Inuyasha sighed, really peeved. "Are you deaf? I said leave us alone!" he snarled. Kikyo's eyes widened in mock surprise. "You mean you're actually…" she breathed. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Finish the damn sentence!" he shouted angrily. Kikyo peered at him suspiciously. "You must be joking." Was her dry response. Inuyasha tried calming his rage, taking in a deep breath. Nope. Didn't work. "Joking about what?" he growled. Kikyo glared at him slightly. "You're actually on a date? With Kagome?" she asked, flustered. Inuyasha sunk his head into his hands. Thank goodness all women weren't this stupid. Only rarely would he come across someone like Kikyo. "Duh. What else would we be doing? Studying in the middle of a fancy restaurant dressed all nice because we feel like it?" he retorted sarcastically. Kikyo just refused to relent. "But…why?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. Inuyasha snuck a glance at Kagome. She would hear him, hear his answer. She was sitting right across from him, for heaven's sake! But he no longer cared. His expression of awe at Kagome would turn to sarcasm at he noted the rate at which she was eating her entrees. He took a deep breath, he could do this. "Because I like her. That's right- I. Like. Kagome. That's Kagome, not Kikyo-. Got it? Or do you need me to explain again?" he snapped. Kikyo stood there sputtering, resembling a fish placed out of water. "…What?" she finally managed to rasp. Inuyasha tore his gaze away from Miroku's water glass. The temptation….so overwhelming…he twitched before looking at her once more. "Listen up. I'm only going to say this once more." He looked at her, making sure that she was paying attention this time. Stupid brat, he seethed.
Miroku was grinning from ear to ear as Sango led him back inside the restaurant. Sango whacked him. "Huh…?" he replied, still grinning stupidly at her. "Stop smiling, baka!" she hissed. "They'll know that we were outside…" she trailed off, blushing. Miroku chuckled. "And your point?" he replied, casting an amused expression at her. She smiled in return. "Nothing. Just- you have lipstick on your face." Laughing aloud, she walked off toward the table. However, she had not moved so much as a footstep forward before turning around and scampering back to his side. "Back for more?" he inquired cockily. That earned him a smack in the head. "Is that a yes?" he replied. That earned him yet another smack. "Okay, okay. I'll stop joking. So what is it?" he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
Sango mused silently. "It's Kikyo. She's over at Inuyasha and Kagome's table. Inuyasha looks kind of annoyed. And Kagome looks upset. It looks like she's trying to ignore the whole situation, but it's so obvious that she knows what's going on," Sango said in concern.
Kagome had already wolfed down her salad, continuing on to eat her steak. Mmm! This steak was delicious! This moment would be perfect if Inuyasha and Kikyo would shut up already. What were they blabbering about anyway? She shrugged, turning her attention back onto her food. Whatever it was, she had no idea what was going on. Ooh. She wondered if Inuyasha was going to finish that plate of salad…
Miroku led Sango a safe distance behind the tables, where they would not be spotted. "Let's watch them, and if Kikyo does anything suspicious, then we'll intervene. But I think Inuyasha and Kagome should handle this on their own.," he whispered to Sango. "So basically-" she said, quirking a brow in feigned interest, "- we spy on them for our own sick amusement and kicks Kikyo's butt if she screws up." Miroku nodded, smirking gently. "You have quite a way with words," he replied, gazing at her in admiration. "Miroku, dear," she replied. "Yes, Sango, darling?" he asked. "Shut up and get your hands off my rear before I slaughter you mercilessly, thank you," she said, suppressing a smile and turning her attention to the table. He grinned, and removed his devious hands from their current position.
