Kagome looked up at her mother as she cracked another egg into the fry pan. She knew what was coming, and had hoped to make it quickly out of the house without her mom saying it.

"Kagome…"

"I am sure mom.' Kagome said, adjusting her new uniform. Her mom had gotten her another one…that way she didn't have to wear the one she had on…that day. That's what she was calling it now…that day. It was just easier.

"I know you want to go to school Kagome. I was just going to say that I called the school and asked the teachers not to bring it up."

Kagome looked at her mother and smiled. She had feared that her teachers would keep bringing it up…and cause her just to break down.

It had been 2 weeks since…that day…and Kagome had spent the first week and a half in her room sobbing, Shippo and Kirara trying to comfort her. The last half of the week she had managed to go hours on hand without breaking down, and she was finally ready to go back to school.

She hoped.

'I can't stay in my room forever. It's not healthy. I need to get out in the real world…live again. Get on with my old life. It's not like I am forgetting them…my friends…but I can't stop my life because they are gone. I have to go back to what I did before them: My old life of school, math tests and friends giggling.

It's time to move on.'

&&&

"Morning Kagome."

Kagome smiled gently at Hojo, the back of her mind pleading with every god that he didn't…

"I heard…from your mom."

'Shit' Kagome thought, Inuyasha's need to curse seeming to have left his form at death and entered her. 'Next, I'll be asking every woman to bare my child…now that would take some explaining.'

"oh."

'Oh? That is the smartest think you could think of. Oh, that was fu….freaking smart. Damn it Kagome, stop swear…..Grrr!'

"I…uh…spread the word…and no one is going to say the word. Your mom said you were jumpy about it…and…well shoot, I guess I am mentioning it…but only to say that we won't mention it." He paused. "You ok?"

Kagome smiled a bit. "Yes Hojo…and thank you."

He shrugged. "I'm just trying to help." With that, he walked to his desk, sitting down and giving her a gently look before focusing on the teacher as he entered. He gave a glance at everyone, and paused at Kagome, gave her a soft smile and turned back to the board.

"Today we are going to work on a new English project." Mr. Noroshi stated. "For this project I would like you to think of a simple thing and write a 2 page paper on it." He paused for groans. "Now, I know this sounds silly, but let's try it out. The purpose is to try and take a simple action, like sharpening a pencil or watching a car go by, and describe that event in detail."

Kagome let out a sigh of relief. She had been fearing they would have to talk about their emotions, or some other poetic junk. Part of her wondered though if the teacher was doing this to baby her. Her mom had talked to him, hadn't she?

"Kagome?" Mr. Noroshi said, breaking her out of her thoughts. "We are doing prewriting, would you mind joining us, or are you going to stare into space for the next 10 minutes?"

Kagome blushed. "Sorry Mr. Noroshi." She turned to the paper and began to think of ideas.

&&&

"Hi Kagome!"

Kagome looked up from her lunch as Yuki, Eri and Ami walked over to her table, surrounding her in an instant. She glanced at them as they gave her gentle smiles and words that hid comfort.

"Hi guys."

"How does it feel to finally be back in school?" Yuki asked. "I bet it's great to no longer be sick."

Kagome gave her a half smile. "It sure is. The doctors say that I should be alldone with my treatments, and from now on, the only thing I have to worry about is the flu or the occasional cold."

"I had such a nasty cold a few months back." Ami said. "It felt like my head was going to explode." She took a drink of her soda. "and then it didn't help that we all thought we caught that itchy disease you had."

Kagome arched an eyebrow. "Itchy disease?"

"You know, that feuda-something-it is?"

Kagome nodded, trying to hold in a laugh. "feudaltravelisitis."

"Ya, that was it."

Ami nodded. "We were freaking out for a week Kagome." She shrugged. "but we didn't have it, so that's good."

"How did Inuyasha die?"

Everyone slowly turned and looked at Yuki, who suddenly felt like slinking to the ground and never coming out again.

"It's ok guys." Kagome said gently, forcing on a brave face. "I have to talk about it some time."

"But not this soon." Ami said, glaring at Yuki.

"But I want to talk about it." Kagome said with a sigh. "If I don't, then there is no way I can ever get over it." She took a deep breath.

'I need something…something that sounds good or convinciable…' She paused. In that moment, Kagome knew she couldn't do this. She couldn't keep lying. All she wanted to do was let the world know the truth, instead of lying about what had happened yet again…turn her friendships with those that had died into something that was yet another "sickness" tale.

"Guys…I thing is…well…." She had to figure out how to begin. The last thing she needed was people thinking she was crazy. "You remember how I always was out of school when I was sick…."

"Oh my god.' Eri said. "Inuyasha died at that clinic, didn't he."

"Guys…"

"Oh god Kagome…that must have been horrible. Here you are, getting all better, and your boyfriend is laying there…" They gathered around her. "It's going to be ok, alright?"

Kagome resisted the urge to scream, then laugh. 'So much for trying to tell them the truth…'

&&&

Kagome had managed to make it through the rest of lunch, gym class and a study hall without any further questions, concerns or anything like that, which was a good thing. The only thing that was truly ruining her mood was the looks people gave her. They weren't looks of sympathy, or of curiosity, or even sadness…oh, how she wished they were of sadness

They were pity stares.

'I don't need your damn pity.' Kagome thought. She had already decided to give up the war to keep herself from cursing, now seeing it as a little bit of Inuyasha that would be with her always. And hell, she was now Kirara's "owner", if that was the right word, giving her a piece of Sango.

She was already prepping for the slaps she'd get when Miroku's bad habits would take over.

'Now I understand why Inuyasha didn't not us around when he was human. He saw pity in our eyes, even if we didn't mean it. I hate pity…I wish it would go away and never come back. Pity is the one thing you just can't fight. And if you try to, then you end up with more of it.'

Kagome let out a sigh as her history teacher walked in and began to write on the board. T-H-E S-H-I-K-O…

"No…" Kagome said gently, already having a very bad feelings.

"…jewel." The teacher said as she finished writing the words on the board. "Today we are going to talk about the legend of the Shikon Jewel, which has played a large part in our history. The jewel was said to have possessed magical abilities."

'Well duh.'

"But we now know that this was merely a myth held out by the simple people. The real reason somany fought for this jewel was it's value. Some say it would be worth an entire kingdom's value in those times."

'Now wait just a damn minute…'

Kagome was fuming as the teacher went on. "Who went after this jewel? Well, most of the time they were lords, their concern only for the jewel's wealth. Some will tell you stories about brave heroes trying to get the jewel to do good with it…but lets face it, there aren't people like that."

"there are so!" Kagome screamed, everyone startled. "You don't know anything bout that jewel!"

"Kagome! Sit down right no…"

"Oh shut up you pompous bastard!" Kagome screamed. The history teacher stared at her in shock as her body shook, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You don't know anything about that damn jewel! It cost innocent people their lives…people that only fought for it so they could destroy it, and bring peace to their world!"

Hojo had leapt up now, and with the aid of her friends, were trying to drag Kagome from the room. But she was still screaming.

"Good people died….and all you care about is it's worth!" She let out a scream, and broke down, sobbing uncontrollable as she was carried form the room.