The Low Down: This is being written in leu of writing my genetics lab report. So if I use the terms Epistasis, phenotypic, or drosophila, please forgive me. I may either be enjoying some sick and twisted personal joke, or just getting my left and right brain mixed up again. Such is the life of a science major.
Oh... if you don't know this song.... SHAME! I decided to keep the Garth Brooks motif for a while longer. There are lots of song lyrics that are going to be floating around.
^_^
Cheyenne
Chapter 3
What the Cowgirls Do
***
Previously: Inuyasha discovers the innate sadism bequeathed to all women. Sango injures herself in practice and is no longer fit to compete.
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned
In the world of rodeo, he that does not compete, likewise does not eat. A true competitor can sometimes sell off every thing they own just to pay entry fees, and when they don't win... Sango shook her head to dismiss the thought. Entry fees are high, especially for the higher levels of competition, but then the payoffs were more to compensate.
But with a broken wrist from practice, Sango could not participate. For a few horrendous hours, she had speculated all the possible outcomes for her home and life. By the time she healed properly, she'd have already lost everything. Just thinking it had been enough to bring tears to her eyes, until she caught sight of her friend coming out of her bathroom, wearing a pair of black jeans, her black and pink snapped button shirt, and her black felt hat, with her hair pulled back in a pony tail.
The effect was striking.
"You're sure you want to go through with this? We can still call it off." Sango whispered and finished synching the saddle girth. Kagome glared down at her. How many times had she asked that same question this morning alone. Twenty? Like she wasn't having a hard enough time convincing herself just to stay in this saddle without Sango giving her a million opportunities to back out.
"I told you, Sango, I'm sure!" Kagome growled. "Just because I can't believe I'm doing it, and seriously questioning my sanity for doing it, and scared blind at just the thought of doing it, doesn't mean I'm not sure that I'm going to!"
Sango sighed and placed her hand over her friend's on the saddle horn. It was amazing, when she thought how similar the two seemed. Granted Kagome was slightly shorter, but the length of the jeans and the lose shoulders in the shirt would hardly be noticeable from atop Kirara. With the black hat shadowing her eyes, no one would notice the difference in color either, and they wouldn't stay long enough for Kagome to be questioned after the ride.
Sango smiled gratefully to her friend, who returned with a rather shaky one. She couldn't express the depth of emotion that filled her when Kagome boldly announced that everything would be fine while wearing her competition clothes. It took all of two seconds to realize what she intended and Sango had immediately tried to dissuade her. 'Kagome, there is no way I can ask you to do something like this.' She had said with desperation. Kagome had given her that simple, almost childish smile, and grasped her hands. 'I know.' she had said, 'But you're not asking me anything.'
"Thank you... Kagome... really... I" Sango mumbled looking into her friend's eyes.
"Hey," Kagome smiled. "I told you not to worry. It'll be fine, I promise." She then burst into a cute grin. "And better start calling me, 'Sango' now."
"Alright, Sango," she smiled back up at her double. "But you'd better sit a little higher in the saddle, or else people will start wondering when you became such a little shrimp."
Kagome faked an indignant huff and swatted the other woman's hands away. She grinned over her shoulder as she turned Kirara and headed into the arena to wait her turn.
"Good luck..." Sango whispered and watched her go.
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned
"Oh boy..." Kagome muttered. "I'm doomed."
She absently stroked Kirara's neck below her and the horse, feeling her nervousness reached back and nuzzled her leg with her muzzle. Kagome smiled, imagining this was the mare's way of saying 'Don't worry. I'll do my job. You just hold on.'
She sighed and tried to loosen some of her tension. Perhaps the situation wasn't nearly as dire as her heart would make it out. If she could just place around second or third, she could win enough to lighten some of the blow for Sango financially. She wasn't sure what would happen after that, but she'd find some way to help. She just needed to go through this, and she knew she was a good enough rider and Kirara was a good enough horse to do it.
Ever notice how practicality never helps a fear-induced nausea?
She sat patting Kirara's neck, watching the other cowgirls ride to the gates, always casting a shy glance to her before they shot out into the arena to do their run, and came back looking at her again, but much more smug. It was getting old really fast and Kagome wondered why Sango always ended up riding last.
Damn dramatic tension...
The last smug cowgirl rode back in through the gates, grinning at her. This one had beaten the previous time by a two-tenths of a second. She was insanely proud of herself. Kagome smiled grimly. She was tired of self involved cowgirls. She gave Kirara a tap to the sides and rode to the starting gates.
"Ok...." She breathed. "Here we go."
Kirara snorted and pawed the ground.
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire
Everything shut off.
It was eerily quiet as Kagome took the first barrel, barely noticing she had arrived there. She threw her weight into the turn, only the sound of her own heart beat pounding in her ears. They were at the second barrel before she even really registered that she had completed the turn. The vague shadow of people jumping up and down invaded her peripheral vision, but she didn't consciously notice anything as the dirt flew around her body from Kirara's fierce turn.
