*DISCLAIMER*
The original characters and story of 'Inuyasha' do not belong to me. I am in no way making money off of this, so please don't sue *big teary eyes*!!!! I did create the other characters (Naoko and Sheri for example).
*AUTHOR'S NOTES*
YAY! 100+ reviews... OMG thank you guys soooo much!!! I'm glad people like it, to be honest I thought I'd get like three reviews and that would be it, but everyone kept reviewing. Thank you so much again, and more reviews, more chapters!
Well, you might want to read the chapter when Naoko talks about Shinobe at the art table. If you don't you might not understand part of this chapter because it refers back to it. All right, if you read, please leave a review!
FYI: Oh, well Momori says "Midori" is a girl's name, but I met a guy named Midori once, so I don't know. He was definitely Japanese, too. So I don't know but the character really isn't that important so it really doesn't matter. I met a guy named Shirley once, too. And guy named Megan... @_@;;; So maybe people just like naming their kids names of the opposite gender? Who knows? Not me, that's for sure.
*DEDICATION*
This chapter of is for some special people! Look for your name below ^.^
Kawaiihanyou (aka Tracy; who's been the BIGGEST help of all!)
LilFoxGirl (aka Kit; hehe thanks for some ideas about disposing of certain characters and being such a fan!)
Shadowfox489 (aka Jen; luv mah cousin)
Desiree (without her there would be no Sheri!)
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*~*~*~*~*~*
A School Story
Chapter 12: Picture Perfect
By Chibiukyo
*~*~*~*~*~*
"God, I hate him," Inuyasha slammed his locker shut and Sango sighed.
"I really think you two should try to get along. Do it for yourselves," She patted Inuyasha's shoulder, "Or at least do it for Kagome. She loves him as a boyfriend
(Sango wasn't sure if it was her imagination or if Inuyasha just face faulted)
and you as a special friend
(Oops! He face faulted again, or were eyes playing nasty tricks?)
and I know she really wants you two to get along." Sango put on a very painfully forced smile and clenched her book bag with an angry grip. She knew Katsuaki would want absolutely nothing more than to humiliate Inuyasha in front of the entire student body; Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to pound Katsuaki in front of the entire student body. They had a mutual feeling towards each other, even if one was more violent than the other.
"Whatever. I really don't think that bitch gives a damn about her anyways, so why should she care?"
"Because she loves him."
"He doesn't fucking love her, that's for sure. If he did, he wouldn't call her ugly." Inuyasha spat the word ugly and Sango flinched when Inuyasha's voice rose to an unfriendly level. "If he wants to see anything ugly he can take a photograph of himself."
"The film would turn black and then disintegrate." Miroku walked over and patted Inuyasha on the back, "I respect that you are just trying to ensure the happiness and safety of Kagome-sama, but I don't think she'd appreciate it if you flattened Katsuaki into a pancake."
"You're right, it would be too bloody to flatten him," Inuyasha had an evil twinkle in his eye, "Can you think of something equally slow and painful, but cleaner?"
"Now that you mention it...- argh- Inuyasha," Sango was at first interested, but then regained her senses and looked Inuyasha in the eye, "Try to get along with him. It doesn't matter how much of a stupid, idiotic, arrogant, retarded, useless, mean, bitchy, PMSing..."
"Sango I think you're starting to express your own opinions..." Miroku sweat dropped and Sango suddenly stopped.
"Heh...right. Just," She sighed and with a heavy heart smiled, "Inuyasha, just try to get along with Katsuaki. No matter what he says."
Inuyasha turned around and started walking off and Miroku quickly followed. Inuyasha kept walking, even though Miroku was beside him, trying desperately to cheer up the hanyou's bleak day.
"So Inuyasha," He coughed and Inuyasha gave an irritated scowl, "I heard that Mr. Nakamura is rather fond of your drawings now. He said he's going to start using them as examples."
"Oh. Joy. I'm. Going. To. Die. With. Happiness."
"Right..." Miroku sweat dropped again, and Sango caught up with them. A frustrated Sheri was with her. Inuyasha shoved the school's front doors open and they merged into the growing crowd of high school students.
"Kagome said that her and Katsuaki would be waiting for us outside." Sheri was carrying three books, and her backpack was bulging like she had shoved a whole library in it. A few papers stuck out of her pockets and she looked like she was going to bust out crying.
"Homework! I am loaded with HOMEWORK!" She screamed and a few people started at her for a long moment. "I wanted to go shopping for some new earrings, but I can't! I have a textbook for every. Single. Class. I. Take!!!"
"I have homework too, and it's awful. I hate that whole 'math' thing going on!" Sango wailed and shook her own textbook like it was insane. Miroku looked at her like she was nuts and directed his attention back to Inuyasha.
"Women," Miroku sighed, "Have issues." Sheri shot him a nasty look at his back but continued her ranting with Sango.
"Weren't you the one with the whole 'women are like flowers' talk? Where did that go?" Inuyasha snapped a little more violently, "Down the toilet? Like your morals?"
Sheri smacked the back of Inuyasha's head and snapped at him.
"What the hell is YOUR deal today? Is widdle Inuyasha having a bad day because of even widdler Katsuaki?" She asked and cocked her head to a side. She tapped her foot and frowned when Inuyasha didn't respond and continued walking.
Inuyasha remained wholly silent, and continued walking towards the school gates.
"I DO HAVE MORALS YOU KNOW!" Mirkou shouted in his defense, and then smacked Sango casually on the rear when she walked by. She shrieked and then slapped him. It left a nasty red mark on his face but it gave him the satisfaction that she at least noticed him...
"Oh, now everybody leave poor Miroku alone." Sheri placed a hand on her hip and the other on Miroku's shoulder.
"Lady Sheri," Miroku beamed, "You worried about me?"
"Um..."
Her took her hands in his.
"Sheri," Miroku clasped her hands tightly, his eyes gazed into hers.
"What?" Sheri gave a very strange, unreadable expression.
"Will you..." Miroku inhaled deeply, "Bear my child?"
"Yeah, you sure have some morals!" Sheri screamed and threw her hands up into the air. Sheri whacked the back of Miroku's head and ran up to Inuyasha. She spun him around quickly and looked him ruthlessly in the eye.
"Now," She stated, proud, confident, and definitely not backing down, "What crawled up your butt and died today? I mean, Katsuaki is too stupid to be classified as an idiot and it's not a rumor that his mouth won't shut if you paid him. But, you know you can't let some...loser like that mess with your head and ruin your life!"
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment, taking in every word that she just said. She did make complete sense to him. Why, in the name of all that is good, would anybody listen to Katsuaki? Anybody with brains would understand that Katsuaki liked to rip people apart, to lie, and to change and twist things around to his liking with his harsh words.
"Inuyasha!" She snapped again harshly, "You look at me when I'm talking and you respond to me when I ask you a question, boy! So you answer the question from earlier now and you look at me when you say it!" She shook an accusing finger at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Katsuaki is a complete nimrod. Nothing more to be said." Inuyasha turned around and left a stunned Sheri standing in front of Sango and Miroku. Sheri was intimidating to a certain extent, but not enough to make him say anything worth of any importance.
Kagome clenched her books tighter and wanted to scream when Katsuaki put his arm around her. It wasn't a good feeling for her at all. She actually felt like turning around and smacking some sense into him, the good old-fashioned way.
When Kagome saw Inuyasha and the others walking towards her and Katsuaki, a sudden wave of relief was over her. She smiled and stepped away from Katsuaki. She waved at them and Sango waved back.
"Hey there, Hat Boy!" Katsuaki walked up, slapped Inuyasha on the back and tugged at his hat. Inuyasha placed his hands on top of his head to prevent Katsuaki from removing it.
"THAT'S it," Inuyasha threw down his book bag and turned around abruptly, "You're really, really starting to get beyond the point of annoying. If you really don't shut up right now I will bash your skull in. Alright? Shut up."
