Title: Amazed
Author/Artist: Minako (minakiwi)
Pairing: Higurashi Kagome / Kouga
Fandom: InuYasha

Rating: G

Word Count: 963
Theme: # 7. superstar
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi and no infringement is meant with their use.

It had been one of the few times in which she had actually been there to attend school, and Kagome could not remember feeling so nervous before. Her mother bless her had made sure that all the homework she'd finished and InuYasha had ferried through for her was turned in, but without the feedback contact with teachers would give her she was unsure if what she had done was what was needed. As it was nearing the end of the quarter she was becoming more and more nervous, and to her surprise InuYasha had unbent enough to allow her to return home without much of a fight put up. Normally they would have had to argue at least half the day but it was almost as if he felt pity on her plight and let it go after a few rocky sentences and a gruff "keh" of displeasure.

The real reason he'd been so eager to see her off however she realized the moment before she leapt into the well. It was so fast that it was almost more of an impression, but she saw Kouga lingering in the tree line as if he had been merely watching and waiting for InuYasha to get so angry that he'd storm off. The look on Kouga's face had tugged at her heartstrings somehow, and she'd even gone so far as to stretch out her hand towards him mid-jump, but it was too late and the cool winds of time caressing her legs and making her hair billow up made her focus on home. She was back to nervously biting her lip the closer her steps took her to her house. What if her homework had been below adequate? Sub par even! Yet after her family's warm welcome and dinner, she finally let the worry about school go long enough to consider that last glimpse of Kouga. He had looked ... what, lonely? Worried?

The thoughts of him were the last thing in her mind's eye when she fell asleep, and carried over to the next morning as she got ready for school. Concentrating on Kouga and what he might or might not want was enough to take her mind off school until she was actually there, listening to her friends chatter about grades and the fact that today there was a large assembly after lunch to congratulate the students who had made passing grades sufficient enough to go on to the next level. Kagome felt the color drain from her face, and her eyes were suddenly swimming with tears, because she was just sure that of all the students in her grade that her name would not be called. Her friends had reacted immediately to calm her down, feeling bad that their chatter must have upset the girl who missed so much school. At least Ari had had the decency to remind her that her work was always good in the past so surely she would move ahead.

She was nearly shaking as she sat there, gloomy and wondering if in the end when her name wasn't called if she would break down into tears in front of the whole school or if she could wait until she fled the room. As the names kept being read met with smatterings of applause, she swore she suddenly felt hot breath on her cheek and Kouga's warm voice in her ear, gruff and earnest. "Kagome what are you doing to yourself? You're strong, remember? My woman is strong and sweet and never forget that!"

She let out a shaky breath and nodded, even though she knew he wasn't really there. She sat up straighter and squared her shoulders. So what if her name wasn't called? She was strong! She'd get through it and figure out what to do later! Even so when she did hear her name she squealed with excitement and felt like a superstar, as if she were up on stage and giving the performance of her life. She couldn't wait to rush home and share the news with her family, though after dinner she went to the well house and jumped down, through to the past. She wasn't due back yet, but something told her she should go and so she did. Nearly as soon as she cleared the lip of the well she was grabbed up into a tight hug, but she knew immediately it was Kouga and didn't struggle. Something was wrong, had to be for him to have waited, so she simply put her arms around him and let him hold her.

She felt his lips on her forehead, a sweet kiss to each eyelid, and he brushed his lips to her mouth even as she blushed. The pink tinged her cheeks with a warm flush and he buried his face between her shoulder and her neck. His breathing was rough, as if he held back some vicious emotion, and she simply let him hold her, her hands running through his dark hair and almost frightened at his near haggard appearance. He didn't tell her in words what had happened but she knew that it was bad, and most likely Naraku's doing. Kouga whispered her name then, and said something that haunted her.

"I shouldn't have come, but I needed to know that there is good in this life. Kagome, Kagome."

She gathered up that feeling she had when she had felt his love, his whisper when she needed the support, and then she lurched forward and planted her lips on his. The kiss was inelegant at best, her youth and inexperience showing in the technique. But it was heartfelt and the look on his face when she pulled back again made her feel just like a superstar.