More Than What She Seems
A/N: O.o 3 months. That broke my previous record, didn't it? I'm really, truly sorry for the long update again, guys! I was so busy -.-
Someone asked how Kikyo got into the picture…lol, she just did -sweatdropping- .
Thank you for all your reviews, everyone. Some made me laugh. :-)
Chapter 26: Just For You
:o:O:o:O:o: 2 Days Later :o:O:o:O:o:
"I'd like two kisses please," a male teenager said politely.
Kagome scooped up some punch with a ladle and poured the red liquid into two cups.
"Here you go, enjoy," she said with a cheerful voice as she handed the two cups over to the teenager. Kagome sighed. The prom had finally arrived….and here she was, serving punch with Ayame…and Kikyo. Kikyo was the one who had thought up of the idea of calling a cup of punch "a kiss". It was pretty pathetic. Not to mention what the sign labeling the punch table said: Kisses here.
'Sounds like we're serving kisses, not punch,' Kagome remarked mentally in her head.
Kagome cast a look around the gym where the prom was being held. Her eyes fell on Sango. As Kagome had suspected, Sango had invited Miroku to the prom. Now, the two of them were dancing slowly on the dance floor, mixed among the large mass of senior girls wearing prom dresses and senior boys wearing tuxedos. She spotted Kanna taking care of the food at another table. Kaguya stood onstage taking care of the music.
"And that was 'Every Heart' by BoA," Kaguya called out into a microphone. "Next up, we have 'Appears' by Hamasaki Ayumi."
A lively dance beat vibrated through the speakers and all the seniors started dancing to the rhythm.
"Kagome," Sango's voice pulled her out of her daze. "Yoohoo, Kagome…"
"Hm?" Kagome turned her head and saw both her best friend and Miroku in front of her.
"You can have a break. I'll take over for you," Sango smiled. "You can dance with Miroku. That okay?"
"Sure," Kagome said half-heartedly. She walked around to the other side of the table. Sango did the same.
"Have fun," Sango said to Kagome. "You look so gloomy."
To Miroku, she warned, "I better not hear from Kagome that she got groped by you!"
And that was that.
Miroku and Kagome danced awkwardly on the floor saying nothing to each other.
"You look nice," Miroku finally said with a grin.
"Thanks," Kagome gave him a smile back. She was wearing a strapless royal blue gown with a silk shawl of the same color. Her grandmother Kaede had given her the shawl before Kagome left, saying the words, "It's cold at night, I don't want you getting sick."
As for the dress, Sango had decided on it at the mall.
"It brings out your eyes," her best friend had said.
Kagome had recommended a magenta dress to Sango, who whole-heartedly agreed that it was perfect.
Kagome's mind drifted off to her childhood days…to the last time her father ever saw her in a dress. It was a summer day and she was picking flowers at a park while her father sat on a bench. She had found an elegant flower in full bloom and given it to her father.
"Isn't it beautiful, Dad?" she had asked.
He had replied, "Yes, but not as beautiful as you."
Kagome's eyes began to fill with tears. He'd said that line to her only twice in her lifetime, each time similar to each other: once when she was a small kid and the other when she was a few years older. Miroku stopped dancing and looked at her with concern.
"Is something wrong?" he asked. She wiped at her eyes.
"No. Everything's fine," she managed to give him a smile. "I think I'll go back on duty right now. You're supposed to be dancing with Sango, not me."
Miroku looked touched, "Well, I don't mind dancing with you. You're my friend, Kagome."
"You're very sweet, Miroku," Kagome answered, as they started heading back toward the punch table. "I can't see why you and Sango aren't a couple yet."
"Yeah, me either." Miroku said. "I mean, I never did anything bad to her…did I?"
:o:O:o:O:o:
A few minutes later, Ayame urged Kagome to dance with Kouga for the next song.
"Don't worry, he won't try to kiss you like on the day he met you," Ayame said in an assuring voice when she saw Kagome's nervous look. "If he does, he'll DEFINITELY be hearing from me."
So off Kagome went.
"You know," she said to the wolf demon. "I knew Ayame would invite you. Are you two having a serious relationship now?"
"Right on the nail," Kouga winked. "So, where's dog-boy? I figured he'd be here, but he isn't."
