Hello! My computer was clogged with spyware or something, its rare I get a chance on the internet.

I see there are some ppl reading this, thank you all reviewers!

Caught in Between

Chapter 9

Ready For A Beer.

The rumor of two new couples went around the school as Inuyasha was repeatedly seen with Kikyo, and Kagome with Kouga. The chemistry as seen by other students was very low. Inuyasha and Kikyo seemed to like each other, but there was something missing.

Kouga and Kagome seemed to be having too much fun; they must've been hiding something....or maybe she was hiding something.

From over the table at lunch, Inuyasha had the perfect view of Kouga and Kagome's first kiss, and even though it was at least 15 meters away, Inuyasha felt it burn so close to his heart. Like he wanted Kagome to be only his. And as he displayed a subtle glare and bared his fangs, Miroku and Sango themselves were given a moment of happiness together at another table.

For a feeling of refuge from the miserable mood that everyone was happy and he was not, he allowed himself to kiss Kikyo who was next to him and caught Kagome looking at them. He had to admit that there was a small inch of guilt, but most of it was relief that it didn't feel horrible to kiss her. He did feel a bit happy though that Kagome didn't like what she was seeing and then he felt sinful. But then again, Inuyasha couldn't say he felt sorry for all his many sins.

When everyone went home, Inuyasha couldn't help wanting things back the way they were, before anyone was a couple and everyone were just friends and had time for each other.

He dialed Miroku's number and heard over the other line his friend greet him,

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's me." Inuyasha said.

"Hello, Inuyasha, how are you?" He asked, Inuyasha could feel his usual smile over the phone.

"Fine, you?" He rubbed his head and closed his eyes, he had a headache and sounded very lazy, like he just woke up.

"Quite alright, Inuyasha, you sound tired."

"Maybe. Miroku...I wanted to ask you, do you ever......miss the old days?"

"What do you mean?" He was still so cheerful.

"When it was just me and you, do you remember?" Inuyasha asked.

"...Inuyasha..." Miroku heard his despair and felt his pain.

"Of course. Would you like to come over?" He asked,

"No...just thought I'd give you a call." He said, his voice wasn't exactly sad, it was just broken and very damaged from life. He flicked through the channels as he slouched boredly on the couch.

"Are you sure? If you come, we can watch the tapes, I still have them."

Inuyasha made a short sigh and smiled,

"Sure, I'll come."

Elsewhere

"Kagome, what do you want to do now?" Kouga asked as they walked through the park.

"Hungry?" She asked thoughtfully, though her mind was almost completely focused on Inuyasha.

"Yeah, let's eat. I know a place."

At the new place called Jupetor, the two ordered their food and drinks, they talked small talk and smiled polite smiles. Kouga was getting the feeling that she was hiding something, like she didn't really like him, and he didn't like it, he was nice.

"Kagome...are you having a good time?" He asked, they had been hanging out for the day.

"Sure." She replied as a feign smile graced her features and a voice too happy for comfort.

"No you're not...what's wrong?" he asked, his brown eyes glistened with concern; he truly seemed to care for her.

"...Nothing. Come on, let's get out of here, I'm not really hungry."

Back To Inuyasha

Inuyasha banged on the door for the last time and decided to let himself in.

"Miroku! You idiot! Where are you?" He called ferociously.

"Upstairs! You don't have to knock, you know."

Inuyasha grumbled incoherently as he stepped quickly upstairs.

He opened the door to Miroku's room and saw him playing his guitar.

"What are you doing?" He asked with a disgusted yet playful stare.

"Like it? It's my new baby. Just got it."

Inuyasha waited for him impatiently to play something and leaned against the wall, Miroku shot him a questioning glance.

"What, you don't know how to play anything?" He asked.

"Of course I do! Watch! Learn from the master!"

Miroku started a tune that didn't seem familiar or even skillful to Inuyasha, but it eventually grew into Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music.

Inuyasha nodded in rhythm and smiled,

"Hey!" he sang as they both rocked their heads in beat.

"Do it now...Hey" Miroku decided to join in with him, they were both singing as loud as they could.

One minute later, Miroku's father walked in,

"Hi, son, I'm back from work..."

But they didn't hear him as they rock and rolled.

"Play that funky music white boy!" Inuyasha stopped and blushed as he saw his friend's father smirking, but Miroku didn't see. He just continued singing,

"Play that funky music right!" He even added the extra high tone when he said 'right'.

Miroku stopped his guitar and singing and looked at Inuyasha to follow his stare to his own father, laughing at them cheerfully.

