Looks Are Deceiving

Princess Sango

Kagome felt a smack on her cheek, which woke her up immediately. "Get up now lazy ass!" I didn't respond and got up and looked in the mirror. My eyes had black rings; and I had two bruises on each cheek, and various cuts and scratches. As I pulled her makeup out and gently began coating my skin with it. I never really liked the stuff, but it seemed that it was the only way people wouldn't stare.

When I was done she looked like the girl that everyone knew at school, the person everyone wanted to be. I smiled and looked down at the ground and thought, "They'll never know..." I pulled on my green long sleeve shirt and jeans on, brushed my teeth and hair, threw shoes on, grabbed my daily money and bag, and ran out the door.

"At least I can escape hell, even for a little while," I whispered to myself as I started to walk the lonely path to school. It was like this every morning her mom hit me to get up for school, cursed my name, and my dad beat me up after school with mom. It hurt, since I was seven it has been happening, it happened out of nowhere, no one saw it coming, including me.

It still stung, but I refused to cry about it. I have two roles to play, the mat and Ms. Popular. I have the highest grades in 9th grade, I'm the popular one there, and I wonder how long I can keep that up? Why can't they see past the makeup and the grades, also the fake smiles?

She saw the school come into view, it was still very early, they have an hour till they have to go start class. Enough time to catch a coffee and a decent breakfast, so I ran up to Panera and ordered a cinnamon bagel and a Carmel frappucino. I ate that and took my coffee to go as I walked back to school.

Shikon High had finally given waivers out and her parents signed it greedily, so now she didn't have to wear a uniform. That made her cry, because now they can beat me up when ever they wanted and I would always cover it up. It was betrayal from her own school; it felt like that to me anyway.

I had a half an hour so I went strolling the back yard fields of the school when I heard a scream. It was female, and then I could here a smack. I ran to see and I saw a teen my age on the floor, and a guy on top of her. It seems like he was having his way with her. Kagome looked away until the screaming stopped, rustling and a sound of heavy footsteps disappearing

I could hear her crying and I walked over to her. She looked up at me shocked and was about to run. I put my hand out; she looked like a frightened deer. "Please stop, don't run, I'm not going to tell." She looked at me like I was crazy then shock went over her face.

"Y-you're Kagome Higurashi, why would you help me?" She seemed to distrust me already.

I looked at her annoyed, "Look do you want my help or not? Your clothes are ripped, I have a spare, and I also have make up to cover those bruises and cuts." She nodded thanks as I pulled out a spare uniform, it seems she didn't have a waiver, and I also pulled out my makeup for her.

"Here you go," I looked at her back as she pulled on the uniform. When she turned around, she could have been me right then; I would've been rendered normal. She sat down and stared at the makeup, "I've never used makeup before."

I looked at her shocked, "Why haven't you? It would make you look normal."

"I know, but my parents forbid it. They know about what has been going on, and she won't let me cover it," she whispered sadly.

I opened the makeup; "I'll do it for you." I applied it gently, she didn't move, she was as still as a tree. When I finished she looked as normal as me.

"Arigatou, Kagome-sama." She bowed to me and was about to walk away.

"What's your name?"

She stopped and turned, "Sango Taijiya, second highest score next to you. Obviously that wasn't enough since this keeps happening to me."

She gave an ironic smile and disappeared. I stared at the place she stood and thought, "You may just be my friend Sango. After all, we have things in common."

I heard the warning bell ring and threw my makeup all into my bag and ran into school. "I'll have to find Sango again, we could really help each other." I smiled and ran into my homeroom. As usual, my seat all the way in the front, book out and pencils sharpened and ready. A fake smile to make everything look okay, and my eyes staring at the clock.

"Oh yes, another ordinary day..." I thought bitterly as the final bell rang. The teacher began announcements, and everything went mechanically for the rest of the day.

After school...

Got through another day, now I'm going to work to earn cash. Then straight to the library to study. Work at Marbles for four hours after school, so I don't get out till six. Make everyone ice cream, birthday cake remix, candy land, rocky road, and various others. I didn't expect Sango to walk in, and she looked at me surprised, "What would you like?" Sango just ordered birthday cake remix and I took my 30-minute break and we went out to eat the ice cream.

"Sango, what do you do after school?"

She looked down, "I study after going to get a snack."

I looked at her, "You don't have job or anything like that?"

Sango shook her head, "I don't think I'll qualify for one, not even a simple one."

I shook her head, "No you'll do fine, why don't you work here?"

Sango shook her head, "No, I really shouldn't. Anyway, I better get going to the library, bye!"

I pouted as she left, she seemed to disappear and appear quickly. I worked the hours away and ran to the library hoping Sango was there. No luck, she seemed to be long gone. So I opened my math book and tried to get into studying, which never really was hard. My mind wasn't into it today; it seemed to drift somewhere else. So I grudgingly finished my homework, skipped going anymore and left the library to go home and get beat up and cursed at.

I don't know why I just don't run away like brother Souta, but he seemed more mature, and he's only a year younger than me! They hit him twice and that's all it took, he left at the tender age of six. I remember the day he left, he offered me to come with him. I told him I had to make sure mom and dad stayed sane. So he kissed my cheek, and I kissed his and he crawled out the window and out of my room, and out of my life.

I never saw him again, and I wonder where he went, if he's okay. I ponder that often and I want to see him. Sometimes I still see his small form smiling at me and telling me goodbye. I should have left then, but I know they would've found him or me. That would've been worse. Tears filled my eyes and I blinked them away.

I opened the door and there they were, drunk and high, waiting to put their anger out on me. My body tensed waiting for the blow. Which came and my whole body slacked as I felt the hits and heard the cursing. I could smell the sake and I could feel their emotionless glazed eyes watching me. My head hit the floor and I felt pain on my head. Soon I saw the blood on the tile, and blackness clouded my vision.

TBC...