AN: Hey everyone. Sorry for the long delay but I was away for awhile Don't hate me! It' up now, and I figure it's pretty long. *shrugs* anyways, review please!
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Chapter 4
The next Tuesday flew by fast. Inuyasha and Kagome avoided each other, and Sango and Miroku were forced into the middle of it. Though Sango had little trouble choosing sides, Miroku was hesitant at first (which made Inuyasha even angrier), but eventually sided with Inuyasha. The AP History exam didn't make things any easier either.
Before they even realized it, Wednesday had already arrived.
"Where are you going? Class is that way, Kagome," Sango pointed out, clutching her shoulder bag's strap in one hand. Kagome didn't stop walking. She didn't say anything. "I don't know what has gotten into you, but you need to snap out of it. Are you just going to throw away your relationship with Inuyasha just because of that night? He did save you at the end. Shouldn't you be grateful?" She noticed Inuyasha standing with Miroku at the other end of the hall, where their next class was.
Kagome ignored her best friend and continued walking in the direction of the nearest exit of the school.
"Kagome! Where do you think you're going?" Sango said, exasperated. Kagome held a blank look on her face when she turned around.
"I don't feel so well…I'm going home right now."
"But you can't, you have an exam next period!" She clicked her tongue impatiently, pointing to the next class.
"I'll make it up tomorrow after school. Right now I just want to go home and lie down for a little while. I don't think I'll make it through the exam…" Kagome trailed off though she looked like she wanted to say more. Sango narrowed her eyes in confusion when she noticed Kagome swaying.
"Kagome? You alright?"
"Yeah…I just need to…lie…down…"
"KAGOME!" Sango rushed to her side when Kagome clasped onto the hard, cold ground. "Kagome, wake up! Snap out of it! You'll be okay…" Sango checked for a pulse, and gave a sigh of relief when she felt one (even though it was faint). She turned to the gathering crowd. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Go get the nurse!"
Sango narrowed her eyes at the people when not a single one moved.
"NOW!" she roared. "Kagome needs help!" A few people scurried off together heading towards the Main Office. That was when two people stepped forward, pushing their way through the crowd.
"Kagome…" a soft, masculine voice whispered in shock. He was in a daze. He didn't sit down beside her, nor did he try to help get her off the floor. His golden orbs were wide as he just stood there in front of her.
"Sango, is she alright?" Miroku asked, seeing how Inuyasha was off in his own world. He hoisted her over his shoulder.
"Yeah, I think so…she's still breathing," Sango said. "Take her to the nurse, will you?" Miroku nodded, but then stopped walking.
"Uh…which way was that again?" He waited for Sango to answer before taking another step. Then he hurried off in the direction of the office, Sango close behind.
The crowd grew smaller and smaller when the bell rang, leaving only Inuyasha standing there, still looking at the spot where Kagome use to lay. Anyone that passed by could tell that he was out of it.
"Kagome…" was all he said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was the end of the school day (or more like a couple hours after it) and Kagome was awake once more, surrounded by Sango and Miroku, who held her up even though she assured them she was fine.
"You said you were okay just before you passed out. What makes you think I'm going to believe you once again?" Sango asked, raising an eyebrow. They were on their way home already. Once they had reached Kagome's house. They said their goodbyes to Miroku and walked inside. Mrs. Higurashi was waiting up for them in the living room with little sandwiches cut into four small triangles in hand.
"Kagome! Ms. Chiba called me and told me what happened!" She set down the sandwiches on the side table to embrace her daughter. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine mom, I was just tired, that's all." Her mother nodded.
"I'm sure that's all it was…" she whispered reassuringly to herself rather than to Kagome. She sighed. "Well why don't you and Sango go upstairs and get some rest. "And say hi to Souta, will you? He was listening in on my conversation with Ms. Chiba and I'm sure he was worried as well."
Kagome nodded.
"Yes mom." Heading up stairs, Kagome caught a glimpse of her littler brother in the hallway before his bedroom door closed quickly and quietly. Kagome smiled and gave a soft chuckle. Sango stayed behind while Kagome entered Souta's room.
