A/N : Okay, readers, I know you think that some author notes are really annoying, but i hope that you will see it from an author's point of view. I mean, we take time to write these things !! Anyway, right now I am in the states. I am staying with my ''friend'' and might not be able to update alot cause I need to practice with my band so I apologize deeply for those of you who are expecting me the update every week or something. Sooo, what do you think of the story so far? Also, thanx to those of you who added me to your fav. author or story list !!
The next day was even stranger than Kagome had expected, mainly because there was a surprise newcomer to her tennis class. He was leaning against the fence of the tennis courts as she walked up, swining a racket in one hand.
'' Hey Kagome!'' Koga said enthusiastically. ''Where's your boyfriend?''
Kagome nearly said, ''Who?'' but remembered in time. '' He's in the Advanced class,'' she said. '' What are you doing here?''
'' Well, you made these tennis lessons sound so fun,'' he said with his crooked smile. '' I figured I'd sign up and join in.''
''I did?'' Kagome tried to remember anything she had said that might possibly have been misunderstood as ''tennis fun''
'' Sure,'' Koga said. '' And maybe if you're as bad as I am, we can be partners.''
'' I'll be pretty impressed if you're as bad as I am,'' Kagome said. Rin was on the court already, bouncing a ball off her racket into the air. Kagome wasn't sure, but she got the feeling that Rin was watching her and Koga.
'' Don't you need to change?'' Kagome said as Koga started to follow her through the fence. He was wearing jeans again, although at least he'd switched to a T-shirt. '' I already got the lecture from Sergeant Shorts over there,'' Koga said, jerking his thumb at Mr. Giambi, the instructor. '' But what's he going to do? This is how I am.''
'' There's alot of running around.'' Kagome said worriedly. '' Especially when you play with me.''
'' Don't worry,'' Koga said, smiling again. '' I'll be fine.''
He wasn't fine. By 10:00 A.M., when they switched from drills to practice matches, he was sweating so much that his shirt stuck to his back,and he looked exhausted. Kagome felt bad for him, so when they were paired up, she tried to be the one to run after the ball as much as possible. Each time she did, he would collapse down on the court and lie there until the short and bald Mr. Giambi yelled at him to get up. He was right about one thing, though : He was really really bad at tennis, too. He had trouble even getting it over the net, so she hardly ever got to try volleying it back.
Finally, for the last hour, Mr. Giambi switched the partners and she was paired with Rin. At least with a good partner she had a better chance to practice, but Koga seemed disappointed that they were split up. She glanced over at his court a couple of times and caught him watching her instead of the tennis ball he was supposed to be watching. And sometimes, the tennis ball knocked him upside the head.
'' Hey,'' Rin said during a break for water. '' I've been meaning to talk to you.''
It was funny how a simple sentence like that could make a person so nervous. Kagome screwed the cap back on her water bottle, trying to look calm.
'' This Friday,'' Rin went on, ''would you and Inuyasha want to go on a double date with me and Sesshomaru?
''Really?'' Kagome said. That was about the furthest thing from what she'd expected Rin to say. A double date? A real date? With Kikyo's best friend? Maybe that's why, the voice in her head whispered. Kikyo's assigned her to spy on us. To see if Inuyasha and I still act like a couple away from Shikon Summerlodge. So I have to say yes don't I?
''Um,'' she said, hedging. '' Let me ask Inuyasha. But thanks, that sounds like fun.''
'' It would be fun,'' Rin said. '' I was thinking we could just walk downtown to the movie theater on Main Street – I think they have the new Pixar movie there, which Sesshomaru, is being kind of a jerk about seeing, but I'll get him to go. And then we could have dinner at the diner across the street afterward.''
Kagome nodded. Rin added, '' Unless you want to do something else. My mom could drive us to the mall, but I thought we'd have more fun if we could go somewhere without any parents yakking at us the whole way. Sesshomaru's not a big fan of my mom.''
'' The one in town sounds fine.'' Said Kagome. ''I've been wanting to see the Pixar movie too.''
'' Finding Nemo was so funny ,'' Rin said, and Kagome would have agreed, but Mr. Giambi, called them back to the court to keep practicing.
On the way to lunch, Koga caught up with Kagome and Rin.
'' Okay,'' he said, ''lesson learned. No more jeans. I'm afraid you're going to think my cool factor is plummeting, but you know, if the choice is shorts or death, I guess shorts wins by a tiniiiiiiiiiiiny margin.''
