Chapter Nine

The school bell rang, as Kagome ran as fast as she could into the class. Good, the teacher isn't in yet. She sighed in relief and proceeded to her desk. She placed her yellow bag down and sat down on her chair wearily.

"Good morning, Kagome."

Kagome turned, and looked at Inuyasha. Her eyes widened in surprise. Did.. did he just greeted me? She returned him a sweet smile and replied, "Good morning... Inuyasha."

Ever since the car incident, Inuyasha began to get closer and closer to Kagome. Surprisingly, he was able to understand her feelings more, and was able to relate easily to them. He became less unreasonable, and did not bark or retort at the slightest things. Kagome, Sango and Miroku were thankful for that.

That afternoon, the four of them hung out at the green patch under the oak tree. It was autumn, and the colours of the leaves blended beautifully with the sun and created a very cosy atmosphere. Miroku laid down on the grass and deeply breathed in the fresh air. He placed his arms behind his head and exclaimed, "Man... I finally can get some rest!"

Sango, who was sitting beside him, nodded eagerly in agreement. "Yes! The attachment activities are finally over. We're free for three WHOLE weeks! Ain't that great, Miroku?"

Miroku broke into a cheeky grin and suddenly sat up. "You know what, fair lady?" Sango raised her eyebrows warningly, knowing that he sounded suspicious. "Since all of us are free..." He glanced at Kagome and Inuyasha, " We can, you know, have a little outing..." He smirked and continue, "and my dearest Sango, we can have plenty of time together." He nudge Sango in the arm, hoping that she would agree to his idea.

Sango shot him an icy death glare. "Hentai, you. You're still so... pervertic, Miroku." Miroku pouted and gently slapped her on her arm, "Oh, come on. Remember, you agreed to bear my child..."

"THAT WAS IN THE PAST!"

"But.. aren't we still the same..." Miroku added meekly.

"WE'RE REINCARNATED, HOUSHI-SAMA..." Sango retorted, pushing her sleeves up her arm.

"But, I proposed and you agreed to bear my chi..."

WHACK.

Kagome and Inuyasha stared at the violent pair incredibly. Kagome gulped and tried to stop Sango from whacking Miroku any further.

"AHH... Sango. Don't you know that scolding represents care, and whacking means lo.." He paused when he looked at Sango about to strike again, "I'M KIDDING..."

Sango lowered her hand and pointed a threatening finger at Miroku's face. "I'm warning you. We're only in HIGH SCHOOL, now."

Miroku pouted, yet again as Inuyasha tried to stop himself from laughing as he patted Miroku's arm to console him.

"Well, but I guess an outing can help us de-stress. And, I think you need it, Kagome." Sango looked at Kagome.

Miroku perked up instantly, "YES! YOU AGREED!"

"By the fact that I need de-stressing. Not on your account, Houshi-sama." She glanced at Inuyasha, "How about you. Join us?"

Inuyasha slowly nodded and Miroku added, "Dinner's at the famous Ramen Restaurant!" Inuyasha tried to hide his glee.

Kagome looked at her friends, behaving as though they were in the past. She will patiently wait for Inuyasha to remember, yes.

"Hurry up, Kagome." Sango called out from downstairs.

Kagome hurriedly took her black cardigan and her small purse and rushed down the stairs. Sango tapped her foot impatiently, "Man, you sure took a long time to get ready."

Kagome gave a small grin, "Sango, we're still early. What's all this fuss about?"

Sango kept quiet and looked away. Kagome knew perfectly what was the fuss about.

"Heh, Sango. You were looking forward for this outing, weren't you?" She grinned.

"No."

"I'm sure you are."

"I'm not." She said, her face flushing.

"Ah, old feelings never fade." Kagome gave her pal a small pat on the back.

"SImilar to your case, Kagome." Sango paused, realising she just hit Kagome's sensitive spot. "I'm so sorry.. I didn't mean to bring that up..'"

"... its okay. Well, well said." Kagome hugged tightly to her cardigan and lightly tugged on her white camisole. "I think we should go and meet the guys now. We shouldn't arrive later than them. It's bad for their big heads."

