Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Overcoming Adversity	By : choukitsune Category: InuYasha > General Views: 5507 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
Chapter 17
By Youko Starr
A/N #1: I know you all hate me now. I�m
sorry *hangs head* But it was necessary for character development, and
I assure you that it was not without reason. In fact. You�ll find out
soon. Time will skip again mid chapter, though not as much as last
time�s.
However I would like to thank the
following people for showing good faith and for giving such pleasant
and wonderful reviews. I have tried my hardest to collect my thoughts
and place them into words so that I may deliver this to you as quickly
as possible.
Inthethroes(thanx much!)

Sci-jess

Gv

Drake220(thanx much!)

Szmadad(thanx much!)

Soranji

Silver fox

Mythical child
on to the next site: gee, mm.org, you
guys review so often
essie

Daniy
and the last
kag+inu=love

Lil blue hedgie

Kikyo_224 (thanx much!)

Magical meg (thanx much!)

Cj-chan

Usagi kurari

Tanya

She-devil

Maryel

that should catch me up on the last two chapter�s reviews, which is
where I think I got behind on those�heh.
AN #2: About Japan, Nihon, Nippon. Who,
pray tell, would using the word Japan make angry? I am an American, and
while I am sure there may be one or two or maybe a few, maybe even more
of oriental descent reading, I can�t put the entire thing into Japanese
because 1) I�m not Japanese 2) I�m only self-teaching myself until I
can go to school (and that�s bad) and 3)it would be horribly incorrect,
take weeks to translate just one chapter.
In short. I�m only using the main words
in Japanese, stuff that the English words make sound lame, gay, stupid,
ugly, etc. Like Tenseiga, Tessaiga, Kaze no Kizu, youkai. Stuff like
that sound a whole lot better.
AN#2b: And as a matter of fact, Tom, I am
really beginning to wonder why you feel this desire to nitpick at small
matters that have no actual bearing on the story, like whether or not I
call it Japan, Nihon, Nippon, Giappone(Italian), Japon(French),
Jap�n(Spanish), or
the-very-long-oriental-island-near-China-that-Anime-comes-from-and-many-of-us-love.
Now, I might seem a bit peeved, only
because I am, and because the tone of your words is always
condescending, and because I am still ticked over your first initial
review. If you�re going to read, then read, if you�ll review then
review, but nitpicking over every minor insignificant detail is only
the way to tick off the author, and if they�re someone like me, make
them stop writing until they feel you are done scratching at them.
If you are Japanese that's fine and
Dandy, but many of the readers are not. In America, we call it Japan. I
really don�t want to make -anyone- angry, but that�s just how I have to
do it.
Glossary

