"Speaking"

'Thinking'

The weekend passed way too fast for Kagome's liking.

She stood in front of Iris' body mirror and took in her appearance. A simple white sweater with the word Princess centered with gold glitter and a simple black skirt that reached her knees. All borrowed from Iris, of course who stated, "I can't really fit these anymore, so you can have them," while handing Kagome a bag of clothes. Kagome was grateful of course.

"Kagome, are you ready?" Joe yelled from downstairs.

"Yea, I'm coming," Kagome shouted in response.

She looked herself over in the mirror one last time. 'Damn this 10 year old body! I don't have anything anymore! Hmph! I waited a long time to get those boobs...Well I guess it would be weird to have an 18 year old body when I'm supposed to be 10…. Hai, Hai, this is for the best,' she sighed. She grabbed her new backpack filled with supplies and left the room.

"You ready for your first day of school?" Joe asked while looking at me through the rearview mirror. Iris turned to look at me for a second from the passenger seat before turning back around.

"I'm actually a little bit nervous. I've never been to an American school so I'm not really sure what to expect, except different history and hard math," Kagome confessed, twiddling her thumbs in her lap.

Barry reached over and put his hand over hers and squeezed it, giving her a small reassuring smile. "School isn't all that bad when you have a good friend there with you." He glanced over to Iris.

Kagome smiled towards him, "Yeah, I guess you're right."

A few minutes later they were all climbing out the car and waving their goodbyes to Joe.

They made their way towards the school entrance, Kagome trailed behind them, stopping right before she reached the threshold. 'I really don't wanna have to do this again, it really isn't fair!'

"Kagome," Barry called out in front of her, he reached out his hand but then thought better of it. "Everything's gonna be ok, I'll be right here," he said with a small smile, "And Iris too," he added as an afterthought.

"Yeah, and besides," Iris chimed in, "There's only a few months left so you came at the right time because all that's left is to prepare for testing."

Kagome looked at them doubtfully. 'They make it sound so easy… But I have to do this. This is the first step to getting back to the Feudal Era. Besides, I have Barry right?' Kagome smiled at the thought. 'Oh, and Iris,' she added.

"You guys are right, I'm worrying over nothing, let's get to class."

They started walking to their first period of the day. Barry told Kagome that she might like it because it was basically history. Something called Social Studies? Either way, Kagome looked forward to it.

As soon as they walked in Kagome was stopped by an older man, probably in his early thirties. "Ah, you must be our new student, uhh," he looked at a sheet of paper in his hand and looked back up at her. Barry and Iris went to go take their seats leaving her with the seemingly incompetent teacher who didn't bother to learn her name.

Kagome held back the urge to roll her eyes. "Kagome. My name is Kagome Higurashi."

"Yes, of course, Kagome. Well, my name is Mr. Watson and I will be teaching you all about social studies. How about you introduce yourself to the class?"

Kagome turned to face the class. "Hi, my name is Kagome, I'm from Japan, I came to America for personal reasons so please don't ask." Kagome put on a forced smile but she was internally cringing. 'Was that too formal? What if no one wants to talk to me? Gosh, I'm such an idiot.'

The teacher spoke up, "That was great Kagome, do you want to take questions?" Kagome shook her head. "Alright then, there are two empty seats left, take your pick."

Kagome glanced around the classroom to find the two empty seats. One was all the way in the back away from any windows but close to some books. While the other was a window seat right behind Iris and diagonal from Barry. Clearly, the former option was more in her favor so she made her way over to the seat.

Class went by quickly and Kagome found herself with a notebook halfway filled with notes.

'It was nice of the teacher to go back over past lessons but sheesh! How's a girl supposed to retain all this information!'

Barry later told her in-between classes that their class has a total of 20 -well now 21- students and they all have the same class schedule. He also said that electives are after lunch, which Kagome couldn't wait for.

Next class was Language Arts. Kagome didn't really mind, it was pretty easy.

After that was Math. Kagome wanted to pull her hair out. First, she couldn't even get a close enough seat to Barry, or even Iris! Secondly, she was convinced that she needed glasses, or that the teacher just wrote too small because she couldn't see a thing! Kagome was just about ready to give up when a hand tapped her shoulder.

"Hi, my name's Bette. You can copy my notes if you want." She smiled at Kagome. Kagome could've shed actual tears right then and there. "Thank you so much!" She went to copy down the notes as fast as she could, she didn't even bother to try and understand the content.

Then the teacher announced homework. And Kagome let actual tears fall as she made her way to the next class.

"Cheer up," Barry said next to her. "I'll help you with the math homework when we get home." Then started walking a little ahead of her.

Kagome's instinct was to hug him and say thank you a hundred times, but then she remembered how he didn't want to touch her and thought better of it. 'He probably doesn't like physical interaction in public?' She wondered, questioning the thought herself.

