ChosenMibhar: wow…this is the longest chapter I've had ever wrote for this story so far. I had to break this in half because the ending was incomplete. Enjoy this part though. Sorry I didn't get a chance to respond to most of the reviews but I promise to get better at it!
Chapter 21: The meeting with Principal Ginn
After school was dismissed, Kagome went to the front office to meet her mother for her appointment with the principal. When she arrived her mother was waiting for her. "Right on time sweetheart" Ms. Higurashi greeted as she hugged her daughter. They waited together in the sectary office before Miss. Ginn came out to meet them. She was a short, rotund woman in her mid-thirties, dressed in a black pants suit. She had narrow spectacles and her hair was pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head.
"Higurashi, Kagome and Higurashi-san" Ginn said in a croaking voice that reminded Kagome of a toad.
Kagome and her mother stood up and greeted the principal politely with a short bow. The courtesy was not returned. Instead Ginn waved her hand impatiently. "Yes, yes—well come in we have much to discuss!" she said. Ginn waddled back to her office and motioned for her guest to enter. Once Kagome and Ms. Higurashi sat down, Ginn closed the door and sat down behind her large oak wood desk.
Ginn tapped her fat fingers on the ends of her office chair. A smug smile came to her lips. "It has been fifth-teen years, Akane" she addressed Ms. Higurashi.
"Yes it has" Ms. Higurashi agreed. "How have you been all these years, Shampoo?"
"You two know each other?" Kagome interrupted.
"We went to school here together darling. Almost seventeen years ago to be exact" Ginn answered. "And yes I am doing wonderful. As you can see I'm the principal at Shikon High school and I'm currently engaged to the famous medical practitioner, Nobuyuki" she shoved her fat hand into Ms. Higurashi's face. On her finger was an insanely huge diamond ring. "So how are you?"
Ms. Higurashi was about to answer but Ginn cut her off. "Because I have not heard from you since you dropped out in your senior year. The rumors were that you had gotten yourself pregnant over spring break—was it true?"
"Yes they were—"
"Dear, oh dear and you never came back and graduated! What happened? You became a housewife and continued to pop them out?"
"I only hove two children—"
"Really, the rumor was that you had more—"
"Isn't this meeting about Kagome?" Ms. Higurashi asked.
"Yes indeed" Ginn replied unfazed. She looked at Kagome with her beady eyes. "There is also a rumor going around campus that you are expecting yourself, Kagome" Ginn said.
Kagome frowned slightly but answered Ginn's question by nodding her head. Ginn hummed. "Well, well the apple never falls far from the tree. Don't you agree Ms. Higurashi?"
Kagome stole a quick glance at her mother. Ms. Higurashi's usually jovial face was hard as stone. With her lips thin, she asked flatly, "Will Kagome be able to finish attending school here or not?"
"Well as you know, the school rules have changed quite a bit over the last twenty but some things obviously don't."
Kagome had to close her eyes to keep herself from snapping on the headmistress. What a horrible woman! She glanced again at her Mother again. It was obvious her patience was wearing thin too.
"Since there are only a few weeks left to graduation, I will take no action in removing Kagome Higurashi from our school. However I do not see how she will be able to participate."
"WHAT?!" Kagome and Ms. Higurashi shouted at the same time.
"I've been keeping up with my classes!" Kagome shouted in defense. Of course she didn't mention she was behind several assignments in her math class do to InuYasha's protective nature or the three research papers she was behind in English because she got a little distracted by her travels in the Feudal Era of Japan trying to slay a hideous demon named Naraku.
"You're passing—just barely in academics" was her flat reply.
"Then what is it?" Ms. Higurashi said. She relaxed some but was still on edge.
Ginn reached down into a bottom drawer and pulled out a heavy file folder. On the label it read 'Kagome Higurashi'. She opened the folder and began to flip threw it while she hummed menacingly.
"Her absents are unacceptable I'm afraid"
"But Kagome was ill" Ms. Higurashi pleaded. "Surely you cannot with hold her diploma for that"
"Every type of absent is unacceptable to me" Ginn said stated looking sharply at Ms. Higurashi threw her spectacles. "These were all the excuses filed within the last three months" She then pulled one of the sheets of paper and read off:
"Absent, common cold"
"Absent, asthma attack"
"Absent, neuralgia"
"Absent, stomach virus"
"Absent, fever"
"Absent, the flu"
"Absent, lime disease"
"Absent, gout and bunions"
"Absent, strep throat"
"Absent, mumps"
"Absent, chicken pops"
"Absent, sunburned—third degree"
"Absent, Constipation"
"Absent, allergic reaction from incest bite"
"Absent, German Measles"
"Absent, Thread worms" Ginn raised an eye brow in question toward Kagome. Kagome felt herself twitch. Couldn't her Grandfather come up with any better illnesses than that? Honestly!