"Well…Inu Yasha couldn't make it," Kagome said softly, her eyes cast downward at the floor. She'd given the ticket to him on the day right after she received it, but earlier today he'd called her before she left for school and told her apologetically that he couldn't make it since today was the day of the new moon.
It's okay, she'd told him. I'm going to be busy helping at the prom anyway.
And yet, she knew he heard the disappointment in her voice.
"Yeah, he couldn't make it," Kagome repeated to Kouga. They stopped dancing as the song ended. Kaguya's voice rang out throughout the whole gym as she announced the next song. Kagome and Kouga headed back toward the punch table where Ayame looked up and blinked.
"Song done already?" she asked.
"Yup," Kagome replied. "Now go dance with Kouga."
Kouga came up to Ayame and kissed one of her hands. "May I have this dance?"
She giggled, "Of course."
The two walked off to the dance floor.
"Are you having fun?" Sango asked Kagome once her best friend was stationed beside her, serving punch once again.
"Yeah," Kagome gave a stiff nod.
"Kikyo's dancing for the twentieth time tonight," Sango growled. "She's starting to abandon her duty."
"Figures," Kagome commented. "I'd expect that to happen. Who cares? Just let her dance. Not a lot of people are coming here for punch anymore anyway."
Sango stared at her for a second before looking away, "Yeah."
The two girls continued serving punch and several minutes later, Sango joined Miroku on the dance floor once again. Ayame and Kouga were still dancing…and so was Kikyo. Kagome was all alone.
'I just want to go home,' she thought tiredly. 'Once this is all over, I'm going to have a nice hot bath.'
She stood with boredom, listening to the music that boomed throughout the huge room. It was during the middle of the song when she heard a masculine voice in front of her ask, "May I have this dance?"
She murmured, her mind feeling clouded, "I'm sorry, I don't feel like dancing."
This was about the fifth guy who asked her to dance with them, not counting Miroku and Kouga.
The guy paused briefly before asking, "Then can I have a kiss at least?"
"Sure," she responded as she ladled some punch into a cup. Without looking up, she said. "Here you go."
To her surprise, his hand didn't wrap around the cup. It cupped around her chin instead. And before she could say anything, he pulled her into a deep kiss.
Oh. Kami.
This guy was kissing her! The nerve of him! If Inu Yasha found out, he'd kill the guy here and now.
Kagome pulled away in disgust, glaring up at the person, "Listen, BACK OFF! I already have a boyfriend and that's-"
She blinked at the guy in front of her, completing her sentence, "-Inu Yasha."
Kagome blinked again. Inu Yasha, the last person who she expected to see, stared back at her. He was frowning.
"Gosh, Kagome. You won't even let your boyfriend KISS you?" he asked.
She ran around the table and threw her arms around him, "Inu Yasha!"
"Came just for you," he murmured.
"Inu Yasha…" she sobbed. "You're actually here…I'm so happy…"
He pulled away and gently wiped at her eyes. "Then stop crying," he said. He paused and then added. "And if you keep it up, you'll ruin my tux. You don't want that to happen, do you?"
Kagome shook her head swiftly with a laugh, "Nuh uh."
She sniffed and took a good look at him as his eyes were casting around the gym. He looked like any ordinary guy here in this prom. Black hair, regular human fingers, regular ears, and dark eyes. And not to mention that he was wearing a tux.
Her breath caught in her throat when his eyes fastened on her unexpectedly.
"You look stunning," Inu Yasha commented.
Kagome looked down at the floor blushing. "You too."
She flinched when she felt him tap something on her head. When she looked up, she saw him holding a rose in front of her.
"For you," he smiled faintly. Kagome accepted it and buried her nose within the red petals, sniffing in the faint fragrance.
"Thank you," she breathed. "It's beautiful."
Inu Yasha's smile grew broader, "Yes, but not as beautiful as you."
For a brief moment, her father's face appeared in her mind.
Yes, but not as beautiful as you.
It was then and there when Kagome knew that the boy who stood in front of her was "the one" she wanted to marry someday.
:o:O:o:O:o:
Sango rested her head against Miroku's chest, her closed…and her heart thumping heavily.
'I…I love him. I know I do,' her arms tightened around his waist. As a response, his arms tightened around her even more firmly.
"Miroku…" she said quietly.
