Hello people! Hikoboshi here (finally!)! I'm SO sorry it took so long to finish this chapter! I had writer's cramp for a while but now I'm fine (hopefully). Okay, Chapter Nine! This is my longest chapter though so hopefully that makes up for the long wait. This chapter has a lot of talking. I don't think it's as funny as my others but it'll get funny in the next chapter. That's when more pranks come in. Anyway, here's chapter nine! Enjoy!

Previously on "The Project":

Inu-yasha tensed up and waited a moment. He rolled his eyes in frustration and prepared himself to run up the stairs. Might as well get it over with.

"Inu-yasha!" a familiar voice sounded from across the room. Inu-yasha's eyes widened and he froze.

Not again! he thought.

Chapter Nine

First Date

Inu-yasha squeezed his eyes shut. This isn't happening, he thought. It can't be happening. I was so close and so quiet…

"Inu-yasha?" the voice said again. Inu-yasha finally opened his eyes and looked across the room to meet the eyes of his doom.

Inu-yasha blinked. His eyes filled with nothing but… relief.

"Tami?" he asked just to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. She had her maid's uniform on and a dusting rag in her hand.

"Boy, what are you doing here?" she shouted. She was the only one who called him 'boy' like that. Her fury was apparent but she was way better than Inutaisho.

A sigh escaped Inu-yasha's lips and his shoulders loosened up. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

Tami narrowed her eyes at him. "What the heck are you doing home? You should be at school young man!" She'd never curse on purpose. She doesn't unless something has really upsets her and it's hard to get her mad. She's usually a cheerful person.

As Inu-yasha walked across the room, he said, "I have a fever. I went to sleep at Miroku's house and come home to take a shower."

"Hmm," Tami said, eyes still narrowed. "Somehow I don't think that being sick is a good enough excuse to get your father to ease up."

Inu-yasha widened his eyes in fear. "He isn't here is he?"

"No." Inu-yasha sighed openly. "I was surprised since he didn't go to sleep until one in the morning waiting for you. He must've been tired." Tami looked at him accusingly.

Inu-yasha winced. Good thing he went to Miroku's house. Inu-yasha huffed a little when he remembered the truth: he shouldn't be grounded. "Tami, he shouldn't even be mad at me. I didn't do anything."

Tami crossed her arms. "From what I hear, you dyed his hair pink," she said with an amused look.

Inu-yasha scowled. "I didn't do that." Tami looked at him in pure doubt. "I really didn't!" he tried to defend himself. "It was Sesshomaru!" Tami looked amused at his preposterous accusations. Inu-yasha growled in frustration. "Come on Tami, do you think I'm stupid enough to prank Dad? I would've done it a long time ago if I didn't know this kind of thing would happen."

Tami looked at him thoughtfully. "Why would Sesshomaru do something like that?"

"So that he could get me back for what I did to him the other day. But he's started a war now and I can guarantee that I'm going to win," Inu-yasha said with a smug determined smile.

"Oh yes, the other day," Tami recalled. She smiled in remembrance. "I suppose that makes sense… But I highly doubt your father will be willing to listen, especially since you didn't even come home last night."

"I had a long day yesterday," Inu-yasha growled softly, remembering all the trouble he had to put up with just to be with Kagome. "I didn't want to put up with Dad's yelling when I shouldn't be grounded in the first place."

Tami looked at him quizzically. If he was lying, she could see right through it. She didn't find anything on his face. "Alright," she sighed. "I believe you." Inu-yasha smiled. Suddenly remembering something, Tami put her hand on Inu-yasha's head. "My, my, you really do have a fever. Do you want some tea?"

"No!" Inu-yasha said quickly. "I already had some." He couldn't understand how anyone could like that nasty shit.

Tami smiled. "Okay. What do you plan on doing the rest of the day?"

Inu-yasha smiled mischievously. "Nothing, you know, just a little catching up." Tami shook her head. She knew very well what he was going to do. "You should probably take it easy today. In fact, you should catch up on your sleep. That's probably how you got sick in the first place."

Inu-yasha thought it was possible, seeing how he'd had very little sleep the last couple of days. But he couldn't sleep all day knowing that it was a perfect opportunity to get a couple of pranks in.

