BLAH!

I hate my Latin teacher.

Or maybe hate is too strong of a word.

Let me try again: I extremely dislike my Latin teacher.

Why am I taking Latin?

It's supposed to help on the SATs.

Go figure.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter #5

"What the hell do you mean she ain't coming?" Inuyasha snarled.

Miroku rolled his eyes.

He could tell Inuyasha was nervous about meeting the girl, and that was perfectly normal.

But when Inuyasha got nervous, he had the annoying habit of turning into an insulting jerk.

This, unless you're a forty-two-year-old Latin teacher with minimum wage, is fairly unusual.

"Inuyasha, it's the girl's first night, and a good first impression is highly important."

"You mean like asking her to bear my child?"

Miroku chose to ignore that comment. "Why not except her decision gracefully?"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "When was the last time I did anything gracefully?"

Leaving Miroku with that thought, Inuyasha stormed upstairs to Kagome's room.

Curling his claw into a fist, he banged loudly on the door.

Thinking it was Miroku with some food, Kagome opened the door, ready to chow down on whatever was provided.

The last thing she'd eaten was a packet of pretzels on the plane, and now her stomach was begging for nourishment.

But no, instead was a tall, slender, silver-haired, golden-eyed, hottie of a demon.

A very peeved-looking hottie at that.

"Oy, wench, why didn't you come down to dinner?"

This is Inuyasha? Kagome thought in disappointment. He doesn't look much like a demon. Claw, fangs, and those cute ears, just like Shippou and Miroku.

Only this one was evil.

Right?

What he said to Mom...

"I don't really want to eat with you," Kagome said in as dignified a manner as she could muster. "And I'm not a wench."

"You're going to eat with us."

Kagome slammed the door in his face.

Shippou and Miroku, having shown up at this point, gave each other identical nods of agreement, and retreated from where they'd come.

Inuyasha, meanwhile, stared at the door in astonishment.

Had she just slammed the door in his face?

He poked at the oak slab.

Yes, yes she had.

"OPEN THAT DOOR THIS INSTANT OR...OR I'LL TEAR IT DOWN!!!"

Silence.

Face flushed red, Inuyasha growled loudly, "FINE! Just go ahead and STARVE!!!" He spun on his heals, and briskly made his way towards his room.

"Lord Inuyasha—" Miroku tried, falling into step with the annoyed demon.

"If she doesn't eat with me," Inuyasha snapped at his friend, "she doesn't eat at all!"

Miroku was left with Shippou, both staring after their temperamental friend.

"That went well," Shippou sighed. He looked at Kagome's door. "We really need to talk."

"Secret meeting?" Miroku offered.

"Secret meeting," Shippou confirmed.

"I'll get Myouga. Meet you in the kitchen."

"Twelve o'clock?" Shippou asked hopefully.

"Nice try, but you still have a bedtime. I'll see you there in ten minutes."

Shippou sighed.

The woes of being a lovable kid.

Ten Minutes Later

Kagome peeked outside her door.

No one in sight.

Letting her stomach lead the way, Kagome began the long and painful task of trying to find the kitchen.

Who could blame her? She'd missed her nightly milkshake.

Kagome shivered.

All the statues of demons and monsters were pretty creepy.

Just as she was about to retrace her steps and try again in the morning, Kagome sniffed the wonderful smell of someone cooking hot gooey brownies.

Finding the desired door, she happened upon Miroku, Shippou, and a small bald man.

"But the curse specifically states it has to be a miko, and she's of age."

"We don't know that she's the one the curse was talking about. It also said he has to fall in love with her. Curse or not, he's not going to just fall for any old—" Miroku stopped abruptly when he noticed the girl watching them. "Kagome! Welcome! This is Myouga." The small man nodded to her. "We were just having some snacks. Nothing interesting. Right. Yes. Maybe you should leave."

"Would you like to join us?" Myouga offered kindly, completely disregarding Miroku's not-so-subtle hint.

"I'd love to. I am a little hungry," Kagome admitted.

"Hungry? You hear that? The she's hungry." Myouga turned and started bustling around the small kitchen. "Well, now don't you worry, m'dear. The brownies are almost ready."

"But Inuyasha said—"

Myouga thumped Miroku's back cheerfully. "Oh come on now! I'm not about to let the poor child go hungry."

Nodding, not happily, Miroku sat down, and motioned for Kagome to take her own seat.

So, sitting between a chattering Shippou and a cheerful Myouga, Kagome nibbled on brownies and exchanged bad jokes with Miroku.

As first nights in cursed castles went, this wasn't so bad.

Next chapter, I'm going to TRY to get Sango into the picture again.

If not, then I'm going to work on Naraku and his little plot.

This fic is turning out so wonderfully! (For me, I mean.)

Please review!