Okay, so, I was surprised to see how many people have reviewed, PMed, and emailed me about this story. Very surprised. And, I just have to say… I love you guys. After years of not being remotely motivated to write you guys have pushed me to actually finish a story. Thank you so much. All of you. I'm glad you enjoy it and I'll do my best to continue this story the best that I know how. Keep in mind that my writing style will be different, I mean, it has been six years.

Also, many of you suggest for me to write other Kagome/Sango based stories so that the pairing will come alive again. I'm considering this. I actually have a story in mind. Depending on how I decide to end "The Tomboy" I might even write a sequel for that. I dunno, we'll see, but please share your thoughts with me. I don't wanna write it if no one will read it. Please and thank you.

Anyway, enough of the Author's mushy stuff. Onwards to the story that you guys greatly deserve.

Chapter Ten: Disposable

"Hallie Berry… Over Megan Fox? Seriously man?" Miroku asked in disbelief tossing a fry in his mouth.

The silver haired male shrugged slightly. "I felt the same way until I saw Catwoman… damn can that woman wear leather," Taking a drink of his soda Inuyasha idly shook the cup swishing the cubes of ice around.

The tomboy sat in between the two, her face buried in her fingers. To her sudden knowledge, so much can change in such a short period of time. It's been two weeks since Ayame's party. It felt like a decade. She never did get the chance to find Kagome at the party, according to Inuyasha she must have left as soon as seeing Kikyo in the room with her. She even went to Kagome's house, but her mother told her she wasn't feeling very well. That following Monday at school, Sango saw Kagome at her locker and took that as her chance to tell her what had happened. However, Kagome didn't want to hear it. She didn't even let Sango finish her explanation before muttering something about "That's your business," and walking away from her.

Since then, Kagome has been ignoring her. The girl wouldn't answer her calls, text messages, or even emails. Kagome had barely spoke to her, let alone even look at her. The girl even went so far as to change her sitting arrangements in the classes she had with Sango. Everytime the tomboy would try to approach her Kagome treated her like a plague.

It was eating Sango alive.

Two weeks ago she and Kagome were inseparateable. They were in sync in nearly every way. She had never had that with anyone else. When that type of bond was stripped away from her so suddenly she couldn't help but feel… lost. It's been weeks and she still had to habit of picking up the phone to call Kagome and tell the girl good night. She still had the urge to tell her mom to fix Kagome's favorite for supper. Most of all she has the urge to claim those lips again.

The worst part about all of this is that it doesn't seem to affect the other woman one bit that they are no longer on speaking terms. Kagome was acting like her normal self to other people as far as Sango could tell. She still associated with Inuyasha, Ayame, and even Miroku. She smiled and laughed the same way that she would as if things were okay. It made Sango's blood boil and she couldn't help but be angry with her. Was she really that disposable? She could understand Kagome's anger, but she deserved to be heard out. It wasn't her fault and Kagome was treating her like she was a deceitful snake.

They were so close, how could one night destroy that?

"Sango, you're out of the closet now, right?" Miroku asked nonchalantly. "Would you fuck Hallie Berry or Megan Fox?" Why did she even hang around him? Before she could even react, Inuyasha was already glaring daggers at him.

"Miroku, no… just, no…"

"What? It's a legitimate question," the pervert exclaimed in defense while holding his hands up in front of his face. It must have been a natural instinct by now since he's used to getting hit in the face after any of his comments. However, Sango did nothing but tighten her jaw in annoyance. Inuyasha noticed this and shot her a concerned look.

"You alright?"

Sango answered him with a shrug. "I'm fine," The silver haired man grimaced at the tomboy's insincerity towards him.

"She'll come around. You know that," he tried to say as reassurance. The woman gave him a dull look.

"I'm fine," she replied, this time with sternness in her voice. It became quite apparent that she wanted to drop the subject of Kagome. Sango picked up her can of Sprite and began to sip. Casually looking around the cafeteria she frowned noticing that Kagome was nowhere in sight. Since Ayame's party, Kagome hasn't been showing up for lunch. She probably brings food from home and eats it elsewhere. Her frown soon morphed into a dangerous glare when she saw the very woman who had ruined her friendship with Kagome. Kikyo. Inuyasha noticed this and placed a settle hand on her shoulder.

"It ain't worth it," he warned. Even after two weeks her anger towards Kikyo has not simmered down in the least. In fact, it just fueled her anger even more. However, her mother expressed to her that if she gets into trouble one more time then she will not hesitate to make her transfer schools. Inuyasha knew as well as Sango that it wasn't worth that. Thus, Sango killing Kikyo was put on hold until after graduation. The tomboy didn't bother to confront her either because she knew that whatever answer Kikyo would give her wouldn't be good enough. Sango found herself clenching her Sprite can in rage feeling the aluminum bend against her palm. Kikyo soon caught her stare because she flinched and hurried out of view. Sango's tense body seized to relax.

