Things Aren't What They Seem

Ch. 1: Late as Always, Kagome!

"Geesh! Umi is soooo goanna kill me!" Kagome yells to herself as she quickly stumbles herself for trying to put her shoes on.

Her lil brother, Sota, stands behind her with his hands behind his head. He is amused by his sister's apprehensive actions. He couldn't help himself but announce, "Ooooh! Umi is goanna have your head if you go late again."

Kagome turns around and glares at him, "Don't think I know that!" Kagome's mother sticks her head out of the kitchen door, "Hurry up Kagome. Your cousin should be waiting for you at the end of the steps by now."

"Agh! I know!...There!" She finally manages to put her shoe on. "Bye~! See you after school!"

Kagome takes off to school leaving Sota and her mother with sweat drops falling down their heads. They both know that Umi is goanna be furious with Kagome for running late. Kagome eventually reaches the bottom of the stair case. Kagome is slightly bent as her hands are on her knees. She is completely out of breath that she tries to regain it.Kagome soon realizes the sound of tapping of a shoe in front of her. A brown haired pigtailed girl, who is the same age as Kagome, stands in front of her with the similar school uniform along with distress look on her face. Kagome nervously greets her cousin, "H-Hi Umi."

((((((((((((((((((((( Umi's Point of View )))))))))))))))))))))))))

My eye twitches, "You know how long I have been waiting for you Kagome!?" Poor Kagome flinches from my sudden outburst.

"Eeep! Please don't hit me!" She covers her head with her arms.

A big anime vein of anger appears above my head, "Why the heck not! You're the one who asked me to help you with school yah Ninny!"

Kagome slumps her head, "I know, but my alarm didn't go off."

I simply sighed and turn around and walked away, "I don't know why I bother on helping you. You just keep letting me down."

Kagome runs and stops right in front of me. She puts her hands together (as if she was praying) and begged for forgiveness."I am sooo sorry Umi!"

I slipped a "Humph" before I turned my head. *I am tired of this morning routine* I think to myself.

"P-please forgive me!" Kagome begins to give me one of her puppy dog eyes expressions. I knew I would regret opening one of my eyes because was exposed to those opposing puppy dog eyes. *AGH!* I grunt and gave knew then I gave into her puppy dog eyes. I was a sucker for them since we where little. 

I let out a sigh as I rest my hand onto my hip, "Haaaa...Ok Kagome I forgive you."

"Yay! Thank you Umi!" Kagome tightly hugs me.

I couldn't help but giggle. I knew I cannot stand being mad at my cousin. I freed myself from her embrace, "Alright already [giggle] Lets head to school already shall we?"

"Ah ha." Kagome smiles and begins to walk along side me. As we walk side by side with each other. Kagome cannot help but think of how much of a wonderful cousin I am. I have always managed to forgive her. Ever since Kagome could remember, Umi was very courageous kid, and very loving to those who are dear to her. 

"Hey Kagome...Can I ask you a question?" I asked as we are close enough onto reaching school grounds. I have been meaning to ask her about her absences lately.

"Sure, what is it?"

"What are you really doing on the days that you're supposed to be sick?"

"Huh?!" Kagome is surprised by the question that she stopped walking beside me. I turned around and have her 'Don't give that look' expression.

"Oh don't give me that, Kagome." I looked at her seriously, "You think I actually believe all those excuses that grandpa says about you for not attending school?"

"Hehehehe," Kagome nervously looks away with a sweat drop and thinks within herself, *Dammit Grandpa* Kagome grips her fists tightly.

I sets both of my hands on my hips, as I looked at Kagome straight in her eyes, "Tell me the truth, Kagome."

"Ahhhhh..." Kagome steps a foot back and looks at my serious face.*Shoot! What do I say?...Should I really tell her?*

Kagome sighs. She couldn't really lie to Umi. She never really knew how to hide things from her, "Okay I'll tell you, but you wouldn't believe me."

"Why wouldn't I be-..." The damn school bell cuts me off. "Agh! Damn bell! Well, you better tell me after school."

As soon as Kagome said "ok",Umi quickly grabs her cousin's wrists and pulls her along with her as she runs straight for the school.

//////////// After School/////////

Umi's eye twitches at the red letter grade that is on Kagome's test. "You got an 'F' on today's math test?"

"It was pretty hard, Umi" Kagome states as we both walk on our way home from school.

"But Kagome! I gave you my notes and helped you study for this one." I gave a disappointed expression to Kagome, "I honestly thought you would get a decent grade since you would have been studying though the days you were supposed to be sick."

Kagome looks down at her walking feet in shame. She knew that fact she would have at least achieved a decent grade because with Umi's notes are so easy to understand. With her notes, Kagome has never had trouble passing her tests. The truth is Kagome didn't get to study Umi's notes since she spent her time looking for the Shikon jewel shards with Inuyasha and the others. 

I noticed the sad expression on her face from the corner of my eye. "Sorry, I know you try hard, I shouldn't be so hard on you."

Kagome quickly waves her hands in front of her, "No! That's not it, Umi! I promise...actually...I been traveling through the Fedural (Sp?) Era..."  Kagome softly said the last of her words softly.

"Come again? You've been what now? I didn't hear you" I asked as I raised my right eye brow.

"T-Traveling to the Fedural (Sp?) Era." Kagome said nervously.

I looked at her oddly, "You're kidding right?"

"Honest!"

"Hmm..."  I stared at Kagome serious expression. I analyzes her expression in order to see if she was lying to me, "Well, ok then. I believe you" I said this with a smile.

"Eh?!" Kagome is surprised at my reaction. She blinks while sinking in that her cousin believes her without a doubt. "B-but Umi...Why?"

"Hm? Why what?" I kept on walking beside her with my bag over my shoulder.

"You actually believe me?"

"Well of course, I mean I know it is hard for me to believe, but I have known you since we are kids. So it is easy for me to tell when you're honest with me."

With that said, Kagome stops walking. I notice her actions that I also stopped and turned around and looks at her, "What's wrong?"

She shakes her head and smiles, "It's nothing...just...I am glad you're my cousin Umi." I smiled from her response

"Well who else is better suited to be your cousin who puts up with your negligence towards your education?" I winked after saying that.

"Hahaha, Hey!" Kagome playfully shoves her cousin.

I laughed and wraps my arm around her shoulder, "You've got a lot of explaining to do, Kagome."

"I loved to Umi tell you everything, I honestly do, but I gotta go pick up Sota from his school."

"Eh? Why?"

"He needs help carry his science project from school."

"Oh ok, but you pinky promise that you will tell me right?" Umi holds up her pinky.

Kagome smiles as she wraps her pinky with Umi's, "I Pinky Promise." Kagome begins to run towards Sota's school while waving goodbye.Umi waves goodbye until Kagome ran around the corner of the neighborhood street. I continued on my way home while looking up the orange red sky, *Fedural Era huh?*