A Bet; Digging Deeper Into the Past




~ Well, all in all, you had a good time on the little hiking adventure 'naive' pulled you through. You had some pleasant memories of you and your father, a near fatal accident, and some good fights to release some anger. 'Houshi' got bonked a few too many times; sometimes you flinched, other times you cheered. He always deserved it, though. 'Wimpy wolf' hasn't so much as looked at you, to which you are extremely pleased. 'He' is just being his arrogant self; not much of a change. And even though 'naive' told you that she promised 'wimpy wolf' to hook you up with him, it was still fun. A walk back to the cabin, a great dinner, and a few more bonks to 'houshi's head made up the remainder of the day. Now it's time for some much needed sleep. Or nor......... Your friends think it's too early for bed. After all it's only 9 p.m. But you haven't slept in over 36 hours! There's nothing good to watch, no good games-no one agreed on 'Truth or Dare'- no good books- wait, you have some, but noooo~ooooo they just won't let you read if they can't. Well, I guess it's time for 'getting to know the band'- the story behind the fame. After a few groans from the band and pleading from 'naive' the questioning started. You just want to sleep! Why can't they be kind and considerate when it comes down to your needs? This is going to be one long night! But it can't possibly be worse than tomorrow, right...? Right! ~

We rearranged the family room so that the two couches faced each other. I took my spot in the middle of one with Ayame and Sango beside me. Kouga sat across from Ayame and Miroku across from Sango. Inuyasha, like myself, was stuck between his buddies. Ayame was elected interrogator and Miroku became Demonic's spokesman.

"So, how'd you get this job?" Ayame asked. Since she had fallen asleep on Kouga's chest at the concert she didn't know that we'd already talked about that.

"Well, Inuyasha entered an audition for an empty spot in a children's band when he was six and he came out on top," Miroku explained. "It started out as a way to help his family when his father died. They were in financial trouble and his mother was pregnant and hadn't worked for years. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha's older broth-"

"HALF!" Inuyasha growled.

"Ah, hai! Inuyasha's HALF-brother was already working, but it wasn't enough. I think it's kind of strange that he, being only about 11, was working a full time job at Meisei incorporated, but he has always been a very mature person. He always knows how to bring money to the company, too. As a matter of fact, he almost owned the company by the time he was 14- only three years after he started. He owns it now, I'm sure you know."

"Oh! I know him from grandfather's stories!" Ayame exclaimed. "I thought he was kidding, though. Especially when he told me his name... Oh, what was it! Don't tell me; I know it...." She began shaking her head and snapping her fingers, mumbling." Mr........ Mr...... Oh, come on! I know it! Mr. Himitsu(Secret)! That was it!"

"Yep!" Miroku beamed. He was starting to say something. Something which Sango and I didn't care to hear and we made sure he didn't with glare as cold as ice.

"I thought he was kidding, though. It sounded like he was telling me it was a seceret, ne?" Ayame giggled.

"Yeah, I thought so, too. I always used to make fun of Inuyasha about it. His family name really fights. Every one is so secretive."

"Keh! Yeah, but your's sure doesn't," Inuyasha snorted while setting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. "And it never has. You'd never believe me if I told you," He said look over to us.

"Wanna bet?" I asked.

"Sure. What's the stakes?"

I thought for a while. The perfect time to get some much needed revenge. I grinned evilly as I rattled off the consequences. "If we guess it correctly before we leave tomorrow, then you have to let us pick out your clothes." My grin grew even wider. "AND you have to try them on...... ALL of them."

The guys gulped.

"And if you don't?" Inuyasha squeaked.

"Then you can all stay here while we go shop," Even though I'd rather stay, too. "AND you'll have full control over the TV." I stated simply. I looked to the girls for approval; they nodded. I turned back to the guys. "Agree or not?"

They guys looked at each other, hopped over the couch, and formed a huddle. They talked it over, through every single pro and con.

"Well!?" I asked impatiently. They sure were taking their sweet time which meant less sleep for my deprived mind.

"They'll never guess it," Kouga said uncertainly. Miroku looked thoughtful and Inuyasha had fallen asleep. The nerve!

After a few more minutes, Miroku woke Inuyasha and discussed it over with him... It was taking way too long! Then the group nodded, took their seats and composed themselves. Inuyasha leaned forward over the narrow space separating our trios.

"Your on!"

I sat back, smirking.

"Good luck," Kouga said.

"Yeah, you'll need it," Inuyasha added and paused. He studied me for a while, then shook his head and leaned back. I was completely confused. He couldn't possibly be remembering... Could he?

