Chapter Four:

Kagome woke up early that morning when she heard Naraku' s car pull out of the driveway. She sighed in relief. She then jumped up and ran towards the basement. She couldn't let Sango down because of her family troubles. She developed the pictures and ran back to her room to get ready for school. Her shoulders were bruised so she had to cover them up. The bruises almost went down to her elbows. Fortunately, it was chilly out so she could cover them up without it looking very suspicious. She wore a lavender colored sweater with a pair of blue jeans. She picked up the pictures, grabbed her school bag, and put on her white Reeboks. It was even earlier then usual as she walked to the newspaper office. "Kagome, is that you?" She turned around and saw Miroku right behind her. He was walking next to Shippo.

"Miroku? Shippo? What are you two doing here?"

"Well, Lady Sango wanted to interview Shippo about last night and asked me to bring him. She waited until now because she didn't want to make Shippo answer questions when he was still feeling bad. I guess she was lucky that Shippo actually got up so early." Kagome smiled at the boy and held out her hand to him.

"So Shippo, how are you doing?"

"Fine Kagome!" They all walked together to the newspaper office.

"So Kagome, were you leaving so early?" She hesitated to answer.

"Um...nothing, I just woke up a little earlier than usual." They walked the rest of the way in silence.

Inuyasha woke up the same time as always. He put on a white muscle shirt with red stripes. He practically jumped down the stairs. "Good morning Sesshy!" He skipped into the kitchen and grabbed a Pop-tart. He began eating it when his brother began speaking.

"Why the good mood Inuyasha?"

"What I can't be in a good mood? Is it some kind of crime?" Sesshoumaru grunted and turned back to the book he was reading. Inuyasha really didn't know why he was so happy. Maybe it was because he actually slept well last night. He went back to his room and got his backpack.

"Good thing I did all my homework at class." He walked outside. He didn't see Kagome so he sat on his porch and decided to wait for her. He sat outside for about five minutes and there was still no sign of her. He was worried but he decided to walk to the bus stop. 'It isn't like we plan to walk together. Maybe she left with out me.' He shrugged his shoulders and waited for his bus.

The three of them went to Sango' s cubicle and Kagura the secretary didn't give them any trouble. She finally got used to the fact that there would be a lot of uninvited guests for Sango and she wouldn't be able to stop them. Kagome pulled out a chair for Shippo while she and Miroku just stood there. "So Shippo, how old are you." She asked.

"I am nine years old." She smiled.

"So, what did your parents say when you saw them yesterday?" Miroku asked out of curiosity.

"Well, my foster mom hugged me, but my daddy was to busy to bother."

"Oh." The teenagers replied simultaneously. There was an awkward silence until Sango finally arrived.

"Hey guys! Miroku thanks for bringing Shippo. Shippo you ready? Kagome, how are you? Did you get the pictures from last night developed yet?"

"You are welcome."

"Yes ma'am."

"Good, and yea here they are." She handed Sango the pictures.

"Oh Kagome these are excellent." She gave Kagome a quick hug.

"Well Miroku, Kagome you guys can go to school now. I called Shippo' s parents and I'm dropping him off when the interview is over." They said goodbye and then they left.

Miroku and Kagome walked down the street in silence. "So..." Miroku started that ever so productive conversation.

"Well? What's up?"

"So Kagome...just wondering...do you possibly like Inuyasha?" Kagome looked at Miroku.

"Of course I like Inuyasha, he kinda is my best friend." She smiled at Miroku.

"Well, that isn't exactly what I meant."

"Then exactly what DO you mean?"

"Well...do you like him as more then a friend?" Kagome stopped dead in her tracks.

"Well of course!" Miroku looked at her with surprise written all over his face. He thought she might but he never expected her to be that straight forward about it.

"Y-you do?"

"Well of course I do, he's like family. I don't know what I'd do without him." Miroku calmed down a bit. 'Okay, so he might seriously like her, but she doesn't LIKE him.'

"So Miroku, the first day I talked to you... you said you had a job." He nodded. "So exactly what so you do?"

"Oh, well I um...work at a hospital. I'm kinda a part time male nurse." 'AHH!! I just told her that!!!! I never told anyone that before. She's smiling! Oh my God, she's going to laugh at me!' Miroku was sweating nervously.

