All Things Keep Getting Better

by drake220

Epilouge Up! Inuyasha meets the guys from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy! That's right, Carson, Jai, Thom, Ted and Kyan make over the unwilling Inuyasha. And all I have to say is there'll be lighter fluid, pedicures and Inuyasha's reaction to skincare...

7. Jai Attempts the Impossible

Disclaimer: I hear Ramiko Takahashi laughing at my delusions of ownership. It sucks.

A/N: this is a reposting of the chapter 7. It uploaded quite wrong. This is what happens when you move too quick (ooch, what else did that sound like a warning for? Eep.) Longer A/N below and a thank you to those who reviewed, letting meknow what went wrong.  

CHAPTER SIX (Jai attempts the impossible):

"But why?" asked Inuyasha. He had a really bad feeling about this idea of Jai's.

Jai rolled his eyes and began to count off the reasons on his fingers.

"Beeeccccauuuse" he answered for what felt like the fiftieth time, "your manners are terrible. You have no people skills whatsoever. You cannot hold your temper at all and blow up at anyone, anytime, anywhere. You are rude to anyone who as so much as looks at you. You can't express yourself with words- only through violence and cursing. Which brings us to another point: you are incredibly violent."

"Well YEAH!" shouted Inuyasha in derision.

Jai shook his head. "Yeah my nothing." He snapped. "That has to stop too. I mean, why you haven't gone to a behaviorist before now is completely beyond me." Jai gave him an exasperated look and shook his head again. "Besides, you'd think after your little performance yesterday that you'd be all over the chance to improve."

Inuyasha scratched an arm and sulked in the back seat. "If Kagome hadn't abandoned me, I wouldn't have to do this..." he mumbled grumpily.  

"Listen, little orphan Annie-if you had behaved nicely to her, Kagome wouldn't have left. I mean I know this never occurred to you but it's all your own fault she left." He raised his eyebrows to Inuyasha through the rear view mirror. "Put it this way: would you let anyone else be as mean to her as you are?"

"I am not mean to her!" came the shout from the back seat.

"Not mean? If I were her, I'd have cried. Is that the goal? To make her cry?" Jai accused.

"No!" denied Inuyasha vehemently. "I hate making Kagome cry!"

"Well, then you should be thrilled to be going to these lessons. I am going to teach you how to keep control of that mouth." Jai said seriously. "Even if it kills us both..." he added in a mumble.

Inuyasha soundlessly glared. For once, he had no arguments to make.

*************

A stage: dimly lit. The theater is empty, devoid of the happy paying customers that give it life. Now, it's just a husk, waiting to be used. Its old walls drink in the scene playing out on that lone platform, that stretch of wood and mold where all the drama that ever was takes place. 

Two men face each other, sitting in rickety wooden chairs. A table lies between them. The animosity is palpable between them, an almost visible soup of emotions: annoyance, fear, and rage.

 In middle of the two sits a mediator. He will determine what has happened, what will happen, and what shall be. He is the lord of this small domain, the judge of all he sees, hears, smells, touches and feels.

The silence is growing, a monster waiting to be killed by words.

Nothing is said.

The monster becomes larger, harder to destroy the longer it is alive.

Sweat is breaking out on the faces of the seated men. It gathers on their upper lips, pools on their temples, stains their skin with odoriferous moisture.

The silence is now speaking words with feelings and thoughts that are revealed with every passing quiet second. A motion of a hand, a fleeting look in someone's eye starts to give away secret passions and motivations. Usually, one is too busy talking to notice these subtle signs but now...Now, all is becoming disturbingly clear.

It has become a killing silence. Someone must break. Something must give way before this Jabberwocky of Silence. Someone must fall prey to it.

The silence must be fed.

Someone must be sacrificed to the Silence.

Breathing is louder and harsher. The usually unassuming task of filling air into lungs has become Herculean in its efforts.

Finally, an eon of minutes later, someone suicides.

            "I still think its STUPID!" mumbled Inuyasha, putting special emphasis on his adjective of choice. "But. Fine. If you really want me to..." he slouched down in his chair.

Across from him, Jai offered a silent prayer to whatever god had manhandled Inuyasha into finally giving in.

Haruto, the acting coach, grinned large and clapped his hands happily.

"Okay then! Let's make some magic!" he proclaimed.

