Curtain Call by Galadrihm_Star

A New student?

Author's Note: Okay kids... this story is based on a favorite manga of mine, W Juliet, by Emura. It's brilliant reading and I felt that such a story plus our favorite couple could only end in giggle-ridden bliss. So, therefore, in tribute to Emura and her brilliant stories ,and an all-consuming urge to tango with the forces of fanficdom, I present to you a simple story of a girl and boy (sort of) in love (kind of). Enjoy!!!

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of InuYasha or W Juliet. I am merely borrowing them for some semi-harmless fun. I do not intend to make any money from this!!!

Chapter 1: A new student?

Yet another alarm clock met its fate as its piercing wail faded into the darkness of the young woman's bedroom, a splintered paintbrush embedded in it's center like an arrow. Sheets crumpled and a bedspring groaned heavily as a pale leg appeared from beneath the ebony down comforter. Another groan filled the dusty air as the small frame of the sleeping woman fell from her large bed to the cold wooden floor with a dull "Oof!" Slowly turning to rub out her now-bruised thigh, she raised her chocolate eyes to the pile of glass and speared metal that was her alarm clock, a sleepy but cheerful smile adorning her fair features. Sweeping her waist-length coal hair into a messy bun, she staggered from the web of blankets and quickly hopped across the cold floor to her bathroom.

This is how the young artist, Kagome- age 18, began her day everyday. Except when funds were low and a replacement clock couldn't be found... then a family member would have to draw straws to see who would be the unfortunate sap to be sent to wake her.

Kagome clicked on her radio and turned the shower knobs into action before turning to assess the night's damage in the bathroom mirror. Rounded hips swayed slightly as she blinked into the glass and chewed her lip. Yep... she still had a slightly masculine side to her but it had to grow out eventually! Right?! Kagome took in her features and couldn't help but frown. While the other girls at school held razor-thin eyebrows, tiny hips and feet, and small delicate mouths, she, herself, sported a wide mouth with full lips and her self-titled rabbit feet; she only trimmed enough to avoid uni-brow, and her features were delicate enough. Cringing in memory of poked eyes and stained pillowcases, Kagome avoided makeup whenever possible. Opting to save such hassle for special occasions instead. It didn't help that her voice was deeper than usual as well. Shrugging hopelessly, she turned and stepped into the shower.

Destroying her alarm clock always had its drawbacks, however, so once again she was running late. A quick shower and a piece of toast later, Kagome flew out the door and began her daily sprint to the high school. Toast dangling hazardously from one corner of her mouth, she fought to zip her over-sized hoodie and then tuck her wet hair back into a skullcap. Days like these tended to show poor results in the fashion department, but Kagome rarely cared.

"Painting jeans, tank top, and hoodie again I guess." Kagome grumbled passed her toast, struggling to keep her books from spilling from her arms. Her mother was constantly preaching to her on how such clothes made her look more like a boy than usual, and always earning a scowl from her daughter in return. Rounding a corner at high speed, she barely had time to register a tall figure before crashing into said person.

"Whoa!" Kagome groaned as she looked up from her spilled papers, her cap covering one eye due to the collision. Pushing back the cap a startled gasp rushed from her as her dark eyes landed on her new victim.

"I do hope that not all people are so dangerous in this school..." The voice was light and deep all at once. Such a strange sound to her ears, but what struck her most was the source of the voice.

Before her kneeled one of the most gorgeous girls she had ever seen! Thick, snowy hair tied into a braid that fell and pooled as the girl kneeled. Gold eyes scanned Kagome's reddening face to take in any injuries that may have occurred, while a thin, pale hand reached out to grab her own to help her up. The strange girl smiled quickly, hers was wide and her lips thin, but somehow that only seemed to add to her beauty. Kagome quickly stood with her help before proceeding to bow and sputter apologies like mad. A silvery laugh put a stop to her pleadings as she looked up once more to the girl/woman before her.