'' I won't think you're less cool,'' Kagome said.
''I'll think you're a heck of a lot smarter,'' Rin said. '' Hi, I'm Rin.''
'' Oh Kagome, '' Rin said, '' I forgot to methere. ntion – don't say anything to Kikyo about our double date. I'll tell her later, but she can be weird about stuff like that.''
Clever, Kagome thought, Make me think that Kikyo doesn't know about it when she's really the one who masterminded the whole thing.
No problem,'' she said.
''Double date?'' Koga said.
'' Maybe,'' Kagome answered. ''I have to check with Inuyasha.''
'' Oh right,'' Koga said. ''Your boyfriend.''
They got in sight of the picnic tables, and once again, Inuyasha was already there. He raised his hand to wave to Kagome but stopped when he saw Koga.
'' And there he is.'' Koga said.
'' You can, um, sit with us, if you want,'' Kagome said.
'' Great, thanks,'' he said. '' First, hot dogs.'' He headed off toward the lunch line. Rin raised her eyebrows at Kagome and followed him. Kagome wondered if that was a girl-code expression that a normal girl wound have been able to translate. With a sigh, she headed over to Inuyasha.
This time, she remebered to sit next to him instead of across from him. He smiled at her as she sat down, and it was such a different smile from Koga's. It made her calmer instead of more nervous, and it said, I'm happy to see you, instead of I know something about you. He smelled sharp and earthy, like an old pine forest.
'' Hi there, girlfriend,'' he siad as she sat down. She wondered how long he was going to find that funny, but she liked the way he said it, kind of warm and teasing at the same time. She was glad to see he seemed to be in a better mood than he had been when he'd dropped her off the day before.
'' Hey,'' he added, '' you're wearing the necklace I got you.'' He reached out and touched one of the glass beads. His fingers brushed the side of her neck like a whisper of wind, and her heart sped up. Hadn't he ever noticed that she wore it all the time?
'' Yeah,'' she said awkwardly, '' I love it.''
'' That's so cool,'' he said, removing his hand. '' Go me. What do you have for lunch today?''
'' I, um,'' Kagome said, clearing her throat, ''well, I'm guessing more carrot stickts.''
Inuyasha laughed, but then his face changed, closing down again. Kagome turned to see Koga sitting down on the other side of her.
'' Hi, '' Inuyasha said. '' I thought you didn't go here.''
'' I do now,'' Koga said. '' Hello again, Kagome's boyfriend.''
Kikyo and Rin plunked their trays down on the other side of the table, and Kagome was almost pleased to see them. She felt a weird tension between Koga and Inuyasha, and sitting in between them made her nervous.
''Hi there,'' Kikyo said, leaning toward Koga like a leopard sniffing out prey. '' I'm Kikyo. I'm a lifeguard, or I will be soon.''
'' Hey, Kikyo,'' Koga said. '' A lifegurd? That's awesome.''
'' Yes, well,'' Kikyo said, shotting a look at both Kagome and Rin, '' I thought it would be a good way to help my community. Better than tennis, for instance.''
'' Oh, I'm doing tennis,'' Koga said, and Kagome nearly giggled at the '' oops'' look on Kikyo's face.
'' Really,'' Kikyo purred. '' Rin, you didn't tell me about any gorgeous guys in your tennis class.''
'' He just started today.'' Rin said, stabbing a fork into her salad like she was hoping it would die and turn into a hamburger.
'' And what's your name, handsome?'' Kikyo asked.
''Koga, '' he said. '' What's yours?''
She wrinkled her nose like she was trying to hide her real expression. '' I already told you,'' she said '' It's Kikyo.''
'' Oh, right,'' he said. He gave Kagome a huge obvious wink. It took her a minute to realize he was saying,The one we're not telling about the double date.
Which reminded her. But she couldn't ask Inuyasha there, in front of everyone. ''Hey,'' she said, turning to him. He was moodily shredding her brown paper bag. '' Um, Inuyasha. I forgot to get a soda. Want to come with me to … um… buy one?''
Inuyasha looked confused. He knew her mom didn't like her to drink soda. When he paused, Koga jumped in. '' I'll come with you,'' he said. ''I've got tons of change for the vending machine.''