Kouban: Police Box
Mofuku: Funeral kimono
***
The autumn night breeze tossed the schoolteacher�s bangs, blowing
her chocolate tresses in the wind before they settled at her shoulders.
The cool evening air felt good on her skin, covered by only a modest
yukata while she enjoyed the view of the midnight skies, lit by only
the barest hint of a crescent moon.
Rin knew that most young women her age wouldn�t be caught at home on
a Friday night, too busy living the fast life or enjoying a night out
with their friends�or boyfriends for that matter. She simply wasn�t the
partying type, nor was she much of a dater. The one blind date she had
ever accepted, bombed within the first hour until she could do nothing
to save the night, save pay for her half of the bill, apologize, and
quickly leave the scene.
She preferred to keep only a small handful of friends, and was able
to count the people close to her on one hand. Unfortunately, most of
them were her related by blood. The other teachers had taken to
ignoring her lately, alarmed by her off campus relationship with
Sesshoumaru..
There was no relationship, but try telling that to a group
of nosy schoolteachers with nothing better to do than prying into the
business of others.
Even her family was concerned. Two of her brothers questioned her
current living arrangement with a man she hardly knew, and one they had
never met at all. She had told them not to worry, and that Sesshoumaru
was nothing but a gentleman. He had never laid a hand on her, nor
turned a devious eye her way. She was as safe in his home as she would
be parked in front of their neighborhood�s kouban.
Her mother told her that she was living the life of a concubine,
claiming that to give a woman gifts and keep her in his home without
demanding compensation or rent, was only a set up. No man would do so
much without expecting something in return. In response to this
assumption and attack on Sesshoumaru�s morality and behavior, Rin told
them that they weren�t gifts, but that the man simply had so much money
that it came as second nature to ensure that a guest in his
home was treated well. Furthermore, if any of them were to visit her
there, which she had already received permission for (as long as they
remained in the guest wing and traveled nowhere else according to
Sesshoumaru�s strict instruction), she was certain they would receive
the same treatment.
They worried, but trusted her judgment, humbly declining the
invitation and ceasing the pressuring for her to return to her own
home. Her aunt, who had met the impassive demon briefly at the school
while delivering lunch for her niece, gave her approval the moment he
had left.
�You don�t think he�s strange, Obachan?� Rin asked nervously into
the phone cradled between her shoulder and ear.
�I think that you know what you like, Rin. I�ll be honest with you
when I say that I had my doubts at first, but if you like this man, and
you believe he has good merits, then its your life to do with as you
please. It doesn�t matter what the rest of us think.�
The weight of Rin�s worries immediately began to lighten, and she
smiled, gazing at the midnight sky where twinkling specks of white
pinpoints sparkling brightly. �Thanks, Obachan.�
�You have no reason to thank me, Dear. Besides, I think you�ll be
good for him.� Rin was quite ready to utter her doubtful response, but
the sound of her aunt�s continued speech halted her. �I do believe this
old lady will retire to bed now, Rin. You sleep well, Rin, and don�t
worry about your family. Things have a way of working out on their
own.�
�I hope so. Sleep well, Obachan.�
�I will. Goodnight, Rin.�
The young woman pressed the pad of her thumb against the on/off
button, hanging up the cordless telephone and laying it gently on the
surface of the small table occupying the balcony located off of her
bedroom. She had taken to sitting outside quite often lately, loving
the feel of the breeze through her hair, caressing her cheeks in gentle
waves of wind current every afternoon. During the evening, a few
candles made it an enjoyable reading experience.
This night�s reading had been interrupted by the ringing of the
phone, which was lucky on her own separate line, another courtesy the
s, bu, bug-eyed toad demon had set up shortly after her arrival.
She wouldn�t exactly call her lifestyle in the Hogosha household
something to envy either, as the other teachers seemed to do. It was
actually quite lonely. It didn�t take a genius to tell that Jaken hated
her. Sesshoumaru seemed to only tolerate her presence, ignoring her
usually unless it was necessary to travel to or from the school with
her. Then there was that small matter of feeling like a set, ot, or a
cute pet that was kept around the home for the hell of it, an animal
that was maintained and nourished on the whim of a spoiled demon.
His discovery of her playing talent was a fine example.
Rin wasn�t exactly besieged with gifts either. While it had first
been impressive and kind, was now nothing at all startling after she
had finished rationalizing it all to her family. Only the necessities
