Disclaimer- Just keeps going and going and going and going and going. Sorta like the energizer bunny, it just keeps going and going and going and going and going too. I once had a little flashlight thing it was that bunny wearing his little sunglasses and with his little drums, when you pressed the little stick things he used to hit the drums together into the drum then a little bitty tiny light came out. It ran out, it didn't keep going and going and going and going and going and going. What's up with that? Oh yeah, I don't own these characters. Is everyone happy now?

ReCap of previous chapter: Kagome, Sango, Ayame, and Inuyasha go to a football game at a neighboring school. Kagome jokingly asks if anyone has a gun, Inuyasha said he left it at home. After Sango and Ayame ignore her, Kagome asks Inuyasha about the possibility of Naraku using an inside person at the school other than Takashin and his guys. They go to a grove of trees on the campus to talk in security. Kagome expresses the possibility that Kagura is working for Naraku. Inuyasha calls his inside man, Yak. Kikyo gets further inference that Kag and Inu are an item and Kagura gets orders from Naraku to find out what Kag and Inu are talking about. Meanwhile Yak is about to report to Inuyasha and Kagome, when a shot is fired and yak falls down dead. Inuyasha pulls out his gun and returns fire. Inu and Kag run toward the gunman, but they get away. Kagome finds a fallen fan which she recognizes. She slips it into her bag without Inu noticing. Inu reveals that he is as lost as Kag is. They run away so no ones pins the shootings on them.

They return to Sango and Ayame with ramen from Inuyasha's car made from a water bottle heated up with a cigarette lighter. Kag goes to find Kikyo. Kikyo finds Kag, gives her a proposition. "Don't come or I'll tell the cops about you involvement with Naraku." When that fails her tries "I'll tell everyone your brother's are heroin addicts." Kag attacks Kikyo about stopping so low as to making fun of her brother getting help. They fight.

Kag has a disturbing dream that makes her question Inuyasha.

there now you're caught up So sorry it took so long. Had some things of my own to deal with.

Homecoming Court

By Red Eclipse

Chapter 14- It's Only Just Beginning

Part 1- Abstract Scenery

The walls around him felt like they were closing. His throat mimicked the effect. He sucked in a breath and laid a hand on the black book in his lap. He couldn't bear open it or the memories would drown him. A clock on the white wall of the lobby ticked as the seconds went by. One by one they ticked and one by one Miroku sucked in a breath of air. He had lied in his letter; he had not been able to open the book in his lap. The hour was growing nearer and he had made the decision. He had to open the book now or he would drown in the emptiness. If he opened it or if he left it closed forever, it didn't matter he would still drown. He took a breath

This is it. Now or never.

He put his hand on the spine of the book. The book sent a chill into him that he couldn't explain. He flipped it over. He would go through it backwards. There was something about the backwards notion the calmed him down. Miroku closed his eyes and threw it open. Tears flew from his eyes when he opened them again.

Staring back at him was himself with his little sister. He knew they were really the same age, but since he came out of the security of the womb first he knew he had to protect Kagome like a real big brother would. There was a cake in front of them and she was grinning happily. It looked like their tenth birthday. He stared at Kagome harder and saw the bruises. There was a huge massive bruise on her arm just under the sleeve of her too big tee shirt. Staring into her eyes and saw everything. He had his arm around her and she was leaning into him, but it was her eyes that showed him everything. He had failed her. She was clinging to a hope any hope. She was clinging to everything and nothing in particular. Then he noticed something else about her body in the picture.

I know who's behind the camera. I failed her.

Flashback

Kagome ran through the house wearing an oversized tee shirt and shorts with her long gangly limbs hanging out of every opening. Mrs. Higurashi had spent the day in the kitchen barring her daughter from coming in. Meanwhile Kagome was looking for her brother so she could give him her present. She ran down the stairs quickly and ran into someone's body once she reached the hall.

"Sorry Souta." She quickly said to her older brother. He looked down at her with un-focusing eyes.

"Who are you?" Souta asked while he patted her head.

"Never mind I have to go." She said quickly while she ran off in the opposite direction.

"Kagome why don't you get your brother and tell him we ready for both of you up here?" Her mother had intercepted her when she ran through the living room.

"I was just looking for him mother."

"He's probably in the basement again. He likes that spot." Mrs. Higurashi shook her head in wonder while she walked back in the kitchen. Kagome changed her direction for the door down the hall from the stairs.

As she walked down the hall she felt the carpet lose it's softness as she walked over in with bare feet. She didn't focus on that though; instead she walked straight for the door in front of her. It creaked as she pushed it opened.

"Miroku. Miroku are you down here?" She called down into the darkness of the basement. There was a window out of which she could see the light of the day disappearing. She smelled a familiar smoke as she walked down the stairs. Once she got to the last stair she saw Miroku sitting in the faint glow of a flicking lighter. "Miroku there you are! Come on Miroku mom has the cake." He looked at her while she pulled at his arm. He listlessly stood up and let her guide him up the stairs to the hall.

"Race you Miroku." She said, giggling as he took off in front of her. "Hey no fair!" She called running after him. She pumped her limbs as hard as she could trying to catch up to her speeding brother. He stumbled into the dining chair at the table. Kagome was following when her father stepped in front of her. She tried to flee him, but he grabbed her arm and pulled her into him. She smelled the mix of smoke and the revolting alcohol scent. This mix was always bad.

