Chapter 6: Dinner

Kagome was relieved when she looked out her window the next morning and the sun was shining. She put on a short denim skirt and a navy blue halter top under a black short sleeve sweater that ended above her belly button that tied up in the front. Then she found a pair of loose navy socks with stars on them that went high up her ankle and poked out over her converse shoes.

When she went downstairs her mom was waiting for her.

"Do you want a ride to school dear? Your car is still being fixed and won't be back until tomorrow," she said.

Kagome smiled, "No thanks mom, I'll call Sango to see if she can pick me up."

Before she could protest Kagome grabbed the phone and dialed Sango's number.

"Hello?"

"Hi is Sango there?" Kagome asked.

"This is."

"Hi Sango, it's Kagome," she said, "can I maybe get a ride to school? My car is still being worked on."

"Sure, I was just about to leave. Where do you live?"

"Do you know where the old shrine is?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah, the one with all the cherry blossom trees?" she asked.

"That's the one!"

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

After hanging up Kagome grabbed a pear from the fridge and was about to take a bite when a car horn sounded from outside.

"Wow, she's fast," Kagome said as she raced out the door.

Sango smiled out at her from her silver Honda civic. Kagome jumped in and they took off toward the school.

"Do you want to have a sleep over tonight or something?" Sango asked.

Kagome flushed, "Actually…Inuyasha is coming over for dinner tonight."

Sango stopped dead at a red light, "You never told me that!"

"It's nothing really! When he drove me home last night my mom insisted that he come over for dinner tonight. It was her idea, not mine!" Kagome exclaimed.

Sango smiled slyly, "You don't seem upset about it…what really happened in that ramen shop yesterday?"

Kagome looked Sango dead in the eye, "Nothing happen, I already told you that! Its just dinner as friends!"

"Uh huh…sure it is," she sniggered, "I can't wait to tell Miroku about this…"

Kagome groaned and sat back in her seat.

She was in for a long day…

First period was uneventful. The four friends didn't have any time to talk because Mr. Myoga gave a pop quiz on the Feudal Era. Although after class Inuyasha approached Kagome and asked if they were having ramen… Kagome assured him that it was the best.

She got more homework then expected in math, but her water color painting of Mt. Fuji was turning out quite well she thought.

When lunch time came around Miroku found it necessary to bug Inuyasha about going over to Kagome's house for dinner.

"Normally you don't meet the parents until after at least a few weeks of dating," he smiled, "but I guess you and Kagome are moving at a fast pace. When can I expect a wedding invitation?"

At that point Inuyasha was beyond control and he leapt across the table at Miroku, knocking them both to the ground. Kagome was to busy trying to hide her intense blush to try to stop them. Sango just sat there, trying to decided who was funnier.

Eventually, when Kagome figured that Miroku had had enough of a beating, she told Inuyasha to sit and that abruptly ended the fight.

"It's just a dinner as friends Miroku, nothing more," Inuyasha hissed at him from across the table.

Kagome couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain when he said this…

After lunch they went to drama and practiced their lines for the play tryouts. Sango was trying out for the nurse and Kagome had decided that she wanted to be Juliet. Inuyasha still hadn't decided…

In biology they were put into partners to do a lab and Kagome had been paired with Kouga. Inuyasha was paired with Kouga's friend Ayame.

The whole time during the lab Kouga kept putting his arm around Kagome and she could hear Inuyasha growling. Each time she would politely smile at Kouga and then remove his arm, making sure not to make eye contact with the enraged half demon behind her…

In gym they had moved on from archery to soccer. Kagome had never played soccer before, and was surprised to see how good Inuyasha was. Not only was he fast, but he was very good at dribbling the ball around apposing players. Although Kouga was extremely tough competition…

After classes were done Kagome said bye to the others and went off to archery practice. Her and Inuyasha had agreed to meet up after they were both done so that they could go back to her house together.

"Kagome," Kikyo approached her after practice had ended and hour and a half later.

"Yes Kikyo?"

"The other day…you were using your power, I could feel it," Kikyo said.

Kagome shivered unpleasantly at the reminder of her encounter with Naraku. The way his cold lips made a remaining sensation on her own lips made her sick to the stomach…

"Yes? What about it?" Kagome asked, eager to get off the subject.