That first Monday back from Ayame's party was the hardest. It took every muscle in her body, and the fact that Inuyasha held her back while she was kicking and screaming for him to let her go, in order for her not to go after Kikyo. Since then, Kikyo had been doing her best to avoid her. Why did Kikyo hate her so much to do something to that extent to Sango? Was she just that sadistic? Thinking about it so much left her with a headache.

"I still don't get it," Sango muttered while looking down at the table.

"Rumor is that she was drunk," Inuyasha replied when he finally let go of Sango's shoulder and began to dig into his cold fries.

"Or maybe she's just a bitch," Sango countered.

"That too," Inuyasha agreed, a mouthful of soggy half eaten fries could be seen. "If she was sober though, I don't think that she would make your life hell by trying to suck faces with you,"

"You know…" Miroku chimed in mindlessly taking bites of his sandwich, "People who are homophobic towards others usually act the way they do in order to hide their own homosexual tendencies,"

Both Inuyasha and Sango stopped what they were doing and looked over to Miroku their eyes wide and their mouths were open in awe. The perverted man realized this and blinked. "What? Did I say something wrong again? Fuck, there's no winning with you people,"

"No, it's not that… you actually said something smart for once,"

With that, the dark haired man relaxed. He answered with a shrug and finished off his sandwich.

Lunch dragged on for what seemed like days. Sango didn't have a problem with this though. Inuyasha and Miroku were pretty good company. They were a great distraction from the issue lingering between her and Kagome. She would find herself hanging out with them more than anyone else. It was better than occasionally passing up Kagome while they pretended to be strangers. Sango was always past the dramatics of High school quarrels and break-ups. She didn't want to continue to try and persuade Kagome if it just meant mindless dismissal on Kagome's end. No one was a fan of rejection.

However, the internal battle grew harder. This was their senior year. There was a time limit and she hated it. After this year, she wouldn't see most of these people ever again. By the way things were going, Kagome was just added on to that huge list. She wanted Kagome's friendship back. She didn't expect anything more to come out of this. She knew that was probably dead and gone.

So, no matter how much she wanted to be with Kagome, she tried to force herself to forget about that kiss. It didn't help that every senior in the school had seen it though. Since the party there were constant reminders and questions from her fellow students, asking about what happened between her and Kagome. She wanted them to mind her own business, but it was understandable that they were curious. Everybody knew how close she and Kagome once were; it jarred the senior population to see that they were no longer attached to the hip.

"You need to make up with Kagome already. It's like a disturbance in the ecosystem when you two aren't speaking," The fiery redhead, Ayame, once told the tomboy. It pissed Sango off that she felt like everything was up to her. Any kind of relationship works two ways. She knew that Kagome was angry, but dammit, she needed to put some effort to make things right between them too. It was like Sango was lifting the weight all by herself with no support at all.

The longer they went without talking, the more she felt like there was an expanding wall between her and Kagome. Soon, the wall would push her to the ends of the earth. The very thought of Kagome being so close, yet so distant made Sango sick to her stomach.

A few days later she found herself sitting in fourth period, English, barely able to keep her eyes open. She hadn't gotten much sleep the past few nights. "Alright, class," their teacher announced. "I want you guys to work in groups," The class stirred and students were already looking around for their groups before the teacher quickly interrupted them. "However, these are groups that I assigned," Several groans could be heard and people forwardly complained. "Settle down," she ordered while fixing her glasses. "I know you guys want to work with your chaps…" Chaps? Really? Who says that? "…but this is a good way for all of you to work with new people. Afterall, the term is coming to an end soon, you'll have to learn how to cooperate with new people after graduation anyway," Clearing her throat their instructor took out a clipboard with a piece of paper attached. She began calling out names and Sango was patiently waiting to see who she'd work with. Hopefully it wasn't that weird kid who picked his scabs. She shuttered at the thought. She thought of the possibilities of different people and who she'd like to work with, however, the next thing that happened was not a possibility that she thought of.

"Group Three is Sango… Shippo… Kairi… and Kagome," Sango's bright green eyes widened to the size of saucers. Out of everybody in the class she was grouped with Kagome. This had to mean something, right? It was pretty much the only way she could talk to Kagome and she would have speak to her back. Quick to regain her composure, she glanced back at Kagome, who was now sitting in the very back row. Kagome's facial expression flashed so many emotions that Sango had a hard time reading them all at once. Surprised, pissed, disapproval? Sango tried to cast her a meek small, but all she got in return was blank expression. Sango fought the urge to frown and sink into her seat. Did Kagome really hate her that much?

The class quickly sectioned off into their small groups while their teacher explained their objective. Sango was only half listening though, she was too anxious about having the girl that she thought about on a daily basis right in front of her. Those ocean blue eyes avoided Sango whenever possible as if not looking at her would make the tomboy disappear.

