Chapter Two: Doesn't Everyone Hate Tests?Once they had all exited the Hokage's office Kakashi told them all to meet him on the roof. Kagome strapped her new forehead protector to her left leg, just at the top of her bandages. They took their time as they walked.

"So Kagome I was wondering" No one really noticed how Kagome froze up, how her walk stiffened, how her mind raced with dread and adrenaline started pumping through her veins. No one except Sasuke.

"…Why do you have such a bright colored material as that for your outfit? Ooo what material is this! It's gorgeous! Oh and why do you have so many bandages around your legs and arms?"
Sasuke and Naruto felt slightly confused. Looking at their new team mate from a close distance they noticed a little late that from under the long red sleeves of her top bandages wound in a cross-cross pattern down her arms, around her wrists and looping over her thumbs. It was skin tight and hard to notice. No red blossom of blood was evident on any part of her visible bandages so there were obviously no fresh wounds.

This time Kagome's reaction was so bold that even Naruto noticed it (Sakura was still rambling on about fabrics and stuff even though no one was listening). She stopped dead in the middle of the corridor causing Sasuke, who was behind her, to walk into her back. The three sword sheaths jangled at her waist. A demonic aura was radiating from Kagome now.

"Do you really want to know?" she gritted out as if each word caused her pain, or she was holding in her fury? Now Sakura noticed her change in mood and started to stutter out a reply to her angry demand.

"N-No Never mind! If you don't want to talk about it, its fine I guess-" She was interrupted when Kagome sighed and smiled sadly.

"No Never mind the fault was mine, I didn't mean to snap" she apologized. They waited but she didn't make a move to explain all her bandages. She started walking again and took a few deep breathes "I wear red because this material comes from a…very special friend of mine. It was his and he gave it to me." Again Sakura launched into a talk of materials while Naruto tried to get closer to the pink haired girl. Only Sasuke noticed Kagome seemed shaken by giving them this brief insight into her past. Part of him was concerned for her… another part roared in jealousy of this stranger he didn't even know the name of. All Sasuke could tell was that Kagome cared for him, whoever he was, a lot and he had hurt her, a lot. Sasuke was jealous for probably the first time in his life since the many years ago when he was trying to be as good as Itachi. This was definitely the first time he'd been jealous over a girl.

Sasuke tried to block this part of him self out. It didn't work.

As they walked Sasuke paid more attention to the girls' conversation than he usually would. Kagome intrigued him.

Sakura's annoying voice practically spoke for Kagome; she hardly ever got a word in. It didn't seem like she wanted to contribute much anymore anyway. The sweet Kagome from the Hokage's office was rapidly fading and it seemed this real Kagome was becoming more like him by the minute.

Like him.

This set Sasuke's thinking on a whole different track.

Where had she come from? Who was the stranger whose clothes she now wore? She never answered Naruto's first question, he recalled with silent surprise. Who are you?

Unfortunately in the time taken for Sasuke to think all this they had reached the roof and where they saw Kakashi sitting….. Reading Icha Icha Paradise.

Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke sweat dropped.

Kagome just looked confused.

Kagome felt very shaken. And quite worried. And a little scared.
Shaken because she had given away something about her past that she had swore never to talk about again.
Worried because of the test to come. She'd had enough of them in her old home why did she have to have them in this life too?
Scared for these people she had chosen for her mission.

The silver haired guy from before, Kakashi, was sat waiting for them and reading an orange book. Her feeling of confusion must have at least tripled when the others sweat dropped and Sakura almost punched him over the head, Naruto calling him a pervert, even emotionless Sasuke looked revolted.

Once things had completely calmed down (Orange book safely back in Kakashi's pouch) they all sat in a kind of circle on a flat section of the roof.

"So let's start at the beginning shall we? Why doesn't everyone introduce themselves" The others were starting to look slightly nervous again.
"Like what should we say?" Kagome questioned

"Try things like… your name, things you like and things you hate. Dreams for the future. Hobbies" By this time the others looked positively terrified.
"Show us first, I don't think I follow" She pressed

"Me? I'm Kakashi Hatake. Things I like and things I hate...I don't feel like telling you that. My dreams for the future...never really thought about it. As for my hobbies...I have lots of hobbies." This time Kagome sweat dropped.

"W-We only learned his name"

"That's Kakashi-sensei" Sakura said bordly

"Naruto your turn"

"Right! I am Naruto Uzumaki! Remember it 'cos I'm gonna be the Hokage some day! Believe it! I Love Ichiraku Ramen and I hate the three minutes it takes for the noodles to cook!" Naruto yelled.

