Tee Hee! I'm like, alive! My word, I sound like kitty. I've been reading SOOOOOOO many X-men Evo fics, it's not even funny. I'm thinking about writing another one, BUT I refuse to until I finish at least ONE of my FIVE ongoing fics! So anyway, here you go! Next chapter! Sorry about the wait!

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She dreamed again that night.

She couldn't breath, the scene grew more and more vivid as an invisible grip tightened around her throat. Her lungs screaming for air, she woke up with a start, gasping for breath. Unconsciously, she raised a hand towards her neck, fingers brushing against a thick, warm, liquid.

Dark red in the pale moonlight.

Her breathing came faster and faster until she wasn't even taking in air with each terrified intake. Both hands flew to her face and she barely muffled a scream as her fingers came in contact with more blood. She felt tears welling up but she pushed them back fiercely. She would not cry.

They would not break her.

She didn't even know who 'they' were, or why the thought popped into her mind, but she was filled with a violent determination that she would show no weakness. Her fingers began to clench slowly, still covering her face, making white trails with her trembling fingers. Both fists tightened as she pressed them into her bed.

Slowly, she climbed out from under her covers and made her way to the bathroom down the hall. She positioned herself in front of the mirror, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves. Her body wouldn't stop shaking. With trembling fingers she reached for the light switch.

And bit her lip to keep from screaming.

Her mind told her that the dark red liquid dripping off her face and onto her white nightdress couldn't possibly be blood. It wasn't logical. But the terror that seized her refused to listen.

She had woken up but she was still in the dream.

She was living her worst nightmare.

Her body began to shake violently. Her lip began to bleed as her teeth sunk deeper into it to keep from screaming. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if this was what it was like to have a seizure. Her eyes rolled back, saving her from watching her own body writhe to and fro in sporadic movements. Faintly she heard the thud as she fell to the ground, felt the pain as her head connected with the tile.

Stop! Her mind raged. This was her body, and someone was messing with her, toying with her mind. That was the only thing that made any sense. She just didn't understand why. And for one brief moment, she didn't care. She was in control of her life. No one else.

Her teeth pressed harder into her lip, ripping apart what little flesh remained as she fought to regain control of her body. Her movements slowed, than stilled. She picked herself off the floor, ignoring the dark blue bruises forming on her arms and legs.

Someone had done this to her. Someone was forcing her to relive her most horrifying nightmare. She held her head high and stared at her red stained reflection.

She wasn't broken yet.

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Kagome left for school that morning feeling slightly more than proud of herself. The night before she had stayed up and cleaned the fake blood off of her face, hands, and nightgown. She had even cleaned her sheets, all without waking anyone up. Her terror hadn't dissolved completely but she had managed to control her actions, something she was extremely grateful for.

"Hey Kagome!" Sango ran through the halls to catch up to the dark haired girl. "We have Hudson first period. Did you do your homework? I heard he's PICKY about that." She shuddered. "And he sure assigned enough of it!"

Kagome was a little taken aback by the girls approach. She hadn't really expected her to treat her any different at school. She wasn't sure how to react to such . . . normalcy. "Yeah, I did the homework. It's part of being a Senator's daughter, you have to get good grades."

"What about being an annoying wench? Is that part of being a Senator's daughter?" Inuyasha appeared out of nowhere, stepping between the two girls and walking along side them.

She smiled sweetly. "No, that only happens when I'm around you."

He smirked at her. "I must bring out the best in you."

"You keep smirking like that dog boy, and I'll show you the worst I can do!" She retorted.

He laughed out loud. "For a second there you almost sounded scary!"

She scowled even more fiercely. "For a second there you almost acted smart."

Sango watched the exchange with interest. She was the one who was supposed to be friends with Kagome, yet Inuyasha had somehow managed to draw her far more out of her shell with his arguing than Sango ever had with her understanding.

That was definitely something worth thinking about.

She broke off her train of thought as Kagome let out a cry of frustration, complete with hand gestures.

"You are such a JERK, Inuyasha! What is your problem!"

"Feh." He shrugged. "Who says I have a problem?"

"Oh, so being incredibly rude to people who'd rather not talk to you is a normal every day occurrence for you?"

Sango coughed lightly. "Well Kagome, look at who you're talking to . . ."

They both turned and stared at her. Inuyasha with a feigned look of betrayal on his face and Kagome grinning widely.

"I think I'm starting to like this whole friend thing." She laughed and linked arms with the other girl. "Well? Shall we go face Hudson's class together?"

Sango smiled back, leaving a very confused Inuyasha behind.

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Since when are they friends?

Inuyasha couldn't keep his eyes off the two juniors. All class period they had been giggling and whispering, something he had though Sango above and Kagome incapable of. He didn't understand the sudden transformation, and he couldn't quiet hear what they were talking about.

Not that it bugged him of course.

No.

Not at all.

He growled and slammed his fist into his desk. Miroku glanced at him knowingly.

"Dying to hear the gossip?" His only response was another growl, but he continued, undaunted. "They could be talking about anything. Movies, politics, songs, boys . . ." He let his voice trail off, eyes dreamy.

Inuyasha froze. Boys . . . The thought had never occurred to him. He wasn't particularly sure he liked the idea either. Sango had always been one of the boys, not interested in boys. And Kagome . . . He didn't particularly like the idea of her thinking about boys. No boy would want her anyway. No one could survive her wrath. He hadn't had a verbal spar that fun in months! Ever since his brother had moved out . . . though fighting with Sesshomaru had never been as fun as with the new girl. It was probably just because she got so riled so easily. Her cheeks flushed when she was mad, and her lips twitched when she knew she was about to be insulted.

He blinked.

Not that he'd been paying attention to her face when they fought.

He growled again.

He hated Hudson's class.

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"Finally! I thought that class would never end!" Sango sighed dramatically as they finished putting their books in their lockers.

"Yeah, but the memory lives on. I still can't believe how much homework he gave us!" Kagome's groan was real. "I'm gonna spend hours on it!"

Sango stopped by the bathroom's to get a drink of water as they headed towards the cafeteria. "But it's lunch now! Don't worry about Inuyasha, if he gets really bad we can always leave."

"I can handle him, I mean--" She broke off. "Look Sango, it's potty trained."

Inuyasha sneered as he exited the mens room. Sango burst out laughing. Yeah, Kagome could handle him. "No newspapers needed or anything!"

"Ha ha. You guys think you're so funny!" He scowled menacingly at them. "Let's just go to lunch. Are you sitting with us?" He sent his glare in Kagome's direction.

"Yup!" She smiled as perkily as possible, knowing it would hit every nerve in his system.

"Oh joy." His voice was literally dripping with sarcasm, making her smile grow even wider.

Sango laughed again. "Oh you two. What am I gonna do with you?"

"Keep us apart!" They said in unison, glaring at each other for speaking at the same time. She grinned as Miroku walked up.

"Ready for lunch?" He asked, holding out his arm as if to escort her.

"Of course!" She replied breezily, brushing past him without a glance at his offered arm. He sighed and let it fall.

"Come on lovebirds, it's lunchtime." He took off after Sango.

"LOVEBIRDS!"

This time they didn't notice they screamed in unison, both being too intent on shooting Miroku death glares to think of anything else.

And lunch hadn't even started.

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Sorry if you guys don't like this chapter! I can only do so much doom and gloom before I go crazy! I needed some normalcy! And she's given in to Sango's friendship, and it doesn't feel like giving in to anything when she fights with Inuyasha, so Kagome doesn't really realize yet that she's changing. I can't wait to get on with the plot though! I already have stuff planned out! So review and let me know what you think!

Rogue Pryde