A/N: I really apologize for the very late update. It's really something I can't explain because you wouldn't understand. Anyway, I'll really try to make it up to you, I really promise.

Disclaimer: Only the Ishikawa's are mine, nothing else.

Chapter 10- Escape

Emiko sighed deeply as she sunk down in a chair. She looked around the classroom, seeing only a few people inside. It was not really something to be surprised of since she came to school a little bit earlier than she used to. She really needed the extra time to relax since even in the house, she couldn't rest a muscle.

Her mother's in-laws, her father's parents, happened to visit last weekend to check on how the family was doing. Truth be told, they didn't really approve to Mrs. Ishikawa when their son introduced her to them and until now, since he died, they didn't trust her one bit. Apparently, she was out when Emiko's grandparents came and the house was a mess. Perfectionist was another adjective to describe them, they wanted no mistakes. So Emiko and Naoko took both Saturday and Sunday cleaning up.

The brunette rested her head on the table and closed her eyes. Beated up with chores was not her only problem. Her friends were too. They still weren't talking to her and refused to make friends. The class field trip was coming up and she still didn't have any partner. Maybe going alone could be an option, or not even going anymore.

The sound of loud voices and boisterous laughter alarmed Emiko and she jerked right up as she heard them. They were as loud as rock concerts. She turned to the door as it opened and to no revelation it was Naraku's gang.

She had almost forgotten about them with all the commotion going on, half afraid they would make up more to the problem, or ready to have a new life. However, with that much attention they are getting, how could she? Some things were hard to bear, but she had to do with it.

They all sat down beside each other and it was then she noticed there was someone new in the gang. She could be recognized immediately as someone novel since she was the only girl and stuck out like a sore thumb. She had raven locks as dark as the night. Her eyes were flaming red and it made a pretty good contrast against her pale skin color. She was pretty, but looked like some troublemaker. Aside from that, she was holding Sesshomaru's hand, though it was obvious from the white haired teen's expression that he was just being forced to act like lovers. Somehow, Emiko felt a little jealous but then recalled the conversation they had before.

"I'm not your enemy, nor your friend. We don't know each other and nothing happened between us," was what he said, and Emiko was trying very hard to do her share in that "agreement".

They laughed again and everyone in the class looked in their direction, faced showed both confusion and irritation. The new girl looked back at them, her stare saying, "What are you looking at?" in a threatening way. Immediately the students stared away, looking rather shaky.

'This girl would surly be a lot of trouble,' Emiko thought rolling her eyes. 'A lot.'

OOOOOOOO

It was almost 8 o' clock when the bell rang, indicating the students to settle down in their proper chairs. Emiko sat up straight as she noticed the commotion. Their sensei was coming in when they all had fixed themselves.

"Morning class!" said Mikami-sensei cheerfully, his face lit up with a gleam.

Despite the happy introduction, his homeroom class still greeted him in the same bored and everyday routine fashion. He rolled his eyes and ask that they take their seat.

Emiko looked at Sesshomaru at her side then to Inuyasha at the other. They seemed to have the same mood today for they had the same frowns. Actually, they looked like twins because of that.

Mikami-sensei clapped his hands twice to get their attention and heads turned to his direction quickly. He smiled satisfied and then took a deep breath.

"I have important announcements to make so listen up. First of all, let us welcome back Kagura Kishin who just returned from Canada," he said, pointing at the woman Emiko had spotted a while ago. She stood up with poise but looked at her fellow classmates with a rather serious face, one that looked scary. She nodded at Mr. Mikami and then sat down, legs crossed. Emiko continued to look at her and saw her roll her eyes and scribble something down on a piece of paper then passed it to Naraku. And as if knowing Emiko was staring at her, she looked at the brunette with sharp eyes then looked away again.

The sensei coughed to get their attention once again, which was apparently so easy to catch. The turned to him and saw him smile. "Since our class field trip is near approaching, I would like to make some preparations about it. Regarding the partners. I have made a list of who would become a pair and I'll post it later on. There will be no exchanging of partners like last year."