"Absent, RSV"
"Absent, Diarrhea and vomiting"
"Absent, serve earache"
"Absent, Tonsillitis"
"Absent, hirschsprung's disease flare up"
"Absent, pneumonia"
"Absent, narcolepsy"
"Absent, Sinusitis"
"Absent, touch of bronchitis"
After Ginn finished, she closed the folder with a smirk of satisfactory. "I myself use to be a medical physician before I decided to work for public schools" Ginn said. She then motioned to her credentials on the wall behind her. "And you Kagome seem as healthy as a horse! You have no physical evidence to prove otherwise—"
"Unless Kagome can prove herself otherwise!" Ms. Higurashi insisted. "Can these absences be accused if you find them valid?" she asked.
Ginn's lips went thin. "Yes" she said dryly. "If you can prove these absents are true by a doctor's note, it will be held in satisfactory" She pulled Kagome's attendance sheet out of the file and handed to Ms. Higurashi. "You have two weeks to return the excuses to me but Kagome Higurashi must pass all of her final exams with a 'C' or better" Ginn said warned harshly.
"That's great. I'll make sure to do just that!" Kagome said determined. She felt her smile spread when she saw a dark mark crossed Ginn's face.
"Alright then" Ms. Higurashi said in her usually peppy voice. She bowed her head. "Thank you Miss. Ginn. You truly have helped us today and it was pleasure to met you again after all these years"
Kagome could have sworn she heard a snort from Ginn. The headmistress then got stiffly up to open the door. "The pleasure is all mine. I'm glad to be at service" she said unenthusiastically.
When Kagome got up to leave she noticed how tight her skirt felt around her waist. Mentally she sighed. That was not good for her or the baby. Today was officially the last day that she would wear her school uniform. "Um, Ginn-san?" she asked.
"Yes" Miss. Ginn said flatly.
"What should I do about my school uniform since—" Kagome made the motion of a round belly against her abdomen.
"Well I believe a green or white maternity dress will be satisfactory, Miss. Higurashi"
"Okay, thank you" Kagome said. She then left the building with her mother.
On the bus ride home, Kagome wondered why her Principal was acting so horrid toward her mother earlier. "Hey, mom" Kagome asked getting her attention. "Just curious why were you so calm? That woman was acting like the wicked witch of the west!"
Ms. Higurashi shook her head indifferently. "Kagome, she insulted me because we had the same crush on Haruto Higurashi but he married me when I got pregnant with you"
"Oh" Kagome said in realization. "So basically she was your romantic rival for daddy" she then thought a moment. "Well it seems she had a happy ending anyway—"
"Don't say that Kagome, money and power does not create happiness—"
"But it does help a little" Kagome said. "At least she don't have to worry about how to make ends meet"
"True. But I must tell you that she is not happy"
"And how can you tell?"
"It's in her eyes, her tone and even the way she acted toward us. She is still jealous of me after all these years. I feel pity for her" Ms. Higurashi said. Kagome stared at her mom. Her statement was rather conceited but her tone was sincere. Perhaps what she said was true after all.
"Hey so you guys are back!" InuYasha addressed his companions. They were resting in Kaede's home when he arrived. "Where the hell have you guys been?! This isn't time to take a vacation!"
"I wish it was because I think I need one now" Shippo sighed. "Ow!" he cried when InuYasha punched him in the head.
"I wasn't talking to you twerp!"
"InuYasha! Don't be so hard on Shippo we're all exhausted!" Miroku reasoned. "It was a long journey we undertook"
"You found that priestess then?" InuYasha demanded.
Sango nodded. "Yeah and we found out what's happening to Kagome, where is she by the way?" she answered.
"She's in her time, why? You need to talk to her?"
"Well I guess we can talk to you first" Sango said as she and Miroku began to explain what happened on their journey.
Kagome was reading through a novel called 'Of mice and men' for her English class when her brother Souta came home from his elementary school. "Hey Sis!" he greeted.
"Hey" Kagome replied flatly. She turned a page and continued reading.
"Do you know when InuYasha will be coming back around? I want to play against him in Halo—he's so easy to beat!" Souta laughed but then stopped when Kagome lowered her book with a sour expression coming to her face. "Ummm, you two aren't getting along?" he asked nervously.