"Sakura"

"Right! I'm Sakura Haruno. I love... My dream is… My hobbies are…" At every one of her pauses she looked at Sasuke (who pretended not to notice), blushed and giggled like a mad woman.

"What do you hate? You never said" Kagome spoke up, hoping to learn how not to get on her bad side.

"Naruto!" Naruto looked thoroughly depressed.

"Sasuke"

"My name is Sasuke Uchiha. I hate a lot of things, and I don't particularly like anything. What I have is not a dream, because I will make it a reality. I'm going to restore my clan, and kill a certain someone" Kagome narrowed her eyes into a frown

"Why do you want to kill him? Maybe he had a reason or what he did. Revenge is never best." She said knowingly too much surprise.

"What do you know about it!? He only wanted power tha-" He frowned "Wait how do you know all that!?" He had stood up and was towering over her causing her to shrink back.

"N-No Stop! Please! Stop it! Don't hurt me please!" She whimpered helplessly, putting her hands in front of her, palms facing Sasuke. "NOOOO!!!!" A strange purpley-pink light erupted suddenly from her hands causing Sasuke to be blasted off the ground and the others to be blown away from her a good few feet.

When the light and dust cleared and Kakashi, Sakura and Naruto were beginning to sit up, Kagome could be seen sitting in a sort of crumpled ball, shaking, her eyes terrified.

'No! She shouted in her head 'you swore you wouldn't use that in front of people anymore!'

Sakura had sat up and was staring at her with fear evident in her eyes.

"W-Who are you?! What did you do to Sasuke-kun!?" Kagome didn't answer but flinched away as if she had struck her. Sakura crawled over to where Sasuke was lying and tried to cradle his head as if he were unconscious. But Sasuke Uchiha was very much awake.

"Get off me Sakura" he snapped pushing her away. Anger flared deep in Kagome's chest but she had other problems right now. Kakashi had sat up and, while looking as calm as ever, was dusting himself off. Finally he turned to face her.

"Kagome I think it's time you tell us what that power was." Kagome looked down. Sometimes it was best to lie for people's own good.

"It was my chakra sensei. I apologize for attacking Sasuke but it was a reflex reaction." She turned and looked Sasuke straight in the eye "Gomen Sasuke-kun." Kakashi nodded, apparently unaffected. Kagome knew differently. The mistrustful look of anxiety was in his eyes. Kagome sighed. She was used to it.

"Well then, now that that's over let us continue with your test… and your guys' punishment." He started to stand up when Naruto spoke up from where he was still lying.

"But Kakashi-sensei! Kagome-chan still hasn't introduced herself like we had too!" Kakashi paused then turned to her. Kagome gulped.

"That's right. Kagome." She took a few deep breathes.

"I'm Kagome Higurashi. I like lots of things but especially old things and my friends. I hate people who do things for their own gain. My Hobbies are training and trying to finish a mission I was given. My dream is to finish that mission." 'And hopefully earn some friends along the way' she added in her head. "Now can we please continue to this test?" she said quickly before any of them had time to dwell on what she said.

"If you're that desperate then I should probably tell you now… but what's the point in that. Meet me at training ground 7. Now." Before any one had time to ask any questions he poofed away in a cloud of smoke.

All the way to the training ground Sasuke, Sakura Naruto were silent. Kagome was starting to get depressed.

'I guess its natural for them to be suspicious of me' she thought sadly 'I mean I just showed up out of now where and then attacked Sasuke with my spiritual energy. As long as they think it's just chakra I won't have to tell them any more about where I got my powers.' Even as she lied to herself she felt lonely at the concept of being apart from everyone again. Unlikely as it was Sasuke was actually looking forward to their punishment. It would mean he would almost definitely get to see Kagome fight. Even after being thrown by her 'chakra' she still interested him. Kagome noticed nothing different about Sasuke.

As they walked into the clearing Kakashi could be seen sitting on one of the three wooden posts in the … twirling 4small bells on strings around one of his fingers. Sakura and Naruto looked terrified as they saw the bells, literally stopping dead. Sasuke's eyes widened. Kagome merely kept walking, ignoring their reactions. When they ran to catch up with her as she arrived in front of Kakashi looks of apprehension covered their faces. Kakashi smiled evilly with his one visible eye.

"Now Kagome this test it really quite simple. Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura and I will each have one of these bells in which we have to protect. That will be their test; to see if they are capable of protecting something with their lives if necessary. Your test is to get the bells from us. Whoever's bell you have managed to take will be tied to one of these posts for a whole day with out food. If you fail to claim anyone's bell then you will be the one tied to the post. So, do you accept my test?" A fierce expression of determination appeared on kagome's face.

"Yes, I accept your test"