Misconceptions

Chapter One:
Cupid's Bullet

Ayame slipped through the crowd of the class as everyone pretty much pushed their way out. "Miss Tanaka."

She looked back at her professor. "Yes, Oshiro-sensei?" she asked curiously, bouncing down the steps slowly. "I wasn't sleeping, I swear. I was just resting my eyes, was all?"

"That's not what I wanted to talk to you about." Mr. Oshiro leaned back, resting his weight on the desk.

"Oh," she laughed nervously. "Then I'm sure you can scratch that last sentence. What is it? It's not my paper, is it?" Ayame let groan escape from her. "I knew I should have done it on Cornelius Vanderbilt instead. How bad was it?"

"It's not about that either."

"Oh . . . well, I'm a little lost. If it's not those things then what is it?"

He held out a stapled packet for her.

Ayame took with great caution as if it could be contaminated with the Ebola virus or something equally terrible. She turned it over and saw it had been the test she had taken only days ago. She also saw that she had earned herself a C. "Well, I can't exactly say I deserved anything higher."

"That's the point," he noted. "I've never seen you get anything less than a B. If there is something you can't understand I can always help you after class."

"That'd be great except . . . there's no way I can do it." She frowned as she tucked the paper into her bag. "I need all the time after class I can get to catch up with my studies. And I work nights. The only time I could do it would be weekends—even then I couldn't pay for a tutor."

"Who pays for your tuition?" He asked curiously.

"My parents pay for half and I pay the rest. We don't exactly own large businesses if you know what I mean. Money's a little tight these days and financial aid isn't that great."

"I'll do it then—for free."

"Really? You'd do that?"

.o0o.

Kagome, with her raven hair and dark eyes, sat outside on a school bench along with Carissa whose amber glazed hair and piercing violate eyes could stop the wind dead in it's tracks.

"Sorry I'm late."

Kagome turned around to find her friend and smiled. "Hey, what took you so long? Carissa is eating your water ice."

Ayame looked down to find Carissa giving her a purely innocent look as she scooped a spoon full of Polish cherry-flavored water ice into her mouth. "It was just a taste," she explained.

Ayame only rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Kagome. "I had some stuff to deal with, but I'm done now."

"What kind of stuff."

"Nothing big, I just got a C on my exam."

"Nothing big?" Kagome repeated. "Ayame, I've never seen you calmer than this. You don't even let your self get Bs. How did you end up with a C as an actual grade?"

She shrugged. "I don't even know how it happened. But don't worry, Oshiro-sensei promised to help me."

"Here you go," Carissa entered the conversation as she handed Ayame the empty bowl of Polish water ice.

"Thanks," she muttered under her breath as she dumped it into the trash can behind Kagome. "Oh you never finished telling me that whole story on how you and Inuyasha met."

Kagome smiled as she threw her empty container away also. "It's long story."

"Secrets, secrets are no fun!" Carissa chanted in the background. "Come on, girls, there's a gorgeous pair of Gucci shoes with my name on them!"

Ayame rolled her eyes as Carissa grabbed a hold of her and Kagome's hands and dragged them along. "Great, so what about us poor people?" she teased.

.o0o.

"I was supposed to meet him here, where is he?" Ayame had a terrible habit of murmuring to herself when no one else is around. It often made her look a bit insane, but it didn't bother her in the least bit.

"He's not coming."

Ayame turned around toward the voice. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Kouga replied rather arrogantly as he highlighted something in his notes. "He sent me instead," he finally admitted.

"You? Okay, I'm so not okay with this."

"Be thankful I gave up a weekend to help your catch up. I can already tell with your intelligence it'll be harder than Oshiro-sensei thought."

"I'm not that dumb," Ayame scoffed while glaring. "I'm just having hard time catching up after missing a few weeks."

He rolled his eyes, disregarding any explanation Ayame had in store for him. "What ever you want to call it is not my business."

"Call what? It's not like I'm trying to excuse myself purposely. What's the point anyway, it's not like you like me."

"You're right," he agreed under his breath.

Ayame furrowed her eye brows. "Wait, you really don't like me?"

Kouga rolled his eyes. "You're annoying. That's my only point."

"So then why are you tutoring me? You could just say no." Ayame sat down, placing her bag on the reading table Kouga sat at.

