Disclaimer "If you know them, I don't own'em

A/N: This is a story about the highs and lows and relationships. And forming and breaking old and new friendship and all the mixes of high school drama. I really hope that all of those who read it will like and enjoy it

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Chapter 1 – The Beautiful Ones

Paint a Perfect Picture

Bring to Life a Vision in Ones Mind

The Beautiful Ones Always Smash the Picture

Always Every time

"The Beautiful Ones"-Prince

Kagome POV

(August 30)

"Ah! Beat you again. Kagome you are really bad at this." Sango bellowed at me. "This is like what, the umpteenth time I beat you?

"Whatever," I rolled my eyes "You just got lucky." I said

Sango and I were playing Tekken in the game store in Tokyo Mall, waiting for Rin and Ayame to show up so we could do some last minute shopping for school. I couldn't wait. The summer weather was getting on my nerves and I couldn't wait for autumn so it would cool down.

I was in the midst of putting my headphones in my ears to listen to the latest single from Hamasaki Ayumi, Sunrise Love is All, to drown out Sango's victory cheer, when I turned around and saw him.

By him I mean Hojo and he was with her.

Hojo… my previous boyfriend. We had been dating since we were in the eighth grade. He was my first love. I shared my first kissed with him; I shared my firsts of everything with him. I thought he felt the same way. But it turned out his feelings were not as strong as mine. He began blowing me off and grew distant from me as time went on.

I believed he just needed some space so I gave it to him and that pretty much ended our relationship. I was in denial at first, believing that he would come back. But I finally realized he wasn't going to come back to me when I saw him kissed the girl "who must not be named".

Three years together gone… just like that. Wasted.

My world shattered. I thought I was the model girlfriend. I gave support, love, companionship, and I even went as far to show him I was willing to give up the V-card, even if I wasn't ready. What did I do wrong?

"Kagome," Sango called to me when she saw who I was looking at.

"Kagome. This is ridiculous." Sango spins me around to face her, putting her hands on my shoulders, shaking me. "You can't just mope around about this."

I scoffed. "I thought you knew me better Sango. I don't mope," I crossed my arms over my chest, turning away from her. "I sulk"

Sango narrowed her eyes. "Same difference,"

"Whatever," came my soft reply. After a pregnant pause, Sango opened her mouth.

"Gome-chan, you shouldn't dwell in self pity. It will only consume you, leave you self loathing and bitter. And who wants to be around that. Then you are going to bring me down in the mud with you then I will have to bring Rin. She'll bring Ayame. Then we will all be cynical, self hating, bitter-"

"Sango. Stop, I got you." I hated when she referred to my childhood name and starting babbling about this and that. "You're right. I shouldn't wallow in my self pity. I'm better than that." Even if she was right, I think this failed relationship between me and Hojo has forever left me scarred. I will never be the same regarding something as fickle and erratic as love ever again.

"Good, glad you see it my way." Sango smiled. "Now let's call Rin and Freckles. I'm starving."

As if on cue, Rin, with her brightly colored orange tank top, blue denim shorts and wild brown hair came running around the corner with Ayame close at her heels. "Look, there they are," she loudly shouted. As Rin and Ayame came steadily closer, I knew I could not stay down for long with these girls vivacious infectious personality with me all day.

After they finished catching their breath and Sango whipped me in another game of Tekken, we headed to the food court.

And then we saw them.

Them meaning the Elite Group, the most popular girls in Kikokushijo Academy.

The elite group, whose parents hold certain means and professions that, with their power and wealth, had the ability to influence their followers with their beliefs, actions, and zests. Whose children had the audacity to act like they own the damn place when in actuality they owned nothing, not even the clothes on their backs.

And I, Higurashi Kagome, detested them with a passion

They had emerged from the popular lingerie store Iroppoi, making their way towards us. Wearing a white tank and a long, flowing red colored skirt that grew darker in color from waist to foot, was Kasaki Kikyo, the supposed leader of the "elite girls", trailing behind her was Sakaki Kagura, the superficial bitch, Arisawa Yura, the know it all, and finally Soumi Kaguya, a notorious narcissist. It was rare to see them out side of school and even rarer to see them without their boyfriends. Wonder where they were.

I seen them at school from a distance, but from that distance, I had seen enough to not approach them for anything, not even to spit on me if I was on fire. But for the first time, I could really see them up close. And I must admit each of them was more perfect and beautiful than the last.

I held my breath, not out of fear, but anticipation, as Kikyo strolled by looking at me with a piercing gaze that seem to look right through me. She seemed…delicate, an ethereal beauty, but quiet and mysterious. Yura and Kaguya chatted their way past us. But I couldn't say the same for Kagura.

"See something you like, ass kisser". Referring to my looking at Kikyo and the rest. All her friends stooped. And so did my heart. Me and my wandering eyes. Way to go Kagome. Way to go.

"…" Before I could even think of a response Sango replied for me. "Nothing of importance" she replied harshly and with a very hard arched eyebrow. I was really shocked. I've never seen Sango so confrontational.

"Come on Kagura," Whined Kaguya. "Don't waste your time and breath on those losers. Let's go eat then get the dress I'm buying for Inuyasha's back to school party tonight"

Yura laughed and Kagura smiled at me.

"You're right. I won't let these ass lickers get me riled up." She rolled her perfectly lined eyes, sized me up and left. Yura and Kaguya followed suit, expect Kikyo. She tilted her head and turned her gaze towards me and Sango.

"Sorry," she said smoothly. "Kagura can be a little mean."

Yeah. Apologize after the damage is done. Out of all of them, Kikyo pisses me off the most. She the type to stand idly by while the damage is being carried out then apologizes for it later, like she really means it.

