A Tragic Love
Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha. but Rumiko Takahashi does. Lucky her!!
+Ch.9- A Whacked Out Marriage+
~Ding Dong ~Ding Dong~~
Kagome's hands fell lifeless on her family's grand piano. Great, she thought, a distraction. Mr. Hakota, her piano teacher, didn't look happy. Just an hour earlier, he was lecturing on the importance of practicing her piano skills daily in order to perfect her role as a "serious" pianist. Kagome watched her wholeheartedly but attention was intently focused on his off colored toupee that kept bobbing up and down every time he said the word "perfection" and "pianist." After the lecture, it lay off centered on his graying head of balding hair.
He was a good man, Kagome had observed during her ten years as his student. But, Kagome couldn't help but laugh at his silly nature which greatly reflected his appearance. Mr. Hakota was a humble man standing at a short five feet. Although he was a small man, his voice made up for his size which was thunderous and powerful. Yet upon looking at him, one would come across him as rather bashful and a little nerdy. He always wore a distasteful checkered shirt, which was almost completely covered by his suspendered khaki pants.
Kagome looked up at her mentor and he threw up his hands in frustration, "Who disturbs us at this hour? Can't they see we are deep in concentration on the perfection," his toupee did a slight jump "of the piano?" He turned to the confused Kagome, who stared at him in concern, "Go, get the door" he said, a little disheartened.
Kagome excused herself and ran to the door. She peered through the side window and could only make out the side of Miroku's face.
Kagome stood back and wrinkled her forehead. Miroku, she thought, why is he here? Kagome assumed Sango had broken up with him again.
She opened the door and to Kagome's surprise Miroku was not alone. There, in his arms, hung a clinging Sango. Her left hand hung lifelessly by her side while her right clenched Miroku's white shirt.
Kagome instantly ran to her friends' side and touched Sango's shoulder.
"Miroku.what." was all Kagome was able to utter. She stepped back and told Miroku to put her on the couch.
Miroku walked in and looked around. Since there were about a thousand different couches in the house, Miroku decided to take her into the nearest one, which also happened to be where Mr. Hakota lay.
"What, what is this?" he asked, looking down at the whimpering Sango, now lying on the white couch.
"Mr. Hakota, an emergency just came up and we have to cut the session short! Please let me show you out," Kagome said, pushing her bewildered piano teacher out the door.
"Kagome, I don't like this at all! The music is calling us!"
"Okay bye Mr. Hakota!" Kagome yelled and with that she closed the door.
Although his voice was muffled a little, it was still thunderous, even from behind her Dutch door, "Kagome! Practice, don't forget to practice!"
Kagome ran to the need of her friend, who seemed to be conscious now, looking at a worried Miroku. She knelt down and made eye contact with her best friend, who's once lively eyes had blackened into an endless abyss of nothingness.
"I'm sorry to bother your lesson Kagome. But, your house is the nearest to the school and Sango, she just."
"No don't be sorry! Just tell me what happened to her."
"I think Sango should tell you. But, she should rest first."
Kagome nodded in agreement and left Sango to sleep. Miroku stayed by her side and Kagome watched her friend from a distance.
An hour later:
Miroku watched as Sango slowly opened her eyes and asked Miroku where she was. He told her they were at Kagome's and Sango instantly wiped her eyes and looked at Kagome.
The two sat there staring at each other until Kagome finally asked, "Sango, what happened to you?"
"I'm not rich, Kagome."
"Sango, what does that have anything to do with--"
"Kagome, it has everything to do with it!" Sango yelled, which took all her energy.
Kagome lay silent on her side, looking at Sango with a mixture of shock and fear."
"I'm sorry Kagome," Sango said shaking her head. She managed to lift her upper body so that she now lay with her back upright in order to talk to her.
"It's just that, I don't think you understand.I'm not like you."
"Sango."
"I don't have all the fancy stuff you do. I don't have a mansion, a nice car, a villa in France."
"Sango, that doesn't matter how rich you are!"
"Yes it does Kagome!" Sango barked. With that, Kagome promised herself she wouldn't say another word unless spoken to.
