Disclaimer: Inuyasha is not here, at the moment.

A/N: Well, some people told me they preferred longer chapters, so I made them longer. I have to thank everyone who reviewed! You're all awesome! And I have to say that I'm in a better mood since I slept longer, a total of 11 hours, but I still tend to get irritated very easily. Oh yeah, and guess what else? I need glasses. Yup. The last time I wore glasses was around four years ago. Things just keep getting better and better...

Special Thanks To...
Lost Forever Without You, Beautiful.Black.Joy, Sienna-shirou, pinky101, and reanabff


Chapter 7 - Lies

Inuyasha stuffed his hands in his pocket as he sat at the kitchen table in his home. Sesshomaru sat opposite him, drinking a cup of black coffee. They said nothing to each other, because the only thing Inuyasha could think about was Kagome.

They had gone to a Chinese restaurant after the signing the day before- one Inuyasha did not care to try and read. It didn't matter, because as soon as they stepped in, they were practically mobbed to death. It had been a half hour before they finally got to a table and were served with the utmost respect. And that irked - irritated him, even. He understood why Kagome hated going places so much. If it wasn't a law that everyone had to go to school, she would have probably skipped out on that too. Now it was Sunday, and school would be on for the next five days.

Inuyasha had chosen not to tell anyone about Kagome. His mother, Izayoi, would be happy for him, sure. He wasn't sure how his father would react. Sesshomaru couldn't care less. So what was the point? It's not like he and Kagome were friends, or anything.

Were they?


Kagome stared numbly at the coffee table in front of her, on which laid a magazine she had never read. The only reason she had picked up this particular one from the store on the way home this morning from the grocery store was because it had her on the cover. Her, Sango, Inuyasha, and Miroku at the restaurant from yesterday, and then again climbing into the limo. The hell was up with these people's obsession, anyway? She was worried, though, worried that people recognize her and Sango as the friendless girls at school. There was a whole story inside, too, much to her disgust. She hadn't bothered to read it.

She strummed a few notes on the guitar in her hands. It wasn't her's, oh no, this was her father's. After the signing yesterday, she had been completely worn out, not to mention the crowd that had decided to mob them had not helped her in any way. Why couldn't they have chosen a normal restaurant like WacDonalds? 'No, I was in the mood for Chinese. Why?!' Overall, the only thing she wanted to do was crawl back in bed. But that wasn't possible, because she refused to show weakness, even if there was nobody around except for Souta.

Kagome had apologized for dragging Inuyasha and Miroku into everything at least fifty times. They couldn't have enjoyed the crowds at all, and she felt responsible. God, her mind had just gone completely haywire. Maybe all the bright flashes of the paparazzi were finally getting to her.

A deep sigh escaped from Kagome's mouth as she played a chord on the guitar. Her father had been the one to teach her when she was little. They had kept his precious instrument after he died in a car crash, and Kagome played it whenever she was feeling distraught. It had always brought her comfort, but now, it only left her feeling worse. Why? That was too much for her weary mind to comprehend.

Kagome turned off the tv - she could hear Souta running down the stairs. Very soon he hopped over the arm of the couch and sat next to her, but didn't say anything. His eyes flicked to the magazine on the coffee table for a moment before they wandered to the guitar in Kagome's hands. It seemed he could always tell when something was wrong with his big sister. "What's up, sis?"

Kagome reached a hand over to ruffle his hair. "I'm alright, Souta. Just a little tired. It's times like this when I wish mom were home."

Souta nodded slowly, his cocoa brown eyes focused on Kagome's face. It irked her, sometimes, as she wondered how her little brother could be so open all the time. "Do you sometimes wish you could quit being a singer, Kagome?"

This question was unexpected, and it threw her off a bit. She lowered her eyes to the acoustic guitar in her hands - maybe she did want to stop being a singer once in a while. Even though at school she was just regular 'Kagome,' it was unnerving to know that people were fawning over her 'Kags' figure in the band. "Yeah, Souta. Sometimes I guess I do." She glanced down at Souta again and smiled as she set the guitar on the empty couch space. "I'm going for a walk. Do you think you could go over to Kohaku's while I'm gone?"

Souta nodded and smiled happily, for his sister's sake. He knew things were bothering her. Hastily, he ran towards the phone to call Kohaku while Kagome walked out the door.

She took the magazine with her.


Inuyasha stood up from the table. He had to get out of the house, otherwise he would be driven crazy. With a muttered "I'll be back later," he moved towards the front door and stepped outside. It was probably around three-thirty, he observed, because he hadn't checked the clock before he left. The sun was still high in the sky, yet it was somewhat humid. It was easy to detect a storm coming, as they had been the past few days.

He walked down the sidewalk leading from the front door of his house to the driveway. It wasn't a very large house, in truth, but enough to accommodate a family (if that's what you would call it) of four.