Inuyasha winced and felt like pushing the well-meaning Haruto's head through a cement wall.

My ears are not up to this, he mournfully thought.

"So what do we do?" Jai asked cheerfully, ignoring Inuyasha's hangdog expression.

"Okay, you sit across from each other-"

"Like we're already doing." Inuyasha grumbled sarcastically.

Jai looked a bit nonplused as well. That reassured Inuyasha. It wasn't just his imagination that Haruto, self-proclaimed acting coach/therapist of the stars, was more then a few crumbs short of a cake. Hell, saying he had half a cake was pushing it.

            It was brisk outside but Haruto was wearing a black wife beater, bright orange pants ("It's tribute to Christina Aquilira Day in my dance club! How fun?") and numerous necklaces, bracelets, rings and arm bands. His only concession to the cold was a thin purple scarf, which he had artfully draped over his shoulders. Haruto's hair tips were carefully died a shocking gold and the man waved his arms around whenever he spoke. Which was, from what Inuyasha had observed, all the time.

The irritated time traveler ducked yet another exuberant hand gesture and growled. If that hand came at him again, he was going to bite it off. Then he'd spit that stupid ring encrusted hand in Haruto's face. Let's see how much Haruto liked nearly getting his face mauled!!

Jai saw the barely restrained annoyance on Inuyasha's face. He grabbed Haruto's swinging arms and held them down.

"Yes, what else do we do?" Jai quickly asked.  

"Well, since Inu baby-"

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME??!?!" threatened Inuyasha at the top of his lungs, knocking his chair backward.

"Leave it alone Inuyasha!" hissed Jai. Cajoling, he reminded Inuyasha that the sooner they finished the exercise, the sooner they could leave.

"Fine," mumbled Inuyasha.

Shrugging, the coach dismissed it and continued to explain his idea.

"Inuyasha doesn't know how he sounds. Once he hears how horrible he is-"

Inuyasha raised a fist to smash his fist into Haruto's face but Jai grabbed his arms and reminded him that he was trying to stop being so violent. "Use your words." Jai hissed at the angry boy.

Haruto continued, used to these types of interruptions. "Inu, you sit over here. And Jai will sit over here." The two men stared at Haruto. Jai heaved a great sigh.

 "We're already sitting." Inuyasha reminded Haruto again, raising one eyebrow.

"Oh my god! How stupid can I be?" Haruto grimaced playfully and waved an embarrassed hand.

Oh, lord, let me count the ways….. Jai thought, resting his head on his fist.

"Okay. So, Inuyasha, you're going to say whatever you want to. Or yell. Do whatever you want but I think you should sing! But you could always dance, hum, shout-"

"We. Got. It." snapped Inuyasha.

"Then Jai will parrot it back at you. Then you can understand and really hear what you're saying. Because, from what I've heard, your very mean to her." Haruto concluded earnestly.

"Oh, the shame." Inuyasha replied dryly. Was this guy serious? Is that supposed to insult me?

Behind Inuyasha, Jai was signaling for Haruto to shut up before a few facts slipped out that were better left alone.

"I mean, really really mean. Didn't she mention some other guys friends who were a lot nicer to her?" Haruto asked turning around to face the frantically signaling Jai who threw up his hands and concluded with a finger dramatically drawn across his throat.

Inuyasha ignored the theatrics, focusing instead on the words. "She's talked about other guys? Which ones?" Inuyasha demanded, pulling Haurto up by the front of his tank top.

"Put him down Inuyasha! That's unnecessary violence! Not at all conducive to growing as a person!" Jai shouted in vain.

"Ow!" Haruto whined, kicking his feet in the air. "You are a mean! You are so-ack!" Inuyasha tightened his hold on the quickly choking man and growled.

"Which ones?" he hissed.

"Um, Yoko? Joho? Something like that!"

"Hojo?!"

"Yes! Hojo! Hojo!"

"Inuyasha! Put Him Down!! Use your words!!" Jai shouted, stamping his foot angrily.

Inuyasha dropped Haruto to the floor and knelt next to the gasping man. "Go on. Who else?"

"No one else!" Jai announced too quickly. "No one! No one! No one!!!"

Inuyasha ignored Jai and focused completely on the trembling Haruto. He growled further encouragement.

"Um, um....." Haruto said, searching his brain for more names from that quick telephone call with Kagome that Jai had arranged. "Oh! Some guy she called the hentai...?"

