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Higurashi Kagome-san, No Need for High School!
Kagome x ?. Pairings are undecided… and so therefore, to cover it up, I'll say they're (cough) 'secret'… However, there may be a little of Sango x Miroku if I find time and the appropriate moment.
darkenedmoonlightflame
Staying remote and mysteriously attractive and violent for forever is never easy. Despondently dashing men are picnics, next to tragic death and deep-rooted hatred. But then again, when bloody revenge and budding love is concerned, Kagome had better watch her step. Kagome x?
Disclaimer: So basically… I don't own Inuyasha, and don't claim to. Everything else, AKA writing, plot, et cetera IS MINE.
(A/N: …Okay. (deep breath) This story was formerly titled 'Kagome vs. Shikon High', and I have decided to revamp it completely, and hopefully drag it up to my current writing standards a bit more. I'm sorry and not sorry (at the same time) if you preferred the older version, because that particular version is still up and in tact. I will be updating BOTH of these when I can, so choose what you like.
(Now that all of you readers can comprehend where the madness of this whole thing comes from, feel free to continue in this author's note. (beaming smile)
(This is to help those of you new to this specific format of mine—This is the order of information that progresses from the very top. Trademark, Title, Pairings, Authoress (ME!), Summary, Disclaimer, Author's Note, Quote, Story Intro, Recap, Story (finally!), Author's Note, Preview, Vocabulary (for all those Japanese words you'll encounter), Review Credits (need six to update), Story Notes, and then… It's all over. (Glad I finished? I bet.)
(There's no excuse for asking, 'Where's the dictionary?' now, okay? If you do it anyway, I'll probably say go read the author's note. This is a very loooooong and boorish rambling note, I DO know, I know. And I apologize, but it's necessary. (If you've paid any attention you'll see there's another at the bottom.)
(But just so you know beforehand, this may actually end up with an almost one hundred and eighty degree difference form Kagome vs. Shikon High… You never really know. Plot might be SIMILAR… And one last thing: if all goes fabulously, there should be… (FINGER COUNT!) ten or so parts to this. But enough. Onward, to the STORY!
(So, presenting, Higurashi Kagome-san, No Need for High School! Part I, Prelude (a prologue of sorts that takes place before the initial story line).)
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The greatest tragedy is not that we fall in love with those that are incapable of loving us in return, ever the unattainable, nor the harsh and unforgiving pangs of unrequited romance… it is that we simply cease to love at all…
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Higurashi Kagome-san, No Need for High School!
Part I; Illusions Deceive
Prelude
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"I… I have to get out… of here…" The voice was quiet, calm, and in its own way, devastating for the young male companion seated firmly and protectively next to her. "I'm… leaving.""IIE! Y-You can't!" He managed past the swelling lump in his throat, stopping to sooth his bruised pride at his broken voice.
"…" The steely azure-gray eyes softened, taking in the well-hidden tremble in the shoulder touching hers, the immediately flung away tears gliding down the unwilling cheeks of ivory.
"I… I need you." He whispered, despondently, not daring to meet her infuriated gaze. At last the internal fire quelled, and she sighed, head sliding back flat against the cool plaster wall. Her intense eyes turned to the ceiling for misguided moral support, of which it couldn't provide, no matter how hard she tried to find it.
"You know… I can't believe you've just said that." She smiled a small, reluctant smile, offering it to him as comfort. "But…"
"But nothing! You can stay! Why don't you?" He growled darkly, deeply hurt and angered that she was leaving, but too egotistical to let it seep through onto his exterior.
"I understand you are upset." She said lightly, dismissing his tensional fear and rage, shaking her head slowly. Staring, staring forward, into the darkness of nothing.
"I will NOT be mocked!" He sneered indignantly, his eyes narrowing to size her up. "I'll take care of you. Don't you trust me?" His last attempt was low and cheap, almost like hitting below the belt. He didn't care, really. Anything—anything to make her stay. Anything to force her to change her mind about leaving.
Her molten eyes hardened, glinting in the darkness: two perfect pearls in sea of black. "Your father has returned to claim you. There is nothing for me here."
He stopped his argument, in shock. 'F-Father… is coming?'
"Hai. That's right." She echoed herself, "Hai." Snapping out of her daze, she focused on the task at hand. "Now if it's no trial, I'll be off." She shifted smoothly and gracefully from her comfortable sitting position into standing. She stopped, when a hand pulled her back, shackled like iron around her wrist, slipping something into her fist. She shook her head, prepared to hand it back, whatever it was.
