Misconceptions

Chapter Five:
Dusk and Dawn

Destructive. It was the only way he could describe himself at the moment. Kouga bounced back and forth, his foot stomping harder on the ground as he ignored the comment Ginta made about making a dent on the wooden floor of his bedroom. He watched curiously over his cousin's shoulder as he typed in some weird keys he most likely would never be able to understand. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Kouga questioned coldly.

"Trust me. While you were still wearing diapers and attacking the grass, I was already learning to build up my own hard drive."

Kouga rolled his eyes. "Whatever that means," he replied coldly.

After keying in a few more symbols, he finally pressed the enter key. "Done," he announced. "Now we need to wait for the server to load, and all we have to do is type up the . . . person's name and deleted any file we've left behind."

"Yeah, I'll just leave that to you. How long will it take?"

Ginta shrugged, running a hand through his hair. "A few minutes . . . an hour or two, maybe."

"I don't have that kind of time."

"Well . . . I guess I do. But you have to tell Bankotsu I couldn't get to the pub today."

"Fine. I'm hoping I can count on you to work with out having the constant threat of me behind you back?"

Ginta nodded loyally. "Yup,"

"Fine. I'll come back in two hours. Two hours," he repeated warningly. He grabbed his book, and exited Ginta's parents' estate. Kouga suddenly felt a familiar aroma creep up his nostril as two tiny hands blinded him.

"Guess who," Ayame cooed happily with a giggle.

Kouga peeled her hands off to make sure it was Ayame and not some stranger who followed him or something equally lame. "Don't do that," He warned irritated.

Ayame's thin brows furrowed in annoyance as well. The only difference was that Kouga was just annoyed by her constant happiness and she was annoyed with his grumpiness. It wasn't exactly the best duo, but it would do for the moment. They were still oddly tied to each other—they had to get along at some point, right?

Maybe not.

"What's got you so mean besides life it's self. You sound like one of those reckless self help novels." She laughed at her own comparison. "I can just see the title. 'How to Be Grumpy, When You Already Are'," She giggled noticing his cold star he gave her as they walked along.

"Are you here for a reason?" he grumbled, getting to the point as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

She nodded, sticking a Popsicle in her mouth. Where did that even come from? "Here, I made six rough drafts and finally got the final copy." She handed him her research paper. "I made you your own copy to hand in," she mentioned. "So it doesn't look too suspicious."

He looked over the papers and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Hey!" she scolded. "I worked hard on that."

"The messier it looks, the more believable," Kouga insisted.

"Oh . . . I guess you do have a point there. So did you start on that thing I wanted you to do?"

"Yeah,"

"And,"

"And I'm still working on it."

"Oh. But you didn't tell anyone right?"

"Of course not," he fibbed. "It's none of their business."

She smiled and threw her Popsicle stick on the ground. "Good, so I'll see you later?"

"I guess," he mumbled under his breath.

She ran a head of him. "Okay, bye," she yelled behind her before rushing off to get to class.

.o0o.

"So, I'll see you later?" Bankotsu mimicked in a funny tone as he laughed. "What's up with you two anyway? First she's your personal assistant, now she thinks she can just walk to class with you?" He shook his head. "It's just not normal. You usually pick up sweet little things like her, tame them, and throw them out."

"And he means that with all the kindness in his heart," Hakkaku added with a sarcastic tone. "I'm out. I've got some girls to tame."

"For real, what is up with you?"

Kouga shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing, I'm just helping her with something."

"Helping? I wasn't even aware the word was in your vocabulary."

"Very funny. Are you done with the twenty one questions yet? It's getting a little annoying."

Bankotsu sighed. "What happened with you yesterday?" he asked, obviously changing subjects. "You missed the clubbing last night. Kaye was looking for you."

"Kaye looks for anyone with male parts. I'm surprised she didn't sleep with you," he allowed a little annoyed.

"Ouch," he teased. "You didn't seem to mind while you were bedding her."

Talk about Ouch. There was a major dis. Was Bankotsu looking for a friend or an enemy?

Kouga simply shrugged off the last statement. "I get tired of petty games after so long."

"Hm," he countered. "That makes me wonder, will you ever throw away Ayame like you did every other girl?"

