Disclaimer--*Robotic voice* Inuyasha is not owned by Gohansfan. Inuyasha is not owned by Gohansfan. Please leave a message.
Author's note—Okay, is that disclaimer weird or what? I don't know what happened up there. Most likely, I'm hyper. And you know what that means? Story mode!!!!!!!!! I swear. You ever have those moments where you're waiting and waiting for something very important to happen and you give yourself too much time to get ready for it, find yourself with nobody to talk to and nothing to do the pass those annoying seconds that have either multiplied to 10 times the usual number, or pass 10 times slower? ARGH! It's my graduation, dang it—and I still have one bloody hour!!!!! So. You get the new chapter you've all been patiently waiting for, and I find a way to pass time—hopefully? Oh yeah—just 'cuz the title says sleepover at Miroku's doesn't mean the girls are invited too. Nope. Just guys. That clue you in any? And we have a new character! Sorry to disappoint, but it's not Shippo.
Swish
Inuyasha grinned triumphantly as he watched the basketball bounce into the grass away from the hoop. He'd finally done it. All that practice and he'd finally managed to make a basket from the foul line!
Kagome had to stifle a giggle at the proud expression on Inuyasha's face. She watched as he picked up the ball and walked over to where she, Miroku, and Sango were watching.
"Congratulations, man!" Miroku clapped Inuyasha on the back as he reached the little group. "You know though—I figure that Kagome's been teaching you the easy stuff about basketball—"
"Hey!" Kagome protested.
"What? It's true! We've only got three days left on this sport and all 'yasha knows how to do is shoot the foul line and bounce the ball down the court! I figure I gotta show him how to lay-up, at least!"
Kagome growled in response, while Inuyasha just stood in between them, his confident smirk fading into confusion. How much more did he have to learn in this sport before they played a game?
Miroku yelped at Kagome's expression and dragged Inuyasha back to the driveway while Sango talked with Kagome to calm her down. It wasn't long before the two girls were giggling. Miroku looked over at them before deciding he really didn't want to know.
"Okay, 'yasha. Lay-ups are pretty easy for us guys, 'cuz we jump way better than girls. I mean have you seen the way they try? Barely two inches off the ground and they call that a decent lay-up."
"We can HEAR you, you know!" Sango yelled while Kagome scowled.
"Okay, I was just joking! Jeez!" He turned back to Inuyasha. "Anyway. I'll just show you how to do it and then I figure I'll watch you try and see if there's anything you didn't get. Sound good?"
Inuyasha nodded, wishing he didn't feel so stupid.
Miroku waved a hand for Inuyasha to move away a little bit and began bouncing the ball up and down. He was just taking his first step forward when he misjudged the ball's bounce and it came down on his foot. It rolled away and he scurried after the ball. In a matter of minutes he'd returned to his former spot, face red as the girls cracked up.
"Uh…don't count that, okay?" He muttered to Inuyasha, who was struggling not to snort out his laughter.
Miroku began bouncing the ball again, crouching down low and squinting his eyes a little. It almost looked like he was posing.
"Get on with it!" Sango yelled.
Miroku scoffed before beginning to run down the driveway toward the hoop. He reached the goal and jumped into the air, obviously going for another dramatic pose. He released the ball, which bounced off the very top of the backboard before going into the grass. If that wasn't embarrassing enough, poor Miroku had put so much effort into his jump, to get not height, but distance. He managed to crash face first into the pole that held the basketball goal up.
Inuyasha and the girls could barely contain their laughter.
"Don't even try and see if I'm okay…" Miroku grumbled, clutching his face with both hands.
After Miroku had been given an ice pack and Tylenol from Ruby, it was time for Inuyasha to try to do the lay-up.
"Okay, let me get this straight—I gotta run up to the goal and try to get the ball in? With or without crashing into the pole?"
"Don't be a jerk." Miroku lowered the ice pack to touch his tender nose. "You know what to do—just try and touch the rim when you do it."
"Why?"
"'Cause it's cool, that's why! And it's supposed to be easier to get the ball in when all those big guys are trying to get it away from you."
"What big guys?"
"Your opponents, doofus."
