Kagome's Wish
Chapter 19 - Two Differences Don't Make One
By: inuyashasgirl789
School. Just the word is disgustingly atrocious. So when you had to wake up from a late night spent thinking, it only brought the horrendous meaning of school up a few notches.
"Kagome! Wake up! You're going to be late for school!" someone kept on repeating, and the only thing she really wanted to do was go back off to dream of bunnies and rabbits. Who really wanted to get up for school? If Sota valued his life, he would leave her alone right this moment...
There was sudden silence for a while and Kagome secretly wondered whether her little brother had left or not. The covers were over her head and she could hear her own breathing as her ears strained for even the smallest sound that would signal the evil presence of the demon that wanted to wake her up. After a few moments of absolute hush, she sighed happily. He was gone.
"Hello? Can I speak to Inuyasha pleassse? He needs to wake up his girlfrien- --"
"YOU LITTLE---"
Kagome shot out of bed like a bullet as she lunged at the source of the voice. But instead of seeing Sota holding a phone, he was only grinning maniacally with a hand imitation of the phone as he pretended to talk into it.
He carefully stepped out of the way with wide eyes as Kagome fell like a boulder to the ground because even she couldn't defy gravity. "Oomph!" Any need to go back to sleep escaped her thoughts as her body met the cold floor. She clenched her teeth together as she waited for the world to stop spinning and the pain to subside. When everything was fine and dandy again, Sota would be wishing he never did that...
"You awake now, Kagome?"
By the murderous glare his sister threw him, Sota mentally told himself that she was awake and didn't need him anymore. Rushing out the door when he saw her slowly lift herself from the ground with a deadly glint in her eyes, he squealed like a girl when Kagome gave chase.
"MAMA! KAGOME'S HURTING ME!"
"You little brat! Come back here and THEN I'll hurt you!"
"Kagome, stop hurting your brother," was the calm voice heard downstairs while Sota and Kagome dashed down the stairs, the older wanting to strangle the younger.
"I won't!" Kagome answered, before muttering 'Not much anyway' under her breath and dived for the second time that day, catching Sota as they sprawled all over the soft carpet that prevented injury.
"MAMA! KAGOME'S KILLING ME NOW!"
"Kagome, stop killing your brother," was the now stricter answer from the kitchens.
"I won't kill him~!" Kagome replied in a sing-song voice, before playfully strangling Sota. "I'll just maim him."
"MAMA! KAGO---"
"Oh shut up, this is getting boring," Kagome said as she got up from her brother and brushed down her pajamas, eyeing Sota with mock anger. "But try that stunt one more time and I will seriously maim you."
Sota grinned at his sister as he too got up from the carpet, combing out the knots in his hair from the scuffle. "You just didn't want me to tell Inuyasha that you sleep and snore like a dying cow."
"I do not snore," was Kagome's indignant reply as the two siblings walked over to the breakfast table, seating themselves in their proper places. Kagome was frowning at the accusation and Sota just kept grinning.
"That's what they all say," was Sota's calm reply as their mother walked out of the kitchen with plates of food in her hands. "Doesn't Kagome snore, Mama?" Sota asked, trying to find support.
"Your sister doesn't snore, Sota," Mrs. Higurashi said, and the frown and smile switched.
"See? I don't snore!"
Sota frowned deeper. "Yes you do! Mama just doesn't want you to know..."
"Now now, children. Stop arguing. Just eat and get ready for school," Mrs. Higurashi commanded, putting a plate of Food in front of the two and trying to stop another argument from arising.
The two siblings nodded but the instant Mrs. Higurashi turned around to go back into the kitchen, Kagome hissed, "And you wetted your bed until a few years ago." She smirked triumphantly when she saw the horrified expression on her brother's face.
Sota turned the color of tomatoes. ~*~ The moment she walked through the gates, she knew it was happening. Left and right, it was happening. People in front of her, people behind her. Everyone was staring at her. Everyone was whispering things behind hands and tugging on their friend's sleeve, pointing her way. She knew it would happen, but when it was actually happening, it felt strange. She could hear some of the things they were saying and it was queer.
"She's the girl..."
"The one who got kidnapped and nearly murdered?"
"Poor Kagome...at least the man is in jail."
"Did you hear...she got stuck with Inuyasha for a while."
"Did anything happen?"
"Makes you wonder."
She turned abashed, and quickly walked on, trying to ignore all the comments and pity thrown her way. The whole experience hadn't been that scary...
She remembered hanging suspended over the river in the middle of the night, with nothing but air and a rope between her and the torrents. She remembered the smug look on Kikyou's face, her taunting words...
Okay, it was rather scary when she thought about it...
But she didn't need their pity.
