The Grade Race
Chapter Four
"That should do it!" Kagome stated proudly as she slammed the door to the fusebox. She clapped her hands together, wiping the dust off of them as the lights flickered on. Kagome skipped happily back into the living room where two of her friends were sitting on the couch, already immersed in the TV. "Where's Sango?" Kagome asked the boys with slight worry.
Inuyasha tilted his head to Kagome and stated with the boredom clear in his tone, "She went to call her parents to tell them she might be a little late. You should call your folks too." Kagome scratched her chin in puzzlement. "Hmm? Why?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You're not driving anywhere in this rain." Miroku nodded. "He's right. It's still coming down pretty hard." Kagome shrugged, and then skipped off into the game room where Sango was hanging up the phone.
"Oh, hello Kagome. I didn't notice you standing there." Kagome beamed and walked up to Sango. "Inuyasha's paranoid about me driving while it's raining. You sure you're okay with staying here a little longer?" Sango shrugged. "Well, I did have a history test in two days that I needed to study for, but… I guess it can wait." Kagome grinned, and said mischievously, "Of course it can! Lighten up a little, and let's have some fun! After all, there are no adult here to restrict us." Sango frowned. "What are you implying?" Kagome feigned obliviousness, and replied, "Implying? I haven't the slightest idea what you mean! But seriously, let's go enjoy ourselves."
Sango rolled her eyes and allowed her bubbly friend to lead her down the hall. "Whatever." Sango mumbled to herself.
When they reentered the living room, Inuyasha and Miroku were nowhere to be seen. Kagome pouted. "Where did those to go off to now! I wanted to do something fun!" Sango rolled her eyes and jabbed her thumb in the direction of the closet, "Think maybe that's them over there, Kagome?" Kagome turned to see Inuyasha and Miroku pulling things out of the closet. Kagome laughed. "Oh, guess I didn't!" Kagome walked over to them and grabbed a hold of Inuyasha's collar, then yanked him out of the closet.
"So, what do you wanna do, Inuyasha?" Inuyasha growled. "Damn it, woman! Do you mind! We were looking for something!" Kagome inquired the angered boy, "And what would that be?"
"A movie." Miroku answered as he pulled a DVD from the top shelf of the closet. Despite herself, Sango was interested in their conversation. "What movie is it?" Inuyasha smirked at the raven haired girl still clinging to his collar and replied smugly, "Sin city." Kagome swiftly dropped Inuyasha to the ground and ran behind Sango. "No way, no how, Inuyasha! I am not watching that senseless violent piece of junk! It's terrible!" Inuyasha beamed. "I told you I would make you watch it sooner or later. Today is judgment day Kagome. You can watch Sin city or, we could play 7 Minutes in Heaven instead. Your pick."
Kagome opened her mouth and was about to agree to the latter when Sango piped up, "Let's watch the movie." Kagome frowned up at her best friend and clung to her arm. "But I hate that movie, Sango!" Kagome whispered to Sango. Sango whispered back, her teeth clenched in frustration, "And I hate the thought of being stuck in a dark, cramped, closet with either of these two!" Kagome sighed in exasperation, and then announced to Inuyasha, "Alright, you win. Sin City it is. But you're going to pay for the hospital bill if I suddenly have a heart attack." Inuyasha stood up and dusted himself off. "It's a deal."
As Miroku placed the DVD in the slot, Inuyasha and Kagome took their seats on the large sofa in the center of the room. When Miroku finished, he sat down beside Sango on the slightly smaller couch. As Inuyasha selected the play command on the main menu, Sango said in annoyance to Miroku, "What are you doing?" Miroku looked to Sango with a blank expression plastered on his face. "Sitting. Does this cause you any discomfort, Sango?" Sango twiddled her thumbs. Slightly because of being flustered by their proximity, but mostly because she was annoyed. "Not in particular, but…" She mumbled. "Then there's no problem, is there?" Miroku said nonchalantly as he relaxed on the couch.
Despite what she claimed earlier, Kagome quickly became absorbed with the movie. Although, she was inclined to hid her face in Inuyasha's shoulder. Which she did with much enthusiasm when things got too bloody for her taste. Sango, however, couldn't focus at all on the movie. Her thoughts were occupied elsewhere. Things like, what was the third question for my history test, how many kilometers is there between Tokyo and Hokkaido, ran through her mind. But the more frequent thought that occupied her senses, and the thought that she lingered on most went along the lines of, 'What is this guy's problem? Just waltzing in and thinking he can just take my place? I have to be better for my parents, and no boy is going to ruin things for me! And why is he being so casual about it, like it's no big deal! It is a big deal, if you ask me!'
About ten minutes before the movie came to a close; Miroku leaned over to Sango and whispered, "If I may bring it to your attention, I'd just like you to be aware that you are staring Sango. It doesn't bother me, but, just thought you'd like to know." Sango flushed and whispered with urgency and anger in her voice, "What are you thinking! I wasn't staring at you! The very thought is ridiculous!" Miroku smiled and returned his attention to the flashing pictures. "You can believe that if you'd like Sango."
