Series: Inuyasha
Universe: Modern Highschool AU
Pairing: Eventual SessKag
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the intellectual property of one Rumiko Takahashi. I only make bad fanfiction about it.
Author's notes: A lot of characters introduced in this chapter, please bear with me. It's important, trust. Also, two chapters without Sesshoumaru popping up and no complains? Yall are straight-up too good for me.
Hentai High X
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It was a few minutes past noon when Kagome finally spotted her.
Kagome waved at the familiar tall girl in the distance, standing on tiptoes to be seen above the crowds. The brunette giant spotted Kagome and, smiling, Sango came jogging towards her, excusing herself as she swerved around other (often alarmed) mallgoers. A whole six inches taller than Kagome's own 5'2" frame, Sango was sure to stand out with her modelesque height anywhere she went.
When she finally reached her, Kagome almost laughed at her friend's totally predictable outfit. Sango was decked out in brand sweatpants and a sports hoodie, looking more like she was about to head to the gym than to window-shop. Although perhaps the comfortable clothes were an appropriate choice for their first outing; Inuyasha often commented that shopping with Kagome should be considered a competitive sport not for the faint of heart.
Sango seemed to be reaching the same realisation about her outfit as she looked Kagome up and down, taking in her pale-pink, long-sleeved crop top and pale floral high-waist skirt. The white vans the petite raven wore were the only thing that downgraded the outfit to 'casual', in the loosest term of the word. "You look so nice, Kagome." Sango complimented in the subtler version of a whine, looking down at her own dowdy outfit self-consciously.
Kagome looped her arm around Sango's with a grin, not wanting her friend to feel out of place. "Thank you! I did say this was a date so I wanted to dress up for you."
"Kagome." Sango moaned with an uncertain blush and a shy smile. "Don't say weird things!"
Kagome laughed openly, tickled at how easy it was to get the brunette worked up. "I'm just teasing you, Sango. Now let's go. I read there's a huge sale going down on the Shoe Sports Factory outlet!" And before Sango could argue, the giggling raven dragged her in the direction of the store. Sango followed helplessly with a smile.
Thirty minutes into shoe-shopping, where the girls exchanged looks gleefully through the store racks, Kagome heard her friend make a most undignified whine.
"Oh no." Sango suddenly groaned.
Kagome peeled herself away from a cute shirt she was holding up to a mirror, and looked up at her grimacing friend.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked, concerned at her friend's pained expression and odd behaviour. Sango was attempting to hide all her 5'8" build behind one of the thin metal clothing racks, her eyes wide and panicked. Instantly on high-alert, Kagome followed her line of sight, looking for whatever was the cause of alarm in the usually fearless Sango. At last, her eyes fell on a group of boys that had just come in through the store entrance. They were all wearing hoodies and basketball shorts, having obviously come directly from practice, and were quite close by they way they were joking around.
One of them she recognised immediately, as the boy who had been singing karaoke with Inuyasha in the picture Kikyo had texted her a few days ago; his ice-blue eyes were unmistakable. He wore his long hair in a ponytail, his bangs pushed back by a brown headband, revealing roguishly handsome features that seemed to be more comfortable with grinning than frowning.
Next to him were two other boys; one with a long curly hair that reached all the way down past his shoulder blades, and another boy with his hair pulled back in a low ponytail that was comically short. The latter's ears were pierced, Kagome noted impressed, and he had a deceptively sly smile that he flashed at the girl on the register, causing her to blush a deep pink. If he ended up purchasing anything, he would definitely be receiving an extra discount and a phone number.
All in all, the three made for a very attractive -but objectively harmless- looking trio, and for the life of her Kagome could not understand why Sango, basketball fan and star player, was running away from them and not towards them.
"Do you know them?" Kagome asked instead, not bothering to hide like her friend and actually stepping on her tiptoes to get a better look.
Sango grit her teeth, watching them intensely from between a gap in the rack. "Yes and no." She said vaguely, then scowled at Kagome with a chagrined expression. "Stop that!" Sango shout-whispered, pulling her friend down by the arm to crouch next to her. "We don't want them to spot us!"