"Hey Kagome," someone greeted and Kagome turned around to see Kouga smirking at her. Instead of running for the nearest fire alarm, she only returned a smile as he started to walk next to her, ignoring the sudden rush of rumors. "How's you and dogboy?"
"Are you going to be asking me this question every day?" Kagome asked, remembering the same question yesterday. "We're fine."
Kouga scratched his head before shrugging. "Just making sure dog-breath treats you like he's suppose to be treating you."
Kagome only continued smiling, knowing that Kouga was just concerned for her welfare, although it was genuine, unlike half the population of the school. "Inuyasha treats me perfectly."
This comment didn't go unnoticed by a few students and they all turned around to eye her with wide eyes. Had she just said Inuyasha treated her perfectly...meaning they were...
Kagome secretly suppressed the groan when she heard two girls whispering candidly about Inuyasha and herself. Phrases like 'Weren't they enemies?' 'What's the possibility of THOSE two going out?' and 'But my Inuyasha!!?' started circling around.
"You guys will be the talk of the school for a while," Kouga commented lightly. "Everyone thought he would go out with Kikyou...they said you and him looked cute together...but...never with you."
Kagome froze at the mention of Kikyou, but at Kouga's questioning cock of the head, she only smiled and shook her head. "What can I say? Life works in the strangest ways..."
Kagome bit her lower lip as she saw Inuyasha walking towards her, accompanied by Miroku and Sango. Sango had went to school earlier because of a test make-up she couldn't do after school, but that didn't interest Kagome as much as the look on Inuyasha's face. It was obvious, really.
Jealousy.
"You should go, Kouga," Kagome suggested as she turned to the boy next to her.
Kouga rolled his eyes when he saw Inuyasha advancing. "He is like a dog. So protective of things that belong to ... him. Okay, well, bye." Kouga waved a bit before setting off to find his own clique, while Inuyasha proceeded towards Kagome like the devil himself. Kagome mentally braced herself for the questions he would be sure to ask.
"Why were you talking to...him?" Inuyasha asked with disgust in his voice, jabbing a finger towards the retreating Kouga. "Don't tell me he was trying to tell you to break up with me or something like that."
New passersby hearing this gasped in shock, while the ones who had been hanging onto every word either looked depressed (because they had liked one of them), shocked (because of the sheer plausibility of it all) or both at once.
"No, Inuyasha," Kagome started in a tired voice, the lack of sleep still getting to her. "He was just simply talking to me."
There was tension for a moment as the two eyed each other with either scrutiny or sincerity and Miroku and Sango looked bored. Even as a couple, they doubt arguments were going to occur less. It would only lack in actual embarrassment and pranks and excel in jealousy and misunderstanding.
"Okay, that better be all he was doing." Inuyasha frowned a bit before they all started to walk towards their first class when the bell rang.
"Yes, it was," Kagome sighed, exasperated. How had she been able to keep all those arguments with him for so long? They felt tiring all of a sudden.
Walking together, Sango instantly stood by Kagome's side and stared at her for a while. Kagome lifted an eyebrow at her best friend's inspection before frowning at Sango's next comment.
"Wow, Kag, you look tired. What time did you sleep last night?"
This caught Inuyasha's interest and he stopped her in front of the classroom, staring deep into her eyes. Kagome felt a bit entranced at the utter beauty in his and didn't complain when he lifted a hand to feel her cheeks. "You do look tired."
Kagome waved the wandering hands off of her and ignored the pinch Sango was giving Miroku's hand when the girl caught Miroku going in for Kagome's rear.
"Old habits die hard, Sango dear!"
"Save the excuses!"
Kagome smiled as Sango instantly started lecturing Miroku on how a proper boyfriend of hers should behave. Miroku seemed to grow paler and paler as her demands got harsher and harsher, in his case anyway.
"Well, what time did you sleep?"
Kagome turned towards Inuyasha and stared at him for a moment, before shrugging. "You know...2 in the morning. Nothing bad."
"2?!"
Kagome winced when she realized it was the start of another argument. It seemed Miroku was right and old habits DID die hard. "Yes, 2AM in the bloody morning when I realized was Buyo's hunting time in the backyard." But then again, the birds were pretty safe. Buyo could hardly move two feet in a minute, much less swipe at anything that could take flight in a second.
Inuyasha could hear the frustration in Kagome's voice and fell quiet for a minute, pondering all the possible reasons why she had stayed up that late. She didn't seem to want to explain it either and if he continued prying, maybe he would provoke the angry side of her and find his nose broken, like last time.
"Okay, fine, I trust you."
Kagome was a bit surprised at this, and looked up to continue looking in Inuyasha's eyes. He really wasn't going to ask? She didn't really want him knowing that she was just staying up, thinking about their relationship and how long it would last. Girls did these things! She doubt he would understand, but at least he understood not to ask. She smiled slightly. "Thanks." I trust you too.
