Chapter Five: Just Say Yes

The school yard is so empty in the morning. Or maybe it's just me. Still shaken by yesterdays events and the coming of my cousin Kikyou, I sit waiting for the white haired hanyou. Finally I see him; he's walking with Miroku and Songo. Inuyasha walks up to me, and then suddenly reverts his attention to the raven haired beauty beside me. I let out a sigh; hopefully this doesn't take too long.

"Kikyou, what are you doing here?" Inuyasha asks staring into her dark eyes.

"I came to see my favorite cousin, Kagome." Kikyou answers messing my hair.

"Stop." I hiss throwing her a glare.

"Kagome, did you know she was coming?" Inuyasha asks looking at me now.

"No. It was a surprise." I mumble seething.

"So how long are you hear for?" Inuyasha asks turning back to Kikyou.

"Not sure. A while I guess from what daddy is saying." Kikyou replies tossing her hair.

"Oh." Inuyasha replies lightly with a smile.

"Hey, Kagome!" I hear a voice call out.

"Hu?" I ask turning my head.

"Kagome, it's me Hojo!" The boy calls bounding towards me.

Hojo the health nut. He's had a crush on me for well over five years. My friends pushed me to go out with him once, that was before I started crushing on Inuyasha. Worst date of my life. I'm surprised we stayed friends after that. Hojo bounds over to me; vibrant auburn hair bouncing and brown eyes glistening. Sure he was cute, but just not my type.

"Hey, Kagome. What's up?" Hojo asks eyes shinning.

"Nothing much. You?" I reply trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

"Hey, I was wondering if I could talk to you."

"We are talking aren't we?"

"I mean alone."

"I…guess…so. I'll be right back." I tell the others following the anticipated boy.

"By the way, Kagome." Hojo adds abruptly.

"Yes?" I ask caught off guard.

"You look beautiful today."

"Thanks…." I reply blushing. Come to think of it Inuyasha didn't even notice what I was wearing. Maybe Songo was wrong.

I follow Hojo over to the corner of the school yard by the gate. I watch him as he plays with his hands and rocks back and forth nervously on his heels. I advert my gaze back to my friends. Inuyasha is staring at me anxiously. I wonder if he can hear from this distance? My guess is yes considering he is half youki. I turn back to Hojo who has inched forward making me quite uncomfortable. Staring into his auburn eyes I look for some sort of motive for this meeting.

"Hojo, wasn't there something you wanted to ask me?" I ask getting anxious.

"Yes. Kagome, have you heard there is going to be a masquerade ball held here at the school?" Hojo asks looking at his feet.

"No I haven't. We're alone. Hojo what are you thinking?"

"Kagome….will you…."

"Will I what, Hojo?"

"Will…you…"

DINGDONGDINGDONG…DINGDINGDINGDONG

"Hojo, that's the bell. I'll talk to you later."

Saved by the bell. Thank you school board. I skip over to Songo, Miroku, Kikyou, and Inuyasha. Walking me down the science hall Inuyasha pulls me over to the side. Staring up into his amber-honey eyes I see there is both pain and doubt. I raise my hand up to touch his cheek, but he looks away from me. What is going on?

"Yash, are you okay?" I ask holding my breath.

"What'd he ask you?" Inuyasha asks with accusing eyes.

"He didn't get a chance to ask me anything. The bell rang before he got to ask me his question."

"You were talking about something were you not?"

"Yeah, the masquerade ball."

"Masquerade ball?"

"Yeah. They're holding it here at the high school."

"Oh."

"Yash, what's the matter? You don't seem as cheerful as you were."

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Please tell me. Is it about Kikyou?"

"Why would it be about her?"

"Don't you remember what happened last summer? Don't you still like her?"

"Sure I do. As a friend maybe and nothing more."

"Then what has you so upset?"

"She was talking about you. She said you're interested in someone."

"Yash, you don't think that I…"

Silence

"Inuyasha, you look at me. I don't like him like that. As for who I like I have no idea if he likes me back."

"Kagome, promise me something."

"Anything."

"Say no."

"What?"

"If he or any person besides the person you like asks you something. Please just say no."

"Sure. If that's how you want it."

"Thanks."

"I'm going to go to class now. Will I see you after?"

"Sure thing."

"Okay. Later then."

"Later."

Just as I start to head in the classroom, I hear Inuyasha call for me.

"Waite!" I hear him call.

"What is it, Inuyasha?" I ask peaking my head out through the door.

"Hojo was wrong about you."

"Wrong?"

"When he told you that you look beautiful."

"Really." I ask heart dropping into the pit of my stomach.

"Kags, there are no words to describe the way you look right now. You look gorgeous." He whispers as my eyes meet his.

"Thank-you. I needed to hear that."

I'm flying; no soaring as I walk into the classroom. No one is bringing me down today.

Poor Inuyasha doesn't have a clue how Kagome feels about him. Let's see how Kagome responds in the next chappie! Please rate and review!