"Let's just say I have time."

.o0o.

"How'd your help thing turn out?" Carissa asked curiously, biting into her ice cream cone. There was barely a day that passed where you didn't catch her stuffing something in her mouth. Either way, she was probably the thinnest girl you could find in Japan.

Her parents were both apart of the American Navy, which made her a Navy brat. She finally stuck to Japan when she was about sixteen and refused to leave. Her parents let her stay with her grandmother who enjoyed traveling and discovering new cultures. But when she was eighteen, her grandmother thought it was time for her to go and she had left Carissa alone. Carissa started college and her parents sent her checks every now and then so she didn't have to work a day in her life.

"It was terrible!" Ayame growled throwing her bag on the bench, next to Carissa and crossing her arms over her chest.

"Whoa, what exactly happened?"

"It turns out Oshiro-sensei can't do it and I'm being tortured by Kouga instead."

Carissa's eyed widened in amazement. "You mean supper—rich—hot Kouga? Heir to the Ookami business and ookami-youkai thrown?"

"Is there another?"

"How could that be so bad?"

Ayame shook her head. "Car, you don't understand. I mean he goes out of his way to make people's lives miserable! You honestly believe that wouldn't bother me?"

Carissa rolled her eyes and through the cone wrapper away. "So what he's a babe!" she pointed out. "It's not like he's actually done anything to harm you directly, right?"

"Well no . . ."

"And he shouldn't blamed for having so many connections—"

"And being a bully," Ayame added.

Carissa nodded slowly. "True, but you have to admit, he does look very attractive when he's smashing someone's face in. I mean, have you seen the biceps?"

Ayame looked a little awkward as Carissa tried to paint a picture in both their heads. "Well, when you put it that way," she teased, her voice sulking in sarcasm.

"Oh come on, you can't say he's not handsome."

"I'm not saying he isn't handsome, I just go for mean people who take the pleasure of beating up anyone with their friends. It's not exactly very luring if you get my meaning."

"Whatever, that's still not keeping him from my dreams," Carissa giggled.

Ayame let out a little laugh. "Where's Kagome?"

"Oh, she had something to do with Inuyasha so they pretty much left us."

"I see. You want to watch a movie or something then?"

Carissa shook her head. "Sorry, but I actually have somewhere to be?"

"Somewhere to be?" Ayame repeated. "Where?"

"You'll find out later. I'll call you."

"Okay," Ayame agreed, waving sadly as her friend left her.

.o0o.

"So my parents aren't coming . . . at all?" Carissa asked the secretary.

She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. We just received the notice from New York. It seems they're stuck there."

Carissa nodded. "I understand, thank you." She turned around to walk out the office only to dodge someone's shoulder. "Oh, Detective Arakaki, I didn't see you there. I'm sorry."

He smirked. "Fax them to the other department," he ordered before turning his attention back to Carissa. "That's fine. How've you been?"

She smiled sadly. "I've had better days," she admitted. "How have you been?"

"I guess I've had better days too. What's got you with long face?"

Carissa shrugged, shoving her hands into her pockets. "I was supposed to see my parents this weekend, but it turns out they can't make it. Another mission I suppose."

"Maybe," He looked her in the eyes, enjoying her alluring look. It was almost like being hypnotized to look into them. As if it was impossible to look away. "It's been a while since I've seen you."

A while? Try a year. Detective Arakaki and Carissa met by accident. She was arrested for under aged drinking at a local night club along with Ayame—who wasn't even drinking but was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. With her sass, she was detained even longer by dropping random insults, but after he found out exactly who her parents were, he released her with great apologies.

It was sort of an ironic way of meeting someone.

"A year, right?" She laughed. "I guess time flies by when you aren't getting arrested. Well, I guess I'll see you around."

.o0o.

"Are you even listening?" Ayame yelled at Kouga.

"Sh," the librarian scolded from across the room furrowing her eye brows in anger.

"What's got a stick up her ass?" Kouga asked rather loudly while pulling off his ear-bud ear-phones out of his ears and tucking away his mp3 player.

"I knew you weren't listening, jerk!" Ayame muttered under her breath as she turned her pencil around and erased what she had just written. "You know, there is no point in you tutoring me, if you aren't actually going to help me."

