It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and the school was bustling with hurry and joy. Everyone was running around, making absolute sure to reach their classes on time and not to falter one minute. Everything was normal, perfect. Everything but her.
Kagome slowly and stealthy crept through the halls of the over populated hallway. The eleven o'clock classes had just finished. Most of the merry students were either headed outside to order a good meal at Wacdonald's or the local tea shop or were going to the first floor where the school cafeteria was located.
Kagome, however, was going directly to her homeroom, away from hopefully most of her classmates. Or more preferably known, 'Kikyou Higurashi's classmates'.
Kagome heaved a heavy sigh and opened her bright yellow back pack. Life's never fair, is it? Kagome stared intently at the small device her hands had unconsciously pulled out. Typical. Just typical. Of all the items to pull out, why this?
Looking at the object, Kagome saw a reflection of her own face. No, not my face. Kikyou's face, Kagome thought sadly, placing the small hand mirror down on her desk's surface. Kagome glared down at the small object. Her features sadden, a recent memory resurfacing in her mind.
"Okay, Kagome Higurashi! You can do this!" Kagome smiled down at the box in her hands. It was a present. More specifically, a present for her crush.
He was the top student in the freestyle combat team. His martial arts, if you could say that, were quick, full of impact, and completely unpredictable. Just like her now pounding heart and heart filled emotions for him.
Kagome peeked through the doors and felt the wind rustle her hair. There he was, the boy of her daydreams, the one person to fully capture her undivided attention. The half youkai that stole her heart with one glance.
It was almost five months ago when she met him.
"Damn Aneki! She was supposed to wake me up! She knows that I sleep too deeply!" Kagome panted as she ran to school.
"Agh! I'm gonna be late! Gonna be late!" Kagome ran blindly into the school building.
She did it! She made it through the doors! She wasn't going to be late!
Not watching where she was going, a collision with a tough, strong body made the small girl fall back.
Waiting for the hard impact from the floor to her rear, she was shocked to see a silver haired boy standing in front of her, holding her up. Not to mention he had the cutest pair of youkai dog ears she'd ever seen.
"G-Gomen nasai!" Kagome stuttered shakily, slowly getting up from the boy's arms.
"Feh, don't worry about it. If you don't hurry up you're gonna be late…" the boy paused.
"Kagome," she replied cheerfully.
The boy scratched his head. "Kagome? I haven't seen you around, have I?"
Kagome frowned. She knew where this conversation was headed. "No, but maybe my last name rings a bell. Higurashi?"
The hanyou's eyes widened. "Oh yeah! Kikyou! Kikyou's little sis! She mentioned you once!"
Kagome smiled forcefully. She was her big sister's shadow, after all, why did she expect a boy, nevertheless a cute popular hanyou, to know her?
"Well, Kagome, you'd better hurry up! It's eight thirty-five! You'll be late if you don't hurry!"
"Uh, wait!" Kagome heard her voice speak out. "What's your name?"
Almost as shocked as she was, the boy turned around, a grin on his face. "Name's Inuyasha! Inuyasha Takashi! Catch ya later!"
It was something she couldn't help. Or understand. She didn't know why her heart raced every time she peeked through those large doors, the two labeled 'Freestyle Martial Arts' in bold text.
It took several whiles, random thoughts, and painful daydreams during school which resulted in total humiliation before she realized why her heart pounded against her chest when she looked beyond those doors. Why her face changed from that silky peach to the light pink tinge it turned at seeing him fight. It was her first crush. She didn't know why she liked him, he didn't even acknowledge her, despite how perfectly normal it was. So why did her body react this way?
Whatever the reason, she wanted to be with him, if only for a short while.
Kagome grinned down at the box. This would be Kagome's first bold act in her entire life. No more boring 'Kagome-Kikyou's-little-sister' or 'Excuse me; who?' Everything was going to change. She would tell him her feelings for him and all would be good.
How wrong she was.
Kagome took another deep breath. She took three steps forward and another two steps. She was going to be honest with herself and be out with it. No more hesitation. This was her moment!
Kagome slowly slid the door open. What she saw made her mind stop functioning.
There, in the grassy sports ground of the Freestyle Martial Arts field, stood two figures.
