Chapter Twenty Five

"Where were you two?" Sango whispered to Miroku in orchestra.

"In the library"

"Doing what?" She hissed.

"I'll tell you later. But talk to Kagome more about her feelings."

"What? Alright, if you say so..."

...

The football game was against the Wolves, the school's rival since the school was built. It was 7:00 and everyone was cheering on their schools, navy blue for the Wolves and crimson red for the Dogs (eh, I couldn't think of anything) for the especially the cheerleaders. 'Do they HAVE to wear skirts even SHORTER than the school uniforms, I mean it's ridiculous!' Kagome sighed.

"What's wrong Kagome, are you bored?" Sango asked.

"No, it's just that it bothers me that Kikyo's a cheerleader."

"Well, at least she won't have any contact with Inuyasha; I mean how must Inuyasha feel when you're going to get kissed by Hojo tomorrow night?"

"Not very happy. But he's going to have to deal."

"And so are you, so just try and forget about her. Nothing's going on between them." Sango assured her and went back to watching the game.

Miroku sat next to Sango, "So, anything new?"

"Nope, she's only worried about him and Kikyo, nothing new. I'll start something though."

"No, don't. She needs to reveal her own feelings, just help her a bit, like I did with Inuyasha."

"You got him to tell?"

"Yup, just don't tell Kagome or anyone else, especially Kagome and Inuyasha, and...the whole school." Miroku whispered. The score was 7-0 with the Wolves in the lead. And everyone was still cheering them on.

Hojo came up to Kagome and sat down next to her on the bleachers. "Hey Kagome."

"Hi Hojo." Kagome said disregarding, still fixed on Inuyasha.

"You're really fixed on the game aren't you?"

"Yeah."

"Are you ready for the play tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Are you sure? We can rehearse the lines again at lunch tomorrow."

"It's ok, we have tomorrow after school rehearsal, and we can practice then."

"Kagome, do you like Inuyasha?"

"Of course I do. You need to get with the rumors more often. He's my boyfriend, why wouldn't I like him?" Kagome looked at Hojo waiting for his reply. ... Meanwhile, it was half time and Kikyo went over to the bench Inuyasha was on, "See? She's coming onto Hojo."

Inuyasha looked up in the stands and saw Kagome was waving at him, "Nice try Kikyo, Kagome wouldn't forget me that quickly."

"Sure she wouldn't, look again." Inuyasha looked up and saw Kagome talking to Hojo and smiling..."See?" ... Kagome waved at Inuyasha and waited for Hojo's response, "Well, I didn't know that you two would last this long. And I thought if you two didn't then maybe we could've gone out sometime."

Kagome smiled, that's sweet Hojo, but I'm happy with Inuyasha, sure he can be a jerk sometimes, but I know he doesn't mean it. He has a good heart."

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow then, oh, and don't let Inuyasha get too upset about the play, it means nothing." Hojo stood up and went over to his group of friends on another row of bleachers.

"What was that about Kagome?" Sango asked.

"Oh nothing, just setting some things straight." Kagome smiled.

Half time was over and the game was tied at 14-14. Inuyasha looked over at Kagome and saw that she was chatting away with Sango happily, 'I wonder what they're talking about, more importantly I wonder what she was talking about with Hojo.'

The game ended at 9 with the score of 21-14, their school won and everyone went up to Inuyasha and his team to congratulate them. Miroku, Sango, and Kagome decided to wait on the sidewalk to get away from the crowd and wait for Inuyasha. He came out in his regular clothes and walked beside Miroku on the way home, "Hey, what were Kagome and Hojo talking about during the game?"

"I don't know; I couldn't hear anything with the crowd. Why don't you ask Kagome?" Miroku suggested.

"Because I think Kikyo's right. "

"About what? What did she say?"

"That there's a thing between them."

"There isn't. If there was, Kagome would tell Sango, and Sango would tell me. So there's nothing going on, if you want to be sure, go ask her yourse- ."Before Miroku could finish, Inuyasha stopped to wait for Kagome behind him to walk by. Sango walked faster, up to Miroku.