After they were done being embarrassed, his father left and they hesitantly popped a tape in the VCR that their parents so happily recorded some years ago when they were younger.

It was Inuyasha's birthday, back then, Miroku was the only friend he had.

"Ha, we should've had another party, you're 17 now."

Inuyasha didn't reply, he just focused firmly on the old video he saw before him.

Kouga And Kagome

Kagome walked behind Kouga, who gently took her soft hand and led her forward.

"Kouga, where are we going?" She asked in a giggle with a playful voice. But her curious question went unanswered.

"Just follow me." He said and smiled back to her.

They ended up at a bar where Kouga went in but unfollowed by Kagome.

"Come on Kagome! Let's go! That mutt put you through enough! I know you two are fighting, you need to loosen up!"

But Kagome was hesitant and unsure of his motive.

10 year old Miroku and Inuyasha happily jogged and trotted about the room.

Back To Video Tape

"Kids, time for the cake!" Called Inuyasha's father with a smile.

In real time, Inuyasha could see the POV of his father's new camera, and he saw his own happy face and that of his best friend. It seemed like yesterday, the memory was fresh and Inuyasha could remember every detail. The beautiful red flowers on the tabletop, the tablecloth design of birthday cakes and presents. The white icing vanilla cake and the twelve swirl designed candles inside it. It was amazing.

"Happy birthday to you."

They all sang for him, his parents, Miroku, even his brother.

"Happy birthday, dear Inuyasha. Happy birthday to you."

He joyfully blew out the 11 candles and everyone cheered.

Again Inuyasha remembered some more.

The sink littered with caked out dishes and the forks and spoons all about the room. The bloated children rested for a small time before the presents were given to Inuyasha.

"Happy birthday, brother." Sesshomaru was the first to give him a gift, and it was twenty dollars.

"Here you go, son, from your mother and I." His father handed him a birthday card and clothes and board games and whatnot.

"Here, Inuyasha." Miroku smiled and gave him a new video game that he had wanted for a while, and also a card with it.

Inuyasha read the card, it was handwritten, and it seemed that so much care and effort had been put into it.

'Inuyasha,--

He remembered that card so much, he memorized it, and he still kept it to that day.

But Inuyasha in real times slowly brought up the remote and turned off the T.V. and was greeted with a black screen.

The unfamiliar feeling of stinging in his eyes was overwhelming as his golden orbs almost cried. But he held it back, the glistening in his eyes told Miroku that was enough of that.

"...Let's get a beer..." Inuyasha said as he left the room.

Miroku smiled lightly,

"It's on me!" He called.

he could tell how much Inuyasha remembered that birthday. The first birthday he had with someone other than only his family.

He was very sympathetic of Inuyasha's dilemma, with Kagome and Kikyo.

They walked silently to this bar that Inuyasha had chosen.

It was owned by his brother, so they didn't ask for Inuyasha's age.

Inuyasha sat down on one of the 9 red adjacent rolling chairs and sighed, Miroku sat one chair aside him, smiling like always.

After a short talk and laughter about meaningless things, Inuyasha decided to go to the bathroom.

"Save my seat." He told Miroku as he got up.

He arrived in the men's room and was about to do his thing in the urinal when he heard the sound of light struggling coming from the corner where no one could really see.

'What are you doing? Come on, stop it!' She pleaded in a whisper, Inuyasha nearly gasped, that was Kagome's voice.

'Come on, Kagome, no one will know.' Came in Kouga's voice harsh and persistent.

'Please...don't'

"Ahem." Inuyasha just lightly coughed but didn't look their way, it caught Kagome's attention.

His eyes shifted to her and back and forth. He was trying to say something. She saw him, it was Inuyasha,

'Thank, god, Inuyasha!' She thought.

With her might she bit Kouga and ran to Inuyasha. Inuyasha began to walk away with her but as soon as Kouga followed, Inuyasha turned around and yelled,

"Kiss my fist, you fucking asshole!"

He then punched him as hard as possible in the face and knocked him out.

Kagome wept and cried heavily and loudly into Inuyasha's chest, he took her into his arms and allowed her to cry as long as she needed to.

"Uh...I guess this would be a bad time." Miroku inquired dully with a plain look on his face and a stupid expression.

He thought Inuyasha was taking kind of long to pee so he came in.

"We should all have a beer!" He suggested cheerfully as an afterthought. The two looked at him like he said the wrong thing to say.

Haha! What did the birthday note say? How will what happened affect Kagome and Inuyasha? Please stay tuned for the next chapter! And thank you all reviewers!