Kagome has been pining for Hojo who no longer pays her attention and brings her gifts as he once did. To try and get him to notice her again, she enlists the help of a known bad boy, Inuyasha, and they concoct a plan: bully her and let Hojo white knight his way back into her life. But will she still want him when all is said and done?
All are human in this one.
Seven: You May Be Right
It was now or never. Kagome clenched her fists and unclenched them, wiping the nervous sweat of her palms off on her uniform skirt. Hesitantly, she took a few more steps towards the bleachers. This was where the delinquents hung out. Long hair, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs. They ditched and started fights and got suspended.
And she needed them.
One of them, in particular. The biggest and baddest, the worst of the worst. The one and only Inuyasha Takahashi.
"H-hey, Inuyasha," she squeaked, barely audible over the loud boys and girls that were talking about things she hadn't ever done and using words she had never said out loud.
His deep dark eyes flicked to her, surprise reflected on his features. In one hand he had a cigarette, or at least she hoped it was a cigarette, and in the other a water bottle that she knew for sure was filled with something else.
"What?"
The fact that he hadn't immediately told her to fuck off giving her courage, she came closer. "Can I… Can I talk to you?"
Inuyasha blew smoke up her skirt. "I can see your panties from this angle."
The surrounding kids laughed and she felt her face go red in humiliation. Gods, she knew it had been a ridiculous idea, but she had just wanted it so bad. Embarrassed and angry, she stomped away. How could she have been such an idiot?
"Hey! Kagome, wait up!" He ran up to her, grabbing her wrist when she kept walking. "What did you want to say to me?"
Face still burning, she glared at him. Could she trust him? No, but she didn't have any better plans. This was the fastest, most satisfying way to get what she wanted.
"I need you to bully me."
"You need me to what?" His dark brows came together in confusion.
"It won't be real. It will all be for show. Just pretend to bully me."
He stared at her, dumbfounded. "What the actual fuck."
"I can't pay you," she continued. "I don't have a job or anything. But I'm good at schoolwork! I can do your homework and write your papers and everything. I get really good grades, ask anyone."
"Uh, okay. Why?"
She crossed her arms and glared at him. "That's my business. You don't need to know."
Smirking, he crossed his arms right back. "If you're business involves hiring me, then that makes me an employee, and so I deserve full transparency."
"Fine," she sighed, exasperated. "So, back in middle school, I was sick all the time."
He nodded. "Yeah, I remember."
Kagome was confused. "You do? Did we go to the same school?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yes. Get on with it."
"Okay! Well, so I had to miss a lot of school. Hojo would come by the hospital or my house every day I was absent and bring me gifts to make me feel better." She smiled at the mere memory. "A lot of the gifts were for my health and they were kind of out there. But then sometimes he would anonymously leave gifts on the porch. As if I wouldn't know they were from him. I guess he was embarrassed about these or something." She could feel herself blushing. "These were better gifts. Romantic, kind of. Flowers and chocolates. Movies. A necklace, nail polish, even a sea shell. Those were my favorites."
The look he was giving her was odd. "And what does all this have to do with me?"
"I was getting to that!" Taking a deep breath, she continued, "So, when I stopped being sick, Hojo stopped noticing me. I waited and waited, and he was always nice and inquiring after my health, but he never stopped by or spent time with me again." She turned her eyes on Inuyasha's, making them as big and blue as she possibly could. Long ago she had perfected the "please help me, I am a damsel in distress" look. "And I want him to."
His face was impassive, seemingly unaffected by her plea for aid. Flicking a strand of long black hair back over his shoulder, he said, "So you think creating a scenario where he can play the white knight rescuing the pretty princess will bring him back to you." He snorted. "Do you really want a guy who's only there when you're in trouble? Do you really want a guy who only feels sorry for you?"
Kagome stomped her foot. She couldn't stand the tone of his voice. "Don't judge me, Inuyasha! I've heard all about the kind of things you do and I'm still here talking to you."
"Not that I care," he drawled, "but what things?"
She shrugged. "Generally, it ranges from tagging to armed robbery and that's just what you've gotten caught doing. Then there's the sexual harassment from earlier."
The smirk was back. "Sounds about right. So, you'll do my homework for the rest of high school and all I have to do is harass you some more? Not bad. I don't mind it at all."
Mouth gaping open in shock, she said, "Not the rest of high school!" A whole year? No way. "Just until it works and Hojo asks me out."
He came closer to her and then he was right in her personal space. For the first time she was very aware of how tall he was, how muscled he was compared to the other boys she knew, and how warm he was. He kind of smelled nice, too.
"That doesn't really give me much incentive," he murmured. "You sure you don't have anything else to offer me?"
"N-no," she stuttered, feeling unreasonably hot all of a sudden. "Like I said, I don't have any money. We're still poor because of how sick I was and we have a lot of debts. Mama won't let me work because she's afraid I'll get sick again from the stress."
"Fuck," he cursed, shaking his head. "Quit it with the big eyes and the sob story. I'll do it."
"Oh, thank you, Inuyasha!" she squealed, grabbing one of his hands in both her own with genuine gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
"But these are my terms." He tugged her a little closer, the movement abrupt and harsh. Were they starting immediately? "You have to tutor me every day after school, not just do my homework." At the look of protest on her face, he went on, "It's too obvious if I'm doing bad on all the tests. I don't mind you telling me the answers, though, as long as you explain 'em."
"But what if Hojo—"
"We can reschedule whenever your white knight requires your company. Good enough for you?" She nodded. "Two: I bully you my way. You don't tell me how and you don't tell me when. Above all, you don't tell anyone else."
Kagome pulled her hands back. "Fine. But make sure to do it whenever Hojo is around."
"Like I said, don't tell me how. I'll do it how I'm gonna do it. Randomly. Word will get around all the same."
After a moment of thought, she agreed. "Okay."
"Let's shake on it."
Wondering if this was going to be some sort of trick, Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, extending her hand all the same. Instead of shaking it, he held it, dark eyes taking in her small and soft pale hand in his large and tanned calloused one. It went on for so long that she began to feel nervous, her stomach swirling and twirling. What was he doing?
"You can't cancel," he said. "And you can't try and get rid of me. I decide when we're done."
Kagome gulped and hoped the sound wasn't audible. "O-okay."
The deal with the devil was complete.
O\o/O
The next morning found her fifteen minutes early to school, eager to start being bullied and win her man back. Humming happily, she practically skipped through the halls, giving coy smiles to her few friends when they asked one another how she could possibly be in such a good mood. Did she know Hojo had been spending an awful lot of time with that freshman girl lately? The one with the limp, yeah.
Her first class of the day was literature and she stacked her text book, notebook, and pencil case all neatly and nicely on top of each other on the corner of her desk. Inuyasha showed up just as she got herself settled. She smiled at him, the thrill of having a secret overtaking her. Without looking at her, he knocked the organized stack off her desk and onto the floor, collapsing into his seat behind her.