"It's quite alright." The woman laughed. "I've just transferred here and was lost. Suppose it didn't help that I wasn't looking where I was going. "

"Erm..." Kagome mumbled. "It's fine! That was my fault! I'm kind of in a hurry... little bit late. Sorry for the crash. My name's Kagome!" With a bashful grin, Kagome thrust out her hand to the smiling girl. 'She's so tall!' Kagome thought to herself suddenly.

"I'm Tashio Suteru. " Suteru gently shook Kagome's hand before kneeling down to help gather Kagome's books.

"It's nice to meet you, Suteru-san." Kagome chirped as she steadied her books, oblivious to the once-over she was being given by her new friend. "You wouldn't happen to be related to InuYasha, would you? You two have the same last names."

"I'm a distant cousin..." The woman replied in a stiff tone but quickly gave a short smile.

Suteru took in the smaller woman's cloths, smiling to herself as she noted the splotches of color and the hastily stashed paintbrushes in the girl's pockets. "The clumsy artist type..." She thought to herself as Kagome returned her attention to her once more.

"Well Suteru-san," Kagome grinned. "Where are you off to? Perhaps I can help."

"History, but there's more classrooms than I thought so I'm not sure which one is mine." The taller woman groaned in irritation. "It's with Mrs. Loki in 304 in pod B, but all I can find are pods A and C." Kagome nodded in understanding and then perked up as the other information registered.

"The bad news is that whomever designed this school was on crack, plain and simple." Suteru laughed as Kagome continued on. "The good news is that you have the same class as me! Let's go!" Not waiting for her companion's response, Kagome grabbed Suteru's hand before racing off again down the corridor and up a flight of stairs. Suteru could only stare on in confusion and mild nervousness as they ran and finally stopped before a large red door. "Here we are."

Pushing the door open, Kagome braced for the inevitable as her teacher's green eyes found her and narrowed. With a nervous cough she shuffled in and led Suteru through the doorway.

"Ah. Higurashi-san..." Mrs. Loki's voice was polite but held a definite edge of a threat. "Late again? Are you trying to make me turn your senior year into the third circle of hell?" Various students giggled and twittered as Kagome felt her face blanch slightly.

"Actually, Loki-sensei, I had to help a new student find her way!" Kagome swallowed harshly before stepping aside to let Suteru stand beside her. Upon seeing Mrs. Loki's eyes widen and a small smile touch her lips, Kagome released a heavy breath.

"You must be Tashio Suteru. For a while there I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it. I'm glad Higurashi-san was of some help. Please take the seat next to her and follow along as best as you can." Mrs. Loki turned from them, immediately ignoring their blank stares as she went back to her lecture. Shrugging slightly, Kagome nodded at her friend to follow as the climbed the lecture-hall stairs to their desks.

The rest of class passed easily; Kagome was pleased to find that Suteru and her not only shared history, but all of their other courses as well, save art and theatre. It fascinated the small woman that Suteru's ambition was to be an actor someday and travel the world to perform on the greatest of stages. After sharing lunch and chatting, they said goodbye for a short time to go off to their one separate class of the day; Kagome to art, and Suteru to Theatre.

Kagome leaned against the wall outside of the Theatre as she waited, tapping a toe in boredom. Her class had gone a lot faster than usual and now left her with ten minutes before the official end of the day's classes. She groaned in impatience but straightened as a strong female voice drifted from behind the door. Giving in to temptation, Kagome pulled the door back to peer inside. A single light shone upon the stage and upon it stood Suteru and one other student. Listening closely, Kagome could catch some of the lines and instantly pegged it for one of her favorite Shakespearian plays! Suteru moved about the stage with endless grace and a presence that no one could deny. She danced and jumped on cue to perfection and welded a sword like no other. A round of cheers and thunderous clapping closed the scene as both students bowed and exited the stage.

"Wow, Suteru-san!" Kagome gasped. "You're wonderful!"

"Thank you, Kagome-san." Gold eyes sparkled with delight as she heard the other students "oh" and "ah" over the scene.