"I think that we should do a small skit about Romeo and Juliet," Sango snapped back into reality when she heard Shippo's small enthusiastic voice. Giving her attention to the boy she blinked. He was an artsy-fartsy character; it wasn't a surprise that he'd suggest something creative. She liked him, he seemed like a pretty nice guy. They talked a few times during the course of the year so it wasn't like they were complete strangers. The assignment was to pick any of Shakespeare's plays and present a scene that could have went differently. Most of the other groups around us were just going to tell what could have happened, or present it in a form of a PowerPoint. It'd probably win them some brownie points if they went so far as to act it out.

"I like that idea," Kairi pitched with her overly-optimistic attitude.

Sango grinned at the only boy in their group and nodded. "Sounds good to me," Kagome looked over to Shippo and offered him a smile in approval.

"Now… for the fun part," Shippo noted with a mischievous look in his eye that Sango couldn't help but have a bad feeling about.

"And what would that be?" The tomboy asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Casting," he answered simply. "Who's going to be Romeo?"

Sango answered his question with a dumbfounded look. "Since you're the only guy here, shouldn't you take that role?" Sango said carefully.

"No way, man. I get stage fright just by introducing myself to the class," he protested. "I'd probably shit myself," Sango's eyes narrowed at him and she saw where this was going. She opened her mouth to speak, but Shippo cut her off. "So that leaves you," Sango pursed her lips tightly in displeasure.

"You do realize I don't contain the proper biological parts to play Romeo, right?"

"No, but you look like it," Shippo opposed. "Come on, Sango, you cross-dress on a daily basis and yet you're having a problem doing it for five minutes?" Shippo's big childish eyes pleaded. They reminded her of puppies that weren't able to get adopted in time at the pound. "Besides, you'd make a much suitable Romeo anyway," It was true. Shippo was pretty small for his age. He was skinny, short, and just had a childish face that anyone would want to pinch. He was the opposite of masculinity. Sango sighed as she crossed her arms and sat back in her seat.

"Fine, but fuck wearing tights," she grumbled earning a small giggle from Kairi and she saw Kagome biting back a smile.

"Where art thou Juliet?" Shippo smirked leaning forward in his seat. His eyes darted from Kagome to Kairi. Kagome suddenly seemed to tense and it grew very noticeable. "How about you, Kagome?" she flinched at the mention of her name. "It only seems fitting,"

"I'd really rather not," she stated nervously while suddenly finding a spot on her desk very interesting. "I…I'm not a very good actress, really," Sango openly frowned now. Kagome was bullshitting and she knew it.

"I think that you and Sango would look great together," he said with an encouraging beam. An unexplainable expression crossed Kagome's features when he said that. Sango could tell that there was something there. Kagome did her best not to look up at Sango. Instead, her eyes remained locked to the floor.

Before Kagome could say anything else, Kairi chimed in, "I could do it," She swiped her auburn colored bangs away from her face. Kagome instantly relaxed and flashed her a thankful look that Sango was able to catch. "I don't know how good I would be though, but I'll try," she was such a sweet little thing.

"Well, alright," Shippo clapped his hand in excitement. "It's settled then. Sango and Kairi it is," Sango forced a small smile on her face and pretended to be happy about it.

They discussed and decided on the ending scene of the play. Kagome's grandmother used to make clothes for a living so she assured them that she could provide the costumes. Shippo would be rewriting the script. Sango told them that they could all meet at her place, if they could survive her mother's cooking. Kagome didn't seem very happy about that, but there was no other option. Shippo insisted that his apartment was too small and Kairi said she had strict parents. Kagome didn't dare mention her house. So it left Sango as the only choice.

"Come over Friday," Sango stated. It wasn't a question.

"For?" Inuyasha rubbed his stomach as if he was full and satisfied. The scraps of food laid forgotten in front of him.

Sango picked at her chicken tenders. "We're starting on our play. It'd be less awkward if you came. Who knows, she might even open up a little,"

"Sorry, I'd want to, but my dad's got me so busy. He's tryin' to train me take over his business, I'll barely have time to take a piss this weekend,"

"Doesn't seem like your thing," she noted aloud.

"It's not,"

"Do you even want it?"

"No…" and for a moment he seemed sad, but he regained himself. "But my ol' man is set on me having it,"

"Sesshomaru? What about him? He's the eldest anyway," Inuyasha shrugged, in response.

"He's used to Sesshomaru defying him, but… he has high hopes for me, ya'know? I don't wanna let him down,"

Sango only hummed in response. She couldn't imagine doing something she hated just to please someone else. Poor guy.