Biting her lip, she stared at the mess on the floor. Her pencil case had opened and her stuff was all over. Well, she had signed up for this after all. Grace under fire, she told herself. This was all for Hojo. Getting out of her seat, she bent over to collect her things.
Was that…was that a draft?
Kagome gasped and shot up straight, fixing her skirt in place and holding it down as though it would fly up again at any moment. A few of the guys in back were snickering and Inuyasha was staring at her, smirk on his face and gleam in his eye. Gritting her teeth, she stomped over and slapped him right across the face.
The teacher walked in.
"Miss Higurashi, please get to your seat."
More snickers and she felt her face grow even redder. Gods, but this was humiliating. After attendance, she sat with her head hidden in her folded arms, not hearing a word. In a second, a strong force hit the back of her chair and she went scooting forward, the legs of the desk screeching across the tile.
"Settle down, Miss Higurashi!"
Another kick to the back of her seat. Another. Another. Another. Kagome reared up and turned around, giving him the worst glare she could muster. Inuyasha seemed surprised at how strongly she had reacted to him annoying her, but then he kicked her again, not breaking the eye contact.
"Will you stop that!?" she yelled.
"Miss Higurashi, we've had one too many disruptions from you. Go and stand in the hall."
Kagome's lips parted in a gasp. The hall? Like she was some sort of delinquent? Hands clenched into fists, she marched outside, barely restraining herself from slamming the door like some sort of kid.
It wasn't surprising in the least when Inuyasha followed her less than two minutes later.
She turned away from him, her nose in the air as she determined to ignore him. Circling, he walked in front of her. So she faced the wall. Inuyasha sighed.
"Come on, Kagome. Don't be like that. It was your idea."
"I know that!" she grumbled. "It's just… It's just so…public."
"We can stop now, if you want." Something in his voice told her that he was hoping she'd choose that option.
"Not a chance. I've just got to get used to this." Sighing, she squatted down and stared at the floor. This was going to be harder than she thought. It would probably take a lot longer, too.
Inuyasha mimicked her position, getting down next to her. "What makes him so great?"
"Why do you care?"
"I don't! I was just wondering how anyone could like that wimpy little jerk with his head stuck up his ass."
"Don't say that!" she said, shoving him lightly. "Hojo is very kind and very sweet. He's nice and thoughtful and considerate. And…and he's cute."
"Cute?" he sneered. "Real men aren't cute, Kagome. You don't go to bed with cute unless it's a teddy bear."
"I'm not a slut! I'm not going to—I wouldn't—we would go slow."
Things were mercifully quiet for a while. "How slow?"
"I am not having this conversation with you."
"Like hand stuff then mouth stuff then doing it?"
"Stop!"
"Or just holding out until the absolute last minute—"
"Stop."
"—and let me guess, you'd do it at prom."
She shot to her feet. "Inuyasha!" she yelped. "You're—you're being—that's—"
He laughed and rose in one leisurely movement. "You act like a kid," he said, half-smile on his face. His index finger poked the tip of her nose and her eyes crossed looking at it. "Grow up a little, Kagome. I'm just teasing."
Things were more or less uneventful until lunch rolled around. She noticed a few people she didn't know looking her way and saying something to their friends, some laughing and some concerned. Was it working already? Maybe this would all be over and done with by next week! Cheerfully, she entered the cafeteria. Grabbing a tray, she picked out her favorites.
"A brownie?" Inuyasha said in a stage whisper, his breath puffing on the back of her neck and making her hair stand on end. "I don't think that's a good idea, Kagome. Your uniform's been looking a little too tight lately."
Stiffening, she took a deep breath and ignored him. This was for Hojo. Hojo, Hojo, Hojo…
"Cottage cheese, huh? Like we all saw when you bent over this morning?"
She clenched her teeth so hard she swore she heard a crack. The laughter coming from his friends and admirers down the line didn't help.
"Seven-fifty," the lunch lady yawned.
Kagome rifled through her purse. Where the hell was her wallet? An image of it sitting on her desk this morning haunted her. Oh gods. Her hands brushed against something soft and she nearly wept aloud with joy. Her coin purse. She never spent her change and she just might have enough in there. Giving an apologetic grin to the lunch lady, she began to count out her coins.
"Fucking really?" someone down the line yelled. "Just skip a day, Higurashi. It wouldn't hurt."
Her hands began to shake. That had definitely not come from Inuyasha.
"Put it away, Kagome," her "employee" mumbled. "I'll take care of it."
Tears filling her eyes, she hissed, "I wouldn't want to deprive your dealer of the income."
"Here. For mine and hers."
Kagome went entirely still, her heart beating in her throat. Was this… Was this really happening? With cautious movements, she raised her head from where she was hovering over her small hoard of coins only to clash gazes with him. Hojo was there, the sun streaming in from the windows behind them, and he really did look like a knight in shining armor to her.
"How are you, Higurashi?" he asked, and it was more than just a standard question. He cared. She could see it in his eyes.
"I'm o-okay," she managed.
Hojo glared at Inuyasha before looking back at her, so gentle. "Would you like to sit with me today? We can hang out and catch up."
She smiled and was about to accept, but then Inuyasha inserted himself into the conversation, stepping partially in front of her like he was going to square up with the other boy.
"Sorry, homo. Kagome promised to have lunch with me today."
She was about to protest and push him aside, running into her true love's arms, but the look he gave her seemed super serious. It took everything in her to look at Hojo apologetically and nod.
"He's right. Thank you so much for inviting me. Can I take a raincheck on lunch, Hojo?"
"Anytime, Higurashi. You know where I am." And he went back to the popular kid table.
Inuyasha grabbed her wrist and pulled her along to where he always sat, the table just beyond the realm of social acceptability. Giving a look to the people already sitting there, he waited until they scampered off and sat down, sitting her down next to him rather than across from him.
"What the hell, Inuyasha!?" she started, watching him cram his food in his mouth without remorse like he hadn't just ruined her life. "That was the exact moment I was waiting for!"
Guzzling down his soda, he snorted a laugh. "No it wasn't. He was just being nice, Kagome. You were his good deed for the day. You want your white knight, not an almsgiver with an inflated ego." His mouth twisted in a malicious frown. "I'd be surprised if he even remembered your first name."
The things he said battered her already bruised heart. "He's so nice…"
"Why aren't you eating?"
She glared at him. "I don't know, Inuyasha. Maybe I want to be able to fit in my uniform after this."
His face colored and for a second he looked ashamed. "You're not fat. That's why I said it. Because it's not true so I didn't think it would hurt you." He frowned a little, eyebrows clashing. "I'll kick Bankotsu's ass for what he said. Now stop being mad at me and eat. You can't be getting sick again."
Accepting that that was as close to an apology as she would get and perhaps even as close to an apology as he was capable of, she started in on her food.
"Did we really go to middle school together?" she asked. "I don't remember you at all."