"I'll fix you some chicken noodle soup while you shower, okay?" Inu-yasha nodded happily. That was way better than tea. Inu-yasha went up the stairs (that creaked loudly) and into his room. He was so happy to be home. He missed his bed too. Miroku's couch had to be the lumpiest one in the world. He flopped onto the bed and smiled as soon as his head hit the missed pillow. After stretching out he closed his eyes with a content smile on his face. After few moments, he felt himself getting drowsy so he got up to take his shower.

xXx

Tami and Inu-yasha were in the brightly lit kitchen. Its place was off to the side of the large dining/living room. The kitchen resembled restaurant kitchens in layout, where it was separate from the rest of the area but was its own room. There was a large preparation counter in the center with various spices and utensils laid out. On the sides were black marble counter tops were Tami busied herself with cleaning them. Inu-yasha had pulled a stool up so he could talk to Tami as he ate.

Inu-yasha slurped the noodles noisily. He was getting broth everywhere but he didn't care too much. "Thank you Tami," he said between mouthfuls.

Tami smiled in response and started to wash the pot she had cooked his noodles in. "So, how do you plan on getting Sesshomaru back?" Tami often asked about Inu-yasha's pranks to make sure they weren't too overboard or too harmful.

Inu-yasha bit off the noodle he was eating to answer. "I'm thinking of something along the lines of his precious car…" He ended in an evil grin and a villainous chuckle.

Tami sideways glanced at him. "It isn't gonna be too mean is it? You know, not like you did with his last car?"

Inu-yasha laughed in remembrance. To get back at Sesshomaru for taking his car without his permission and then just happening to crash it into the biggest damn tree in the world, Inu-yasha had not only given his brother's car a new paint job (it was black but was transformed into pink with yellow polka dots), but had also taken the seats out and put them in his bedroom. That way, once he woke up with leather car seats in his bed with him, he'd know something was very wrong.

"I don't think I want to do that again. Dad was so mad when Sesshomaru demanded a new car. I'll figure something else out." Inu-yasha's trademark smirk was in place. Tami shook her head. Inu-yasha guessed her thoughts were along the lines of 'Sesshomaru's gonna get a new car soon.' "Or I might do something do his hair…" Inu-yasha said mysteriously. Yet another evil grin was playing across his face.

"Not like last time, right?" Tami asked with another sideways glance.

Inu-yasha burst into laughter again. He was only ten years old at the time. Like any little brother, he was bored out of his mind and, also like any little brother, his source of entertainment was to pick on his brother. His plan was to scare his brother a little with the scissors. He was going to snip a small portion off his dear brother's hair, enough for Sesshomaru to hear, just to see his reaction. Sesshomaru was on the couch, hunched over his seventh grade homework. His hair was lying over the back of the couch. Inu-yasha slipped behind the black leather couch and came in for the kill. Only the plan didn't work out because just when he was cutting, Sesshomaru just had to lean his head back to rest his aching neck.

"It was an accident!" That was the first thing out of Inu-yasha's mouth the second he realized that more than half of Sesshomaru's knee-long hair was laying in a pile at his feet. He did get in trouble for it but not as much as Sesshomaru wanted to have him in. Sesshomaru had lost about three feet of sliver hair that day.

Inu-yasha finished up his noodles just then, his laughter only just now receding. "Okay, I'm gonna go to the store to stock up on pranking supplies. Do you need anything for dinner or something?"

Tami looked thoughtful for a moment and then said, "I think we're running low on bread and milk. Oh, and get me a jar of tomato sauce and two packs of angel hair spaghetti noodles." Inu-yasha concluded that spaghetti was on the menu tonight.

"Will do," Inu-yasha said as he went through the kitchen door and into the huge living room.

"Take it easy!" Tami's muffled voice called through the door. "I don't want you to get even worse!"

Inu-yasha rolled his eyes and said in an annoyed voice, "Okay."

"Don't roll your eyes at me! Just because I can't see you doesn't mean I don't know that's exactly what you're doing!" Inu-yasha laughed in response.

Inu-yasha wearily stared his car engine and took off. That didn't go too bad. As he drove he thought about various things, Kagome among them. His plan was to take her sight-seeing after school since she said she still hadn't seen everything. While he was waiting, he was going busy himself with pranking Miroku. What he had planned for Sesshomaru had to be put off until tonight.

