Chapter 4

Mystery

The spin knocked my balance and nearly sent me tumbling down the stage but ignored it. Instead my full attention was towards the person who was clapping. Could you guess who that would be; it's quite obviously and there could only be one explanation why he was here.

"If you came here looking for revenge cause of that attack, then bring it on. I'm not afraid of you." I brought my arms up in defense mode when he walked closer towards me.

"I don't know what you mean by attack but I came in peace." My suspicion was still there but I dropped my position. There was no way Inuyasha could had forgotten that punch I've given him this morning, especially judging by that slight red mark still impeded on his face. "Then what exactly are you here for?"

"I was just walking pass and I heard someone singing so I came in to see who it was." My face blew up into a tomato. I was positive I wasn't singing that loud but forgot the fact that the stadium echoes, especially one as big as this one.

"Well I'm pretty sure you already know me, I mean who doesn't." Inuyasha said with pride and over cockiness tone. His cocky ego was tempting me to just punch that other uninjured cheek of his. Why bother reintroducing himself to me.

"And you are?" Now that's surprised me a bit.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked him. I mean we've already had a few misfortunate encounters happened with each other.

"Well with that mask on you I can't really tell who you are." My hand automatically flew to my face and touched the mask that was indeed still covering the upper half of my face. Well that explains why he didn't recognize me. Plus I wasn't wearing my glasses which I'm quite sure Inuyasha was used to seeing me with since he calls me '4-eyes' whenever he sees me. Well isn't this new discovery interesting. Might as well use this opportunity for a bit of entertainment.

"Sorry that name doesn't ring a bell nor am I obligated to give my name out to a stranger." I turned around and continued with the decorations but mostly to hide my smirk, but I made sure to catch Inuyasha's shock expression.

"H-ha real funny, you know…Inuyasha the school's star quarterback in football; and I don't mean to brag but I'm also known as the most wanted guy in this campus."

Don't mean to brag my ass; of course he did that on purpose. I turned back around and faced him. "Well Mr. Cocky ass quarterback, only people that's prepping for the prom has priority to be here. If you don't mind please leave. You being here is a hindrance." I watched as Inuyasha walked out slowly with a dumfounded expression on his face. I spun on my heels and skipped back to my still unpacked decoration boxes now with a smile on my face. It sure was fun kicking down Inuyasha's high ego.

"Kagome, we just seated a group of 6 at table 65. You're in charge of them." I turned around and nodded at my coworker. "Got it." I replied then rushed towards the table.

I currently work as a part time at Olive Garden. Even though I get paid from being Kikyo's voice, I only receive 15% of what she earn which wasn't much when you have to cover food expanses, school payment, and rent for the apartment. Working in this restaurant has lots of labor, my wrist was still strained from carrying all the heavy plates.

I rushed to table 65 with pen and black book ready but came to a stop, not believing my eyes. Right there sitting on the table I was assigned to was them, laughing and cracking jokes. I turned back on my heels and rushed back to the front desk. "Rin, pleaseee assign that table to someone else. I'm begging you." I gave her my best puppy eyes I could master. "I'm sorry Kagome but all the other servers are all busy. You're the only one that can take them."

I signed but made my way back to table 65. When I got there, they all looked up at me. "Hi, my name is Kagome and I'll be your server tonight. Can I start you all with something to drink?" I said my rehearsed line then waited for the insult to come.

"If it isn't Kagome, the school's nerd." The first one who spoke up was Kikyo. I looked down at them in order, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kikyo, Kouga, and surprisingly Ayame and her friend that I recognized as one of the girls that ganged up on me. I guess they were finally able to get inside of the popular group circle.

I ran back to the kitchen with Ayame and her friend's plate, furious. They have been giving me nonstop trouble purposely. She complained that there was hair in her soup which coincidently had the same color as her hair. But as the quote goes 'costumers are always right.' I grabbed a new plate and rushed back out to them. "I apologized for that, here's a new plate. Please let me know if there's another else you need." After placing her order down, I was about to walk to my other assigned table.

"Wait." I silently cursed but turned back around at Kikyo.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I didn't order this dish. I ordered the Chianti braised short ribs." I was screaming in my mind, I for sure got her order right; she was doing this to piss me off. "I'm sorry ma'am, I'll get your order changed right away.

I grabbed her plate and started walking to the kitchen again, but didn't notice a foot that was sticking out. I tripped on Kikyo's foot and landed on my knee with the now spilled food. I glared up at Kikyo while she smirked.

"Opps." Kikyo elbowed her lemonade glass and it spilled on me. The girls at the table giggled at me as I got up from the floor dripping lemonade juice head to toe. I wanted to scream, to punch those smiling bitches in the face. I didn't realized just how much attention I got from the other costumers until I turned around. Everyone's eyes were on me; my face blew up from humiliation. Putting on a fake smile, I turned back at the table. "It's quite alright. I'll go get your order right now." I bowed my head while walking to the back of the restaurant. Now that I had time to cool off my head, I just realized how much pain my ankle was in, great it was probably sprain from that fall. Shit my eyes are tearing up.; I wiped furiously at it.

"Fuck." I hissed out. I forgot the juice that was still on me and stupidly rubbed it on my eyes, for sure my eyes were tearing.

"Here." I turned around and looked shocked at the person. Kouga was holding out a handkerchief. "I'm sorry about what they did to you. I'll make sure to yell at them when I get back to the table." I looked at him shocked as he tried to wipe the juice off of me.

"There, that should be better." Kouga smiled down at me and handed me the handkerchief. I shook off the shock and grabbed it. "Thanks, and you don't have to yell at them. It was an accident." Psh why the hell was I making an excuse for them.

"Purpose my ass. I saw those smiles on the girls' faces. Don't worry I'll make sure to lecture them. I can see it in your eyes that you want me to anyways." He smiled down at me with the knowing look.

