InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ FRESHMAN YEAR ❯ Senior Alert ( Chapter 3 )

FRESHMAN YEAR

CHAPTER 3 Senior Alerts

 

Disclaimer:

I did not create the characters of this fan fiction during my spare time. Rumiko Takahashi did. I wish I can make characters as unprecedented and as evoking as InuYasha and the rest of the gang.

 

The last names used in this fan fiction are only employed in aid of storytelling.

 

It's been five weeks since school started. The students are busier than ever. Of course, it's the papers, activities and presentations for the different subjects that took most of their time. But there was a different thing that the upper class men were excited about. They thought of a whole week without work, going around campus listening to campaigns, joining a party and some were even thinking of not going to school at all except for the final day to vote. Yes, student council campaign season was on the horizon.

 

The outgoing student council has already set up booths for filing candidacy. A list would be released by the end of the week, which was three days from now. There were ten positions that are waiting to be filled. A council chair, a vice chair, a secretary, a finance officer and six committee heads

 

“Run for office! Make a change!” this was what the council will shout out very now and then, reminding the students that they hold power to change how student governance is carried out. “Represent! File for candidacy now!”

 

Kagome was coming out of the clinic. There's a band-aid on her point finger, below her wrist and in her lower arm. She was accompanied by Sango, who was mumbling something about taking care when diving for the volleyball.

 

“You know Kagome,” Sango stated. “You had it easy. It could have been worse you know.”

 

“I don't get you,” Kagome mused. “For a while I thought you were encouraging me to be more athletic. I go out of my way during P.E. and you freak out! What do you want me to do?”

 

Sango shook her head. “I want you to be more athletic, yes.” She dusted off Kagome's gym shorts. “I never asked you to try to break your arm!”

 

Kagome was at the opposing team from that to which Sango belonged to. Since she didn't do that good at the first exam, she tried to be more active and do better. Yuki was really good at serving, the ball seemed to be swirling into life! It was the second set. Kagome's team [A/N: No, she wasn't team captain, neither was Sango.] was a set behind. Ayumi, Kagome's team mate, failed to volley the ball over the net after the third hit so it was a violation. It was Yuki's turn to serve for the other team. The first was a service ace. The whistle was sounded and Yuki hit the ball over the net. Kikyou was able to receive it, but the ball was low. Kagome saw the ball about to hit the ground and imagined it as her grade. She maybe a whiz, but she was no athlete. Without hesitating, she tried to revive the ball, running past a team mate, she dove for it. Too bad she tripped over Kikyou who has yet to bounce back after the painful receive. Kagome went down, all her weight on her right arm. She scraped it, but she was able to roll over quick, distributing the impact on her back.

 

“Well, let's just be glad that's over.” Kagome said. Though she was a bit hurt, she continued with the game, upping her ante and being on guard. She can tell that the coach was impressed by her determination. She was glad, she can see her average rising with every toss, receive and spike. [A/N: No skill in spiking and blocking!]

 

“If you really care that much about your GPA,” Sango commented. “How about extra curricular activities?”

 

“You know I can't stand crowds. I can sing and dance, but not in any competitive way.” Kagome complained. “Plus, my other subjects are sure to be an A+ anyway so…”

 

“When you start applying for universities,” Sango scowled. “They won't just be looking at your grades, there's a lot of smart people out there. There are only a few multitalented ones.” She smiled, seeing how Kagome's face creased as she thought about it.

 

“Okay, fine.” Kagome gave in. “What can I do? Surely you don't expect me to sing and dance. Ah, writer's club, drama club, art club. How bout that?”

 

“Hahaha, sure!” Sango said. “We'll join in together when the clubs starts accepting new members!”

 

Sango and Kagome were on their way to the shower rooms, which were below a flight of stairs from the clinic. A few feet from the stairs was a booth for the student council's effort to recruit candidates.

 

“Hey, you want a sure additional point for your GPA?” Sango elbowed Kagome on her side lightly. “How about running for a council position?”

 

The look on Kagome's face was incredulous. “What?! Are you kidding?” she said. “I'm a freshman. I just got here. No one knows me, much less vote for me.”

 

A guy seating in front of the booth seemed to have heard Kagome's outburst. “Uhm, excuse me?” he said. Kagome and Sango's attentions were caught by the man's appearance. He was good looking! He looked like a superstar! He had long, shiny, golden hair that any girl will die to have. It was pulled back in a loose ponytail to keep it out of the man's beautiful face. Kagome was right in front of him and looking up, she can see his eyes, a strange mix of dark blue fading into purple. His thin lips were lightly pinkish in color and he had a powerful gaze that held her in place.