"So?" Sango asked, looking over to Miroku.

"Nani?"

"The story?"

"Oh! Hai. As I was saying, Sesshomaru already worked, but they still needed more money. When he was finally getting paid enough so that Inuyasha could quit, their sister was diagnosed with some unknown disease. His mother passed away shortly after. In order to pay for the hospital's care and to fund research, Inuyasha continued singing. He went from one group to another, yet was still able to stay in school. One thing that many can't do.

"I have known Inuyasha since before I can remember and I've always been a friend. My life prior to that of fame was completely uneventful, except for the death of my parents. I lived with my uncle for a long time, then with a friend of his. He was hospitalized for a while and didn't have the money to cover the bill.

"About that time, Kouga here enrolled in our high school. I became his first friend and Inuyasha became his first enemy of sorts. They really do get along well, but not when anyone's around," Miroku informed us, receiving an elbow in the side from Inuyasha.

"Why were they enemies?" Ayame wondered aloud.

"Hold on. I'm getting to that. Kouga was new at school and didn't know anyone, naturally. It was about a week after that he saw Kikyo and started talking to her. How he ever did it, I'll never know. She's a real-" before he could say anymore Inuyasha had bopped him on the head, sending him face first into the ground at Sango's feet. Sango admired the work, whistling.

"Don't ever call her that!" he growled, glaring at his swirly-eyed friend. Even though Miroku hadn't called her anything, we all knew what he was about to say... Somehow.

"Cool down, dogface," Kouga said, picking up his unconscious co-worker. He sighed. "Well, I'm not as good of a story teller, but I doubt you'll hear it from dogface. As he was saying, about a week after I arrived at their school, I started talking with Kikyo. I didn't know she was dating dogface and dogface lost his temper. We fought and dogface ran away with his tail between his legs."

"I did not!" he shouted. "I got a call from my manager saying that my sister's condition worsened. I had to leave! I wouldn't have if it hadn't been important."

"Anyway," Kouga continued, uneffected by his friend's foul temper, "We were enemies afterwards, but it didn't last for long. Ne, I was in a tight spot financially like everyone else and I needed the money. Dogface told Miroku about this great offer his half-brother had and Miroku told me. It required three guys with musical talents for the drums, electric guitar, and bass. I told him I played the bass and he said he played the drums. All that was left was the lead singer and electric. Dogface filled the spot.

"But, of course, he wouldn't have me in the band he was definitely going to be part of because of the thing with Kikyo. Something happened and they had a big fight. I told Kikyo that she was making a bad choice, leaving him. I know, I was really sucking up, but I had my reasons. She told him what I'd done and got back together with him. We've been... Well, we don't fight like we used to. Not all the time at least. And that's about it."

"Sugoi...." Sango and Ayame said with wide eyes. I sighed. Their lives were so much more interesting than mine. 'I am so jealous... Now what could Miroku's last name be.....?'

"So, we know Inuyasha's family name and have to guess Miroku's.... What's yours?" I asked. I was going to get as many facts from this group as possible. My revenge depended on it!

Kouga grinned from ear to ear. "Take a wild guess," he said.

"Well, let's see.... Does your name fit you?"

"Sort of," Inuyasha answered for the man.

"Hmmmm....."

'Well, he's dense, self absorbed, has a toothy grin, nicknamed 'wimpy wolf- That's it!' I smirked. "Aha!" I squealed in delight. "I got it!" I stood up and walked over to him, extending my arm for a handshake. "Hello, Mr. Ookami! I'm Kagome Higurashi. Pleased to meet you!"

He was stunned. "How-how....... How did you guess?" he asked, shaking my hand absently. Inuyasha looked just as shocked and thoughtful at the same time. Maybe he WAS starting to remember.

"Maybe we shouldn't have agreed to that bet," he mumbled.

'I guess not,' I thought disappointedly. That confused me. Why should I be disappointed that he didn't remember me? Sure, I want him to feel guilty and all, but.... Wasn't it better if he didn't remember, yet? He'd probably use that against me during an argument, too. Right along with calling me a wench and a bitch... And everything else.

I slapped myself mentally and placed a smirk that, to me, seemed very Inuyasha like. "Didn't you know? When it comes to word games I'm a tiger. Totally ruthless, very cunning, impossible to fool."

"Then what's Miroku's?" Inuyasha smirked, pointing over his shoulder to his still unconscious co-worker.

