Story rating: T. For mild language.
Blanket Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to InuYasha or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do, however, offer my thanks to her for creating such vivid character's for me to terrorize.
ENJOY & REMEMBER REVIEW PLEASE!
Chapter 2. The New Girl In Town
~KAG POV~
"Come on Kagome, hurry up! The trucks are just about to leave!" Sotua hollered from down the hallway, probably from the kitchen.
Sitting in the middle of my old room, looking at the pale pink walls and the marks on the floor where my bed and desk used to be, I fought off the urge to cry. Again. What would crying do? Absolutley nothing. Except, maybe, make me feel even worse then I already did.
Saying good bye to my friends yesterday had been hard enough with all the crying and hug's and sniffling and whining. And Ayumi, Eri and Yuka were saddened too. Hojo had been a mess. A sobbing, hysterical, weeping mess.
After he calmed, as best as he could, he'd even given me a framed picture of all of us together smiling and laughing after a school carnival we'd had back in the seventh grade. It was such a thoughtful and kind goodbye gift. That was when it really hit me- I was going to miss them so much. Ever since kindergarten, Id always been with my friends. They were always there for me when I really needed them and I hated and loathed the thought of a goodbye.
Sighing and grumbling under my breath, I stood and didn't look back as walked out of my room shutting the door tightly behind me, for the last time. I walked down the stairs, into the kitchen and looked around the now sold house and groaned.
Seeing Souta struggling with a few boxes out the front window, I ran outside to help and grabbed the heavy load before he could say otherwise. Souta wheezed out a mumbled "Thank you," as we continued to walk, headed for the long stairway down to the main road.
Looking upward, I noticed for the first time that day that the sky was a perky blue, and was dotted with puffy white clouds sporadically. A slight, morning breeze was blowing wistfully through her my hair and above my head birds were singing their morning songs. Souta walked down the shrine steps with me for the last time and I could tell he was walking just as slowly as I. We were savoring the last moments that we spent on those old shrine steps.
"Thanks sis," he whispered quietly, keeping his shoulders down and his head held high. He was trying to be strong, something I was finding to be difficult at the moment.
"Mmmhmm," was all I could mumble back. I couldn't find any words, my thoughts were blank because, in my mind, this couldn't possibly be happening. It just couldn't. It must have been a wild and crazy dream, and that at any minuet I would wake up and realize just that. But the more we packed, the more we stuffed all of our valuables and personal items into moving trucks, did I realize that it wasn't. It was very real.
As we finally made it all the way down the steps, we saw that Mom was talking the truck driver of the moving van, standing by her car. She saw us sulking and trend her attention away from the van guy and shouted, "lets go kids! These guys get paid by the hour and its already been three hours. Lets hurry up!"
I rolled my eyes. Was that all she could think of right now? Money? I scoffed under my breath, earning a question look from Souta. Well that was why we had to move anyway.
I put the box I was carrying in the trunk of the car and slammed it closed with a furry. I flung myself into the backseat and shut the car door and looked out my window and stared at my beloved home. I glared at the 'Sold!' sign that stood in the yard, hopping it would catch on fire. It was way too cheery to be a sold sign.
My eyes wandered up to where the house was perched, high up on the hill, the sun blazing brightly behind it. The shrine house standing next to the sacred tree and the little garden our mother use to take care of, the place where Souta took his first steps as a toddler. A single, tear slid down my cheek as a flood of memories came rushing back to me. All the moments we'd spent, all the seconds, minuets, hour's and day's spent there.
"Someone better take care of this place or I swear to God…" I growled out quietly, as I put in my ear buds to listen to some music from my iPod to drown out my thoughts.
As soon as Souta and gramps were all buckled in and situated in the car, mom pulled the car away from the curb and started down the street, leaving me to crane my neck to look out the review widow to watch the shrine disappear in the dust the back wheels the car picked up.
The tear slid down off my chin and splattered onto my right palm. I tore my head away from the disappearing shrine, lowered my head and bit my lower lip. It was official; we had moved.
xXx
It was a pretty long car ride to our new home. It lasted about 3 and a half hours and the whole time I listened to my music and ignored mom, gramps and Souta who were sining road songs and playing sight seeing games. Buyo, however, made himself at home on my lap, sleeping quietly the whole way there. I rested my chin in the palm of my hand, using my free hand to stroke Buyo's back, making him purr in contentment. I stared dully out the car window, watching as the city morphed into country side and then back into a city. My mind wondered to my new school and a flurry of questions came pouring into my mind.