Sango grimaced and stared at her feet for the last few minutes of the movie. What had she been thinking, getting so caught up like that and letting herself stare at her rival like that! She felt so stupid. Kagome jumped up from the couch as the credits began to slide up the screen. "That was so cool!" Inuyasha grinned. "I told you you would like it."
Kagome nodded cheerily. "I'll never doubt your judgment again, Inuyasha!" Inuyasha rolled his yes. "I doubt that."
Sango steered the conversation in a different direction by pointing out, "The rain's letting up. It's just sprinkling now." Sango wanted to get out of there fast. Miroku was really starting to grate on her nerves. Miroku shook his head and suggested, "Oh, c'mon! Stay just a little longer. I bet if you went home, you would just study for some test, right?" Sango glared at Miroku. "What I do and do not do with my spare time is none of your concern!" Kagome decided to put her two cents in. "He's right, Sango. Let's have a little more fun before you go back to studying." Sango frowned as Kagome walked to the closet and look through the games and DVDs. Today was just not her day. Even her best friend seemed to be plotting against her!
Kagome shouted perkily, "Ooh! This one looks like fun!" Kagome determinedly pulled the white box from its spot under at least five other boxes. Kagome held the box happily in her hands as the boxes on top of the one she held tumbled to the floor. Inuyasha dragged himself to the closet and groaned, "Could you possibly be clumsier?" Kagome glared at Inuyasha and elbowed him in the back. "Hmph! Like I was saying, we should play this!" As she spoke the last word, she proudly revealed the game she had selected. A look of dismay spread across her face as she recognized the bright red words on the top. 'Twister, huh?' Sango glared at the suddenly happy expression Miroku attained. Sango suggested to her friend, "I can be the spinner."
Kagome pouted, "No Sango! You have to play too! Inuyasha can be spinner! Right, Inuyasha?" Inuyasha replied as he finished putting the boxes back in their respective places on the shelf, "Sure. I'm not too good at those kinds of games anyway." Inuyasha ripped the top off and pulled out the brightly colored spinner, then took his place back on the couch.
Kagome, Sango, and Miroku all stood on different sides of the Twister pad. "Left hand red." Sango irritably leaned over and placed her hand on the required spot. She didn't like this game, but at least the reds were right in front of her. That was one stroke of luck at least. As the game continued, Sango's luck became worse and worse. This game obviously didn't like her.
Her right hand was under her on the yellow, and her legs were in a halfway split position since her foot circles were spread far apart. Wha was worse was she was face to face with Miroku. Her body shook from the unbalance and her eyebrows knit together and the displeasure was clearly visible on her face. On the next turn, Kagome's foot slid out from under her, causing her to fall, so she was disqualified from the game. Then it was just Sango and Miroku. Inuyasha spun the black arrow and called out the space it landed on. "Left hand yellow." Sango felt slightly relieved as she slid her left hand from the red circles to a more stable area next to her right hand. But, Sango didn't consider the fact that Miroku had to also place his hand on the yellow.
Sango became very uneasy again as Miroku placed his left hand on the only available yellow spot that was right behind her own hands. Sango mentally kicked herself. Curses! She hadn't noticed that spot was there.
Sango growled when she noticed Miroku's eyes roamed over her. "Keep your head in the game!" Sango shouted this as she banged her forehead against Miroku's, causing them both to fall over. "Ow…" Sango groaned as she rubbed her sore forehead. Where had that come from? It wasn't like Sango to do things without thinking them through. She had just panicked, she concluded. She wasn't used to being in that close of quarters with a man, especially one she despised. The day seemed to be growing worse as it wore on. She had just humiliated and berated herself in front of her arch rival!
Miroku laughed as he rubbed his head. "Quite forceful, aren't you Sango?" Sango stood up and demanded, "Be quiet!" She stormed over to where Kagome stood and grabbed her by the wrist. She led Kagome out the door, and then slammed it behind her.
Kagome questioned her friend nervously, "are you okay, Sango?"
"I'm fine." Was the last thing Sango said until she arrived back at her own house. As Sango climbed out of the car, Kagome asked her, "I know you had sort of a rough time at the end there with Miroku, but give him a chance. Inuyasha said he really is a nice guy. Besides, it's not like he did better than you on that test to spite you or anything. Things will get better; you'll see." Sango brightened up a little and answered, "Thanks Kagome. I guess you're right." Kagome beamed. "Good! Well, I'll see you Monday!" With that, Kagome sped off down the road.
Sango dragged herself into the house. After eating dinner, she locked herself in her room and studied for a good three hours. After trying to go fro another hour, Sango collapsed at her desk. When she awoke, she was tucked into her bed and the phone was ringing. Sango rubbed her eyes and rolled over to look at the caller ID displayed on the phone. "Huh? I don't recognize that number." Se said to herself as she pressed the 'talk' button on the ringing phone.