Tears in the Silence: Chapter 4

(Kagome/Sango)

(it's far easier for me to write who we'll be dealing with in each chapter at the top. If you guys find this confusing, come up with a better way for me? Please? I had them all together in the beginning, but it was far too busy… and confusing. LOL)

Kagome

Kagome watched as the boys laughed at her and Sango, feeling horrible. Sango's probably really good ... its all my fault for being so terrible, Kagome thought miserably.

When Sango jumped up to protect her honor, and Kagome's, Kagome nearly yelled for Sango to stop. But Kagome bit back her yell, and she noticed the smirk on Sango's usually calm face.

She's enjoying this. Oh, I hope she kicks Miroku's ass! Kagome was thrilled for Sango, but was less thrilled when Miroku dragged her in to the battle.

Bastard. Kagome thought, as he flashed Kagome a sunny smile. He's seen my fighting, he knows I'm horrible... Wait!

"Wait! I have a say, don't I?" Sango and Miroku looked down at Kagome, who was still sitting on the mats.

"Alright, but get it over with quickly, Sango's father's going to be back soon." Miroku said, his gaze still on Sango.

"Well, Inuyasha is the strongest in the dojo, right? So that means that I am definately at a disadvantage. If we have to fight, don't I get to choose what we're fighting with?" Kagome asked. Sango grinned at Kagome's sudden brilliance, and nodded.

"It is the fair thing to do."

"Feh. Whatever you choose, I'll be able to beat a wench like you. You're not even worth my time." Inuyasha sneered.

"So we're agreed," Miroku said, scanning the room. "We'll meet over at Inuyasha's place after clubs. If you're not there, you forfeit."

All the heads nodded.

"Its good to see all of you getting along so well. Now, Sango, please demonstrate the correct way to throw an opponent." Sango's father had returned, and class got back to normal. For the most part.

Kagome was having a shower in the girl's changing room when she heard stifled giggles, and shuffling feet. Grabbing her towel, and quickly wrapping it around her still dripping body, she threw open the shower curtain, splattering several boys with water.

She shrieked in surprise, and clutched her towel closer to her, until she saw that the boys in question were of course Miroku, Kouga and Inuyasha. And they were holding her clothing.

"Kagome..." Kouga breathed. Miroku stared, a silly grin on his face. Inuyasha was of course silent, but he still looked uncomfortable.

"What are you doing with my clothes!" Kagome shrieked, her face bright red. Her shrieks snapped the boys out of their illicit reverie, and Inuyasha grinned at Kagome, lifting her clothes over her head.

"We though your clothes looked a little dirty, so..." Inuyasha trudged over to the toilets, and threw her clothes in.

Kagome watched Inuyasha with open-mouthed horror. Even Miroku and Kouga stared at Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, buddy, I think that's going a little too far..." Miroku said.

"Keh. She started it. I'm just returning the favor."

Kagome was poleaxed, and couldn't believe Inuyasha could be so cruel. She had done nothing to him, but he still held a grudge.

"Returning the favor? What have I EVER done to you, Inuyasha? If you need to take your anger out on someone, contact my sister!" Kagome screamed, tears of humiliation running down her face.

Inuyasha

"Kikyo..." Inuyasha took a step towards Kagome, forgetting himself for an instant. For a split second, Inuyasha remembered his troubled past so clearly that he believed that Kikyo was standing before him.

"I'M KAGOME!" Kagome sank to the floor, her face in her hands. Both Kouga and Miroku had fled the room, disgusted with their friend, but mainly because they were somewhat
afraid of Kagome.

Inuyasha backed away from Kagome, his warring emotions telling him to stay away from this woman. She's just like Kikyo. All she'll do is take a piece of me away, and then I'll be all alone. Again.

"I am not Kikyo." Kagome whispered, still on the floor, a pool of chilling water beneath her.

"You're right. You're not Kikyo. She was no whimpering weakling."

Kagome kept her head down, but Inuyasha saw her shoulder quake, and felt a new emotion. Guilt.

Inuyasha quickly walked out of the room, feeling immensely guilty. Before he left, he dropped his shirt on a bench, a silent sorry to Kagome.

