Fighting the Silence by Meian no Uta

About A Girl

"I've been down every road

You could go

I've made some bad choices

As you know

Seems I've got this whole world

Cradled in my hand

It's just not me like to understand, yeah."

-Pink, 'Numb'

I'm not sure how long I had been running from them. It seems to me now, that it all started after Souta died. I was trying to escape. I can understand that. But it was weak. And that is something I will never again be. I'm not the kind of girl that will cry in front of anyone. Not anymore. Not since my brother was murdered.

The bastards murdered him to get to me. They knew they couldn't take me on, so they killed him, and tried to kill Mom. She was in the hospital for so long. And I couldn't go see her. Because they were watching her. And I was in no position to take them on. Not with Souta dead and Juro and Kagura missing. So I ran. And settled here. In this freak area of this freak city.

But they'll find me.

~*~*~*~

Kagome Higurashi looked into the mirror. Looking back at her was a thin girl, with pale skin, long black hair pulled back into a braid, and startling blue eyes. She examined her clothes. The jeans were stylish enough for her tastes and the boots were ones she could run, or fight in if necessary. The long sleeved shirt hid the bruises on her arms and ribs. And the knife at the small of her back. The doorbell rang. She took one last look in the mirror and went to answer it.

Opening the door, she saw a girl about her age. Dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. Casual, except the sweatshirt didn't hide the knives up the girl's sleeves.

"Kagura?" Kagome whispered, half to herself.

"Who? Sorry, you must be confused. I'm Sango Hishu. I was told to come here and show you where places are. Like a welcoming committee. Besides, it's not safe for a girl to walk these streets alone. Tru st me, I know." Sango smiled at her.

Kagome stared at her. How could someone living here still be so excessively cheerful?

"You are Kagome Higurashi, right?"

"Yeah. So, let's go." Kagome stepped outside and closed and locked the door. They started walking.

"Sure thing! So lived here long? I have, since I was three. Born and raised on the streets. Me and my girls ruled here until some punk ass bastard started to take over. Now we have two streets left. This one, and the one I live on. Other groups have other streets. But three of my girls live in Spider territory. So what's your story?"

"Didn't your mother ever tell you to mind your own business?"

"Nope! You in a gang?"

"No."

"Were you in one?"

"Yeah."

"Heard of the Dragons?"

"Yeah. What, you part of them?

"Yep! And proud to be. I'm part of the Tracker segment. We're run by Miroku Ofuda. Heard of a Tracker named Dagger, or one named Charmer?"

"Both."

"I'm Dagger. Miroku's Charmer. You'll see why."

"Got a space for me?"

"You bet! We need all the recruits we can get, since the Spiders got a new leader and four new recruits."

"Who's the leader?"

"Naraku Onigoumo. Know him?"

"Yeah. He and his group of mother fucking bastards ran the streets where I lived."

"Hey! You managed a sentence with for than five words. You should get a gold star!"

"Are you always this cheerful?"

"Yep! Part of what gets me through the day. We're here. You want to meet the gang?"

"Why not?" Kagome followed Sango through a door. Inside, was what seemed to be a training room.

"Yo! Flame! Charmer! Falcon! Get your asses over here and meet the new recruit!"

Kagome smirked as three people walked over. Two guys and a beautiful girl. She usually would have looked at the guys more, but the girl caught her attention. She had bright copper hair swept up in a bun, and pure white skin, even whiter when compared to her black eyes. She smiled at Kagome.

"Hey. I'm Kati Shina. Flame. This cutey here is Miroku Ofuda. The Charmer. And this is our newest member Ju-"

"Juro Taka." Kagome turned to look at him. He was taller than she remembered, and his hair was longer, but he was still Juro.

"Hey Kagome."

"You fucking bastard. Get out of my sight. Now." For once he listened, and left her line of sight.

"Whoa. What the hell was that? Flame, Dagger, give me a minute with the newbie." The two girls walked away, and Miroku pulled her over to a couple chairs.

"What?"

"Your name?" He leaned back to watch her.

"Kagome Higurashi."

"Where you from?"

"Around."

"Been in a gang?"

"Yeah."

"Name of the gang?"

"Huit."

"Juro was part of it?"

"Yeah."

"What happened?"

"We got into a fight. four members were in the hospital at the time. Two ran. Two got killed. Leaving me."

"Juro ran?"

"Yeah. So who's in charge? O f like, the whole gang, anyway."

"The Ice Prince. Sesshoumaru Ousama. You'll meet him sooner or later, if you join up with us. He'll train you."

"The leader trains the newbies?"

"Yeah. He makes sure they won't get anyone killed."

"Look, I better go." Without waiting for Miroku's response, Kagome stood up, and left. She walked back to her apartment. At the door, she felt someone behind her. Turning around, she saw Juro leaning against the wall.

"What the hell do you want Taka?" She opened the door and went inside, leaving it open. He followed, closing it behind him.

"To explain."

"You mean about why you and Kagura ran, leaving me and two others to fight nine Fauves? Yeah, I was meaning to ask you about it, except I couldn't find you afterwards. After I had to run for my goddamn life because the other two Huits were dead."

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? You're sorry that Souta is dead because you ran like the weakling you are? Good. Yo u should be fucking sorry."

"You don't understand. Kagura only ran to chase after me, to bring me back. I ran because I thought you could hold them off while I went to get backup."

"So why didn't you tell me this after? Oh, right. Because you never came around. Falcon, my ass. More like a pigeon. Now get out. Tell Kagura I want to see her. And tell Charmer I want a place in the Dragons. But not with the Trackers."