Wish I Were You
Sakura's Note: I hope this is a fast enough update for all of you. I was trying to post it Friday night/Saturday morning, but what I wanted to write in this chapter just took too much time. These chapters can be either a week by week update with mediocre writing or updates whenever I finish writing my best work.
Focusing on this chapter, though, let me just say that it's pretty long for me. Instead of the usual 11 pages, it's 22. I'm not complaining though!
.-..-.
Chapter 9: Fandom is a Cruel Mistress
.-..-.
Midoriko looked across the table at the seats of missing board members. She couldn't reason why they were here so close to such a large media event. Not that she ever wanted to be around the stiffs sitting around her now…
"I guess you're all wondering why I called this meeting so close to the time of the party. So here it is." Higurashi leaned forward, "I have been thinking about the publicity of this contest, and realized something. My daughter is the only one really in the spotlight because she is already famous. Shouldn't the temporary heiress be introduced with more of a bang than an interview at a cocktail party?"
Chancing a smug look at Urashi's Press Coordinator, Naraku typed away at his humming VAIO laptop. The game he was playing sat, paused, and minimized, behind the document.
He'd been about to win, too.
Midoriko ignored him, focusing her attention on their boss. "Well, didn't we agree that we should test the waters first? See if she handles the attention well before choosing how much we let her have?"
Naraku raised an eyebrow. "You've trained Miss Dawson for the interview tonight, how well did she do?"
All eyes focused on Midoriko curiously.
"She did fine, but-"
"It's settled then." Mr. Higurashi smiled warmly, "Ms. Spears, please inform E! that we have a special gift for them, and contact my daughter. Televised via satellite, Kagome and Miss Sango Dawson will meet. Maybe the Dawson family can-"
Naraku flew forward in his chair, "No!" Becoming aware of the questioning eyes trained on him, he calmly regained his composure. "The Dawsons will be on the spot with enough reporters… showing the identities to the whole world is only going to cause more problems sooner than we can solve them."
The Urashi tycoon regarded the idea and smiled. "I agree. You're always thinking, Naraku, always thinking."
With a pat on the back from his employer, Naraku gave a polite, obviously fake (to Midoriko at least) smile. He caught the suspicious look he was getting from her and mentally cursed.
The truth was closer than ever with Higurashi wanting more publicity for Sango than his daughter…and his job that much more on the line.
.-..-.
"Dinner is fine." Sesshoumaru glanced out the window with hidden amusement. "...I love you too. Bye." He hung up and rounded on his snickering little brother with narrowed eyes.
Kohaku disappeared up the stairs before Sesshoumaru could commit a felony. Not even his drop-dead charming face could get him out of those charges.
Sesshoumaru sighed, holding the bridge of his nose. Any show of emotion and he was the joke of the household.
The front door opened and three exhausted teens spilled through the door.
Knowingly, Sesshoumaru strode into the room. "How did the tour go?"
Kagome pasted on a smile, "It was really fun!" It wasn't.
Sesshoumaru traded looks with Inuyasha before sitting on the couch. "I could tell when I saw you pushing the car into Miroku's driveway."
"Keh." Inuyasha shot a glare at Miroku before following into the living room. "Don't you just know it all?"
"By the way, Sango will be on television tonight." Sesshoumaru continued to demonstrate just how 'knowledgeable' he really was (his biggest talent).
"What? How'd you find that out?"
"She called."
"She what!" Inuyasha stomped towards his older brother with flames on his heels. "And this wasn't the first thing you told us why?"
"Welcomes always come first, little brother."
"Don't talk down to me!"
Awkwardly, Kagome made her way to the kitchen. The brothers' tiff grew louder as she walked to the freezer where Miroku soon joined her in her search for ice cream.
"I'm calling her!"
"Inuyasha-"
"WHAT!"
Sesshoumaru shook his head, "Nothing."
Grabbing up the caller ID, the aggravated high school student dialed up the number.
.-..-.
There was a pause as Mr. Higurashi took a sip of water. "So, before we close the meet-"
Eyes looked around for the source of the ringing, zeroing in on Naraku. From her seat, Midoriko rolled her eyes, organizing the papers in front of her despairingly. It was such a merry tune…for such a cold man.
Holding up a finger excusing himself, Naraku flipped open the phone irritably. "Webb - I'm in a meeting."
The voice on the other end sounded displeased. "Who is this?"
Frowning at the attention he was receiving, Naraku hissed. "What do you mean who is this? Who are you?"
"I'm asking the questions right now, what are you doing with this number?"
"This is Naraku, and this has always been my number." Naraku growled, "Now who are you trying to call?"
Mr. Higurashi, along with the other members of the board, continued to listen to the conversation, intrigued. "Is there a problem, Naraku?"
The riled business man gave a shake of his head before barking into the phone, "You have the wrong number, idiot!"
Embarrassed by association, Midoriko excused herself for a drink of water.
"I'm looking for Sango, why did she call from this number if it's really yours?"
"Because we were trapped on a damn elevator for two hours! Now who are you!"
