Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. The characters belong to Rumiko Takahashi!

Author Note: Hmm, I can't wait till I've fixed every single chapter!

Yakitori- Skewered grilled chicken

Chapter 6
Interrupted Message

Inuyasha had just reached Kaoru's Express, a late night restaurant, and was about to seat himself down when the distant sound of screeching tires caught his attention. The hanyo smirked devilishly as he let his weight come crashing down on a cushiony chair.

"Can I get you anything, sir?" a waitress asked. She held a pad of paper and prepared to write down his order. Inuyasha skimmed through the menu, making faces at whatever he thought sounded nasty.

"You guys got any ramen here?" he asked, looking up at the suddenly surprised girl. She fiddled with the hem on her apron and then shook her head vigorously; as if afraid he would leave. Must be a newbie…

"Figures" he mumbled. "Guess I'll have-"

His request was muffled by the sound of the waitress as she let out a loud shriek. Inuyasha looked up, startled at the sudden commotion. The source of the problem: Miroku. Inuyasha looked sympathetically at the waitress who had rallied attention from everyone in the restaurant. She blushed madly and dashed away, mumbling an "I'll get your order right away!"

"But I haven't even ordered anything yet!" Inuyasha called after her.

Miroku smiled pleasantly and sat himself down across from Inuyasha. Inuyasha growled and shot Miroku a cold stare.

"I'm hungry" the hanyo snarled. He banged a fist on the table. "Damn it Miroku, did you have to molest the poor thing?"

Miroku looked slightly offend by Inuyasha's choice words, but chose ignored them. He stuffed both hands into his pockets and seated himself. What a day. It was past 9 p.m. and Inuyasha had insisted they go out and grab a bite to eat instead of heading home.

"You cheated" Miroku accused, seemingly out of the blue. Inuyasha had challenged him to a race and didn't warn in advance that Sunada Road was currently under construction.

"I had to find an alternate path and nearly hit a stop sign."

Inuyasha snickered, temporarily forgetting about his hunger. Miroku was a good sport and laugh along. At least he got his revenge with the waitress. Inuyasha would go hungry tonight. Miroku grinned mischievously at what his friend hadn't yet realized.

"So did you get us replacements?" Miroku asked casually. Inuyasha nodded, grazing his claw over a napkin lethargically. It shredded at contact and he was left with a pile of white fluff.

"Who?" Miroku pressed on, once Inuyasha had remained silent too long.

"Kagome and Sango" he answered, still not paying much attention. Miroku nodded in approval. Inuyasha looked uncertain and continued to play with the napkin pieces.

"Maybe we should just go to work" Inuyasha turned serious. "I mean, three solid hours of soccer practice is..." he trailed off as another waitress made her way to their table. The hanyo, in a moment of sheer desperation, knocked Miroku unconscious and waited for the waitress.

"Sorry for the wait," she apologized. "May I take your order?"

"Yeah, I'll have a plate of Yakitori, two bowls of stir-fry noodles, and some curry rice"

The waitress half-smiled and began scribbling down furiously on her pad. She then pointed at the unconscious Miroku and then looked back at Inuyasha peculiarly.

"Will he be having anything?" she was poised and ready to write down more orders. Inuyasha carelessly looked at the menu and selected the first thing he noticed.

"Yeah, he'll have the fried catfish in sweet and sour sauce."

The waitress nodded and jotted the last part down. She turned and got ready to go just as Miroku woke up.

"I'll be back in a while with your orders" she called back. Inuyasha leaned back and waited for Miroku to fully recover.

"Huh? Where am I?" Miroku asked, rubbing his sore head. There were several new bumps forming and he didn't remember the last time...

"What the heck was that for?" Miroku demanded, finally recalling some past events. "You practically knocked me dead!"

"I think that was the point, baka" Inuyasha snapped.

"Replacements" Miroku began to gather pits and pieces of his memory. "We need replacements."

"I told you, Kagome and Sango" Inuyasha responded impatiently. He was having second thoughts. Maybe if they missed soccer practice instead...

"Don't even think about missing soccer practice" Miroku admonished, as if reading his thoughts. "Coach will kill us"

Inuyasha snorted. The coaches might be mad but there's no way they would kick two perfectly talented players off the team. Or, at least, there was no way they would kick him out. Miroku was a different story since he was a better swimmer than soccer player.

Inuyasha sighed and began to stare enviously at a nearby table. They were being served...

"Hungry" Inuyasha felt his stomach rumble softly. "I'm so damn hungry."

"Somehow, this doesn't feel right" Miroku said, yawning. "Did you give them the keys?"

Inuyasha nodded and began stabbing the table with the ends of a fork. What was taking so damn long? He noticed Miroku's silence and looked up curiously. Miroku looked as if he was thinking deeply about something.

"You wouldn't happen to have warned curious little Kagome about-"

He hardly got a chance to finish.

"Shit" Inuyasha cursed and drowned out the other boy's last words.

