Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me.
…
Collision
Clash
…
When it was sunny one moment and then horribly gray and dreary the next, it was never a good thing. For Kagome, it meant something was going to happen. Something bad. But luckily, nothing had…yet anyway.
The changing sky had occurred this morning and as it was now approaching late afternoon, Kagome figured she was in the clear. That despite the constant rain, nothing terrible was going to happen.
She spoke too soon of course. Walking the well-known path home, the back of her neck prickled with unease. She looked behind her, saw nothing, but sped up anyway. Clutching the handle of her umbrella, she veered into an alleyway—a shortcut home—and took off at a run.
Bodies clothed in black burst from her surroundings and she skidded to a stop, her heart racing, her blue eyes sharp and wary, and her body thrumming with a pure adrenaline rush.
Faces masked, they circled her, each carrying their own weapon. What the hell? Were they trying to rob her or were they imitating ninjas?
"Give us your bag!"
He didn't sound very intimidating, almost squeaky actually. Kagome closed her umbrella and gripping it tight, imagined it was her shinai, an extension of herself.
All four of them charged and she jumped away, bending backwards to avoid a sweeping arc of metal. She snapped up, right hooking one of her attackers in the jaw. She then kicked his knees out from under him and smacked him across the head with her umbrella. Another came at her swinging a bat. Kagome blocked it, spinning around him and kicking him forward. He tripped and face planted into a puddle.
But a blow to her middle knocked the air right out of her. Her glasses flew off as she swerved to her left, dodging a heavy metal pole with practiced ease. Again and again she parried his attacks before going on the offensive and striking back with quick thrusts of her umbrella. Left, right, straight down the center, there.
Kagome breached an opening in his defenses and struck him in the shoulder. He stumbled back in surprise before she threw her arm forward and punched him in the face.
Thoroughly soaked, Kagome spun around ready to pummel the last of them. But he was inching away and he seemed so small, palms up as if to placate her. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the one she'd just punched. Shoving him down, she sat on his chest and ripped off his mask.
Her eyes widened in shock. It was then she registered the footsteps and saw the standard issue school uniform shoes in her peripheral.
"Impressive, Higurashi."
She glanced up and then back down at the dark-haired guy she was currently straddling. He nursed a bloody nose, but overall didn't seem too furious—if the amusement in his dark gray eyes was anything to go by.
"What the hell Sesshoumaru? I thought you said she'd be easy?" Kouga groused, still trying to get the taste of dirty rainwater out of his mouth.
Inuyasha pulled off his mask. "Shipp! Get over here so I can beat you for sounding so damn squeaky!" He grimaced, licking his split lip.
And as they all surrounded her, cradling busted lips, bleeding noses, and bruises, Kagome shook with a silent, turbulent anger. She let go of Ban and stood, eyes shielded by dripping wet bangs.
"Higurashi."
Her hands clenched until the whites of her knuckles showed. She finally looked up, letting him know just how pissed she was at him for pulling such a ridiculous stunt.
"Yes, Sesshoumaru-senpai?" A raging fire roared in those blue eyes of hers.
"You will—"
"No."
He took a step forward and Kagome practically growled.
"I don't want anything you have to offer. Stay out of my life, Taisho." She turned around and walked away, burning defiance in her every step. But pausing halfway, she glanced at the damage she'd done to the three kendo team members. Shoulders slumping a little, she apologized. Kind of.
"Sorry," she pointed at her lip and nose to indicate what she meant, "but you guys deserved it for being so stupid." Kagome mumbled the last part and snatching up her bag and umbrella continued home, now in a foul mood.
After she rounded the bend, Shippou commented offhandedly, "she's pretty."
They all didn't know what to say to that because the truth was, when the glasses came off and her inner fire blazed bright, clumsy pitiful nerd Kagome Higurashi was pretty and too much of a mystery to ignore.
…