"Inuyasha," the girl began. "I have discovered after these long months that I harbor deep emotions for you. Much more than a regular friend basis. Inuyasha, I love you. If you take this gift from me, you will be accepting my feelings for you," she spoke gracefully. There, in her hands, was a small gift box wrapped so beautifully, you could tell a lot of time and affection had been put into it.
Hands quivering erratically, the small box slipped from the girl's fingers. Her head slowly turned side to side, shaking disbelievingly. This can't be happening! Before the boxed present made contact with the floor, the girl ran off, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
"Why blame Aneki?" Kagome asked herself, putting the mirror away. "It's my fault for being so useless, pathetic, and lonely…"
Kagome sat silently at her desk, far, far in the back of the classroom. i Everything about me is so wrong, so distant. /i She opened up her lunch box and stared at it.
Kikyou.
Kikyou.
Kikyou had won again.
"I can't eat in this room," Kagome said, half disgusted half pitied. What would anyone think having Kikyou's baby sister eating in the classroom? Kagome got up from the desk, repacked her lunch and walked out of the empty room.
As suspected, most of the hallways were dead. Kagome listened to the echoing of her steady footsteps. It was somewhat soothing. "Where should I eat? Knowing Aneki, she'll be at Wacdonald's with more than half the class. The other half is probably in the tea shop. I'll just eat outside." Like a stupid house dog, she mentally added.
Kagome walked down the halls and exited through the main door. She slowly stepped outdoors. The sakura petals were flying everywhere, scattering on the floor, the wooden benches, around the school, and possibly on the unlucky persons to cross their dancing path.
Kagome watched the cherry blossom tree field. Meibi High's landscape was very well done. The trees were placed in the perfect spot, not an inch too far, not a millimeter too close. All the trees were around the same size, which were all particularly large. One chiefly massive tree, however, stood out in her mind. The leaves were the same color as all the other trees and the bark was as healthy looking as every other. The only difference was that it was larger than the rest.
Quietly approaching it, Kagome walked carefully across campus. Although the tree was no different biological wise, it was well respected by all teenaged couples and romantics. Thinking back, Kagome tried to remember what Sango's words about the legend of the large sakura tree were but she strangely couldn't quite remember the story.
Shrugging that thought past her, Kagome walked towards the tree. "What the…"
A long black braid was lying next to the sakura tree.
Is someone there? She asked herself.
Kagome listened closely. If there were some sounds that sounded like making out, it was unwritten high school law not to disturb them. Even some of the cool adults followed this rule.
No, it doesn't sound like anyone's making out…she thought happily. Sometimes the moment got really disturbing and couples would be more intimate behind the tree than most adults would ever permit.
Kagome continued walking towards the landmark.
When she was next to the tree, she peered over the leafy pink branches. It's a boy, she thought, obviously shocked. She didn't expect only one person to be here.
"You can come out," the voice laughed heartily. "I'm not making out with anyone or doing anything personal."
Kagome crept out from behind the tree. "Hi!" she greeted warmly with a wave of her hand.
The boy looked up at her. He had long shiny black hair that was tied brilliantly into a daring braid, which he slung casually over his shoulder. He wore the school's male black uniform but had the uniform top wide open, revealing a white shirt that showed and unquestionably complimented his muscles. His eyes were like an icy azure glacier, so clear and beautiful.
Somehow, his appearance made her body relax.
He smirked at her. "Hey, haven't I seen you somewhere?"
Kagome's smile disappeared and an irritable frown replaced it. "Most likely. Kikyou Higurashi is my older sister."
He laughed. "No, I've seen you somewhere else." He crossed his arms and began thinking hard, tilting his head to the side. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers loudly. "Hey, I know! You come in and watch us fight. You know, at the Freestyle Fighting field?"
Kagome nodded her head. "Yeah, I remember. Hi, my name's-"
"I know! It's Kagome."
Kagome blinked at him. "You know… my name?"
He arched his eyebrow, his face displaying a look of pure confusion. "Why wouldn't I?"
Kagome laughed bitterly. "No one pays attention to me."
He sent her an apologetic smile.
"Hey," Kagome thought out loud. "You're the one always sparring with Inuyasha, right? What's your name?"