Inuyasha did a messy smile, considering how he was so taken to smirking, and Kagome giggled a bit as they walked through the door to the classroom. Sango and Miroku soon followed, with Sango still counting off reasons as to why Miroku needed to lose the perverted habits of his. Miroku might listen to Sango most of the time, but Kagome had a feeling his perverted side was much too sacred in his own mind to lose. Sango would just have to get use to having a corrupted boy around her all of the time.
Walking over to her seat, Kagome was surprised to find a note there. Looking around, she knew it couldn't have been from either Inuyasha, Sango, or Miroku because they had come in with her. Could it be another one of those love notes from secret admirers? Probably.
But looking around once more, she saw Kikyou staring at her, something enigmatic in her eyes as she gazed intently at Kagome. Biting her lower lip, Kagome averted her glance back to the note. Was this from Kikyou?
Opening it up, it was rather simple. Kagome,
Rooftop. Lunch. Go alone. We need to talk.
---Kikyou Kagome bit her lower lip harder and gazed at Kikyou from the corner of her eye, but noticed that she was no longer paying attention to Kagome. Inuyasha and the rest of the class didn't seem to notice Kagome's dilemma as the girl sat down, a million thoughts running through her mind.
What did Kikyou want?
Was this another trap?
Would she really need to tell Inuyasha...
Kagome took in a deep breath to calm herself as the teacher walked in, all smiles and ready to begin another week of hell school. Kagome only felt inner turmoil. Things were going to keep haunting her until the secret was let out...
Could she really continue lying to Inuyasha about Kikyou? ~*~ She slowly ascended the steps, a million things running through her mind. What did Kikyou want? Did Kikyou want to kill her again? Did Kikyou want to just talk, like she said so in the letter? What would she herself want to say?
Putting her hand on the doorknob, Kagome stopped for a moment. Did she want to do this? Was she ready for whatever was behind this door? Could she talk to one of the people who had hated her so much, she wanted Kagome dead?
Kagome took one step back. Her heart was beating and inside, she was torn between settling this controversy once and for all or just avoiding it and pretending it didn't exist at all. But she had never been a girl to run away from her problems, maybe burying it deep into the dark recesses of her mind, but never run away from them.
And she'll be damned if she ran away from this one.
Turning the knob confidently, she shielded her eyes from the sudden rays of sunlight that assaulted her eyesight. Taking a step outside, she saw Kikyou sitting near the edge of the railing, her knees up to her chest and her chin on those knees. Kagome stopped, feeling her courage escape her again. Just seeing Kikyou made her feel...strange. Scared even.
"Kikyou...?" she whispered, taking careful steps towards the other girl.
"Kagome." Kikyou said it in acknowledgment and turned her head around, before going back to looking cautiously down at the people walking around campus. "I didn't think you'd come."
"You think I would have been scared?"
"Perhaps."
Kagome walked over to Kikyou, taking in a deep breath as she stood next to her. She sat down when she exhaled and scratched her head sheepishly, wondering just why she was even here. She was crazy.
Kikyou started talking however. "I've been thinking a lot yesterday."
Just like Kagome. "Really..."
"Yes."
Kagome felt her throat run dry because she was painfully aware of the presence next to her. Why was she talking almost pleasantly to Kikyou? All she ever did before was argue, disagree, yell, scream, and scowl at each other like the opposite was the epitome of crap. Talking pleasantly had never been a feasible alternative in her mind.
But again, neither had the possibility of falling for Inuyasha.
"Why didn't you tell Inuyasha about me?" Kikyou asked, turning to stare at Kagome with her gray-blue eyes, questioning, wondering, pondering. "You could have told him, you know."
"It would have ruined your friendship with him," Kagome reasoned. "I...wouldn't want that."
"Why not? Without me, you both could be together happily."
"You wouldn't be happy."
"I haven't been."
An uncomfortable silence began as the two girls were left with their own thoughts, each trying to wonder what was in the other's mind. It wasn't easy understanding why each did what she had done.
Kikyou could not figure out why Kagome still hadn't told Inuyasha. Guilt? Pity? ...Benevolence?
Kagome couldn't understand the reason why Kikyou would want to talk to her about this, and perhaps to an extent, why Kikyou had truly wanted her gone. Jealousy? Rage? Or something else altogether?
"I was here in the same place with Inuyasha yesterday," Kikyou admitted.
Kagome looked surprised. Had that been the reason Inuyasha was late at meeting her? She had failed to ask him why, but now everything was making sense. Had Inuyasha been at a rendezvous with Kikyou?