Sango nodded in agreement and followed Kagome out of her house.

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Inuyasha leaned against the wall and stared at his digital watch. He watched the seconds tick away and he heard footsteps running in his direction. He looked up and saw Kagome and Sango rushing down.

"Hey there." Inuyasha straightened up as they approached him. His heart started beating faster and faster, as he looked at Kagome dressed so beautifully today.

"Where's Miroku?" Sango asked, glancing around.

"Oh, he hasn't reached yet, I guess."

Sango frowned and mumbled under her breath. "That guy has the cheek..."

Miroku turned around the corner and in his hands, were gripping to what looked suspiciously like TWO movie tickets. Sango tapped her foot on the ground impatiently, as she watched Miroku neatening his shirt. "Wow, you're early."

Miroku looked up at Sango, "Hey, i'm right on time. You're the one who's early."

Sango opened her mouth to argue back, but Miroku stuffed the tickets under her nose. "What's this."

"TICKETS! To the latest blockbuster."

Inuyasha glanced at Miroku, "So, do we get to watch it too?"

"Uhh..." Miroku looked guilty, "There's only two good seats left.. so..."

WHACK.

"You're so evil." Sango retorted.

Kagome picked the tickets that dropped on the floor and handed it to Sango, "Why not you two just go and enjoy yourselves. I'm not a fan of movies, so we'll meet you after it?"

Sango stared at her, "Well.. alright. I guess we say our goodbyes here?"

Kagome nodded slowly, as she clutched on tightly to her purse, "See you in two hours..."

Sango looked back at Miroku, her black hair falling neatly behind her slender shoulders. "So much for a group outing."

Miroku glanced back and gave Inuyasha a cheeky wink.

Kagome and Inuyasha stood side by side, as they watched the two walked away and disappear into a corner.

Inuyasha turned and looked at Kagome, "Well, I guess we're on our own now. So... where to?"

"Well.." Kagome pointed to the nearby Ramen Restaurant, "I guess we'll go there for dinner. I mean, you wanted to go there yesterday.. right?"

"Keh... since when?" He folded his arms and walked ahead, not waiting for Kagome.

Oh dear, he's back to his unreasonable habits again. Kagome quickened her pace, and tried to catch up with Inuyasha.

Inuyasha walked past the waiter at the reception counter at another Western Restaurant and mumbled, "Two person."

Obviously, the waiter did not get him and tried to ask him again, but Inuyasha had already walked to a table overlooking the lake ,outdoors. Kagome sighed and went towards the waiter, "Its the two of us." The waiter nodded and went to get the menus.

Kagome went to the table and sat down opposite Inuyasha. He did not make any eye contact, but was looking out at the lake. Kagome noticed that he chose to sit outside, instead of indoors where it was kindly air-conditioned. Kagome looked up and gasped, the dark sky was lit up with thousands of gleaming stars. It was certainly a beautiful night, and she silently hoped that Inuyasha would not spoil it all.

The waiter came and placed the leather bound menu on the table. This should be a very expensive restaurant. Kagome and Inuyasha took the menu at the same time and browse through what the restaurant had to offer.

"I'll have a... " He paused, and put down the menu, ".. don't you have ramen here?"

The waiter smiled apologetically, "Sorry sir, we don't serve ramen here..."

Kagome eyed Inuyasha, as he reluctantly looked at the menu and placed his order, "I'll get a black pepper steak and ... Southern Frost."

Kagome looked at Inuyasha incredibly. She gently placed down the menu and said, " I'll get the Citrus Garlic Seafood plate and... ice tea."

As soon as the waiter walked away, Kagome asked Inuyasha, "... you take alcohol?"

Inuyasha nodded, "Yes.. is there a problem with that?"

"Well.. don't you know its bad, for your liver?"

"I don't really care.. besides, I've been drinking for years..."

Kagome gulped, "Don't you get drunk?"

"Rarely, the last time I got drunk was like, keh, 5 years ago?"

