Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Feelings for a Fox ❯ Chapter 2

Hey everyone who's reading this! I'd like to thank all of you lovely people who have taken the time to review. I really appreciate it. So thankies to Rem9, ... , nyczbabigrl, bloodbunny, star kitty, Western Mistress, and Maggie M.

Special note/ disclaimer type thingy- I don't own Eddie Izzard, or any flags. If you don't know who Eddie Izzard is, then I pity you…

Kagomi's POV

~~~Chapter 2~~~

You know, since returning to school there was a lot of speculation surrounding me when people realized I was a girl in the guys' uniform. It was a constant source of entertainment for me. Seriously, I carried around a notebook for the first couple of weeks I attended, keeping track of all the various rumors circulating. In all this time I have classified the types of rumors and the people who supported certain theories into three categories- the catty, the romantic, and the practical.

The catty is the group, primarily of females, that supports the theory that I am gay. Or maybe I am transsexual and gay. Riiigggghhhtt… Of course I have noticed that this belief was most strongly held by the clique who called themselves the Shuuichi Minamino Fan Club.

Gee, I wonder why.

Then there is the romantic group. They are, ironically the most accurate and inaccurate of all. They are the ones who believe that I was disappointed in love and wear the clothing so that no male would look at me the way my first love did. (My 'first love' never looked at me that way to begin with.) There was also speculation that I had been stalked/kidnapped and my choosing to wear the clothes signifies the deep seated mental issues that I have yet to deal with regarding my mixed emotions toward my stalker/captor. (Does Kouga count? o_O)

Finally there was the practical group. They held with the theory that I wore the uniform because of physical deformities, or out of self-consciousness. They could not agree on exactly what kind of deformity it was, you know like scars, birthmarks, etc. More to the point they couldn't decide exactly how I had acquired the speculated deformities. Was it in a fire? Perhaps I got a skin disease. Or did I get attacked by some wild beast?

What? Like a dog demon who thought I was the miko who had attempted to kill him fifty years ago and wanted the jewel I had been born with in my body? Or maybe it was a wolf youkai who accidentally hurt me when he was kidnapping me to make me his mate! Or maybe it was a squirrel!

Oooh! Oooh, I know! I had a crush on this hanyou guy who didn't know I existed and I couldn't bear it so I became gay! Then I was stalked and eventually kidnapped by a wolf youkai who tried to proclaim me his woman, but that didn't work out because, he was engaged, and well, I was gay at the time. I ran away but was once again captured, this time by a rabid youkai squirrel who made me realize that I wasn't really gay because I loved him even though he attacked me so that he could have the blood of a shrine maiden for a ritualistic spell that would grant him unlimited power with which to crush the world under his iron paw of rage! Eventually I escaped am now hideously deformed from the scars, but I had somehow fallen in love with his twisted little mind, and am now suffering the guilt for betraying my one true love! I wear the clothes of a male as an act of retribution to discourage others because no one could replace my furry homicidal lover!

It sooo could work! And it covers all the bases, ne?

…Ok, so maybe not, but it would've been great if someone had tossed that out there. As it was people found out that I was the 'sick girl' from my old school, and they figured my wearing guy clothing was from surgical scars or something. Except for the 'Minamino-chan Fan Club!' who still maintain that I am gay. Go figure.

At any rate the people have grown accustomed to my oddities in the past couple of months. Ignoring the occasional flashes of youkai that I sense at times, there is nothing grand or special about the school I'm attending. I have no friends besides Keri, no real enemies, and I have yet to figure out the deal with that Minamino guy. On the plus side I have discovered the rhythm to his flickering and so no longer feel sea sick when observing him. This works out great for me because I have him in art class and I have stationed myself across from him so I can watch him while seeming to be focused on the subject matter the teacher sets up.

I have only spoken to him directly once, and that about a week or so into school when I was running so I could make it to the store before school and plowed into him. I landed on top of the poor guy and I think I nearly killed him in the process.

That event encouraged me to avoid him.

I know, you're probably thinking that was a very cowardly decision. And it is. But quite frankly if you think the effect of his eyes from a distance is startling, guess what an impact they have up close. Well actually that was a rather pleasant sensation, especially when coupled with the physical contact. He is after all very yummy. However, the real problem with being close to him is that I think he sensed something when I landed on him. Can't have that happening now can we? So I observe him from a distance.

Art is the only class I have with the curious Shuuichi, but I do have some other classes with his friends. I have math with that Urameshi guy. He's one of those anti hero types. You know, acts all bad to keep his reputation, but you can see he's a good guy when he's with his girlfriend. English with the big guy with orange hair. What's his name, Kuwabara? Something like that… A lot like his grease haired friend, only louder. The girl, Keiko is also in my English class, and my history one as well. She seems like a fairly normal girl, unlike the guys of his group who all feel… powerful. I can't really describe it since they seem to keep their energies in check, but somehow I get the feeling that they are spiritually strong.

Not that any of this does me any good you see. I'm not on what you'd call speaking terms with any of them, or really anybody else for that matter. Well anybody else except for Keri, and she called me last night to tell me she would be out of town for the week.

Man school is going to be soooo boring today…