"Don't worry that big head of yours, I've taken care of it," he allowed.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Trust me. With one word I can do anything."

"Well I don't trust you. Exactly what have you done?" she questioned curiously. "Wait, don't tell me you actually paid off—okay, stop whatever you pulled, just take it back!"

"You should be thanking me," he scolded. "I got that C pulled up to an A."

"Yes by using your 'rich boy schemes' not by teaching me anything. I never agreed to your tactics. If you won't actually tutor me, then why are you here?"

"I need the credit, okay?" he admitted stubbornly, packing up his stuff. It wasn't till then that Ayame noticed how blue his eyes really were. It was almost like falling.

"Credit, why don't you just use your usual ritual of bullying teachers or something?"

"Believe it or not, I can't get out of a lot of things. In order to study here, I need some volunteer work. And you just need . . . work."

Ayame rolled her eyes. "Thanks," she scoffed. "I'll try not to be insulted. The fact of the matter is that I didn't earn the grade I received."

"No can do. Grades just closed this morning so you're stuck with your perfect a record."

It suddenly sunk into her that she wasn't getting away with any of this easily. "Fine, then what do you want from me? Knowing you, it's not exactly a free ride. I'm sure you can find something to hold against me some how."

He eyed her up and down and chuckled. "There's really nothing you can give me that I can't get from someone else."

She stared at him hard, as if to actually make his organs implode inside him—she could only dream. "That's not what I meant."

"Whatever you say."

.o0o.

"Are you kidding me?" Carissa gasped as she poured sugar into her drink. "I he actually said that? Hm," she thought for a moment as she stirred the ingredients with the small plastic straw. "I probably would have jumped his bones right there if I were you."

Ayame scoffed. "I'm surprised I didn't slap him for being so rude." She suddenly let her eyes glide down her body. "I mean, I have an average body, don't I?"

Carissa rolled her eyes. "Of course you do, love. The fact that he was observing even made it better. What's your take Kagome, I mean you've known Kouga forever, right?"

Kagome shrugged. "I guess so." She admitted quietly. "What can I say, it's Kouga. He's always been like that. As long as he gets what he wants, he's okay."

"I'm not surprised that he doesn't have a girlfriend," Ayame went on, resting her chine on her palm and elbow on the table.

"Girlfriend? Of course not . . . he has girlfriends!" Carissa added enthusiastically, eyes widening.

Kagome sighed. "Like I said, Kouga is Kouga. He's been handed everything since he was a mere child. Of course he was going to turn out like this."

"Tell me about it. He was born with a gold spoon up his ass!" Carissa added while sipping her drink. "He's so . . . rich."

"I was thinking more along the lines of arrogant." Ayame intruded with a giggle.

"What did he do to you that was cruel?" Kagome asked almost quietly.

"He changed my grade."

Carissa gasped. "How rude; I can't believe he gave a D."

"No, he changed it to an A"

She furrowed her eye brows. "Oh, I understand," Carissa teased as she elbowed Kagome who immediately took notice and tried to hold back her laughter. "That would get me angry too! How dare he?" She exaggerated in a dramatic and sarcastic voice.

"Okay, so it might be a blessing in disguise. But I'm still not learning a thing. I would prefer a grade that I deserve."

"Trust me, if any one deserves that A, it's you. Besides, it's free."

"Actually," Kagome put a finger on her chin in thought. "I'm pretty sure it's not free at all. If Kouga is anything like he was when he was younger, then trust me, you are in for a rude awakening."

"Wow, and coming from Kagome who usually give everyone the benefit of the doubt!" Carissa shoved Ayame with little force. "Cheer up, Love. I'm sure everything is going to be alright. Besides, what could be so wrong?"

.o0o.

Bankotsu stood next to Hakkaku as they both waited for Kouga to arrive. "If he wanted to miss class, he could have at least called," Bankotsu added as he looked at the time on the front panel of his cell phone. "Did he say anything to you?"

Hakkaku shrugged and shook his head. "He wasn't even home last night. You think he was out?"

"I doubt it. I think Auntie is just in town."

Hakkaku shook his head and hissed sympathetically. "Boy do I feel sorry for him."

"Don't. Trust me. Auntie planned some big gathering and we're invited—which means we're actually forced to go." Bankotsu shuttered at the thought of being in the same room with both Kouga's mother and father for more than few minutes, let alone a few hours. "Hopefully we'll both come out in one piece this time."

