Oh! -silent scream- A good, long, detailed chapter? 'Tis it be? You tell me.

Heh. That rhymed.

Chapter 9

Tears streamed down Kagome's pink colored cheeks as she stood in the middle of the dance floor. Couples swirled around her, hand in hand, smiles on their perfectly happy looking faces. So happy to be there in the arms of the ones who actually cared. Kagome wanted to be happy. She wanted to be happy like the other girls, with their pretty, sparkling gowns and perfectly made up faces and hair.
'I guess I did catch your mumbalidous after all, Kagome!' Hojou had said.
Kagome wept silently. She didn't bother to hide her tears. She knew that everyone was too caught up in their dance to notice her dateless self anyway. No one would care about those silent tears that streaking her cheeks in lines of black.
Kagome was dressed in a breathtaking ivory, backless, strapless dress. Lacy vines ran down the left side of the dress. It made her think of Inuyasha. How he had been pinned to the sacred tree and vines wrapped around his limp body.
The throbbing rhythm of "My Will" beat at Kagome's temples. A slow song. Now all the girls lay their heads on their date's shoulders and closed their eyes. The guys held them tightly in their grip like if they let go, the fragile ladies would float away with the beat of the song. But they had those caring boys to hold them down. Who did Kagome have to keep her down to Earth? No one. The song could carry her away and no one would ever notice.
Kagome's eyeliner and mascara was streaked down her face. Her lips were pale pink. Very pale, mostly just gloss. A dab of blue eye shadow was streaked across her eye lids. She didn't need any foundation or even any blush. She always had such beautiful skin and natural rosy cheeks. Her hair, black as pitch, was curled and tied up in strange bun on the top of her head. Two Japanese sticks poked from each side of her hair. She looked beautiful that evening...even with her make up running.
She had tried to look for Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi but with no luck. They always showed up at the worst times...this...would actually be a good time for them to show up. Kagome just wanted to be comforted. She just wanted to dance with someone on her big day even if it had to be her best friend and not a date.
Her head hung low. A couple bumped into her. She cried harder.
Slowly, Kagome's eyes raised to the entrance. She didn't know why she kept doing that. She knew Hojou wasn't going to suddenly show up. She just hoped. Always an optimist.
The door opened and Kagome's heart jumped. It took her a few seconds to recognize the face of the guy walking towards her. He wore the faded light blue bandana she gave him, wrapped over the top of his head.
Kagome couldn't speak as he stepped up to her, his golden irises trembling. He took her hand, his cheeks were bright red out of obligation and embarrassment.
"Inuyasha..." She whispered, her voice cracking.
'Her make up is running...she was crying.' Inuyasha thought, looking deep into her bloodshot eyes.
He didn't know why he was doing this. He wanted to turn back but knew it was too late.
"You...came after me..." Kagome choked out, a faint smile upon her face.
"Yeah...what'd you expect! That hobo guy?" Inuyasha muttered, holding Kagome's hand gently.
"It's Hojou..." She whispered and quickly fell against him, her free arm wrapping around his back.
'This isn't like him...doing this for me...' Kagome thought, her cheek pressed against his chest. She could feel his muscles through the tux. She recognized the suit. It was her father's. Mama had kept all Mr. Higurashi's clothes. She couldn't bear to part with them and lose her memory of her loving husband.
"Yeah whatever...Just play along, alright...I'm only doing this so you won't look like a dateless fool when you go back to school..." Inuyasha said, quickly thinking up an excuse to not seem so soft. "Besides…I had nothing better to do."

"Who…Did you do this by yourself" Kagome asked, her voice a choked rasp, a result of crying so much.

"No way! It was all Souta's idea!" Inuyasha cried, rather loud, but remained gentle with Kagome.

"I can't believe he talked you into it." Kagome said, burying her face into Inuyasha's chest.

"…Neither can I…" He replied in a whisper.
Out of curiosity, Inuyasha pulled the sticks from Kagome's curled hair. Locks of silky black hair tumbled onto Kagome's bare shoulders. The sticks clattered to the floor and Kagome showed no sign of even caring that her hair had been let down. She felt more comfortable.
Slowly, Inuyasha's free arm wrapped around Kagome's small waist and his chin rested upon the top of her head. Her hair was still damp from the shower she had taken before coming.
He held her so gently, not harshly and tightly as the other couples did.
'He's being so gentle...He's never been this gentle before.' Kagome thought, so many thoughts racing through her mind. So many feelings.

Inuyasha looked straight ahead and struggled to move in a small circle while holding Kagome with protective yet gentle arms. He didn't know how to dance but he tried for Kagome.
It was clear that his mind was somewhere else. His amber eyes were distant. He just couldn't push the pictures that Kagome had drawn of him, out of his mind. Was it an obsession...or an admiration? Seeing Kagome, now, and knowing her for a year and a few months, he concluded that he just inspired her. Not an obsession. Not a deep love.
Many others stared at his silver hair as not many people had hair like him. He had taken the time to cover his dog ears with the blue bandana.
The half-demon's fingertips lightly brushed over the exposed skin on Kagome's back. She shuddered but felt completely safe and comfortable.
Kagome even felt more comfortable with Inuyasha than she would have with Hojou. Now she was kind of glad that Hojou got sick.