It Started With A Kiss

By: Queen Beryl

Chapter Twelve: Let's Duel – Round One

At first, the confrontation between Inuyasha and Kouga wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. There were the arguments, the looks of pure hatred, the loathing, but for the most part, Kouga kept his hands to himself, and Inuyasha refrained from massacring Kouga. Well, I helped a lot in that department. Basically, if it wasn't for me, Inuyasha would have killed him. Why did I like the jealous ones?

"Kagome! Oh, my gosh, Kagome, you haven't been inside the school yet, have you?" Sango was running out to me as I walked up to the school. Inuyasha couldn't pick me up because he had to go earlier to make up a test or something.

"No. What happened?" I demanded instantly. Maybe Kouga had gotten there early too and Inuyasha had fought him to the death. Or maybe-

"Girl, you've got to see it." Sango grabbed my hand and practically dragged me toward the awaiting doors. My stomach clenched when imagining what could possibly have happened. Sango threw the doors open and shoved me inside.

"What the-" I stood there, flabbergasted at the sight. Flyers all over the walls as far as I could see showed Kouga and me with our arms around each other. It was one of the last pictures taken before we called it quits. A caption underneath the picture read, "Kagome is my woman." I could have died.

"Kouga's pretty dedicated." Sango nodded. "I tried taking some down, but they're everywhere. All over every wall I could see. They even cover the door to the girl's bathroom, Kagome."

"This is- I mean… I- has Inuyasha seen these?"

"I think they were put up when he was already taking his makeup test. But I'm sure he'll see them in about fifteen minutes."

"I'm so dead." I let my great yellow backpack slump from my shoulders and hit the floor with a thud. I leaned against the wall, the flyers glaring at me. A couple fellow students walked by, snickering. Others gave me a thumbs-up sign.

"I'm not so worried about you, sweetie; Inuyasha likes you. It's Kouga that's going to be shot with a bolt-action rifle. Repeatedly." Sango looked almost sympathetic for a moment, just before Miroku, who came out of nowhere, grabbed her butt.

"Hey."

"Let go or loose more than a hand." Sango threatened. Miroku obliged, however reluctantly he did so. "We have a real predicament on our hands, and you're not helping."

"Sorry, babe. What seems to be the problem?"

"Have you even looked at the walls?!" I demanded, frustration boiling inside me. Was he really that blind?

"Oh, that. Yeah, I saw it."

"It?!" I demanded. "It's them! The posters are everywhere!" I waved my arms around frantically. How could he take this so lightly?

"Well, I did you a favor and took down all the ones in the guys' bathroom. They were even on the urinals." Miroku chuckled, as though he found the whole situation hilarious. I wanted to strangle the life out of him.

"He's obsessed! No wonder why you dumped him, Kagome!" Sango rubbed her hand over her forehead. "He gives me a headache."

"Yeah. That's it: he gives you a headache. Never mind me!!" I could feel myself become irrational; this was definitely not good.

The next thing that happened was like something from a dream. I swear, it happened in slow motion. At the end of the hallway we were congregated in the door to the math room swung open. A couple people exited and giggled at the flyers. Then he came. He was wearing a red shirt, black slacks, and a half-grin. His eyes locked onto mine almost instantly and his grin widened a fraction. I couldn't even pretend to smile back. His eyebrows furrowed slightly and he looked to his right; then his left; then everywhere.

"What the hell?!!" Inuyasha's voice echoed throughout the hallway. All talking stopped and eyes pivoted toward the angry individual. I could do nothing but stare. I wanted to run, but my legs took that precise moment to turn to stone. My life would be ending any second now.

"Inuyasha…" Miroku called out weakly. It seemed that for the first time he knew the extent of this catastrophe. "Inu-"

"What the hell is this crap, Kagome?" Inuyasha demanded, stalking over to me, a deep scowl prominent on his face. His eyes were flashing hatred and I could have sworn he was going to hit me.

"I didn't put them up." I stated weakly. His hands were clenched into fists at his side; I was going to bruise badly.

"I know! Where is the basta- YOU!" Inuyasha raced around me. I turned just in time to see him race over to the unsuspecting Kouga and sucker punch him in the face. I covered my mouth with my hands in shock and relief. He didn't hit me!

"Get off me!" Kouga growled, taking a swing at Inuyasha in turn. Fists were flying, blood was spreading, and we were all watching.

"Hey, hey! Break it up; break it up!" Myouga-sensei yelled, pulling Inuyasha and Kouga apart. "Detention for both of you!"

"You dirty little-" Inuyasha started.

"That's enough!" Myouga-sensei reprimanded, glaring at the two boys. "Get to class, both of you."

Kouga headed off to his class, winking at me as he passed. Inuyasha came to my side.

"I'll kill him." He growled.

"Maybe now you have just a little taste of what it's like." I stated boldly. Miroku, Sango, and Inuyasha stared at me as if I'd sprouted purple horns.

"Wha-" Inuyasha started, dumbfounded.

"Now maybe a tiny bit of humiliation will hit you." I marched off toward class. I didn't even know I had it in me. It was as though I'd just remembered he'd cheated on me. Kouga had never done that. Great, now I was comparing the two of them.

"She has a point." Sango nodded as I disappeared around the corner.

"But-" Inuyasha started before he was left all alone. Sango and Miroku headed off. Miroku only because Sango was dragging him along.

"I'm still here for you," Kikyo's sultry voice sounded from close behind Inuyasha. Her hand was dangerously close to his butt when he turned and glared at her.

"Get away from me. I don't need this crap now."

"Don't forget your promise, Inu. You promised that if I came back, you'd do anything. How convenient for me." Kikyo grinned and blew him a kiss before walking to her class. The bell rang, but Inuyasha still stood there.

It wasn't long after Kikyo had stated she'd moved from Kyoto that Inuyasha had remembered who she was. He'd tried preventing anything terrible from happening to me by telling Kikyo I didn't matter to him. I, of course, was unaware of all this, so, in a way, I brought this upon myself.

So I sat, fuming in class, unwilling to study or even pay attention. I seemed to be in that mood a lot lately. It was almost suffocating. Class went by quickly, and before I could decided whether that was good or not, Kouga came out of nowhere and pulled me into the alcove by the teachers' bathrooms, right next to the lockers.

"What do you want, Kouga?" I sighed, not wanting to be bothered by this right now.

"Battle for Kagome: first point goes to me."

"What are you talking about?" I demanded, rubbing my left temple

"He's not good enough for you, so I'm going to fight him for you." Kouga explained, as though this was common knowledge. What was I, a trophy?

"Nobody is going to fight over me. I don't like you any more, Kouga. And Inuyasha isn't exactly on my favorite person list right now."

"All the more reason to fight for you. You're indecisive on who you desire more. I shall sway you, my dear Kagome. Never fear." Kouga grinned and kissed my forehead before disappearing into the crowd. I didn't know whether to be upset or flattered. Either way, Battle for Kagome: Round One goes to Kouga.

For some reason, knowing that gave me an ominous feeling. Who would win? And would I accept them?

Probably not.

Okay, I'm totally sorry I haven't updated in like… soooo long. I had a major, major writing block on all my stories, so I just pushed it all aside. I'm terribly sorry you all had to wait so long. I wouldn't have actually gone on if I hadn't gotten an e-mail from one of my readers Chrisy12. Thank you so much! This chapter is for you! Hehehe.

And thank you to all of my reviewers out there. You guys motivate me to write. This is one of the two reasons I do this. The first, of course, being I love to write. I hope to get another chapter out soon for you guys. If I don't get one out before the end of the year… email me and threaten me or something.