Cluster by Twilight Dawn

Keepsake Challenge (Priestess Skyes Weekly Challenge)

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.

Summary: Kagome attends her highschool reunion to face her tormentors.

Kagome checked her makeup in the mirror one last time before leaving the safety of her car. She hadn’t planned on attending this event, but her best friend had convinced her otherwise.

Her heels clicked on the gravel as she made her way to the entrance. She pretended to ignore the stares she was receiving, probably wondering who she was, and reached the sign in table without any trouble.

The woman behind the table gave her a once over before returning to the sheets sacked in front of her.“You’re Kagome Higurashi?” she asked with disbelief. “Look at you. You’ve changed so much.”

Kagome took the sticker from the woman’s hands and placed it over her chest. “Fifteen years will do that to you.” She didn’t wait for the woman to say anything else and headed into the banquet hall.

“I can’t believe you actually came,” Sango spoke, walking up to her. “I thought I would have to go over to your house tomorrow and beat the crap out of you.”

“Very funny.”

“I’m not joking, Gome,” she said. “It’s about time you get over your past.”

Kagome gave her a look. “You have to be kidding me, right?” she said, her voice rising in anger, drawing a few stares from the people around them. “You want me to forget how these people tormented me and made every day of my high school life a living hell.”

“We were young then. People do change.”

Kagome snorted. “I find that hard to believe. Just because they grew up, doesn’t mean they changed one bit. I bet some of them are still jerks.”

Sighing, Sango grabbed a couple of champagne flutes from a waiter and handed her one of the glasses. “I’m surprised no one has recognized you. Aren’t you supposed to famous or something?”

“They probably don’t recognize me in the barely lit room,” she said, taking a sip of the bubbly drink, enjoying the smooth taste. Someone had went all out for the champagne selection. It’s one of the best she had ever tasted. “They’re all probably waiting for Sesshoumaru. If he decides to show up. I wouldn’t blame him for not coming.”

Sango took a sip from her own glass. “That’s right. Doesn’t he own his own business and is ranked as the most eligible bachelor in Japan?”

“I guess,” Kagome admitted. “I’m afraid I haven’t been keeping tabs on him.”

“Are you kidding me?” Sango asked with a shocked expression. “You were crushing on the guy so bad in high school. I figured you would still be stalking him.”

Kagome pretended she didn’t hear Sango say that and changed the subject. “Where’s Miroku? I don’t haven’t seen him.”

Sango frowned at her questions. “He’s around here somewhere. I lost track of him as soon as he met up with Inuyasha.”

“Inuyasha’s here?” Kagome asked in horror. “Don’t tell me the rest of them are here?”

Sango gulped nervously. “I’m afraid so.”

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here.” Kagome placed the champagne glass on the nearest table. “I think I better leave. I don’t think I’m quite ready for this yet.”

Kagome turned to leave and was surprised that Sango wasn’t trying to stop her, when she felt someone’s hand on her shoulder. She whirled around so fast and gasped when she focused on the person who touched her.

She hasn’t seen him in a long time, but she could never forget his handsome face or his silver colored hair. His presence still makes her tongue tied.

“Could you possibly be Kagome Higurashi?” He asked, and smiled when Kagome could only nod her head. “I can’t believe I’ve finally got the chance to met with you again.”

“Again? You mean that you remember me?”

Sesshoumaru reached for her glass of champagne and handed it back to her, which she gratefully accepted. “Yes, I remember you. I must confess that I had a crush on you back in high school and it grew even more when I noticed you on the television.”

She caught herself before her mouth fell open. "You had a crush on me? I was ugly and fat. No one wanted to be near me or even be my friend.”

Sesshoumaru held her gaze. “I didn’t like you because of your appearance. I fell in love with the person inside.”

“I don’t believe this. It’s seems almost too good to be true.”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe?” He questioned her, while raising an eyebrow.

Kagome shook her head, smiling. He was misunderstanding her meaning and she had to set him straight. “I also had a crush on you in high school. Hell, I bet half of the girls in our school did.”

He smiled back at her. “I am pleased to hear that. Perhaps we could go on a date in the near future and see where it takes us.”

“I would like that very much.” A sudden realization came to her and she reached into her purse to pull out a white handkerchief. “I’ve always meant to return this to you, but I never did get the chance.”

He had lent her it to her when he had found her crying. That day, his half brother had pulled her hair and stuck gum in it.

Sesshoumaru took the handkerchief from her and studied it. He found his initials embroidered on the left corner. “You keep it,” he said, handing it back to her. “That way you’ll always have something to remember me by.”

The conversation was interrupted by the school’s principal and everyone focused their gaze upon him. “The time has come to announce the most successful people of your class.” The crowd broke into applause. He took the envelope being handed to him off to the side and opened it. “The winners are Sesshoumaru Tashio and Kagome Higurashi.”

Sesshoumaru offered his elbow to Kagome and she took his offer by placing her hand within his elbow. Their peers parted for them as they made their way to the stage. When the lights flashed on them, the crowd whispered excitedly as they started to recognize her.

The principal allowed Sesshoumaru to place the crown on her head and she approached the microphone to give her acceptance speech. “Many of you recognize me from being in movies and appearing in dramas, but what many of you don’t know is that I was a student here at this high school.”

She took a deep breath before continuing. “I have suffered at many of your hands and your cruel words. The only thing that kept me going each day was the love of my family, the few friends I had, and my crush on the person standing next to me.”

“But many of you don’t realize that I was ugly and fat back then. I have worked hard to be the person I am today and while most of you will always regret your actions, that is all I can really hope for.”

The rest of the evening flew by. She was glad Sango talked her into attending their high school reunion. She spoke her mind and even got a date with her crush. Things are really looking up for her and she can’t wait until the next reunion.

The End