"Kagome, it does matter when your mother is dying, your father works as a garbage man, and you live in a house that doesn't have any sunlight!"
"Do you understand, Kagome?"
"I do! And I don't care if you are rich or poor! But what happened to you?"
"Some guys jumped me because I was poor."
Kagome quickly stood up and ran to the coat closet.
"Kagome, what the hell are you doing?" Miroku asked
"I'm going to go beat those guys up that tried to hurt Sango!"
Miroku stood up, "Kagome, you don't even know what they look like."
Kagome thought about that for a moment, "I don't care! I'll kick every living guy at the school until I find the guy!"
"Okay.what are you going to do, hit them with your bag?"
"No, I'm going to kick them all in the nuts!"
Miroku saw a disturbing picture of that in his mind and slowly his hand dropped and sheltered his crotch.
"Kagome, you can't do that! Now calm down!" Sango yelled, trying to spark some reason in Kagome's brain.
"I know you're right." Kagome confessed and ran to her friend and embraced her. "Sango, why didn't you ever tell me? I thought I was your best friend?"
Sango tightened the hug on her friend and her smile faded, "I'm sorry Kagome. I thought you wouldn't understand. It's just that you are so rich."
"And you thought I'd hate you?" Kagome's voice escalated a little.
"No, Kagome, I."
Kagome let go of her hold on her friend and looked at her shaking her head, "I thought you could count on me! Don't tell me Miroku knew!"
"Well, Kagome, he's my boyfriend!"
"Yeah and I've only been your friend since like forever. No, that doesn't count as anything, right?"
Sango stood up and tried to calm her friend, "Kagome, I know we have known each forever but--"
"Sango there is no buts; the truth is you don't trust me to understand about something so important. All this was bottled up inside you and you pretended like nothing even happened. I don't."
"You don't what?" Sango asked.
"I don't think I can be friends with someone who doesn't trust me."
Sango turned to Miroku, who had watched the two fight, still cupping his crotch.
"Miroku, I think we should leave."
Miroku didn't say a word. He just gathered their things and checked to see if Sango felt okay. She nodded her head and turned to Kagome, who stood a foot away from them, folding her arms, contemplating on what she had just told Sango.
"Bye Kagome. Thank you for letting Sango rest here," Miroku whispered and followed Sango out the door.
Kagome watched the two walked out of her front yard and onto the sidewalk crying.
--
Kagome had not slept well that night or the next night. She knew she would never be able to sleep well until she made up with Sango, a task that was not easy considering they were both not on speaking terms.
They had passed each other in the hall hundreds of times, both looking the other way if they spotted the other. It was hard not to come across each other considering they shared half their classes together. What was even more challenging was the fact they both shared the same group of friends, who now stood as a crossroads as to whose side they were on because they HAD to pick a side.
Soon even Miroku stopped talking to her and Kagome was left alone. She ate alone and walked home alone, well except on Mondays and Thursdays when Shippo would walk with her to and from school.
What was even more depressing about the situation was that both their cheery faces had turned a pale white from the lack of laughter. It was because of this that Kagome got closer to Inuyasha.
A few lunches ago:
"Why aren't you eating with your brain dead friends?"
Kagome looked up to see the same raven haired boy that had both cursed at her and saved her. She tried to force a smile away from her lips but found it impossible. She picked up her sandwich and started chewing.
Surprisingly, he didn't run away into the distance. Instead, he sat close by, a couple seats away, eating his own sandwich. This occurred for almost a week before Kagome made the initiative.
Careful not to make his temper rise, Kagome just slid by his side and started eating her lunch. Inuyasha lifted an eye and slowly peered to his side and wrinkled his forehead.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Kagome just looked up from her egg sandwich and shrugged, "Eating."
"I mean what are you doing next to me?
"Still eating."
Inuyasha shook his head and quickly gathered his things. He was about to slide off the bench when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Confused, he turned to see a quizzical Kagome by his side.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" "Why do you do that?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha brushed her hand off his shoulder and shook his head, "Do what?"
"Do that! Always running away from everyone? Away from me!"