"Inuyasha, do you remember out little discussi-" Sheri held up a finger, but was interrupted rather quickly by Inuyasha.
"Bag it, Sheri!" Inuyasha shouted at her and Sheri flinched. She shut up immediately and Sango stared at her.
"Inuyasha that was a little harsh," Sango hissed and Inuyasha just looked straight ahead without uttering a word.
"SO," Miroku tried to lighten to mood a notch, "What is everyone going to do after school on Saturday?"
"I'm going to be thinking about the Fall Dance!" Sheri beamed and suddenly went into dreamy mode. "I love dances! I'm going to have a gorgeous dress and an even more gorgeous date!"
Sango looked a little disappointed and Miroku looked at her.
"Why so sad?" He asked and she just shook her head.
"Oh nothing, it's nothing." She just whistled to herself and smiled at him, "I'm just thinking about the dance. I wonder really what it is..."
"I do too," Miroku shrugged, "Well we can go as a group I suppose."
"Well," Kagome coughed a little, "I think I'm going to stay home after school on Saturday to do homework. Then I can have Sunday free." She still stayed about an arm's length away from Katsuaki.
"Inuyasha," Sheri suddenly jumped, "I need you do me a favor. You can have some pocky in return."
"Not if it's chocolate!" Kagome snapped and glanced at it. It wasn't chocolate, so Kagome would let Inuyasha eat it. I mean, he did have some sort of dog in him and chocolate was fatal if a dog ate enough of it.
"What would that be?" He took one of her pocky sticks and shoved it in his mouth. Kagome mumbled something about him "eating like a piggy" and he shrugged it off. Piggy?
"I need you to take this paper and go to the post office. I'm supposed to pick up a package that they can't apparently deliver to my front door. I can't understand why, but oh well." She handed Inuyasha a little piece of yellow paper. The symbols were something he couldn't recognize at all.
"What the hell is on here? Secret code?"
"It's just written in English. My parent's don't speak Japanese at all." Sheri sighed, "I really wish they did; I'm very thankful for those courses in sixth grade my mom made me take."
"Alright, so I just drop it off, get the package, and bring it to you tomorrow?"
"Right!" Sheri glomped onto him, "You're such a sweetie!"
Inuyasha just gave a nervous smile and patted her back. "Riiight, sure why not!"
"There are the directions to the post office on the back, so don't get lost."
"I won't," He replied, "I guess you guys will just leave without me."
"Believe me, Inuyasha, I have no problem leaving you behind."
"I assure you that the feeling is quite mutual." Inuyasha made sure his expression was emotionless, "Have a nice day Mr. Sunshine."
Once Inuyasha had left (and after a long and murderous stare at Inuyasha's back) Katsuaki leaned towards Kagome.
"I have to go meet someone at the park, alright? I'll see you tomorrow Kagome-chan. Don't forget my phone call, okay?" He leaned in a gave her a much despised kiss on the cheek, "Bye."
Kagome stared at she watched him walk off in the same direction Inuyasha had. She couldn't help but wonder who Katsuaki was meeting. It was probably one of his skanky female friends, he didn't really hang around normal human beings that much.
"Why didn't you go and get it, Sheri?"
"HELLO! I have some much homework I'm going homicidal to a point where Alice would look like a kindergartener!" Sheri shouted and sobbed, "I hate school!"
"Who's Alice?" Miroku asked with a questionable tone, "Is it a woman?"
~*~
"That girl is so stupid to believe anything he says," Junko took a sip of her soda and looked at Kyoko, "I can't believe Kagome."
"Neither can I! I never thought she was that stupid. I mean she's anything but the brightest cookie in the jar-"
"Ok it's "brightest crayon in the box." Cookies aren't bright, dear." Junko laughed and Kyoko rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I'm waiting for Katsuaki to get here. He's like taking fucking forever!" Kyoko whined like a small, spoiled child. She was very used to having her way and having the planet wait on her every whim. She wasn't rich like that bitch Naoko Kobayashi, but her parents spent every hard-earned dime they had on her.
Kyoko walked right into someone who was standing in front of her. Sadly, Kyoko was far from ever admitting she had run into someone, so she spun the girl around to shout at her.
When she saw her, she wanted to laugh her to another country. She was wearing a pair of incredibly old and baggy jeans and a frayed t-shirt. Her hair was in messy buns and her complexion wasn't clear. The girl was the best prey for a moody and rude popular student to bother; a sitting duck for someone like Kyoko.
"Where'd you get those clothes girl? The dumpster?" Kyoko shoved the girl with all her might. The girl fell backwards onto the pavement and let out a little gasp. Kyoko loomed over her angrily, but the girl didn't flinch. She tried standing up, but Kyoko shoved her brutally back down.
"Leave me the hell alone! You walked into me!"
"You have some serious nerve," Kyoko blared, "To talk to me like that and then try standing when I shove you. Do you know who I am?"
"I don't know and I really don't care," The girl spat the sentence and it insulted Kyoko. She stared evilly.
The new girl stood up and brushed off her dress, picked up her stuff and turned her back. Kyoko's friends gasped and looked at each other in tremendous disbelief. Nobody ever brushed Kyoko off it was just unheard of!
Kyoko looked at her viciously and grabbed her shoulder.
"What the fuck is with you?" Kyoko shook her, "You're a retard, get back on the ground!"
Kyoko shoved her again back down, "What is you name?"
"My name is Maeko and leave me alone!" Maeko grabbed the other girl's wrist and dug her nails into her arm. Kyoko screamed and shook her off.
"You fucki-"
Katsuaki walked down the street casually and waved at some girls. They giggled in response and waved at him. He was looking for Kyoko because she told him to meet her at the park right across from the strange little strip mall. It wasn't even really a mall; it just had a post office, an American deli, a coffee shop and a tiny drug store.
Katsuaki stopped about twenty feet away from a livid Kyoko and her three friends. Apparently they were shouting at an unfortunate girl; it was just something Kyoko did on her bitchy daily basis. Katsuaki walked quickly over.
"What's going on?" Katsuaki asked and stared at Maeko. "Who the hell is this?"
"Some brat," Kyoko snorted and kicked some dirt on the pavement Maeko's way.
Inuyasha walked out of the post office, clutching Sheri's package tightly. He couldn't figure out what in god's name is was, it was about the size of a shoebox and wrapped in brown paper. White twine held it tightly together.
There was a sudden loud shout and Inuyasha saw Katsuaki and Kyoko yelling at someone. It was a girl, and she looked beyond the point of angry. Inuyasha ran over and shoved Katsuaki and Kyoko out of the way.
"Leave her alone, Katsuaki. Don't you have some innocent children to steal from?" Inuyasha snapped and helped Maeko up.
"Don't think so highly of me, Inuyasha. You might kill what little brain cells you have left by thinking of what to say too hard."
"At least I have some left, unlike you." Inuyasha shrugged Katsuaki's kindergarten comment off. Maeko's knee was skinned, making her wobble a little when she stood up.
"I'm so offended. Boo hoo!" Katsuaki laughed and so did Kyoko. Inuyasha made a mental note of how unsightly Kyoko and Katusaki's children would be; they made the perfect ugly couple.
"Cry me a river, build me a bridge and get over it!" Maeko roared at them and they stopped laughing.
"You have a big mouth!" Kyoko shouted, "You're going to get your face smashed in for it!"
Kyoko's school bag suddenly ripped open, every little possible accessory spilling out onto the ground. Katsuaki's glasses slipped off the end of his nose and shattered on the sidewalk.
"Leave us alone." Maeko said coolly and regained her posture. She pushed Inuyasha away a little, standing up on her own. Her lag stung, but she knew she could make it heal faster than anyone else could. She'd take care of that later though.
"Where is Kagome?"
"I told her I had something more important to do and left her walking home by herself." Katsuaki's vision was now blurred and he picked up the remains of his eyewear. "If I could fucking see three inches from my head, I'd snap your neck, you know that?"
"I should snap yours right now." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, "You're all talk and no do. Now, do us all a favor and run along with your other little girlfriend. Your face is scaring those people over there; see? They're pointing."
