Inuyasha walked back into the room, where Miroku sat on the bed, occupying his time by flipping a coin. He caught it in midair and looked at Inuyasha. He grinned roguishly. "Did you introduce yourself to the new girl?"
Inuyasha nodded, looking away. "Which doesn't mean I'm trying to get into her pants, a difference you can't seem to realize is there."
Miroku laughed. "Guilty as charged, I suppose. But at least its fun." He stood up and said, "We need some supplies and books from the school store. Want to go now before Freshman Orientation?"
Inuyasha nodded. "Sure. Might as well get it over with, right?"
They left the room. As Miroku was closing the door, Inuyasha looked around. What he saw made him groan. Across the hall, Sango and Kagome had just opened the door and were chatting about getting supplies.
Miroku turned and smiled. "My lovely Sango! And who's your companion, hmm?"
Sango glared at him. "Lovely for you grope, right? Stay away from me. I don't just you. And I don't think I want Kagome around you either"
Miroku played innocent. "Sango, I'm shocked at your behavior! I'm just appalled! Simple old me, grope someone? Not I!"
He was acting so funny she couldn't help but laugh. "Let's just say I forgive you, okay? But watch yourself; you're on thin iceâOh, and this is my roommate Kagome," she said indicating the other girl.
Kagome smiled. "That's me. And I guess you're the pervert they warned me about. I warn you, I hit hard!" She laughed.
Miroku cocked an eyebrow. "'They?' Inuyasha, do you have a hand in this?"
Inuyasha smirked. "Keh. Just telling the truth."
The others all laughed. They headed to the school store, a journey that led them through the campus. Kagome sighed.
"Its sooo beautiful," she exclaimed, strolling a little ways ahead. Sango nodded and smiled. Miroku suavely responded with "Not as lovely as you two," causing Sango to glare at him and Kagome to laugh. Inuyasha just snorted.
Kagome noticed this and walked alongside him. "What's wrong, Inuyasha? Don't like the scenery?"
Inuyasha just looked away. "Doesn't really matter, does it? I mean, it's just a stupid place. There's nothing special about it," he responded haughtily.
Kagome was starting to get irritated with his bad mood. "You must've worked pretty hard to get to this 'stupid place,' right?"
"So what?" he muttered. "I just wanted to get in here, alright? Anything wrong with that?" he snapped.
She just rolled her eyes and strolled ahead. Why's he have to be such a downer? I'm just trying to be nice
They finally arrived at the store. They all purchased their books and some odds and ends they needed. They all turned out to have some classes together; all four had Creative Writing and Introduction to Computer at the same time. Kagome and Inuyasha had the same schedule, excepted she had Analytical Religious Studies in replace of his History of Warfare.
Miroku peered at the shelves. "I need a laptopâwhat's the best one here?"
The others stared at him. Finally, Sango blurted out "You're just starting college and you can afford a laptop?"
He grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. "I, uh, come from a pretty wealthy family"
"What's your last name?" inquired Kagome.
He looked away. "Uh, itsâits, well," Finally, he muttered. "Midori"
Sango and Kagome's eyes bulged while Inuyasha just muttered "Keh. Makes sense now"
The Midori's were a couple of movie stars who had fallen in love on the set of a movie. They married and had a child, who, eighteen years later, was caught with six prostitutes. All charges were dropped, thanks to their wealth.
"But that wholeâsex scandalâthing was two years ago," thought Kagome, frowning cutely as she calculated. "That'd make you–"
"Twenty," filled in Miroku, nodded with a slight blush. "I decided to go to America for a little while after thatâdoesn't matter, though, because I'm here now."
Kagome smiled. "That's good, because you're my new friend!"
Miroku grinned wickedly. "Withâprivileges?"
Sango slapped him. "Watch it, lech," she warned. "I'll tolerate you, not your perverse nature. I have no qualms about kicking the shit out of you"
He gulped and went over to purchase his laptop. Inuyasha watched him and muttered. "Bastard's going to get himself hurt if he keeps playing around like this"
Kagome laughed and said, "Aw, c'mon, cut him some slack! He's just enjoying himself!"
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "Why don't you not tell me what to do?"
She blinked in shock for a moment. "Excuse me?" she asked softly. Inuyasha responded with a small growl. Finally, she snapped into an evil death glare and seemed to rise ten feet above him.
"What did you just say? Don't ever talk to me that way! And then growl! How dare you! I thought you were nice, but now I want you to stay the heck away from me! Stupid!" she yelled at him.
