A/N: Hey, minna-sama, I'm back. I arrived yesterday as a matter of fact, but I was typing up one of my stories that hadn't been updated in a while.

Dedication: Minna-san and the summertime.

Chapter 17: A problem resolved?

"What's wrong with you, Inuyasha?" Kagome questioned, seeing the obviously upset expression on his face.

She's got a lot of nerve to be asking me that, he thought. "I know everything. Now Houjo's here and I really don't give a damn if you watch a movie or whatever with him. I'm getting the hell outta here!" He stomped off leaving a confused Kagome and overly happy Houjo.

But Kagome wasn't just going to let him walk away. "Inuyasha!" she called after him. There was no response, he was evidently ignoring her. To this, she caught up with him and faced him. "What's with you? I thought we were having a good time?"

"I thought we were too, I guess I was wrong."

Kagome looked at him in disbelief. "I don't know why you'd say that. I'm enjoying myself and I thought you were too. So what's your problem?"

"I don't have one. Just leave me the hell alone all right?!" That was a tone Kagome wasn't familiar with. He sounded furious, yet a little sad at the same time… "Why should I listen to you anyway?"

Now Kagome was starting to get angry herself. "Well fine! You can go then. And just when I'd thought you'd changed. You always have to prove me wrong." She had tried to sound strong, but her voice came out a little shaky.

"Who cares? I don't." With that last word, Inuyasha left.

Kagome didn't know what to say—there was nothing…

Houjo placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry…"

She sniffed. "Don't be. Inuyasha should."

"Want me to drive you home? If you ever need me for anything, I'll be here for you."

"Thanks, Houjo, you're a true friend. But I drove here so…"

Somehow those words struck something in Houjo. Why am I doing all this? I just broke up a perfectly good friendship. Now they'll probably hate each other for the rest of their lives and it'll have been my fault. Houjo was starting to hate that he had caused all that trouble… And if he told Kagome the truth, she probably wouldn't want to be his friend anymore… He'd just have to see Inuyasha…

Inuyasha sped around Tokyo's streets jumping from car to car.

That Kagome… he thought angrily. I mean, who the hell does she think she is anyway? I hate when people try to pity me!!! His thoughts seemed to be controlling him and he didn't notice the girl he'd knocked over.

"Hey, you!" she cried out. "Where're your manners?" But the angry expression quickly wore off when she saw him. "Hi, Inuyasha, what are you doing out here?" And soon he recognized her too… "Aren't you one of her friends?"

"Yeah. That's if you're meaning Kagome. Remember? My name's Megumi Hanashibara. Now where is Kagome?"

"Who gives a damn?"

This got a surprised expression from the girl. She'd always thought the two'd gone out… Well, all couples have fights… "So she kicked you out of her house for a while?" Megumi asked jumping to conclusions. "And if you don't have any place to stay, you could come to my house. My parents wouldn't mind."

Inuyasha shrugged. "Whatever."

As Kagome prepared to exit the movie theater, three very familiar voices called after her, "Kagome!" She stopped and turned around to Sango, Miroku, and Shippo? What the heck were they doing here? She thought they'd stayed at home.

"Sorry but can we ride home with you?" Sango asked.

The upset look on Kagome's face faded, "Sure, but what—how did you--?"

"Just a moment," Miroku interrupted looking around and noticing a missing person, "But where's Inuyasha?"

That didn't get a very good response from her. And she told them—word for word—exactly what happened. "And then he left! I hope that jerk gets lost! He's got some nerve!"

Sango tried to calm her friend down, and Miroku pondered over this. What could have come over Inuyasha? He wasn't sure but he was gonna get to the root of it. Leave it to Instigator Miroku, I mean Investigator Miroku.

Megumi's house was pretty nice, not too fancy but just enough to call a home. Inuyasha thought her place was way better than Kagome's…

"C'mon inside. I guess I better tell my parents that we'll be having a guest." Megumi unlocked her front door and called in, "Daddy! Mama!"

"Yes, Megu-chan?" Her mom walked into the room and then a smile slowly appeared on her face. "And who is this?"

"This is Inuyasha, Kagome's boyfriend."

