Deadly Beauty

~Friends and Foes~

Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, but use them because they are fantastic.

Kagome came home from school. She felt tired. She felt drained. Dealing with society can take a lot out of a person especially when that society included people such as InuYasha. Suddenly, her cell phone rang.

“Hello,” she answered wearily into the phone.

“Kagome, it’s Mr. Hara.”

“Oh, hello sir,” she responded her voice immediately regaining strength and composure.

“We are short handed today for teachers. Do you think you can come in and teach the Tiny Turtles classes? I will be out to a convention otherwise I would cover them myself.”

“Of course. I will be right over.” Kagome’s face lit up as she ended the conversation. Her first passion was actually doing the martial arts but her second was passing on what she knew to the kids. She absolutely adored the children at the Studio; the way they thirsted for the knowledge of techniques; the way their smiles shone across their faces when they received praise for a good kick or even the way their whole expression would turn into relentless determination when admonished until they were satisfied that their fault was corrected. Children did not care about being embarrassed or coming to class to see a person they liked. Children did it for love of it, just like Kagome still did, and nothing could make Kagome smile like teaching a class of these wonderful kids. Don’t get it wrong, they can be a handful at time, but teaching was worth it despite some of the obstacles.

Kagome darted upstairs putting on her black uniform and grabbing her belt. She quickly put her hair up in a messy high ponytail and hightailed it out of her house. Her mind raced through all of the things she would want to cover in class today as she walked at a fast pace. She pushed open the door of the Crescent Moon Studio and the receptionist’s face was mixed with relief at the sight of her. Kagome walked over to Monique so she could deposit her things in the back room before stepping in to take the class.

“Kagome, I am so happy you were able to come in. Hara said he would call you and ask but he never got back to me. I have to step out and deal with some business. There have been some shipment delays for our equipment and all sorts of other problems. The other teacher will be here to help in a minute. I have to run!” Kagome was going to ask who the other teacher was, but Monique was out the door before she had a chance.

Kagome had about thirty minutes till the class she had to teach so she sat at the desk to take care of any inquiring customer and to plan out the class. Ten minutes before class started, Kagome heard the door open and looked up expecting one of her senseis to walk through, but instead was greeted with a unwanted sight, Takahashi.

He walked through the door to the Studio thinking about what he wanted to teach the little tykes. Mr. Hara called him up unexpectedly and asked if he was willing to cover some classes. He loved the little kids and they loved him back. He was more than willing to come in to teach. All he had planned for the night was homework and that could wait. He looked up, putting his ipod on pause to see Kagome looking back at him. He realized that she would be teaching with him and a smile broke on his face. He nodded in her direction, in greeting and she returned with a quick dip of her head.

‘Oh God,’ she thought, ‘a couple hours with this bastard! I think I am going to kill myself.’ She shook her head slightly and looked up one more time to make sure her mind wasn’t playing tricks, it wasn’t.

He watched her look down at her desk and then glance up at him. Her light brown eyes took in his figure once more and then went back down to her desk as her hair waved around her while she shook her head. He didn’t really notice too much before, but Kagome had an exotic, strong, confident sort of look. He liked it, found it attractive even. He smiled inwardly at the thought of Kagome together with him and then wiped it out of his head.

‘In a million years’ he thought and proceeded to the back room to put his things down.

“Ms. Higurashi, are you and Mr. Takahashi teaching class today?” asked an excited group of little boys and girls. A smile fell on her face and she leaned over her desk so her face was closer and nodded in agreement. The group squealed with delight and rushed onto the mats to warm up. It was very rare that their favorite teenage teachers were able to teach them and the fact that both of them would teach together made them all giddy. Kagome laughed at their reaction and with the happy feeling still radiating through her body she called back into the room:

“You ready to begin class Mr. Takahashi,” a smile still pulling at the sides of her lips. He looked at her unusual cheery disposition as she called him.

“Yeah, let’s go.” He watched as she turned around, her hair twirling as she did, both following the group of kids that just went in.

As they walked up to the front of the mats, all of the kids assembled at the front without being asked to, barely able to keep their tiny masses of energy under control. Kagome smiled; despite InuYasha’s presence it was going to be a good day.

They began with the customary bows of respect and Kagome lifted her head and addressed the class.

“Are you guys ready to train hard today?” She was greeted with a resounding ‘yes, ma’am’ and led them into warm ups. First it was ten laps around the Studio and then twenty-five sit-ups and twenty-five push-ups. InuYasha then led them through five minutes of stretching consisting of splits stretches, arm stretches, and some squats. As they were stretching, InuYasha came up to Kagome.

“What do you think of leading some kicking drills?” InuYasha asked Kagome.

“I think it would be good, lets start with some front, round, ax, and end with wheel kicks”

“Okay let’s divide the class. Would you like beginners and intermediates or the advanced?” She gave him the once over. He was acting very gentlemanly, which she was not accustomed to.

