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Chapter Nine: Kikyo and Kyochi

Kagome woke up the next morning feeling tired and sore. She rolled over and gasped coming face to face with her brother. He opened his eyes and jerked back.

"God, sis. You scared me." He said panting slightly his heart racing. "I thought you were someone else."

"Who?" She asked sitting up and stretching slightly, and gave a squeak when she felt several satisfying pops. Sota also sat up then moved off of her bed asking:

"Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does. I'm your older sister I'm supposed to protect you, that means if something is scaring you I have to protect you from it." He looked at her with innocent eyes as she also stood up.

"I thought you were Naraku." He said walking towards her door quietly.

"Why would Naraku be in the same bed as you?" She asked following him.

"We need to get ready I'll see you in a half an hour." He gave her a reassuring smile before silently disappearing out of her door. Kagome frowned deeply before deciding to take a scolding hot shower trying to wash the dirt that wouldn't come off. She put on a baggy black shirt that said: 'I laugh cuz your stupid', and form fitting blue jeans. She dried her hair and grabbed her crimper, shoes, and bag then went to Sota's room. She knocked softly hearing a soft 'come in', she walked in to see her brother pulling on his socks and trying not to fall over.

"You know, it works better if you sit down." She said giving him a small smile. She turned away from him as he changed his shirt even though she didn't have to. He pulled on his shirt and looked at her and said:

"You know, sis, not everyone is as bad as you think they are."

Kagome turned around to face Sota, who gazed at her unblinkingly through clear eyes. She saw her reflection inside of those wide eyes; saw a small, skinny girl staring back at her, almost mocking her as she confronted her own obvious frailty.

"What are you talking about, Sota?" She asked warily, by now used to her little brother's random musings. He came to her often as the days passed, imposing upon her his thoughts as he struggled to make sense of them. She began crimping her hair. The poor boy knew too much, and his mind struggled to organize his thoughts.

"Naraku always tells you how bad people are." Sota continued, his fingers playing with each other delicately. "He's always telling you about how cold they are, and how they'll abandon you."

"That's because they will." Kagome interrupted briefly, knowing what her step-father said was true. "It's only natural for one to pursue they're own goals. That is why people are incapable of true companionship, for each and every person has they're own paths to follow."

"You're wrong, sis." Sota replied quietly. Kagome gazed back at him, feeling a moment of irritation that was normally never associated with her little brother.

"Am I?" She asked breezily.

"Yes."

"I'm not so sure about that." Kagome chuckled picking up her back pack. "And trust me, Sota; I know a lot more about it than you." Kagome sighed warily, and tucked some crimped hair behind her ear. "People will fuck you over every chance they get. The normal people that go to school with us every day, oblivious to everything except their own selfish desires. You don't know what goes on there, Sota. Friends backstab each other every day, telling them lies and saying things that they don't necessarily mean."

"You see these things because you're always looking for them, sis." Sota countered, his voice unusually clipped. "What do you think you'd see if you looked for the good things?" Kagome almost bristled. It wasn't often that Sota continually contradicted her like this; furthermore, he almost never questioned her words. "I think." Sota began, turning around and fingering the cold glass of his window. Kagome snorted. "I think." Sota repeated again, louder this time. "I think that people are quite pleasant." Kagome stared at his back with guarded eyes.

"Is that so?" She asked.

"It is." Sota replied turning around to face her with determined eyes. "You just need to look deeper then the surface like you always do."

"Ok Sota I will." Kagome told him sighing. "We should leave before he is up and moving." Sota nodded and they crept down stairs and out the door. They were almost to school when Kagome finally said something. "Why did you come down stairs last night?"

"Like I said I heard that crash when he threw you threw the table." He said simply a smile playing across his innocent features as usual.

"Why did you really come down there? And why did you knock him out."

"I knocked him out because he was touching you." He said looking into her dull eyes with an empathetic smile.

"Thanks." She gave him a small smile and then looked forward saying: "I'll see you later; I have someone I need to talk too." Sota smile brightened even more and he gave her an energetic hug and ran off to Shippo and Kohaku who where waving at the siblings. Kagome gave them a small wave and walked inside heading towards her locker. She dropped off her things that she wouldn't need until after lunch.

She smiled a little on the inside as she walked down the deserted hallways towards her destination. She knocked lightly on the door and waited for a reply. When she got a muffled one she opened the door slowly just incase she had heard wrong.

"Uh...Mr. Tashio?" She asked timidly. She closed the door behind her, and he looked up from his papers.

"What is it Kagome?" He asked in a bore tone.

"I wanted to thank you for yesterday."

He waved his hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it." He sat back in his seat and looked at her. Once again she had her barrier up protecting her smell. It was really irking him as to why. "Kagome?"

"Hmm?" She asked squeaking slightly in surprise, she wasn't expecting him to say anything.

