Endless Turmoil
“I can’t believe I made it.” Kagome sighed. It is now Friday afternoon. Kagome walked out of her testing classroom with a sigh. She then said in rough English: “I am hungry.” Her English teacher walked up from behind and patted her on the shoulder.

The teacher said also in English: “very good, Higurashi-san. I’m sure you did very well on the exam.”

Kagome only understood the “very good” part. She scratched her head and smiled nervously at her teacher. As her teacher walked away with a bundle of test booklets, Kagome slumped against the hallway wall and closed her eyes.

Very good? Yeah, right. Kagome knew that she failed. She was cursing at Inuyasha throughout the exam, because the first question asked her to translate “I have a very cute white dog” into Japanese. So for an hour and a half she was thinking about Inuyasha. There was no way she could’ve passed when the only English word she thought about through the exam started with an “f”. She was lucky enough that she made it out without fainting.

“Kagome-chan!”

Argh, not now. Kagome cursed silently as she turned and saw Ayumi running toward her. Ayumi-chan… Kagome thought about the girl bitterly. She had promised herself not to get jealous or mad at Ayumi-chan. But she couldn’t help but wish the girl to get run over by a bus.

“You finally finished.” Ayumi said with a big grin. The girl has not stopped grinning ever since she found out that she can go out on a date with Kagome’s absolutely delicious looking “cousin”. “I finished like an hour ago. I can’t believe how smoothly it went. Oh my god, I’m so hungry. C’mon, let’s go eat at WacDonald’s. Yuka-chan and Emi-chan are already waiting by the school gate.”

“Umm…” Kagome winced. “I don’t feel very well, I think I’ll go home and get some rest.”

Ayumi’s grin finally disappeared. “Aww, are you ill again?” Kagome nodded slowly. “Hey, how about I take you home?”

Kagome blinked. Her friends were not this kind. “You just want to see Inuyasha, ne?”

Ayumi smiled with a blush that made Kagome’s stomach turn. “You caught me! So… is Inuyasha-kun home?”

Kagome replied in a small voice. “No, he went back to his own home.”

“What?” Ayumi is now panicking. “But what about our date on Monday?”

No matter how much Kagome wanted to lie, she just didn’t have the heart to do it to her friend. “He’s coming back.” Mama didn’t exactly say when that jerk is going to be back. Hopefully he’s smart enough to miss the festival on purpose.

“Oh… okay then.” Ayumi didn’t look convinced.

“Yea, I’ll see you on Monday.” Kagome turned without waiting for her friend to answer. She almost wished she really was sick.

*****~~~~~*****

“Anything?” Sango asked Miroku silently while staring at Inuyasha’s back.

The monk shook his head and sighed.

It’s been three days since Inuyasha suddenly showed up, with a gloomy look and without Kagome. And for three days all he had done was grunt. He didn’t reacted even when Shippo provoked him on purpose. When Miroku and Sango told him that they told Haruko their story, Inuyasha barely reacted at all.

For the past three days, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Haruko, and even Rin and Kaede had tried to ask what happened in the future. But all they got were deadly stares from the hanyou and grunts.

Wednesday morning was filled with surprises. First they were woken up by the sound of Inuyasha’s sword slashing at a rock. The group went outside and found the hanyou beating a large boulder senselessly, he seemed on the edge of using Kaze no Kizu.

Then after they made Inuyasha stop, they discovered that Haruko was missing. Sango thought that maybe after hearing their story, Haruko went back home to get them the Shikon shards. But Shippo thought maybe Haruko was angered by our story and went after Naraku by herself.

The group tried to convince Inuyasha to help they sniff out Haruko. But Inuyasha only grunted at them and went to sit on that boulder he was beating just a few moments ago. It took them a long time to find the girl. She was sleeping peacefully on a rock next to the river. (Sesshomaru heard people coming and disappeared somewhere.)

Ever since that morning Inuyasha had been sitting on that same rock, sulking. His right hand gripped the Tessaiga as tightly as ever. He hasn’t eaten, hasn’t slept, hasn’t said anything. His friends were getting worried about him.