Kouga stood up, ready to leave. "There is nothing going on between me and the twit. And I'll keep saying it till it gets through your thick head."

"Fine, fine," Bankotsu agreed, lifting his hands in a mocking surrender. "I'm just saving from your self. You know your future is planned out—by Auntie no less. I'm just warning you that if Auntie finds out anything, there's no telling what she'll do to Ayame to keep her out of your life."

"Right, Kami forbid Ayame corrupts any of her future plans for me," Kouga taunted himself. "Am I her son or just the heir to our family's fortune? Remind me, because sometimes if forget my place."

.o0o.

"Party!" Carissa screamed through the halls as she threw the flyers in the air.

Ayame caught on mid-air and read it over. She grabbed her friend by the arm. "Carissa, are you crazy? You're inviting everyone? You'll only get yourself evicted."

"Chill, Ayame," she countered. "You didn't even read the address."

Ayame's eyes widened. "Now you are truly crazy, this is the landlord's pent house. Are you even remotely aware of that?"

"Duh," she reassured her. "He's out of town for a week and I got his flaky daughter throw a party."

"What are you even celebrating?" Kagome asked from behind as she reached her best friends.

"Our dearest Ayame's birthday of course."

Ayame gawked. "That's so sweet—wait a minute, my birthday isn't even for another three months."

"Exactly," Carissa began. "It's a surprise party. And what better a surprise than to have an early party, eh?"

Ayame wasn't sure whether to be insulted to be used as an excuse for a party, or grateful that even it was three months early, she was still being celebrated. "Whatever, I don't even have time for this. I have to study for another midterm."

"Fine, just stop by. You're smart anyway. You'll pass with flying colors. Are you coming, Kagome?"

"I can't. I'm going out of town with Inu Yasha, again."

"Aww," Carissa cooed. "You better coming back with a little puppy growing inside you."

"If that doesn't sound Sci-Fi, then I don't know what does," Ayame teased.

.o0o.

"Hey, Anaya, right?"

"Ayame," she corrected harshly.

"Right, happy birthday, looking forward to the party."

"Whatever,"

All day she'd gotten the same compliments about how people couldn't wait for her party. She couldn't even study one vocabulary word with being interrupted. She finally slipped into one of Carissa's pair of winter boots and ear muffs and sat on the roof of the apartment building. Sure, her fingers probably had to be surgically removed from her text book, but she'd actually had some peace and quiet.

The party had gotten started hours ago, and the music was audible from across town, but the earmuffs helped her in deafening her senses of hearing.

Ayame shivered as she closed her book and ran inside to defrost.

"There you are," Came Carissa's voice. "I was beginning to think you bailed on me." She handed her a small paper plate with a hunk of cake that looked like it was crumbled together by a first grader.

"What is this?" Ayame asked, holding it away from her face as if she'd catch a disease.

"It's your cake."

"Well it looks like someone ate it for me."

Carissa shrugged guiltily. "Well, this group of guys got in a fight and tumbled over your cake. That was all I could manage to save. Everything else hit the ground."

"I see," Ayame tucked her book under her arm and held the plate with two hands. "I think I'm going to get out of here."

"What? Why?"

"Admit it, this party was just an excuse for people to get drunk and rub up against each other. Let's just say I'm not in the mood for either of those things. I'm gonna head to Grandfather's."

"No, I'll drive you."

Ayame shook her head. "No, you stay . . . party. I'll find a ride."

Before Carissa even had time to protest Ayame disappeared down the emergency stairs, seeing as she had the fear of stumbling upon an orgy on the elevator. As he heels clanked against the rough material of the stairs, Ayame also heard footsteps coming towards her as she slowed her pace. "Kouga?" she questioned, getting a better look at his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I never miss a party," he grumbled. "Are you leaving your own party?"

"It's not exactly my party."

"Okay? I don't get it, but happy birthday . . . I guess."

She shook her head, biting back her laughter. "It's not my birthday. Carissa apparently needed a reason to party and she used me. But while we're on he subject, did you get me a gift?"

He chuckled. "No,"

She sighed. He was useless, wasn't he? "Fine, if you didn't get the faux birthday girl a gift, then you can at least give her a lift."

.o0o.

"I thought you said you were an orphan," Kouga pointed out coolly.