She began to grow a little bit angry, believing her own accusations. Why that no-good, idiotic, stupid, asshole...
"I kissed him."
There was further silence as tension rocketed off the roof at that simple confession. Kagome bit her lower lip again as she clenched her fists by her side at what Kikyou was telling her. Was it true? If it was, she was going to slowly kill Inuyasha from the inside out. If he had indeed performed such appalling deeds while going out with her...Kagome was going to---
The next words however made all her horrendous thoughts of torture for Inuyasha disappear.
"He didn't kiss me back. In fact, he pushed me away." Kikyou snorted a bit, but only in slow realization. "Don't worry. He wasn't having an affair with me. In fact, he doesn't like me one bit. Never as much as I like him ...Pity."
Lines bunched up between Kagome's eyes as she observed Kikyou, who only shrugged.
"I hated you, you know? I wanted to hurt you. I wanted to kill you all over again. I wanted you to feel the pain that I felt, but thinking deeply into it last night, I realized it wasn't your fault at all. It was mine."
Kagome could almost hear her own breathing as she listened to Kikyou's confessions. "Kikyou..."
"Unrequited love sucks." Kikyou laughed a bit, a hollow sound. "It was an act yesterday, getting him to try and love me instead of you. But I promise you...Kagome...I'm sincere today. I just don't want this anger to continue...I feel inhuman for even having tried to kill you."
Kagome didn't know what to say. 'It's okay' ? No...that would be a lie. It hadn't been okay. 'I don't care' ? No...not that either. She did care.
"Kikyou...I understand."
The other girl looked surprised as she turned to look at Kagome. "You do?"
"I do," Kagome echoed, nodding assertively. "I understand why you did it. Why you did everything. I finally understand."
"Really..."
Kagome got up from the ground, brushing the dust off her rear as she smiled down at Kikyou, who looked up confused at Kagome. "You did it for the same reason anyone who was struck by it would have done."
"What is that?"
Kagome took in a breath before she exhaled it out in one word, "Love."
A side of Kikyou's lips trailed up, but it was almost gone as soon as it had come. "It's a strange emotion, isn't it?"
Kagome nodded. "Some of the greatest legends in history were instigated by love...Psyche and Cupid fell in love in Greek Mythology because of it. Odysseus struggled to go home after twenty years for love. Death, destruction and pain can be caused through it. I doubt I could really blame you because I would have done it too."
"You're quite...stupid," Kikyou commented, surprised at Kagome's words but keeping it well hidden.
"Life can not exist without a little stupidity..." Kagome replied.
"Heh..." Kikyou looked down at the ground, narrowing her eyes when she saw who was looking around lost. She remarked quietly, "I think Inuyasha is looking for you..."
"Oh..." Kagome said, looking over the railing and seeing Inuyasha indeed searching around, most likely for her. "I'll go then...do you have anything else to say to me?"
"Treat him well." Kagome was strangely reminded of Kouga. But instead of Kouga caring about Kagome and how Inuyasha treated her, Kikyou cared about Inuyasha and how she would treat him. Did friendship have to exist with unrequited love in the middle...?
"I will." Kagome smiled at the back of Kikyou's head, before turning around and walking to the door. This talk had went better than she expected...she had imagined a lot of arguing... But remembering something, Kagome turned around to say something again. "Kikyou...allow me the chance and I'll be your friend too. I know there's a lot of antagonism between us, but I'll help you if you want."
Kikyou stayed silent for a while, before muttering a low, "Give me time..."
Kagome nodded, understanding that everything in a sense, needed time. And perhaps with time, they could let go of grudges, forget about near-death experiences and perchance, Kagome could help Kikyou. "I'm sorry."
"...I am too. ...Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong."
Kagome shrugged. "For hurting you...I guess. You met Inuyasha first...perhaps he does belong with you. Maybe I don't love him as much as you do."
Kikyou chuckled a bit, turning around to stare at Kagome with a small smile. "It doesn't matter which of us loves him more..."
Kagome didn't really understand what she meant. Why wouldn't it matter?
Something glazed over Kikyou's eyes as she whispered the next words, "Because it matters who he loves more..."
Something in Kagome felt torn, maybe at the tears that would lay unshed within Kikyou. She understood Kikyou's words...They both loved Inuyasha, maybe with the same amount of love. But in the end, right this moment, he wasn't looking for Kikyou...
Kagome felt tears build up in her eyes as she stared at the other girl, their eyes clashing in mutual sympathy and understanding. They may have looked the same, but their personalities and passions were all that made them different. Friendship didn't matter in the long term...
"He chose you, Kagome. He's searching for you..."
