And here's Chapter 4. Hope you enjoy.
I don't own Inuyasha or the gang.
Chapter 4: Black and Blue
"Kagome! What happened?" Sango shouted, taking Kagome's head in her hands to get a better look at her eye as she got into the car Monday morning.
"You know me. I'm so clumsy. I tripped and fell on the corner of the coffee table."
"Aw, you poor thing."
"Yeah, let's just get to school. No need to gush over the ditz. Don't want to be late."
"Right. So you hand fun on Saturday?" Sango said pulling away from Kagome's house.
It looks so peaceful and normal from out here.
"Yeah, Inuyasha was actually behaving."
"I noticed." Sango said in a knowing voice.
"What is that tone?" Kagome sat up straight in her seat and turned to face Sango.
"Give me a little credit Kagome. I know you've had a little thing for Inuyasha since you were a freshman. Last night he was particularly chivalrous and charming."
"I don't' have a thing for Inuyasha. He might be cute, but he's a complete jerk!"
"He wasn't being a jerk last night when he was saving you from Kouga. Or protecting you from Freddy and Jason."
"You...saw that, huh?" Kagome said, unable to keep the blush form her cheeks.
"Yeah. It was cute."
"It wasn't a big deal Sango."
"Whatever you say."
"Sango!" Kagome was getting genuinely agitated. "He doesn't even like me."
"That's just the way he is. Miroku says he takes a while to get used to people."
"Can we please just change the subject?"
"Alright. You want to tell me how you felt when you saw Kouga last night?"
"Scared." She whispered. "Always scared You know that."
"I do." Sango's voice got quieter too, it was full of compassion. "I just wanted to hear you say it. You can't keep bottling up all of your emotions."
"I know. Can we not talk about Kouga anymore either? I don't like thinking about him."
"Ok. That one I undertand."
Miroku was just as upset as Sango had been when he saw Kagome's eye. Kagome was flattered that he cared. Inuyasha seemed more like himself today, to Kagome's disappointment. Silent and surly looking, arms folded across his chest. He stood nearby listening, but barely looking at Kagome.
Why does he have to be so confusing?
The bell rang for fist period. Kagome gladly set of for art class alone. It was the perfect class to start the day with. It help her relax and ease into the chaos.
She took her seat near the middle of the room and set her backpack on the ground next to her chair. She started wondering around the room gathering her supplies.
Once she had all of her supplies she took her seat again, pulling her CD player out of her backpack, hitting the play button. She shut her eyes and let the music flow through her. She let her thoughts rage wild and unchecked. When she felt like she was ready she opened her eyes and picked up her paintbrush. She slowly and deliberately starting mixing colors. Purple, like her bruises. Blue like Kouga's eyes. Black like the nights she spent alone in her room. She stared swiping the brush across the surface. The colors pointed inward, a spiral of dark colors. She dipped her brush in the water, getting ready to start mixing some new colors when she saw a shadow slip over the painting. Kagome slipped her headphones off, placing them around her neck, and turned to see who was standing over her shoulder.
Inuyasha slid into the chair next to Kagome, dragging it closer. He rested his head on his hand, putting his chin in his palm, his elbow on the table next to Kagome's painting. He stayed silent for a few moments, looking at her unfinished painting. Then spoke, looking intensely into Kagome's face.
"So, are you going to tell me how you got the black eye?"
"You were there when I told Miroku. I tripped. I do it all the time."
"Bullshit. I've never seen you trip. Four years a the same school and never even once have I seen you so much as stumble. You're practically the most graceful person I've ever seen." By now he was inches from her face.
Kagome felt as if her heart stopped. She had never expected anyone to question how she explained her bruises. Everyone tripped.
"Everyone trips." She echoed her thoughts. "You just haven't noticed. I mean you couldn't even remember if I was in this class!"
"Sure that could be it. Or it could be that you're lying."
"Why do you care?" Kagome hissed, practically crying in frustration.
Inuyahsa stared at her for a moment. He opened his mouth but no words came out. He shut it again and Kagome watched his expressions change.
"I don't. You're right." He said finally, getting and walking off.
Kagome could only sit there in shock. He watched him walk away, his white hair swaying. She sighed and picked her paintbrush back up and got back to work.
When the bell rang for second period she took a chance to glance at Inuyasha. He wouldn't even look at her.
What is wrong with him now?
