Shine On

Chapter 3- The Ball

Disclaimer - I do not own Inuyasha

A.N. - BTW, I know the first two chapters were short. This chapter will change all that... sorry 'bout all that.

A week had passed since I'd first arrived at Hanoroku High and things were... not too different. Aside from getting a chill up my spine everytime I thought about Inuyasha, I was still the same person. After that walk Inuyasha and I had that one day, we hadn't talked too much. I guess he just wasn't a talkative person... or maybe I freaked him out a bit. Whatever the case, we weren't "buddy buddy". Miroku was still a little down and out about Sango, but that was only around me. He usually perked up and got all excited when any other girls were around. It always made me think that... maybe I was just gross.

I hope not. If so, my chances at ever falling in love are a bit screwed. It's kind of funny to talk about love. I've never honestly experienced it. I've always wanted to, but just never met that guy who really sparked me. I'd have to say, the most feeling I've ever felt for any being was probably what I felt for Inuyasha right now after that one look. Which, compared to what those in love say, isn't too much.

It was the next Monday. A Monday. No one likes them. Even the teachers that stand up before the class and give a big lecture to the students on what to expect the next week don't enjoy them. Well, in any case, I was no different. This day, I'd woken up with a horrible case of the "Mondays".

I hadn't seen Miroku that morning, either, so I just escorted myself to first block. By this time, I'd managed to find my way around the school. Our lunch table hadn't expanded to more than just Miroku and me... and the occasional "hot chick" that Miroku was milking for a phone number. So, as I sat down in my World History class, I noticed that Miroku really must not have been here that day. That wasn't good considering he was my only friend so far at this school.

Mr. Myoga stood before the class on this fine Monday. He informed us that all this week, we were going to be placed in groups of four people to work on a project both inside and outside of school. Since we were all new to the school, this was, not only for grading purposes, but to meet new people as well. There were going to be five groups of four and each had to present something on how they would colonize a piece of land. I listened carefully for my name.

"Jin, Sara, Hana, and Tobuya. You will be group two. Inuyasha, Miroku, Kouga, and Kagome. You will be group three. Kaya..."

I had to work with Inuyasha? I guess it wasn't a big deal, I mean... I barely knew the guy. But, still... everytime I was around him, I got this weird feeling. Not necessarily a bad one... just a weird one. This group might be a little hard to work in.

Inuyasha turned to me and smiled. "We have to work with the pervert and the ass hole. Oh yay!" He said sarcastically. I cocked my head to the side and gave him a questioning look.

"Kouga's an ass hole?" I asked. Of course, it was beyond my comprehension that Inuyasha hated Kouga, so asking probably was not the best idea. His eyes flared a little but then died down as he spoke to me about what Kouga was.

"Yeah... he just... he went out with Sango once in the summer and got really over protective of her. So, this one night... she's had a rough day and called me to talk to me about it. So, I had no big, but Kouga flipped out. He tried to fight me, but I whipped his ass." Inuyasha smirked. I chuckled as Kouga made his way toward us. He had teal eyes and long black hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"Hey, turd-face." He said to Inuyasha, who glared at Kouga. I could feel things were tense between the two of them.

"Well..." I started. "What do you guys think we should do first?"

"Banish the half-breed from the island..." Kouga said, keeping a fixated glare on Inuyasha with a melevolent smirk playing on his lips.

'Half breed?' I pondered the word. Inuyasha had an extreme look of hurt in his eyes now. This was a really bad idea. "Inu..." I started just as he got up and walked away. I looked down at the ground. 'What's a half breed?'

"Eh, good riddance." Kouga groaned. "So, pretty lady, what shall we do?" With this, I found myself doing something I'd never done before. I turned to Kouga and raised my hand. Then, in no time at all, my hand slapped him across the face leaving a bright red hand print and the whole class staring at me.

I was just as surprised as the rest of the class.

"What the hell was that for?!" Kouga snarled at me.

"For what you said to Inuyasha! You hurt his feelings and you should apologize!" I shouted at him. The burst of strength I'd suddenly received was extremely weird. I went from being this shy, quiet girl to being a super-mondo Inuyasha protector. I liked it.

Kouga glared into my eyes and eventually gave in and went to find Inuyasha. I sighed and slumped down into my chair. I looked up to see Miroku walking into class.

"Miroku!" I called to get his attention. He looked around and saw me. He handed the pass to the teacher and walked over to the group of desks.