Inuyasha stood up and faced the longing Kagome, whose lips parted to say something else, something that lingered in her mind, but did not have the voice to speak. His mind was screaming for him to leave her there, saddened and a little confused, but he fought with his alter ego and slowly lifted a leg to again accompany her on the steel bench.
"I don't do it on purpose," he said, shocked he had opened his mouth.
Likewise, Kagome was shocked and was taken aback when she heard a hint of softness in his voice.
"What?"
"I said I don't mean to, you know, run away from you."
"Okay then, why do you do it?" she asked, intrigued that they were having an actual conversation.
He looked at her for a moment and then bore a lingering stare, which she noticed and returned. They sat there, looking at each other, Kagome waiting for her silent companion to speak.
When he finally did speak, it was almost a whisper and Kagome detected vulnerability in his voice, which softened her face and lifted her heart.
"I don't want to get hurt."
Kagome did not ask what he meant by that because she felt he did not want to explain it. It was going to be a while until he could completely open his heart to her. Until then, she was eager to talk to him. Her fears surrounding him had lifted and after this confrontation, they formed a friendship which, unknowing to them, would be more powerful than anything they had ever come across.
--
Kagome felt very lonely walking home alone that afternoon. Shippo had cram school and she had wanted to ask Inuyasha but she was she was pushing him farther than he was willing to go, for now. She had even seen Sango on her way home, walking to same way, alone. They had looked at each other for a split second and slowly both their head dropped starring at the pavement until they parted.
Seeing her, Kagome had wanted to run up to her, hug her, and tell her she was sorry and that she was there for her. But, she could not sum enough courage to end their rift and reunite. She had missed her to the point where even her family had noticed and that was a hard task. They seldom even recognized her presence in a room until she dropped or tripped on something. Kagome had told them school was getting harder and in a way that was not a lie because seeing Sango at school was torture, knowing she was there and not being able to talk to her.
Although she desperately wanted to make up with Sango, Kagome still felt hurt that Sango felt she could not confide in her. They had known each other all their lives and never did she even utter a word about how hard it was for her at home. The part that hurt the most was the fact that Sango had assumed that since she was rich, she could never really understand. It was then that Kagome felt her whole world crashing down. She could not make sense of it and after a couple weeks, Kagome could not get her mind off of it. She had wished Kagome had said it was because she was a bad person, a horrible inconsiderate snob, but no, when it came down to it, it was only because she was rich and she was poor. In Kagome's eyes, that did not matter and she was worried of the fact that she knew Sango thought it did. She had hoped that their years of friendship had made it clear that no matter what, Kagome would always be there for her.
The only upside of their fight was Inuyasha. It was because of Sango that Kagome sought the comfort of someone else and that someone just happened to be Inuyasha. Kagome just felt so horrible that she had to fight with her best friend in order for her to get closer to her one and only enemy (if you can call him that).
Kagome finally made it to her house and looked at it for a moment. Her eyes fell onto the two story mansion, its giant pillars, French doors, court yard; three balconies covered with rich greenery and cursed it. She pressed the intercom button and stated her voice oriented name. It beeped her in and the gates parted. She ran up to the circular driveway and up the stairs onto her front porch. To her surprise the door was slightly open. She had not expected her mother until at least six that night because she was always busy socializing with the local conservative elites. And Kikyo had passed a comment that morning that she was going to spend the day with Sesshamoru. But it was Kikyo's voice that Kagome heard. Careful not to make a noise, she slowly took off her shoes and then tiptoed over to the stairs but before her feet touched the velvet rug, she heard something that caught her immediate attention.
"Do you want me to tell?!" her sister yelled in a muffled voice. Kagome turned and continued toward the voice. She sensed a hint of bitterness and anger in her sister's voice. Intrigued, Kagome could not let an opportunity to spy on her sister pass. So she followed her instincts and continued to listen to her sister until her feet stood just a couple feet outside her father's office. Her sister's voice grew louder and she sat beside the door, eager to know what she was talking about.
"Don't be stupid! You can't do this! Remember, your father is important, he would never accept what you were doing, especially at your standing! To do this would be foolish and would risk your chances at his fortune and don't tell me you don't want a crack at the loot.