He was left there, pushed against the wall, blinking, his hair in disarray. "What the hell..?" he whispered as she stormed away towards the dorm. The others blinked as well.
"She's as feisty as you, Sango," commented Miroku, earning himself another slap.
After slight hesitation, Inuyasha shook his head. His haired spilled in every direction before eventually landing in its normal position. He growled deeply. "Stupid wench. Thinks she can talk to me that way"
"Well," began Miroku, "I think we all know what you need to do." Sango nodded in agreement, her mind obviously on the same track as his.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at his friend. "And what's that?" he snarled.
"Apologize, of course. She's mad because of something you did," blinked Miroku, obviously stunned at Inuyasha's inability to grasp this concept.
Inuyasha turned up his nose. "Keh. I don't have to do anything. She was being annoying, and then she just snapped. I didn't do a damn thing!" he stubbornly stated.
Sango looked at him queerly. "Are you really that dense? She's upset because you were being rude to her!"
The silver-haired boy was about to snap back before being cut off by Miroku.
"Look, Inuyasha, even if you think that you didn't do anything wrong, apologize anyway. Always apologize because they always think it's your fault. It's what she wants you to do. Give her what she wants: understanding from you."
Sango turned to Miroku in shock. "That's not" But Inuyasha had already started for the auditorium, the location of the orientation. "Just let it drop," he muttered as he walked away.
Miroku looked at Sango and shrugged. He put his laptop under his arm and headed out after him. On instinct, he held the door open for Sango, who strolled by, ignoring his courteous gesture. He sighed. Oh, now I'm determined to get her. He smiled again. He now had a mission.
They walked into the auditorium, with a sense of relief. It had been an awkward silence on the short trip. Miroku had tried to cop a feel twice, and had received consecutive slappings for his crimes.
Sango caught sight of a sulking Kagome in one of the seats. She pulled the others over. "C'mon, Inuyasha," she violently whispered as they sat by her. "Now's you're chance to apologize!"
He just glared at her and stewed in his own anger and embarrassment. She and Miroku sighed; he because of the silver-haired anger machine to his left, her because of the dangerously angry girl to her right. Oh, well, thought the young man. At least I'm next to Sango
No one was really paying attention as the speech continued. After about thirty minutes, he decided he needed to spice things up. His attention was snagged by Sango leaning over to pick up a case of pencils she had dropped. The midriff shirt she was wearing revealed top of her underwear as it slipped out of her skirt. Without thinking about the consequences or anything near the thought of being responsible, Miroku leaned over and snapped the elastic.
Sango's upper body popped up and she shrieked. She slugged Miroku in the face, causing him to knock into Inuyasha. The boy just snorted, and pushed him back. This led to Miroku landing in her breasts, and a heavy punch to the base of the neck. Miroku lay beaten and dazed in his chair, and Sango joined the other two in fuming. After a moment's staring, the principal resumed his speech.
Afterwards, they headed back to the dorm, their classes not till tomorrow. Kagome broke of from the group, curtly saying she was going to explore the campus. After watching her go, Inuyasha muttered something about the bathroom and took of in her direction. The others shared knowing smirks before Sango remembered she was pissed at Miroku and slapped him. They continued to walk to the dorm, friends once again, thanks to that simple slap of forgiveness.
Inuyasha watched from the shadows as Kagome sat down on the steps of one of the class buildings. Stupid wench, he thought to himself. What the hell am I doing here, tailing her? He was trying to figure out the answer when she did something so shocking he was dumbfounded; she began to cry.
"Why's he have to be such a jerk?" she spit out between sobs. "I just want to make friends, and he's ignoring my attempts" She cried harder. "And he's cute"
Inuyasha felt guilt rising in him and was unable suppress it. He stood there, unsure of what to do.
"Something wrong, woman?" came a cocky, rough voice from behind her. She looked around and saw a smirking young man who just came from the building. He had long black hair that was tied into a ponytail near the top of his head. Some bangs jutted out from the brown headband that matched his khaki pants. Below his face, which contained eyes of a startling light blue, was a navy blue sleeveless shirt with "BEWARE: WOLF" printed in white on his chest.
"Oh, er, nothing," quickly responded Kagome, drying her eyes. There was something about this man
He smiled confidently. "C'monâtell Koga all about it, Missâ?" He left the name hanging.