"That's so sweat Miroku! I never knew I guy who was willing to do that kind of job to help their family."

"Really?" 'Well that went better than I thought it would...' They walked to the school in silence. When they got there they saw dozens of posters and ribbons all through the halls and in the courtyard. It was a very beautiful sight.

"Wonder what all the decorations are for?" Kagome absent mindedly asked.

"Well...they just might be for the winter ball like they all say in REALLY big letters." Miroku said sarcastically. She laughed.

"Okay, so now I feel really stupid." They laughed and went to class.

Inuyasha had just arrived at school. Miroku wasn't there so he figured that he walked with Kagome. 'Why would they both leave early without telling me?' He was a little mad, but he decided to just go to class and ask them about it while they were at lunch. He saw at least one of them in all his classes, but he never got the chance to even say hi. There were a lot of projects and homework going on since it was near the end of the semester so for once the teachers were being really strict and wouldn't let them talk or anything.

It was lunchtime. Inuyasha could finally talk to Miroku and Kagome. He saw them sitting at a table near the back of the cafeteria and began walking in their direction but was stopped by a VERY angry Kikyo. "Inuyasha how could you do that to me!" He was silent. 'What'd I do this tim-oh! Oh no! I totally forgot about our date last night! Shit!'

"Kikyo I, I am so sorry you see I" SLAP (Ouch that had to hurt.) Kikyo then stormed off. 'Maybe I should follow her. No wait, if I do that...uh I just don't know.' He sighed and walked towards Kagome and Miroku only to his surprise...

Miroku and Kagome were eating there lunch when Houjo walked up to them. He sat down across from Kagome and she turned her head to face him. "Hey Houjo."

"Hey Kagome! I was just wondering if...if"

"If what Houjo? You can come out and say it." She urged him to finish his question.

"Kagome...would you like to go to the Winter Ball with me?" Kagome just sat there for a moment. 'Well I guess I could always go with him...I mean who else? But, well then he might get the idea that I like him or something and then, well I don't like him in that way so maybe I should just say no now so I don't hurt him later on...' Miroku could see Kagome contemplating the question. He somehow knew she really didn't want to go with Houjo even though he didn't quite know why. Houjo seemed to be nice enough.

"Um...sorry to break it to you, but she can't." Houjo and Kagome both looked at Miroku with a confused expression.

"Why not?" Houjo asked.

"Because she is going with me. Sorry, but we just kinda set those plans up before you got here." Houjo looked a little embarrassed. He hadn't realized that those two were getting so close. Which they weren't but he doesn't know that.

"Oh, well then sorry to bother you two. Um...by Kagome." But little did Miroku and Kagome know that Inuyasha was right behind them and had no idea what was now going on. 'I can't believe this! He said they were just friends. He didn't have to lie to my face like that!' Inuyasha stormed off. Kagome turned to Miroku her eyes were the size of saucers.

"Wha...what did you say that for?" She was a little pink, but Miroku didn't notice.

"Well I could tell you didn't want to go with him so I helped you out." "Oh" she sighed with relief. "Well, if you want, we really can go together." She stared at him I confusion. 'Does he mean what I think he means? Go on a...' Miroku turned red at her stare.

"Just as friends of course." "Oh yea, friends, of course." She laughed. 'Ffeeew. For a moment there I think she meant like a real date. Guess it won't be so bad though, I mean going to the dance with a friend will be fun, then I can dance with a bunch of different girls and my 'date' won't get mad at me. I mean, there's only one girl I really want to go with, but that won't be able to happen...' 'Feeew for a moment there I thought he might have meant a date or something.'

"Well, thanks Miroku, it was nice of you do that, I only wish you could have had a real date for the ball."

"What do you mean? Of course I have a real date. I mean it is a date, but friends can go on dates. It doesn't have to mean anything. And besides...that way I can dance with tons of girls and my date won't get mad." THONK

"I should have known it wasn't all for me, but hey what was I expecting?" She walked off.

Kagome had a boring time the rest of the day. She was alone in all of those classes. When the final bell rang she walked to the Newspaper Office without waiting for Miroku. 'Maybe this way he and Inuyasha can start spending time together again.'