"Why not?" Kagome asked, smiling despite her friend's panic. It was rare to see the usually demure and stoic Sango freaking out; she looked every bit the teenager that she was.
"They're from another school's basketball team – well, at least two of them are." Sango explained in a rushed whisper. "Obviously you know Koga, the one with the headband; he's the power forward on our boy's basketball team."
No, Kagome did not know Koga, she thought distractedly, spotting the tall, tan boy with the long ponytail and ice-blue eyes admiring a pair of sneakers a few feet away. After artfully admiring his broad shoulders and feral lips though, Kagome concluded that she wouldn't mind getting properly acquainted with the power forward.
"Anyways, whenever they come to practice with us, the boy with the piercings always flirts with me insistently, even though I shoot him down every single time. It's super annoying." Sango bemoaned, although the blush in her cheeks said she was more embarrassed by his advances than upset. Kagome realised that perhaps, for once, there might be someone even more inexperienced with boys than she was, and Kagome grinned.
"Oh my god, you like him! Who is it, the boy with the baby ponytail? Oh my gosh, Sango he's cute!" the raven gushed, shaking her friends arm as she followed the boys' movements across the store, caught up in girlish glee.
"He is not cute! He's obnoxious and perverted and incorrigible!" Sango hissed, blushing even harder and glaring at her friend.
"He is also coming this way." Kagome chirped, amused.
Sango gasped, seeing as, indeed, the boys were heading straight towards their area of the store.
"Oh no!" Sango groaned again, turning around to make a run for it.
Kagome watched, nearly in hysterics, as Sango crawled across the floor on all fours trying to get away from them. Sango was almost to the dressing rooms when-
"My, my, what a sight for sore eyes!" a male voice called out jovially. "Miss Sango, pray tell what are you doing down there?"
Kagome looked up into the steel-grey eyes of the boy with the pierced ears and the apparent bane of Sango's existence, and she decided he was definitely very cute indeed. Said eyes were filled with mirth as they watched the brunette tense, then very slowly get up from her undignified position, her back ramrod straight. Kagome noted with amusement that Sango refused to face them, and bit down hard on her lip to avoid laughing at her friend.
"Hello, Miroku." The brunette mumbled, her hands fisted to her sides.
Miroku clapped his hands and rubbed them together, like a pleased cat that had cornered its meal. "I knew it was you! I could recognise that beautiful ass from a mile away."
Kagome laughed in disbelief, and Sango whirled around immediately, hands clamped on her bottom protectively. The blush was back on her cheeks with a vengeance.
"Dammit, you perverted monk!" Sango seethed, walking up to the boy and shoving him in the chest hard. To his credit, Miroku didn't budge an inch, his smile widening wickedly. "Don't be a creep!"
"You offend me, my lady. I was only offering a compliment. You do have the loveliest pair of buttocks I have ever seen. They are second only to your-"
"Stop!" Sango shouted, pressing her hands against his mouth, which only served to amuse him more. He closed his eyes and turned his face, very deliberately planting a kiss into the open palm. Sango squeaked and withdrew her hand as if scorched.
Meanwhile, Kagome watched in delight from the sidelines as her friend bickered with the suave boy. His words may have been inappropriate, but Kagome felt no true malice from him. In fact, from the way his eyes twinkled whenever he looked at Sango – and that was all the time, really – Kagome would dare to say he was being sincere with his feelings and was truly smitten with the girl. That he was probably not going the right way about it was another story entirely.
After settling down some from the excitement of discovery, the group of males seemed to take notice of the petite raven watching quietly from the sidelines. Miroku scrunched up his nose in confusion. "Kikyo? What are you doing here?"
Kagome resisted the urge to roll her eyes, by now well used to being confused with her twin. "Actually -"
"You're Kagome, right? Kikyo's twin sister." The boy with the wavy hair next to Miroku corrected. He had remained aloof to his friend's shenanigans up to that point, but upon seeing Kagome seemed to be taken out of his reverie. He was looking at Kagome with the sort of detached curiosity one might hold for a much-heard-of stranger, but also something else. Surprise, perhaps? Like he didn't expect to see her there, except they had never met before…"What are you doing here? Is Kikyo with you, as well?" He questioned, sweeping his ruby-red eyes across the store. Kagome openly stared at the boy, startled.