This time the boy frowned. "Yeah, I always am, huh?" He shook his head, brushing the thought away. "I'm Bankotsu."
Kagome sat next to him. "Bankotsu, do you mind if I ask? Why aren't you inside giving out chocolates? It is Valentine's Day after all."
Bankotsu smiled. "I already gave out mine."
"Oh, that's cool," she hummed merrily. She stretched her legs as far straight as she could and leaned back against the soothing tree.
"What about you?"
Kagome stopped humming and bit her bottom lip. Her eyes blinked back some tears and she turned to him. "My Valentine already has a Valentine," she stated solemnly.
Kagome dug into her backpack and pulled out her chocolates. "Want some? It would suck to waste my allowance on something I threw away."
When he nodded, she unwrapped the little box of chocolates and held them out to him. He picked one up and popped it in his mouth.
"It was for Inuyasha, right?"
Kagome looked at him, perplexed about his question.
"The chocolates were for Inuyasha, right?" he repeated.
Kagome nodded remorsefully. "Yeah."
Bankotsu smiled at her. "Hey, want to hear the story of the tree that we're under right now?"
Kagome nodded her head. Why not? she asked herself.It's been a while since I've heard it.
Bankotsu took a deep breath before beginning.
"For every high school there's always a rumor or legend about a special place to make out. This sakura tree was Meibi High's place. Being the most enormous and easiest to find, all the high school students named this tree Junsei Ai, or Perfect Love.
The story behind this tree is pretty simple. The year Meibi High was made co-ed, herds of girls applied to this school. Many of them got in. In fact, in that one year alone made the school fifty-eight percent male and forty-three percent female, an enormous jump. In celebration of the female population into Meibi, lots of dances were arranged. So boys asked the girls out and the girls asked the boys out.
But, there was a little problem with the students. Taking advantage of how desperate some high school girls were, many of the boys began lying and cheating on their girlfriends, some boys having as many as five girlfriends at a time. Dances were chaotic and hellish. Bitching and screaming could always be heard from at least one end of the gym and often caused more trouble than it ended. Scores on tests were very bad and continued to decrease. So much trouble for simply admitting the girls to attend the former all boys' school.
There was one girl who saw what was happening and was deeply afraid. She had recently become her best friend's girlfriend and was worried if he was or would be doing the same thing. His reputation as a playboy and heartbreaker didn't do anything to cease her inner pain either. He, one day, announced to her that he would be busy for the next two weeks and was apologizing in advance for canceling all their planned dates. Hearing this from his mouth directly, she ran home crying her heart out every afternoon, praying to anyone who could help her aching, throbbing heart.
One day, more specifically, on Valentine's Day, he told her to come and meet him in the cherry blossom fields.
Half-heartedly and against the wishes of her close friends, she unexcitedly approached the fields. Her heart was balancing on a tightrope, torn between knowing the truth about his honest feelings and not wanting to be rejected.
Bravely, she went and began looking for him. After checking all of the trees, she began walking home, heart fallen to the floor. She had been ditched. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. There was one tree she hadn't checked!
She ran as fast as her legs could carry her. Finally arriving at the tree, she spotted him humming merrily, enjoying the crisp breeze.
She waved to him and he smiled at her and urged her to come over and sit with him. She nodded and sat next to him.
His face showed complete nervousness and that began to make her worry.
"Love, why are you nervous?"
He looked down at her innocent, but worried face. "You love me, right?" he said quietly.
She nodded slowly.
He inhaled deeply and captured her lips gently.
She was so stunned that she didn't respond immediately. After a while though, she kissed him back, running her tongue over his lips.
Pulling back from the kiss, he smiled down at her. "I'm not like the others, I promise."
He reached behind him and pulled out a box of white chocolate hearts. She smiled at him, tears clinging to her eyelashes.
She jumped up and kissed him. He was startled; his girlfriend never took offense in things. He returned the kiss. Supposedly, their kiss continued until midnight, both teens holding hands, a small round silver ring on each of their marriage fingers."
Bankotsu concluded proudly.
Kagome seemed to be deep in thought. How sweet and beautiful… Her blissful features displayed a bright smile that made her face glow. She always was a sucker for romance stories, especially the ones with happy endings.