"Hey Souta. How are you doing?" He smiled weakly up at her from his bed. He had been listening to music just before she had came in with a knock on the door.
"Hey Kagome, what's up? Anything interesting happen today?" He played it off as though he never listened in on the phone call. Kagome smiled.
"No, not really. Nothing special at least," Kagome lied to see her brother's reaction. He sat up and glanced quizzically at her.
"You sure? Nothing out of the ordinary…nothing unusual at all? Anything that doesn't happen everyday?" he asked, eyeing her. Kagome shrugged.
"Nope."
"Liar…" he whispered accusingly under his breath, turning his back to her as he lied back down on his bed. She wasn't sure is she was meant to hear that or not. His eyes had narrowed in a scowl was cemented on his face.
Kagome winced. The way he said it was a little harsh. Seeing how Souta wasn't going to pry her for information, Kagome left silently.
"How'd it go? What did he say?" Sango questioned Kagome. She shrugged.
"It was okay…now let's go study for our next exam, okay?" Kagome changed the subject. With a gentle push, Sango closed the door behind her and Kagome.
"Sure, but I wanted to ask you if you're up to go to Mr. H—I mean Steve—and research some about the college we're going to?" When Kagome looked confused, Sango elaborated a little more. "Remember after taking our English exam on Monday, he asked if we wanted to go over his house and look into some colleges…Any of this ringing a bell?" Kagome let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, I remember…I still don't think we need to go over there. There's something…wrong. I don't think I'm going to go, and I'd like it better if you didn't either. And besides, we already have our colleges picked out so we're with Miroku and Inu—" The girl fell silent. For the longest time, silence was all Sango heard.
"You alright? You've been acting strange ever since that night at the club…what happened when you were talking to Rin? What did she say?" Kagome shook her head.
"Not much…she just asked me if I was okay."
"Remarkable timing, that girl. How did she know where to find you?" Kagome shrugged once more, lying onto her back on the floor.
"Not sure. She was probably just walking by at the time from her date with Sesshomaru."
"Hmm…Are you hiding something from me? I can always tell when you are because you're mouth hangs open a bit and you won't look me in the eye." Kagome faltered when she tried to speak.
"Wh-why whould I b-be ly-lying to yo-you?" Kagome stuttered turning around to try and look Sango in the eyes to prove her wrong. She couldn't do it and she looked away from her friend.
"What is it Kagome? What did Rin tell you?"
"N-Nothing at al-all…" Kagome tried once more to say, but couldn't. Kagome ran her fingers through her hair.
"Kagome! Sango! Come down here for a moment, please?" Kagome' smother called up the stairs to them. Kagome, who welcomed the interruption, bolt out of the room before Sango could probe her for more answers. Sango stayed behind and sighed. She began to slowly and lazily pick herself up from the floor and make her way to the door.
"Yes mom? Anything wrong?" She shook her head.
"No, not at all. You're English teacher is here. He said he wanted to pick you up tonight to do some extra studying before your exam, and then after that, you'd do some searching on some different colleges. Funny, I could have sworn that you said that you'd already taken your English exam on Monday." Mrs. Higurashi shrugged her shoulders. "Alright, but be home before eleven. It's a school night, you know…"
Kagome stared strangely at Steve.
"Hello Kagome, you ready to go?"
"But we've already taken your exam…why would we need to be studying for it again?" she turned her heard slightly in confusion, waiting for an answer.
"Those are for the other students that I invited. They said they would meet us there, so no worries. Are you ready?" There was a glint in his eye, but it was gone as quick as it had come. Kagome wasn't sure if she was seeing things or not.
'Maybe he does want to help. He did invite other students to help them with studying and all. Maybe I'm getting worked up over nothing. Perhaps I'll go with Sango…I don't think I could stand going to the same college with him anymore…maybe we shouldn't…be together anymore. It feels so wrong now. We're going apart…perhaps even growing up. It's no longer who we are…we both changed, and he doesn't feel the same way about me anymore…'
"Mr. H.!" Sango called from up the stairs. She had just spotted him standing beside the front door. "What are you doing here?"