Would I like it there? Would I make any friends? What were the demons there really like? Would they be nice? And the most important question; would I be happy?
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the car turned down a quiet and peaceful looking street lined with cherry blossom trees, and cheerful little houses. I pressed my nose up against the glass of the window and took in the new sights.
Mom slowed the car down and stopped in front of a modern house that was painted a pale green color with charcoal colored roofing. It had a tall, willowy tree (not like the sacred tree because, come on that thing is huge) planted off the side of the house, and a really green and manicured lawn with cute shrubbery bushes with little red flowers placed underneath the windowsills.
"Here we are!" Mama said cheerfully as she turned off the small car. She opened the door and practically skipped out while everyone followed behind sluggishly. We hadn't made many pit stops and our limbs and muscles were sore form sitting so long in awkward angles. I held on tightly to Buyo and I gazed up at our new home. It wasn't as bad as I dreaded it to be. It was actually pretty nice and maybe even bigger then our old home. I shrugged indifferently.
Mama walked up to me and put a hand on my shoulder as we gazed up to our new house. "Its nice isn't it?"
"You know mom, I have to admit its not bad." I stated as I looked over at mom and smiled.
Mom smiled in gratitude and gave me a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Souta can you come her for a second?" Souta, who was running around our new yard, came bounding over to us.
"Ok, your grandfather gets the room on the top floor way to the right and mine will be next to his on the left. There is another room down the hallway from that one and then and two extra rooms downstairs." Seeing our sudden peak in interest and excitement, she quickly added, "But I want one of them to be a guest room when we have company. So only one of you can get a room downstairs. Now try not to kill each other for the best one. I don't want blood staining the new carpet." Mom said and then giggled at her own lame attempt at a joke
I looked at souta and he looked back at me then we both looked at the house. Then, Souta returned his glare to me and I glared right back at him with even more furry. Before anyone knew what was happening, we took off toward the house. I dropped Buyo softly on the ground before darting toward the door, luckily being faster then my younger sibling, I reached the front door first and bursted into our new home.
The first thing I noticed was that the place smelled…clean. Like the house itself was brand new and newly made. I eyed the hardwood floors, which looked immaculate and decided that maybe it was.
Remembering that I was participating in a race, I wildly looked around to find the stairs that led downward. I didn't want to have to stay upstairs with her Gramps and mom. I mean come on, how lame would that be? Souta, who had arrived shortly after I had, must have been thinking the same thing because he was also ignoring the winding staircase that was placed off to the right of the kitchen and led upstairs.
'Where is it? Where is it? Where is it? I chanted in my head as I ran franticly throughout the house. I ran into the kitchen and skidded to a stop as I noticed the really new, shiny appliances placed carefully in huge kitchen. The cupboards where stained white that the backdrop above the black granite countertops were painted a light robin's egg blue.
I smiled like a wild woman and punched a fist into the air."NICE!" I loved cooking and this kitchen was a chiefs best dream. I didn't know how gramps or mom had afforded the new house considering we had to move just because of money's sake, but I didn't second guess it.
'Alright focus' I scolded myself. I ran past the den and noticed the large flat screen Tv hanging on the wall by the glistening fireplace. Finally, I noticed a closed door by the back of the den. I practically flew over and pulled the door open. My eyes grew wide with excitement and a toothy grin spread across my face-the stairs led down.
Forgetting how dreadful I was of moving, I flipped on the light and headed down the wide stairway and I held back the urge to let out a huge squeal of excitement when I reached the last step.
The basement was gigantic. And when I say huge, I mean it was like a whole different house built below the main one. It had an air hockey table, two old pin ball machines and a Ms. PacMan machine that looked like it was an original. I blinked stupidly as I gawked at the luxurious space. 'How the hall had mom and grams afforded this!?' Next to that I noticed another flat screen that matched the one upstairs and a black leather couch was perched in front of the Tv's monitor as well as a small kitchen with the same type of appliances that were upstairs were lining the black countertop.
