Someone informed me that I need to make Inuyasha more harsh. I hope that it works in this chapter! Don't forget to review!

~*~Silver Rain~*~

Chapter Two: Can Only Hope

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Kikyou walked through the halls of the academy with her usual sad expression, heading towards her archery class.

"Boo!" Kagome yelled jumping onto Kikyou, who seemed to have not noticed.

"Geez Kikyou, you could have a little fun every once in a while, or even looked a little surprised."

"I saw your shadow." Kikyou replied calmly.

Kagome rolled her eyes, "You see everything don't you Kikyou? Even the small handful of admirers." She teased, poking Kikyou in the ribs.

"I have no wish to waste time with that sort of thing. You are also one to talk, Kagome." Kikyou smiled slightly, seeing Kagome blush slightly and fall two steps behind her.

"That doesn't matter." Kagome brightened, "Archery's next. I'll race you Kikyou!" Kagome tagged Kikyou's shoulder, than ran ahead. Kikyou wasn't one for acting foolish, but if it was a challenge from Kagome, she'd do it any day.

Both raced down the hall, Kagome giggling and yelling mock insults to Kikyou. They made it to their class, Kikyou winning by a spilt second. She walked over to the bows hanging on the wall, choosing a bow about a foot shorter than her. Kagome grabbed a smaller one. Kikyou practiced on her target with precision and accuracy. Kagome's arrows did not fly as straight, but they grew closer with every attempt. Kikyou paused to watch Kagome. She couldn't help but nod approval. Kagome had come a long way and now her arrows were almost as steady as her own. She just needed to work on her aim. The bell rang over the thuds of arrows hitting wood as Kikyou and Kagome walked together to their dorm.

"Kikyou...why are you so serious?" Kagome seemed a little shy to ask. Kikyou looked down at Kagome. The girl was so social that a lot of people knew her. She was also a very honest and pure person. Kikyou admired Kagome for those qualities, even if she'd never say it. She was surprised that Kagome was acting so shy all of a sudden. She sighed.

"It's... a long story."

Kagome looked away, "Well, you don't have to tell me. I don't want to pry."

Kikyou patted the girl's shoulder. Kagome was like her younger sister, sweet and kind.

"My family actually lived in a traditional Japanese village. My mother had died a year after my sister was born. My father died shortly after from grief of loosing her. The elders took myself and my sister in and trained me to become a priestess for the village. My sister Kaede became my apprentice. It was rigorous training. The people of the village believed that demons hunted their flocks and destroyed their crops at night. I was taught to show no emotion towards the enemy, supposed demons. There were never any demons, but a man named Onigumo. He was a little crazy. One night he..." Kikyou paused. She missed Kaede, and the people of the village had been so kind to them. Curse that Onigumo!

Kikyou shook her head, "One night, he went into one of the store houses and dropped a candle in the building. Everyone was asleep...but me. I was training in silence. I broke the oath with a single scream, but I was too late to raise the alarm. I had been in the forest, practicing archery when I had seen the glow of the flames."

Kagome looked to Kikyou with concern, "What happened to Onigumo?"

Kikyou laughed bitterly, "That fool died in the very storehouse he set fire to. He had trapped himself inside the building. I found a temporary job to get a ticket to come here. Then I could live my life freely. I never get close to anyone though."

Kagome stepped towards Kikyou, but thought better of it. She was a very proud person and that last sentence was a warning. If she attempted to comfort Kikyou, her honor would be crushed. She decided to change to a less bitter subject.

"Do you want to come to Spinning Petals with me tonight Kikyou? I heard there's this good band that plays there every Friday."

Kikyou remembered the white-haired singer and his "companions". She shrugged, "Sure Kagome."

Kagome jumped onto Kikyou again in the past hour, hugging her, "Yes! It'll be fun. Just try to enjoy yourself, kay?"

