Hello all! Just to clarify. A reviewer on my other story pointed out that my stories were on another fanfiction site over a year ago, thinking that someone was copying my work. This is my stuff; I just started these stories over a year ago. I've recently started to work on them again and was surprised that I hadn't posted this story on her yet so I decided to post it here. Just trying to clear the air!
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Inuyasha or any of the other characters in his story. :(
Chapter One:
Chance Meetings
Kagome Higurashi was probably the most popular girl in school, and one of the smartest. She always received high marks on her reports and was appreciated by all her teachers. Every girl wanted to be her and every guy wanted to be any where around her. She had a huge group of friends and the most popular and most wanted guy in school was showing interest in her.
Her life was good.
School was almost over and in a few months, she would be a senior and most likely valedictorian. The only thing she regretted was her summer. Her mother and grandfather had decided not to go on any family vacations this summer so it would most likely be a boring one. Maybe she could get a job to pass the time, and it would be nice to make her own money.
Kagome walked out of the school's front doors as the bells rang, signaling the day was finally over. She had already been to her locker and filled her backpack with the books she needed and held her algebra book in her hands. As she walked along the sidewalk several people called out goodbyes to her and she smiled and waved back at them.
"Hey Kagome!" she turned around and saw Hojo, the most popular guy in school, sprint towards her and stop, smiling as he looked at her.
"Hi Hojo."
"Hi Kagome. Can I walk you home? Let me carry that book for you. Would you like to do something this Friday?"
Kagome could feel she was turning red. Hojo was doing everything he could to get her attention and she really couldn't see why. "Sorry, Hojo, I promised to walk with Sango. I'm going to her house to study for the test tomorrow. And my mom's boss is coming over for dinner Friday."
"Oh, ok." Disappointment shrouded his face as he looked to the ground. "Well, maybe some other time, ok?" He faked a smile and she nodded.
"Yea, some other time."
"I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"Bye Hojo."
"Hey, Kagome, wait up!" Kagome stopped walking and turned around to see her best friend running towards her, waving her hands in the air.
"Hurry up, Sango; I have homework I have to finish!" Kagome yelled, slightly irritated.
Sango stopped running when she had finally reached Kagome and bent over, heaving for breath.
"Man Sango, how far did you run?"
"From my art class…on the third floor…" she heaved a little more before finally catching her breath. "Look, Kagome, what are you doing for summer vacation?"
"Well, nothing actually. I was thinking about getting a job to pass the time."
"Your family isn't going anywhere?" Sango asked as they began walking to her house.
"No. Mom and grandfather don't want to go anywhere. Man, it's going to be boring."
Sango smiled. "Well, how about you do something amazing with me?"
"Like what?"
Sango gestured energetically with her hands as she talked. "Since I've done so well in school, and I have been good and doing my chores at home, father is letting me travel the country without adult supervision!"
Kagome stopped suddenly, her mouth agape. "What?!"
Sango stopped when she noticed her friend was not beside her and backtracked. "Yea, he said that I could invite you to come along. He's going to lend me his RV he uses for camping with his buddies. He said we could drive to Tokyo!"
"Are you serious?"
"Of course I am, Kagome. Why would I get my own hopes up like that? Anyway, he's giving me money for the trip too. All you have to do is ask your mom first, chip in for gas, and we half all of the expenses."
"I don't know, Sango…"
"Come on Kagome, this is the chance of a lifetime! If we don't do this now, then we'll never get to!"
"Alright, it would be really fun, traveling Japan together. I just don't know how my mom will react." Kagome said as they started walking again.
"If she has any questions just have her call my dad."
They walked, talking about what they would do on the road until they finally came to Sango's house. In the kitchen, Kohaku, Sango's little brother, was washing the dishes, looking a little irritated.
"Hey, Sango, tonight was your night to wash the dishes! Because you decided to take your merry time coming home, dad's making me do them!"
Sango laughed softly as she patted her angry brother on the head. "It's alright, Kohaku. I'll do the dishes tomorrow, deal?"
"Ok, but I'm still mad at you." So what's new, she thought.
They went into Sango's room and opened up their books to study for tomorrow's chemistry test. Kagome sat on Sango's bed as she asked her friend questions about balancing equations.
"I don't know. I hate chemistry, when am I really going to need to know how to balance an equation?" Sango asked, frustrated.