Miroku walked towards the door. It was a beautiful day. He no longer liked that. Last time it was a beautiful day Shippo got beat up. He had gotten pretty close to the little kid this morning. Miroku had always wanted a younger sibling, but his father blew those chances out of the window long ago. He stared off in space for a while when an old friend nudged him on the shoulder. "Riding the bus or what?" He scratched the back of his head and looked for Kagome. "She isn't here. Must have left without me.'

"Yea, sure."

Miroku got on the bus. He walked to his normal seat in the back. Inuyasha was already there, but he was staring off into space. In fact, Miroku noticed that Inuyasha almost seemed to be ignoring him. He shrugged his shoulders and began talking to some of his friends that he had kind of ignored for a few days. All they wanted to talk about was the Winter Ball and who they were going with. No one asked Miroku about his date and he decided to say nothing about it. He hadn't known Kagome but for a few days, but already he knew she didn't want to be noticed.

"Hey Inuyasha, why aren't you talking?" He poked his friend's shoulders. Inuyasha didn't turn around. "Inuyasha, are you okay?" Inuyasha was quiet. Miroku grabbed his shoulders and spun him around. Inuyasha looked pissed. He was glaring at Miroku. "Inuyasha what's your problem?"

"What's my problem? WHAT IS MY PROBLEM!" He yelled. Miroku raised his eyebrow. "My two best friends ignore me. Then I find out that they are going out together! Miroku, you said you didn't like her! I trusted you!" The bus stopped. Inuyasha got out of his seat and walked down the isle. Miroku sighed. 'What's his problem? We're not going out! But wait, how did he even know about- wait he thinks we're actually! Agh!' By the time Miroku was done contemplating with himself the bus stopped at the hospital where he had to go to work. As for Inuyasha: That wasn't his stop but he really didn't care. Now he had to figure out what to do about...

Kagome walked into the cubicle. Sango was busy typing and didn't notice her walk in. "So, how'd they like your article?" Sango spun around quickly. She was a little scared because she wasn't expecting Kagome to come so soon. She smiled. "They loved it! Kagome the stories are new and exciting. If we can keep this up we'll be front page. The boss wants to put your name by your photos, but I told him that you should have your say in this." Kagome smiled. Someone liked her pictures! "So where is Miroku?" Kagome raised her eyebrow.

"Miroku? Were you expecting him?"

"Oh, well I just figured he would since he has been so often lately." Kagome wasn't sure but she thought she might have seen some disappointment on Sango' s face.

"So, any new assignments?"

"No not yet. If you can find Dogman and take some pictures then there will be or if not than something around the city." Kagome nodded her head and took a seat across from Sango. She sat in silence for a few seconds and then sighed. Sango looked up from her work.

"So...what's up kido?" Kagome sighed again.

"Well...I don't know." Sango stared at the teenager before her. Something was definitely on her mind Sango just couldn't find out what. 'Hmm...What's coming up in the next few weeks? Maybe we could talk about that.'

"Um...so Kagome, winter is almost here...dose your school have any special dances coming up?" By Kagome' s expression Sango could tell she asked the right question. Kagome had suddenly repositioned herself in the chair and brought her eyes to Sango' s face.

"Well...yeah. The Winter Ball is coming up in a few weeks. It will be formal. It's supposed to be in the gym."

"So...do you know who you will be going with?" Kagome stared at the ground for a while.

"Well, I am going with Miroku." Sango was very shocked by this news. 'Didn't he want her and Inuyasha to be together?' "But, I don't know. You see, this Houjo guy was asking me out, but I didn't want to go with him."

"Why not? I thought you said you liked that guy." Kagome sighed.

"Well I did like him, but I guess now that he actually asked me to do more then be walked home by him, I no longer find him all that interesting. Besides, Miroku and I are just going as friends, no big deal."

"Well that's good I guess." 'Well I guess that is good, I thought for a minute there Miroku might like her.' They sat in silence for a moment. It was getting late so Kagome decided to walk home. It was a nice day. She smiled as she passed children playing kickball. She was a few feet when she saw Inuyasha open his front door.