"Hey, Kags!" He said chipperly. I looked at him questioningly... I knew where that name came from. It was my dad's nickname for me. I smiled at Miroku to keep myself from thinking about it and waited for Inuyasha and Kouga to return. Unfortunately, once they finally did... the teacher decided that time to plot was over with.

"Alright, class... time's up. We'll start with Kagome's group telling us how they would set up a civilization on an uninhabited island." Mr. Myoga looked at us knowingly. He knew we had nothing done.

"You old, geizer!" Inuyasha shouted to him. "We haven't even gotten a damn thing done!"

"Is that my fault, Inuyasha?" Mr. Myoga asked. Inuyasha scoffed. "Very well, then, you all fail this project." Our faces dropped.

"Well, would Sara's group like to go?" Myoga asked the perky red-head. She sat up and smiled.

---

After class, Kouga approached me.

"Hey, Kagome, right?" He said to me. I watched him carefully as he came near.

"Yes?" I asked politely. Even if he did seem like a jack ass, he deserved a little bit of time for me to pass judgement.

"You heard of that Halloween ball, right?" He asked me. I nodded. I actually had never heard of the thing, but I wanted him to cut to the chase.

His face had a bright red blush lining his cheeks as he stumbled over his words. "Well, are you... already going with someone?" I shook my head and giggled.

"Would you go with me?" He asked grabbing my hands. I stood a bit shocked. He actually asked me. Here, this guy I knew nothing about was asking me to some dance I'd never heard about. The bell rang for next block and I let Kouga's hands go.

"I'll sleep on it." I told him before scampering off to find Miroku.

Once I'd caught up to him, Miroku was walking with Inuyasha.

"Hey, Miroku!" I said chipperly. He turned around to me and smiled.

"Kouga likes you, huh?" He asked. I nodded.

"He asked me to some Halloween dance thing." I saw Inuyasha's ears twitch out of the corner of my eye. "What is that?" I asked Miroku.

"Oh, it's just some dance where everyone dresses up for Halloween and dances together. It's pretty dumb, but the girls all dress like sluts." Miroku chuckled. "That'd be the only reason to go." Inuyasha laughed.

As he said this, I got an idea. I had to tell Inuyasha.

---

"Inuyasha!" I found him at lunch and was going to tell him all about my idea. He was talking to Sango, it looked like. He turned around and looked at me.

"Hey..." He said. "What's up?"

I looked at Sango. "Mind if I borrow him for a bit?" I asked grabbing Inuyasha's arm. Sango shook her head keeping a puzzled look on her face. "Thanks." I smiled and began walking away.

"Hey, ouch! Wench! I can walk on my own!" Inuyasha shouted until we got to a safe area where neither Sango or Miroku could hear us. I let his arm go. He scoffed.

"What the hell..." Inuyasha started. I just rolled my eyes.

"So... there's that ball coming up, right?" Inuyasha nodded his head dumbly.

"And... you don't have a date, right?" I asked him. He shook his head, eyeing me carefully.

I bit my lip, nervously. I didn't know how to ask him without it sounding weird. "Well... I was wondering if maybe you would go with-"

"Sure." Inuyasha said. I gasped.

"You'll do it?" I started jumping up and down.

"Gosh, are ya that excited? I didn't know I was such a great date..." Inuyasha smirked. I stopped jumping.

"Wait... no I was asking if you'd go with Sango..." I said. Inuyasha's eyes got wide, but it quickly put a cool face on.

"I know. I was just saying..." He looked away. "Why am I going with Sango?" He asked me.

"Well... if you two go together, then Miroku and I can go together." He nodded.

"And we can double date..." He kept nodding.

"And... they'll see each other..." Inuyasha stopped nodding.

"Cut to the chase, woman." He said.

"The Halloween ball... that's where they can get back together!" I said. He smirked.

"Okay, just because they'll both be at the Halloween ball... that doesn't mean, they'll like dance and see each other and everything." Inuyasha said matter-of-factly. I sighed and looked at the ground.

"Besides, aren't ya going with Fagtard?" Inuyasha asked.

"Who?" I assumed he meant Kouga. "Oh, Kouga." Inuyasha cracked up laughing. "No, I'm not. I'm going with Miroku, you're going with Sango. Then... during one song, you and I will dance and then Miroku and Sango will be forced to dance together!" I said, trying to explain the plan to Inuyasha. He didn't seem liek he understood, but he smiled.

"You really think this will work?" He asked me. I gave him a tiny smile and nodded.

"I know it will..."

Next chapter uber fluff... for which couple? I'm not saying.

Love-Jess

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