An echoing ringing sound went through their ears.
After lunch bell. That meant it was around twelve forty-five.
"Gotta go, Bankotsu! Bye!" Kagome waved to him.
"Hey! Kagome! Your chocolates!" Bankotsu called out to her waving the box around.
"Keep them! Think of them as thanks for the story!"
Bankotsu stood up and watched the girl run back to the school.
Smiling brilliantly, Kagome rattled on merrily with her sister.
Interrupting her, Kikyou quietly spoke up. "Kagome, are you feeling okay? You weren't yourself today."
Kagome cocked her head to the side. "What do you mean, Oneesan?"
Kikyou looked up at the sky but did not falter her steps. "I'm not sure. During the morning you looked so cheerful and then when I saw you in the classroom right before lunch you looked really depressed. Then you come back to school after lunch even happier than in the morning." Kikyou stared at her sister. "Have you found a date to accompany you for the dance tonight?"
Kagome blushed madly, shaking her head wildly side to side. "No way! Oneesan! I think you're going crazy! Besides! I'm no where near as beautiful as you are!"
Kikyou gave Kagome a small smile. "I think you underestimate yourself. You are a very beautiful and happy person, Kagome. You just haven't found that special person yet."
Kagome smiled at her sister. "Thanks, Sis. Good luck finding your special someone, too."
Kikyou gave her a small, but rare, smile.
"Kagome, if you don't hurry up, we'll be late for the Valentine's Dance," Kikyou called up to her younger sister.
"One second, Aneue!"
Kikyou sighed. "Kagome, you've been saying that for the past half hour."
"Well, now I am ready! Ta da!" Kagome walked down the stairs, jumping the last few steps down, careful not to break her heels.
Kagome grinned. "Wow Sis! I love your dress!"
Kikyou smiled thinking of the dress she had bought.
Her dress was a lovely crimson color that just seemed to flow elegantly. Thin red straps held the long dress up on her shoulders; it was so long that it touched her ankle. Her slim feet were slipped into a pair of small, glassy looking red heels. On each ear hung a long blood red teardrop shaped earring. Her long beautiful straight hair was let loose from its usual loose ponytail binding. As for makeup, only a thin line of cherry lipstick was applied, as not to ruin Kikyou's natural beauty.
"Kagome, you look very nice yourself."
Kagome beamed. "Wow really?"
Kagome had decided to pick out a lime green cocktail dress she found at a popular boutique Yuka suggested to her. The front of the dress folded over her chest, hoping to avoid attention from her small breasts. On the right side of the dress, it ended on her upper thigh and from there it cut down at an angle and met with the left side of her body, which the cut ended at her knee. The dress came with a long silky green scarf that she wrapped around her neck. Her heels were very similar to Kikyou's except that the color was the lime green. Her ears were decorated with the emerald jade chandelier earrings her mother had given her. Kagome had a little bit of blush brushed on her cheeks and her own light skin colored lipstick colored her lips.
Kikyou smiled, grabbed her red purse off the living room table and went outside; Kagome followed her sister contentedly, struggling a bit in her heels.
"Wow, I still can't believe that Mom lets you drive her car," Kagome squealed, jumping into the passenger's seat.
Kikyou smiled emotionlessly as she pushed the key into the hole.
"So, who's your date, Sis?" Kagome forced a smile on her face. It was hard but she had to do it, for her sister.
Kikyou smiled. "You'll see."
The two siblings talked about school and their weird, funny, and loveable classmates on the drive to the school, Kagome, of course, being the main speaker. When they arrived, Kagome jumped out of the car and smoothed her dress down.
"Are ya ready, Sis?" she beamed at Kikyou.
Kikyou responded by nodding her head.
Both young women walked into the school, their heels clicking against the hard marble floor of Meibi High's party room.
"Whoa," Kagome awed, her jaw hanging slightly. Kikyou merely smiled at her.
"That's right, Kagome. This is your first dance since you came to Meibi," she chuckled lightly.
"Well, yeah," Kagome snorted. "I am only a Freshmen, ya know!"
Kikyou smiled and, in a classy manner, strode towards the punch bowl.
Kagome hurriedly scattered over to where her sister was. "Kikyou!" she hissed.
