A/N: Eh heh heh heh. I try to not procrastinate. I really do. I think it runs in the family...or something. Anyway, I feel like I should share this with everyone before it goes away: I just re-read chapter 4 and I'm amazed that I actually wrote something that's halfway decent. I actually laughed at my own writing! It tickles me...anyway...I just put out chapter 1 of a new DN Angel fic (which is my new obsession) which I'm kind of regretting now...but since it's summer vacation I now have endless amounts of doing nothing ahead of me...so I think I can squeeze in some writing time...so I'll shut up now...except I went to New York City! And saw The Phantom of the Opera! So amazing...along with the new love of my life Hugh Panaro...truly, I'll shut up...

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Disclaimer: What part of 'I don't own Inuyasha' don't you understand...paranoid people...

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Ah, Those Summer Nights

Chapter 5: Drowning Because of You

--

"And now, into Child's Pose we go for the final part of our exercise..."

"Remind me that I hate yoga and, in case of fits of insanity, I should never pursue doing this for a living," Inuyasha whispered to Miroku.

"Ah, but the benefits my friend, the benefits..."

"What ben-oh," Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he followed Miroku's line of sight (impaired slightly by the fact that their heads were down).

"Mind looking somewhere else? Or do I have act as Sango for a bit?" Kagura warned in a non-chalant way.

"Oh, no worries. We can leave the Sango acts to Sango..."

"Okay class! That was an excellent first time! So, I'll see you all on," the teacher quickly checked the schedule, "Wednesday! 'Till then!"

The people of cabins 12 and 13 made their way of the room.

"Well, that was fun," Jakotsu yawned and stretched.

"Yea, to a snake maybe," Inuyasha grumbled.

"Aw, come on you guys! I thought it was very good," Kagome slapped the two boys on the back, who immediately groaned, "I wonder if she teaches outside of camp..."

"I would definitely be willing to take another class of hers," Sango nodded in agreement.

"Oh, me too, Sango. Perhaps we could sign up together...?" Miroku suggested, eyes innocent, hands not.

"How about we not and you keep your hands to yourself before Sango starts acting like Sango, hmm?"

"Of course, my darling maiden."

"Dear God."

"So, eh, what are we supposed to do next?" Kagome quickly intervened.

"Oh, now we have our siesta time," Kouga explained, walking right next to Kagome. A little too closely, Inuyasha observed. Wait...who am I to care how close they are or...aren't? Idiot! The hanyou mentally smacked himself. Which really does no good since it doesn't hurt or anything...

"Penny for your thoughts Inuyasha."

The dog-eared boy started.

"Of course, I doubt they're really worth that much, but...," Naraku smiled somewhat evilly, cold eyes humorous.

"Shut up, you creep."

"You wound me."

"Who's up for a little swimming?"

The group suddenly stopped and looked to the speaker, Jakotsu.

"Swimming?" Kagura repeated faintly, head cocked as if actually contemplating what he said.

"Yes, that thing you do with water and bathing suits..."

Kagura rolled her eyes.

"Well, it isn't a bad idea, is it?" Miroku said brightly. "I mean, the weather's perfect for a little dip, and...well, the weather's perfect..."

"If only you could get your mind out of the gutter..."

"Then would you grace me with a date, lovely Sango?"

The magenta-eyed girl tapped a finger to her chin and narrowed her eyes.

"You know, Miroku, that's not a bad idea."

"It isn't?" The beloved pervert seemed genuinely surprised to hear the love of his life taking anything he said seriously.

"Yes!" Sango pumped a fist into the air triumphantly. "If, for the rest of our time here at camp, you can go without touching anyone's backside and generally not be your usual smooth-talking self, then I will agree to one date with you."

Miroku gaped in shock.

"You-you're asking me...to do what?"

"And you also can't 'appreciate' any female either. Even from a distance," Kagura added on with a smirk. Miroku couldn't believe his ears.

"And if I do that, you'd actually go on a date with me?"

"As per agreed."