"I am. Grandfather is just what we call the old man who runs the orphanage. To most of us, he's all we've got. It's only a great sign of respect for us to call him Grandfather."

Though the subject was never really comfortable with her, somehow it didn't matter anymore. She'd gotten used to all of the questions.

The car finally came to a halt. The only things in sight were a bunch of grimy looking fields and a fairly large one story building surrounded by a small garden. Kouga almost felt sorry for her. Had she really grown up in a place like this?

Ayame jumped out of the car, not even throwing back a thank you or goodbye. Kouga changed the gear of his car only to be stopped by a loud knock on his window. "What?" He groaned in response as he rolled the window down with a button.

"What are you doing?" Ayame asked innocently.

"What does it look like?" he pointed out.

She leaned over him, putting his car in park and removing the key from the ignition.

"What are you—?"

"You just got here. It was like an hour's drive," she noted. "Come in for a while. Grandfather won't mind." She independently opened his door and pulled on his hand. "Come on,"

"Hey, who said I wanted to stay?" he argued.

"Don't be such a cow, come in!"

.o0o.

"It looks like the devil found a new playground," Hideki scoffed under his breath. "Up," he yelled at the remaining partiers who only groaned and rolled away from him. "I said up. All of you!"

There were only five people left in the whole pent house—Carissa of course being one. She was sprawled over the large couch. She pulled a pillow over her ear and rolled away from Hideki. "Ayame, I swear to God you'll be dead if you don't get out!"

"Last time I checked, I didn't have the materials to pulls off skirts."

Carissa groggily sat up and attempted to rub the sleep and hangover from her eyes. Last nights make-up was practically pasted to her face at this point. "Detective?" she questioned lowly. "What time is it?" she groaned.

"Time to grow up," he growled. "When are you going to learn to take care of yourself? Do you truly believe it's so great to get drunk every weekend?"

"Screw you," she countered bitterly, burring her face in the pillow which she suddenly realized wasn't hers. "Who do you even think you are, my father? Don't flatter yourself Detective Arakaki. Just because you preach about how much you adore my parents, doesn't mean you'll gain any respect from me. Now do us all a favor and get the fuck out."

"Oh, don't give me those petty insults as if they'll nail through my heart," he bit out. "You know damn well I respect your parents. And I swear by Kami if you don't pick your ass up off that couch I'll forcefully pull you out myself."

Carissa only laughed harshly as she reached into some random guy's pants—who was absently passed out on the floor next to her—and grabbed a cigarette and lighter from the pocket. "You don't scare me." She put the blunt between her lips and lit it, taking a long drag. "You don't know a thing about me. It took one night of alcohol and some partying for me to realize the only reason you were mesmerized with me was because you found out who my parents were. Big heroes, right?"

"Who's flattering who know?" Hideki rolled his eyes and shook his head as went to grab the cigarette from her, only to have her dodge him.

"You're so pathetic Detective—thinking you can make a big difference here and there when you don't even realize what's going on in front of your face. If you truly believe your helping me out by dragging me out when the party has been long gone, then you're way out of your league."

"Do you even know what you're saying?" he interrupted. "Look at you, you look like some drunken . . ." Hideki drifted off.

"Some what?" Carissa stood up suddenly standing right in front of him. "Some drunken slut?" She blew the toxic smoke in his face. "Screw you," she finally said, grabbing his hand and putting out the cigarette out on his flesh, knowing well it wouldn't burn through his youkai skin. She smiled as his cat like eyes looked at her in disbelieve.

Did she honestly just do what he thought she did?

"I guess you better do your job Detective Arakaki, 'cause I guarantee Daddy will not be pleased to hear otherwise."

Although her parents were both in the NAVY, Carissa knew all the connections they had all over the world with different police stations. They seemed to have left quite an impression on Hideki, and she was determined to use that against him at anytime.

.o0o.

"Are you serious? You've never seen the sun rise? What star are you from?" Ayame teased, biting into her mini waffle.

"You mean what planet," Kouga corrected.

"No," she argued. "I mean what star." She dug her fork into another mini waffle. She brushed her skirt of any sediments that could have stuck to her since they'd both been out on the car for a while. "When I was smaller, I always asked Grandfather how I would know if my birth parents had died. He finally told me a story. It was pretty long so I'll shorten it for you. When ever someone dies, they return to their star and that star shine brighter than before. It means you've died, and it's your star to have people remember you by.