"I am NOT her damn boyfriend," Inuyasha said with a pout.

Megumi forced a smile. "And uh… they're mad at each other now so I was wondering if it would be okay if he could stay here until they got things all worked out."

Mrs. Hanashibara smiled weakly, eyeing the boy up and down. Silver hair, long claws and fangs, ears on the top of his head… "Honey, let me have a word with you…" She took Megumi aside and whispered, although Inuyasha's keen sense of hearing picked it up," What's wrong with him?"

"Isn't he cool?" Megumi gushed. "I think the ears are just a birth defect or something. So can he stay?"

Her mother sighed. "I guess, but the maximum is two days. I don't think he's the best influence on you."

"Thanks!" She turned to Inuyasha. "You can stay."

"I heard." A puzzled expression crossed her face.

Kagome sped home; she had a habit of doing that when she was angry. 'Konya wa hurricane' blaring out of the speakers. In the back Miroku tried to think. Why would Inuyasha just leave like that? Where was he now? Probably at home… He sighed. That music was really interfering with his thoughts.

"Excuse me, Kagome!" he yelled over the racket. "But could you turn down the music?!"

She turned her head towards him with a look that made Miroku wish he hadn't said anything. "WHAT?!"

He couldn't tell if she just didn't hear him or she was angry. Either way… "N-nothing." He returned to his thoughts. Kagome did mention that Houjo was there. Could he have possibly said something to Inuyasha? No way. That Houjo kid has the cleanest record of anyone I know. But then again, it's always the good ones you least expect.

Sango looked over at Kagome. The date was ruined… This meant she'd won the bet. Oh boy, her life just got better. She smiled glancing through the rearview mirror. No more, Miroku, no more…

Inuyasha picked through some strange looking stuff on his plate that Megumi's parents had called 'Hambagaa'.

"So, Inuyasha, tell us about yourself," Mrs. Hanashibara suggested.

"What is this?" His attention was evidently still stuck on the food.

Figures…

Inuyasha took a bite out of it and nodded his head. "Better than Kagome's cooking." In no time at all, the bowl was wiped clean and he was waiting for seconds. He didn't like this stuff better than instant ramen though.

"So, how long have you been living here in Japan?" Mr. Hanashibara questioned scooping more food on his plate.

"Um…" He stared at his fingers counting. 5017. No wait. She said 'living', when he was pinned to the Goshinboku tree he wasn't dead but he wasn't really alive either. Hm… "All my life."

He nodded and then it was Mrs. Hanashibara's turn to ask an annoying question. "So Megu here tells us that you're a friend of Kagome's and staying with her."

Yea, what's it to you? That Megumi sure had a big mouth. "Yea, unfortunately. I wanna go back to my own time, hers is too technical."

There was that nod again and the question. "What do you mean 'too technical'? Are you from third world country or something?"

"Yea," he lied. Though he didn't quite see what that had to do with anything. They were advanced as Tokyo right? "Not much over there." Why did he have to lie about where he was from?

"Because how do you think people from my time would react if they knew you came from a time where demons and humans co-existed? Especially if they knew you were a hanyou?" came Kagome's voice.

Inuyasha shook his head trying to get her out of his system. It didn't matter what she said. Higurashi Kagome thought she was all that.

"Welcome home, Kagome," Mrs. Higurashi greeted as her daughter stormed through the front door, kicking off her shoes and slipping on her house shoes. She watched as her daughter stormed upstairs as if she didn't even notice her and then a slam of the door was heard. "Well, she must be mad."

Shortly afterwards, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo walked in dizzily. Mrs. Higurashi gasped. "What happened to you?"

Sango took a breath. "Nothing too much. We just had a wild ride."

"Oh. Where is your doggie friend?" she asked noticing the party was a little small. Usually she saw all of them together so it was strange for her for him to not be around.

Miroku shrugged. "Not sure. They got into a little fight that hasn't been patched up yet…"

Ms. Higurashi smiled. "I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

Kagome sat on her bed flipping through her CD's. She needed some angry music to calm herself down. Unfortunately she didn't have any; she usually preferred cheerful songs… Giving up, Kagome laid down.

