Hello, tis me again... yeah! Three whole reviews... and two of them are from my friends... oh well, beggers can't be choosers... I'm procrastinating on starting my homework, again... more specifically, watching Citizen Kane... (bleh) so I decided I'd post another chapter. Again, I am very proud of this fic... I laugh when I read it, and I'm the author... so maybe that means I'm bragging or something... don't know... hmm...

Anyway, enjoy...

hEyKyRa13

Soul

Chapter 2

Happy Birthday to Me

"Happy Birthday to You! Happy Birthday to You!"

"You smell like a monkey…"

WHACK!

"OW! Hey! That's not-"

"Happy Birthday to You!"

With an overly exaggerated inhale, I blew the fire out of the single candle on my "cake" and grinned at the round of applause and soft mutterings of my audience.

"Happy birthday, dear," Mother said warmly. Next to her, Souta murmured something under his breath while nursing his injured head. Mother's warm expression flickered only briefly, but long enough for Souta to notice. He stopped murmuring.

I smiled. "Thank you, Mother. You, too, Squirt. This really is wonderful."

Suddenly, I heard a soft giggle behind me. "And it's about to get even better!"

I froze. I know that voice! I spun around to confirm my suspicion. If it was who I thought it was… I was in for a bit of suffocation at the hands of…

Heck, I didn't even make it all the way around before I was randomly tackled to the ground, the wind knocked out of my lungs. I was vaguely aware of a strong pressure lying on my chest, but more of my attention was on the pressure on my neck. All I could see were dazed spots and a stone ceiling through a curtain of raven hair.

Wait… that's not mine…

I coughed, trying to get the pressure's attention, but if the lack of pressure lifting was any indication, it didn't work. Trying to talk was no easier. "Sango?" I wheezed.

The pressure finally lifted her head high enough for me to make out a mischievous grin and a pair of glittering ruby eyes.

"Yes?"

I coughed again, this time managing to wiggle underneath her form enough to free my airway, gasping for air while I threw the girl an accusing glare. "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

The corner of her mouth twitched. My glare intensified. Was she… laughing at me?

"Happy Birthday?" she supplied.

I snorted. As if that solved anything.

"I'd say thank you," I replied sourly, "but with you still sitting on me, I'm not sure if I'd really mean it."

Of course, this elicited no response other than another twitch. But thankfully, she slowly moved off of me and to her feet, offering her hand and a somewhat apologetic smile. I grabbed her hand, but not without throwing a lasting icy stare.

Sango laughed. "Aw, come on, Kagome. You're not mad at me, are you?"

I looked away, brushing the imaginary dust off of my sleeve. "Now why would I want to do something like that? It's not as if you nearly gave me a concussion or anything."

"Would a present make it up to you?" she asked hopefully.

Overall, I was very proud of how calm I kept myself despite my overwhelming curiosity. I quirked an eyebrow. "Unless it's Naraku's head on a platter, I highly doubt it."

Sango nodded sadly, but the twinkle in her eye betrayed her. She knew the game I had initiated, and she was willing to play.

"You say you doubt it, but that does mean there's still a chance, right?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Maybe," I replied carefully.

Sango nodded again, her mouth twitching yet again. The ball was in her court, now. It was her turn. She locked eyes with me only briefly before glancing up at the ceiling, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "Okay… well, what if I were to bring you… a chocolate cake on a platter, instead?"

I shifted my weight to one foot, appearing to consider the offer. "Tempting, but no such luck."

Sango nodded understandingly. "I see. Well… how about a pair of diamond earrings?"

I smirked. "Getting colder. Try again."

"Um… a puppy dog?"

"Ice cold. Besides, Buyo wouldn't stand for any of that."

Suddenly, her playful grin turned a shade wicked. "What about Hojo?"

I scowled. "Go any further down that road and I'll be putting you on ice," I warned her.

She chuckled. "Thought so. Well," she continued, shrugging in mock defeat, "if none of those presents seem to appeal to your fancy, than I guess the job I did on your bike won't interest you in-"

"Really?" I squealed, all calmness and composure tossed aside for girlish delight as I sidled up to her, eyes wide with child-like curiosity. "What did you do? What did you do?"

Sango smirked triumphantly. Needless to say, she won.

"I guess that means I'm forgiven, then?"

My arms were around her neck in seconds, glomping her for all I was worth. A high-pitched chorus of "You're the best" shrieked all throughout the corridors. I can only imagine what it must have been for Sango, what with me right at her ear, and all.