"W-wait! I…I don't want you to forget!" He called, desperate as he closed her hand again, thrusting it back to her. He was losing, and she was leaving. Ready for one last thing, he added sadly, "Remember? You promised! You said we'd never be separated! Ever! Do you remember?"
This pulled at the strings of her heart, dancing her around like a puppet for a moment.
"Onegai?" He whispered, not daring to breathe for a moment. "Onegaishimasu?"
"I…" She began, cutting herself off and sighing with a firm resignation. "I-I'll miss you…!" She choked out, reaching down to embrace him one last time, knotting something around his neck tightly.
And then it was over. All that remained of her was the coil of midnight inside a fragment of golden memory.
She was gone.
Whether or not they would cross paths again was all in the hands of fate.
He averted his eyes into the darkness she had watched so profusely, searching for what she had searched for those long, dark days. But as far as he could see, all that met his young eyes amounted to nothing. Nothing but a reminder that he would never see her again.
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Cold, mirthless cerulean-gray eyes snapped open a millisecond before a loud, annoying note blared out across the room, startling the obese cat curled up at the foot of the bed. It hissed, darting away as Kagome sighed, pulling the covers aside. Swiveling to dangle her long, toned legs over the side of the simple futon, she reached over quietly and flipped the switch on the alarm clock to OFF.
Stretching in silence, a feeling of tension rippled through the room, shattered only when the cat returned, deeming it safe. It purred pleasantly, rubbing against its mistress' ankles as a thank you. The surprised girl smiled awkwardly before reaching down to scratch behind the cat's ears in a comforting way.
"Arigatou, Buyo-san." She praised in a soft tone. Buyo rarely showed much affection for her, but something had changed his mind today, and his actions soothed her. "I need to stop thinking about the past, ne?" The cat returned to normalcy, yowling and clawing at her tender foot.
"Hai. I think so too." Kagome sighed, grimacing and reaching for the ever-constant on-hand supply of bandages and disinfectant. Cleansing the small scratch, she fastened a small Band-Aid to it and returned the kit to its nightstand drawer.
Continuing to stretch and get ready for the day, Kagome shifted the tatami mat on the floor, savoring the warm, herb-like aroma it produced. Crossing between the gap in the decorated shoji screens, she entered the kitchen, not bothering to make them meet together nicely. Rubbing her eyes, she set out two slices of bread and a small mountain of butter, before grabbing an egg from the refrigerator. Taking a frying pan and depositing a miniscule amount of oil into it with one hand, Kagome flicked on the stove burner with the other.
"It's so serene outside…" Shaking her head, Kagome cracked the egg over the pan with her free hand and tossed the neatly split shell away. Placing the pan on the blue flames and popping the toast into the toaster, she proceeded in the usual chiropractic practices; cracking her neck, fingers, knuckles, and toes, then rolling her shoulders, wrists, ankles, and legs.
"Good enough." She said, yawning and flipping the egg and retrieving her toast.
Buttering it placidly, she sat down for a moment, one eye watching the egg, the other fixed warily on Buyo, who had taken up residence under the said table. Relieved to get away from him, Kagome checked the egg, pronounced it 'okay' and plopped it onto the toast, carefully folding it with the spatula.
Dropping the clattering pan into the sink, she chewed thoughtfully on the scant breakfast, enjoying it all the same. After it had vanished, fingers had been licked, and dishes scrubbed and put away, she retreated to the bedroom again, this time closing the screens firmly and flipped the latch.
Rubbing the back of her head sheepishly, she checked the clock. 'Six 'o clock. Plenty of time, then.' Blinking laboriously, Kagome gathered clothing items before proceeding to the connected bathroom. Observing the different shades of blue in the tiles, she stripped down, the discarded over-sized tee shirt falling to the cold ground along with her underclothes.
Fourteen minutes later, she stepped out, towel secured in a steel grip as she changed, the only sound the muffled drop of the towel, snap of the clasps, and the whir of the fly zipper. But there was a small, ginger pause as Kagome slowly pulled on her tee shirt, painstakingly gentle with the numberless scars, wounds, and bruises that laced across her back that brought back unwanted memories, in which Kagome despised her weaknesses all the more so.
