Chapter 2: The Bad Coincidence

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha.

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews (two!)…anyhow, once again I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes I will make. Also, there's a NO TV challenge I'm taking for school, and you're also not allowed to use the computer unless you're doing it for homework reasons, so I might not update for a long time. Enjoy!

In the Waiting Room

Kagome hated the silence that controlled the whole waiting room. So far, Kikyo and she hadn't exchanged any words, and InuYasha was still sleeping peacefully on the bed. The acrobat usually had a haughty air around him, and he always looked confident, no matter what. Now, however, his features carried a gentle, modest expression and his thin lips were curved up in a slight smile. Kagome couldn't help sighing inwardly at this. He looked so handsome…but it was a pity that he was arrogant and rude.

Kikyo, on the other hand, didn't mind the silence. She was planning up different ways of getting InuYasha to see Kagome more often, although most of her ideas were corny.

Inside InuYasha's head was a tumult of thoughts and questions, such as 'What happened after I blacked out?' and 'Who dragged me to safety and saved my life?' and 'Maybe a hot chick saved my life.' Waiting to be elaborated on, as InuYasha's head knew no bounds.

When the acrobat opened his eyes, he expected to be lying in bed with a hot cup of tea and several of his servants crowded around his bed, looking worriedly at him, but instead he saw himself in a queen size bed in a lemon-wall coloured room with two unknown women sitting at his bedside. They both looked a lot like each other, and he could've sworn that he'd seen one of them before.

"So, you're finally awake, your Rudeness?" Kagome asked InuYasha rather coldly. "You should put a mask on; you're too ugly for words." Of course, that wasn't true, really, but then again, that's exactly how Kagome felt. 'He would have looked handsome if only he weren't as arrogant and unkind,' were the girl's exact thoughts.

"Hey, woman," the acrobat growled. How dare this woman insult him? "You look hungry-would you like me to give you a knuckle sandwich?" as if to emphasize the last part, InuYasha made an angry face and stuck his fist in Kagome's fist.

"Chill down, guys, Kagome and I are here to keep watch on you; the guards have to go somewhere," Kikyo said coolly, wincing slightly at the amount of homework she was going to have to do when she returned home. Why'd she volunteer for waiting here in the first place? And why was Kagome being so rude towards InuYasha? Probably her way of saying 'I love you', was Kikyo's explanation.

InuYasha was about to make another snappy comment but he was interrupted by a loud knock on the door, and in came a tall man. He looked almost like InuYasha, except that he was taller and his expression was colder. Kagome stared at the man; was that his father?

"Are you InuYasha's father?" Kagome blurted out, before quickly covering her mouth again. She felt rude asking such things.

"I'm actually that old?" the man frowned, before smirking again. "What'd you do this time, little brother?"

"N-nothing," InuYasha hissed. "Some idiot just put flammable oil on the stage. I…wait a minute!" the acrobat snarled. "Was it you?" Kikyo's eyes widened at this. How could any sibling put their sister or brother in danger?

"Very good, little brother. Remember I'd said that if you didn't do a good job of it, into the pits of Hell thou shall sink?" Sesshomaru smirked. "And of course, the fool played his part and did not take heed. I am ashamed of you."

"Now wait one moment!" Kagome said. She'd had enough of just watching from the sidelines. Pointing a finger, she added, "You should be the one who's ashamed, putting your brother's life in danger! What kind of thing is that?"

"As a matter of fact, that is none of your business," InuYasha's brother replied shortly. "Stand back, woman, while I deal with my fool of a brother."

"Feh, you're just afraid of being outnumbered two against one, is that right?" InuYasha retorted, trying to get the subject off him. Unfortunately, this tactic did not work with his brother.

"You actually think you can put me off? Well, you're wrong, little brother," the man grinned nastily.

"What's his name?" Kagome whispered quietly to Kikyo.

"What's my name?" InuYasha's brother looked down at Kagome. "That is none of your business. I'm afraid you're going to have to find out for yourself."

"Well, mister all-so-mighty-and-high, I already know your name. It's Sesshomaru, isn't it?" Kikyo did her best to sneer, but Sesshomaru wasn't cowed.

"You're going to have to assume things," Sesshomaru said coolly. "But InuYasha, you are the dumbest person I've ever met. First, you do not listen to me and end up messing up your mother's birthday cake, and now this," he eyed InuYasha angrily. "What have you got to say for yourself?"

"Feh, you sound just like Donald Trump in 'The Apprentice'," InuYasha feh'd, making a face. "Why don't you just dye your hair blonde? Then you would look just like him."

"But you've got that b…. Jennifer's (A/N: One of the previous contestants in 'The Apprentice') personality," the calm brother said, not even fazed by his sibling's snide remark. Then, turning his attention to the two teenage girls sitting frozen in their chairs, he asked them, "And what're you doing here? Scram!"