He was worried about whether or not Kagome would accept his proposal or not. She had said sometime but he could guarantee that she didn't necessarily mean the very next day. He wondered how he'd convince her. Since she'd be walking home when he caught up with her, she'd have no choice but to listen to his proposal. That was good. But that didn't mean she had to say yes. He didn't want to force her. He'd just make her feel guilty to say no. That always worked.

Inu-yasha pulled up to the large bright store. As he walked to the door, he felt his head with his palm. It was still pounding. He hoped that it wouldn't prevent him from continuing with his plans. Kagome might say no if she knew that he was sick. But since he wasn't in school, he'd have to give some explanation as to his absence. She probably thought he skipped class since it wasn't every day that someone got sick on only the third day of school. He could just say it was a minor fever. He just hoped that she didn't have the urge to feel his head like two other people had that day without his permission.

Inu-yasha finally made his way to the front door where other people strode in an out of the sliding doors. There weren't many people here since it was not even noon. Inu-yasha smiled at that. It meant he could get in and out quickly. He didn't want to spend too much time in the store when he could be busy pranking some unsuspecting victim.

The boy made a bee-line straight for the party supplies. He picked out five of the largest bags of confetti he could find and placed them in the red basket he'd taken from the front of the store. They were the smallest and most brightly colored on the shelf, which was exactly what Inu-yasha had wanted. He then got three roles of streamers of the ugliest colors he could find (lime green, brownish orange, and one that he didn't even know what to call). He also picked up three bags of water balloons. Then he wandered the shelves in search of some chalk. After he got a large bucket full of chalk, he got all the things Tami had asked for.

Inu-yasha had worked out what he wanted to do as he drove here. He knew exactly what he was going to do to get Sesshomaru back. He also had plans to prank Miroku a little, just for fun. But his primary focus was on Sesshomaru. He was going to get him back good.

xXx

Inu-yasha took a deep insecure breath. Now, he'd come to the last thing he needed. But he'd have to venture down the repugnant and perilous hall to get it. No man had ever dared to trespass into such a precarious environment. He had to get in an out fast, for his life depended on it. The item he desired to obtain was the worst part about it. If anyone observed him even near the wretched article, his life would end on the spot. Stone cold dead.

Inu-yasha considered whether or not he should ditch his basket. It would increase his chances of getting away with this never-before-attempted act, so he decided it was worth it. After putting his basket on the end of the ominous hallway, he said a silent prayer and looked at his prize. Just the look of it sent chills through the course of his body. He had to get it in order to fully get Sesshomaru back though. It should be worth it, he assured himself. But when he glanced at the pink object again, he shrunk back.

Inu-yasha took one last wavering breath. He looked on either side of him to make sure the coast was clear. After reassuring himself one more time he looked straight ahead. The easiest way, he decided, was to run down the hall, grab the hideous object, and come out on the other end, that was assuming there was and end to all this appalling objects that women seemed to think were so cute. He'd play it cool once he reached the other end. He'd hide his prize so there was no chance of being caught. He'd then get to his basket as soon as he could and continue on his merry way. The plan was fool-proof.

The boy narrowed his eyes at his object of desire. One… two… three! Inu-yasha took off down the hall, trying to ignore the frightening voices that seemed to emit from all the frilly objects on the shelves. The bright hair bows and designer hair products screamed at him, trying to convince him to stop, take a look at them and take them off their cursed shelf. This was any man's nightmare but he had to live through it. He reached the cylinder of pink ribbon and grabbed it. He tried to keep running but the damn thing was attached to something, causing him to be yanked back. He panicked, and wrenched the cylinder off its hook and continued to run full speed.

He could see the light at the end of the hall. His spirits soared and his eyes got bigger at the thought of victory. He was only a few feet away when the light started to fade away. A silhouette stood there and Inu-yasha gasped in slow motion before running straight into the person.

Dammit! he thought. Now his entire plan had been ruined by this one person. They'd better hope he couldn't get his hands around their neck, for he'd surely strangle them to death. He looked menacingly down at the frail body who had ruined his day. His hands cracked as they formed a tight circle and he imagined their neck was inside it.

But it wasn't meant to be. As soon as he fully saw the person rubbing her butt and saying in her sing-song voice 'ow,' he knew that his life was over. He hadn't expected this at all. He felt like crying but he couldn't embarrass himself ever further in front of her.