Her older sister smiled elegantly and spoke. "Kagome, you're supposed to go out and dance. Go enjoy yourself. You don't need me." She poured the drink into a cup and handed it to her little sister. She then poured herself a cup and took a small sip.
"Wha?" Kagome's jaw hung loose. "Are you kidding? I've never been to a dance!"
Kikyou looked at her, not believing what she said.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine! But my junior high school Valentine dance doesn't count as a real dance! There were less kids in that whole school than half of the Freshmen in Meibi!" Kagome explained. "This place is freaking' huge!" she wailed, flailing her arms about, trying to estimate how large the school was.
Kikyou only sighed and shooed her younger sister off.
Quickly thinking up an excuse, she blurted the first thing that came to her. "I still don't know who your date is!" Kagome widened her eyes.
Looking as equally surprised as Kagome herself, Kikyou stopped drinking the flavored drink and placed it down on the clothed table. "Do you really want to meet him?"
Kagome bobbed her head up and down. "Sure!" she said.
Kikyou began walking off, side by side next to the younger Higurashi sister. "You might have heard of him. He's one of the top freestyle martial artists there are."
Kagome nodded her head in agreement. "I've seen a few of them fight. I can't believe Meibi lets them bring weapons that big to school."
Kikyou smiled. Drawing back on topic, Kikyou began to speak. "His name is Inuyasha Takashi. He's a hanyou."
Kagome bit her bottom lip and nodded. "Oh really?" she asked, pretending not to know. "So he's one of the demons?"
Kikyou smiled. "Yes, he's a half demon. Even though he acts tough on the exterior, he can be very sweet at times."
Like when he hangs out with you at Wacdonald's? Kagome thought bitterly. Despite her respect for her elder sister, Kagome couldn't help but feel the cold silver pang of jealously that protruded from her heart bloodily. It ached. Kikyou got anyone she wanted. Why'd I even come to the dance? I don't even have a date. Kagome frowned. God, I am pathetic.
"Kagome?" Kikyou asked.
Kagome snapped out of her thoughts and focused back on the cruel world that was reality. "Yeah, Kikyou?"
"This is Inuyasha," she replied.
Kagome looked up at the boy and as soon as she did, she wanted to burst out laughing.
Standing there in obvious distress was the hanyou that her sister cooed on about. He had a small scowl on his face and his cheeks were red with embarrassment. He was dressed in a fine black suit, one made from very fine and very expensive material.
Kagome bit the sides of her mouth to restrain herself from laughing and being the center of mortification.
"Hey, Kagome," he muttered cutely, shifting around.
It was all she could take. Kagome's body began to tremble until she could not restrain it any longer. She burst out laughing like a broken dam.
"Inuyasha!" she gasped out from over her laughter. "You!"
Kikyou and Inuyasha looked at her confusingly.
"M-Mon! Inuyasha!" she cackled. She inhaled a deep breath once most of her uncontrollable laughing slowed, and spoke in a quivery, teasingly adorable voice. "Inuyasha, you are wearing a monkey suit! Omigod! You don't look anything like that martial artist I know!" Kagome rupture out in a fit of giggles again. "Dog demon in a monkey suit!" she teased.
Inuyasha's cheeks turned deep crimson at the girl's comments and Kikyou stared at the two. How did they know each other?
As if reading her mind, her younger sister replied. "To make a long story short, I bumped into him in the hall one day and pay him occasional visits after class," Kagome explained.
Kikyou nodded her head before turning to Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, would you like to dance with me?"
Kagome's laughter instantly died down, remembering her current state. Her older sister was about to dance with her crush.
"Um, bye Sis and Inuyasha, I have to go," Kagome murmured inaudibly running back outside of the school.
Kikyou watched her sister dash off, pretending everything was alright. She couldn't believe that they both knew each other, let alone them being friends. Kikyou's minuscule smile weakened. You win, Kagome Higurashi.
Kagome stared back at the liquid in the cup. Small ripples flowed gracefully from the center. There looked back a face so similar to hers, but it wasn't hers. It was Kikyou's.
Kagome leaned her head back against the tree. Surprisingly, there wasn't anyone under Junsei Ai tonight. Usually there's a couple occupying it, especially on dance nights. Kagome opened up her small purse and pulled out her cell phone. She flipped it open and then shut it. Glowing in a brilliant blue, the numbers read eleven nine.
