Author's Note: Hi guys! I bet you hate me, don't you? Sorry. I apologize for being so pompous, pig headed and career oriented, but I guess that's high school. I've had lots of stuff to concentrate on, but good news! When I was in our High school's musical (a musical called Starmites, that nobody's EVER heard of) I got some insight.
My co-star, Mike, was a TOTAL ASS. Seriously, he's a strange mix between Inuyasha and Miroku. He's got Miroku's serious problems with perverted ness and Inuyasha's misogynistic attitude (along with so many other qualities) There'd be times, like in the last chapter & this one, where he and I would get along (much like Kagome & Inuyasha) But the majority of the times, we were at each other's throat, since he was always doing things to make me mad.
And then of course there was the kiss.
I shouldn't have to explain this. But I will. Okay, so in the show, there's some romantic interest between my character and his, if you get what I mean. We were so disagreeable that by our dress rehearsals we still weren't doing some of the kisses (also, neither of us really knew how to stage kiss) So, at one point near the end, he full out kisses me (like…big time) It had to be one of my most embarrassing moments of my life (seeing that my family was in the audience watching…) He didn't do it because he liked me. He did it as a cruel, mean tactic to embarrass me.
Well, you really didn't need to know that, but it was worth saying.
I bet you can see why I've had a hard time writing this story lately. I'm trying to get over the personality likeness of Rumiko Takahashi's character and that of my stupid asshole costar (can you feel exactly how much I hate him)
I'll get over it.
Disclaimer: I don't own it, so don't ask.
Chapter 8: Further Surprises
If someone had told her a week ago that she would be sitting in a bakery having lunch with Inuyasha Taisho, she would have them sent to a psych ward. Now, she sat across from her archrival eating lunch and chit chatting like civilized people.
It was just too weird.
Kagome wanted very badly to ask him why he was acting so differently. She knew, of course, that asking would not do her much good. So, instead she sat there in idle conversation.
"So, about the project," Kagome said, changing the subject, "who are we against again?"
"Takahitsu and Midori, I think. Can't say for sure though." He looked up at her from his soup. "Do you think we'll win?"
She nodded. "I'd say we have a pretty good chance. We've got a strong argument. The information you found was especially helpful." The two talked over the issues in the debate until Kagome sighed contently.
"I suppose we should get back to the library. There's still quite a bit of stuff we've got left to do." She checked her watch. It was currently 1:30. She felt a pang of sadness as she realized the two of them only had an hour left before Inuyasha had to leave. Right as the thought passed through her mind it was trampled by her sense of reason. Sadness? She should be happy he was leaving! What was happening to her?
The next hour was spent, more or less diligently. In any case, time seemed to fly by, until it was 2:30 in the afternoon. Inuyasha frowned at his watch.
"It's 2:30. I've got to go. Sorry Higurashi. I'll see you on Monday." He went to leave when a sudden curiosity overcame her.
"Inuyasha, hold on!" She called he stopped at turned to show that he was listening. "If you don't mind me asking, why do you have to leave early?" She asked, almost cautiously.
"My dad. He's leaving today for a month long business trip to the United States. My mom wants me to be at the airport when he leaves," Inuyasha explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "See ya."
"Goodbye," Kagome said, feeling quite strange as she watched her greatest enemy walk away.
"So, how was it?" Sango asked Kagome, later that evening.
"Not that bad," Kagome confessed, "we actually got along."
"Really?" Sango asked, intrigued. "I'm surprised! Good job, Kagome!"
"Well, it was more Inuyasha than me. He was being easy going and nice, so it was much easier for me to be nice to him," Kagome insisted. "It was strange, really."
"Well, in any case, I'm happy for you. Things were much different for me and that stupid lecher I have for a partner," Sango said, her words coming out in a low hiss.
"Oh yea, I forgot you had to meet him today too. How'd it go?" Kagome asked.
"Terrible. He spent nearly the entire time flirting with me, trying to get me to make out with him behind a stack of books. I swear to god, that pervert is going to get it. He was so distracting we hardly got any work done!" Sango explained, exasperatedly.