"Okay, okay, okay! I take that as a yes!" Sango laughed, trying to push me off.

I obliged, but only detached myself far enough to stare up at her with curious, puppy dog eyes. "Well?"

She grinned. "Well, first I-"

"Ahem."

Sango stopped, and as one, both of our heads swiveled around to face Mother. She was sitting calmly at the head of the table, sipping her tea daintily, eyes focused on some spot on the table. I frowned. This didn't look good. Nervously, I glanced back at my friend. I cringed. She looked pale. Really pale. Her eyes were locked on my mother and I could see her jaw clenched tightly. This really didn't look good. A glance at Souta confirmed he was oblivious to the tension that was slowly surmounting in the air, completely absorbed in eating his sweet cake.

My eyes wandered back and forth between my best friend and mother, not knowing what was going on, yet desperate to find out what it was. With an accusing glare at both women, I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed loudly.

"Something tells me you didn't just come to wish me Happy Birthday," I began testily, throwing a suspicious glare at the raven-haired girl. Her sudden transformation from cheerful to guilty didn't help her situation at all.

"Kagome, Sango, why don't the two of you sit down?" Mother suggested calmly, setting her cup on the table.

Exchanging glances, Sango and I shuffled back to the table. As I sat, I looked at my brother, still stubbornly ignorant. I caught Sango's eye, and nodded. She returned the nod in understanding, and turned toward Souta with a light smile. "Hey, Souta. Kohaku's outside, whenever you're done."

"Really?" he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. With a few last bites, he wiped his mouth and took off for the door, shouting incomprehensibly along the way. A responding shout from outside reassured all those remaining in the room that he would be occupied for a while.

After my brother's screams faded, the three of us were left in a nervous silence. Mother stared at her tea, refusing to look up. I knew she wasn't nervous, but the fact that she was unusually quiet, even for her, sent the alarms off in my head. Sango's eyes darted back and forth uneasily between my mother and me, her expression something akin to shame and fear every time her glance fell on me. My stony face did nothing but amplify her fear.

That's it. I can't take this anymore.

"Well?" I demanded, slamming my hand down on the table surface. "What the hell is going on?"

"Kagome, calm down," Mother commanded sternly, giving me another one of those 'motherly' looks that read do-what-I-say-if-you-want-to-live-to-see-another-birthday. I frowned and did as I was told, but reluctantly and not without muttering under my breath. Naturally, Mother simply ignored me.

"I will not deny that I asked Sango to come, today," she continued, studying me carefully. "There was… a task that I wished of her."

Wrinkles formed on the bridge of my brow as the gears in my brain quickly began spinning. My eyes flicked to Sango. She flinched. That made me feel a little better, but not by much.

"Sango's one of our best warriors," I thought aloud. "Her parents trained her and Kohaku when they were young. I remember watching her with her Hiraikotsu. She's strong, fast, and smart. I doubt any mere task you needed accomplished would require her specific talents… unless it was more than a simple task."

Sango blanched. Inside, I smirked. I was right. Did I mention I loved it when I was right?

Mother hesitated, choosing her words very carefully. "Sango was chosen because she was the best suited for the task."

She avoided me again. This was growing old, and my patience was stretching thin.

"And what exactly might that task be?"

I directed my expectant gaze at Mother, but it was Sango's unusually meek voice that answered my question.

"I am to go to Naraku's castle."

I blinked.

…………um…oh-kayyyy….

I blinked again.

…

…

…

Yeah, well, several blinks later…

"WHAT THE HELL!"

Apparently, Sango had predicted my reaction, and was on her feet and at my side almost simultaneous with my third or fourth blink.

"Now, Kagome, don't get upset, please. Just… hear your mother out for-"

"WHAT THE HELL!"

My, my, don't I have the greatest of attention spans?

"Kagome, please," Sango pleaded.

"Kagome, calm yourself," Mother agreed sternly.

But for once, Mother's words did absolutely nothing to calm me.

"No I will not calm down! What the hell do you expect? Who the hell do you think you are, keeping something like this from me? Why the hell do you have to go to Naraku's castle? What the hell is going on?"

Could you tell I was a rather quiet, reserved girl?

Yeah, right. I was a regular potty mouth…

Don't think so? Well… suffice it to say, 'hell' wasn't the only word I… favored.

"Kagome Higurashi, that's enough!" Mother finally shouted, raising her voice.

By this time, harsh air vented through my nostrils like a mad bull, my teeth grinding together. Heat rose in my cheeks, flushing my face red, and my balled fists shook in suppressed rage. Mother's voice did not relieve my fury, but at least I kept quiet. I was a little too pissed for words, at the moment… appropriate words, that is.

