XxX
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Dating?
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XxX
Kagome sat lazily in her desk, barely paying attention to the droning voice that screamed from her teacher's lips. She couldn't pay attention, but she really needed to. She was almost failing her math class... Almost.
But she just couldn't pay attention.
She couldn't take her eyes off of him -- Off of Inuyasha. For some reason, he looked extremely handsome today. And even the annoying way his bangs would stick up is some areas, which would usually bother Kagome ever since she started to hate him and everything about him, was now attractive to her.
All throughout her math class, she tried to do her work, really she did, but somehow her eyes would always lead her to Inuyasha's desk. Subconsciously, her mouth would even find a way to hang open as she would gape at him for minutes on end.
"So, enjoying the back of a certain someone's head, are we?" came Miroku's smooth voice as he slid into the empty seat next to Kagome and placed his text book and work on the desk. Their math teacher was a very kind old man that would let them move around during class to work with their peers, so Miroku's movements were allowed. Sadly, Kagome would usually never have to worry about that because nobody ever liked her and never sat near her. Guess things are changing now.
Kagome blinked out of her trance, wiped away any drool that had escaped from her mouth with the back of her hand, and turned to face Miroku.
"Not exactly. I was just... bored," she responded, trying to act just as smooth as Miroku seemed to be.
Miroku nodded knowingly. "Mmm. Of course. That's probably why you were staring at him all period, right?" he partially laughed. Kagome blushed lightly. "I'm just messing with you, Kags," he smiled as he rubbed her back, taking note to drag his hand against the back of her bra several times. "Anyways, I have a favor to ask of you..."
Kagome looked at him with a scowl on her face, the blush still visible. "It better not be anything to do with you or my bra!" she growled.
"Oh, my! No, Kags! It's nothing like that... with you!" he defended as he raised his hands to show his innocence. He placed his hands back on the desk. "I was wondering if you could tell me about Sango."
Kagome's look changed immediately. "Sango?" she repeated. "My Sango?"
Miroku nodded. "Yeah. I wanted to know what she liked to do for fun. You see, I want to take her on a date sometime this week."
"A date?" she muttered to herself. As she thought about it, she couldn't remember the last time her best friend went on a date, none the less have a boyfriend. She was always so busy with her school work, her sports, and her after school clubs.
She did seem to like him. In fact, he was probably the only boy she knew of that Sango seemed to be interested in with him to return the feelings. But would helping Miroku out like this benefit Sango in any way?
"Well? Do you know of anything?" Miroku asked anxiously.
'No. I'm sure that it'll be good for her!' she thought. 'She would do the same thing for me if I was in this type of situation, right?'
She turned to Miroku with a look of seriousness gleaming in her eyes. "Yes! She likes tai chi so take her to somewhere where you can do that! And if that doesn't work, take her to the arcade! And if that doesn't work..." Kagome looked around quickly, "take her to the animal shelter!" she whispered. "Nobody knows that she likes animals!"
Miroku listed off the things Kagome had told him. "Self-defense, video games, and fluffy things... alright!" he smiled as he turned to Kagome. "Thanks, Kags!"
Kagome smiled back. "No problem. I'm sure that she'll be glad of it."
"I hope so," Miroku laughed as he got up from the seat and gathered his things. "And Kags?" he began as he looked to Inuyasha. "He's your boyfriend. You don't have to act like he's the guy you could never get by staring and drooling over him. He's already yours!"
Kagome laughed at his words nervously until he left her presence. She gloomily returned to her previous sitting position with her head resting on top of her arms over her desk.
"Ha... I wish it were that easy..." she sighed to herself as she continued to stare at Inuyasha.
(-)
As soon as class let out, Kagome avoided Inuyasha and all of his attempts of coming near her. She was just confused about her feelings at the moment; the feelings that were settling in the pit of her stomach were not ones that she was familiar with or had any past experience with.
