The aimless chatter of high school students, the warm rays of the sun, the soft breeze of a blooming spring, all were unnoticed to her as she walked steadily into the school she attended everyday. Her glazed eyes saw all this, but captured none of it. Mind blank, breath slow, she might as well have been a living doll. Her thoughts were elsewhere, far beyond the old brick walls that enclosed her.
She hadn't noticed her legs had ceased to walk and a boy walked past her purposely colliding into her shoulder. She stumbled a bit, and slowly turned her tranquil gaze upon him. His face donned a sardonic grin as he "apologized". Her empty gaze stared at him as he retreated behind a corner, laughing. Her face remained indifferent.
She continued her slow pace. Right foot step. Left foot step. A slow tedious task. All the while, her head rotated about her, surveying the sky, the trees, the grass, as if she'd never seen them before. She passed a lush patch of grass and stopped, letting her bag fall from her shoulder. She sat down and stared lifelessly at the ground.
She remained that way until the bell rang. Her fellow students milled about her, throwing a strange look in her direction once in while. Her hand traced away a single blade of grass and plucked it. She brought it slowly and painfully to her face and touched it to her lips. The green grass flittered from her fingers back to the ground. Her gaze moistened.
"Kagome...?"
She startled slightly at the sound of her name, but her body refused to turn and recognize her caller.
"Kagome, what are you doing?"
Two hands gently shifted her shoulders as her head automatically lolled up to find the worried expression of Kouga. Her misty gray irises stared blankly at him.
"If you don't hurry, we'll be late."
Her stare remained unblinking. Kouga felt a chill run down his spine. He waved a hand in front of her eyes repeating her name.
"Kagome?"
No response.
He kneeled down next to her. The once large crowd of buzzing students were now reduced a select few hurrying to catch class in time for the last bell. Kouga tugged Kagome's hand anxiously. Her arm shook, but her gaze never broke.
"Please, we'll get in trouble if we're late."
One single movement animated her otherwise frozen features. A small drop fell from her eyelashes and slid down her cheek. Kouga panicked as he abruptly let go of Kagome's hand.
"Why are you crying? Kagome, what—"
Two arms encircled his neck, and enveloped him a tight hug. He felt a soft wetness on his shoulder as he almost toppled over from her sudden action. Her torso shuddered with shallow whimpers.
"Kagome," He said, breathless and utterly stunned. His muscles relaxed and he placed a ginger hand on her back. He could hear her sobs now, muffled but very audible next to his ear. Maybe he could spare being late to class today.
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A small cup of water was offered to Kagome as she gently accepted it, sipping at small intervals. Her eyes were slightly swollen and pink and her cheeks red and blotchy. Once rather neat black strands were now tousled raven locks. Kouga sent a worried sidelong glance at her before asking,
"What happened?"
Kagome looked away from Kouga's curious stare, still sipping the ice cool water. Her jaw tightened, unnoticeably. Kouga fidgeted under the silence, unsure of whether he should repeat his inquiry.
"Is it something I should know about?"
Kagome gritted her teeth, thoughts unearthing themselves in her brain. Her eyebrows Her pulse quickened involuntarily. Other than that, no words were uttered.
Kouga sighed in the silence. Perhaps she didn't really need his consoling. Perhaps she never really needed him. He made a gesture of departure when she suddenly spoke aloud.
"Wait," she said, eyes hidden from the black of her hair. Kouga froze and gazed back at her, confused.
"Please," she said, then a bit softer, "just stay with me a little longer."
Kouga slowly, hesitantly, stepped toward her and took a position next to Kagome. He carefully grasped her fingers in his as they stood there in silence, the shade from nearby trees casting their tranquil shadows upon the two young persons.
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Inu Yasha walked toward school, humming a small tune. He wondered why he even bothered to come to school. It was a waste of his time anyways. For some reason, the burden he usually carried in his chest was rather light today. He peeked around the corner and stepped with an extra jubilance.
He walked through the open entrance to the school, gazing intently at the tall arch of the wall like a small child. He scooted behind a pillar as a security personnel sauntered past. After stealing a glance, Inu quickly darted safely to the other side of the hall.
He comically sighed and wiped his forehead and proceeded across the rather beautiful outdoor campus setting. A small breeze tugged gently at his shoulder blade long hair and his loose clothing. His mind wandered aimlessly from blankness to thought to blankness.
Black raven hair, glimmering tenderly in the tiny rays of sun, pale skin, rosy lips. Lips... What was that? Did he just think about...? He shook his head and walked on, placing a hand on the bark of the slim tree. He glanced sideways and paused. Maybe the sunlight was playing humorous games with his vision. His eyes wrinkled as he squinted slightly.