"Kagome!" he exclaimed when he caught his breath. She was wearing a black skirt that flared and went to her mid-thigh. She had on a v-shaped pink shirt whose sleeves were a see-through material cut halfway to complete the style. A flowery pink purse occupied the space next to her, no doubly dropped when she fell. She had on black and pink high heels that matched her outfit perfectly. Her long black hair was up in a ponytail with two long strands hanging out in front to serve as bangs. The outfit showed off her curves and cleavage wonderfully. It was a big change from the baggy jeans and large black hoody that Inu-yasha had grown accustomed to seeing Kagome wear.

"Kagome, are you alright?" Inu-yasha asked concernedly. He helped her up as he had the last time they were in this situation. He was careful to not overestimate her weight though.

"Ow!" she said distractedly with a pouting lip, oblivious as to what the young man had said. She massaged the pained area. "Watch where you're going, you jerk!" She harshly pushed his caring arms away.

Inu-yasha retreated a little from her hostility but recovered quickly. "Look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to, honest. It was an accident. I didn't see you."

"Sure you didn't!" she said sarcastically. She huffed a moment more as she tried to tidy up her hair. She sighed annoyed when she saw her purse on the floor still. She bent down to pick it up and Inu-yasha leaned to get a better look…

She whipped around. By then, Inu-yasha was practically falling over. She gave him a death stare and said, "You're such and asshole." Then she looked at him up and down. The hostility immediately fled and a blush rushed into her cheeks. Inu-yasha looked at her with curiosity. She shook her head and desperately tried to find something to distract her. Her eyes settled on the forgotten pink ribbon in his hand. She smirked and said, "Do you like to do a little cross-dressing or something?"

Inu-yasha followed her line of sight and instantly blushed. He hid it behind him and said, "It's for a, uh, project I'm working on."

"You decided to use pink of all colors?"

Inu-yasha gritted his teeth and said, "That's what it looks like doesn't it?"

Kagome narrowed her eyes and the hostility returned. She turned on her heel and started to walk to the cash register.

"No, wait, wait, wait!" Inu-yasha called. He jogged to catch up to her. She looked straight ahead with an angry face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so harsh. I was just… distracted."

Kagome threw a hostile side glance at him. Her eyes cooled a little and she slowed her pace. His face calmed her…

Inu-yasha grinned triumphantly to himself. Then he realized that something was out of place. "Hey, why aren't you in school? Are you sick too?" He jogged in front of her and put his hand up to her head.

She slapped his hand away and looked at him as if he were crazy. "Do you mind?" she exclaimed.

Inu-yasha looked at her quizzically. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said harshly. "Is there something I can help you with? I just want to get home and not be bothered by some bastard who as nothing else better to do than to hit on girls." She walked faster.

Inu-yasha stopped in his tracks and stared at her in disbelief, mouth wide open. She had to be sick. Really sick. He ran to catch up to her. She was at the cash register now. "I'm sorry, can I make it up to you?"

Kagome stared off to the side, refusing to meet eye-contact. He saw her suddenly tense up. "What's the matter?" he asked instantly and looked over her shoulder. He groaned when he looked at the magazine her eyes seemed to be glued to.

It was a picture of him and his brother. Inu-yasha's black shirt was unbuttoned, exposing his well-toned abs while Sesshomaru's shirt was partially unbuttoned. Inu-yasha stood with his hands in his pockets and Sesshomaru sat on a chair with his leg over the other in a perfect business stance. They both wore black dress pants and seductive grins. In big bold letters, it proclaimed to every American, "Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru Taisho: Hot, Rich Bachelors Looking for Wives!" Of course it was Inutaisho's idea. He was concerned about the fact that neither of them had girlfriends. They had done that before school started and Inu-yasha had forgotten about it. Inutaisho had to threaten to take their cars for a month just to get them to do it.

Inu-yasha laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head.

"Inu-yasha?" she asked cautiously, her eyes still glued to the page.

"Yes?" Inu-yasha said uneasily.

"Is… Is that you?" She pointed to him in the magazine.