"Yes?" she heard him answer.
"I was wondering…what do you think of me as?" she asked slowly.
There was a long pause.
"Well, for one, I think of you as one of my best friends…" he said hesitantly.
Another pause.
Sango felt her heart clench. She knew he'd say something like that. She'd be nothing more than friend to him. She was sure that the times when he asked her to be his girlfriend were just a joke.
"I see…" she whispered, heartbroken.
"Hold on," Miroku continued. "You didn't let me finish what I had to say."
What? Was he going to say that he thought of her as a toy for him too? A toy that he could grope all the time? Her heartbreak turned into anger. She felt like slapping him. And she was about to do it too, but he then said the words that made her anger fade away.
"Most of the time, I think of you as my girlfriend," he said softly. "Sometimes, even my soulmate."
Sango blinked away tears in her eyes and did an unnoticed smile, "How can you tell if I'm your soulmate?"
"I just can…and I have the feeling you LIKE like me too since you slap me more than other girls do."
Sango's breath caught in her throat. Miroku continued, "Well, you DO like like me, don't you?"
She didn't answer. And she didn't answer for a long, long time.
"You know, I'll make it easier for you," Sango heard Miroku state.
She was caught by surprise when he removed one of his hands off her waist and then rested it on her cheek, pulling her face up so she was face to face with him. And then, Miroku pressed his mouth against hers.
'I finally got my first kiss,' Sango's legs went weak…good thing Miroku was holding her. 'And I'm glad Miroku was the one to give it to me.'
She closed her eyes and kissed back.
Miroku took that as a "yes" for his question.
:o:O:o:O:o:
When the song ended, Miroku and Sango met up with Kouga and Ayame on the dance floor.
"Let's go back to the punch table," Sango suggested. "Kagome's probably been all alone."
Her three friends agreed and they all headed back to the punch table. Once they reached it, they couldn't tear their eyes off the scene in front of them.
Sango, Miroku, Kouga, and Ayame's mouth fell open as they watched Kagome kissing an unfamiliar guy.
Just when the two briefly pulled away for air and then leaned in to begin their kiss again, Miroku cleared his throat loudly.
Kagome and the male pried apart quickly.
"M-Miroku," Kagome piped, her face flushed. "Um, hey. Done dancing already?"
"Yes," Miroku dully answered. He walked up to her. "I never thought you as the two-timing type, Kagome."
As Kagome gave him a questioning look, Miroku stuck his face in front of the male beside her. The male now looked oddly familiar. Especially with the long black hair and those sharp eyes. Miroku widened his eyes and gasped, "Are you related to Inu Yasha!"
The male rolled his eyes, "You could say that."
Miroku turned back to Kagome, "You're two-timing Inu Yasha with THIS dude? Are you insane? This guy looks like an idiot!"
PUNCH
"Shut the hell up, Miroku!" the "idiot" guy snarled. "Kagome is NOT two-timing and I'm NOT an idiot!"
"I know that attitude voice from anywhere," Miroku said as he rubbed his head. "Inu Yasha, it's you, isn't it?"
"Who else would I be?" his best friend glared at him.
"You look like a regular human," Sango said as she joined Miroku's side, peering at Inu Yasha's face. "Your eye color is different, your hair is different, your claws are gone…"
"Not to mention that his cute puppy ears are gone too," Kagome pouted, ruffling the hair on top of Inu Yasha's head, who sighed heavily in mild annoyance. Kagome leaned her head against his shoulder and faced Sango, Miroku, Kouga, and Ayame. Sango and Miroku were still staring at Inu Yasha…while Ayame was trying to snap Kouga out of his shocked state.
"Dog-boy's…a human," he finally said.
"And wolf turd's…the same old jerk," Inu Yasha shot back. Kagome gave him a playful shove.
"Be nice, Inu Yasha," she scolded. She turned to her friends. "It's the first time for all of you to be seeing him like this isn't it? Well, everyone. This is Inu Yasha on the first day of the new moon."
Miroku was still peering at his best friend.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me about this secret," he said in a fake hurt voice. "I thought we were best friends, Inu Yasha."
"Well, why should I trust you with my secrets?" Inu Yasha glared. "You can't even keep your hands to yourself when a girl walks by…what makes you think you can keep my secrets to yourself then?"