"Yeah" I said.

She pulled a piece of stray hair behind her ear and focused her gaze on me. She looked so pale and so fragile… and so depressed.

"See you guys at school. She said finally. Turning her attention towards her friends and followed after them. What would a disparate glamorous girl like that be depressed about?

"You rock, Sango" Ayame said.

"What were you staring at them for Kagome?" Rin asked curiously. "It's not like you haven't seen them a thousand times."

I huffed. "I don't know." Soundlessly I cursed myself for looking so weak. I turned to Sango. "Thanks Sango."

"Don't mention it kiddo." Rubbing her stomach she said. "Can we finally eat now? I'm starving."

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On our way out from the food court, we were ready to finally do what we set out to do. Go shopping.

(Hours Later)

"Oh my goodness! I am never shopping with you guys ever again! Sango yelled.

My poor tomboy of a friend was not an enthusiastic shopper. She was ready to go when we walked out of the last store, which was a hours ago. But being the indecisive shopper that Ayame is, she basically had to try on every outfit in the store and when she couldn't find what she wanted we would move to another store, starting the process all over again. Sango was fed up.

"Oh come on Sango, you know how I get." Ayame said from behind the changing curtain. "If I can't find the perfect shirt that matches the perfect pair of jeans, which goes with the perfect pair of shoes, the whole outfit is off and then I would have to start from scratch. The same goes for the perfect blouse that compliments the perfect skirt that matches the perfect pair of stilettos."

"Can't you just mix and match like the rest of us." Sango complained.

"Nope," she said as she walked out from behind the curtain. "Mixing and matching would throw off my whole wardrobe. What about this one?" she asked as she twirled around, showing off the outfit.

"I don't understand you." Sango said as she slid on floor.

"It looks gorgeous." Rin sighed.

"You said that about the last one Rin!" retorted Ayame

"That's because the last fifty and the fifty before that were gorgeous! Honestly Ayame, if you don't take our word for it, why even bother asking our opinion about the damn outfits if you are just going throw it out! Pick a fucking outfit so we can fucking go!" Rin snapped.

"But-"Ayame started. But I tuned them out. We had literally been in the mall all day. Our first stop was Hardcore. When we didn't find anything in there, we went to Bijutsu, Sango had got her stuff within the first thirty minutes of being in there. She got all her ripped denim jeans, vintage shirts, and matching bracelets. Rin followed suit thirty minutes later but in another store called Metamorphosis. That girl could find anything and make it work. I found all my stuff in Doresu.

After we left there we went to Nozomi, HiTsuZen, and Asa Yoru. I thought for sure she would find something in Asa Yoru. But that didn't even work out, Ayame walked in then walked right out. Now we were in AkaBARAs, a clothing store to old for her age if you ask me. Ayame was too indecisive to do last minute shopping. We came here round twelve and here it is coming to eight thirty. This really was ridiculous.

And now I had to use the bathroom

"You guys I'm going to the bathroom. Watch my stuff." I told them before I left the store

On my way to the lower floor of the mall, I was taking in all the sights I was seeing. Parents shopping and laughing with their kids. Teens in the arcade room playing the new release of some action adventure game. Kikyo talking to some boy with dark hair. Employees passing out free samples on the food court, people paying their phone bills.

Wait a minute. Kikyo. Boy with dark hair. Didn't Inuyasha have silver hair? I quickly retraced my steps back to the place where I saw her and the boy. They were in a dark ramen shop called Ichimaru's.

Now, I wasn't a nosy person by nature. But my curiosity got the best of me. Forgetting all about going to the bathroom, I concealed my face with a menu I had picked when I walked in, I quickly but quietly ran into a booth near them.

They were whispering, so I couldn't really hear everything.

"…… call it……"

"… you knew…." A couple of seconds later

"Yeah but….. especially Inuyasha"

"… "

"Sick of …. guilt."

"…. Hurt…"

Just then, the damn waitress came over blocking out anything else I might have heard with her loud voice. Ordering something cheap off the menu and a free glass of water, I continued straining my ears for more secrets to be revealed.

After a couple of minutes of silence and after waitress came and left. I still didn't hear anything. I finished my bowl of pork ramen and still didn't hear anything. I was about to give up and just sneak out when I heard the determination and conviction come out of Kikyo's voice.

"I won't do it anymore."

Damn. What in the hell were they talking about?

Just then I heard shuffling of clothes like someone was trying to get up.

Oh shit. She's going to see me. And I had nothing to cover my face with. Shit. Shit. Shit.

And just then, by the grace of the gods above, the waitress saw that I had finished my bowl and had come to ask if I needed anything else. Thank goodness.

The waitress thankfully covered the portion of the table that I occupied and by the time she had finished asking her questions, Kikyo and the guy left. I didn't see the guys face only the back of his head. Damn. So few details and still no face.

I was getting up digging in my pocket in the process to give the waitress a tip. Once I got my wallet out and retrieved the money, I sneezed and dropped my wallet. Bending down to pick it up, and when I looked up, Kikyo was looking directly at me. She was just at the entrance of the shop which was a few feet from me, but from the intensity of her gaze, she might as well been in my face.

I held in my breath, not in anticipation this time, but fear. She looked like she wanted to kill me. I was literally backed into a corner and had no where to go. But she didn't know I had claws too.

Then she did something totally unexpected. She smiled.

She smiled at me. Then she turned and walked away. Just like that.

But I wasn't fooled. Not even for a minute. Something was in her gaze, something dark just waiting to last out.

I guess its true; the beautiful ones do hurt you every time.

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You Make Me so Confused

The Beautiful Ones

You Always Seem to Lose

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