“Should I go hit him on the head again?” Shippo asked. While he too was worried about Inuyasha, it had been fun to hit Inuyasha without Inuyasha hitting him back.

“I don’t think that’ll work, Shippo-chan.” Sango stared at Inuyasha’s back worriedly.

“But I can still try.”

The two “adults” didn’t say anything to object, so Shippo skipped over to provoke Inuyasha once again.

“Oi, Inu-baka.” Shippo knew that the hanyou heard him because his dog ears were moving. Shippo cleared his throat, ready for his “performance”. “Got into a big fight with Kagome, eh? I wonder what you wrong did this time.”

Yup, Inuyasha definitely heard him, for the hanyou was growling. But his eyes were still focused elsewhere. Over the past three days, Shippo had tried cursing at him, accusing him of doing various things that would usually annoy Kagome. But today he needs something new.

Shippo jumped onto Inuyasha’s head and sat cross legged, imitating the hanyou.

“Did you pee on her bed?”

No response.

“You probably tore up her books.”

No answer.

“Maybe you called her Kikyo in your dream.”

No emotion.

“Did you try to rape her? Her family? Her brother? Her grandpa?”

This got him a louder growl. But besides that, nothing.

Shippo finally caved. “I don’t get you, Inuyasha. You’re acting as though Kagome dumped you and slept with a guy from the future.”

Little did the poor kitsune know that he finally hit the sore spot. Inuyasha turned his head and looked at Shippo with disbelief.

“You knew, didn’t you?” Inuyasha first asked with a low volume, then he just exploded. “YOU LITTLE SHIT CAN ALWAYS TELL THESE KIND OF THINGS! YOU KNEW AND YOU KEPT QUIET! DAMN IT, SHIPPO, I’M GONNA KILL YOU!!!”

Shippo ran with utter terror and the hanyou drew his Tessaiga and swung at the young kitsune. Shippo screamed at the top of his lungs and ran toward Sango and Miroku for protection.

“Well, whatever he said to him, it sure worked.” Miroku stated as a matter of fact.

Sango rolled her eyes. She ignored the monk and went over to prevent Inuyasha from killing Shippo.

“Inuyasha, what’s wrong with you?” Sango hugged Shippo tightly as the young demon dug his head into her arms, shivering with fear.

The hanyou was panting, not from exhaustion but from anger. He wouldn’t talk to Sango, not to anyone. Sango was unarmed, he couldn’t fight her while she had nothing to defend herself with. Inuyasha put away his powerful sword and leaped away. Sango still held the shivering kitsune in her arms, confused as ever.

“Well, at least he talked.” Sango rolled her eyes at the monk who suddenly spoke up behind her.

“And where were you when he tried to kill Shippo?”

“Watching.” This got him a fierce growl from Sango. But he ignored it and picked up the kitsune by his tail. “So, Shippo-chan, what did you say to Inuyasha to piss him off?”

*****~~~~~*****

Monday morning:

The still sleepy Kagome woke up with a yawn. She rubbed her eyes and shut off the alarm clock. She had a quiet and peaceful weekend. No exams to worry about, no demons to chase around, just like how her life used to be. Used to be… her life was so different. It had only been six months ago that she was pulled into the well, before she broke the Shikon no Tama, before she met Inuyasha, before her life changed.

Her life used to be peaceful. She was a wonderful student, had tons of friends. Hojo-kun was starting to notice her. The only bad part was listening to grandpa’s old stories. Then she met Inuyasha.

Then her life became complicated. Her grades were dropping. She was losing contact with her friends. She already ditched Hojo-kun during a date, and refused all other offers. Inuyasha made her life miserable. If it weren’t for him, Hojo-kun and I would be a couple by now. If it weren’t for him I would be top student. If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be hunted by demons and a girl that could pass off as my twin. If it weren’t him then I wouldn’t have had this adventure. If it weren’t him I wouldn’t have met all my wonderful friends. If it weren’t him my life would be just as boring as the life of all Japanese students.

