A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I have no idea why! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters!
"So Kagome was at your house last night… how did that go?" Miroku slowly prodded as he and Inuyasha walked through the school hallway the next day.
"We didn't do anything if that's what you're asking, pervert," Inuyasha spat.
Miroku shook his head and was shocked when Inuyasha spoke again.
"She came over, we worked on our project and her mom got her when we were done for the evening."
Miroku nodded slowly, hoping that Sango was getting better information from Kagome. The pair continued walking until someone crossed their path. Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks and Miroku paused, his eyebrows narrowing as he watched Kikyou approach his friend. She walked up to Inuyasha and smiled at him as he stared at her with a look of disbelief and confusion. Miroku clenched his fists in anger. He knew that Inuyasha was still extremely prone to falling for the cheerleader once again and he wanted to ensure that it didn't happen. He and Sango both agreed that Kagome would be a much better fit for him and they were eager to work together so that the two of them would recognize that too.
"Kikyou…" Inuyasha trailed off awkwardly as she smiled up at him.
"Hello Inuyasha," she said, reaching forward and rubbing the edge of the sleeve on his football jersey he was wearing between her fingers.
Inuyasha took one step back and Kikyou's eyebrows narrowed instantly at his reaction.
"Why are you suddenly talking to him again?" Miroku growled out to the girl.
"Stay out of this Miroku," Inuyasha told him with a serious but nervous expression on his face.
"Fine, I'm going to class," Miroku tossed his hands up and turned away from the pair.
Inuyasha brought his attention back down to the girl in front of him and his heart pounded. He had to admit that Kikyou and Kagome looked somewhat similar, but they didn't act the same at all.
"Good luck tonight in your first game of the season, I'll be cheering for you of course," Kikyou said with a small but knowing smile.
"Uh, er, yeah, sounds good," Inuyasha gulped, feeling the need to get away from her.
He was relieved when she turned from him and left him standing alone in the hall. His heart was beating quickly and a deep sigh left him. Inuyasha knew that she was playing games with him once again but he couldn't help how he felt. She always gave him just enough attention to keep him interested and hooked on her. It was a cruel game she played and he was tired of being in the middle of it.
Inuyasha was also aware that he was starting to feel differently about Kagome after spending time with her. He swallowed dryly and started walking to his classroom; hoping Kagome would show up to his game that night.
…
"Kikyou was with him?" Sango hissed to Miroku as they stood in the hall together after one of their classes.
Kagome had gone to the restroom, leaving the two of them together to talk.
"I'm afraid so, I think she knows she might be losing him so she's trying to get her claws in him again," Miroku said regretfully.
"We can't let that happen! I think Kagome might like him," Sango cried.
Miroku nodded, "And I think Inuyasha might be in the same boat but he's torn."
"There's no reason to be torn, Kagome is a nice girl who would never treat him like that witch does!" Sango exclaimed with anger on her face.
Kagome approached her two friends and smiled at them. They ceased their conversation as a group of boys, all wearing football jerseys walked by.
"What's the deal with all of them dressed like that?" Kagome asked.
Sango folded her arms, "Since football is special, they get to wear their jerseys to school on the day of their games."
"Soccer doesn't get to do that, it makes her upset," Miroku piped in.
"Of course it does! Why do they get to be out of uniform for games and we don't?! It's not fair!" Sango huffed.
"We will also have a pep-rally before the school day ends," Miroku added.
Kagome frowned, "Pep-rally?"
Sango rolled her eyes, "We'll have to watch Kikyou and the other cheerleaders dance around for fifteen or so minutes. It's supposed to 'up' school spirit before the game."
"I see," Kagome stated, surprised that the football game was that big of a deal.
The group was silent for a few seconds before Kagome asked, "Are we going?"
Sango's eyebrows shot up, "To the game?"
"Well yes… I assumed if you were going I'd go too," Kagome told her with a meek smile.
"Friday night high school football is a big thing," Miroku said, "The entire school for the most part will be there."
"I was planning on going," Sango nodded, "And Miroku is too."
"Great, I hope you don't mind if I tag along, I don't know much about football."
Sango laughed, "We don't care if you come Kagome, you're our friend!"
"Yeah, I told Inuyasha last night that if you went I'd go," Kagome returned.
Miroku and Sango instantly looked at each other.
"Did you now?" Miroku grinned with a cunning expression, "Did he ask you to come?"
"He asked me if I was coming… he didn't invite me or anything, just wanted to know if I was," Kagome replied.
"Well you're going," Sango confirmed, "So you can tell him that."
…..
Kagome felt let down after she finished her lunch. Since it was the day of the game Inuyasha was sitting with his teammates at the other end of the cafeteria. Miroku and Sango noticed her down mood and sent each other knowing glances. After lunch was over Miroku lagged behind and grabbed Inuyasha by his jersey, yanking him to the side.
"What the hell are you doing?" he growled out.