"Hey Inuyasha!" She waved her hand. Inuyasha just walked back into his house. 'Guess he didn't hear me.' She thought to herself. She turned back to her front door and what she saw made her wish she had stayed at the office. It was...

Inuyasha was about to go for a walk when he saw Kagome in front of her house. He was mad at her. He quickly turned around and walked back into I his house. He heard her call to him right before the door closed. The fact that she called to him like nothing had happened made him very angry. He mumbled something about backstabbing, secretive friends. Obviously he wasn't in a very good mood. He ran up into his room and grabbed his System of a Down CD. Loud music got his mind off of anything and he thought that it might just calm his nerves quite easily. He liked rock like this, but he didn't get much opportunity to listen to it. Kikyo didn't like it very much so she tried to get him interested in pop. She didn't do a very good job though, speaking as he now appreciated rock even more. As he listened to the songs he tried to get his mind off of all the current events such as the whole Kagome and Miroku thing. It didn't work. He realized how much both of his closest friends loved this CD. Sometimes when Kagome came crying into his house after a fight with her mom, the two of them would sit on his floor and listen to this particular CD. He and Kagome always did have a lot in common. Then he thought about Miroku. Inuyasha didn't meet Miroku until the eighth grade, but the two of them had become quick friends. They both had somehow become preppy, but they really weren't that way underneath it all. The two of them went to a System of the Down concert in the tenth grade. That was just a year ago when they were, for the first time, best friends. They had gotten in so much trouble in that one weekend then they ever had any other time in their short lives. Inuyasha was getting really depressed. The two people he was closest to now seemed to be the furthest away. He turned off the CD and stared at the ceiling. "Please God, tell me why this had to happen to me!" Inuyasha really depended on his friends, on Kagome and Miroku. His parents have been gone, dead, for a few years now and all he had left of his family was Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru was very helpful to Inuyasha, but he was so emotionless that the two brothers could never become close. His friends were his life. Somehow he felt that if those two had each other, he had nothing. He felt a deep hole inside of him. Miroku was the only sane friend around him most of the time. And Kagome...there was just something about Kagome that Inuyasha needed, needed very badly. As he was thinking about this he heard a strange noise: which made him...

Kagome looked up the steps of the porch only to see Naraku smiling at her. "Seems to me your little friend doesn't care for you any more. I mean he couldn't even take the time to tell you hello." He took a few steps down the porch. "Dear Kagome, I would never hurt you like that." Kagome's eyes were wide with surprise.

"Exactly what are you getting at Naraku?" He smirked at her trembling body.

"Only to have you."

"Never!" She yelled and began running down the street. She felt a tap on her Shoulder while cold sweat formed on her brow. She spun around only to see Naraku staring right at her. She began breathing heavily.

"So, why is it that for once you didn't run to the safety of your neighbor...what's his name? Oh yes...Inuyasha. Are you afraid that he might hurt you?"

"No, he would never hurt me!" From a rooftop only houses away stood Inuyasha. He apparently had heard Kagome yelling. He noticed Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be found so he had decided to check out the situation. He was angered by what he saw. Kagome was trembling in front of that bastard Naraku. He listened to Naraku' s words.

"...Afraid he might hurt you?"

"Never."

"...Never" Inuyasha repeated to himself absentmindedly.

"Inuyasha promised that he would never hurt me!" She yelled at Naraku' s face. Tears were forming around her eyes. 'He also promised he wouldn't allow any body else to hurt me, but it seems there is nothing he can do for me now.' Thought Kagome unaware that Inuyasha was only yards away from the scene. Naraku began to laugh and slowly approached Kagome. She found herself unable to move. He raised his hand to cup her cheek. He inched his face toward hers when...

Miroku was walking down the sidewalk. He had gone to the hospital, but they were training some new nurses so he had off for the next few weeks. He was confused at Inuyasha' s anger. Sure he knew that Inuyasha was very protective of Kagome, he even guessed that he might like her, but he still didn't quite understand his reaction. 'For starters he was the one avoiding us. We told him where we were and he always chose Kikyo over the both of us. He wouldn't even allow me to explain that we were only going as friends. Oh Inuyasha...you can just be so...so...stubborn some times.' He thought when he ran into someone.

"Oh so sorry excuse me Miss...Miss Sango? What are you doing here?"