"No, she's not. But how did you-?"
"Know that you weren't your sister?" He finished suavely, his ruby-red eyes settling on her, seemingly satisfied with his search that Kikyo was indeed not present. The boy shrugged, his elegant curls crumpling upwards at the motion. "You two might be twins, but you are very different. To the trained and familiar eye, that is." He finished, smiling mysteriously.
"And you are…?"
"Onigumo Naraku." He replied, stepping forward and bowing respectfully. An odd action for someone so young, especially to someone of his own age.
He was an enigmatic person, Kagome decided after a quick survey. While Miroku was an open book, Naraku was a locked library. If Kagome had to describe him, he looked like the sort of person who was always calculating from the sidelines, more comfortable with watching events unfold before him the directly participating. His manners were gentile, polite to a fault, and his face was beautiful enough to be deemed effeminate even, an odd contrast to his athletic and burly build.
Strangely enough, Naraku's aura reminded Kagome much of her own sister, and she couldn't exactly place why. Something about the way they both held themselves, like elegance personified, radiated to the little raven. He seemed entirely too familiar with her twin, though, which put Kagome immediately in high alert. Someone as pretty as her sister was always catching the eye of this or that weirdo, and despite how much Kikyo had been annoying her as of late, Kagome could not drop the habit of being her sister's eyed the boy shrewdly, not at all taken in by his placid smile and calm demeanour.
"How do you know Kikyo? She's not in the girl's basketball team."
"But Inuyasha was, back when he was in the Shikon team with me!" Koga interjected brusquely, his ice-blue eyes glinting as he wolfishly looked Kagome up and down. "He brings Kikyo along whenever we hang out. Though if I'd known her sister was this cute, I'd have invited you too!"
Kagome blushed, not used to male attention unlike her older twin. Kikyo was always the one being fawned on by admirers everywhere they went. Although to be fair, Kagome was usually too busy paying attention to Inuyasha to notice if anybody was interested...and she could do worse than this tall stranger with the honest face and open laugh.
Yet even as Kagome thought that, her mind was already comparing his blue, round eyes to sharp, sage gold; his boyish, dimpled grin to full lips curled into a quiet smile. Suddenly, Kagome was in that warm car again, trembling fingers on the heated skin of Sesshoumaru's chest, those same full lips so close to her own face and she couldn't breathe right.
"Are you guys doing anything right now?"
Kagome was snapped from her memory by an earnest Koga, who had taken bold steps forward and was now in Kagome's personal bubble. Not menacingly or overbearing, but magnetic, charismatic. Kagome let out a nervous laugh, blinking away the mist of the night before, trying to stay present.
"Sango and I were just shopping, no definitive plans though. Right, Sango?" Kagome turned to her friend, who shot a panicked look at Kagome's open offer. Miroku was hovering near her with a persistent smile and Kagome decided to take pity on her friend and throw her a bone. "Buuut we're probably going to go grab something to eat now, so..." she finished lamely, hooking arms with the tall brunette, and taking a step back from the boys. Sango nodded emphatically, rubbing her stomach with her free hand in the poorest display of acting Kagome had ever witnessed.
Miroku perked up at that, seeing opportunity where many would see a dead end. "Perfect! Actually, Koga and I were looking to buy some shoes for the next match this upcoming weekend, and we just happened to meet up with Naraku. But how about we all go out together and grab some lunch?" Koga grinned broadly at the suggestion, though Kagome couldn't tell if he was more excited about the idea of company or food. By his rouguish wink in her direction, Kagome could see that she was definitely incentive to his glee.
"I must excuse myself actually." Naraku interrupted his fellow mates with a pat on their shoulders. "There is something that I must see to before I forget."
"But you just got here." Koga bemoaned.