That rude jerk! He had some nerve to walk out on me. It had probably been his plan all along. Lead Kagome on to thinking everything's fine then I'll get fed up and leave. Yea, that was probably it. I should have 'sat' him. Well, she didn't care and for the record, she was glad he was gone.

"Alright now, Here's the guest room where you'll be staying," Megumi told Inuyasha, pointing to a pretty large bedroom. There was a full-sized bed with bright red spreads, a desk, a dresser, bookshelves, and a television set.

She turned to the door, "Uh… I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning." Megumi closed the door behind herself leaving Inuyasha.

Megumi walked into her own bedroom, still wondering if Inuyasha was really staying in her guest room. She'd have to call all her friends. Perhaps she'd call Kagome first, if she didn't know where Inuyasha was, she might be worried.

Ring Ring!

Kagome glared over at her bedside phone. She wished she could tell someone else to answer it, but she had her own personal line. She wasn't really in the mood to talk, but answered the phone anyway. "Hello?"

"Hello," came the over bubbly voice of whom she recognized to be Megumi. "Guess what?"

"What?" Kagome's voice came slightly bored.

"Inuyasha's over my house!"

"What?!" If she'd been drinking something, she was sure it would have spilled out of her mouth like on the T.V. shows. They got into a fight and he resided at one of her best friends' house?
"That's right! Wanna talk to him?" Not waiting for Kagome's answer, Megumi knocked on Inuyasha's door and pushed it open. He sat on the bed with his arms behind his head staring at the ceiling. When he noticed her; however, he rose up, turning to her. What did she want anyway?

Before he could react, Megumi placed the phone to his ear.

Meanwhile, at Kagome's house she was yelling for Megumi. "Hello? Megu-chan?" Kagome called into the phone. And just as she was about to hang up, a gruff voice came on, "Who the hell is this?"

She knew who answered the phone like that, even though she'd told him so many times not too. She could hear Megumi whispering, "Kagome." Then, "Why the hell would I want to talk to her?"

Kagome's anger flared. "I didn't want to talk to you either, you dough head."

She knew how lame that sounded, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

"What?! Dough head?" Inuyasha was about to say something back, but figured that was what Kagome wanted him to do. "Don't try to get all buddy-buddy with me now."

A puzzled expression came over her face. "What are you talking about? You call calling someone a name getting buddy-buddy?"

"Yeah. You're probably calling to get me to come back to your house. Well, too bad! Not until I get an apology."

What was he talking about? He was the idiot that ruined everything. Why should she be the one to apologize? "No, it's too bad for you. Megumi called me and I didn't have plans on even speaking to you. And for the record, I wasn't going to ask you to come back. Higurashi shrine is better without you and so am I!" Inuyasha was then greeted with Kagome's Uncle D.T.

Dial tone.

He dropped the phone, somehow those words managed to break through that tough exterior of his. Usually their petty little arguments didn't bother him, but this one was different. Kagome didn't even care. And if she did, she'd sound so cold. A tone that reminded him of Kikyo…

Megumi looked over at Inuyasha's blank expression and picked up the phone. "You, okay?"

He nodded, blinking his eyes back to regular. "I'm fine, now will you give me some privacy?" Inuyasha watched as the girl walked out and closed the door. Now what was he going to do about Kagome? He wasn't quite sure. Oh well. He'd worry about that later, now he was going to bed.

That should tell him, Kagome thought as she lay on her bed. Though she was starting to feel a little bad about everything she'd said… Then again, she didn't. Inuyasha always said mean things and hurt her feelings, so why couldn't she? But that'd make her just as bad as him. What to do?

The next school day had been pretty boring for Inuyasha except for the occasional girls swooning over him and commenting on how much of a 'rebel' he was not to wear school uniform. This morning's car ride was pretty rough; Mrs. Hanashibara couldn't make him wear it so she sort of took her anger out on Megumi. The car ride was pretty silent, but Inuyasha didn't care it gave him time to think about last night… He was gonna have to talk to Kagome…

A boy snickered. "His outfit looks like a curtain."

Inuyasha turned to the boy, who was no longer smiling. Who the hell did he think he was? He was in the midst of jacking him up when a voice called him.

Miroku's.