An elderly woman at the table gasped, discreetly whispered to another colleague. "Such language…"
Pretending not to hear the annoying woman, Naraku waited for an answer.
"You let my little sister get stuck on an ELEVATOR!"
Naraku held the phone a foot away from his ear, allowing everyone to hear the irate person on the other end. Realization hitting him in the face, he froze. Automatically, he regretted his previous words.
.-..-.
The Dawson men were not happy bunnies.
Sesshoumaru's voice rumbled, a nerve on his forehead twitched, and his calm exterior cracked. "What?"
"Are you deaf! This jackass on the other end let our little sister get stuck in an elevator!" Inuyasha glared at the phone, "Let me talk to Sango. Now."
Bitingly, Naraku responded. "You can reach her through her penthouse." Without another word, Inuyasha could hear the phone cut off.
Kagome abstractedly took another bite of her apple; there was no mistake who he'd been talking to.
Slamming the phone down, he turned and focused on Kagome. "She's staying in your room. What's your phone number?"
Kagome rang off the number quietly, allowing Inuyasha to jot it down.
Before he could dial the number, Sesshoumaru intervened. "We won't worry her right before she has to be on television." Sesshoumaru left no room to argue, leaving the room before Inuyasha could protest.
Reining in his anger, Inuyasha watched the others follow in his brother's footsteps until only Kagome was left.
Quietly, she tossed her apple core into the trash. "You were talking to Naraku weren't you?"
He looked at her incredulously. "How did you know?"
"He's just like that." Kagome gave a light laugh, "He's my father's right hand man, he's perfect for the job, but he seriously lacks people skills. They're worse than yours."
"Keh! What are you trying to say!" He wasn't in the mood for a 'what's wrong with Inuyasha' session right now.
Instead of giving in to his attempt at starting a fight, Kagome sighed. "I remember when Midoriko, our Press Coordinator, first came to Urashi. I tried setting the two up, but they were totally opposite from one another."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, "Aren't opposites supposed to attract?"
The heiress laughed, "Yeah, but they were really different, like chocolate and vanilla."
"But they're good together." Inuyasha insisted stubbornly.
"Ok, like sugar and salt, then."
"They are too!"
Gritting her teeth with a disgusted look, Kagome used her last resort. "They're kinda like…you and me."
Instantly changing his opinion, Inuyasha turned to leave the room. "Oh, never mind then."
Shoving him away from the doorway, Kagome left to join the others.
.-..-.
"You should turn that thing off when we're in a board meeting." Midoriko admonished, watching the lighted buttons change as they passed up floor after floor.
Naraku only sneered, changing the volume of his ring tone. Little tunes continued to play for mere seconds before another began, and his eyebrows continued to draw closer together.
"All of your cell phone troubles aside, I want your word that you will stay near Sango at all times. She isn't Kagome, she doesn't know how deceiving these people can be."
"I will follow Higurashi's orders and watch over Sango, you don't have to tell me."
Midoriko eyed him, puzzled. "I don't know whether to say you're acting noble or like a loyal lapdog." The doors slid open at Sango's floor and Midoriko disappeared into the penthouse.
"Sorry that I had to leave so abruptly, Mr. Higurashi called an emergency board meeting."
From the bathroom, Sango called out. "Is everything ok?"
Folding her hands behind her back, Midoriko looked out the window. "Yes, everything is fine. And, I have an update on tonight."
"You do? What is it?"
"Well, it's not just you getting interviewed tonight. E! is going to have you and Kagome meet over a satellite connection. It's part of the behind the scenes special of the contest."
There was a pause, but Sango's voice rang loud and clear from behind the door. "Really? That's creative."
"I'm glad you think so, I was worried you might not want to." Silence stretched between them as Sango continued to ready herself.
Smiling, Midoriko took a moment to appreciate the new additions to the room. A few new pictures lined a shelf beside her bed: snapshots of her family.
The bathroom door opened, revealing the black and red number Sango had decided on.
Beaming her approval, Midoriko gave the outfit a once over. "You look even better in this than Kagome does. I'll have our fashion people contact the designer tomorrow so you can have one of your own."
Sango couldn't think of any other time in her normal life that she would ever wear such an expensive thing ever again, but the thought was what counted. "Are you sure I look ok? This really isn't my usual style…"
"Perhaps you're right," Midoriko conceded earnestly. "But, it's probably because this dress alone is around seven hundred dollars more than any of us would usually spend on one."
Sango looked down at the dress adorning her body, eyes as wide as dinner plates. Obviously eating anything that could stain was out of the question tonight.
.-..-.
When the doorbell had rung half an hour ago, Kagome hadn't thought much of it. In fact, she'd had a feeling that it was Rin.
Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that it would be an entire camera crew, complete with an ecstatic TV personality flirting shamelessly with 'the man of the house'.
Sesshoumaru still didn't look too pleased.
Of course, the surprise arrival was immediately followed by a call from Midoriko, with an explanation and a few foul words about the greedy, overeager vultures (the E! crew).