"I'm sorry," Kagome said sympathetically, "but hey, maybe it will get better. Maybe if you asked him just to stop-"
"I've tried it. It doesn't work," She sighed, "nothing really seems to work."
"I couldn't really tell you what to do," Kagome said honestly, "I've never really had it happen to me. Maybe all you guys need is a little time away from each other."
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Sango asked uncertainly. "I mean, we're partners in English. He's in quite a few of my classes, you know that? How do I take a break from him?"
"I don't know," Kagome admitted, "I wish it were possible."
"So it went well, then?" Inuyasha asked drearily, listening to Miroku talk.
"Of course. Inuyasha, that girl is amazing. Even if she is a bit violent…" Inuyasha could hear Miroku wince slightly. "I must have gotten slapped at least 15 times."
"Well, how many times did you grab her ass?" Inuyasha asked.
"20."
"Then she's generous," Inuyasha said, shaking his head, "if it were me, not only would I be grossed out, but you'd be a dead man."
"Yea, well speaking of dead men, how come you're not?" Miroku asked.
"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked tiredly.
"Well, didn't you have to work on your stuff with Kagome?" Miroku asked.
"Oh, that," Inuyasha said. "It was absolutely horrible." Immediately after he had said it, he wished to take it back. What he had said was a blatant lie. He hadn't really minded spending that time with Kagome.
"Really?" Miroku asked, amused. "She was that bad, huh?"
"Yea," Inuyasha said, before he could stop himself. "She was really annoying and bossy. I hate working with her."
Inuyasha could hardly believe all the false tales he was feeding Miroku. It was making him sick. "Hey Miroku, I've got a lot of homework. I'll call you back later, okay?"
"Yea," Miroku agreed, "but after you finish you're math homework, would you mind calling me up and giving me all the answers."
Inuyasha laughed. "Sure, Miroku."
The two hung up.
Inuyasha sat in stillness, reviewing what he had just told Miroku on the phone.
Why had he done that?
Pride. That's all it was. He didn't want to admit to anyone but himself that he had actually gotten along with Kagome.
Because Inuyasha Taisho always won.
When Monday morning came, Kagome was less reluctant to go to school, knowing that it was possible for her and Inuyasha to get along. Perhaps, now that they had attempted it once, they could possibly remain in each other's favor. Kagome mused over the idea of her and Inuyasha being friends. It was an awkward thought.
She met Sango somewhere along the way, and greeted her cheerfully.
"Well, this is surprising. Kagome, cheerful on a Monday morning?" Sango said teasingly. "What's making your day?"
"Nothing really," Kagome said, "It's just much easier knowing that when I get to school I won't have to deal with Inuyasha being a jerk. We got along on Saturday, so I hope we can at least keep on good terms. Is that foolish of me, Sango?"
Sango shook her head. "Not really. It's actually quite a nice thought, the two of you getting along. You know that your little brawl has been going on for nearly a month now?"
"Has it really been that long?" Kagome asked. "It's almost October already?"
Sango nodded with a laugh. "You're getting behind, Kagome. Usually it takes until January for that to happen."
"I don't know what it is. Freshman year didn't go this fast," Kagome sighed. "Maybe it's this integration of the high schools. So many new people."
"Could be," Sango said, shrugging.
"Hey, have you heard from Rin?" Kagome asked. Sango shook her head sadly.
"Not a word. It worries me. She hasn't been at school in a few days. I really hope she's back today."
"I wish she would just show us where her house is! At least then we could go visit her or something," Kagome mumbled.
"Maybe she has pneumonia," Sango suggested.
"Too early in the season for that."
"Mono?"
"Rin? Mono? You've got to be kidding me," Kagome said shaking her head, "That's about as likely as a nun getting an STD."
"Hey, you never know," Sango said, "She could have a boyfriend we don't know about. God knows what she doesn't tell us about."