"Inuyasha!" he jogged and stared over at the boy now in a headlock. "Inuyasha…" He sucked his teeth, but let the red faced boy go.

"What?"

"I wanted to ask you about last night. Kagome seems to be okay now, but I wanted to know your side of the story."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Just how many times would he have to tell this story? Megumi had asked him earlier that morning, now Miroku. "Look—" He was interrupted by a girl that dashed down the hallway with a school newspaper in hand shouting, "Extra, extra. Read all about!! Higurashi Kagome and Inuyasha have broken up. More details inside this installment of the paper! Yours until I'm sold out! Take them while they're still single!"

What? Inuyasha thought. Who said--? He was gonna get that Megumi, just as soon as this crowd cleared away from him. Inuyasha was surrounded by what looked like the whole population of girls in the school—even the female teachers that were single and married.

"Be my man."

"Not her, she's ugly!"

"We'd make a cute couple. All my friends say so!"

"Then your friends must be on crack!"

They were hurting Inuyasha's ears so he took a big leap and jumped over them. Only problem was, he wasn't paying attention to where he was landing and ended up on top of some raven-haired girl.

"Excuse me," she said, then turned her head upward to see exactly who'd fallen on her. Inuyasha!

"You're excused." He looked to see—Kagome!

Her expression softened. "Inuyasha. Look, about yesterday—"

Inuyasha quickly hopped off her and brushed himself off. "Save it because I don't want to hear it."

But Kagome wasn't going to let his bad attitude get to her. She was gonna make him listen even if she had to threaten him. "Inuyasha, I want us to be friends again. I'm not sure of what made you so mad at the movies and I guess anger got the best of me yesterday so I'm sorry for everything I said." Why was it that she was always the first to apologize? Probably because, unless she was crying, Inuyasha had way too much pride.

He was silent for a while, before saying, "Keep your stupid apology. I don't want it!"

Why was he being so cold to her? Kagome wasn't quite sure but she was going to get the bottom of it. "Look, what's your problem, Inuyasha?!"

"I don't have a problem. Would you just get off my case?!"

Tears started falling down her cheeks, okay, so maybe she was a little sensitive… Inuyasha looked around, people were starting to stare and a few were giving him cold glares… "Hey, Kagome, look." He looked around. "Don't cry, I'm sorry."

"I accept," she said in unison.

"What?!"

She wiped away her tears. Kagome always was good at faking. And if there was one thing she knew it was that Inuyasha couldn't stand tears. Kagome smiled. "You didn't sound terribly apologetic, but at least you said it. Now, I want us to discuss what your problem was yesterday night."

"Do we have to?" he groaned.

"Yes. Now why did you act like that?" Kagome asked.

Inuyasha sighed and started from the beginning.

Where is he? Kagome walked down the hallway angrily. How could Houjo have told Inuyasha such a lie? I thought he was better than that but he disappeared into the darkness. There he was in front of his locker. "Houjo! Could I speak to you for a minute?"

He placed his bookbag into his locker and closed it. Great, she's probably here about the Inuyasha situation… Then again, maybe she was going to ask him out or something. "Yes?"

From the expression on her face, probably not. "Houjo, I was just talking to Inuyasha and he told me what happened yesterday… What you said to him… I just want to know why you'd say such a thing."
What to say? Houjo wondered. If he lied and said 'no' Inuyasha would be accused of lying. But then if Kagome ever found out that he was lying. He'd only look like a bigger liar and she'd hate him more. ON the other hand, if he admitted to telling Inuyasha lies, then she might hate him for that. Either way, the ending would be the same. What to do?

"I admit it, I told Inuyasha that. I was just joking with him, but he took me seriously. I'm sorry," he hung his head for greater effect. "I probably ruined your date too…"

She wanted to ask why he'd joke with Inuyasha like that, but the boy probably didn't know any better. "Hey, that's all right, Houjo, I just wanted to make sure that Inuyasha wasn't lying on you. But please don't tell him something like that again. He has a tendency to take things too seriously so…"

"I get it," he interrupted. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to jeopardize your friendship."
"It's okay. You didn't know. Well, I better be getting to class." She walked off waving.