Apparently, she took this as some sort of encouragement. Her coffee colored eyes locked onto my stormy blue, although whether or not she expected me to be intimidated by the action, I didn't know or care. I was not in the mood to be a submissive little girl.

"This arrived the day before yesterday," she said curtly, holding up a folded sheet of paper on the table in front of me. I blinked. Apparently, I had been so busy staring her down, I didn't notice her pull it out. "It was delivered personally by one of Naraku's private guards. It's a request to appear at his castle immediately."

"We've established this," I snapped. "What I want to know is why? What the hell does he want?"

Sango flinched, but I ignored it. Mother made no move to back down from the wall I was steering her towards.

"I'll let you know when I get back," she retorted more than a little crisply.

Yeah, okay, that statement sort of defused my anger.

"What?" I croaked less than impressively. "You!...Y-You're actually going?"

Now that my rage had run out of juice, it was Mother's turn to be more than a little irritated. "Yes, Kagome. In case you didn't remember, I am the leader of the last human stronghold. It is my responsibility as leader… and as a mother, to go," she added under her breath.

It's rather interesting how quickly one's face could be completely drained of color while it took so long to build up the anger to flush the face in the first place. My mouth felt very dry and I could feel cold sweat slipping between the fingers of my balled fists.

"But Mother, I-"

"Kagome, stop it!" she hissed, her voice starting to crack as she stood abruptly. My eyes widened. Was that a tear I saw her blink away? "This isn't the time to be selfish. We can't… afford… to be selfish… no matter how…"

"Mother, you can't!" I protested again.

"No! I've heard enough!" And with that, she spun in a swirl of skirts and short ebony tresses and stormed off down the hallway, leaving a nervous Sango and me, a puddle of shivering nerves and trembling words.

I stared after her retreating form long after she disappeared around the corner, her sharp footsteps ringing in my head, promising me a rather lovely headache whenever I returned from the "La-La" land my mind was currently residing in.

"Kagome?"

It took three times for my brain to finally register that I was being called. My head turned sharply at the voice. Sango looked down at me, pityingly and fearfully.

I frowned. I must have looked like quite the pathetic sight to evoke a look with that much sympathy. It was rather sickening.

"Stop that," I ordered, suddenly needing a reason to be angry, not to mention a subject with which to vent my anger upon. But Sango's flinch at my demand immediately disqualified her as a possible candidate. Anything I would throw at her, she'd just take it without a word- that just wouldn't do. I needed someone to argue with.

With that thought fueling my determination, I suddenly leapt to my feet and marched out the door, ignoring Sango's protests. I know I was behaving like a spoiled little child- heck, if it were me, I'd be calling myself a first-class bitch.

I'll ask for their forgiveness in the morning, I told myself, as if to reconcile with my dangerously escalating conscience. But as for right now… I just need to blow off some steam…

Now, where did Souta go?

AN: Exactly where I would look for a source of entertainment... or just as a mobile punching bag... my younger sibling... but, if Jordan is not available, there's always Tsume... hee...

Review Responses:

tsume.hack: Ah, yes... this is Kiba's den... her realm of DOOM! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!... ph34r...but seriously, you should try Inuyasha out... it's so hilarious... if only I could control people with my own subduing necklace... like Darrin... or the blue-haired chick, if I decide to be generous... OR JONATHAN! ... yes, for the drawings he does, he deserves to be subdued...

IceSpikeXBlackRose: (sigh) yes, as I get bummed out on the fact that I DIDN'T get to go to Disneyland... (sigh) ah, well... we got Six Flags instead... AND X! THE GREATEST ROLLER COASTER EVER BROUGHT TO MAN!... It was a gift from God, I swear... and so what if you've already read this?... KEEP YER TRAP SHUT, THEN!... I still say Jack and Will need to go on a roller coaster... hah...

Knock-on-Wood: Yeah, did I mention how much you rock?... You're quickly becoming one of my favorite reviewers because you're just so sweet... yes, well, as usual, I'm glad you're enjoying this, and I hope you liked this chapter, as well... again, for, like, the billionth time, thank you so much for mentioning me in your profile... It gave me warm fuzzies inside...

Next Chapter: The Bastard's Letter- This chapter could also be called "WHEN THE STARS ATTACK"... but that's just my opinion... Kagome finds out all the stuff her mom neglected to mention... namely about Naraku, her father, and this weird thing called the Shikon jewel...