"So you're saying when anyone dies, they return to their star. But . . . there are tons of stars. How do you know which one belongs to any other person?" he asked.

Ayame shrugged with a smile "I guess that's the fun in it. Grandfather was never really clear on how to find the certain person's star, but the mystery sure is beautiful." She sighed. "I can't believe your mother never taught you that."

"My mother didn't raise me," he murmured.

"Oh, then your father?"

"More like our Taiwanese nanny. My parents cared more about business than their own son."

Ayame smiled shyly. She felt sorry for Kouga. Sure, she grew up not evening know her parents, but she still felt loved. However, Kouga on the other hand grew up with two parents . . . they just didn't bother in raising him.

He cleared his throat, looking for a new conversation starter. "So have you found your mother's star yet?" he asked gently.

"Oh, um . . . I wouldn't really know. All the stars seem to change, you know?"

'Why am I even here?' Kouga asked himself.

'Because you want to be,' his youkai responded wittily.

'I'm not asking you!'

Ayame ran her hand through her loose waves, adding a little extra volume. She had to admit, Kouga wasn't so bad. At first, she was frightened to death of what he could be capable of . . . but now she wasn't so sure if she should be.

On the other hand, there were his two goons, Hakkaku and Bankotsu. They were both treacherous little beings. And from the rumors, they were constantly on sexcapades. They were like the Casanovas of their university. They probably were equally ass holes too. All she heard was that they had sex . . . and that was it. They rarely called the same girl back. It was as if the girls in their lives never even existed.

She began to wonder . . . if Kouga could be the same way.

.o0o.

Kagome leaned over next to Carissa. "Where's Ayame?" she whispered.

Carissa automatically looked to the other side of her and shrugged. "She didn't come with you?" she whispered back.

Kagome shook her head. "Obviously not. Did she go to the party last night?"

"She didn't stay long."

"Where is she? I'm kind of worried," Kagome admitted. She followed Carissa's eyes to Kouga's seat in the class. "Do you think . . . ?"

Carissa shook her head. "I wish. Maybe it's just a coincidence. I'm sure Kouga's got her doing some work somewhere."

"Oh come on," Kagome urged. "Even Bankotsu is here—and he never comes to this class."

"Don't worry, Kagome," Carissa assured with a pat on the shoulder. "Our little Ayame is quite capable of anything she puts her little mind to. She's fine. She probably slept in. We'll stop by the orphanage later if it'll make you feel better, okay?"

Kagome nodded. "Thanks. I'll bring Inu Yasha along, just incase."

Carissa snorted and shook her head. That's Kagome for you—the natural motherly instinct.

.o0o.

"There was no need for him to come, you know?" Carissa added as she stepped out of the car.

Inu Yasha scoffed at her. "You're lucky your Kagome's friend or I would have ripped out your Kami damn throat."

Carissa rolled her eyes. "Please Doggy, you wish you could have the pleasure of even touching this gorgeous body."

Kagome just shook her head. They were at it again. Carissa and Inu Yasha sure knew how to start a fight over nothing. "Whose car is that?" she asked, pointing to the shiny black Lexus.

"I smell wolf," Inu Yasha added.

"A-Ayame?" Carissa gasped with a giggled spotting a small auburn haired girl sleeping a top it.

Ayame groaned and turned over on the hard surface. "What?" She yawned and stretched, lifting her hips off the car and slamming back down. Everyone could see the shock written on her face. "Ow," she mumbled as she became more aware of her surroundings. "What the—"

"My thoughts exactly," Carissa noted. "Is that . . . oh my God? Ayame, did you sleep with super hottie?!"

"What?" Ayame looked behind her, suddenly feeling more awake. "Whoa, this is not what it look like, I swear! I can honestly explain!"

.0o0o0.

A/N:

Sorry it took so long! I've been failing classes so I couldn't really focus on writing. Hope you like this chapter. There's more to come!

.0o0o0.

A blanket disclaimer for all chapters associated in the story of Misconceptions, which is soon to be come and Inuyasha fan fiction series. R. Takahashi owns all rights to the original characters of the manga/anime series. However, for all characters not associated with the manga/ anime series, they are owned by me, Tayanese.