"I don't know Miroku," Jakotsu sidled up to his friend, "for you, that seems like an awfully hard task."

"Yes, it's truly a great stretch for you monk," Kouga mused.

"Well, if he isn't man enough for it, he isn't man enough for it." Inuyasha clapped the poor hentai on the back. Miroku sputtered.

"'Man enough for it'? What do you mean by that, Inuyasha? Of course I'm man enough for it!" He stalked up to Sango, his face inches from hers. "You've got yourself a deal, Korosu."

"Fine, Midara," Sango smirked, even though she was acutely aware of the distance, or lack thereof, between herself and the Hentai King. Said king smirked right back, a devilish glint in his eyes, before moving away and walking in the general direction of their cabins, the rest of the group following.

"Hey Sango, are you sure you know what you're doing?" Kagome hurried up to her friend. "I mean, he seemed pretty determined."

"Feh. He won't last a day," Inuyasha snorted.

"A day? Try not even an hour," Sango laughed with glee.

"We are going swimming remember."

"And all those females, in all those bikinis?" Kouga shook his head sadly. "It's the end for our poor friend."

Everyone chuckled (except for Miroku, who was marching ahead and trying not to look at all the girls, in bathing suits, passing by). Kagome suddenly face-faulted.

"Wait-we're going swimming? I thought we hadn't decided on that!"

"Of course we're going swimming Kag-chan," Sango looked at her a bit oddly. "It's one of our traditions; there really was no question about it."

"Um, tradition?"

"Yes," Jakotsu said matter-of-factly, "Every year, on the first full day, at siesta time, we go for our first official Camp Kumori swim. And I'm always the one who suggests it. Out of pure habit, of course."

"Oh," Kagome bit her lip.

"Do you have something against swimming?" Naraku asked in a mild, amused tone.

"Well, heh heh, you see I...I can't actually...really, um...swim."

The small group suddenly stopped, shocked (except Miroku, who continued on completely oblivious).

"What do you mean you can't swim? What kind of an idiotic bitch comes to a camp who can't even swim?"

"Hey, I'm not an idiot!"

"Don't call her a bitch Inuyasha!"

The half-demon wilted slightly under the combined glares of Kagome, Sango, Kagura, and Kouga.

"Feh. Whatever."

"Well, that's all right, Kagome," Kouga patted her arm affectionately, "We can just teach you that's all."

Inuyasha cocked his head at the brief touch between the two, but magically said nothing.

"Um," Kagome looked uncertain, but smiled nonetheless. "Why not? It can't be that hard, right?"

"Of course not!" Sango happily slipped her arm through the younger girl's and the group continued on their merry way.

Except for my deathly fear of water...

--

"Um, Kagome, may I ask you a question?"

"Yea sure," Kagome replied from her place in front of the mirror.

"If you can't actually swim, why did you bother to bring a bathing suit?" Sango raised an eyebrow.

"Oh." Kagome looked down at herself, then turned to Sango with a bright smile. "In case some lovely souls decided to take pity on me and teach me how to swim?"

Sango snorted.

"Whatever you say Kagome," Kagura said breezily while exiting the bathroom. She suddenly frowned in thought. "Hey, you know that could rhyme, if you said 'whatever you say KAG-o-may.' Get it?" Kagura burst into an unexpected fit of giggles.

"Oh dear, I knew she'd lose it one day," Sango rolled her eyes at Kagome who grinned back.

"Anyway, are we ladies ready?" Kagura started for the door.

"Yep. I'm putting my sunblock on when we get to the pool. Just to tempt Miroku even further," Sango rubbed her hands in delight and the two girls made their way outside. Kagome made to follow them.

"Are you sure you're up to swimming Kagome?"

The slightly empty voice startled the young girl and she whirled around.

"Kikyo?"

"Yes, Kagome, I am still here," the older girl replied from her spot on her bed, slightly amused.

"O-of course you are, Kikyo. Don't be silly," Kagome laughed in that trying-to-cover-up-something way, feeling incredibly guilty. Kikyo had hardly said a word since breakfast, and Kagome had gradually forgotten her presence. Then she noticed something odd.