"Why I'm here to pick you two up, of course. You ready to go, Sango?" She smiled and nodded.
"Yes sir! But why are you here so earlier? It's only like five right now." He laughed and slowly shook his head no.
"It's seven now. You and Kagome left school late. I figured you'd like to come earlier in order to get more stuff done. Was I right?" Kagome stared blankly at her teacher when he glanced at her.
"I guess that's a good reason," said Sango. "Ready to go Kagome?" Kagome hesitantly nodded.
"Goodbye Mrs. Higurashi! See you tomorrow!"
"Goodbye, dear. Have a nice night," she yelled from the kitchen. Souta popped his head around the corner.
"Kagome, I'd like to talk with you later. It's important…" He bowed his head so she couldn't see his face.
"…Souta…?" she was about to go to him, but Mr. H. beckoned her towards the door. He gently grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her along. Souta lifted his head just in time to see Kagome disappear behind the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"We're at my place now. Feel free to ask me anything. I'll be right back with the drinks." Steve left for the kitchen, giving Kagome and Sango a chance to look around. Something felt out of place here, but Kagome wasn't sure.
'Wait, didn't he say that there were going to be others here? I don't see anyone though.'
His house was as big as a mansion, and was out in the middle of nowhere practically. The nearest neighbor lived about fifty feet away. It had been about forty-five minutes from her shrine as well.
"Wow this place is huge. Wonder how a teacher gets a place like this," Sango wondered out loud.
"I inherited this place from an old relative. She had died only a few short years ago and I was her only living relative left," Steve explained confidently. He was holding a couple glasses of soda. Something was fizzing at the bottom…
"Here, I brought you something to drink. Sango graciously accepted it, but Kagome turned it down after eyeing it for a second longer.
"Where are all the other people? You said they were going to meet us here," Kagome asked suspiciously. Steve almost dropped the glass he was holding.
"Huh? Oh! The other…students. They must be running late or something. I'm sure they'll get here eventually."
"So, let's get started. Sango and I already know what college we want to go there, so let's just start there, shall we?" Kagome tried her best to sound businesslike and she was doing a very nice job of it.
"Sure thing…but are you sure you want to go to that community college with Inuyasha?" Kagome and Sango inhaled.
"Ho-how did you kn-know?" Kagome interrogated.
"It's the talk of the school. I know everything that's going on."
"Then you know what happened Monday night between the two?" Sango asked, amazed. Steve chuckled.
"No, no one knows that. Just that they've been avoiding each other. What exactly did happen, if I may ask?"
"No, you can't!" Kagome blurted out, clasping her hands over her mouth afterwards when she realized that she just snapped at a teacher. "I'm sorry…It's just that it's a tender subject, and…I didn't mean to yell like that."
"It's alright, Kagome. I'm a cool teacher. I understand some things unlike those other, old-bats that float around the school." He took a seat next to Kagome onto the soft, comfortable couch. Sango was in the matching chair across from them.
"Are you going to that community college with Inuyasha?"
"I don't know," Kagome said almost hotly, which was aimed more at the name of a certain hanyou than at the teacher who said it.
"I'm working there next year. I decided high school students can live without me, and college students need me more. I had requested you two in my class next year." He reached for Kagome's full cup of soda. "You sure you don't want any? You look tired and thirsty." He inched his way towards Kagome on the couch.
"That would be so cool if we get you next year!" Sango giggled as she thought about it. "You're one of the best teachers I know." Sango nodded.
"Oh, thanks," Kagome said quietly, pretending to take a sip of it.
The three of them continued talking about random stuff. Soon enough Sango was sitting on the corner of the couch by Kagome.
"Stevie, where's your bathroom? I really must need to go potty right now," Sango giggled again. She was swaying back and forth on the edge of the couch. She seemed really tired…really out of it.
"Sango, are you okay? You're the one that's acting really…different. I think it's time we go home now," Kagome said nervously as she got up from the couch. Steve pulled her back down again.
"It's upstairs and around the corner. I'll be right up later, alright? Just wait there for me…" He licked his lips as Sango disappeared behind his bedroom door.
