Growing Up or Growing Apart? Chapter 3, an inuyasha fanfic

Hola! I'm loving the reviews, keep them coming. Yes, I know, I promised plenty of drama in this one. So here we go!

No I don't own Inuyasha. Talk about rubbing salt on an open wound. Eesh.

randomthoughts666 - Thank you, and I might just drop you a line one of these days. And no problem, I really like your review!

InuyashaRox13 - Thank you for saying I was an amazing author! That makes you an amazing reviewer!

silver-angel-sakura - lol, you made me laugh with the whole Hercules thing.

anime-lover-forever2007 - Yeah, you reviewed my other story too. Yay! I love to read fanfiction too. I finally got the nerve to write a little, too. : )

Kagome and Sango stood in front of the vanity mirror in Sango's room. Kagome had decided to just arrive at Sango's house, and they would walk the short distance to Miroku's place. Inuyasha claimed to know where Miroku's house was, and would meet them there.

Miroku, being the stupid pervert he was, invited nearly every girl he could find. He told them they could swim if they wanted. So, of course, all the pretty girls with the bodies they loved to flaunt were planning to bring small, tight bikinis.

At Sango's, Kagome was changing into her clothes in the small private bathroom in Sango's bedroom.

"So did you bring your swimsuit?" Sango called out through the door to Kagome.

"Um, no, actually." Kagome said back.

"Why not? You could swim if you wanted to! Here, you can borrow one of mine." Sango said, rummaging through her closet.

Kagome opened the door, and leaned against the doorway, dressed in blue jeans with a white belt and a snug navy t-shirt.

"Sango, I didn't want to swim," she stated, blushing.

"Why not? You don't like to?" Sango asked, confused. She knew that Kagome enjoyed sports, even if she didn't join any of the teams at school.

"No, I like to, just not in front of people," she fidgeted, and looked to the floor. "Look at me, Sango. I'm what my Aunt Kaede calls a 'late bloomer'. So I probably won't grow all the normal 'assets' until I'm about fifteen. Considering that I'm barely fourteen because I'm a year younger than everyone, it'll be awhile. I'm about as developed as a fourth grader. It's embarrassing."

Sango nodded. She had learned in the past weeks that Kagome was very shy and embarrassed of herself. "Okay."

"Sorry. It's just a touchy subject. So that's why I don't really feel like running around half-naked in front of half the school."

"Well, if you won't swim, I won't swim." Sango smiled.

Kagome's eyes widened. "No, no, Sango. Go ahead and swim. Don't let me drag you down!" she exclaimed. "The last thing I want to be is a killjoy."

"No, really. It's cool. Like I'm going to let my guest be left all alone during a party. I don't ditch people," she smiled. "So get used to me. Besides, if I don't swim, Miroku won't get so much of a show. Poor guy, he's going to go nuts. I can't wait."

They laughed. Sango could be so cruel to him sometimes.

Sango wore a pair of tight khaki capris, and a pale pink shirt. Both girls wore their hair in ponytails to keep it off of their necks in the heat of late summer.

Around seven-thirty, the sun began to set, which the girls took as their cue to head on to Miroku's house. The door was already cracked open a bit, so they just pushed it open.

Kagome gaped at the sight in front of her, while Sango just strutted in. Being best friends with Inuyasha, the anti-social kid that he was, had not given Kagome many opportunities to go to parties. She was not invited because she hung out with the rudest boy in school.

Boys full dressed, sipping different drinks in plastic cups, were flirting and running around with girls in bikinis. The room smelled strongly of beer, which Kagome was surprised. She knew Miroku was a party guy, but was not aware that he would have beer at his party. He was only a freshman in high school! Sango noticed Kagome's shock at seeing alcohol, and whispered to her that a senior always brought beer to parties, even if the host didn't want them to.

Kagome shrugged, tried to act cool given the environment she was in, and began to look around for Inuyasha. Kagome, so concentrated on looking for her friend, didn't notice Miroku by her side, until Sango hit him on top of the head.

Kagome, surprised, looked at a blushing Sango. Sango shrugged, "He was trying to grope me."

Miroku, smiling from the feel of Sango's soft bottom, said happily, "Follow me, ladies."

"Oh great, now he's trying to be some great ladies' man." Sango whispered into Kagome's ear, barely being heard over the loud crowd in the living room.

Miroku was wearing a black wife beater and purple swimming trunks, though very few boys had planned to swim. Most of the male population hanging around had only come to observe scantily clad females.

Miroku led Sango and Kagome outside, where music was blaring from a huge stereo system. They saw the pool, a very large one, which was expected, considering Miroku's father was very wealthy. Kagome and Sango sat in two empty lounge chairs, near the lamps illuminating the pool area. Miroku stood by Sango, ogling her from his angle. The two girls smiled up at him, happy to be at the party, then scowling at the pervert.

"Aren't you going to swim?" Miroku asked expectantly.

"You wish. No, me and Kagome are just here to enjoy ourselves, and not get wet."

