Chapter 4: One Down
She gasped at him as if she had never been asked that question before. Her straight black hair fell over one eye.
"I'm Kagome." She said finally in a soft, velvety voice.
"Hi, Kagome." Inuyasha replied, stepping close, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm Inuyasha."
"I know." She said shyly. She brushed the hair away from her face.
"Did you find Mr. Myoga?" He asked.
She nodded. "Yeah. My sister and I wanted to ask him about the chorus. I mean, it's kind of late in the year. But we thought maybe we could join. In time for the spring concert."
She sighed, as if explaining all that was a chore.
"You sing?" Inuyasha asked, studying her face. he liked her dark eyes, liked the pale gloss she had on her lips.
"Well, Kikyo and I think so. But I'm not sure what Mr. Myoga thinks." She smiled for the first time, a brief smile. Then she shyly looked away.
"I'm in a band." Inuyasha told her. "Did you hear us? I mean, out in the hall?"
She nodded. "A little."
"We could use a singer." Inuyasha told her. The idea had just popped into his head. "I'm a great guitar player. And I sing okay too. But we could use a girl singer. Maybe you or your sister—?"
"Kikyo might like that." Kagome replied thoughtfully. "Her voice is a lot stronger than mine." She hesitated, moving a step and staring down into the open locker. "I don't think I could sing rock music."
"You're quiet, huh?" Inuyasha asked.
Pink circles formed on her pale cheeks.
"Quiet like a mouse?" Inuyasha teased.
She giggled. "Not that quiet." Her hair fell over her eyes again. She made no attempt to smooth it away.
"Our band is playing at a club Friday night." Inuyasha told her. "It's a dance club for teenagers. On Old Mill Road. You know it? It's called The Mill."
Kagome shook her head. "No. We just moved here last year. I haven't been—"
"You busy Friday night? Want to come hear us?" Inuyasha asked.
He could see the surprise in her eyes. The pink circles on her cheeks grew darker. "Well—"
"We wouldn't have to stay at the club if you don't like it." He added quickly. "My band is doing just one set. We could leave right after. You know. Go somewhere else."
She raised her eyes to his and stared hard at him as if trying to read his thoughts. "Okay." She said. "Sounds like fun."
"Way cool." Inuyasha replied. He stepped back as she turned to pull her backpack out of the locker.
"Know where I live?" She asked. "It's on Dark Street. Way at the end."
"I'll find it." Inuyasha told her. "See you Friday. About seven-thirty."
He flashed her his most winning smile, then took off for his locker. He knew that she was watching him, admiring his walk.
Piece of cake. He thought, very pleased with himself. That was almost too easy.
She is really shy. He decided. But I could see how excited she was that I asked her out.
"One down." He murmured to himself. "And one to go."
"Way to go, man!" Miroku slapped Inuyasha an enthusiastic high-five.
Inuyasha did an exaggerated strut around his beadroom. "I'm cool, I'm cool!" He chanted.
"So which one did you get a date with?" Miroku asked.
"Kagome." Inuyasha told him. "Last two letters is me. Kagome and me."
"What's the two last letters in Kikyo." Miroku demanded. "Yo!"
As usual, Inuyasha didn't laugh at his friend's lame joke. "I'm cool, I'm cool!" He did a little more strutting around his bedroom.
Miroku had stopped by after dinner, as he often did, mainly to avoid doing his homework. Inuyasha had immediately told him that he'd already asked Kagome Higurashi out that afternoon and, of course, she said yes.
"They just can't say no to Inuyasha the Man!" He cried. He slapped Miroku another high-five. "Who's the Man, Miroku? Who's the Man?"
"You the Man!" Miroku obediently replied. He dropped on top of Inuyasha's red bedspread, sprawling on his back, resting his head in his hands. "What about her sister?"
"I'm calling her right now." Inuyasha said. "I'm glad you came by, man. You can listen. You can be a witness as I make history!"
Miroku laughed. He was enjoying this as much as Inuyasha.
Miroku is my biggest fan. Inuyasha realized. That's why we're such good friends.
"You're really going to ask Kikyo out for Saturday night?" Miroku asked, sitting up and stretching his arms up over his head.
Inuyasha nodded, grinning as he reached for the cordless phone.
"And you're going to tell her not to tell Kagome?" Miroku dropped onto his back again.
Inuyasha nodded again. He searched for the Higurashis' phone number in the Tokyo High directory he kept by the phone. Two Higurashis in one weekend. He thought, moving his finger down the column of names and numbers. "That's the challenge. And I accept the challenge."
"You the Man!" Miroku proclaimed. "You the Man!"
Inuyasha punched in the numbers, then pressed the phone to his ear.
"What if Kagome answers?" Miroku demanded. "What if Kagome answers and you think it's Kikyo?"
"Hey I can tell them apart." Inuyasha declared. He raised a finger to his lips, signaling Miroku to be silent.
The phone rang twice. Then a girl's voice on the other line said hello.
Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Hello—Kikyo?"
To Be Continued
Did he get the right person on the line, will this plan work? Well review to find out more.