Hello. As promised chapter five, and not too long after chapter four. I want to take a second to say thank you for the two reviews I've got so far. It's not much, but it was really nice to hear that someone like my story. Hoping for more in the future. I also want to say that I'm starting another story that I'll be writing at the same time as this one. I have more time to write now so I really don't think this will story will suffer. The new story is called Love Heals and it's going to be a little darker. So look for it soon. :)
Just a warning: the next chapter is where I introduce Kikyo. I'm not her biggest fan, I'm not going to go totally out of my way to bash her, but this story is about Kagome and Inuyasha so, she isn't going to be an angel.
I don't own Inuyasha or the others.
Chapter Five: A Day in the Life
Kagome noticed that Sango was in a slightly different mood today. She was much more quiet. It would seem that Kagome found Sango's weakness, as bright and cheery as she was during the day it was painfully obvious that Sango was not a morning person.
"Still tired?" Kagome ventured, testing the water in case her new friend was grouchy.
"I just didn't get very much sleep last night." Sango said. "It happened last year too, I guess I just get homesick easier than I though."
"It's understandable. I miss my little brother already, and he's a brat. I feel the worst when I think of my mother. She was so upset before I left home. She moped around a lot."
"I miss my brother the most. I miss my dad too, but not as much as Kohaku."
"What about you're mom? Did she take it hard when you left home?"
"She never had to deal with it." Sango was suddenly more like she had been yesterday, her voice got lighter and she seamed more awake. "She died when Kohaku was born."
Kagome was silent for a moment. It had been hard to miss how Sango had changed at the mention of her mother. One moment she was slowly getting ready for the day, struggling as she tried to wake up. Whenever someone mentioned her father Kagome got upset, or serious, somber. Sango was trying to hide her pain from others.
Maybe she is even hiding it from herself. Does she always bottle up her emotions like this?
Kagome shook herself out of her contemplation. Realizing that she had not apologized after saying something that bothered Sango, even if the other girl wasn't about to let her know. She almost blushed in shame, her stomach down at her knees.
"I'm sorry." She said in a voice barely above a whisper.
"It's ok, really. It was a long time ago." Sango waved her hand dismissively.
Kagome nodded, searching for a new topic. She wasn't about to push her new friend. Someday she would realize on her own that everything wasn't all right, and Kagome would be there to listen when she did.
"So are you ready? I'm starving, I was up half the night."
"Of course." Kagome replied in a voice to match Sango's more familiar, cheerful tone.
The dinning hall was a building on it's own, nothing too different from you basic high school cafeteria. Just a big open, square room, long tables set up anywhere there was room. On the far side of the immense room, opposite from the main doors was a long island where students were moving slowly in a line, collecting their food.
Kagome couldn't resist taking a moment to simply stand in the doorway and scan the room slowly, taking in every detail. She watched a few of the students as they sat together and ate their breakfast, she took in the color of the wooden tables, the red curtains, the white tile floors. She even paused to scan some of the flyers on an immense bulletin board. She was still looking over some of these when an agitated Sango grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her in the direction of the food.
"Hungry are we?" Kagome asked, a hint of amusement in her voice as she dug her heels in.
"You know I am. Come on, move it." Sango snapped giving Kagome's arm an extra tug.
The food laid out in front of her didn't impress her too much, but she hadn't expected it to. Shikon Academy may be better than her high school when it came to art programs. But it was still a school cafeteria after all, and there was never anything magical about cafeteria food. But none of it made her stomach want to turn either, so it wasn't all that bad.
Once she and Sango had laden their trays with plenty of food Sango lead the way to a table off by the windows. Kagome wasn't sure how to feel when Sango began waving to a pair already seated at the table they were headed for. Miroku and Inuyasha. She knew they would be there, they were Sango's best friends after all. Kagome liked Miroku well enough, but she still wasn't sure what to think of Inuyasha. One minute he was being a complete jerk, the next he was being considerate, well...sort of.
Kagome slid into her seat next to Sango, across from Inuyasha. She stared down at her tray at first, not wanting to look up into those amber eyes. Miroku greeted them both, and with an quiet sigh she lifted her gaze from her pancakes to return the greeting.