"You've made that more than clear," he grumbled, picking at his food.
"Did we have any classes together?"
"Two or more every year."
How was it that he had her feeling guilty now? "Sorry," she said sincerely. "I had a lot going on."
Inuyasha sighed. "I know."
Before school was over, he had torn pages out of her textbooks, put a spider in her hair, and spray painted the word "bitch" across her locker. It would all have been so much easier if there just weren't any witnesses. The other people, either laughing or murmuring in sympathy, didn't intervene at all. They just watched. Fed up and grumpy as heck, she told her friends to go on without her and waited until the school was more or less deserted so she could walk home alone without running into any of the audiences that had witnessed her torment.
A motorcycle pulled up beside her and the rider stopped, pulling off their black helmet covered in stickers.
"Lemme give you a ride home, Kagome."
Kagome walked past him. "I want nothing to do with you for the rest of today, Inuyasha. Just leave me alone before I start to hate you any more than I already do."
Abandoning his bike, he walked over to her and grabbed her arm, whipping her around. "You're the one that hired me to make another guy feel sorry enough for you that he'd date you! I'm just doing my job."
"But you don't have to be so mean about it!" she yelled, hating that she was about to cry. "How am I supposed to study or even tutor you with half the pages missing from me books?"
"Just share mine! It's not a big deal. Now come on." He tugged on her wrist, pulling her to the motorcycle. "I'll give you a ride home and we can start working together."
Yanking her hand away, she walked backwards in the opposite direction, glaring at him to stay away. "I'm not going anywhere on that thing."
"Why not?" he frowned. "I know how to drive it. I'm really good, I promise. Come on, it'll be fun."
"No! Just—just stop bothering me."
Clutching her books to her chest, she hightailed it out of there. When her adrenaline slowed, she realized she could hear the purr of a motorcycle just behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Inuyasha going at a snail's pace, eyes concentrated on her. They traveled like that all the way back to the shrine.
"I don't feel comfortable with you knowing where I live," she told him as he climbed the stairs behind her, hovering like he was expecting her to fall.
"I can guarantee you don't wanna come to my place."
Kagome shuddered. What kind of horrific environment had spawned Inuyasha? She pictured broken bottles and needles littering the floor of a decaying crackhouse. Abusive addict parents. Giving her mother a brief hug, she ignored her curious glance at Inuyasha and led him up to her bedroom. Sitting at her desk, she put her books on top and flipped through them, cringing at the damage he had done to them.
"I know I asked you to bully me and all, but could you please tone it down a little? It's starting to feel real."
Inuaysha flopped down on her bed. She wrinkled her nose. Great. Now it was going to smell like cigarettes and loser.
"Don't tell me how to do my job," he said, arms folded comfortably under his head. "I was going easy on you, but I could always try something different."
Kagome grabbed his books from his backpack. Might as well get right to it. "What's your worst subject?"
He shrugged. "Just go with your favorite one."
Giving him an exasperated look, she started in on history. Inuyasha closed his eyes and remained sprawled out and still on her bed. Did he not have one at home? She wasn't sure if he was even awake anymore.
"You ever had a boyfriend?" he asked abruptly.
What did that have to do with ziggurats? "No!" she said sharply. "Pay attention."
He rolled over and watched her, head resting on one hand. "Ever hooked up with a guy before?"
"No!"
"How about your friends? You ever get a little more than friendly at a sleepover?"
Kagome jumped up and threw the book at his head. It hit her wall, coming nowhere near him.
"Geez. I'm just asking."
"We're not at school right now. Do you have to keep embarrassing me?"
"Why didn't you get on my bike?"
"I just don't like them, okay? They're for losers."
Inuyasha snorted. "Are you sure you want me to go easier on you? 'Cause you're not acting like it."
"My dad died riding one, okay?" She was embarrassed at how tight and high her voice was, how it cracked and broke on the final word. Now that she had started, she felt compelled to continue. "It was what he loved. He had three bikes. He always said it was safe but one day he went out riding and he didn't stop in time. He was decapitated by an eighteen-wheeler." It was hard, but she kept the tears inside her throat. "I never saw him again, not even in the casket. He was too messed up, they couldn't fix it." Abruptly turning away from him when she felt like she was about to lose her battle with crying, she put her head on her arms on the desk.
A hand stroked her hair, gently patting her head. She hadn't even heard him move.
"I've been thinking of getting rid of it, anyway," he said softly. "I'll see you tomorrow."
And he left.
Kagome was mad at herself. Why had she told him that? Not even her friends knew about it. And there she was getting so emotional in front of him. She had told him secrets. She had made herself remember. That was wrong. When she did start to cry, she went to her bed, curling up and hugging her pillow.
It didn't smell like cigarettes and loser. It smelled like cinnamon and a little sweat. Like boy.
Like him.
O\o/O
Instead of the more intense hell she expected to walk into the next day, her hired tormenter did only mildly annoying things. Walking slowly in front of her in the halls and not letting her pass. Tying the ends of her long hair to the back of her chair so it hurt when she tried to get up. Throwing paper balls at her head.
At lunchtime, she was relieved to see she had beaten him there. There would be no more interference from him. Now she could cash in on that invite of Hojo's. When she made it through the line without incident, having remembered her wallet and those who had laughed and called her fat mysteriously out of commission, she could have sang a song of victory like she was in a musical. Everything was going smoothly. She made eye contact with Hojo and he brightened, gesturing for her to come over. Everything was going—
Something hit her calf and she went flying, falling face first into her tray of food. With a cry of hurt and dismay, she surveyed the damage. It was everywhere. All over the floor, all over her clothes, her hair, her face. After the initial stunned quiet, there was a smattering of laughter. Completely humiliated, she got up to run out of the room, but not before she noticed Inuyasha sitting down far from his usual place, leg extended from where he had tripped her.
Sniffling, she tried to go to the bathroom without anyone else seeing her. Just when she thought she was home free, a hand grabbed her own and stopped her from getting to privacy.
"It's not that bad, Kagome," Inuyasha said. "It's just a little gravy on your cheek. Here, I'll—"
She raised her hand to slap him but he anticipated it this time and he stopped it, pinning her against the lockers.
"Don't," he said, voice low. "I'll take care of it."
His face came closer to hers and he licked her cheek, the one swipe of his tongue slow and hot. They were so close now. His entire body was against hers, closing her in. Her breathing started to become more shallow, more rapid. Inuyasha leaned in again, but there was nothing left for him to lick away…
"Higurashi! Do you need a bandage?"
At the chipper voice, she pushed the bully away from her.
"Uh, no, I'm fine, Hojo. Thank you."
"As for you," he continued, going up to Inuyasha. He almost matched him in height. Almost. "Grow up, Takahashi. We're not in elementary school. There are appropriate ways to tell a girl that you like her." Gesturing for her to come with him, her savior led her back to the cafeteria.
