Pendulum

Chapter 8: Tip of the Iceberg

Never before had Kagome studied so hard for a test. Study periods were filled with tedious review and her evenings marked by mock quizzes and detailed note taking. By the end of the week, Kagome felt qualified to write a history book herself. With great relief, quiz day came and went and in the week following, Kagome received the fruit of her labor.

"Ha!" she boasted triumphantly, waving her graded paper in front of Sesshomaru where he sat beside her on the park bench. After weeks of silence he finally reached out to her via an email and arranged a time to meet up. How he got her email was just another mystery among mysteries. "I got an A, so now you have to spill the beans."

Sesshomaru paused the consumption of his vanilla cone– an extremely, abnormal sight if Kagome ever saw one– to take the paper in hand and review her work. "Your grammar is in need of improvement." he critiqued as he swiftly skimmed the sheet. "With that said, you did indeed pass."

Reclaiming her paper, Kagome tucked it back into her backpack and focused on her own cone of ice cream. Sesshomaru reclined against the bench, propping the elbow closest to her atop it. It was then Kagome noticed something most would overlook. "Your arm, it grew back." she observed in wonder, resisting the urge to poke it.

"Hn." he agreed, flexing his clawed fingers for show.

Another question troubled her as she glanced around looking to the inquiring glances of beach goers. "How're you able to walk around stripes out?" she asked. The rolled up white collared shirt and light khaki slacks proved to act as a blank canvas for the bright markings adorning his cheeks and arms. "Aren't you afraid people will figure out what you are?"

Looking to her coolly from the corner of his eye, Sesshomaru answered her question with questions of his own. "Who is looking for me? Who would know what I am?"

"Yeah but, you just look so different." she noted, lifting her hand to fiddle with his pointed ear before pausing, thinking better of it. Inuyasha was cuddly, Sesshomaru well...Kagome remembered his penchant for violence and the countless times he tried to kill his brother, herself and others. Her friends were right, Sesshomaru was a jerk.

The daiyoukai noted her hesitation but said nothing of it. "In a time where tattoos are accepted, hair is dyed unnatural colors, and cosmetic surgery is prevalent, my appearance lends onlookers to think me eccentric." he explained.

"Is that what they call it?" she muttered under her breath, eying the very out of place fur that was bunched atop the bench at his side. In all truths, Sesshomaru was vastly different than Inuyasha. How many times had she shoved a hat atop the hanyou's head to hide his ears? At the time, Inuyasha just went with it sensing her need for him to blend in. If Sesshomaru's attitude was any indicator, Kagome couldn't picture him being one to accommodate such whims.

"Anyway, I need answers. Lot's of them."

"What is it that you desire to know?" he asked evenly.

What to ask...there was so much! What happened between them, Shippo's supposed girlfriend– suddenly one question rose to the top above the others with urgency.

"Who's this Inuichi guy? He said you were his dad."

A look of amusement lightened his countenance as he turned to face her. "Do you fear me to be his sire?"

"No, I just...A-am I...Is he my...Did we?" Kagome didn't have the composure to finish the thought, hoping Sesshomaru was smart enough to fill in the blanks.

"Kagome are you a child?" he taunted, clearly baiting her. "Can you not use your words?"

Pouting, Kagome crossed her arms. "Is he my son or not?" she huffed.