Sakura's Note: Here's lucky chapter thirteen! To make it even better, it's on time! I'm really excited that it is…you have no idea. Things will start picking up this chapter and next. Relationships (romance and otherwise) will begin to form, problems will brew, and those characters we haven't heard from in a while (or haven't even heard of yet) will appear.
Enjoy the chapter and R&R!
.-..-.
Chapter 13: On the Hunt
.-..-.
"No, there isn't a problem." Kikyo proceeded down the hallway to the elevators. "I'm on my way down to tutoring."
"I feel like a jerk for dropping a bomb on you like this." Touran professed. "But our agent just announced it to us ten minutes ago."
Kikyo stepped into the elevator, "How long is the tour?" She heard a sigh on the other end of the phone.
"We'll be in L.A. tomorrow." Touran sounded drained. "And then it's six weeks of touring around the west coast with a finale here in New York. We're lucky that we're getting Thanksgiving off."
"Six weeks… Your manager is a slave driver."
"True. The only reason we keep him is that he's our father. I got to go before Karan rips my favorite suitcase trying to fit all her hair dye in."
"Call from Los Angeles."
"Will do."
Kikyo snapped her phone shut.
"Six weeks is a long time…" Onigumo turned away from viewing the Urashi building, sneering at his daughter. "What are you planning to do with your time?"
Kikyo narrowed her eyes at his tone. "Why don't you like them?"
Onigumo cocked his head slightly to the side. "What gave you that impression?"
Kikyo gave a dry laugh. "You didn't hire a nanny to raise an idiot."
"No, because I don't waste the money I earn." Gracing his daughter with a rare smile, he motioned her closer. "Where were you yesterday? I was looking for you."
That didn't sit well. "You were?"
"Yes. I wanted to talk with you." Her father folded his hands behind his back, still peering out the window. "This business will be yours someday. You should start earning it."
A sense of apprehension settled over her as she listened to her father.
"If we play our cards right you'll own Urashi as well. However, Higurashi is clever. He'll buy us out very soon if things don't change."
Kikyo peered up at her father. "What exactly are you asking of me?"
Onigumo's hands weighed down heavily on Kikyo's shoulders. "I'm asking you to do your father proud. A new idea can make or break any company…it doesn't matter who created it. All that matters is who takes it."
Heiress to the Miasma Corp fortune, Kikyo Graves, did not attend her tutor session that morning.
.-..-.
Miroku's SAAB rolled into its parking space and the engine growled to a stop. "How 'bout we go for chicken after school?"
Inuyasha nodded distractedly, "I'm game…" Trailing off, he leaned forward in his seat. "What's Rin dragging Kohaku across the bus lot for?" Inuyasha barely got a foot out of the Make-out Mobile before Rin grabbed onto the door to stop herself. "Whoa! Where's the fire?"
"What's wrong, Rin?" Miroku looked over the top of the car at her.
"Kouga's gonna ask you to homecoming!" Rin wheezed.
Miroku looked on in disgust. "I honestly don't know whether to be sick or flattered…"
"Not you!" Kohaku insisted. "Kagome!"
Silently thanking the powers that be, Miroku popped the trunk.
Kagome pulled her backpack out. "Really?" Rin and Kohaku nodded forcefully. "Well that's nice of him."
"Nice?" Inuyasha spit out like poison. "Don't tell me you're really considering it!"
"Well why not?" Kagome challenged, "Do you have a problem with it?"
"The hell I do!" Inuyasha roared, yanking his own bag out of the car. "I don't want Kouga Wolfe in my house! Especially if he's got his eyes on you for more than just homecoming."
"And what, exactly, do you think he has his eyes on me for?" Kagome snapped. "What kind of person do you think I am!"
"Keh!"
"You have a lot of nerve!" Kagome stomped her foot, "You're feeding off some stupid stereotype, aren't you?"
"No I'm not!"
"The fact that my brother wants to take you to Homecoming isn't the big picture here." Rin interrupted, coming between them. "It's that he was kind of like the ice breaker for a big flock of people."
Inuyasha bent down to Rin's eye level, "What do you mean 'ice breaker'?"
Miroku seemed to have grasped the concept. "Wait, you mean to say that there's a herd of guys hunting Kagome down?"
Kohaku nodded, "I was practically mobbed getting off the bus with questions on where you were."
Sliding down the car, Kagome whimpered. "It's a nightmare…"
"Keh!" Inuyasha crossed his arms haughtily, "They're a bunch of blood hounds."