"I like her. I. Like. Her. I- L-i-k-e-h-e-r--. Once more, shall we? I-n-u-y-a-s-h-a likes K-a-g-…." He broke off, flustered by the spelling. "Well, I like Kagome, and that's what's important. So go away!" he snapped, making a quick cover-up for not being able to spell Kagome's name. Kikyo gaped in surprise, finally scampering off to do something evil, most likely. Blushing, he turned his face toward Kagome, his ears ringing with boyish embarrassment. His bashfulness turned to shock. She was still eating! Totally focused on her food! She hadn't heard a thing! Then something struck him with a heavy blow. Something that stunned him. And upset him. "What the-? Where's my salad?" he quirked. "Eh?" Kagome looked up, holding a forkful of salad. Inuyasha was speechless, but quickly regained his voice in a heartbeat. "Is that my salad that you're devouring there like a pig?" he asked, exasperated. Kagome grinned sheepishly. "You were going to eat that? Oh well, it's only a salad! Ha ha ha!" she giggled, not ashamed in the least. He hid a smile, though added a very sharp comment about her eating habits. "Ow." He muttered as he landed forcefully into the floor, his face red from impact. Women…
Sango gasped. "Did you hear that?" she rasped to Miroku, eyes wide in shock. "Yeah!" he replied, sounding angry. "She ate his salad! How rude!" he said. Sango sighed. "Is your tie too tight, Miroku?" she quipped in cynical retort. "No, why?" he replied innocently. She chuckled dryly, shaking her head. "No reason. But I was talking about what Inuyasha said. He likes her!" she answered, steering the conversation to a different topic. "Oh. That," Miroku replied in a dull tone. "What do you mean, 'oh'?" Sango retorted, blinking in surprise. Did Miroku know something that she didn't? He was more intelligent that he was acting! "That's not important, Sango. The salad is what's important. Look at that poor salad. Being taken away from its owner like that. So devastating. And at such a young age. Hold me, Sango. I'm about to cry," Miroku replied. Sango just stood there, blinking. "Miroku…" she answered back, clenching her teeth. "Yes?" Miroku asked, looking at her. "It's a salad. Salad. You buy it, you eat it, you're done. Get over it. We have more important things to worry about," she responded. Miroku nodded, a bit crestfallen. "Ooh. Can we talk about salad dressing next?" he asked, brightening up slightly. Sango sighed. Either there was some perverted meaning behind the words, or Miroku was just really…'special'. She rolled her eyes, and dragged him outside. Obviously, there were some thing to be worked out between Inuyasha and Kagome. Therefore, she and Miroku needed to remain away from them until they sorted things out. Miroku suddenly began grinning. "Oh, I get it. You want me, right?" There was the sound of a body hitting the ground for an answer.
After clambering back onto the table, Inuyasha smirked. Kagome looked up from her trays of food. "So what did Kikyo want?" she asked, peering at him. He began feeling uncomfortable under her steady gaze. Why had he never noticed the deep shade of beauty her eyes contained…? He lost himself for a few moments, drifting into the oceans of mystery hidden craftily amongst her eyes.
Kagome blinked. Inuyasha had totally zoned out on her. "Hello-o-o?" she quipped, waving a hand in his face. "What?" he jerked, blinking rapidly. "I asked you what Kikyo wanted. She looked kind of upset when she stormed off. You think she wanted some food? Oh, now I feel bad for eating that plate of salad. Maybe I should have offered her a bite," was her retort. "Offered a bite? A bite? To Kikyo? That's my salad, in case you hadn't noticed!" he shot back. Kagome prodded the last piece of salad with her fork. "I'm feeling full. Here!" she replied cheerfully, pushing the plate towards him. The piece of salad that remained uneaten on the plate was not enough to satisfy the mild hunger of a mouse, let alone him.
"Gee. Thanks. I'll be so full after this. Hail the great and generous Kagome," he answered. Kagome seemed to finally detect his sarcasm, and without a further word, swooped down on his piece of salad and gobbled it up. "Hey!" he protested. "That was mine!" he shouted, blinking in surprise. Kagome shrugged. "You didn't seem to want it." He grumbled in annoyance. Then, realizing that she was watching him intently, blinked. "What?" he asked. "You didn't answered my question," she retorted. "Oh," was the one word reply. She crossed her arms expectantly, waiting for him to answer, obviously. He sighed. "She wanted to know if we were…" he broke off, shrugging. "Not important."
