A/N are in the profile. Thanks to Iron Raven-kun, who gave me the 3 girls names, as well as backing up my thoughts on the whole high school thing (technical term).
"Kagome! I'm so glad you made it to school today!"
Kagome turned at Eri's voice. Her other two friends stood on either side of Eri. All three looked relieved.
"What's going on today?" Kagome asked. Miroku demanded a day of rest and meditation, or else she wouldn't have been here at all. Inuyasha had been pushing extra hard lately, looking for pieces of the Shikon Jewel. Kagome was suspicious the day of rest was so she could see her family. It had been three weeks after all.
Yuka grinned broadly. "You have been gone so long! You didn't know today was the high school visitation day."
Eri grabbed Kagome's hands, and pulled her closer to the school. "High Schools from all over Tokyo are here today to try an interest us."
Kagome looked panicked. "I'm so far behind in my studies! They wouldn't be interested in me!" Her exclamation brought sympathetic looks from her friends.
"Don't worry," Yuka said. "They are looking at test scores and your scores are still fine."
"Yeah. I work well under pressure," Kagome thought out loud sarcastically, thinking of all the pressure she'd been under lately from Inuyasha.
The other three girls glanced curiously at Kagome. "Are you ok?" Harumi asked.
"Of course I am!" Kagome exclaimed, putting on her best forced smile and changing the subject. "So, when is the visiting?"
"First thing this morning," Eri said as she drug Kagome into the building.
***
Kagome walked home from school alone. She had begged off from going for ice cream with her friends, saying she didn't feel good. She sighed heavily as she regretted the lie. At least Grandpa's excuses are good for something.
Her mind wandered back to the visits this morning. Over and over again, she heard the rejections in her head. Higurashi-san, you have missed so many days. How do you do so well on your tests but so poorly on your school work? Are you feeling any better? Perhaps you should spend some time healing rather than going to high school.
With all the voices of rejection running through her mind, she came quickly to the Shrine steps. Again, she sighed as she started her way up the steps. Just under her breath, she practiced what she'd tell her mama. "Mama, I'm not going to high school." No, I want to go to high school… I think. "Mama, I'm going to focus on my studies. You can tell Inuyasha to just go back through the well where he came from." Kagome sighed again. I couldn't bear to not see Inuyasha again.
She stopped in front of her front door. Mama, I don't know what I want to do with my future. Kagome nodded almost imperceptibly then pushed the door open. "Mama, I'm home."
"Kagome-chan, I'm in the kitchen," her mother's warm voice answered her from the back. Kagome kicked off her shoes and followed her voice to the kitchen.
"Hello mama," Kagome said, giving her mother a kiss on the cheek while avoiding the sudsy dish water.
"How was school today, dear?" her mother asked, pulling her hands out of the water and drying them on a towel.
"Oh, mama," Kagome sighed, sitting at the table. "They were asking us about high school today."
Kagome's mom sat down at the table with Kagome. "Oh?" She fixed her daughter with an open gaze. "And what did you find out?"
Kagome sighed again. "I've missed so much school, many of the high schools will have nothing to do with me." Kagome looked at her folded hands.
"Oh, Kagome," her mother started.
"but," Kagome interrupted, "One of the western styled high schools said I would do well there. Their studies are highly individualized, since so many attending are from the military bases. It will be Western-centric but if I'm out, they won't care much."
Kagome's mother looked thoughtful. "Did you tell them you wanted to be a doctor?"
"Of course, mama," she grinned, thinking about the response shed received to that. "The high school already has a medical prep program in place. They also get their students discounts at a college in California, America."
Mrs. Higurashi nodded, thinking more. "Will you be finished with your quest by the time you're ready for university?"
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, puzzled. Then, her eyes opened wide as she realized her mother's question. "Oh! I'm planning on attending Tokyo University still."
Frowning, her mother shook her head. "They'd never take the Western High school's scores, since its here in Tokyo. They'll think you took the easy way out."
Kagome threw her hands up in defeat. "Then I just don't know what to do." She laid her head down on her arms on the table. Maybe this will all go away.
Mrs. Higurashi touched her daughter's head lightly. "Kagome-chan, you can always take time off from school and work here at the shrine." Her rhythmic hair stroking kept Kagome's tears at bay. "Your Jii-chan is getting old after all. I'm sure he'd appreciate an extra set of hands."
Kagome swallowed hard, to keep from crying and sat up. I can't give up. I really want to go to school, Mama."
The smile she gave Kagome didn't quite reach her eyes. "Do you really, Kagome-chan? You haven't made school a priority for well over a year now. Are you sure it's still that important to you?"
Kagome opened her mouth to answer. Before she said anything her mind's eye saw Inuyasha standing in front of her. It was one of the rare times he wasn't glaring or yelling. He was smiling at me and Shippou, Kagome remembered, and I wasn't supposed to see. "You're right, mama, I need to figure out my priorities first." Kagome's eyes were distant, and Mrs. Higurashi knew her thoughts were in another time.
Kagome stood up and shook her head to clear her thoughts. She turned to leave the kitchen.
"Dinner will be ready early tonight," Higurashi-san said, also rising. "IF Inuyasha comes before then, invite him to dinner."
"Yes mama," Kagome said, leaving the room. Are my priorities even the same as his?