"May I enquire as to why you have your barrier up? You had it up yesterday but not the day before. You also took it down after we left 'my' place." He said emotionlessly, his cold but fierce golden hues boring into her dull green ones.

"Because." Was her simple answer. He cocked a perfectly shaped eyebrow at her before asking:

"Do you have another wound?" His question was blunt and cold causing Kagome to shiver.

"No I don't, I didn't realize I had raised it. I'm sorry if I bothered you." She closed her eyes for a second and lowered it. The soothing fragrance of vanilla and pink roses reached his nose. He almost let a groan slip, almost.

"Its fine, it seems Rin has taken a liking to you." He told her, watching her expression change from an apologetic one to a surprised one. "After your family left all she talked about was you. She was also thrilled that you and your family will be attending her birthday party." Kagome gave him a small smile which made his frozen heart melt a little.

"I'm glad to hear that, I absolutely adore her!" Kagome said excitedly. He stared at her and she suddenly felt embarrassed by her enthusiasm. He watched as she squirmed slightly under his strong gaze, and her small pink tongue darted out and moistened her soft lips. She looked down and cleared her through. "I...uh...so how did Rin become yours?" She asked only lifting her eyes instead of her head.

"I found her on the street one night while it was raining."

"Is that it?" She asked finding some courage and lifting her head to see him starring at her intensely.

"No." He said flatly keeping her eyes locked with his. "I was driving home and it was raining, like I said, I saw a small form running down the street and then it collapsed. I, for some reason cared so I pulled over to see Rin laying in the gutter soaked to the bone. When I reached out to touch her she flinched away but I convinced her to trust me and get in my car. She wouldn't talk at first, but I got her to write everything down. It turns out her family had been killed by robbers and her brothers had died protecting her." Sesshomaru paused for a moment and watched as Kagome sat down in the desk closest to him, never braking eye contact. "She just barley got away. When I looked into her eyes all I saw was you. I adopted her after a short legal battle and she is now my daughter." Kagome was warmed by his short story.

"M-me?" Kagome asked wondering why Rin would remind him of her.

"Hn." He turned back to his work.

"Uh...wait aren't you going to tell me?"

"Her eyes. Just look into them next time you see her." Kagome guessed that was his way of asking her to leave. She stood up and put her bag back on her shoulder. She gave him a small smile and for a second she thought she saw his eyes flicker but when she blinked it was gone.

"I guess I should go catch up with Inuyasha and my other friends." She heard her self stumble over the word friends and tried to ignore it.

"Try not to sluff class today." She gave him one last glance and left. She softly closed the door, and turned around. When she turned she ran right into a hard chest, she yelped and started to fall. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact of the hard and cold floor but it never came, instead two hands wrapped around her forearms preventing her from hitting the floor. She opened her eyes to see two concerned striking blue hues.

"I'm so sorry." She said as he settled her onto her feet.

"No, no I'm sorry I wasn't looking where I was going, I was distracted." He told her holding up his book to show her just what had distracted him. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly and chuckled nervously.

"I'm fine no harm done." She said giving him a small smile. "I'm Kagome, what's your name?" She asked holding out her hand.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't even tell you my name, how rude of me." He shook her hand blushing at his own stupidity. "My name is Kyochi." He gave her a bright smile. "You must be new."

"I have been here for three days." She said looking into his emotion filled eyes.

"Listen I really am sorry about running into you, perhaps I can make it up? How about dinner tonight?"

"I'm sorry but I'm supposed to look for a job after school today." She said trying to get out of it, after all she didn't even know him.

"I can help you with that if you would like, my father owns his own business. It's the least I could do."

"You only ran into me it's not like you destroyed my car or something like that." His smile faltered slightly.

"I'm sorry if I'm making you uncomfortable I just wanted to apologize to you."

"No its ok, that was just really random."

"Ok how about I take you out for lunch." He tried. She didn't see what harm it would do if she did let him buy her lunch, she didn't think that he would let her off unless she agreed.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea."

"Ok well I have to go, again, I am really sorry. Umm meet me at the front doors right after second period ok?"

"Sounds like a plan, Stan." She said amusement laced in her voice. His smile brightened even more before waved bye and disappeared down the hall. Kagome sighed and walked to her first period class where her friends were waiting for her. She walked in and sat down in her seat Inuyasha looking at her funny. "What?" She asked softly.

"Nothing." He said shaking his head. "We were just talking about Rin's birthday."

"Oh, what am I supposed to get her?" Kagome asked.

"That's what we were talking about, none of us know." Sango said giving Kagome a warm smile.

"What do you give a ten year old?" Miroku asked hoping Kagome might know.

"Well you get her stuffed animals, things with flowers, things in bright colors, you know stuff like that." Kagome said giving them a half smile.

"I think we know who we are taking to the mall after school to help us." Inuyasha said putting an arm across Kagome's shoulders.

"I'm sorry guys I have to look for a job after school."

