A/N: I know, I know. It's been a long time; you probably thought I was dead or something. Don't get me wrong, I've been working on this but would you believe I already had a few other versions of ch.19. But I kept getting writer's block. I hope this satisfies.
Dedication: To all you reviewers that waited patiently and didn't forget this fic.
Disclaimer: Check other chapters.
Ch. 15: Dream a Little Scheme pt. 1
They were in Art class, Kagome busy explaining to Inuyasha how to paint with the brush, not his fingers. Miroku and Sango were asleep. Ms. Higurashi had given them a long lecture on 'not taking things that don't belong to you' as she put it. But they didn't get off that easily. The cops were there and almost took them to jail; Miroku, Sango, and even Shippo. But Kagome told the cops that they were mentally ill and weren't aware of what they were doing. It was a very far-fetched lie when Miroku had started to overplay his role, and not to mention that Inuyasha started to laugh about it. Well, things got even crazier when Ms. Higurashi pulled up. To make a long story short, she ended up having to pay a fine for letting 'mentally retarded' people off by themselves.
Megumi, Ai, and Hikaru smiled at each other as they watched Inuyasha and Kagome. "They sure are a cute couple. Even cuter than Kag and Houjo."
Ai nodded. "But I don't think they really go out. I mean, you should hear all the things that boy calls Kagome. We have to get them together."
"What?" Hikaru asked nearly falling out of her seat. "Wouldn't that be meddling?"
"I don't see why it should. It's for a good cause."
Hikaru thought this over then nodded. Kagome'd be happy with Inuyasha she decided. "Let's do it!"
"Listen and learn, then watch. It's like this." Kagome grabbed his hand on the paintbrush and steered it into the paint. Then put it to the paper. "That wasn't so hard."
Inuyasha inhaled, happy to be in her presence. He understood how to use the brushes, he just didn't want to. I mean, what's the point of using a brush when you have fingers? Humans, he decided, didn't like to get themselves messy. But at least he was close to her. "I got it."
Unfortunately, Art was a class they happened to have with Houjo. He trotted over. "Hi, Higurashi, Inuyasha."
"Hi, Houjo," Kagome replied plastering a smile on her face. "Inuyasha." She nudged him.
"Hey," he mumbled. As you could probably have known, Inuyasha didn't especially care for Houjo. It was bad enough that he was over here, but now he'd started a conversation with Kagome. Inuyasha grinned. He'd get his…
With that last thought, Inuyasha's hands knocked the cup of paint on Houjo's uniform. Alas, success! Let's see how Mr. Sunshine deals with that. Now Kagome'll see that he's not perfect and maybe I'll stop seeming like the bad guy. "Oh my," he said giving a fake shocked look. "Did I do that?"
Houjo looked down at his uniform. Yellow paint was on his shirt and halfway on his pants. Just when Inuyasha'd expected him to snap, Houjo just smiled. "It's okay, I'm sure you didn't mean to do it on purpose."
That's what you think, Inuyasha thought with a smirk.
"I'm sorry," was Kagome's more apologetic tone. She flashed a look at Inuyasha who just shrugged. "Let me help you." Why was it that he was always out to get Houjo? She thought as she helped scrub some of the mustard yellow paint off of him. Houjo was nice, just a little naive.
Inuyasha was annoyed. His plan was backfiring; he was still the bad guy! Houjo was starting to become a huge pain and his little embarrassed expression made Inuyasha want to tear out his liver and eat it raw. (My aren't we violent?)
Now was Ai's cue, she rushed to the scene and pulled Inuyasha away from the table. "Isn't Kagome your girlfriend?" she inquired. Inuyasha's cheeks turned a slight reddish color but before he could answer, Ai continued. "If she is, you shouldn't let Houjo get so close to her." Light bulb! She got this strange, scheming look on her face. She had a plan, guaranteed to get them closer. "How about you take Kagome out on a date tonight?"
"A-a date?" he stuttered. If he wasn't mistaken, that was that thing that Houjo had tried to be slick and take Kagome on, right?
"Yea. You two could go to some sort of lover's café like Café Agony. Coffee for lovers. Then you could take Kag out to the movies…" Her voice trailed off. She had—once again—gone off into her own little world.