Inuyasha adjusted his hat and gave a detached grin. Kyoko flipped him the bird and grabbed Katsuaki's arm.
"Come on," She snapped, "Let's go."
Kyoko's little minions followed her and Katsuaki like shadows and Inuyasha waved.
"Bye!"
Katsuaki turned around and shouted something, but ran into a pole in front of him. He fell backwards and Inuyasha decided Katsuaki was no longer of any interest or concern to him. He directed his attention to Maeko.
"Hey, you alright? Katsuaki and Kyoko are the biggest idiots you'll ever meet," He grumbled and Maeko nodded that she was fine.
"I know, but I'm sure I could show them a thing or two one of these days."
"I'll buy you a soda?" He pointed to the vending machine a few feet away from them and Maeko nodded furiously again.
"I think I'm dehydrated," Maeko sighed, "It's hard being a new student. My old school was just as unfriendly as this one. You're the first person who's said a positive word to me all day long."
"I'm sorry." Inuyasha held the two sodas and they walked across the street to a small playground.
"I think I've seen you at school, but you weren't wearing your uniform," Inuyasha sat down on the grass next to the girl who smiled a little, but then she looked quickly away.
"I don't have a school uniform yet. My body shape is strange or something." The girl whispered and Inuyasha handed her a cherry soda. She took it with much gratitude and opened it. She took a few sips and set it in the grass.
"Maeko."
"Huh?"
"I know what you're thinking." The girl responded, "My name is Maeko."
"Um... My name is..."
"Inuyasha. I know. People have mentioned you on several occasions," Her voice was mysterious and dark, "Especially the girls. In the locker room, they're very fond of you."
"They don't show it." He sipped his soda and glared at her.
"Kagome doesn't but she really likes you." Maeko took a sip of the soda Inuyasha had given her. She savored it. Nobody ever gave her a gift out of the genuine goodness of his or her heart. If she 'looked' deep enough, she could 'see' Inuyasha was a good person.
"Kagome has her boyfriend," Inuyasha seethed, "That twit who thinks with his balls and not his brains."
"He's definitely got more down there than up here," Maeko pointed to her head at 'up here', "If he's got anything down there at all."
"HA! You should call him 'Minnow Boy' if he bothers you. That's enough to permanently devastate a man's pride." Inuyasha laughed, it was the first genuine laugh he had in days. Maeko laughed too, and Inuyasha couldn't understand at the slightest bit why he was so comfortable talking to her. He just met her a few minutes ago and she was still nearly a complete and total stranger.
They stopped talking for a few seconds and then Maeko smiled.
"You're a lot nicer than you pretend to be." She shook the can to make sure it was empty and then placed it next to her, "You're like one of those marshmallow cookies. You know, all hard chocolate and cookie on the outside, but in the middle you're a softie."
Inuyasha couldn't help but smile a little, and placed the comment in the back of his mind. He supposed that he was nicer than he played it off to be, he did draw Kagome a picture. He did care about his friends and promise to help them at all costs.
"I think you should go," Maeko pointed to her watch, "You're going to be home late if you don't leave now. It's around six."
"Right!" Inuyasha jumped up and helped Maeko up, "I'll see you around at school I guess."
Maeko nodded and shook Inuyasha's hand. She watched as he left quietly, debating to herself when she should turn around and head on home herself.
~*~
When Inuyasha approached the grounds of the Sunset Shrine, Kagome waved at him and then ran over to greet him.
"Inuyasha," She shouted, "I've been waiting for you! I have something to give you."
"You... do?" Inuyasha was startled by the remark. Kagome never gave him presents. To be honest, nobody had given him a real present since his mother passed when he was six.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome dug through her obese schoolbag and pulled out a stuffed white dog.
"Ha! I made it in class." Kagome threw the stuffed dog at Inuyasha and he examined it carefully. It was a plush white dog, with pointed ears, beady black eyes, and a felt tongue hanging out of his stitched mouth. It had been sewn into a charming little grin. Inuyasha smiled.
"Ha! He's cute. Hey, you even sewed my name onto his butt!" Inuyasha laughed and Kagome looked embarrassed.
"I couldn't think of anyplace else that was big enough. It's just so you remember he's yours, you know?" Kagome nudged his shoulder with her elbow and he smiled.
"Hold on a second," Inuyasha dug through his bag, but found his present more quickly than she had.
"Huh?"
"This is for you," Inuyasha handed her the drawing rather violently and then looked shyly away, "I know you won't like it, but... yeah..."
Inuyasha handed her a drawing on some white paper Inuyasha had probably stolen from Mr. Nakamura. I didn't matter Mr. Nakamura wouldn't notice because he had plenty of paper to go around all five of his classes.
Kagome's eyes fixed on the drawing. It was colored entirely, (she guessed colored pencils, but Inuyasha had colored it well enough so that pencil streaks didn't show up) and there was an astounding amount of detail to both of the people in the picture. However, what caught Kagome's attention was what the picture was of.
It was she; but not only she; Inuyasha had drawn himself as well. It looked just like them and Kagome blushed. In the picture, they were both lying in the grass looking up at the sky and they were happy together. Lying side-by-side, laughing, smiling, sharing special moments that nobody else could understand.
(why cant things really be like this)
She was wearing a pink kimono with a ribbon in her hair; even Inuyasha had dressed his self-portrait up for the occasion. She admired the detail of the blossoms on her new outfit, and suddenly wanted the beautiful kimono he had drawn.
Inuyasha looked around nervously, tapping his foot silently on the ground. Did Kagome like it? He didn't know, but she sure was staring at it. Maybe something was wrong with it? If she hated it Inuyasha figured he'd completely crushed. He could take it out on Mr. Boyfriend, but he decided against that. He didn't want to anger Kagome.
"Thank you." Kagome interrupted the awkward silence and Inuyasha snapped to immediate attention.
"What?" Inuyasha sounded like he had expected something else (which he had), and blinked his eyes, "You like it?"
"I love it! Thank you so much," She smiled the brightest smiled ever, "It's the best present anyone has ever given me." She held the drawing in her left hand and pressed her right fingers against her lips. The picture was absolutely adorable. She looked up at him and grinned.
"Am I really this pretty? I find it flattering if you think I look like this."
Now was that moment Sheri had talked about. "Those Moments." Inuyasha tuned bright red for probably the first genuine time. "Those Moments" were when everything was set up perfectly for "a move." Sheri had strongly suggested he always take advantage of those moments if he ever wanted to get Kagome's "romantic" interest.
Inuyasha recalled for another quick moment that Sheri had promptly said, "Gifts are the way to a woman's heart." Inuyasha couldn't figure out if women were greedy or just liked to be regaled with small toys and candy. He just placed Sheri's comments to the back of his mind because she usually didn't say anything of his interest.
"I don't know, do you think it looks like you?" He originally had intended to say something suave and witty, but nothing could pop into his head that wouldn't make him feel really, really stupid. He still felt stupid saying what he just did, so it didn't matter.
"I wouldn't know. I'm my own worst critic if you know what I mean," Kagome placed the picture on top of her book bag and smiled. She reached out and then gave Inuyasha a hug. She figured she'd better start a conversation so that she could procrastinate giving Katsuaki his promised phone call.
~*~
Naoko walked up to Shinobe's front door and knocked on it nervously. She tapped her foot against the pavement and fiddled with her hair for a few moments.
She supposed she had every right in the world to be totally nervous. Shinobe hadn't been at school for the past few months and the entire student body had no idea why. They all had their rumors and suspicions about why the most popular girl at school would suddenly drop out, but no real answers.
Whatever it was though, Naoko was one-hundred-percent positive Katsuaki's mentally challenged self was somehow involved. Either directly or indirectly, Katsuaki always seemed to get himself mixed up in the worse things. Inuyasha was obviously out to kill him, and having some guy out to kill you isn't always the best of a situation.