Most of the people in the class groaned, some smiled and some had no reaction. It was whether they didn't have a problem with it, or they didn't care at all.

"The next thing is the attendance. This year will be a tight year because your field trip will be a very good help to your academics. The principal thought it was better if the trip was to be more educating so that the teachers wouldn't have a hard time in teaching, especially that this semester will be short because of some important holidays. I'm saying this only once, attendance is a must!"

This time all the people in the room groaned and wined. Naturally, they thought of the field trip as something to look forward to for rest and enjoyment. With so much pressure the school was putting on their shoulders, anyone would want to have a break. Listening to boring babbling was surly something they would despise but even the worst students, (bullies, etc.) would want to pass the quarter.

Mr. Mikami again called their attention, used to his students. Being with them for a month and a half was enough. He raised his right hand and began talking once again. "I know it sucks but consider all the free time you would have after that. There will be no classes for about three consecutive days and you could go and enjoy. And also, after this month would be your High School fair and what more to look up to is the prom. Now, the fair is also something we have to discuss, but later. Now, I will show you the partner assignments."

Emiko squinted as he said that. She didn't want to see who her partner would be because she knew she wouldn't be satisfied with any of them. She closed her eyes and prayed it wouldn't be anyone part of Naraku's gang and it was someone who was comfortable to be with.

She heard gasps, some happy some sad. She heard whispers and her excitement grew. Emiko opened her eyes to see the room in amazement, some eyes wide open, some were closed. She checked her name on the white piece of paper taped on the board and exhaled, not even knowing she had held her breath.

She looked at Kagome who was diagonally in front of her and she looked back. Being partners with an old friend wouldn't be that bad, would it? Kagome smiled half-heartedly and Emiko smiled back in the same manner. There were things to be settled.

OOOOOOO

Mr. Mikami called all his students and told them to enter the bus already. He counted them as they went in, surprised on how many showed up this time. The last few out of town trips were only attended by three students, nerds to be exact. They were the only ones who were conscious enough about their grades, and no one could blame the others either. The other locations were way out of the "cool map."

Almost all of them had already settled down, talking whether to their seatmates or to whoever was behind them like a pack of little rabbits. It was a good thing the weather didn't destroy their moods or things could get worse. Naraku's gang was pretty sad about their partners, except for Touya who was sitting beside a beautiful lass. He was flirting, no doubt, and she was falling into his grasp.

Emiko wasn't in the bus yet when Mr. Mikami started roll calling and Kagome was a little worried. Though they were not talking, she was still her friend and nothing could change that, especially a group of bullies who were born to torment people's lives. She looked around and outside the window to check if she was coming, but there was no sign of her.

"Ishikawa, Emiko?" Mikami-sensei called out. When no one answered, everyone started to make a fuss about it. Emiko was a bright girl who managed to keep her grades high, why wasn't she here? Was she going to miss out on something this important?

Mr. Mikami walked through the narrow path of the bus to Kagome's seat and looked at her. "She is supposed to be your partner isn't she, Ms. Higurashi?"

Kagome nodded not knowing where this was going. She gulped. Maybe Mr. Mikami thought she had something to do with her missing.

"Would you happen to know where she is?"

Kagome shook her head. "Emiko hasn't said anything about missing the trip, and if she did she would have informed someone," she said nervously. Only if they were talking.

"Well we can't go if she is not here yet. She paid for the trip and her money would come to a waste if we would leave her. However, we can't delay the whole trip if one girl is missing-"

"Correction, sir," said Touya suddenly. "Kagura's not here either. She said she would be coming."

Horrified looks resulted as he said her name. It was like she was the devil herself, though she had just come to the school three days before. Kagome was even more worried. What if they were together somewhere? Who knows what Kagura could do to Emiko especially that Kagura was someone who wouldn't care if she would torture someone new.

Kagome raised her hand for attention. Mr. Mikami, who also had the same weird face as the others, looked at Kagome right away.

