Innocent Resentment
"The feelings of those with stolen light"

Chapter 7 - The Roots of Sin

"A rabid bear! That's wild." Eri commented as she and Yuka watched Kagome with wide-eyed attention.

"More like scary. Do you think they'll catch it?" Yuka questioned.

"They'd better if it's running around attacking students like that. Poor Hojo. He must be in a lot of pain."

"And what about Kagome." They both turned to look at her with twin looks of thoughtful apprehension. "I bet the cuts will get infected and she'll have to go to the hospital again."

"There goes her whole week." Eri sighed tragically.

"No guys. I'm fine really." Kagome laughed sheepishly, sighing mentally with relief.

She couldn't belief that her rabid bear story had actually been believed. That was a stroke of luck. Kagome smiled in face of her friend's doubtful look before she moved her attention towards Ayumi who stood passively next to Yuka and Eri, a light smile on her face. She didn't remember anything at all. She'd woken up not long after the pair of demons had disappeared with no memory of the day after reaching the schoolyard. Kagome was at least thankful of that.

'But the things she said…' Kagome thought silently. 'Discord said that she'd simply manipulated Ayumi's real feelings.'

Which meant that, despite the fact that Ayumi would never have really what she'd done of her own free will, she still felt the way she'd expressed. And she was still in love with Hojo. And Kagome knew that some of the things Ayumi said were right. She'd never really told Hojo outright that she didn't like him, that she was in fact in love with someone else. And as long as he didn't know that he'd keep pursuing her and wouldn't look at anyone else.

"Well then!" Yuka said finally. "I think we should celebrate Kagome's unusually rapid recovery with ice cream. Eri's treat."

"Hey!" Eri protested.

Kagome smiled. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up later." Glancing over at the bike rack as she caught sight of Hojo unchain his handlebars.

Eri and Yuka looked over at her worriedly. "Are you sure Kagome?" Eri questioned.

Kagome nodded and Yuka shrugged. "Alright then. Catch ya later Kagome." Walking from the schoolyard. Ayumi turned to follow after them and Kagome reached out a hand to stop her. "Hey. Ayumi."

Ayumi turned back and tilted her head curiously. "Is something wrong Kagome? You're aren't really sick are you?" And Kagome was glad to hear the genuine concern in her voice.

"No. I fine, promise. Could you just wait for me a second?"

Ayumi's expression was still confused but she nodded. "Alright. I guess."

"Great!" Kagome turned and hurried towards the bike rack just as Hojo backed his bicycle from it.

Her turned and looked up at the sound of her approach, flashing his usually cheerful smiled. "Kagome. You're still here. Were you waiting for me?"

"Hojo." She gave him a sympathetic look. "How are your injuries? Are you feeling okay?"

Hojo nodded and laughed. "Well my side aches a little bit. And I still have a bit of a headache but I'll be fine. I'm so glad you're concerned." He grinned with embarrassment. "Actually I was wondering if you'd like to catch a movie with me." He lifted a pair of tickets up to display them to her.

Kagome scuffed the toe of her shoe in the dirt. "I'd love to Hojo, really I would. But I…I think we should just be friends. The truth is I…I'm in love with someone else." She looked up at the silence that followed. "You aren't upset are you?"

Hojo smiled again. "That's alright. I'm glad you told me."

"I'm sorry Hojo." Kagome murmured apologetically.

He shook his head again. "Really it's okay."

"But you know…" Kagome smiled again. "I bet Ayumi would love to go to a movie."

Hojo blushed "Really?" He glanced down at the tickets then across the yard towards Ayumi standing silently in the background. "You think so?"

Kagome nodded cheerfully, little balloons of happiness bursting in celebration inside her head. "I'm positive. Go and ask her."

"Well…if you're sure." Hojo said. "Thanks, Kagome."

He walked his bike towards Ayumi and Kagome turned to watch as she lifted her head and looked up at him. Her expression was shy but rapt with hope. She saw Hojo's mouth move though she didn't catch the words and saw Ayumi blush scarlet before her face lit up with joy and she nodded. How could Kagome not have noticed how enamored Ayumi was of Hojo before? It seemed so obvious now. She smiled as Ayumi glanced over at her, said something to Hojo, and then rushed over. Kagome straightened and smiled as Ayumi stopped, hovering uncertainly.

"Kagome are you…are you…"

"Go and have fun." Kagome said reassuringly. "I can tell you really like him. And between you and me…" she lowered her voice. "I bet he'll be crazy about you too in no time."

Ayumi smiled then hugged her. "Thanks Kagome." Before she turned and hurried to Hojo again.

Kagome watched them walk away from the school and let out a relieved breath, shouldering her bag again. 'If only things were that easy between me and Inuyasha.' Turning and walking towards her house.

"Well?" Strife asked standing behind Discord who had one knee braced against the edge of the roof, leaned over to watch what transpired between the three.

Discord smiled. "When you're so close to something that shines so brightly you can't help but feel like you're cast into the darkness produced by that light. You believe no one sees you except as a shadow of that shining thing."

"And the girl?" Strife questioned.

"No good. We can't use her again." Discord stepped back and shrugged. "I didn't suppose we could anyway. Love is too easily tipped back to purity to make a very good weapon. Particularly true love."

"And?" Strife prompted gently.

"And? And there are other sins. Other resentments to pick. We'll just move on to the next one."

"Which one?"

Discord hummed thoughtfully, moving across to the other side of the roof that looked over the sidewalk. The priestess' other two friend's passed below. They paused at the corner and the first waved to the other.

"See you tomorrow Eri." Before she crossing the street and disappearing down the block. The second, Eri, lingered on the corner, glancing away and released a soft sigh. Discord smiled slowly.

"That one."