Unrequited by ShadyMinion

Chapter One

Unrequited

Summary: (AU) A College fic. SessKag. Things have changed since they were children. The once close friends have grown apart. Kagome's unrequited feelings, however, had not changed. Through her heartache and silent love for a friend that her friends think does not deserve, they set her up with someone else. But, Sesshoumaru quickly learns, that he harbors a special affection for Kagome, and does not intend for the other to steal her away.

Chapter One

Kagome sighed, returning her attention to the movie that was playing across her television screen. Sometimes she wondered why he bothered showing up at her house at all.

Beside her, Sango gave her a knowing look and a nudge. She planted a large bowl of popcorn into Kagome's empty hands and commanded her to "start snacking" with a pointed look. Kagome gave a grateful smile and dug in. Sango always made the best popcorn. Even if it was just microwave popcorn, Sango somehow had the magic touch to make it taste even better.

Kagome and her friends were all clustered about in her home, sprawled across the living room floor in front of the TV. Such was the way that their group could normally be found on Friday nights.

Inuyasha and Kikyou would be settled in one corner of the room. Miroku and Sango would be beside her. Houjo was often found sitting slightly apart and always glancing over at Kagome once in a while. Sesshoumaru and his 'girl of the week' would be sitting on the couch, most likely having a tongue war.

Kagome frowned. Once, they had been a tightly knit group. They had grown up together, gone through so much together. They had been there when Sesshoumaru's and Inuyasha's parents had gone through a rather nasty divorce. They had been there when Miroku's father died. They had been there when Sango's parents had been murdered. They had been there when Kikyou's parents had moved, leaving Kikyou to fend for herself. They had been there when her own father had died.

Looking back, they had suffered through much hardship together, mostly consoling one another after tragic loss. A lot of people they had been close to had either left or died. Her frown deepened. After so much loss, she would have figured that all of them would understand what it was like to lose people. So why was Sesshoumaru drifting away from them all?

It had started her freshman year, his junior year, of high school. She had been excited that now they would all be attending the same school again. Sure, the middle school was right across the street from the high school, but it just wasn't the same. She soon discovered, right after the entrance ceremony, that high school would be nothing like middle school. She quickly found Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kikyou, and Houjo, as they were all entering high school at the same time. She knew that Sesshoumaru had been in attendance since he was their friend, and his father would have grounded him if he hadn't shown up.

Kagome smiled. It would have been funny to see Sesshoumaru grounded. As far as she knew, the Ice Prince never got into trouble, unlike his younger sibling.

What a surprise it had been to see her friend behind the auditorium, making out with some girl she had never seen before. Kagome turned eight shades of red before fleeing back to the incoming freshman class. She ran into her friends and stammered out that she had been unable to find Sesshoumaru. When questioned about her violent blush, she gave a crooked grin and lied, saying that she had accidentally gone into the boys bathroom instead of the girls. They broke out into peals of laughter, and Kagome got away with her fib.

After that, Kagome found out that Sesshoumaru had quite the reputation around campus. Apparently, he had become quite the heartthrob in freshman year. He had lost his virginity sophomore year. Entering junior year, he was well known as a womanizer and a heartbreaker. Girls would throw themselves at his feet. Kagome didn't blame him, Sesshoumaru was sinfully gorgeous.

It did make her laugh however, at the memory of when they were younger. Sesshoumaru hadn't always been so good-looking. In fact, when they were five, and Sesshoumaru seven, he couldn't seem to shed his baby fat, and was always teased for his cute, chubby cheeks, and rather noticeable paunch. When he turned ten, he seemed to have shed too much fat, and he had shot up become a tall gangly kid with feet three sizes too big. By his second year of middle school, he had evened out in appearance. Entering high school, he had become drop-dead gorgeous.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Kagome's lips. Sesshoumaru was beautiful, and unfortunately, she had fallen to his charm. For years she had struggled with the notion that she had a deep-seated crush on him, and had always told herself that it was okay, it was only a crush, it would go away in time. She had been dead wrong. Her affection for him hadn't gone away and it had only deepened with time.

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips and she dug into her popcorn. Thinking such thoughts wouldn't help her. She would do nothing about her feelings though. Sesshoumaru didn't need her there overcomplicating his life. Besides, he never even seemed to notice her feelings, nor did he seem to return any. Giving her emotions a sharp push to the side, she stared intently at the screen, willing herself to catch up on the plotline of the movie of which she had fallen behind in her musings.