"Of course you'll have to have to join the Drama Club now!" A small first-year girl beamed. "Kagome is our stage and makeup artist so since you're new you'll at least know someone here!" The others nodded enthusiastically as Kagome beamed at her new friend.

"I would be honored to join the club." Came the woman's quiet reply.

"Great! Kagome, why don't you show Suteru-san the locker room so that she can pick a locker and get settled in?" Their drama teacher, Mr. Jaks, added before gathering the other students to start planning their first play of the season.

"Hai, Jak-sensei!" Kagome saluted him before once again tugging a surprised Suteru to the back of the classroom. Flicking on the light switch, Kagome released her hand and found her own locker, hell-bent on finding a better shirt than the wife-beater she had grabbed this morning. "You can see my bra through this damn thing!" Kagome growled to herself as she pulled the hoodie over her head, taking the cap with it. Tossing both articles of clothing into the locker, Kagome pulled the tank top away as well and turned to see how Suteru was fairing. "Suteru-san, did you find a loc-...." She froze as she took in Suteru's flushed cheeks and wide eyes. Panic flowed through her as she dropped the tank top and rushed to her friend's side. "Suteru-san! Are you okay?! Speak to me!"

"You! You're a..." Suteru stammered as she held a hand over her face to attempt to hide her blushing. "You're a girl?!" She yelped accusingly. Kagome blinked slowly before breaking into laughter.

"Of course I'm a girl! What the hell kind of people names their son Kagome?!" Kagome gasped between hoots of glee. "You remind me of InuYasha! You look just like him when he blushes and sputters like that! Hahaha!" Suteru could only shake her snowy head in wonder and shame as she sat on a bench, her eyes turned from Kagome's giggle-racked form. 'She acted and looked like a boy!' Her mind reasoned. 'A feminine boy, but a boy non-the-less!'

"Is that all, Suteru-san?" Kagome inquired as she wiped the tears of mirth from her reddened cheeks. She was stunned into a confused silence at her blushing companion's answer.

"Could you..." Suteru whispered hoarsely. "...put a shirt on or something?" Kagome nodded dumbly before rushing to her locker and pulling a dark-blue, baby t-shirt out. Smoothing out her wrinkled, paint-splattered jeans and then the image of a bunny with a plunger on its head on her shirt. 'Suteru-san must be a really shy girl! Maybe her family is super strict or something.' Kagome wondered before shrugging once more and heading for the door.

"I'm going to go get some cold drinks so you can go ahead and shower if you like." Kagome grinned and added cheekily, "Your performance has left you looking a little flushed and mushy." Kagome laughed heartily at Suteru's narrowed eyes that held no anger, only mischief. Her friend nodded before standing up and heading for the shower stalls.

Kagome wandered down the hall and around the corner only to discover that she had forgotten her wallet in her hoodie. Racing back, she tossed a light apology for interrupting her friend's shower and grabbed her wallet. As Kagome turned and fixed her eyes on familiar snowy hair, her wallet fell from her hands as her mouth opened in shock and embarrassment. Before her stood Suteru, but this Suteru had one major difference. Gone were the makeup, tasteful clothes, and high heels. What now stood before her could be described as the epitome of male perfection; from the washboard abs to his perfectly edible neckline. A small, white towel hung dangerously low on his narrow hips; small magenta stripes curved and dipped to places she could only imagine in her slyest dreams. She watched in shocked curiosity as the strange man turned to ring his hair over the drying tile of the shower floor. 'Wow...' Reality suddenly decided to club her in the back of her head.

"What the FUCK?!" Kagome bellowed and stumbled back into a bench, her senses finally coming back to her. "You're a man!!!!" 'Even her...I mean his hair was shorter!'

A flash of recognition wormed its way through the train wreck of her thoughts and Kagome reeled as pieces of the puzzled finally closed in together; with delicate resolve she looked up into the man's face and whispered into the heavy air...

"Sesshomaru?"

InuYasha's older brother now stood before her, naked in a towel in the girls' locker room.

TBC...