The waiter came beside their table, and placed their orders on the table. Inuyasha immediately took the glass of Southern Frost and gluped it down. He finished that glass and called for another one, before proceeding with the steak.

Kagome got quite worried, "Erm, Inuyasha, I think you better watch it. The Southern Frost... I heard, has a high alcohol level, you don't wanna get drunk."

'Stop it, you have no right to control what I do..." He stopped as he realised his mistake, "Sorry.. I'm just kind of caught up in something.."

Kagome sighed, "Well,its okay. I mean, yeah, I have no right."

She picked up her fork and spoon, and began eating. Inuyasha had already eaten more than half of the steak and had down 4 glasses of Southern Frost. As time passed, Kagome noticed that Inuyasha's face was flushed, and he was slurring his words. Part of his speech were either inaudible, or it didn't make much sense.

"I love santa claus. Don't you, Kagome?"

Kagome looked up at him and gave a worried look, "Well, yeah. Yeah, I do too. And stop drinking." She stood up and leaned across the table and snatched the glass away from his hands.

"Ahahaaa..." He looked down and chuckles, "Gimme back my drink..."

Kagome showed a slight disgust and shook her head, placing the drink near her. "No way, you're drunk Inuyasha. Now, we have to wait for Miroku..."

"Kagome... I want to go .. and party." Inuyasha slumped on the table face down, behind at least nine empty glasses.

"No... Come, let's go." Kagome stood up and went to get Inuyasha up on his feet. Kagome paid for the bill, which was really costly, thanks to the drinks, and brought Inuyasha out of the restaurant. She glanced at her watch, only an hour passed. Inuyasha leaned against Kagome and she tried to support his weight.

"Kagome... I want to go over to the garden." He pointed aimlessly at the Ramen Restaurant across the street.

She laughed, as she never seen Inuyasha behaving so silly, "That's a restaurant, Inuyasha."

"Oh.. I thought it was the cinema.. I want to go to the garden.. and see the fireflies." He stumbled away behind the buildings and wandered into the garden. Kagome followed him and saw his sit down in front of the lake. Kagome went and softly sat beside him.

"Inuyasha, are you okay?"

He looked at her, and exclaimed, "Of course... but.. there's no fireflies tonight."

Kagome raised her eyebrows, obviously this boy over here is not okay. She played with the grasses beside her and sighed to herself. Tonight is beautiful... She stared at the sky again. This time, the moonlight shone down at the garden, the lake reflecting moonlight, creating a very romantic ambience.

Kagome turned to the drunk guy beside her and saw him staring at her.

"Yes, Inuyasha?"

"You're beautiful..."

Kagome's eyes widened as she repeated, "Beautiful.. wha.. what..." Did Inuyasha just said I was beautiful?

Inuyasha leaned forward and pulled Kagome into a tight and warm embrace. "I like you, Kagome..."

Kagome felt the blood rush rapidly to her face, she knew she was blushing furiously then. "Inuyasha, you must be drunk. Let's go, home."

Inuyasha did not let go, instead, he pulled her tighter to him and whispered into her ears, "Thanks.. thanks for saving me.. twice."

Twice...?

Kagome looked down, as she felt Inuyasha's arms loosen. She stared at the drunk boy sleeping on her shoulders. Twice..? What do you mean by twice.

Kagome looked at him helplessly and decided to bring him home for the night, as she did not even know where Inuyasha's hostel was.

She took out her cellphone and called home, "Hello, Souta? Can you please bring the bicycle out? I think I need to use it again."

A/N: I know the ending for this chapter was quite lame. (laughs) A HUNDRED AND ONE reviews! Thank you! ((: Motivation, it is. Well, I have to say that I won't be updating that frequent for these two upcoming weeks. I've got my exams coming up. It won't be that often and frequent, but I'll add in short chapters, maybe? (Better than nothing, don't you think? (: )

And by the way, I do read every single reviews! I appreciate it.

Inuyasha will be going to Kagome's house again. What will happen this time. And will Kagome find out what he meant by twice? Look out for chapter ten:D