Chapter 11

"Are you sure they're not going to ID me?"

Kagome had asked the same question six times that evening. Sango rolled her eyes, as she had done after each time Kagome had asked, and grabbed her friend's arm, dragging her to the entrance of the downtown bar.

"They're not going to ID you, Kagome. And even if they do, you know what to do, right?"

"Flash my boobs?"

"That's my girl."

The bouncer, upon seeing the two dark haired beauties, stepped aside and allowed the girls to enter the building.

"We're in?"

"Don't act so surprised."

Since becoming legal, Sango had been trying to get Kagome to go out on the town with her but the idea of sneaking into a club to underage drink had never held much appeal to Kagome and so the invites were repeatedly turned down. It wasn't until this particular weekend that Kagome had finally given into Sango's peer pressuring. After an especially satisfying history tutorial in which Kagome caught Inuyasha staring at her bare legs on more than one occasion, Kagome came home to find Sango in her bedroom, already planning an outfit for her friend to wear.

"You know how I feel about going out when I'm underage, Sango. It would be so embarrassing if I were to get caught."

"But you wouldn't get caught. You look the same age as me, easily!"

Sango's sudden increase in persistence was heavily due to the new guy in her life, someone she met in a yoga class. He had asked her to help with his downward facing dog and she had called him a pervert for being the only male in an all-women's yoga class. Somehow romance bloomed between the two.

"He invited me to have a few drinks with him and his friend but I don't want to be a third wheel to their bromance."

"Couldn't you invite someone else?"

"Kagome,"

Sango cupped Kagome's cheeks in her hands, her face serious.

"I really like this guy and I need my sister's approval. Please say you'll come. Please."

Kagome sighed, her eyes closing as she exhaled. The sister card always won her over.

"Alright, alright. I'll go. But only because I love you."

Sango grinned and gently squeezed Kagome's face between her hands.

"You're the best."

Several hours later, Kagome found herself in the downtown bar in a burgundy mini dress that Sango had pulled from her closet. The two girls scanned the dimly lit room, which was filled with an assortment of people chattering overtop of the noisy rock music.

"This isn't like a double date, is it? You're not setting me up with his friend, are you?"

Sango's scanning eyes lit in recognition and she grabbed Kagome's hand, pulling her towards the far end of the room.

"No, he's married."

Seated at a table at the back of a bar, an attractive young man with purple eyes and golden hoops through his ears was waving at Sango, who smiled and waved back. A half full pitcher of beer rested on the wooden table top and, seated across from Sango's date, was his friend. Golden eyes matched Kagome's gaze.

She gasped.


"I feel like I haven't seen you in ages, man. Why haven't I seen you?"

Inuyasha laughed and shook his head at his friend, who had been unable to stop talking since the two entered the bar.

"It's been a week since you've seen me, Miroku. Calm your shit."

"Well then this has been the longest week of my life. I've missed you, boo."

Inuyasha laughed again, relishing the easygoing comfort and entertainment he had always felt around Miroku. The two had been friends since they first met in the sandbox and had been an inseparable duo since.

"You're going out for beers with Miroku? That's awfully frat boy sounding."

Kikyou had commented upon hearing about her husband's plans for that Friday evening.

"What else would we do, Keeks? Paint one another's nails?"

He had been trying to be funny but Kikyou's pursed lips let him know that his humour was not appreciated. He was grateful to get out of the house and spend time with his best friend who he had missed in their week's time apart, though he'd never admit it to anyone.

"So why am I here again if you're having a date with your new girlfriend?"

"You need to meet this girl, man."

A dopey smile spread across Miroku's face.

"I think she's The One."

"You say that about every new girl."

"Yeah but this time I mean it! She's opinionated and intelligent and bold and Jesus Christ, you should see this girl's body. I can't even tell you the things I have dreamt of doing to that body."

"Dude, I don't even want to hear it. And she's bringing a friend? This isn't some sort of double date, is it? You better not be trying to hook me up."

"I know, I know, you're married. I was the best man, I remember."

Miroku did not take the news of Inuyasha and Kikyou's engagement lightly. He had never warmed up to Kikyou, and vice versa. But he forced a smile and hugged his best friend upon hearing about the proposal.

"If you're happy man, I'm happy."

Inuyasha also figured that Miroku was upset over losing his wingman and partner in crime in the dating scene. Picking up women had always been their favourite activity with one another and Miroku wasn't expecting Inuyasha to trade in his single status quite so early into his twenties. But as Inuyasha adapted to married life, Miroku adapted as well. Kikyou and Miroku had yet to become anything close to friends but Inuyasha hoped it would happen over time.

"I'm telling you, Kikyou hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, man. She just doesn't know you well enough."

"Well from what she knows, she hates me."

Inuyasha tried to come up with an excuse for Kikyou's cold behaviour towards his friend but his mind drew a blank. In all honesty, Kikyou did hate Miroku, though she'd never admit it out loud. Inuyasha could tell simply by the way her near black eyes seemed even darker at the mention of Miroku's name. He sighed with defeat and took a swig from his beer.

'Guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.'

Inuyasha looked up from his beer to see Miroku waving. He turned his attention towards the recipients of his friend's greeting and matched his gaze with a pair of milky chocolate eyes just as his mouthful of beer went down the wrong pipe.

"K-Kagome?"