"Why? I know your parents have money." Inuyasha asked.

"Because I want to earn my own money, and I need something to do."

"Well if you want a nice job you could be a secretary for someone in my fathers company." Inuyasha offered just like Kyochi had.

"I'll talk to your dad about it later."

"Ok, I'll call him at lunch and arrange an interview, I'm sure he'll give you one." Kagome nodded and they continued to talk until the bell rang. After their second period was over Kagome told the others she had something to do but she would catch up with them later. She ran to the front doors to see Kyochi all ready their waiting for her. "I'm so sorry I'm late." She panted slightly from running across the school in her hurry not to be late.

"It's ok we still have 45 minutes, so where do you wanna go?" He asked smiling brightly.

"Oh, I don't know something fast." She said with more nervousness then she meant to.

"I see how it is; you do not wanna hang out with me." He wined but he still held his bright smile. There was just something about this guy that made Kagome feel happy want to smile...it was similar to the feelings she got from being around Sesshomaru.

"No I just don't want to be late for class."

"There is a Subway down the street; would you like to get some nutritious food?" He suggested. She couldn't help but give him a half smile.

"That sounds like fun." She said cheerfully. Kyochi's eyes twinkled as he smiled at her. They walked out to his car and Kagome was surprised to see that is was a light blue spider. "Sweet ride." She said looking at it in admiration.

"I bought it with my own money that I had been saving since I was 14 and I was able to buy it a few months ago." He told her proudly opening the door for her and they both got in.

"I thought your father owned his own company." Kagome said looking at him curiosity clear in her beautiful face.

"He does, but you wont ever get anywhere in this life relying on other people, now will you?" He asked as he drove down the street.

"Well no but most people would rather have someone else buy it for them." Kagome was really starting to like this guy.

"Well I'm not like most people and I can tell neither are you." He glanced at her, smiling brightly. Kagome nodded and he turned into the drive threw for Subway. They ordered their food and he paid even though she offered.

He drove to a near by park where they got out and sat on the stiffening grass and chatted lightly about school and future plans. Kagome felt comfortable around Kyochi, where as when she was around Sesshomaru she felt a little uneasy and unsure about her self. Even with Inuyasha, her best friend, she was uncomfortable, afraid that something would slip and he would find out. But with Kyochi it wasn't anything like that. When they headed back and walked into their school Kyochi turned to Kagome and asked:

"So did you have fun?"

"Actually I did." She said cheerfully.

"You sound surprised."

"Well I have to admit I didn't think going out to lunch with someone I didn't know was such a good idea." She said her cheeks flushing a light shade of pink. He chuckled lightly.

"Well I'm glad you were honest with me." His words made her flush darken.

"I'm sorry I know that's rude." Her words where rushed as she apologized. He just waved it off with a casual flick of his wrist.

"No, its ok I understand. I must have seemed like some weirdo asking you if you would like to have lunch with me." He said rubbing his neck sheepishly. Kagome sighed as relief flooded threw her because he wasn't mad like she had expected.

"Well I really have to go, I'm sorry, but I told my friends I would meet them before class."

"Oh no that's ok I understand, I'll see you later." He smiled and waved as she ran off towards her next class. Once inside her classroom she sat down in her desk next to Inuyasha and behind Sango.

"So where were you?" Inuyasha asked while smelling her.

"Somewhere." Was her simple answer. She looked at him but not in his eyes.

"You smell funny." He said sniffing closer to her. "Like...like Kyochi. Why do you smell like him?" Inuyasha asked her, a growl evident in his words.

"Well I ran into him before first period and he asked me out to dinner and I said I was busy and then he asked about lunch, I mean what was I supposed to say?" Kagome asked looking into his eyes innocently.

"How about no?" He growled.

"Well I didn't want to hurt his feelings." Her voice rising as well as her anger.

"You shouldn't have gone out with him." His voice also rising.

"And why not? It's not like him and I are dating it was just lunch like what I have with you every day. And besides who are you to tell me who I can and can not 'eat' with?" She asked now standing. Inuyasha was just about to reply when an annoying voice screeched:

"How dare you yell to 'my' Inu-baby like that!" They looked over to see Kikyo with her slutty clothes and caked on make-up.

"I will yell at 'my friend' if I want." Sango and Miroku just decided to move out of the way and not say or do anything unless it got out of hand.

"Don't talk back to me you bitch." Kikyo raised her to slap her, but when she tried to bring it down she found she couldn't. Kikyo blinked then looked to see what was restricting her hand.

Kagome who had closed her eyes waiting for the impact, so she could hit Kikyo back and not get in trouble, but when the blow didn't come she opened her eyes to see what had stopped Kikyo.

Hey everyone, here is chapter nine, its shot I know, they are short from all of the changes I've made. Please let me know what everyone thinks so far, and just let me know who is anyone is reading this. Love you all! And as always any and all input is welcome!

Love, Khristina!