"This should prove to be an interesting day, then." Miroku didn't sound very thrilled. He had always imagined a swarm of people crowding around him, but in his dreams, they were after him, not after the girl next to him…and they were all girls.
.-..-.
Naraku whisked through the Urashi doors, briskly heading towards the elevators. He paused, however, when someone at the security desk caught his eye. He motioned for one of the idle security guards to come forward. "What is Onigumo's girl doing here?"
James the security guard looked confused. "She says…she's here to see Miss Sango Dawson."
Naraku narrowed his eyes in distrust, allowing the security guard to get back to his post unharmed. "Midoriko, what is going on here?"
Midoriko – having just exited the bathroom – slowed to a stop. "If you can't figure that out, then there's no hope for you."
Naraku glared, "NOT YOU! That!" Gesturing to the closing elevator doors, Naraku's head snapped back in her direction. "What is Kikyo Graves doing in the Urashi building?" His phone rang – and Naraku pushed 'ignore'.
"Kikyo is here?" Midoriko's was shocked. "Why wasn't I notified?"
"Apparently because you were in the restroom."
"So? I can still answer the phone! Did she mention the reason why she was here?"
On cue, Naraku's phone rang again. "All she said was she wanted to speak with Miss Dawson-"
Another phone call.
Midoriko gritted her teeth. "Surely no one authorized her to go upstairs without verifying it firs-" Naraku's cell phone cut her off. "Just answer the damn thing already!" Midoriko demanded hotly. "Put that on vibrate while I find out what's going on…"
.-..-.
Sango waited anxiously.
At the mall, it had looked like Kikyo would only accept the invitation when pigs sprouted wings and flew by Sango's window. Yet, only minutes ago she had received a call saying Kikyo was asking to see her.
"But why?" Sango flopped onto her bed, half covered in schoolbooks from her earlier tutoring session with her tutor Kuranosuke.
The elevator dinged and Kikyo's willowy voice thanked whoever had escorted her up. "Hello Sango."
"Hey." Sango gestured toward the sofa, "You can sit down if ya want."
Kikyo shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
Silence ensued.
"So, Kikyo, you decided to-"
Elevator dinging once again, the doors opened to allow Midoriko to hurry into the room. "Oh! Kikyo, I'm sorry…No one told me you were here."
"It's fine. If you need time with Sango then I'll go." Kikyo turned, briskly starting towards the elevator.
"It's alright, Kikyo." Sango shot Midoriko a beseeching look. "What is it, Midoriko?"
"Oh, I just wanted to let you know that you have an interview tomorrow for a morning show. Since you have company, I'll come back before dinner."
"Alright." Sango's stomach fluttered nervously. "Thank you, Midoriko. I really appreciate you prepping me for it."
Midoriko let a truly happy smile come through, "It's no trouble at all." As she passed Kikyo, she gave her a subtle once-over. No visible weaponry…I'll have to trust Sango to inform us later.
The Press Coordinator left.
"I imagine you're surprised that I actually accepted your invitation." Kikyo said, smiling vaguely. "The truth is, I was curious."
Sango's brow furrowed. "Curious? About what?"
"About why you made such a big effort to make me feel welcome in a place that not even you really belong in." Kikyo said bluntly. "You act different than the other Urashi dwellers."
It didn't fail; Kikyo's icy attitude didn't look like it ever went away.
Sango smirked, "I am different. Everyone here is different."
"Not when it comes to matters dealing with me." Kikyo walked over to the window, where Miasma slowly came into view. "Except for Kagome…a long time ago."
"What happened? Why does it feel like the Mafia when people talk about Miasma and Urashi? They're just competitive businesses…it shouldn't be such a segregated thing."
Kikyo slanted Sango a gaze. The girl was no heiress, and had no idea where exactly she was. There were darker things going on. Things the media had never gotten its hands on were the reasons why it was so dangerous. "It feels like a Mafia because if you take away murder, that's what it is."
Something caught Kikyo's eye. She couldn't help but pick it up. "Who are these people?"
Sango walked over, letting out a laugh when she saw it. "Those are the stooges. That's my neighbor Miroku on the left and my brother Inuyasha next to him. Incase you're wondering why the entire trunk of the car is filled with candy, it's because they decided to tour the state for Halloween last year."
"How old is he? Your brother?"
"Oh." Sango smirked, "He's sixteen." Kikyo 'hm'ed fondly, placing the picture back on the nightstand. "Kikyo, are you alright?"
"I'm no different than I usually am. Although, starting today, I will have a lot of free time on my hands…" Kikyo looked indifferent. "Touran and Karan are going on tour for six weeks."