A/N: Do not lose hope my lovely readers. There's still one more chapter for all of you to enjoy. It'll be pretty short, but it'll tie up everything. ^_^
Chapter 19 - Two Differences Don't Make One
By: inuyashasgirl789
School. Just the word is disgustingly atrocious. So when you had to wake up from a late night spent thinking, it only brought the horrendous meaning of school up a few notches.
"Kagome! Wake up! You're going to be late for school!" someone kept on repeating, and the only thing she really wanted to do was go back off to dream of bunnies and rabbits. Who really wanted to get up for school? If Sota valued his life, he would leave her alone right this moment...
There was sudden silence for a while and Kagome secretly wondered whether her little brother had left or not. The covers were over her head and she could hear her own breathing as her ears strained for even the smallest sound that would signal the evil presence of the demon that wanted to wake her up. After a few moments of absolute hush, she sighed happily. He was gone.
"Hello? Can I speak to Inuyasha pleassse? He needs to wake up his girlfrien- --"
"YOU LITTLE---"
Kagome shot out of bed like a bullet as she lunged at the source of the voice. But instead of seeing Sota holding a phone, he was only grinning maniacally with a hand imitation of the phone as he pretended to talk into it.
He carefully stepped out of the way with wide eyes as Kagome fell like a boulder to the ground because even she couldn't defy gravity. "Oomph!" Any need to go back to sleep escaped her thoughts as her body met the cold floor. She clenched her teeth together as she waited for the world to stop spinning and the pain to subside. When everything was fine and dandy again, Sota would be wishing he never did that...
"You awake now, Kagome?"
By the murderous glare his sister threw him, Sota mentally told himself that she was awake and didn't need him anymore. Rushing out the door when he saw her slowly lift herself from the ground with a deadly glint in her eyes, he squealed like a girl when Kagome gave chase.
"MAMA! KAGOME'S HURTING ME!"
"You little brat! Come back here and THEN I'll hurt you!"
"Kagome, stop hurting your brother," was the calm voice heard downstairs while Sota and Kagome dashed down the stairs, the older wanting to strangle the younger.
"I won't!" Kagome answered, before muttering 'Not much anyway' under her breath and dived for the second time that day, catching Sota as they sprawled all over the soft carpet that prevented injury.
"MAMA! KAGOME'S KILLING ME NOW!"
"Kagome, stop killing your brother," was the now stricter answer from the kitchens.
"I won't kill him~!" Kagome replied in a sing-song voice, before playfully strangling Sota. "I'll just maim him."
"MAMA! KAGO---"
"Oh shut up, this is getting boring," Kagome said as she got up from her brother and brushed down her pajamas, eyeing Sota with mock anger. "But try that stunt one more time and I will seriously maim you."
Sota grinned at his sister as he too got up from the carpet, combing out the knots in his hair from the scuffle. "You just didn't want me to tell Inuyasha that you sleep and snore like a dying cow."
"I do not snore," was Kagome's indignant reply as the two siblings walked over to the breakfast table, seating themselves in their proper places. Kagome was frowning at the accusation and Sota just kept grinning.
"That's what they all say," was Sota's calm reply as their mother walked out of the kitchen with plates of food in her hands. "Doesn't Kagome snore, Mama?" Sota asked, trying to find support.
"Your sister doesn't snore, Sota," Mrs. Higurashi said, and the frown and smile switched.
"See? I don't snore!"
Sota frowned deeper. "Yes you do! Mama just doesn't want you to know..."
"Now now, children. Stop arguing. Just eat and get ready for school," Mrs. Higurashi commanded, putting a plate of Food in front of the two and trying to stop another argument from arising.
The two siblings nodded but the instant Mrs. Higurashi turned around to go back into the kitchen, Kagome hissed, "And you wetted your bed until a few years ago." She smirked triumphantly when she saw the horrified expression on her brother's face.
Sota turned the color of tomatoes. ~*~ The moment she walked through the gates, she knew it was happening. Left and right, it was happening. People in front of her, people behind her. Everyone was staring at her. Everyone was whispering things behind hands and tugging on their friend's sleeve, pointing her way. She knew it would happen, but when it was actually happening, it felt strange. She could hear some of the things they were saying and it was queer.
"She's the girl..."
"The one who got kidnapped and nearly murdered?"
"Poor Kagome...at least the man is in jail."
"Did you hear...she got stuck with Inuyasha for a while."
"Did anything happen?"
"Makes you wonder."
She turned abashed, and quickly walked on, trying to ignore all the comments and pity thrown her way. The whole experience hadn't been that scary...
She remembered hanging suspended over the river in the middle of the night, with nothing but air and a rope between her and the torrents. She remembered the smug look on Kikyou's face, her taunting words...
Okay, it was rather scary when she thought about it...
But she didn't need their pity.
