Okay, loyal readers, here's the next chapter.

One reviewer pointed out that Kikyo really isn't the cheerleading type.

That is completely right.

But really, loyal readers, you've gotta trust me. I'm planning something, and (hopefully) this will all make sense to you in the end. 'Kay?

In fact, I'll explain my motives a little more in this chapter.

Have fun!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. (So sad...so sad...)

Chapter #4

"Befriend Kagome."

"Why in the world should I be her friend?"

"You change the look, and she starts to trust you. Starting to make sense?" Naraku asked, amusement in his voice.

Kikyo shrugged. "I've been a cheerleader, I've been an athlete, I've been a nerd. Hey, why not try out being a freak for a change? But that still leaves the question of how, when, and why I'm to become her friend."

"How you'll do it is simply by taking interest in the things she likes. You've done this thing before, or have you completely forgotten all the acting you did to become a popular, beautiful cheerleader?"

Kikyo preened a little. "Sure, but that's different. What's in this for me?"

"You become Kagome's friend as soon as possible, she trusts you, and then you start manipulating her. Simple, no?"

"Fine." Kikyo looked at Naraku. "And you'll call me when you're ready."

"Exactly."

She sighed. "Right. So what type of freak should I become?"

Naraku suppressed a smirk. "I think a Goth would fit quite well."

Science, Third Period

Sango edged away from her lab partner.

He edged a little closer to her.

She edged away again.

He edged a little closer to her.

"Could you stop doing that?" She growled, concentrating on the chemicals in front of her. If that pervert tried just one thing, at least she had some very acidic liquids to defend herself with.

"Sorry," Miroku said cheerfully, not really sounding entirely sorry. "So what's Chicago like?"

"It's big, windy, and has a lot of bagel shops," Sango snapped.

"I mean, what about the museums?" Miroku asked.

"Why would you be interested in something like that?"

"I heard they had a really great Natural History museum," Miroku said defensively. "I'm not your average brain dead pervert, y'know. I'm your rare, intellectual, creepy pervert. Big difference."

"Forgive me for mislabeling you," Sango replied sarcastically. "I thought you were a jock."

"Really? Does that mean you think I'm incredibly good-looking?" Miroku looked greatly pleased. Sango swatted him and blushed. "Anyway, what do you have against jocks?" Miroku asked. "My friend, Inuyasha, is a jock."

Sango nearly dropped her test tube. "You're friends with Inuyasha?"

Miroku scratched his head. "Uh, yup. Last time I checked anyway."

Sango peered at him in curiosity. "Did you happen to know that my best friend hates your best friend?"

Miroku nodded, and laughed weakly. "Yep. Supposedly because he's a jock." He gave her a sly look. "Have you two been talking about us?" Sango blushed. "But seriously, what is it with you two and anyone popular."

"It isn't," Sango snapped, "what's wrong with being popular. Jocks are people who think they can just coast through school simply because they have athletic abilities."

Miroku nodded. "Okay, you have a point, but Inuyasha really isn't like that."

"Sure. But that's just jocks. Cheerleaders are even worse." Sango furiously began mixing oddly-colored chemicals, and Miroku watched her with a happy yet nervous expression.

"Really?"

"Yes. They demean themselves. Did you know cheerleading goes back to Ancient Greece and Rome? Back when they had gladiators, and coliseums. They'd have girls parade their bodies all over between games, and now they have these girls doing it willingly today. It's unbelievably degrading."

"But today the girls aren't naked," Miroku pointed out, some disappointment in his voice.

Sango frowned. "True, but only because law prohibits that kind of thing. Isn't it really the same?"

"Cheerleaders do gymnastics."

"If I wanted to see a gymnast," Sango said, "I'd go see a gymnast. Not some girl in a short skirt waving shredded paper. Now do you see why we hate cheerleaders?"

"Cheerleaders, yes." Miroku shifted uncomfortably. "But I still think you're wrong about the jocks. Inuyasha's totally cool about most things. Even if he never shares his Ramen at lunch."

"He's dating a cheerleader," Sango pointed out. The chemicals in her test tube began fizzing and changing colors.

"On and off," Miroku agreed. "He's not dating her currently, but she wasn't born a cheerleader. Kikyo used to be pretty cool."

"Before she got pom-poms," Sango said. Miroku stayed quite. "I rest my case."

Then their experiment blew up.

Art, Fifth Period

Kagome looked at her sketchpad.

What did she want to draw?

The only requirements had been that it be a pencil sketch, and that it be creative.

"This is the hardest part, isn't it?" Someone asked her from behind another sketchpad.

"Definitely," she agreed. "I was thinking of doing a dragon wrapped around a tree. Something symbolic. What about you?"

"I was going for something a bit darker," the girl answered. "A raven, a vampire...something mystic, you know? A fantasy type of thing."

"Sounds awesome," Kagome said. Picking up her pencil, she started sketching. "So you like dark stuff?"

"Yeah," the girl agreed. In a self-mocking voice, she continued, "I guess I'm becoming kind of Gothic. It's a new interest."

"Cool." Kagome smiled. Sango was a borderline Goth, and part tree-hugger. She'd get along great with this girl.

"Do you want to go to a poetry reading? It's on Saturday." the girl offered suddenly.

"Sounds great. Where at?"

"Pikes Street. It's near the library."

"Sure. Can I bring a friend?"

"Go ahead."

The bell rang.

"Well," Kagome said cheerfully. "I guess I'd better go."

"Yep." Then, to Kagome's immense surprise and horror, Kikyo stood up from behind the sketchpad. A Kikyo dressed in total black. "See ya Saturday." And she went off to her next class.

Kagome sat there, and felt herself go pale.

Had she just had an entire conversation with a cheerleader?

Namely, a cheerleader who happened to also be Kikyo?

Had she just accepted an invitation to go to a poetry reading?

An invitation issued by Kikyo?

Well, Kagome thought sadly, there's no denying it. Sango's so gonna kill me.

Lunch

"YOU DID WHAT?"

Heh. Look what Kagome got herself into.

And keep up the reading, loyal readers. There's more to Naraku's plan then meets the eye!

Pretty soon I'm going to introduce Shippou, who will be playing the role of Inuyasha's younger brother.

Shippou is adorable.

Don't we all just love him?

Yes.

Yes we do.