"I've already told you, I'm already involved." Sesshoumaru went back to typing. Annoyance was clear in his eyes, but, obviously, Janette Warren was not the brightest diamond in the box.
…Possibly, she was the dullest one.
"Must be a very lucky woman." She crooned, "So, what kind of work do you do?"
Sesshoumaru concentrated harder on his work, "I am an accountant."
"Ooh!" Janette giggled, twirling a strand of dyed strawberry blonde hair. She hadn't been a brunette since fourth grade. "That's amazing!"
Inuyasha and Kohaku shared a look of disgust before looking back at the camera crew. With Miroku gone, the two younger Dawson men had decided to play a few rounds of friendly card games.
Winning the money was all part of the friendly fun.
"Alright, Jacks or better to open." Dealing out the cards, Inuyasha watched Kagome silently stare out the window. What was wrong with her? She'd been on TV since she was born, and looked like she loved it, but now she looked like-
"I can open."
Looking back at the group, Inuyasha nodded. "So can I. How many cards?"
"Three."
Another cameraman leaned back, looking into the living room. "Janette, you're on in five seconds for the live update."Jumping up disappointedly from beside the stoic accountant, Ms. Janette Warren grabbed her mike and ran into the camera's shot. With a large, perky smile, she gave a final wink to Sesshoumaru before announcing the news drooling fans everywhere were waiting to hear.
"Up next, The Contest of the Century: Urashi's Daring Move. A behind the scenes look at the contest with the highest stakes in history and an exclusive meeting with the lucky winner and Kagome Higurashi! Stay tuned!"Kagome sighed; making the best of things was a very hard thing to do. But, after this interview, she'd be free from the media…right?
.-..-.
The camera crew was already set up and ready to film the 'hip' E! TV personality kissing up to the richest people in New York City.
Primping her hair, the fast talking, modish Ms. Blair Feriade tapped on her customized hot pink microphone – daisy decals included. Nothing happened. After a few dozen taps, she finally realized something was seriously wrong. "Donald-there's-something-wrong-with-this-microphone. Could-it-be-broken?-is-it-plugged-in? Donald! Donald!"
The cameraman tripped over himself trying to get to her, "Let me see it – it was working earlier."
"Donald! This-is-the-most-important-day-in-my-career!" It always was. Beginning to hyperventilate, she handed him the microphone.
Used to this kind of behavior, another member of the crew handed her the familiar brown paper bag, saying something along the lines of "Breathe, Blair." before returning to his station.
Handing the mike back to Blair, Donald sighed. "It works now."
Blair's breathing came back to a safe level and her eyes shone brightly. "Really? What-did-you-do-to-make-it-work?"
Looking up from his camera, Donald gave her a deadpan stare. "I turned it on."
The TV personality's mind clicked, "Oh…so-that's-what-it-was."
.-..-.
Guests were arriving, making their grand entrances. The more she looked at them, the more many of them looked fake. The smiles, she knew, were not those of happy people. Smiles like the ones they were wearing were the kind you wore when you were there to make impressions, not when you were there to have a good time.
Sango breathed deeply, staring at herself in the punch bowl. Deep down she knew nothing was wrong with how she looked, but there was that annoying little part that everyone has inside them that told her something was wrong.
The camera crew was set up in a curtain-covered area where the interview would take place at the beginning of the night.
According to Midoriko, the whole country was dying to find out her name. Tonight would be their chance. Either they'd love her or hate her for winning; that alone made the win bittersweet.
"Feeling alright?" Eri smirked, "Didn't think you'd see me here, did you?" Winking at one of the younger rich bachelors in the room, the fitness trainer rounded back on Sango. "What are you doing over here by the food? I thought I'd rubbed off on you at least a little."
Smiling, Sango took a step away. She noticed Ayumi, one of Naraku's unfortunate interns, dressed in a tasteful ruby red dress, standing beside Eri looking much happier – and calmer – than usual.
"I think you've met Ayumi." Said girl waved with a smile and, beaming like the sun, Eri linked arms with both girls. "Alright, when is your satellite interview?"
Sango checked the dainty diamond watch on her wrist. "Um, in about fifteen minutes."
Shrugging, Eri steered her two companions towards the doorway. "Not a lot of time, but I can't complain."
"Time for what?"
Smiling, Ayumi spoke for the first time. "Kagome treats us to this kind of stuff all the time, so Eri and I know quite of few of these people."
As they reached the door, Eri paused. "Let's see who all is-What's she doing here?"
At the moment, being interviewed. Kikyo gave a cool smile, standing in front of two girls Sango almost fainted at the sight of.
"I can't believe it!" Sango could hardly contain her fangirl scream. "It's…it's-"
Eri giggled at the shocked expressions running over Sango's face. "The three of them have three things in common." Counting off with her fingers, Eri ran through them. "They're girls, they're rich, and they're frosty." Nodding knowledgebly, the health guru sighed. "I didn't think you'd be into Felony's music."
Sango tore her gaze away from the rock royalty. "Touran and Karan are two of the most talented rock girls out there! I have every one of their CD's!" As a fanatic afterthought, Sango jerked on Eri's arm. "Do you think they'd autograph an album for me?"