Inuyasha had no aim to go anywhere in particular. That was his life, more or less. He wandered throughout the days, taking everything that came along head-on, though rarely anything ever happened. Then he would traipse back to his path and continue on.

He stopped when he realized he didn't know where he was. It didn't take him long to figure it out - he had made his way to the park. It was strange in some ways, as in, this was the place he usually went to when he left the house. Then again, it was usually quiet here. So what if he went here every once in the while? It wasn't far from his house, after all.

But with the breeze, there was a familiar scent. A little too familiar. His amber eyes caught the form of a girl sitting with her knees pulled to her chest under a large tree. He recognized her instantly, and wondered if he should approach her or not. 'What the hell is she doing here anyway?' he mused, and made up his mind.

Quietly, he made his way to Kagome's side and sat down. Her eyes told him that she knew he was there, but she didn't say anything. Instead, she handed him something that she was holding. A magazine? He flipped it over so he was looking at the cover...and almost dropped it. "The hell..."

Kagome turned to face him, brown eyes blazing fiercely. "The next person to take a picture will soon find their head won't be attached to their shoulders much longer." The intensity in her gaze softened as she regarded him for a moment. "What if someone finds out?" she whispered and wrapped her arms around her knees. "Our whole cover will be blown."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes as he stared at the four people on the cover. He had to admit, Kagome was very recognizable, as well as Sango. No doubt the kids at school would be talking about this for a long time. "Anyone who suggests it will go home with two broken arms," he threatened murderously. The hell were these people thinking, anyway? How could they put these things in a magazine when they were so completely untrue?

A wry smirk formed on Kagome's face, completely out of place with her wavering eyes. "I can't believe I dragged you and Miroku into this. What was I thinking? It'll be my fault if our secret gets out."

Inuyasha sat still, a bit confused by her attitude. One second she was harsh and cruel to almost anyone who tried to speak to her. The next, she was calm and completely composed, open to anyone who wanted to talk. This only proved that Inuyasha knew almost nothing about Kagome, other than the fact that she was a lead singer in a famous band. So he didn't have a clue about what to do in a situation like this.

Kagome frowned and raised her eyes to the people walking around the park. Mostly children playing with each other, and the occasional adults passing by. It seemed everybody here had such normal lives, unlike her own. How she wished to be completely oblivious to the hell some people went through everyday. Okay, she wasn't that bad off, but everything going on was still as irritating as anything.

"I messed up, Inuyasha. Now I don't know how the hell to clean it up," she muttered as she ran a hand through her raven black hair. "I don't even know what I'm doing here. We're not even friends, right?" Inuyasha blinked, but stayed silent, hoping she would continue. "I mean, tomorrow we go back to school. You and Miroku will go back to being in the popular group, and me and Sango will still be the outcasts. Nothing's changed. Except for the fact that you know our secret."

Kagome stood up, leaving the magazine in Inuyasha's hands. "I'm right, aren't I? It's all the same with you guys. I suggest you don't try and talk to me for a long time. It's better that way, isn't it? Wouldn't want to be seen conversing with the wrong people." And she began walking away.

She really didn't mean for it to come out that way. But she knew that was how it was going to end up. When she said nothing has changed, she meant it.

"I messed up, Inuyasha. Now I don't know how the hell to clean it up."

A nap sounded really good right now, even if it meant she was weak.


Inuyasha watched Kagome leave, completely baffled and, dare I say it, hurt. He couldn't believe what she had just said, but a small part of him knew it was true. That was the way things had always been. He didn't get up to go after her, because he knew it was pointless. It was made perfectly clear that she didn't want to speak to him. Was she blaming him? That wouldn't make any sense - he hadn't done anything wrong.

He scowled and shook his head. Why should he bother with her? After all, she had said they weren't friends. That was that. A small smirk crept to his face as he rested his arms behind his head and leaned against the tree. Kagome had a temper that would match his own, probably even worse if she was in a bad enough mood. He had no reason to even regard her existence.

But...

Kagome wasn't like other girls. She carried more than one heavy burden on her shoulders, yet she kept them all to herself. Her appearance was kept simple - she didn't spend hours standing in front of a mirror or inside her closet. She also wasn't one to keep her opinions to herself. If something should be said, she would say it. Not to mention that he found her far more attractive than other girls...

'Hell, what am I thinking?' Inuyasha slammed his head roughly against the trunk; maybe he'd be able to knock some sense into himself. Obviously, there was something wrong with him. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and watched as Kagome rounded the corner, out of his sight. It angered him, that she could walk away from him so easily. 'Damn, I must be losing it.'

He raised his face towards the quickly darkening sky and growled. The few first drops of rain splashed on his face and ran down his neck. Kagome would be walking home in the middle of a storm. 'Why should I care? She's the one that left me, anyways.'