"That's why we're all here-for the money. So just follow along and we'll both get a whiff at that cold hard cash." Kikyo paused for a moment and lowered her voice, "or you can just do what you think you need to do and, well, die a poor fool. At least you'll have her, right?"
Kagome could hear another voice, but it was much too soft in comparison to her sister's harsh voice, so it was impossible to decipher who exactly it was.
"It is after all, your decision and whatever you choose just remember what I said. So what is your decision?"
Kagome could not resist temptation so she pressed her face gently on the slid of the door and tried to make out the other figure in the room. She followed the figures long flowing hair and it struck a memory but not hard enough to find a face. So she squinted harder until she grew dizzy from the concentration. Suddenly she managed to come across the face that was at first hidden in few. Slowly Kagome recognized the cowering figure before her sister.
It was Sesshamoru. He looked rather pale, from her view. When he tried to speak, her sister could cease his voice and he stood there, listening but wanting to talk.
"Sesshamoru," her sister began, "I am only doing this for your own good and mine too of course. But trust me; I am looking out for you too. If I get married, no, when I get married, my father will bestow upon me 1/3 of his fortune. You know how much money that is? Well, trust me, it's a shit load. And with that amount plus what he gives me when he dies, I'd never have to lift a finger. I could pay someone to breathe for me!
"Are you getting me, future husband? So pick your future."
Sesshamoru finally had a chance to speak and he revealed to Kagome something about their "relationship" that further shocked her.
"What about Rin?"
"What about her? She had nothing to lose."
"She feels uncomfortable about this.arrangement, Kikyo. She feels it's immoral and she would rather have me--"
Kikyo laughed and said, "Immoral? Well, she doesn't have anything to lose, does she? She can have you, have the money, and everything is solved. So, she can say whatever she wants to say. But you and me, we have everything to lose, don't we?"
Sesshamoru thought about that for a moment and nodded, "I know I don't want to lose anything but."
"Sesshamoru! Don't tell me you are backing out! You know you cannot be with Rin, your father has already forbade it, remember? He doesn't want, and I'm quoting here, 'a filthy low income no body' marrying his son. Face it Sesshamoru, you have nothing but to marry me, get your money that your father promised in his will, and then see Rin. Don't worry; you have your thing with her. Do you honestly think I want to be with you? No offense, but you aren't my type. Besides, I have another guy in mind."
"Don't you think it is wrong? I mean I thought that when I marry something I would love--"
"Love? Love doesn't pay for the four star hotel and the Mercedes Benz buddy! Money does and that's why I am doing this. And I know you never felt this way before. You followed the same philosophy as me. That was until, you met her and she turned your mind into hearts and flowers."
"Hey, she didn't do that to me and if she changed me, it was for the better. And call her by her real name and stop referring her to her."
Kikyo dismissed this and got to the cold hard facts, "So you in or out?"
Sesshamoru paced around the room for a couple minutes and turned to Kikyo abruptly, "I can still see Rin after we are married?"
Kikyo smiled and nodded, "You don't even have to live with me, and we can live a couple towns away and see each other at Christmas and other holidays when we have to see the folks."
"Are you sure the folks would never suspect a thing?"
"I give you my word."
"Okay, I will do it."
Kagome leaped from the door and gasped. She closed her mouth to conceal the scream that wanted to voice itself.
It was at that instant that Kikyo turned to the clock and saw it was past three and realized that Kagome would be home any minute. So turned to the door and slowly opened it.
Hey guys! Sorry this chapter is kinda longer than the rest. But, I hope you enjoyed it. For those who are wondering why Sango hadn't confided in Kagome before, I hope this clears it up.
You will also begin to see a change in Inuyasha and realize why he was acting so mean to Kagome in the beginning chapters. And in the next chapter, Sango will reveal her own feelings about Kagome and the fight and why she didn't stand up to the boys! But you must read on to see what happens to Kagome because I won't tell! Hehe..
Okie then, until next time!
