How College can Drive you Crazy
Sonnie
I am NOT missing Inuyasha! Kagome thought vehemently, glaring at the new model angrily. He was well-built, a bit taller than the silver-haired man but not by too much. His glossy black hair was pulled up into a high ponytail and he had eyes that shone a brilliant cobalt blue.
Oh no! Kagome thought wildly, blushing furiously when he smiled at her briefly before returning his gaze towards the ceiling. Not him too!
"Rin, did you see that?" Kagome whispered to her best friend, who was furiously erasing about one-forth of her entire drawing.
"See what?" Rin asked loudly, swiping her arm across the eraser dust carelessly. She growled, picking up her book and giving it a couple of shakes as she swatted the page.
"He's doing the same thing Inuyasha did!" Kagome hissed.
"Putting you front and center for his little show?" Rin said with a grin. "Ow!"
"Serves you right for such an unfunny joke," said Kagome primly.
"Yeah…his show wasn't little at all!" Rin crowed, this time prepared for the kneaded eraser Kagome chucked at her forehead.
Kagome glowered at Rin, crossing her arms. Rin just smiled back, reaching for her bottled water. The model was taking a break, garbed in a navy blue terrycloth robe.
"Y'know, Ayame told me this guy's on the track team," Rin told her friend, eyeing the model who was currently sprawled on a beat-up couch on the other side of the room. "He's a sophomore and his name's Kouga. You have to admit, he's not too hard on the eyes."
"Yeah, but he's still no Inuyasha," Kagome sighed.
Rin burst out laughing. "I cannot believe you said that out loud!" Laughter increasing at the look on Kagome's face, she could not resist continuing. "So it's true!"
"What's true?" Kagome demanded, her cheeks as red as the couch Kouga was sitting on.
"You like Inuyasha!" Rin squealed, winching as Kagome grabbed her arm.
"Shh!" Kagome hissed, clamping her hand over her friend's mouth.
"But if you like Inuyasha," Rin whispered after wrenching free, "you'd better make a move quick. Ayame says Kouga likes you a lot! I think the reason he's here is so he can show off for you."
"But…I thought they were together," Kagome said, confused. "You've mentioned them together before, even though I'd never met him until now."
"Well, she doesn't talk about their relationship much," Rin said, her face looking uncharacteristically dark. "She's had a huge crush on him since they were in high school together, but they've only started talking this semester. They argue constantly; both are in the same British lit class and go at it every day. But even though they've fooled around some, Ayame says that Kouga wants you more and would leave her in a second if he got you."
"Why does she let herself get used like that?" Kagome asked. "I mean, that British lit class you guys are in is not a piece of cake. So she's got to be smart…but why do that to herself?"
"Because she loves him," Rin sighed, frowning. "But she can do so much better. I think she has, too…I mean, I see her with the most gorgeous guy…he looks sorta like Inuyasha. But he's taller…and way hotter!"
"I don't think that's possible," Kagome sniffed, both of them giggling. Kagome sighed when Kouga rose and went back to the center of the room; clearly the break was over. She had to admit that he was a very attractive man.
But he's still not Inuyasha…
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"Please?" Ayame pleaded, hands folded in front of her in a piteous display of urgency. "Come on!"
"Fine, but I'm only saying yes because I can't stand the nagging," Miroku muttered, waving a hand in her direction.
"Hey!" Ayame said, smacking him upside the head. "What kind of friend are you, anyway?"
"Jeez, Ayame," Miroku grumbled, rubbing his scalp furiously. "You don't know your own strength."
"Yeah, right," Ayame grumbled. "And who is it that makes fun of me for being puny?"
"I never said you were puny, I simply commented that you were petite," Miroku corrected.
"That sounds so godawful girly," Ayame muttered.
"But petite isn't a bad thing," Miroku began, hands moving in gestures meant to placate. "Many men find a small woman very attractive."
"You just find all women attractive," Ayame grumbled.
"Come now, that's a bit unfair," Miroku said, pretending to be hurt.
"And it's that compulsion that drove me to ask you for this favor," Ayame continued, ignoring his protest. "I just knew you'd help out a woman in need…even if it wasn't that kind of need."
Miroku sighed. "I'm not really that bad, am I?" he asked wearily.
Ayame smiled. "Not around this one, you won't be," she said with a huge grin.
Oh gods, she's going to be hideous, Miroku thought dolefully.
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"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" a silky voice drew, causing its intended recipient to bristle indignantly.
"Nothing's wrong, Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha snapped, crossing his arms and slamming his elbows down on the table as he sat down abruptly. Quite far from being in pain, he looked satisfied at the jarring impact.
"I'm glad I caught you here at your apartment instead of…during one of your little exhibitions," Sesshoumaru said delicately, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. It was just enough to earn a glare from his half-brother.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Inuyasha asked bluntly, lifting his arms off the table to lean back in his chair.