"Miroku. Who's next?"

"Let's talk about something else!" Jai suggested desperately.

"Uh, uh.....Coka? Ouga?"

Inuyasha's eyes widened and his nostrils flared. "Kouga?" he asked, the name of his arch nemesis a curse.

"Yes!" shouted Haruto happily. Behind him, Jai groaned.

                                               *flashback*

"Remember. DO NOT bring up Kouga-kun's name. Inuyash and he are not on the best terms." Kagome said seriously.

"Meaning what?" Jai asked, a little skeptical.

"They hate each other and try to kill the other every chance they have."

"Sounds serious."
"It is. Don't, under any circumstances, have Kouga and my name in the same sentence. Inuyasha will go berserk. And when he goes crazy, well, there goes the neighborhood."

                                              *end flashback*

 Inuyasha stood up and his fists clenched. "She mentioned him? Kagome talked about Kouga? In a good way?"

"Yes. She said he was one her closest friends!" Haruto said brightly, not comprehending the danger he had just placed himself in.

"SHE SAID WHAT?!???!!" Inuyasha shouted, throwing the table careening away on its side.

Haruto blanched and ran to hide behind Jai. "All she said was that he's a nice guy!"

Inuyasha chucked a folding chair at the two quivering men.

"Ahhh!" screeched Haruto, ducking onto the floor.

"Inuyasha! That's very violent of you! Use your words!" Jai reminded him while running to the impromptu barricade the table had created.

"SHUT UP!" screamed Inuyasha. "THIS IS ALL THAT GOD DAMN FLEA BAG RIDDEN BASTARD PIECE OF SHIT'S FAULT!!!" Inuyasha howled, ripping a light fixture from its bolts and flinging it across the stage.

There goes the neighborhood indeed, Jai thought to himself in misery as he watched Inuyasha throw a temper tantrum around the old theater.

"I HATE HIM! HE'S NOT A WARRIOR! HE CAN FIGHT ME ONLY BECAUSE HE HAS TWO JEWEL SHARDS IN HIS LEGS! THAT'S THE ONLY REASON!! OTHERWISE HE'D BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE!!!!"

A window broke. A wooden plank snapped under Inuyasha's stomping feet. Jai and Haruto sat down to wait out the storm from behind the overturned table.

"So, uh, now that we're almost all alone..." Haruto began, hesitatingly.

Jai blinked. Whirling around, he shouted out to the raging Hanyou, "Hurry up already and finish your snit! Some of us are in serious danger right now!"

Inuyasha didn't seem to hear him.

"HE WOULDN'T BE SO COCKY IF I RIPPED OFF HIS ARMS!!!  I SHOULD KILL HIM AND DO THE WORLD A FAVOR!!!"

Jai winced as a particularly expensive bit of equipment flew overhead and smashed into incredibly small pieces. Oooh, that's going to cost us...

bam

Jai dropped his head into his hands as thousands of dollars in damage accumulated in Inuyasha's rage.

"WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS?!?! JACKASS, TRYING TO STEAL KAGOME AWAY?? ?! SHE'S MY BITCH, DAMN IT!!!!"

Inuyasha paused and his eyes widened as the words processed.

Jai and Haruto, bloodhounds that they were, straightened immediately at the slip and slowly fixed Inuyasha with triumphant smiles, peering around the table. Inuyasha, feeling far too emotionally exposed, 'humph'ed and tried to avoid looking at anyone.

"Who is this Kagome anyway?" Haruto questioned with a grin on his face.

"No one," mumbled Inuyasha.

 "Oh really? So she's not the whole reason we're doing this?" Jai said to Inuyasha, resisting the urge to strangle him. He turned to Haruto. "She's the girl who loves him, that ungrateful ass."

"She's in love with him?" Haruto said surprised.

"Very much so." Jai said firmly, looking Inuyasha in the eyes.

"Oh my. You are not sensitive at all, are you?"  Haruto asked, propping his head up on one hand.

Inuyasha stared at Haruto. That answer was just a bit obvious...  

"Well, I bet you-know-who is sensitive" Jai said too casually.

Inuyasha growled.

"Who?" asked Haruto. Both men ignored him.

"Yeah, well, how the hell else am I suppose to act? Like Kagome? Always crying?" Inuyasha protested.

