Here is the 4th chapter of Car 59. Cookies for those who reviewed!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and company.

Car 59

Chapter 4

"Lesson number one, Inuyasha: Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can

fly." Kagome grinned.

Inuyasha blinked at her response as Kagome laughed lightly. "I mean," she elaborated, "I pulled back on the speed when I came close to turns and then accelerated when I finished a turn. That way I don't lose control or sacrifice momentum."

"Oh, well I could have thought of that," Miroku stated self-assuredly. "The idea just didn't come to me, that's all."

"Right," Kagome mocked with a touch of sarcasm, before turning her attention back to the hanyou. "Let's try it Inuyasha."

Inuyasha replied airily, "Keh, it will be easy as pie."

Kagome handed him back his helmet as she locked eyes with him, regarding him

with a look of competition. Inuyasha met her challenging gaze with equal determination.

"I'm not going to let some wench make a fool of me," he muttered. Inuyasha

shut the door and pulled on his seat belt, revving the engine into life as he

had before. Flashing Kagome a toothy grin, he stepped on the gas and sped off.

"Ok, let's see if this works." Inuyasha pulled back on the speed as he came closer to the curve. He let the curve accelerate his car a bit further as he pushed on the gas nearer to the end of his turn. "Hmm, that was simple enough."

Amber eyes focused straight ahead as he came upon another turn. Once again he pulled back on the gas as he steered the wheel slightly. However, a frown crept on his face when he realized the car was drifting much too close to the inside wall of the track, and he had to jerk the steering wheel away to avoid a collision and step on the break, bringing the car to a skidding halt.

"What the heck?" he spat, bewildered.

"Inuyasha, what happened?" Miroku's voice rang in Inuyasha's ear through the speakers.

"I don't know what happened; I pulled back on the gas as I came closer to the curve, just like the wench said, but the car was listing too far inward -- I nearly hit the inside wall," Inuyasha replied.

"Inuyasha, come back; I want to talk to you." This time it was Kagome's melodic voice.

"Keh, whatever. I'm coming." The hanyou started up the engine as he sped back to his apparent coaches.

"Guess you do need practice," Kagome said smugly.

"Keh, just some bad luck, that's all," he retorted.

Kagome gave a small shrug and said dismissively, "Whatever, I guess you don't want to know what the problem is."

Inuyasha growled irritably, "Ugh, fine tell me what the problem is!"

"Well, Mr. I-am-Ignorant, you reduced the flow of gasoline to the engine, thereby reducing the rate of conversion of the vehicle's potential energy to kinetic energy such that your momentum was diminished beyond the critical level, thus reducing the counterforce of centrifugal motion -- which, until then, had been preventing the force of conventional gravity from drawing the car to the lowest available position -- to the point of allowing gravity to take over and cause the vehicle to drift inward toward the barrier," she stated matter-of-factly.

Miroku and Inuyasha blinked in unison, and Kagome rubbed her forehead in half-amusement and half-frustration.

Miroku drawled out, "Plain English please."

"It means you didn't press the gas hard enough," Kagome explained in a bored tone.

"Oh! Now I get it," Miroku exclaimed idiotically.

"I knew that." Inuyasha replied.

"Well then, Mr. Know-it-all, why don't you show us?" Kagome poked teasingly at Inuyasha's chest.

"Whatever women." He hesitated only briefly before starting the engine as Kagome crossed her arms and observed him with a confident smirk.

Casting a final glance at the woman, he stepped on the gas and he sped away, leaving Miroku and Kagome coughing in the dust.

:Scene:

Kagome watched as Inuyasha sped off for the fifth time. The second try hadn't been too bad -- he made two laps before making yet another mistake. The tries that followed weren't particularly successful either.

She trailed the red car, the words 'Car 59'painted on its side in fiery orange. Tensing as Inuyasha headed towards a turn, she bit her lip in anxiety. Miroku gave a relieved sigh as Inuyasha passed the second lap -- perhaps he was going to make it this time. The second lap turned into a fifth and Inuyasha gave a cry of victory.

"Finally, I did it!" he yelled triumphantly.

"Yes you did -- now get back here, its lunch time," Miroku chuckled into the speakers.

The hanyou did as the man bade, pulling to a stop before them and emerging

from the vehicle.

"Yes!" Inuyasha said as Miroku and he did a high-five.

"Well now, what do you say?" Kagome playfully asked, coming up beside them.

"Um...where's my food?" Inuyasha teased.

"inuyasha," the woman scolded, slapping him lightly on the arm.

Inuyasha growled out, "No need to get rough, woman..."

Kagome shot him a glare and opened her mouth to speak, but before she managed to form the words, the hanyou interrupted her.

"..But thanks," he finished, and her indignation dissipated on the spot, turning into a smile instead.

