"Higurashi." the teacher said.
The girl didn't pay attention and continued staring at her notebook.
"Higurashi, answer the question." the teacher came to her desk and placed a hand on the notebook.
"Yes..." the startled girl looked at the older man. He looked at her questioningly. "Excuse me..." Kagome cried and ran outside.
The teacher and her classmates were shocked. Some of them exchanged confused looks, shrugged, but didn't say anything. Then everybody's eyes turned to the teacher.
"Does anybody know what's wrong with her?" he asked.
"Maybe she's sick again." Ayumi suggested.
"Maybe..." the teacher said mostly to himself and then looked at Ayumi. "Gather Higurashi's things and when you find her, take her home."
"Ok." the girl smiled.
She searched the entire school and finally found Kagome sitting under a tree in the back yard. It seemed that she was crying. Ayumi sighed in relief she had found her and headed toward her friend.
"Kagome-chan, are you alright?" Ayumi crouched in front of the other girl.
Kagome had hugged her legs close to her chest and rested her head on her knees. She lifted her head to look at her friend and hiccupped.
"Ayumi-chan, what are you doing here?" she asked and wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I came to see if you're ok." the girl smiled.
"I'm fine." Kagome whispered and looked away. "I may be sick again."
"Oh, come on, Kagome-chan." Ayumi placed a hand under her friend's chin and turned her head toward her. "I know you too well. It's something else, isn't it?"
Kagome stayed silent, only more tears ran down her cheeks. 'How can I tell her? Will she understand?' she thought.
"You know you can tell me anything." Ayumi placed her other hand on her friend's shoulder.
'It's all about trust, isn't it?' Kagome thought and sighed.
"I'm your friend. I would never let you down." Ayumi said and Kagome's eyes widened in realizing how stupid she is for pushing away one of her best friends. A friend, that has always been there for her, no matter what. "Trust me."
"It's all because of him." Kagome cried and the other girl hugged her.
"What did he do this time?" Ayumi asked, a little calmer knowing that it wasn't something serious. At least she thought so. After all she didn't know all the details.
"Nothing." the other girl cried. "I just can't take it anymore. I thought it would be enough to just stay with him but... It hurts... He'll never forget her."
"Calm down, Kagome-chan." Ayumi stroke her hair trying to comfort her, but failing.
"He doesn't tell me anything anymore. I feel I'm loosing him. He's slipping away." Kagome hiccupped. "What should I do?"
"Tell him how you feel." Ayumi pushed her slightly away.
"And then what? It doesn't matter if he knows or not. His head is full of her!" Kagome almost screamed. 'He even has nightmares about her...' she continued thinking.
"He can't be so in love with her." Ayumi said. "Think of something she can't give him but you can. Maybe then he'll see you... like her."
'Like her...' Kagome thought. 'I don't want Inuyasha to see me like Kikyou.'
"Thank you, Ayumi-chan." Kagome wiped her tears and tried to smile. Her only wish now was to be alone.
"That's better." the other girl smiled too and helped her friend stand up. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No, Ayumi-chan, I want to be alone for a while. I need to think." Kagome said and took her bag from her friend.
"Ok, but you won't say I didn't send you home. I don't want extra math classes." Ayumi smiled and Kagome nodded this time smiling for real.
When the girls parted Kagome walked slowly home. She needed time to think and with her annoying brother that was almost impossible. When she reached the stairs to her family shrine she sat down on the second step and rested her head on her hands, and her hands on her knees.
'What can I give him?' she asked herself. 'All I can give him is my love but he doesn't need it. He has Kikyou's...'
After some time her face brightened and she stood up. "That's it!" she smiled ran up the stairs. 'I hope it works...' she thought and entered her house.
TBC