Two figures...black...hair? yes, hair...a boy...and...his vision blurred again...the other seemed like a girl...long jet black hair...pale skin...could it?
Inu Yasha darted behind a bush, carefully making sure his steps were smooth and silent. Peering through the bushes, he saw the two figures more clearly now. Now that he thought about it, he was surprised he even noticed them in the first place. Neither moved and they blended in with the stillness of the trees.
It was most definitely Kagome. Inu Yasha could never mistake her long dark tresses or her smooth porcelain skin. His eyes traced their way down her back until he saw something he didn't expect: a pair of hands, fingers interlaced. At first, he halted and imagined that perhaps this girl wasn't Kagome after all. But...if it was Kagome...who was this other guy?
Inu Yasha leaned slowly to the side, using his arm as support. Black hair, a decent figure...tanned skin...still, nothing rang of recognition in Inu Yasha's brain. If only I could see his face... Yasha leaned farther and at the most caught a small glimpse of the boy's chin. Inu Yasha let out a inward growl of frustration. This is getting me nowhere.
With inhumane swiftness, he adjusted his position to a bush that offered a better angle for catching their faces. He blinked as he peered through the leaves.
Kouga?
A small growl rumbled in his stomach. Why is Kouga here? And with Kagome? He grimaced to suppress the aggressive sounds from escaping his lips as he continued to glare at the two figures who were, at the moment, entirely unaware of his presence. Questions floated in his head, but he calmly decided to leave the scene and ponder else where, lest they discover him.
He didn't have to trouble himself as a sharp tap on his shoulder caused a gasp to fall from his throat. Kikyou stood towering over his crouched person. Her perfect black locks framed her flawless face accented by a ray of sunlight to make a completely intimidating woman.
"What are you, the renowned rebellious Inu Yasha, sitting here hiding behind a bush for?" she asked. It wasn't a question; it was more of a loud declaration.
Kouga whipped his head around to face a grinning Kikyou. Kagome had seen her as well, but kept hidden from Kikyou's hawk-like stare from behind Kouga and the protective shadow of a tree. At the sound of Inu Yasha's voice, her heart constricted and she peered out from the side of Kouga's shoulder.
"Kikyou..." Inu Yasha said in breathless surprise.
"Get away from here, bitch," snarled Kouga, his muscles tense and ready.
Kikyou glared coolly at Kouga, but it was apparent her pride was injured by his impertinence. "My business is not with you, my dear wolf, it is with Inu Yasha." When pronouncing Inu's name, she smiled sleekly at him, baring pearly teeth.
Inu Yasha, still on the ground, said to her in a low even tone, "What do you want?"
"Inu Yasha, I'm only here to tell you the truth," she said, sending a sidelong glance at Kagome. Kagome shrunk behind Kouga, her courage bending under Kikyou's gaze.
"The truth about Kagome."
Inu Yasha twitched.
"You shouldn't worry too much about her anyways, she never really stays with a man longer than she needs too. Occassionally," Kikyou's piercing glare fell directly on Kagome and Kouga, "she likes to have a few at a time."
"What are you saying?" Kouga barked.
Kikyou gave him a sympathetic look. "Don't be so disappointed. Is it that much of a shock that you're being used by a simple girl like her?"
"You shut up! Kagome's not like that!" Kouga yelled defensively. Kagome felt his hand tighten around hers. Kagome only gave Kikyou a small glance. Her mind was too distraught and heavy that whatever repulsive insults that woman shot at her were lost in the cloudy melancholy of her head.
Inu Yasha had shot onto his feet in moments and stood, casting a shadow over Kikyou's face. Inu Yasha was silent, but no words could substitute the glare Kikyou found on his face.
"Rather disturbed by that comment, aren't we?" Kikyou whispered, keeping a cool exterior. Inu Yasha continued to glare at her, his fists clenched.
"Why are you so upset?" Kikyou questioned, trailing a finger along Inu Yasha's lips. He grimaced, but remained still.
Kouga felt a small tug on his fingers as he turned to look at Kagome, surprised. She had hidden her face with her hair and whispered, "Let's go." Her voice was barely audible.
"But—" he was interrupted by a sharper tug of her hand.
Inu Yasha swiveled his eyes to the retreating Kagome. "Kagome, where are you going?" His voice was uncharacteristically feeble. She halted, her head still bowed. Then continued walking.
"Kagome!"
A slender hand grasped his jaw with severe strength. The edges of Kikyou's manicured nails dug uncomfortably into Inu Yasha's skin. "Why do you call for her? Why do you look at her when you have me right in front of you?" Her hold relaxed from his face as her eyes softened into a look of sorrow and longing. He hesitated.