"Thanks," she said when he pulled out a chair for her.
He smiled at her. "Anytime. Here, we can share my lunch."
This was heaven. Kagome blissfully sat next to her future husband, too entranced by him to eat much.
"We feel so bad about what Takahashi is doing to you, Kagome," one girl said. "Targeting you all of a sudden like that is just brutal."
The rest nodded and murmured in agreement. She smiled and thanked them, privately wondering why they hadn't bothered to interfere.
"He's so disgusting," another girl said. "I mean, he's cute and all, but his attitude is so bad and that smirk just makes you want to punch him."
They continued to share how much they despised Inuyasha. For some reason, Kagome didn't want to join in. She laughed along with them at the jokes made at his expense, but it was hollow. On her way out of the cafeteria, she saw the subject of their conversation glaring at her. Had he heard? Her stomach hurt just thinking about it.
The rest of the day was peaceful. Had he decided to quit his harassment of her? Kagome didn't know how she felt about that. It was still too soon for him to go back to ignoring her. After all, Hojo still hadn't asked her out yet. They had a lot of work to do before they got there.
She walked home alone again. Instead of a motorcycle, this time he pulled up in a car. It was a nice one, something far too nice for him to have come by honestly.
"Get in," he told her.
She peered through the open window. "Wow, leather seats. Who'd you steal it from?"
He frowned at her and his sunglasses slid down the bridge of his nose. Why did that do something to her?
"It's mine," he said, voice flat. "I worked for it. Bought it with my own money and everything."
Her hand was already on the door handle. They rode in silence. He didn't need any directions from her or his phone to get to the shrine. She didn't know how she felt about that.
When they were in her room again, her at her desk and him again taking over her bed, she decided to clear the air.
"I—" she hesitated, biting her lip. "I'm sorry for what they were saying about you at lunch today."
He shrugged. "It's fine. That's all okay. It's the way you want things to be."
"No it's not! I never wanted your feelings to be hurt."
Inuyasha barked out a laugh and sat up, glaring at her. "My feelings? Do you really think I even have feelings to hurt? Aren't I just a 'dumb rabid dog due to be put down'!?" he said, quoting what one of Hojo's friends had said. "Even if I did have feelings, you can't do anything to me. I don't give a fuck about them or you."
"I'm still… I'm still sorry. It might not have hurt you, but it hurt me to hear them say those things about you." He looked at her in surprise. "I don't want to be like them, Inuyasha."
A pause. "You're not. You're not like anyone else, Kagome."
A feeling filled the room then and she knew it was inside him too. It made her uncomfortable.
"So, uh, do you want to get into literature today?"
He nodded and settled back down on the bed. Kagome got into what they were currently learning. She hadn't realized it yesterday, but telling him these things like this was helping her understand them better. She went on for a while, reading excerpts here and there and pitching him ideas for the paper due at the end of the month.
"So how much of a virgin are you, anyway?"
"W-wha-what!?" she sputtered. Her face was hot. How could he say such things so casually?
His eyes slitted open and he watched her without emotion. "You ever touch yourself?"
"W-what are you—"
"In this bed?" He ran his hand over her duvet. "Or how about that chair. Or maybe you're the type to do it in the shower, wanting to wash away your dirty thoughts and actions all at once?"
"Get out!" she shrieked, throwing the book at the wall yet again.
He smirked at her. "Shower it is."
O\o/O
She went to school early again the next day. Inuyasha was waiting for her at the school steps. That was weird. He was hardly ever there on time, let alone early. He grinned at her, holding up a hand in a wave, and she was about to wave back when she was intercepted by the man of her dreams.
"Higurashi!" Hojo greeted, bounding over to her. "How are you?"
"Uh, I'm good. Thanks." She glanced over at where her pupil was standing. His expression was tight, eyes blazing.
Hojo looked over to where she was looking. "Don't worry about him, Higurashi. That's why I'm here. I'll walk you to all your classes today and stay by your side between each one. That way, he can't abuse you anymore."
Inuyasha stormed off before she could finish her current conversation and go to him.
"That's a nice thought, Hojo, but do you really think it's necessary?"
"Absolutely!" he insisted. "Look at all he's done so far, and that was just in the past couple days. I for one am not going to stand idly by while he hurts you."
Her face glowed at the attention. "Thank you."
True to his word, Hojo didn't leave her alone for an instant, always on the lookout for Inuyasha. So was she. But she didn't see him. He ignored her all throughout their classes and once they were over he sped out, disappearing almost immediately into the crowds of the hallway. It made her feel a little guilty, but she wished Hojo would go somewhere else for just a little bit so she could find her tormentor and talk to him. When he had to use the bathroom before lunch, she finally got her chance. He had told her to remain outside the bathroom and wait for him, but there was no way she was going to give up this chance. Turning to go to the cafeteria and find him, she was tugged back by the collar of her uniform, right into the women's restroom.
Inuyasha was standing there, glaring at her. He flipped the lock shut on the door. Gods, but he was angry. He had probably been drinking and doing drugs, too. Why had she been longing for this confrontation again?
"I don't like seeing you with him," he said.
"I told you I'm sorry about what they were saying about you yesterday. I won't let it happen this time, I promise. We'll talk more after school, but I have to go now. Hojo's probably done and waiting for me. I don't want to worry him."
Inuyasha slammed his hand against the wall, right next to her head. She jumped. She hadn't noticed how he had backed her up like that.
"He doesn't care about you, Kagome," he said, tone tinged with something that almost sounded like pleading. "He just likes being needed. It makes him feel like a big man. It's sick and it's stupid and you're stupid for falling for it."
His arms came down and she flinched. Kagome's face turned red when he merely hugged her to him, pressing her into his chest. She relaxed. Why had she thought he would hurt her? Had she let what Hojo's friends said get to her? He wouldn't hurt her. Not on purpose. Not really. He pulled back and they were so close again that she had to cross her eyes to look at him. He was going to kiss her. Inuyasha was going to give her her first kiss.
"Inuyasha," she breathed. Her lips were trembling and her heart beat. Was that fear or anticipation?
"Do you always wear that necklace?"
"Uh, what?" Coming back to herself, she looked where he was looking and saw the chain peeking out of her shirt. She nodded, blushing. Kagome pulled it out for him to see. A little key with the handle shaped like an arrow. They had been popular a few years back, every pair a unique set. The other necklace that came with it was a heart. "Yeah. I always wanted one of these, but I thought I'd never get one since I was sick all the time. Then Hojo gave me one in one of the anonymous gift baskets."
"How nice of him. Does he wear his all the time too?"
Kagome shrugged. "I haven't seen it."
"If it were me," he said, fingers running over the chain by her collarbone, "I would never take it off."
The door suddenly opened and the both of them jumped. The bearer of the twin necklace stood there with hands on his hips, a meek-looking janitor behind him. Marching over to them, he grabbed Kagome by the hand and pulled her behind him.