"Well, when you become a chemist and decide to fuse two elements together."
"Very funny, Kagome. I'll never become a chemist, it's just too hard."
"I know, I feel the same way. Sometimes I want to fall asleep in that class. It's just over my head."
Sango closed her book and sighed. "I'm tired of studying. I think that's all I can cram into my head in one night."
"Yea, me too. So if my mom does let me go, do you think we'll meet any hot guys?" Kagome asked as her eyes grew wide and a smile slipped across her face. She eagerly pulled her knees to her chin as she started to imagine a road trip with her best friend around Japan.
"I'm sure we will. There are tons of hot guys." Both girls blushed and giggled hysterically when Sango's dad suddenly pounded on her door, putting a halt to the fits of giggles.
"Kagome, your mother just called. She wants you home soon."
"Thank you, sir," she yelled through the door. She got up and put her books back into her backpack then threw it over her shoulder. "I guess I better go home now."
Sango walked Kagome to the front door. "Are you sure you don't want me to walk with you, Kagome-chan? It's awfully dark out there and you have a long walk."
"No, Sango, I can make it on my own. I'm a big girl," she smiled at Sango. "Besides, I've walked home from your house before."
"Ok, don't forget to ask your mom when you get home, and call me as soon as you get there." Kagome was already walking out the door and to the front gate. "Kagome, I mean it! If I don't hear from you, I'm calling the cops and going out there to search for you myself if I have to!"
"Yes mom!" she called over her shoulder.
"See you tomorrow!"
Kagome opened the gate and closed it quietly after she passed through. Sango could be a little too over protective sometimes, but it was endearing to have her friend fuss so much over her. She really had nothing to worry about. After all, Kagome had walked home on dark nights like this before. All she had to do was take the short cut through the park and in no time she would be at her house.
She walked on the sidewalks underneath the street lamps until she came to the entrance of the park. It was a large park and would probably take her 10-15 minutes to get home. It was really quiet and looked like no one was in the park. A little too quiet for Kagome's liking actually. And a little too dark. She couldn't see a thing accept for the little patches of light the street lamps provided. Kagome was beginning to feel a little nervous. Maybe she should have let Sango walk her home?
Once she had made it to the middle of the park, Kagome could have sworn someone was in the park with her. She just had the strange feeling of being watched. Kagome began to walk faster, but she still couldn't shake the feeling. She was about to pass the large oak tree that people carved their names on, which meant she would be home soon, but she saw a puff of smoke come from the tree. Someone was hiding there, and her heart froze.
Ok, pull yourself together, Kagome. It's probably nothing. It's probably just two kids making out. Just walk on by, and soon you'll be home. She quickened her pace and was almost past the tree when a hand came out and grabbed her by the collar, pulling her behind the tree. She tried to scream but another hand covered her mouth.
"Shhh," a voice whispered.
Kagome turned her head slightly to see him and from the street lamp's light nearby, she could just make out the man holding her. But he wasn't a man, he was a boy. He looked to be her age, maybe a few years old. Anger flowed through her tiny body. If he thinks he's going to get away with anything, he's got another thing coming! She bit down on his hand fiercely and he cursed in pain, losing his grip on her mouth.
"What the hell are you doing, bitch?!" he whispered harshly. Before she could scream again, he covered her mouth.
"Do you want them to hear you?" he snapped as he turned Kagome to face him. She saw his eyes, a golden amber yellow. He looked out from behind the tree then back at her. "Damn. They haven't left."
Kagome was breathing heavily now. Who was this guy and who was he talking about? The guy obviously saw she was fixing to lose it. "If I let go of your mouth, do you promise not to make a sound?" She nodded her head slightly. "Alright, that's a good girl." He gently let go of her mouth and she amazingly kept quiet. Well, like screaming her head off would make the situation in better.
"Who are you talking about?" Kagome whispered quietly enough for only the mysterious guy to hear.
"Look for yourself," he said as he moved her away from behind the tree. Kagome looked at the path she had been walking on before the guy grabbed her and saw two men staggering on the path.
"Man, Harry, where is that wench?" one asked gruffly.
"She was pretty. She would have been fun," the other remarked.
"Well, she couldn't have gone far."
"She probably took a short cut through the trees."