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t know what love feels like.” Kagome sat up in her bed, her right hand clutched the piece of clothing near her heart. Every time she tried to think up bad things about Inuyasha, the good involuntarily pops up. And so she cried, she dug her face into her covers and wept. I just wish I know what he thinks of me.

Kagome cried for another five minutes before her mother knocked on her door. “Kagome, honey, wake up. Don’t you need to go over to school and help set up for the festival?”

Kagome gulped a few time before steadying her voice. “No, mama, the vice principle excused me from doing it.”

“Oh, okay, dear, then why don’t you help me get the grocery today?”

Kagome sniffed and coughed, still wanting to cry some more. “Umm… alright, Mama, I’ll be right down.”

“Take your time dear, I made pancakes for breakfast.”

Kagome got up as soon as she heard her mother’s footsteps going away. For the rest of the morning Kagome ran errands for her mother, helped cook lunch, and got ready for the festival in the afternoon.

Lunch was delicious, but annoying. Souta wouldn’t stop complaining about Inuyasha’s absence, and kept asking Kagome when inu-niichan will be back. More than once Kagome had thought: Maybe even the brat likes Inuyasha better than me. Then again, nowadays who doesn’t? Mama bought Inuyasha those cloths. Ayumi-chan and them fawned over him…

Kagome moved around in her room mindlessly. The festival is in an hour. Meaning that Inuyasha would be back for his date. I’m not sure if I’m ready to see that baka yet.

Hojo-kun had told her to meet him there once the festival starts. He has to run the noodle stand for an hour or so, during that time she would have to wonder around by herself. But then he can get someone to replace him and will be able to accompany her.

Some part of her is actually looking forward to spending time with Hojo-kun, and be able to feel like a normal schoolgirl. And every girl would be so jealous of her that she’s with Hojo. No, all girls will be too busy eyeing Ayumi-chan and Inuyasha.

“Argh!” Kagome grunted in frustration. “Is this what my life has come to? Why should I make other people be jealous of me? Argh, am I that shallow?!”

“Why are you talking to yourself, oneesan?” Kagome just noticed Souta enter her room, carrying a dry clean bag.

“Argh, get out, Souta!” Kagome chucked a pillow at her little brother. Thankfully Souta was the captain of his dodge ball team, and he was able to evade.

“What’s your problem, oneesan? I was just here to give you your kimono.” Now a very grumpy Souta threw the dry clean bag onto the floor. “Mama had it dry cleaned for you. It’s for you to wear to the festival. Why are you being so mean today?”

Souta didn’t wait for an answer. The very angry boy ran out of the room, mumbling something like: “inu-niichan should put a collar on her.”

Kagome stared at the dry clean bag on the floor for a long time. It was true, she was angry at Inuyasha and taking it out on Ayumi-chan and now Souta.

Kagome took out her kimono, the one she wore for New Year. It was a beautiful light blue kimono with silvery water lilies sewed onto it as designs. Somehow it reminded her of something. Kagome started to rummage through her jewelry boxes.

“What a coincidence, they match.” Kagome looked at the set of jewelries in her hands. It was the set of jewelries that Inuyasha gave her, the ones with white gold chains and blue water lilies as designs.

Kagome sighed. Inuyasha’s not always a jerk. He always cared about my safety, always risked his own life to save me. And sometimes he would be so kind to me, he took care of me while I was sick. When he smiles at me, everything else goes away. When’s he sad, my heart breaks. “I guess that’s love.” The girl had just noticed that she was weeping again. “Argh,” she said through tears, “I’m crying way too much these days.”

Kagome wiped away her tears and changed into her kimono. She took another look at the two bracelets, earrings and necklace and put them on. If Inuyasha saw that she was wearing something he gave her, then maybe he’ll remember how much he means to her. Well, it’s worth a try.