"Good morning ladies. You're both looking lovely today."
"Good morning Miroku." Kagome said still feeling a little shy.
"Good morning lech." Sango teased inoocently before turning her attention to Inuyasha, speaking in an icier tone. "Good morning Inuyasha.""Feh. Morning."
Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, causing it to sit on just the two back legs, folding his arms behind his head. The remains of what had been a large breakfast sat on a tray in front of him. His silver hair was spilling over the back of the chair, shimmering in the morning light. His adorable dog ears twitched minutely on the top of his head as he listened to the sounds around the room. His amber eyes were wide as he stared at ceiling high above them.
Wait. Did I just...think...Inuyasha's ears were adorable?!?!
Then it happened again. Those golden eyes turned to her, caught in the act. Why did she always have to stare? There was just something about him. He raised an eyebrow again in that questioning way and Kagome felt her cheeks grow hot. She tossed her head a little, hoping her raven hair would shield her face, and hide the fact that she was blushing a magnificent shade of red. She was praying silently with all of her might that he would not say anything about the incident.
She attempted to turn to her right and talk to Sango, hoping that if she was busy doing something else Inuyasha wouldn't start another fight. But Sango and Miroku were already engaged in what looked like an intense conversation. Kagome was so flustered, her mind in such a mess that she couldn't really make sense of what they were saying anyway. Then a voice cut through the clatter.
"Sleep well?"
"Yes." Kagome answered, unable to keep the slight suspicion out of her voice. "Why do you ask?"
"Most people don't sleep so well their first few nights. Homesick, miss their families, getting used to new bed, new room, all that."
"It does take some getting used to, but I was really tired so I didn't have any real problems. I'm sure you didn't have any problems." Kagome commented, remembering that the night before Inuyasha may or may not have made a jab at her awkwardness in social situations.
"As a matter of fact I didn't."
"Of course you didn't. Big, tough guy like you."
"Now see here wench-"
"Oh calm down. I was only teasing. You don't have to get all mean and macho on me." Kagome said feeling a bit braver, it was actually kind of fun baiting Inuyasha. "Take a deep breath kid."
Kagome leaned back in her chair, imitating Inuyasha's position, hoping it made her look more self-assured. Then she got the surprise of the day. Inuyahsa actually smiled. It was more like a smirk, but that was good enough for her. So the beast had a sense of humor sometimes after all. She never would have guessed it.
The moment was cut short though when another figure approached the table. Kagome looked over Inuyasha right shoulder. The first thing she saw was one of those annoying, tiny, pleated skirts that she was getting really tired of. It was predictable shade of baby pink corduroy. Above that a white cap-sleeved tee, some sappy fake add printed on pink across the chest, no doubt some lurid euphemism. Kagome almost couldn't bare to look into this girls face. When she did she wanted to go straight down at stare at her feet.
It was frightening how similar she was to Kagome, with her pale skin, raven hair, and brown eyes. But the differences were what her so frightening. She did look a little older, more refined in a way. Her features were more matured but her expression was so cold, her cheeks held no warmth. Her familiar brown eyes were hooded, giving her a bored appearance. But when you looked into those ocher depths you saw they held only brooding, and disgust. Kagome felt ice go down her spine when the girl managed a smile. It was pretty enough if you didn't look into her eyes. I smile isn't a real smile unless you can see it in the eyes. All this girl did was bear here teeth. Her eyes just stayed empty, and cold.
How can anyone stand to be around her? She is so...dead.
"Who's your new friend honey?" The girl said, tossing her dark tresses and seating herself on Inuyasha's lap.
Honey?!
"This is Sango's new roommate." Inuyasha looked as if he were waiting for Kagome to introduce herself, but Kagome could not bring herself to utter a syllable. "Her name's Kagome."
"Hi I'm Kikyo." The girl said offering a perfectly manicured hand.
Kagome could only stare at the hand for moment before taking in her own. For some reason she had this insane fear that Kikyo was going to try and stab her with her French tips.
