A/N: Edited 6/3/16 for grammar and content.
A Ring?
"Mama" I groaned once I sat down in the car. I had come to a full realization about the argument and my stance with Insurance
"I can't stand that man, he's such an asshole" Ma grumbled, just relieved we finally made it through the door after such a long drive back from the Taisho mansion.
"Mama, stop! That's Inuyasha's father" I begged, as much as I despised the man myself.
"Yeah and he's raised such an exemplary son" Ma sneered, disgusted at the thought of the Taisho family.
"What's wrong with Inuyasha?" I demanded, defensive and on edge.
"I meant…" She trailed off.
"Sesshomaru?" My eyes watered involuntarily.
"I'm sorry Kagome, I didn't mean" Mama wrapped her arms around me.
"It's ok Ma, I'm not upset with you" I said instantly, wiping away the tears.
"Inuyasha is a fine boy, but his family has a lot of problems and I feel like he is not right for you or the baby" Ma answered. That made me become protective over my child, this is important to me. I want Inuyasha in any role that he can fit into.
"He is right, he has stuck by my side when no one else would, despite his parents' disapproval" I insisted, not understand this sudden change in Mama's behavior.
"What about your goals? You have a bright future ahead of you!" Mama exclaimed.
"What can I do now with a baby?" I questioned, it's not like I can go away to Tokyo U now.
"I'll help you as much as I can, so will Grandpa and Souta. You need to go to school, get some sort of training or degree, be able to support yourself fully before you have too much on your plate" Mom answered.
"I'm already so far behind. I thought I would back to the first few months of my junior year by now" I insisted.
"Kagome, I bought you this…" Mama reached behind the coffee table to pull out How to Pass the GED for Dummies.
"You are behind and the birth of the baby will only set you back more. Instead of going back to school and trying to do it all on your own, study this book and see if you can test out, get your GED, and then go straight to a community college; work on the skills you need to be successful long term" Mom said confidently, but I just looked at the book in confusion. A GED? IS that going to be enough to pass college level math and English courses? But I would not refuse her kind gesture.
"Aw, thanks Mama" I gushed, I felt like maybe this is not the initial plan for me but at least I am in pursuit of a better life.
"I'm off to work, stay out of the trouble" Mama said suddenly, glancing at the clock on the wall.
"Can Inuyasha come over?" I asked, looking hopeful.
"No, not tonight" Mom said, I was disappointed but did not want to disobey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Elsewhere~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Ring Ring*
"Hello, Sango Speaking" She answered, hoping it was Kagome to update her after the incident in the hospital with Inuyasha showing up. Instead she was greeted by a male voice.
"It's me…Inuyasha" He said gruffly.
"Inuyasha? What do you want" Sango demanded.
"Me & Kagome are dating now" He started, but Sango didn't want to believe him.
"She hasn't told me anything about that" Sango insisted.
"Feh, it happened yesterday, calm down wench" Inuyasha snorted.
"Fuck you Inuyasha, don't call my phone calling me names" Sango snapped, she was under enough stress. Hoping Kagome would remain friends with her, hoping Ayame is caught by the police, hoping Yura and Naraku never return, and this man is adding to the stress.
"Fuck me? Look wench, you've been the shittiest friend in Kagome's life and she didn't have many to start with. I need you to do something for me" Inuyasha asked.
"What? Help you wash out your filthy mouth?" Sango teased.
"Keh, why don't you worry about washing out what's between your legs?" Inuyasha retorted.
"Bye" Sango said sharply.
"Wait! I need you help me find a ring" Inuyasha blurted.
"A ring?" Sango asked.
"Yes, you know…the thing girls wear on the ring finger" Inuyasha said sarcastically.
"Don't be a smart ass Inu" Sango lectured.
"My name is…" He began but she cut him off.
"What type of ring?" Sango asked.
"If I knew that, I wouldn't need you" Inuyasha rolled his eyes, trying to remain calm so he can get the help.
"Fine. I meant is it a promise ring or an engagement ring?" Sango clarified.
"Is there any fucking difference?" Inuyasha asked, not quite understanding.
"Yes! One says 'I promise to love and cherish you always' and the other says 'Be my wife'" Sango explained.
"Is there a ring that says both?" Inuyasha asked.
"Um…you want to marry Kagome? Now?" Sango asked.
"Not right away …maybe once the baby is born" Inuyasha began to backpedal.
"Then do a promise ring, show her you'll always be there for her" Sango said with certainty. Inuyasha was still not fully convinced.
"I've already shown her that" Inuyasha continued.
"Well the ring is the visual symbol for the rest of the world…because we can't see it" Sango said, silently shaking her head.
"I don't need to prove it to anyone" Inuyasha was still stuck on the aspect of proving it.
"Then why did you call me?" Sango said, frustrated by this call.
"I was wondering the same thing, if I could think of anyone else who knew Kagome, I'd ask them…"Inuyasha chided.
"I know I messed up with I sided with Yura over Kagome, but I still love her like a sister, she's my bestie" Sango whined.
"Besties don't sell out innocent victims to be popular" Inuyasha said harshly.
"It was a mistake…as if you've never made one" Sango said, growing angrily.
"I never claimed to be, I just made better choices than you" Inuyasha chuckled.
"Like you did with Kikyo?" Sango said, cutting below the belt.