:-:-:

Kagome fell upon her bed and began to doze off. It was past midnight and she had just finished her homework. It felt like she'd only slept for a couple minutes when her alarm clock began ringing. Kagome slammed her hand on her nightstand a couple times before she finally succeeded in hitting the off button.

"Urggg…" she groaned, sliding off her bed slowly. Kagome yawned and rubbed sleep deprived eyes. Today is Thursday, her brain told her. The alarm clock reads 7:40. Sango will be here in 5 minutes.

Something didn't sound right...

Five Minutes?

She shot out of bed like a bullet and dove towards the bathroom, grabbing her backpack in the process.

"Mooomm!" Kagome grabbed a toothbrush and began dousing it with toothpaste. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Downstairs she could hear the pitter patter of feet and someone climbing up the stairs. It was her grandpa. He had a couple of scrolls tucked under one arm and a held a piece of toast in another.

"Kagome?" he asked, surprised. "What are you still doing here?"

"Grandpa, where's mama?" Kagome asked through mouthfuls of toothpaste.

"She had to drive Souta to school." he replied, munching on his breakfast, oblivious to granddaughters distress.

"What are you still doing here?" he repeated.

"I woke up late," she explained, feeling oddly awake.

Kagome rinsed her mouth clean and splashed her face with a handful of cold water. On her way downstairs, Kagome gave her grandfather a quick peck on the cheek, happy that she had at least slept in her school uniform.

"Goodbye Kagome" her grandfather said before continuing his daily inspection of the house.

"Bye Grandpa!" Kagome yelled back. She threw herself out the door and stumbled down the stairs to the roadside. Sango sat waiting in her silver Pontiac, drumming her index fingers against the steering wheel. Kagome hurried over, swung the side door open in one fluid motion and sat down on the passenger's seat, happy to have made it on time…err…sort of.

"You're late." Sango chirped, indicating the obvious. Kagome sat breathing laboriously while trying to flatten out the creases on her skirt. She reached out and slammed the door shut.

"I know." was her brief reply. Sango gave a short laugh before driving off. When they reached the nearly filled parking lots, she parked next to a black pickup truck and unlocked the doors. Kagome scooted out, tossing her bag over a shoulder.

"We made it!" she exclaimed, pumping her fists into the air triumphantly.

"No thanks to you," Sango teased, checking her watch. After locking the doors, she followed Kagome into the school building and wasn't surprised to find the hallways crowded. It seemed everyone was trying to make it to class at the last minute. Kagome rushed to History class, calling a last minute goodbye to Sango who turned a corner towards AP Literature.

The bell rung just seconds after Kagome threw open the doors to Ms. Manoke's class. To her relief, the classroom shook with the sound of kids gossiping and chatting. The announcements blasted through the intercom, disrupting the chaos. That lively, yet annoying, festival music began to play.

"Just a reminder: tomorrow is the annual Shikon High Fall Festival!" the speaker announced joyously. It sounded a lot like a tape recording. "School will let out at around noon for last minute preparations. Students are encouraged to come bringing family members and friends."

There was a pause and the sound of shuffling papers could be heard over the speakers. The real announcer cleared his throat for further attention.

"There will be soccer practice tomorrow, regardless of the festival, happening from noon until three." A couple groans could be heard from the few students who were involved in soccer.

"In addition, there will be a student council meeting this afternoon to cast final votes on festival games and activities." the announcer continued. "If you are interested in Track and Field, sign ups are this afternoon in the North entrance." There was a pause.

"That about wraps it up for your morning announcements. Have a good day."

Kagome sat pondering over what she had just heard before snapping back to reality at the sound of Ms. Manoke's voice.

"Okay class, let's get started!" Ms. Manoke turned on the overhead with the flick of a switch. She was a young woman, in her mid-twenties, always neat and composed. Kagome pulled out a notebook and began taking notes, humming softly to herself. For the next 45 minutes, all that could be heard was the vigorous scribbling of pencils and the faint ticking of a clock.

When the bell rung Kagome was the first one out. She was determined to make it on time to her next hour: Physical Education. That class was shared with Sango, a certain hanyo, playboy...and

"Ka-go-me," Kagome grimaced. It was Yura, come to ruin her otherwise tolerable day.

:-:-:

"So did you tell her?" Miroku asked, for just about the hundredth time that day. He was received with a much deserved punch in the face. Inuyasha rubbed a satisfied fist before answering.

"For the last time, no"

"Why?" Miroku moaned, rubbing his swelled face. Inuyasha smirked.

"Why did I punch you?" the hanyo asked, chuckling slightly. Miroku wasn't amused and stopped walking. They were both headed towards the locker rooms to change for gym class.

"No, I mean, why haven't you told her yet?"

Inuyasha growled in frustration. He had spent literally all morning searching for the duo, or at least one of them, and had even come to school early. Inuyasha was feeling a little peeved but quickly cooled down when he realized that he would see Kagome in class.

"I couldn't find her," Inuyasha replied swiftly. No questions asked; the two headed towards the locker rooms.

