Hi, everyone, here's another chapter.
Kagome Higurashi: Thanks very much for all your comments!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 4: Choices
I freeze in place, even though my friends made it seem likely, I am still shocked to hear him ask that. What should I do? What do I want to do? The words of the fortuneteller re-surface, that my soul is bound to another one – and has found it. Is his asking me a sign? If it is, why do I feel so uncertain, and why am I thinking of him, he's rude and annoying and – but, still… No, I'm not going to think like that, Hojou-kun is nice and cares about me, isn't it possible that I could come to feel the same way? Maybe Hojou-kun is the one, and even if what she said is untrue or he's not the one, I still think I could find happiness with him. But do I really think so, no, Kagome, you're going to do this, Hojou-kun is – just do this!
I breathe deeply and say, "Yes, Hojou-kun, I'd be happy to go with you."
He grins broadly and replies, "Really, Higurashi?! That's wonderful!"
Fighting pangs of doubt, I am able to make myself smile. I notice movement out of the corner of my eye at one of the trees near my family's shrine, it looked like a person, I wonder who it was?
"Higurashi?"
Startled, I reply, "Oh, yes, Hojou-kun?"
"I'm afraid I have to be going, but we can plan more at school, right?"
"Sure."
"Ok, then. Bye, Higurashi!"
He walks away, waving, and with a goofy grin on his face. My stomach churns, did I really make the right decision? I lift my arm and clinch my fist, yes, yes I did – or did I?
I have difficulty sleeping that night, and when I come to school the next day, I think I may have trouble staying awake during class.
"Kagome-chan, are you all right?"
"I'm a little tired."
"Could you not sleep last night?"
"Yeah, I had some stuff on my mind."
"Was it about Hojou-kun?"
"Yeah, mostly. He asked me to the dance yesterday and I agreed."
"You did?!"
"That's great, Kagome-chan!"
"Congratulations!"
"This is so exciting, Kagome-chan!"
Trying to sound confident, I answer, "Yeah."
I hear a snicker from behind me, I am going to ignore him.
The bell rings, and my friends return to their seats.
As I get out my notebook, I hear him say, "You must be desperate for a date, going with that idiot."
I will not turn around!
"Or maybe you knew you couldn't do any better."
I will NOT turn around! Ok, I WILL!
I turn around quickly and say, "What would you know, and why do you even care?!"
Expecting a comeback, I am surprised when he remains silent, and what's with that expression? He almost looks - upset, but why? He couldn't possibly…
"Class, I'm going to start now."
Still confused, I try to concentrate on the lecture.
I wander through the halls, angry because it seems like I have no direction. Why do I feel this way? Her image comes in my mind, and then the two of them together. No, I already decided, I'm going to forget about her. She hates me, so why should I care about her? I frown, as if it were possible for me not to.
"Miura-kun?"
Startled, I see a girl in front of me, I've seen her in class.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Miura-kun, please go to the dance with me?!"
I stare in surprise. What should I do? I hardly know this person, and I – forget her!
"Sure."
"Wow! Thanks so much, Miura-kun!"
"Ok."
I watch as she runs off to another girl waiting down the hall. Even though I can hear their conversation, I don't stay around to listen.
Days pass and we haven't talked since, she spends her time with her friends, with that idiot hanging around her a lot. Keh, I don't care anyway, but here I am, standing in front of the entrance to her family's shrine. What am I doing here? Feeling drawn to this familiar place and to her, I step forward and walk onto the property, stopping in front of a large tree. I stare at it and place my hand upon it, why do I have the feeling this tree is important in some way? Hearing a noise, I turn around, and see her, with a look of surprise on her face. She walks over to me, and we stare at each other silently, and for some reason, I wish that time would stop in this moment.
She looks away from me and at the tree and says, "There's a legend. Back in the Warring States Period, underneath this tree, the Goshinboku, a miko and a dog hanyou made a wish upon a jewel."
Interested, and wanting to talk with her longer, I reply, "What kind of wish?"
She pauses and seems almost startled, as if she has realized something.
She looks back at me, with a surprised expression.
"A wish for him to be human, so that they could find happiness together…forever."
She steps closer to me and looks as if she has something she wants to say.
"Higurashi!"
How could I have not heard him approaching?! Of course, it was because I was only paying attention to her. Visibly startled, she turns away from me, that idiot!
"Hojou-kun," she answers.
She looks back at me, and then at him, and back between us again, uncertain what to do.
"I've had enough of this place," I say as I turn around quickly and start leaving.
I can hear her footsteps, quickening as she approaches me.
They stop as I hear, "Has the good luck charm been working, Higurashi?"
She does not start walking again as she replies, "Yes, thank you."
Wanting to escape, I keep walking, not looking back even once as I leave the shrine.
