AN: feel free to ask questions, ppl! WolfGirl64: Well, Kagome isn't going to get hotter, but, well, your question is kind of answered in this chapter! I will be alternating updates between this story and my other project: Inuyasha: Professor at Shikon High.

The Dangerous State of Bliss

Chapter 3: Tomboy

Disclaimer: Inuyasha does not belong to me!

I've always lain low, never tried to bring attention to myself, especially as Center Tokyo HS. So not many people knew I existed before Inuyasha decided to do that little confession in front of the entire cafeteria.

I kick the ground, sitting on one of the benches, watching the pebbles drift to the grass.

I'm pretty sure I'm not ugly. Not overweight, not too skinny, dumb, nor do I cake my face with makeup. Insecurity wasn't a problem. But I didn't know so many people in my school though I was unappealing, or maybe that's because they haven't had a good look at me before. Either way, I'm feeling pretty sour.

Someone clears their throat, but I ignore him/her.

"So, what'cha doin'?"

Inuyasha.

There's no mistaking his deep, yet definitely irritating, 'I-don't-give-a-damn-about-the-world' voice.

"Go away."

He laughs. "Or what? You going to throw a brick at me? Honestly, was that the best threat you could come up with, because everyone's laughing about that. C'mon Kagome- a brick? Where the hell are you going to find a brick? Unless, of course, you seriously PMS and take one out of a wall."

"I said, GO AWAY!" I fling one of my throwing stars at me in anger, and for a moment, I worry that I cut his face. But noooo, he dodged it, as if making fun of me wasn't good enough. That bastard. "You're the last person on the face of the earth that I want to see. Which reminds me, why are you here? And no offense to Sango, Miroku, or even Kikyou, but I wasn't all that pleased to see them, either. I may hate the teachers and the homework, but school has always been the one part of my life that I could have to myself, that you Royal Clan children didn't know about- it was my personal time to myself and human friends. I'm speaking to Kaedae; God, I'll beg to her if I have to! You might be too dense to realize it, but I need some space just as much as you, or Sango, or Miroku and Kikyou do."

Inuyasha folds his arms behind his head, and yawns. "Sorry about that, Kaggie Bear, but whining to Kaedae isn't going to get rid of me. This is Midoriko's orders."

"M-Midoriko's? But Kaedae said she said that what happened wasn't important! I don't-"

"Doesn't matter what her reason is," he snaps. "If she wants us to go to little ol' school with you, then that's what we have to do. You'll survive Kagome. Don't be a baby."

Of course he doesn't understand.

"You know, Kagome, it's not that bad," I hear Sango say from a distance. "We won't bother you if that's what you want. Isn't that right, Miroku?" When Miroku doesn't respond, Sango elbows him in the ribs and Miroku nods dutifully.

"Yes, yes, of course- whatever Mistress Kagome wants."

Sango snorts, then turns to 'the bastard'. "Isn't that right, Inuyasha?"

"Nah, she's too much fun to mess with." With that, he plants a loud kiss right at the corner of my mouth, barely missing my lips, and I bound up, determined to get out of here.

"Bye, guys, I'll see you at home. I need to go to my fourth period trigonometry." Waving, I hurriedly skid over into the school again, slipping into the door and making it to a desk at the back just as the beginning-of-the-class bell rings with a diiing. I sigh, and push my hair out of my face, pull my books out of my yellow schoolbag, and wait patiently for the professor to enter the classroom. My fingers trace the letters carved in my desk: D + T = LOVE absentmindedly.

"Hey, Kagome, it looks like we have trigonometry together," a slightly faraway, calm voice says to me.

I look up in surprise. "Oh, hi, Kikyou- didn't see you there."

"It would seem so. Well, did you and Inuyasha make up yet?"

"We don't make up alright? I hate him, he hates me; end of story."

"Huh. I see." Then she turns around and leaves me alone to my thoughts. By last period, Eri, Ayumi, and Yuka apologize like mad, reassuring me, comforting me, and so forth. But even though I smile, and thank them, I don't really need their apologies, because what happened doesn't bother as much anymore.