“I will take the beginners and intermediates, thanks for asking,” she responded. InuYasha nodded in acknowledgment of her thanks.

“Alright, we are going to do some drills. I want you to pair up with someone at your rank and then I want one of the partners to go get a paddle. If you don’t know your partner, introduce yourself and then everyone on my side of the mirror get into a fighting stance.” The class answered up and then scrambled as his instructions finished. “Now I want all intermediates and beginners to go with Ms. Higurashi and the advanced are with me,” they answered up again and rearranged their groups.

Kagome then explained the proper stance and technique for executing a front kick. She threw a few example kicks and then let them go practice on their own. She walked around observing them. She found a pair of white belts who needed some help. She smiled warmly at them as she came around.

“First class you, two?” They blonde haired girl and boy both nodded. “Brother and sister too, from your looks.” Again, they nodded. “Okay so this is the problem with the kick, although you have a good stance you are hitting with the wrong part of your foot. Just imagine that the target you are kicking is a bug, well you want to bring your foot back and slam against the pad like you are squishing the bug.” She demonstrated once again and with renewed vigor the kids both tried and got the kick down. She smiled again and praised them. She watched them for a little longer, happy to be able to help them.

InuYasha went along rarely having to help out because he had the advanced group. He found his eyes wandering amongst his kids, but rested on Kagome on the other side of the room. He saw she was helping out some white belts perform a kick. He critiqued her unconsciously as she gave example kicks and nodded inwardly in approval. But, when she turned around, he was caught off guard. She had a glow on her face as an angelic smile graced her exquisite features. Her eyes were filled with a tender look as she watched her students; a look that said nothing in the world is better than being here with these kids. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. She was beautiful.

‘What the hell was that’ he questioned. He shook his head trying to dismiss the thoughts. He had known Kagome for years. They practically grew up together in this Studio, but never had he experienced feelings as the ones he just had. They were idiotic ideas. They had been enemies ever since he could remember, fueled by the fact that they came from two different worlds, his, a upper class background, and hers, the simple girl from a working class family surrounded in scandal because of her father. Completely different, but as much as he tried to deny it, he was drawn to her.

He refocused on his students, determined to knock out all of thoughts of her, but this was difficult to do considering she was on the other side of the mat, and his eyes had a tendency to keep sweeping the room to see her. Class from that point had become painful for him while Kagome didn’t have any idea of the battle going on in InuYasha’s head. Class ended with bows again, but this time before the kids left, they rushed both Kagome and InuYasha to give them a big hug.

Kagome laughed as all of the kids surrounded her feet, asking when she was going to be back to teach. She answered all of their questions and gave a few of them hugs and hi fives. Kagome turned next to her and saw InuYasha wasn’t standing but bending down on his knees so his head was level with the kids. He talked to them all animatedly, giving them pats on the head or hi fives, hugs were too girly for him. Kagome smiled, amused at the fact that he looked like one of the kids. His eyes were kind as he addressed the younglings and she saw a gentleness in them that she had never seen before. He then turned his head towards Kagome and for the first time in years they both shared a warm smile that left them both with small butterflies in their stomachs.

The rest of the children quickly picked up their belongings and scurried out to their parents. Kagome and InuYasha watched them all go until they were left in uncomfortable silence. They both walked off of the mats and went to the desk. She went to the fridge to get water.

“Would you like one, Mr. Takahashi?” Kagome asked with her hand still in the fridge.

“Yeah. Hey, I have a question for you.”

“Shoot,” Kagome said as she threw the bottle towards him and then settled herself on the seat in from the desk while he leaned against the side. He graceful caught the bottle one handed and twisted the top off, taking a big gulp before continuing.

“Why do you call me Mr. Takahashi?”

“Because you are my senpai and if I don’t you usually give me push ups,” she responded with a raised eyebrow, how could he forget the hundreds of push-ups he had given her over the years when she addressed him incorrectly.

“Well on days like these, when we are both teachers, we are equal so how about first names.”

“Sure, InuYasha,” Kagome said indifferently. InuYasha smiled, realizing he liked the way she said his name when her voice was not dripping with disdain.

“Alright Kagome,” InuYasha said. He was about to ask her something else when two people came into the Studio. One was Monique and the other was another dreaded enemy of Kagome’s, Kikyo.

Kikyo was the popular girl in every sense. She was the Homecoming Princess since freshman year, and up this year for Homecoming Queen as well as Prom Queen, not to mention the fact that she was the head cheerleader, dated every guy on the football team, and had an infamous reputation as a good fuck. Kagome could have cared less about her except for the fact that Kikyo had been out for Kagome ever since freshman year when Kagome accidentally knocked into her, breaking one of her manicured nails.

Kikyo walked towards InuYasha. Her face was heavily done in makeup. She wore a light pink halter-top that looked two sizes too small for her, showing her midriff and accentuating her double D breasts, her hair loose around her face, and light blue jeans tight enough around her waist so you could tell she was wearing a thong; every man’s dream, but definitely Kagome’s nightmare.