"You are stronger then I would have thought you would be," she said in her airy voice, "Who taught you how to control your powers like that?"

Kagome smiled proudly, "My grand father."

"I he a priest of some kind?"

She shook her head, "No…"

Kikyo smirked, "It would be best if you got professional training. You have potential to strengthen your powers even more…"

And then she left, leaving Kagome fuming.

What was with her? One minute she was complimenting her, and then next she was berating her. Just what point was she trying to get across?

"Hey Kagome!" Inuyasha called to her from the gym entrance.

Kagome snapped back to reality and followed Inuyasha out the door. His hair was wet and she could smell soap on him.

"Did you shower or something?" she asked as they got into his car.

"What? Do you want me to smell or something?" he asked.

She smiled, "No, I guess not."

When they got to her house Souta's bus from his elementary school just drove off. Kagome was surprised to see that he had a guest over as well.

A very small boy walked with him up the lane. He had a bushy head of red hair and a cute little tail to match. He was a tiny fox demon.

"Oh, hey sis," Souta said.

"Who's your friend?" Kagome asked as the four of them entered the house.

"This is Shippo," he said and the little boy smiled shyly.

Souta looked up at Inuyasha and frowned, "Who's he?"

"Oh, sorry. Souta, this is Inuyasha. Inuyasha, this is my little brother Souta," Kagome introduced them.

"Yo," was all Inuyasha said.

Suddenly the front door opened and Kagome's grandfather walked in with a broom in his hand, probably just from sweeping the shrine steps. When he saw Inuyasha his eyes widen and he let out a howl.

"Evil demon!" he yelled and took a swing at Inuyasha's head, "How did you get past my ancient anti demon scribes?"

Inuyasha ducked and grabbed the broom from him, "Watch where you're swinging that thing old man!"

Kagome stepped in between the two and took the broom form Inuyasha.

"Grandpa, he's not an evil demon. His name is Inuyasha. He's a friend form school," she smiled.

The old man smiled, "Oh, well in that case, you must stay for dinner young man."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome with his eyebrow arched.

"Sorry, he's a little eon the unique side!" Kagome said as she ushered Inuyasha into the dining room.

Inuyasha nodded and sat next to Kagome while Shippo and Souta sat across from them. Kagome's mother and grand father sat at the head of each side of the table.

Inuyasha stared at all the food, his jaw dropped.

"Wow mom, you went to a lot of trouble," Kagome gaped.

Her mom had made a roast beef with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Two huge bowls of home made ramen sat in the middle of the table with different sauces around it. There was also bread and stuffing.

Inuyasha looked at Kagome and she nodded, signaling to him that he could eat. He didn't hesitate after that and helped himself to a large portion of ramen to start off with.

"So, Inuyasha was it?" Kagome's grandfather said as he bit into a piece of bread, "How is it that you came to know my grand daughter."

"We ran into each other in the main office on the first day, literally," he shrugged.

"I see…and…what are your intention with her?" he asked.

Kagome choked on her roast beef and Inuyasha just stared blankly at him.

"I don't understand sir," he said.

"We're friends grandpa," Kagome said as she poured herself a glass of water.

Inuyasha seemed to clue in on what he had been implying and his face flushed.

After dinner was over everyone went into the living room and watched TV. Shippo had warmed up to Kagome and she grew rather fond of the kid, while Inuyasha thought he was a pest…

"Kagome dear, would you go a take out the trash please?" her mom asked a while later.

"Ok."

"I'll help," Inuyasha said.

Kagome was grateful. There was three bags of trash and she had trouble enough carrying one heavy bag let alone three.

They walked out into the warm night air and Kagome smiled when she noticed that the moon was full over head and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.

"Hey Kagome," Inuyasha said after he had put the bags in the dumpster.

"Yeah?"

"Um…thanks for inviting me," he stood beside her, "Your family seems really great. It's nice to sit down and eat with other people once in a while."

Kagome turned her eyes to look at him, "Doesn't your family eat together at all?"

He shrugged, "Not really. Sesshomaru sometimes eats breakfast with me but if he does we never talk. His mom is always away on business so I almost never see her."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"Don't be, cause I'm not," he mumbled.