"So, where is the food?" she questioned. Inuyasha and Kagome's eyes met for a moment, the same idea occurring to both of them, and they slid twin gazes to their third companion.

"Me? Ugh why do I have to get the food?" Miroku whined.

"Oh, but we didn't say anything, but thanks for volunteering, Miroku." Kagome fluted.

:Scene:

The end of practice left Inuyasha and his coaches exhausted as they walked

out of the racetrack.

"I better get home quick -- it looks like it's going to rain, and I promised I'll help Sango with the kids. I might not be here tomorrow -- that way you two can get to know each other better." He winked.

"Not likely," Inuyasha responded hotly.

Miroku merely chuckled as he disappeared into the flood of cars in the parking lot.

Left alone, Kagome turned to the silver-haired hanyou. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow, Inuyasha," she said wistfully, and, smiling slightly with a small shake of her head, she turned around and began to walk.

Inuyasha observed her departure thoughtfully for a moment, and then, not knowing to do, turned and set off in the opposite direction. As he came closer to his mode of transportation he noticed the clouds beginning to gather over the town of Tokyo.

"Oh, it better not rain," he cursed at the sky under his breath.

It seemed that that only angered God, because in response to his warnings the hanyou felt raindrops beginning to fall upon him.

"Oh great!" he muttered, "the one day my car is in the shop, it rains. At least I don't have to walk," he added dryly.

Inuyasha's spirits lifted somewhat at that, but at the same time his heart seemed to sink low. The very same motorcycle was the one he and Kikyo had ridden around on everyday. He remembered the feel of her arms wound tightly around his waist and the warmth of her head against his back as they sped along the highway, the wind in their hair.

The raindrops grew heavy as he pulled his helmet on and revved up the machine. The vehicle roared as it parted through the wet asphalt parking lot.

As he swung around a corner his eyes narrowed, trying to make out the figure

ahead of him, waiting at the bus stop on the sidewalk -- it was Kagome.

He pulled to a stop abruptly, coming up beside her. "I heard standing in the rain can give you a cold -- guess you didn't know that."

"Inuyasha? Is that you?" the woman responded curiously.

"No, it's the Queen of England -- of course its me! What are you doing here?"

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm knitting socks for my brother -- what does it

look like I'm doing?"

"Your taking the bus? Don't you have a car or something? How did you get to the racetrack when I left your apartment?"

"I took the bus," Kagome replied boredly.

Inuyasha smirked back at her. "Well, taking the bus is alright, but how about a ride?"

"With you? No thanks -- I think I'll rather die peacefully than in a motorbike accident." Kagome stated.

"Your loss," he said with a shrug.

Kagome bit her lip and glanced uncertainly down the street. It didn't seem like the bus was ever going to come and her hair was already damp. At last she gave a reluctant sigh and replied, "Ugh fine."

"Hmm maybe I don't feel so generous anymore," the man taunted.

She glared at him and said indignantly, "Inuyasha!"

"Just kidding, get on. There's a spare helmet in the compartment."

Kagome nodded and retrieved said helmet as she hesitantly climbed onto the contraption behind him.

"Hang on," Inuyasha said smugly, and pulled on the throttle, giving the vehicle a great roar as it sped out of the parking lot. Kagome wrapped her arms tightly around Inuyasha's waist pressing her cheek into the back of his jacket in an effort to keep from falling off.

She felt Inuyasha squirm slightly at the intimate contact but she continued her actions as the speed caused her hair to trail behind her.

Inuyasha smirked mentally as he pressed on the engine to go faster. The world

around them became little more than a series of colored blurs in Kagome's eyes as trees and tall buildings passed by them in a rush.

She managed to shout, "Inuyasha, you're going too fast!"

Inuyasha was going to respond but his voice seemed to be caught in his

throat. She -- Kagome -- she sounded so much like Kikyo...

:Flashback:

"I am Kikyo Tanuto, your date for this evening."

The image was a colorful one – Kikyo's color of choice was red. The red topcaused her pale skin to glow as she took off her cocktail hat to reveal smoothly combed raven hair tucked into a intricate knot with a simple white ribbon.

She offered her slender hand to the man that stood before her.

"Uh Inuyasha, Inuyasha Yazumi. You're the girl Miroku was talking about?"

"Yes, I think so." She grinned.

The two had an interesting dinner filled with an enlightened conversation.

For once Inuyasha managed not to tick off a woman and actually behaved himself.

The restaurant had an open area where it was meant for couples to dance. The

small orchestra began to play an elegant waltz as the violinists delicately drew their bows in time to the tune.

"Inuyasha, would you care to dance?" Kikyo's brown eyes looked longinglyat the dance floor.

Normally, Inuyasha would scoff, but how could he resist such an offer?

"Keh, whatever," he replied casually.

