her a curve ball.

A quick pop was all she heard, as suddenly, her body lightened. It seemed that it’s new and rather heavy load was just too much for her poor old satchel to handle. Kagome stood in shock as the strap fell from her shoulder, her bag plummeting onto the asphalt, spilling its contents everywhere.

"Dang it!" she said as she kneeled and hurried to scoop her books papers and pens back into the bag. Her long hair hung in her face, as if it were trying to strangle her. Furiously, she swiped back her locks while struggling to finish gathering her things.

Now, Kagome didn't believe in psychics, nor in fortune tellers or any other types of 'seers', but regardless of all of that, something deep within her mind snapped as she started hauling the heavy bag up, forcing her to look to her right.

There are many different types of fear. There is the fear you feel when watching a scary movie - that suspenseful moment of climax. There is the fear you feel when a spider scurries across your arm unexpectedly, fast yet fleeting.

And then, there is the fear you face when staring down the barrel of a loaded gun - that stomach dropping, heart stopping, ice cold fear that seems to freeze time. It’s when your insides scream bloody murder as your vision fades to black and back again. When your throat is so tight, you just can't breathe. And all of this is instant, it’s the split second of fear you feel when you know you're about to die, and it’s the most intense second of your entire life.

This was the fear Kagome felt, as she stared directly into the headlights of a 26-ton semi truck.

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A/N: Lol, I know its a bit early for a cliff hanger, but, this is going to be an actiony kind of fic soooo...

Anyways, than you once again to my wonderful Beta Ateelar! And thanks to you guys who reviewed!