Their Soles, Connected
Chapter 1- First Day
High school. That iconic time in life when friends become like family, first loves develop, and mistakes are made. The four years that are spent in high school are some of the longest and most challenging in life especially when things don't go in the direction planned.
Kagome Higurashi is now living her worst nightmare, she is moving. Along with her mother and brother they will be making the move to the shrine that her Grandfather runs in Tokyo. How can this be happening? She now has to say goodbye to her long-time friends Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi. Not to mention the guy that she has had a crush on for a year, Hojo. She is leaving her childhood home for a somewhat familiar place. Such a devastating blow for the 16 year old going into her second year of high school.
*Beep Beep Beep Beep*
At the sound of the alarm Kagome stirred slightly and moved her arm out of the warmth of her comforter to swat the snooze button.
"Kagome, time for breakfast!" her mom shouted from the landing of the stairs. She always knew when Kagome just hit the snooze button and went back to bed.
Rolling over on her bed, looked over at her desk and groaned. Yay it's the day I've been dreading she thought to herself. Reluctantly pulling herself out of bed and hastily pulling on the navy shirt and yellow skirt she had prepared for the day. Once dressed she walked heavily to the dinner table.
"Are you ready, Sis?" her brother asked cheerily looking up at her with expectant eyes. He seemed so happy to be starting over in a new place with endless possibilities. But he is in primary school he doesn't really know just how bad this is for her.
"Why don't you just shut up, Sota!?" she snapped. Of course Kagome didn't really mean to get so mad at him but she was so on edge with the prospect of being the shiny new toy at school. She knew all the looks that were coming and all the stupid questions she would be asked. And the worst part was she had no one to share in the drama of the day with.
"Yeash, just asking." Sota bit his lip, and then dug into his food. Man he has it so easy Kagome thought to herself.
"There will be no attitude at the dinner table!" her grandpa lectured.
Kagome sighed. If only he knew just how stressed she really was about today. But then again her grandfather had never really been one to just listen without giving a grand speech about how it was when he was a boy and trying to throw in some kind of life lesson.
Sota didn't dare raise her temper again so the walk to school was a quite one. The last five minutes of which she spent alone as Sota's school was before hers. Her thoughts were heavy as she tried to give herself a quiet pep talk before arriving at the gates.
Before walking into the grounds, Kagome took in a deep breath. When she exhaled an "I can do this" escaped her lips and she started to feel a little better. That is until she noticed the looks that all the other students were giving her. Not only did she feel different than all those that were walking around her, she knew that she looked different as well. Her uniform hadn't come in yet so she was wearing what she affectionately called "civvies" in place of a regulation school uniform.
She focused her glance toward the ground so that her embarrassed blush could not be seen by others. She bumped in to someone, or more accurately someone bumped into her because she still hadn't moved from her spot at the front gate. She chanced a quick glance up at the guy and found that he didn't have a uniform on either. She looked up at his face in shock and found that it was familiar.
"Hojo?" Her shock was probably very evident on her face because people stared at her.
"Oh hey Kagome, when did you get here?" he flashed a smile. He had been reading a book on health improvement and that explained why he hadn't seen her just standing there.
Kagome was a little disoriented. "Just a second ago. But I don't understand. Why are you here?"
"Well, um, my mom got transferred here and so I transferred to this school." Hojo averted his gaze from her face. She thought she saw a hint of red on his cheeks but it had to be her imagination.
"Oh, okay then. Why don't we head over to class? What room are you in?" Hojo looked back at her and smiled. Man he can be charming she thought to herself her cheeks glowing a slight shade of pink.
"Room 2-C. What 'bout you?"
"Room 2-A." Darn I don't have the same class as him. Her spirits sank a little at the notion that she would still have to be alone for the majority of the day.
"Well, how's 'bout I walk you to class." He answered, his smile never wavering.
"Okay." Kagome answered her spirits lifting.