~~~

We just got out of world history. I'm glad I'm not in that class at the moment. You'd think it's one of the classes that I do good in, which is true. But do you know how often the teacher says something that I just want to jump and start arguing with him over? I have to physically restrain myself. Also since I'm in the back I have to listen to the 'SM fan club' gushing away amongst themselves. We just finished covering the section on European empires. I can't help laughing at the image that suddenly springs to mind. It's probably a good thing they weren't paying attention in class.

"Hey!" I am jerked from my thoughts by a girl's voice. I look up to see the Keiko girl standing over me. I blink, trying to adjust to being drawn from my own little world. "What was so funny?" she asks me curiously. I can't see any reason not to tell her.

"In the words of Eddie Izzard, 'Europe took over other countries with the cunning use of flags.' I was thinking about those girls from history class and I had this horrible mental image of showing up at school to find a chibi Minamino-san on the side walk impaled with a bunch of sticks with home ec. pillowcases tied to the ends. "

Did I hear a snicker coming from that group of trees over there?

Keiko looked startled before giving me a confused smile. Then she changed the subject.

"You're Kagome right? I'm Keiko." I know that. What do you want? "Well, I heard Keri is out of town and you looked kinda lonely sitting under this tree by yourself." I did not. "So I thought I'd come over and see if you wanted to join me and my friends for lunch today." I flick a glance over at the guys gathered around a table not too far away. Bad idea. But refusing would also be bad… I hesitate for a second longer. She's getting that cloudy look of disappointment on her face. Fuuuck! I incline my head slightly and gather up my stuff to join her. Now she's all happy. Figures.

"Hey guys! This is Kagome. Kagome, this is my boyfriend Yusuke and his friends Kuwabara, and Shuuichi. Say 'Hi'!" she directed this last bit at the males of the group.

"S'up?" Keiko's boyfriend spoke around a mouth of food, earning himself a smack in the back of his head.

"Yusuke, be polite!" she growled at him. The guy beside him, Kuwabara, laughed at his friend's misfortune and stood up as I approached, shifting to the side to make room for me. This left me the space between him and the red head. I gave him a small smile of thanks, taking the offered seat with a trapped sort of feeling.

"Hello Miss Kagome," Shuuichi spoke beside me. I nod in acknowledgment, turning slightly toward him without actually looking at him. Then I shift my attention back to my food. I wonder what mom packed me today. That's another great thing about being back home. I love my mother's cooking.

"So Kagome, tell us about yourself!" Yusuke grins at me. He's kinda cute in a rather angsty sort of way. I raise my eyebrow, cocking my head to the side.

"Like what do you want to know?"

The guys all spoke at once.

"Where are you from?"

"Do you like it here?"

"What's your favorite food?"