Kagome gingerly touched her eye, wincing when her fingers came in contact with the tender flesh. She pulled her hair down over the right side of her face. Tears started welling up in her eyes. This was turning into the week from hell.
Lunch couldn't have come faster. But it also came too quickly. She wanted to see Sango, wanted to laugh and try to forget all the things that were dragging her down. But lunch meant seeing Inuyasha.
"Hey." Sango said leaning against Kagome's locker as she gathered her things for her afternoon classes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, why?" Kagome answered wondering if her expression had given her away.
"You just looked out of it, that's all."
"I'm fine."
"How about your eye? Does it hurt?"
"No." She said touching it and shaking her head.
"Good. Ready for lunch?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
"You're not going to fight with Inuyasha are you? You guys were doing so well this weekend."
"I don't think so. I doubt he'll talk to me at all."
"What makes you say that?"
"We were talking in art, he got mad, then wouldn't even look at me." Kagome said as they got to the cafeteria.
"That's strange."
"No. That's Inuyasha."
Sango smiled and shook her head. They got their food and made their way to their new usual table. Kagome was hesitant to sit next to Inuyasha but he didn't even acknowledge her presence. He ignored her the entire way though lunch. When Sango and Miroku left to throw out their lunches Kagome decided she had enough.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Excuse me?" Inuyasha said, looking at her for the first time since art.
"You accused me of lying. I'm the one that should be angry. Why are you acting like such a baby?"
"How dare you call me a baby?"
"You're right, I'm sorry for insulting you your highness."
"Look you little wench-"
"Why are you such a jerk? What did I do to you?"
Inuyasha just stood up and left, for the second time that day. Kagome was so frustrated she could scream. When Sango and Miroku got back they both noticed.
"Where did Inuyasha go?" Miroku asked.
"Damned if I know." Kagome said trying to calm down.
Did you guys have another fight?" Sango sat down.
"What else?"
Any reprimands were cut short when the bell rang for sixth period. Kagome felt her mood darken. English, that meant she would have to see Inuyasha again. It seamed like every time she saw him her day got worse.
When she got to the classroom he was already there sulking. She took her seat, trying to ignore the glowering boy. She focused holey on the teacher. A tiny woman, both short and skinny. She had long white hair pulled back into a tight bun.
"To continue our poetry unit you are all going to get into groups of four. Each group will break down one or two poems, depending on the length. Then you will present it to the class. You can make a poster, something creative, or find a song that you feel sends the same message. No matter what you will be reading the poem with proper technique." She said passing out instructions. "Ok. You know what to do. You can get into your groups now, and get started."
Oh shit.
"Kagome! Back here." Sango said as she sat down in the back of the classoom.
Miroku and Inuyasha were there, sitting with their text books open. Inuyasha had his arms crossed as always. He always looked so surly.
"So how long do we have to do this?" Sango said, ignoring the tension between her two friends.
"The paper says that we present Monday. So all this week." He said looking at the instruction paper. "No problem. We'll just work on it in class and we should be done with plenty of time to spare."
Kagome decided she didn't care of she was being childish. If Inuyasha was going to completely ignore her, she would ignore him. She didn't need to spend her time agonizing over whether Inuyasha liked her or not.
"So what kind of poem do you want to do?" She said, not looking up form her text book.
"I'm not big on poetry, you guys can pick." Miroku said.
"Neither is Sango." Kagome responded, starting to take notes.
"I know, I meant you and Inuyasha."
"What?" Kagome's head snapped up as she stared at Inuyasha in shock. "You like poetry?"
"Yeah. So what?" Inuyasha looked even angrier than before, but a blush spread across his face nevertheless.
"Wow. I wouldn't expect you to be into poetry. Most macho guys aren't so secure in their masculinity. Do you own any pink?"
"Would you shut up, please!"
"Well since you said please-"
"Kagome!" Sango shouted, trying to stop the fight that was only starting.
Inuyasha growled, his lip twitching He leaned forward in his chair. He looked like he wasn't about to listen to anybody, he wanted to finish this.
"Fine! So what poem do you want Mr. Sensitive?"
It was Wednesday, and Miroku proclaimed that since they were doing so well with their project that they deserved a break. He informed the rest of them after school that they were going to spend the night at the amusement park and that he wasn't taking no for an answer. When Kagome protested that it was part of their project. Building group moral and unity. Inuyasha said it was complete bullshit, but was in anyway. Kagome took a bit of convincing though.
