Alley

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A/N: Wowz! Lotsa new reviews!

I think a lot of people are asking this question...when will Inuyasha and Kagome fall in love? Well, here's my answer.

It shall be a slow, slow, SLOW process...since Kagome saw Inuyasha kill someone, I think she'd hate him for a while, ne? Ano...how are Sango and Miroku going to get together? -wink- That's a fun part! Hm...might as well start the process now...

Have fun!

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Alley

Chapter 5: The Invitations

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Sango and Kagome's motorcycles were parked next to each others' in the parking lot of the local Takashimaya (A big, BIIIG mall-chain-type-thing in Asia. There's a lot of them, but ONLY in Asia, for some reason!), the girls' favorite place in the entire world. Kohaku had been left at a friend's house, where Sango was sure he was rotting his brain on video games.

"Stupid!" she muttered spitefully to Kagome as they rode down an escalator. "At his age, he should be studying for exams, not playing Suikoden all day..."

Kagome grinned back. "Did you ever study when you were his age?"

Sango nodded, indignant. "You know I did!"

"Eh...not really. I remember you spending hours here, though..."

"Nuh-uh! You do too know I studied!"

"I know I studied. Not so sure with you, though..."

"Heyyyy! Kago-OHHHH! Look!!!"

Sango's finger jabbed in front of Kagome's face, pointing off to the side. Kagome followed her eager gaze and looked upon the image of-

"KOUGA OOKAMI!!!!" The girls screamed in unison.

Sango looked excitedly at Kagome. "He's only the hottest lawyer EVER! His face is plastered all over the media-he's hot, and he's brilliant! Never lost a case!" (Hm, I wonder who'll represent a certain someone in a court of law...?)

Kagome sighed dreamily. "If he ever runs for president-"

"Ohmigod he's coming over here!" Sango squealed.

Indeed, Kouga was coming over to them. His hair was tucked up in a baseball cap, and he was wearing a Tokyo University sweater and jeans. Kagome figured he'd gone casual for the day-No complaints with her; he looked much hotter than when he was in a suit and tie. His eyes sparkled like diamonds and he gave his trademark grin to the two fawning girls.

"Hey ladies. Having a good time?" he asked. His voice was a joyful melody in their ears.

"Yes, we are, Ookami-san!" Kagome could've fainted with pleasure.

Kouga looked intensely at Kagome.

"Anyone ever told you you're really good-looking, miss?" he asked casually.

Kagome could feel red springing onto her face.

"N-no...not r-really..."

Kouga frowned. "What?! They're missing out on something special, let me tell you that."

He rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a surprisingly small wallet. "Here." He held out something small and plastic and-

"A credit card?" Kagome asked in bewilderment.

"For you." He grinned. "Part of my generous gifts to the people of Japan. I give one to every good-looking girl I see." He turned his eyes to Sango. "Hey miss, you take one too! Proof of my approval on both you little ladies."

Sango and Kagome reverently took the cards, taking extra care with them. A gift! From Kouga Ookami!

"There's only 1000 yen on those, be careful." His perma-grin kicked up a notch. "But then again, you probably don't need advice, huh? But if you ever need help, my office is always open. Do you need a business card?"

"No, Ookami-san, we know your office number." What girl didn't? "Arigato gozaimasu, Ookami-san!"

He flashed a V for victory and melted back into the crowd.

Kagome and Sango looked at each other and-

"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

The crowd around them winced, glared and cleared a 10-foot radius away from the girls, who were blissfully oblivious.

"Money!"

"He talked to us!"

"1000 free yen! Free money! Do you know-"

"I've seen commercials for this-"

"No strings attached!"

"He thought I was cute! And he-"

"He thinks I'm cute too!"

The girls grinned, gave twin sighs of joy, and walked back into the crowd, who was quite content to leave them be. As they strolled into the Sanrio store-Sango needed a gift for her professor's birthday-they were accosted by none other than Akane Toshiyabaru, a fellow classmate at the University.

"Hey! What's up, Higurashi? Taijiya?" she grinned, popping her gum. "My boyfriend's fraternity is hosting a party over on Fraternity Row tonight, he says to invite every student I see! It's the killer of the year-a real bash! Canya come?"

Kagome frowned. "Uh, I dunno..."

Sango looked at her quizzically. "Sure, Toshiyabaru, we'll go. What time?"

"Arrive anywhere between 8 and 12." Akane instructed. "Over when the beer runs out!"

Sango nodded. "We'll be there."

Akane grinned, spent five minutes on a tangent about how happy she was, and then skipped off, popping her gum as she went.

"Sango!" Kagome hissed, glaring at her best friend. "A frat party?"

Sango shrugged. "Been there, done that." She glanced nonchalantly at a display of Badtz-Badtz-Maru pencil cases. "Hm...800 yen..." (Guesstimating on the prices there.)

"Is it...bad?" Kagome asked timidly.

"Nah, it's kinda fun, actually." Sango grinned. "You need a life, Kagome-chan. This'll be good for you."

"Well...okay...but we leave before we get too drunk, all right?"

Sango turned back to the pencil cases, plucking one off the shelf and grinning evilly. "Sure, Kagome-chan. As you say..."

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Inuyasha was polishing his pistols when Miroku came bounding in the room excitedly, jumping like a four-year-old at Disney World.

"Inuyasha! Inuyasha! Guess what I just heard from a few of our legit University friends?"

"Whaat? They found your brain?" Inuyasha asked, annoyed.

"No, they're still looking for that..." Miroku grinned.

Inuyasha gave a trademark "Keh!" and turned back to polishing his pistols, nevertheless intrigued.

"There's going to be a big frat party at the University tonight! Beer, girls, the whole nine yards!"

"And you tell me this because..."

"Baka!" Miroku grinned. "We're going!"

"Whaaaaat?" Inuyasha upended the table in surprise. Cursing, he bent down to pick the fallen pistols up.

"Oh, come ON! It'll be fun!" Miroku laughed. "You need to get out once in a while! Even Sesshomaru-sama does! We truss us up, nobody will ever know."

"Mm-hm." Inuyasha looked at him skeptically. "You really believe that, don't you?"

"Inu-yaaasha, my best friend since forever..."

The beleaguered boy grumpily sighed and looked the other way.

In actuality, Inuyasha very much wanted to go. It sounded like fun-and Miroku was right, he did need some spark in his life. And since aniki-sama was going...

"Oh..."

Miroku looked up expectantly.

"All right."

"Yes!" Miroku pumped his fists excitedly. "It's going to be so cool! Come on, it's on the lower campus so we better get going, it's already four! We have to get sunglasses and fraternity jackets since we're guys and we have to drop Shippo off at Jaken's day-care..."

The boys set out on their endeavor, one optimistic, one secretly so, but none of them could know that that party would be the site of one of the strangest things ever to happen to them...

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A/N: Kinda short...ah well. So! That sets the stage for great things. -ebil grin- This is getting fun...

Cyber-Pocky is never in shortage like the flu vaccine! Especially for reviewers! Asn water gets extra-special bonus combo packs for sticking with me...

Ja ne

Misao7