"Let go of me please…" Kagome whispered, frightened. She repeated herself. "Please let me go…Sango and I really need to get home right now. My mom's probably worried wick about us…"
"There's no need, it's only nine thirty. We've got another hour or so to kill…" he whispered into her ear. The goose bumps on the back of her neck rose and she struggled with his grip. "Now now, don't leave me right here all alone…You owe me, after all. I made your exams really easy compared to the others…" He placed his head in the crock of her neck.
"Please…" Kagome cried softly. "Don't do this…just let me and Sango go."
"Now why would I do that?" He began kissing her down the crock of her neck…
"Stevie!" Sango gasped from atop the stairs. She obviously knew that something was going on, and, even through her drunken state, could tell that this wasn't right. "What are you doing to Kagome?"
Steve reached behind his back and pulled out a sharp long knife from between the couch pillows. Kagome whimpered when he placed it at her throat.
"Put the knife down…" Sango whispered as she slowly cam forward.
"Don't come any closer. I've helped you little sluts for the past year now! And you're going to pay me back now! I've earned this!!" He whipped Kagome around to face him. "Now come on girl, take it off now!!!"
He pointed the knife was a shaky hand at her breast.
"NOW!!"
Kagome cried and tears streamed down her face. Sango had stopped moving.
"Let her go now! I'll call the cops!!" She pleaded.
"You call them, your friend here will be dead. I know you wouldn't chance that either. You'd have to carry the guilt with you all your life." He laughed insanely.
"Kagome…I'm so sorry…you knew something was wrong and I didn't listen to you…this is all my fault! Please Steve, let her go. Take me instead!" Sango was now in tears too. The knife glinted as Kagome began to fumble with her shirt.
"No, I'm taking both of you. You'll go next, love." Sango frowned as she sunk to her knees, not sure what to do. He still had the knife next to Kagome's neck, and she had a feeling that killing someone was not something that would guilt his conscience.
"Get out of here Sango…save yourself…" Kagome choked out as the knife seemingly grew closer to her chin.
"Kagome…"
He slit the crock of her neck with the sharp blade. She screamed softly and gritted her teeth. She wanted to call his name out. She wanted to call out the one person that could save her…but she couldn't, like the time with Tog. Something was holding her back.
'It's not like he'd hear…'
Steve licked the blood off her neck before digging his tongue deeper into the wound and ripping it further open. Enough was enough.
"Inuyasha!!" Her voice pierced the air as a sharp scream. "I need yo—" She was cut off when Steve reached forward and slapped her, leaving a deep and dark handprint over her left cheek and eye. It has already began bruising. She noticed the rings that lined his fingers…
"Inuyasha!! Please! I'm sorry…I'm soo sorry…" she moaned softly to him. He was many miles away though. There was no was way he could hear here…no way he would know…
"Kagome…please let her go. I'll do anything!" Sango begged him.
"I'll end up killing her if you don't shut-up!!" Steve sneered. Sango fell silent at a distance. She was about to charge at him, but seeing how she was at least five feet away from him, this wasn't a good idea. "Take one more step and I'll slit her throat," he warned.
Kagome was slipping away from consciousness from loosing all the blood. Slowly her head began to bob up and down, and the voices became blurs.
'Inuyasha…I'm gonna die…'
Glass shattered somewhere behind her, and she fought to stay awake.
"Kagome!"
"Sango!"
"Kagome!!" Three voices rang through the thick air. Kagome recognized two of them instantly.
"Miroku!" Kagome heard her friend say. That wasn't
"Souta…Inuyasha…?"
'What…is he doing here? And with Souta…How did he know?"
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AN: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, but I've been away from all computers, etc. at band camp. Hope this chapter makes up for it though. Another update might come real soon, or next week sometime. Not sure…
Anyway, please review. I REALLY appreciate all the reviews I'm getting. That's why I'm putting this fic first over my Harry Potter one.
One last thing. I've posted my first Sailor Moon fic up. It's a romance between Darien and Serena, and it was a oneshot, but I'm going to write an alternate ending sort of thing. It's called "The One Without". If you do read it, please review.