"Keep your hands off of Higurashi!" he said sternly. "I will be reporting you to the administration for sexual harassment."
Inuyasha looked back and forth between him and Kagome. "I can't fucking believe this shit," he mumbled. With a roll of his eyes, he was on his way.
Hojo took Kagome outside. "You look pale, Higurashi. Did he hurt you? Or just scare you." He rubbed her back. "It's okay, you can tell me anything. I won't even judge or try and give advice. Just listen."
She smiled a little. "Thanks, Hojo. I'm fine." A little shaken, but more from what didn't happen than from what did. "Please don't report Inuyasha. He's just… He's having a hard time. That's not really how he is."
Hojo made a face. "If you really don't want me to, I won't. Since he doesn't seem to be acting like that with other girls, I'll assume this is an isolated case." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Are you sure that maybe you don't, er, kind of have a thing for him, Higurashi? You don't return his feelings even a little bit?"
Her cheeks were immediately flaming. "No!" she squealed, voice higher than ever. "No, that's not it. Ugh, no!"
He smiled. "Good. I was worried you two were in some sort of relationship. I can't see that ending well. Not with someone like him."
Kagome tried to calm herself down. "This is the second time you've hinted that Inuyasha is interested in me. I just don't see it."
He raised his brows in surprise. "You can't be serious." At the innocent look on her face, he continued, "Higurashi, Takahashi has been making googly eyes at you since before you got sick."
Well. That was news. "I-I don't even remember him from back then," she said, baffled.
"He was pretty quiet for most of middle school," he said with a shrug. "Takahashi didn't get himself a rep until you got sick. I guess you missed all that. But enough about that. I was wondering if you would like to go out to dinner tonight, just to catch up. We haven't had a chance to really talk."
"Sure!" she accepted immediately. "I would love to."
They made plans and she was in a daydream for the rest of the day. On the way back home, Inuyasha pulled up alongside her again. Kagome smiled at him, too happy to let him affect her mood. Without being prompted, she got in the passenger seat.
"You seem happy," he observed. He didn't sound happy about that at all.
"Where are we going?" she asked. This wasn't the way to the shrine. It was in the opposite direction.
"My house. I felt like studying there for a change."
"Can you even call it studying? I just talk and you just sleep."
"Just because my eyes are closed doesn't mean I'm sleeping."
When they pulled into a nice neighborhood, she wondered what they were doing there. The car stopped in front of a big three-story house with a wraparound porch. She nearly gasped aloud. Inuyasha got out and opened her door for her.
"You live here?"
"Yeah. Is that so surprising?"
"I just… I imagined you living in, I don't know, an apartment or something downtown."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and led her inside his home. It smelled like cookies. A beautiful older woman greeted them in the foyer, taking his leather jacket and hanging it on the coat rack.
"How was your day, dear?"
"Sucked," he said shortly.
"Oh, I'm sorry." She gave him a hug and the fondness between them was palpable. "And who's this?"
"I'm Kagome Higurashi," she said, still in shock over how nice and normal this all was. "We're study buddies."
Her eyes widened and she gasped, delighted. "Are you the little girl who was ill a few years ago?"
Kagome nodded.
"I'm Izayoi, Inuyasha's mom, as you've probably guessed." She smiled and it was warm. "You're welcome here anytime. Just drop by and I'll make you something to eat and we can have a nice chat about our favorite guy here."
Inuyasha was blushing. "Mom, stop it."
"Is Inuyasha tutoring you?" she asked.
"We have to go study!" he barked, pulling Kagome up the stairs.
"I don't mind if you keep the door closed!" she yelled after them. "Just be careful."
Kagome collapsed into giggles once they were in his room, door shut and locked behind them.
"What's so funny?" he asked angrily, face still red.
"It's all just so cute. Your mom is so nice!"
"Well, what did you expect?" he huffed.
Her heart sank at what she had been picturing. "I'm sorry for judging you, Inuyasha. Thank you for bringing me here." Going to his desk, she let him take the bed as usual. "So, what would you like help with today?"
"Did you fall in love with Hojo because he gave you things?"
Her lips twisted in a frown. For the first time, the last thing she wanted to talk about was Hojo. "Can't we just actually study for once?"
"You should tell me. It could help me do my job more effectively."
Kagome sighed. "No, it wasn't because he gave me things. I'm not shallow, Inuyasha." She paused. "It was because he cared. The things he gave me showed he had paid attention to me. They showed that he knew me. Before that, I had never even noticed him. It was nice having someone take notice of me like that, especially when I was worried I might never go back to school again."
He was quiet for a little after that. "What was your favorite gift?"
"Everything but the medical stuff. That all just reminded me of how sick I was."
Inuyasha smiled and sat up. "You should really be the one on the bed. It's only fair."
"I have no intention of goofing off," she said firmly. She was here on business only and that was that.
"Oh, shut up."
Reaching out, he grabbed for her, pulling her down on the bed with him. He wrestled her down so they were lying there face to face, not saying a word. His eyes were strangely soft, telling her something she wasn't sure she wanted to know. In the fading light, his face glowed, completely content. They didn't need to say anything or do anything. They didn't need to. But she wanted to. Under some kind of spell, Kagome found herself moving closer to him.
A door slammed downstairs.
Kagome jumped up, stumbling to the other side of the room. "Uh, I think we've done enough for today. I have to go home. Have to get ready."
"For what?" he asked crossly.
Grabbing her bag, she flung open his door and rushed downstairs. Inuyasha was right on her heels. His parents were whispering together excitedly in the kitchen and she swore she heard her name.
"Nice to finally meet you, Kagome," his father greeted her. "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
She smiled, remembering at the absolute last second to be polite in her mad rush to leave.
"Thank you, but I have to go now. I have a date tonight."
Inuyasha followed her outside. "Are you expecting me to drive you to your date with some other guy?"
"No!" she replied, picking up the pace. "I'm gonna walk. It's just a few blocks away."
"Just get in the car," he said. "Fuck it, I've already gone this far."
Hesitant, she did as he said. Telling him the name of the restaurant, he took her there. The entire drive was spent in a tense silence. When they got there, she was already opening the door before the car rolled to a stop, but Inuyasha prevented her from leaving, his hand on her shoulder.
"W-what is it?" she asked, almost afraid to turn and face him.
"One last thing before you go."
Kagome was completely unprepared for him pulling her to him by her red school tie, his lips clashing against her own. They stayed like that, frozen and unmoving, for a moment, but then she made a noise and his mouth moved against hers. It was like something else, some other force, came over her and she was kissing him eagerly. Her tongue poked at his bottom lip and he grunted, his hand coming behind her head and tipping it back a little more, giving himself more access to her mouth. After a few seconds of frantic passion, he gently nibbled her bottom lip and withdrew.
"There," he said, the slightest bit short of breath. "Something for you to think about on your date. And in the shower."
Kagome slammed the door and ran from him.