"Hey Kagome," someone greeted and Kagome turned around to see Kouga smirking at her. Instead of running for the nearest fire alarm, she only returned a smile as he started to walk next to her, ignoring the sudden rush of rumors. "How's you and dogboy?"
"Are you going to be asking me this question every day?" Kagome asked, remembering the same question yesterday. "We're fine."
Kouga scratched his head before shrugging. "Just making sure dog-breath treats you like he's suppose to be treating you."
Kagome only continued smiling, knowing that Kouga was just concerned for her welfare, although it was genuine, unlike half the population of the school. "Inuyasha treats me perfectly."
This comment didn't go unnoticed by a few students and they all turned around to eye her with wide eyes. Had she just said Inuyasha treated her perfectly...meaning they were...
Kagome secretly suppressed the groan when she heard two girls whispering candidly about Inuyasha and herself. Phrases like 'Weren't they enemies?' 'What's the possibility of THOSE two going out?' and 'But my Inuyasha!!?' started circling around.
"You guys will be the talk of the school for a while," Kouga commented lightly. "Everyone thought he would go out with Kikyou...they said you and him looked cute together...but...never with you."
Kagome froze at the mention of Kikyou, but at Kouga's questioning cock of the head, she only smiled and shook her head. "What can I say? Life works in the strangest ways..."
Kagome bit her lower lip as she saw Inuyasha walking towards her, accompanied by Miroku and Sango. Sango had went to school earlier because of a test make-up she couldn't do after school, but that didn't interest Kagome as much as the look on Inuyasha's face. It was obvious, really.
Jealousy.
"You should go, Kouga," Kagome suggested as she turned to the boy next to her.
Kouga rolled his eyes when he saw Inuyasha advancing. "He is like a dog. So protective of things that belong to ... him. Okay, well, bye." Kouga waved a bit before setting off to find his own clique, while Inuyasha proceeded towards Kagome like the devil himself. Kagome mentally braced herself for the questions he would be sure to ask.
"Why were you talking to...him?" Inuyasha asked with disgust in his voice, jabbing a finger towards the retreating Kouga. "Don't tell me he was trying to tell you to break up with me or something like that."
New passersby hearing this gasped in shock, while the ones who had been hanging onto every word either looked depressed (because they had liked one of them), shocked (because of the sheer plausibility of it all) or both at once.
"No, Inuyasha," Kagome started in a tired voice, the lack of sleep still getting to her. "He was just simply talking to me."
There was tension for a moment as the two eyed each other with either scrutiny or sincerity and Miroku and Sango looked bored. Even as a couple, they doubt arguments were going to occur less. It would only lack in actual embarrassment and pranks and excel in jealousy and misunderstanding.
"Okay, that better be all he was doing." Inuyasha frowned a bit before they all started to walk towards their first class when the bell rang.
"Yes, it was," Kagome sighed, exasperated. How had she been able to keep all those arguments with him for so long? They felt tiring all of a sudden.
Walking together, Sango instantly stood by Kagome's side and stared at her for a while. Kagome lifted an eyebrow at her best friend's inspection before frowning at Sango's next comment.
"Wow, Kag, you look tired. What time did you sleep last night?"
This caught Inuyasha's interest and he stopped her in front of the classroom, staring deep into her eyes. Kagome felt a bit entranced at the utter beauty in his and didn't complain when he lifted a hand to feel her cheeks. "You do look tired."
Kagome waved the wandering hands off of her and ignored the pinch Sango was giving Miroku's hand when the girl caught Miroku going in for Kagome's rear.
"Old habits die hard, Sango dear!"
"Save the excuses!"
Kagome smiled as Sango instantly started lecturing Miroku on how a proper boyfriend of hers should behave. Miroku seemed to grow paler and paler as her demands got harsher and harsher, in his case anyway.
"Well, what time did you sleep?"
Kagome turned towards Inuyasha and stared at him for a moment, before shrugging. "You know...2 in the morning. Nothing bad."
"2?!"
Kagome winced when she realized it was the start of another argument. It seemed Miroku was right and old habits DID die hard. "Yes, 2AM in the bloody morning when I realized was Buyo's hunting time in the backyard." But then again, the birds were pretty safe. Buyo could hardly move two feet in a minute, much less swipe at anything that could take flight in a second.
Inuyasha could hear the frustration in Kagome's voice and fell quiet for a minute, pondering all the possible reasons why she had stayed up that late. She didn't seem to want to explain it either and if he continued prying, maybe he would provoke the angry side of her and find his nose broken, like last time.
"Okay, fine, I trust you."
Kagome was a bit surprised at this, and looked up to continue looking in Inuyasha's eyes. He really wasn't going to ask? She didn't really want him knowing that she was just staying up, thinking about their relationship and how long it would last. Girls did these things! She doubt he would understand, but at least he understood not to ask. She smiled slightly. "Thanks." I trust you too.