I turned my gaze away and for a split second, I didn't know if I was still breathing or not. 'Have I died and gone to heaven?' The reason for my ogling, was through the painted back french doors placed next to the kitchen, was an olympic sized pool and a hot tub surrounded by trees, blocking any outsider's view from the pool deck. A few white chairs lined the back of the pool.
"Oh. My. Kami," was all I could mutter out coherently.
Souta, who had finally found the door by the den, came bounding down the stairs and took one step into the living space and stared, his jaw dropping. I snickered to myself at his reaction. I mean, what preteen boy wouldn't want this to be all his?
I noticed him still spluttering and stuttering incoherently like a broken coffee machine and realized that I still hadn't won the room search. Taking off down one of the hallways, I gave out a little laugh as I opened the last door off to the right and smiled in delicious victory. It was a master sized bedroom with a large, high walk in closet the size of my old room and a bathroom with a bathtub and a shower.
"I won?" I asked myself quietly. Then realizing that I had, indeed won, I shouted happily, I WON!" And began to hop around and dance and laugh.
"Awh come on! Don't tell me I lost….." Souta grumbled and then began to pout as he watched me dance around obnoxiously in my new room.
"Aww. Its okay Souta. You can always come visit me down here." I said, winking at him. His hand's balled into tiny, angry fists and I began to laugh as he marched back out of my new room and slammed the door behind him.
xXx
A muffled buzzing noise sliced into my dream's like a knife as I slept. 'Whats that sound? And why won't it stop?' I reluctantly pulled myself out of deep sleep, feeling as though I was coming up for fresh air after being underwater for a long period of time.
My eyes fluttered open and I groaned tiredly. Rolling over in my bed, I realized that the offending noise was my phone, buzzing obnoxiously on my bedside table. I grumbled incoherent words into my pillows when I realized that it was my alarm for school. I hit the glowing green OK! button, forcing the sound cease.
The sun was just starting to color the morning sky a shade of light pink and yellow as I trudged out of bed.
I trudged myself out of bed and into the bathroom, cringing as I flipped on the light switch, the bright, harsh light forcing me to squint. Looking at myself in the mirror, I visibly winced at my appearance. My obsidian hair was plastered to the side of my head id been sleeping on and I had a dark, purplish bags under my eyes. I turned on the sink and splashed some cold water onto my face to wake myself up.
I walked out of the bathroom and into my walk in closet and turned on the light. Since there was no uniform at my new school, I really didn't know what to do with myself or how to dress myself properly. Even though mom had taken me shopping and bought me a load of new clothes, I still didn't know what to wear. I had never not had a uniform before and I always knew what I was going to wear to school. Now what?
After about a half an hour of trying on different outfits, I finally decided on a white cashmere sweater and a cute pair of jeans that hugged my thighs and flared out at my legs. I then brushed the tangles out of my slept in hair and styled my bangs so they framed my face.
I had never really been good at makeup so I decided to wing it this morning. I put on some light, cream colored eye shadow and a light pink blush. I used a small tube of mascara and then to top it all off, I used my favorite pink 'Vary Berry' lip gloss.
I moved back into my walk in closet and looked around for some shoes and decided on my pair basic black Toms. After which, I walked back into my room and grabbed my yellow school back pack, getting ready to go upstairs and face the day when I suddenly stopped in mid stride. A frown tugged at the corner of my lips at the picture Hojo had given me, placed carefully on my night stand. I gave a small at all of my posed friends who were smiling back at me, still in the moment this picture was taken.
"Wish me luck you guys." I mumbled then made my way upstairs toward the kitchen.
Grams was sitting in a chair placed in front of the fireplace and Souta was sitting at the table, eating his breakfast. "Morning sis." Souta grumbled as he slurped his captain crunch.
"Good morning, Kagome." Gramps grunted, keeping his eyes glued to the morning newspaper in his grasp.
Mom was unpacking things from boxes in the kitchen when she finally turned around and graced me a with a bright smile, one that wasn't forced. Something that hadn't happened in a long time. I bit the inside of my cheek at my sudden feeling of guilt. My mother must have been so stressed about this whole moving situation, but didn't show it. She had been so strong for us and Souta and my hostility hand't been very helpful.