And as they scurried off, not saying a word, both girls heard InuYasha saying rather loudly, "Hey, you didn't give me a chance to get to know that hot chick more!"

I hope that arrogant what-sit is talking about Kikyo, Kagome thought.

I hope that InuYasha's talking about Kagome, Kikyo thought.

Later on that day

"Mom! I'm going out now, is that alright?" Kagome called from her bedroom.

"As a matter of fact, no it's not. I've got lots of chores to do, and if you've finished your homework, you can help me out," Kagome's mother replied.

"Oh," the high-school girl was slightly put-out as she had planned to go to the mall and buy something for InuYasha and pretend it was from Kikyo: Your secret admirer.

Slowly walking down the stairs, Kagome was given a whole pile of chores to do. She had to mop the floor, wash the dishes, clean up her bedroom, weed the garden and take out the garbage. And by the time she was done all of that, she'd have no time at all to go out. Unfortunately,

"Kagome darling, do you mind if you hop over and open the door?" Kagome's mother called from the living room.

Sighing, Mrs. Higurashi's daughter carefully set the dish down in the sink, dried her hands and walked over to the door. When she opened it, she gawked. On the doorstep stood two of the acrobats and the boomerang thrower from the Jewel of Four Souls circus: Miroku, Koga and Sango (A/N: She'd introduced herself briefly before starting her routine).

"Hello, are you the one who saved InuYasha? You know the big-headed acrobat who's very self-confident?" Sango asked, inwardly scrutinizing the girl from head to toe. She didn't seem like one to trust.

Kagome turned quickly away so that the three circus performers wouldn't see her chuckle. So even InuYasha's peers thought he was big-headed? That was cool, but she couldn't dally around; she had a question to answer.

"Yes, I was the one to-" Kagome paused. What if they assigned for her to spend a period of time with InuYasha? That wouldn't do. "Ahem, sorry, I was lying. I wasn't the one to save your so-called InuYasha. I wasn't even at the circus, but my friend (A/N: Kikyo) saved him. She lives across the road from here," Kagome corrected, and she turned away again so that the others wouldn't see her blush. Her blush always gave away a lie. But then again, she could start pairing Kikyo up with InuYasha. They'd be a good pair.

"Are you sure, miss? You don't look comfortable," Miroku asked. The way this young girl was acting, anyone would think that she was lying.

Kagome nodded. She certainly hoped that she wouldn't have to lie anymore, or she'd turn crimson with all the effort.

"Alright, then, I hope we didn't waste your time at all. Have a good day!" Sango said, and the genuine smile she gave Kagome took her blush away almost immediately.

Kagome was about to close the door when she heard the acrobat called Miroku call back a jumble of words, and a sound of someone slapping something/someone. Flinching slightly, Kagome went back to her chores.

With Kikyo

Kikyo was reading a book when the doorbell rang. Since her whole family was out, the teenager ran out and down the stairs. Opening the door, she saw the same people Kagome had seen only a few minutes ago.

"Hello, are you the one to save InuYasha, you know, the acrobat from the Jewel of Four Souls circus?" Sango asked once again. This girl looked more cool and collected, unlike her so-called friend.

"Of course not, as a matter of fact, the very person who saved InuYasha is living across the road from me, first building on the right, fourth floor," Kikyo replied.

"What…we've just been there, and that girl's denying that she saved InuYasha, the famous acrobat?" Miroku put on a pretend shock face on. "That's amazing! No girl can ever resist the famous InuYasha!"

"Well, that's her," Kikyo insisted, before adding, "and if you want, I can help you get her and InuYasha together. They'd make quite a cute couple."

"Hm…that IS a good idea," Koga admitted. "That way, he'll stop being such a worthless playboy."

"But anyways, what business of that is it for you?" Kikyo asked. "You know-about who saved InuYasha?"

"Let's just say that his father got so grateful that he wanted us to search all over for the girl who saved his son. InuYasha had had a chance to go, too, but he was too furious about his father's decision to go anywhere," Sango sighed. "But anyways, he said that the girl who saved InuYasha would stay with him for a month in the Bahamas, and she'd have free tickets for every circus show we put on for the next year or so."

"But how do you know that InuYasha's saviour is a girl?" Kikyo queried once again.

"A guard told us," Miroku simply said. "Now, if you don't mind, we've got to go," he added with a twinkle in his eye. "Toodles!"

"Ciao!" Kikyo called into the distance. The three circus performers had somehow managed a disappearing act on her. Feeling happy for Kagome, the teenager returned to reading her book again. She was becoming too much of a bookworm, that was for sure.