All their surroundings seemed to dissipate as Kikyou's eyes fell to gaze at Inu Yasha's lips. Her hand held his cheek and her fingers stroked his face tenderly. Her irises grew sad and her lips were smiling painfully.
"For two long years I have waited to touch your face, to stare into your eyes, to feel your warmth. Whenever I look at you, my lips..." her index and middle finger glided across his bottom lip, "long for yours."
She drew closer, her gaze resting on his eyes. They were a pale shade of yellow, framed lowering lashes. She inwardly smiled as she closed her eyes, mingling her breath with his, melting into him with a smooth sleek gesture.
Somehow we always tend to be deceived so easily.
Kagome's legs traveled swiftly, Kouga stumbling to keep up with her pace. She gritted her teeth with determination. Don't look back. She stared intensely at the ground ahead of her, her eyebrows knitted. Whatever you do, don't look. Her vision grew cloudy and she saw the image of Inu Yasha that'd been haunting her all day, that picture of his lips pressed onto hers... She almost stumbled over a crack in the sidewalk.
"Kagome, are you okay?" cried Kouga, breathless.
The black haired girl didn't respond, only wiped her face roughly and walked faster than before. The image grew clearer and clearer until she couldn't see what was in front of her anymore. She slowed and came to a halt, leaning on the pole of a light post for support.
"Kagome, please rest! What's wrong? That woman just insulted you and you ran off!" Kouga said with an ill temper.
Kagome couldn't hear his words. They were nothing but blurry sounds to her ears. Her only perception now was sight and she cursed it as her head slowly turned behind her to face the foe she'd been running from. Or rather two foes.
Despite the distance, Kagome could see his face relax with content and surrender. His hands rested on her waist, encouraging Kikyou's satanic magic. Kikyou held his face with both of her perfect hands, stroking his face with the air of a snake curling around its prey. Inu Yasha had fallen headfirst into her illusion as Kagome looked on.
That's when it struck her to question the meaning of a kiss. A kiss didn't have to be a symbol of love. A kiss could simply be a gesture of entertainment. The feelings she felt when he'd kissed her had only been foolish uprisings of the heart. But somehow, in her chest, she felt that this kiss Inu Yasha shared with Kikyou was as ideal as love could be. And it strangled her.
Ice froze around her throbbing heart as she clutched her chest. She fought to tear her eyes away from this truth but only managed to look away from Inu Yasha's and Kikyou's figures. The pain in her heart remained.
Kagome wondered if she would have to live with this kind of pain everyday for the rest of her life as Kouga caught her right as her knees gave way.
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Kagome woke up to gaze at the beige ceiling tiles of the nurses' office. She blinked dizzily, her head lolling to and fro. She didn't remember how she got here, and squinted at the bright ceiling lights in her attempt to recall recent events. She seemed to have been running away from someone, her brain told her. Who was it? Rather lengthy black hair...amber eyes...a familiar image permeated into her conscious. But it was followed by a different, very upsetting image.
A kiss.
Kikyou.
Those two words molded together to form the scene she'd seen in her fraction-of-a-second long glance. Inu Yasha captured in Kikyou's embrace and his relaxed soothed features as she kissed him. She kissed him. Just like that. Even after he'd threatened her, she managed to make him love her in that single moment. No, maybe not a single moment...probably several moments...what had happened?
Kagome hissed and clutched her head, diving under the thin, white sheet. She didn't want to know any more than she already did! Grasping her head tighter so that she swore she'd torn out a couple hairs, she grimaced and whimpered. Stop thinking, brain, she howled in her head, stop! I don't want to remember!
"Kagome?" A swift sweep of the curtains surrounding Kagome's temporary bed revealed a worried Kouga. He kneeled by the bed, concern riddled all over his forehead. Kagome halted and peered out from under the covers.
"Kagome, are you alright?" He said softly, stroking the side of her cheek consolingly. His tender earthy eyes eradicated Kagome's fear and anger as she exhaled slowly. She felt at this moment that any type of soothing gesture would calm her soul, the same as any type of distressing gesture would send her into a storm. Simply, she felt her defenses had fallen and left her utterly vulnerable.
Kagome closed her eyes and gave a small quivering smile, regretting she couldn't tell Kouga how much he comforted her. Kouga's thumb brushed across the corner of her eye and trailed small circles along her skin. He felt his heart melt, the remnants drawing toward Kagome's sleeping figure, disheveled but calm. He drew away the stray hair over her forehead and kissed it, finally letting his hand slip from her face.
The curious nurse stepped in and glanced at Kouga. Her eyes narrowed in surprise and annoyance. "What are you doing here? Get back to class," she ordered rather curtly. Kouga stood motionless. "I said get back to class," she repeated, disconcerted at his unresponsiveness. Kouga's eyes thinned, but otherwise, he didn't move.
