Finally! Saturday at last! Kagome woke up several minutes before anyone else in the household did. She got out of bed, or bounced, rather. The sunlight crept in stealthily through the open window, and a gentle breeze wafted into the room. Kagome inhaled the morning fragrance deeply. "Mmm. Now where have I felt a calm breeze like that one?" Kagome racked her brain, trying to remember a time when she had felt so calm…so at ease. Then she remembered. She was sitting under the oak tree, until…her eyelids fluttered open as she remembered what else happened. She remembered that Inuyasha plopped down, right on top of her!
Mrs. Hiragashi entered the room, carrying a basket full of dirty laundry. "Kagome! You're up early! You're usually asleep when I come in to take your dirty underwear!" Kagome blushed. The way her mother said underwear made her either want to burst into laughter or run away and hide. "Mother, don't you ever knock?" Kagome said, rather irritated. This was the second time this week that her mother had entered without knocking. Suddenly, Mrs. Hiragashi dropped the basket of laundry. "Why should I have to knock?" she asked, very curious indeed. Kagome shrugged. "Well, it feels like invasion of my privacy, that's all," Kagome responded. "Oh," Mrs. Hiragashi stated blankly. Then suddenly, she whispered, "Were you just cheating on your boyfriend, dear?" she asked. Kagome blinked. "No! I don't have a boyfriend!" she shouted. Her mother winked and elbowed her. "Sure, sure. I know how to play the game too," she said in a cheerful voice. Kagome threw her hands up. This was hopeless! Her mother was totally convinced she was a player! As her mother left the room, she called out, "Make sure you come up with a better excuse if you get caught, Kagome!" Kagome groaned. "Stay away from my coffee, Mom!" she shouted after her mother.
Kagome examined the sleek black dress that she would be wearing tonight. She was a very modest dresser, and normally strayed away from the usual low necklines and short skirts. But the dress she chose to wear tonight was stunning. It had thin, but strong straps to hold the dress up, making an "x" across the back of the dress. The neckline was at a very modest level, and the length of the dress was at least an inch above her knees. That was satisfactory enough for Kagome.
Meanwhile, across town, Miroku was panicking. "What do I do? What do I wear?" He had to wear something that stood out, brought attention to himself. Hmm. Ah! He reached into his closet, pulling out the dark, midnight tuxedo. He slipped on the silk black tuxedo jacket onto his shoulders. It fit him like a glove. "Perfect!" Miroku glanced to his left. There, on his dresser, was a bouquet of roses, as red as blood itself. He could smell the extravagant fragrance even from where he was standing. Tonight had to be perfect. He had a sinking feeling that this was his only chance. But doubt began to wear on his mind. Sango wouldn't even look at him yesterday in class. What made him think that she would be coming? He let his mind and his heart battle it out. Finally, he agreed that even if Sango did not love him as he did her, at least she would show up, because she was his friend. And as a friend, Sango wouldn't ditch him. At least, he hoped not. He nervously slipped his trembling hands into his pant pocket. "What the-?" he said, pulling out the piece of crumpled paper. Oh. It was his "love" note to Sango. "Too bad I'm too chicken to give it to her," he grumbled in frustration. "Ah, well. I better put this in a safe place, so no one can find it. The best thing to do would be to burn it…" he trailed off. For some reason, he didn't want to burn it. He wanted to keep it. It was a simple reminder of the emotions he felt toward Sango. He chuckled sarcastically. Not that he would ever forget what he felt for her. It just…made him feel at ease, knowing that it was written down. Even if no one but himself had read it. He shot another glance at his drawer, and decided the note would be much more safer in there. But then the phone rang, and Miroku hastily shoved the note into the pocket of his tuxedo.
Inuyasha sighed, rubbing his temples. "Man, what am I supposed to wear?" He knew women could be very picky about the way a person dressed. Especially on a blind date. He rolled his eyes. Why did it matter what he was wearing? As long as he wasn't naked, that was fine with him. But first impressions usually determined everything. And from what Miroku had said about this girl intrigued Inuyasha more and more. His date was of the sweetest nature, who listened, and was firm when it came to friends. He had always wanted someone like that. Maybe he'd finally find someone who would take time to listen to him. That was all he wanted. Just to be heard. He twisted the rose stem in between his fingers, pondering what he should wear. Lifting the rose to his lips, he inhaled the sweet fragrance. He hoped his date would be as beautiful and as enchanting as this simple rose.