'' No, that's okay,'' Inuyasha said quickly. '' I can buy my own girlfriend a soda, thanks.'' He took Kagome's hand and tugged her away from the bend. His hand was cooler than hers, and much bigger.
As they walked away, Kagome heard Kikyo purr, '' You can buy me a soda, Koga,''
'' Nah, I'm good. '' he said.
Kagome hid a smile. Kikyo wasn't going to like that! But maybe if she turned her attention to Koga, she'd lose interest in Inuyasha and leave him and Kagome alone.
'' What kind do you want? Inuyasha said, feeding quarters into the slot.
'' Cherry Coke, she said. '' I can pay for it, Inuyasha.''
'' No, no,'' he said, waving her hand away. '' Let me, since I don't have a cookie to split with you today.'' He grinned at her, then glanced over her shoulder, back at the table. '' I don't like that guy.'' He said, punching the Cherry Coke button a little too hard.
'' Koga?'' Kagome said. '' Why?''
'' Well, why didn't he start tennis camp at the same time as the rest of us?'' Inuyasha said. '' Why doesn't he have any of his own friends? And his smile is all lopsided. ''
''That's true,'' Kagome said. '' He is a little weird- he wore jeans to tennis this morning. But he seems nice enough.''
'' Hmm,'' Inuyasha said turning to head back
'' Wait,'' she said, catching his sleeve. ''Actually, I needed to ask you something.''
'' Aha,'' he said. ''I thought this soda thing was out of the blue.''
'' Well, if you help me drink it, I figure I'll only be half breaking my mom's rule, right?'' He smiled, and she told him about Rin's double date offer. '' I know it's strange, '' Kagome said. '' Maybe we could tell her you already have plans, or that our parents won't let us go, or something.''
'' Are you sure?'' Inuyasha said. '' I think it could be fun, don't you?''
'' Oh, '' Kagome said. ''well, I mean, if you-''
'' Why not right?'' Inuyasha said. '' I want to see it; you want to see it.''
'' But with Rin and Sesshomaru?''
'' Well, we don't have to talk to them during the movie, But we also don't have to go,'' he said. '' I mean, if you don't want to, I can totally say no for us. I'm sure you don't want to go on your first date with a guy who's just a friend, like me, right?''
He was looking at her intently. You have no idea, she thought. I want to go on my first date with you, plus every other date for the rest of my life.
'' No, I mean, sure,'' she said. '' We can go. Let's do it. Besides, if Kikyo is behind it, this should help her convince her we're really dating right?''
'' Right,'' he said. ''That's why we're doing it. Or course.''
When they got back to the table, Kikyo was explaining lifeguard training to Koga, who looked fascinated. Rin looked absolutely bored, but when Kagome caught her eye and gave her a thumbs-up, her face brightened.
'' I'll call you,'' she mouthed while Kikyo was looking. The afternoon when a lot like the previous afternoon, except that Koga joined pool volleyball and was put on Kikyo's team. Seeing him in his swimsuit made Kagome realize why he liked jeans better than shorts: His legs were thin and paler than his arms, which looked sort of odd. But he turned out to be a lot better at this sport than tennis, and he made a lot of energetic leaps and dives to hit the ball, splashing everyone around the pool in the process. Whenever he saw Kagome watching him, he gave her his crooked smile. At the end of the day, Inuyasha hustled out of the changing room almost as soon as he went in, catching up to Kagome while she was still on the path to the bikes.
'' Hey,'' she said. '' That was fast.''
'' That guy was annoying me,'' Inuyasha said. '' He keeps asking questions about our relationship, like how long we've been dating and stuff.''
'' Really?'' Kagome said. ''That's weird. I wonder why.''
'' Uh, yeah,'' Inuyasha said, spinning the combination lock on his bike. ''Weird. Let's go before he comes out.''
As they rode back to Kagome's house, she wondered if she should talk to Inuyasha about Miroku. Maybe he could help her figure out what was wrong with her twin brother. She decided to wait and see if Inuyasha noticed anything himself. But when he came inside with her, Miroku seemed more cheerful than he had been the day before. The three of them spen the rest of the afternoon trying to set up and film gory special effects from a book Inuyasha had found. It didn't work very well ; they ended up with ketchup all over the kitchen and several bits of carrot that didn't look anything like severed fingers.