"I'll go look for her, sir. Maybe she just got lost in the school grounds," she said standing up.

"And Kagura?"

Sesshomaru stood up but looked away. "I'll go."

OOOOOOOO

Kagome felt uneasy walking with Inuyasha's brother, though she knew he paid no attention to her at his side. She looked beside her and admired him for a while, walking gracefully with poise, like a model would do when on stage. He kept his gaze straight and serious, yet calm and composed. Really. He was Inuyasha's opposite. That guy walked like a tough guy, even though he was practically the opposite. His shoulders were always in large movement, his back hunched and his expression annoyed. Sometimes Kagome could just wonder why they came to be brothers, or even half.

They turned to another deserted hallway. So far, it was the fifth they had walked into, and yet no sign of the two yet. Kagome felt more awkward as she started to walk ahead. The silence was poisonous.

"Hey, thanks for looking for Emiko with me," she said, feeling so courageous so suddenly. The man behind her could hospitalize her in a jiffy, but she knew he wouldn't do so. Yet.

After a decade of silence, Sesshomaru finally spoke, as if it took a long time to analyze what he intended to spill out. "I didn't."

The raven haired girl inwardly smiled. She knew he did, deep inside. The way his eyes sparkled proved that he cared for her, even just a bit. Something really different was transforming inside him, like he were mutant. And surly, the change was good. Maybe Emiko could be a tool to keep peace with Naraku's gang. If she could survive them longer.

Another turn. Kagome was getting irritated with every step she took. It seemed like a century looking for those two, yet only three minutes have passed. She looked once again to her left, where she saw Sesshomaru with the same expression marked on his face. She sighed hard and just as she was about to say, "Let's give up," she noticed two silhouettes in the shadows of the lockers, one was evidently facing her and the other had it's back turned. Kagome quickened her pace and she wished those two figures were Kagura and Emiko or so help her.

Kagura leaned forward, her nose almost touching Emiko's. Her fierce glare was threatening, almost able to burn someone's flesh out. It was obvious that she wasn't in such a pleasant mood, and Emiko was so unfortunate she was the one who Kagura picked on today. Truth be told, the raven haired bully had always wanted to torment "the new girl" and her job was almost completed.

"The famous Ishikawa, aren't you?" she said circling her. Emiko could do nothing but stare, slightly nodding. "I've heard a lot about you, from Akira, from Naraku and from my dear Sesshomaru." She had stressed the name Sesshomaru so hard, Emiko could see her lungs explode, not noticing that she herself had held her breath, her heart beating extremely fast. She was sweating and was confused to where this could go. Hopefully not to a cat fight.

There was silence, but it lasted only for a second. "I know you're new here, and you haven't really met me. Lucky for you, Ishikawa. But I promise to really ruin your life, if it's the last thing I do."

Emiko's heart even beat faster. Another enemy, one she yearned not to have. Finally having the courage to speak, she opened her mouth only so big, just a fly could enter. "Why?" she asked shakily. She had never been so nervous in her life, not even in front of the whole Naraku gang. However, Kagura was like a boiling tea pot, something you wouldn't dare touch without protection.

She laughed evilly first, like those you see on television, then smirked. "Why you say?" she said playfully. "Because you have entered someone else's territory without permission. Just because of my absence, doesn't mean you can go break barriers."

The brunette's expression clearly told that she didn't have a clue on what Kagura was saying. Yes, she has been studying in this school for several months, but she didn't know every one of her classmate's history. Neither did she care about other people's business.

It was then when they heard loud footsteps in the hallway, nearing them. Kagura quickly glared at Emiko before saying, "You better stay away from MY Sesshomaru, or else something you wouldn't expect would come your way."

She walked a few steps away from Emiko before saying, "Something worst than Akira's stunt."