A half hour later, she let out a strangled moan. Her lower abdomen had cramped up something fierce. She grimaced. Crap...she was getting her period. Great time for it too, she thought bitterly. She flashed Sango and Kikyou a look only they would understand. Both girls gave her sympathetic nods, totally understanding. She smiled weakly in response and stood to go to the upstairs bathroom where her necessities were kept. She belatedly noted that Sesshoumaru and his arm candy were missing from the couch. Had they gone home? She felt a pang of guilt for be a negligent hostess, but for now, she could chalk it up to it being her 'time of the month,' she grinned.

She passed her room on the way to the bathroom and was surprised to find her door shut. She remembered that she always kept her door open, it was just a habit. She moved to open to the door when she heard strange noises coming from the other side. It sounded like some thumping and moaning. Wondering at what was going on, she opened the door. It was unlit inside, but she didn't have to wait for her eyes to adjust to discover exactly what it was going on in her room.

There was Sesshoumaru and his girl having sex on her bed. On HER bed! Kagome was at a loss. Something inside her seemed to be breaking. She gulped and took a steady breath. The two were so busy rutting away on her sheets that they hadn't noticed her. Okay, good...maybe... Quickly she shut the door and ran to the bathroom, shutting it quietly behind her. She saw nothing, That nothing would cause her to have to change her bedding and sterilize her room later when everyone was gone, but it was still nothing.

She had never meant anything to him besides a friend, so it was okay. He didn't love her. She didn't love him. She swallowed again, bitterly trying to fight back tears. Yes, that was a lie. She loved him. She couldn't help it. But ohhhh...no one had ever told her that unrequited love would have hurt so much. She sat on the bathroom tile, wrapping her arms around her knees and burying her head. It hurt to see her friend sleeping around like he did. She wished that he had acted more respectable. She had been surprised to find out how very much he had changed from the boy she had grown up with. But she couldn't stop loving him.

Some time ago, she would have scoffed at the idea of falling in love so young. It was foolish and to be so young, one would be only a child with a premature concept of what love really was. But she couldn't help herself. She wasn't sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the line, she had fallen in love with her friend.

She was a college freshman now, and Sesshoumaru was a college senior. He had every right to do what he chose, he was an adult, and she was just a silly child still, just, a bit older. Kagome tried to rationalize with herself, but it wasn't working. No matter what she told herself, or tried to force herself to believe or accept, it still hurt. It seemed like some kind of betrayal to their relationship to see him rutting on her bed with some other girl. It wasn't fair.

After fifteen minutes of silent sobbing, she realized that her friends would probably be wondering where she was. She went to the sink and washed her face free of tears. She practiced smiling in the mirror to see if she could pull it off without fault. Satisfied with that, she popped some Ibuprofen for her abdominal pains and skipped down the stairs. She wouldn't tell anyone what she had seen. Sesshoumaru's relationship with the rest of them was straining as it was since he had been drifting further and further away...

-:- -:- -:-

Once Kagome had fled up the stairs, Kikyou and Sango shared another look, one of pity. They were fully aware of Kagome's feelings toward their estranged friend, even if she had never said anything. That girl wore her heart on her sleeve. All of her emotions were as easy to read as any book. They sighed, both wishing that their dear friend had fallen in love with someone more deserving, or if Sesshoumaru would ever get his lust-filled head out of his ass long enough to see someone who truly cared for him, instead of the two-cent whores he strung along. Maybe though...sharing a conspiring look with each other, the girls moved a bit closer to Houjo.

Inuyasha and Miroku shot the girls a funny look. What was with all the sighing tonight? The movie wasn't that bad...

-:- -:- -:-

Miroku grinned winningly when Kagome traipsed down the stairs again. "Hey, I was beginning to wonder what took you so long."

"I was just in the bathroom." Kagome answered with a smile.

Inuyasha smirked. "Fall in?"

Kagome rolled her eyes at her friend's immaturity. "Yes, I fell into the toilet and it took me quite a long time to get out and dry my clothes of toilet water." She replied sarcastically.

Hojou paled. "Are you alright, Kagome?" He asked, scanning her form for any sign of injury. "You should change. It's not healthy for you to be wearing contaminated clothing." He stood, ready to usher her to her room so she could change.

Inuyasha, Sango, and Kikyou broke out laughing at poor Hojou's naiveté. Miroku sidled up to Kagome laying his hands on her thighs.

"Kagome, you should allow me inspect you for signs of harm." He said while waggling his eyebrows in an obviously perverted manner.

Kagome bopped him on the head and Sango smacked him from behind and dragged him away.

Kagome grinned. Yup, everything was fine.

With Sango and a not-quite resisting Miroku pulled across the room, and Inuyasha and Kikyou tucked away into one corner of the couch, Kagome plopped down beside Houjo. The boy tensed for a moment, flushing slightly. Giggling inwardly, she leaned in to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She could feel him jump about a mile high. She grinned. However, she started when one brave arm was brought up and wrapped around her shoulders. She looked up curiously. Houjo's eyes were focused far too intensely on the movie, and had it not been for the color staining his cheeks bright red, she might have believed that he was really that interested in the movie. As it was, she knew he was trying to avoid eye-contact with her.