They made their way to Science and Kagome went through the same process of introducing herself and wondering where to sit.

"Actually, Kagome?" The teacher called out before she could find a seat, "Would you come over here to my desk? I'd like to test your knowledge on Science so that I can seat you with the proper partner."

The teacher, whose name she learned was Ms. Hooper, told the students to flip to some page in their science book and to keep quiet while she talked to Kagome.

They went over some basic things such as, Scientific Method, Planets, Matter, etc. She was actually doing really good. So good that the teacher jokes, "Do you know Newton's first law?" To which Kagome answered, "An object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it."

The teacher stared at her in disbelief. "The only other student who knows that is…" she trailed off and looked towards the rest of the class. "Ok, I know exactly where you're gonna sit." She stood up and Kagome followed after her.

"Iris," Ms. Hooper called, "Could you go and sit next to Ian please?" Iris got up and did as the teacher said with a small "bye Barry," as she gathered her things and made her way to her new seat.

"Kagome, you can go and sit next to Barry. I think you two would get along fairly well." She made her way back over to her desk.

Kagome took her seat with a small smile towards Barry. 'I don't know if it's just me but Barry is acting a little weird.'

The rest of class went off without a hitch. The teacher assigned homework but Kagome wasn't worried about it. The Lunch bell rang.

Barry basically hightailed it out of the classroom with Iris by his side. 'Hmph, some friends they are!' Kagome let out a sigh, 'Well, I guess they are best friends, they've known each other for years, I can't compete with all that. I'll just have to make some more friends I guess.'

Kagome just followed the crowd of students, assuming that they were all headed to the cafeteria. When she walked in she saw Barry and Iris already sitting with food in front of them, conversing.

Kagome grabbed her food and made her way over to them, still debating whether or not to confront them. She was right next to their table when a hand grabbed her shoulder. Kagome turned to see who the offender was. She didn't know him.

"Hey, the name's Tony and I couldn't help but notice that you were about to sit with these losers," were the first words to come out of his mouth. Kagome couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could someone be so rude? She glanced back to look at Iris and Barry. Barry was looking down at his food, not touching it. While Iris was looking back and forth between her and Tony and Barry.

"Now I know you're new here," Tony continued, "But you don't wanna go making friends with the wrong type of people like those losers, I can help you with that." He smiled at her, teeth filled with metal.

Kagome balanced her tray of food on one hand and pulled his hand off of her shoulder with the other. "I think I can tell who the wrong type of people are for myself, thank you very much," and with that she sat right next to Barry who was looking at her like she was insane.

"I can sit here, right?" she asked hesitantly. Barry just nodded. But Tony wasn't finished apparently.

"Suit yourself. I mean, if you want to be friends with the kid whose Dad killed his Mom then go for it. But he might be crazy too."

Kagome slammed her hands on the table and stood up. She faced Tony and yelled in a somewhat hushed voice, "Who are you to go around spreading that lie, huh?! How do you know?! Were you there?! NO! I DON'T THINK SO," Kagome got progressively louder as she went on her rant.

"AND BARRY ALLEN IS NOT A LOSER, HE'S SWEET AND SMART, IF ANYONE IS A LOSER IT'S YOU," and with that Kagome stormed out of the cafeteria, face red with anger and a little bit of embarrassment of bringing a lot of attention to herself.

'Why do I feel like I just had an argument with Inuyasha and I'm leaving to go to the well? Ugh, that was so embarrassing! But I couldn't just let him talk to Barry like that! He didn't do anything wrong!' Kagome ran her finger through her hair. 'Definitely gonna let this grow out.'

Kagome didn't really know where she was going so she stopped walking and leaned against a wall and slid to the floor. It didn't take long for Barry to find her, but she didn't even know he was looking.

"Kagome!" He shouted, "I was looking for you." He sat next to her on the floor looking at the wall across from them. "I'm sorry."

Now Kagome was a little confused since she was the one who somewhat embarrassed him. "For what?"

"I was kinda trying to ignore you and have as little contact with you as possible."

"Oh." Kagome felt her heart clench in her chest. 'I knew I wasn't imagining it.'

"But I was only doing that because I didn't want you to be seen talking with me by people like Tony. I didn't want them to think we were friends because then you'd get bullied too, especially because you're new. I'm sorry, that was stupid of me."

Kagome stared at Barry in shock. 'He's so thoughtful.' "Yeah, it was pretty stupid," Kagome smiled towards him, "But it was also pretty thoughtful. Thank you Barry, but I don't care what people think. I like being friends with you, so can we be friends in public now?"

Barry smiled back at her, "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Where's Iris?" Kagome wondered.

"She went to tell Joe about what happened to see if we could go home early."