It was Ayumi's turn to giggle, "You have three months to do that. I'm sure they'll want to get to know you." Always the optimist (unless Naraku was around) Ayumi patted her new friend on the back. "You'll see a lot of them."
Kikyo turned, catching Sango's eyes, before darting her attention back to the reporters. Touran and Karan, side by side as always, nodded with something the reporter said, and laughed. They looked so natural, so used to the glamour and fame they were receiving. They were living the life of the rich and famous.
And what a glorious life it was.
.-..-.
Inuyasha watched the door to Sesshoumaru's office close for a second time, open a third, and Sesshoumaru rush briskly out.
Janette's pre-show intentions were obvious.
Giving his older brother a sideways glance, Inuyasha took a deep, refreshing breath. "I bet you haven't had a stalker since high school. Must bring back some old memories for you, huh?"
Crossing his arms across his chest, Sesshoumaru frowned. "Watch it."
"Oh don't worry, I am. With great amusement." Relishing in his brother's agony – Inuyasha was the model brother – the younger Dawson leaned back against the wall.
Janette, disappointed at being pulled to the side by one of the crew before she could follow Sesshoumaru out of his office, sat down on the sofa beside Kagome. Staring Kagome in the eye, her ecstatic look transformed into one of seriousness.
"We'll be going live in less than a minute. Just act natural. You're excited to be here; don't say where. You love the family; don't say their names. You can't wait to attend high school for the first time, it's going to be a great experience; don't say the school's name."
The woman's words robbed Kagome of every earnest thought she was going to say. By prepping her, she'd taken the true emotions she'd had and morphed them into something fake, typical, and…planned.
Chancing a look over by the wall where the rest of the family stood watching, Kagome took a deep breath. She was not going to be fake, typical, or "planned." She would prove to him that she wasn't what he thought she was. She was not the Princess of Parties, the Urashi Heiress, or one of the top 20 richest girls in the world.
She was Kagome Higurashi, and before she left in three months she was going to make sure he knew that.
.-..-.
"I'm here with Kagome Higurashi, who has made history by coming up with Swap Live with Hotel Heiress Higurashi. Just two days ago, the winner was announced out of a whopping 3.5 million entries. This is the majority of the teenage population from ages 14-17, the age cut offs for the contest." Bubbly, Janette leaned in towards the heiress. "Did you think this contest would be this huge?"
Laughing, Kagome shook her head. "Not really. I knew that we would get a lot of entries because of the trade off, but I never thought that it would be such a hit. I don't want to think of the numbers if we'd had no age limit."
The reporter smiled charmingly, "What was your first day like as a 'normal' girl? Was there a welcome party?"
Noticing Inuyasha balk behind the cameras, Kagome forced herself not to fidget nervously. How could she find words for the kind of welcome she'd received? "It was a very different experience." Brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear, Kagome laughed. "I really love it here, but it takes some getting used to."
Behind the scenes, Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
She wanted to glare, she really, really did.
But, since childhood, she'd been trained to hide any feelings that would make you look like anything less than perfect…
Maybe, on some level, she was a fake.
.-..-.
Midoriko sipped at her wine in a ladylike manner, standing beside her coworker of six years with a fretful look on her face. "That Janette woman finished up her interview with Kagome. Sango's up next for the individual interview and then they go via satellite."
Nodding distractedly, Naraku straightened his cuffs and tie.
His eyes were on a reporter by the bar, Midoriko knew.
"He's here with Kikyo, but it still doesn't seem right." Midoriko pointed out.
Naraku glared in Musou's general direction. "He's here for a reason. Higurashi hasn't seemed to notice him yet."
"We can't kick him out, he hasn't done anything and as Kikyo's guest he isn't a reporter." Crossing her arms, Midoriko tapped her foot excessively, much to Naraku's irritation.
Seated beside the fast talking Ms. Feriade, Sango seemed truly excited. The woman was chattering away with a cameraman, but Sango didn't seem to mind. Eri and one of Naraku's interns was standing by her, giving her words of encouragement.
"Seriously, it isn't that big of a deal. You're too sweet for anyone to hate you!"
Ayumi nodded, "You'll do great! Remember, if you mess up just keep going as if nothing ever happened. Oh – Hi Midoriko!"
"Hello Ayumi, Eri. How are you doing Sango?"
The butterflies wouldn't stop flying. "Fine."
"Good. Here's your earpiece. Incase there's anything I need to tell you you'll hear me through this. We'll be right over there, if you get nervous, scared, or anything happens, just give us the signal." Midoriko gave a reassuring wink and patted the girl on the arm. "Break a leg!"
Sango hoped she didn't. "Wait! What's the signal?"
Momentarily floored, Midoriko thought to herself. What was her signal with Kagome? She hadn't needed it in such a long time she'd lost it.
Eri jumped out from behind the curtains; a thought had sparked. "I know! If you're in trouble, do this!" Making a bunny rabbit with her fingers, she noticed the curious eyes and slunk back into the curtains. "What? I like bunnies!"