~~Co Tsukino
Disclaimer- I do not own Inuyasha. but Rumiko Takahashi does. Lucky her!!
+Ch.9- A Whacked Out Marriage+
~Ding Dong ~Ding Dong~~
Kagome's hands fell lifeless on her family's grand piano. Great, she thought, a distraction. Mr. Hakota, her piano teacher, didn't look happy. Just an hour earlier, he was lecturing on the importance of practicing her piano skills daily in order to perfect her role as a "serious" pianist. Kagome watched her wholeheartedly but attention was intently focused on his off colored toupee that kept bobbing up and down every time he said the word "perfection" and "pianist." After the lecture, it lay off centered on his graying head of balding hair.
He was a good man, Kagome had observed during her ten years as his student. But, Kagome couldn't help but laugh at his silly nature which greatly reflected his appearance. Mr. Hakota was a humble man standing at a short five feet. Although he was a small man, his voice made up for his size which was thunderous and powerful. Yet upon looking at him, one would come across him as rather bashful and a little nerdy. He always wore a distasteful checkered shirt, which was almost completely covered by his suspendered khaki pants.
Kagome looked up at her mentor and he threw up his hands in frustration, "Who disturbs us at this hour? Can't they see we are deep in concentration on the perfection," his toupee did a slight jump "of the piano?" He turned to the confused Kagome, who stared at him in concern, "Go, get the door" he said, a little disheartened.
Kagome excused herself and ran to the door. She peered through the side window and could only make out the side of Miroku's face.
Kagome stood back and wrinkled her forehead. Miroku, she thought, why is he here? Kagome assumed Sango had broken up with him again.
She opened the door and to Kagome's surprise Miroku was not alone. There, in his arms, hung a clinging Sango. Her left hand hung lifelessly by her side while her right clenched Miroku's white shirt.
Kagome instantly ran to her friends' side and touched Sango's shoulder.
"Miroku.what." was all Kagome was able to utter. She stepped back and told Miroku to put her on the couch.
Miroku walked in and looked around. Since there were about a thousand different couches in the house, Miroku decided to take her into the nearest one, which also happened to be where Mr. Hakota lay.
"What, what is this?" he asked, looking down at the whimpering Sango, now lying on the white couch.
"Mr. Hakota, an emergency just came up and we have to cut the session short! Please let me show you out," Kagome said, pushing her bewildered piano teacher out the door.
"Kagome, I don't like this at all! The music is calling us!"
"Okay bye Mr. Hakota!" Kagome yelled and with that she closed the door.
Although his voice was muffled a little, it was still thunderous, even from behind her Dutch door, "Kagome! Practice, don't forget to practice!"
Kagome ran to the need of her friend, who seemed to be conscious now, looking at a worried Miroku. She knelt down and made eye contact with her best friend, who's once lively eyes had blackened into an endless abyss of nothingness.
"I'm sorry to bother your lesson Kagome. But, your house is the nearest to the school and Sango, she just."
"No don't be sorry! Just tell me what happened to her."
"I think Sango should tell you. But, she should rest first."
Kagome nodded in agreement and left Sango to sleep. Miroku stayed by her side and Kagome watched her friend from a distance.
An hour later:
Miroku watched as Sango slowly opened her eyes and asked Miroku where she was. He told her they were at Kagome's and Sango instantly wiped her eyes and looked at Kagome.
The two sat there staring at each other until Kagome finally asked, "Sango, what happened to you?"
"I'm not rich, Kagome."
"Sango, what does that have anything to do with--"
"Kagome, it has everything to do with it!" Sango yelled, which took all her energy.
Kagome lay silent on her side, looking at Sango with a mixture of shock and fear."
"I'm sorry Kagome," Sango said shaking her head. She managed to lift her upper body so that she now lay with her back upright in order to talk to her.
"It's just that, I don't think you understand.I'm not like you."
"Sango."
"I don't have all the fancy stuff you do. I don't have a mansion, a nice car, a villa in France."
"Sango, that doesn't matter how rich you are!"
"Yes it does Kagome!" Sango barked. With that, Kagome promised herself she wouldn't say another word unless spoken to.