Kagome frowned. "If it wasn't important, then it's shouldn't be such a big deal to tell me." Inuyasha blinked again. With a sigh, he replied, "She wanted to know if we were enjoying the food. Because you know her type. They only eat in fancy restaurants and crud."
Inuyasha leaned back in his chair, comfortable with his response. At least, until Kagome refused to removed her piercing gaze away from him. "What now?" he sighed tiredly. "Liar," she said. "What?" he blinked, sitting up straight in his chair. She shrugged. "When you lie, you blush," she snickered. "I do not!" Inuyasha shouted, feeling his cheeks burn. She shrugged nonchalantly once more. "So are you going to tell me or what?" she quipped. He sighed. "Fine. If you must know. She wanted to know if we were on a date. Satisfied?" He leaned back again in his chair, rolling his eyes. "So what did you answer?" the young lady sitting across from him asked. He felt himself blushing. "Why do you care?" he snarled suddenly, feeling defensive. He didn't really want her to know, did he? But then- a part of him did. "Because," was her answer. Ugh. How was he supposed to answer that? Oh well. There was no point in denying the obvious. "I said yes, okay?" he finally answered.
Kagome blinked, bewildered. "You did…?" Inuyasha nodded bluntly, glowering, his gaze averted. She barely had enough courage to spill out the next verse. "…Why?" She was burning with curiosity. It was surprising, how much she wanted to know the answer. He blushed, slightly stammering. "I like you. Enough questions already!" he snapped, crossing his arms and glaring out at the surrounding tables. Had she heard correctly? Or had someone spike her drink? Inuyasha…liked her…? She smiled suddenly, feeling nothing but relief. "Well, okay," she replied.
His head jerked up. "Just 'okay'?" he asked in sarcasm. Kagome looked up at him, her gaze unwavering. "Yeah," was her retort. What the hell? "That's it? There's no 'I like you too, Inuyasha?' or no 'Thanks for coming out with the truth, Inuyasha?' Just 'okay'? That's it?" he hissed. Imagine his surprise when she calmly put down her fork, pushed back her chair, strode to his side, and kissed him quickly on the cheek. It rendered him speechless. Without a word, Kagome returned to her seat. He opened his mouth to say something, but then Miroku and Sango rejoined the table. Inuyasha blushed furiously. Had they heard…-or seen anything? He decided to play it cool. "Where in blazes were you two? Mak-" he was cut off with a sharp glance from Kagome's end of the table. "-We were about to send out a search party for you," he finished. He noticed Sango suppressing a grin, and he immediately knew that the delay was intended. They weren't making out- but giving Kagome and him time to work things out. He rather appreciated it, and flashed a grin her way. She nodded.
Only as the group further enjoyed their meal did the stop to reflect upon the finer qualities of life. Ooh. Like the desserts. Those looked good. The two young ladies and two young men- at least, there were two men, until they remarked the ravenous manner in which the young ladies were wolfing down their desserts- enjoyed a calm evening. And the young man with the sterling silver mane and piercing golden toned eyes- who was curiously facedown on the floor after having received quite a blow to the head area after his sarcastic comments- watched a certain young woman eat, taking in her beauty, and sinking deeper into his feelings for her. He waited for another time when he would be able to fully admit his true feelings.
(A.N. – I realized too late that I posted the earlier version of this chapter, and forgot the ending paragraph! Sorry about all the confusion, the paragraph did end too abruptly. Anyways, I would like to thank all of my dedicated readers- I know that I hadn't updated for a couple of months, but I still received reviews and e-mails from readers. Thanks so much guys! I'm glad that you've enjoyed the story thus far. This story is not yet over. I still have a few things in mind for the group. ^^; Again, thank you for your support.)