"No, but a little caring might go a long way." Haruto advised. "Kagome did say you were cruel sometimes."

Jai raised his eyebrows. Maybe Haruto isn't such an idiot.

"I'm not mean! She just shouldn't be so touchy!" Inuyasha shouted, enunciating every word.

"Maybe she's not overly sensitive. Maybe you're just really really really insensitive." Haruto said pleasantly.

.....

"Haruto. Shut up." advised Inuyasha with scowl.

Take it back. He's definitely an idiot. Jai sighed.

            Inuyasha stood and pushed his hands into his sleeves. "I'm done with this." He announced. He jumped off the stage and stalked down the aisle.

"Hey! Wait!" shouted Jai. Jumping out of his seat, he followed the hanyou out into the city streets.  Grabbing Inuyasha's arm, he spun the boy around to face him.

"What's wrong?" Jai asked, concerned.

"Nothing..." sulked Inuyasha.

Jai looked at Inuyasha and patted his arm consolingly. "Inuyasha- if it bothered you that much that you're so horrible to Kagome, then come back inside. It's a good thing this bothers you." he reassured. Inuyasha looked away and visibly wavered.

"You're only doing this in order to become a better person-"

"Hey! I  never said that I-"

"Shh! To become a better person annnd so that Kagome won't leave you again." Jai shrugged his shoulders expressively.

Inuyasha sighed gustily and slowly nodded his head. Jai opened up the door and Inuyasha let himself be led back in.

Haruto sat on the edge of the stage, swinging his legs.

"Oh! You came back! Good for you!" he cheered.

Inuyasha flicked him the middle finger. (He learned that from Mrs. Higurashi when she had once driven him somewhere. The future had all sorts of fascinating inventions like this). 

Jai shot Haruto a quelling glance and smiled cheerfully at the moody Inuyasha.

"Let's try the exercise again. Sound good?"

"No," came the snorted reply.

"But we're going to do it anyway, right Inuyasha?" prompted Jai.

Inuyasha groaned and sat down, crossed legged.  Waving an imperious hand, he allowed the group to restart.

"We're starting again?" squealed Haruto, clapping his hands together.

"Yes, isn't that great?" Jai said, smiling at Inuyasha.

"Great? No, it's not great!" Haruto said in excitement. He got up and ran to his stereo, pressing the play button. Whirling around dramatically, he shouted, "It's SUPER!"

A man's voice began to sing:

Bombs are flying

People are dying

Politicians are lying

Children are crying too.

Cancer is killing

Texaco's spilling

The whole world shot to hell

But how are you?

Haruto whirled in a circle and sang on the top of his lungs:

I'm SUPER!!!

Howled Haruto. Inuyasha's eyes were wide, his pupils mere points of darkness amid the gold of his iris's. He backed away as Haruto's wiggling ass moved closer and closer to his face.

 Thanks for asking

All things considered I couldn't be better I must say I'm feeling SUPER!!!!!!!!!! No, nothing bugs me! Everything is super when-

don't you think I look cute in this hat?

Haruto pranced his way around, skipping and flinging out his feet. Inuyasha dived for cover but poor Jai got a bit of bump to the head.

I'm so sorry

Mr. Cripple

But I just can't feel too bad for you right now

Because I'm feeling so insanely super

That even the fact that you can't walk can't bring me down!!

Haruto began to shake his chest at his two frightened guests, yelling, "Throw your shoulders into it! Throw 'em! Throw 'em!" during the instrumental part of the song. 

Inuyasha's eyes widened in fear and he crawled away but Jai got caught and dragged around by his leg for a bit. Suddenly, more people joined in the song. Haruto squealed and his head flung itself up and down as he moved to a beat.

What the hell is he doing??!?! Thought Inuyasha in panic.

"LET GO MY LEG, DAMNIT!!!" shouted Jai, kicking his free leg into Haruto's torso. Haruto didn't notice the pain but let go of Jai's leg to skip some more.

(people)

He's super, thanks for asking

All things considered he couldn't be better

He must say

(The original voice) I'm SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haruto screamed along, his arms flung open wide and falling backward. Inuyasha jumped out of the way but once again, Jai was too slow and got crushed.

No nothing bugs me

Everything is super when you're

Don't you think I look cute

Iin this hat

These little pants

And the matching tie I got at Merv's???