"Kagome, it does matter when your mother is dying, your father works as a garbage man, and you live in a house that doesn't have any sunlight!"
"Do you understand, Kagome?"
"I do! And I don't care if you are rich or poor! But what happened to you?"
"Some guys jumped me because I was poor."
Kagome quickly stood up and ran to the coat closet.
"Kagome, what the hell are you doing?" Miroku asked
"I'm going to go beat those guys up that tried to hurt Sango!"
Miroku stood up, "Kagome, you don't even know what they look like."
Kagome thought about that for a moment, "I don't care! I'll kick every living guy at the school until I find the guy!"
"Okay.what are you going to do, hit them with your bag?"
"No, I'm going to kick them all in the nuts!"
Miroku saw a disturbing picture of that in his mind and slowly his hand dropped and sheltered his crotch.
"Kagome, you can't do that! Now calm down!" Sango yelled, trying to spark some reason in Kagome's brain.
"I know you're right." Kagome confessed and ran to her friend and embraced her. "Sango, why didn't you ever tell me? I thought I was your best friend?"
Sango tightened the hug on her friend and her smile faded, "I'm sorry Kagome. I thought you wouldn't understand. It's just that you are so rich."
"And you thought I'd hate you?" Kagome's voice escalated a little.
"No, Kagome, I."
Kagome let go of her hold on her friend and looked at her shaking her head, "I thought you could count on me! Don't tell me Miroku knew!"
"Well, Kagome, he's my boyfriend!"
"Yeah and I've only been your friend since like forever. No, that doesn't count as anything, right?"
Sango stood up and tried to calm her friend, "Kagome, I know we have known each forever but--"
"Sango there is no buts; the truth is you don't trust me to understand about something so important. All this was bottled up inside you and you pretended like nothing even happened. I don't."
"You don't what?" Sango asked.
"I don't think I can be friends with someone who doesn't trust me."
Sango turned to Miroku, who had watched the two fight, still cupping his crotch.
"Miroku, I think we should leave."
Miroku didn't say a word. He just gathered their things and checked to see if Sango felt okay. She nodded her head and turned to Kagome, who stood a foot away from them, folding her arms, contemplating on what she had just told Sango.
"Bye Kagome. Thank you for letting Sango rest here," Miroku whispered and followed Sango out the door.
Kagome watched the two walked out of her front yard and onto the sidewalk crying.
--
Kagome had not slept well that night or the next night. She knew she would never be able to sleep well until she made up with Sango, a task that was not easy considering they were both not on speaking terms.
They had passed each other in the hall hundreds of times, both looking the other way if they spotted the other. It was hard not to come across each other considering they shared half their classes together. What was even more challenging was the fact they both shared the same group of friends, who now stood as a crossroads as to whose side they were on because they HAD to pick a side.
Soon even Miroku stopped talking to her and Kagome was left alone. She ate alone and walked home alone, well except on Mondays and Thursdays when Shippo would walk with her to and from school.
What was even more depressing about the situation was that both their cheery faces had turned a pale white from the lack of laughter. It was because of this that Kagome got closer to Inuyasha.
A few lunches ago:
"Why aren't you eating with your brain dead friends?"
Kagome looked up to see the same raven haired boy that had both cursed at her and saved her. She tried to force a smile away from her lips but found it impossible. She picked up her sandwich and started chewing.
Surprisingly, he didn't run away into the distance. Instead, he sat close by, a couple seats away, eating his own sandwich. This occurred for almost a week before Kagome made the initiative.
Careful not to make his temper rise, Kagome just slid by his side and started eating her lunch. Inuyasha lifted an eye and slowly peered to his side and wrinkled his forehead.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Kagome just looked up from her egg sandwich and shrugged, "Eating."
"I mean what are you doing next to me?
"Still eating."
Inuyasha shook his head and quickly gathered his things. He was about to slide off the bench when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Confused, he turned to see a quizzical Kagome by his side.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" "Why do you do that?" Kagome asked.
Inuyasha brushed her hand off his shoulder and shook his head, "Do what?"
"Do that! Always running away from everyone? Away from me!"
