Okay, okay, okay. I'm sorry it took me like, a week, to update, but the wait has been worth it, because last night I finished this story! Woot! So updates will be pretty regular till the end. I must say, though, that waiting this long does tend to accumulate more reviews, lol! Seriously, though, I hate making you guys wait as much as I'm sure you hate waiting, so I'll shut up now.
Deds:
sakura blossoms4 - Thanks. I did!
lindajrjt - Thanks you, thank you! I'm very happy you like this story. Now, feed your mind!
Mystical Hanyou - Hehehe, she does! And Sango wants to hear all the mush. Sometimes I wonder if you live in my head...
Kagomelovessesshy5 - There is more, don't have a cow! Although, milk is expensive... why, I don't know... it's not like cows are rare... hmmm...
Photographing Poetry - Yup, that scene was pretty hot. I got all hot and bothered writing it! J/k, Okay, I didn't get BOTHERED persay, but... I got nothing. Kouga deserved what he got, tho, I don't care what anybody says!!
Nimeway - I would settle for a good, very fashionable denim jacket, but no, no one sells them! Gah! But I'd take his. A guy friend of mine loaned me his once, and even though it was old and kinda falling apart, it smelled good... like him, lol! Very hot! Down with Carpal Tunnel!!!
MyInuYashaObsession - Okay, okay, okay, yes, this story does follow Grease 2 more than the original (a lot) but hey, I liked the second one better! It was... hotter! And since I've been outta school for over three years now, I don't really have a lot of ideas that deviate from the movie, but I have tried very hard to stay away from exact ideas or themes! Really, writing a seventies-based fic is harder than it sounds. My parents think I'm nuts cuz all I listen to for inspiration is 70's music explosion from TimeLife!!! They look at me funny, seriously! But really, you're a procrastinator, MIYO! That's cool though, I'm bad for that when it comes to replying to reviews for other stories I've already finished, so don't beat yourself up over it, k??
INU-sarah - Mental backflips... that's talent! I get migraines. Anyway, do another one, I updated! Woooot!!!!
inufangrrl - You're quite an eager-beaver. Do a victory dance cuz the update - why is there a bus going down my street?? This is side-street Ontario suburbia! Go down St. Vincent, you stupid bus!! - is here!
OvercastKid534 - I love you all! I hope this is soon enough for you. And Hot is one of the best songs eva!
Inuyasha: Grease'd
Chapter Twelve
Wednesday morning dawned a chilly one.
Kagome rolled out of bed and looked at her books, and the homework she'd neglected to do. Looked like she was going to have to cram during lunch.
She got in the shower, then brushed her teeth when she was done. As she looked in the mirror, she thought she looked fresher, more spirited, than she used to. Must be the freedom of singularity, she giggled to herself. Donning a pair of striped tights under her school uniform, she buttered a piece of toast on her way out, her bag flung over her shoulder.
When she got to school, Inuyasha was just pulling his 'Ray into a spot between Kagura and Sesshoumaru. Killing the engine he got out, picked up his stuff, and locked the doors.
"Hey," he greeted her, coming around the bumper to meet her, and walked with her into the school.
"Hey, yourself." She smiled, and she was glowing.
He smiled back. "You're looking well."
She laughed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. "I am well."
He shrugged, then replied, "I heard about the break-up. I'm sorry, Kagome."
It was her turn to shrug. "I'm not. It was time to go our separate ways, obviously." She stopped and turned to him. "Did you know he was cheating on me?"
Inuyasha shifted nervously. He knew she wasn't accusing him of anything, but her scrutiny was intense, nonetheless. He nodded, but added, "I didn't want to tell you, though, because you'd be hurt when I did."
At first she frowned, then her face softened. She patted his arm. "Thanks for your concern, Inuyasha. You're sweet." He smiled at her praise, but she continued on. "Kagura told me. She'd taken pictures of Houjo and Ayame in the parking lot. Can you imagine that? Hell, I think they were trying to get caught." She shook her head, stopping at her locker to open it. He stopped too.
"I just feel so... used, you know?"
He nodded. Finding out that your boyfriend was dipping into other waters wasn't a very nice thought.
He tilted his head, then reached out to finger her jacket. "Where'd you get this? I never figured you for the leather type."
Kagome smiled, and confided, "I have a secret admirer. He loaned it to me to keep me warm last night."
Inuyasha wanted to grin outrageously, but he successfully squashed the urge, and instead, put on a look of disappointment, almost pleading. "Oh. It's nice."