Kagome closed her book and huffed into the Kitchen to get something to drink. Souta followed her uneasily to hear her answer. Kagome poured herself a cup of lemonade kool aid and gulped it down. "Me and InuYasha are not seeing each other anymore" she replied finally.
"What?!" Souta squeaked. "You and InuYasha broke up!?" he knew this world was coming to an end.
Kagome nodded slowly. "InuYasha is with Kikyo again—"
"I thought the walking clay pot was dead!"
Kagome sighed. "Well…she did die, again, but then he was revived again…and this time with real flesh and bone"
"And InuYasha left you again for her?" Souta asked bottom lined. "Kami, he must really like her!"
"You don't have to rub it in" Kagome said with a glare.
"Gez, sorry!"
"What are you saying!?" Kagome's Grandfather exclaimed. He stood up from behind the kitchen cabinet he was eavesdropping behind. "Why is InuYasha fooling around with your pre-carination when he's supposed to be marrying you?!"
Kagome sighed. 'InuYasha never said he would marry me…' she thought. 'And we all sorta pushed it on him because I got a bun in the oven…'
"Grandpa, me and InuYasha aren't going to get married" Kagome reached into her skirt's pocket and pulled out the family's slash. "He wanted me to return it you…" Kagome handed the slash to him. Tears fell from Grandfather's eyes.
"He has abandoned my pregnant granddaughter and has disgraced the priest clan of Higurashi! Such dishonor and shame! May bad karma follow him all the days of his life!" he bellowed in anguish. Kagome's mother entered the kitchen after hearing all the ruckus. "What's going on in here? Why are you yelling, father?" she addressed Kagome's Grandfather.
"InuYasha had abandoned Kagome and his child to be with another woman!" he shouted in tears.
"W-What?" Ms. Higurashi asked in pure shock. She looked at her daughter. "Kagome is this true?" she asked.
"Please don't be mad at InuYasha!" Kagome pleaded with her Grandfather. "He's not the father so it's not his responsibility!"
An uneasy silence settled in the room.
"… … …Whoa" Souta was the first to speak. "Then that means you were two-timing InuYasha!"
"Souta!" Ms. Higurashi said in an unfamiliar voice. She addressed her daughter in a thin voice. "Then who is the father Kagome?"
"It's…um…" she trailed. She swallowed. "It's InuYasha's brother, Sesshomaru"
Souta nearly had a stroke. "You mean that son of a b—"
"Souta, watch your language!" Ms. Higurashi interrupted. She didn't mind Souta looking up to InuYasha but he picked up a few unnecessary traits.
"Sorry mom—is my niece's dad? Didn't he try to kill you before? Why would you want to fool around with him?!"
"Souta will you stop saying that!" Kagome snapped as her face bled crimson. "I didn't cheat on InuYasha and me and Sesshomaru never had hanky-panky—I'm still a virgin!" she shouted.
Souta snorted. "Good one sis; are you the reincarnated Virgin Mary?"
"I'm telling you the truth!" Kagome cried. "It was a spell!" She slapped her hand over her face. "Look, everyone into the living room and I'll explain everything!"
Once Kagome was able to get her family seated on the sofa, she went on to explain everything that has been happening to her the last couple of weeks. "But there was another part to the spell" she explained. "Not only did it make me pregnant with Sesshomaru's child but if Sesshomaru refuse to love me and earn my love in return, the baby will die at birth…I-I didn't know how to tell you guys before"
Ms. Higurashi was the first to speak up. "Then there's nothing else to do, Kagome"
"What?"
"You want to save your child's life?"
"Yes"
"Then you must learn to love its father and earn his love in return before the baby is ready to be born" she said determined.
"Um mom, Sesshomaru doesn't like me in that way" Kagome objected. "He told me flat out that I was nothing but an obligation and I won't force him to like me just because I carry his child. But at least he wants to be part of the baby's life…I think—"
"You think?" Ms. Higurashi questioned Kagome's statement.
"But will my niece die if you don't fall in love with him, Sis?" Souta asked concerned.
Kagome was touched. She patted his shoulder. "Don't worry—remember Sesshomaru has the sword Tenseiga. It can restore the dead to life"
Ms. Higurashi still looked worried. "You are willing to risk that? What if it doesn't work?"
Kagome gulped quietly. That's was her concern too. "It will work mama, please don't worry"
Ms. Higurashi reluctantly nodded. "Alright" she said. "But I still think you should try to love Sesshomaru and see if you could earn his love in return" she advised.