"Yeah," he said uncomfortably. This wasn't at all what he'd expected to happen today. First of all, she was supposed to be in school. She might be sick but if she was, then she could've told him that when he'd asked. Secondly, she usually wasn't so hostile to him. Maybe she's realized how close she's gotten to him and wants to stop that before it's too late. And thirdly, he didn't expect to see her so spellbound to some stupid picture of him. Yeah, it was one of the best pictures of him but it was odd to see her so interested.

"Kag—" he started.

"That's your brother right?" she asked and pointed to him.

"Yeah," he said with confusion. "You don't recognize him from school?"

Kagome didn't say anything; she just picked up the magazine and stared at it.

Inu-yasha got impatient. He decided it was now or never. "So I was thinking, um, do you want to go sight-seeing with me? I mean, since you said you hadn't seen—"

"Yes," she said and finally took her eyes off the picture to smile at him. "I'll go with you."

Inu-yasha's eyes bulged slightly in surprise but he shook it away lightly. "Well, are you free right now? I don't have anything better to do…" That was risky. He shouldn't have—

"Sure. Just let me just pay for this stuff." Kagome cheerfully did just that. As she did this, Inu-yasha stared in pure confusion and disbelief. First she was mean and huffy then she was nice all of the sudden. What caused her to change her mind? Some stupid picture in the magazine? Impossible. So what was it?

Inu-yasha paid for his items and followed her out of the store. "So," he started, "did you want to drop your car off at your house or meet somewhere?"

"One of my friends dropped me off. She should be back sometime soon. But I can call her to tell her I found another ride."

"Why would she drop you off? You don't have your own car?" Right after he said that, he remembered that she walked home from school.

"No, I have a car. I've been, um, grounded from it so I had to get my friend to give me a ride."

Inu-yasha smirked. "Grounded, huh?"

Kagome looked uncomfortable. "It was nothing. It wasn't even my fault."

Deciding it would be easier on her if he changed the subject, he asked, "Do you need to drop your stuff off at your house?"

Kagome looked uncomfortable again and then said, "That's okay. I didn't buy any food."

Inu-yasha shrugged. "Okay. Follow me, my car is this way." Inu-yasha went to the back of the parking lot where he parked his silver Spyder Eclipse. Kagome followed.

Kagome stopped in her tracks when she saw him walk up to the expensive car. "Th-This is yours?" she asked in disbelief.

Inu-yasha furrowed his brow in confusion. "Um, yeah. You saw it the yesterday when I drove past you. Remember?"

Kagome looked at him blankly and then said in embarrassment, "Oh yeah, I remember now. I just… forgot for a second." She cautiously made her way to his car.

Inu-yasha looked at her as if she were crazy. She was really acting weird today. Inu-yasha shrugged it off and continued to drive away.

"So why aren't you in school?" Inu-yasha asked to start a conversation. She never answered last time he asked.

Kagome shifted uneasily. "Um… I get out of school early."

Inu-yasha glanced at her. "Why?"

"I, um, passed most of my classes already, so now I only have to pass the classes I need to graduate."

"You're going to graduate this year? Aren't you only a junior?" Inu-yasha asked astonished.

"No, I'm a senior."

"Really? I always assumed you were a junior since you were in some of my classes."

Kagome laughed nervously and said, "Nope, I'm a senior… Wait, you're only a junior?" Inu-yasha nodded. "Oh." Inu-yasha couldn't help but think she sounded disappointed.

"Where do you want to go?" Inu-yasha changed the subject.

"Hm?" She looked oblivious.

"You know… Sight-seeing?" he attempted to jog her memory.

"Oh yes, um… We can go to the memorial."

Inu-yasha smiled and said, "The Washington memorial it is."

Inu-yasha's car pulled up in a parking lot a few minutes later. The memorial that resembled a pencil was not far off. The lush green fields surrounding the landmark were filled with old couples enjoying a nice walk and little kids on field trips running and laughing together in a joyous game of tag. Kites filled the air. Picnic blankets were spread out in shady places here and there.

Inu-yasha helped Kagome out of the car. "It's about lunch time," he said as he did so. "Do you want something to eat?"

Kagome smiled and said, "Yes, thank you."

Inu-yasha guided her to a hot dog stand all by its lonesome. The day was nice and hot dogs seemed appropriate. He bought her and himself a chili dog. They laughed at each other when they dropped cheese and meat on themselves. As they ate, they made their way towards the tall landmark.

"Wow," Kagome breathed.