Kagura paced briskly to the end of the hallway, where she met Sesshomaru, trying hard to catch up with Kagome running. Kagura quickly took his hand and kissed his cheek then ask that they leave now. Emiko looked at them, half feeling relieved to have had Kagura walk away and half jealous of Kagura's public display of affection toward Sesshomaru. Though, if you stared really carefully, you would've seen Sesshomaru look back at Emiko, checking if she was alright. It was more of a quick turn of the head and Emiko was too preoccupied to notice.

By then, Kagome had been panting really hard, like she had run five times around the wide field. She stopped in front of Emiko and gave her a genuine smile. The brunette gleam back and indicated that they should go to the bus before anyone worried.

OOOOOOOOO

The blue bus departed from the High School parking lot fifteen minutes late then it was supposed to. Mr. Mikami was shouting some last minute reminders about the trip as his students were starting to talk excitedly. He shook his head, giving up and sat down beside their tour guide, Dennis.

Dennis was a nice guy, with flaming red hair and a matching orange beard. Actually, he looked a little familiar to Emiko but she just couldn't point on where she had seen him. Every now and then he sprouted a joke, no one really paid attention but when someone started laughing, the whole bus laughed as well. Emiko was having fun as well, she and Kagome were now back on the path of friendship, and she was relieved.

Inuyasha and Sango were partners and they were seated behind Kagome and Emiko, fighting from time to time, but then calmed down by the two seated in front. Things were getting better and Emiko couldn't have had a day better.

An hour passed and mellow music filled the bus and everyone was quiet. Well, except for a little whispers that went along the pairs. Kagome and Emiko were one of them.

"Hey Kagome," whispered Emiko. She caught her seatmate's attention almost instantly. Kagome turned to her then raised her brows as if to say, "What?"

The brunette sighed before saying something. "Who is Kagura anyway?"

Kagome tried to look away but then was trapped in the strings of Emiko's pleading stare. She was avoiding that question since they had boarded the bus but could not stand to lie or evade it any longer. However, before she could explain, her mate had done the narrating.

"Kagura was a close friend to both me and Sesshomaru since our days of childhood," he said. Emiko turned to him and saw that he was trying hard to be calm at the subject by closing his eyes but it was evident in his tone that he was lonely. "Actually, she was my best friend until she got closer to my brother in the one month I was gone for a camping trip. When I got home, she was there, instantly avoiding me and obviously flirting with Sesshomaru. It was when things got worse. She admitted her hidden devotion for Sesshomaru to almost everyone she knew and even asked her parents, who had a great relationship with mine, to make them fiancées. Then, when she knew Sess and I had a bad history, she began backstabbing, tormenting and even discriminating me and my appearance.

"But my respect stayed constant, only until she had crossed the limit. Kagome, at junior high, was the student I was already courting. Kagura knew that, of course, she has the most sources, spies to be exact. She did something... something up to now I cannot forgive."

He paused for a long time that it seemed he wasn't going to continue. So all the bad things Kagura had done both before and now were all because of her great, but stupid love for Sesshomaru, who had not showed even the slightest emotion toward her. It was silly, yes. Crazy even. Who would ever be so foolish to ditch your best friend for someone who wouldn't even match to the traits of an acquaintance.

Inuyasha had said something more, but Emiko barely listened, caught in the trace of seeing both Sesshomaru and Kagura together. Portraits of the silver haired devil crossed her mind, their last meeting caused intense pain in her heart. She had felt rejection and wondered if Inuyasha had experienced the same. Silent tears built themselves in her eyes as she looked out the window, seeing many teenagers walking on the street. Surely, it was Saturday and people were doing almost everything with their friends or family. Emiko envied the happy gleam on their faces, one thing she couldn't flash so genuine.

Everyone wanted to be happy, and so did she. She wanted to escape, everything happening or everything that had happen. She wanted to forget, take revenge or even love. Escape. Yes. Something that seemed preposterous, impossible. Yet is was something everyone yearned to accomplish. It seemed so far, yet it was nearest to her heart.

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A/N: I know it's a little short, but it'll have to do. I've got a lot more in mind and I pray I can write it all down the way I picture it. Please, I beg that you be patient with me and please review. Thanks lots!!!!

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