Kagome heard the dejection in his voice, and it tore at her heart. She liked him, she really did. Maybe if things had been different... If this new guy hadn't shown up... But things are different now, her heart whispered, but she ignored it. She couldn't go getting herself involved when the perfect man had just come along. She couldn't afford to mess up her future happiness by dating Inuyasha now. She just couldn't jeopardise losing her sexy biker. At least not yet.
A part of her realised that she was letting her body govern her actions, but she chose to ignore that voice, too. Impulsively she opened her mouth. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I wish I could but..." she let herself trail off, in answer to his pleading look of earlier, asking her out without really saying the words, and he looked up, pretending to force a brave face.
"It's okay," he said confidently, and she looked him in the eye. "Are you sure?" Suddenly she wondered why he was taking this so well. She had known since before he'd saved her that he liked her, and had just been waiting for a chance to ask her out. Why was he giving up?
Then, she thought that maybe he'd found someone else, and she felt strangely disappointed. Why should I care? She thought anxiously. As long as he's happy, I should be too. It didn't occur to her that he could just be respecting her decision. She'd never had a guy do that before, so she didn't recognise the gesture.
He nodded. "Yeah." Then, he started to walk away, but he turned back. "You want a lesson tonight?"
She smiled. There was nothing wrong with their just being friends; he seemed to have reached this conclusion even before she had. Nodding, she replied, "Yes, please!"
He grinned and waved. "See you in Latin."
"Later!" she called, digging around in her locker.
Inuyasha walked to his locker, half sad, half stupidly excited. She was rejecting one half of him for the other, but he took comfort in the fact that it wasn't somebody else. She just thought it was!
Still, he wasn't sure how long he could keep up the pretence. Sooner or later she'd have to find out. He thought about it. School was almost over, and the year-end dance was coming up. He grinned. He'd tell her then, and hope she'd not spit - or slap, as she was known to do - in his face.
Inu G'd
Rin sat through Calculus now with confidence; her math skills were rapidly improving, and she was even helping others in the class now. She would turn around to see Sesshoumaru, and he would smile at her proudly.
All this mushy shit was making Hakudoushi fight the urge to vomit. Sesshoumaru had once been a fierce rival, but now he'd gone soft, and all because of a girl. He harrumphed to himself in disgust, although he'd never admit to anyone that Sesshoumaru had good taste.
Hakudoushi didn't know it, but he gave Rin such a hard time because he liked her. His mind, unable to recognise the emotion of affection (or scorning it, rather) made him react to her in a negative way; if he had been anyone else just the thought of her in danger would have brought him to his knees in anxiety, but, he was not your ordinary run-of-the-mill guy. No, he had issues, which made him respond to any positive emotion with a negative reaction. So he sneered at her, and brought her down. He often told her she was fat, and she hated him for it.
Sesshoumaru, though, had figured him out, and he watched him like a hawk. He highly doubted Hakudoushi would act on his impulses, but he hated to think what he would do to her should they ever be caught alone. He may have been outwardly antagonistic, but behind closed doors... Sesshoumaru shuddered.
Rin sat back down in her seat, having correctly answered the question written on the board. Mr. Myouga beamed."Well done, Rin! I'm impressed!"
She blushed. "Thanks, Mr. Myouga." As he moved on to the next student, Rin felt her heart slow down, and she turned to seek reassurance from Sesshoumaru that she'd done good.
She saw him, and he grinned at her, mouthing, "You were awesome," and she grinned in return. Then, Hakudoushi sought her gaze, and he smiled at her.
At first, he didn't know what made him do it; he had been thinking about it, and then, she had looked - so he went ahead and smiled at her. Her reaction was delayed, to say the least.
She took a minute to frown outright. Hakudoushi didn't smile at her- unless it was in contempt. She set her mouth in a line and quickly turned away, clearly upset.
Thinking that didn't go over as well as he thought it might, Hakudoushi turned his head to see Sesshoumaru giving him a death glare.
Faster than he could think, Sesshoumaru had leaned over to his ear and whispered, "You even look at my girl like that again... you'll be shaking hands with the Devil 'cause I'll send you to Hell."
Hakudoushi blinked. It was as if he'd dreamed that, everything was just as it had been a few seconds earlier, but the look on Sesshoumaru's face confirmed that it had indeed happened.
Looking away, he thought, Fuck her, and fuck you, Sesshoumaru. She's not worth it.
Inu G'd
Kagome crammed all through lunch, struggling to finish her Latin. It was easier now, but she still had trouble conjugating the verbs correctly. The meanings, though, were easy to remember.
Sango saw her, and, sitting next to her, asked, "Have you talked to Kikyou lately?"