"We can only hope—"

"Hey guys," Kouga intruded as he walked toward his child hood friends.

"Finally, for a minute I thought Auntie had you in her grip."

"She wishes. Let's go."

Ayame walked along the stone path of the school with Kagome at her side—as usual. They were upset to find that Carissa had slept in once again and would miss class. It was never the same with out all three of their witty banters.

"I swear, one day they'll expel her for missing so many classes." Ayame gripped her bag at her side hard and moved it to her comfort.

"Honestly, I think she's missed more classes than she's been to. I bet her parents are on her case right now. Are they even coming down this week?" Kagome asked curiously.

"I don't even think I heard her mention them—" Ayame cut herself off with a scream as some random stranger was pushed toward her. Luckily she moved out the way enough for him to only hit her shoulder.

Everyone froze suddenly to catch the scene.

"Listen when we say something twit," Bankotsu sneered rather evilly before walking away as if nothing happened.

Ayame looked wide eyed as she slowly made her way near the stranger. Too bad it was no stranger, it just so happened to be Souta. Ayame stopped herself suddenly.

Kagome almost rushed to her brother before Ayame grabbed her arm. "Kagome, I wouldn't. Like you said, if this has anything to do with Kouga and his little gang of goons, they'll take their anger out on you if they catch you helping him."

"He's my brother, Ayame. What else can I do?" Kagome quickly rushed to her brother's side. "Souta are you okay?"

Ayame cautiously looked around to make sure no one was watching before also rushing to see if Souta was hurt. She helped Kagome lift him to his feet. "What did you do to Bankotsu?"

"I think I breathed wrong or something," Souta joked as he picked up his book. They had shoe prints all over them.

Kagome's eye brows furrowed in anger. "This is unacceptable! I can't believe Kouga would have anything to do with this. He knows you are my brother."

Ayame grabbed Kagome's arm once more. "Wait, Kagome. I thought I was rash. Kouga doesn't care if you were the best of friends in grade school or not. Just leave it. I'm sure if Souta stay out of their way, they won't bother him anymore."

Kagome sighed. "I guess you are right. There's not much I can do now. "She looked at Souta and then back at Ayame. "I don't even feel like going to class anymore. Can you please tell the professor I wasn't feeling well? Come on Souta, let's go home for now."

Ayame nodded and waved at her friend. 'Poor Souta; poor Kagome.' She turned around only to catch Kouga standing right behind her. She gasped and jumped back. "You scared me," she clarified.

"What the hell were you doing?"

She opened her mouth to object but closed again. She stared at her toes and then up at Kouga again with guilt. "I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just helping—"

"Don't mess with our victims," he warned. "Or you'll also be our victim."

She shook her head. "No," she objected far too quickly. She regretted it right away. "I mean, I couldn't. Kagome is my friend and Souta is her brother. We both practically grew up together. It's not like I meant to mess with your victim. But I had no choice."

Kouga just smirked. "You're feisty, I respect that you stick up for your friends. But I doubt you honestly choose friend ship over mortal pain."

"W-why? Am I on like, you're hit list or something."

"Or something,"

'Great. Not only is he a jerk, but I'm also afraid of him?' She wondered where that wild spirit in the library had gone. Naturally, she would have gone nuts and probably hit him. But after everything Carissa and Kagome had to say the other day, she found herself with a change of heart.

Kouga eyed her carefully. He wondered the exact same thing. Was Ayame actually afraid of him for a change?

.0o0o0.

A/N:

Hello! My name is Tayanese and I'm releasing my newest story on It's is a coupling of Ayame and Kouga incase you haven't noticed. Heh. Well, it's not my first story in general, but it's the first time I'm actually putting it on an actual site. Before, o just used to write these stories in my journals in hopes of one day becoming a well known author. But for now, I'll stick to fan fiction! It's my calling!

I hope you all enjoy it!

There will also be minor-character romances!

.0o0o0.

A blanket disclaimer for all chapters associated in the story of Misconceptions, which is soon to be come and Inuyasha fan fiction series. R. Takahashi owns all rights to the original characters of the manga/anime series. However, for all characters not associated with the manga/ anime series are owned by me, Tayanese.