It made me smile back at him.

-July 26-

I looked back at the book to make sure I was grabbing the right kind of herb from the secret garden. The poor cat was still in the alley and injured and according to this book, these herbs can heal most wounds. Healing its wound was the least I can do for the poor cat.

"Hey there, 4-eyes." I didn't even need to look up to know who it was. There was only two people that know of this location me and-

"Did you come here to bully me some more." Not bothering with my usual shy cover up.

"Ah no, my bad…Kagome was it. Look I just came to apologize about yesterday." I walked towards him and pulled out something out of my pocket.

"Here, $100 tip was too much. Take it back." After the entire incident yesterday, Rin took over my tables while I got cleaned up. By the time I got back, they were gone. When I looked at the check book, there was a 100 dollar tip. It was overpaid for a meal that was merely $150. When I asked Rin who paid, she pointed at the seat that Inuyasha sat on.

"Keep it, looks like you need the money for you to be working at the restaurant." Inuyasha pushed the money back to me. "Besides, I'm rich."

The nerves of him! Granted that Shikon University was a high prestigious school mostly for the rich and talented, the high tuition fee was a bit of a trouble for me. Only reason I was able to enroll was because Kikyo wanted to keep me close beside her in case I was needed for her singing voice. "I don't need your pity money." I yell

"No, it's not pity money. Look, just take it as an apology from yesterday. I really don't understand why they girls would treat you so badly for no reason." It was quite obvious that they're bullying me cause of the attention I'm getting from him.

"I don't know either, but I think we should pretend we don't know each other from now on. I won't be coming back to this place again."

"I already apologized. You don't have to take it that far."

I grabbed the herbs and walked pass him.

"Do you think I was a bit harsh on him Kirara? I mean I left without leaving an explanation and it really wasn't his fault." The cat hissed when I placed the ointment on her. "Ah sorry about, just bear with it a bit longer."

"There you go Kirara, all better." I got up from the ground and looked at my work; Kirara's (the name I gave to the cat) leg was bandaged.

"Now hopefully someone would take you home now that your leg is going to heal."

-July 27-

I waved at the air coughing at the chemical fuse. After the smell subsided, I pulled back on my mask to cover my mouth and nose. Grabbing the spray can, I continued with the poster. Designing the poster was actually quite fun since art was something I was pretty decent at; I grabbed the blue spray can and added the finishing touch. There. The poster has painted figures in elegant gowns and masks with the huge word 'Mystery' stray painted on; the theme word for prom, a day where everyone's identity was a mystery. Now to get it posted up on the high wall. Well that was going to be hard to do, especially with a sprain ankle. I limped towards the ladder and tried carrying it to across the room.

"Do you need help with that?" I glared up at him.

"You again? I swear you're stalking me." I set the ladder down and start to slowly climb up.

"Stalker? This is only the second time I've seen you." Inuyasha defended. Ah right, he still doesn't know that I was Kagome.

"Well I don't need your help; I'm perfectly fine on my own. Like I said before, only people that's pepping can be allowed here." Right after I said that, I extend my arms to tape the poster up. I was almost there but then realized I was an inch short of reaching the ceiling.

"Are you sure you don't need my help. Looks like you're a tad bit too short to reach it." I heard Inuyasha snicker from below.

"I'm fine!" Like hell I'll let my pride down. I jumped to try to reach that one inch but forgot about my left ankle and hissed when I landed on it and lost my balance. "Hey be careful!" Ah too late for that. I closed my eyes when I felt myself falling down the 20 meter high ladder and embraced for the impact.

There was surely an impact, but it didn't hard much. I cracked an eye open and looked. Inuyasha was lying on the floor face down and me on top of his back. Ah crap, I landed on top of him. "Ouch that fucking hurt." Inuyasha mumbled, he turned his head towards me. "I'm guessing you will need my help after all."

I hurried off his back and limped away from him, hiding the flush on my face.

-July 28-

I hummed happily while setting up the tables. The humming slowly turned into lyrics. Why was I so happy? Well this morning I went to the alley to see Kirara as usual, but she wasn't there. In fact all her belongings were gone; the cup, box, blanket, and even the scarf I've given her. A stranger left a note instead saying how s/he will be taking good care of the cat. Someone has finally taken her in. It was a bit sad that I won't be seeing Kirara anymore, but at least she has a warm home now and at a perfect timing too. The raining season was starting.

"Why is it that I always catch you singing by yourself while wearing something on your face?" Nope, not even he can ruin my good mood or the raining cold weather outside right now.

"None of your business." Ever since Inuyasha volunteer to help me set up for prom, I've been wearing some sort of mask to cover my face. I finally turned towards Inuyasha but found something that startled me. I stared hard at the umbrella Inuyasha was carrying. I swear it looked just like the one I've given to Kirara a few days ago so it could help cover her from the rain.

"So, I still don't know your name." That statement pulled me back to reality.

"So? What about it?" I asked.

"Well, are you going to tell me? I don't really know what to address you by."

I pondered at that. "Nah, not going to tell you." I teased.

"What! Fine then I'll just have to give you a nickname then. Hmm." I watched him as he looked around the stadium trying to think. His vision stop on the poster I painted. "I got it, Mystery! I'll just call you that till I figure out who you really are."

Hm, Mystery. What a fitting nickname.

A/N:

Ah~~~~~Thousands of pardon for the long wait. I totally forgot about this story, that was until I actually checked my mail and saw the reviews. I'm surprised that people still read this story.

The chapter was suppose to be longer but I gotta cut it short, got work soon.

Anyways, to those who are still reading this, thank you. And this time I'm POSITIVE that I would be posting chapter 5 by next week. I finally got a day off from work next week =w= yay