"Good morning Kagome." When she realized what I was wearing she placed her palm on her cheek and studied me like I was some exotic painting. "Oh Kagome you look wonderful."
I gave her a smile of my own. "Thanks Mom." Then I turned toward gramps and said good morning to which he grunted in reply.
I set my bag onto the floor. "And Souta don't talk with your mouth full. Its disgusting." I muttered, grabbing an apple from the fruit basket, sitting down next to Souta on the bar stools that surrounded the island in the middle of the kitchen.
"Alright, well why don't you two finish your food and then Ill take you to school?!" Mom asked in very cheery voice. Too cheery for my liking.
I bit my tongue, keeping myself from saying the snarky remark I wanted too. She didn't get it did she? Today I started public school. Which meant I would b mingling with demons and the like. And don't get me wrong, I'm not like that. I am not racist. But I didn't know how demons would act around me. It made me nervous and fidgety.
After we ate, I grabbed my backpack and headed for the door with Souta on my heels. I held the front door for Souta and mom and walked down the driveway. By now, the sun was higher into the sky, shad in it a really pretty shade of pink and orange. The fresh, crisp, morning air tickled my nose.
I opened the car door and sat down and instantly felt the butterflies form in my stomach. I just wanted today to be over and done with. Once mom started the car and Souta finally got in the back seat, Mom backed the car out of the driveway and headed for my new school.
I tried to ignore how my palms started to sweat and how the butterfly's in my stomach where having a spastic attack. I took deep breaths trying to calm myself down. There was no reason to be so anxious and jittery.
I didn't even notice as mom pulled up to my new school. Shikon no Tama Public high school.
It was a pretty big school. I had read about it online, trying to do a little research in my spare time, and learned that it was one of the best schools in the country. It ranked highly in academics and athletics. And it got a lot of funding from Takahashi Corp.
Whoever that was…
Souta hit the back of the head rest, popping me out of my daydreaming. "Kagome you do know your not moving right?"
"Shut up I know. Alright I'm going." I said as I turned and hugged mom then I looked at souta.
"Good luck." We said in unison. I let out a huge sigh and climbed out of the car and watched as mom drove away. And I realized I was alone. Alone alone.
Taking a deep breath, I turned around, instantly noticing a lot of other teens staring at me from the school yard. Some of them were in little groups talking…and looking at me. Some of them were leaning up against the tall building and some of them were sitting under trees listening to music…all staring at me. It seemed like the whole world stopped and stared. And at me of all people...
There were a lot of kids who went to school here. Surely they wouldn't take notice to one new girl would they?
I walked slowly toward the looming building and tried to keep my head down, trying to be as invisible as possible. I gripped the shoulder of my bag making my knuckles turn a shade of white. I climbed my way up the stairs of the school, pretending I didn't notice anyone.
When I entered the school, it was like all hell had broken lose. Teens were running around in the main lobby and some were just sitting on the floor and talking or eating. It was truly madness. Maybe what made it really crazy were the few demons walking around. A guy who looked half snake and half teenage boy stared at me with his yellow serpent eyes as he stalked past my unmoving form.
"This is insane" I muttered, eyeing the insanity.
I stood on my tip toes to see over the teens heads looking for the main office. When I spotted what I was looking for, I headed toward the open doorway.
A receptionist who looked human, but had bored, expressionless, red eyes, sat at the front desk, talking quietly on the phone. Her ears were strangely pointed, almost like an elf's. No. She must not have been human. She didn't notice me walk in so I coughed, trying to gain her attention. She didn't look up.
"Ehhem?" I said quietly, finally getting her to look up from the phone, glaring at me like I was bothering her or something. She pointed toward the wooden benches that lined the room then went back to her phone call. I rolled my eyes as I turned away from her and plopped down onto one of the benches. When the cranky receptionist wasn't looking, I made a face in her direction.
After about five minutes passed the receptionist finished her 'oh so important phone call' to ask if she may help me.
I grabbed my yellow bag and walked back up to her. "Yes I'm Kagome Higurashi and today is my first day here and I need my schedule and a map of the school.'' I said as politely as I could to her. Then I looked down, noticing a name-plate I hadn't noticed when Id fist walked in. It read Kagura W.