Back at Kagome's

It was 6:00pm now, and Kagome was exhausted. She was about to go and wash up for dinner when there was a knock on the door yet again. Her younger brother, Sota, ran for the door squealing, "I got there first, sis! You've lost again! Ha ha!"

When Sota opened the door, he saw three people. And they looked nice!

"Okay, hello, is there a female by the name of Kagome Higurashi (Kikyo had mentioned Kagome's name) living here? Please don't lie…" Sango asked firmly but politely.

"Oh…she's here. Sis! Can you come out of the shower for a minute? There's someone at the door for you!" Sota cheerfully called, and the boomerang thrower's heart jumped slightly at the cheerfulness of the boy. He was the complete opposite of his sister.

"Coming!" Kagome tousled her hair as she walked down the stairs towards the three performers in dirty clothes. "Yes, what is it now?"

"You're coming with us, whether you're dirty or not. And that's a must!" Koga said roughly, and he grabbed hold of Kagome's arm. "Don't deny it now-you're the one who saved InuYasha!"

Miroku turned towards a stunned little brother and added, "Little boy, please tell your mother that your sister will be having dinner with us. We're…her friends, you see, and it's just that she's forgotten that she's eating out with us. She'll be fine with us," before helping Sango and Koga frog-march Kagome away.

"Alright, then, see you later, Kagome! Bye!" Sota called out. "See you after dinner!"

Outside

Kagome shivered as she was firmly but gently led to a fine-looking limo. They could at least let her get a coat or something! Didn't they know that the temperature was only 8 degrees Celsius? And how could they go without jackets? And in short sleeve t-shirts as well!

"Look, please don't panic," Miroku pleaded as Kagome thrashed around in the limo as it drove away. "We're telling the truth-we're bringing you out to dinner. I swear it."

Fifteen minutes later found all four people standing outside a fine, high-class diner called: De la Diner. Shoving Kagome inside, all three performers followed closely.

The diner was really crowded. There were singers and dancers on the stage; was that Boa? Below the stage were several tables, and at least one formal waiter was attending to one table. Dazzled by the scene, Kagome suddenly felt left out; the people that were there were the posh, superior citizens of Japan; there were no middle-class citizens around, meaning that she would be the only middle-class girl there.

Leading Kagome to one of the tables, Sango, Miroku and Koga were greeted by the huge, booming voice of their boss, "So you've found the girl who saved my son? Well done, all of you."

On the other hand, Kagome was met with a lot of odd looks from the people sitting around the table. There were only two faces she recognized, and neither of them looked warm: InuYasha, who wore a cold and grumpy expression, and Sesshomaru, who wore the same apathetic look as usual.

"Sit down, darling," a woman said. She looked very much like InuYasha. "Please sit down, and thank you for saving my son from the disaster from today." She gestured towards InuYasha. "Dear, say thank you to this kind girl. AND with sincerity and kindness." InuYasha's mother added, afraid that InuYasha would add some mean remark to the confused and frightened-looking girl.

"Thank you, woman, I am forever grateful," the still sulking acrobat mimicked his mother's voice.

InuYasha's mother sighed. That was the best she would ever get out of him. "Honey, what's your name?" she then queried.

"K-Kagome Higurashi," Kagome stammered, a bit shy of the beautiful lady sitting in front of her.

"Hello, Kagome, please take a seat," InuYasha's mother gestured to a seat next to her, and the timid high-school student sat down.

That was when Sango came back. "Kagome, please follow me. Mr. Taisho wants to talk to you about what you did this morning," Sango smiled. Helping Kagome up, she led the girl to where Mr. Taisho sat, which was on the left of Sesshomaru.

"Kagome Higurashi," InuYasha's father boomed. "Pleased to meet you. I'm InuYasha's father, as you might've heard. I'm extremely grateful to you for saving my son. As a reward, you and he get to travel to Hawaii for a month. Don't worry about bills-I've already paid for them. You'll be leaving on the second of March and coming back on the second of April." Miroku scratched his brow and Sango glared at him. He'd thought that Kagome and InuYasha would travel to the Bahamas.

Kagome was practically screaming as she heard the dreaded words. InuYasha would take her to Hawaii for a whole month! That was absolutely ridiculous! How was she ever going to explain this to her mum? She'd be so homesick! But unfortunately, she couldn't show any sign of hatred at this announcement.

"Thank you," Kagome whispered, before meekly returning to her seat.

The rest of dinner passed by like a snail making its way across the length of a very fine table. Each bite Kagome took felt like a slimy frog making its way down her throat, and she couldn't swallow at all. Maybe if she got ill before it was time to go then the reward would have to be cancelled.

When at last she was being driven home, Kagome closed her eyes and thought, Why me? WHY ME!

A/N: Whew! That chapter was exhausting. Oh yes, I'm taking this No TV challenge, so please don't worry if I don't update for a long time. Please review!