"Well, that can explain a lot," Kagome muttered. "It's late." By now, most of the Meibi students headed home to throw their own parties, often involving alcoholic beverages and other stuff not allow in the school.
Gazing up at the sky, Kagome's eyes filled with a sincere inner peace. The evening sky was scattered with lively glittering stars, each bouncing and flickering about like a firefly in the night sky. Flowing freely, wild sakura petals drifted around, adding to the majestic feel and dreamy mood. Who knew school could have such a romantic setting?
"Hey," a soft comforting voice said.
Kagome just continued staring out. "Hey," she said, her voice lacking all emotion.
The boy sat next to her. "What's up, Kagome?"
"Nothing. Nothing, Bankotsu. Nothing's up. It's all normal. That's why everything's wrong and unfair," she replied philosophically.
Bankotsu gave her a puzzled expression. "Did your date dump you for some other chick?"
Kagome forced a smile on her face. "If only that was the case." Kagome brought up her knees and leaned her face against them, her arms wrapping tightly around her legs. "I didn't even come with a date. Like I said earlier, no one notices me. And if they do, it's probably because Kikyou mentioned me or pointed in my direction. They all obey her."
Bankotsu listened carefully. "Do you hate your sister?"
Kagome brought her head up, only to stare longer at the glimmering gems that people called stars. "No. Kikyou is a good person. She's sweet, smart, gorgeous, and cares about everyone. She may seem a bit emotionless at times but that's just how she was raised, with diligence, elegance, and perfection in mind.
"Me, on the other hand, I was just born. There was no specific way my grandmother raised me; she was too busy engraving perfection in Kikyou's brain to deal with a loud, curious brat.
"And, for a while, I just accepted that. I never got to see my big sister because she was sent to the country with my grandparents to train as a shrine priestess. So I guess I got used to being an 'only' child, you could say. Then, a few years back, I begged my mom to let me see Kikyou. My mom, I'm sure, also wanted to see how her first born was so she immediately call my grandparents and arranged for Kikyou to move back to the city."
Kagome laughed hoarsely. "It gets better though."
Bankotsu nodded his head slowly.
"We finally met. And when we did, I think we were both shocked. We were total opposites. She was quiet and I was loud. I always had a smile on and she always had a poker face on. We were as different as right and left, black and white, pen and pencil. Yet, we hit it off really good. As soon as I closed my bedroom door, I began talking to her about my life and friends and she told me about hers. In the couple of years I have known my sister, I can honestly say we're closer than most siblings are. Funny too, considering we look just like each other so it made it all the more adorable.
"You'd think the jolly one would have a better social life, right? Well, my grandparents did a very good job with perfection. As soon as my friends met her, they right away became smitten with her, calling my cell phone only to talk to Kikyou Higurashi. Kikyou can be friends with absolutely anyone. That's just her ability. In junior high, she was the straight A plus student. And not just in school either. Everywhere she went, the word Kagome was replaced by Kikyou. Before my sister came, I was going to be elected junior high's most likely to succeed. Take a wild guess who replaced me and got that title in the yearbook?"
"Kikyou," Bankotsu answered.
"Yep. I've been living with this ever since Kikyou came back. I don't regret bringing Sis back to Tokyo but I wish I didn't have to forfeit over all my friends either."
Streams of glass rolled down Kagome's face. She turned to him, with a big smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Bankotsu. I shouldn't have done that. I should not have all my burdens lay on you."
"Hey, what are friends for?"
Kagome frowned. "But I just met you!"
"Well, not really. You've seen a lot of me before. The only difference now is now you know my name."
Kagome laughed. "You are something, ya know?"
Bankotsu smiled and leaned back. "Believe me. I may not know what you're going through exactly but my problem is just as deep."
"You?" Kagome raised one thin eyebrow. "Please! You're so popular! You're smart, funny, and handsome. You shouldn't have any high school problems!"
Bankotsu laughed, putting his arms behind his back cockily. "I'm handsome, huh?"
Kagome flushed red, hiding her face from his view. "Well, yeah… you're cute."