Kagura glared back at me and went searching though a big bin, looking for my things I assumed.
I was looking around, waiting for her to find my stuff, tapping my finger's on the desk, when a door cracked opened. I the sign, I read, said Principal's office.
A tall guy, who was staring dagger's at the ground, came stalking out the doorway, dressed in all black. Black zip up hoodie, black jeans with his wallet cain dragged across the front and tucked in the back of his pants. He wore black biker boots and even his backpack was black. But what caught my attention was his silver hair. It was longer then mine!
"Now, I trust ye will make better decisions next time. Ye won't won't ye?" A short grey woman said as she followed him out the doorway. I presumed she must have been the principal. She looked old. Old, but wise.
The guy grunted angrily. "Yea yea whatever you old hag. Can I go now?"
I felt my face distort into a frown. Why was this guy so rude?
The woman ignore his offensive comment and nodded solemnly. "Yes. Ye may go."
"Thank god." The boy muttered, stalking away from her. Just as he was about to leave, he lifted his head and turned his sharp gaze on me.
My eyes grew wide and my breath hitched in my throat. He had to have been the most stunning person I'd ever seen. He had a strong jaw line and full lips, his eyes were half hidden by the wild, silverfish hair atop his head. He had boyish features and a cute nose. Then, when I thought id seen it all, I noticed two perfectly triangular ears perched up on his head. They looked so fluffy and velvety soft, I wanted to reach my hand out and touch them. But what topped anything else were his piercing and unwavering golden eyes that bore into mine. Golden molten pools of ocher.
I lowered my head but kept my eyes on him. He wasn't human, I realized.
He looked confused as he stared at me. His face was soft, but his eyes were narrowed on my, like he was trying to solve a difficult math question. But all too soon it faded and quickly went back into a I-dont-give-a-shit-about-anything, face.
"What are you looking at?" He all but snarled at me as he walked by. Bumping into my shoulder purposely, he brushing past me and left through the main office door.
I blinked a few times, swallowing. What had just happened? I tore my gaze up off the floor to see Kagura glaring at me like I was a tiny, insignificant bug. I swallowed and wondered if she naturally looked pissed off all the time or she was always that angry. It wasn't until she cleared her throat sharply that I realized she was holding out my map and schedule out toward me.
I tucked a stray hair behind my ear out of nervous habit and quickly grabbed the paper's, mumbling a "Oh! Um thanks," before making a hasty retreat.
I tried not to notice the small smile that was tugging on her lips as I practically ran from the office. But when the office door finally swung shut behind me, I swore I heard her laughing.
xXx
Classes weren't that hard to find if you knew what you were looking for. The map, which id first thought to be useless, helped me a lot. But the one thing that it didn't direct me to was my locker. I had locker number six. Thats right. Six. What a stupid locker number.
Before my first class started, I decided I should put my school supplies away so I wouldn't have to carry them around all day. I walked down the hallway just as the five minuet bell buzzed throughout the hallway, making me jump slightly. My nerves were on high alert and I didn't exactly know why I was so on edge. Maybe it was because I was now going to school with demons. Or maybe it was because I was going to a new school. Maybe it was a bit of both. I hadn't a clue.
Taking a deep and calming breath, I kept moving down the hallway, noticing that the locker numbers were slowly getting smaller and smaller. A few teenaged demons scampered past me as well as other teens, rushing toward their first hour classes. A red eyed, red skinned demon about the size of a building, marched past me, forcing me to press my body up agains't the lockers just so I wouldn't get pulverized by his massive size. After he'd passed, I scratched the back of my head, watching him tower down the hallway. This was going to take some time to get used to.
Finally, after resuming my mini locker scavenger hunt, I found locker number six. I gently set my overstuffed bag down on the ground and tired opening my locker. I had memorized the locker combo so I wouldn't look like a total idiot when I first tried to open it. But when I did try, it wouldn't budge. I yanked on the lock in frustration after the fifth try.
I mumbled angrily at the metal monster before resting my forehead on the cool shiny metal and closing my eyes. So much for not looking like an idiot.
"You must be new here." A deep, breathy voice called out, making me jump back from my locker. I turned around and was greeted by the sight of with baby blues.