She had no idea what else to do about the situation other than run away and ignore it. That's what she usually did and it usually resulted in what she wanted or thought she wanted. But maybe she did like him, so what? It wouldn't mean anything, right? It was just her first crush, that's all.
Right?
While walking to her next class, she hastily took out her diary and scribbled in her thoughts, being careful not to bump into anyone in the process.
Thursday, January 8 (morning)
Dear Diary,
that's it! I think I know what's wrong with me! I like him! I do! I do and I don't want to! I don't know why I don't want to, but I just don't. It's not right to like him! I mean, he has no feelings for me, and it's quite obvious that Kikyou still loves him, so I'm just a nuisance -- the third and unwanted wheel. I have no idea what do no right now because I've never had to deal with a problem like this. Maybe I really should quit this scam between us. It would probably be better, but there's just something I need to find out for sure first before I stop it."
Kagome closed her diary and slipped her pen into her pocket. "I seriously need help," she muttered as she continued to class.
As she turned the corner, she unexpectedly collided with another student, bumping their heads with each others' and knocking themselves down.
"Ow..." Kagome let out as she held up a palm to her forehead. "Why am I always getting hit in the head?" she thought out loud while sitting up to see what had happened.
"Ow..." came the other student as he slowly began to stand up and pick up their belongings. He shook his head to remove some of the pain. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you that hard," he apologized as he helped her up and then began to hand her diary back. "You see, I've been gone for quite a while and I needed to get a pass for class, so again, I'm really very sorry." He looked toward Kagome and removed her hand from her head to see the new bump he made next to the smaller one made from the branch just several days ago. "Jeez. I am so sorry. You know, we could go to the nurse's office and get some ice for that," he said as he began to gently rub the red bump with his thumb.
Kagome blushed at once at his touch and looked to all the students that were passing them in the hall. 'I wonder what they all think about this.'
She softly grabbed his wrist and pulled back from him. "No. It's fine. I need to get to class though. I'll be late soon," she told as placed her diary under her arm and looked him in the eyes. "But thank you though," she said as she began to walk away.
The boy stood motionless for a second, but then realized something. "Hey, wait!" he called as he wheeled around and followed her. Kagome stopped and turned to face him. "Higurashi?" he said as he caught up with her. "Kagome Higurashi? Is that... is that you?" he smiled gently.
Kagome was somewhat shocked that he called her by her full first and last name. It had been a while since she had heard the name 'Kagome' or 'Higurashi' from anyone other than Inuyasha. "Yes...?" she replied with uncertainty.
"I knew it! It is you!" he laughed. "Wow!" he said as he took a step back to get a better look at her. "You look great! Like, amazingly beautiful!" he complimented causing Kagome to giggle and blush softly. "A lot has changed since I've been gone, I guess!"
Kagome studied the boy as he continued to look her over. He was about as tall as Inuyasha, but a bit shorter, and had somewhat shaggy brown hair with bangs that all met separately at the top of his eyes. He had a cross build between muscular and skinny, but it was presented in his favor. And his eyes were hazel and kind.
Kagome blinked her eyes in surprise at the suddenly familiar face. "Hojou?"
He nodded and his smile got wider. "Yeah! They let me out of the hospital a week ago!"
"Oh! That's right! You had eaten those poisonous herbs a while back! Wasn't it a month ago or something?" Kagome asked, completely forgetting that she needed to get to class.
Hojou scratched his head embarrassedly. "Yeah. It was a month ago -- towards the beginning of December. I had accidentally picked some bad herbs when I was making the final rounds picking vegetables and crap from my garden," he chuckled shyly.
Kagome smiled at how sensitive he seemed to be. "Your... garden?" Not many boys would ever admit that they had a personal garden.
He seemed to be embarrassed once again. "Heh. Yeah. My grandma used to garden a lot and I guessed that her love for it got passed to me... But don't tell anyone!"
Kagome nodded sweetly. "No. I won't tell."