Inuyasha stood up and faced the longing Kagome, whose lips parted to say something else, something that lingered in her mind, but did not have the voice to speak. His mind was screaming for him to leave her there, saddened and a little confused, but he fought with his alter ego and slowly lifted a leg to again accompany her on the steel bench.
"I don't do it on purpose," he said, shocked he had opened his mouth.
Likewise, Kagome was shocked and was taken aback when she heard a hint of softness in his voice.
"What?"
"I said I don't mean to, you know, run away from you."
"Okay then, why do you do it?" she asked, intrigued that they were having an actual conversation.
He looked at her for a moment and then bore a lingering stare, which she noticed and returned. They sat there, looking at each other, Kagome waiting for her silent companion to speak.
When he finally did speak, it was almost a whisper and Kagome detected vulnerability in his voice, which softened her face and lifted her heart.
"I don't want to get hurt."
Kagome did not ask what he meant by that because she felt he did not want to explain it. It was going to be a while until he could completely open his heart to her. Until then, she was eager to talk to him. Her fears surrounding him had lifted and after this confrontation, they formed a friendship which, unknowing to them, would be more powerful than anything they had ever come across.
--
Kagome felt very lonely walking home alone that afternoon. Shippo had cram school and she had wanted to ask Inuyasha but she was she was pushing him farther than he was willing to go, for now. She had even seen Sango on her way home, walking to same way, alone. They had looked at each other for a split second and slowly both their head dropped starring at the pavement until they parted.
Seeing her, Kagome had wanted to run up to her, hug her, and tell her she was sorry and that she was there for her. But, she could not sum enough courage to end their rift and reunite. She had missed her to the point where even her family had noticed and that was a hard task. They seldom even recognized her presence in a room until she dropped or tripped on something. Kagome had told them school was getting harder and in a way that was not a lie because seeing Sango at school was torture, knowing she was there and not being able to talk to her.
Although she desperately wanted to make up with Sango, Kagome still felt hurt that Sango felt she could not confide in her. They had known each other all their lives and never did she even utter a word about how hard it was for her at home. The part that hurt the most was the fact that Sango had assumed that since she was rich, she could never really understand. It was then that Kagome felt her whole world crashing down. She could not make sense of it and after a couple weeks, Kagome could not get her mind off of it. She had wished Kagome had said it was because she was a bad person, a horrible inconsiderate snob, but no, when it came down to it, it was only because she was rich and she was poor. In Kagome's eyes, that did not matter and she was worried of the fact that she knew Sango thought it did. She had hoped that their years of friendship had made it clear that no matter what, Kagome would always be there for her.
The only upside of their fight was Inuyasha. It was because of Sango that Kagome sought the comfort of someone else and that someone just happened to be Inuyasha. Kagome just felt so horrible that she had to fight with her best friend in order for her to get closer to her one and only enemy (if you can call him that).
Kagome finally made it to her house and looked at it for a moment. Her eyes fell onto the two story mansion, its giant pillars, French doors, court yard; three balconies covered with rich greenery and cursed it. She pressed the intercom button and stated her voice oriented name. It beeped her in and the gates parted. She ran up to the circular driveway and up the stairs onto her front porch. To her surprise the door was slightly open. She had not expected her mother until at least six that night because she was always busy socializing with the local conservative elites. And Kikyo had passed a comment that morning that she was going to spend the day with Sesshamoru. But it was Kikyo's voice that Kagome heard. Careful not to make a noise, she slowly took off her shoes and then tiptoed over to the stairs but before her feet touched the velvet rug, she heard something that caught her immediate attention.
"Do you want me to tell?!" her sister yelled in a muffled voice. Kagome turned and continued toward the voice. She sensed a hint of bitterness and anger in her sister's voice. Intrigued, Kagome could not let an opportunity to spy on her sister pass. So she followed her instincts and continued to listen to her sister until her feet stood just a couple feet outside her father's office. Her sister's voice grew louder and she sat beside the door, eager to know what she was talking about.
