Here's chapter twelve!

(Beware, there's a small Inu/Kag spat.)

And Kikyo's finally out of the picture!

Well, kinda.

Chapter #12

At the Parade

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye.

He hadn't said a single word to her since...well, for the whole day.

Sango seemed just as confused, but Miroku kept sending her fleeting guilty looks.

"You know what," Miroku said suddenly. He pointed to a photography stall. "I just want to show Sango something really quick. Okay?"

Sango shook her head. "But—"

"Come on Sango," Miroku urged with a pleading look.

"Fine." Reluctantly, she let herself be dragged off by Miroku.

In the Photography Stall

"...and so now Inuyasha's mad at Kagome."

Sango didn't even try to stop her jaw from hanging open.

"Kagome's going to the dance with Sesshoumaru? As in Inuyasha's brother?" Sango shook her head. "How did she even meet him? I didn't know Inuyasha even had a brother until just now."

Miroku sighed. "I guess she met him at school or something. This whole prom is making things even weirder then usual."

Sango took a deep breath. This was it. "In speaking of the prom, I don't have anyone to go with. If you didn't have anyone either I just thought you and I could go. With each other. Together. For the prom." Sango knew she sounded like a babbling idiot, but she held her breath anyway in hopes of Miroku's answer.

Grinning, Miroku nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to go with ya Sango. It'll be fun." He puffed out his chest. "I can even drive us!"

Sango was only slightly impressed.
Of course, she didn't show it.

"But what about Inuyasha and Kagome?"

Miroku's smile only dimmed a bit.

"Yeah, about that: we're going have to keep an eye on Inuyasha for the next few days. He's a little...testy."

They could hear the muffled voices of their two friends in the next stall.

"WHAT THE HELL TO DO YOU MEAN 'DO YOU HAVE A DATE'? DO YOU HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROM WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH MY BROTHER?"

Miroku rolled his eyes.

Sango bit her lip.

"Great."

"Oh dear."

Rushing over in time to see the big eruption, Sango and Miroku could do nothing but sit by and watch the disaster.

"So what if I'm going with your brother?" Kagome growled. "He's a real sweetie."

"Him? Sweet? As if!" Inuyasha bared down on the angry girl. "But I guess I wouldn't know, I only live with him!"

"Don't yell!"

"I'M NOT YELLING!"

Turning their backs on each other, Kagome and Inuyasha walked off.

Miroku and Sango sighed in unison.

"At least there's a bright side."

"And that would be?"

Sango shrugged. "Well, this'll be a very interesting prom."

Sunday, At the Mall

Kagome handed Sango a dress.

"How about this one?"

Sango looked at the slinky little black number, and said dryly, "I'm certain Miroku will enjoy this one. Could you find something that shows a little less skin?"

"Er...okay. How about this one."

Sango sweatdropped as she held up the bulky knitted dress.

"Kagome, I said less skin. How do you translate that into 'grandma dress'?" She made a grab for the hanger. "Wait, I take that back. My grandmother would never wear something this dorky."

"Hi girls," Kikyo's voice drifted into the store.

"Hey Kik—" Kagome stopped in her greeting.

There was Kikyo in full-out cheerleading gear.

"What happened," Sango's voice grew dangerously low, "to 'I quit the team'?"

Kikyo shrugged airily, and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I, like, decided to change my image." She smirked. "Again."

"You...you..." Kagome was at a complete loss for words. "You are not a unique person."

"No," Kikyo agreed. "No I'm not."

"You were never our friend," Sango said, stating it simply and emotionlessly.

"No," Kikyo agreed again. "No I wasn't."

Turning she walked out of the store.

"A gold star," Kagome announced without a smile, "whoever saw that coming."

Sango turned back to the dress rack. "Nothing for us then."

They rummaged through the clothing a bit more, before cheering up.

"So, do you think this'll work in the prom setting?" Kagome asked, holding up a green skirt.

"It's okay." Sango looked at Kagome guiltily. "Kagome, I know you and Inuyasha are fighting, but Miroku wants to go with him."

"That jerk?" Kagome plucked at a tan dress. "You can go with him. I guess. I'll have a date." She stopped, and turned slowly to Sango. "Just promise me something, okay?"

"What?"

"Just...just spend some time with me or something." Kagome looked at Sango hopefully. "You think you can do that?"

"I'll pencil you in."

Giggling, the girls went back to shopping.

A backstabbing friend.

A huge fight.

Nothing to wear.

What a year.

Ta-da! Yet another chapter is finished!

Onto the next one!

(Please review!)