"And now I am leaving." he replied with that same placid smile that made Kagome suspiscious. "Until the next match, friend." Naraku gave one last pat on the back to Koga, fist-bumped Miroku and turned to the two ladies.
"It was a pleasure to meet you at last, Kagome." He grabbed her hand, squeezing it meaningfully, and holding on a bit longer than what was comfortable between strangers. "Hopefully not for the last time." slowly, reverentially, he brought her hand up to his lips, giving it a chaste peck. With a final bow of farewell to Sango, he turned and disappeared through the store front doors.
"Is he always that weird?" Sango offered, voicing what Kagome was too polite to say herself.
Koga barked a loud laugh, already used to Naraku's mannerisms, and turned towards the cash register with his purchase in tow. "You should meet his brothers and sisters; he'll look like the perfect picture of normal."
After talking with them for a while, Kagome found she rather liked these boys. They were goofy, energetic and always quick with a joke, and Kagome so dearly loved to laugh. Even Sango loosened up after a while (in great part to Miroku toning down on his flirting and just talking about the joys of basketball with an equally enthusiastic Sango). They were huddled into a corner booth at a busy little cafe in the mall food court, both girls on one side with the boy's facing the other - much to a pouting Miroku's disappointment. He had been hoping to sit down next to Sango, who had vehemently refused the suggestion with poison and vitriol. Kagome giggled at Miroku who, rather than put off by Sango's tomboyish refusal, seemed to rise to the challenge with renewed vigour.
"So what position do you play, Miroku-san?"
Miroku looked up from a mouthful of burger, deliberating how to talk around the bite, when Sango smoothly intervened. "He's point guard. Basically a coach on the floor; they're responsible for directing plays and creating shots for receivers." the brunette added helpfully for Kagome's benefit, as the petite raven wasn't too savvy with sports positions and had mostly asked out of politeness. Kagome nodded, appropriately impressed and guessing at the importance of his role.
Miroku grinned at Sango around his mouthful, and after swallowing painfully, leered in obvious delight. "You remembered! I'm flattered you pay such close attention to me, Miss Sango."
"Get over yourself, Miroku, I only noticed because you're the shortest on your team." Sango quipped back mercilessly, while Koga guffawed at the burn and slapped Miroku's back comfortingly. Turning to a confused Kagome, she clarified in a low voice, "Usually the shortest team member is point guard. But they're usually also the smartest player and best ball-hanbdler; though don't tell that egomaniac."
"I heard that." Miroku grinned,chewing another bite. "Glad you think I can handle my balls." Miroku paused, seeming to consider. "Wait, that came out wrong."
"Or right, bro. No shame in knowing how to treat the homies." Koga snickered, and Kagome's attention fell on the dimpled smile and dancing blue eyes.
"What about you, Koga-san?" she asked cheerfully, stealing a fry from Sango's plate since hers were already gone. Koga noticed and with a playful wink dumped some of his own fries into a blushing Kagome's plate. When she began to refuse, he silenced her by shoving a fry into her mouth, thoroughly enjoying embarrassing the cute raven.
"I play power forward, same position as Sango." he nodded with his chin towards the brunette, who was too busy arguing with a flirting Miroku to hear their conversation. "Power forwards are tall, like a centre position; but with more speed. I used to be a centre before - basically king of the courts based on height and build - but I like the versatility being a forward offers. I get to put my fast legs to good use." he grinned, and coming from anybody else, the boasting would've been arrogant. But from the tall boy with the runner's build, Kagome could easily see him flying through the court, and nodded appreciatively.
"What about you, Kagome? Do you play any sports?" he asked, seeming genuinely interested in Kagome, and suddenly the raven had the distinct impression that their little group outing had turned into a double-date of sorts. She shifted uncomfortably, unusually timid.
"Not really. I used to be in the archery team when I was younger, but I dropped out last year."
"How come?" Koga asked, his eyebrows scrunching, lips pouting, and Kagome wondered if he realised how sweet he looked when he was confused.
"It was something that my sister, Kikyo, and I used to do together. She was a much better archer than I was though, and I got bored of it so I quit."