"I don't even know what I'm doing here. We're not even friends, right?"

With that running repeatedly through his head, almost like a chant, he stuffed his hands in his pockets and began walking home.


Kagome began making a noise, much resembling a growl, as she felt a drop of water splatter on her arm. She snorted and placed her folded arms on top of her head. If she got sick, at least she would be able to stay home from school.

'Inuyasha probably hates me now. But why should I care?' She had found herself asking this question a lot. Why should she care about anything? It seemed pointless. Everything would be much easier if she just let it go...

By now, rain was coming down full force and her sweat pants and t-shirt were practically drenched. A crack of thunder and a flash of lightning was all it took for her to start running. She didn't hate storms, exactly. Most of the times she found the bright light and loud, booming noise comforting, for some odd reason. It was being caught out in a storm that didn't appeal to her so much.

She ran the whole way back to her house and through the front door, her hair and clothes dripping on the rug. Souta was still gone, she observed, as the house was completely quiet. When she was satisfied that her clothes weren't going to get any drier, she trudged up the high steps and into her bathroom (right after grabbing a pair of warm pajamas from her bedroom), intent on taking a very hot shower. It didn't take long for the whole bathroom to be clouded in steam.

After about fifteen minutes, Kagome pulled the cream colored shower curtain aside. She almost choked on the steam that filled the room, and in attempt to clear it out, she opened the door leading to her room. In took her but a minute to throw on her pajamas and pull her hair into a ponytail.

As she trudged into her room, legs feeling heavy, she grabbed a brush and began running it through her hair. Thunder clapped outside, making her jump slightly at the sudden noise. The only thing she could hear was the rain splattering on her window and the roof. Until the phone began ringing downstairs, scaring her half to death so that she dropped her brush. In a split second, she was bolting down the steps and diving for the phone. She caught it on the fourth ring, utterly out of breath.

"Hey, Kagome. Souta said you went for a walk. Is everything all right?"

Sango's voice rang clearly from the other line. Kagome settled herself onto one of the couches and sighed. "Yeah, I guess so. But did you see that magazine?"

"I saw it, and I swear, if I see one more flash I'm going to cut someone's hand off. What are we going to do about school?"

Kagome groaned and leaned back so her head was on the arm rest. She threw one arm dramatically over her eyes and watched through the window as lightning coursed across the sky. "I don't know. Everyone's going to recognize us. I showed Inuyasha, and then said some things I probably shouldn't have. I think he's mad at me."

Even though they were on the phone, Kagome could see a frown making its way on Sango's face. "Listen to me, Kagome. Inuyasha's a jerk, and so is Miroku. I don't have to explain why. Whatever you said, I'm sure it was for the best. You can tell me more about it at school tomorrow. But I have to go. See you soon, alright?"

Kagome released her breath and nodded. "Okay. Oh...Can you tell Souta to come home in time for supper?" Before Sango could respond, she continued. "Thanks, Sango. See you tomorrow." After she heard her say good-bye on the other line, Kagome hung up. "Perfect. Maybe mom will be able to think of something..."

She frowned and rolled on to her stomach. Without raising her eyes once, she swiped the stereo remote off the coffee table and pushed the power button. A CD instantly began playing, and what do you know, her voice was the one blasting through the speakers. Her ears chose only to pick up bits and pieces of different verses, so it didn't really make much sense. Then again, what did?

"Now I'm the one confused/I don't know how I got this way..."

Kagome almost laughed at the lyrics. They were describing her so much, it didn't take a genius to figure out she wrote the song.

"Will I ever be alright?"

That was a good question. Would anything ever be alright? She smirked and vaguely realized that Souta just opened the front door. 'He's home early...'

"I've come too far/But it doesn't even matter/Because I've already lost it all/

Souta grabbed the stereo remote from Kagome's hand and turned it off. She was a bit surprised at his abruptness and raised her head to look at him. His short hair was dripping from the rain. "I'm sorry, Souta. Guess I'm just in an off mood." She sat up slowly and gestured to the empty seat next to her. "You're home early. What's up?"

Souta obliged and sat on the couch. "I was worried. Sango said you didn't sound too good on the phone. So I decided to come home and see how you're doing."

Kagome couldn't help but smile down at her brother. "I appreciate it, Souta, but you really didn't have to come home. I'm fine." 'If that's what you can call it.'

Souta frowned and lightly nudged Kagome's arm. "Yeah, right. I may be young, Kags, but I'm not stupid."

She laughed and threw an arm around Souta's shoulder. "You're right. But you're still short." If it was possible, she would have chosen to sit like that forever. Why couldn't everything be so simple, so carefree? At times, she was envious of those who lead such simple lives. Now was one of those times. "Come on, kid, we need to start supper." With a slight groan from Souta, the siblings trudged into the kitchen, together.