Hojo was waiting by the door of the restaurant to greet her. From his genuine smile, she guessed that he hadn't seen her making out with the man he was convinced was terrorizing her.
"Higurashi! You made it!" Opening the door for her, he said, "Are you sure you're well enough for an outing? You look a little flushed."
"I'm fine," she said, voice husky. "Just fine."
The two of them talked more than they ate. All sorts of things. Music, television, movies, college plans, career goals. They were very compatible, just as she had always known. At the end of the night, he kissed her. It was chaste, a mere touch of the lips. It was nice and it was warm, but it didn't do to her what Inuyasha's kiss had done. Not even remotely. It was like comparing a hand shake to sex. That her mind went there had her blushing well into the night, even after she had brushed her teeth and gotten in bed.
When she was half-asleep, she heard a noise. Something was tapping on her window. She forced herself to relax. It was just the tree again, the branches swaying in the wind. But there was no wind.
Suddenly, her window burst open and in rolled a boy.
"Fuck," he cursed upon landing.
Kagome opened her mouth to scream but he moved quickly, covering the lower half of her face with his palm. In bits and pieces, she recognized him. Angry now, she licked his hand.
"Ew!" He took his hand away from her and wiped it on his shirt.
"Inuyasha!" she hissed in the dark of her room. "What the heck are you doing here?"
"Just checkin'," he slurred.
Oh gods. He was drunk. She wanted to tell him to go home, but what if he got into an accident?
"What are you checking?" she asked carefully.
"Checking if you're still a virgin."
"You jerk—!"
Inuyasha cut her off with a kiss and she immediately melted, falling back down on the bed. His arms encircled her. This kiss was different. It was just as good as the one in the car, but instead of being fast, this one was nice and slow. The fire of his lips lingered wherever they touched and she moaned softly, cradling his head against her neck as he kissed her there.
"Did you let him touch you?" he murmured against her skin.
"We kissed," she answered truthfully. "But not like this."
She felt him smile. "Good."
Inuyasha's hand reached between the gaps in her pajama shirt buttons and then he was palming her naked breast. His rough fingers pinched her nipple and she squeaked in pleasured surprise. He covered her mouth with his again and she knew it was a nice way of telling her to keep it down. Fumbling with the buttons, he worked them open and then he was kissing her there where his hands had been. Kagome arched her back.
"More," she gasped.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered, so quiet she could barely hear him. He went back to devouring her breasts and his tongue flicked her nipples, greedily sucking them into his mouth.
She cradled his head against her, combing her fingers through his long black hair. When she was shaking with desire, he popped back up. In the moonlight, his dark eyes shone like black diamonds. Gently, so gently she could barely hold back tears, he cupped her face in both hands and touched his forehead to hers.
"I love you," he murmured, his lips ghosting against hers. "I. Love. You."
Inuyasha kissed her, overwhelming her mouth almost as if he didn't want her to say anything back, afraid of her answer. Kagome tried to tell him, tried to say anything, but all she could do was moan. When she turned her head to the side, hoping to outwit him, he followed and immediately overtook her again. Finally, she gave up and concentrated on telling him with her kiss.
The sound of his zipper coming down was ear-piercing.
Kagome moaned in distress, her hands tightening on his shoulders.
"What is it?"
"I—I'm not ready," she said. Her eyes filled with tears. Was he going to leave now?
A half-smile to match the half-moon that shone down on them. "There are other things we can do."
His hand slipped inside her pajama bottoms and he sucked in a breath when he realized she wasn't wearing underwear. His fingers found her hot and slick and he massaged her, quickly finding out what she liked.
"Shoulda asked your showerhead for pointers," he mumbled.
Kagome didn't have a book to throw at him this time.
Lowering his head back down to her chest, he kissed a nipple before licking it, his tongue circling it with the same rapidity as his fingers circled her clit. With all her inexperience, she was coming hard in seconds, biting his shoulder to stifle her cries. He held her close to him as she calmed and she kissed the skin she had bitten in apology.
"What about you?" she whispered.
"I'm fine." And his eyes told him he truly was.
"But I want to."
Ignoring his hushed protests, Kagome tugged off his shirt. Gods, but he was beautiful. A chiseled god of the night. Kneeling over his torso, she kissed him again, unable to help herself. Her hands ran up and down his chest, feeling his muscles. Her fingers ghosted over his nipples and he puffed out a shuddering breath. Deciding he had suffered enough, she went back to her place beside him and undid his pants, pulling him out. Feeling him in her hand had her almost afraid to look at it. Were all guys this massive? Was this massive? She had nothing to compare it to.
Her hands explored his cock, every vein and flare and dip. He was looking at her like she was a goddess. One of his hands went to her breast and she almost wished he would stop touching her. She was already turned on again and she did want to get to sleep tonight. When her lips met his again, he came all over her hand, groaning into her mouth.
The two of them lay together, not touching. It was a little awkward now that the heat of the moment had passed. He had broken into her house drunk, after all.
"I'm sorry," he said, voice small and defeated. "I'm… I'm gonna go."
She grabbed his wrist before he could finish sitting up. "Don't."
Slowly, he lowered himself back down. Kagome turned and pulled the arm she held over her. He snuggled her tight. The last thing she felt before sleep overtook her was him kissing the back of her neck.
In the morning, he was gone.
The entire school the next day was buzzing with the news of Kagome's boyfriend and their tryst the night before.
Hojo.
They thought Hojo was her boyfriend.
Inuyasha wasn't in first period. She was worried. Had he made it home okay? When lunchtime came around and she still didn't see him, she sat down outside by herself, hoping he would come to her.
Instead, Hojo sought her out.
"Higurashi!" he greeted, sitting next to her with his lunch. "I see your bully was finally scared off."
Kagome nodded morosely.
His gaze sharpened. "How did you come to know Takahashi, anyway? You said you didn't remember him from middle school."
"He, uh, he asked me to tutor him."
Hojo's brows shot up in surprise. "Tutor him?" He chuckled. "Higurashi, you're smart, but so is he. Takahashi doesn't need a tutor. We have AP Calc together and he's a genius. He never participates and hardly bothers to show up, but he always scores a hundred on the homework and he's got the highest test scores not just in the school but in the region. And according to my sources, it's the same in the rest of his classes."
Kagome was dumbfounded. "But… But he…"
He shook his head. "He lied, Higurashi. He's a jerk who was taking advantage of your kind heart."
"I—I have to go to the bathroom," she said quickly, abandoning her lunch. Once upon a time, even the merest hint at the fact that she had normal human bodily functions in Hojo's presence would have her wanting to die, but she didn't care anymore. Tears were filling her eyes. Had he really lied? Was he just laughing at her the entire time?
Blowing her nose into a wad of tissue paper, she heard the noise of the door locking behind her. Kagome whipped around.
It was him.
"Inuyasha!" she cried, feeling so many emotions she didn't even think she could count them all. "Where have you been?"
