Somehow, this is feeling less like a drabble collection and more like an actual story. Nooo... Stories have more responsibility.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the website Wrong Number Text.


Wrong Number Text

Part 7


The bell dangling over the doorway was caught by the edge of the door, announcing their entrance with a cheerful ding. Sango strode in first, confidently (which is just how she happened to walk), while Kagome trailed behind, her attention caught by all the things stacked on the dusty shelves. This time, she noticed two swords displayed in a shadow box, a pair of ancient miko robes preserved in a frame, and an ink painting depicting demons and warriors battling one another. When she caught up to her best friend, Sango was standing at the counter chatting to Miroku and some other guy. Kagome slowed, using the last few steps to—

–Well, check out the "other guy." (There's no pretty way to put that, really.) He was a little rough around the edges; his almost-black hair was probably longer than her own and the angriest scowl she'd ever seen was on his face, but Kagome decided he was nice to look at anyway. Tall, well-built, and his face seemed a little familiar, but she couldn't place where she'd seen him before, no matter how hard she thought about it. She was sure she'd remember someone who looked that… gruff.

She came to stand a little behind Sango, choosing to listen instead of interrupt the conversation between the brunette and Miroku. The two were exchanging some fast-paced banter that left her head spinning.

"I think," she heard someone grumble very quietly over her shoulder, "that your friend is into Miroku."

Now that she had an excuse to look at him closer, Kagome decided that he was a year or two older than she and Sango were, closer to Miroku's age. Just-out-of-high-school years old. "I think so, too," Kagome confided, smiling and trying to keep her voice low as to not interrupt the couple.

"Why?" The guy surprised her by saying, his voice still low but now dripping with bewilderment. He gestured wildly, and Kagome leaned back to avoid his flailing hands. "That's proof that women are insane… or stupid. Miroku's my buddy and all, but even I'll admit that he's a little sleazy."

Instinctively, Kagome wanted to jump to Miroku's defense, but she swallowed her words. "Sango can take care of herself," she decided on instead, saying the words slowly but knowing they were true.

"Yeah, maybe, but Miroku's a pervert."

Startled into laughing, Kagome admitted, "I thought that, too, actually."

"Really?" he replied with a straight face, but Kagome could see a smile lurking underneath. "Was it when he grabbed your chest 'by accident'?"

"I wouldn't let him!" Kagome vowed, bristling much like Sango had earlier that week when Kagome suggested the same thing to the brunette.

"Eh, he's sneaky. You wouldn't know it until after it had already happened."

As if to prove his point, the two were interrupted when Sango let out a shriek of outrage followed by a sharp smack as her palm collided with Miroku's face. She then clenched her fists at her sides while Miroku rubbed his quickly-reddening cheek, an airy smile on his face.

"I thought I saw a spider!"

Sango, fuming, whipped around to face Kagome. "Give him your money, get your necklace, and we're leaving."

"Yes, mom," Kagome said smartly. She tried to smother her laughter. "You really do have to watch out for spiders, Sango. You're lucky Miroku had your back! …I mean, backside."

After the exchange, Kagome took the bag from Miroku, ready to join Sango where she was hovering by the front door, waiting. Before she took off, she quickly pulled her phone from her pocket and typed up a message.

Guys really aren't that bad after all.
- K.

After hitting 'send' and putting her phone away, Kagome looked up to find Miroku's friend staring at her intently with the strangest look on his face. "Who're you texting?" he asked.

Kagome quirked an eyebrow and pressed her lips together, her face screaming rude! at him, uncomfortable with his suspicious question. She opened her mouth, fully intending to tell him the truth ("Some strange guy."), but found herself lying instead. "My mom."

"Oh," he said, looking—disappointed? Something. Almost immediately, they could both hear his phone cheerfully dinging! from his back pocket. Wary of Kagome watching, he retrieved it and read the message he'd received, his hand shielding the screen from her eyes, looking a little pleased with himself. He snapped the phone shut without responding.

"Who was that?" Kagome asked, a strange feeling bubbling in her chest that she didn't want to give a name to. What were the chances that—

"My brother," he told her after only a second of hesitation.

"Oh," she answered faintly. The feeling receded quickly only to be replaced by embarrassment. Of course. Politely, as she turned to go, she said, "Nice meeting you… uhm…"

"Inuyasha," he supplied, already turning away from her as well.

"Kagome," she introduced herself automatically. She walked away, missing the way he turned back to her suddenly, his eyebrows knit as if he was thinking about something very hard.