"Hey, aren't you going swimming?" Kagome gestured to her clothing.

"Not much of a swimming person myself."

"Oh." Kagome furrowed her brows together.

"But what about you? You didn't seem overly excited by the idea of being taught how to swim. Any particular reason why?"

"Me?" Kagome squeaked.

"No, the other person in the room," Kikyo rolled her stormy-grey eyes.

"Kikyo," Kagome suddenly tilted her head. "How come you're not that...interactive with the group?"

The other girl returned Kagome's stare before reaching out for a magazine and slowly flipping through it.

"No particular reason. Why do you ask?"

"It just seems that...you're sort of like the forgotten person, you know?"

"How do you mean?"

"Like they shun you."

The flipping ceased abruptly before continuing on.

"It's merely just a-- a parting of the ways, if you want."

"A what?"

Kikyo smiled and finally looked up to Kagome.

"We've just grown distant as friends. Nothing special. And I don't particularly enjoy just going out and making friends just for the sake of having people to hang out with so..." she shrugged and went back to her magazine.

"But don't you want to be friends with them? I mean, they're such great people, really."

"Hey Kagome!" Sango popped her head in before Kikyo could answer. "Aren't you coming?"

Kagome turned to the door, before glancing back at Kikyo, who seemed too preoccupied with her magazine to really care.

"Sure Sango. Let's go!" Kagome bounded off with Sango. Kikyo glanced at the closed door.

"Be careful of the water Kagome."

--

"And guys say we spend all the time in front of the mirror. What's taking them so damn long?" Kagura complained, splashing her feet in the water.

"I don't know, but they better hurry before I go and beat the hell out of them. They know we hate waiting for them!" Sango cried and fell onto her back, exasperated.

"Then they're probably doing it just to spite you," Kagome replied dully. Truth be told, she hadn't really noticed. Her thoughts had been pestering her since their walk to the pool. Mostly of the pool. Or water, to be exact. She really didn't like the water. It probably had something to do with the fact that she had practically drowned when she was younger (stupid lifeguard was flirting with a stupid girl). But that was just a guess...

"I wonder if we should take bets on how long Miroku will last?" Sango mused aloud.

"Kind of worthless, though, since he's going to crack while we're swimming. I mean, look at the feast for his perverted eyes," Kagura gestured to the scantily clad girls running around.

"Yea, you're right..."

"How long do you think he'll last, Kagome?"

Kagome, of course, had no idea what they were talking about, since she had been lost in her thoughts. While most of her thought process was indeed thinking about the water, a small part was also concentrating on Kikyo. The older girl just seemed so...lost. And the rest of the group hardly seemed to notice her. She never added in what she thought and she never laughed at Miroku's antics and no one even acknowledged her in the least. Well, except for that one time yesterday, when she and Kagura had been arguing. But other than that, nothing. It was as if she was a living doll, merely passing through the background, going through the motions. And that's just not normal. Kagome frowned to herself. Something...something must have happened. I mean, it seems that they all used to be really close! She had no idea how they had displayed that in the slightest, but it was just something she felt. I wonder what it was...

"Hey Kagome! Earth to Kagome!" Sango waved a hand in front of the spaced-out girl.

"What? Oh, hey Sango! Are the guys here yet?" Kagome smiled brightly before standing up and stretching. All that wondering had worn her out a bit.

"No but if they're not here in five minutes I'll-"

It all happened very quickly. Kagome turned around slightly, in time to see a flash of silver and white before she felt two strong hands push her. There was a moment of weightlessness and a little bit of laughing before she plummeted into cold, dark silence. Oh damn. This is not good, this is not good. Kagome instantly felt the world shrink around her, just like when she was five years old. She felt her lungs tighten for air and she flailed around feebly, trying to reach the surface. But it was so far away, and the darkness seemed to be thickening...

--

"Inuyasha, you IDIOT! You know she can't swim!" Sango pushed the laughing hanyou back, her anger seeping off in waves.