Miroku was quiet for a long time.
Sango shook her head, "So, all those days when you were absent…you stayed home because it was the new moon?"
"Yup!" Kagome chirped. "He was so scared that everyone would make fun of how his features changed and bother him to death."
"You mean like…" Kouga stopped his gaping and walked up to his biggest rival for all time, and pointed at Inu Yasha. "Hey! You look different today! Hahaha!"
And before Inu Yasha could punch Kouga in the arm, Ayame went ahead and did it herself. Kouga spun his face towards her with a glare. She glared back.
"You're being mean, Kouga," she shook her head. A slow song came on suddenly. Ayame started jumping up and down excitedly. "Ooh! Ooh! I love this song, come on, Kouga-kun! Let's dance!"
Ayame dragged Kouga away to the dance floor, leaving Miroku, Sango, Inu Yasha, and Kagome to themselves.
"Well, I'm glad you finally-er-broke out of your shell, Inu Yasha," Sango laughed. "I guess we all have Kagome to thank."
Kagome lowered her eyes, "It was no problem…it was kind of fun trying to break that barrier of his."
Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow, "Fun?"
"Fun," Kagome repeated, meeting his gaze head on. "You didn't hear me wrong. You were so full of stubbornness and caution back then."
"I feel so loved," Inu Yasha said sarcastically and rolled his eyes. His eyes caught sight of Sango and Miroku trying to sneak away together. "Hey, stop right there, lovebirds."
The two stiffened.
Does Inu Yasha know about me and Miroku? Sango wondered. She and Miroku blinked as Inu Yasha and Kagome started laughing.
"Well, you two ARE a couple…and if you aren't you guys WILL be," Inu Yasha said with an evil glint in his eyes.
They both don't know! Sango sighed in relief. Good, I don't want anyone to know about me and Miroku yet.
"But we're pretty sure that you two ARE a couple since you two were kissing for an AWFULLY long time on the dance floor a little while ago…" Kagome commented innocently.
Busted.
:o:O:o:O:o:
"So, has it really been that bad being outside your house on the day of the new moon?" Kagome asked curiously as she and Inu Yasha danced on the dance floor.
"No, not really," he admitted. He added stubbornly, "But I'm still not coming to school during those days."
She glared, "It's not good to miss school, Inu Yasha. And I'm starting to get tired of bringing you your homework."
"No one ever forced you to in the first place," he aimed back mildly.
"Humph," Kagome muttered. She giggled as Inu Yasha gave her a small, playful headbutt and rested his forehead against hers.
Kikyo's voice suddenly broke in, "Oh, Kami! Higurashi, who's that you're dancing with?"
Kagome felt Inu Yasha flinch. Kikyo stood before them, hands on her hips. She peered into Inu Yasha's face with curiosity.
"You look familiar…" she remarked slowly.
'This is exactly why I don't want to come to school on the day of the new moon,' Inu Yasha thought with a grim expression.
"Are you related to Inu Yasha?" Kikyo continued. "Because you look so much like him…in fact, I could almost swear you ARE him-"
"Eh-yes!" Inu Yasha answered hastily. "I'm related to Inu Yasha…I'm his-uh-cousin."
Kikyo glanced back in forth between the couple and then gave Kagome a sly look.
"Higurashi, you're two-timing Inu Yasha with his cousin?" she shook her head. "And don't deny it! I saw you two being lovey dovey with each other just now. How shameful, Higurashi, just what would Inu Yasha think if he found out about this-"
Kagome and Inu Yasha exchanged looks as Kikyo blabbered on away.
"Kagome?" Inu Yasha murmured.
"What?" she answered.
"I hope you won't mind what I'm going to do next."
Kagome blinked as Inu Yasha walked up to Kikyo…who was still apparently blabbering.
"Hi…Kikyo, right?" Inu Yasha asked with a pasted smile on his face. Kikyo's mouth shut and then she opened it again.
"Y-yes," she replied, suddenly finding the floor interesting. Her cheeks were red.
"Well, just to let you know, Kagome and I aren't going out together," Inu Yasha said, which made Kagome's mouth drop open. "I'm just here today with her because my cousin, Inu Yasha, couldn't make it. But of course, I also had to come because he said that while he was talking on the phone with Kagome, she was being such a whiner and pain in the butt about his not being able to make it-"
He yelped as Kagome brought the heel of her shoe down on his foot.