His hands were on her hips and then he was seating her on the sink. Up close, she realized that he looked horrible. Dark shadows under his bloodshot eyes and his skin was washed out.
"I heard you got a boyfriend." His voice was hoarse. "Guess that means we won't be studying together anymore."
That brought back what Hojo had told her and she was surprised at how angry she felt. "Like you even needed me in the first place! You were just using me, playing me this entire time. Hojo told me—"
Inuyasha hit the mirror behind her so hard that it cracked. Pulling his hand away, she saw it was covered in blood and gasped.
"Did it ever fucking occur to you that maybe there was a reason I put up with all your bullshit?"
"Inuyasha, your hand—"
"Forget about that, Kagome," he rasped. "Nothing else matters. Nothing."
His lips on hers were desperate and she kissed him back, trying to console him in the only way he seemed to accept. Inuyasha's hands held her tightly and she wrapped both her arms and legs around him. Tears were pouring down her face and she didn't know why. Why did she hurt when he was hurting?
The sound of the key in the lock had her pushing him away. Again, there stood Hojo with the same old janitor. Kagome hoped she didn't look too guilty.
"Are you okay, Higurashi?"
She nodded. "Inuyasha…hurt himself," she tried to explain.
The way Inuyasha was looking at her, that pure agony on his face, made her heart feel like someone was strangling it. Pushing off the sink, he stormed away, but she leapt after him, grabbing him by the jacket.
"Wait! Inuyasha, stop! Hold on."
He stopped but he did not turn to face her.
"Your hand," she said softly.
It was clenched at his side but he allowed her to open it up and wrap her red silk scarf around it.
"Go to the nurse. Please, Inuyasha. For me."
He walked away.
When she got back to the hall outside the bathrooms, Hojo was giving her a strange look.
"I was going to ask if you wanted to go to the dance with me, Higurashi, but it appears as though you already found yourself a partner."
"No!" she denied. Inuyasha had lied to her. "No. I want to go with you, Hojo. Thank you."
She walked home extra slow, but Inuyasha didn't show up.
O\o/O
For the rest of the week, Inuyasha didn't show up to school. Kagome kept hoping he would. They needed to talk. Would it be too weird of her to just show up at his house? His mother had said to drop by anytime, after all. But if he wanted to see her, he would. He had proved that. That must mean he didn't want her.
The day of the dance arrived. She had her dress, she had her hair done, she had her make-up done. The limo was booked and all her best friends and Hojo's best friends were going together in one big group. She should be thinking about that, be thinking about them. But even as she posed for pictures with her date, all she could think about was Inuyasha.
She decided. If he still didn't bother coming to school on Monday, she was going to drop by his house with all his homework whether he wanted her there or not. And that would give her the chance to apologize. For what, she didn't know. But she felt guilty. This whole mess was wrong. And then what would they be? Friends? Or…
They arrived at the dance.
Hojo held an umbrella over her head because of course it just had to be raining tonight of all nights. Kagome smiled at him, but she knew he could tell she was distracted. His arm over her shoulder felt concerned. Even though he was so kind and considerate, she still found herself looking around. They had arrived late. Maybe she had done that on purpose. But even so, he wasn't there. The hotel ballroom was completely packed with their fellow students and everyone was having a good time.
Gods, but why was the first song a slow song? Smiling at her date, she put her arms around his neck, trying not to flinch when he settled his hands at her waist.
"I was wondering," he said, breaking the extended silence, "why you always wear that necklace, Higurashi. Is there a story behind it or something?"
She smiled. Why was he being so coy? "Someone very important gave it to me."
He nodded. "I figured. Why else would anyone wear those things? They're so tacky. Gifts should be functional, not just decoration. And isn't the girl supposed to wear the heart? Like the guy has the key to her heart?"
It was when he began going in-depth about his minimalist lifestyle that Kagome finally realized Hojo was not the one who had given her the necklace. Had he given her anything at all aside from the medicinal gifts? Her blood ran cold. Looking for a reason to escape him, she searched the dance floor to map out where her friends were.
Blue clashed with black and she stopped breathing.
"Excuse me, I, uh, have to go to the bathroom."
Getting away from him as quickly as she could, Kagome widened her eyes at Inuyasha, hoping he would understand her. They met in the hallway and she ran to him, grabbing both his hands in anguish.
"Gods, Inuyasha, but I was so worried!"
"Why? You don't care 'bout me," he slurred.
Tears welled in her eyes. He had been drinking again. "I do! Inuyasha, you can't keep hurting yourself like this. You're smart and your parents love you so much."
"C'mon," he mumbled, holding her hand. "I wanna be alone with you."
Her heart beat faster as he led her through hallways and she barely even took note of where they were or where they were going. The music was pounding and it was everywhere. Yes, they needed to be alone. They needed to finally talk about this, about what was between them. Taking her through a door marked "Employees Only", he dragged her up some stairs and there they were, all alone. Just hard wood floors and a big red curtain covering the entirety of one wall. The noise of the dance was still loud here, but at least there was no one but the two of them.
"I missed you," she said shyly. "The entire time Hojo was dancing with me, I was wishing he was you."
His face showed his surprise. "Kagome," he whispered, drawing her close. His cheeks colored and not from what he'd had to drink.
When his lips touched hers, they were so soft. She didn't even care that he tasted like alcohol. All that mattered was that he was with her and they had something real tangled up in all the lies and games. While it started off perfectly innocent, their contact soon turned animalistic. It had been an entire week since she had seen him, and with these newly awakened desires he had stirred in her, it had been hell without him to tame the flames. His hands were exploring her naked back and she bit his lip.
"I want to," she said. "I'm ready now."
He gasped and was about to say something, but then she had him by the tie and was dragging him to the floor. All he had time to do was shuck off his jacket and lay it under her. Kagome would not be denied. His impossibly dark eyes shone with a wicked light at the sight of her breasts nearly coming all the way out of her strapless dress as she lay on her back. Rough hands caressed her ankles and ran up to her calves and thighs, stopping to tickle the backs of her knees. When he reached where leg met hip, he stared at her and the way the skirt of her dress pooled around her. His eyes were full of the moment and she knew he was committing it to memory for the rest of his life.
For the first time, she saw his cock in the light. Kagome's lips parted at the size of it. Someday, maybe even tonight, she was going to take it into her mouth. But now she wanted him inside her.
"You're already wet for me," he marveled. "You're perfect, Kagome. I love you."
It was the third time he'd said it, and just like before, he kissed her immediately afterward. Kagome didn't mind now. She knew they would have time and one day he wouldn't feel the need to stop her from possibly hurting him. With her help, he would become confident enough to know she would never do that. His fingers reacquainted themselves with her pussy, plunging deep inside her. When he crooked them forward, she gasped and nearly sat straight up at the feeling. His thumb rubbed her clit and she whimpered his name.
