Childhood Memories
"Inuyasha, it's beautiful!" I exclaim holding up the diamond necklace so it glints in the sunlight. Inuyasha blushes, his white hair partially hiding his face. I can hear Sango making happy noises on the other side of the tree, looks like I'm not the only one being treated.
"Do you really like it, Kagome?"
"Of course!" I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome." He hugs me back for a moment then lets me go so I can investigate what Miroku has gotten Sango.
"Miroku, thank you!" She's giggling, a squirming St. Bernard puppy trying to get away from her. I let out a squeal and bury my hands in its fur.
We fuss over the puppy, allowing the boys time to discuss our reactions, neither of them got exactly what they had hoped for; their first kiss. But apparently hugs are almost as good.
*-*
"Sango are you ready or what?" I ask impatiently, pulling on my hair in anticipation.
"Almost." She emerges from the bathroom in an identical outfit as me, except whereas my tank top is green and black hers is pink and black. It's obvious we're both nervous. Today's the last day of school- forever. Plus we're going to see the Great Tree where she, I and two other- unnamed people met.
I don't really want to go, but it's for Sangos sake I am. Sango, who loved Miroku who loved Kagura who loved Sesshomaru. Huh, complicated.
I'll see Inuyasha today, for the last time. The thought makes my stomach ball up into a knot, but not because I'll miss him. Just the thought of his name sickens me. The way he's treated Sango and me these past years, with his foul temper not to mention that bitch of a girlfriend, Kikyo, egging him on. Sometimes I wonder if things would be different if he knew who I was. I don't have to courage to find out.
"Well, come on then! Let's go!" I prod, pushing Sango towards the door.
"Be good, Goober!" She yells to the dog who's sleeping on the couch, tongue hanging from his mouth. He doesn't acknowledge her, just keeps dreaming his doggy dreams. Sango rolls her eyes.
"Lazy dog." We step out into the warm air, a breeze blowing our hair back.
"You know, thanks to your slowness we're probably going to be late."
"So what? Like they're going to punish us on our last day." I only smile, not being able to think of a retort.
We finally get to school and begin classes. Everything goes great, no homework, just discussions of our lives beyond high school, lives we're about to live- until I get to the class I share with Kikyo and Inuyasha. I'm pretty sure that just because this our 'last day' together they're not going to treat me, or well, anybody else any differently. We're all lesbians and posers to them. But since I, for some unknown reason, look like Kikyo they've taken a certain liking to picking on me more than others.
I'm so special I have a designated nickname "Lesbian girl", I'm not, obviously- but when you only have on friend, and it's a girl- well, people start making assumptions. I sit down on the other side of the room, hoping they don't notice me. They do.
"Oh! Miss Lesbian Girl! I have to say goodbye to you!" Kikyo laughs, standing up to come over by me. "Inuyasha, take a picture! I've never gotten my picture taken with a lesbian before- and this might be my last chance!" My face reddens as she wraps a delicate arm around my shoulder and poses. I want to throw up.
"Hold still." Inuyasha is bending over, focusing the lens on Kikyo's grinning face.
"Kagome Higurashi, please report to the office." I push Kikyo away from me and glance at Inuyasha, he's staring at me in shock.
"Kagz?" I turn and hurry down to the office, worried. What could they possibly want from me on the last day of school?
I push open the door and wait for an explanation. Everybody's just staring at me, wide-eyed and pale.
"Kagome- the police just called- erm, we're so sorry." I look at them all quizzically then turn on my heels and hurry out to the car. What's going on?
"Kagome!" Inuyasha's running out after me into the parking lot. I don't say anything, just hop in my car, lock the doors and peel out, heading for home.
*-*
The scene waiting for me has crawled out of my nightmares. Cops and firefighters everywhere, my home, my shrine- up in flames.
"Are you Kagome Higurashi?"
"Um, yes, I am. What happened?" He's staring at me oddly.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" I'm starting to get lightheaded- I'm forgetting something. I know it. Then it hits me, like a slap in the face. "SOUTA, MOM!" I run for the house before I know what I'm doing. Men hold me back. "LET ME GO! THEY'RE IN THERE! LET ME GET THEM! PLEASE!" I'm fighting against metal bars, no muscles give to my thrashing. "PLEASE!" Tears roll down my cheeks. "They're all I have left."
*-*
Nothing survived the fire. Not the house, not the photographs- not mom or Souta. But I got away. Barely breathing.