"Nice to meet you." She finally managed to choke out before she actually resorted to staring at the girl's shoes, a monstrously uncomfortable looking pair of pink, pointy heels.
"Oh, good morning Kikyo." Sango said in a voice that did not mask her displeasure when she finally noticed someone had joined their group.
Kagome glanced over at the other two at the table to see if she could get an idea of how they felt about this Kikyo girl. Sango stared at her with blatant distaste, and Miroku looked positively pissed.
Thank goodness someone else doesn't like her. How can Inuyasha be dating someone that his friends obviously don't like?
"Sango. Miroku." Was her only response as she peered down her nose at them from her perch on Inuyasha's lap, taking the time to look Sango over in a blatantly disapproving manner.
Miroku and Sango maintain I silent, tense vigilance on the girl as she turned to Inuyasha leaving them behind her back. Sango rolled her eyes and began a quieter conversation with Miroku. Kagome was left to sit and pick at her breakfast in silence. But as always curiosity got the better of her.
She wanted to see what they were like together, Kikyo and Inuyasha. This wasn't any warm fuzzy relationship, that was clear. Kikyo spent most of the time prattling on about nothing really important and Inuyasha sat in silence, a look of reverence on his face. Kagome suddenly felt sickened and tried to ignore them, but Kikyo's voice was inescapable.
"Come on." A voice whispered in her ear, a hand holding her arm.
Sango and Miroku were standing behind her chair, Sango was the one holding on to her trying to pull her to her feet. Miroku leaned over and took her tray and added it to the stack he was carrying. Kagome rushed to her feet and pushed her chair in.
"We're going to go watch some T.V., you can join us later if you want." With that Sango started across the floor to the doors and Kagome blissfully followed.
"That is Inuyasha's girlfriend?!!" Kagome said as soon as the doors shut behind the three of them.
"Yeah. Kikyo. They've known each other since they were in middle school. Then they both came here."
"She's so cold." Kagome replied, a hint of disbelief still in her voice.
"Yeah. She's a real bitch. She hates Miroku and I, we waist too much of Inuyasha's time. But that's ok the feelings mutual."
"How can he go out with someone that doesn't like his two best friends?"
"She wasn't always like that." Miroku spoke for the first time in a while. "Sango wouldn't know, as far as she knows that is the way Kikyo has always been. But I knew her when she was a sweet girl. But that was a long time ago. Ever since she started high school she's just been different."
"It's so hard to believe she was actually a nice person at some point." Sango said shaking her head in disbelief.
"Yeah but she isn't like that anymore, so why is Inuyasha still with her?" Kagome asked.
"Inuyasha still sees her as the girl she used to be. He doesn't want to let go of that old Kikyo." Miroku continued.
"Come on guys. We have to start school tomorrow could we please just have a nice day. Kikyo free if at all possible." Sango said.
It may sound like a waste of your last day of freedom, sitting around on a couch in a common room watching T.V. and movies. But it was one of the better days that Kagome could remember. It was just her, Miroku and Sango camped out in front of the tube talking, laughing. They took turns putting in their favorite movies.
Around four they were staring another round of movies, Kagome had just put in White Oleander and they were settling down for a good drama. Miroku was sprawled out, his legs draped over the laps of the two girls. His head was tilted back over the arm of the sofa as he whined about having to watch another chick flick.
"Why are all your picks the same Kagome?"
"You mean the same as in they have intelligence, and lack toilet humor, or that they actually involve you to think and experience emotions?"
Sango chuckled as Miroku moaned and crossed his arms over his chest. She grabbed one of his cheeks and tugged on it as if he were a small child.
"Well aren't you just the cutest thing when you pout." Miroku raised an eybrow, a small smile crept onto his face, Sango quickly turned away and continued, ignoring the blush on her cheeks. "Oh cheer up, it sounds like a good movie."
"What movie?" A voice said next to Kagome and she froze as she felt a the cushion next to her sink.
"White Oleander." Sango answered without turning to look at who had joined them. "It's one of Kagome's favorites."
