Disclaimer: I don't own either Inuyasha or Fruits Basket
Author's Note: O.O holy crap...I was so surprised by the large amount of good reviews I got for this fic! I'm glad all of you like it so much! Here's chapter two and I'll try to get to work on chapter 3 asap!
Chapter Two: The School Encounter
Leaning against the damp window in the living room, on a cold, rainy morning wasn't exactly how Kagome wanted to start her first day in the new high school. She was thankful the uniform top for colder or rainy weather was blue. If it had been white like her old uniform she'd be having some troubles.
She wasn't going to risk taking any type of transportation to school, so here she was, six in the morning and just getting ready to leave her home, her umbrella and book bag waiting for her by the front door. She was hesitating. She didn't want to go back to school. She worried for the students. She had protested, but her mother was just too persistent. To her, education was everything. Kagome sighed. Her mother was right, but it didn't mean that Kagome had to like it. She just hoped that there was no one, guy or girl, that was anything like what Hojo was. That was one overly nice guy Kagome was relieved to be away from.
"It's now or never." Kagome muttered, lifting herself from the comfort of the window seat and heading into the hall to fetch her things. Oh how she hated the rain.
She took the stairs slowly and when she reached the bottom she took a deep breath. She composed herself and let the breath go, then she broke into a mad dash. She had no idea just how long it would take for her to get to the school, but she figured that an hour and a half before she was supposed to be there was a good time to start. She could make adjustments later.
It would figure that along the way the rain went from light and annoying to heavy downpour and...Kagome cursed openly. She was beginning to think that this day was only going to get worse. She hated when the feeling of dread would pass through her, but hopefully the thing she was feeling was about the new school and not the usual over-confident demon pursuing her.
She kept running and running, not stopping even to apologize to a trio of fellow classmates when she splashed them while rushing. She heard one of them yell out in annoyance, but she let it go. She didn't have time to waste. She needed to find out how much time she had left when she reached the school, well that and the fact she hated the rain.
She slid to a halt just inside the school gates. A few other students stared at her, but she chose to ignore them in favor of checking her watch.
"It took me forty-five minutes! I'll be able to adjust my sleeping schedule!" she cheered and started into the school and into the main office to obtain her schedule and other important stuff.
She was fortunate enough to get her schedule and locker number from the office as well as a quick tour of the school by her room teacher. It wasn't a completely enthralling tour. Her teacher seemed a bit annoyed and he was very pleased when the first bell rang. He smiled to Kagome.
"Shall we get the introduction over with, Higurashi-chan?"
"S..sure." Kagome nodded and followed along behind him.
"Okay settle down." the teacher entered the class ushering Kagome in with him, "We have a new student. Class, this is Higurashi Kagome."
Her eyes scanned the group of students before her. The vibrant orange hair caught her attention followed by the beautiful maroon eyes that were slightly wide with surprise. She smiled happily. She had hoped to see him again.
"Higurashi-chan, you make take the empty desk next to Hanajima-san." the teacher pointed towards the back to a girl with long black hair braided neatly.
"Yes, thank you." Kagome bowed politely and took her seat.
"Very nice waves. Such purity." Saki murmured as Kagome sat down.
"I'm glad you think so." Kagome said softly, "Your aura is quite nice as well."
Things were running smoothly, though Kagome was still having the same feelings of dread. Something was going to happen, but she was sure what ever it was, she could handle it.
It was just before lunch when Kagome was approached by a group of girls from their class. She eyed them knowing their intent was not a harmless visit. She could tell by the evil glints in their eyes.
"Yes?" Kagome said impatiently, "Can you make this quick? I want to get to lunch."
"Higurashi-san, a word of advice. Stay away from Sohma Yuki. You are not worthy to speak to him." a blonde girl with pigtails stated, her arms crossed over her chest. Her two friends stood behind her, nodding their heads in agreement.
"Who?" Kagome began her walk to the lunch room. She knew the girls would follow.
"I'm warning you, Higurashi-san. It's for your own good. You're new here and its best that you heed our warning."
"Are things alright, Higurashi-san?" Saki stepped next to her and Kagome watched as the other girls cringed and backed away slowly. Kagome grabbed the one nearest to her by her wrist and pulled her back.
"Things are fine, Hanajima-san. These girls were just explaining something about a Sohma Yuki. I do hope I get to meet him. Does he know he has girls choosing his friends for him?" Kagome turned back to the girl in her grasp, "Listen to me you little snot nosed twit. I suggest that you and your friends refrain from confronting me like that. It's rather rude and I don't like it."
Kagome gathered the smallest amount of her energy and used it to send an unpleasant tingle through the girl's arm before letting her go. The girl stumbled backwards a bit before crying out.