Suddenly, Shinobe answered the front door and Naoko smiled at her old friend.
"Shinobe!" She reached out and gave Shinobe a hug, who patted her back in return.
"Naoko! What are you doing here?" She asked. Her voice was someplace between surprise, anger, and just plain inquisitive.
"I just decided to come by and visit you. You've been out of school for the longest time. I thought you were sick, that's what I've been hearing and telling at least, but I really wanted to know if you were healthy." Naoko
"I'm very healthy!" Shinobe laughed, but frowned when something caught Naoko's eye. A bassinet was a few feet behind her.
"Is that your baby?"
Shinobe remained completely silent, and cradled the baby boy in her arms. She turned around to look out the window, and then began to speak in a very low and melancholic voice.
"Yes," She replied to Naoko, "Yes he is my baby."
"Who the hell is his father?" Naoko wanted to get straight to the point. This is why Shinobe had dropped out of school, why her parents were so ashamed of her, and why the faculty made no comments when some students were to ask about Shinobe non attending her classes.
"That's not important."
"It is very important, Shinobe. It's the most important part of the conversation we're having!" Naoko shouted, but was careful not to annoy the baby, "Tell me who the baby's father is. He should get some responsibility!"
Shinobe turned back to her friend and placed the baby in his bassinet. She glared at Naoko for a moment.
"He will never get responsibility. He is an idiot." She said in a voice that was somehow twisted; it spoke of resentment and vengeance. For those few moments of time, Shinobe looked possessed and demonic.
She continued talking.
"I loathe him with every particle of my being for him doing this to me. It wasn't even consensual, really. He forced himself on me. He was always so ridiculous. Such a loser!" She shouted and Naoko was surprised that the baby didn't begin to completely bawl his little eyes out.
"Who was such a loser?" Naoko whispered.
~*~
"And so then, I slipped my clothes over my bathing suit...snuck in through my window... and crawled into bed. Then, like three seconds later, my mom poked her head in and said "Wake up sleepy head,"" Kagome snickered, "She had no idea I'd been gone!"
Inuyasha burst out laughing and so did Kagome and they both fell over in the grass.
"That was really, really stupid," He laughed even harder; being with Kagome was making him feel better by the second. "I can't believe she still doesn't know."
"Ha, neither can I!" Kagome stretched, her arm flung across Inuyasha's chest. She was exhausted, and it was around 9:50 at night. They were lying out by the well, right next to the small building in fact, and they just sat there and talked. They needed to get inside; it was starting to get very cold outside.
"Maybe we should go inside?" She muttered, and regretted the thought. She was enjoying every moment of doing nothing but chatting about the weirdest things. Things she knew she wouldn't tell anybody else.
"Probably. I wonder if they are thinking about where we are," Inuyasha inhaled deeply and stared at the sky, "I see the same sky in my time, don't I?"
"Yes," Kagome whispered, "You do, you're just someplace else. It's the same moon and four-hundred years from now that moon and those stars will still be there."
He sighed and so did she. They continued staring for a few brief moments, and then Inuyasha plucked her arm off his chest and sat up. He found it awful to think he had to endure the disturbing presence of Katsuaki tomorrow at school, but he also got to see Kagome. He supposed that there was a positive to every negative out there.
Inuyasha stood up and extended his hand and she took it after a few seconds of hesitation. He pulled her up so quickly; she fell right into his arms. There was an awkward moment, and very unexpectedly Inuyasha held her in a warm embrace.
Kagome's eyes were wide open and she felt him pull her closer. She was completely stunned to a degree she had never experienced before.
Images of them passed through her mind over and over again. How they met; how she had seen him and Kikyo; moments when she thought he was going to die... all the emotions she had ever felt for him welled up into one moment in time that she knew was going to affect things in the near future.
She looked away from him, but he didn't let her go. In fact, he pulled her closer and Kagome found herself wrapping her own arms around him.
"Katsuaki," Inuyasha whispered, "Is stupid to think you're ugly."
"What?" Kagome looked up at him and blinked, "He said that?"
"Right to my face, Kagome. That proves he the epitome of a downright fool." Inuyasha hugged her tighter, and suddenly felt a little stupid for an unknown reason. He was completely bewildered by what he had done. He was holding Kagome and that was an action the might have a definite punishment of being "sat" several times.
Kagome held Inuyasha tighter, she found herself despising the thought of letting him go. She pressed her cheek against his shoulder and giggled a little noticing that he was quite some taller than her.
"I would never say you're ugly." Inuyasha whispered and placed his chin on top of her head, "I..."
"Hmm?" She breathed in deeply, noticing the fact that she hated Katsuaki with a passion. He was cruel and cold to her; something a boyfriend shouldn't be if he loves you. She looked up at Inuyasha and smiled adoringly at him.
"I- would say the opposite."
"What?"
"I would," Inuyasha continued, "Say that you are exactly the opposite of ugly."
Kagome chuckled a grinned to herself knowing the he would never exactly say it. He would never really come out and say she was pretty, no matter how many times he hinted it the slightest bit. She found it cute that he was really that shy.
"Well you haven't said it!" Kagome undid his arms from around her body, "And I think we better go inside. It's getting really late and Miroku is going to have some perverted fantasies if we come inside any later."
Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's hand and picked up their school bags with her free hand. She gripped his hand tightly and he gripped her hand tighter in return. He bent down and collected his dog and her picture and they both headed towards Kagome's house.
"Oh shit," Inuyasha stiffened, "I forgot Sheri's package at the park..."
*
"Sango," Miroku called, yawning, "It's for you."
Sango trotted over in her bunny slippers and Miroku handed her the phone. She made facial expression, obviously asking for who was on the other line, and Miroku shrugged.
"I think it's Naoko, but I'm not sure. Could be Naomi." He patted her shoulder and walked off.
Sango gingerly held up the phone and pressed it to her ear. She murmured a lazy "Hello?" and Naoko's voice started talking on the other end. Her usually bubbly voice and sunny disposition was gone, a serious and pitch black tone echoed through her voice.
"Sango," Naoko said in a pensive voice, "I really need to tell you something."
"What?" Sango whispered into the mouthpiece, "It's like ten at night!"
"I have something I need to tell somebody. I meant to say it long ago, but I was interrupted." Naoko sounded like she was in a mixture of shock, anger, and disbelief.
"Tell me now, Naoko." Sango was growing impatient and wanted to use the bathroom before Inuyasha took it. Where in the world was he anyways?
"Ask me why Shinobe doesn't attend our school anymore."
"Why? Shinobe?"
"Remember? In art?"
"Oh right."
"Ask me."
"All right, Naoko," Sango grumbled. "Why doesn't Shinobe got to our school?"
"Because," Naoko continued, "Katsuaki got her pregnant and told her to cover it up. That's why."
There was a click, and Naoko's voice ended immediately.
"Naoko?"
-END OF CHAPTER-
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What do you think? @_@ Well here ends another chapter, and I am still going with chapters! So as for reviews... keep 'em coming, they're very much appreciated! Oh yes, I finally got a program with spell check! That's why the other chapters had grammar and spelling errors... I type about 65 words a minute at minimum. I don't notice my mistakes, gomen!
I LOVE fan mail! *hint hint on readers* my email is chibiukyo11@yahoo.com
(Please entitle it 'School Story' so it doesn't get deleted ;_;)
(*Cheers* I got some from someone the other day, I love it!)
I'm not too fond of flames, but if you REALLY feel the need to, go right ahead. Constructive criticism I don't mind; I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing!
PS) People in Japan go to school on Saturday for half the day and not all popular girls are bad! Just Kyoko is!
~*~*~*~
Preview of Chapter 13: Casting for Mr. Nakamura's "play" is revealed with some unpleasant replies; Sheri learns the date of the Fall dance and the girls are looking for dates; Sango and Naoko also visit a depressed Shinobe who's been hiding everything.
