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Chapter sixteen: I am the Walrus

"Dude, you really suck at this."

"Dude, I don't suck at it. The board is up too high! You can't even get it in the hoop either!"

"Yeah but you suck at it more than I do." Miroku launched the orange ball into the air, aiming for the tall hoop, and it bounced off the rim. He sighed and chased after it, tossing it at Inuyasha.

"Wanna know who really sucks?" Inuyasha said sarcastically, making his own attempt at getting the ball into the hoop. Miroku rolled his violet eyes and grabbed the bouncing ball before his friend could snatch it again. "Kagome."

"I know you think she sucks! You said so fifty times already!" He snapped and dribbled around the court a few times before jumping and making a free-throw. Sadly it bounced off the rim again and Inuyasha went chasing after it this time.

"You only met her once. I have to live with her now." He said while trying to make shot but Miroku blocked expertly. The black haired boy slapped the ball from Inuyasha's hands and dribbled across the court, easily dodging Inuyasha's attempts to steal it back. They had been at it for almost two hours now, and both were drenched with sweat. But the inside of Miroku's impressive house was filled with women who were visiting with his mother. Inuyasha growled as he sprinted for Miroku, who was setting up for another free throw, but the other boy saw and quickly side-stepped, allowing Inuyasha to lose his footing and skidded to a stop on the concrete. Carlos, another driver hired by Inuyasha's father (who had been sitting on the sidelines waiting until Inuyasha decided it was time to go home), rushed to Inuyasha's side to help him up. "Get off Carlos! I'm not a baby." The cranky kid said out of embarrassment.

Miroku laughed as he dribbled the ball in place, waiting for his friend to get back up. He knew that Inuyasha could be jealous sometimes, but deep down he was an alright guy. And as Inuyasha brushed off his clothes and sent Miroku a weak glare, Miroku laughed and began to throw the ball in the air.

"I just don't understand why you hate her so much. I bet she'd be okay if you got to know her." He said nonchalantly and made a fake move to throw the ball at Inuyasha. Right as Inuyasha opened his mouth to reply, a woman in a uniform stepped out from inside the house.

"Young master, your mother would like to see you. She asks that your friend leave now." Miroku waved the maid off and turned to Inuyasha.

"Your mom still has that lady calling you that? Weird." Inuyasha wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed. He was pretty tired now. Miroku shrugged.

"I don't get it either. But you better go. See ya at school." Inuyasha nodded and waved goodbye. They turned to go separate ways when Miroku shouted Inuyasha's name. Inuyasha turned around just as an orange ball came flying into his face, effectively knocking him onto his back. Miroku's hysterical laughter could be heard as he kept walking towards his house.

The air smelled like chlorine and the sounds of splashing and flip-flops against concrete echoed around everyone. The school's indoor, Olympic sized pool was being used for swim practice, which Sesshoumaru was currently in attendance of. He jetted through the water like a fish with a torpedo attached to its back. His long strokes carried him so quickly that by the time he reached the other wall, those who were racing him were still at the half-way mark. Sesshoumaru kicked off from the wall with powerful legs and propelled himself through the water before coming up for air and beginning his strokes again. There were girls waiting for him at the edge of the pool, all in the school's uniform swimsuit, cheering and clapping as he neared. When Sesshoumaru's hand made contact with the edge, the coach's whistle sounded and it was the end of the race. Sesshoumaru picked his head up and wiped the water from his mouth, taking deep breaths and watching for the coach's approval.

"Good job Taisho, as always. If you keep these times up you'll catapult us to the state finals. You're done for today. You can dry off and go home." Sesshoumaru nodded and hoisted himself out of the pool. The girls nearby giggling to themselves, but he just ignored them. A certain girl came up holding a dry towel for him. She was also on the swim team, girl's division, but she had dried off and gotten dressed some time prior. Her short black hair and piercing brown eyes stared at him with a seriousness that reflected in his own.

"Here, Sesshoumaru." She held the white towel out for him and Sesshoumaru gladly took it. He removed the goggles from his eyes and pressed the warm towel to his face, then patted his body down until it was sufficiently dry. Wringing out the long fibers of his pristine white hair, which had been braided for the practicality of swimming, he looked at her and nodded his thanks.

"Thanks, Kagura." He tossed the used towel at one of the girls standing nearby and went to grab his bag from the bleachers. "How did you do today?" he asked nonchalantly, and pulled out a pair of grey sweat pants to put on over his swim shorts. Once the drawstring was tied at the front of his hips, he retrieved a plain white shirt from the bag and slipped it on over his head. Kagura watched with a disinterested look, only because she was accustomed to seeing him in such a state and she had a very comfortable relationship with him.

"I was great, as always. You swam well today too. You're the strongest swimmer on the boy's team." She complimented before following alongside, her own bag slung over her shoulder. The two left the pool to go wait for their drivers at the front of the school.

"I'm the best out of both teams." Sesshoumaru mentioned pridefully, but Kagura knew he was only doing it to tease her. She may not meet him on time, but her endurance exceeded his. As they walked off on their own, away from prying eyes, Kagura slid her hand into Sesshoumaru's. He allowed the smallest of grins to appear on his face and squeezed her hand back.

"How is it going with that new girl in your house?" She asked curiously.

" It's alright. I prefer her to Inuyasha now…but I prefer everyone over him so that's not saying much." He said off handedly as they passed through another hallway. Kagura huffed and turned her face away with a pout.

"You sound like you like her." She said with attitude and stopped walking. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes and put an arm around Kagura's shoulders, drawing her near.

"I like you. I put up with Kagome…she's like me." When Kagura sent him a wary look Sesshoumaru quickly explained. "We both hate Inuyasha with a passion." Kagura' tough façade cracked as she allowed herself to laugh.

"You'll stop hating him eventually." She said as they exited the school, stepping into the sun's light where Kagura's driver waited. As they approached the car, Sesshoumaru opened the door for her and waited to shut it. He leaned in closer and they held each other's gaze. Sesshoumaru smiled at his friend and stood back up.

"No, I won't." And then he shut the door before the car drove off.