InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Smokes and Mirrors ❯ Attitude Problem ( Chapter 20 )

Smokes and Mirrors

 

Chapter 20: Attitude Problem

 

Exhausted!

 

That's what Inuyasha felt like. Ever since he read all those information concerning the Higurashi case, he hasn't been able to let his mind rest for more than a few seconds at a time. His mother had asked him if he could be of help by keeping an eye on her since they shared the same classes. He accepted the task, but he wasn't quite sure what to do or how to go about it.

 

He was agitated, aggravated and anxious.

 

Agitated because of what he read: how could someone live through that and not lose their mind?

 

Aggravated towards his family: apparently, everyone knew except for him! Even the neighbor's dog looked guilty every time he spotted the furry creature.

 

Anxious due to school: how was he supposed to act as if he knew nothing of every single detailed that were now etched into his mind? How could he keep an eye on her if she hated his guts to begin with? And how the hell was he supposed to do it subtlety if he sucked at it, too!? How was he to look at her without wanting to comfort her, protect her? Without seeing those awful images instead of the actual girl?

 

Throughout this whole mess, he'd lost interest in his every day activities. He even cancelled Saturday Night Out with Miroku and Sango, and that was something he usually avoided doing.

 

`Sango sounded worried when I called in to cancel…' Inuyasha thought. He refused to answer or reply their phone calls knowing they'd have tones of questions. But now that he couldn't avoid them, he wondered if he should tell them. They were his closest friends, the same comrades he confessed his dirty desire to rut with their hot history teacher of last year.

 

Inuyasha absentmindedly shook his head as he remembered their reaction. Miroku still wouldn't let him live that shameful thought down.

 

His brow furrowed in concentration. Should he tell them? He knew the two would most probably jump at the opportunity to get to know the enigma that is Kagome. However, is it any of their business?

 

“Yash! Wait up.”

 

Inuyasha was about to get in school when he heard his name. Turning around, he waited for his associates to catch-up. Sango ran straight into him, grabbing both his arms as anchor.

 

“Did you hear?” Her eyes were wide open, her shock and worry obvious.

 

At Inuyasha clueless look, Miroku chipped in. “Look!” In his hand was a newspaper. Bringing it to eye level, Inuyasha saw a picture of a bewildered Kagome staring out of, what he guessed was her bedroom window. The date was marked for today and in bold capital letters was written Higurashi killer back! .

 

“Kagome,” Sango started again, “She's Sota's sister!”

 

Inuyasha blinked a couple times. News didn't travel as fast as he thought they did…

 

Miroku lowered the paper, picking up where Sango left off. “According to this, the bastard who killed their father also raped Kago-” Miroku didn't get to finish his sentence. The newspaper was snatched out of his hands by a seething Inuyasha.

 

“Fucking ass!” Inuyasha growled out. “Don't believe every little lie the fucking media feeds you!” He wasn't even aware of he was doing with Tokyo Times till the wind blew away the shredded pieces of grayish colored paper. Turning his back on his friend, his volume as low as it could go, he ground out through his teeth, “She wasn't raped.” He walked straight in, ignoring his friends' calls.

 

“How would you know!?” Miroku's curiosity asked.

 

Inuyasha didn't bother to turn around, knowing the two teenagers were following him. “Did you bother to read further than She was raped?” he all but barked at the boy. Miroku's silent answer was enough. Inuyasha stopped in his track to face his friend once more. “Well,” he started, sending daggers at the other boy. “For your information, my father worked on the case six years ago, as he is now.” He finished by whispering, slowly realizing where he was and what he was talking about.

 

Grabbing his classmates by their wrists, he bypassed the lockers all together and went straight to the classroom. It was the safest place to have private discussion before school started. There were fewer ears if not none, and people tended to be too tired to listen in on other students' conversations.

 

Sitting at their usual seats, Sango couldn't take the strain of waiting anymore. She tugged on Inuyasha's sleeve. “Are you gonna tell us, or what?”

 

The teen looked around, as if afraid to get caught. It was classified, not to mention confidential, information he was about to reveal here. He sighed. His friends were looking at him with eager eyes. If he didn't tell them now, they would eventually pry it out of him later. He was in no mood for that today.

 

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and started.

 

“She wasn't raped.” He looked his friends directly in their eyes, silently challenging both of them to deny anything he was about to say. “My dad got to her in time. According to her doctor, she suffered the same symptoms as a raped individual, but there is no physical proof of that. The fucking bastard never got any further than getting her naked and beating her to a bloody pulp!” He spat the final words out as though they were venom on his tongue. Pictures flashed before his eyes of what she might have looked like before they cleaned her up. He had scene her after photo and just the thought of it had his meager breakfast rise to his throat.

 

Inuyasha closed his eyes, fighting the bile that was steadily rising. Miroku and Sango on the other hand sat in complete silence. Before the two could recover, Inuyasha pulled himself together and continued. “I only found out Saturday thanks to the news. My parents thought it would be nice to clarify things up for me before I start believing false data.” Sarcasm dripped off his every words.

 

All three were quiet for a while, two of the three slowly digesting this turn of event. Miroku's eye shifted from the desk to Sango, back to the desk to finally settle on his best friend. “So what now?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.

 

“They say the killer is back.” Sango finished, knowing where Miroku was heading.