PLEASE Review! ^0^ Thanks for reading and go read my other fic:
"Family Matters"
The original characters and story of 'Inuyasha' do not belong to me. I am in no way making money off of this, so please don't sue *big teary eyes*!!!! I did create the other characters (Naoko and Sheri for example).
*AUTHOR'S NOTES*
YAY! 100+ reviews... OMG thank you guys soooo much!!! I'm glad people like it, to be honest I thought I'd get like three reviews and that would be it, but everyone kept reviewing. Thank you so much again, and more reviews, more chapters!
Well, you might want to read the chapter when Naoko talks about Shinobe at the art table. If you don't you might not understand part of this chapter because it refers back to it. All right, if you read, please leave a review!
FYI: Oh, well Momori says "Midori" is a girl's name, but I met a guy named Midori once, so I don't know. He was definitely Japanese, too. So I don't know but the character really isn't that important so it really doesn't matter. I met a guy named Shirley once, too. And guy named Megan... @_@;;; So maybe people just like naming their kids names of the opposite gender? Who knows? Not me, that's for sure.
*DEDICATION*
This chapter of is for some special people! Look for your name below ^.^
Kawaiihanyou (aka Tracy; who's been the BIGGEST help of all!)
LilFoxGirl (aka Kit; hehe thanks for some ideas about disposing of certain characters and being such a fan!)
Shadowfox489 (aka Jen; luv mah cousin)
Desiree (without her there would be no Sheri!)
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*~*~*~*~*~*
A School Story
Chapter 12: Picture Perfect
By Chibiukyo
*~*~*~*~*~*
"God, I hate him," Inuyasha slammed his locker shut and Sango sighed.
"I really think you two should try to get along. Do it for yourselves," She patted Inuyasha's shoulder, "Or at least do it for Kagome. She loves him as a boyfriend
(Sango wasn't sure if it was her imagination or if Inuyasha just face faulted)
and you as a special friend
(Oops! He face faulted again, or were eyes playing nasty tricks?)
and I know she really wants you two to get along." Sango put on a very painfully forced smile and clenched her book bag with an angry grip. She knew Katsuaki would want absolutely nothing more than to humiliate Inuyasha in front of the entire student body; Inuyasha wanted nothing more than to pound Katsuaki in front of the entire student body. They had a mutual feeling towards each other, even if one was more violent than the other.
"Whatever. I really don't think that bitch gives a damn about her anyways, so why should she care?"
"Because she loves him."
"He doesn't fucking love her, that's for sure. If he did, he wouldn't call her ugly." Inuyasha spat the word ugly and Sango flinched when Inuyasha's voice rose to an unfriendly level. "If he wants to see anything ugly he can take a photograph of himself."
"The film would turn black and then disintegrate." Miroku walked over and patted Inuyasha on the back, "I respect that you are just trying to ensure the happiness and safety of Kagome-sama, but I don't think she'd appreciate it if you flattened Katsuaki into a pancake."
"You're right, it would be too bloody to flatten him," Inuyasha had an evil twinkle in his eye, "Can you think of something equally slow and painful, but cleaner?"
"Now that you mention it...- argh- Inuyasha," Sango was at first interested, but then regained her senses and looked Inuyasha in the eye, "Try to get along with him. It doesn't matter how much of a stupid, idiotic, arrogant, retarded, useless, mean, bitchy, PMSing..."
"Sango I think you're starting to express your own opinions..." Miroku sweat dropped and Sango suddenly stopped.
"Heh...right. Just," She sighed and with a heavy heart smiled, "Inuyasha, just try to get along with Katsuaki. No matter what he says."
Inuyasha turned around and started walking off and Miroku quickly followed. Inuyasha kept walking, even though Miroku was beside him, trying desperately to cheer up the hanyou's bleak day.
"So Inuyasha," He coughed and Inuyasha gave an irritated scowl, "I heard that Mr. Nakamura is rather fond of your drawings now. He said he's going to start using them as examples."
"Oh. Joy. I'm. Going. To. Die. With. Happiness."
"Right..." Miroku sweat dropped again, and Sango caught up with them. A frustrated Sheri was with her. Inuyasha shoved the school's front doors open and they merged into the growing crowd of high school students.
"Kagome said that her and Katsuaki would be waiting for us outside." Sheri was carrying three books, and her backpack was bulging like she had shoved a whole library in it. A few papers stuck out of her pockets and she looked like she was going to bust out crying.
"Homework! I am loaded with HOMEWORK!" She screamed and a few people started at her for a long moment. "I wanted to go shopping for some new earrings, but I can't! I have a textbook for every. Single. Class. I. Take!!!"
"I have homework too, and it's awful. I hate that whole 'math' thing going on!" Sango wailed and shook her own textbook like it was insane. Miroku looked at her like she was nuts and directed his attention back to Inuyasha.
"Women," Miroku sighed, "Have issues." Sheri shot him a nasty look at his back but continued her ranting with Sango.
"Weren't you the one with the whole 'women are like flowers' talk? Where did that go?" Inuyasha snapped a little more violently, "Down the toilet? Like your morals?"
Sheri smacked the back of Inuyasha's head and snapped at him.
"What the hell is YOUR deal today? Is widdle Inuyasha having a bad day because of even widdler Katsuaki?" She asked and cocked her head to a side. She tapped her foot and frowned when Inuyasha didn't respond and continued walking.
Inuyasha remained wholly silent, and continued walking towards the school gates.
"I DO HAVE MORALS YOU KNOW!" Mirkou shouted in his defense, and then smacked Sango casually on the rear when she walked by. She shrieked and then slapped him. It left a nasty red mark on his face but it gave him the satisfaction that she at least noticed him...
"Oh, now everybody leave poor Miroku alone." Sheri placed a hand on her hip and the other on Miroku's shoulder.
"Lady Sheri," Miroku beamed, "You worried about me?"
"Um..."
Her took her hands in his.
"Sheri," Miroku clasped her hands tightly, his eyes gazed into hers.
"What?" Sheri gave a very strange, unreadable expression.
"Will you..." Miroku inhaled deeply, "Bear my child?"
"Yeah, you sure have some morals!" Sheri screamed and threw her hands up into the air. Sheri whacked the back of Miroku's head and ran up to Inuyasha. She spun him around quickly and looked him ruthlessly in the eye.
"Now," She stated, proud, confident, and definitely not backing down, "What crawled up your butt and died today? I mean, Katsuaki is too stupid to be classified as an idiot and it's not a rumor that his mouth won't shut if you paid him. But, you know you can't let some...loser like that mess with your head and ruin your life!"
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment, taking in every word that she just said. She did make complete sense to him. Why, in the name of all that is good, would anybody listen to Katsuaki? Anybody with brains would understand that Katsuaki liked to rip people apart, to lie, and to change and twist things around to his liking with his harsh words.
"Inuyasha!" She snapped again harshly, "You look at me when I'm talking and you respond to me when I ask you a question, boy! So you answer the question from earlier now and you look at me when you say it!" She shook an accusing finger at him and he rolled his eyes.
"Katsuaki is a complete nimrod. Nothing more to be said." Inuyasha turned around and left a stunned Sheri standing in front of Sango and Miroku. Sheri was intimidating to a certain extent, but not enough to make him say anything worth of any importance.
Kagome clenched her books tighter and wanted to scream when Katsuaki put his arm around her. It wasn't a good feeling for her at all. She actually felt like turning around and smacking some sense into him, the good old-fashioned way.
When Kagome saw Inuyasha and the others walking towards her and Katsuaki, a sudden wave of relief was over her. She smiled and stepped away from Katsuaki. She waved at them and Sango waved back.
"Hey there, Hat Boy!" Katsuaki walked up, slapped Inuyasha on the back and tugged at his hat. Inuyasha placed his hands on top of his head to prevent Katsuaki from removing it.
"THAT'S it," Inuyasha threw down his book bag and turned around abruptly, "You're really, really starting to get beyond the point of annoying. If you really don't shut up right now I will bash your skull in. Alright? Shut up."