"Repeat that last line again, would you?" she glared.
Inu Yasha merely ignored her and continued, "Anyway, I came and I take the whole blame of whatever you see happening between me and Kagome because I'm the one doing the moves."
He sighed dramatically, "You see, I'm a huge flirt and after I saw how beautiful Kagome was, I couldn't help but put a few moves on her, you know?"
"Higurashi BEAUTIFUL?" Kikyo snorted. "I don't THINK SO."
Kagome rolled her eyes.
Inu Yasha went on, "And I also find YOU beautiful, Kikyo, if I do say so myself."
"R-really?" the blush was back on Kikyo's face.
"Really, and I'd like to ask you out…if you don't mind, that is," he nodded, grinning. "Kagome told me you were single…and well, so am I. So, why don't we get together sometime?"
"Yeah," she giggled. "I think that's a great idea…er-your name?"
Inu Yasha paused, "Yashiro."
"Yashiro," Kikyo repeated, tasting the sound of it. "Well, when do you want to get together?"
"I'll reach you someway or another. You might have to wait for awhile. I'm usually busy everyday, except for occasional breaks like today, since I just started to have a part time job. And I go to a different high school too…but it's pretty near this school."
"Oh, that's fine. I can wait for you," Kikyo piped, walking slowly away backwards. "Um, well, I guess I'll see you later then…"
"One more thing," Inu Yasha said suddenly. "Could I ask you one big favor?"
"Anything."
"I want you to give up on Inu Yasha. Stop bothering him," Inu Yasha stated with an innocent look. "I mean, you have me now, right?"
Kikyo stood thoughtfully still for a long time and then replied slowly, "Yes…well, okay. I'll give up on him. I won't bother him anymore. It's only fair for you. I can understand that you don't want that feeling of being two-timed."
Kagome, who slightly stood aside from the conversation the whole time, felt that the last line was being directed at her.
Kikyo started to walk off.
"I'll be watching you! If Inu Yasha says anything about you bothering him, I won't come to you!" Inu Yasha called after her.
"Don't worry, Yashiro! I won't bother him! See you soon!" Kikyo called back.
Inu Yasha waved until she was out of sight and then turned to Kagome…nearly being petrified by the death look his girlfriend had in her eyes.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"You asked Kikyo out, that's what," Kagome snapped back. "Just what were you thinking!"
"I have an excuse now for not going to school on the days of the new moon," Inu Yasha said triumphantly. Kagome finally registered his meaning and sighed deeply.
"You planned it all out, didn't you?" she pressed. "You knew that if I made you come to school on the new moon from now on, Kikyo would be all over you, thinking that YASHIRO was finally going to plan a date with her."
Inu Yasha laughed happily, "And she won't bother me at school anymore. You know how devoted she can be to a boy who she extremely likes."
Kagome rolled her eyes for about the millionth time that evening, but agreed, "True."
Another slow song came on and the couple heard Kaguya's voice shouting that it was the last song for the night. Inu Yasha took Kagome in his arms and she rested her head against his chest. The two began dancing slowly with the music.
"Thank you for tonight, Inu Yasha," she mumbled. "It meant a lot to me."
A smile crept onto her lips. Kagome looked Inu Yasha in the eye and continued, "Hey…Yashiro?"
Inu Yasha blinked and then returned her smile with a sly smile of his own, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "What?"
"Would you tell Inu Yasha if I kissed you?"
"Absolutely not," Inu Yasha chuckled.
"Swear?"
"I swear."
Kagome rose up a little on her tippy-toes and planted a long, chaste kiss on his mouth. When she pulled away, Inu Yasha leaned his head down until his mouth rested against her ear.
"I love you, Kagome," he said softly.
"I love you too, Inu Yasha," she whispered back. And she knew she always would.
A/N: One chapter left! The next, and also the last, chapter will be the epilogue and it should answer some questions that some of you might have. :D (And I promise not to take so long to update this time. I still can't believe that I didn't update this story for 3 months…) By the way, just to remind everyone, if any of you wonder if I'll update a certain week or not, take a look at the end of my profile in the "Updates" section!
Well, Miroku and Sango finally got together! About time, hm? :-)
Review please!