Kikyou nodded. A peaceful expression graced her face as she looked out the window, lost in thought.

~~~

Kikyou wore the same red dress she had worn last Saturday and black Mary Janes. Again she tied up her hair in a white ribbon, but left loose strands out of the ribbon. Kagome wore a yellow dress with a sky blue cardigan and her hair down, like always. Kagome had brought along three of her other friends, who followed Kagome all around school, nagging her about boyfriends and dating.

The club was crowded like usual on Fridays, but Kikyou's table was still open. The five girls sat at the table and gave their orders to the waitress. They all looked up at the stage as the band played a nice upbeat song. The drinks arrived as Kikyou watched Inuyasha enjoying himself on stage. Kagome motioned to Kikyou, but she refused and took a sip of her drink. Kagome shrugged as she and her friends went out to the dance floor. Kikyou absentmindedly rocked her head to the beat of the song.

Kikyou watched Kagome and her friends dance song after song until minutes turned into four hours. Her attention was drawn to the stage as a new song started playing. Inuyasha had sat down as Sango had partially taken the floor. Even Miroku had set down his guitar and sat next to Inuyasha. The lights were focused on her as she played a soft gentle tune, peaceful yet full of regret. This was a change of what Ningen-Youkai had been playing, but all the fans knew that Sango would play a song, which would give Inuyasha and Miroku a break. This also alerted people that this was the end of the first set. Sango smiled then sighed.

"She came home from school,

With a frown on her face.

She had hoped for this day,

But it didn't end the right way.

-

She was lost and alone,

Outside like a storm.

No one to talk to,

She can only hope.

-

Her parents came home,

But they didn't notice

The large void inside her,

And the shadows that held her close.

-

She was lost and alone,

Outside like a storm.

No one to talk to,

She can only hope.

-

The next day at school,

She saw the guy that stole

Her gentle heart

And had torn it apart.

-

She was lost and alone,

Outside like a storm.

No one to talk to,

She can only hope.

-

A world she had known so well

Had crumbled inside herself.

No angel to guide her,

No candle in the dark.

The evil had grasped her soul,

She knew she'd never be whole.

An angel without wings,

Who'd never fly.

-

She didn't say hi to him

Not even goodbye to him.

Her heart had healed faster

Than everyone had thought.

-

She was happy and proud,

An angel with pearl wings.

Speaking her heart

She can only hope."

Several people cheered as Inuyasha and Miroku took over, allowing Sango to rest. The two started up on more upbeat songs. Kikyou simply watched with serene eyes. Sango had something happen in her past too. Although she had learned to forget it. Kikyou pondered on what it could be. She used to be able to read a person like a book without any effort, but all the noise and people were distracting. An abusive boyfriend perhaps?

Kagome waved to her friends as they left and Kagome plopped down in her seat, gulping her water.

"We had fun Kikyou. You should have danced with us!"

"Dancing's not my thing. I just like to enjoy the music."

"Speaking of music, isn't this band awesome? I like the keyboardist. She's cool. The guitarist is kinda cute too!" she giggled, winking at Kikyou. Apparently, Kagome had noticed the attraction between the two band players as well.

"I like the lyrics to the songs. They have so much meaning, it's amazing, and the singer has such emotion, I hang onto every word."

Kikyou saw that many people had left while Kagome was chattering. There were three or four more people, besides the waitresses left. She looked towards the stage. The band had stuck in one of their cds and were down at the tables, conversing with customers, or in Miroku's case, flirting with the waitresses. Kikyou spotted Inuyasha, sitting back on the stage. She stood up noticing Kagome had gone over to talk to Sango and Miroku. She walked over to Inuyasha.

"Hey Inuyasha. Remember me?" She called up to the resting singer. He looked down at her. From her angle and the lights she could only see his dark form and his yellow amber eyes.

"Oh great, the girl from Saturday. I hope you're not thinking of being friends because I don't want any!" He replied looking down at her. Kikyou took the stairs to get onto the stage and sat next to him.

"Kikyou."

"What?"

"My name's Kikyou, not the girl from Saturday, and I don't plan on making friends either." She replied huffily.

"Fine, whatever. Not like I care. No need to get stuffy about it either." He said, turning away from her.

She giggled. Inuyasha turned to face her, "What's so funny? Cause I sure as heck didn't crack a joke."

The sadness overtook her expressions again, "It was nothing. You reminded me of my sister when she'd try to cheer me up."

"I reminded you of some silly girl you know?!"

"No." Kikyou bowed her head.

"Hey." Kikyou looked up at Inuyasha with shock. The kind tone in his voice was different from the harsher one he was usually recognized by, "How come every time I see you, you look sad?"

"Why do you have an attitude towards everyone you meet?"

"Hey! I asked my question first!" his regular tone of voice was back as he growled at her.

"Grow up." She turned away from him.

"Hey you! Girl! What's your name...Kikyou! I'm not finished with you!"

Kikyou turned to face Inuyasha, her sad expression masking her face. She had tried to make a friend, but she could never do it. Kagome would be the only kind of friend she'd ever know, and even their relationship was awkward.

Kikyou slid off the stage as Inuyasha hopped off the stage after her, "Leave me alone Baka."

Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks, "You know Japanese?"

Kikyou spun around hiding her shock of letting some of her native tongue slip past her barrier, masking it with anger, "What's the big deal with that. Anyone can learn it. I was just lucky enough to be raised in Japan in the ways of a shrine maiden. I was taught the modern and ancient language."

Kikyou turned on her heal and walked out. She fumed down the street. Idiot! Inuyasha was a Idiot! He has no respect for others. He insulted her sister. He asks a stupid question, then tries to pick a fight. Stubborn Mule! Kikyou slowed down, lost in her thoughts. The pain he expressed in his songs and in his eyes, was a similar pain to the one she carried with her always. Kikyou leaned against a streetlamp, tears pricking at her eyes. She missed her sister so much. She was grateful that Onigumo had gotten what he deserved, but it had been at an unnecessarily large cost. If only Kaede were...Kikyou stopped her train of thought.

"Put it behind you Kikyou." She breathed to the night air.

She shook her head then started walking back to the academy, Kagome caught up with her five minutes later. As they climbed into their beds Kagome stared across to Kikyou with interest.

"Who were you talking to Kikyou?"

"No one. Goodnight Kagome."

Kagome felt taken aback, "Good night Kikyou." She heard her friend sigh into the covers as she herself drifted into sleep.

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Yeah! I'm doing awesome! Chapter three tonight! Are you excited? Review and let me know. We have some translations to go over so yeah. Scroll down and see the meaning for Ningen-Youkai!

~Japanese Translation~

Onigumo-A leaper whom Kikyou treated before she died. He later became Naraku. Here he is dead.

Kaede-Kikyou's younger sister. In the series she helps Inuyasha and Kagome and gives them information.

Baka- Idiot, Stupid, Silly- any anime fan should get aquatinted with this term.

*Extra*

Ningen-Youkai- Human-Demon instead of hanyou, which is what Inuyasha is in the anime, half demon, half human. I thought I was being creative.