"Inuyasha, do you remember out little discussi-" Sheri held up a finger, but was interrupted rather quickly by Inuyasha.
"Bag it, Sheri!" Inuyasha shouted at her and Sheri flinched. She shut up immediately and Sango stared at her.
"Inuyasha that was a little harsh," Sango hissed and Inuyasha just looked straight ahead without uttering a word.
"SO," Miroku tried to lighten to mood a notch, "What is everyone going to do after school on Saturday?"
"I'm going to be thinking about the Fall Dance!" Sheri beamed and suddenly went into dreamy mode. "I love dances! I'm going to have a gorgeous dress and an even more gorgeous date!"
Sango looked a little disappointed and Miroku looked at her.
"Why so sad?" He asked and she just shook her head.
"Oh nothing, it's nothing." She just whistled to herself and smiled at him, "I'm just thinking about the dance. I wonder really what it is..."
"I do too," Miroku shrugged, "Well we can go as a group I suppose."
"Well," Kagome coughed a little, "I think I'm going to stay home after school on Saturday to do homework. Then I can have Sunday free." She still stayed about an arm's length away from Katsuaki.
"Inuyasha," Sheri suddenly jumped, "I need you do me a favor. You can have some pocky in return."
"Not if it's chocolate!" Kagome snapped and glanced at it. It wasn't chocolate, so Kagome would let Inuyasha eat it. I mean, he did have some sort of dog in him and chocolate was fatal if a dog ate enough of it.
"What would that be?" He took one of her pocky sticks and shoved it in his mouth. Kagome mumbled something about him "eating like a piggy" and he shrugged it off. Piggy?
"I need you to take this paper and go to the post office. I'm supposed to pick up a package that they can't apparently deliver to my front door. I can't understand why, but oh well." She handed Inuyasha a little piece of yellow paper. The symbols were something he couldn't recognize at all.
"What the hell is on here? Secret code?"
"It's just written in English. My parent's don't speak Japanese at all." Sheri sighed, "I really wish they did; I'm very thankful for those courses in sixth grade my mom made me take."
"Alright, so I just drop it off, get the package, and bring it to you tomorrow?"
"Right!" Sheri glomped onto him, "You're such a sweetie!"
Inuyasha just gave a nervous smile and patted her back. "Riiight, sure why not!"
"There are the directions to the post office on the back, so don't get lost."
"I won't," He replied, "I guess you guys will just leave without me."
"Believe me, Inuyasha, I have no problem leaving you behind."
"I assure you that the feeling is quite mutual." Inuyasha made sure his expression was emotionless, "Have a nice day Mr. Sunshine."
Once Inuyasha had left (and after a long and murderous stare at Inuyasha's back) Katsuaki leaned towards Kagome.
"I have to go meet someone at the park, alright? I'll see you tomorrow Kagome-chan. Don't forget my phone call, okay?" He leaned in a gave her a much despised kiss on the cheek, "Bye."
Kagome stared at she watched him walk off in the same direction Inuyasha had. She couldn't help but wonder who Katsuaki was meeting. It was probably one of his skanky female friends, he didn't really hang around normal human beings that much.
"Why didn't you go and get it, Sheri?"
"HELLO! I have some much homework I'm going homicidal to a point where Alice would look like a kindergartener!" Sheri shouted and sobbed, "I hate school!"
"Who's Alice?" Miroku asked with a questionable tone, "Is it a woman?"
~*~
"That girl is so stupid to believe anything he says," Junko took a sip of her soda and looked at Kyoko, "I can't believe Kagome."
"Neither can I! I never thought she was that stupid. I mean she's anything but the brightest cookie in the jar-"
"Ok it's "brightest crayon in the box." Cookies aren't bright, dear." Junko laughed and Kyoko rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. I'm waiting for Katsuaki to get here. He's like taking fucking forever!" Kyoko whined like a small, spoiled child. She was very used to having her way and having the planet wait on her every whim. She wasn't rich like that bitch Naoko Kobayashi, but her parents spent every hard-earned dime they had on her.
Kyoko walked right into someone who was standing in front of her. Sadly, Kyoko was far from ever admitting she had run into someone, so she spun the girl around to shout at her.
When she saw her, she wanted to laugh her to another country. She was wearing a pair of incredibly old and baggy jeans and a frayed t-shirt. Her hair was in messy buns and her complexion wasn't clear. The girl was the best prey for a moody and rude popular student to bother; a sitting duck for someone like Kyoko.
"Where'd you get those clothes girl? The dumpster?" Kyoko shoved the girl with all her might. The girl fell backwards onto the pavement and let out a little gasp. Kyoko loomed over her angrily, but the girl didn't flinch. She tried standing up, but Kyoko shoved her brutally back down.
"Leave me the hell alone! You walked into me!"
"You have some serious nerve," Kyoko blared, "To talk to me like that and then try standing when I shove you. Do you know who I am?"
"I don't know and I really don't care," The girl spat the sentence and it insulted Kyoko. She stared evilly.
The new girl stood up and brushed off her dress, picked up her stuff and turned her back. Kyoko's friends gasped and looked at each other in tremendous disbelief. Nobody ever brushed Kyoko off it was just unheard of!
Kyoko looked at her viciously and grabbed her shoulder.
"What the fuck is with you?" Kyoko shook her, "You're a retard, get back on the ground!"
Kyoko shoved her again back down, "What is you name?"
"My name is Maeko and leave me alone!" Maeko grabbed the other girl's wrist and dug her nails into her arm. Kyoko screamed and shook her off.
"You fucki-"
Katsuaki walked down the street casually and waved at some girls. They giggled in response and waved at him. He was looking for Kyoko because she told him to meet her at the park right across from the strange little strip mall. It wasn't even really a mall; it just had a post office, an American deli, a coffee shop and a tiny drug store.
Katsuaki stopped about twenty feet away from a livid Kyoko and her three friends. Apparently they were shouting at an unfortunate girl; it was just something Kyoko did on her bitchy daily basis. Katsuaki walked quickly over.
"What's going on?" Katsuaki asked and stared at Maeko. "Who the hell is this?"
"Some brat," Kyoko snorted and kicked some dirt on the pavement Maeko's way.
Inuyasha walked out of the post office, clutching Sheri's package tightly. He couldn't figure out what in god's name is was, it was about the size of a shoebox and wrapped in brown paper. White twine held it tightly together.
There was a sudden loud shout and Inuyasha saw Katsuaki and Kyoko yelling at someone. It was a girl, and she looked beyond the point of angry. Inuyasha ran over and shoved Katsuaki and Kyoko out of the way.
"Leave her alone, Katsuaki. Don't you have some innocent children to steal from?" Inuyasha snapped and helped Maeko up.
"Don't think so highly of me, Inuyasha. You might kill what little brain cells you have left by thinking of what to say too hard."
"At least I have some left, unlike you." Inuyasha shrugged Katsuaki's kindergarten comment off. Maeko's knee was skinned, making her wobble a little when she stood up.
"I'm so offended. Boo hoo!" Katsuaki laughed and so did Kyoko. Inuyasha made a mental note of how unsightly Kyoko and Katusaki's children would be; they made the perfect ugly couple.
"Cry me a river, build me a bridge and get over it!" Maeko roared at them and they stopped laughing.
"You have a big mouth!" Kyoko shouted, "You're going to get your face smashed in for it!"
Kyoko's school bag suddenly ripped open, every little possible accessory spilling out onto the ground. Katsuaki's glasses slipped off the end of his nose and shattered on the sidewalk.
"Leave us alone." Maeko said coolly and regained her posture. She pushed Inuyasha away a little, standing up on her own. Her lag stung, but she knew she could make it heal faster than anyone else could. She'd take care of that later though.
"Where is Kagome?"
"I told her I had something more important to do and left her walking home by herself." Katsuaki's vision was now blurred and he picked up the remains of his eyewear. "If I could fucking see three inches from my head, I'd snap your neck, you know that?"