"Well, you're always welcome here whenever you want some company," Kagome smiled, "Besides, I think my brother has grown attached to you a bit. I saw him looking at you like you were some kind of super hero or something."

"Well I am pretty super," he smiled.

Kagome laughed.

A soft breeze blew through and a stray stand of hair blew into Kagome's eye. Before she could push it back Inuyasha's hand came out and gently tucked it behind her ear.

Kagome gasped silently and for a moment they just stood there, as if they were frozen.

His eyes were so beautiful…so deep…so full of emotion and a troubled past. Kagome didn't realize that their faces were getting closer until suddenly the back door flew open and Souta stuck his head outside. Her face had only been a few inches from his and she blushed furiously, pulling back.

"Um…mom wanted me to ask you… if you guys wanted to play monopoly…" Souta said uncomfortably.

"I-I should p-probably go," Inuyasha stuttered, his face almost as red as Kagome's.

Kagome nodded, keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Tell your mom I said thanks for dinner Kagome," he said and turned to his car.

"Bye Inuyasha," Kagome smiled awkwardly.

He waved softly and then got into his car and drove off.

Kagome could hear Souta snickering behind her. She turned to him and glared.

"What's so funny?" she hissed.

"Ha ha, he was so going to kiss you!" he laughed.

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" she yelled, "He was not!"

"Then why is your face so red?" Souta asked.

Kagome reached out to grab him but he had already run back in the house, still laughing. Knowing that he would probably tell every Kagome retreated to her room to hide.

Picking up her phone she dialed Sango's number as fast as she could. She picked up on the first ring.

"Hey Kagome," Sango said.

"How did you know it was me?" Kagome asked.

"Hello…call display!" she laughed.

Kagome groaned, "Can you come over?"

"I thought Inuyasha was over?"

"He just left and I really need to talk to you!" Kagome exclaimed, biting her nails.

"What? Did something happen?" Sango asked.

"Just come over! And bring your sleeping bag, you can stay the night," Kagome said.

"I'll be right over," Sango said and hung up.

Kagome rushed down the stairs and ran into the living room.

"Kagome, what's this your brother is telling me about Inuyasha-"

"Lies! All lies!" Kagome cut her off before she could finish, "By the way, can my friend Sango sleep over?"

"I suppose…"

"Thanks!" Kagome said and went back up to her room to wash her face. She needed to clear her head.

As soon as she was finished washing her face the doorbell rang and Kagome could hear voices from downstairs.

"- Kagome has told us so much about you! It's so nice to meet you," Kagome's mom was saying as she went down the stairs.

"Thank you Mrs. Higurashi," Sango said when she noticed Kagome, "Hey Kagome."

"Hey Sango, let's go up to my room."

Kagome carried Sango's sleeping bag and they went up to her room. Once they had settled Sango pulled out a big plastic bag.

"What is that?" Kagome asked.

Sango opened it and pulled out a pail of chocolate chip cookie dough ice-cream and two spoons.

"My magic food, it works wonders on any type of stress," she smiled and handed Kagome a spoon as she sat next to her on the bed.

Kagome sighed and took a bite.

"So what happened?" Sango asked.

Taking a deep breath Kagome told her the events of the night. When she finished Sango looked both shocked and happy.

"Wow, he almost kissed you?" she smiled, "I knew you two liked each other! I knew it! This is so great, Inuyasha doesn't warm up to people that much, he must like you a lot."

Kagome shrugged, "I don't know, maybe it was just my imagination…"

"Hello, your little brother caught you inches from his face! I doubt it was your imagination," Sango laughed.

Kagome bit her bottom lip, "What if its awkward between us?"

"Then that proves that something happened and he likes you!" Sango pulled out her cell phone.

"What are you doing?" Kagome asked.

"Calling Miroku," she said.

"No! I don't want him to know about that!"

"Don't worry, I won't tell him that I'm here or anything like that. I suspect that Inuyasha went straight over to Miroku's house after he left here. Miroku can fill me in on what Inuyasha is up to now," she smiled wickedly.

"You are so evil."

"I know!" she dialed the number and waited, "Hey Miroku is Inuyasha there?… go into a different room so he can't hear you…I have to ask you something…no it is not if you would allow me to bear your children…"

Kagome held back a laugh.