"Kagome how many times do I have to tell you not to run through the house like a wild animal?" He said sternly while pulling her up the stairs. She saw him take out a cigarette as they walked up. "You know I hate to do this Kagome but you'll never learn otherwise." He said as he pulled her into his room. He grinned as he cracked his knuckles Kagome took a breath as she prepared herself for what was coming.

He finished too soon when he remembered the knife in his pocket.

"Please Daddy don't. It's my birthday please." She pleaded

"That's right you're ten today. Let me give you your present then."

He lifted up her shirt exposing her stomach. She closed her eyes as the blade dragged against her skin and the blood came out.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear kagome. Happy birthday to you."

He wiped the blood off his knife and then rubbed the towel over her stomach. "Happy birthday Kagome. Run along now." She sprinted out of the room and into the dining room.

She sat next to her brother in front of a circular cake. Her mother was holding a camera in her hand. Miroku put his arm around Kagome's shoulder and smiled slowly. The blood on Kagome's stomach seeped onto her shirt. She leaned into Miroku and smiled. Her father walked into the room and stood next to her mother.

"Smile big now Kagome. You'll want to remember this day for a long time to come."

The camera flashed. The moment was frozen.

End

Miroku stared at the same thing he had been staring at. He looked at Kagome. Her eyes. The bruises showing. There was something he was just noticing; the realization of this fact stabbed him in the heart. On Kagome's shirt there was blood. From her eyes it was evident that Kagome's soul was just as blood stained.

Five minutes after the tardy bell rang Kagome remained under her tree. She laid a hand on her stomach and knew, from years of staring at them, that the scars were still there. Bruises had been her favorite; they healed and left no trace. She closed her eyes. After her dream the night before she had woken up and fell into another fitful sleep that had been interrupted by another dream. She had dreamed of his cold face. His silver smiling blade.

Kagome stood up quickly and decided to go to class. They were on minimum day schedule and they were to go to sixth period first then go to first through fifth normally. She walked out of the grass and onto the pavement. She stopped when she saw Inuyasha walking toward the same building as she. She ran over to him and nudged him with her shoulder when she reached him. His jumped slightly, all of his muscles tensed up. Then when he saw Kagome he smiled slightly and turned around toward her. She smiled up at him.

"Hey Kagome." He said and he resumed his walk now walking next to her. He slowed his quick paced stride to match hers.

"Hello. Did you see all the cops on campus now? There had to be like twenty of them." She said, in a forced light hearted voice. Inuyasha picked up on the forced tone after she said.

"It's no doubt over the the shooting yesterday. Just play dumb and act completely surprised if anyone tries to talk about it." They entered the foreign language building and walked down the hall in silence. Inuyasha accidentally bumped Kagome fingers with his own. He pulled his hand away quickly and willed the crimson moving to his cheeks to go away. Kagome smiled the same way Inuyasha had earlier.

He put his hand back down a few minutes later and Kagome seized it. He stared down at her surprised.

"Inuyasha I haven't really had a chance to thank you for all you've done. I don't know what I would have done with out you." She said starting to blush. She let go of his hand and hugged him. He put his arms around her and felt her warmth surround her.

"It's no problem Kagome. I'll protect you f…whenever you need it." He changed his word after the first letter left his tongue. They walked in silence until they reached the classroom door. On the door way was a list with all the periods and a place to sign for your attendance like always. Inuyasha pushed the door and held it open as Kagome scribed her name. There were groups of four all around the room with people running all over the place. Sango ran over to Kagome once she saw her.

"Why did you leave this morning, Kag? You freaked the hell out of me." She exclaimed.

"Oh I accidentally went to first period, then I saw Inuyasha when I was walking to this classroom." Kagome lied.

"I reminded you before we got in the car; you need to start listening more." She lectured walking back to a table group where Ayame was sitting. Inuyasha stole a desk from a frail looking boy and dragged it to his normal seat in the corner. Kagome watched this and then was pulled over to the table group containing Sango and Ayame and they started to talk to Kagome and poking various places on her face.

From the corner Inuyasha had an eye barely open watching Kagome. She was listlessly listening to Sango and Ayame. He couldn't stop himself from staring at her. When the bell rang she stood up and draped her messenger bag across her shoulders. He studied her every movement until she left the classroom.

At nutrition Kagome sat back under her tree after the marching band had passed between the buildings on account of it being rally day. She sat in silence staring at the blades of grass. When Kagura walked passed her. She looked over at Kagome and decided to walk over to me. Kagome saw her coming ands dug through her backpack until she found the satin fan from the night before. She extended out to Kagura when she was a stride away from her. Kagura took the fan and opened in front of her face, her trademark move.

"I felt naked without this thing." She joked, without showing much emotion.

"…" Kagome opened her mouth to say something but stopped short. Kagura waved to her as she walked down the paved road.

Kagome watched her walk off and a few of her questions were answered, but the encounter brought on so many more. And there were still so many remaining.

Some people say that life is just about asking the right questions. That it is not about getting any answers. They say the questions are enough.

They made Kagome sick.

A/N- In the next chapter of Homecoming Court: The homecoming fair starts leaving Kagome lost in the crowds of people and Sango is left alone with her memories.

For some reason when I transfer the story file to the computer with internet to post. It always screws up my format And the quick edit thing doesn't work. This is getting annoying.