Temporary Home
Summary: Kagome would be the first to tell you that life wasn't easy. She would also tell you that she didn't want it to be. If not for the hard life she had, she wouldn't have the life she did...all thanks to them...
Anime/Manga: InuYasha/Prince of Tennis
Genre: Romance/Drama
Pairing: Kagome (None)
Rated: T
-x-x-x-
It was massive. The library was bigger and better than anything she could have hoped for.
"I know it's much smaller than the public library, but I'm sure you can find something interesting...judging by the look on your face, you like reading."
Kagome blushed, "I didn't have much else to do back...home. Um, can I look around?"
He shrugged, "that's up to you. If you want to check anything out, you need to get a card."
Smiling as she stepped towards the shelves closest to her, she realized that the library was sorted entirely different than the study at the orphanage. She toured the entirety of the library and had finally started a pile of books.
"Um, you can only check three books out at a time..." her new friend laughed a bit, "though, I guess, you can check out six." He blushed and looked away quickly, "if you promise to bring them back on time."
She tilted her head a bit, "how?"
"Ah, don't think about how, just promise they won't be late."
"I promise!" She smiled at the pile in her arms.
Sighing, he walked with her to the check out and explained to the librarian that she needed a card.
"Oh, yes, yes! Let's get that squared away then."
He pulled the books out of the way so she could fill out the paper for the card, 'what's with these titles?' He read them over as he listened to the pencil scratch against the paper. The pile was as follows:
Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain
Emotional Intelligence: The Essential Guide to Improving Your Social Skills, Relationships and Boosting Your EQ
Emotional Honesty & Self-Acceptance
The Courage to Feel: A Practical Guide to the Power and Freedom of Emotional Honesty
The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
Know Your Heart: Smiling on the Outside with Scars on the Inside
'I'm pretty sure this points to her going through something, but it sounds a bit bothersome. She doesn't look sad, or overly emotional. Maybe she wants to be a psychologist when she grows up?' He took the three books on top and pushed the other three over to her. The woman behind the counter finished typing in the information as required, walking back into the office, she came back with a brand-new card and slid it across the counter to the girl who was looking at the card in awe. It was kind of...cute.
"And your card?"
He glanced up and handed his own over. He noticed the curious look on the girls' face. Kikumaru, Kagome. He still couldn't help but feel he'd heard her last name somewhere. "Thank you," he took the books and his card back before walking with Kagome from the Library.
"I get what you did," she said softly, "I just don't understand why."
He shrugged his shoulders, "I don't really have a reason. You had six books, and I don't go to the library...ever."
"Don't like reading?"
"I don't mind reading; I just have other things that I enjoy doing a bit more. I guess you really like it though,"
She looked at the books she was holding, "I guess I do. If I think about it, I've never tried doing anything else. Reading was convenient, it was there, and it distracted me. Helped me forget where I was." She stopped talking and looked at the boy for a moment, "Kaidou-San,"
"Hm?"
"Is it okay if I consider you a friend? I'm not too sure about how it's done..."
He blinked, not sure what she was asking as he thought her words over. "...how what's done?"
"Making friends. I had them back where I used to live, but they were different. I never went out of my way to make friends...so I wanted to give it a try." She closed her eyes, 'if I get close to people though...it'll hurt all the more when this comes to an end.'
"I would like that," he finally spoke up, breaking her free from her thoughts as he watched her eyes open and lock onto his. Holding his hand out, he grinned, "call me Hazue, can I call you Kagome?"
"Please do, Hazue-San!"
His cheeks burned as he turned away and started off down the hall, her hand was still in his. He ducked his head as he let it go and gripped the books in his arms even tighter.
"Hazue-San, can we go across the street and watch the Tennis Team practice?"
His whole face took on a red glow at the thought of his brother seeing him with Kagome. "S-Sure, if that's really what you want."
-x-x-x-
Eiji yawned as he sat down on the Tennis court grounds. Shuusuke was behind him, pressing his palms into his back as he pressed him forward. Eiji touched his shoes thoughtfully with the tips of his fingers. "Think Kagome would enjoy something like the pool?"
Shuusuke chuckled, "you need to focus on stretching,"
"True, but don't you think this is more important than Tennis, Fujiko?"
Sighing, he let up on the pressure and smiled, "hai, Kagome-Chan is most important right now. This Sunday, why don't we all go to the beach?"
"Really?!"
"Sure,"
"Ah, Kagome-Chan will need to go shopping for a swimsuit...I should let Etsuko take her. Kagome-Chan might be embarrassed if we take her."
"You think so?"
Eiji frowned, "I don't know, but I'd be embarrassed."
"Ah...that's it!"
A voice called to Eiji's short attention span and he looked to see his sister standing at the fence. His face flushed in happiness and giddiness. He made to stand up but Shuusuke caught him by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him back down. "F-Fuji!"
"Don't give me that, practice with me."
Sighing, he followed after Fuji, but his eyes trailed back to his sister. She was standing next to someone; they were talking but he was now too far away to hear what it was they were talking about.
-x-x-x-
"Kikumaru, I thought it sounded familiar. Are you related to Kikumaru, Eiji?"
"Hai, I..." she looked at her fingers and shook her head, "he's my brother."
"You knew that mine was on the tennis team?"
She shrugged, "I suspected that he was. I recognized Hazue-San's surname too, but I didn't think to voice my assumption out loud. I figured, if Kaidou-Senpai was in fact your brother, I'd find out soon enough."
"Hm," he lifted his hand to his own brother who looked over at him in confusion. "I don't normally come by to watch their practice. I don't want to distract my brother,"
"Oh," she looked at Eiji, "I hadn't thought about that. Then, perhaps I too shouldn't come by."
Hazue's eyes widened, "w-wait! That's not what I meant. It's different with everyone, don't you think? I'm sure you don't distract from Kikumaru-Senpai's training. Your brother...he is probably really happy that you come to watch him."
"Actually, Eiji-Senpai's performance drops by forty-two percent when Kagome-Chan is around."
Hazue turned a glare to the taller Senpai beside him, 'would it be rude if I punched this guy?' He sighed and took Kagome's hand in his, "let's go, I'm hungry."
Kagome followed in silence, letting her new friend pull her along as she thought about Inui's words. 'Gomen, Eiji-Nii...'
-x-x-x-
Me: Here is chapter eleven! I went on a bit of Hiatus, not that you guys would know this, between ch10 and 11 of this story. I was playing a PC game called Seeds of Chaos. This is the only warning I'm going to give you curious individuals, if you are under 18, don't look that game up. If you dislike anything 18+, don't look that game up. Anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying this Big Bulk Batch of Updates! Look forward to the rest!