Kagome shook her head. "Good afternoon to you too, Sango! No, I haven't, actually."
"Well, it looks like your little tiff with Houjo has broken up the whole group. I said hello to her this morning and she ignored me, and Ayame hasn't been talking to anyone. Then, in the lunch line, Kikyou asked me how I could still be friends with a bitch like you."
Kagome shrugged, not caring. "Hey, she wants to be friends with my cheating boyfriend and my cheating former-friend, that's her business. I never liked her anyway. She's just sore because her nasty boyfriend tried to come on to me last night."
Sango sighed. "Me neither, though it burns me that she called you a bitch. And I think Ayame feels really bad about it, she's been so withdrawn." She made a face, Kagome's last words sinking in. "Ew!! He did??"
Kagome looked at her. "Yeah, he did. But honestly, I don't care what she says. We all know who the real bitch is. And besides, Ayame should be feeling bad. That's what happens when you cheat."
She smiled, and Sango laughed. "You must have seen him again, or you wouldn't be this agreeable." Kagome grinned, and Sango demanded, "Tell me everything!"
Inu G'd
Houjo listened intently to Kagome and Sango's conversation from behind a bush a few yards away. Kouga stood with him, silent. Kagome was telling Sango about the guy on the bike, and Houjo frowned at Kouga. Kouga whispered, "Came after you left."
Houjo nodded, but the frown didn't leave his face. Who was this mystery guy, anyway? He'd heard about him, but he didn't know the guy was interested in his Kagome.
But she's not yours anymore, his mind whispered. Oddly the voice in his mind was Ayame's. He had to admit, she'd been more than just accommodating since it happened, and had even come to escort him home from work, but he just didn't love her. It was Kagome he loved, and it was their new-found intimacy he was missing. He'd enjoyed having two girls to himself, but that was over now, Kagome had seen to that. He listened in some more.
"And then he lent me his jacket," Kagome said dreamily, fingering the leather heaped across her lap.
Sango grinned. "Sounds like a real dreamboat."
Kagome sighed, her gaze far away. "He is." Then she seemed to come back. "You saw him, of course he is!"
Sango laughed, "Just checking to make sure you're still with me here."
Kagome pouted and mock-punched her, but Sango let it slide. She was so happy for Kagome. Now, if every guy would just lay off her, she and this new guy could get along.
She got up, stretching. "Well, I gotta run. Class is almost upon us."
Kagome gasped. "Shit!"
Sango stopped with her arms still in the air. "What?"
Kagome busily started to gather her things. "I spent so much time talking to you that I didn't finish my homework. Shit!"
Sango laughed, but rubbed her friend's shoulder reassuringly. "Inuyasha will help you, won't he?"
"Yeah, but there's nothing I can do before class. Damn." Kagome was not looking forward to the chewing she knew was coming from Mr. Myouga. He was pretty easy-going, but this, on top of her late paper, which she still hadn't finished, and her slipping grades, might just make him blow his top.
Kouga made a gesture with his hand, indicating that he and Houjo should move on; the girls clearly had nothing more to say.
While they made their silent retreat, Houjo thought about this new guy; the longer he thought about him, though, the angrier he became. He was going to get her back, by God, and no leather-clad freak on a bike was going to stop him!
Kouga was thinking much the same thing, only he wanted to waste this guy for having more success with her than he did. Though by the look on Houjo's face, he felt reasonably sure he shouldn't share his true feelings. I'll tell him I'm angry for him, he thought, deviously. Let the human believe that my intentions are pure. What he doesn't know won't hurt him!
And then there was the problem of Inuyasha. Both boys knew that she'd picked up her tutoring lessons again, but it was Kouga more than Houjo who suspected that Inuyasha was after Kagome, too. He could smell it, and see it, when they were together, that there was sparks between them. He decided to put a bug in Houjo's ear, and see what happened.
Inu G'd
Kagome slid into Latin at the last second, just before the bell rang. Houjo's seat was empty, and she was secretly glad. The last thing she needed was to have him see her get yelled at.
Inuyasha was there though, and he smiled brightly at her as she sat down, her eyes sad, for she knew what was to come. "Hey, Kagome. Have a good lunch?"
She nodded absently and dug out what she'd done of the homework. She was finished.
Mr Myouga made his way down the rows, collecting homework and saying, "Remember class, the final exam is only one month away! I want to see top grades from all of you!" Kagome groaned quietly.
Inuyasha leaned over and looked at her paper. "Is that all you have done?"