"We missed you at lunch today, rather, Kagome missed you," Miroku said.
"You know I sit with my team on game days! Damn it Miroku… Wait, what did you say?"
"You heard what I said," Miroku replied.
"Are you being serious? There's no way," Inuyasha blurted out.
Miroku nodded, "She seemed awfully gloomy without you there and I caught her looking over at your table a couple times."
"Psh, whatever! She doesn't like me, we're just friends," Inuyasha spat, his nose shooting up in the air.
"I think you might be wrong," Miroku shrugged, "She's coming to your game tonight."
Inuyasha's head came back down and he stared at Miroku with his eyebrows up in disbelief, "Really?"
Miroku nodded, "She's coming with Sango and I."
Inuyasha was silent and Miroku added, "Maybe you'd better speak to her before the pep-rally, it would make her day."
"What are you babbling about?" Inuyasha growled out, "What's with all this mushy talk? We're not dating or anything."
"Promise me one thing," Miroku started.
"What?!" Inuyasha spat, his patience wearing thin.
"Don't get close to Kikyou in front of Kagome," Miroku said and added, "Personally, I think you need to stay away from that girl, but it's your choice."
"Yeah yeah, I already know what you think of her," Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
…..
The halls filled as students headed to the gym for the pep-rally. Kagome, Sango, and Miroku found seats in the bleachers and stared down at the cheerleaders who were in the middle of the floor stretching and talking. There was a boom box set up off to the side for their music and the football team sat down in the front row. Kagome saw Inuyasha's back as he talked to the player next to him with a big grin on his face. She brought her eyes up to the entrance of the gym where she saw Sesshomaru enter with a disgusted expression on his face. She couldn't help but let out a giggle, knowing that Inuyasha's brother positively hated football and everything about it.
"These are always so stupid," Sango groaned out as everyone finally got seated.
Kagome watched as Kikyou brought all of the cheerleaders together. She quickly noted their short skirts and frowned. The cheerleaders spread out and took their positions with smiles plastered on their faces. One of the girls on the end closest to the stereo scampered over to it and turned it on. Music started to play over the speakers and all of the cheerleaders started moving to the beat. Kagome stared with her eyebrows up as they jumped around and kicked their legs up in synchronization with each other. Some of the moves seemed a bit inappropriate and she could hear the some of the football players below her howling and whistling at them. After the music ceased the cheerleaders started clapping and doing standard cheers where the student body chanted after them. One of the football players got up and started running up and down the bleachers waving for everyone to shout louder.
"Kouga can be so obnoxious sometimes," Sango said to Kagome.
Kagome blinked in realization at the darker skinned boy. So that was the guy that Inuyasha was talking about. The pep-rally went on for a few more minutes but not before the cheerleaders grabbed baskets and started throwing candy into the crowd. Kagome couldn't believe that this was all for a football game.
As everyone walked out the front gate of the school Sango looked to Kagome with a smile.
"So we'll pick you up at your house, okay?"
Kagome nodded and asked, "You drive?"
Sango shook her head, "No, but Miroku does! His car isn't the prettiest thing but it will get us where we need to go!"
Miroku frowned, "For your information I love my car very much! She may be a bit rusty around the edges but…"
"Give it a rest!" Sango told him, "Alright Kagome, see you this evening around six, the game starts at seven so that's plenty of time."
Kagome nodded and waved as she started the walk to her house.
…
Kagome stared at the clock in her room which told her that Sango and Miroku would be there to get her any second. She was wearing a skirt and blouse with a small sweater covering her shoulders and arms.
"Kagome, your friends are here!" she heard her mom call up to her from downstairs.
"Coming!" she called back as she grabbed a small handbag to take with her.
She jetted down the stairs and waved to her mom as she exited the front door. Sango grinned at her from the passenger seat and Kagome pulled open the back door and it creaked as it moved. She sat down and Miroku backed out of her driveway; heading toward the football stadium.
"We might have to park a little far away and walk," Miroku said as they got close, "The first game is always really packed."
There were cars lined down the side of the street and Kagome looked out her window where she saw bright stadium lights shining down on a long green field with white numbers and lines. She could see their football team and the opponent team both out on the field doing warm ups without helmets on. They continued driving and Miroku finally found a spot where he parked the car and they all got out. They walked for a couple of blocks and arrived at the entrance gate where they paid their ticket fee to enter.
"Let's find seats now before they're all taken," Sango said as they approached the bleachers on the home side.
Kagome followed her two friends and watched their team as they stretched in a giant circle. They found a section in the bleachers and sat down. The cheerleaders were only a few yards away from them on the sidelines with glitter on their faces and pom poms at the ready. Kagome saw Kikyou who had her hair pulled back with blue and white ribbons and had Inuyasha's number glitter written on her cheek. Kagome clenched her fists in her lap and looked to Sango. She was about to say something but decided not to, it wasn't her place, if Kikyou and Inuyasha liked each other there was nothing she could do about it.