 

Inuyasha sighed. “I don't know.” He rubbed his hand over his tired face. “It's true he's back, but we're all supposed to pretend it was a prank call, nothing but a sick joke. The authorities don't want to give out names, nor raise any suspicions. They want to keep things on the low for now.” He gave his friends a pointed look to make sure he got his point across. They were to keep quiet about this.

 

So lost in their own conversation that they did not realize how full the class was becoming. A new loud voice interrupted their silent conversation.

 

“Look what the freak show dragged in.”

 

The voice came from the right, where Kagome was seated.

 

Frowning, Inuyasha stared. `She looks different.' He didn't dwell too much on that thought, though. He followed the girl's gaze towards the entrance of the classroom. Hushed works were heard as everyone stared at Kagome frozen in her tracks.

 

Kagome shook her head, as though to clear it, turned around and walked right back out, not bothering to look at the voice's owner. From his point-of-view, Inuyasha saw her standing right on the other side of the door, looking at the classroom number. Nodding to herself in the affirmative, she walked back in again. Her face never faltered, not once showing any spec of emotion.

 

“What's wrong, Princess?” The Kagome look-a-like spoke again, halting the questioned girl in her tracks once more. “Did you forget to take your medication again?” Her voice was sweet with extra sugar coating to top it off. She slowly stood, a smirk set in place, belying her concerned frown.

 

Kagome looked to her left, her eyebrows slowly drawing in. She stared at her twin with pure hatred rolling off her, frightening the few closest students into taking a couple of steps back. Drawing a deep breath, Kagome tried to calm herself. She noticed the bag on her desk and immediately recognized who its owner was.

 

`Only her.' She thought as she stared at the pink bag. Kagome's eyes landed on the new girl, her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. “You're in my seat.” She grated through her clenched teeth.

 

The other girl didn't seem to care. “Now now, Kagome.” She smiled an innocent little smile. “Is that any way to treat an old friend?”

 

Something snapped. One had to be stupid to not see it coming. Tension raised a hundred fold, everyone held their breath, their eyes widening at the new girl's antics. Kagome's backpack hanging on her left shoulder was unceremoniously dropped to the floor, shattering the momentary silence.

 

Kagome took one step, followed by another, and another, and another. She was slow at first, temporarily experiencing an outer body effect. She saw the few teens that were standing slowly shrink down to their seats, while the few that were in her way ran for their very lives.

 

Kagome was but a few steps away from her, from one of her many live nightmares. She still had time to calm down and collect herself before she did anything rash. Her fists were clasped so tight, her nails dug into her skin. Reaching her desk, she now stood before the other girl.

 

The snug smile never left the look-a-like's face. “Careful Kagome,” she spoke in mock concern, as though addressing an unruly child. “For a minute there, I thought you were going to retaliate.” She chuckled at her own words, remembering the little push-over, so called abused girl who couldn't even kill an itsy-bitsy spider.

 

Kagome narrowed her eyes, a grin appearing on her own visage. She took another step forward and leaned in a bit. “Kikyo,” she started, her voice even. “Have you ever had a nose job?”

 

Kikyo laughed some more. “Haven't you learned that empty threats don't get you anywhere?” She could barely hold back her outburst. The thought of Kagome doing anything slightly violent was purely humorous.

 

Kagome pulled back, the grin disappearing, her eyes narrowing on their target. Seeing no retaliation on Kagome's part, some of the teenagers relaxed. Maybe the rumors were false, they thought. They now knew who she was, and understood the fact that the ugly and mentally disable rumor about Sota's sister was false. So there was a possibility that this girl was nothing more than all talk and not play. Some of the classmates joined Kikyo in her amusement; the teens didn't bother to hide their snickering and giggling.

 

No one knew when it happened or how fast it came to be. All they saw was a right arm swinging forward and one of the two girls hit the floor with a sickening thud. A gasp of shock passed over the classroom. No one dared make another move.

Kagome stared down at the unconscious girl, viewing her handy work. Her unemotional mask slipped into place, her voice dead of any sentiments.

 

“I don't hand out empty threats.”

 

`Not anymore…'

 

 

***

***

 

 

A.N.

 

*Takes deep breath - re-reads the whole thing - bring a few adjustments - Laughs like a maniac on drugs*

 

So? Did I please? I sort of answered your questions on what might have happened to Kagome. I really wasn't sure how to go about this whole chapter. I wanted to bring Inuyasha back into the groove, pitch in a bit of Miroku and Sango… Have the three get involved a little. And let us not forget that Kikyo is now attending Tokyo High! Oh, joy…*rolls eyes*

 

Next chapter will be a more in-depth POV of how Kagome is dealing with all this. I really like the next chapter. It's already partly written down and the scene running through my head is just… well… you'll just have to wait and see. XP

 

BTW, I'll sound really stupid here, but… What does PWP stand for?

 

Shout-Outs!

 

miaa_hiaa: Oh course it ok! It's not like I can force you to read or send me a review ASAP! lol!! Bummer! You're grounded? Ai… I hated being grounded… BTW, the inu/kag thing: they will eventually hookup. I'd say in about 4 or 5 chaps, but it won't necessarily be the love type or even friendship type... Yet! I've got this idea swimming around in my head… hmm… it's getting there. Be a little patient please? I promise I'll try to make it worth the wait! ^.*

 

Sayoko x3: lol! I'm so glad on got you on a laughing high! That would mean I succeeded with that tidbit. Great! Thank you! ^_^

 

Thank you for reading. Till next time, c-ya!

 

Quote: Sometimes the most difficult feat of muscular endurance is just holding your own tongue. - Jack Dalton