I'm super!!!!!!!!!!!

Haruto flung himself upward and did a flying leap. Inuyasha screamed and covered his head.

(People)

In the barracks and the trenches as well

(Big Gay Al)

Stick 'em up!

(People)

Big gay al says do as can tell

(Big Gay Al)

Skittles!!

Haruto shimmied his hips and spun really quickly in circles, stopping abruptly and blowing kisses

(People)

Yes, he's super and he's proud to be fay!

(Big Gay Al)

Ok??

(People)

Everything is super when you're

GGGGGGAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!

Haruto flung himself onto one knee and spread his arms as if they were wings

When your GAY!

The music trailed off. Haruto had stopped and was breathing heavily, trying to regain his normal lung usage. Inuyasha and a shaken Jai slowly stood up.

"How fabulous is that song??" said Haruto in rapture.

Inuyasha couldn't take it anymore. Growling ferociously, he slammed his fist into Haruto's face. The acting coach dropped, surprisingly enough, without a sound.

After a few moments of staring at the unconscious acting coach, Inuyasha flashed a fang filled smile at Jai.

"I suppose that was unnecessary violence too." He sneered.

Jai 'innocently' twirled a piece of hair on a finger and looked up at the ceiling.

"Me? I didn't see any violence at all..." he said in a careless tone. "I'm just la-di-da-ing around here. Not really paying attention to anything at all...." He whistled a tune and meandered out of the theater. "I'm going to go out for some air...Catch up when you feel like it…if you're not busy..." He called after over his shoulder.

Inuyasha stared at Jai's back. Slowly, he smiled.

Poor Hauro. Poor poor Haruto.

When Inuyasha emerged a few minutes later, Jai said nothing as his project threw a bundle of black and orange cloth into a nearby dumpster. He did however throw him a look.

"No longer useable." Inuyasha said succinctly. Jai nodded.

And smiled.

***************Later That Day*************************

            Hopping out of the SUV, Jai bounded up the few concrete steps to a small cottage in the Tokyo suburbs.

 Inuyasha followed much slower, taking in his surroundings. Just because that thing earlier this morning hadn't worked out was, in his opinion, no reason to try again. But his opinion hadn't mattered and so, here they were. Walking on a weird path to kami knows what. Inuyasha sighed. For today, he deserved at least five bowls of Ramen.

            The cottage was painted sky blue with white shutters. There were large gardens overflowing with a myriad of flowers and healthy looking vegetables. Inuyasha paid special attention to the unmoving tiny men. They wore bright red pointed hats and green shirts with yellow pants. The inane smiles on their bearded faces were frozen, their eyes glazed.

Are they aged children? Mummified old men? Inuyasha wondered uncomfortably. They reminded him of Urasua's clay soldiers. Only shorter. And a lot scarier.

Inuyasha hurried to catch up with Jai. The latter shot him a look and knocked firmly on the front door.

"Coming!" came the faint reply. After a few moments, a cheerful looking woman opened the door. She was dressed in a wide cotton skirt with a pink t-shirt, barefoot, and had flour decorating one cheek. Along with small green eyes and a happy welcoming smile, her hair was black, wild and curly to the point of no restraint. Tangled in its mass were bows, feathers, beads and....bones? Inuyasha thought uneasily. He looked her over again.

 Jai has the weirdest friends. Even weirder then Kagome's. Which I didn't think was possible. This impressed Inuyasha despite himself.

"Come in!" she said cheerfully, opening the door to her house. Jai smiled back and walked in, introducing himself and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha stalked in, ready for any attack. Nothing happened. The woman closed the door and extended her hand to each man.

 "Hello! My name is Hitomi!"

"Hi- I'm Jai." the happy American said with a smile. He frowned at Inuyasha who had disdainfully snubbed the outstretched hand.

 "The brooding Neanderthal over there is Inuyasha." Jai continued, pointing to the still suspicious half demon.

Hitomi shook her finger at Jai reprovingly. "Now now. I'm sure he's not anything of the sort."

Inuyasha looked pleased at the receiving the benefit of the doubt.

Jai looked at her pityingly. That's because you don't know him yet....

***************

"I hate this!!" Inuyasha flopped down onto his back in Hitomi's garden.

"I know. Meditating is hard. But you need to have a separation between your emotions and your actions. The quickest way to begin that process is by meditation. It will help you clear your thoughts. Join hands again..."