Truth be told, Kagome had become tired of constantly being compared to Kikyo by her coach, teammates, teachers and family. It was easier to say she had become bored of the sport rather than admitting she had become insecure in her own abilities, though. Kagome had truly loved archery; but had lost it to Kikyo just as she had seemed to lose everything else.
Koga nodded his head thoughtfully, ignorant to Kagome's inner turmoil. "Inuyasha did mention that she's one hell of an archer last time." Koga commented casually.
"So...does Kikyo go out often with you guys?" Kagome asked, suddenly curious. This was the first she had ever heard of her sister joining this rather odd group of male friends. Usually Kikyo told her she left for study groups with her AP female classmates. Was this what she had been doing instead? Koga took a generous sip of his soda, offering some to Kagome which she politely refused. He mulled her question over as he munched on some ice.
"Yeah, pretty much. Inuyasha is always dragging her with him to karaoke or bowling; whatever we're doing that week, really. You should come next time!" Koga said brightly, intent shining in his eyes. "We can make it a group date, all six of us!"
Kagome's stomach dropped at his implication. "Oh, I don't know..."
"Yeah! It'll be great! Miroku and Sango, you and me, and Kikyo and-"
"No, Koga-san, really-"
Out of the corner of her eye, Kagome caught sight of a familiar figure and her words died in her throat.
Koga jumped back, startled, as Kagome suddenly stood up from the table, sending her empty tray clattering to the ground. Miroku and Sango stopped their arguing to stare at her with equal surprise.
"Kagome?" Sango called, putting a halting hand on the frozen raven's forearm. Before Sango could question her friend any further though, the petite raven spilled out of their seats and rushed out of the small cafe they were in and out into the food court.
"Kagome!" Sango called, sliding out of the seat as well. "I'm sorry, i'll be right back - Kagome!" Sango called out again, but the raven was too far away, running at full sprint.
Kagome had seen her, she was sure of it. Her blue eyes scanned the food court, taking in every detail as she rushed past confused mall-guests enjoying their meals or walking around. But despite lapping around the court and going out into the parking lot, there was no familiar dark head anywhere to be found. The raven stared out into the waning daylight, panting, wondering if she could trust her eyes anymore or if she was going mad.
Eventually, Sango caught up to Kagome, to her credit not even a little bit out of breath from having to chase down her friend. "Kagome, what the heck? Why did you run off like that?" Sango berated, although an edge of concern was etched into her tone.
"I'm sorry. I thought..." Kagome looked around breathlessly, unsure of how to finish that sentence and feeling a little unsteady.
Had Kagome imagined it? Was Kagome truly so obsessed, so consumed with suspicions, that her mind was now playing tricks on her?
Crazy as it sounded, Kagome thought she had seen her sister Kikyo... with a boy. But that was impossible. Her twin had told her she would be staying home, studying for the maths test. Kagome had already reviewed the material with Sesshoumaru during detention - one of the perks of her punishment, she supposed - so she had no need to stay in and thus was free to go out with Sango. It wasn't unreasonable that Kikyo would decide to take a break from her studies and end up at the same mall, the closest one to their house. But alone with a boy?
Kagome could take a stab at who it could be, though he had been wearing a hoodie so she couldn't be sure. But what Kagome was one hundred percent sure of was that it had been her sister, recognised her in that indescribable, mysterious way that twins are connected through body and soul. Which begged the question: if that had been Kikyo who spotted her at the cafe, why had ran away from Kagome? What was she trying to hide?
Kagome had been so busy trying to avoid Kikyo that it had never occurred to her that Kikyo might actually be doing the same. But why would Kikyo go out of her way to avoid Kagome? Surely Kikyo was not embarrassed by Kagome's recent situation with Sesshoumaru at school – she didn't even seem to be aware of it as far as Kagome could tell. Kagome's imagination ran wild as she tried to figure out what exactly her twin was keeping from her.
Though Kagome was sure her answer lay with the identity of the hooded boy.
Was Kagome brave enough to ask?