were purchased for her. In fact, she had brought her own television and
stereo from the apartment, needing to keep up with the news and the few
television shows she watched. Jaken had ed ied it a box of mindless
human melodrama, turning up his nose when she kindly offered to set it
in an open area of the home in case he or Sesshoumaru had some desire
to be entertained by it.
While Sesshoumaru didn�t turn up his nose, he merely gave her this
look that suggested he was hardly holding back laughter. It was
doubtful it was for her sakeher,her, considering her lord rarely
showed any kind of emotion, and seemed to excel in concealing his
feelings. The only time he spoke to her was to announce he was leaving
for a while; Jaken would remain to serve her. He had stopped requesting
her to play, assuming she would do so on her own each night without him
asking.
Which she did. Rin was no longer certain why she even went to such
lengths for the ungrateful taiyoukai when he didn�t appreciate her
presence or kindness, and kept her around like some stray pup without a
leash.
That was exactly how she had felt the first month of their walks to
and from school. It had startled her that such a rich man didn�t own a
car, not that she minded the half hour walk each direction with him
every day. Being in his company felt good, but the embarrassing way in
which they traveled the small distance had been most embarrassing.
How could someone walk so fast, yet with such graceful and fluid
movement? Her lord stopped for no one, nor did he wait for her to catch
up. Each morning, he walked the entirety of the stretch between his
home and the school without stopping or looking back. At first, Rin
would scurry behind him, struggling to keep up with his long legged
pace, thighs aching by the time they arrived.
Eventually, her badjuadjusted over the course of the weeks, and she
was able to keep up with him, a few steps behind his heels.
She hated trailing behind him like some love struck fan girl.
Lately, however, she found she was able to walk a little bit faster,
enough to keep just at his side, even if this too was pushing herself
to the limit. Rin found that while she wasn�t exactly out of shape, she
didn�t have the healthiest pair of lungs or legs either. What she
struggled to do, a demon did with ease, and nobody could look more
impressive and beautiful doing such simple things than her lord.
Why do I continue to call him my lord? I�ll sound like Jaken soon
if this keeps up, she thought, gazing down at the shimmering
surface of the koi pond.
�Hurry, Jaken.�
Toundound of his voice interrupted her reflections over their
relationship, or lack thereof. Adjusting the direction of her gaze, she
saw Sesshoumaru walking out towards the rear yard. Jaken rushed out
behind him, tugging a cage on wheels. �Y-yes, Lord. On my way,
Sesshoumaru-sama.�
Rin didn�t dare to move, staring at the white clad figure of the
household�s master. He was clad in old-fashioned garments, a sword on
his left side, dark plate armor covering his chest. The beauty of such
simplistic wear surprised her, especially that he looked so good in
white and red without looking his masculine qualities.
�Release him.�
Jaken trembled at the front of the cage. Rin was unable to see what
occupied it, but she could tell something large was hidden in the
shadows of the cell. In a show of courage, Jaken yanked open the door
and scrambled aside. No sooner had he removed himself from the path,
did a jet of dark hued flame, barely seen against the shadows of night,
shoot out from the open door of the cage.
Rin brought her hand up to her mouth, eyes wide, large and staring
as a creature she had never thought to see outside of the movie screen
emerged, long sinuous body rippling with thick hide covered muscle. Its
jaws snapped repeatedly, a gleam of anger in its glowing red eyes.
A dragon. They had captured a dragon. What was a dragon doing in
Tokyo and why did they bring it here of all places.
More importantly, why didn�t it just roast either of them through
the bars of the cage beforehand?
The dragon rushed for Sesshoumaru, only to be batted away with a
simple backhand, one without use of his claws. It reeled, seemed to
shrug off the blow, and rushed him down again with maw open wide, claws
extended.
Once more, he brushed it away, scoffing lightly.
Jaken laughed as well. �It is no match for you, Lord Sesshoumaru.�
�Tenseiga must be tested,� was the brief reply.
Her lord was so strong. Her amazement had forced her into
motionlessness, staring in awe, amazement, even fan girlish wonder at
the way that he easily sent the creature reeling, knocking it aside
whenever it neared. His claws, proving to be much sharper than she ever
thought, made one vicious movement, one that her untrained eyes could
hardly pick up in the moonlight. However, the dull thump of a limb
hitting the ground assured that what she thought she saw was indeed
correct.
It roared its pain, hardly a fearful sound, more of an annoying cry
with undertones of a screech.
�Jaken.�
The small toad seemed to hesitate, dreading what his master would
ask of him. �Y-yes, my Lord?�
�Provoke it.�
�But my Lord, it could kill me!�
�Do not make me ask again, Jaken.�
The toad demon, who Rin imagined must have bent a dozen times more
frightened than her (and she wasn�t even down there with the dragon)
slowly made his way over from his hiding place. As the dragon U-turned
to come back for another, one armed attack, Jaken stood where his
master had moments before.
Finding an opponent of lesser strength, and much tastier potential,
it came to a skidding stop, large mouth opening, filled with fang and
teeth resembling butcher knives of the sharpest kind. The back of its
throat glowed and a stream of dark fire emerged.
Thinking Jaken was done for, Rin screamed. Jaken had raised his arms
to his bald head, hoping to shield himself from the incoming flame,
however, no attack even singed him.
Sesshoumaru had stepped in front of the toad, wielding the same
sword Rin saw him holding during her revival. The inuyoukai glowed a
deep blue color, standing out with startling clarity against the
shadows of the night. The fire, roaring hot and intense, was unable to
penetrate the shield that the sword�s power radiated.
The dragon realized this, and its mouth closed. It reared up,
remaining claw dangerous and sharp, moments from coming down upon her
silver-haired savior.
The claw never arrived to its target. Sesshoumaru flexed his own
claws, and attacked. Pieces of dragon were all that remained, butchered
in the blink of an eye.
Rin had not yet moved again. Her hand was firmly clamped over her
own mouth, face hot with embarrassment. Why had she even for one second
doubted in Sesshoumaru, and believed he would let his most faithful
servant perish in the flames of a dragon?
Because he�s cold� But he would never be that cold, would he?
It obviously wouldn�t breathe fire on a demon it knew the magic energy
would have minor effect on. That must have been why it tried to go claw
to claw.
�Disappointing.� The disgust was evident on Sesshoumaru�s features.
�That was nothing worthy of Tenseiga�s power, a stronger and more
powerful demon is required to test its full potential.
�Ip>�I�ll get on it right away, Lord Sesshoumaru!�
The toad scurried into the house. Rin, who had not moved yet ever
since the dragon�s bloody chunks hit the ground, found herself alone
outside with Sesshoumaru, despite the separation of her being on the
balcony while he stood at ground level.
�Are you entertained, Rin?� a voice asked from beneath the balcony
railing.
His sudden acknowledgement caused her to jerk. She had forgotten
that her scream bee been a loud and obvious announcement of her
presence�although something told her he knew she had been there all
along.
�That�that was spectacular, Sesshoumaru-sama. You were so fast, it
was incredible,� she found herself blubbering.
There was no response from him, nor could she tell if he found
pleasure, or at least amusement in her words either. The sliding door
opened and closed, leaving Rin alone.
***
The next morning, Rin lowered onto the floor of the living room,
leaning forward to press the �on� button of the small television. Every
morning, she awakened early enough to bathe, eat a bowl of cereal if
she was lucky enough for Jaken to be away from the household during
that time, and then watch the morning news. The Dailey Newspaper was
also subscribed to the manor, something that Sesshoumaru scoffed at,
refusing to read simply because he had no interest in humans and their
desire to kill one another, or commit petty acts of vandalism and
burglary.
�A woman was assaulted near the school it says here,
Sesshoumaru-sama. Doesn�t that sound a bit like what happened to me?�
�You were killed, Rin. That is much more severe than what
happened to that woman.�
His response shocked her, her brown eyes blinking at the callous
way he reacted to such harsh news. �But she was raped!�
�And her body will heal.� He scoffed. �It doesn�t surprise me
that a human would lower to such a level as to take an unwilling
mistress. However, had he killed her it would have been a more serious
attack. No one returns from death.�
�I did.� Her stomach ached, and she felt sick. How could he be so
cold?
�That is different.�
Now Rin understood completely. Had the woman died, there would have
been no Tenseiga to revive her. She would have been gone from this
world, with no chance to redeem herself of any sin, no chance to
complete any remaining goals, say goodbye to friends, family, and loved
ones.
Rape of the body, was a wound that could be healed. While it would
cause mental and emotional suffering, her body was still inhabited by
her soul. She could one day grow to overcome what happened to her, move
on with her life. Her friends and family would be there to see her
through it, to help her. She would never forget, but she could try to
be stronger for it.
�--taken into custody by the police when he is released from the
hospital. The man has not yet shown remorse for the stabbing deaths of
the Yakahama sisters.�
Rin grimaced, noticing she had missed a few minutes of the report.
�An update on yesterday�s highway pile up reveals that the missing
child has been found.�
Rin lifted a brow. Missing child? She had neglected to watch the
evening news, having left the television off to catch up on her
grading, desiring a free weekend to enjoy the last remnants of warm
weather by the poolside.
�The missing boy identified as Higurashi Kohaku was found last night
in his home by his older sister and her boyfriend after the two
returned from their search. The cause of death has been ruled to be a
suicide, and there will be no investigation. The wake for the family is
scheduled for tomorrow night, and anyone wishing to send their
condolences should--�
Rin blinked at the television. Highway pile up? Suicide? �Jaken! I
need a black mofuku!� she called, knowing the toad would hear her from
whatever crevice the little bastard hid in during the day when not
serving his master.
�What?!� The bald imp appeared a few moments later, looking rather
put out. �I am not your personal servant, I am lord Sesshoumaru�s loyal
retainer and--�
�Then give me the money,� she interrupted.
This set Jaken off muttering about ungrateful women. When he
returned, after calling her a host of names and curses, he threw a sack
filled with bills and coins at her feet then shuffled off again.
�You are going to a funeral?�
Rin glanced up to spot Sesshoumaru standing in the room recently
vacated by Jaken. She would never know how he moved so silently and
without being seen, but it impressed her nonetheless after she
recovered from the scare. �Yes. A student�s family died. Many teachers
will be there. It�s only proper to pay respects, she�s going through
one of the most difficult times in her life right now.�
Sesshoumaru said nothing, and walked from the room.
Rin wondered what was going through his mind.
***
�I don�t care about the money, Sango. Take it.� Inuyasha insistently
pressed the check into her hands. �You need it to pay for the
expenses.�
�But Kagome-chan�s birthday--�
�Can wait,� Kagome interrupted from the doorway. �This is more
important. If I had money I would give you some too, Sango,� the girl
told her, smiling weakly, the barest curve of her lips all that her
present state of mind would allow.
Miroku had been there all night, refusing to leave Sango�s side when
she needed him most. Kagome was grateful he had been there, as her
stubborn cousin refused to call them after the cops left the scene of
death, insisting that Inuyasha and Kagome be allowed to sleep the night
and that she would phone them in the morning.
That was the phone call that Kagome received shortly after
awakening. A tired Miroku was on his cell phone, calling Inuyasha to
share the same news with him, while Sango told her cousin, that little
Kohaku too, was gone.
Sango had not yet shared with them the details involving his
suicide. It seemed every time she tried to, someone would phone, or a
neighbor would visit to give condolences.
She didn�t appear to have slept all night, which no one could blame
her for. Miroku hadn�t either, having stayed up with her most of the
night after calling his parents to explain why he would not be home,
and that yes, it was Sango�s family on the news, and her brother had
been found dead.
�Sango, get some sleep, please,� Kagome begged her.
�I can�t sleep yet,� the girl replied, her dull eyes glancing to the
bathroom. �I have to clean��
�Don�t worry about it.� Kagome took her cousin by the arm, and led
her down the hall towards the girl�s bedroom. �By the time you get up,
we�ll have the entire house cleaned.�
�Yeah!� Inuyasha agreed, and then punched his friend in the arm.
�You need to go sleep too, man. You look like hell.�
�I will be alright,� Miroku lied, certain that he would be if he
only held on until that night. �You can�t clean this entire place on
your own. It would be best if the three of us did it together.�
�Are you sure, Mi? Yo? You really should sleep,� Kagome told him
worriedly. The monk nodded, and stepped into the bathroom where the
heavy scent of blood escaped out into the air, assing ing Inuyasha�s
nose. While the bathroom had been moderately cleaned, it was far from
spotless, and stains still lingered in various places leaving the thick
smell of death behind.
�I�ll handle this room. Inuyasha�s nose is too sensitive for the
solutions I�ll be using to clean up. You two work on the
kitchen,� he determinedly replied, pushing aside Kagome�s concern.
Inuyasha didn�t need to be told twice to clean the kitchen instead.
***
The wake had come and gone, smoothly passing by without a hitch.
Many people showed up to pay their last respects to the deceased
family, and to give their condolences to the girl that had been left
alone as a result of their untimely deaths. Even a few of Kohaku�s
teachers showed up, saying what good things they could about the boy,
although none seemed to understand what had drove him to take the route
of suicide as he did.
In fact, no one understood. The one person that did, wasn�t speaking
about it.
Long after everyone had left, Sango still lingered at the middle of
the semi-circle formed by the coffins containing her family, a note
streaked with dried blood clutched tightly in her hand.