:-:-:

A short, balding, beefy man stood at the head of the gym room, scanning row upon row of high school students, marking on a pad which ones were present and absent. This was the gym teacher, Mr. Hattori. He looked like an army man with his crew cut and air of authority.

"Alright," he boomed. "It's nice out today." Each sentence was spoken clearly and effectively loud. "So we'll be running the track—boys and girls separate."

Kagome hoisted herself up and jogged towards the backdoors, followed by Sango who busied herself with her hair. The mass of students congregated at the door made it hard to get out but she eventually succeeded. Sango followed shortly and the two began chatting nonstop.

"What a horrible start," Kagome commented, tugging at a loose piece of thread on her maroon t-shirt.

"Yura caught up with me this morning and asked me how the dare was going."

"What did you tell her?" Sango asked, only half interested.

"I completely lied" Kagome confessed, feeling dismayed. "I told her that things were going great."

Sango laughed and then began to jog at a leisurely pace. Kagome followed.

"Speaking of great..." Sango began slyly. "What happened between you and Inuyasha during detention?"

Kagome mentally slapped herself. She hadn't told Sango about the hug she'd given Inuyasha and how he had misinterpreted it and...Of course, the ramen date she owed Inuyasha after loosing that stupid bet.

After going through the details, Kagome felt as if a great burden had been lifted.

"You and Inuyasha are going on a date?" Sango didn't know what to think.

"Well it's not really a date," Kagome denied, flushing a light pink.

"What happened between you and Miroku?" she felt an overpowering need to change the subject.

Sango felt flustered. She turned her head away and started fanning her face.

"It's hot today," Sango remarked. Kagome smiled playfully. So something had happened!

:-:-:

Inuyasha vented his anger out by outrunning a panting Miroku. Stupid Mr. Hattori had decided to separate guys and girls, putting them in different tracks. He glanced over at the adjacent field where the girls were and searched for Kagome. She stood out amongst the other girls, her hair hung loosely by her side. He was tempted to shout out her name but scolded himself for coming up with such a ridiculous idea. It wasn't like they were going out or anything.

"So when're you going to tell her?" Miroku taunted. He took off as soon as the words spilled out, followed by a pissed off hanyo. Mr. Hattori stood on the sidelines and timed the boys running. Over on the girl's track, his assistant and school secretary, Ms. Kaede presided.

"Congratulations!" Mr. Hattori shouted after Miroku who was still running for his life. He pointed at his watch, tapping it slightly. "This is a new record!"

Miroku had run the mile in a little over four minutes with Inuyasha trailing just inches behind.

When that was all over, a sweaty and beat up Miroku struggled to keep up with the rest of the class as they headed towards the locker rooms. Sango caught up with Miroku, hesitant over whether or not she could do this. Kagome had advised her to offer some sort of congrats.

She placed a hand on his shoulder but quickly removed it once realizing how much sweat had accumulated on his dark blue t-shirt. Miroku turned, astoundingly, his wounds, inflicted by Inuyasha, had healed.

"Sango-chan, hey," Miroku pushed aside his sweaty bangs and spoke in pants. He cleared his throat.

"Please excuse my appearance I-"

"Congratulations!" she blurted out, reaching over to grasp his hand for a shake. Miroku stood dumbstruck as both of Sango's hands enclosed around his own in a firm handshake.

"Thanks," Miroku responded. "I guess."

Sango turned on her heel, refusing to let anything embarrassing happen. She had done her part, used up all her courage, and now asked for nothing more than to just lie on her comfortable bed and fall asleep.

Kagome spotted Inuyasha standing a little ways off, talking to the gym instructor, Mr. Hattori. They made eye contact briefly and she watched as he excused himself and headed over—over to her? Kagome couldn't believe it!

"Hey Kagome," Inuyasha greeted coolly, he motioned for them to keep walking and Kagome complied.

"Uh, look, about tomorrow," Inuyasha began. He didn't know where or how to start and decided to speak whatever was on his mind.

"When you, uh, get there," Inuyasha continued.

"Takashi!" Mr. Hattori's loud voice roared and cut into their conversation. "Get over here!"

"Don't open it," was all Kagome heard before Inuyasha turned and headed back into the gym room. Gods Inuyasha thought. I am such an idiot. Kagome stared after him, confused at what he had been trying to tell her. With a small shrug, Kagome hurried off to change.

:-:-:

"You know" Sango remarked while walking to the Student Council Meeting after school. "The key to a guy's heart is through his stomach." She was giving Kagome last minute piece of advice, referring to her upcoming date with Inuyasha.

"That would certainly apply to someone like Inuyasha," Kagome smiled distractedly. "But I don't know about Miroku."

Sango rolled her eyes and resolved that she was simply too tired for any advice giving. It was a Thursday, one day before the huge Fall Festival. She was zoning out and now obligated to go to a meeting. The two friends parted at Room 215 and Kagome headed home, excited for what was to come.

A/N: Six down, a couple more to go…sigh…