"You know Father's company always awards a scholarship to a student at this college based on an essay," Sesshoumaru said. "But due to Father's death, all publicity for this essay contest was overlooked. The company will look bad if we neglect to select a scholarship candidate, but time is running out and I need a suitable recipient."
"And how do you expect me to help you?" Inuyasha asked, lazily looking up at the ceiling. "I'm no writer."
"I wasn't talking about you, you halfwit," Sesshoumaru muttered. "Is there someone you know who could write a good essay in a week's time?"
"I dunno," Inuyasha shrugged.
"Well, don't you know anyone from any of your classes that could do it?" Sesshoumaru questioned.
Inuyasha shrugged again. "Maybe."
"What do you mean, maybe?" Sesshoumaru growled, losing patience with his brother's nonchalance. Image was important.
"Well, she called and said she was kinda pissed at me," Inuyasha muttered.
"Inuyasha, why didn't you come in and model today?" Rin practically shrieked into the phone.
"My brother wanted to talk to me about something," Inuyasha replied. "I didn't know he'd be this late."
"Well, guess who took your place?" Rin spat. "Kouga!"
"No shit," Inuyasha growled. "That asshole."
"Yeah, and right after class he asked Kagome to have dinner with him," Rin hissed. "And she said yes!"
"Why in the hell would she do that?" Inuyasha asked.
"Well, all you've been doing is acting like a huge ass whenever you're around her," Rin muttered. "That whole stunt you did with facing her was funny, but I think you were majorly distracting her. The last few grades she's been getting were really bad."
"You were immune," Inuyasha said. "Why wasn't she?"
"Because, I'm not attracted to you, idiot," Rin reminded him. "Besides, I've always liked guys that were smarter than rocks."
"Why you!" Inuyasha snapped.
"I'm kidding, but seriously, Inuyasha," Rin pleaded, "ask her out the next time you see her. You have to act quickly."
"Keh," Inuyasha grumbled. "Why should I? Isn't that jerk going out with Ayame anyway?"
"No," Rin said.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked her skeptically. "I mean, things are pretty intense there. Besides, Ayame's really hot. I don't know what Kouga's problem is."
"He told her he's still hoping to get Kagome," Rin told him.
"What an asshole," Inuyasha said.
"And do you really want a guy like him around Kagome?" Rin asked, raising her voice in the hopes of hitting that point home.
"No, but if she's dumb enough to go out with Kouga then why should I even bother?" Inuyasha mumbled.
"She only went out with him because you haven't asked her yet!" Rin shrieked. "I can't believe you men!"
Click.
"Inuyasha, you're terrible with people," Sesshoumaru said disdainfully. If his older brother had been capable of facial expression beyond a frown, Inuyasha would have sworn he'd have rolled his eyes.
"Keh, whatever," Inuyasha huffed. "If you want her help, go ask her."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes. "I don't have time for that. Why do you think I came here in the first place?"
"Well if you're already here, then why don't you go next store to the library? She works in the writing center until ten."
Sesshoumaru contemplated this, knowing there was no way Inuyasha would be willing to help him beyond this. He sighed.
"What did you say her name was?" he asked tiredly.
"Rin," Inuyaha said. "I can draw you a picture if you like." Without waiting for an answer, he swiped a pen from the counter and picked up a napkin on the table. Making a big show of it, he shielded his drawing with his hand until he was finished. After a few minutes, he handed it to Sesshoumaru, who accepted it gingerly.
"Inuyasha…" Sesshoumaru began, eyeing the picture skeptically. It was a stick figure with a huge semicircle for a smile and a pigtail on the side of her head.
"Yeah?"
"For spending so much time in an artistic environment, I must say, you've learned nothing."
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"I really don't want to be an inconvenience," Sango told Ayame.
"Trust me, he won't see you that way," Ayame muttered under her breath.
"But you were in there for such a long time trying to convince him," Sango said.
"But it worked, and that's all that matters," Ayame said brightly. Taking Sango's arm, she gently ushered her into the room where Miroku sat. He looked up, shooting a surprised look at his guest then a dark one at Ayame, who merely smiled back.
"Hello," Miroku said smoothly, on his feet instantly. He held out his hand to Sango, who took it after a moment of brief hesitation. Instead of the handshake she was expecting, he took it and lifted it to his lips, brushing it with a chaste kiss.
"My name is Miroku," he said in a low voice.
Ayame rolled her eyes, sighing loudly.
"Uh, I'm Sango," she said, blushing furiously.
"Come here, have a seat," Miroku urged, hand gesturing to his futon. Sango sat, her face betraying her surprise when he sat down so near.
"Ah, well, I'll leave you two kiddies alone," Ayame said, grinning slyly. Ignoring the look of shock on Sango's face when Miroku put his arm around her, she skipped out of the room.
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Author's Notes: I hope you like this chapter!