Sango's eyes widened, "The Felony sisters! That's right, you know them! They're the most ingenious rock duo out there!"
"An avid fan." Allowing herself to smile, Kikyo shrugged off her jacket. "I'll be sure to tell them next time I call them. I'm sure they'll love to hear that the media's newest eye candy likes them."
"They're incredibly talented," Sango tried to keep a level head. "I wasn't aware they were going on tour, though. Now I'm here and can't see them."
Sango slumped her shoulders in disappointment. Then Kikyo surprised them both. "Well, I can get us backstage…"
"So there is a Santa!" Nothing about Kikyo's frosty exterior could keep Sango from hugging her right then. The Miasma heiress was clearly uncomfortable, but she didn't back away from her polar opposite at that moment.
Sango Dawson was no celebrity starlet, she was a normal, everyday girl. The dark, corrupt world of fame and fortune had yet to corrupt her, and she hoped three months under the spotlight wouldn't succeed in doing it. Standing there, watching as Sango invited her to watch some random television show, Kikyo realized something.
This girl didn't mistrust her, and there was no reason she should give her a reason to.
.-..-.
So, it had come down to this. Again.
Yet, she wasn't so sweaty this time considering the lack of multiple layers of clothing.
Kagome glanced around the hallway like an antelope in Africa. It was a crazy thing to have to do, really.
Abi sighed, coming up beside her and pulling the cap off Kagome's head. "You're safe with me. Besides, wearing a hat in school just brings more attention to you."
Jumping almost a foot in the air, Kagome squawked. "Abi! Don't do that! I'm in hiding and really jumpy right now."
"That's a cool thing you just did! You should be in gymnastics." Abi nudged her, "Hey, my condolences for the phenomenon going on around here… Although, it's really kinda funny."
"Shut up."
Feigning a gasp and a wilt, Abi held a hand to her heart. "Kagome Higurashi just told me to shut up!"
"Yeah I did, but you didn't listen." Kagome turned the corner towards the cafeteria. "This is where the trouble starts, you know. I've seen enough movies to see into the future; I'm going to die."
"Oh, those movies are totally different than this place." Abi looked proud. "Here we're healthily dysfunctional."
The Student Auxiliary Center – commonly known as the SAC – was already packed.
"Oh, I see Inuyasha outside." Abi grabbed Kagome by the arm in time for the two boys heading for her to almost collide with one another. "Let's go."
Because of the brisk weather, many of the summer buffs colonized inside, leaving only those more hardy students outside.
Inuyasha and Miroku, laughing over something by the football field, looked up at the newcomers.
Abi dropped down into the grass beside Miroku.
"Have a good day, girls?" Miroku grinned.
Kagome, dropping down beside Inuyasha, replied. "I had to go into the girls bathroom three times to get away and once a guy followed me in, so I had to stay in a smelly stall for a little while."
Inuyasha looked grossed out, scooting away from her.
"Oh yeah, and I didn't wash my hands." Kagome teased, lunging at him.
"Stay back." Inuyasha warned, ducking out of the way. Kagome fell onto the grass beside him, ending up touching him anyway. "Ugh. Gross."
"Hey, it's Jinenji." Miroku pointed out.
"And Nazuna." Inuyasha muttered, still distracted. He couldn't help himself from fighting with Kagome. It was easy to yell at her, be mean and sarcastic. It was hard to open up, befriend her, and admit that it was possible…
That deep, deep down, he didn't hate her as much as he wanted himself to believe.
"By the way, Kagome, thanks for sending a mob of hot guys asking about you my way." Nazuna grinned cheekily. "Because of it I have a date for homecoming."
"No problem. That knocks one off the list." Wiping her forehead, Kagome leaned back on her hands.
"I thought I'd find you here." Kouga Wolfe stood there triumphantly, dressed like a true, bona fide motorcycle gangster, riding jacket and all. "Where've you been hiding all day?"
Inuyasha scoffed, "Away from you…"
Kagome shot Inuyasha a reproving look. "Hey Kouga. How have your classes been today?"
For some odd reason, Kouga looked amused. "Fine, although I'm only guessing about first period… How have you been holding up? I noticed all the dogs-" He darted a glare towards Inuyasha, "-that have been searching you out all day. Don't worry, I've taken care of it."
"Let me guess, you threatened to skin them alive and hang them up on the flag pole by their genitals?" Abi interjected.
Kouga smirked, "Something like that."
"Kouga…" Kagome chuckled nervously, "I'm really flattered, but I don't think you should do that. It isn't right to terrorize people."