"Opponents?"
"Yeah, duh. You know, the people you play ball against?"
"Kagome's not big."
"ARGH! Just go and try the lay-up already! I'll explain it to you later."
"Alright! Geesh."
Inuyasha bounced the ball nervously before staring to run down the 'court.' He leaped into the air, successfully putting the ball through the hoop and hanging from the rim a few minutes.
"Uh, 'yasha? That was really really amazing, absolutely super and all, but you can come down now." Sango called out.
"Uh…Okay." He stayed hanging onto the goal. Sango and Kagome looked at each other in confusion.
Kagome walked over to the goal and laughed as Inuyasha peeked out at her from between his arms.
"It's not really that far—don't you jump down from tree branches three times as high as this?" She whispered. Inuyasha heard her as clear as day and scowled. "Shut up."
He jumped down easily, immediately stalking off. Kagome looked after him, confused and hurt by his behavior. She had only been teasing. It didn't take long before she was running after him, leaving Miroku and Sango behind.
Miroku removed the ice pack from his face to look at the baffled Sango. "Okay…what'd I miss? Did 'Yasha do the lay-up okay?"
"Inuyasha! Inuyasha! Where are you? I was only teasing—I'm sorry!
"Go away, idiot."
"No. If you don't come down from whatever tree you're in, I'm climbing up after you! You're really making a big deal out of nothing, you know."
"Whatever."
Kagome huffed, and began to climb the tree Inuyasha's voice seemed to be coming from. She tugged herself up awkwardly branch by branch, yelping as the rough bark scratched her skin.
"Oh, for…you're in the wrong tree!"
Kagome looked up at the next tree over where Inuyasha sat cross-legged on a branch not much higher than her own. How far did she climb, anyway? She looked down and screeched in terror at the height. She was so far up!
"Inuyasha, please. Help me?"
He scoffed, leaping to the other tree onto her branch.
"Stupid girl. You make fun of me, then when you climb a tree, you get scared?" He scowled, bending down to look at her while holding onto another branch nearby.
She whimpered a response and looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Uh…" Oh great. Now he felt guilty.
"You jerk!" She yelled, angrily swiping away a tear while keeping one arm firmly wrapped around the branch. "I didn't mean anything by it! I don't know why you're acting this way—it's stupid! You're making a big deal out of nothing and when I try and go after you, you just have to get your revenge, don't you? You idiot!"
"Now, wait a minute!"
"No, you get me out of this tree right now!"
Inuyasha stared at Kagome in disbelief as she trembled, both arms wrapped around the branch. Neither of them said a word when he gently pried her hands from the branch. He stood her up even as she whimpered and put an arm around her waist. She threw both arms around his neck. He could feel her shaking. He jumped down, landing gracefully. He set Kagome down on the ground, but even then she clung to him, trembling.
"I'm sorry Kagome." He muttered. "I was embarrassed, that's all. It's okay. We're out of the tree."
Kagome's hold on him relaxed and she collapsed onto the ground.
Inuyasha sat besides her, a concerned looked on his face. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I don't know why I freaked out like that."
"Yeah, I don't know either."
"Inuyasha…"
"What?" He looked down at her glaring face. His eyes widened with realization and he held his hands up in defense. "No, no, not you! I meant me. I shouldn't have gotten so ticked off at nothing. I'm sorry."
"Are you really?"
"Yeah!"
Kagome sighed, "Okay, I'll forgive you. I'm sorry too-I shouldn't have teased like that. Do you want to call it quits with basketball for today?"
"Kind of, yeah."
"Okay. Help me up, and we'll go tell Miroku and Sango." Kagome held out her hand. Inuyasha hesitated for a moment before taking her hand and hauling her up, only to release it just before she got her balance. Kagome fell back on the ground with a yelp.
"Inuyasha, you are so dead." She growled. She pushed herself up and began to chase Inuyasha around the yard.
Basketball week went by with no further problems, as did soccer week, which consisted mainly of games. Kohaku and Sota joined again for better matches. (Of course, the team with Inuyasha playing always won.) On the last day for soccer, just as Miroku's dad pulled into the driveway to take Sango and Miroku home, Miroku ran over to Inuyasha.
