Unveiled Strengths by rubychik09

Chapter One: Blow Up

Kagome's heart beat rapidly as she handed the progress report hesitantly to her drunken mother. Looking briefly in her glazed eyes, Kagome began to back up, trying to get away before her mother opened up the report fully.

She placed one foot on the stairs with ease, making sure not to step on any of the places on the stairs that she knew would creak. Five steps up, Kagome made a dire mistake: she didn't pay attention. Her reward? A loud creak came from below her, alerting her mother of her absence in the living room.

A booming voice filled the house. "Kagome Higurashi! Get your ass back down here this instant!" Her mother's voice vibrated the walls, pounding into Kagome's ears.

Walking back, Kagome kept her eyes to the floor, willing them not to blink. For she knew if she did, years of liquid memories would pour out like a raging waterfall.

"What do you want, mother?" Kagome spoke, her voice barely above a whisper; her voice hollow in sound.

Her mother blinked. "What do I want?" Kagome winced at the pure venom that spewed from her mouth. "Kagome," she started again, her voice more stern, "have you looked at this?!" She threw the piece of paper at Kagome in her rage.

"You slut! You were probably out whoring around instead of doing your homework! Weren't you? Weren't you?! That's why you've brought me this . . . this wretched piece of paper Can you honestly say that you tried?!"

Her voice was loud, making Kagome wince back at her tone. "And you know what else . . . ?!"

"Shut up! I'm sick of your insults! I don't care! You're not my mother! If you were, you'd know that I'm home every night. Did you hear me? Every night I was in my room finishing what homework I had, studying for tests! I tried, damn it, I tried!" Kagome's voice made contact with her mother, penetrating deep within her.

Glaring at her daughter, Sakura's eyes narrowed in anger. "Then you didn't try hard enough! I expected better of you! Why don't you try? Why?!"

"Why . . . ? Why?! Why bother?! It's not like I matter to you anymore! You don't give a fuck about me!" hatred and fury poured out as Kagome voiced what had been bothering her for so many days, and so many sleepless nights.

A resounding slap echoed throughout the house. Kagome's eyes teared, a burning sting spreading across her face, numbing it. She stood, her lips agape only wide enough to breathe.

"Ka . . . Ka . . . I, I didn't . . . "

Hardened eyes bore their way into the soul of Sakura Higurashi. "You what, mother?" Kagome spat, her lips thin.

"I..."

"Don't, mother. Just . . . don't."

Sakura reached out her hand to touch her daughter. Kagome froze, just staring at the hand that had previously damaged her; damaged her pride, her dignity, her soul.

She shrank back, clutching her arms to her chest tightly. "I can't. I'm sorry, mother. It's . . . it's for the best."

Kagome turned in her place, running as fast as her legs would carry her to her room. The echoing footsteps on the stairwell rang heavily in her mind. With little time, Kagome slammed her door shut, locked it, and ran to her closet as she began to grab necessities that she would need; all the while wondering if she made the right choice.

The walk was painful. Urges of paranoia swept Kagome as she walked the barren streets of the downtown. All she could do was hope her mother did not find her; for if she did, the results would not be pleasant.

Kagome shuddered involuntarily. Whether it was the night's cold air or her painful memories that haunted her she could not decide. All she hoped for was the warmth and comfort of her best friend.

She walked up the path, her eyes leering at the house before her. Kagome stood there, her eyes glazed over, mesmerized in thought. The air was deathly still, an unearthly silence filling the gaps of her mind.

"Lord forgive me," Kagome prayed, her head tilted upwards as a single drop of rain fell, landing on her cheek, giving the illusion of a teardrop.

"... For I have sinned."

Rays of sunlight poured over the horizon. Dawn had risen from her late-night slumber, waking the world with her presence. But one person remained still. Her sapphire orbs shut tightly by the bonds of betrayal; a peaceful slumber torn only by the nightmares of days gone by, and the loneliness of the days to come. Time stood still as life passed her; letting her cling to memories of the past and hopes of tomorrow in the most forlorn of places.