"If I ever see her again, I'm going to grab her by the neck and have my way with her," the man said as he took another swig of the bottle he had in a paper bag. Kagome shuddered. She could smell the stench of alcohol and cocaine even from the safety of the tree. The boy stood behind her, looking over her head, and oddly enough, she felt much safer with him there.
"Guys come here every night, drunk out of their minds. These guys are regulars. I was passing by one night when I saw they were attacking a girl. They raped her and beat her badly and then just left her to die in the park. Once they were gone, I carried her to the hospital." He felt Kagome's body tense at the thought of what could have happened. "Don't worry. They won't get you tonight," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. The men eventually staggered away and out of the park. Kagome no longer felt the boy behind her. She stood up straight and looked behind the tree. He had moved to a different spot, hiding in the shadows, and was smoking a cigarette.
"You really shouldn't be smoking."
"Feh. Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"I'm just telling you. It's not good for your health."
"Humph. Why do you care what's good for my health?"
"Well, first of all," Kagome moved closer to the mysterious boy leaning against the tree. "You already saved my life." She looked up at the boy innocently, but he merely laughed.
"Someone had to. You look like you couldn't take care of yourself. Besides, what's a young girl like you doing walking through the park this late at night?"
"I was walking home from my friend's house, and I can take care of myself!" Kagome folded her arms incredulously, quickly growing annoyed with her new companion.
"Feh! Yea right." He threw the cigarette on the ground and stomped it out.
"I'm going to ignore that only because of what you did for me."
"I don't need your pity," he said gruffly.
"It's not pity!" she yelled at him, getting angry now. "Who are you anyway?"
"That's none of your concern." The boy looked very put out with her now.
"Oh come on! It won't kill you to tell me your name."
"Inuyasha," he whispered.
Kagome's eyebrows shot up and she let her folded arms fall. "I'm sorry, what?"
"Inuyasha, my name is Inuyasha," he said bitterly.
"See, now that wasn't so bad."
"Ok, now will you leave me alone, you little wench?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha angrily.
"How dare you call me a wench!"
"Well, that's what you are, isn't it?" Kagome couldn't control her anger anymore. Yes, he may have saved her from those men but he had no right to call her that. She slapped him square across the face. Hard.
"OUCH! What the fuck was that for?!"
"That was for calling me a wench!" she yelled back, her hand red and aching from the blow.
"Man, you're a bitch!" he yelled at her as she walked away, back to the path.
"And you're a jerk!" Kagome was back underneath the street lamps, fuming at what that boy had said to her. How could someone that saved her be so mean? She couldn't believe him. She fumed and stomped her way down the path before she stopped.
Suddenly, Kagome felt insecure about walking along the path after Inuyasha had told her what had happened before. In the back of her mind she wished he was beside her again, walking her to safety, but she quickly shook that feeling away. No. He is no better than those disgusting men. And he was wrong about me not being able to take care of myself. I could have easily gotten away from those men. Before she knew it, Kagome had left the park and was very close to her house. She could see the little shrine in the distance. Soon she was outside of her house. She opened the gate and closed it hard, still furious with the young man. It closed with a loud bang before quickly swinging open again. Damnit, she cursed. Kagome turned a vengeful eye on the gate before trudging back and slamming it shut with more force than before. Her mother opened the door and looked at her worriedly.
"Kagome, Sango called. She said she hadn't heard from you and you promised to call her. She was getting worried. Are you alright?"
"Fine, mom." Kagome said tensely. She pushed past her mother and into the house.
"Kagome, dear, what took you so long?"
"Nothing mom, I just fell in the park. I'm fine."
"Well, alright Kagome. Your dinner is a little cold, but you can reheat it."
Kagome took her dinner up to her room so she could eat while she studied, but she couldn't concentrate on chemistry. Her mind kept going back to Inuyasha and his enchanting eyes. She shook her head at the thought. No, Kagome. That boy was rude and he's such a jerk! she thought.
True, but he was really nice to have saved me. He could have just left me to those guys, but he didn't. I think he's really nice, but just acts like a jerk so no one gets too close.
No. He was still a jerk. How dare he call me a wench!
Kagome just couldn't concentrate anymore so she decided to go to bed and study during lunch before the test.
A.N. Ok, that's it! I know, short. But the next chapter will be up soon! Seeing as how it was written over a year ago… ;)