Inu-yasha grinned and said, "Do you see all those flags around it?" Kagome nodded. They were aligned in a perfect circle around the memorial. "There's exactly fifty of them, one for each state."

Kagome smiled at him and said, "How do you know that?"

"I've lived here my whole life." Inu-yasha furrowed his brow at her. He'd told her that before. He felt disappointed that she didn't memorize the details of his life as he had to her life.

He shook the feeling off and then said, "Come on, let's go to the top." (This was obviously before the 9/11 attacks. You can't do this anymore (I think).)

xXx

Inu-yasha looked around impatiently. He tapped his foot, he sighed, and he paced, but nothing seemed to work. Just when he was about to go after her himself, he heard her panting. Kagome crawled up the steps blindly. When she reached the top and there was nothing else to climb, she collapsed on the hard cement floor. Her high-heel shoes where in her hands.

"Finally," they said in unison, Kagome exhaustedly and Inu-yasha impatiently. Then she glared at Inu-yasha. "You should've told me there wasn't an elevator!"

Inu-yasha looked away stubbornly. "I thought you'd be able to handle it. Not my fault you decided to wear heels today."

"If you knew I was wearing heels, then why did you suggest we go to the top?" Kagome exploded. She'd begun to get up.

Inu-yasha put his hand on the back of his head and stubbornly said, "I didn't know you were going to insist on wearing them until halfway up when you didn't have a choice."

Kagome brushed herself off and said defensively, "It would've ruined the whole outfit."

Inu-yasha threw his hands up in the air and yelled, "That's what you said fifteen minutes ago! But if you didn't notice, there isn't anyone here to see it anyway!"

"I want to look my best at all times. You never know who you might meet," Kagome said with a shy look at Inu-yasha.

Inu-yasha narrowed his eyes at her. He didn't expect her to be like this. He felt disappointed. He feared that this whole project was going downhill. He looked at her quizzically and said, "You never cared what you looked like when you were at school…"

Kagome's eyes widened and she looked away. "I, uh, wanted to learn more about style."

"And you did all this in one night?"

Kagome shifted uncomfortably. "Well, yeah."

Inu-yasha looked at her doubtfully. She was really off today. He shook it off and said, "I didn't make you come all the way up here for no reason. I figured the view would be worth the climb." He smiled one of his drop-dead-gorgeous smiles and held out his hand for her to take. Kagome blushed and took it willingly. He led her to a window and let go of her when they reached it.

Kagome looked out the window in wonder. She saw where they just were, the whole field. A lake further out sparkled in the golden sun. Couples too small to see walked around the lake with food in their hands. Birds flew from one pine tree to the next.

"Told you it would be worth it," Inu-yasha smirked.

Kagome didn't say anything. She just looked. After a moment she said, "That's the Lincoln Memorial over there right?" She pointed across the lake at the concrete building.

"Yep. Do you want to go there next?" Inu-yasha asked. Kagome nodded distractedly. "Come on," Inu-yasha said. He proceeded to run down the stairs.

Kagome looked down the stairs. She sighed and reluctantly followed him.

xXx

Inu-yasha and Kagome rode in the silver car down the open road. Kagome was glaring and Inu-yasha was pleading.

"I've never walked this much in my life," Kagome growled.

"I didn't know the Lincoln Memorial was that far away. We could see it from the Washington Memorial. How was I supposed to know we had to walk around the lake to get to it?" Inu-yasha said defensively.

"You've lived here your whole life right?" Kagome said. She didn't have to say anything else. Inu-yasha got the point.

"Yeah, but I've never had to go from the Washington to the Lincoln Memorial before."

Kagome just glared straight ahead. She didn't feel like talking anymore.

"Kagome," Inu-yasha sighed with a quick glance. He tried to keep his eyes on the road and on her at the same time. It was a hard task. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't know this would turn out so bad." Inu-yasha was relived to stop at a red traffic light.

Kagome turned to look out the window.

Inu-yasha put his hand on top of hers. She didn't move; she was frozen in place. He moved his other hand under her chin and forced her to look at him. "I'm sorry," he said as sincerely as he could. Kagome's gaze softened and she smiled a little. His angelic face made her forget why she was mad.

Now or never, Inu-yasha thought. He brought her face closer to his. Their lips were almost upon each other's…

Beep! Beep!