"So what's going on?" Sango asked Miroku.

"Inuyasha thinks Kagome's cheating on him, thanks to Kikyo's influence."

"Don't you think we should help?" Sango looked up at him.

Miroku shook his head, "Let them work it out themselves." ... "Hey, what's wrong?" Kagome asked as he walked by her.

"Nothing, I was just wondering what you were talking about with Hojo."

"Inuyasha, are you being over protective again? Because you don't need, too. You know that I like you."

"Yeah, but still, I'm just wondering."

Kagome gave a queering eye at him, "Well, we talked about the play, and he asked me out and I rejected it. Oh, and I'd think you'd be happy with what he said too. He said that the kiss won't mean anything to him either." Kagome smiled.

Inuyasha thought about what she just said, 'Hojo said that the kiss would mean nothing?' Kagome stared at him, "What did he mean when he said it would mean nothing? And he asked you out?"

Kagome smiled, "In the play, it's only a little peak, a cheap empty kiss. And you know that he doesn't listen to rumors so he thought I was single. So he asked me and I declined his offer. No need to worry your little brain Inuyasha." Kagome laughed.

Inuyasha smiled. 'I hope not.'

The next day, they left English class on to lunch, "So Miroku, what'd you get on the quiz over that book we read?" Sango asked.

"Bad. I only got 1 out of 10 questions right. How was I supposed to know she was going to give us a pop quiz over the first chapter of Then Came Heaven?" Miroku crumbled up his quiz.

"What question did you get right?" Kagome asked.

"That one about Polish nuns." All of the sudden Sango burst out laughing. "What, what'd I say?" Then Kagome started to jump up and down. "What the hell..."

"Polish nuns." Kagome said and Sango started laughing more.

"What's going on?" Inuyasha looked at the girls like they were crazy.

"That's what she laughs at! Remember Miroku? I told you that there's always one thing that she laughs at uncontrollably and its 'Polish nuns'!"

"Okay..." Inuyasha said. "So Kagome, are you ready for the play?"

"Yup." Kagome looked over at Inuyasha, "You're ok with everything, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah." Inuyasha waved the matter away, "Of course I'm ok, because if anything were to go on, I would beat the living daylight out of him." Inuyasha said proudly.

"You're talking about Hojo right?" Miroku asked.

"Of course he is." Kagome sighed, "Inuyasha it's nothing, and besides, it's not like I'm kissing him, besides the illusion is that he's kissing me lips, but really, it's just a peak on my cheek, ok?"

Inuyasha sighed. "Yeah, I know. And good luck, after switching places with you, I know how hard you worked on this play." Inuyasha shuddered at the flashback.

Kagome laughed, "Yeah, and I know that the victory last night wasn't just luck."

After school Kagome stayed at school while the others went home and the rehearsal went great. Kagome was in the drama room along with all the cast members putting on their make-up and costumes. Everyone was wearing old English costumes and a lot of make-up. (Man, I had this play at school like 3 months ago, and I can still remember it, lol, ok, back to the story) Meanwhile, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango were in the crown waiting for the play to start. And to prevent another Kikyo fiasco and misunderstandings, Miroku and Sango sat on both sides of Inuyasha so Kikyo couldn't get near him, and just to make sure, they got Sesshoumaru to sit behind Inuyasha, out of a losing bet of course, he was having a bad luck streak. (Poor Fluffy, lol) And there were a few seats around them that were open also. (Big theater)

Hojo came up behind Kagome behind the set, "Good luck."

"Yeah, you too." Kagome smiled.

The play started off with a baby doll playing as the baby Princess. Kagome later came on a teenage princess fooling around in the castle. 'She looks so beautiful' Inuyasha smiled to himself.

Miroku and Sango look at him all blissful, 'Must be thinking about Kagome again.' they both thought.

'How could I lose another bet?' was all Sesshoumaru could think about, that and being worried about the two big guys sitting right next to him.