Sango sank down to the floor wearily. "I hope I'm making the right decision by going to this date-thing…" As much as she tried to convince herself it was ok to bail out on the date, she knew it was wrong. "Damn conscience," she growled. She smiled bitterly. Why was it that everyone whom she loved…was taken away from her? Her father had recently passed away, because of an illness. And currently, her brother Kohaku was in the hospital in a coma. Even now, Miroku was taken too. Taken by Kagome, her best friend. It felt like betrayal, but Miroku wasn't Sango's boyfriend…and Sango thereof had no right to claim him as her own. Sango shook her head. "Baka," she muttered aloud. She was a baka. Why was she suddenly feeling all this…emotion toward Miroku anyhow? He was just another womanizer, looking for a girl with game. That's all he wanted. Something stirred inside Sango, and she felt guilty immediately. She knew Miroku, and he wasn't like that at all…who was she to say such cruel things about him? Before she knew it, she had picked up the phone and dialed his number. Her heart lurched every time the dial tone rang, and her mind told her to hang up while she still could. "Hello?" came a voice on the other line. "Miroku…?" Sango asked, her voice cracking. "Yes? Sango? Is that you? Are you all right? What's wrong?" Questions tumbled from Miroku's mouth. "I…um- just wanted to say sorry," she admitted weakly. "Sorry? For what?" Miroku asked. Sango's heart was pounding, and blood rushed in a frenzy to her head. "N-nothing. It's nothing. I'm sorry that I bothered you." Sango started to hang up, but Miroku called her name again. "Sango! Wait!" he cried out. Sango blinked and placed the phone next to her ear again. "Yes…Miroku?" she asked timidly. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked in concern. Sango forced a weak laugh. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Really…" she said quietly.
When Sango said those words, Miroku wanted to cry. "Don't worry about me," she said. But how could he not? Sango…was all he ever wanted. And all he cared about. And it had taken him all of summer break to realize it. But it was too late. For some reason, he and Sango had drifted further apart. And he didn't know why. Was it his fault? It probably was. Probably because he flirted with so many girls, and had ignored Sango sometimes. But he didn't mean to. He would gladly take it all back, if she would smile again. There was a pause on the other line. "Miroku? Are you still there?" she asked. "Yes…" he breathed. And that remark she had made in the classroom to Kikyo. About him having a "girl"…he prayed that Sango was talking about herself. Who else would she be talking about? "You know I can't do that, Sango," Miroku replied in almost a whisper. She gasped on the other end. It broke Miroku's heart. She was probably appalled. "I mean, I'm your friend, and all," Miroku finished lamely. "Oh." Was her simple answer. There was an uncomfortable silence. "Well…I have to go," Sango finally said, breaking the thick silence. "Ok. I'll…come by to pick you up at 7 p.m. then?" Miroku asked. There was another long pause. "All right. I'll see you then Miroku," Sango stated. And she hung up the phone.
It couldn't be clearer to Sango that Miroku only thought of her as a friend. He had basically just thrown it in her face. She sighed sadly. It was ok. She could handle it…she would be strong. Be strong. That was how she had gotten as far as she was today. Nothing would bring her down. But she had a sinking feeling that getting over this would be harder than she had ever imagined it to be.
The phone rang. Kagome picked it up quickly, hoping her mother hadn't picked up as well and was listening on the other line. "Hello?" Kagome asked into the receiver. "Kagome?" came Miroku's ragged voice. "Miroku? Are you ok? Why are you out of breath?" she questioned. "Oh…I…just got back…from the grocery store," he panted into the phone. "So what's up?" Kagome asked. "Sango…I think she's upset…" Miroku gasped. Kagome rolled her eyes. "Miroku, sit down." There was a creak as he plopped down on top of a chair. "Ok," he replied. "Now. Take a deep breath, and tell me what happened? Did you call her?" Kagome asked. "Yes. Actually, she's the one who called me," he replied. Kagome blinked. "Wow," she blurted out. "I know," Miroku said sarcastically. "She said she was sorry, and not to worry about her," Miroku added. "Sorry? About what?" Kagome quipped. "I don't know," Miroku admitted in concern. "She seemed so down. I don't know what to make of it. You're her best friend, right? So tell me what's wrong with her!" Miroku practically yelled into the phone. Kagome held the phone a good three inches away from her ear. She could barely hear herself speak over Miroku's panicky shouts. "Miroku! Shut up!" Kagome hissed into the phone. The shouting immediately ceased. "Geez. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Grumpy as hell. Did you drink your grandfather's coffee again?" he inquired. "Um. No," came the reply on the other side of the phone. Miroku coughed. "Sure, sure. You keep on telling yourself that, Kagome," he teased. Kagome rolled her eyes again. "Listen, Miroku. Just chill out. I'm sure that if there was anything wrong with Sango, she'd have told me by now," Kagome reassured him. There was a long, steady pause. "If you say so…" Miroku sounded reluctant. "On a brighter note, I'll come by and pick you up around…7:15, alright?" he asked. "Sure," was Kagome's reply. "I'll see you then," he responded. "Bye!" Kagome beamed.
Inuyasha glanced at his watch. 5 p.m. sharp. Only two hours to go before he met his date. He was getting very anxious, and excited about meeting this girl. Happiness…he felt happy already, and he hadn't even met this girl. Apparently, he had seen her. When he kept asking Miroku about his date, Miroku snapped, "You already know what she looks like, now shut up and leave me alone, so I can stalk Sango!" Hmm. Who was his date? Maybe it was that foreign exchange student in the back of the room. Or…maybe it was that Kikyo girl. Inuyasha hated to admit it, but she was pretty. "Yeah. Pretty girly," Inuyasha remarked sarcastically. He sighed. Only two more hours…