Inuyasha walked in to his two-story house and closed the door with a resounding slam. His father would reprimand him, for sure, but that was the farthest thing from his mind. A picture of Kagome walking away without once looking back stuck in his mind and refused to leave him alone. She was taunting him, mocking him, even though she was, physically, no where around.

As he walked into the living room, Sesshomaru rose his eyes from his spot on the couch to glance at his younger brother - gold clashed against gold until Inuyasha pulled his eyes away and continued upstairs. He heard his mother's voice calling him from the kitchen, but ignored it completely until he walked into his room and her voice drowned out.

With an audible grunt, he flopped onto his bed and threw one arm over his eyes. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Kagome's voice out of his head.

"I mean, tomorrow we go back to school. You and Miroku will go back to being in the popular group, and me and Sango will still be the outcasts. Nothing's changed. Except for the fact that you know our secret."

Was that how she truly saw it? True, nobody had ever befriended Kagome and Sango - but when she spoke of him and Miroku being 'popular,' her voice sounded choked and forced.

"Keh. Why am I even thinking about her?" he questioned nobody but himself, one of his arms hanging nimbly over the edge of his bed. "What the hell is wrong with me?"


Kagome blew her bangs away from her face as she examined the just-cleaned kitchen. Souta couldn't exactly be named a good cook, that much was proven as he dropped two eggs, a cup of milk, and somehow managed to layer all of the counters in flour. It took a total of a hour and a half to clean it up after they ate - thankfully, their mother was still not home.

"Okay, Souta. Maybe next time I should make supper alone. Did I ever mention that you're a klutz?" she asked playfully, laughing slightly as he raised his eyes to glare at her. "Come on, I'm only kidding. I appreciated the help. Now go and make yourself scarce." With a quick nod, he ran out of the kitchen to take a shower, most likely - he was covered in as much flour as the counters, after all.

Kagome sighed and brushed her hand across her forehead. The clock said seven, meaning that her mom would be home soon. 'What to do...I don't have any homework to finish up, for once.' It was still storming outside, she observed quietly as she turned to stare out the window above the sink. The sky was still dark, only briefly brightening when lightning flashed. It would have been perfect, if only she could get Inuyasha out of her head.


Sango laid stretched out across the maroon couch residing in the living room of her house. She continually flicked through the channels on the tv, over and over, though there was nothing she was particularly interested in watching. That and the continuous thunder made it hard to hear anything in the first place. The weather suit her mood, she decided as she stood up and wandered into her father's study. As usual, he was sitting behind his desk in a lavish leather chair, typing away on his laptop's keys.

"Father, can I speak to you?" Sango asked hesitantly, nervously wringing her hands together. Usually he was busy and did not wish to be bothered, but he could sense her worried tone, and therefore closed his laptop and turned towards his daughter.

"Of course, Sango. Is there something wrong?" he asked as he gestured towards the chair opposite of his desk. Sango seated herself quickly - good thing, too, because she didn't know how much longer she'd be able to stand.

She placed her folded hands on the desk and then removed them, instead placing them in her lap. 'Stop fidgeting,' she warned herself and cleared her throat. "Father, I think our secret - mine and Kagome's - is out," she blurted without really thinking at all.

The expression on her father's face instantly softened. He appeared confusedat Sango's sudden outburst. "Explain. Why do you think so? You two have been so careful..."

Sango snorted and turned her eyes away, unable to focus them in one place. "Obviously not careful enough. Where do I start..." She paused and sucked in a breath, as if preparing for a speech. "There are these two boys in our grade, and they found us after a concert. So we told them everything," she began slowly. "Yesterday we took them to the CD signing, and afterwards, we went to a restaurant. Apparently, someone caught a picture of the four of us and now it's on the cover of magazines everywhere. Everyone in school is going to recognize us...we completely blew it." She groaned and buried her head in her hands. "What do we do?"

She rose her head back to her father, who appeared to be thinking deeply. "Honestly, Sango, I am not sure. I will speak with Nanami as soon as I can get a hold of her. Perhaps she will have an idea. Why don't you go downstairs? Supper will be ready shortly."

"Of course, father." Sango nodded numbly and stood up from the chair, making a quiet exit from the study. Her nerves were completely shot - if she was feeling like this, then she could only imagine the state Kagome was in.


Stephenie: Well...uh...everyone is currently having an argument about...something...I don't exactly know what...

Kagome: INUYASHA, YOU JERK!

Stephenie: ::sweatdrop:: R&R, please!

A/N: I apologize for the abrupt ending. But in the next chapter they'll be going back to school, and who knows what's going to happen (except for me, of course). I'd appreciate the reviews. The next chapter will be up as soon as possible...whenever I decide to get off my lazy streak and do something...


Hey...maybe you guys should do what the button says. It might not be very happy if you don't...