Megumi then took her place chatting to him and forking over a book entitled 'Dating for Bakas'. "Not like I've read it before, but it might have some useful information in it."
"Right…" Hikaru said. "Inuyasha, go in for the kill." She pushed him towards Kagome, who was having conversation with Houjo about something. And not just about something. That boy was trying to ask her out on a date! Inuyasha had heard it with his keen ears. Time to get in the action!
"Actually… Me and Kagome are already going on a date tonight."
"We are?" she asked. Is Inuyasha really going to? Na… He's just saying that so I won't go with Houjo. Her spirits lowered. Did she somehow want to go on a date with him?
"Yeah, Kagome, don't tell me you forgot?" He looked at Houjo as he said these last words. "We're going to have agony and move."
"What?" A puzzled expression formed on Kagome's face.
Inuyasha was starting to panic now. Wasn't that what that girl Ai said? Something like that anyway.
"W-what I believe Inuyasha means is that you two are going to Café Agony and watching a movie afterward. Right, Inuyasha?" Megumi said jumping to the rescue.
The said character nodded. Kagome looked over at Inuyasha, then at Houjo. It'd be nice to go on a real date with Inuyasha she guessed. He did have a tendency to act better when they were alone than when they were around others… But she didn't want Houjo to feel bad.
"Um… Houjo…?" she started.
"It's okay. I understand. Maybe next time, huh?" By the tone of his voice, it was no big deal, but it was Houjo's expression that cared.
"Thanks for understanding," Kagome said as she watched him walk back to his table.
As Houjo departed, he narrowed his eyes thinking. I'll make sure that their date doesn't go well. Kagome'll wish that she'd went with me. Inuyasha tried to embarrass me yesterday. If Kagome ever found out that I have a part-time job at Ukyo's Okonomiyaki, she'd hate me. And something tells me that Inuyasha dislikes me. Can't imagine why…
All during most of class—scratch that, all of class—Inuyasha read 'Dating for Bakas'. His eyes scanned the pages with interest. 'Pay for her meal. Open the door for her.' etc… He'd have to try to remember all of those.
Inuyasha glanced over at Kagome. She was reading 'The Demon of Rashomon'. The story they were assigned. He might be reading it too, but he had to know what to do for that date. There was no way in heaven that he wasn't gonna screw up and hear her say, 'Man, Inuyasha. Why do I even bother? I knew that I should have simply gone with Houjo. He's way more polite! Politer than you'll ever be!' With that statement, "Kagome" stomped out of the café and out to where a certain red convertible was waiting. A smug Houjo would look over at Inuyasha and wrapped his arms around Kagome and an expression that seemed to say, "I got your girl."
He growled. There was no way he'd let that happen. Kagome'd see, he'd be a better date than Houjo ever would…
"So If I'm not mistaken, you and Lady Kagome are going out tonight?" Miroku asked.
The two boys were at lunch awaiting the girls' arrival. It was packed as usual and the cafeteria staff was still handing out the crap they liked to call food. Inuyasha had no complaints though; when you were hungry you'd eat just about anything. "Who told you?" he asked in the middle of chewing. Although it sounded more like 'Foo twol yo?'
"The word's been all around school." Miroku started to grin profusely, "I know very little when it comes to this future stuff, but going out with Kagome tonight is unquestionably something I could help you with."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Well, what the hell makes you say that?"
Miroku pointed to his book. This got an embarrassed look by Inuyasha and he put it away quickly. "Well, what's the advice?"
"Okay, so where are you taking her?"
Inuyasha looked thoughtful. "Her friend Ai said something about a café and a movie."
"The movies I remember, but I have no idea what a café is."
"Me either, but she says I should take her there."
Miroku nodded. "Well…Inuyasha, you're about to get some help from the master."
He scoffed at this. "Master? More like a lecherous monk."
Miroku's look turned serious. "Do you want my help or what?"
He almost wanted to say 'no' but what did he have to lose? He could at least listen. Sometimes the monk could be good for something. And just because Inuyasha might say 'yes' didn't mean he'd have to listen….
He drew in a deep breath. "Fine."
Ending Notes: Uh-oh! Sorry it's so short, but my time on the comp is almost up. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Part 2 is on the way. Till then, please leave reviews!