The play paused with an intermission. "WAKE UP PEOPLE! I know the whole kingdom is asleep, and you will be too! So here's some fairy dust to keep you awake long enough to buys some food and watch the rest of the performance! Oh yeah! Please do not visit the cast until after the performance, thank you!" One of the fairies started throwing glitter all over the audience and left for the intermission. Inuyasha got up along with everyone else and stretched

"So far so good." Sango whispered to Miroku. "And I haven't seen Kikyo lately, have you?"

"Nope." She went back to her seat with her food. Miroku paid for his food and turned to Inuyasha. "So Inuyasha, how's everything, Think about how you're going to tell Kagome?"

"I don't know if I should." Inuyasha sighed.

"What? Why?!"

"I don't know if it's the right time."

"Don't let what Kikyo said get to you."

"I know. It's not getting to be. I just think that it's not the right time. I don't know how she feels about me."

"Yes you do. She likes you."

"Yeah, but does she like me more than that? I need to know." Inuyasha glared at him, "You would tell me anything if you knew right?..."

"Of course." Miroku was a good liar. They got their food and started to walk back to their seats.

"Good, you better, because I don't know what to do. Get some information from Sango and tell me. I need to know how Kagome feels."

"Why don't you just tell her?"

"I can't!"

Miroku sighed and sat down in his seat. The lights began to dim again and the curtains were pulling back. The play was getting closer and closer to the second to the last scene. Someone took a seat next to Sango and said, "Hey guys how do you like the play so far?"

They all turned to the voice and were baffled, "Aren't you supposed to be up there?" they all whispered to Kagome.

"You'll see. She whispered back. The scene came and the whole place went quiet. Everyone had their eyes wide open. They stared at Kagome and the stage back and forth, "Who's up there doing your scene?" Inuyasha asked.

Kagome smiled ad simply answered, "Kikyo." The scene was over, "Gotta go, see ya after the show, I gotta go up there for curtain call." Kagome said quickly and left.

"So, are you going to tell her anytime soon?" Miroku whispered to Inuyasha.

"Yeah..." Inuyasha was confused, 'Did she actually do that...for me?'

Kagome was back stage waiting for the last scene where the whole kingdom wakes up and cheers, to be over.

Flashback

"Ok, so we have a deal? If you do my kissing scene, you can do the rest of the play." Kagome said.

"Yeah, and I'll lay off Inuyasha too if you can get me a date with Sesshoumaru." Kikyo said.

"Deal." And they shook hands.

End flashback

Kagome smiled to herself. 'That was probably the best deal of my life. Now I just have to make a bet with Sesshoumaru that he's sure to lose and my Kikyo problem will go away.' The curtains closed and Kagome got up in her costume and stood on the stage next to Hojo and Kikyo and they all held hands and bowed down. They all turned to the director and clapped. They audience all stood up and clapped screaming, "Bravo!"

Inuyasha was especially happy and ran up to Kagome. He hugged her and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Uh, Inuyasha, could you let me go? I gotta get out of this costume." Kagome said.

Inuyasha let go of his grasp, "Uh, yeah, the others and I will wait for you outside."

"Ok, see ya!" Kagome waved and went towards the drama room. Kikyo was there.

"Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, you have until Monday to get HIM to ask ME out. That is, If you want me to leave Inuyasha alone." Kikyo gave her a smile that NONE ever got from her, well, except Inuyasha but almost never anyone else. She left the room and Kagome sighed. 'I have to ask the others for help. This is going to be hard. Sesshoumaru would never go out with Kikyo. And we have to convince him to. He won't do it even if he DOES lose a bet, unless it was a big one...' She left the school and saw her friends.

"So, what'd you do to get Kikyo to play your part?" Inuyasha immediately asked.

"A little anxious are we?" Kagome laughed, "Well, I made a dead with her, if she did that one scene, she could do the rest of the play. Oh, and Inuyasha, I know how to get her off your back."

"What? How?"

"Gotta hook her up with Sesshoumaru." Everyone burst out laughing.

