Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is still owned by warui musubi. Oh, when will the terror of it all end!
Kagome: "It will end right now!"
Kip: "What will?"
Kagome (after rolling eyes dramatically): "You eating Inu-Yasha! That's what will end!"
Kip: "Oh? And why is that?"
Kagome (glad for Kip's stupidity): "Haven't you ever heard about dog meat?"
(Kip ponders over this for some time. Actually, for a rather loooong time.)
After Kikyo and the gang arrived home from the haircut salon, everything was pretty awkward. Kikyo refused to utter a word; she went straight to her bedroom and slammed the door. She left Inu-Yasha, Shippo, and Kagome alone to work on their science projects.
"I'm worn out, Kagome. I'm going home now, okay? See ya!" Shippo announced as he walked out the door. "Maybe we can work on the project tomorrow?"
Kagome nodded as Shippo left in a hurry. She snickered as she wondered if it was past his bedtime or something. Her snickering ended abruptly when she realized that she was alone in the kitchen with Inu-Yasha. All alone. It felt very awkward.
"So…" Inu-Yasha cleared his throat. "Can you tell Kikyo that I'll see her tomorrow after school to work on our project?"
Kagome didn't trust her voice to work in front of Inu-Yasha, so she only nodded her head yes.
"I…" Inu-Yasha said with some hesitation. "I guess I better leave then."
As he headed for the door, Kagome found herself yanking his sleeve to pull him back. Inu-Yasha looked at her with confusion.
"I'm sorry about today," Kagome finally managed to say. "Kikyo shouldn't have acted like that."
Inu-Yasha smiled. "Yeah, she isn't exactly sweet, is she?"
Kagome felt so glad that someone else shared her feelings about Kikyo. "No, she's not. And she really shouldn't have acted like that, even if she had to get her hair cut."
Kagome was proud of herself for actually speaking her thoughts for once. She felt so happy being next to Inu-Yasha with him smiling so kindly. She had a sudden urge to hug him, but she dismissed it promptly.
"Well, bye," Inu-Yasha waved and walked out the front door.
Kagome could have waved goodbye to him all night.
…
The next day, Kagome's beatings were lighter than she thought they would be. All she got was a bloody tooth from one of Kikyo's punches, and there was no swollen lip or black eye. It was pretty unexpected, but not at all unwanted.
Kagome wished that it wasn't a day off from school. She wanted to go to school so badly. Her reasons: 1) she would get to see Inu-Yasha, and 2) everyone would see Kikyo's hair. She sighed, knowing that she would just have to wait. In the meantime, she had to go with her mother and Kikyo to visit the orthodontist for one of Kikyo's regular braces check-ups.
She hated to go to the orthodontist's office because it was so boring and smelled pungently of rotten cheese, but she always loved to see Kikyo mad to discover that she wouldn't get her braces off for another year or so. That was always worth it.
But when Kikyo came out of the office, she wasn't mad at all. In fact, she was grinning broadly. Kagome hated her smile, knowing something was wrong.
"You're Kikyo's mother?" the orthodontist began talking to their mother as he fingered something in his pocket. "Well…I'm sorry. It seems we had a mix-up. You will get a full refund."
Kagome's mother frowned. "Refund? For what?"
The orthodontist declared, "Kikyo doesn't need braces at all. Her teeth are perfectly straight, and they have been from the very beginning."
Kagome's world was swirling with anguish. No, she moaned to herself. This can't be happening. Now that Kikyo won't have braces again, she'll be Miss. Popularity. Inu-Yasha will be hers. She will be the top dog. No…
…
Two days past that day, Kikyo got her braces removed. Kagome's life became a living hell, and she couldn't bear it. It simply wasn't fair! All hope was lost. Any possible chance she had once had at getting Inu-Yasha was diminished. She felt drained, especially when she saw Kikyo's toothy grin—not a hint of braces in sight.
The only good thing that came out of it was the fact that Kikyo felt no need to beat her for the next three nights because she was too busy celebrating with her friends. Although Kagome's physical body remained unbruised, her heart was black and blue with too many bruises to count.
Author's Note: Out of the humor and back into the gloom. It seems Kikyo's got the best of Kagome again. –Wahhhh!- I can't stand it! Kikyo is overdue for some serious suffering! Sorry to all of you who wanted Kikyo to suffer more…she will eventually. I'm just so evil that I'm going to make you wait a little longer. :-P
Anyhoo, sorry the chapter's short. And also, sorry I took a little longer to update. Please give more reviews!
TwistedBlackAndRedRose- Yes, ma'am. lol
Bamchick001- Thanx! I hope you enjoi the rest of my story too!
Nikk98- Oh, I'm so glad you liked it so much! Yes, I luved the whole gum-in-Kikyo's-hair scene too!
Kei-Ookami.kara.mori- lol. Yeah! Power to the gum! Go gum! That has a nice ring to it! Tee hee!
Kagome's girl- Thanx 4 the warning. I'll look out for a gurl with the Tetsaiga. lol
Maia-Toisho- Oh, yes! She definitely will!
sparklingcrystal133- thanx. I guess I wuz in a humorous mood when I wrote that chappie!
Madsciencetistv- I don't think I did your name right—sorry. Anyway, yeah. I couldn't get the next chapter out even tho I had it done weeks ago becuz my mom wouldn't let me on the computer! Grrr! Sorry for the delay, but here you go!