Her scream brought Miroku quickly into the bathroom. The young
monk-in-training skidded to a stop, nearly slipping on the floor that
was splashed with water, water tinged pink, swirling with red liquid.
The source of the bloody mess laid limply in the bathtub, floating in
the water and his own vital fluid. Sango was upon her knees at its
edge, cradling the corpse of her dead brother tightly against her
chest, sobbing hysterically and screaming for help.
Help that could do nothing for a brother who had been dead for an
undeterminable amount of time.
�Sango.� Miroku swallowed, then gently placed his hands on her
back. �You need to let him go. We must call the police to report what's
happened.�
�No! Call the hospital! They�they can help him!� Her voice mblembled on every word, the tears slipping to the end of her long
lashes, trailed down her cheeks in crystalline clear rivers. Her eyes
closed, hiding her reddened eyes from him, and he continued to hold the
dead boy tightly. �You can�t be dead, Kohaku. No� You can�t leave me
too,� she whispered.
�Sango�� He gently rubbed her shoulders, then reached down to
take her hands and gently pry them from Kohaku. �He�s gone. There is
nothing that can be done for him.
Her hysterical screams had been heard outside by neighbors and
passersby. When the police arrived, they found her just as Miroku had,
clutching her brother against her, her face pain stricken and
disbelieving that her last living close relative was gone.
None noticed the tattered, bloody paper clutched firmly in her hand.
Once she was alone, she had read it, and held it close to her heart,
vengeance and anger growing in her heart, nurtured by the grief of
losing her family.
Sango, all I�ve ever done is disappoint Mom and Dad, and now that
they�re gone I wish I could say I�m sorry to them. I always thought I
hated my family, thought that all of you just wanted to stop me from
having fun, but I was wrong.
He made me do it, Sango. You have to believe me. I went to see
him last night, and he did something to me. I don�t know how, but that
shiny pink piece of rock that I saw had something to do with it.
I made Dad drive into that truck. I couldn�t control myself,
Sango. Please don�t hate me. I can�t forgive myself for what I did so I
won�t blame you if you don�t either.
I�m sorry, Sis.
The urge to avenge her family only became more intense with every
sentence she read. Her brother had taken his own life, overcome with
grief and guilt for something someone had made him do. There
was no indication of who it was, but Sango knew she would be unable to
rest until she felt his blood on her hands, payment for the blood of
her family spilled during Friday�s accident, and in the bathroom tub
where her brother�s life bled from him droplets at a time.
There was only one shiny piece of rock that Sango knew of, and her
cousin possessed the majority of it. That meant that somewhere, the
remaining sliver had fallen into the hands of evil, an evil that had
destroyed her family in one day, through one vicious act.
She would become strong for them if it was the last thing she did.
***
Life went on, for those who were still among the living. Sango
declined Miroku�s usual drive to school Monday, needing to remain home
to finish the remaining funeral arrangements concerning cremation for
her family.
Instead, Miroku drove to pick up Inuyasha and Kagome from the
shrine, where they waited at the very bottom of it, just outside of the
field of protection generated by the holy tags.
�Man, I�m not surprised Sango�s stayin home. She did go through a
lot. The wake was kinda spooky though� with all of those caskets
there,� Inuyasha said thoughtfully from the backseat.
�I must agree. I would have insisted that she stay home if she did
try to come to school. I merely stopped by to see if she was doing any
better.�
�Miroku�� Kagome spoke up suddenly. The girl had been silent most of
the ride, offering little comment on the situation with Sango and their
lost family members. �Have you felt like Sango is keeping something to