"So what? Everyone can float, can't they?" Inuyasha breathed in, trying to calm his laughter in order to gloat. And boy, would he have something to gloat about when Kagome resurfaced...

"You really shouldn't have done that, Inuyasha," Miroku said mildly, settling down on the cement edge. "It's highly unwise to push a lady, especially one with a temper. I consider it more trouble than it's worth."

"But the benefits, my friend, the benefits!" Inuyasha mimicked. Miroku narrowed his eyes.

"Hey, guys, Kagome hasn't come up yet," Jakotsu pointed towards the water. Everyone instantly snapped their attention to the surface. The surface without a Kagome.

"Feh. The bitch is probably just trying to get back at me," Inuyasha shrugged and crossed his arms, but his golden gaze was kept firmly on the water.

"Inuyasha, if she can't swim, how could she try to get back at you?" Naraku commented lazily (one would almost saying unfeelingly). There was a short silence in contemplation of the wise words of Naraku before it was broken by the sound of a splash as Inuyasha dived in.

"INUYASHA! If she dies, I swear I will never forgive you!" Sango shouted almost tearfully as she and the rest of the group leaned over the edge.

"And I will beat you into a bloody pile of shit, you sorry excuse for a demon!" Kagura also shouted with feeling, her crimson eyes frantically scanning the surface.

"And I'll help her!" Kouga added. Naraku merely rolled his eyes. Water suddenly splashed up as Inuyasha appeared with an unconscious Kagome.

"Take her!" he barked and handed Kagome to Miroku as he heaved himself out of the pool.

"Okay, who knows CPR?" Sango cried shrilly, her body shaking uncontrollably. Miroku leaned in but Sango pushed his head away. "No you don't, you pervert! You-you'll just m-molest her!"

"Sango, I hardly think this is the time-"

"Move you stupid morons!" Inuyasha barked again and quickly pushed everyone out of the way as he started performing CPR.

"Come on, Kagome. Wake up!" Kouga brushed a piece of dark hair out of her face, the wolf looking terrified beyond his wits. It was a tense ten seconds before Kagome finally sputtered and groaned.

"Kagome!" Sango and Kagura cried at the same time as they went to hug their friend. Kagome looked dazed for a moment as she slowly got up, the girls' arms almost suffocating her again.

"Okay, ladies, give the poor girl some breathing room," Miroku gently pried the two girls away.

"Are you all right, Kagome?" Kouga asked from one side of her, concern etched into his features. Kagome smiled faintly.

"I'm...okay. Just a little shaken."

"You gave everyone a nice little scare, wench."

Kagome whipped her head around to see a relieved-looking hanyou, a goofy grin on his lips. Which would have been quite adorable if not for the fact that-

"You bastard!" Kagome hissed as she felt a nice little ounce of energy come back, and she used it to the full advantage of pushing him as hard as she could.

"What-?"

"You knew I couldn't swim! You knew I couldn't and what did your genius mind come up with to do? Oh, let's surprise poor Kagome and push her in!"

"But I-I thought you would just...float back up," Inuyasha replied sheepishly, ears drooping.

"Oh, yea, since I'm so heavy! You filth, you-you scum!" Kagome roughly pushed herself up, wavering slightly before firmly planting her body. "Don't even think of talking to me ever again!" And with that, she grabbed her towel and stomped her way back to the cabin.

There was a slight silence as everyone waited for the blow-up. They weren't disappointed...well, just a little...

"Well, you know what wench? Fine! I don't even particularly want to talk to you anyway! You ungrateful bitch! I even saved you!" Inuyasha punched his fist into the cement, making a nice crack. Another short silence.

"Do you want ice for that?"

"Please..."

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A/N: Wow, what a long chapter! By my standards anyway...and I am the one writing it...

Okeys, well, I can't actually say when the next chapter will come. I'll have to sit with my muse for awhile and decide what torture I can come up with...mwahahahahaha!!!!!!!

Hugs & strawberries!