Disclaimer: I don't own Jack!

Of Butterfly Wings

Chapter Twenty-Three: Feelings

Touya glanced at the unusual faces now surrounding them. He'd gotten used to having lunch alone with Kagome on the rooftop that suddenly being surrounded by others felt unnatural. Invasive even.

He'd taken up his usual spot next to his girlfriend by flanking her other side was Kanna. The small girl had taken hold of Kagome's sleeve and given her a pleading look. After that he knew that his significant other had been utterly incapable of denying her.

Across from them were Sango and Kagura. The two appeared to get along well enough but Sango kept shooting Kagome a displeased glare.

"That was a dirty trick." The woman sulked.

His girlfriend grinned right back at her, "Hey all is fair in the Sports Festival! Besides, I don't think I'll be going through with the matches."

Touya felt his shoulders tense.

They were given the line up for the final segment of the Festival. It would be a one-on-one battle with their quirks this time. He would be the first to fight in the arena against Inuyasha. Honestly he was looking forward to officially meeting the idiot that had hurt his girlfriend so much in the past. That way he could dole out his own version of punishment to the fool.

The second match Kanna would be up against someone named Miroku. He honestly knew nothing about the guy or how strong he was. Frankly, he didn't care much about the battle other than the fact that Kagome appeared to find Kanna 'adorable'. She'd likely blow a gasket if Miroku hurt her too much.

The third match would be between Sango and Kagura. Both women were strong in their own right but he cared little for whoever would be the victor.

What concerned him the most was the fourth and final fight. The one between Kagome and Kikyou.

"It might be better to forfeit." The suggestion slipped out before he could stop it.

He knew it sounded bad, but he was honestly concerned. Was this festival really worth the risk of Kagome entering the ring with Kikyou? If Kikyou really did see this as her one chance to get rid of Kagome, would anyone be able to help before it was too late?

His lips dipped at the thought.

"I actually am considering it." Kagome confided to them.

He hadn't anticipated on her being so forward and given the other three's looks, they didn't either.

"I meant what I asked earlier," Sango interjected into the conversation. "I have a little brother at home so it's hard for me to fathom two siblings fighting so much." She shot Kagome a concerned glance, "What exactly happened between you two?"

His girlfriend scratched the back of her neck, "Well it's a bit complicated. The first thing you should know is that we don't actually have a biological father. Our mom was under a lot of pressure to continue the family line's quirk. So she went the IVF route."

Touya felt his breath hitch in his throat. He had more questions than answers at this point but he kept his silence, allowing Kagome to continue her explanation.

"Since we had no idea what my quirk was, our mother decided to keep me as a back up. Like an insurance policy in case Kikyou didn't develop the way she wanted her to." He watched as her lips pulled into a dark expression, "Honestly a lot of our problems are because of our mother. I just remember mom pushing Kikyou to do better all the time otherwise I'd 'replace her'. I never really understood it. We all knew that I didn't have Crystallize and my quirk hadn't manifested yet. I think mom just wanted to force Kikyou to think that she wasn't some irreplaceable object to her. So Kikyou ended up developing an identity crisis."

It certainly put the other girl's behavior into perspective, but that didn't mean that he'd forgive her so easily. The moment she'd laid her hands on Kagome was the moment she'd marked herself as his enemy. Terrible past or not, he was going to get his revenge one way or another.

"So to Kikyou, I'm probably everything that she fears. My existence is proof that she can be replaced at any time. I tried talking to her several times but it's only ever made things worse." He observed as Kagome met Sango's gaze, "I think she feels that if I disappear then all of her fears will disappear along with me."

She pressed her palm to the back of her neck, "Honestly the whole thing is so twisted up that I doubt it can be fixed anymore."

"Who says it needs to be fixed?" Touya responded. He shifted to face her directly, "Having a screwed up family doesn't mean that you need to make things work with them. You should prioritize making yourself happy before trying to mend bridges with people who've only hurt you." His tone turned sharp, "Your sister's trauma isn't your responsibility to deal with."

Especially not with Kikyou actively trying to kill Kagome.

Surely the faculty would be on high alert after what she pulled in the first round but would that be enough to stop a tragedy from occurring? Could any of them intervene in time if the worst came to pass?

"Thanks Touya," He felt her hand squeeze his own as she leaned against him. "I appreciate you saying that."

