Highschool Dilemma

Chapter 9

They met up at the Sacred Tree for lunch as always. They were just talking about the hike, teasing each other, and messing around when Inuyasha jumped up. "Wolf." he growled as Kouga appeared.

"Where were you last night, dog breath?"

"None of your business."

"It is my business. You did this to my clan. I swear I'll kill you where you stand. You'll regret doing that."

"What are you talking about, wolf? I didn't do squat to your clan." Inuyasha said as he glared at Kouga.

"Yeah right, dog breath. Who else would do something to my people? If it was up to me, I'd kill all of The Demon Syndicate." He glanced at Kagome. "Why don't you step away from those cold-hearted killers, my dear?"

"Okay. For starters, I'm a member of the Demon Syndicate so if you want to destroy them, you'll have to kill me to. I'm not going to stand around while you kill my friends..." Sango looked over at Miroku and smirked. Miroku looked back at her and winked. She definitely proved that she wouldn't betray them in anyway. "... Secondly, we didn't hurt your people last night so stop accusing us. Finally..." She glared directly at him. "... I am not nor will I ever be your woman."

Inuyasha smiled as he moved to stand next to her. He smirked at Kouga as he took Kagome's hand in his. Kagome looked at him, saw him smile at her, and held his hand in return.

Kouga looked as if she had crushed him completely. Kagome felt a pang of guilt arise from her heart. The bell rang from the building. Kagome looked as students made there way towards the building.

"How about we all meet up at the diner down the road at about 4?" she said as she looked at Inuyasha. He nodded.

"Maybe we can get this straightened out." Kouga looked up.

"Okay. I will for you, Kagome." he said quietly as he sauntered off.

Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, and Sango sat down at the diner.

"I wonder what happened to the Wolf Clan." Kagome thought out loud.

"Feh. Someone attacked them. He was too stupid to realize it." Inuyasha said. Kagome was about to reprimand him, but the waitress came by.

"I'm Cindy. I'll be your waitress. What'll you have?"

A few minutes after everyone ordered their drinks, Kouga and a few members of his gang came in and sat down at their table.

"Okay. What happened to your clan last night?" Kagome asked.

"They were attacked last night near Ikon Lake. They called me and told me that they saw you go by and then the phone connection was cut. I tried-" Kouga was cut short by the waitress. After the drinks were delivered, and Kouga's clan told the waitress they weren't ordering, Kouga continued.

"I tried to call back, but no one answered. By the time, I got up there all of my men were unconscious and..." His voice lowered and held such emotion that Kagome felt her heart go out to the poor guy.. "... an older member was murdered by a long, sharp blade."

Kagome gasped. "We were up at Ikon Lake, but it wasn't us."

"Someone must have been trying to frame us." Miroku said. Inuyasha looked at Kouga.

"Did you catch any scents?"

"Yours was there. Along with the smell of blood and my clan. Yet, there was one that was kind of unfamiliar to me."

"What was it like?"

"It's hard to explain. It was like bitter almonds mixed with an poisonous potion."

Inuyasha growled. "I should have suspected Naraku would set us up. His and those other incarnations of him."

"Naraku? Are you sure?" Sango asked. She knew that he knew what he was talking about. Her fists clenched.

"Positive. I'll know that scent by even the poor description he gave." Kouga looked out the window.

"Naraku? Who is this gutless demon? I assume he's a demon anyway."

"Yeah. He's been after us for a while for a variety of things." Sango said. A glare from Inuyasha told Kouga not to inquire as to what it was he was after them for.

"Well, I'll have to hunt this dude down. Do you know where he is?"

"If I knew where he was, I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you." Inuyasha commented. Kagome stomped on his foot. He grunted and looked at her. She shook her head, then turned to Kouga.

"For once can you two put your differences aside and we can join together to get Naraku?"

"I can't believe you even suggested such a thing." Inuyasha shouted as they were at his place. "You should know I'll never join up with that filthy wolf, even if my life was at stake."

"Inuyasha, you're being uncooperative." He sighed.

"Forget about it Kagome. I'm not going to join with him." He yelled frustrated.

"Okay." She said softly.

"Huh?" She knew that catch him off-guard. "If that's how you feel, I'll accept it."

"Thanks." he said as he sat down next to her. "Sorry for my unstoppable ranting." He put his arms around her shoulders. She leaned on him.

"No problem. That all comes with knowing you." she said playfully. He growled in response and nuzzled her neck, kissing it once and then pulling away. She rested her head against his shoulder and they sat there in silence.

"Hey." Kagome said.

"Hn."

"I got an idea."

"What?"

"How about you come over to my house? My mom was wondering who I was hanging out with. Of course, I'll call Sango and Miroku too."

"Later."

"Why not now?"

"Cause I'm comfortable. That's why." She looked at him with squinted eyes.

"Perv."

"Hey. I'm not the one who's basically sleeping on my shoulder."

"Was not."

"Were too."

"Was not."

"Were too."

"Was not."

"Were too."

"Was-" He interrupted her in the most pleasant way he could think of.

Ring, ring, ring... "Hello."

"Hey, Sango. What's going on?"

"Nothing much, Kag. What's up?"

"We're just wondering if you wanted to meet up at my house. My mom was wanting to meet everyone."

"Oh, that'll be fine." Kagome heard something in the background. She heard Sango yell pervert and then a smack. Kagome shook her head.

"I take it Miroku's with you?"

"Yeah. He's here." Sango said gruffly.