"Honestly mom—you've never been around the guy! He's an arrogant, stubborn, pompous fluff ball of evil! How I'm I suppose to get any affection out of him?!"
"Will you at least try?" Ms. Higurashi pleaded. "For the baby's sake?"
Kagome sighed heavily. Mention the baby and she turns to water. 'You better thank me one day for this kiddo'
"For the baby I will…" she agreed reluctantly.
Ms. Higurashi smiled. "Go ask Sesshomaru how he feels about being involved in the child's life, okay?"
"Now?" Kagome asked surprised.
Ms. Higurashi nodded.
"But—but what about school?! The absences!? Who is going to—"
"I thought you said you wanted to save the child's life, Kagome?" Ms. Higurashi tried to say but it came out as a question instead. "Honey, school, goals and ambitions is alright but is it wroth losing an innocent human—or rather hanyou life over? The baby didn't ask for this no more than you did dear…"
Ms. Higurashi's eyes soften as she trailed.
"…like I didn't ask for you in the center of my senior year when I was in junior high school. But I truly have been blessed to be your mother" She embraced her daughter. "And if I had to go threw another teenage pregnancy with you, I would do it a thousand times over!"
"Mom, thank you"
Ms. Higurashi released her daughter. "Have faith Kagome. Things will work out, somehow, especially for those who do good in spite of their own poor circumstances…Now, hurry and go back! I'll try to figure out what to do about these unexcused absences while you woo the baby's daddy" she said with a wink.
Kagome blushed scarlet. "Mom!"
"Is InuYasha still allowed to come over even if you guys aren't seeing each other anymore?" Souta asked hopefully.
Kagome hesitated but she figured that Souta shouldn't suffer just because her and InuYasha's relationship. "…Yes he is" Kagome answered. "Okay, I'll collect my homework assignments and be on my way." As she went up stairs to her room she patted her Grandfather on his shoulder sympathetically. The old man only shook his head and left the room.
Kagome was half-way through packing her stuff when she remembered she promised to call Hojo that evening. A sting of guilt filled her. Hesitantly she called him from her cordless phone in her room. The phone ringed a couple of times before some picked up: luckily it was Hojo. "Hey, Hojo what's up? It's Kagome" Kagome tried to greet as cheerily as possible.
"Hey!" Hojo said excitedly. "I just finished my trigonometry homework—"
"Trigonometry?" Kagome gasped cutting him off. "Kami—isn't that for High school?!"she asked amazed.
"Yeah it is. I'm in the gifted program that allows me to get credit in High school so anyway what you wanted to say?"
"Um I called to say that I won't…" Kagome paused. She couldn't knock Hojo off coldly—he was one of the few people who accepted her and the baby. Besides what if Sesshomaru didn't want to learn to her love her in that 'special' way? She had to make sure she didn't burn her bridges with Hojo just in case. "…B-Be able to go out until this weekend!" Kagome sputtered into the mouth piece of the phone as she blushed.
Hojo was glad Kagome couldn't see him—he was practically dancing. "That's great!" Hojo yelled into the phone. "Would you like to go out this Saturday?" he asked eagerly.
'I'm such an idiot!' Kagome sighed mentally. "Sure" she answered.
"Great! I'll pick you up at six, okay?" Hojo asked. "I'll take you out to eat at that new restaurant everyone been talking about—The Roman Gardens! Sound, okay?"
"That will be fine—"
"Awesome! I promise you'll love it!" Hojo said. "I have to go—see yah Saturday and don't cancel on me again!" he said.
"I won't, bye"
"Bye love!"
Hojo hung up. Kagome held the phone in her hand numbly until the dial tone began to beep. She hung up the phone and continued packing. Suddenly a wave of resentment came upon her from the baby.
"Oh stop" Kagome said. "I know you would like me and your daddy to get together but he doesn't like me that way and it's better for both of us if I date someone in this era anyway" she reasoned.
The baby kicked Kagome hard.
"Ow!" Kagome shouted as her hand flew to her stomach. "You little brat!"
'And proud of it'
-TBC-
ChosenMibhar: I've decided to name Kagome's mom Akane in honor of Takahashi's character from Ranma 1/2. I named the principal Shampoo because that was the name of Akane's rival from China who wanted to marry Ranma and I never really liked her either even though she was a fun character…
If I have any spelling mistakes please tell me. I still have some to fix from last chapter. I don't remember who told me about them but thank you.