"I don't know, shouldn't we work more? I mean I'd rather do the work tonight, instead of on the weekend."
"That won't be happening. We've got it covered. If anything we'll be done Friday during school." Sango said
In the end she reluctantly agreed. She wouldn't say it, not even to Sango, but the project wasn't her only worry. She and Inuyasha hadn't been getting along that well since the project started. They were doing better than on Monday, but not anywhere close to where they had been on Saturday. They weren't shouting, but they were being a couple of babies. Even she would admit to that. They were always made snide comments to each other and criticizing each other's work. She didn't know if she would last another night with the surly boy.
Kagome actually didn't have such a bad time though once the night started. The car ride over was uncomfortable. She kept forcing group conversations. There was no way she was being left to her own devices with Inuyasha as her only company. But the park was a different story. You didn't have to talk much when they were on rides.
She wasn't always stuck with Inuyasha either. She rode some rides with Sango, and even some with Miroku. Strange as it was, she was having so much fun that she forgot that her mother might be waiting for her when she got home that night. Then, as it did whenever it seamed like she was having a good time anymore, something went wrong.
They were getting some pizza, it was way past dinnertime and their stomachs were raging. They all sat around a big bench, a giant umbrella over their hides, hiding the night sky. Not that you would be able to see any stars, the neon lights strung up everywhere hid them anyway. All that the umbrella hid was the sun in the day, and the view of a big metal roller coaster, both made Kagome thankful for its presence.
Kagome was happily stuffing a slice of pizza in her mouth and enjoying the rest her feet were getting. Miroku was teasing Sango about her fear of roller coasters and it felt good to smile. Even Inuyasha was starting to lighten up.
"No mommy! Waaaaaaaahhhh! I wanna go on the roller coaster." A young boy started screaming and wailing only a few feet away.
The mother was desperately trying to call her son down, glancing nervously at the other patrons. But the boy wasn't having it. He starting flailing his arms and screeching incoherently on the top of his lungs.
"Jeez." Inuyasha said rolling his eyes. "Just smack the kid."
"I can't believe you're such an ass." Kagome said before she knew she had even opened her mouth.
Miroku and Sango had been chucking along with Inuyasha, but all three fell silent at Kagome's words. They stared at her blankly for a moment before Inuyashsa finally said something.
"What's your problem? I was only joking."
"I-well, it wasn't funny." Kagome said, she knew her reaction had looked strange and was racing to find a way to fix it. "Sorry. I guess I'm just moody because my feet hurt. Forget I said anything."
Inuyasha nodded his head slowly, but kept watching her. His face was suddenly solemn, not angry, just serious. Kagome felt her heart beating hard in her chest. Was he staring at her eye? He couldn't know. She was imagining things. She looked away quickly and kept eating her pizza in silence.
"Why would you pick these poems? They're both so depressing." Sango whined.
"They're deep." Kagome said scribbling frantically.
"They're taking forever." Miroku followed Sango's example.
"It's not our fault you don't understand." Inuyasha said looking at the second poem, going through it line by line.
"We're going to have to finish it this weekend." Miroku said adding another magazine clipping to his collage.
"No way. You said we would be done by today. I can't believe I let you talk me into going to that stupid amusement park. We just have to finish these stupid collages and find the songs for the poems. Oh, and write the similarities between the poem and the song. And figure out who is presenting what." With each addition to her list she got more and more worried.
"Tell me again why we picked two long poems." Miroku chimed in again.
"They were the best ones." Inuyasha said, not looking up from his work.
"We were being cocky." Kagome said, finally halting her frantic scrambling to glare at Inuyasha.
"We'd be done if there hadn't been so much goofing off!" Sango said glaring at both Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Hah!" Miroku suddenly shouted. "I'm done!"
"Almost." Sango said smiling at her own poster.
"Agh. Kagome groaned.
"No way!" Inuyasha let his head hit the table.
"You're the ones who thought you could handle more." Sango said, still unable to banish her relieved smile.
"You'll just have to get together and finish." Miroku said laying an arm across Sango's shoulder.
"Uh..." Kagome started.
"He's right." Inuyasha said, in one of his rare nice tones. "We can do it at my house. Is seven ok?"
"Sure."
Working on chapter 5 as we speak. :) I really hope you liked it, because I enjoyed writing it.