herself?�
�Like what, Kagome?�
Inuyasha perked a brow, leaning forward between the driver and front
passenger seat. Save for the mourning and obvious grief, he�d noticed
no other change in Sango, howev cou cousin would know her best..and
there was the subject of that odd smell that he scented whenever he
went near her.
�I�m not sure, but it feels like she�s just not telling us
something.�
I should mention it. If I don�t, and its something important,
Kagome would never forgive me. �I smelled blood on her at the wake.
When we were at her house cleaning Saturday, I thought the smell was
cause of the bathroom, you know, what lingered after they took the body
away and stuff. It was still on her last night.�
Miroku and Kagome glanced at the gap between their seats framing the
hanyou�s face, both wearing identical expressions of wonder. �Then
we�ll just have to drag it out of her,� Kagome decided determinedly.
School that day, went horrible for all three that chose to go.
Kagome found that the test she meant to study for, had gone
forgotten during the weekend due to the situation with her uncle, aunt,
and grandmother dying. During the lunch period, the appointed time she
had agreed to make up the missed test, she was forced to sit in her
desk, staring blankly at the lines, squiggles, half circles, and dots
that compromised the English alphabet.
How the hell could Tokashi-sensei even expect her to make full
sentences out of this mess. She sighed, resting her head against the
palm of her hand, and stared at the jumble of nonsense.
�Don�t rush yourself, Miss Higurashi. Take your time. I wouldn�t
expect you to complete it in one lunch period when everyone else used
most of the entire class hour to finish.� The brunette smiled warmly at
Kagome, her words instantly taking weight off of Kagome�s worries
concerning her possible failing grade. At least now, she would have
another night to study.
Tokashi-sensei is so nice. I wonder what she sees in Inuyasha�s
mean old brother anyway. �Thank you, Tokashi-sensei.�
�There was just one thing I was meaning to ask you. Is your cousin
doing okay? I saw her at the wake, but I thought that another person
asking if she would be alright would make her feel worse.�
And she cares about other people. Maybe some of her kindness will
rub off on that big bully, Kagome decided. Or maybe it already was.
Inuyasha swore up and down late Sunday night that he thought he saw
Sesshoumaru standing in the shadows across the street watching Rin, as
if he were keeping an eye on her. Then he�d said that when he glanced
back, his older brother had disappeared. �She�s feeling a little better
than she did yesterday. She stayed home to complete the funeral
arrangements for the this afternoon.�
Rin nodded, then sadly gazed out the window. �What a sweet girl. Bad
things always happen to the nicest people.�
Kagome was inclined to agree.
-----------
While Kagome�s bad day improved, it worsened for the two football
players, who discovered, they were no longer the best on the team.
�You two good for nothing slackers believe I�m going to let you off
just because your girlfriend�s family died!?� The coach was practically
in their faces, in fact, he was close enough that even Miroku, who had
no extraordinary sense of smell like Inuyasha, could smell his breath,
and it was far from being a good scent.
The hanyou wrinkled his nose, ears twitching occasionally beneath
the dark scarf that secured his perfect silver locks in place and hid
his fuzzy ears from view. For the past fifteen minutes, the coach had
decided the best tactic to punish he and Miroku, was through the
embarrassment of airing out how worthless they were in front of the
entire team.
�It wasn�t your family that died, so I don�t have to go easy
on you at all! Your skipping school, meant that we were two players
short for the game! What have you two punks got to say for
yourselves!?�
- 16
- 17
- 18
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Overcoming Adversity