 

“Hi, I'm Ashitaka Sesshoumaru.” He said and slightly bowed his head. “I am a junior and the outgoing Events and Organizations Committee Head. You two are freshmen right? So I think we, the council, have been presented to you at the Freshie Welcome Assembly.” He beamed, his teeth barely showing through his perfect lips.

 

Kagome blushed and was too embarrassed about her missing the assembly and she didn't want this perfect creature to know that she took a pass. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “At the welcome assembly.” She smiled.

 

“And what is it you want?” Sango demanded. “If you wouldn't mind my asking?” Sango tried to sound as confident as those TV stars who she has watched deliver that exact line that she just blurted out.

 

Sesshoumaru chuckled. “Oh, yes yes. Forgive me.” He slightly bowed again. “I heard your… exchange of words, not on purpose, of course. Which one of you wanted to run for a position?”

 

Sango and Kagome looked at each other. “It was me,” Kagome began. “But as you may have already heard, I don't think a first year student can make a run for it, so to speak.”

 

Sesshoumaru smiled at this. “Perfect.” Kagome thought he was describing himself. “You may not have noticed, but this booth is for the Menowa Party. And if you think that you cannot be heard and voted for just because you are a freshman, then, forgive, but you are mistaken.”

 

He looked at the other people behind the booth. They went forward and stood behind him. “These people are members of our strong party. Some are council members, others are the pillars, the working hands of the party. If I can urge you,” he looked at Kagome, in the eyes. “Run under the banner of our party. We will help you, I will help you. Mold you and prepare you for leadership and governance. Take this into consideration. Please contact me at this number by the end of this day, we need your decision. Time is of the essence.”

 

He took a business card out of his right breast pocket. Kagome took it and said, “Thank you. I will think this through. And.. I'll get in touch with you. Thanks.”

 

Kagome and Sango rushed out and went down the stairs. Neither one talked until they were safely inside the ladies' shower room. “Ahhhhhhh!” Kagome was crying out loud.

 

“Kagome, what is it?” Sango demanded.

 

“I can't believe this.” Kagome said. “I am actually considering this. But look at this card, Men of Wax Party. I've heard all about this party. This in fact isn't just a party, it is sort of a fraternity, a coalition. Some leaders in different fields came from this party. I can't believe this! They made an offer to me!”

 

Sango was beaming as well. “Great! I think you'll be running for a position, then? It's a good thing we were near that booth!”

 

“Yeah, but, shouldn't we think about learning more about this party? And the other party?” Kagome asked.

 

“What for?” Sango exclaimed. “There is only one more party. This one I know about because my father and mother met their as members, The Forfeiters of Peace. But you have made an impact on that guy, I know he's made an impact on you!”

 

“Hey! What's that supposed to mean?” Kagome said and placed the card inside her wallet and then inside her bag.

 

“Oh?” Sango was laughing now. “You really want to play that card? You care to deny how you looked at him dreamily?”

 

“I did not!” Kagome said, throwing her soap at Sango.

 

Sango just laughed and laughed while shaking her head, she was not buying any of Kagome's denials. “Let's bathe.” She said and went inside one of the stalls. Kagome did the same.

 

Kagome unloaded her toiletries on the rack at the right corner and hung her towel. She stripped down her clothes and placed them aside. `Damn! These band aids are a waste!' she thought as she peeled them off her arm. Going inside the glass cubicle, she tested the water. It was just a bit cool, perfect. Lathering up the soap, she looked carefully at the grazes in her arm. `Wow, another imperfection.' She pressed down on it until some blood oozed out again. Kagome closed her eyes and savored the pain. `Pain is good. Pain is good.' she repeated in her head.

 

Over the course of her summer and what her mother had deemed as her “rebellious phase,” Kagome had found out that since she couldn't escape the realities and problems at home, and how insecurely she felt about herself, her only outlet of escape had been times when she was alone and would let herself hurt. She never wounded herself intentionally, being scared and not having the guts to do it. She would just relish whenever she cut herself while in the kitchen, or by bruising herself in one of her trademark moves as an on-and-off klutz.

