"I'm sorry, Kagome, but you can't stay in today." Rin Hana spoke softly to the eight year old child. She sighed, stroking the face of the girl.
"Maybe you could try talking to some of the other kids? You might end up making a friend."
Kagome's bottom lip quivered, and she gave a sniffle.
"Al-alright…I'll try…"
She turned to walk out the door, little pigtails bouncing as she did so. Rin sighed. Kagome was her best student, but oh so quiet. A young eight year old forced by her own parents to endure a class room full of children two years older than her.
She hoped she made the right choice. Shrugging, Rin began to pick up the room.
"Would ya look at that! That weird girl is actually outside!"
"I know! Look at her, she's so puny!"
"Is she really?…….Oh my gosh she is!"
Three girls watched in shock as the small girl wandered outside. Kikyo, Kagura, and Sango tried to come up with reasons as to why she would be out.
"Maybe Miss Hana finally got tired of her."
"Maybe she got tired of Miss Hana."
Sango shrugged, and said, "Maybe she just wanted to come outside…" The other two grudgingly agreed.
"Should we go say hi?" Sango asked, watching Kagome look around.
"I don't know…If we talk to her, Sesshou might not let us on the swings." Kagura said, tilting her head.
"Well he probably won't let us on anyway." Kikyo began to walk towards the uncomfortable girl.
"Kikyo, wait! What if she's weird? It could be contagious!" Kagura screeched, fear filling her eyes.
The other two girls gasped. "You right!" They said in unison, and decided on just simply watching the girl.
"Hey Sesshoumaru! Come on, man! Let us on!" Inuyasha bellowed up to his brother. His puppy ears flatted in anger, while his nostrils flared.
Glancing up at his annoying brother, Sesshoumaru snorted.
"You know the rules little brother. No babies allowed." Smirking at his indignation, Sesshoumaru scuffed the dirt with his shoe.
"I'm no baby! You're barely a year older than me!" The boy spoke, his cheeks red.
"You must be as smart as a fifth grader to get near these swings. And then I might consider letting you on." His friends laughed, sticking their tongues out at the enraged 4th grader.
"Fine! Like I wanna be on this playground anyway!" Turning on his heel, Inuyasha stomped away, only to trip on his shoelaces and fall face first into pavement.
Kouga and Bankotsu both laughed, while Sesshoumaru merely snorted. Really, the boy was riled way too easy.
Abruptly the laughter stopped.
"Hey Kouga, isn't that the girl who sits next to you, at the back of class? The one that's never outside?" Bankotsu pointed. The other two turned to look.
A small girl, donned in an oversized pink shirt and baggy blue pants, came onto the play ground. She appeared to be chewing on her sleeve, glancing about worriedly.
"Yeah, that looks like her…Wonder why she's out here."
Sesshoumaru was shocked. No way was this girl a fifth grader. She was too small.
"You know, I heard that she's only eight, that her parents forced her up two grades 'cause she's really really smart."
"She reads a lot during free time. I don't think she has any friends, since she's always alone. And she doesn't talk much. But she's nice. She's let me copy her homework a few times." Kouga scratched the back of his head.
"Should we invite her to swing?" Sesshoumaru's head jerked towards Kouga, who looked at the girl.
"I don't know, Kouga. I mean, she's only eight…" Bankotsu argued, unsure.
"But she is as smart as a fifth grader…She is a fifth grader. I don't see why she can't swing with us. Sess?" Kouga asked their leaders opinion.
Sesshoumaru himself was conflicted. Should he go against his own rule, and let her on, or should he stick to the rule, and shun her? What to do, what to do…
"H-hi…"
Quickly looking up, he found himself staring into the light blue eyes of that very same girl.
"Hiya."
"Hey."
"Hn."
Kouga, Bankotsu, and Sesshoumaru gave their greetings.
Kagome fidgeted. She knew about these three. They ruled the playground…Would they let her…….?
"U-um….Can I-um-swing with-uh-you three?" She asked softly, pleading her eyes.
Both boys looked to Sesshoumaru.
After staring at her for a few moments, he conceded.
"Yes."
Surprise filtered into her eyes, and the eyes of onlookers. Had he really…?
"But only for today." He clarified. He didn't want her suddenly thinking she was special.
Then she smiled, showing off a gap from a missing tooth.
"Thank you!" She hopped onto the swing next to him, and smiled shyly at the other boys.
"My name's Kagome…" She said.
"I'm Kouga, that's Bankotsu, he's Sesshoumaru, and you're kinda pretty." Kouga smiled brightly as Kagome blushed.
In the class room, Rin smiled.
"So Sesshoumaru-kun, you do know how to share…."