"No."

A silent sigh from both Hitomi and Jai.

"Why not?" asked Hitomi gently.

"I don't like touching people. You all smell."

"Inuyasha!!" Jai gasped out, horrified. "Oh My God! You just cannot say things like that!"

"Keh. I'll say whatever the hell I want to say."

"Oh, for the love of-!"

"Peace....let all remain calm...No one has to hold anyone's hands. It is just an aid to a calm mind." Hitomi explained gently. "Let us all breath in...take in the wonderful aura that is peace and love......and exhale out all of the bad emotions that are clogging our spiritual path.....Remember: in for the count of seven breaths, hold for the count of seven breaths, and exhale for the count of seven breaths........" she intoned.

Inuyasha groaned and mumbled something but began the exercise. Jai flashed an apologetic smile to the patient woman and breathed out his anger.

"Okay" Hitomi began in a soft whisper. "I want everyone to begin to see their aura as they breath......."

Jai and Hitomi relaxed into the meditation. Jai looked like he was approaching Nirvana.

Inuyasha just felt stupid.

'See your aura'...what the hell is an aura? He snorted silently to himself. Only a woman from Kagome's time would be this crazy.

"You're not feeling it Inuyasha." Hitomi reprimanded from behind closed eyes.

How'd she do that? He wondered. To humor her, Inuyasha tried to do the exercise.

It wasn't working.

Hitomi looked bemused at the uncomfortable young man sitting next to her. It was time for plan B.

"You are an action sort of guy, aren't you, Inuyasha?" Hitomi began.

"Yeah..." Inuyasha answered slowly.

"Do you use that sword at your hip?"
"Of course! What moron carries around a sword that he can't use?" Inuyasha scoffed, offended at the slight.

Hitmoi pursed her lips, thought for a bit and then nodded decidedly. "I usually don't use this exercise but I think I can make an exception for you."

Committed to her plan of action, Hitomi ordered Inuyasha to place his sheathed sword on his lap.

"Now, close your eyes. Begin the breathing meditation and pull yourself into the sword."

"Wha?" Inuyasha confused. He grudgingly obeyed when Hitomi asked him to close his eyes again.

"Feel your sword. You and your sword trust each other. Become one with your sword... feel what your sword-"

"It's name is Tetsuiga." Inuyasha interrupted again.

Hitomi smiled. He named his sword. How male.... "Well, Tetsuiga and you have gone through a lot together, yes?"

"Yeah..." Inuyasha's voice got softer as his fingers inspected the rusty dull beloved blade of his only true possession and the breathing patterns soothed his scattered thoughts. As usual, having Tetsuiga was relaxing him.

            Hitomi went on for a few minutes, extolling the virtues of Tetsuiga and Inuyasha's relationship but soon trailed off. It was obvious that Inuyasha no longer really heard her. She and Jai smiled at one another at the finally still hanyou. They strolled into the house to go get a cup of tea.

            Inuyasha felt as if he were floating. Hitomi's voice was gentle and soft. Combined with the always lulling influence of Tetsuiga, he was unable to resist the temptation as her voice urged him to touch and explore. Underneath his inquisitive fingers, the blade gained new life. He felt every nick, he was every scratch, he understood every curve. Ever so slowly, he felt himself thin, stretch, sharpen down to a point; become a hardened piece of steel, honed and dangerous to the touch. Tetsuiga's mask of ill use was peeled away as Inuyasha descended into his sword's youkai. He swam through the ancient and powerful sword. He and it evolving into one being. Comprehending everything his sword meant and what it could do and, more importantly, what it knew he-Inuyasha- could accomplish. He listened to Tetsuiga's very thoughts.

In one fluid movement, Inuyasha was on his feet. Taking the first position, Inuyasha settled with his legs apart and his arms steady.

Gracefully, Inuyasha began to dance with his sword.

He flowed from one sword form to the next without pause or hesitation. Arms over head, knees bent to sliding the sword to in front of him and vaulting over it. He moved the blade to knee length and moved with vicious certainty to slice any opponents leg off below the knee. His skin started to glisten with sweat as his sword swung over his head into an angle and then spun on one heel to block an unseen foe. Inuyasha still breathed in the seven patterns, never breaking from it. His eyes were closed and his body relaxed, every muscle connected in the ancient sword patterns.