Inuyasha did a messy smile, considering how he was so taken to smirking, and Kagome giggled a bit as they walked through the door to the classroom. Sango and Miroku soon followed, with Sango still counting off reasons as to why Miroku needed to lose the perverted habits of his. Miroku might listen to Sango most of the time, but Kagome had a feeling his perverted side was much too sacred in his own mind to lose. Sango would just have to get use to having a corrupted boy around her all of the time.
Walking over to her seat, Kagome was surprised to find a note there. Looking around, she knew it couldn't have been from either Inuyasha, Sango, or Miroku because they had come in with her. Could it be another one of those love notes from secret admirers? Probably.
But looking around once more, she saw Kikyou staring at her, something enigmatic in her eyes as she gazed intently at Kagome. Biting her lower lip, Kagome averted her glance back to the note. Was this from Kikyou?
Opening it up, it was rather simple. Kagome,
Rooftop. Lunch. Go alone. We need to talk.
---Kikyou Kagome bit her lower lip harder and gazed at Kikyou from the corner of her eye, but noticed that she was no longer paying attention to Kagome. Inuyasha and the rest of the class didn't seem to notice Kagome's dilemma as the girl sat down, a million thoughts running through her mind.
What did Kikyou want?
Was this another trap?
Would she really need to tell Inuyasha...
Kagome took in a deep breath to calm herself as the teacher walked in, all smiles and ready to begin another week of hell school. Kagome only felt inner turmoil. Things were going to keep haunting her until the secret was let out...
Could she really continue lying to Inuyasha about Kikyou? ~*~ She slowly ascended the steps, a million things running through her mind. What did Kikyou want? Did Kikyou want to kill her again? Did Kikyou want to just talk, like she said so in the letter? What would she herself want to say?
Putting her hand on the doorknob, Kagome stopped for a moment. Did she want to do this? Was she ready for whatever was behind this door? Could she talk to one of the people who had hated her so much, she wanted Kagome dead?
Kagome took one step back. Her heart was beating and inside, she was torn between settling this controversy once and for all or just avoiding it and pretending it didn't exist at all. But she had never been a girl to run away from her problems, maybe burying it deep into the dark recesses of her mind, but never run away from them.
And she'll be damned if she ran away from this one.
Turning the knob confidently, she shielded her eyes from the sudden rays of sunlight that assaulted her eyesight. Taking a step outside, she saw Kikyou sitting near the edge of the railing, her knees up to her chest and her chin on those knees. Kagome stopped, feeling her courage escape her again. Just seeing Kikyou made her feel...strange. Scared even.
"Kikyou...?" she whispered, taking careful steps towards the other girl.
"Kagome." Kikyou said it in acknowledgment and turned her head around, before going back to looking cautiously down at the people walking around campus. "I didn't think you'd come."
"You think I would have been scared?"
"Perhaps."
Kagome walked over to Kikyou, taking in a deep breath as she stood next to her. She sat down when she exhaled and scratched her head sheepishly, wondering just why she was even here. She was crazy.
Kikyou started talking however. "I've been thinking a lot yesterday."
Just like Kagome. "Really..."
"Yes."
Kagome felt her throat run dry because she was painfully aware of the presence next to her. Why was she talking almost pleasantly to Kikyou? All she ever did before was argue, disagree, yell, scream, and scowl at each other like the opposite was the epitome of crap. Talking pleasantly had never been a feasible alternative in her mind.
But again, neither had the possibility of falling for Inuyasha.
"Why didn't you tell Inuyasha about me?" Kikyou asked, turning to stare at Kagome with her gray-blue eyes, questioning, wondering, pondering. "You could have told him, you know."
"It would have ruined your friendship with him," Kagome reasoned. "I...wouldn't want that."
"Why not? Without me, you both could be together happily."
"You wouldn't be happy."
"I haven't been."
An uncomfortable silence began as the two girls were left with their own thoughts, each trying to wonder what was in the other's mind. It wasn't easy understanding why each did what she had done.
Kikyou could not figure out why Kagome still hadn't told Inuyasha. Guilt? Pity? ...Benevolence?
Kagome couldn't understand the reason why Kikyou would want to talk to her about this, and perhaps to an extent, why Kikyou had truly wanted her gone. Jealousy? Rage? Or something else altogether?
"I was here in the same place with Inuyasha yesterday," Kikyou admitted.
Kagome looked surprised. Had that been the reason Inuyasha was late at meeting her? She had failed to ask him why, but now everything was making sense. Had Inuyasha been at a rendezvous with Kikyou?