"I think people would think I'm psycho." Sango replied honestly.
"Just mention Rumplestiltskin if you're in trouble." Was Ayumi's suggestion.
Remarkably, Midoriko agreed.
How Sango was supposed to mix that into the sentence was a mystery she'd just have to figure out if the time came.
.-..-.
Thousands of televisions tuned in to watch as the satellite connection was established and two very excited teenage girls appeared on a split screen.
It was magic to them.
Boy do people love magic.
"Hi Sango! How's it going?" Greeting the friendly looking girl on the other half of the TV screen, Kagome waved.
.-..-.
Her mouth…was dry.
Unlike some of the girls and guys at her school, Sango didn't think she was that big of a fan of the press-candy Kagome Higurashi. Sure, she was pretty, rich, and in the news at least twice a week…but, so were a lot of people.
"Smile and wave…"Midoriko's angelic voice carried through the nifty little device straight into Sango's ear. Waking up from her fan-like dream state, Sango smiled, waving back. "Hi! I'm fine, you?"
Blair and the reporter with Kagome sat patiently, basking in the silent beauty that was their ratings. All they had to do was sit there looking pretty and they were rich.
Kagome shrugged, looking like the perfect, normal, everyday girl. "Perfect." Giving a quick wink, the heiress crossed her legs. "I love your family!" By the look in her stormy blue eyes, Sango knew she meant it. Silently, Sango uncrossed her fingers and thanked God that Kagome was having as great a time as she was.
Then again, everyday with her family brought the kind of excitement that someone wanting a normal life would hope for.
As they continued talking and answering questions their two reporters asked, both of them realized something.
Neither of them could have asked for a better person to switch with.
.-..-.
"We'll be right back, Sango! You did great!" Dashing off into the crowd, Eri and Ayumi disappeared to answer Naraku's call.
The night was almost over, and Sango could feel how late it was by her heavy eyelids. Sango stared down into the empty glass in her hand wearily. Among the business elite, she was a charming angel, their daughters were inviting her out to parties full of the rich and famous, and their sons…well, their sons loved her. She'd gotten at least ten young bachelors offering, "let's get together sometime."
"Thirsty?"
Ah, here was another one.
Looking up into a handsome, albeit slightly older, face, Sango nodded. "The interview took a lot out of me."
"From where I was watching, you seemed to do just fine." The guest gestured somewhere off to the side, "The name's Musou."
Shaking his offered hand, Sango smiled. "I guess you already know mine."
Nodding, Musou motioned to her glass. "I'm about to get a refill, would you like me to refill yours while I'm at it?"
"Oh, thank you!" Sango sounded a bit surprised, but offered up her glass.
As he walked away, he called over his shoulder. "Ginger ale right?"
Without awaiting her response, the charming fellow headed towards the drink table.
.-..-.
Kikyo watched with interest as Musou obtained the Sango girl's cup and spiked it. Looking away, she turned her attention back to the conversation. She nodded attentively, hiding her anger.
Reporters went very low to get what they needed, especially Musou Tearsman; she knew from personal experience.
"Have you met the new girl yet? Sango, is it?" Karan browsed through the crowd for the subject of her conversation.
Kikyo daintily took a bite of her appetizer, looking to her friends with a faroff expression. "Depends on what you mean by 'met'."
Touran flicked her eyes up from her plate. "I think sis means have you talked to her?"
"We've exchanged words. I came to respond to the invitation and saw her with Higurashi's press woman."
The Felony sisters exchanged looks. Trying to find out how Kikyo was feeling was like trying to make a rock smile.
"She seemed like an interesting girl."
Touran blinked, "A compliment about someone who lives here from you? When did I miss the memo that hell had frozen over?" Receiving a chuckle from her younger sister, Touran smirked. "You know I'm just playing right?"
Kikyo nodded, "I'll be back. I have some business to attend to."
The two girls watched their composed friend walk off.
Leaning into her sister, Karan whispered. "I think that means she needs the bathroom."
.-..-.
She needed the bathroom.
Yes, the door looked close by…
But. (There's always a but.)
It was only trying to trick her into believeing it was there.
Mr. Door thought he was slick like that.
She could always just start walking until she came in contact with the door, that was reasonable…
If only it would stop moving.
Keeping her outerself composed impressively well for her first time intoxicated, Sango frowned at her evil wooden menace and charged forward. Luckily, the bathrooms were located down a hallway; otherwise, someone would have already called the funny farm on her.
That was always the problem with being drunk; people thought you'd lost your marbles.
The door didn't move, and triumphantly Sango entered the bathroom. Giving a quick laugh of relief that she'd picked the right bathroom (the lack of urinals was her biggest clue) Sango stumbled towards the sink.
A figure in the corner made Sango pause, her head spinning. Dizzy and unfocused, she managed to lock her eyes on a young girl, closely resembling the girl she'd spoken to in her interview. There were a few differences, enough to tell that they were two different people, but the similarities were amazing.