"I should snap yours right now." Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, "You're all talk and no do. Now, do us all a favor and run along with your other little girlfriend. Your face is scaring those people over there; see? They're pointing."
Inuyasha adjusted his hat and gave a detached grin. Kyoko flipped him the bird and grabbed Katsuaki's arm.
"Come on," She snapped, "Let's go."
Kyoko's little minions followed her and Katsuaki like shadows and Inuyasha waved.
"Bye!"
Katsuaki turned around and shouted something, but ran into a pole in front of him. He fell backwards and Inuyasha decided Katsuaki was no longer of any interest or concern to him. He directed his attention to Maeko.
"Hey, you alright? Katsuaki and Kyoko are the biggest idiots you'll ever meet," He grumbled and Maeko nodded that she was fine.
"I know, but I'm sure I could show them a thing or two one of these days."
"I'll buy you a soda?" He pointed to the vending machine a few feet away from them and Maeko nodded furiously again.
"I think I'm dehydrated," Maeko sighed, "It's hard being a new student. My old school was just as unfriendly as this one. You're the first person who's said a positive word to me all day long."
"I'm sorry." Inuyasha held the two sodas and they walked across the street to a small playground.
"I think I've seen you at school, but you weren't wearing your uniform," Inuyasha sat down on the grass next to the girl who smiled a little, but then she looked quickly away.
"I don't have a school uniform yet. My body shape is strange or something." The girl whispered and Inuyasha handed her a cherry soda. She took it with much gratitude and opened it. She took a few sips and set it in the grass.
"Maeko."
"Huh?"
"I know what you're thinking." The girl responded, "My name is Maeko."
"Um... My name is..."
"Inuyasha. I know. People have mentioned you on several occasions," Her voice was mysterious and dark, "Especially the girls. In the locker room, they're very fond of you."
"They don't show it." He sipped his soda and glared at her.
"Kagome doesn't but she really likes you." Maeko took a sip of the soda Inuyasha had given her. She savored it. Nobody ever gave her a gift out of the genuine goodness of his or her heart. If she 'looked' deep enough, she could 'see' Inuyasha was a good person.
"Kagome has her boyfriend," Inuyasha seethed, "That twit who thinks with his balls and not his brains."
"He's definitely got more down there than up here," Maeko pointed to her head at 'up here', "If he's got anything down there at all."
"HA! You should call him 'Minnow Boy' if he bothers you. That's enough to permanently devastate a man's pride." Inuyasha laughed, it was the first genuine laugh he had in days. Maeko laughed too, and Inuyasha couldn't understand at the slightest bit why he was so comfortable talking to her. He just met her a few minutes ago and she was still nearly a complete and total stranger.
They stopped talking for a few seconds and then Maeko smiled.
"You're a lot nicer than you pretend to be." She shook the can to make sure it was empty and then placed it next to her, "You're like one of those marshmallow cookies. You know, all hard chocolate and cookie on the outside, but in the middle you're a softie."
Inuyasha couldn't help but smile a little, and placed the comment in the back of his mind. He supposed that he was nicer than he played it off to be, he did draw Kagome a picture. He did care about his friends and promise to help them at all costs.
"I think you should go," Maeko pointed to her watch, "You're going to be home late if you don't leave now. It's around six."
"Right!" Inuyasha jumped up and helped Maeko up, "I'll see you around at school I guess."
Maeko nodded and shook Inuyasha's hand. She watched as he left quietly, debating to herself when she should turn around and head on home herself.
~*~
When Inuyasha approached the grounds of the Sunset Shrine, Kagome waved at him and then ran over to greet him.
"Inuyasha," She shouted, "I've been waiting for you! I have something to give you."
"You... do?" Inuyasha was startled by the remark. Kagome never gave him presents. To be honest, nobody had given him a real present since his mother passed when he was six.
Inuyasha watched as Kagome dug through her obese schoolbag and pulled out a stuffed white dog.
"Ha! I made it in class." Kagome threw the stuffed dog at Inuyasha and he examined it carefully. It was a plush white dog, with pointed ears, beady black eyes, and a felt tongue hanging out of his stitched mouth. It had been sewn into a charming little grin. Inuyasha smiled.
"Ha! He's cute. Hey, you even sewed my name onto his butt!" Inuyasha laughed and Kagome looked embarrassed.
"I couldn't think of anyplace else that was big enough. It's just so you remember he's yours, you know?" Kagome nudged his shoulder with her elbow and he smiled.
"Hold on a second," Inuyasha dug through his bag, but found his present more quickly than she had.
"Huh?"
"This is for you," Inuyasha handed her the drawing rather violently and then looked shyly away, "I know you won't like it, but... yeah..."
Inuyasha handed her a drawing on some white paper Inuyasha had probably stolen from Mr. Nakamura. I didn't matter Mr. Nakamura wouldn't notice because he had plenty of paper to go around all five of his classes.
Kagome's eyes fixed on the drawing. It was colored entirely, (she guessed colored pencils, but Inuyasha had colored it well enough so that pencil streaks didn't show up) and there was an astounding amount of detail to both of the people in the picture. However, what caught Kagome's attention was what the picture was of.
It was she; but not only she; Inuyasha had drawn himself as well. It looked just like them and Kagome blushed. In the picture, they were both lying in the grass looking up at the sky and they were happy together. Lying side-by-side, laughing, smiling, sharing special moments that nobody else could understand.
(why cant things really be like this)
She was wearing a pink kimono with a ribbon in her hair; even Inuyasha had dressed his self-portrait up for the occasion. She admired the detail of the blossoms on her new outfit, and suddenly wanted the beautiful kimono he had drawn.
Inuyasha looked around nervously, tapping his foot silently on the ground. Did Kagome like it? He didn't know, but she sure was staring at it. Maybe something was wrong with it? If she hated it Inuyasha figured he'd completely crushed. He could take it out on Mr. Boyfriend, but he decided against that. He didn't want to anger Kagome.
"Thank you." Kagome interrupted the awkward silence and Inuyasha snapped to immediate attention.
"What?" Inuyasha sounded like he had expected something else (which he had), and blinked his eyes, "You like it?"
"I love it! Thank you so much," She smiled the brightest smiled ever, "It's the best present anyone has ever given me." She held the drawing in her left hand and pressed her right fingers against her lips. The picture was absolutely adorable. She looked up at him and grinned.
"Am I really this pretty? I find it flattering if you think I look like this."
Now was that moment Sheri had talked about. "Those Moments." Inuyasha tuned bright red for probably the first genuine time. "Those Moments" were when everything was set up perfectly for "a move." Sheri had strongly suggested he always take advantage of those moments if he ever wanted to get Kagome's "romantic" interest.
Inuyasha recalled for another quick moment that Sheri had promptly said, "Gifts are the way to a woman's heart." Inuyasha couldn't figure out if women were greedy or just liked to be regaled with small toys and candy. He just placed Sheri's comments to the back of his mind because she usually didn't say anything of his interest.
"I don't know, do you think it looks like you?" He originally had intended to say something suave and witty, but nothing could pop into his head that wouldn't make him feel really, really stupid. He still felt stupid saying what he just did, so it didn't matter.
"I wouldn't know. I'm my own worst critic if you know what I mean," Kagome placed the picture on top of her book bag and smiled. She reached out and then gave Inuyasha a hug. She figured she'd better start a conversation so that she could procrastinate giving Katsuaki his promised phone call.
~*~
Naoko walked up to Shinobe's front door and knocked on it nervously. She tapped her foot against the pavement and fiddled with her hair for a few moments.
She supposed she had every right in the world to be totally nervous. Shinobe hadn't been at school for the past few months and the entire student body had no idea why. They all had their rumors and suspicions about why the most popular girl at school would suddenly drop out, but no real answers.
Whatever it was though, Naoko was one-hundred-percent positive Katsuaki's mentally challenged self was somehow involved. Either directly or indirectly, Katsuaki always seemed to get himself mixed up in the worse things. Inuyasha was obviously out to kill him, and having some guy out to kill you isn't always the best of a situation.