"Sorry! Oh Miroku it's you. What do you mean 'what am I doing here?' It's a free country isn't it? I was just taking a stroll around the city." He blushed from embarrassment. He didn't mean to sound like he was accusing her or something.

"So Miss Sango...would you like to join me for a cup of coffee?" He didn't know why, but he loved being with her so much. He liked the way she seemed so mature, she seemed much more interesting than the girls that were his age.

"Um...sure I'd love to!" They walked to the nearest café: which only happened to be a few blocks away from where they had bumped into each other.

"So Miroku, what's this I hear about you and Kagome going to the Winter Ball together?"

"Oh why Sango, are you jealous?" He laughed. Sango joined him. She hoped he thought the redness of her face was only caused by her laughter, or he might get the wrong idea. 'What am I thinking? Why does he make me feel so nervous... so unusually happy. Argh! He's almost seven years younger than you!' She cursed herself. 'And besides... the last person you loved...he hurt you. Wait! Love? What am I talking about? I just met him!!' In fact she was scarred. She didn't know how such a nice guy could have done such a horrible thing to her. She thought Miroku was so nice and cheerful, but at the same time he reminded her of all the things that made her sad. The worst part it wasn't his fault, but she would never let him know, she wouldn't want him to feel bad.

"Not quite the emotion I was feeling...it was more like surprise."

"Well, I only invited her so she wouldn't have to go with this other guy. We are only going as friends and that way we can dance with different people every so often."

"Oh how very noble of you."

"Well, I love Kagome, but a friend kind of love, and besides I still want her and Inuyasha to get together." Sango nodded.

"So does he know yet?" Miroku gulped.

"Well, actually that's the problem. He only knows we are going together. He thinks we were like doing something behind his back and didn't give me a chance to explain the situation." He stared at the steam rising from his drink. They both sat quietly for a while until Sango decided to break the silence.

" So, how will you tell him?"

"I don't know. I would just go up to him, but he's so stubborn. He is really good at not listening."

"Well I guess that could pose as a problem." They sat in silence.

"Well I have to go home Miroku. Work tomorrow...nice having coffee with you." She left and went home. Miroku sat for a while, but soon he left also.

"You bastard! Get away from her!" Inuyasha yelled as he jumped to the scene and pulled Naraku away from Kagome. He had transformed into his hanyou form and his voice was gruffer than usual. He hoped Kagome didn't recognize him now that they were mere feet away. HE tackled Naraku and held his hand out to punch him, but Naraku caught it. He smirked.

"So, it's you Inuyasha." He whispered. Inuyasha' s eyes widened. "I think we should take this somewhere else boy, we wouldn't want anyone to get hurt now would we?" Naraku faced Kagome who was staring in shock. Naraku pushed off of Inuyasha and ran down the street. Inuyasha followed him but didn't catch up. HE wanted to run off as far as possible before they start fighting again. He didn't want anyone to hear any of the conversation they might be having.

She just stood there. The two men were practically fighting over her. 'Why?' She couldn't help but ask herself. She stared at their receding figures while a smile slowly formed on her face. 'Dogman is fighting to protect me!' She jumped up in joy and slowly made her way up the porch steps. She couldn't help but wonder what they were whispering to each other though. Naraku had said something and the two of them turned to look at her. 'Wonder what that was about?' She shrugged her shoulders and quietly made it to her room so as not to wake her mother.

So I guess now you people are wondering... 'Is this Kagx Miroku fic?' And I, demonspawn666 assure you, "NO, never, I am not into writing that kinda stuff, so calm down, and if you would have rathered it be mxk, then I ask you...what about Sango and Inuyasha? They have pretty big roles in this story too ya know."

So hope you liked it, plz review. This fic is my baby, the only one that I really know where I'm goin with it. Hope you like, and thanx to all of you who reviewed, I just dont have the time to personally thank you all...or three of you isn't it? Well I hope some new reviewers join this story soon.

Peace!

Aloha!

America currently has 100 Olympic metals...I love my country...and KArli or something like that, from Louisiana, WooHOoo!!! She did awesome. ANd for those of you who didn't know... I personally, am from Louoisiana and it just makes me kinda proud...

Over and out- demonspawn666