Suddenly, the bell rang, which meant that they only had a minute to get to class now.
"Oh, man! I forgot about class!" Kagome said as she looked around to see the last few students running down the halls. "I'll see you around, Hojou!" she said as she began to take off down the hall.
"Higurashi!" he yelled as he walked with her. "I know this may seem kind of awkward, but maybe if you aren't busy tomorrow, you'd like to hang out tomorrow night! Like a date!"
(-)
"Ha! A date? With that guy? He sounds like a real wimp to me!" said one of the girls to Kagome. Kagome never got her name, but she was a large demon with long black hair and a somewhat bat-like face.
For talking to Hojou for so long, Kagome was late and her teacher sent her to the Tardy Room where all students who were late would have to stay until their next class began.
Since Kagome was bored, she decided to make friends with two of the girls in the back of the room and discussed her situation with them.
"I don't know! I think you should! It could be good for you!" another girl said. She had dark blue hair with magenta colored eyes and was very small. "After all, Hojou is such a sweet guy!" she gushed.
"You are outrageously wrong, Ruri!" came a feminine voice from a boy sitting in front of them. He had deep red lips, and blue eye shadow across his eyes and his hair was up in a clip to give it a spiky top. "Girl, listen to me," he demanded, turning to Kagome. "Inuyasha is incredibly gorgeous and you cannot betray him! He is too fine!" he said with a concluding snap of his fingers.
Ruri scoffed. "Don't listen to Jakotsu, Kagome. He only says that because he has a crush on Inuyasha."
Kagome nodded softly, but then shook her head in confusion. "W-wait. Did you say that he had a --"
"Yup. He's gay," the first girl finished. Kagome nodded slowly in understanding.
"Just go on the date with Hojou!" Ruri said.
"Darling," Jakotsu started. "As much as I disagree with Ruri, I would personally like to see you gone from him so that maybe, you know, I could have my chance with him, but you just can't do that to someone like my sweet puppy, Inu-chan," he frowned.
"What are you talking about?" the girls said in unison.
"Stop being a queer!" the bat demon girl growled.
"You're ridiculous, Jakotsu! It's not like they'll do anything with each other on the date! She's with Inuyasha! And besides, it's not like they're married, so she can date whoever she wants to!" Ruri said loudly. Too loudly, actually.
"You four, in the back!" the teacher yelled from the front of the room. "Be quiet or else I'll separate you!" she said sternly. "You are here because you are in trouble for your tardiness, not because you all are experts in miss Higurashi's affairs. Now hush!"
All four bashfully slid down in their desks and stopped talking.
"Whoops..." Ruri whispered. "Sorry..."
"It's fine," Kagome whispered back as she looked down at the desk.
So what was she going to do? She had gotten the opinions of the girls -- er -- two girls and a homosexual boy about the situation. Two said not to do it, but the other said too, with very logical reasons, Kagome might add. Perhaps she should go on the date with Hojou. It could probably take her mind off of Inuyasha and her crush and give her the chance to find a real boyfriend. Her first boyfriend who cared for her liked her back.
After all, it wasn't like Inuyasha would care. He didn't like her like that and he wasn't really hers.
(-)
During lunch, Kagome saw that Inuyasha was eating lunch at the "Table of the Gods", so she decided not to eat there. She didn't want to face him at the moment, so she ate with Sango.
"Guess what?" Sango said excitedly as Kagome sat across from her. "Miroku asked me out tomorrow night!" she squealed.
"Really?" Kagome smiled. "Do you know where you're going?"
Sango smiled at her, but then shook her head. "No. He didn't say!"
"That's so wonderful!" Kagome said as she looked down at the table, kind of holding in her thoughts while she ate the sandwich she had packed for herself.
But Sango noticed this silence; she knew her best friend.
"So, Kagome... what's on your mind?" she asked sweetly, giving her her full attention.
