A/N: I know, 4 chapters in is a little late for an introduction, oh well. Hi, I'm Rykere. I plan on trying to update this story once a week on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Thank you so much for your reviews and favorites, it means a lot to me since I've recently decided to start writing again. Read and review, I love criticism.

Kagome awoke with the sun warming her face. It was a rare day that she actually woke up in her bed.

I should just enjoy it, screw school.

The house was quiet and the more Kagome thought about leaving this blissful moment to go to her math class, the more Kagome snuggled down into her sheets. She decided to stay home and catch up on her work from the week she missed.

Kagome could almost get used to this calm, she knew it would be over eventually, but she was going to soak it up while she had it.

Kagome's phone vibrated, it was a text from Sango.

'Skipping again? It won't be so fun if you have to go to summer school.'

Kagome rolled her eyes.

'Thanks mom.'

Kagome's finger hovered over the send. Rereading it she decided to add a smiley face to the end to soften the joke. Kagome tossed her phone down and stood up with her hands on her hips. Her hip bones protruded sharply. Her face was filling out again, but her body was taking longer. There was never much food in the house, and Kagome never had much money to buy any. She sighed just as her phone vibrated.

'So are you coming or not? lol.'

Kagome thought for a second, she was about to answer when she received another message.

'I can pick you up on my way to get some lunch.'

Kagome smiled. and glanced at the clock. 11:45.

'So, I'll see you in 15?'

Kagome started to get dressed. She only had 15 minutes to get ready, but seeing as she was more awake than usual, she actually took time to get dressed. The bruises on her arms were faint but still visible, but the bruises on her legs had completely vanished. Kagome dug through her boxes of clothes. She only had one skirt, that she rarely wore, mostly because she had too much to hide to wear it. It was short and denim, nothing fancy. She pulled it on, it was a little bigger than she remembered, but it fit loosely and comfortably around her hips. She grabbed one of her many long sleeved shirts and put it on.

Kagome padded into the bathroom where she brushed her teeth and washed her face. She took a good look at herself in the mirror. Wished she had some make up, besides the concealer she used to cover black eyes and scars.

At least I don't have zits.

Kagome braided her hair into a long ponytail down the center of her back and called it a day.

Sango and Kagome normally had different lunches so she rarely got to eat with her, unless one of them skipped out on their classes, but it hardly seemed worth it. Kagome put her school work into her book bag, now that the bruising had gone down and she could actually lift her arms, she could finally carry a normal backpack. She pulled on her tennis shoes and headed down stairs, her backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder. Sango pulled up as she was pulling her front door closed behind her and she quickly skipped down the steps.

Sango studied Kagome for a second, before shaking her head, smiling to herself, and pulling off. The two girls picked up their lunch at a small bakery and cafe. Sango paid for their meals, as had become the norm, and they decided to eat in Sango's car. They parked facing the school, rolled down the windows and ate. Sango's radio played softly in the background, filing the comfortable silence.

Since Kagome and Sango had become friends, Kagome couldn't be happier. Though she was always lying to Sango, she couldn't help but feel like Sango understood keeping secrets too, which is why Sango was always buying Kagome lunch. It was understood that Kagome couldn't afford it, and it was the only meal she ate.

They sat there and people watched together, making small talk about their classes and stupid projects they had coming up. Kagome watched a girl that had stopped to dig in her purse in front of their car. She had a cute tribal print skirt on that Kagome only wished she had the confidence to wear. Kagome's gaze lazily shifted away when something caught her eye. She looked back at the girl but saw nothing. Kagome looked past the girl again. In the corner of her eye she could see a slight yellow hue engulfing the girl. Kagome wanted to look at it, it looked so pretty, but everytime she looked directly at the girl it faded. The girl turned and looked at Kagome. Kagome blinked back at her before averting her gaze and taking an absent minded bite of her sandwich. Kagome waited till she was sure the girl had walked away. Kagome glanced at Sango and was surprised when she saw a blue hue around her head. Kagome must have stared cause Sango looked at her puzzled. Kagome looked away quickly. They continued to eat.

Sango lowered her sandwich, "Kagome?"

"Hm?" Kagome mumbled back with a full mouth.

"Do you ever wonder why life is so hard? I mean-," Sango paused, "Do you ever feel that you were born into the wrong life? Like nothing you do matters because you can't escape destiny or whatever?"

Kagome thought, swallowing her food. She wasn't quite sure what Sango was talking about. But Kagome could understand the feeling of feeling cursed.

Sango laughed abruptly, "Nevermind, I don't mean to be weird or anything."

"No I totally understand what you're saying. I-" Kagome was cut off by the back doors of Sango's car being opened.

Kagome and Sango both spun around to find two boys in the backseat. Kagome recognized one of the boys, but the other was a complete stranger.

"Inuyasha, Miroku, get out," Sango huffed, turning around in her seat.

The boy she'd never seen before, smiled at her, Kagome couldn't help but return it.

"But my dear Sango, you know my day hasn't started till I see your beautiful face."

Sango ignored him, "Guys have you met Kagome?"