"Hey, 'Yasha…" He huffed.
"What?"
"Dad just picked these up—I want you to have one—please come." He grinned and gave a wave after shoving a white envelope into Inuyasha's hand. He gave one to Kagome as well before leaving.
The two opened their cards to see something like this:
What: Miroku's 12th Birthday Party
When: Friday, the twentieth
Where: Miroku's house (Insert address)
The party will start at 6:00. Girls can stay until 11:00, and boys
are welcomed to stay overnight.
RSVP: (Insert number)
"A party!" Kagome cheered happily. "I've gotta go! Inuyasha, please say you're coming!"
"I…I…I…"
"Oh, come on, 'Yasha!" Kagome pleaded.
"I've never…been to a sleepover since…" He stammered.
"So wear a bandana!"
"All night?"
"Well, sure."
He scoffed. "Well, how am I going to explain how I had short hair during the evening and long hair in the morning?"
"Wake up early and chop it all off!"
"Where would I put it?"
"In the trash?"
He groaned, slapping a hand over his face. "Don't you think they would notice?"
Kagome pouted, sticking her lower lip out. "Oh, come on Inuyasha. It won't be bad! I'll probably have Sango over to my house because I live right down the block from Miroku's. You and I could both wake up early, and I'll come over, help you cut your hair and haul the trash bag to my house. Or you could just come over, then go back. No big deal!"
"But what if the bandana slips off? Or I wake up after Miroku? Oh my gosh, what if Miroku invites other guys?"
"I don't think so. He's only really friends with this one other guy and we all hang out together at school. I bet it'll just be one new guy. He's really nice, though.
"But…Kagome…I…"
"If you're feeling bad about it, ask your mom! We can come up with something. Oh, please, Inuyasha? It'll be so much more fun with you!"
"Oh…Feh."
Kagome took that as a yes and squealed, hugging Inuyasha tightly.
Inuyasha stood in front of Miroku's house, a sleeping bag in one hand and overnight bag in the other. He gulped loudly before pressing the doorbell. Unfortunately, his claw was too sharp and sliced the doorbell, leaving him stuck for a few minutes. It was a miracle he wasn't electrocuted. He managed to yank the claw out just before Miroku's mother answered the door. He looked guiltily at the destroyed doorbell before following her inside.
"Just go right up those stairs, Miroku's room will be the second on the right." His mother smiled.
"O…Okay…." Inuyasha stammered nervously. "Thanks…"
He climbed slowly. What if the other boy was here already? Inuyasha found himself in front of the door. He knocked, but his nervousness caused him to rap the wood too hard. There was now a hairline crack in the door. Barely noticeable unless you looked close, but a crack nonetheless.
The door opened and Miroku came bounding out. "Hey, great! You came! I thought you were going to back out or something, 'cuz you said you weren't sure but you'd thought you'd be here? Anyway, Kagome and Sango are here already, but the other guy, Hojo, isn't coming until 9:00. He's got a baseball game or something."
Inuyasha grinned shakily.
The party started off well. They were served pizza, cake, and ice cream, then led outside to play some basketball. After they'd been playing for a while, Miroku's mother brought out several roles of toilet paper and persuaded Miroku to show his guests how to play "The Mummy Wrap."
"The rules of the game are pretty simple. You start off by pairing up into groups of two. One person will be the mummy, the other will be the…er…mummifier? The person who….mummifies? Um…oh, for gosh sakes. The person not the mummy will try and wrap the mummy in toilet paper before the other team does. It's a lot of fun." Miroku said this last part while raising his eyebrows towards his mother.
Miroku and Sango paired up, as did Inuyasha and Kagome. On the first round, the boys mummified the girls. Miroku won, but only because Inuyasha's claws kept ripping the paper. Kagome could be heard giggling as Inuyasha muttered his frustrations at the toilet paper.
The next round was the girl's turn. They both finished at the same time, but cast mischievous glances at each other. They both grabbed hoses placed conveniently nearby, and turned them on. The boys' yells could be heard down the next block. It was a full fifteen minutes before Miroku's mother called off the hose/soggy toilet paper war and forced them to clean up the mess they'd made before coming inside.