Something was in the girl's hand, a white roll letting off smoke. Well, that made Sango's thought of it being toilet paper fly out the window…
Realizing the girl was giving her an indifferent look, she did the only thing her poor, drunken mind could come up with.
She mimicked her.
Then, she tumbled forward in a daze.
Kikyo dropped her cigarette to the floor as the drunken girl fell forward.
"Ow…my head." It was the most sober thing the girl had done so far, and it made Kikyo curse under her breath. The feeling in her stomach was most likely guilt, causing her to rethink her attack on Kagome Higurashi's temporary replacement.
The more she had thought about it, the more she had already realized there was most likely no dirt she could find by having Musou talk to her. She hadn't asked for him to spike the girl's drink either.
He must have spiked it a lot to get her this plastered…
Crushing her cigarette under her heel, Kikyo knelt down beside the girl and lifted. She was quite light, actually.
She'd been to enough parties to know how people handled the drunk, but she also knew that she didn't want to toss the girl into a stall and steal her clothes.
So, resting the dazed girl on the edge of the sink, she wet a handtowel and held it to her forehead.
Musou would pay dearly for this…
.-..-.
"Where's your key?"
Wobbling upon unsturdy legs, Sango frowned. "Key?"
"To call the elevator."
"We don't need a key to call the elevator!" Sango insisted, waving a finger dangerously close to Kikyo's eye. "Here, elevator, elevator! See? We don't need a key."
With a blank face, Kikyo glanced to the ceiling. It would be easy to just leave the girl here and go home…
After Sango's legs turned to jelly, Kikyo nixed that idea. A good piece of karma once in a while might actually make her life a bit less screwed up.
The doors to the elevator opened and Sango clapped her hands. "Woo!"
How had she…? Kikyo froze until she noticed the cardkey in Sango's hand.
"Up we go!" Sango giggled as Kikyo helped lift her off the marble. "Stop it! That tickles…!"
Rolling her eyes, Kikyo dropped the girl once they were inside the elevator. "I'm only taking you up to your room. You are on your own from there."
Sango shook her head with a knowing smile, "Only until tomorrow morning…!"
Kikyo looked down at her guiltily. She'd choke on her own vomit before then…or, have a hangover in the morning and explain just who had gotten her up there the night before.
Either way, the Miasma heiress was out of options.
The elevator doors slid open, allowing both girls to wander inside, completely surprised as to where they were.
"Where am I?"
"Your room, I suppose."
"Wow…" Sango hiccuped upon being tossed unceremoniously onto her bed. "It's nice to be ri-Oh my God!"
Kikyo spun around from looking out the window, "What?"
"They're dead! All dead!" Gesturing to the stuffed animals lining the wall, Sango's eyes spilled over with tears.
"Oh, for the love of-" She stopped upon noticing something. "Not here."
Sango covered her mouth and dived towards the bathroom. But, with such clumsy legs, she could barely get out of bed.
"You will NOT throw up." Kikyo briskly left the room, heading towards what she believed to be the bathroom.
Upon her return, Kikyo presented Sango with her very own trashcan.
Sango glanced down at the platic bin and whispered her protest. "I can't ruin that! It's so clean!" A moment later, she'd spilled her cookies.
Disgusted, Kikyo held back her hair.
Oh yes…
Musou would pay.
.-..-.
Inuyasha gave his head a scratch and yawned languidly before hopping out of bed. Cheerfully he headed down the hall, a spring in his step and a highly amused grin on his face.
Kagome's door gave a quiet squeak as he pushed it open.
He expertly avoided the creaky spot on her floor and reached the breathing lump under the covers. With a devilish smile, he leaned forward.
Their heads collided as Kagome shot up. "TOO MANY CLOWNS!"
Inuyasha fell back, bewildered.
Kagome looked around frantically, guaranteeing the absence of the red-nosed, pale-faced, juggling monsters. "Inuyasha?"
The two stared at each other a moment before the pillow made contact with Inuyasha's head. "What are you doing in my bedroom?"
She didn't seem very mad…just very confused.
"Waking you up, Afro-puff." With a pleased smirk, Inuyasha gestured to her head. "What are you going for anyway? The Bride of Frankenstein look went out a few decades ago."
Kagome glared, "It's called bed head, and I've never tried for it."
Inuyasha caught the next pillow thrown at him deftly. "Well, sleeping beauty, we have two hours before we're bumming a ride with Miroku. It's four thirty."
"In the morning!" Dumbfounded and mortified, Kagome turned to Sango's cheerful 'morning glory' clock.
Crossing his arms, Inuyasha watched with interest as his new housemate whined, curling into a little ball amongst her sheets and hair.
"It's too early…" was her mumbled explanation as to why she was now a semi-conscious ball.
"You have three seconds to get used to it." Inuyasha eyed the rolled up heiress sternly. "Or else."
Kagome rolled over, still cocooned. "See if I care."
The room became very quiet during the battle of bluffs.
Inuyasha frowned, "Three…"
She wasn't moving.
"Two…"
He was by her bed, hand at the ready.
"One."
Yanking the covers out from around her, Inuyasha flicked on the lights. Much more accustomed to it than Kagome, he only winced.