She turned tear-filled eyes to him and nodded, whispering, "I'm finished. I know it. God, I've never failed anything before..." she turned away to wipe her eyes before he could see her cry.
Making a snap decision, Inuyasha grabbed her paper and erased her name. She watched, stunned, as he wrote his name on her paper and her name on his. Sliding it back onto her desk, he winked, and she looked at it in shock. He was so sweet! He would do that for her?
Myouga came along then and picked up her paper. Looking it over, he beamed, "This looks wonderful, Miss Higurashi." She didn't even look at him, she was too busy staring at Inuyasha. Why would he do that for her?
Because he loves you, her heart whispered, and she finally looked away in thought.
Mr. Myouga took Inuyasha's paper and frowned at it. "Mr. Takahashi, this assignment is incomplete. Why is that?"
Inuyasha promptly replied, "I had a family emergency and was unable to finish it sir. Please forgive me."
Mr. Myouga smiled. "Just this one time, Inuyasha, because your track record is good. But don't let this happen again." And he walked away to his desk.
Kagome found herself unable to look at Inuyasha for the rest of the class. She was so blind! How could she have missed it? He had saved her... in more ways than she knew. The guilt she felt was extreme, but, she promised herself that if this guy on the bike didn't pan out, she was his.
Inuyasha wondered if she was angry with what he'd done, she refused to look at him for the rest of class. He hoped she wasn't.
When class was over, they walked down the hall together, silent, until she reached the stairs and they had to part ways. "See you tonight," he said, but she said, "Wait."
He stopped. "Yeah?"
She looked up at him from under her bangs, her wide eyes wet under the fluorescent light. "Inuyasha, I..." She had so much to thank him for. He was her saviour. "Thank you. For everything. No one has ever been so sweet to me before."
He knew she was referring not only to today, but to her attack, a few weeks back. He grinned. "No problem, Kagome. I'd never let anything bad happen to you."
She smiled, grateful, and her heart broke. She was hanging onto her biker by a thread here, and if she didn't see him again soon, she was going to forget all about him.
Inuyasha could sense her inner torment, but he knew she was torn. Sighing mentally, he decided to make it easy for her, since he'd planned to tell her at the dance and no sooner. He was feeling better though that she was feeling bad about refusing his romantic attentions. Either, way, he was winning her over, slowly but surely.
Pretending he was clueless, he just smiled and waved, "Well, see you tonight!"
She snapped back to the moment and replied, "Yeah, see you." And she trudged to Gym, a lot on her mind - and her heart.
Inuyasha walked away, unable to stop the grin from spreading on his lips. Soon, Kagome, we can both be happy.
Inu G'd
Naraku was pissed.
This laying pavement thing was for the fucking birds!
He wiped sweat off his brow for what felt like the tenth time in the last hour. Pavement was hot! And it stunk; the smell permeated his clothes, his hair...
He stood aside as the man who operated the roller steamed by, flattening his section and packing it tightly. The heat waves rose from the black muck as the sun climbed higher. By noon, the heat was almost unbearable.
He stripped off his safety vest for lunch, trying to cool down. His shirt and undershirt soon followed. Eating alone, he sat in the shade of a tree on the curb. His parents were coming home soon, and he had to be prepared.
The more he thought about it, the more he was beginning to regret hitting Kagura. It had been satisfying, true, but he realised that he may have gone just a little too far. In preparation for his parents' reaction, he had rented himself an apartment, and even though it was empty right now, he would move into it if he needed to. He had plenty of pocket money left; with the wages earned from this new job, he would be able to live comfortably on his own. He thanked God his car was already paid for.
The other men working sat in a cluster. One leaned to the other and smirked, "How much you wanna bet the new guy goes home with a sunburn redder than a macaque's ass?"
His buddy grinned. "I'm game. How about thirty yen?"
The first man smiled. "You're on!"
The foreman leaned in and said, "Why don't you make it interesting and include the rest of us?" That morning, Naraku had snapped at everyone because he wasn't used to being awake at five in the morning. The other men were seasoned workers, and all agreed that working in the early morning hours was far more comfortable than working in the blistering heat that rose as the day wore on.
His snappiness had not won him any admirers, and he had spent his first day being yelled at. His inexperience was another thing; that boy didn't know the first thing about roadwork. The other men were looking forward to breaking him into what he had to learn. They planned to be merciless, and already they were slotting him with the most undesirable jobs and errands they were loath to do themselves.
Naraku looked at them from the corner of his eye and mentally cursed them all. He hated construction!
Inu G'd
Inuyasha wiped another windshield clean of bug guts. The driver paid him and drove away, making room for the next customer.