The boy staring in front of me was taller then I was and had long, dark brown hair that was held in a top knot on the top of his head. He wore a dark brown shirt underneath a leather jacket. His light washed jeans hugged his thighs nicely.
He was…cute. Handsome even. In a boyishly handsome way. But he didn't look like a full human. I looked down and noticed a brown tail, twitching and swishing behind him. Nope. Definitely not human.
"Is it that obvious?" I asked playfully. He smiled, showing off his pearly white, inhuman fangs.
He chuckled lightly and shook his head. "Nawh. Everyone has a hard time with their locker at first." With that he did a few really fast punches and kicks to my locker and it popped open.
"Wow. Hey thanks..um.." I said, fishing for a name. I started to pile my things inside my locker.
"My names Koga. Koga Ookami," The guy said, aiding me his name.
"Nice to meet you Koga." I stuck out my hand, offering him a handshake. He immediately took my hand in his much larger one.
He sent me a flirtatious grin. "And might I know what your name is? Because I think I deserve to know that much after graciously coming to your aid." He said, his tone becoming smug and arrogant.
I noticed he was still holding onto my hand, a calming gesture, albeit a little weird, but I let it slide.
I smirked at him. "Kagome Higurashi."
"Ka-Go-Me.." He said, breathing my name like my name was something he'd been needing all of his life. I blushed a little, lowering my gaze to the ground. His voice…. It sent shivers up and down my spine.
He smiled at me and I smiled back. Maybe my day was looking up. I shut my locker, grabbed my bag and walked with him down the hallway.
He never let go of my hand.
xXx
~INU POV~
I hate it when someone tell's you a bunch of bullshit just to make you feel better about they try to cover up their own bullshit with sweet lies and call it fucking candy. Maybe thats why I liked Kaede. She never beats around the bush and I like and appreciate that in a person. But if anyone ever knew I had a small soft spot for her, Id beat the living snot out of them.
I had just come back from the Kaede's office, after having yet another chat with her. This time it was about my smoking on school grounds. I should have been suspended and sent home for the day but she let it slide….again.
I smirked to myself. I guess I'm not the only one with soft spots.
Then my mind wandered back that girl, that dumb looking bitch that stared at me in the office. What the hell was her problem anyway? She'd stared me like I was some kind of mysterious new marvel. An alien. Hadn't she ever seen a half demon before? Well, she better get used to it because she would probably see my ugly mug everyday.
"Stupid girl," I grumbled to myself, kicking my feet up onto my desk and putting my hands behind my head and gazing out one of the nearest window's.
My ears did an involuntary twitch on the top of my head as noises around the classroom annoyed me. Having demon hearing was sure useful..when you needed it. When you didn't…well, let's just say its a bigger pain in the ass then having a root canal. But what annoyed me more than anything else, was the soft giggle floating in coming from the hallway. My ears could pick up a lot of noises and and high pitched frequency's other's couldn't. Thats what I get for being born half dog demon.
Knowing exactly who's light giggle that was, I rolled my eyes and glared at the door as it opened. A foul stench hit my nose and a foul sight graced my eyes. That stupid ass wolf was holding that dumb bitches hand casually.
"Thanks for showing me to my class koga." The girl said with a soft smile and a blush.
"Keh'," I scoffed, casting my gaze in a different direction. Though my ear's swiveled back toward that mangey mutt and that girl, trying to pick up their conversation.
"No problem. I hope you have a good first day. If someone is giving you a hard time-" My eyes flicked back over to Koga, "come find me."
Koga told her as he kissed her hand, not taking his eyes off mine. A growl that surprised me escaped my lips.
Apparently this was her first day.
"Thanks Koga. Ill see you at lunch?" She asked.
Apparently she shared the same lunch time with the scrawny wolf. Which meant she was in my lunch period….Great.
"Sure thing. See you later Kagome." Koga said as he left the room which left me and the girl staring at each other. I glared at her. And surprisingly enough, she glared right back at me.
And apparently her name was Kagome. I guess she's the new girl in town.
A/N: I had such a hard time writing this chapter. I have a difficult time writing in InuYasha's point of view. Anywa, Thanks for reading! Remember to review!
Updated 1/11/ 13