Disclaimer: Inuyasha isn't mine.

A/N: I seem to have cause a bit of a stir with that last one. Bear with me, it is an AU after all, and I swear this is an InuXKag story hahaha! Also, thoughts are in italics, text messages are in bold.

Kagome.

I had to be dreaming. After the disaster that was Friday night, I'd resigned myself to one more year of torture. What other explanation was there for the dreamy man from the club to show up at my school and greet me like we were loving couple? I vaguely overheard him say that of course, Miroku was invited too. He took my hand and we started walking. As my head started clearing, I heard people whispering and others saying their disbelief outright.

He was wearing noticeably more clothing than the last time I saw him, jeans and a baggy red sweatshirt with a black bandana on his head. But even so, you could tell he was one fit specimen!

We ended up at Jimmie's, close by and fairly cheap. He told us to order what we wanted, he'd buy. I stammered out that I'd have tomato soup and an egg salad sandwich. I didn't hear what Miroku got, I was trying really hard not to stare.

Once we had our food, we found a table near the back, out of earshot.

"We haven't met," he said, holding a hand out towards Miroku, "I'm Inuyasha." I knew Miroku was being cautious, ever since my crying jag he'd been extra protective of me. He'd even showed up with the video game I'd promised Sota for lying to Mom. But he's a very good judge of character, so I took it as a good sign when he introduced himself and returned the handshake.

"And I'm," I started.

"Kagome." He finished, "I remember. So," He folded his hands under his chin and looked at the two of us, "I think I got the gist, but tell me what you want me to do."

It helped having Miroku nearby. Maybe if I'd asked him to come upstairs with me, I wouldn't have panicked. He nudged his knee against mine, signalling that he would let me explain. I took a deep breath.

"I would like to hire you to act as my pretend boyfriend."

I waited for him to laugh. He didn't. Thankfully he didn't look pitying this time, just interested.

"Ok. And that would require…?"

I felt a smile spread across my face. He was really going to help me!

"Not much," I explained, "Just make an appearance in front of my classmates once in a while and maybe hang out a few times so we can post the pictures online. Basically, just enough to convince people that we're actually together."

He considered me. I blushed. His gaze was every bit as golden and intense as it had been on Friday night. Does he wear coloured contact lenses?

"I can do that." He took out his phone and handed it to me. "But I'm going to need to know what's ok with you and what isn't." Oh. He wanted my number.

He wants my number!

"You're in charge here," he told me, "You make the decisions and I'll do what you say. When you think of something you want me to know, text me. I work Wednesday through Sunday from eight in the evening until usually two in the morning."

He said it all so matter-of-factly. It was a bit hard for me to remember that what I'd seen was a routine for him. Addressing Miroku he said,

"I assume that until she says otherwise, that the two of you are a package deal?"

Miroku nodded, seeming pleased at the understanding. Inuyasha nodded back.

"I feel like I should give you a heads-up if you ever come by the club again; my roommate is really interested in this whole thing."

Miroku and I shared a look of confusion. Roommate? I'd pictured him living in some penthouse suite on silk sheets and stuff. Where did he live?

"You probably saw her," he continued helpfully, "She's one of the bartenders."

The change that came over Miroku was almost funny. He sat bolt upright and quickly rearranged his face into something a little less intense.

"Yeah?" He asked, trying to be casual, "Which one was she? Brunette or red-head?"

Upon hearing that it was the brunette, I really thought he was going to fall out of the chair. I'd have to ask him what had happened while I was upstairs. I never thought I'd see it happen, Miroku was smitten by the bartender with a back tattoo. I closed my eyes and tried to picture her. Oh yes, she'd handed me a napkin and offered to call us a cab. She lived with Inuyasha? At least she seemed nice. They both did, actually. I was about to ask him why he'd changed his mind when I remembered something important.

"Erm. Inuyasha, sir?"

His eyebrows shot up so high that they disappeared under his white hair.

"Sir?" He said with a laugh, "If that's what you want to call me I guess I don't mind, but it might give people the wrong idea about our fake relationship."

I blushed. Again.

"What's your fee for this?" I finally managed to say. He hesitated, like he hadn't been thinking about that. He took his phone back from me and glanced at the time. Miroku and I needed to head back, but I didn't want to leave.

"Ah, we'll figure that part out later." He said, giving us a careless wave of his hand. "Don't you two need to go?"

We stood to leave. Struck by an impulse, I hugged him.

"Thanks." I mumbled.

We were halfway back to school when I felt my phone buzz in my jacket pocket. I didn't recognize the number, but the message made me smile.