"Hey!" The forgotten Miroku was now giving Sango a hard stare. "You didn't ask me if I wanted to join,"

Sango released a small sigh and turned to him. "Would you like to come over on Friday, Miroku?"

He gave Sango a cheesy smile. "Well, if you insist," and then he had to include, "Any hot girls there? Well, besides Kagome since she's off limits," This earned an eye-roll from Sango and a grimace from Inuyasha.

"Is that all you think about?" Sango groaned.

"Seriously, man, it's like your dick always needs a place to sleep at night," Inuyasha added.

"That's not true," Miroku answered as if offended. "My dick likes to sleep during the morning, day, and evening as well," he corrected. Sango shuttered in disgust from the mental image.

"You're not coming,"

"Well, damn," And for the first time Sango had actually seen Miroku pucker his bottom lip out slightly and pout. "That's hurtful,"

"All you'd do is hit on Kairi… and the goal is to make things as less awkward as possible,"

"Touché, motherfucker, touché,"

That Friday rapidly approached. The day before, Sango made it her objective to clean everything in her house from top to bottom. Despite the fact that Kagome had been inside her house so many times before, the thought of the raven-haired woman stepping foot in there again made her feel nervous. Sango begged her mother not to cook for them that day and she insisted on ordering pizza.

"Are you sure, Sango?" Hitomi questioned. A small frown graced on her lips. "Pizza is soaked with so much grease. I really don't mind cooking, honey. Especially if Kagome's coming over," However, the mention of Kagome made her mother smile. "Have you two talked things over yet?" Her mother didn't know everything, but she knew even without asking that she and Sango were having their problems.

"No. She's just coming over for our assignment," a noticeable bitterness was in her voice and her mother caught it. "I wouldn't be surprised if she bailed out on us at the last minute,"

"She wouldn't do that, honey," her mother stated knowingly. "She's a very reliable person,"

"Was a very reliable person," Sango corrected. Hitomi sighed and sat next to her daughter on the living room sofa.

"Is," the older woman quietly argued before continuing. "Sometimes people just need their space. But you two are pretty close. I know that she'll come back to you,"

"How do you know that, mom? She barely even looks at me," Sango whined, her shoulders sunk.

Hitomi paused for a moment before continuing. "If she really loves you then she'll come back to you," Sango looked over to her mother with a slightly shocked look on her face. Her mother gave her a knowing smile before giving her a quick kiss on her forehead. "Just be patient, you'll see,"

Despite that she found herself in an awkward position, her mother's words made her feel somewhat relived.

The doorbell rang and Kairi was the first to her house. Looking around the girl noticed that she was the first one there. "Oh, I'm sorry!" The auburn haired female blushed slightly and bowed in apology. "I came too early huh?" she said with a nervous laugh.

Sango waved her hand in dismal of her apology. "You're fine," Sango hated formalities. It was actually one of the reasons why she liked America over Japan. "Really, it's the others who are late," Sango's green eyes brighten when she smiled and Kairi once more blushed and tried to cast Sango an assuring smile.

"Well, alright,"

"Make yourself at home. I hope you're hungry, pizza is on its way,"

Honestly, Sango thought that being alone with Kairi would have been a little awkward since she didn't know the girl all that well. She may have spoken to her once to ask her for a pencil or something, but really, they were strangers. However, this was not the case. She found herself actually enjoying her company. She was so easy to talk to. And for once, she felt as if as her teacher was right, maybe she this assignment was helping her make new chaps.

About an hour later they heard the doorbell. "Door's opened!" Sango yelled from her spot on the sofa. She and Kairi were lounging in the living room eating pizza. To her surprise, both Shippo and Kagome walked inside. Shippo explained that the buses were slow due to traffic. Sango felt a certain tightness in her chest though whenever Kagome walked in her residence. She could have sworn that for a moment green mashed with blue before Kagome quickly turned away.

Dammit, she hated the effect that Kagome had on her.

"I hope that these will suffice," Kagome muttered thirty minutes later. She pulled out two costumes from her backpack. Kairi's face instantly lit up at the Juliet costume.

"So… pretty! Ohmigosh, Kagome, I love it!"

"Don't thank me. My grandmother, made them, remember?"

"Well, she has a gift," Shippo chimed.

Sango looked over to her Romeo costume and her face instantly dropped. Kagome obviously saw this and spoke quietly.

"I told her Romeo and Juliet. She refused to make a Romeo costume without tights."

"I think you did this on purpose," Sango protested. Her arms crossed and her face sunk with a noticeable pout. Oddly enough, it earned a small giggle from Kagome. Butterflies instantly fluttered inside her stomach and her heart began to regain hope.

How was it that the very thing that was mentally killing her made her feel so alive?

Sorry that this chapter was not very eventful. I know… years of waiting and yet an uneventful chapter? Blehh. However, I have stuff in stored for the next chapter. I'll try to update as soon as possible.