"Don't be stupid! You can't do this! Remember, your father is important, he would never accept what you were doing, especially at your standing! To do this would be foolish and would risk your chances at his fortune and don't tell me you don't want a crack at the loot.
"That's why we're all here-for the money. So just follow along and we'll both get a whiff at that cold hard cash." Kikyo paused for a moment and lowered her voice, "or you can just do what you think you need to do and, well, die a poor fool. At least you'll have her, right?"
Kagome could hear another voice, but it was much too soft in comparison to her sister's harsh voice, so it was impossible to decipher who exactly it was.
"It is after all, your decision and whatever you choose just remember what I said. So what is your decision?"
Kagome could not resist temptation so she pressed her face gently on the slid of the door and tried to make out the other figure in the room. She followed the figures long flowing hair and it struck a memory but not hard enough to find a face. So she squinted harder until she grew dizzy from the concentration. Suddenly she managed to come across the face that was at first hidden in few. Slowly Kagome recognized the cowering figure before her sister.
It was Sesshamoru. He looked rather pale, from her view. When he tried to speak, her sister could cease his voice and he stood there, listening but wanting to talk.
"Sesshamoru," her sister began, "I am only doing this for your own good and mine too of course. But trust me; I am looking out for you too. If I get married, no, when I get married, my father will bestow upon me 1/3 of his fortune. You know how much money that is? Well, trust me, it's a shit load. And with that amount plus what he gives me when he dies, I'd never have to lift a finger. I could pay someone to breathe for me!
"Are you getting me, future husband? So pick your future."
Sesshamoru finally had a chance to speak and he revealed to Kagome something about their "relationship" that further shocked her.
"What about Rin?"
"What about her? She had nothing to lose."
"She feels uncomfortable about this.arrangement, Kikyo. She feels it's immoral and she would rather have me--"
Kikyo laughed and said, "Immoral? Well, she doesn't have anything to lose, does she? She can have you, have the money, and everything is solved. So, she can say whatever she wants to say. But you and me, we have everything to lose, don't we?"
Sesshamoru thought about that for a moment and nodded, "I know I don't want to lose anything but."
"Sesshamoru! Don't tell me you are backing out! You know you cannot be with Rin, your father has already forbade it, remember? He doesn't want, and I'm quoting here, 'a filthy low income no body' marrying his son. Face it Sesshamoru, you have nothing but to marry me, get your money that your father promised in his will, and then see Rin. Don't worry; you have your thing with her. Do you honestly think I want to be with you? No offense, but you aren't my type. Besides, I have another guy in mind."
"Don't you think it is wrong? I mean I thought that when I marry something I would love--"
"Love? Love doesn't pay for the four star hotel and the Mercedes Benz buddy! Money does and that's why I am doing this. And I know you never felt this way before. You followed the same philosophy as me. That was until, you met her and she turned your mind into hearts and flowers."
"Hey, she didn't do that to me and if she changed me, it was for the better. And call her by her real name and stop referring her to her."
Kikyo dismissed this and got to the cold hard facts, "So you in or out?"
Sesshamoru paced around the room for a couple minutes and turned to Kikyo abruptly, "I can still see Rin after we are married?"
Kikyo smiled and nodded, "You don't even have to live with me, and we can live a couple towns away and see each other at Christmas and other holidays when we have to see the folks."
"Are you sure the folks would never suspect a thing?"
"I give you my word."
"Okay, I will do it."
Kagome leaped from the door and gasped. She closed her mouth to conceal the scream that wanted to voice itself.
It was at that instant that Kikyo turned to the clock and saw it was past three and realized that Kagome would be home any minute. So turned to the door and slowly opened it.
Hey guys! Sorry this chapter is kinda longer than the rest. But, I hope you enjoyed it. For those who are wondering why Sango hadn't confided in Kagome before, I hope this clears it up.
You will also begin to see a change in Inuyasha and realize why he was acting so mean to Kagome in the beginning chapters. And in the next chapter, Sango will reveal her own feelings about Kagome and the fight and why she didn't stand up to the boys! But you must read on to see what happens to Kagome because I won't tell! Hehe..
Okie then, until next time!
~~Co Tsukino