When had she gotten to the last barrel? She threw her weight into the turn again, and leaned completely forward over Kirara's neck as they came out of it and thundered down the straight-a-way. She sat up straight as Kirara dug her front hooves into the sand, stopping sharp after the mark and stepping out of the momentum.
The sound came back like someone turning a televison off of mute.
The arena was pulsing with screams. She could hear a pounding above her head from people jumping up and down, calling out "Sango! Sango!" in time with their brutal rhythm. The announcer was hysterically screaming out that it was 'Sango's' best ride to date. She looked around to the once smug little cowgirls, un-tacking their horses, now regarding her with awed, and resentful appreciation.
It took a moment to all register: Kagome had not only won.
She had slaughtered the competition.
***
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall
"No..." Inuyasha frowned at him. "I went into a coma standing here."
Ok... so maybe not.
"Well... you missed out then." Miroku turned his attention back to the arena, as if suddenly the whole event would recreate itself. "Because that was amazing."
Inuyasha gave a non-committal snort . He could not argue that statement in the least, but there was something puzzling. Something in the way Sango had held herself that had him confused. But he dismissed it for now. He hadn't seen her ride often enough to know for sure.
Inuyasha looked up to ask Miroku if he had noticed anything, but found he was gone from his side. He turned, catching a glimpse of his dark hair disappearing below the stands. No doubt, Miroku was heading off to 'congratulate' Sango in his own unique way. Inuyasha secretly hoped she slapped his head backwards. It would be hilarious at dinner.
***
"Holy shit..." Kagome muttered, still on top of Kirara and looking dumbly into space. Did she actually just do that? Did she really ride and, not only just win, but decimate every other competitor before her? With that time, Sango would easily enter the finals as the favorite to win. "Holy shit..." she muttered again. She was only supposed to get through this ride. She never even thought of possibly having to do it again!
Now that she was thinking about Sango, she happened to look down to find the source of an annoying pinching at her leg and a pair of laughing maroon eyes sparking up at her. She was laughing and practically pulled Kagome down from the saddle, catching her from her rather graceless dismount and hugging her close. She babbled some incoherent nonsense like "That was amazing!" and "Kagome, you were wonderful."
"Holy shit." was all Kagome was capable of producing right now, so she relied on that simple two word expression of her emotions.
Sango grinned at her as she pulled out of the hug, making sure Kagome was able to stand upright on her own two feet. She still wasn't looking at anything in particular and her eyes were glazed in a dumbfounded stupor. "Just wait a minute." Sango smiled at her. "I'll put Kirara up, and we'll get out of here. I'll only be a minute." She didn't want to leave Kagome standing there alone to be discovered, but her friend didn't seem to have the frame of mind to walk on her own, and she doubted she could lead both horse and rider at once. She looked over her shoulder at the girl, doing exactly what she was told and not moving from the spot, nor even changing her expression. She wondered absently if she had been as affected on her first win.
Miroku dropped down out of the stands and looked around. Cowgirls were dejectedly packed up their tack and brushed down their horses, which was to be expected after being severely humbled by their superior. He smirked in a basking kind of arrogance, thinking that he was the one who was close to the great cowgirl, forgetting momentarily that he got slapped every time he got close. But speaking of...
He caught sight of her, standing in the middle of the area and staring off into space. He smiled at her obviously dazed form, chuckling slightly at the thought that she had even impressed herself. Such was Sango. A vision of strength and modesty all rolled into one very nicely in a pair of jeans.
Since her back was turned to him, it was far too tempting not to take advantage of this unique opportunity and he took a step towards her and reached out his hand.
A chill ran down his spine.
He stopped in confusion. Where had this horrible, foreboding sense come from? It sent a shudder through his body from head to toe. Could he perhaps be developing a conscience from his occasional less than gentlemanly touch to a woman? It had never been a problem before, so why should he suddenly feel such a sickeningly disturbing pull at his heart as he reached out to her?
Kagome turned around with the odd feeling that she was being watched and found herself looking into her brother's confused eyes with his hand outstretched. She saw his pupils contract in what could only be horror and the blood rush out of his face as he looked at her. Her eyes traveled away from his paled expression, down his arm to his hand... and she realized just what it's position was in the air, and where it would have grabbed.
Both Miroku and Kagome gave a gagged yell of disgust and jumped back a clean six feet.
***
"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" the belligerent scream broke the still of the night all around the ranch home.
Miroku was livid. Angry at Kagome for sneaking into competition where she very clearly didn't belong. Angry at Sango for giving her the opportunity for getting involved. Kagome for being foolish enough to do that kind of ride without the experience. Sango for letting her, after she herself had gotten hurt despite all her years of experience. And angry at the whole world for the lingering embarrassment an disgust he had put on himself only earlier that afternoon.
This had been going on for hours.