 

There's a silence in pain, where her mother's voice wouldn't haunt her, where her brother couldn't enter and disturb her and when she was nothing but a shell. A shell that had no meaning, since it held neither weight nor value. `This isn't right. Why must I hurt myself?' she would argue with herself. `I did nothing wrong. They should hurt! Not me!' But there is always that constant reply that'll always get to her. The reply that she wanted, needed, to hear. `Yes, dear. You did nothing wrong. In time, you'll make them pay.' And so until she is free from her family that is her problem, she'll keep on drawing blood. Until they are far away, only then will she have an escape that required no wound, no blood, no pain.

 

Her wounds weren't deep enough to cause that much blood, and after a while, her blood coagulated and clotted, enough to make the bleeding stop. Kagome was out of her `safe zone.' Then she realized that if she does run for a council position, then she'll have to face so many people. People who'll judge her. She is smart, so she has a comfort zone where only books and questions and art and symmetry exists. She can be by herself. Joining clubs meant signing down her name and then going off to the library until the period ends. But a council position cannot be treated likewise, it'll need her to constantly be in public. To deliver speeches and to announce projects and meet people who she may have to work with.

 

`I can't do it.' she thought. She was rinsing herself by now. `But he promised to help me, to mold me.' she remembered the man with the golden hair. `Maybe he will help. Maybe he'll save me. Maybe finally I'll be able to open myself up to other people.' “Maybe.” she said out loud. She had visions of the golden haired man. “Sesshoumaru.”

 

`Wait! Asitaka Sesshoumaru?' finally she realized that she'd heard the last name before. She got so close to InuYasha immediately that she started calling him by his first name almost automatically and she forgot the sound of his last name. Ashitaka! They're brothers! `That was him!'

 

Kagome remembered the phone call she made to InuYasha's house that day after Computer. She got home after hanging around with Kouga and a couple of their other friends. She even introduced them to Miroku, the guy who was sitting beside her. It was a wonder how Miroku clicked and fitted perfectly into their `group.' Now Miroku was always spotted with her elementary friends. And Kagome noticed how Miroku is drawn to Kikyou. She can tell that he likes Kikyou very much.

 

Kagome was tired but she remembered calling InuYasha. She didn't want to risk napping for a bit and then waking up later into the night and calling a `stranger's' house in a late hour. She dialed the number and after three rings got a butler on the phone.

 

“Good evening!” the voice was deep, baritone. “Ashitaka residence. Who's calling?”

 

Kagome hesitated for a while, intimidated by the voice. “Uhm.. Is… is Ashitaka-san there?” `Ashitaka-san? Kagome, what the hell?' she thought.

 

“Ashitaka-san,” the voice on the other line. “Oh, I'll connect you to his phone.”

 

Kagome heard a soft music coming form the other end, it was unlike those irritating noises from office's operators when your call is being patched on some other trunk line.

 

“Hello,” a beautiful voice picked up a few seconds later. “It's Sesshoumaru. Who's this?”

 

`What?!' “Uhm, Sesshoumaru? Is this InuYasha's number?” Kagome clarified.

 

“Great. Someone asked for an Ashitaka again!” the voice from the other line grumbled. It was soft, but Kagome caught the sounds anyway. “I'm sorry, miss” the voice said. “Please dial the number again and ask for the person you want to talk to. Good evening.” The line went dead.

 

“That was him!” Kagome said out loud against the dripping from shower she had already climber out of. Her towel was slipping from her hands. “Sesshoumaru. He was that beautiful voice.”

 

“Kagome! Are you done?” Sango called out. “Let's get some lunch.”

 

Kagome hurriedly toweled herself dry and got fresh clothes out of her bag. “Wait, Sango. I'll be out in a bit.”

 

Kagome's hair was all over the place when she stepped out. Sango went with her in front of the mirrors where she offered to comb Kagome's hair while Kagome fixed her face.

 

“Sango?” kagome said. Sango looked at her in the mirror. “Yeah?”

 

“I'm sure now. I'll run for student council.” Kagome beamed.

 

Author's Notes:

No, Kagome is not a suicidal in this story. There is just a darker side to her due to her problems and factions with regards to her family, feeling abandoned by her mother, hatred towards her brother and her insecurities about herself and her theory of not being able to love, or make other people like her. Some of these issues will be explained later. I'm trying to make this revelation slower. To make it… real. ^^

 

Thanks to inu-babe <http://mediaminer.org/user_info.php/161767> for the review. Yes I have a plan for the story, but it's so hard to put into words. Know what I mean? ^^ I'll try my best to update ever so often! Arigatou! Ganbatte!