"Why not? It works, doesn't it?" Pulling Kagome to her feet, wearing his knee-weakening grin, Kouga held her hands. "But, if you don't want me to, then I'll just stop with the verbal threats. Now onto more important matters… Homecoming is at the end of October here. And I decided that I want you to be my date."
Kagome's smile slipped. "What?"
Inuyasha smirked. Now Kagome would pummel and reject Wolfe before things got any more complicated.
Kouga put an arm around Kagome's shoulders. "So, how about it? Will you go to Homecoming with me?"
"I'm flattered, Kouga." Kagome admitted. "But maybe before I give an answer we can hang out sometime? We barely know each other."
"That's a good idea, Kagome."
"WHAT!" Inuyasha yelped, spurting soda onto Nazuna.
Kouga ignored his archrival. "Which makes me even more sure that you're the girl I want to take to Homecoming." There was an underlying smugness, targeted at Inuyasha, in Kouga's pleased reaction. "You can get to know me as much as you want, Kagome. How about Friday?"
"Um, okay."
Kouga heard his name called by one of his friends, and winked. "I'm needed elsewhere. See you in gym." With that, he sped away like a true track star.
"Is it just me, or did Kouga's attendance record get better ever since you came, Kagome?" Abi joked, leaning back into the lush lawn.
Feeling a familiar hostility coming from Inuyasha, Kagome nodded feebly. "Yeah, I think it did."
.-..-.
"Hey, did you hear that Kouga scored a date with Kagome Higurashi?"
"No way!"
Inuyasha and Miroku passed the gossipers before they could hear anymore.
"It's the fastest anything's ever been passed around this place." Miroku muttered, jogging past a cluster of power-walking girls appreciatively. "How did it get out already?"
"Lunch was half-" Inuyasha noticed Yura and her friends lightly jogging up ahead on the track and raced ahead of them. "-an hour ago." Inuyasha admitted, slowing again.
Miroku panted, "Dude, warn me next time!"
"Seeing Yura should be enough of a warning that I'm about to dart out of the way." Inuyasha stated bitterly.
"True." Miroku laughed breathily, "Oh hey, it's Kagome."
"Oh hey, let's keep going." Inuyasha suggested, "I don't want to deal with Kouga right now. I'm in a zone."
"You are in no such thing." Miroku sighed, "I doubt Kouga will bother us. And she's our friend, Inuyasha."
"Uh huh."
"And just because she's going to hang out with Kouga on Friday means nothing."
"That's where you're wrong." Inuyasha slowed down nonetheless upon reaching Kagome. He could feel Yura staring at him as she neared them on the track. "Stretch faster, Kagome. We're not gonna wait around all day."
"Yeah, yeah, calm down already." Kagome jumped up, bouncing on the balls of her feet for a second, before starting out at a slow jog. "I don't want to get a cramp halfway across the track."
They jogged in silence for a while, Kagome and Miroku following Inuyasha's lead whenever Yura gained on them. Inuyasha was the only one who had yet to pant.
"What's up with you two?" Kagome glanced across at the other side of the track, where Yura had stopped to drink some water. "You avoid her like the plague."
"Because she is the friggin' plague." Inuyasha retorted bitingly. "So drop it."
"Hey Kagome." Kouga jogged up beside them, "Yo Miroku. Dog breath."
Inuyasha lunged for him, but Miroku grabbed his shirt in time. "Let it go."
"I'll let it go when he learns to be more creative than 'dog-breath'." Inuyasha growled, shrugging out of Miroku's grip.
Kouga turned and jogged backwards. "Is six good? Rin has a date with Kohaku around then, so I figure I'd drop her off."
"That sounds fine." Kagome smiled. His problems with Inuyasha were none of her business. She had a feeling neither would tell her what had happened between them in the past.
"Cool." Kouga winked, turning back around. "Hey Dawson, my legs are feeling restless. How about a race?"
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, "I don't give a rat's ass about how your legs feel."
"So you're backing down." Kouga clarified haughtily, "Is it because you have some leg injury none of us know about or is it because you're scared you'll be spitting out my dust."
Kagome and Miroku slumped in unison. "Come on guys, stop being so competitive!"
They ignored Kagome's command.
"You're on, you mangy Wolfe!"
Kouga forced a calm exterior. "Ooh…nice word play."
"You have anything better than 'dog face' or do you want to start this?"
"Fine." Kouga spit into the grass, making Kagome grimace. He grinned. "First to get back to Kagome wins."
"Hey! Since when am I a part of this!"
Miroku slung an arm around her shoulder, "Don't be too insulted; think of it as giving me some time off. It's usually me."