Kagome

Kagome sobbed, her hand over her mouth, hot tears rolling down her face.

Why? Why am I always compared to my sister?

Kagome remembered the bitter rivalry that had started out as fun when they were children...

Kagome stood behind Kikyo, her chubby knees chattering together. A few of the boys from school had followed her home, and had thrown rocks at her.

"Demon girl! Witch!" They always yelled at her, never allowing Kagome time to explain the powers that she had. Kagome couldn't explain the powers, anyway. They seemed to be her curse.

Kikyo looked down at her five year old sister, wondering why these boys had made such a habit of hurting her.

"There's something you're not telling me." Kikyo said to Kagome, a finger on her chin. Kagome looked up at Kikyo, her face dirt covered, and streaked with tears.

"Kik-ki...They said that I was a witch." Kagome whimpered, and held a hand up to her face; afraid they would strike her, even hidden as she was behind Kikyo's skirts.

"Why would they think that you're a witch?" Kikyo asked, getting more concerned by the moment. Kikyo was nine, not too much older than Kagome, but she was far wiser than her years.

Kagome was silent, then, she spoke.

"I did something... with my mind, "Kagome whimpered, muffled in Kikyo's skirts, "They tried to hit me, but they couldn't. All this pink light came up, and..." Kikyo never could understand what came over her at threat instant but she recoiled back, as if she was hit.

Kikyo shoved Kagome to the ground, and walked away, leaving a bewildered Kagome in the middle of the vicious brutes that were intent on hurting little Kagome.

Kikyo felt a pang of guilt, but brushed it aside. She was now consumed with only one emotion. And that was jealousy.

Kagome remembered the bullying as if it was yesterday, and couldn't stop the tears from coming.

We were constantly compared for our beauty, our brilliance, whatever they could measure, and people compared us. It made Kikyo bitter, and she wouldn't have anything to do with me.

I despised myself for being so closely alike to Kikyo. And Kikyo despised me.

"She kept her jealousy well hidden, until.. she met Inuyasha," Kagome was finding it hard to stop her mounting emotions, but the sound of the door opening jarred her back to reality.

Wiping her face on her tower, she smiled tremblingly, up at Sango, who was holding Kagome's dripping clothes in her hands.

"What happened Kagome?" Sango asked, kneeling on the floor. Kagome started to cry again, and Sango hugged her, awkwardly patting her back.

All she could say, over and over again, "I hate him."

Sango was wise enough to guess who "He" was.

End of Kagome

Sango

When Sango didn't see Kagome come out of the locker room with her, she wasn't too surprised, and just sat in the dojo, quietly talking with her father. It was only after several minutes without Kagome coming back that Sango began to worry.

"Father, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I must go see if Kagome's well." Sango hastily bowed to her father, and ran in to the locker room. Sango saw the toilets straight in front of her, and saw a pile of clothing that looked to be Kagomes in the bowl.

Sango muttered a curse, and fished the clothes out, thankful that the water had at least been clean.

She walked towards the showers and stopped short, seeing Kagome on the floor, her shoulders quivering in her intense grief. Kagome looked up, and Sango saw that her face was shining with tears, and knelt down beside the desolate Kagome.

"Kagome, what happened?" Sango asked, but Kagome wouldn't answer. Kagome clung to Sango, and Sango awkwardly patted her on the back, not used to being a friend you could cry on.

All Kagome would say, over and over again was, "I hate him."

Sango had seen the deep red shirt that was Inuyasha's lying on one of the benches, and she gritted her teeth in frustration. Of course it had to be that bastard Inuyasha.

"Kagome, um... Come on. Lets get you in to some dry clothes, and then we'll go kick his ass, ok?" Sango said quietly, and helped Kagome to stand.

Kagome dried her eyes on the towel, and smiled shakily at Sango.

"Thank you. I believe I shall kick his ass. Besides, he cannot win at what I am about to propose."

Sango grinned, and handed Kagome some of her own clothes, ignoring the red shirt.

"And what do you propose?" Sango asked, grinning to herself. The best way to get someone out of their own despair was to consider revenge.

"Hmmm. I believe that it shall be a surprise. I have to return home to gather a few supplies though, care to come?"