Kagome, however, smashed a pillow over her face and hissed. "What is wrong with you?" Indignant that she hadn't received a response, Kagome tolerated the blinding light to face him. "Inuyasha?"
He was gone.
Thankful to receive peace, Kagome rolled back over into a warm spot with a sleepy smile.
.-..-.
After putting on his watch, Sesshoumaru tightened his tie. Looking around the table, it was impossible to miss Kagome's absence.
Searching out some orange juice in the fridge, Inuyasha bit off a piece of his pop tart. Sesshoumaru was looking at him again. Cursing under his breath, Inuyasha stuffed the rest of the pastry in his mouth and frowned. "I already told her to get up an hour ago."
Gold eyes pierced amber in a silent argument.
"Try again. She isn't used to waking up so early." Sesshoumaru turned back to organize his breifcase.
"Whatever," Inuyasha stole his bagel off its plate. "But I'm taking this."
Sesshoumaru glared. He hated that…a lot.
.-..-.
The bagel with cream cheese looked very appetizing, but he'd have to sacrifice its yummy, fattening goodness for now. It had a much bigger duty to fulfill.
Just as he'd expected, Kagome was still snuggled in her protective little ball of solitude. With a sigh, Inuyasha pottered on in.
Her face had become uncovered during her sleep, thus the bagel did its job.
Maybe he could salvage it for the most part…
After completing his task, Inuyasha left the room only to return with an old friend. "Kagome…"
Her hazy mind drifted into conciousness at Inuyasha's voice. Why was he still here? They had enough time…
"Ok, it's time for you to wake up Frankengirl, because I'm not coming back up here again." Inuyasha clapped his hands together. "Don't make me pull out the big guns."
"You don't have big guns, Inuyasha." Rolling over, Kagome came face to face with one of the scariest things she'd ever seen in her life. Beedy eyes stared back at her, and a forked tongue was inches from her face. Flying back out of the bed to the window, Kagome screamed. "GET IT AWAY! GET IT AWAY!"
If he didn't get it soon, then it was going to slither over to her and swallow her whole…It'd take weeks to digest her, and until then she'd just been sitting there. Waiting…waiting…waiting.
Inuyasha was laughing cynically from her nightstand. "You look really pathetic right now." Lifting the snake off the bed, Inuyasha tossed it over to her.
A scream froze in her throat until she felt it. Leather.
Turning outraged eyes on the jerk, Kagome threw it down. "It's a fake!"
"He is called Shikigami." Receiving her questioning look, Inuyasha waved a hand. "A stuffed animal Sesshoumaru used to play with as a child, our grandfather got it from Japan for him."
Kagome glared, "Right now, I don't care about its history." The hand she put against her forehead came away with a creamy white paste.
"Oh, I thought it'd wake you up. Didn't work though." Inuyasha shrugged as though discussing the weather and yawned. "Well, we have some time before Miroku's giving us a ride. Maybe you should get ready now. Keep the snake, if you want."
He disappeared down the hall, looking as proud as a new father.
Kagome looked up into the mirror. She could feel the steam rising off her forehead. What she figured was cream cheese was streaked across her face into a unique smile. XX
Hopefully the bathroom was open.
.-..-.
"Good morning!" Miroku tossed his backpack onto the backseat and beamed. "It's your first day of school. Are you excited?"
Kagome, wide and alert after having to powerwalk her way through the house to be ready in time, nodded. "Yep!"
"Alright then. Mushin fixed the car, so it's running like a gem now. Hop in m'lady. …You too 'Yash."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, sitting up front with Miroku as always. "Kohaku's riding the bus with Rin."
"Ah, young love." Miroku pulled out onto the road, "Speaking of love-"
"Yes, I did see what my sister was wearing." Was Inuyasha's monotone reply.
"She looked beautiful." Miroku replied honestly, currently in his own little world as they drove down the road. "Don't you agree, 'Yash?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Oh come on! Kagome – you're a girl."
"Last time I checked." Kagome nodded, ignoring the confused pause from the two men in front.
Miroku stopped at a redlight and turned to look at her. "So back me up!"
"Sango did look really nice last night. She looks better in that dress than I do."
Inuyasha was very quiet, but being jostled by Miroku's right elbow made him break his silence with an indignant yell. Miroku ignored it. "Hear that, Inuyasha? She's worn it too."
"So?"
Rolling his eyes, Miroku continued driving merrily. His best friend had his strong points, but being on the ball wasn't really one of them.
.-..-.
Every time a rich, beautiful, famous person enters a room, it creates a world full of confusion.
High schools especially.
In a school of thirty-four thousand, one would believe that the entrance of one five foot four girl wouldn't bring much attention to herself.
That one would be entirely wrong.
Carrying the yellow backpack her father gave her, Kagome stepped through into the cafeteria. A hush fell over the room. She kept her eyes trained on the familiar juniors and freshmen around her.
She noticed Miroku giving her an encouraging smile, and whilst returning it, noticed something she hadn't before: cameras.