Kagome sat bored in a chair, propping her head on her hands as Miroku huffed and fumed. Sango regarded him with guarded cynicism, fighting the urge to point out just how Kagome felt every time he climbed on a bull and that not only had his little sister proven herself to be a great talent, but also saved her financially of her own free will.
Myoga was the happiest of the group, delighted that he would not have to make any astronomical offers to lure Sango onto his pay roll, given that the amazing display had come from someone he already employed with a very 'fair' salary. Miroku decided to turn his rants to their boss once he expressed these thoughts.
Across the table, Hojo looked at Kagome sympathetically and gave her a reassuring smile. "I thought you preformed amazingly." he whispered to her. He then found himself on the receiving end of Miroku's displeasure, for encouraging his sister in pursuing something in which she had no place.
"Look, I don't want to be unreasonable about this," he said, "But there are some things I just can't risk and I won't allow her to get hurt. I'm sorry, but there is just no way this is going to happen again. She should focus on school, like she's been working on for so long and leave the stupid, dangerous, life shortening games to people stupid enough to risk it."
"Like you?" Sango added with a nod.
Miroku stopped quickly realizing his own hypocrisy with shame. It dawned on him that just about every thing in that little self glorified speech of his were the words of a hypocrite and yet had still spewed from his mouth like crap. Sango shook her head at him once he seemed to realize his mistake.
"Did you even notice, the girl who's life you're deciding isn't even here?" she said.
He whipped around and found, sure enough, the empty chair where Kagome had been sitting and regarding him with boredom. "Where did she go?" He Hojo and Myoga heatedly. They glanced each other quickly before giving him twin looks and shrugged. He looked to Sango again, but she just crossed her arms and looked away from him.
***
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all
He looked after her curiously before getting up and silently following after her; For curiosity's sake alone, of course. She walked quickly to the truck sitting in the front drive and opened the driver's door as quietly as she could manage. He smirked. He just couldn't resist.
"Trying to escape, little girl?" He said, not keeping the whisper her stalking mood demanded.
This wasn't the nicest thing for him to do while she stood on the running board of a high truck. Kagome jumped at the sound of his voice and whipped around to the source, effectively throwing herself off balance and landing straight on her butt in the dirt.
"Trying to give me a heart attack, jerk?" she snarled and rubbed her sore backside.
"Wouldn't be much to attack." He shrugged.
Kagome looked at him with renewed fire as she pushed herself back onto her feet. The fact that he hadn't in the least way offered to assist her irritated her. Not that she would have accepted any form of help from him in the first place, but all things considered, he was the cause of her fall so the very least he should do would be to offer to help her stand. That way she could turn him down.
To make her point, she took extra care of dusting herself off. "What do you want, anyway?"
"Nothing." he shrugged again. "Just a little curious about what you were planning, but now I get it. You're pissed that precious big brother isn't letting you have your way, so you're running away until he's all good and worried. Then he'll let you have whatever you want."
That stung.... a lot.
"Or am I wrong?" he smiled. "Maybe you're just giving up because he doesn't like it and you don't want him to think you're not the perfect little girl that every one thinks you are."
Kagome stood before him silently. When she didn't speak at all, a little corner of his mind began to feel a twinge of guilt. She was supposed to just yell at him and tell him to leave her alone. She was tough enough, or at least she had taken his barbs easily enough in the past. As annoying as that was, he didn't think that would really get to her that much.
Precious little girl? That did hurt. She tried hard to just dismiss his words. He didn't understand of course, and she couldn't really blame him. After all, it's not like she had made an effort to let him know her that well. But still... it hurt.
"I'm not giving up..." she said so quietly she could hardly even hear it.
"What was that?" he asked, the mocking jeer of his voice gone, if only for the moment.
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire
He looked at her strangely, many of the emotions she was able to place: disbelief, surprise, uncertainty, but something she wasn't sure of, respect? No... never respect. Not from him. She shook her head and turned her back to him, going back to the truck who's door was still open.
"Just for Sango, huh?" she heard him say and looked to see him flaring an eyebrow at her. Yep... mocking tone came back with avengeance, but somehow it didn't seem all that bad. After all, there are worse things than a surly cowboy living next to you and annoying you every opportunity he gets.
Right?
"I guess for me to." she smiled down at him, and noticed him jump slightly. She closed herself into the cab and started the engine, leaving him standing in the drive as she bounced down to the main road. He watched her tail lights turn away from the property and disappear and shrugged. What did he care what that silly girl did?
"Stupid girl." he muttered and turned to walk back to the house.
Answering this insulting comment, came an ominous growling from behind in the dark.
'Beautiful...' he thought bitterly as he found himself looking into the icy eyes of that same damn wolf. The girl had been the only thing keeping it away. He kicked it as it lunged at him, and rushed back to the house.
Another pair of jeans were ruined.
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire
Next Chapter: Tough Little Boys
^_^