Before the nurse could cry out any other order or threat, a hand rested softly on her shoulder and a low, but clear voice could be heard. "He came with me." Golden eyes glared unblinkingly at the nurse. She froze in his fearful gaze. "Here's our pass," Inu Yasha added carelessly tossing the piece of paper, leaving the wide-eyed nurse to recover from her shock. The amber-eyed boy closed the door swiftly behind him and found himself face to face with a marbel-faced Kouga.
Inu Yasha's eyebrows rose slightly at the offensive expression, but said nothing. His eyes fell to a sleeping Kagome, tucked within white sheets. His mind panicked and wondered whether she'd seen him with Kikyou...
Inu Yasha took a step toward Kagome's hospital bed and Kouga swiftly intercepted him. A low growl rose from his lips. Inu Yasha halted, unsure of the reason behind the unkind gesture. Before Yasha could open his mouth,
"Don't you dare come near her," Kouga hissed forcefully, his eyes a dangerous shade of aqua. A feeling of annoyance bubbled inside of Inu Yasha as he was offended by Kouga's meaningless hostility.
"I don't take orders from you," Inu Yasha said, warningly. Kouga bristled and lowered himself into an offensive stance, readying for a pounce. "I know you may dislike me, but violence is uncalled for," said Inu Yasha with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut up," Kouga growled. "Kagome's in the nurse's office and the only reason I can think up is you." Knuckles cracked and a coming fight became definite.
Inu Yasha backed away slightly at these words. Does that mean she saw--? A fist charged at his face as he caught it precariously, stopping it centimeters from his cheek. Kouga cursed and drew back, preparing another blow. Inu Yasha slid to the side as Kouga barely missed Inu's jaw. Kouga's other hand swung back in a large arc to plant itself into Inu Yasha's chest, sending him backwards, tripping over Kagome's bed.
Kagome blinked with a start. She felt an uncomfortable weight on her legs and noticed a yellow-eyed someone was sprawled width-wise over the bed. Her eyes grew wide and her pupils drew inward. She kicked furiously, freeing her legs from Inu Yasha's weight.
"Get away from me! Get away!" she yelled, pushing herself as far away from him as possible. Her breath had managed to jump back into the erratic adrenaline-powered pulse. She eyed him fearfully, like a deer to a lion as Inu Yasha stared back at her blankly.
His hand slowly reached out to her, but she flinched away, kicking herself as close to the head of the bed a possible. Small whimpering sounds escaped Kagome's mouth. Inu Yasha lowered his hand and looked away, defeat riddled across his face. Kouga stepped between them, and glared at Inu Yasha again.
"You are the cause of all this. Get out."
Inu stared at Kouga's fiery eyes, then at Kagome's fear-induced ones. A pained grimace appeared on his face. He had to make one last attempt.
"Kagome—" she shuddered at the sound of her name "—I don't think you'll understand, but I want you to know you won't have to see me anymore. So you don't have to be afraid...please…" He sent her another worried glance. She gazed with quivering eyes. His feet carried him difficultly through the door as it shut with a soft click.
Kagome's breath remained unstable as her eyes fell from the door and her hands clutched the front of her shirt. Small droplets seeped through her eyes and soaked into the white sheets. Her hands shuddered as she hugged herself, whimpers escalating into wracking sobs. Kouga seated himself beside her and allowed her to take comfort in his warmth and hugged her tightly, hoping that the tears she shed weren't for the love of the cursed amber-eyed boy.
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AN: man, this story's wacked. o__O
Kagome: indeed -___-;;;
Inuyasha: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LOVE??? O_O
Kagome: *cough*
Me: nobody loves you, silly Inuyasha. =D
Inuyasha: *emotional stab*
Kouga: I, Kouga, on the other hand, am a sexy beast. :-D oh yea.
Kagome: o___o;;;
Shippou: o___o;;;
Sango: o___o;;;
Miroku: woo, you know it! ^v^
*silence*
Miroku: ^v^?
*whisper*
Kagome: I think ur lover boy's gay Sango. I'm sorry. u__u
Sango: o___O;;
Miroku: what did I do?
Shippou: u___u;;;;;;;;;;
Kouga: Here's my number *sexy smile* *tucks paper slip into miroku's monk dress...thing*
Miroku: O__________O
Me: we need more gays in the series anyways.
*everyone shudders*
me: or not...? ^^;;
Oh wellz. ^_^ btw, I'm too tired to do the special thx thingy, sry peeps. Writing stuff sucks up my energy. Which is hard to believe considering the crap I write. ^^;;; but uh, humor me, k?
Hope the story doesn't get more crazy or overly dramatic in the next chappie,
Ja ne!
~meow-chan~