He got to his feet and took Kikyo into his arms. Surprisingly they weren't shabby dancers at all, gliding across the room with such beauty and grace, as Inuyasha had never known.

He kept rotating with Kikyo, enjoying the rhythm they had got going.

"Inuyasha, you are going too fast." Kikyo laughed. Their pace slowed down as

the music ruefully slowed down as well. Amber and chocolate looked intently at each other as they resumed their seats at last.

When the last course had been completed Kikyo rose from the table. "I had a wonderful time -- I hope to see you soon." She leaned forward and gave Inuyasha a kiss on the cheek as she passed something to his hand.

The hanyou glanced down in mild surprise to find a drink napkin, upon which was written Kikyo's phone number, clutched in his hand.

:End Of Flashback:

"Inuyasha! Didn't you hear me? I said you are going too fast!"

Said man winced, "Sorry dazed out -- no need to shout, woman, I can hear you just fine."

Sweeping aside a retort to the effect of, "Dazed out? That's a brilliant thing to do while you're driving," Kagome simply sighed and tried to enjoy the adrenaline that rushed thorugh her veins.

After a while the rush stopped as the motorcycle drew to a halt. Kagome's head felt heavy from the ride as she gave Inuyasha the helmet back. As she did soher hand brushed the hanyou's ever so slightly, and she blushed at the contact, the rain continuing to pour down over them.

Inuyasha noticed, the same pale glow, Kikyo had, as the rain dripped down Kagome's face. She was beautiful.

"Thanks for the lift – I'll see you tomorrow." On impulse she gave him a small peck on the cheek.

Inuyasha's heart stopped, and he watched blankly as Kagome disappeared from view.

:Scene:

"Sesshoumaru, I'm home."

"Is that you, Inuyasha?"

"Geez why is everyone saying that?" he thought. "No, it's the fricken tooth fairy! Of course its me, idiot!" he answered loudly.

"Inuyasha, you don't need to be so rude."

"Keh."

Sesshomaru handed him towel as Inuyasha dried himself off. The windows

flickered with lightning and the sound of the heavy rain pounded on the roof.

Inuyasha poured water into a kettle and waited for it to boil. He watched his

elder brother pace back and forth rubbing his forehead in frustration.

At last he questioned, "What's bugging you, Sesshomaru?"

"Its nothing-"he paused, "Well, actually...I'm kind of think of asking Kagura in a hand of marriage." He added quietly.

Inuyasha's eyes sparked. "About time, baka, you two have been in love with each other for five years now. I was expecting to have nieces and nephews bothering me by now."

Sesshomaru's usually pale facade tinged with red, and he grunted, "Anyhow,I Don't know how to go about asking her."

"For starters, do you have a ring?"

"No."

Inuyasha clapped a hand to his forehead. "How the hell are you supposed to ask the woman to marry you, when you haven't even got a ring?"

"I don't know," Sesshomaru muttered.

"I thought I was stupid. Okay, here's what we do...."

(Meanwhile)

"Lunch time, hurry up, you buggers," a short pudgy man dressed in a dirtied apron called to the long line of people wearing orange suits.

"Aaah, the lovely Kikyo. Mashed potatoes today," The man sneered unpleasantly.

Kikyo's face showed disgust as the man dumped a large amount of the yellow substance onto her

tin plate.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she made her way over to a table and sat down.

"How you holding up, Higurashi?" he asked in greeting.

"I'm okay, but the gray walls are depressing," the man answered.

Kikyo laughed, "I still don't get how you endured seventeen years of this."

"Kikyo, every time we meet, this is all you talk about, it drives a man to his wits." Kensuke laughed. "Do tell me, you were talking about a man in our last conversation -- Inuyasha, his name was?"

"Yeah, a real looker. He has the most beautiful eyes -- I can't wait to get back to him." Kikyo's face acquired a dreamy, thoughtful expression at the memory.

Kensuke shoveled another spoonful of his lunch as he said, "You told me he was a racer, no?"

"Yeah, he's pretty good. Someone told me had made it into the semi's."

"I see -- now tell me, was Inuyasha's last name Yazumi, by any chance?"

"Yeah it was. I think he told me his father was a racer too. They called him "The Demon." I think."

"Yes, "The Demon" -- I am acquainted him." His face flashed with a dark expression as he took another spoonful of his lunch.

"Kikyo, when we get out of here. Do you mind if I can meet him?"

"Well, I don't see why not, sure." Kikyo replied.

Kensuke grinned, "I'll have my revenge...Inuyasha."

:Space:

Hey everyone, please forgive me for updating so late. I know this chapter is a little shorter than usual, but I promise the next one will be much longer. I already know what it is going to be about, I just have to figure out the beginning! Inuyasha admitted that he is stupid...lol.

Thanks to FOM, again for editing this chapter.

R&R!

Ciao,

Izayoi