Consenting to brush her teeth in full vigor three times, Kagome then gave her hair a thorough brush, secretly loving the feel of the rhythmic strokes on her scalp. Sweeping her thigh-length silky midnight hair into the familiar over-the-shoulder braid, the smiled upon seeing the natural azure tints gleam and converge with the other wispy dabs of silver and crimson.
"I'm getting sentimental about those colors of mine." Kagome made a face at herself in the mirror, "Anou… They are… unique… if that's the word." She shook her head, still mystified as to why her hair was so brilliantly diverse without any dyes or such 'unspeakable' things.
Flashing a brilliant, but cold smile, Kagome applied wintergreen flavored chap stick to her lips before inhaling the fragrance. It was then Buyo struck, with the speed and precision one can only expect from a chubby, adorably lazy cat. Flailing wildly on his arched side, he forced Kagome to cautiously creep over, close to where he began, and flip him right side up. "Why do I put up with you, again?" She murmured, rubbing the bridge of her nose to ward off a headache.
"MROW!" Buyo purred indignantly, really meaning to say, 'Why do I put up with YOU? You forgot to feed me this morning, you know.' As if sensing what he wanted, Kagome trailed him to the kitchen and poured some diet cat food into his dish, replacing his water bowl as well. "Purr." He said graciously, really saying, 'Thanks a lot, fool. Heehaw! FREE FOOD!'
Checking the oven clock, Kagome sighed in an annoyed tone. "Six forty. Still early. Shame. I guess I'll make lunch." Grabbing a bowl of frozen homemade tempura udon and plopping it onto the table to thaw, she sighed and finished snapping on accessories helter-skelter.
Sinking into the comfortable dish chair by the glassy bay window, Kagome panted and fanned herself with an old newspaper. "N-Nothing… like… Sep… tember… This sure is… a hot… fall…" Collapsing into the comfortable cushioned mass of a chair, she sighed and fanned faster.
"Maybe a drink…?" Getting up in an annoyed way, she sauntered over to the fridge, browsing and choosing two cans of lemon iced tea. Opening one and gulping it down, she left the other out for her school luncheon. "And to think, I still have to work today!" Shaking her head at the idiocy, Kagome returned to her chair, checking her watch again.
"Six forty-five?" She exclaimed, grumbling at how slow time inched by today. "School's at seven thirty, but it's a thirty-five minute drive… So I could leave now…? Nah." Settling down, Kagome checked her keys, going through them one at a time.
"House, bedroom, kitchen, foyer, basement, laundromat, bathroom, bathroom, bedroom, bedroom, garage, recreation room, study, study, studio…" Losing interest rapidly, Kagome summed it all up, "et cetera!" Staring hatefully at her small silver watch, she sighed in relief. "Six fifty. Better get going, then." Taking her keys, she trailed through the house, locking everything up tightly and sliding the thick and protective and eccentric solid oak slabs behind them, except for the doors leading to Buyo's favorite rooms.
Once she had finished, Kagome high-tailed to the garage, and slipped inside, slamming the door and locking it behind her, just as she had done for the past nine years, ever since the incident…
Snapping her head back and forth until her head swam, she berated herself, "Forget it! It's over… it doesn't matter anymore…" But it did. And she knew it and despised it all the more so. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly, and murmured, "I…I…"
Ending abruptly and sharply, she scrunched her sad eyes shut for a moment, and opened them, memories dancing in them. But perhaps it was all just a trick of the light.
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"I hate traffic. I hate traffic. I hate traffic. I hate traffic. I-" Kagome repeated under her breath, her hands gripping the handlebars of her sleek motorcycle in a death hold until her knuckles turned whiter than bone. "I'm going to be late to…" She checked the piece of paper in her pocket, with the name scribbled on the back of her to-do list. "Shikon no Kakera High School."
Her left eyes twitched, and she decided she would either ride between the cars and be an awful driver, or just sit and wait until she went insane. After narrowing it down like that, Kagome frowned and the motorcycle roared to life, whizzing through the stickiest messes downtown Tokyo could provide.
Kagome made a face at herself in the reflection bouncing off of the car in front of her. It was distorted, and looked hilarious. 'Amusing…' She checked her customized outfit, silently hoping the school wouldn't have a uniform. 'Uniforms are so boring. Heh, uniforms are so unisex.' All was in good condition, so she went back to paying attention to the road.