Suddenly, Shinobe answered the front door and Naoko smiled at her old friend.
"Shinobe!" She reached out and gave Shinobe a hug, who patted her back in return.
"Naoko! What are you doing here?" She asked. Her voice was someplace between surprise, anger, and just plain inquisitive.
"I just decided to come by and visit you. You've been out of school for the longest time. I thought you were sick, that's what I've been hearing and telling at least, but I really wanted to know if you were healthy." Naoko
"I'm very healthy!" Shinobe laughed, but frowned when something caught Naoko's eye. A bassinet was a few feet behind her.
"Is that your baby?"
Shinobe remained completely silent, and cradled the baby boy in her arms. She turned around to look out the window, and then began to speak in a very low and melancholic voice.
"Yes," She replied to Naoko, "Yes he is my baby."
"Who the hell is his father?" Naoko wanted to get straight to the point. This is why Shinobe had dropped out of school, why her parents were so ashamed of her, and why the faculty made no comments when some students were to ask about Shinobe non attending her classes.
"That's not important."
"It is very important, Shinobe. It's the most important part of the conversation we're having!" Naoko shouted, but was careful not to annoy the baby, "Tell me who the baby's father is. He should get some responsibility!"
Shinobe turned back to her friend and placed the baby in his bassinet. She glared at Naoko for a moment.
"He will never get responsibility. He is an idiot." She said in a voice that was somehow twisted; it spoke of resentment and vengeance. For those few moments of time, Shinobe looked possessed and demonic.
She continued talking.
"I loathe him with every particle of my being for him doing this to me. It wasn't even consensual, really. He forced himself on me. He was always so ridiculous. Such a loser!" She shouted and Naoko was surprised that the baby didn't begin to completely bawl his little eyes out.
"Who was such a loser?" Naoko whispered.
~*~
"And so then, I slipped my clothes over my bathing suit...snuck in through my window... and crawled into bed. Then, like three seconds later, my mom poked her head in and said "Wake up sleepy head,"" Kagome snickered, "She had no idea I'd been gone!"
Inuyasha burst out laughing and so did Kagome and they both fell over in the grass.
"That was really, really stupid," He laughed even harder; being with Kagome was making him feel better by the second. "I can't believe she still doesn't know."
"Ha, neither can I!" Kagome stretched, her arm flung across Inuyasha's chest. She was exhausted, and it was around 9:50 at night. They were lying out by the well, right next to the small building in fact, and they just sat there and talked. They needed to get inside; it was starting to get very cold outside.
"Maybe we should go inside?" She muttered, and regretted the thought. She was enjoying every moment of doing nothing but chatting about the weirdest things. Things she knew she wouldn't tell anybody else.
"Probably. I wonder if they are thinking about where we are," Inuyasha inhaled deeply and stared at the sky, "I see the same sky in my time, don't I?"
"Yes," Kagome whispered, "You do, you're just someplace else. It's the same moon and four-hundred years from now that moon and those stars will still be there."
He sighed and so did she. They continued staring for a few brief moments, and then Inuyasha plucked her arm off his chest and sat up. He found it awful to think he had to endure the disturbing presence of Katsuaki tomorrow at school, but he also got to see Kagome. He supposed that there was a positive to every negative out there.
Inuyasha stood up and extended his hand and she took it after a few seconds of hesitation. He pulled her up so quickly; she fell right into his arms. There was an awkward moment, and very unexpectedly Inuyasha held her in a warm embrace.
Kagome's eyes were wide open and she felt him pull her closer. She was completely stunned to a degree she had never experienced before.
Images of them passed through her mind over and over again. How they met; how she had seen him and Kikyo; moments when she thought he was going to die... all the emotions she had ever felt for him welled up into one moment in time that she knew was going to affect things in the near future.
She looked away from him, but he didn't let her go. In fact, he pulled her closer and Kagome found herself wrapping her own arms around him.
"Katsuaki," Inuyasha whispered, "Is stupid to think you're ugly."
"What?" Kagome looked up at him and blinked, "He said that?"
"Right to my face, Kagome. That proves he the epitome of a downright fool." Inuyasha hugged her tighter, and suddenly felt a little stupid for an unknown reason. He was completely bewildered by what he had done. He was holding Kagome and that was an action the might have a definite punishment of being "sat" several times.
Kagome held Inuyasha tighter, she found herself despising the thought of letting him go. She pressed her cheek against his shoulder and giggled a little noticing that he was quite some taller than her.
"I would never say you're ugly." Inuyasha whispered and placed his chin on top of her head, "I..."
"Hmm?" She breathed in deeply, noticing the fact that she hated Katsuaki with a passion. He was cruel and cold to her; something a boyfriend shouldn't be if he loves you. She looked up at Inuyasha and smiled adoringly at him.
"I- would say the opposite."
"What?"
"I would," Inuyasha continued, "Say that you are exactly the opposite of ugly."
Kagome chuckled a grinned to herself knowing the he would never exactly say it. He would never really come out and say she was pretty, no matter how many times he hinted it the slightest bit. She found it cute that he was really that shy.
"Well you haven't said it!" Kagome undid his arms from around her body, "And I think we better go inside. It's getting really late and Miroku is going to have some perverted fantasies if we come inside any later."
Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's hand and picked up their school bags with her free hand. She gripped his hand tightly and he gripped her hand tighter in return. He bent down and collected his dog and her picture and they both headed towards Kagome's house.
"Oh shit," Inuyasha stiffened, "I forgot Sheri's package at the park..."
*
"Sango," Miroku called, yawning, "It's for you."
Sango trotted over in her bunny slippers and Miroku handed her the phone. She made facial expression, obviously asking for who was on the other line, and Miroku shrugged.
"I think it's Naoko, but I'm not sure. Could be Naomi." He patted her shoulder and walked off.
Sango gingerly held up the phone and pressed it to her ear. She murmured a lazy "Hello?" and Naoko's voice started talking on the other end. Her usually bubbly voice and sunny disposition was gone, a serious and pitch black tone echoed through her voice.
"Sango," Naoko said in a pensive voice, "I really need to tell you something."
"What?" Sango whispered into the mouthpiece, "It's like ten at night!"
"I have something I need to tell somebody. I meant to say it long ago, but I was interrupted." Naoko sounded like she was in a mixture of shock, anger, and disbelief.
"Tell me now, Naoko." Sango was growing impatient and wanted to use the bathroom before Inuyasha took it. Where in the world was he anyways?
"Ask me why Shinobe doesn't attend our school anymore."
"Why? Shinobe?"
"Remember? In art?"
"Oh right."
"Ask me."
"All right, Naoko," Sango grumbled. "Why doesn't Shinobe got to our school?"
"Because," Naoko continued, "Katsuaki got her pregnant and told her to cover it up. That's why."
There was a click, and Naoko's voice ended immediately.
"Naoko?"
-END OF CHAPTER-
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What do you think? @_@ Well here ends another chapter, and I am still going with chapters! So as for reviews... keep 'em coming, they're very much appreciated! Oh yes, I finally got a program with spell check! That's why the other chapters had grammar and spelling errors... I type about 65 words a minute at minimum. I don't notice my mistakes, gomen!
I LOVE fan mail! *hint hint on readers* my email is chibiukyo11@yahoo.com
(Please entitle it 'School Story' so it doesn't get deleted ;_;)
(*Cheers* I got some from someone the other day, I love it!)
I'm not too fond of flames, but if you REALLY feel the need to, go right ahead. Constructive criticism I don't mind; I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing!
PS) People in Japan go to school on Saturday for half the day and not all popular girls are bad! Just Kyoko is!
~*~*~*~
Preview of Chapter 13: Casting for Mr. Nakamura's "play" is revealed with some unpleasant replies; Sheri learns the date of the Fall dance and the girls are looking for dates; Sango and Naoko also visit a depressed Shinobe who's been hiding everything.
PLEASE Review! ^0^ Thanks for reading and go read my other fic:
"Family Matters"