She smirked slightly to herself. He was so cute and innocent, sometimes it was all she could do to stop herself from pinching his cheeks. She allowed her body to relax into his embrace. Immediately, she felt him ease up as well when she didn't push him away. Her eyes lidded drowsily. It was surprising how very comfortable Houjo was to lean against. He was so very warm. She snuggled into his shoulder, looping her arms around his waist. Houjo's blush only darkened, but his grin couldn't be suppressed. His loose grip around her tightened slightly, bringing her closer to him. Kagome sighed contentedly. Houjo was soothing to be around.

Unbeknownst to her, she was already forgetting what was transpiring in her very room. She would fall asleep in the living room with her friends, like every other Friday night. In the morning she would recoil in horror at her room and throw all her belongings into the washing machine whether it was waterproof or not, then sterilize the room with vast amounts of rubbing alcohol. But at the moment, the one thought twirling about in her mind was that she had vastly under appreciated Houjo's company.

-:- -:- -:-

Next Friday had rolled around quickly. Kagome all too thankfully flopped onto her couch, her body half sprawled across the other occupant.

"Not that I don't mind the company, but what's up?" Miroku asked with a grin and a leer, turning his attention from the TV and peering down at Kagome's head, cradled in his lap.

"Shut up." Was Kagome's muffled reply. She was too tired, and by rights, this was her couch. If she chose to lay on whoever was there, it was her choice. She felt a pat on her head.

"Rough day?" Miroku asked, uncharacteristically serious.

Kagome could only groan. She was failing math, and nothing she did was helping. When they were younger, Sesshoumaru would often sit down with her and help her review her math problems, but since he had become otherwise occupied...she didn't want to think about it. Her teacher had spoken with her outside of class, and encouraged her to get a tutor. He knew that she was trying, but math simply was not her forte. She didn't want to disappoint her mother or grandfather, but it frustrated her that no matter how hard she tried, it just didn't make sense.

Added on top of that was her extra curricular duties. Somehow, she was secretary to the archery club, with Kikyou as president, and she was one of the senior members of the self-defense club that was headed by Inuyasha and Sango. And every once in a while Miroku roped her into helping out with the local myth and legends club since she lived in a shrine, and her grandfather had bestowed upon her the rich knowledge of the local myths and legends since she was child, whether she wanted to learn or not. School was eating her alive.

She turned her face over in Miroku's lap and groaned again. "School sucks..."

"I know." Then her friend tapped her head as if inspiration had struck. "Why don't you ask Houjo to help you out? He's one of the top students in class, isn't he?"

Kagome mused over that. He was one of the top students, ranked just a bit higher than her. Only Kagome's abysmal math skills prevented her from reaching any higher. It felt strange to ask him though, she knew that he liked her, and she didn't want to lead him on. He was just a good friend. But she really could use the tutoring. She sighed. "I guess I could." She acquiesced softly. Then she turned over, looking up into the other teen's face. "Hey, where's everyone else?"

"Ah, snack run. You should have seen the look on Inuyasha's face when Sango had told him that you were out of ramen. It was priceless. Anyways, he dragged Kikyou along to go buy some, and Sango went too, to see if she could get any ingredients to whip up for later. I don't mind though. It gives me more alone time with your lovely company." Miroku leered.

Kagome swatted at his face. "Shut up." She murmured, trying to hide a blush. Compliments always made her flush, she just didn't know how to take them well. Insults she could handle, though.

"Aww, so modest, Ka-go-me-chan?" Miroku sing-songed.

She flicked in him in the nose. "I'm gonna nap. If you move, I'll elbow you where it hurts." She muttered, then rolled over to face the TV and closed her eyes.

When her breathing evened out, Miroku sighed. He really did mean it. Kagome was a truly lovely girl, she was just too modest. She thought too lowly of herself, and it wasn't good for her self-esteem. She needed someone to support her in more ways than her friends alone could provide, but at the same time, he didn't like the idea of having her run off with some random guy. Kagome was too vulnerable and naïve, despite her physical capabilities, she was still emotionally immature.

She couldn't handle too complex feelings without guidance. She was truly an innocent, a simple creature. He mused over how she could be kept so innocent in their rather jaded and cynical modern society. People would take advantage of her for sure. He had when he had just met her, as it was his nature. But he learned, Kagome was more than a simpleton, she truly cared for those she befriended, and even those she just met in the street. Kagome needed someone as simple as her, or experienced enough with the world to look out for her when they couldn't. Briefly two images sprang to mind. Houjo and Sesshoumaru.