"What? How do I go from handsome to cute?" he cried, dropping his arms.
"Did I hurt your pride, oohoko boy?" Kagome teased.
"Hey! Don't mix my Banryuu in this!" he joked.
"Hai, but really. What problems do you have?"
Bankotsu blushed. "None! None that are your business!"
"My ass!" Kagome yelled at him. "You just told me you have serious issues too! You said it yourself! Now spill!"
Bankotsu sighed. He wasn't going to win that was obvious as day.
"Okay, don't laugh but there's this erm,-"
"Girl," a voice answered for him.
"Yeah, girl!" Bankotsu agreed. He smiled up at the boy, turned back to Kagome and then did a double take.
"Jak! What the fuck are you doing here?"
The boy wore a light lavender gown that had a long cut running up both sides of his legs. He had on a thin line of purple lipstick and some lavender eye shadow. His brown hair was pulled up into a cute bun on top of his head. He was definitely gay.
He planted his hands on his hips. "We all saw you run off after that whore," Jakotsu pointed at Kagome, "and figured you'd come back in five. Guess not. Anyway, Renkotsu's got to go to work tomorrow and the rest of us are throwing a party at Suikotsu's place so if you want a ride back, move your ass."
Bankotsu frowned. "Nah, tell Suikotsu I'll walk to his place. I'll see ya guys later!"
The boy walked off and Kagome did not fail to notice the cute little gesture he gave her with his finger.
Kagome glared into the distance and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Ignore Jakotsu. He hates all women."
"So I've noticed." Changing the subject, she grinned at him and said, "Continue?"
He groaned. "Do I have to?" he whined childishly. He was hoping she would have forgotten.
"Hai!"
"Okay fine. There's this one girl I like."
"Wow, you have a crush?"
"Well, it's a little more than that…" he replied.
"Is she cute? What's her favorite band? Does she hang out with Kikyou? Does she like the school lunch? How do you feel about her? Have you told her?" Kagome pressed on urgently.
"Er, yeah, Bad Luck, yeah, dunno, and no."
Kagome's face displayed an expression of confusion. "You feel 'no' about her?"
Bankotsu shook his head. "NO! I mean, I really like her! Now stop pressing, Woman!"
"Fine!" Kagome huffed. "What's your current relationship with her?"
"Friends," he said casually.
"You should tell her how you feel! I bet she likes you!"
"No, she doesn't. She told me she's in love with someone else."
"Is she here at the dance?"
"Yep."
"Okay, I want you to march up to her and declare your feelings!" Kagome stood up, fisting her hand. "The power of love WILL prevail!"
Bankotsu sighed and pulled her back down from her dramatic performance. "Kagome, sit."
Kagome plopped down next to him obediently.
He turned to her and stared her deep in the eyes. "It's not as easy as it sounds."
Kagome shook her head. "Just let her know how you feel. She may be needing comfort and you could be the one to help her!" she explained. "Then, you move in for the kill!" She jabbed her arm forward to emphasize her point. "Go get 'em, Bankotsu!" she encouraged, full of spirit.
He shook his head and breathed in deeply.
And he turned his head and swiftly took her by her lips.
Kagome stood wide eyed. What the hell's going on? Her heart began to pound hastily against her chest.
Bankotsu slowly pulled back and leaned against the tree. "Happy now?" he muttered, folding his arms over his chest and made a pouting look on his reddened face.
Kagome stared at him. What could she say? She had just been kissed by someone she never really knew until today. Sure, she had seen him in the school dojo and in the busy halls but other then today, she never really said anything other than 'hi' to him. But yet, it felt so… right…
"Bankotsu…" she began in an apologetic tone.
"Just save it, alright? I'm sorry!" He stood up and left.
Kagome frowned as he walked away. A lingering pain began to swell up in her chest. Her hand subconsciously touched her moistened lips. "Why…" she asked her throbbing heart.
Why him?
What about Inuyasha?
Inuyasha stood wide eyed at what just happened. "So much for true love," he spat out sadly. He had been hiding behind one of the trees ready to comfort her when that damn rival of his showed up and began talking to her.
And apparently, he even went as far as to kiss her on the lips.
He dropped his head and walked back into Meibi High's party. Bye Kagome… forever…