"Don't ever talk to me about her" He growled, hanging up. Sango shook her head and put her phone down. She decided it was a good time to pay Kagome a visit.
Outgoing: Kags, when are visiting hours up the hospital?
Incoming: I'm not sure, I got released tonight
Outgoing: Oh! Are you up for company?
Incoming: Sure, Mama is at work. Souta is sleeping.
Outgoing: On my way
I was surprised, yes Sango and I have been good friends at one point but after the incident with Yura, I felt betrayed. I threw on my snuggie, prepared to avoid anything about Inuyasha or the baby. I told her too much at the hospital.
*Ding Dong*
"Hiya Kagome" Sango smiled, she was overly friendly.
"Hey" I replied, letting her come in and plopping on the couch.
"How are things with Inu…I saw how mad he was at the hospital?"
"I had hung up on him because I didn't know what to say, we had fought before Ayame hurt me" I confessed.
"Ah, but he loves you" Sango said, I was surprised she would know that.
"How do you know? He said it for the first time last night" I said.
"Inuyasha called me today" Sango answered.
"What? Why?" I demanded, confused.
"He felt like you needed a friend. He reminded me that I've been a shitty one" Sango looked down at the ground.
"I'm sorry Sango, I never thought he'd call you" I felt guilty that she had a bad experience talking to Inuyasha but I know of the amount of anger that he feels towards her.
"It's ok, he's right, I'm sorry for not being here for you" Sango apologized and she seemed so sincere.
"I forgive you" I whispered, leaning over and laying my head on her shoulder.
"Do you love him?" She asked randomly.
"I don't know, I like him and I want him in my life, mine and the baby's, but we don't know anything about each other" I responded.
"But you may never know everything" Sango replied, not convinced by my answer.
"True, but love is more than just a few kisses and sex" I said firmly.
"Have you done 'It' with Inuyasha?" Sango demanded. I blushed immediately.
"OMG Kagome! I want all the details" Sango squealed.
"Shhh, souta is sleeping…" I chided her, but Sango grasped both my hands.
"We were at his parents' house and they were gone but it was amazing. I was just embarrassed because his mom came to his room door right afterwards and then I got lectured by his dad" Kagome answered.
"What did his dad say?" Sango asked.
"That Sesshomaru never raped me, that I'm promiscuous, that I'm ruining Inuyasha's life, and that we can never be happy together, that he couldn't possibly love me" and my voice cracked at the word 'love'.
"His dad doesn't know him. You know he does and his dad is wrong, once the baby is here, he'll want to see it" Sango said.
"He's requesting formal visitation of two days a month if it is Sesshomaru's" Kagome said, laughing sinisterly.
"For what?" Sango demanded, her eyes bugging out of her head.
"Right?! Apparently he has rights" I exclaimed.
"Well, you don't have to" Sango said finally.
"I know, I probably won't" I agreed.
"Do you want this baby?" Sango asked, and somehow I knew that would be the next question.
"I'm not so sure, how can I love a baby conceived from rape?" I questioned, I would never be able to forget Sesshomaru.
"Other people must have done it" Sango said.
"What if I keep the baby and always secretly hate it?" I asked, starting to be unsure myself.
"You won't, you're too sweet" Sango smiled.
"I'm capable of murder" I reminded her, I was having such a hard time getting her to remember that everything around this child was built on sadness.
"In self-defense" Sango added.
"But still" I exclaimed.
"Don't get all worked up over it" Sango begged of me, but I was so wrapped up in the vibration of my phone that I did not respond.
Incoming: Thinking of you
Outgoing: Me too, Ma said you can't come over
Incoming: Keh, whatever. She'll be at work till 6 am, I can still come
Outgoing: Sango's here visiting
Incoming: What did she tell you?
Outgoing: That you called her?
Incoming: Did she say anything else?
"Who are you texting?" Sango asked me.
"Inuyasha, he wants to know what you said about the phone call earlier" I answered quickly, going back to the massive texts on my phone.
Outgoing: You told her to be a better friend
Incomin: I'm surprised she listened
Outgoing: Don't be mean to the baby's god mom
Incoming: Her? A godmother? Does that mean you're keeping the baby?
"Well he should just be happy to know I'm here" Sango said, her eyebrows raised.
"He is, he is" I murmured.
Outgoing: I'm undecided, do you think I should?
Incoming: ….
Outgoing: What does …. Mean?
Incoming: I have no answer
Outgoing: Can we honestly raise a child?
Incoming: If that's what we decide, we'll make it happen
Outgoing: We?
Incoming: I'll do whatever you choose
Outgoing: Why?
Incoming: Because ILY
"I'm ready for bed, aren't you?" Sango interrupted.
"You wanna stay over?" I asked.
Outgoing: Sango is spending the night tonight
"Of course, I'll call my mom" Sango dashed out to another room. And all I could do was sit there and weigh the pros and the cons.
Everything was equally weighed, there was no logical reason why I couldn't keep the baby as I laid there, trying to sleep, all I could think of was him…my boyfriend. If I would have looked back at my life 6 months ago, I never thought I'd end up here. But everything has come full circle, I gained a boyfriend, a baby, a second family, a new change. But I lost my innocence, my education, my childhood, the opportunity to be a normal teenager and enjoy normal teenage rites of passage like prom or applying to colleges. I come so far from being the shy, nerdy sophomore I was all those months ago.