He discarded Sesshoumaru quickly. Sesshoumaru had become...rather cold to them as of late. They didn't dislike each other, but the camaraderie they once shared had vanished. Kagome was the one that still tied him to the group, though it was a rather tenuous hold. Houjo could be more trustworthy. After all, the boy just didn't have it in him, the capability for deceit. He and Kagome would make a rather cute couple, and Kagome would stay within the group. He wondered what Sango would think if he told her he was playing matchmaker, which was her and Kikyou's unofficial job.

-:- -:- -:-

A week later, Kagome was wondering what had possessed her to ask Houjo to be her math tutor. She had always known that Houjo could be a little...on the weird side, especially when anyone had shown a shred of illness, but this was disturbing. She could only stare in fixated horror.

"What...is it?" She asked, a little weakly.

"Tea." Houjo replied, his grin a bit too wide for her liking. Had it been anyone else, the grin would have sent Kagome fleeing from the house. But Houjo being Houjo, he simply didn't know how creepy he looked, offering her some unknown brew, and grinning like that.

She gave a slow nod. "Tea..." She said softly, as if trying to reassure herself that the noxious smelling brew was not a form of disgusting poison, and was acceptable for human consumption. The liquid inside was a dark brown, almost completely opaque, and it was thick. It was like some kind of sewer sludge., and it smelled awful. She looked at him again, and faltered at his expectant expression. He really wanted her to drink it. Gingerly, she lifted the proffered cup to her lips and took a tiny sip.

AUGH! It was disgusting! It was vile! EWWWWWW!!! She desperately wanted to run to the sink and scrub at her tongue while running it under hot water. Oh gods, what had she just drunk? It was bitter and tasted like rotten fruit rinds and moldy bread. Her face screwed up, and she was pretty sure by Houjo's crestfallen look, that even he had realized that it wasn't the tastiest drink to offer her.

"So, um...how did you like it?" He asked tentatively.

Arg! Did he know how much he resembled a kicked puppy when he looked at her like that. She grimaced inwardly. "It's...not too bad. Definitely an acquired taste though." She said with a wry smile. As if to prove that she didn't hate the concoction, she took another sip, and felt her stomach shrivel.

Houjo immediately perked. "That's true. I remember that at first, I didn't like it all that much, but it's so healthy that I couldn't not drink it. I have at least a pot every other week. It helps to keep vitality. Grandma has a pot everyday." He beamed.

She hid her grimace. A pot everyday? Did she not have tastebuds? "By the way, what uh...is it? I mean, what kind of tea?"

"Brown lizard."

Kagome's brain stalled. "What kind of tea?" She repeated, and she was sure her voice had become a tad shriller.

"Brown lizard." He replied again, the ever-present smile on his lips.

Wide eyes turned to her cup. She had just drank...brown lizard...The mental image of a dead, dried lizard with a string and tab tied to the end of its tail appeared in her head. A smiling Houjo was placing it in the pot of boiling water to steep like it was some kind of horrific teabag.

"It's an old Houjo family recipe with Chinese origins. Everyone in our family drinks it. It's a bit of a tradition." He explained happily.

Kagome could only nod in mute horror.

"Have a cup. We have plenty more. And I can show you how to grind the lizards, if you want. It's a great recipe, really. And it's really good for you." He smiled encouragingly.

Kagome set the teacup down quickly, trying not to look to obvious. "Um, shouldn't we get started on math?" She asked, hoping that it didn't sound too rude. But the idea of grinding dead lizards for tea sent shivers down her spine.

"Oh!" Houjo looked aghast. "I'm sorry." He blushed. "I guess I got a little carried away. Here," he lead her out of the kitchen and into the living room, settling her down on the couch. "I'll go get my books and we'll get started."

In the end, they had studied together for about two hours. Houjo was a wonderful tutor. He was patient when she made a mistake or had difficulty grasping the concept, and he always explained the material slowly and clearly, not once irritated when she asked him to repeat something.

It was a surprisingly pleasant experience, an emotion she had never considered in conjunction with the subject of math, but with Houjo, it wasn't too bad at all. And there was that one instance when he was explaining something from his book, and she couldn't find it in hers, so she had leaned over to peer into the book in his lap. Houjo had turned such an interesting shade of beet, that she was sorely tempted to do it again. He was kind of cute when he stammered.

After the lesson, he had brewed up another pot of that horrendous tea, but Kagome had found, that the second time around, it didn't taste so bad.

-:- -:- -:-

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SM: Cutesy fic, isn't it? Well, I guess that is what I was going for. There are like 918374092834093824 million High School or College fics out there already, I know, but I couldn't help myself. So here is my crappy entry into the oversized world of School based fics. I hope it wasn't too bad...