:::: At the festival…::::

“Kagome-san, you’re here!” Hojo finally got used to calling her Kagome instead of Higurashi. The human boy looked absolutely ridiculous in a chef robe and apron. Kagome was trying her best not to laugh, while Yuka and Emi sniggered behind her back.

Kagome walked closer to say hi. The human boy studied her from head to toe. No, make that plural, a whole bunch of boys were looking at Kagome as if she was a goddess. There was no doubt about it, Kagome was the prettiest girl there. Though all the other girls were wearing kimonos too, Kagome somehow managed to carry it off extremely well. Hojo blushed at the thought that Kagome was with him. Yup, ignorance is bliss.

“Sorry I’m so late, Hojo-kun,” Kagome smiled a bit, “I had to take my little brother to school for a dodge ball match.” But the truth was that Kagome had hoped Inuyasha would come back a little earlier and she could talk with him. She was waiting by the well for half an hour, finally giving up hope and came alone.

“Oh, it’s actually better this way. I’m just about done” A customer came and Hojo became too busy to talk to her. “I’ll see you later, Kagome-san.”

Kagome smiled and nodded politely. She turned around and started to wonder around.

Then she saw it. A head of silvery hair, somewhat covered roughly by a cap with an NBA logo. Argh, he’s here.

Just as Kagome saw Inuyasha, she heard Ayumi’s high pitch voice yell out “Inuyasha-kun” as if the girl wanted the whole school to know that they were…together.

A startled Inuyasha scanned the area for familiar faces. He had hoped to somehow get away from that annoying Ayumi girl. Then later, when he’s prepared, he can have a talk with Kagome, and tell her that though he feels betrayed, he’s willing to be with her.

Actually, he would’ve came earlier, but as he was ready to go through the well, he smelled Kagome on the other side and decided to wait.

Preparations for this “date” were absolutely annoying. First he had to shed his usual garment and put on those weird cloths once again. And since he can’t carry Tessaiga around with so many people, he had to leave it in Kagome’s house. But Inuyasha felt insecure without the sword. He was sure that if he got angry at Kagome, his demon blood would burst through and he won’t be able to control himself. Overall, agreeing to come was a mistake.

“Inuyasha-kun, I’m so glad you made it!” An overly hyper girl was something Inuyasha didn’t need this afternoon, especially when she’s talking so loud. Inside his cap, Inuyasha’s ears flattened against his skull. “O my god, did you dye your hair?”

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. He had seen village women dye their cloths, but why would someone dye their hair? Is that normal in this time period? “Umm… yeah…”

“Wow, it looks great!” Ayumi squealed again. “And you got contacts too!”

“Umm… yeah…” Inuyasha gave the girl a deadly stare. If he wasn’t going to turn youkai because of Kagome, he would definitely do it because of this human girl. But Mrs. Higurashi had told him to be nice when he’s around humans. “Oi, don’t talk so loud, I can hear you.” Inuyasha’s tone was emotionless, but just a few words were able to drive the girl crazy.

Ayumi nodded like crazy. Next she grabbed Inuyasha’s arm and started running. “Let’s go find Kagome-chan!” She toned down a bit, but was still too loud for Inuyasha. The hanyou barely managed to keep his hands in his pockets. If the girl sees his claws, then everything would be out of the bag.

“Wait,” Inuyasha stood his ground, seeing Kagome is the worst thing that could happen as of now. “Umm…let’s go eat.” After not eating for five days, a little food would do him some good. “Is there any of those ramen stuff?”

Ayumi giggled. “Of course, I’ll take you there!”

Ayumi hanged on really tight to Inuyasha’s arm. The hanyou tried sniffing around for Kagome, but there were just too many scents.

Finally Ayumi stopped in front of a stand with two human boys. Inuyasha was too busy focusing on the different types of noodles to notice. But suddenly a familiar voice came. “Konnichiwa, Ayumi-san, Inuyasha-kun, how may I help you?”