Miroku suggested playing spin the bottle next, but the idea was quickly turned down. They played twister instead. They were between games when Miroku decided to ask Inuyasha a question that had been on his mind a long time.
"Hey, 'Yasha? How come you always wear that bandana?"
Inuyasha and Kagome froze in mid-laughter.
"I…er…I don't always…wear a bandana." Inuyasha stuttered.
"Well, yeah—sometimes you wear baseball caps. But how come you never not wear anything on your head? Are you bald on top or something?"
"No!"
"So take it off, then."
"I'd really rather not…"
"Miroku, leave him alone." Kagome protested. "If he wants to wear the bandana, let him. It's not annoying or anything is it?"
"Well, no…I'm just curious."
"Kagome?" A voice called from the kitchen. "Phone for you. It's your mom."
"Okay, coming!" Kagome ran off, leaving Inuyasha to deal with the situation himself.
Miroku and Sango exchanged looks at each other. They seemed to have come to a mutual agreement, because both began walking over to Inuyasha.
"What are you guys doing?" He raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
They didn't answer. Inuyasha backed away, but found he'd planted himself directly in front of a corner.
"Oh, stupid, stupid, stupid…" he muttered. The ceiling was too low to jump over them and he couldn't very well shove his friends away.
Sango made the first move for the bandana, but Inuyasha blocked her. As he blocked her, he was momentarily distracted, and Miroku managed to get his hands on the fabric, yanking it off Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha's hands instantly went to cover his ears, but the damage was done.
"Oh…my…gosh." Sango whispered.
Inuyasha slid down the wall until he rested on the floor, his hands still over his ears.
Miroku's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"Sorry about that guys, mom just wanted to know what time to pick me and Sango up. I did tell her before, but…" Kagome burst into the living room. She paused in shock at the sight in front of her.
"Inuyasha?" She whispered. She ran to him and hugged him protectively while glaring up at Miroku and Sango. "Why couldn't you have just left him alone?"
They didn't answer, just looked at the ground.
"Hey. I'm sorry, Inu. I didn't know this would happen. Do you want to come home me when mom comes? We've got that guest room, you know."
"Wait a minute!" Miroku protested. "Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't know. Please don't leave, 'Yasha."
"I'm sorry, too." Sango smiled softly.
Kagome glared at them, still hugging Inuyasha.
"Um…'Yasha? Can we…can we see them?" Miroku asks cautiously.
Inuyasha looked up at Miroku in surprise. Kagome released him from her hug, watching to see what he would do.
"Please, Inuyasha?" Sango pleaded.
Kagome giggled a little at Inuyasha's stunned face.
He blushed and slowly removed his hands, revealing his two white dog-like ears.
"Whoa…" Miroku breathed, stepping forward.
Sango came forward as well, reaching out a hand to touch the ears.
Inuyasha's hand stopped her. "I'd really rather you not do that…" he remarked dryly.
Sango blushed, but consented.
"Hey…how'd you get those?" Miroku asked.
Kagome laughed again, causing Inuyasha to glare at her.
"I'm a half-demon."
"A what?"
Inuyasha sighed. "A half-demon. You see, I…"
It took Inuyasha a good thirty minutes to explain, even with Kagome's help.
Author's notes: Okay, seeing how it's 11:30 right now and I have work tomorrow, I'm stopping here. Would you believe it took me 3 days to type this? It's only ten pages, but I kept getting called away. I hope everybody likes this chapter. I tried to make it funny, but remember—a very hyper, sleep-deprived person wrote this…
If some of these incidents seem strange to you, I'm sorry for the awkwardness. I tried to write it the best I could. I figure, the more time passes, the more Inuyasha's temper grows shorter and shorter. Naraku's curse isn't quite through with him yet, you see. Maybe I'll get someone to explain that later…I'll leave you guys in suspense…
Okay, last note. For the next chapter: Miroku's sleepover isn't quite over yet. You get to meet Hojo, and it turns out everybody has forgotten its Inuyasha's night to be human. What an interesting sleepover…Who knows what else I've got in store?