"LEFT!" She directed herself, making a sharp turn just in time to avoid a stupendously nasty pink car. Swerving around her, the car's owner cursed obscenities at her, swerving. "I wonder what Kakera will be like…?" Kagome thought out loud, flipping on the turn signal and hitting the brakes lightly. "So… close…" Checking the status of the road, she pulled into the desired lane only to stop for a red light and leave the blinker on. "Chikuso." Shaking her head, she sat back to wait some more.
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…
"Arigatou, Kami-sama…" Kagome muttered under her breath as she pulled to a sharp stop in the student parking lot, only further managing to stir the choking dust and exhaust fumes. Using the area of sleeve around her forearm to shield her abused nose, she scanned the lot for a space. "Interesting…"
The lot was divided. On one side, there were the best, cleanest spots and much nicer cars. On the other, the worst and ugliest imaginable. And in-between the two, the mediocre ones existed. "Anou…" Scratching the back of her head in a dazed way, Kagome decided the far side was substandard, and instead wanted an okay or very nice one.
Glancing down at her beloved motorcycle, Kagome instantly chose. "Only the best for you, koi." She grinned warmly, giving the main frame a loving caress. Spying an open spot, a small satisfied and cold look appeared. Revving up her bike, she grinned ruthlessly and darted in and out, weaving an intricate pattern through the honking cars.
Basking in the infuriated stares as she efficiently stole the spot, Kagome used her hands to affix the kickstand properly, instead of her questionable black combat boots, with their crimson laces, eyelets, and soles. Pausing to glance up coldly, she noticed the attentive looks she received. Some were curious, some angry, some jealous, and some even lustful. "Nani?" Kagome asked, her alto voice arctic and only going to get colder.
Students shuddered and averted their eyes, still watching out of the corners even so. 'Why are they so anxious? Is there something weird on my head?' Kagome thought, but would never actually say.
"OI! YOU!" The loud, raging cry filled the air, and the students didn't bother hiding their interest. 'Oh… so that's it, then.'
"Nani?" She asked, sending an enigmatic glare along with her frozen tone. It was a boy; he seemed to hesitate.
But then his confidence returned again, and he growled, "What're you doing in my space? With your trash? Iie—urusai!" Kagome closed her mouth and observed instead, the amber-eyed teen yelling from his white Ferrari. His hair was the color of white gold, complete with shaggy bangs, a darker shade than that of his… Her eyes widened. 'Inu ears?' There were tufts of soft hair inside the sea of dusty rose inside them.
"A hanyou…" She whispered, not sure what to make of it, unaware she spoke aloud.
"Hai, are you making something of it?" He barked haughtily, "Taisho Inuyasha, to be specific. Now… GET. OUT!" His eyes swirled crimson for a moment, identical to the color of his form fitting shirt, wristbands, and headband. His dark blue jeans were loose, but even so, Kagome could see he had some serious strength.
Not liking to back down from a challenge, but too late already, Kagome wanted to deal with this quickly or move her koi. "Look, just pick somewhere else. That's life. Get over it, inu-san." His chest puffed out in indignation. "Gomen nasai, but I'm late enough." A glint entered his eyes as he saw the way her hand lay protectively around her koi, helmet tucked under her arm.
"I think you'll move…" His lips twitched into a smile. "Hai… you will. I won't even say 'Onegaishimasu'." He opened white car's impeccable door, getting out and strolling over. "How's this: I don't utterly ruin your bike. IF you move it, that is." A smirk was plain. "So… what'll it be, sanrinsha-san?"
She felt her face flame slightly and she tightened her hold on her koi. "Inu-yaroo." She ground out, knowing full well that he could hear her. "I'm getting irked."
He sneered at her in response, indifferent. "So… what'll it be, sanrinsha-san?" Inuyasha repeated maliciously.
"Look, count your blessings and follow what instincts of self preservation you have. Go away, inu-san. I'm late. I'm angry. Don't be a yaroo."
"I already am, or so you said." His gold eyes flickered. "Sanrinsha-san, ne? I'm waiting."
"I'm late al-"
"I know, and I don't care." Inuyasha snorted triumphantly. "Ikujinashi. You're afraid. Well then, sanrinsha-san. I challenge you and your pathetic honor!" A collective, confident smile was shown between pupils, yen changing hands. "Do you accept?"
Kagome sighed. "Hai. I agree. Kami-sama, I am definitely going to be late now. Let's make this quick, shall we?"
"Keh. Enough talk. Can you back it up, though, sanrinsha-san?"