Kagome continued to eat her food before answering Sango, swallowed, and looked into her friends deeply concerned eyes. 'Boy, she can just read me like a book...,' Kagome thought pitifully.
She thought about what to say to her. She couldn't very well tell her that she was developing a crush on her supposed boyfriend and that she was trying to find a way to escape the idea and the feeling of it. Plus, she couldn't tell her the thing that had started the whole ordeal. She looked at Sango again. Her eyes were inviting the truth from her, or at least an honest answer. Kagome mentally sighed.
"Well, I ran into someone today -- Hojou. You remember Hojou, don't you? The one who ate those herbs a while back? Yeah, well. You see, we got to talking and he asked me out on a date. But the thing is that I don't know how to answer him. I mean, I don't want to reject him because that would be so horrible, but I don't think I can say 'yes' either... So, that's pretty much what has been on my mind as of now..." she partly lied.
Sango blinked her eyes in shock, but then swiftly regained her composure. "Since when is he back?"
Kagome looked at her confused. Didn't she hear anything that was just said?
Sango shook her head. "Never mind..." she laughed. "Anyways, Kagome, I think you should go out with him!"
"What!" Kagome cried. Never, in a million years, did she ever expect to hear that answer, to this type of situation, from Sango. Sango was always about honor, trust, commitment, but now she was telling her to do this? To go behind Inuyasha's back and date someone else?
"Yes, Kagome! I think you should! It's not like he'll try anything against your wishes! Hojou is such a nice guy! And if you ever get tired of him, just constantly remind him of Inuyasha or something and he'll totally leave you alone!" Sango declared with enthusiasm. "Have some fun!"
Kagome stared at Sango with wide and bewildered eyes. She couldn't think of anything else to do or say except to shake her head and repeat, "What!"
Sango chuckled briefly. "Listen Kagome. Just do it. Do it, but don't tell Inuyasha about it." Kagome continued to stare in utter confusion. Sango leaned over and placed her hand on top of Kagome's. "I know I don't sound like myself right now, and I'm saying some things that don't sound too well," she admitted tenderly, "but I just worry about you." Kagome wasn't getting it still. "Just do it. You'll thank me in the long run," Sango told, continuing to think that Inuyasha was just using the poor and innocent girl.
(-)
Thursday, January 8 (6th hour/ AP Science)
Dear Diary,
after running (more like bumping) into Hojou in the hall, along with the awkward date question, I found him a little before lunch let out and agreed to go out with him tomorrow night. I admit, I was very -- no -- incredibly and outrageously nervous and scared about it, but he made me feel quite comfortable. And don't worry about how I'm feeling now. I feel pretty bad about not telling Inuyasha..."
She quickly stole a glance at the usual sleeping hanyou at the front of the room; he was actually starting to drool a bit.
"I haven't talked to him a lot today. As a matter of fact, I've been avoiding him. I've been avoiding him because... I feel scared -- scared about knowing how I feel about him and not being able to express it and to know that he feels the same way about me."
Kagome briefly rolled her eyes before glancing at the yelling teacher (he was lecturing the class on proper essay format for turning in a lab report) at the front of the room, and then retreating back to her diary.
"Oh, I sound so pitiful! I sound like one of those stupid girls that always obsess over one stupid boy that could never like them back! It makes me sick! It's... It's horrible! And I hate it! What's wrong with me? What's so disgusting about me that makes him not see me like he would someone like Kikyou?"
She quickly looked at Kikyou at the front of the room. God, she was so beautiful. Always so poised, so perfect, so... so...!
"She's so perfect for him -- Kikyou."
She closed her diary and placed it on her lap. "I hate it..." she whispered as she tried to close her eyes to go to sleep through the shouting of her teacher's harsh, yet irritating voice.
But then suddenly she heard a whispered, "Psst! Kags!"
Kagome opened one eye and saw that Kouga was passing her a note. She sat up slowly and looked to the front of the room, taking precaution to not get caught. It was very unlikely though. She sat in the back of the room, as she did practically every class, except this time Miroku was sitting behind her. He was sleeping though -- Almost everyone slept through science.