A large majority of the room had obviously realized that the lucky winner had been one of their schoolmates.
In less than a second, a flock of students was rushing at her.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw the Urashi special last night, but you're standing right here!" The girl was gushing excitedly, waving a spiral notebook in front of her face. "Could you please sign this? Make it out to My-ra-"
"Excuse me!" Pushing My-ra to the side, another girl entered Kagome's vision. "Can you take a picture with me?"
The exhausting pattern forming worried Kagome. Would this ever die down?
Guys, just as excited to have a beautiful and famous girl at their school, were begging for pictures with her as well.
The whole cafeteria wasn't in an uproar, but the amount of excited fans surrounding her was a significant amount, and one that made it nearly impossible to escape. Feeling a bit faint, Kagome tried hard to keep her balance. There were too many people…
She spotted Miroku pushing through the others to get to her, but with every step, it looked like he was taking two steps back. She also saw Rin and Kohaku, too far away to be of any help.
There was a flash of silvery white hair, and a tug at her wrist. She could feel someone pulling her out of the milling crowd.
Ignoring everyone's indignant sputtering, Inuyasha continued pulling until the two reached the doors.
Opening the doors, Inuyasha muttered. "I must be psychic…"
Kagome opted to stay silent, going wherever Inuyasha dragged her. Suddenly, he reeled around, an unreadable look on his face. Based on Kagome's life experiences, she figured it was a mix of worry and anger, but she wasn't about to speak her opinion.
"I'm not going to be there every time this happens." Realizing he was still holding her hand, he quickly released it. "All of this will probably die down a bit later. So." Inuyasha stared at her irritably before saying anything further. "So, can you hold yourself together until then?"
Blinking, Kagome nodded.
"Good." He straightened his jacket and resumed walking. "Follow me if you want to get your schedule."
So far, it had been about five minutes since they had headed for the Administration office with all the low-traffic zones Inuyasha was taking her through.
The final challenge, however, was a deadly one.
At least, that's how Inuyasha saw it.
Leaning back on the rarely used hallway wall across from the office, Inuyasha faced his temporary charge. "So, my plan is to run head first through all those people so they don't notice it's you. What?"
Kagome slapped a hand to her face, "Tell me, does this plan usually work for you?"
"Considering I've never had to hide from the students at my school before, I haven't tried."
"That'd be a no, then." Kagome sighed, "Ok, here's how it's gonna go down."
.-..-.
Mrs. Jones could feel it. The creeping, foreboding sensation that it would be one of those days… One of those very peculiar days that made her wonder what had happened to today's society to make them so…unique.
She liked to call it her sixth sense, because it never lied.
Probably, based on her past experience, a child would come in without pants, complaining that a teacher had taken them when in fact they probably were so out of it that they had totally forgotten to wear them out of the house that morning.
So, she wasn't exceedingly worried to see two students wander in, one dressed like today's normal youth and the other covered head to toe as if they were a toddler dressed to go play in the snow.
Setting down her coffee, she grabbed up a pen. "May I help you?"
The white haired boy nudged the other student forward so they were standing side by side. "Yeah hi. I'm here to bring her for her schedule."
Mrs. Jones eyed the living closet skeptically before clearing her throat. "We don't allow our students to wear hats here, miss."
Swiping the hat off his friend's head, the golden eyed teen looked back at her and shrugged. "Sorry, she didn't know."
Nodding, Mrs. Jones pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "Name?"
"Kagome Higurashi."
She had to do a double take, "Excuse me?"
"My name; it's Kagome Higurashi."
A few other administrators stopped what they were doing, looking over from their desks curiously.
Pointing towards the corner, the administrator gave a surprised smile, handing the girl a card. "Here's your schedule, dear. Go over there to get your ID."
Kagome unzipped Inuyasha's coat and shrugged it off. "Thanks for letting me borrow some of your clothes."
"Now they smell like girl." Nevertheless, he had already pulled the jacket on again.
"And now I smell like you." Kagome countered. Truth be told, Kagome kinda liked the smell, but she'd break into song on a lunch table before ever admitting it. Without waiting to hear his retort, she headed off to get her picture taken.
.-..-.
"It's so cool!" The little piece of plastic in her hand made her smile. "So…I can buy lunch with it?"
Inuyasha nodded, not seeing the excitement of the annoying little security measure. "If you have money on it."
"So it's like a credit card." Excited, Kagome examined the ID carefully.
"You could say that."
"What else does it do?"
Inuyasha sighed, "It can get you discounts for stuff, like home games."
Her eyes lit up, "Do you go?"
"Sometimes."
Kagome nodded, pulling out her schedule. "Let's see, first I have Algebra II with analysis."
Coincidence. Inuyasha continued walking, "What room? I'll show you how to get there."
"Um…room 245."
"Let me…let me see that." Stomach dropping into his shoes, Inuyasha groaned.
Kagome looked up from her schedule curiously, "What's wrong?"
With a dejected sigh, the junior slumped his shoulders. "Let's get going to class. Just follow me around all day and you'll find your classes just fine."
.-..-.
The End!
(Of this chapter)