He rested his cheek upon the crown of her head affectionately.

"I think I want to try talking to her one last time." Kagome stated in a quiet whisper, had he not been so close to her he might've missed it entirely.

Touya shot up, "No way! She'll destroy you in that ring!"

His girlfriend gave a small shake of her head, "Even if she wants to, she knows that the teachers will just interfere. So she's not going to take things that far. At least not while they're watching."

A cold feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Which meant that she would try to hurt her at home.

Another thought flitted through his head.

Had Kikyou done this before? When she thought no one would notice? Had she done more than just slap Kagome in the past?

The very notion caused his stomach to churn with fear.

He'd lived his entire life under the brute force of his father's abuse. He'd experienced it every day of his life and witnessed that same abuse being perpetuated against his younger siblings. The thought that Kagome could be suffering from something similar made his heart stop and his blood freeze in his veins.

"I agree with Todoroki." Sango interjected into the conversation. "That attack she threw at you in the first round was dangerous. The only reason she didn't go after you in the second round was because she was given a verbal warning from Midnight."

Kagura then chimed in, "On top of that you won't have anyone else in the ring to back you up. You'll be completely on your own with a quirk that can only heal others. This isn't a good match up for you."

Kanna tugged on Kagome's sleeve as well, voicelessly indicating her own feelings on the matter.

"I think we're past the point of talking things out." Touya spoke, "If she could be reasoned with she would've already focused her hatred on your mother instead, not you."

That's what'd happened with him at least.

After his body burned up in the fire, all the hatred he felt for his family became focused solely on his father. Even then he couldn't bring himself to do more than throw verbal barbs his way. For a brief period of time he'd thought about leaving all of them behind, but a single memory became the only reason he chose to stay. A single moment in which he saw his father crying, apologizing over and over again for his role in how he'd ended up so horribly disfigured.

That moment was the only reason why he hadn't become a monster.

Kagome had been the reason he'd become human.

He didn't want her to needlessly risk her life for someone who would never see her as anything other than an enemy.

"I don't intend to fight," She tried to assure him. "To be specific there's just one thing I want to ask her about. I'll forfeit the match right after that."

Touya threw her a baleful look, "You're playing with fire."

"Old crispy bacon here would be the expert on that topic, so you better listen to him." Kagura added in with a condescending tone.

He pointedly ignored her comment, "You only have seconds to react. If you're going to do this, then you need to be ready to run."

Kagome gripped his hand as she gave him an affirmative nod of her head.

"I will."

Sango rested her chin in the palm of her hand, "What exactly do you want to ask her that you'll risk everything for?"

That was a question he wanted the answer to as well. What exactly could Kagome have to say to Kikyou to make the risk worth the effort?

His girlfriend lowered her gaze to their interlaced hands, "I want to know why she chose you. The first time that is."

Touya cocked his head to the side for a moment. The first time?

A realization suddenly hit him. She meant when Kikyou asked him out a year ago.

"I mean, I was the ugliest guy in school. Her dating me would've been an insult to Inuyasha's pride." He figured that, that would've been obvious.

Kagome gave a faint shake of her head, "No if that was the case she would've chosen one of Inuyasha's long time rivals like Kouga or Naraku. There has to be some other reason why she chose you."

An uncomfortable feeling settled in the pit of his stomach.

"Are you saying that she actually had feelings?" He was loathe to believe that she was in possession of any at all given her behavior. It was even more ludicrous to think that she honestly had any for him specifically.

"It's just a hunch," Kagome nestled herself further against his side. "A lot of things aren't adding up and I just wanted to ask her. I'll drop out of the match right afterwards."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her flush against him, "Just don't be stupid."

He really didn't like this but at the end of the day it wasn't his choice to make. All he could do was just support her.

The sound of the bell rang and the cold feeling in his stomach grew worse.

It was time to return to the festival.

Kagome cast him a warm smile, "Good luck in your match, Touya."

She pressed a small kiss to his lips but he wrapped his arms around her and returned it even more deeply.

He drew back after just a moment, "I'll win. So just wait for me."

Her smile grew soft as she leaned into his touch, "I will."

Come what may, he would return the pain a hundred fold. First, he had a rogue dog to deal with.

A vicious smirk spread across his lips.

There was nothing in the rules stating that he could use this as his warning shot.