Chapter 10

Friends and Home

The bell for the end of fourth period rang and Kagome emerged not alone or escorted by a wolf demon, but with a friend. During her incomplete time in Journalism class Kagome was assigned to a partner to work on some kind of character summary project, and she was put with Sango Slayer, the athletic girl from the courtyard. The two had become fast friends and now Kagome didn't feel as alone in this different school as she did earlier.

"Since that was our last class we don't have to eat in the cafeteria for lunch," Kagome was told, "want to eat across the street at Wacdonalds? My treat!"

Kagome was pretty stubborn, but she was hungry and her mom would never give her lunch money, "I haven't had fast food in ages."

"Lets go then!" Sango kept a smile on her face as they left the school.

"I hate these damn school uniforms," Kagome complained as she followed her new friend through the black top.

"What did you wear back at home?"

"Anything I wanted."

"Lucky."

Kagome had began feeling a bit edgy again as they walked towards the street. She had never seen so many youkai before until now. They were everywhere and they all seemed to travel in their own little packs. Wolf demons that were similar to Kouga were all in one group, cat demons all hung out together, and the same with anyone else, and she assumed they were only separated socially by demons and humans.

"Sango why do they all stay in groups like that?" Kagome asked when she was sure her voice wasn't being listened to.

"Because by the end of the day each of them have pissed someone off and they get in their groups so they have back up if a fight occurs," Sango explained, "I think fighting is in a demon's nature. I am taking psychology next year you should too. I bet we will get to learn about what makes a demon tick."

"Surprised we don't hang out in groups."

"We're special like that. We only get into fights amongst ourselves, which rarely happens at this school since everyone thinks we need to stay unified against the demons."

"Hey Sango," a girl who was chatting with a group of guys tried to get her attention, "good luck tonight!"

"Thanks," Sango smiled back.

"Don't get yourself killed," a nearby neko warned her.

"Be quiet Stacia. Just because I am on varsity and your not."

"I will be next time, so watch your back. Until then go kick some ass."

"I will. Thanks!"

"What are they talking about?" Kagome asked feeling bad because even demons were congratulating Sango while she stood there like a fool.

"I will be the first ever sophomore in this school to be promoted to the girl's varsity basketball."

"This school isn't that old so wouldn't you be the first basketball player to do it?"

"Sesshoumaru never played on the junior varsity team. He went straight for the big time."

"If only he was as good at being nice like he is in that game."

"I don't think he means to be rude and heartless. It must be hard being popular and good looking when you just want to be left alone."

"I guess."

Kagome had noticed Sango seemed to have the ability to see people and what lay beneath their skin. She would probably excel in psychology or another similar subject with the way her mind worked. She had to be good if she saw Sesshoumaru Murashu as a good man.

"Coming to my game?" Sango asked.

Of course Kagome wouldn't be making an appearance since she didn't have the pocket money to pay for a ticket. She already felt guilty enough since Sango would be paying for her lunch. It would be nice to make the cheer leading team though that way she could see all the games for free.

"Sorry I am busy tomorrow night," Kagome answered, "but maybe I will make it to the next one."

"You better."

The two made it across the street to WacDonalds where an order of fries and chicken sandwiches helped fill their stomachs. They were sitting at a window seat when Kagome noticed a certain dog hanyou in the parking lot. At first it seemed like he was going to come in, but then he started to converse with a girl; a girl wearing a French maid outfit. What Inuyasha said about youkai and sex must have been true, because there he was, a freshman, looking as though he was going to get a prostitute for the day. Kagome was proven wrong when the two went their separate ways."

"Good thing he wasn't hungry," said Sango, "there wouldn't be enough food here for anybody else. I don't care if he is a half demon he is going to get really fat one day and then we will see how fast he runs."

"Who was he talking to?"

"No clue. I've only been his friend since this year."

"Wait," Kagome responded in pure disbelief, "you are friends with him?"

"We don't talk that much outside of school, but he is fun. You know him? Oh yeah he and Kouga were fighting over you earlier."

"They were fighting over me?"

"It looks that way, but it seems that Kouga one."

"I had to promise to be his future girlfriend, so I guess I will be single for the rest of my high school career."

"Now Kouga is a jerk and there is no excuse for it."

"He has been nice to me, unlike Inuyasha."

"Like I said Kouga won and Inuyasha thinks you are going to be going out with him soon, so I doubt you two can become friends. Oh look at the time!"

Kagome watched as Sango frantically checked her watch, "what is it?"

"Track open field starts in five minutes!"

Kagome couldn't help but laugh. Obviously Sango liked getting his physical activities in, and she wouldn't stop until she was the best. It was probably rare for a human to have her attitude since youkai were much stronger in everything.

"Well I will leave you to it," Kagome got up and threw their trash away, "good luck!"

"Thanks Kagome! See you tomorrow."

When Sango was gone the new freshman couldn't help but sulk. She had such a good time talking with a new friend that she forgot school was over and it was time to return home. Unlike most students she would rather go to school over and over again than go home.

The walk home was what became the most depressing of it all. She got to look at marvelous homes and apartment buildings before having to go on to her street where the homes were damaged and not cared for along with being home to some undesirable people. Kagome lived on this street with her mother and it only inspired her to work harder to get out.

Using a rusty and bent key that required a lot of jerking around in the lock Kagome opened up the door and entered the undesirable home. Surprisingly her unemployed mother wasn't home on the couch suffering a hang over as usual. Today was becoming a good day.

Not wanting her mom to call her a useless bitch, which was unavoidable despite Kagome's actions, the girl gathered a broom and a dust pan wanting to clean up the apartment. Everywhere there were empty beer cans, dirty laundry, and condom wrappers. Cleaning up such things made her wonder how on earth a mother and daughter could be so different. Obviously Kagome was a result of an intoxicated one-night stand, because there was no way on earth her kind father would have ever had a relationship of the drunken whore.

"That should do it," Kagome congratulated herself after cleaning up what she could with the vacuum sweeper.

"Do I not make a good housewife?" Kagome quickly shuddered when she heard her mother come into the apartment; she feared the voice so much she could never make a comment about how she needed a supporting husband to be a housewife.

"I was just cleaning mom," was Kagome's only answer.

"You should be job searching!"

"I put in an application at the coffee place down the street yesterday and I did a lot of it last week. I am not looking hard enough, because they don't want girls my age."

"Useless bitch," her mother commented as she laid a brown paper bag on the dirty kitchen counter that was probably filled with liquor rather than any food, "but then again someone as lazy as you shouldn't have a job. You would probably make good money as a whore down on the corner. After all, look how you dress."

"This is my school uniform I don't wear it by choice."

"So a role-play? Keep up this attitude and you will find yourself with a pimp getting slapped every hour for your comments."

"Yes mom."

"Go to your room and sleep or something. I am having a friend over tonight."

Kagome knew her mother was talking about a man that she was going to try and have sex with in hopes of getting some cash, "yes mom."

"You better be counting your stars that your father's death has landed us some money, because this not having a job thing doesn't suit you. I am going to be off unemployment soon."

"I know I will do what I can."

Her mother just went on saying something about prostitutes again, because her brain cells were so far gone she had no clue that she was repeating what she said just a minute ago. All Kagome could do there was stand and nod until the loop ended and she could go into her room where she slept in a sleeping bag and did her homework.

(End of Chapter 10)