"Ne, I think I know it, but I want to be absolutely certain before I say it," I said thoughtfully.

"I bet you have no clue," ha challenged.

"You sure? I'll take up that offer," I told him, grinning like Kouga. Man, I had to get away from them! I was acting like all of them. As bad tempered as Inuyasha, as strange as Kouga, and as innocent as Miroku. Yes, that oh- so-innocent smile of his gave it all away... I was sure of the name, but... Why not up the stakes? A little more revenge with one shot.

Inuyasha looked a little unsure. He turned to Kouga and Kouga nodded. "Sure, why not? What's the stakes this time?"

"Well, Aya-chan chooses for us this time. Kouga-kun can choose for you," I said and turned to my friend. Hopefully she would get Kouga off my back. I was sure Kouga would say I had to go out on a date or something. Actually I knew by the way his face lit up.

"Oi! Why didn't one of us get to choose last time?" Inuyasha whined.

"You know the rules, don't you?" I asked, and then mentally kicked myself. Of course he wouldn't know. It was a rule my trio had made up. "The rule is that if, during a bet, you are betted again, concerning the same topic, the stakes are highered and one person from the opposing side chooses the consequence, while the other team chooses another. In addition, the opposing team must choose to take part in the bet before hearing the consequences. It simply means that you must say 'hai' before our team tells you the stakes. We are in for sure. You?"

"Oh... I guess we are," Inuyasha stated slowly after Kouga nodded again in agreement.

"So? Aya-chan, your up first," I said, turning back to my friend, grinning.

"Umm....... Okay, if Kagome-chan truly does know it then... I get to go on a date with each one of you!" Ayame cheered. "Starting tomorrow night, after shopping. Won't it be great! You can wear what we by for you!"

The guys groaned. "Too late to back out guy's. So, what's it going to be Kouga-kun?"

Kouga thought for a while. "Alright. If you do not guess it correctly, then you have to go on a date with me, Kagome."

'How'd I know,' I thought dryly. Inuyasha growled, which startled me. I looked over to him questioningly. He snapped his gaze away and immediately stopped, and started coughing.

"I can't believe you just said that!" he sighed. "You just gave away a chance of getting out of this mess so that you could go on a date with HER!" he hissed, adding a completely uncalled for amount of emphasis on 'her'.

I snapped. "WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH ME!!!! I'VE DONE NOTHING TO YOU!!!!"

"YOU'RE HERE RIGHT NOW, AREN'T YOU! THAT'S REASON ENOUGH!"

"I WOULDN'T BE HERE UNLESS IT WAS FOR A FRIEND!" I shouted back, my voice cracking slightly. "But I don't expect you to understand that kind of loyalty."

"What do you know about loyalty, huh?" he sneered. "I work my ass off in a job I don't want, just so that my sister can live a little longer. I wouldn't ever abandon her! I've been doing this for over 12 years and not once have I ever stopped to think about quitting since then! I hate this job with a passion! Hai, maybe I used to like it, when Sesshomaru wasn't running the show, but I hate it now, yet I still do it, day in and day out!" He finished, glaring as best he could. "What in the world do you think loyalty is? I doubt you know it...."

I just sat back and starred. That really must have hurt to say that. But the silence had to be broken somehow and since Miroku was still out cold and couldn't attempt to grope Sango, I was going to be the one to break it. "I didn't know.... But still.... What is so bad about me that you can't stand."

"Keh! Everything," he snorted.

I glared. "That's not an answer!"

"Hai, it is," he sighed. He seemed more tired than I was... And to think I was the only one that hadn't slept in- oh, what time is it now? 11:27, huh? That means.... 38 hours and 27 minutes of no sleep. Yet, I didn't feel like sleeping. I was wide-awake. Now, about that bet...

I sighed. "Well, are those the stakes?"

"Huh?" Inuyasha mumbled.

"The bet."

He suddenly came back to life. "Oh! Yeah, I guess so. So, what is it?"

"I really wish he was awake to hear my answer," I sighed. "I love to see a person's reaction to something like this." I heard Sango snort behind me. I could practically hear her thoughts. 'Yeah, you can say that again.'

"No problem," Inuyasha said.

"Eh?" I watched as Inuyasha lifted up Miroku's head.

"BOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" He yelled. I jumped back. That was an excellent thunder imitation and I never wanted to hear it again. Miroku was up in a flash. Actually, he was GONE in a flash.

I heard something above me; almost like chattering teeth. Looking up, I found Miroku hanging from the ceiling fan, scared witless.

"DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" I yelled.