She began to grow a little bit angry, believing her own accusations. Why that no-good, idiotic, stupid, asshole...
"I kissed him."
There was further silence as tension rocketed off the roof at that simple confession. Kagome bit her lower lip again as she clenched her fists by her side at what Kikyou was telling her. Was it true? If it was, she was going to slowly kill Inuyasha from the inside out. If he had indeed performed such appalling deeds while going out with her...Kagome was going to---
The next words however made all her horrendous thoughts of torture for Inuyasha disappear.
"He didn't kiss me back. In fact, he pushed me away." Kikyou snorted a bit, but only in slow realization. "Don't worry. He wasn't having an affair with me. In fact, he doesn't like me one bit. Never as much as I like him ...Pity."
Lines bunched up between Kagome's eyes as she observed Kikyou, who only shrugged.
"I hated you, you know? I wanted to hurt you. I wanted to kill you all over again. I wanted you to feel the pain that I felt, but thinking deeply into it last night, I realized it wasn't your fault at all. It was mine."
Kagome could almost hear her own breathing as she listened to Kikyou's confessions. "Kikyou..."
"Unrequited love sucks." Kikyou laughed a bit, a hollow sound. "It was an act yesterday, getting him to try and love me instead of you. But I promise you...Kagome...I'm sincere today. I just don't want this anger to continue...I feel inhuman for even having tried to kill you."
Kagome didn't know what to say. 'It's okay' ? No...that would be a lie. It hadn't been okay. 'I don't care' ? No...not that either. She did care.
"Kikyou...I understand."
The other girl looked surprised as she turned to look at Kagome. "You do?"
"I do," Kagome echoed, nodding assertively. "I understand why you did it. Why you did everything. I finally understand."
"Really..."
Kagome got up from the ground, brushing the dust off her rear as she smiled down at Kikyou, who looked up confused at Kagome. "You did it for the same reason anyone who was struck by it would have done."
"What is that?"
Kagome took in a breath before she exhaled it out in one word, "Love."
A side of Kikyou's lips trailed up, but it was almost gone as soon as it had come. "It's a strange emotion, isn't it?"
Kagome nodded. "Some of the greatest legends in history were instigated by love...Psyche and Cupid fell in love in Greek Mythology because of it. Odysseus struggled to go home after twenty years for love. Death, destruction and pain can be caused through it. I doubt I could really blame you because I would have done it too."
"You're quite...stupid," Kikyou commented, surprised at Kagome's words but keeping it well hidden.
"Life can not exist without a little stupidity..." Kagome replied.
"Heh..." Kikyou looked down at the ground, narrowing her eyes when she saw who was looking around lost. She remarked quietly, "I think Inuyasha is looking for you..."
"Oh..." Kagome said, looking over the railing and seeing Inuyasha indeed searching around, most likely for her. "I'll go then...do you have anything else to say to me?"
"Treat him well." Kagome was strangely reminded of Kouga. But instead of Kouga caring about Kagome and how Inuyasha treated her, Kikyou cared about Inuyasha and how she would treat him. Did friendship have to exist with unrequited love in the middle...?
"I will." Kagome smiled at the back of Kikyou's head, before turning around and walking to the door. This talk had went better than she expected...she had imagined a lot of arguing... But remembering something, Kagome turned around to say something again. "Kikyou...allow me the chance and I'll be your friend too. I know there's a lot of antagonism between us, but I'll help you if you want."
Kikyou stayed silent for a while, before muttering a low, "Give me time..."
Kagome nodded, understanding that everything in a sense, needed time. And perhaps with time, they could let go of grudges, forget about near-death experiences and perchance, Kagome could help Kikyou. "I'm sorry."
"...I am too. ...Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong."
Kagome shrugged. "For hurting you...I guess. You met Inuyasha first...perhaps he does belong with you. Maybe I don't love him as much as you do."
Kikyou chuckled a bit, turning around to stare at Kagome with a small smile. "It doesn't matter which of us loves him more..."
Kagome didn't really understand what she meant. Why wouldn't it matter?
Something glazed over Kikyou's eyes as she whispered the next words, "Because it matters who he loves more..."
Something in Kagome felt torn, maybe at the tears that would lay unshed within Kikyou. She understood Kikyou's words...They both loved Inuyasha, maybe with the same amount of love. But in the end, right this moment, he wasn't looking for Kikyou...
Kagome felt tears build up in her eyes as she stared at the other girl, their eyes clashing in mutual sympathy and understanding. They may have looked the same, but their personalities and passions were all that made them different. Friendship didn't matter in the long term...
"He chose you, Kagome. He's searching for you..."
A/N: Do not lose hope my lovely readers. There's still one more chapter for all of you to enjoy. It'll be pretty short, but it'll tie up everything. ^_^