Kagome unfolded the note and read it.
'Hiya Kags!
How've you been today? Obviously fine because I heard that you're going on a date with my friend tomorrow!'
Kouga had drawn several hearts around the words 'fine' and 'date' and smiley face after the sentence.
Kagome smiled softly and pulled out her pen.
'Yeah. How do you know?'
She passed it back to Kouga as the teacher turned his back to the class to write the word 'discipline' on the board.
'He helps out with the wrestling team sometimes and I see him around the office during 4th hour. So, have you told Inuyasha about this yet? Does he even care?'
'No. And please don't tell him. I did it like this so I --' she took a moment to think, 'didn't have to crush him or Hojou. Please?'
She tossed it easily onto his desk. He unfolded it, read it, and then smiled. He quickly grabbed his pencil, wrote his message, and proceeded with giving it to her when the teacher wasn't looking.
Kagome seized the letter as it floated roughly onto her desk and opened. As she read it, she couldn't help but feel dazed and very confused.
"What'cha got there?" Miroku asked sleepily as he quietly leaned over her shoulder to view the note. Kagome immediately pressed the letter against her chest and glared daggers towards the newly awakened boy for intruding in on her private letter conversation.
"None of your business, dweeb, now go back to sleep!" Kouga whispered harshly at Miroku, who, in response, smiled and laid his head down on his desk. He turned to Kagome and smiled that perfect smile of his. "So, what do you say, Kags?"
Kagome swiftly looked again to the front of the room, to check if it was clear to talk, and then faced Kouga.
"You're his best friend!" she more mouthed than whispered.
Kouga shrugged it off. "Kags, 'best friend' is just a word!" he told.
"Two words..." Miroku corrected loudly from his desk.
Suddenly, the teacher looked back and actually looked excited. "Thank you, Mr. Houshi! Two words!" He faced the class angrily. "Two words -- Not three! Not four! Two!"
"Whatever, Miroku. Two. Anyways," Kouga faced Kagome again, "if you don't then you'll just be doing what you tried to prevent! Come on, Kags! Please?" he whispered anxiously.
Kagome looked at him. Weren't best friends supposed to not act like this? Weren't they supposed to be there for each other and not do things like Kouga was doing? But he really looked like he wanted this. She was probably going to hell for agreeing though.
Kagome sighed. "Fine."
Kouga smiled widely. "Thanks, Kags! You won't regret this!"
"And nothing will happen, right?"
Kouga nodded his head. "Nothing!" he said a bit too loudly.
"Thank you, Mr. Phillips! Nothing!" their science teacher praised. "And here I thought you children weren't paying attention! But that's right! If you don't even bother to turn it in, ladies and gentlemen, you will get nothing as a grade!"
Kagome rested her head back down onto the desk and looked at Inuyasha. She felt dreadful and guilty about what she had done today. 'I'm sorry I'm doing this to you. I feel like I'm betraying you, but I just don't want to get hurt over something that doesn't mean anything to you. Please, don't be angry with me, Inuyasha,' she thought sadly. 'I don't want to see you hurt either...'
She put away her science work and took the note from Kouga and jammed it into her coat pocket. Kouga's last message was still visible though.
'Alright. I won't... on one condition though. Go out with me Saturday night.'
(-)
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a/n: Well, well! It looks like Kagome's changing into those types of girls that like to date/sneak around behind their boyfriends' backs! (tsk tsk tsk) Oh, well. It's what she feels is right. Oh! And did you like that little scene where her and those kids were talking? I loved that scene because I love Jakotsu. I need to write a story with more of him in it because he's just so great. lol! Well, until next chapter! And thank goodness I didn't delete my story! I woulda been depressed!
Next Chapter: Call Her
drvnkrazee
PS -- Does anyone know Hojou's first name?