Freshman Year

"Inuyasha, don't go." I whisper, staring at my hands. Tears come to my eyes every time i think of him going to her.

"C'mon Kagz, don't be like that." He pats my shoulder and that makes it all the worse. Is he ignoring my feelings or is he just that oblivious? My teeth clench together and i hide my face behind my hair. I want to scream at him, to yell sense into that thick skull of his. "Kagome." He reaches out to touch my face, i knock his hand away.

"Don't. Please. Inuyasha I-" I sigh and shake my head, trying to rid myself of the clump that's building up in my throat.

"Kagome?"

"Look... If you go- i don't- i can't see you anymore."

"What are you talking about?... Kagome?" He reaches out and touches my cheek, forcing me to look up at him. Tears spill out from the corners of my eyes.

"I love you... If you do this- if you go to her-" I can't speak.

"You love me." I nod, more tears streaking my cheeks. He kisses my forehead gently, hope swells up in my chest, then he lets go and turns to walk away.

"Inuyasha!" I grab his hand. "Don't." He pulls away from gently, unable to turn and face me.

"I'm sorry. I hope- I hope one day you'll forgive me." A small cry escapes my throat and i stumble back.

"You're leaving."

"I love her."

"I won't forgive you."

"That's a choice you'll have to make. I'm sorry Kagome." Then he's gone and i'm left with a pounding head and a bleeding heart- a bleeding heart that's draining itself dry.

*-*

Senior Graduation

We're all meeting under the tree, we're all saying goodbye. The first time i'll have seen Inuyasha since that day- that day so long ago. I close my eyes and push the fleeting feelings away from my chest. It's my graduation day, i don't have time to think about the past, just the future- the wonderful, amazing, Inuyasha-free future.

"Kagome?" I turn and to face Sango, she looks beautiful. Sun kissed and glowing, her long black hair sweeping her shoulders gracefully, she looks amazing in her black and gold graduation gown. I don't feel nearly as great in mine, it's itchy, hot and overall uncomfortable. I gotta say my makeup looks nice though. "Are you going to take yours off or keep it on? I mean since we've technically graduated... It doesn't seem right."

I laugh, "Yeah, i'm taking mine off."

"Thank god." She reaches around and unzips the back of hers and drops it to the floor revealing a tight v-cut black dress. She helps me out of mine, i'm feeling particularily clumsy today. I look in the full length mirror on her bedroom wall. I'm wearing a black silk dress that clings to my curves then flows outward to the floor, trailing behind me elegantly- it looks like a dress from out of a dream...

"Well are you ready?" I take a deep and nod, trying to calm my spasming nerves.

"Good." She knows i'm nervous about seeing Inuyasha so she doesn't say anything about it, just leads me to the door. We head out, the cool breeze rippling over our bodies, carressing our skin. I close my eyes.

"My parents are talking about sending me off to get married now." I tell her, information i've kept secret for quite some time.

"Really?" She looks at me curiously. "Do you know who to?" I shake my head.

"Some big-shot. They say he has a daughter and he's anxious to find a mother for her." I give her a smile, I adore children, one of my only "good-enough-for-everyone-else" traits.

"Does he stay around here?" I nod and indicate over to the east side.

"Well, maybe not here, but close enough. We could still see each other." She nods.

"Are you going to meet him soon?"

"No... Not until i move in. He knows who i am, though. My parents don't want to frighten me or anything. I think they're afraid i'll make trouble before i get there... But it's not like i'm interested in anyone..." My mind wanders to Inuyasha and by the look on Sangos face i can tell she knows.

"Are you going to marry him right away?"

"No, i'm supposedly staying there long enough for them to determine if the kid likes me enough, then it's to be decided if we actually get hitched or not."

"Oh." My heart begins to race, i can see the top of our tree over the others... I stop at the forest edge.

"I'm not sure if i can do this."

"C'mon Kagz, it's not a big deal." I take a deep breath and nod. She's right. We head in. I can feel the trees prescese like a person, it makes me smile.

"I don't know Miroku... I'm- what if she still hates me?" I halt and so does Sango. We quickly hide behind a bush and listen in.

"I wouldn't blame her. But what's the worse she can do?"

"That's true..." There's silence. "I'm going to propose to her, Miroku."

"Kagome?" My heart skips a beat.

"No Kikyo, stupid." And then it plunges.

"Oh, goodie. We all love Kikyo..." Miroku doesn't try to hide the sarcasm in his voice, but it doesn't matter- the thought of Inuyasha marrying Kikyo... Sango stands up and stomps into the clearing.

"Hey guys." They both murmur a hello to Sango, embarressed to be interupted. I follow behind her gingerly. I can't open my mouth to greet them so i nod at Miroku and ignore Inuyasha.

"Hey Kagome." Inuyasha whispers, i glance at him and smile politely.

"Hi." Then i turn back to Miroku and Sango. "So? What now?" Sango flashes me an irritated smile, i smile it off.

"Hold on." She goes to the other side of the tree with Miroku, leaving Inuyasha and me alone together. I step towards the tree, reaching out to feel the bark. Inuyasha clears his throat.

"So how've you been?" I shrug.

"Fine." I run my fingers over the grooves and try to keep all the memories at bay or risk crying in front of him.

"Anything new happening?" I can feel the irritation growing inside my brain, his voice is going to kill me.

"Nope."

"Wanna ta-"

"Look, Inuyasha, remember when i said i'd never forgive you? Well it's true. I haven't. I don't want to talk to you- heck, i didn't even want to come to this." My voice is harsh whisper that makes his ears lie flat. Tears are in my eyes but i ignore them, they don't matter.

Sango and Miroku return with a bottle of wine and four champagne glasses, each one carefully filled up and distributed by Miroku.

"Friends forever." We all whisper together, as was agreed upon meeting that first day in our childhood. Then we each take a swallow, the ember liquid trickling down our throats to bind the spell- i want to cough mine up.

"This was fun." I mumble, putting my glass down on a rock. "But i have to go- my parents and I have business to discuss."

"C'mon Kagz, it can't be that important." Miroku chides.

"It is she's going to get married-" Sango slaps a hand across her mouth and stares up at me apologetically i shrug it off.

"You're getting married?" Inuyasha asks me, his eyes wide with shock and- regret?

"Yeah, i am. So i have to go. Bye Sango, Miroku." I turn and walk away. There's nothing left to say, nothing that can fill the empty promises of a childhood memory...

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