With a gentle movement, he pushed inside her the first couple inches. Kagome threw her head back at the feeling. That couldn't possibly fit. This was a mistake. They should have waited. His lips sucked at the pulse point of her throat and his thumb worked her clit again. Little by little, he made his way inside her and then they were completely joined. Small thrusts gained in speed and depth and then she was moaning, her hands twisting in his dress shirt. Kagome hadn't known she was strong enough to rip buttons, but she did it. With that part of his chest revealed, she felt his muscles again, enjoying the way his thrusts stuttered when she touched his hard yet sensitive abdomen. The way he was slamming inside of her had freed her breasts from the dress and he watched them, hypnotized, one hand playing with her nipples in turns.
"I'm not gonna last," he choked out. "I swear I'll make it up to you, but I'm gonna—"
Kagome cried out as his cock scraped against that place his fingers had happened upon earlier. Her orgasm surprised her, but Inuyasha groaned her name in relief and pleasure when he felt her clamp down on him, allowing his own climax to occur.
He was still shooting his come when the curtains opened.
The spotlight was over the two of them and she squinted into it. Was this…? Oh no. Oh gods. Horrified, she looked up at Inuyasha, who was blinking blearily in the light. That bastard. Tears filling her eyes, she slapped him and pushed him off of her, running away as fast as she could.
The principal had climbed on the stage and had the microphone. "Can anybody identify the female? This is definite grounds for expulsion. I didn't even need to look to know the male participant was Mr. Takahashi."
Inuyasha ran after her, catching up to her in the parking lot. The rain had ruined her hair and she could feel it seeping in and ruining her dress. His come was leaking down her leg sluggishly and she felt like the worst most disgusting thing on the planet.
"Kagome, wait!"
She didn't plan on letting him catch her, but when he did, she rounded on him and slapped him again.
"What is wrong with you!?" she screeched. "You went too damn far. I never want to see you again, you hear me? Never. I hate you!"
"It wasn't my fault!" he protested. "Please, Kagome, I know you're mad, but I swear I didn't do it on purpose. I just wanted to be with you. I didn't even see where we were going, I just wanted to find a place we could be together."
Her heart hurt. She didn't believe him. "I wish I never met you," she said from between clenched teeth.
It looked like he might be crying. She couldn't be sure because of the rain.
"Fine!" he yelled. "Fuck you, fuck all of you. You can go to hell."
"I hope you die!" she screeched after him.
Sneering at her, he hopped on his motorcycle and drove away. Kagome broke down and sobbed. It was going to be a long walk home.
O\o/O
Kagome had never been so grateful as when Monday rolled around and nobody seemed to be looking at her any differently. Did anyone seriously not recognize her from the stage? To be fair, she had only been at the dance for a good ten minutes before she had left, and it had been dark. Her dress was a pretty common style, too. And it wasn't like anyone would ever suspect that she would do something like that. A quiet little mouse like her would never have been fucking the most notorious delinquent in the school raw on a platform in front of the entire school.
Hojo approached her before she went inside. Kagome paled. Oh gods, but she had forgotten about him.
"You know, Higurashi, if you liked Takahashi that much you could have just told me. You didn't have to use me to try and make him jealous."
She bit her lip, feeling her cheeks pinken. "I'm sorry, Hojo. I didn't even know how much I liked him until that night. But after what he did, I think it's safe to say that he doesn't feel the same."
He paused. "You don't mean to say you think he did that on purpose?"
Grim-faced, she nodded.
"Higurashi, no. It was a coincidence, that's all. An unfortunate one, but one nonetheless. Takahashi was too sloppy drunk to pull a stunt like that and he didn't even have his usual gang of friends there with him to do it."
"Does… Does anyone know it was me?"
He gave her a small smile. "Don't worry. I covered for you. I told everyone that asked that you had gotten sick again with your old illness and had to go home. And a guy like me would never lie, you know?"
She smiled at him in gratitude.
"Look, Higurashi, don't hold what happened against Takahashi for too long. He went there for you. He really cares about you."
Kagome sighed. "I'm sorry about everything, Hojo. I wish I was good enough for you."
"We would have made a fine couple if you didn't belong with someone else."
She kissed him on the cheek and went her own way. Or at least she tried to. Before she could get to her classroom, she was stopped by a gangly boy she had seen a few times.
"Miroku," she said, surprised he was interacting with her and equally surprised she had remembered his name. "What do you want?"
Inuyasha's friend glared at her. "You're a bitch. It's all your fault."
Kagome rolled her eyes. "You can't honestly expect me to believe that Inuyasha is embarrassed about what happened. I very much doubt that it was the first time he was caught with his pants down."
"Do you even care about him at all!? Right now he's suffering in the hospital completely braindead from getting into an accident on his bike. It's all your fault. You blamed everything on him and he drove that thing drunk and pissed off and heartbroken in the rain. If you would just—"
Kagome grabbed the much taller boy by the collar and dragged him down to her eyelevel with impressive strength.
"What room?" she grit out.
His eyes were wide. "Fif-fifteen hundred."
Using most of her meager allowance, she took a taxi to the hospital. Her hands were shaking the whole time and she was taking in breaths like she was sobbing but she wasn't yet, not really, not quite. The tears didn't start until she was in the poorly lit hallway that held Inuyasha's room. When she saw him there in the bed, battered and bruised and bandaged, she nearly fell to her knees.
"Inuyasha," she wept, grabbing the hand that wasn't in a cast. "I'm sorry, oh gods, I'm so sorry. I love you, I do love you, and I wanted to say it then but I'm saying it now so listen, okay? I've only ever loved you and I need you, I do." Her words gained in volume and she was frantic. "Don't die, Inuyasha, don't die and leave me alone because I swear if you die I'm going to die too so just wake up!"
The boy in the bed grunted. "Just because my eyes are closed doesn't mean I'm sleeping."
Kagome was too happy to be mad or embarrassed. Covering him in kisses, she sniffled and tried not to get too many of her tears on him. Inuyasha smiled into her hair and held her to him with his free arm.
"Miroku lied to you, didn't he?"
She nodded. Her cheek scraped against something and she looked down.
On a chain around Inuyasha's neck was a heart.
Her eyes met his and she was so stunned her tears stopped completely. "Is this…?"
"Yeah." The smile he gave her was self-deprecating. "I was too shy to talk to you so I just left all that stuff at your house. Couldn't ever think of anything to say to you and that made me so angry. And then you were sick and everyone said you were going to die and I just snapped. Got myself a reputation I couldn't shake. And then when I found the confidence to talk to you, I couldn't because I wasn't good enough."
Kagome gave him the briefest of kisses. "You are more than good enough, Inuyasha."
"I love you, you know."
"Are you just trying to get me to say it again?"
He grinned. "Guilty."
Note: And so ends our Valentine's Day Shot Week! Which one is your favorite? Also I don't really mind if you review, you know. I don't respond as often as I should, but I read them all and I love them and I love you.