''Better luck tomorrow,'' Inuyasha said, heading out the door. '' See you in the morning Kagome.'' She stood at the screen door and waved as he pedaled away. Thorn and Alanna nosed their way into the kitchen and snuffled across the floor, licking up spattered ketchup and carrot bits.
'' Oh dear,'' Mrs. Higurashi said, coming into the kitchen. '' I gather we're having takeout for dinner.''
'' We're cleaning it up,'' Miroku said. '' Don't worry.'' .
'' I'm quite sure you are,'' his mom said. '' Kagome, Rin Taisho is on the phone for you. When you're done, ask her if I can speak to her mother.''
Miroku gave Kagome a curious look. He knew as well as she did that a phone call from Rin Taisho was not at all the normal event their mother seemed to think it was. Kagome pinked up Alanna for moral support, took the portable phone into her room, and shut the door.
'' Hi Rin,'' she said into the phone, lying down on the bed. Alanna curled up beside her and began licking her fingers with energetic snorting sounds.
'' Hey Kagome,'' Rin said, as if she called her everyday. So let's figure Friday, Sesshomaru is being a pain about it because he's going on a camping trip with his family the next day or something. But he'll come. It'll be fun, don't you think? ''
'' Sure,'' Kagome said.
'' I've been wanting to go on a double date for ages,'' Rin said, '' But Kikyo hates them. She likes to keep her boyfriends to herself. Anyway, I don't really want Sesshomaru to model himself on any of her relationships. But I figure he could pick up some tips from Inuyasha, right? I'd love it if he treated me a bit more like Inuyasha treats you.'' Kagome thought this was funny. '' Are you excited?'' Rin asked. ''Dinner and a movie, totally romantic, right? Is it okay if I have my mom drop me off at your place beforehand, so we can walk together? It's closer from your house.''
'' Yeah, okay,'' Kagome said, and then, because she felt bad about how excited Rin seemed (even if it was a trick), she added, '' I'm excited for this movie.''
'' Me too,'' Rin said, and that started her off on a comparison of Cars and Monsters, Inc. They ended up talking for half an hour - well, Rin did most of the talking - and by the time Kagome got back downtstairs, Miroku had finished cleaning the kitchen. Mrs. Willis was standing at the counter, sorting takeout menus.
'' Here you go, Mom,'' Kagome said, handing her the phone.
'' Oh, thanks, Kagome,'' her mom said. '' Pick a menu and order, would you? You both know what your father and I like. He should be home from work in about half and hour.'' Mr. Higurashi took a train to the city every morning before the rest of his family got up, and often came home late at night. Kagome didn't understand exactly what he did- something to do with numbers and law and banks and contracts. As soon as Mrs. Higurashi had wandered out of the kitchen, chatting away with Mrs. Taisho, Kagome pulled herself up to sit on the counter and whispered, '' Miroku, guess what?''
'' I don't get it,'' he said, studying a carrot. '' Why did it look so fake? We were using the black and white setting, so it's not the colour. Even I'm not dum enough to think we can get away with bright orange fingers. ''
'' Miroku, listen,'' Kagome insisted. ''I'm going on a date on Friday.''
That did get his attention, if only for a moment. He put the carrot down and picked up the pile of menus. Thorn butted at his knees, demanding more carrot pieces with a small woof.
'' With who?'' Miroku asked
'' With Inuyasha, of course,'' Kagome said. '' Remember the traumatizing soap opera you volunteered me for?'' Which you haven't even asked me about. Like you don't care if Kikyo Hiromi murders me in my sleep.
''Oh,'' he said, sounding relieved. '' So it's just a pretend date. ''
''Well, it's a double date with Rin Taisho and Shesshomaru,'' Kagome said. '' But Miroku, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do. Or say. Or wear. OH MY GOD! ''
''Who care?'' Miroku said. ''It's just Inuyasha. He doesn't care what you wear.''
Sadly true, Kagome thought. '' Okay,'' she said, ''but Rin will be reporting right back to Kikyo. So I have to at least pretend to care.'' That's my story, anyway. So Miroku doesn't notice how much I actually do care.
''You'll figure it out,'' Miroku said. '' You don't need your dumb brother's help. I vot for Indian or Mexican. You decide.''
He dropped two menus on the counter next to her and left the room, Thorn and Alanna pattering along behind him. Kagome stared at the door. What on earth was wrong with Miroku?