Miroku, disappointed, bit back a smart retort, and instead said, "Okay then." He sat down on the grass in between the two girls.

"So, your dad just lets you get away with this kind of stuff?" Kagome asked Miroku, staring at her peers cutting loose on alcohol, a few even smoking cigarettes.

"Yeah, all the time. He loved high school, said it was the best time of his life. So, he wants me to enjoy every moment that I can out of it. You're pretty sheltered, aren't you?" He asked, looking at Kagome.

"Yeah, I haven't really done anything. Inuyasha was my only friend until this school year, and we don't really go many places. I hear kids talk at school, but no one really invites me to parties," she said sadly.

"But we're going to change all that, now aren't we, Miroku?" Sango asked, smiling slyly. Sango had every intention of bringing Kagome out of seclusion. It was considered her duty as a friend.

"Just say the word, mademoiselle." Miroku said, and bowed his head, mocking obedience, then grinned at Sango.

Kagome laughed at his antics. They talked a little longer about the ridiculous music someone had chosen to play. God, was it irritating.

"Hey, turn off the damn Britney Spears and put on some Letter Kills!" shouted a voice. Kagome turned her head to look for the guy yelling. While looking, she spotted Inuyasha. She smiled, and pointed to him, showing Sango and Miroku.

She pushed herself off the lounge chair and made her way over to the area he was in. Kagome could barely see his ears and hair over the rest of the crowd, but followed him the best she could. He was going inside.

Kagome sighed when she reached the sliding glass doors, and looked around for Inuyasha again.

Looking at the stairs, she could make out a familiar form. "Kikyou!" she called out. Her sister didn't turn. Where was she going? Kagome then noticed Kikyou was following someone. Her gaze traveled a little farther. She knew that hair. Inuyasha.

Kikyou and Inuyasha were going upstairs.

Kagome leaned against the wall, still looking up at the pair until they disappeared into one of the bedrooms.

Her eyes were wide, her breathing erratic. My God, no. He couldn't be with Kikyou. He was her best friend. No, no, no. Kagome's heart was pounding. No, not pounding. Shattering. Her heart had splintered into fine, tiny shards, piercing her soul.

She ran to her friends. Sango and Miroku. A few of the people looked at her funny, Kagome didn't notice.

Sango took one look at her tearful expression, and stood by her side, a hand on her shoulder.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" she cried out. So many things could go wrong at a party like this. Miroku also stood up.

He was upset that his time alone with Sango was shot to hell, but he cared more for his friend, Kagome.

Kagome began to sob, her face twisted in anguish.

Sango took her in her arms. "Miroku, I'm going to take her to my house." She looked at him in the eye. "I'll see you later, okay."

Miroku saw the apology in her eyes. It brightened his spirits to know she was sorry for leaving him. He nodded.

Sighing as he watched them go, he went back to trying to save his house from total destruction from the aggravating teenagers.

Two hours and a bath later, Kagome was ready to talk to Sango.

"I'm so sorry, Sango." She apologized.

"It's okay, really, just tell me what's the matter, Kagome. We're friends, aren't we?" She waited for a nod. "Then you know you can tell me anything."

"I saw Kikyou and Inuyasha." She gulped. "Together."

Sango's eyes widened. The thought of Inuyasha with anyone other than Kagome was impressive, and incredibly surprising.

"I didn't know I'd react that way. I always knew Inuyasha would get somebody - I just never imagined my sister. It just hurt so bad to see them together. I mean..." Kagome trailed off, not knowing how to describe her tumultuous feelings.

Sango sat on her fluffy blue bed, Indian style and hugging a pillow, patiently waiting for Kagome to continue.

Kagome looked at her. "It's like, my heart broke into pieces, just shattering all that I've ever had with him. I know what they were doing. They were going to make out. I know that. I've seen it on movies, read about it in books, heard kids talk about it at school. I know what they were going to do. He's leaving me. That's what I feel. Like I'm losing my friend from kindergarten to my sister that never gave me the time of day."

Her eyes began to tear up again. She buried her face in a pillow. "It hurts so bad." she muttered, completely defeated by her emotions.

Sango patted the pillow on the bed, and coaxed Kagome into laying down.

"I'm so sorry, Kagome." she whispered. She turned the lights off, leaving only the street light to barely illuminate the room.

"I never knew I loved him until this." Kagome whispered back.

Okay guys, tell me if you liked it. I know it was sad. Ya da ya da ya da. But I did promise plenty of drama, so there you go. And yes, before anyone asks, Kagome's assumptions were right. Kikyou and Inuyasha DID make out. I just didn't want to write that part of it. Ick. Kikyou.

So, I hope you enjoyed! I love the reviews, keep them coming. Wasn't this chapter nice and long? Yes, it was, for what I normally write. So be happy.

It's pretty important that I wrote this chapter. This is the basis for the rest of the story. I just needed to get this one out. So it's kind of like a breakthrough for me!

-ac06