"True, she does seem to hide a lot," Kagome agreed, "but I don't think she'd hide that. A boyfriend isn't a bad thing, after all. If only I had one."
"Yea, that goes for both of us," Sango laughed. "Do you remember the promise we made each other when we were eight? We had to get boyfriends at the exact same time."
"I remember. But then again, we said that about a lot of things," Kagome said recalling back. "We thought we were going to get our periods at the exact same time too."
"Yea, we were pretty stupid," Sango concluded. She looked at her watch and said, "Okay, we have to hurry. At this rate we're walking at, we'll be late!"
The two girls hurried down the sidewalk, hoping to make it in time.
"Did you finish all your homework?" Sesshoumaru asked.
Rin nodded. "Yup. I'm glad you've got access to that kind of stuff."
"Yes well, student council president is allowed to make request for missing work," he said, impassively. As Sesshoumaru drove, Rin sat in silence (which was very unusual). She had many questions buzzing around inside her, and it was hard to keep them in.
"Sesshoumaru-sama?"
"Yes?"
"Am I not aloud to talk to you at school?" She asked, "because I can completely understand, since I'm a nobody and I no longer live in the Shinikwa district-"
"Yes Rin, you are allowed to talk to me at school," he said tiredly, "at opportune moments. Around Inuyasha, or possibly your own friends, would not be a very good idea."
"Would I embarrass you in front of your friends?" Rin asked.
"I don't really care much for people," Sesshoumaru said, "so I don't have what you consider friends. More…acquaintances."
"Well, your acquaintances, then. Would I embarrass you in front of them?" Rin asked.
"I would prefer that you wouldn't."
The rest of the car ride was in silence. Sesshoumaru had agreed to drive Rin to school everyday, seeing that she herself did not have a car (or her license yet, for that matter). Inuyasha was still unaware of her presence at their house, which was always a good sign. Inuyasha had turned sixteen shortly after the school year began and was already driving one of his father's many cars. Rin was glad she didn't have to have any contact with him whatsoever, since she knew what trouble he caused Kagome.
"Have you thought of a story to tell your friends?" Sesshoumaru asked her as he parked the car.
"Yea. My uncle is gone on an urgent and important business trip in Europe and I'm staying with some close friends. He's got someone watching the house for him, so I needn't check up on it."
"And why weren't you in school this last week?"
"I was staying with a distant relative out of town, which was the original plan, but their ten-year-old son came down with a bad case of tuberculosis and they figured I should stay elsewhere until he got better," Rin said, lying flawlessly.
"That sounds convincing," Sesshoumaru agreed. Rin smiled.
"Good to hear. I just hope my friends will buy it."
Just as she had hoped, Kagome and Sango bought her story. Rin felt bad for lying to her friends, but she needed to keep the truth safe. It didn't feel right to tell people about it. After all, thought Rin, it's not that big of a deal.
The three strolled into math class, chatting happily. Kagome spotted Miroku and Inuyasha on their way as well. She got the sudden urge to go speak with them, although she had nothing to say. She more than ever wanted to show off her new patience and understanding of Inuyasha.
She set down her things on her desk and walked over to them.
"Hey Inuyasha," she asked, "would it be alright with you to meet at the library again this Saturday to do more research?"
She expected him to oblige with a smile, as he had easily done on Saturday. She was most defiantly wrong.
"Why? Didn't we do enough research already?" He scoffed.
"Well, we did quite a bit but it still needs more-" she began, but was interrupted.
"Then do it yourself! Can't you see I'm a bit busy?" Inuyasha snapped, surprising her further.
She quickly covered her confused and hurt emotions with a glare. "Fine. I'll see you in English class, partner," she emphasized the word harshly and walked away crossly. She walked back to Sango and Rin and said tautly, "I was wrong. Whatever happened on Saturday was a total fluke. Inuyasha Taisho is a total jerk and always will be."
I want to update soon. I want to update soon REALLY BADLY. Stupid high school.
Review and I shall reply with posts! Mwaha!
Lola