"He's wake now isn't he?" Inuyasha asked, calm for once.

"Hai.... Miroku?" He looked down at me. "Would you come down here, please? It was only Inuyasha."

He shook for a while, and then slowly released his grip, landing next to Sango on the couch. The sudden bounced caused Sango to fall over... Right into him... Well, needless to say, Miroku wasn't scared anymore. Sango froze. How was she supposed to slap him if it was an accident? That problem was solved. His hand, like always, found its way to her but and her palm found its way to his face... With incredible speed.

He fell to the floor with the happiest of smiles. Sango huffed and glared.

"Miroku?" I asked sweetly. He looked up with an innocent smile. "Can you stand up for a moment?" He looked at me uncertainly, but complied.

I made sure my rear was out of groping distance and held out my hand, like I did with Kouga. "Hello, my name is Kagome Higurashi. I am extremely pleased to meet you," I smiled. I was building up as much suspense as I could.

"We-we've already met...." Miroku said, completely at a loss.

"I know, but I never properly introduced myself," I explained, bowing slightly as I continued. "Gomen. It was awfully rude not to. Especial when it was someone as famous as you. I hope you can forgive me," I bowed my head, hiding my grin from everyone." ... Mr. Mujaki."

The men gasped. Well, Miroku didn't, but his expression was priceless, as was Inuyasha's and Kouga's.

"Oh, shit!" Inuyasha yelled. "There is no fucking way for you to have guessed that! You knew already didn't you, bitch."

"Iie, jerk. I guessed it. Just like I guessed Kouga-kun's," I told him, smirking in triumph. "Which means that we are playing dress-up tomorrow AND one of you luck fellows have a date with my friend."

"Nani?" Miroku asked. "With Sango?" Boy, he was excited, but I had to break the news.

"Gomen, iie. Your friends took the liberty of upping the stakes. Each of you are going on a date with Aya-chan."

Miroku beamed with delight anyway. "Whose first?"

"Aya-chan decides," I said, looking over to Ayame.

"I don't know yet, but I think Miroku's first," she said, thoughtfully.

He squealed in delight with stars in his eyes. 'Oh brother, how are we going to protect her now?' I thought, knowing Sango was thinking the exact same thing. 'Maybe he'll behave....' I know she either heard my thoughts or thought it too, because she snorted in disgust. Only I seemed to notice.

"But..." Inuyasha stuttered dumbly. "How did you guess? I mean, we didn't give you any clues of any kind and it hasn't been all that long.... How could you guess something like that?"

"Well, ne, with Kouga, I put two and two together. You call him 'wimpy wolf' a lot and that grin... For some reason it always reminded me of a wolf and while I was thinking about his I noticed that Miroku always had a certain look about him. One that is completely false and doesn't suit him at all. He always wears an innocent smile. Even though it was just a wild guess, it made sense," I explained as well as I could. "But even before I was guessing Kouga's, I was racking my brain for idea's. When he started to call Kikyo a bitch-" Inuyasha added a growl in. 'Sugoi,' I thought. 'I even have some great sound effects!' "-I knew he was anything but innocent. No angel would ever say such a word. My thoughts just confirmed it. Plus, just now, with the whole Sango/Miroku scene, I had no doubt in my mind. You really should have backed down on the second bet. I can't believe you went for it with me acting that way."

"I thought you might have been bluffing," he said.

"For a while I was, but that doesn't matter now, does it? I guessed correctly, so you lose," I smirked.

"But.... But.... I don't believe you," Inuyasha stated.

"It doesn't really matter if you do or not. I still guessed it correctly. Anyway, you guys might want to get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow," I cheered. 'Yeah,' I thought with an evil chuckle, 'a very long day. Won't it be fun!?'

Inuyasha made a dash for his bedroom, which was mine for the night, and slammed the door.

"Chotto! That's my room!" I shouted banging on the door. Sango and Ayame had made a run for theirs also, just to make sure, leaving me to fight alone. I wasn't going two nights without sleep.

"Stop it! You'll break the door!" he yelled.

"Then get out!"

"Iie!"

"Hai!"

"Iie!"

"Hai, jerk!"

"Iie, bitch!"

"NOW YOU ASSHOLE!"

"NEVER BAKA! THE DOOR'S BREAKING, STOP!" he screamed. Too late.

The door shattered. I fell to the ground in fits of laughter. 'Sugoi!' was all I could think of. I pasted out right there on the floor, in front of my room with pieces of a door scattered around me. I was tired, but... 'Sugoi!'