"Well I'm from here, I like it fine, and" I finally get my lunch open and I can't help it, "ODEN! Oden!oden, oden, oden! Yay! She fixed me oden!" I immediately zone out everything as I proceed to scarf down my food.

Suddenly my oden is gone… and I find myself staring mournfully into the bottom of my empty bowl. I miss my oden. When I look up, everyone is staring at me. What, do I have something on my face?

"And I guess your favorite food is oden," Yusuke guesses with a cheeky grin.

"I belong to the man who can cook me oden!" I reply in a lofty voice before flashing them my own grin .

"So you're not gay?" the carrot top blurts out in surprise. Huh?

"Kuwabara!" Keiko gasps in a scandalized voice. Now they're all staring at him with varying degrees of shock. The poor guy seems to realize what he just said and flushes like a tomato before he starts stammering what I'm assuming was an apology? I dunno, he seemed pretty choked up. I can't help laughing.

"No, but don't tell anyone, ok?"

"Why do you let them say that about you then?" Urameshi asks me in confusion. Kuwabara just shuts his mouth, still bright red.

"Because I have a strong sense of self preservation and if I try to correct the people who think I'm gay they might try to kill me with sticks or something." I place one fist on top of the other as if I'm holding a club and mime beating the air. "Bam! Bam! Bam! Why? Because she's not gay! And she's sitting with HIM!" I gesture to my side, where Shuuichi is staring at me with amused green/gold eyes. Then I pretend to be tying something to the end of my imaginary stick before sticking it into the red head. "Flag!" The joke goes over the guys' heads, but Keiko starts to laugh , finally understanding what I was talking about earlier at the tree.

Ok there is someone in those trees. I caught a definite flash of amusement from over there.

I stare suspiciously at it, but I don't see anything. Still… I know what I felt! I felt a youkai! And it was laughing at me damn it!

When I turn my attention back to the group I notice the guys watching me with interest. Do you ever get the feeling that everyone else knows something you don't? They share a meaningful look. For one crazy second I contemplate smacking one of them to break up whatever secret is passing between them. Keiko misses it as she is now scribbling in her notebook. Seems to be the start of a chibi drawing from what I can see. Hehehe!

But come on! What did I miss? Something brushes against the edge of my awareness and I feel a growing sense of dread.

Suddenly what I missed doesn't seem very important.

I can't contain my cry as a searing pain rips through my mind. I double over the table clutching my side. When the vertigo passes I find myself surrounded by a sea of concerned faces. As calmly as possible I grab a napkin and wipe off my hand. I gather my belongings and stand, ignoring the fact that my jacket is now sticking to my side where there's a growing stain of red. Vaguely I hear myself asking to be excused through my haze of pain, I turn and walk away. I can hear them calling after me, but I ignore that as well.

I walk as quickly as possible to the nearest restroom and enter one of the stalls, locking it behind me. Gasping, I allow myself to sink down onto the toilet, dropping my book bag carelessly. I bend down and get my bandages from the side pocket. Yes, I know it's probably weird to take a homemade first aid kit to school, but I'm not stupid. I knew this could happen. Working quickly I remove my jacket and the shirt I'm wearing underneath it. Why do we even have to wear a stupid shirt underneath it? The stupid jacket buttons up to the neck so it's not like anyone's ever going to see the stupid shirt anyways! I use the stupid shirt to capture the blood trickling down my side.

I hear Keiko come in and ask me if I'm ok.

"I'm fine," I respond absently. I suck in a breath as I see the damage. There is now a hole in my side the size of a grown man's fist. I grab a jar of ointment out of my bag and quickly slather it into the wound, hissing at the contact. Without removing my hands I gather a quick hit of energy and send a blast of healing power through my side, then I begin to wrap it. It won't heal the wound immediately but it'll heal it faster than I would on my own. Already I can feel that it's not quite as deep as it was. Dismissing the puncture in my side as being tended for the moment, I turn my mind inward, sending it reaching out, probing.

Then I find it.

There's a matching fucking hole in the barrier where some demon ripped through!