They both jumped and Inu-yasha looked at the road again. The light was green and the cars in the lane next to them were well ahead of them. "Oops!" Inu-yasha laughed and sped forward. Kagome blushed and looked away out the window.

As they drove away, something nagged at Inu-yasha. It wasn't how weird this day turned out to be. It was the fact that he still had that feeling as if something was missing, as if something was out of place. He wasn't sure if it had anything to do with Kagome or if it was his prank 'feeling' coming back. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.

"So, do you want me to take you home?" Inu-yasha asked distractedly.

"Um, actually, I have somewhere to be soon. A sort of date with my friend," Kagome said.

"Are you meeting them somewhere?"

"We were going to meet at the mall."

"Alright, I'll take you there." Inu-yasha turned down a side road.

"Thanks."

They continued in silence. Inu-yasha couldn't stand it. He hated awkward silences more than almost anything.

"So are you going with Sango?"

"Hm?" Kagome looked at him. She wasn't paying attention. "Oh, um, no. I'm going with another friend. Her name is Yura."

"Really? I've never heard of her. Does she go to our school?"

"No, she lives in Virginia. We met a while ago."

Inu-yasha nodded then turned into a parking lot. "Where do you want me to drop you off?"

"Just out front is fine."

Inu-yasha pulled up in front of the large mall.

"Thank you," Kagome said shyly.

Suddenly, a foreign voice called out, "Hey, there you are!" A girl in a tight full-body jean outfit ran up to the car. He had short jet black hair. A red ribbon was tied neatly in the middle. Her ruby red lips stood out on her pale face.

Kagome jumped in surprise. When she saw who it was, she yelled out the open window, "Hey Yura!" Kagome unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door to meet her friend. Inu-yasha stared curiously. The two exchanged a friendly hug.

"Oh," Kagome exclaimed. "Yura, this is Inu-yasha. Inu-yasha, this is my friend Yura."

Inu-yasha smiled casually and said, "Hi."

Yura said, "Hi," also but as soon as she fully took him in, she blushed.

Kagome looked from him to her. Yura opened her mouth to say something but Kagome cut in. "Anyway, thanks again, Inu-yasha. I'll see you around." She leaned inside the car and kissed Inu-yasha on the cheek.

"Bye, Kagome," Inu-yasha called with a wave. She threw one last smile at him before walking inside the mall with Yura.

As soon as the two girls were inside and saw Inu-yasha's silver car speed off, Yura stopped in her tracks and said, "Kikyo, you have some serious explaining to do. Why did he call you 'Kagome'?"

"Kagome" smirked villainously and said, "You'll never believe what happened today, Yura."

Alright! What'd you think of that? Kikyo, pretending to be Kagome! I suppose it was obvious since the beginning since I made her really mean to Inu-yasha. I had to though. If some guy you didn't know started feeling your forehead, what would you do? Yeah, so that's why she was being like that. By the way, if you didn't know, I really don't like Kikyo so she's going to be evil in this fanifiction. If you like her, then you probably won't like this story. Anyway, I hope you liked this twist in the story. The next chapter is going to be funny. Inu-yasha still doesn't know that it was really Kikyo so he and the real Kagome are going to have "words" in the next chapter. Also, Inu-yasha is going to get Sesshomaru back for what he did to him. And Inutaisho and Inu-yasha are going to come face to face... maybe. I don't know yet, I'm still working it out. Oh, and Inu-yasha is going to prank Miroku, just for fun. Anyway, if you have any suggestions as to what should happen next, I'm all ears. Some things I've already finalized but I might need some help with the little details. Speaking of little details, sorry that this chapter was kinda slow. I was just trying to finish the damn thing. I was trying to show that Kikyo really had no idea what she was doing and she wasn't sure how she was going to pretend to be Kagome when Inu-yasha kept bringing up things that Kagome did that she didn't... I'm not sure that makes any sense. Oh, and I was also trying to show that Inu-yasha was getting frustrated with Kikyo, that he didn't like her as much as he thought he would. But of course, no we know that he really doesn't like Kikyou, not Kagome... Anyway, I hope you stick around for the next chapter! Bye!

Hiko

P.S. There's something nagging at me. I think I forgot to change something and now it's going to bother me for forever. So if you notice something out of place, blame my short term memory lose.