“Hello InuYasha,” Kikyo’s voice purred.

“Kikyo?” InuYasha said, shock registered on his face. Kagome tried to turn away disgusted. So, InuYasha was meeting for a date with Kikyo, she didn’t see his expression as Kikyo walked in. It was none of her business, but the fact that Kikyo came in to her Studio felt like she was tainting the atmosphere with her evil aura.

“I found out from my mom that you were working tonight and I thought you might want to go get a bite to eat with me. It looks like I came at the right time,” Kikyo said as she gestured to the empty room. “InuYasha,” Kikyo suddenly said with a shocked expression on her face, “is that a worm behind you?!” InuYasha turned around trying to see what she was talking about. “Oh, my mistake,” she began, “just Kagome.” Kikyo let a smug smile twist her features.

“Is that a girl I spy,” responded Kagome, “Oh, my mistake, it is just Kinky-Hoe venturing out of some guys pants to go find another blow job to pay for her plastic surgery.” Three pairs of eyes snapped to her; Kikyo’s angry ones; InuYasha’s trying to suppress his laughter; and Monique’s.

“Kagome!” Monique uttered, completely shocked. Kagome completely forgot about her and immediately regretted her comeback. A smug expression settled back on Kikyo’s face, happy that Kagome was going to get in trouble. She walked up grabbing InuYasha’s hand and whispered to Kagome:

“See bitch, even if you try to stand against me, you get thrown back down.” Kagome formed a fist at the side of her body, the feeling of her nails pressing hard into her skin keeping her from punching Kikyo’s face in. She was never suppose to use her training unless in self-defense. If she used it just for pleasure then she would be fired from her teaching job and kicked out of the Studio for going against their rules. But still, how sweet it would be to feel her knuckles collide with the side of Kikyo’s head and hear the sickening crunch of her jaw as it connected with Kagome’s hand.

Kikyo laughed and pulled InuYasha towards the door. They were almost out the door but Kagome didn’t watch them, she went into the back room to calm down. She sat down on the floor, her back braced by the wall and pulled her knees up and rested her head in her hands. She was shaking with anger. InuYasha then popped his head in.

“Sorry I forgot my stuff. Sorry about Kikyo but it looks like Monique isn’t too mad.”

“I don’t need your sorry. Good night Mr. Takahashi,” Kagome snapped. He looked at her rage as it consumed her. He recognized those feelings, he knew how it felt. She didn’t even look up at him and he inwardly cringed at her tone of voice and the fact that she reverted back to his last name.

“Good night Ms. Higurashi,” he said as he left. She heard his footsteps retreat and his goodnight to Monique. Monique then came into the back room.

“Kagome, I understand that maybe you didn’t like that girl, to tell you the truth I didn’t like her attitude either, but I don’t expect that kind of language from you, understand.”

“I’m sorry,” Kagome said sincerely looking into her eyes, “It won’t happen again.” Monique nodded and told Kagome to go home and she would close up. Kagome quickly put on her bag and walked out of the Studio. She could hear Kikyo chattering on to InuYasha and just the sound of her voice made her see red again. She began pounding furiously against the sidewalk. A nice long run would help her calm down.

He looked back as Kikyo dragged him away. He wanted to go to her and run with her, help her work out the anger, but instead let himself be carried away by Kikyo. He knew how destructive anger could be, the holes in his bedroom were example enough, but he couldn’t. It was complicated.

InuYasha’s parents were rich. His father a successful lawyer and his mother an heiress. Kikyo’s parents owned one of the biggest chains of banks and were one of his father’s most important accounts. Plus, Kikyo’s mother and his mother as well as many other well to do women belonged to the same exclusive country club. Any of his wrongdoings or missteps with Kikyo would end up in the ears of wives of the college superintendents he planned to apply to. It was too risky to not please Kikyo. She had a lot power because of her family. Not to mention the fact that they grew up in the same circle and he would be severely lectured by his mother if he turned down a date with her. InuYasha’s mother’s secret hope was that he and Kikyo would date and marry, uniting two of the strongest families, creating an unstoppable force. InuYasha was disgusted with his parents and their cut throat ways, disgusted with the fact that they did not care about his happiness as long as he kept up a good appearance in society. But what could he do about it? He still lived with them and until he moved out for college he was stuck with their rules and unfortunately one of those rules was to stay with Kikyo.

He heard a few of the things Kikyo was talking about, but his mind just wasn’t with her, it was with the girl of jet black hair and strong brown eyes, a pair of eyes that would haunt his dreams for the next few nights.


A/N: Just wondering but do you guys like the way it’s heading? Too fast? Too slow? I’m sure plenty of you know, but feedback in the form of reviews is really helpful. But if you are just content with reading, I shall not stop you! If you have any questions about the martial arts terms then just shoot me an email and I will get back to you as fast as I can. Hope you enjoy this update!

Ms. S. Hisake