"You...you're just like her, aren't you?" she pointed her finger at Saki, "You are gonna put curses on us and make us suffer!"
"What?" Kagome's eye twitched in annoyance and she clenched her fist. She took one step towards the girl. The girl flinched before running away screaming.
"Oh dear. I'm afraid they've got you all wrong." Saki frowned. Kagome turned to face her, "Your waves tell me that you are much stronger and we are nothing alike. There is a bit or turmoil in your waves though."
"Tell me about it." Kagome muttered and then cheered up quickly, "Are you going to lunch? Can I walk with you, Hanajima-san?"
"Yes, of course."
Kagome followed Saki to the cafeteria, who was immediately flagged down as she entered. Kagome held back and scanned the room. Everything was normal. Nothing felt out of place. There were no hidden dangers lurking nearby.
"Higurashi-san, would you like to join us?" saki stepped next to her. The students in the cafeteria watched them. Kagome looked to Saki, then to the table she was gesturing to. There were five people sitting there. Two of them girls, two of them boys and one boy who turns into a cat.
"Do you think they'll mind?"
"No. I am sure they will be pleased to meet you. They are nothing like those girls you just met."
"Thank you for inviting me, Hanajima-san."
Kagome was a bit nervous. She had been wanting to talk with the orange haired kid all day, but she had yet to get a chance.
Most of the group stared at her as she approached. Her eyes passed over all of them. She was getting that weird feeling again. Just like the one she had when she had sat next to that boy on the bus.
"Ah, Hana-chan!" the brunette girl with the brilliant green eyes rose to her feet, "Oh! Higurashi-san!"
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to intrude." Kagome bowed her head politely.
"No, you're not intruding! It is wonderful to meet you!" she bowed slightly as well, "I am Honda Tohru!"
"Yeah, don't worry about intruding! Take a seat!" the tall, blonde girl motioned to the empty seat between herself and the orange haired boy, "I am Uotani Arisa, but you can just call me Uo-chan."
"Uo-chan, got it." Kagome smiled and made her way to the empty seat.
"So, Higurashi-san..." Arisa began, but stopped when Kagome held up her hand.
"You can just call me Kagome." she replied and spotted the group of girls that had confronted her. They seemed deeply horrified. 'I must be near that Sohma Yuki they mentioned.'
"Okay then, Kagome, where are you from?" Arisa finished her question.
"I lived at a sacred shrine just outside of Tokyo."
"Really?" Tohru was highly excited and Kagome smiled. This girl had a calming nature to her, "I've only visited a sacred shrine a few times!"
"You are all more than welcome to visit my current home. My grandfather purchased the Moonlight Shrine just on the other side of town. It's a small, quiet place and I certainly would love some company."
"Do you live there alone, Higurashi-san?" the handsome boy with the gray hair and enchanting violet eyes asked very politely.
"Ah, yes, I do...um..." she still didn't know any of the guy's names.
"I'm sorry, Higurashi-san. I am Sohma Yuki."
'Ah, he's the one!'
"I am Sohma Hatsuharu." the boy next to Yuki spoke up. Kagome loved the two-toned hair and the silvery-gray eyes. She turned her attention to the orange haired youth.
"I'm afraid I didn't get your name last time. Do you mind if I ask you for it now?" Kagome asked softly. The boy blushed and turned his head to the side.
"Sohma Kyo."
"You're all Sohmas?"
"Yes, Higurashi-san. We are cousins." Yuki answered and Kagome smiled.
"Has your first day gone well, Kagome-chan?" Tohru asked and Kagome nodded.
"Yes! Everybody has been very nice!" she nodded enthusiastically, "I wasn't expecting to make friends on day one, but Hanajima-san has been truly wonderful company!"
"That's out Hana-chan." Arisa grinned.
"She was most helpful in dealing with a trio of girls before we got here." Kagome scowled at the recollection of the girls, "Fan girls annoy me."
"I'm sorry, Higurashi-san." Yuki knew who she was talking about the second Kagome said fan girls, "Yes, they are a persistent bunch."
"I don't think they'll bother you anymore, Kagome-chan. You scared them." Saki spoke and smiled thoughtfully, "They got what they deserved."
Lunch went by rather quick in Kagome's opinion. She was sure it only went so fast because she had nice people to talk to, though Kyo had said very little. His cousins were nice to talk to, even if Haru's eyes wandered to areas they shouldn't have when they conversed. She'd let it slide for now. She was enjoying the attention.
The sun was out when they exited the school and Kagome gave a sigh of relief. The rain was gone, white puffy clouds, a bright yellow sun and azure blue consumed the sky above. It was a gorgeous afternoon. She didn't have to rush home so she knew she could enjoy the long walk home, providing nothing stalked after her.