On and on he perfected his connection to Tetsuiga, each learning the other's movements anew. In the back of his mind, he knew he had an audience but it was not his concern. Right now, the only thing that mattered was Tetsuiga.

********************

"Thank you for the lessons." Jai said, giving Hitomi a hug. She hugged him back.

"It was my pleasure Jai. So glad you had a good time."

Turning to Inuyasha, Hitomi settled back on her heels. Inuyasha was quiet. Shifting form side to side, he kept touching the re-sheathed sword at his hip. Swallowing his pride, Inuyasha bowed to the surprised woman.

"Thank you sensei," he said. Hitomi and Jai both blinked at the honorific term. "I have come to a greater understanding of Tetsuiga now. You have improved my swordsman-ship greatly." Inuyasha continued. "I...." He breathed out. "I underestimated your powers."

Hitomi quirked an eyebrow. Powers...? She had gotten many reactions from her teachings but this was new. She couldn't help herself. She laughed.

 "Get up silly. But I want you to remember Inuyasha- whenever you get angry, just breath in the seven pattern."

"I will try sensei. I will try...to be worthy of your teachings..." Inuyasha whispered.

Hitomi smiled and patted his hand.  "I have all confidence in you."

Inuyasha looked chastised and honored simultaneously. He bowed again and led the way down to the SUV. Jai looked at Hitomi. Hitomi smiled and shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea what was going on either.

"Well, it worked." She offered as an explanation.

Jai shrugged back. Hey, he wasn't about to argue with results, no matter how odd.

Jai jogged after Inuyasha.

"Hey! Wait up!" he called out. Inuyasha pulled open his door and looked at Jai.

"Start driving." Inuyasha called out.

"I'm not a chauffeur." huffed Jai, sliding into the front seat. "And come up here." Inuyasha shrugged and climbed over the seats. Both buckled their seatbelts and Jai pulled away from the curb. As he did, his dexterous fingers pressed a button. Music began to play. Instantly intrigued (Buttons.....his mind droned), Inuyasha looked at the dashboard and grinned.

"All these play music?" he asked in excitement.

"Yep. Different types."

"Wow...."

"You turn the dial to change the types of music."

"Oh. Can I try?" Inuyasha asked. The experience with Hitomi had lured him into a rare mood of complacent curiosity. His voice was gentle and calm.

Pleased with his work, Jai made a very foolish mistake.

"Sure. The whole way back, we'll listen to whatever you want."

************One Hour Later**********

"But you promised!" whined Inuyasha as he slapped Jai's hand away from the dial.

"Inuyasha! Please! I'm begging you!" Jai cried desperately. "We've been listening to HeadBanger's Ball for the past hour! I can't take much more of this!"

Over the speakers, Drowning Pool screamed and roared. The car vibrated with the force of the sound waves.

Jai looked like he was about to cry.

Inuyasha's hair was floating back from the force of the music and he looked thrilled.

"It's warrior music!" he shouted back, trying to be heard over the music.

"It's crap!!" Shouted Jai.

"What?" Inuyasha leaned closer, striving to hear.

"I said, IT'S CRAP!"
"WHAT?"

Rammstein began to howl 'Sonne' and Jai slammed his head into the steering wheel.

Inuyasha snapped his fingers and hummed happily.

Another song came on.

"All right! Megadeath!" shouted Inuyasha in joy.

"No, oh not again god..." Jai whimpered.

******************************

The door to the Higrashi home slammed open.

"I think Jai needs help." Inuyasha announced about the small man he was carrying into the house.

"My head...." whispered Jai.

"What did you do to Jai?!?" shouted Kyan in horror.

He snatched Jai away. Behind him, Carson, Thom and Ted glared.

"We were just listening to music," protested Inuyasha.

"It wasn't music!" gasped Jai from the couch.

Inuyahsa stuck out his tongue.

"Jai, rest." soothed Ted, placing a cold compress onto the afflicted forehead.

"But...his dance...lessons..." moan Jai.

"Dance...lessons..." asked Inuyasha said in a blank voice.

"Will that make you feel better?" cooed Kyan.

"Dance lessons?" Inuyasha repeated dumbly.

Jai licked his dry lips and nodded mutely.

"Well then, that's that." Carson said decisively. 