"Man, that's a good one." Miroku said.

"I'm serious! And we have to do it before Monday." Kagome sighed.

"Alright, let's just do it the easy way first, then if we have to, we'll go to extreme measures." Sango said.

"Let's do it tomorrow, I'm tired." Miroku said as they reached the street where they all lived. They went to their separate houses and went to bed.

"Wake up!" Kagome screamed in his face and went into the bathroom.

"Ugh" Inuyasha groaned.

Kagome came back and pulled the covers off the bed, "Wake up!" Inuyasha grabbed his pillow and jabbed it over his head and groaned. "Come on, we're going to be late for school!"

Inuyasha got up, brushed his teeth, hair, and put on his uniform, "Alright, alright, whatever, let's just get on with life." Inuyasha yawned.

Kagome sighed, "Miroku and Sango are waiting downstairs, let's go."

"What about breakfast?"

"Grab a muffin on the way out."

"Alright, muffin." Inuyasha laughed.

Kagome just glared at him, "No." She grabbed his arm and dragged him out the door where Miroku and Sango were waiting for them.

"Well, about time you two got up. We gotta get to school and ask Sesshoumaru if he's interested, if not, we'll find other ways..." Sango grinned evilly at Miroku.

"Well, aren't you two a couple of evil darlings? You always seem to come up with evil plans."

"Well, not ALL our plans are evil." Miroku grinned at Sango, 'Like the plans that we did to hook you two up.'

"Well, come on." Sango said. They rushed off to school and eventually saw Sesshoumaru in science class. "Inuyasha, you ask." Sango said as theyw ere working in a group on a lab.

"Why me? Why can't you? I mean you're a girl, he's more likely to think about it if it's a girl asking."

"Oh fine, I'll ask. I was supposed to do it anyway." Kagome got turned over to Sesshoumaru's lab, "Hey, Sesshoumaru, can I talk to you?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Um, I was wondering, what do you think of Kikyo?"

Sesshoumaru thought about the question, "Why?"

"I'm just curious."

"Well, I think she looks like you. Not really my type though."

"What IS your type?"

"Did you break up with Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha looked over at where his name was coming from. 'Where did he get that from?'

"What? NO! I'm just wondering!"

"I don't know really."

"Well, maybe you two have more in common then you know."

Sesshoumaru cocked an eyebrow, "Where are you getting at?"

"I think you two would make the PERFECT couple. Are you doing anything on Friday night?"

"With Kikyo?"

"Yup."

"No."

"What? Why not?"

"I don't like her."

"But if you just get to know her a bit better-"

"No."

Kagome made a face, "Fine, but then who DO you like? I might be able to hook you up with her."

Sesshoumaru look around to see if anyone was listening, "You can do that?"

"Of course I can. So who is it?"

"It's," Sesshoumaru bent over to whisper in Kagome's ear, "Eri."

"What?! Are you serious?" Sesshoumaru nodded. "Wow, I never thought that you would like her."

"So, can you hook me up?"

"Maybe. I'll get back to you on that." Kagome returned back to her lab with everyone else.

"So, what'd he say?" Inuyasha asked.

"That he doesn't like Kikyo and won't go out with her."

"Well, we tried it the easy way." Sango sighed.

"Oh yeah, there are 2 things we can do to get Sesshoumaru to go out with Kikyo." Kagome smirked.

"And what would that be?" Miroku asked.

"Well, since betting against him won't work, it's either blackmail or bribery."

"Well, what dirt do we have on him that'll work to bribe or blackmail him?" Inuyasha asked.

"I know who he likes." Kagome widened her smirk.

"Man you're evil." Sango grinned.

A/n, ok because of this turn, my story might be a chapter or 2 longer than I expected, but I don't promise anything, because this story wasn't supposed to be this long to begin with. In the beginning, I was planning on 15 chapters and look where I am... sigh whatever though. At least it's going along ok...I think. Oh yeah, so which is it going to be...bribery or blackmail? Chapter 16...dunno, but soon.