I walk to the Royal Clan house by myself, not bothering to catch a bus. I want the time to think and ready myself for Kaedae's hurried explanation the instant I open the door. But when I do, no one's there, so I suspect I've gotten here before Sango and the rest of them. I slip out of my shoes and go to my bedroom, changing into loose jeans and a T-shirt two sizes too big, pulling my hair back in a messy ponytail.

I've always been more of a tomboy than Sango or Kikyou.

I find a note on my desk. It's from Kaedae.

Dear Kagome,

And if this is Inuyasha, mind your own business, boy! You shouldn't be sneaking into a girl's room without her permission. Goodness, the nerve of you! And Sango, if it is you reading this, dear, please put it down and call Kagome over. Mirokou- I can see you! Please put aside your lecherous habits; Kagome will not appreciate you trying to steal a pair of her underwear.

I growl. So that's where they went! I continue reading.

And I'm pretty sure you aren't Kikyou. So anyways, Kagome, there's a demon at the train station near that bookstore you always go to. Check it out for me, and report home if you need assistance. Put on some sunglasses or anything that will not reveal your identity as a Royal Clan member.

I'm at a local supermarket because our food stash has gone low. Kagome, it's your turn to cook tonight, but since I'm stopping by at an old friend's house, I probably won't make it back until tomorrow. You can reheat the leftovers from yesterday or boil some ramen. I've told Sango and Miroku to stay at the library until late and look up that strange demon you faced at your school with Inuyasha, and Kikyou has gone to her archery class. As for Inuyasha… God help that boy.

So good luck, Kagome, dear, and be safe! Don't be afraid to call Inuyasha for help. I'm sure he's never too far away.

~Kaedae

I grin. A mission for me. I open my desk drawer and pull out my favorite dark sunglasses and put them on, slipping my dark, black demon-hunting jacket over my shirt, snapping some arrows inside the sleeves and tucking the bow inside. I know I'm supposed to wear my black slacks and shirt, but it's not night time, so it doesn't really matter.

When I pop down the stairs again and slide into my ninja boots, I tilt my head to the side for a moment, and then hurriedly grab a sticky note and a pen. In my traditional scrawl, I write:

Hey, Yash,

I'm on a short mission- should be back home soon enough to make heat some dinner for us, because the rest of them are coming home late. Don't try to eat anything besides chips and pop, because you're practically impaired in the kitchen. Not that I mean any offense.

Actually, I do. That's what you get for being an ass-hat at school today. So, bye, and try to survive without me for as long as you can. I know it'll be hard.

Love (not literally),

Kagome

Walking through streets is refreshing. Granted, the air isn't exactly pure, and the people sure can be smelly and rude, but it's nice to be moving my feet with the rest of Tokyo.

By the time I get to the train station, it's deserted, but I'm pretty sure people will start filing in around ten more minutes. Pushing the sunglasses up my nose because they've come down a bit, I close my hands and ready myself for a demon. But there's only silence and the awkward rustle of some bushes on the other side of the tracks. Kaedae would never set me up, so why-

"OOoooh, waaatz a purty lirrel ting like oo doin' on ta prat folm of an ampty tlain slation?" My experience with demon-hunting allows me to translate the demon's slur: "Oooh, what's a pretty little thing like you doing on the plat form of an empty train station?"

"Oh, nothing much," I answer, drawing my arrow insanely fast back, pulling the bowstring and pointing the head of the arrow at the demon's heart. This one's a very easy one that recently lost its humanity. It saddens me to see its confused smirk and wide eyes; wrinkly, wet scales; and sharp, shaggy claws. I want to end its pain, to turn him into something that won't hurt anyone else any more.

"Waa it!" it cries, and I halter. "Oo don' wanna kill me! Boss say is that he wrill change me too! Change me into one of tose fancy pans with special powuhs. Ten, I wrill make it up to oo! Don' kill me yet!" Translation: "Wait! You don't want to kill me! Boos says that he will change me too! Change me into one of those fancy pants with special powers. Then, I will make it up to you! Don't kill me yet!"