Saki, Arisa, Haru and another Sohma cousin named Momiji, that Kagome had met during the day, parted from them at the gate, going in the opposite direction than her, Kyo, Yuki and Tohru. Kagome had already learned that Tohru lived with Kyo and Yuki as well as an older cousin who owned the house. Kagome was just happy to have company for part of her walk home.
"I'm glad the weather is nice for the walk home." Tohru smiled brightly, "The rain was just awful this morning."
"It would've been better if that girl hadn't splashed us as she ran past this morning." Kyo said bitterly and Kagome cringed. Now that she remembered, his voice had sounded vaguely familiar that morning.
"Sorry." Kagome said quietly and bit her bottom lip, "I didn't know it was you."
"That was you?" Kyo looked over at her a little surprised.
"Please forgive me, it's just that...I hate the rain." Kagome blushed slightly.
"I don't like it either." Kyo agreed and blushed. Yuki and Tohru shared a glance and smiled. It seemed Kyo and Kagome shared something in common.
They walked together for another mile before Tohru pointed down a road and said that they had to go that way. Kagome bid them good day and bowed slightly.
"I'll walk you home." Kyo spoke clearly, giving no room for argument from her and Kagome managed a short nod.
"We'll see you when you get home, Kyo-kun. Have a good night, Kagome-chan." Tohru bowed.
"Goodnight, Tohru-chan, Yuki-san. I'll see you tomorrow."
Tohru and Yuki parted from them and Kagome started off again with Kyo walking alongside her. She wasn't sure why he was walking her home. Surely he knew she could protect herself after what had happened before. He cleared his throat and Kagome glanced at him. His face was set in a scowl and Kagome felt herself suddenly wondering if he was mad at her.
"I never got to thank you." he said finally, his face relaxing as a new blush set in, "I wanted to, but you took off so quickly."
"That was an awkward moment, ne? I'm sorry I ran off like I did. I really did it to protect you, but it was still rude of me. I never even asked for your name."
"I could have stopped you, but I was a little...awe struck by the situation."
"I don't blame you at all. Most priestesses today don't have the abilities I do and most people don't know that demons exist."
"But they do." Kyo replied quietly and Kagome wished she didn't have to tell him that they did, "Do they go after humans?"
"Sometimes, but I do my best to take care of the ones in the areas I live in. Weaker demons won't show themselves and are usually harmless. The stronger ones won't usually go after ordinary humans and they're usually looking for someone stronger to fight, meaning me." she stopped at the bottom of a huge set of steps. Kagome smiled at Kyo, My home is at the top. Thank you for walking me home, Kyo-kun."
"Yeah, well girls shouldn't walk by themselves. It's...dangerous sometimes." he regretted his words once he remembered to whom he was speaking to and he slapped himself mentally. It was Kagome's soft giggle that snapped him out of it.
"Thank you for being concerned, Kyo-kun."
"It's nothing. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes. Goodnight, Kyo-kun."
"Goodnight, Kagome-chan."
With a graceful stride she started up her shrine steps. She made it half way when she turned to watch Kyo walk away. He glanced back over his shoulder to look one more time. Kagome blushed, smiled and waved. He waved back and chuckled to himself when she darted up the rest of the steps.
She waited until he was gone from her sight before darting down the steps again and began running further up the street. The jewel had already pulsed a bit back, but Kagome hadn't wanted her new friend to worry or be put in danger. She couldn't avoid the danger any longer and she sought out the source of the jewel's warning.
The demon in question was not far from her now. She could just make out his weak demonic aura. He was harassing a couple of school girls her age and Kagome stopped to watch for a few moments. The two girls were part of the trio that had given her the warning in the hall earlier that day. The blonde with the pigtails cringed at the advances the demon disguised as a human was throwing at her. When she refused, the demon reached for her arm and Kagome let her power surge, revealing herself to the demon. He paused and glanced in her direction giving ample time for his prey to escape. Not that it mattered to him now that the guardian priestess was so close.
She led him away from the area and dodged any attacks he threw at her along the way. He had been warned that she was a tough opponent, but if defeated, he'd have one of the most sought after artifacts amongst demons.
When she turned to face him finally he wasn't prepared for the quick streak of pink that rocketed in his direction. He had no time to dodge and barely any time to let out a very painful scream. Kagome sighed lightly and headed home. The jewel remained silent and Kagome felt a calmness wash over her. That feeling of dread she had had earlier in the day was now gone. She was hopeful that the remainder of the evening would be calm and peaceful too. She had homework to do after all and thoughts of her new friends to keep her company. She looked forward to seeing them again the next morning. Maybe if she was lucky, she'd run into them on the way to school. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe going back to school was a good idea.
A/N: For those of you who have signed up for my notifylist for my other stories, I have put a link in my profile for this story as well. If you wished to be on the list just check my profile.