It was after school, and he tried not to acknowledge the butterflies that buzzed in his stomach as he thought of tonight's study date with Kagome. He'd told her he was going to help her re-write her assignment, but he was fervently hoping she would fall for him as he was, and give him a sign. He doubted that would happen, but he hoped. Having to pretend to be someone else was fun, but he couldn't keep it up forever; sooner or later she'd find out, and her reaction depended on just how she found out. He wanted to be the one to tell her, but he couldn't be sure that that wouldn't happen, so he was careful all the time now when in the guise of his alter-ego; if Houjo or Kouga should discover his true identity, he was sure he'd lose her permanently.
Houjo kept sneaking glances at him, and when Inuyasha finally looked back, Houjo glared.
Whoa, Inuyasha thought, this can't be good. Houjo, what are you planning?
He knew that a glare like that from the boy who'd previously gone out of his way to avoid eye-contact had to be bad news, of that he was certain.
Inu G'd
Kagome worked hard, and successfully managed to forget about everything that was bothering her. She even refrained from thinking about him, the boy who'd thrown her into an inner turmoil like none she'd ever experienced.
She began to think about him though even after she'd tried not to, and she couldn't help the feeling that niggled the back of her mind every time she pictured his grin in her memory. It was so familiar! Why couldn't she place it? She knew she'd seen it somewhere before...
Her brother approached her then and panting, said, "Sis! That girl over there wants to talk to you." Kagome followed his finger, and it pointed to Kikyou, who stood in the parking lot, her arms akimbo and an angry look on her face.
Kagome sighed but mentally prepared herself for battle. Kikyou had a really annoying habit of harassing her unnecessarily lately. She wondered what her beef was this time. Nastily she thought, Maybe she'll get run over, standing there in the middle of the lot like that - but she shook her head. That wasn't nice.
Kagome skated over nonchalantly, her tray tucked firmly under her arm, her pencil perched behind her ear. She noticed Ayame sitting docilely at a table close by, but she wouldn't meet Kagome's gaze.
"You wanted to see me, Kikyou?" Her tone was curt. She didn't have a lot of time for whatever Kikyou thought was important.
"Yeah. I do. I want you to stay away from my boyfriend, or you'll regret it."
Kagome raised a brow, smiling a little. Who did Kikyou think she was dealing with here?
"Oh? Well, maybe you should tell your boyfriend to leave me alone, because I don't like him, and he knows it. I don't know how you could have possibly missed that."
Kikyou narrowed her eyes and snarled nastily, "Don't push me Kagome, I mean it. He's mine!"
Kagome laughed. She was nuts!
"By all means, keep him. I have no interest."
Kikyou still looked angry, but she was sure Kagome was hiding something. She thought of the new boy who'd been coming around lately to see her, and decided that she would cause a little trouble of her own.
Kagome crossed her arms, transferring the tray to her left hand. "Where is Naraku, anyway? Certainly not with me." She gave Kikyou a self-satisfied look. "Stop threatening me. Nothing's going on. If you'd open your eyes, we wouldn't even be discussing this issue."
Skating away, she shook her head. It was obvious that she could no longer count Kikyou as a friend. Not that it mattered. She considered the loss of her friendship small change, because there had never really been a friendship. They'd hung out because they were both part of the same group of popular girls; there had been no closeness or shared confidences between them. Kikyou was much closer to Ayame than anyone, and Kagome had Sango.
Ayame twitched her foot, and watched Kagome leave. She felt terrible for what she had done; Houjo was just barely seeing her anymore, and worse, she'd missed her period. She was scared, and alone. Kikyou was her friend, but she would turn on her just as soon as she would sympathise with her. Ayame had allowed herself to get caught up in the drama with Houjo, but she wasn't foolish enough to tell Kikyou about her fears that she was pregnant. That burden she would bear alone - for the moment.
She was afraid that Houjo was plotting to get Kagome back, and Ayame knew that she'd never take him. Kagome was loyal, and she would never return to someone who'd cheated on her. She felt her eyes tingle with tears. She wished she could talk to Kagome, she'd always been a good listener.
She was just so afraid...
Inu G'd
What could possibly go wrong now? Will Ayame wind up a single mom? Will Kagome ever figure out who her secret sdmirer is? Will Inuyasha ever convince her to consider him for who he is and not who he pretends to be?? Will Naraku crack under the strain of construction??? Hehe, that last part doesn't really matter, though, cuz Naraku sucks!! Construction is his punishment, haha! A big fight and much drama to follow!!