'I'd better be able to, for what I've been through.' Kagome's hazel eyes narrowed, glinting a steely ice blue. 'Hnn. This place is getting on my nerves already…'
"And that's Higurashi. Higurashi Kagome, by the way."
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(A/N: Whew. That took longer than expected, even being slightly shorter than usual. But alas—it lives! And may well sputter, cough, and die. But who knows? It may flourish beautifully. I hope it will. And so, not much to say, except I'm very happy to have it done… I can focus on another update. Preferably Kagome vs. Shikon High, or Tears of Blood. So, without much to else to say, my muses and I can move along to finish this authoress' note and get this posted at last!
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Next Chapter o.O.o.O
So, exactly WHO is this Higurashi Kagome anyway? What's behind her? And why is it that she seems to be catching quite a few eyes, even while being mistaken for a boy? But is there anything more to her than a pretty face?
What Meets the Eye o.O.o.O
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Vocabulary;
-san- suffix, at the end of a name, usually respectful and meaning Mr., Ms., or Mrs.
Hai- yes
Onegai- please
Onegaishimasu- please (formal-ish)
Arigatou- thank you (semi-informal)
-ne- suffix, usually put at the end of a question to add emphasis (EX: Inuyasha sure loves his ramen, ne?) (Inu-san: STOP USING ME AS AN EXAMPLE!)
Tatami Mat- particular type of mat, usually woven with reeds and such organic things
Anou- well…, erm…, eh…, er…, ah…, et cetera
Tempura Udon- Japanese dish with batter-coated and golden fried shrimp and veggies, served in a warm filling soup with big noodles—delicious!
Shikon no Kakera- Shards of the Jewel of Four Souls (just Jewel Shards, actually)
Chuikuso- damn
Kami- God
-sama- suffix, always added to a name, usually of extreme respect, indicating royalty, lordship, or a term of a LOT of admiration (EX: Sesshoumaru-sama)
koi- love
Nani?- what?
Iie- no
Urusai- shut up (not very nice, eh?)
Inu- dog (you can put inu and –san together, can't you?)
Hanyou- half-demon
Gomen nasai- I'm sorry, apology (formal)
Sanrinsha-San- Mr. (in this case) Motorcycle (therefore… sanrinsha- motorcycle, and san... go check out its definition)
Yaroo- bastard
Ikujinashi- coward
-sen- suffix, usually added to a name, meaning 'companion' or such
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Review Credits: A rain check of muse-pokes and chocolate hazelnut sticks (super delicious food!) to:
No one. Yet, that is. I require six to update, by the way!
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Story Notes:
(Erm… Let me think for a moment…AHA!)
-The beginning… sorry, can't tell you much there, other than yes… the girl was Kagome. Right? (If you DO read the authoress' notes fully, respond with 'SN1: HAI!' because I'm taking a mini-survey about the readers of this story...)
-I haven't decided completely whether or not I want Kagome to live alone. Chances are, that will be the most likely thing. Another tidbit: she still lives at Higurashi Shrine. Not positive of the layout, and I'm too lazy to check, so bear with me, please?
-Buyo is… ahem, let's just say 'special'. Not exactly good for your health to cuddle him… And yes… he did say… Heehaw. Not sure about whether to make something else to him, you know, other than a fat and lazy cat.
-Hint: Kagome can legally drive (or can she?), so therefore she is over sixteen. Can anyone name the four terms of high school students after freshman year? Freshman, senior… (Either junior or sophomore comes next.)
-I know. The fight is prolonged to the next chapter. Will be more lengthy, and less of that 'untouchable' junk.
-I was good… I cut down on all the obscenities. It doesn't show now, but trust me. It will.
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Ja ne,
o.O.o.O darkenedmoonlightflame O.o.O.o
And company. My adorably annoying muses. 'Kotsu and the Grumpy One (who is being nice for now and therefore can be called Sess-sen).
(P.S. Hope you enjoyed this, and will show some self-restraint when poking at us… If not… (evil smile) Anyhow, thanks for reading Higurashi Kagome-san, No Need for High School (cough come back cough)!)
Chapter Finished: 1.22.06
Post: Currently, I'm undecided between holding back for a bit, or just going full-out bold and posting the story already…
Spell Check: Yep.
Brain Check: Hnn. That's not funny 'Kotsu. But then again, it is. (BUT you're still getting locked in a room with Sess anyhow.)
EDIT (EXPORT): ONCE, so far. Subject to change.