Miroku looked at her, "It makes sense that two very beautiful girls would be friends."

Kagome couldn't help but blush as she studied Miroku, he had a very boyish face and clear dark blue eyes that went very well with his black hair. All in all, he was just very cute.

The silver haired boy next to him rolled his eyes at Miroku,"I met you before, at my locker, remember?"

Kagome found her voice, "Yeah, I do. It's nice to actually meet you." She smiled at him. He stared intensely at her. Kagome's smile faltered. She took a deep breath and stuck out her hand for him to shake. His attention snapped toward her hand, and he slowly took it. His hand was huge on hers and his grip was tight but not painful.

"Nice to meet you, too."

Kagome turned back around to finish her sandwich, listening to the three of them joke around and talk.

Her heart felt light, but her stomach fluttered with nervous energy. She had never had friends before, she had never been able to be part of a group before, and she was nervous she would ruin it somehow. She finished her food just as the bell rang. They all gathered their stuff as they got out of the car.

"Hey, Kagome do you want the rest of my lunch?" Sango still had half her sandwich and a bag of chips.

Kagome thought about saying no, but as she remembered her bare cabinets and empty fridge she took the food from Sango and put it in her book bag.

The four of them walked towards the school slowly. For the first time in Kagome's life she felt blessed. Miroku and Sango broke off as they went to their separate classes, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome to walk side by side.

"You must not remember, but I ran straight into you at the bookstore in town," Kagome said lightly, attempting to keep the conversation going after it lulled briefly.

"Bookstore?"

"Yeah, I literally ran right into you, fell and everything."

"I don't think that was me, it was probably my brother," Inuyasha said dismissively, " So, you literally fell?" He was laughing at her now, and she couldn't help but giggle too.

"I did, fell completely on my ass."

"He didn't help you up did he?"

"Nope, didn't even answer me when I said sorry."

"Yeah, that was definitely my brother, he's an ass like that."

They came to Kagome's class, and waved a quick good bye as she slipped inside. She just barely made it to her desk before the late bell rang, and she hoped Inuyasha had made it to his class too, she had an excuse to be late, him not so much.

Kagome had been consistently going to school for over a month now, the longest she's ever made it. She didn't know having friends would help so much. Now she had a reason to go to school. Her body was still littered with bruises that she carefully hid. Her latest injury was a bruise to her neck where her father had strangled her. She carefully applied concealer before wrapping a scarf around her neck.

It also helped that it was getting colder, which meant she could inconspicuously wear more clothes.

She seemed to be doing pretty decently in her classes and couldn't wait to get her report card, it was almost time for her to start applying for college, though her immediate concern was moving out.

She pulled her book bag on as she quietly walked down the stairs. She opened the fridge, surprised to see something other than beer in there. She grabbed a handful of grapes before she snuck out the front door. Kagome quickly got in Sango's car.

It had become a routine for them. Sango would pick her up every morning 8:00 sharp, and bring her home in the evening. She was now one of the people blasting music in the morning on the way to school, singing along without as care. When she was with Sango she felt could forget that her father beat her every night, and that they hardly ever had food at home. She didn't feel like the social leper she was all but forced to be, she felt normal. They arrived at school early,as planned, so they could meet up with Inuyasha and Miroku. It was getting colder now, as December was almost upon them. Kagome shivered in her thin sweatshirt and jeans. Kagome hated the cold, but the cooler it got the easier it was to hide the bruises.

Sango and Kagome watched as Miroku climbed almost clumsily out of Inuyasha's car, Inuyasha emerging soon after. They both wore weather appropriate jackets; Inuyasha in leather and Miroku in a wool jacket. Kagome shivered.

"Hey, Kagome, do you want to spend the night at my house tonight?"

Kagome shot her a quick glance before nodding her head yes.

"Cool, I have been wanting to watch these scary movies that I just got, but I don't want to watch them by myself," Sango ended in a slight pout.

"Yeah, no, that would be cool." Kagome tried to hold back her excitement tripping over her words.

The boys climbed into the back seat of Sango's car as Sango cranked the heat up.

"Hey, you guys want to come to my house for movies?" Sango asked turning around to face them.

"I want to come!" Miroku said excitedly, "A chance to see my love's home, why wouldn't I?"

Inuyasha huffed, "God, you'd think he's never been there before. Yeah I'll come. What time?"

Sango looked at Kagome who shrugged dismissively "I guess we'll see you at 8."

Kagome looked at the clock.

"Alright, guys, it's that time," She said, gathering her things before slowly climbing out.

Kagome shivered as the wind tore right through her sweatshirt. her hair whipped around her face and she wished she and thought to braid it, or put it up or something. Inuyasha opened the door beside her, and quickly stood up as well. Kagome could feel his eyes on her, her cheeks began heating up. She busied herself by flipping through her binder. Suddenly she felt a warm weight on her shoulders. She saw Inuyasha walking away, in only a long sleeved shirt. Looking down at her shoulders she found his jacket. Kagome called after him, but he just waved her off. For the first time all day she felt warm.