"I don't mind staying in school though," Kagome said, surprising herself. She'd usually jump at the chance to run away from her problems.

"Could you pretend you want to though? There's something I wanna ask Joe," Barry wasn't looking at her anymore, he was looking at the floor.

"Of course Barry," Kagome chewed her bottom lip in thought, "But can I ask what it is you want to ask him? You don't have to tell me, I know we aren't as close as you and Iris and that I'm still new to this whole thing…" she trailed off, looking at the floor.

"I want to see my Dad." Kagome didn't look up from the floor but he continued, "I only got to see him once, and I know he said he didn't want me to see him like that but I need to talk to him. It's important."

'He probably wants to tell him that they aren't the only ones who saw the lights,' Kagome thought.

Before Kagome could say anything, Iris came from around the corner. "My Dad said he's on his way to pick us up, we can wait in the office."

They made their way to the office in silence. About 15 minutes after they got there, Joe arrived in his work uniform.

Kagome was a little nervous as they made their way home. She couldn't stop thinking that she interrupted something important for Joe.

"Hey, um, Joe? I'm sorry that you had to come pick us up from school because of me… I guess I don't fit in as much as I thought I would," Kagome finished, unable to look up from her hands on her lap.

"Kagome, I know going to a new school is hard, especially in a new and foreign country. Hell, I don't think I would even be able to do that! But you did. You were brave today in sticking up for Barry, and you did it without violence too. And yelling in a public school cafeteria? That's about as American as you can get, you're fitting in perfectly fine." By the time Joe finished speaking, he and Kagome were looking at each other in the rearview mirror. Kagome smiled.

'He always knows just what to say, he's such a good dad. I didn't get to see my dad again though…'

When they finally pulled up and went inside the house, they all went to the dining room table.

"Ok, you guys get started on your homework, I'll be back before dinner," Joe paused and looked at Iris, "You already know the drill." He started to walk towards the door but Barry stopped him.

"Hey, Joe, I have to ask you something," he trailed off a little. "I know you said I couldn't see my Dad anymore, but I have something really important to tell him!"

"Barry…." Joe sighed. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you go see him. He made it crystal clear how he felt about it-"

"But-"

"No buts Barry. That's my answer."

Barry's eyes filled with tears. "It's not fair!" He ran up the stairs and slammed the door.

Joe sighed and glanced over at Kagome and Iris sitting at the table. When they saw him looking they went back to work. "You girls keep an eye on Barry, alright? Especially you Iris." Joe said, giving Iris a pointed look. Kagome nodded her head and Iris responded with an "ok Dad." And with that he left.

Kagome and Iris worked in silence for about 20 minutes until Kagome asked, "Should one of us go and check on Barry?"

Iris looked up from her work, "Me and Barry have been best friends for as long as I can remember, all he needs is a little space." She smiled at Kagome.

"Oh, well, I'll go check on him just in case. Plus, he promised to help me with my Math work." With that said, Kagome grabbed her bag and went up the stairs to Barry's room. She knocked on the door 3 times before she heard a small "come in."

She opened the door to see Barry sitting on his bed with open books surrounding him. She walked in, closed the door behind her, and sat on the floor beside his legs. "Are you gonna be ok Barry?"

Barry closed the book on his lap and put it on the side of him. He slid down his bed to sit beside Kagome. "Yea. I guess I just really wanted to see my dad again, you know, to let him know we're not alone. We aren't crazy. Then maybe they'd let him out. But Joe doesn't care about that, he doesn't even believe me!"

"Barry…" Kagome put a hand over Barry's. "I understand why you might feel like that, and I know you probably don't want to hear this, but Joe is just trying to look out for you. And I know it may not seem like it, but he has your best interests at heart."

"It's just so frustrating!"

"I know. But if you think about it, Joe said you couldn't see him, not contact him. So why don't you just write him letters instead?"

Barry Jumped to his feet. "Why didn't I think of that?!," He pulled Kagome to her feet and grabbed her by the shoulders. "You're amazing Kagome," He wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug.

"I should go start the letter now, there's so much I have to tell him," Barry started rushing over to his bag for paper.

Kagome cleared her throat, "Ahem," She held up their class Math textbook.

Barry turned to look at her. "Right after I help you with the Math homework," He went over to her and they both sat on the floor and got to work.

Leaving Iris alone downstairs at the dining room table.

AN: I KNOW THIS WAS TRASH TOO BAD, I SUCK AT WRITING.

I don't know if you guys notice but I am not a big Iris fan.

Anywho, there's going to be a time skip since I don't wanna waste too much time on them being kids, but not a big one.

Also, I might start switching perspectives. But I don't know, maybe.

Review or the wait will be FOREVER...

Not that anyone is even reading this junk.