Inuyasha’s blood boiled as he saw Hojo stand behind the cupboards full of noodles. His pupils dilated, his heart rate was as fast as the Shinkansen. Inside his pockets his claws crackled. An incredible surge of adrenaline shot through his veins. If Ayumi wasn’t still clinging onto his arm he would’ve punched a hole through Hojo’s chest already.

Ayumi looked at Inuyasha strangely as she heard something similar to a growl coming from the boy. Hojo looked between the two, not noticing Inuyasha’s grimacing stare.

No one talked for a while. Inuyasha somehow managed to control himself and calmed his breathing a little. He then said through clenched teeth: “I’m not hungry all of a sudden.”

Inuyasha turned and walked away, dragging a very confused Ayumi with him.

“Umm… Inuyasha-kun… would you like me to take you around town instead?” Ayumi noticed Inuyasha’s sudden change in attitude. If the festival wasn’t the right place to stay, there are still other places.”

Inuyasha stopped walking and turned to stare at the girl. I have to get even. It sounded stupid when he thought about it. But when Inuyasha’s pissed off, everything made sense. Kagome’s done it twice with that human bastard, why can’t I do it once?

“Let’s go home.”

“But you just got here.” Ayumi didn’t want to go. She hasn’t shown Inuyasha off to her friends yet. But as she looked into Inuyasha’s eyes, she was too scared to protest. “Umm… my house is this way.” She pointed to the right and allowed Inuyasha to take her home.

The whole way Inuyasha said nothing. Inside his mind he still debated whether it was the right thing to do. He thought he was okay with it, and as long as he gets to talk with Kagome everything will be find. But as soon as he saw Hojo standing behind the noodle stand, grinning like a half minded idiot, it made him wonder why Kagome chose that guy over him. And that’s when logic lost all its meanings.

Ayumi pointed to a house with lime windows. “That’s my house.” The two then walked up to the front door. Ayumi took out her keys and opened the door, half angry that she didn’t get to stay for the whole festival, half sad that she probably won’t ever see Inuyasha again since he doesn’t live in Tokyo.

“Umm… it was very nice meeting you, Inuyasha-kun. Sayonara.” Ayumi owed slightly and started to go in.

Eh? Isn’t this when she invites me in and light candles? Inuyasha didn’t have time to question, Ayumi had already shut the door.

Now Inuyasha’s more confused than angry. Hesitantly he knocked on the door. Ayumi’s head popped out again. “Umm… what is it, Inuyasha-kun?”

“Umm… Aren’t you gonna ask me to go in?”

Ayumi blushed right away. “Inuyasha-kun… nobody’s home right now. I… uh… don’t think that would be appropriate.”

Inuyasha now feels stupid. There are no other words to describe it, just plain old stupid. “But isn’t that how a date suppose to end?”

Ayumi blushed deeper. “For adults, maybe, but Inuyasha-kun, don’t you think we’re a little too young? Dates are just two people who… kinda like each other spending time together.”

Inuyasha blinked. Wait, he thought to himself, so not all dates end up with two people mating? “But I thought Kagome and that Hobo guy…”

Ayumi now laughed. “Kagome-chan only went out with him once. And I heard that she ran away during the middle of eating. The other time she got sick and stood Hojo-kun up.” She rubbed her sore cheeks. “Kagome-chan hasn’t even kissed Hojo-kun. I heard that she has this arrogant, selfish, conceited boyfriend. I was actually surprised she agreed to go out with Hojo-kun today.”

Wait a second, arrogant, selfish, conceited… hey, that’s me!!! Inuyasha stood on Ayumi’s doorsteps, now completely in shock.

“Umm… Ayumi, are soap operas true?”

Ayumi looked at Inuyasha with a puzzled look. “If soap operas were true, then the entire human populations would be going around in circles twenty-four-seven. Why do you ask, Inuyasha-kun?”

“O crap!!!” Inuyasha cursed aloud. “Damn it, I have to go! Thanks, Ayumi!” Inuyasha turned and disappeared in a matter of seconds. Ayumi finally closed the door, still trying to digest Inuyasha’s “weirdness”.