"Kagome," said said girl. She stood up. "And I told you, its nothing, so just leave me alone." She started to walk away.
Koga's eyes narrowed. "Oi, woman, where're you going? I'm being nice to you" He grabbed her arm, tightly.
"Let go of my arm!" she yelled, pulling away. Her sleeve tore. Koga grinned.
"Would you rather I touch you somewhereâelse?" He gripped her breast, squeezing slightly. She shrieked.
Inuyasha darted from the shadows, landing a fist on Koga's cheek. He stepped back a foot, taking a piece of Kagome's shirt with him.
She stood there shivering. She peered over the back covered with silver hair in front of her. "Inuyasha," she whispered. He either ignored her or didn't hear.
He was seething with rage. "How dare you touch her? Listen here'wolf'âyou leave Kagome the hell alone, or I'll see to it you don't bother anyone again."
A shocked Koga rubbed his cheek. He glared back at Inuyasha, anger radiating from his every move. "Listen, you little silver-haired shit, get out of my sight now before I hand your ass back to you."
Inuyasha chuckled vehemently. "Come at me then, wolf," he grinned.
He met Koga's charge head on. He allowed Koga's punch to connect with his shoulder, ignoring the pain it sent through his arm. By not wasting movement blocking or dodging, he was able to smash the other's jaw.
They separated, Koga stumbling back slightly. Inuyasha grinned out a "Keh." Guy's got some punch to him, assessed Inuyasha. But he's nothing compared to me
And as arrogant as that sounded, it was doubtlessly true. Inuyasha grew up fighting; as a youth, he was suspended from elementary school at least ten times a year, all for fighting. He needed to do it. He needed to feel the release it brought him. The battle fever separated him from his "home" life, allowing him to be free.
Koga straightened up and spit out some blood. He wiped the rest of the blood off with his fist. He snarled. "Bastard!" he spat. He leapt forward, instigating the final contact of the fight.
He crouched and did a floor-sweep kick. Inuyasha leapt over it and grinned. "Mine!" he yelled in the air before dropping both feet into Koga's stomach. The black-haired fighter crashed into the ground, the wind knocked out of him. Inuyasha stood over him grinning, the bloodlust still in his eyes. He shook his head and turned to Kagome.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concern written on his face.
A little shocked, Kagome stuttered, "Y-yeah, I'm f-fine now. Th-thanks"
There was a moment's awkward silence. Then he looked at her strangely. "Take off your shirt," he commanded.
She stared, her anger very close to resurfacing and prompting her to beat the living shit out of him.
He saw this and rolled his eyes. He pulled off his own, revealing a wife beater underneath. "Your shirt is ripped," he explained, as if she was child. "Wear mine instead," he finished, throwing it at her.
She caught it. "Ohâthanks," she quickly removed her shirt, blushing. She pulled the tee shirt over her, quickly covering her bra. The shirt was black, with the words "I don't care" typed across the chest in white. Fitting, she thought.
"C'mon," he said, and she followed him on the path to their dorm. They left a gasping Koga behind them.
They walked in silence for a while. They snuck glances at each other when the other wasn't looking. Finally Inuyasha looked down and began with something he rarely uttered to anyone.
"I'm sorry," he stated. Kagome was shocked. "I know you were just trying to be nice, and I threw it back in your face. I know that's stupid, but I'm not used to people being nice to me. I didn't have the easiest childhoodâI was raised in an orphanage, attending a shitty public school with crumbling walls. My damn hair and my lack of a family made me a target, so I grew up tough, fighting my way up through high school, where I met someone special. Thisâspecial person influenced me to make it in here, so I tried my hardest, and made it here. So, I'm sorry if I'm going to be a jackass to you, but don't take it personally; it's just the way I am."
Kagome whispered his name. "Inuyashaâthank you. For opening up to me, and for saving me from Koga, and for becoming my friend." On sudden inspiration, she went and hugged him tightly. She was surprised but not disappointed when his arms wrapped around her waist. They embraced tightly, holding it for almost a minute before they pulled way. They looked down at the floor, blushing.
Kagome ran inside the dorm building, a smile on her face. "C'mon, Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku are probably worried about us!" She raced up the stairwell.
Inuyasha stood there for a minute. He smiled. "Kehâstupid wench." He followed his friend up the stairs and to their rooms. They parted at their doors, Kagome smiling and Inuyasha just ignoring her. But for the gruff nature he had adopted, he would have smiled back.