He walked her all the way to the classroom door which was on the other side of the hall before they parted ways with the promise to see each other later. Beginning on a happy note she slid the door open prepared for what might await her. People stared at her as she walked up to the desk where her homeroom teacher should be, but wasn't. So she had to stand in the front of the classroom looking like an idiot for five minutes before the teacher walked in. When he noticed her the first thing he looked at was her lack of uniform. He frowned in disapproval as he walked over to her.
"You must be Miss Higurashi. My name is Mr. Ternanda. I must say that I am disappointed that you aren't wearing your uniform for your first day of class. Do you think that because you are new here that you get a free pass?" He is talking to me like he has something to prove to the other students. He is acting like I am going to be the new problem student and he would make an example of me. Well there is no way that I am going to put up with that.
"Actually sir, my uniform got sent to my old house in Kyoto and won't be here until later in the week at the earliest. The school director sent a formal apology for the mix up. There is nothing I can do but if there is something wrong with what I am wearing today I will gladly amend it tomorrow." Kagome looked at him and smiled her fake sweet smile.
He looked at her in surprise with his mouth hanging open a little bit. Some students had taken notice and were now snickering at him. "No you look fine just wear your uniform as soon as you get it. My apologies for being so rude without knowing the situation. Now I think that we will have you take a seat and you can introduce yourself when it is your turn. We are running a little late so the formal introduction in front of the class we will skip. You can take a seat in that empty desk right over there." He pointed to a desk right smack in the middle of the classroom.
Kagome had to work really hard to suppress the groan that threatened to leave her lips. Great, I have to sit in the middle of the class. I don't know a single person here. How can he just skip over the introduction like that? Is he trying to make this day harder for me? Kagome sighed once again and she was sure that it would not be the last that day. Slowly she took her seat.
"Class, we have a new student today. Now I would like you to, one at a time, tell us your name, where you live, and a special skill of yours."
One by one the students in her class introduced themselves.
Then came Kagome's turn.
"I'm Kagome Higurashi, live at the Higurashi shrine, I'm good at archery." Kagome sat down.
"May I ask why you don't have a school uniform?" The girl sitting behind her asked. I guess that she hadn't heard when Kagome explained to the teacher because the girl looked at her with genuine curiosity.
The class nodded in agreement even though most of them knew the reason already. They just wanted to hear her talk again.
"Yes, please do Miss Kagome," Mr. Ternanda said. "I don't think that the class will settle down if you don't." Jerk. You know the reason and you just want to save face after I embarrassed you. Jeez how immature.
Kagome sighed once again and stood up. "I was originally a student at a school in Kyoto but something happened with my grandfather, so we are staying here. We had to give the school our current residence and our previous residence and somehow my uniform got sent to my old home. So it hasn't come yet." She sat down hoping that the looks would turn away from her.
She got her wish, class went on and the girl behind her introduced herself.
"I'm Sango, I live in Tokyo in a small house, and I'm good at using my hiraikotsu." A what?
Classes dragged on and Kagome quickly realized that she had covered most of the material they were learning in her advanced study program after school last year. At last lunch came and she had something to look forward to, the promised meeting with Hojo.
Kagome walked over to his classroom and looked for him. Hojo had already seemed to have made friends and was chatting with people when she walked in but when he saw her he waved at the group and walked over to her. They went out to the courtyard together to eat.
Sango came walking up to Kagome. She noticed that the girl was dragging two boys along behind her.
"Can we sit here?" She asked while flashing a smile.
"Sure, why not." Hojo answered before Kagome could even open her mouth.
"Thanks. Oh this is Miroku and this is Inuyasha." She gestured to the boy with short black hair and deep purple eyes first, who I assumed was Miroku and then to the boy on her other side, who had shining silver hair and yellow colored eyes, Inuyasha. "We've known each other since we were little."
Kagome couldn't help but stare at Inuyasha. He gazed back at her but this only lasted for a few prolonged seconds because suddenly a girl latched on to him from behind.
"Hey, Yashie, long time no see." The girl sang in his ear. She started to twirl strands of hair around her index finger. When she noticed what, or rather who, he had been staring at her eyes narrowed and her grip on Inuyasha tightened.