"Bring him along with you."

"I think he can drive himself." she said. Kagome could almost picture the glare that she was giving Miroku.

"Okay. Do you know where I live?"

"Yeah."

"Meet you there in 15 minutes?"

"Sure. See you later." Sango began yelling at Miroku as she shut off her phone. Kagome laughed and turned her phone off.

"So, what's going on?" Inuyasha inquired from behind her. He had just got out of the shower and was in the process of putting on his shirt. She eyed his tome chest for a moment and, then, turned blushing.

"We're meeting over there in 15 minutes."

"Did you call Miroku?"

"No. He was at Sango's." Inuyasha made a face.

"Too much info." Inuyasha heard her mutter something about him having a dirty mind.

"At least I don't eye your body." Kagome blushed as she exited his house. Inuyasha just smirked and followed her out.

"Mama?"

"Yes, dear."

"I invited my friends over."

"Okay. I'll be there in a minute." She turned to Inuyasha.

"I'll give you the grand tour." She said. He nodded.

"This is the living room. In through that door is the kitchen. My mom's room is right here." She said as she pointed to the door next to the stairs. They made there way up the stairs. "Down the hall is my little brother, Souta's room. And this is mine." She said as she opened the door. Inuyasha glanced around and shook his head. "What?"

"You're a neat freak." He said with a smirk.

"No. I just clean my room once in a while." she said in an accusing tone. He looked at her and glared.

"Don't use that tone with me. My place gets cleaned." he said in fake anger.

"Oh, yeah? By who? Cause I'm sure you don't." she said.

"Miroku." Kagome bursted out laughing.

"Are you serious?"

"He organizes it on his own free will." Kagome laughed again as she heard the door bell. "That's probably Sango and Miroku."

"I'll get it." a voice rang out. Kagome went down stairs and saw Souta open the door. "Hey. Is Kagome here?"

"I'm here. Come on in." Miroku and Sango stepped in.

"Who are these people?" Souta asked.

"Souta, that's not nice." Mrs. Higurashi said from the kitchen door. "Come on in and have a seat." Everyone went into the living room and sat down.

"I'm sorry. Mama, this is Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha."

Sango smiled and nodded, Miroku waved, and Inuyasha grunted.

"It's nice to meet you all. Are you hungry?"

"No. We just ate. Thank you." Sango said. Souta sat down next to Inuyasha on the sofa. Kagome was on his other side. Inuyasha had his arm around Kagome's back and Souta noticed this.

"Kagome, is Inuyasha your boyfriend?" Kagome looked at Souta and then at her mother, then at Inuyasha. He just smiled lightly and nodded at her to give the answer.

"Yeah."

"Oh. That's nice, dear." Mrs. Higurashi said to her daughter.

"Are you two going out?" she asked Sango and Miroku. They both blushed and choked on their own words.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put you on the spot."

"It's okay. We just weren't expecting it. Yes, we are." Miroku said as he took Sango's hand in his to emphasize his point. Sango smiled and squeezed his hand. He looked at her and she looked at him.

"So, do you have any plans for tonight, Kagome?"

"No. Not really."

"Why don't you hang around here and play a few games?"

"Sure. Why not? What do you'll want to play?" Miroku whispered something in Sango's ear. Her face flushed and smacked his arm.

"I don't think so." Inuyasha laughed under his breath. It was tradition for Miroku to say 'strip poker' whenever someone asked what game do you want to play.

"How about we play 5 card stud?"

"That sound good to everyone."

"So long as you don't actually gamble with it." Mrs. Higurashi said.

"I fold." Sango said.

"As do I." Miroku said.

"I bet two." Inuyasha said as he threw in his poker chips.

"I see your two and raise two." Mrs. Higurashi said.

"I fold." Souta said, tossing his cards on the table.

"I'll call. You're bluffing, mom." Kagome said, putting in her chips.

"I'll call." Inuyasha said.

Mrs. Higurashi set her cards on the table. "Ace high."

Kagome nodded. "I knew it." She set her cards on the table. "Three of a kind." She looked over at Inuyasha. He made a face and Kagome smiled as she moved for the pot.

"Full house." Inuyasha said as he laid down his cards. Kagome glanced to see his cards. It was a full house. Two Jacks and three fours, but both jacks were of hearts. Kagome saw Miroku messing with a different deck of cards behind Inuyasha. She laughed as Inuyasha moved to take the pot.

"What is so funny?" Souta asked. Kagome eyed Inuyasha. "You're so full of it. No wonder when your eyes are brown." 'In your human form anyways.'

"What?"

"Let's see. You and Miroku are cheaters. Look at your cards, Inuyasha." He looked at his cards and saw two jacks of hearts. He looked back at Miroku.

"You idiot. You gave me the same suit." Everyone, but Miroku and Inuyasha began laughing as the two yelled at each other about their failed plan.

"Well, it's getting too late for me. Keep it down. I'm going to bed and your grandfather has been in bed for the past thirty minutes."

"Okay, mama. Goodnight."

"Goodnight all." Everyone said goodnight and Mrs. Higurashi caught Souta's voice in there as well.

"Bedtime for you too, Souta."

"Fine." he said as he went upstairs. "Goodnight everyone."

Kagome smiled and turned to them. "What do you want to do?"

"Have any movies?" Miroku asked.

"Sure."

They put on a movie and ended up falling asleep. Inuyasha and Kagome on the sofa, cuddled in each other's arms. Sango and Miroku on the love seat.