Kagome took a deep breath and tried to ignore the warmth of his body next to her. She took a chance to glance at him. He was lounging comfortably on the couch next to her, Kikyo nowhere in sight. Kagome tried to shift her position, but it was hard, Sango was sitting against her, Miroku's legs across hers. She managed to settle down into the cushions, then felt her arm brush against something soft, and firm. She was almost afraid to look. She stiffened a little bit, wondering why she cared. Miroku and Sango decided to take this opportunity to get drinks, leaving her alone with Inuyasha.
She glanced down at her arm where it was pressed against Inuyasha's side. She took a chance and looked at his face to see if he had noticed. If he had he didn't care, but he did notice her looking at him. Kagome held her breath hoping he wouldn't say anything about it.
"Staring again wench?"
"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't realize I wasn't allowed to look at you."
"Hmph." Inuyasha folded his arms over his chest and resumed watching the movie.
Miroku and Sango came back with the sodas, putting a halt to the conversation. Miroku was smirking, Sango was bright red, and Kagome couldn't decide if it was because of anger or something else.
Inuyasha pulled the covers back and slid into bed. Miroku was down the hall taking a shower, hoping he could stay in bad as long as possible before having to go to class.
The room was quiet, the only sound was the wind through the trees outside, every so often his ears picked up the soft footfalls of people walking the halls. He burrowed his face into his pillow willing himself to sleep. But something was keeping him awake. It was a fuzzy image hovering in the back of his mind.
It was a girl, he could see the graceful curves of her body, her long raven hair. It was Kikyo. But something was different. Now it was clearer. Something in the face. This girl was younger, or more vibrant looking, there was more life in her. And her eyes, they were so full of expression. A smile was even different, it was so genuine, and her eyes sparkled along with it.
She looked so much like Kikyo, but just not the same. Could it be Kikyo when they were younger, when they went to middle school together. This picture was certainly younger, but Kikyo had never been so bright, so full of life. It was Kagome.
Why am I thinking of her?
Inuyasha rolled over onto his back to stare at the white ceiling. He hadn't thought of another girl for a long time. He loved Kikyo, he didn't need anyone else. He was only thinking of Kagome because she was so like Kikyo, that was the only explanation.
But she wasn't like Kikyo. Kikyo was never as shy as Kagome. She had always been outgoing. Kagome was so quiet, but when she spoke she was so funny, and happy. She didn't smile as much as Kikyo, but when she did it was so genuine.
Inuyasha groaned and covered his face with the covers. So many thoughts were running through his mind. He was having trouble keeping them in order. What was the point he was trying to make? Was there a point?
The door opened, the room was briefly flooded with light. Then it shut again and he heard Miroku fumbling through the dark. Inuyasha pulled down the blankets, his eyes easily seeing in the dark. A smile crept onto his face as he clearly saw Miroku run into the corner of his desk.
"Damn it!" He shouted, sending Inuyasha fit of laughter.
"Oh fuck off Inuyasha." Miroku grumbled as he got into bed.
"What's wrong? Maybe that slap Sango gave you earlier is still stinging?"
Miroku was practically growling with anger. Inuyasha was impressed, he almost sounded like demon. Miroku didn't have to say anything, it was obvious how much Miroku liked Sango. He chased a lot of girls, but in the end it was just to make Sango jealous. It really did hurt him when she shot him down. Then again his method wasn't exactly appropriate or straightforward. Maybe he only did things that way because he was trying to let her know how he felt without having to say it. As touchy as he was he shy in his own strange way.
Inuyasha drifted off to sleep listening to his roommate mumbling insults under his breath a mischievous smile on his face. He dreamed of a beautiful young girl with dark hair, and smiling brown eyes. But when he woke the next morning couldn't remember.
There is chapter five.
Here's what I think about Kikyo: She died. I know it was sad, they were in love, they were tricked, they both suffered. But she is dead. She is not the same person she used to be. It's like in the Axis trilogy and Wayfarer Redemption, when Niah died and came back she was warped by her death. That's the way this is. Kikyo is different and is NOT the same person Inuyasha loved. So I'm making her character "emotoinally dead."
Working on chapter six, and chapter one of Love Heals.