"Dance lessons?!?!" Inuyasha shouted, aghast. Oh, hell no!

Inuyasha scrambled for purchase on the floor and tried to run.

"Stay right there!" ordered Thom.

Inuyasha ignored him and, seeing the closest exit was the doorway, ran for it and the safety of the outdoors. He flung open the door and stopped as a smiling man with bright blue eyes turned around. Dressed in a white shirt, khaki's and a blue vest, the man smiled a perky open grin and put his hands on his hips.

"Well, you must be Inuyasha. Jai described you to a tee." He grabbed Inuyasha's arm. Swinging Inuyasha around, the nameless man basically marched the once again confused Inuyasha back into the house.

"You have great arms." the stranger complimented with an approving look in his eyes.

"Uh...." said Inuyasha, a little bewildered as to how exactly he had landed back into the living room.

"OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" came the ecstatic shout from the Queer Eye guys when they saw the stranger. They had been plotting how to get Inuyasha back into the house but, wouldn't you know that this guy would do it in less then 10 seconds?

Gathering around, the guys (including Jai) surrounded the stranger and bombarded him with questions.

"How'd you get here?"

"Why did you not tell us you were here?"

"When did you get here?"

"How's it going?"

"What are doing in Japan?"

The man gave a small giggle and waved his arms around to calm everyone down.

"Well, I got here by plane only a week ago. I did not know you were here. I was visiting my friend, Tatsuya-"

"Who?"

"Oh, come on. You remember him? The dance instructor with the purple leather pants?"

"Him! Of course we remember him! And those tight pants!"

"Right. So, anywhooz, I'm on vacation here and it's a great vaca so far. But Tatasuya overbooked himself and so he asked me to take on one of his appointments. I called here and, OH MY GAWD, Jai answers the phone!! SO, we chat, talk, flirt and decided to surprise all of you! How fun?" The stranger looked very pleased with himself.

Ted, Thom, Kyan and Carson all complimented Jai and the stranger on their plan and the surprise. Beginning to talk amongst themselves, they totally forgot about the still puzzled boy near them.

"Wait one minute! Who the hell are you?" shouted Inuyasha, pissed off and forgetting his lessons.

The strange man looked shocked. "You've never heard of me?"

Shooting the guy The Look, Inuyahsa snorted. "No. Should I have?"

The guy waved his hands around, obviously offended, "Only if you follow Broadway."

What?

"I had a show for a couple of years on Broadway. Now, I'm a nurse...sort of." he amended with a half shrug.

Broadway?

Looking at Inuyasha's blank face, the man's eyes widened. "Oh my god. You still don't know who I am?"

Inuyasha shook his head.

"Okay, a hint." The man placed his two hands at 90 degree angles, placed them at the sides of his head and tilted his head. He posed, opened mouth and eyes wide.

Another weirdo....thought Inuyasha in despair.

The man stamped his foot in anger. "You still don't get it??"

"No!" snapped Inuyasha.

The man restruck his pose and called out: "Just Jack!"

Wha.....??

The man tried again. "Just Jack 2003!"

Seeing the situation was still unclear, the man rolled his eyes expressively. "Hello, oh one of lacking brain, my name's Jack." He paused, as if waiting for an iota of recognition from the hanyou.

Nothing.

Shrugging (there were always the uneducated), he picked up his shirt with a smile. "Wanna touch tummies?"

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A/N: Well, there you go! Tell me what you think! I love constructive criticism!! To those who care-god bless your little cotton socks- my sequel to 'Hero' should be up soon. Whoo-hoo! Okay, to those who have reviewed: I love you! Kashiaga (hope this version is clearer and thanks for the change with the 'verb'.  I suck at grammar ::winces::), Darkangel1410 (I don't mind short reviews and thank you for commenting on the weird beginning of the lesson!), WickerB (NEW READER!!!!!!! ::jumps and ties up with rope:: no not really…hehe…hehe? Anyways! MirokuMinded (hope I calmed haruto's character down a bit). Now, a special thank you to Fiery Ferret of Doom- you rocked my socks yet again. I had NO idea that it loaded wrong. You alerted me to this alarming fact. I took your- god bless you!- criticisms and tried to fix the chapter with them. Again, tried to calm Haruto down. Let me know what you think.
Review! It's my birthday! I'm a year from being legal to drink!!!!! Review about liquor!