No problem

My reception at school was the best I'd had in a long time. For once, Yura, Hiten and Manten had nothing to say. I'd have to enjoy that while it lasted. I'd been instantly accosted by Eri and Yuka. Ayumi was there too, but I think she was still disappointed in me for my 'cheating'.

"Your boyfriend came to visit you at school?!" Yuka demanded.

"I heard he's got white hair! What's up with that?" asked Eri. I had to do my best not to look smug.

"Yep, he does that when he has the day off and wants to go to lunch. As for the hair, I think he bleaches it. All I know is that it's sexy."

"He sure seems affectionate." Ayumi said quietly. I smiled back at her. I hope she won't dislike me forever.

"He is." I said, surprised by the certain way I said it, "He's really sweet."

We sat down for class. A few minutes in, my phone buzzed. We aren't supposed to text in class, but Mr. Totosai isn't very observant. Besides, he was teaching history, his favourite subject. I could light a fire and he wouldn't notice. So, I quietly eased my phone out of my pocket and looked at it under my desk.

I like horror movies, you?

Trying my best to hide my smile, I texted back.

Me too! Told mom I was seeing The Ring on Friday.

He replied right away! I wonder if he was still at Jimmie's.

Want to see it tonight?

I couldn't hide my smile this time. I knew some people were sneaking looks at me. I'd always been such a studious person and now I was flat-out ignoring Mr. Totosai and texting in class, it must have looked strange. My fingers shook as I typed back.

I'd love to! Pick us up after school?

I'm guessing that he enjoys this sort of thing as much as Miroku does.

You got it babe ; )

He sent me a winky face! A winky face! And called me babe!

"Kagome, care to share whatever is so interesting with the class? Mr. Totosai's rusty voice saying my name made me jump. Everybody laughed, and I turned red.

"No, I'm sorry sir."

He 'hmphed' and made me read a passage from the textbook. I was being let off easy, I've seen teachers snatch away phones and read the text messages out loud in class. I didn't text anymore after that, but I still wasn't paying attention. It may have been a fake date and Miroku would be there, but I was still so excited!

Inuyasha.

I couldn't hang around the coffee shop forever, so I headed back to the apartment to drop off the groceries and fill Sango in about how the meeting went. Oh yeah, I hadn't told her I was going. Whoops.

"Hey. Thanks for driving Kohaku." She said as soon as I walked in. She'd apparently just come back from her daily run, she was lying on the couch in her sports bra and yoga pants.

"No worries," I answered, shoving her feet away so I could sit down. "I agreed to help that girl." I didn't have to look at her, I knew she was giving me her damn "told you so" face.

"Shut up Sango. Anyway, we're going to see The Ring tonight. Wanna come? Until they decide I'm not a creep, Kagome's friend is coming on all of our 'dates'." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her fiddling with her hair. She only does that when she's shy about something. I turned to stare at her.

"This uh, wouldn't be the friend that came to the club with her would it?"

"Yes." I answered slowly, "What the hell did I miss?!"

"Nothing," She mumbled. "While you were upstairs making Kagome cry, he was at the bar talking to me. He's cute, that's all." Yeah right, that's all.

I jabbed her in the ribs to emphasize my words.

"I think I've figured out why you wanted me to take this job so badly!" She smacked my hands away and punched me in the arm.

"Hey! Watch the claws, you ass!"

I flipped her off. She punched me again.

"Anyway, I'd like to go, but it's Monday remember? Kohaku day."

Ah yes. It's hard sometimes, being on completely different schedules. But we really try to make sure we spend time with Kohaku. I don't think he has many friends. There's a lot that we don't want people to know about us, and he was already a shy kid. We see him in the afternoons, between when he comes home and when we have to go to work, but we can't help but feel like he's left alone too often. So, we came up with the idea of Kohaku day; he still has to get his homework done, but after that, he gets to decide what we do and what we have for dinner.

"Shit. Dammit, I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't be." She said, rubbing one of my drooping ears, "You can go, I'll stick around here."

"What if Kohaku came too?" I suggested. I felt shitty for forgetting Kohaku day. "They'll let him into the theatre if we're there."

Sango nodded and smiled.

"I'll send him a message and ask. If he's in, then I am too." She stopped mid-text and looked at me.

"You said Kagome was hiring you to do this? What's she paying you?"

I glared at her, feeling my face warm up.

"We haven't figured that part out yet."

She raised an eyebrow at me. This was her "knowing face" and I think it's worse than her "I told you so" face.

"Shut up Sango."

TBC

A/N: Thank you to everyone for the feedback, good and bad! I have the whole story planned out and I'm excited to write it!