Chapter 19: Dangerous Misunderstanding

Monday! The most horrible, loathsome, boring day of the week descended upon Kokurum High. Miroku however, didn't seem to mind the day of the week as he walked amongst the halls. We whistled a happy tune and seemed to feel on top of the world. "Hey. Do you think Miroku's acting a little…more optimistic than usual?" a confused Inuyasha asked his female companion.

"He definitely seems to be in a good mood, but I don't see why there should be any problem with that." Kagome replied.

"But look! There's actually a skip in his step! Besides, it's not a problem. I just thought he'd still be all weepy because of Sango." Inuyasha explained.

"True. Hey, maybe they got back together!" Kagome said hopefully.

"Feh, I wouldn't count on it. Inuyasha drawled. "I heard why he got dumped. What he did is unforgivable and definitely sounds like something he'd do."

"You know why they broke up? Why didn't you tell me?" Kagome asked slightly angry, giving him a light smack on the arm.

"Because, knowing you you'd probably launch some stupid, unnecessarily elaborate plan to get them back together, which would be doomed to failure. Wouldn't you?"

"…Maybe." Kagome answered after a pause. "But tell me. I wanna know!" she complained.

"I might tell you. With a little 'motivation'." Inuyasha added with an obvious innuendo on motivation.

"Do I have to?" Kagome sighed.

"If you want to know."

Kagome looked around to check for Hojo. He was standing only several meters away, talking to someone neither could identify. "Inuyasha…" Kagome whined. "Hojo is right over there. Can it wait till later?"

"Nothing doing." Inuyasha responded defiantly. Kagome checked to make sure Hojo was engaged in his conversation with whoever, which he was. She leaned in and gave Inuyasha a quick peck.

"Now will you tell me?" she persisted.

"Hell no! That was so weak! I don't see why you don't just dump his sorry ass." Inuyasha responded, obviously unsatisfied.

"I just can't bring myself to do it. He'd simply break!" Kagome told him, sympathy in her voice.

"Feh! If he's that weak he'll just have to deal with it!" our favorite irate half-breed snorted.

"But he's such a nice guy! He doesn't deserve such cruelty!" Kagome continued to object.

"A likely tale! Am I just sloppy seconds to you Kagome? Am I just for kicks? Considering your outstanding record so far, there isn't much to be said for you and loyalty." Inuyasha yelled accusingly. Tears began to spill down Kagome's face. "Aw hell." Inuyasha thought to himself. Thought he would never admit it, it tore him up to see Kagome cry. Especially when it was his fault, which it usually was. "Look, Kagome I didn't mean-" Kagome gave him a glare which told him to shut his mouth and sped up her pace. Inuyasha looked down at his feet sullenly. He didn't follow because he didn't know if he could stand seeing her grief stricken face again.

Kagome had wiped her tears off with the back of her arm but more were sure to come soon. Her tearstained face didn't escape Miroku's notice as she passed him. He quickened himself to keep pace with her and his facial expression changed from ignorant bliss to eager concern. "Have you been crying Kags? What's wrong?" Miroku asked as he put a much needed comforting arm around her shoulder.

"Inuyasha is such a jerk." she managed to sob as the waterworks came again.

"Oh great." Miroku said silently. "What'd he do this time?" her friend sighed. Kagome told him

what Inuyasha had suggested, that he was just some punk she thought it was fun to fool around with. "Bastard." was all Miroku managed to say in response. "I'll talk to him." Miroku resolved as he turned and walked towards his silver-haired friend. Inuyasha was feeling lower than pond scum, but he put on a mask of frustration, afraid to lose face, crumbling at the sight of a crying girl. "What the hell?" Miroku asked angrily as he approached the morose Inuyasha. "Why on earth would you think you were sloppy seconds to Kagome?"

"If she would just ditch that pathetic Hojo I wouldn't." he growled.

"She just doesn't want to hurt his feelings. You know that!"

"That's such a pathetic excuse! I'm not convinced. That bitch is a dirty, two-timing whore." Miroku could not believe what he was hearing. He knew his friend was just putting on a headstrong, surly tough guy act, but he thought Inuyasha could use a lesson or two in honesty. Miroku delivered a forceful uppercut blow to Inuyasha's chin, flooring him. Inuyasha cursed as he spat out a loose fang and stared up at the infuriated Miroku, dumbfounded. Miroku's glare bore holes through Inuyasha.

"Now you know a tiny fraction of how bad she feels, half-breed." Miroku growled, lacing the word 'half-breed' with venom. That stung Inuyasha. In truth Miroku regarded all beings as equal, regardless of blood and race, but he knew insulting Inuyasha for his mixed blood would get to him the most. "You need to think about what you did, friend." He turned his back and walked away. Kagome, who had been watching the confrontation, wore an amused smile, despite the obvious tears still on her face. "I think I managed to make him see it from your point of view." Miroku informed her jokingly. Kagome giggled as she wiped away the last of her tears.

"Don't you think that was a bit harsh?" she asked.

Miroku looked at her as if she was insane "You kidding? I let him off easy." Miroku replied "He deserved what I gave him one hundredfold. I can't believe Inuyasha could be so stupid and inconsiderate! He should consider himself lucky that you even gave him a second look!"

"Oh quit flattering me." Kagome laughed, giving him a playful shove. "I feel better already."

Miroku made a face of mock despair. "Lady Kagome, your words wound my soul so! If one of such intelligence and kindness as you own was to swoon over me, I would willingly grant her every whim!"

Kagome broke into another fit of giggles. "You always know just how to cheer me up don't you?"

"But of course fair Kagome. I didn't become your friend just so I could admire your beauty up close." Miroku said, still using his chivalrous persona.

"Now you're just making fun of me." Kagome mumbled, a blush beginning to tint her cheeks.

"Not at all! I mean every word I say, I swear it so!" Miroku assured her.

"Oh come now, you can't honestly think I'm beautiful?" Kagome asked.

"You can't honestly think so lowly of yourself!" Miroku replied, his comment more of a statement than a question. "You are the most attractive girl I know."

"Really?"

"I'd swear it on my grave." Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, not caring they were both almost five minutes late to class.

"I love you."

"Be careful what you say Kagome, I'm not sure Sango would approve of such declarations." Miroku warned her. She gave Miroku another playful shove.

"You know what I mean." She looked at her watch and noticed the time. "Shit! Miss Tamata is going to kill me. I gotta go." She gave Miroku a peck on the cheek and ran off to class. Miroku smiled, satisfied he had restored, maybe even improved Kagome's mood as we walked to his own class. One person, however, who neither Miroku of Kagome had noticed, was not pleased with the exchange that had just taken place. Inuyasha had seen all that had transpired, as he was still tending to his bleeding gum.

"That stupid, perverted bastard! Who the hell does he think he is? Just because he loses his girl he thinks he can just steal someone else's from under their noses? Kagome is mine, he will not have her! I'm going to shred that son of a bitch to ribbons!"

A/N: Didn't see that coming did ya? I got so few reviews it was inconclusive to which couple I should focus on, so I decided to put in a bit of a twist. If you have a preference let me know! I don't write these stupid fics for my good health.