Houjo waved back, a smile plastered on his face. Well, Kagome didn't hate him. That smile, however, faded away just as soon as Kagome disappeared from sight. "Oh but I meant it," he said aloud. "Next time I will succeed. Higurashi Kagome will be mine." (Cue horror music) He let out a cackle.

"What the hell are you babbling about, Homo?" Inuyasha asked from his spot on the wall.

Houjo shrieked. Just how long had he been there anyway? He didn't hear him, did he? That was a question that Houjo wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to know an answer. "Oh nothing. Just heading to class trying to remember those darn history notes. Bye!" With that final word, he dashed down the hall. Oh God, I hope he didn't hear me. Next time I'll keep my thoughts in my head. Soon I'll get Kagome…

But that was where he was wrong. Inuyasha's heard every little word he'd said and believe you me, Hobo was gonna get what was coming to him… He clutched his Tetsusaiga and smirked, letting out a devilish laugh until…

"Young man, your butt should be in class. The tardy bell has rung." Inuyasha turned around to see some pleasantly plump woman walking towards him. "And what do you have that sword for? Is it a stage prop from the drama department?"
He nodded although he had no idea of what drama was and stage prop. He usually left his sword at Kagome's house, but he wasn't going to trust it at Megumi's so he'd just bought it with him.

"Get to class."

In the Algebra II class sat Sango and Miroku. They sat right next to each other and the teacher had told them to pair up for some little thing they were doing in class. Now would be the time to break to him the news, especially since she could see the hand was coming down for a landing.

"Keep your hands north of the border, make that no where near me. Have you forgotten the bet?"

Miroku's gaze remained clueless. "What bet?"

"The bet were you said that if the date was successful then you'd get a kiss. I saw it would be a flop and if I was right you wouldn't be allowed to grope me for the rest of your life."

"I don't remember that," he lied.

Sango turned to the sky. "Megu-chan!"

"Kay."

FLASHBACK

Sango looked over at Miroku. "Well…"

"I'll place a bet with you on how the date goes."

She arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean? A bet? Honestly, Miroku. And it's not like I have money."

"Sure you don't, but it wasn't going to be a bet on money. I bet you a kiss that the date goes smoothly."

Sango smiled. "And if I win, then you have to stop groping me for the rest of your life."

"You're on."

END OF FLASHBACK

"You don't remember that?" she asked.

Miroku did, but he still didn't want to admit it. A lifetime without her hindquarters would be—devastating. He'd die! There were other girls but Sango's butt was his favorite. "But Sango…"

"A bet is a bet."

"Would you be saying that if I'd won?"

She wouldn't, but that didn't matter. She wasn't the one that lost. "Miroku…"

"Just do me one last wish for my lifetime and kiss me."

"What?" her face turned a shade of red. "You're joking, right?"

"No."

"But the teacher will see us. We'll get in trouble."

"No we won't…"

"Yes we will. Kagome told me something about getting in trouble for public displays of affect—" But she didn't get a chance to finish because Miroku cut her off by placing his lips on hers. Not knowing why, Sango gave up and gave into him. And she was kinda glad she did… Well, that was until the teacher walked over and slipped a white paper on their desks.

She quickly pulled back to read the paper. Detention for 1hr. for public displays of affection. "Miroku!" she cried angrily. "I told you."

He nodded, knowing that would happen all along. "Sorry, Sango, but it was worth it right? You seemed to enjoy it."

She blushed and turned away from him. She didn't want him to see how pink she was right now. Maybe detention with him wouldn't be so bad. Then again…

Alright, minna-san, was that lengthy enough for you? I'm in TX as I write this, when you read this I'll be back in GA, of course. sighs It took me forever to write this chapter, strangely. Probably b/c of the fact that everytime I would write, I'd get tired and fall asleep. Right now it's 12 or so in the morning and we're parked at a rest area. Everyone is asleep while I'm the weirdo in the passenger seat writing and listening to Hikaru Utada… And perhaps if I can make all these chapters in advance there could be speedier updates. All for now. And I'm not sure about writing a lemon, I could never write one of those so… Gomen nasai. But was the Mir/San good enough for now? Leave a review and let me know.

Megu-chan .