"We're in the same boat." Kagome threw an arm around his shoulder. "…Miroku, if your hand goes any farther south I'll tie you to some sticks and use you as the finish line."
"Yes ma'am."
The two manly men ripped across the track like speeding bullets, shouting insults to one another the entire time.
At least they got their remaining laps done.
.-..-.
The week went by with more homecoming proposals everywhere, some for her (from those daring enough to defy Kouga's unwritten law), some for Abi (who was still waiting for an unknown someone), and some for everyone else Kagome knew. The biggest shocker, though, was the date-count for none other than Inuyasha Dawson.
Because of the hype of a celebrity student at Blair – the biggest since Sylvester Stallone – Kagome hadn't had time to notice how popular Inuyasha himself was. Especially with the ladies.
Not that it bothered Kagome, but it did surprise her how many invites he'd received in one week from shy and outgoing girls alike. Except, the girl she expected to be the first in line had yet to make a move. Yura was everywhere they were whenever she could be, but she never mentioned homecoming.
Now, putting in her right earring, Kagome couldn't help but wonder why. Then, more fashion-oriented matters interrupted her thoughts…Where were her shoes?
Kagome jogged down the steps in search of her elusive 'cute blue' sandals, finding nothing cute except for Kirara lounging on the sofa cuddling with Kohaku's elbow pad.
The front door opened and in stepped Inuyasha. Throwing his jacket into the closet, he strode into the room.
"Hey Inuyasha."
Inuyasha looked over at her. "Hello."
That was…strangely terrifying.
Kagome smiled uneasily, "Where have you been?" She noticed the bag in his hand and blinked. "Shopping?"
Inuyasha's look was unidentifiable. "Yep."
For some reason, Kagome felt like he was about to pull out the piano wire and chop her head off. "Are you okay?" Her 'okay' was cut short by the sound of scraping.
There was something alive in that bag.
Inuyasha resumed walking. "Yeah, why?"
"Oh, no reason…" Kagome spotted her sandals and resisted squealing for joy. "So, what'd you buy?"
"You don't want to know."
He was probably right, but that didn't stop her. "Why not?"
The teen sighed. "Because I say so." Inuyasha replied. He climbed the stairs, followed by a no-longer barefoot Kagome. "When is he coming over?"
"Kouga is coming over in fifteen minutes."
"Good, that gives me some time…" Inuyasha closed his door behind him, leaving Kagome confused and incredibly concerned in the hallway.
You're not getting away that easily… Kagome pushed open the door. "Some time for wha-ahh!"
Inuyasha jumped, looking over at Kagome in surprise. The beady-eyed rat dangling from his hold squeaked. "When will you learn to knock!"
Kagome knocked, only half thinking, on the doorframe. "What are you doing!"
"I'm sending a message to mars." Inuyasha scoffed, turning back towards Killer's tank and dropped the little animal inside. Tossing a towel over the front before turning back with a frown at Kagome, "I'm feeding my snake, smart one."
"So the bag was alive!"
"No, the rat was alive. The bag was never alive, because bags don't have lungs." Inuyasha explained patronizingly. His sarcasm did nothing to move her. "Are you okay?"
Kagome nodded, eyes closed. Now, she was all tears. "That poor thing…"
"It's your own damn fault for coming in here!" Inuyasha reprimanded, "I close my door for a reason."
"But you were acting so weird!" Kagome protested.
"-Hoping to freak you out so you wouldn't follow me." Inuyasha shook his head. "It was fool-proof…or so I thought. Besides, what do you think Killer eats? Kit Kats?"
"No!" Old, fiery Kagome was back. "But it's different when you see the poor animal thrown into a pit of never-ending torment! It's inhumane!"
"Yeah, all snakes are inhumane. The ASPCA should arrest all of them." Inuyasha sauntered past her into the hallway, tugging his safety gloves off as he went. "I'm off to work."
Kagome watched him head down the hallway in shock. "T-that's it? You're just going to go?"
"I'm not going to be around Kouga anymore than I have to." Inuyasha stuck his hands in his pockets. "Later."
Five minutes later, Kouga was at the door with Rin.
"Hey Kagome!" Rin beamed.
"Hey!" Kagome returned the happy gesture. "Kohaku's in Sesshoumaru's office getting a loan."
Rin nodded, giggling, and set off after her broke boyfriend. "Bye, Kouga!"
"Don't do anything I'd do!" Kouga warned after her, turning his attentions to Kagome. "Hey, I thought we'd see a movie and then get some food. Sound good?"
"Sounds great!"