"Kagome!" the silence echoed back like a voice in the wind.

A single eye appeared beneath the mass of sun-kissed hair. Her voice but a whisper in the wind, was carried to her comrade.

"Please," she begged piteously from her hollow on the ground, "please don't leave me; not now."

Kagome choked a sob back into her throat, as Sango ran to her, her arms open in an embracing hug. Sango pulled Kagome up, whispering to her in her lament: "C'mon, it'll be okay. Everything'll be okay. Let's get you inside and cleaned up, then we'll talk."

Swollen blue eyes looked to her best friend with hope. "Thank you, Sango . . . but, how?"

She smiled wispfully. "Your mother called a few minutes ago looking for you; saying that you'd been out all night. I told her I hadn't seen you before I came out here."

"Thanks. Now, I need to grab a shower after sleeping out here. Although, if you need one, I hope you have two, 'cause it might take me awhile. I'm savoring the warmth!" Kagome got up staggeringly, her legs still weak from the walk the night before. Catching her balance, she sent a smirk over to Sango, running toward the house the best that she could.

"Sango! C'mon! You wanna be late?!" Kagome yelled from the railing of the porch. Sango just chuckled, racing up toward her friend.

"Betcha you can't beat me to the shower!"

It was gonna be a long day.

"Class Pay attention!" Sensei Fallon snapped, drawing the attention of the majority of the class. The majority: everybody but Kagome Higurashi, year two.

Kagome's eyes were concentrated anywhere but where they were supposed to be. At the moment, they were looking out the window, blank and lifeless.

A sigh escaped her lips, thoughts passing through her head like winds in a storm. It all happened so quickly; she wished she could just say that she loved her one more time, because for once, Kagome missed her mother.

"Psst . . . Kagome."

Kagome looked toward the voice calling her name: Sango. Her face was filled with depressions from worry. Kagome just chuckled to herself, shaking her head, "Don't worry about me, Sango. I'm fine."

Sango sat back in her seat disbelievingly, but looked toward the front, trying to catch up on the lecture.

Getting comfortable once again in her position near the window, Kagome's thoughts were interrupted before she could begin them.

"Ms. Higurashi, you are to go to the office. The principal wants to speak with you. It says that you are to accompany her as well Ms. Mayako."

Sango and Kagome exchanged looks of wonder, their thoughts along the same lines. 'Why are we going to the principal's office,' and 'Why does he want to speak with us?'

The walk toward the office was longer than the two girls would have liked it to be. They exchanged glances at one another as they walked, neither one willing to break the tense silence between them.

"So, Kagome, what do you think Mr. Takara wants to talk to us about?" Sango began, rubbing her forearm with her hand nervously.

Hands in her pocket, Kagome shook her head, "I don't know, Sango. I..."

A chill suddenly ran up Kagome's spine; a feeling of foreboding deep in the pit of her stomach. She looked to Sango, who seemed worried, but not scared.

"D.. did you feel that, Sango?"

She blinked. "Feel what?"

'She didn't feel it. That's . . . so weird. Why did I . . . '

"Never mind, Sango. We're here, so let's drop it."

Sango looked over at her friend curiously, but followed her into the main office, a suspicion still in her mind.

"Mr. Takara? Mr. Takara!" Kagome's melodic voice rang through the office as she called for the principal who had asked for them, then had not shown up.

"I wonder where . . . " Sango began, but was cut off shortly after.

"I'm right here." A short, balding, old man stood before them; a handkerchief in his hand, wiping off his forehead.

The girls exchanged looks of mixed feelings. Something was wrong and they knew it.

"Girls. I'm afraid I have some bad news. Kagome, I am aware of your . . . departure of your living quarters last night, am I correct?" she nodded, "Just as well, I am afraid, you will not be happy with this. Kagome, last night around midnight . . . goodness, me, this is hard . . . Kagome, your mother is dead, honey. She committed suicide last night. I'm sorry."