Inuyasha leaped from building to building, cursing at himself the whole time for being such an idiot.

Kagome probably agreed to go out with Hobo ‘cause she pitied him. I’d pity that idiot too. Damn it, I should’ve talked to her right away. She must be so angry at me. From what that Ayumi girl said, dates are for people who like each other. Damn it, I hope she doesn’t think I like Ayumi or anything. But then again, that girl has been helpful, gotta remember to thank her later. Shit, I already have enough trouble explaining Kikyo. Fuck, how do I get into these things?

And so, by the time he reached the school, he has basically figured out all the mistakes and misunderstandings. He searched the ground while jumping from tree to tree, and soon saw Kagome walked with Hojo.

“Kagome!” Inuyasha leaped down from the tree, causing somewhat a commotion. He ran toward Kagome and grabbed her by the arm, the sudden force cause he to drop her cotton candy. The nice Hojo offered to buy her a new one. Inuyasha didn’t waste time to pull Kagome away.

“Inuyasha, what are you…” Kagome looked at him angrily, finally talking to him after five long days.

“Kagome, I figured it all out. I’ve been such an idiot. At first I saw from those black box thingies what dates are. Then I thought it concerns stuff like mating. Then I thought you mated with that idiot. And then I got pissed and agreed to go out with Ayumi…”

“Whoa, whoa, Inuyasha, slow down.” Kagome heard what he said, and like all girls would react, she’s pissed off again. “You thought I…” she continued the rest with a whisper, “you thought I slept with Hojo-kun?!” Kagome didn’t hesitate to slap the hanyou on the head. Then she made sure no one was around and yanked off his cap and yelled really loudly into his ears: “WHAT ARE YOU, AN IDIOT!!!???!!!”

“Yes, I’m an idiot, you’re right, I know, I’m a big idiot.” Kagome was still fuming, it was not the way to start an apology. “That’s why I agreed to go with Ayumi, ‘cause I thought it would be even if I slept with her, then…”

Inuyasha didn’t get to finish his sentence. Apparently he’s a bigger idiot than he thought. Kagome slapped him again. “So this whole time while I was worried about what you thought about us, you were thinking about how to do it with Ayumi-chan.” Tears came once again. Kagome ran out the school grounds yelling “Inuyasha, I hate you!!!”

“Wait, Kagome!!!” Inuyasha put back his cap. Because there were too many people around the school year, he had to run instead of leaping.

The hanyou chased Kagome out the school gates and saw her running across the street. He yelled out her name once more and that was when it happened.

Kagome’s long kimono prevented her from running fast. Her head was burrowed into her arms, Inuyasha was able to smell her salty tears through the wind. In the middle of the street, one of those horseless carriages that Kagome called “cars” zoomed through. The car didn’t expect a girl in the middle of the streets. It suddenly stopped and made a loud screech which made Inuyasha cover his ears and stop running. When Inuyasha opened his eyes to check what had happened, he saw Kagome lying next to the car, in a pool of blood. The smell of her blood entered Inuyasha’s nose, making him want to throw up. A bunch of bystanders crowded over his Kagome, the man inside the car came out and rushed over. Inuyasha was in shock. He listened, but couldn’t find Kagome’s heartbeat over all the people talking. All he could sense was the smell of Kagome’s blood covering her usual scent.

“KAGOME!!!” Now out of his mind, Inuyasha darted toward Kagome’s limp body and held her. She was still alive, but she was dying. Next thing he knew, loud sirens approached. People were running everywhere. Students came out of the school. Yuka, Emi, and Hojo’s worried voices was floating around in the air. But all Inuyasha heard was Kagome’s faint heartbeat. And his eyes fell on her neck, on a beautiful necklace now stained with blood.

<><><><><>

Whew, that was long. I was gonna split it into two separate chapters, but decided not to. Yup, Kagome got run over by a car. I’m so evil. Maybe I should make Inuyasha turn full youkai and kill everyone on the streets… nah… I got other plans. Look forward to the next one!

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