"Kikyo, I thought that I told you that we're over. I don't like you in that way anymore. You are special to me but I just don't see you in the way you want me to." He brushed her off and sat down.
Sango took a seat next to Kagome and Miroku sat next to Inuyasha. Kikyo sat on his other side, disregarding his coldness, and clung to his arm.
The look on Inuyasha's face was one of irritation as he tried to ignore her and eat his lunch. Kagome felt bad for him. She didn't know the background behind the situation but it did not look like he was totally comfortable with how Kikyo wouldn't let go.
"So, um, why don't you have uniforms?" Miroku made her snap back to earth.
"Kagome and I don't have any uniforms yet, because we came to this school last minute." Hojo answered first again, this time to try and save her from explaining. He had however gotten the story wrong for her.
"Actually…" Kagome went into the by now familiar speech and blushed slightly in embarrassment.
"So your name is Kagome," Miroku pointed at her then moved his arm in Hojo's direction, "but what is your name?"
"Oh, it's Hojo." He stated flashing a smile.
"So, Kagome what about the rest of your family, you know other than your grandfather?" Sango asked completely ignoring Hojo.
Kagome had been eating her food diligently. She kept her head down, but looked through her bangs. "There's my mom and my little brother Sota."
"What about your father?" the girl who was seen as unwelcome by the rest of the group, Kikyo, interrupted before Sango could reply to Kagome's statement.
Kagome moved her gaze back to the food in front of her. The blood raised to her face as she felt tears threaten to leave her eyes. "He died when I was still young. Only shortly after Sota was born." There was a slight crack in her voice as she spoke. Great I think that I'm going to cry!
"Just leave her be, Kikyo." Inuyasha jumped into the conversation suddenly. This wasn't something that Kagome expected from the surly looking guy.
Kagome shot him a look of extreme gratitude. He returned her gaze and gave a slight nod of understanding that could only come from someone who knew the same pain.
"Did I mention that Inuyasha and Miroku are third years? Well they are. Inuyasha is a tough guy and Miroku is a bit of a pervert so watch out." Sango added bluntly. Changing the subject completely, which Kagome was thankful for.
"Hey I resent that." Miroku reached over the table and took Kagome's hands. "You're very cute. I know that we just met and all but will you bear me a son?"
Kagome squeaked and slapped his hands away. She stood up, walked away, and headed to her next class. I can't believe that he just did that! Was he serious or just trying to mess with me? I really needed to get out of there.
"Well, now you've done it." Inuyasha sighed.
"I can't believe you!" Sango pulled her arm up and slapped Miroku right across the face.
Hojo sat there completely forgotten by the girl he secretly had feelings for. It felt a little awkward sitting with these people who ignored his very existence without Kagome around and so he left and chased after her. His labor was unrewarded as she was nowhere in sight.
The rest of the day went by quietly. Kagome wasn't really focused on her classes for the rest of the day. All her teachers were treating her the same way her Mr. Ternanda had that morning making her wonder if she really appeared to them to be a problem student. So, by the end of the day, safe away from the school, sitting in her bedroom she had forgotten all but her homeroom teacher's name.
"Man, what a long day. At least the teachers didn't go crazy with homework on the first day." Kagome said to herself quietly.
"How was your first day, Kagome?" her mom called from outside of her door.
"Fine, Mom. Just…fine." Kagome sighed
Tomorrow's a new day. I hope it's even the slightest bit better, or, at least, less eventful. Her mind went through her day; the best thing she felt that had happened to her was that Hojo was now going to be going to the same school. She no longer felt that she was going through this alone.
Exhaustion settled over Kagome as she finished her first days homework. She called down to her mom saying that she wasn't hungry. She then flopped backwards on her bed and sighed like she had countless times that day.
Next thing she knew she had fallen asleep on her pink covers. The stress of the first day at her new school beginning to fade into the background of her mind. For the first time that day she was stress free.