I know that I have to kill it. Yet, it is pure pity and sympathy for the creature that I let my arrow fly, not anger or repulse. Some of them aren't evil- just lost souls. It pains me to kill them, but I know I must, or many human lives are at stake. What it just said, though, about its boss giving it special powers… that unnerves me. But it was probably just babbling.

"Oh, good one," someone says. I turn to see a tall, fair-haired woman in the classic Royal Clan hunting outfit. She's probably from a different Royal Clan house. "I was actually supposed to get that one, but you were here first, so I guess it was only fair for you to have it. Besides, did I sense a trace of pity there? Not growing week knees, now, are you?"

I shake my head. "Of course not," I lie.

She shrugs. "It doesn't matter as long as it's dead. By the way," she adds, as she leaves, "nice tomboy-artist getup. Almost had me fooled for a moment there."

I scowl. Most Royal Clan females are sophisticated and well-bred, elegant and charismatic. So I guess it's unusual for a ninja to be like I am. Kikyou's said a thing or two about it before, and I know Sango urges me to buy some skirts when we're shopping, but Miroku and Inuyasha never said anything. It's either they haven't noticed, or don't feel like saying anything about it.

Since I'm here, I stop at my favorite bookshop. I love the peaceful feeling I get when I walk in, the scent of musty book pages and time. This is one of my top places for Kagome-time. I don't know how long I stay. Maybe five minutes. Possibly even five hours! I never keep track of time when I'm enjoying myself.

I look up when the bell tolls- the bell that rings whenever the door is opened or closed. I blink when I see Inuyasha, but he doesn't seem to spot me. Instead, he pulls out a book off a shelf and purchases it. Then leaves. Just like that. My eyebrows furrow and I walk over to the clerk.

"Excuse me, can you tell me what book that guy just bought?"

The girl at the counter looks about eighteen. She stares after him dreamily. "Yes, he is really hot, isn't he? I don't have his phone number in my computer, but-"

"Just the book title, please," I interrupt.

"Oliver Twist," she answers with a small nod. "You know, Charles Dickinson?"

Oliver Twist?

"Oh, um, thank you."

I hurry outside, and catch him thumbing for a taxi. I grab his arm and he whips around so fast that he almost strikes me in the face and on my arms. When he sees my face as through the taillights of a passing car, his mouth opens in surprise. Then he grins. "Just can't stay away, huh?"

"You are so full of yourself, Inuyasha."

"That reminds me. What the hell is an ass-hat?"

"Try looking into a mirror- that's what an ass-hat is. And I think you should give up on trying getting a cab to stop, because the roads are way too busy right now. We'll save more time by walking. C'mon, let's go."

Inuyasha suddenly looks very amused. "Say, Kagome, when was the last time you rode on my back?"

"Don't even think about, Inuyasha."

"Seriously, I'm half demon, remember? If I run with you on my back, we'll make it to the house in less than fifteen minutes. Besides, it's getting dark."

He's right- the sun must have set while I was in the bookstore. "Okay, fine…" But I don't budge.

"Kagome, the air's not going to lift you onto my back. You're going to have to get on."

So I do, trying to jump high enough to get my legs around his waist. But he's six feet so I obviously can't do it.

"Inuyasha, can you please bend down? You are taller, and- Woah!" At the moment, he swung down while I was talking as I jumped up and down, and when he got low, I managed to get on top of him almost steering him forward face-flat into the ground. This caught both me and him by surprise. It takes him a minute to steady himself.

"Shit, you're heavier."

I frown at him. "Well, duh, the last time we did this was when I was… uh, when I was…"

"Eight. When you were eight."

I try not to be impressed, telling myself demons have better memory than humans do. "You remember that?"

"Uh, yeah," he says, almost sheepishly. I try to ignore the funny looks people give us as he walks across the road with a teenage girl on his back. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. But Inuyasha doesn't seem to care at all. I note the plastic bag hanging off his left arm.

"So, what's in there?"

"Nothing."

"It doesn't look like nothing. Or, you just really wanted a purse to carry around with you in the big city, and failed epically. But seriously, what's in it? It looks like some kind of book…?"

Inuyasha gives in. "Yep, it's Oliver Twist."

"Interesting choice in book. I never thought of you as a classic-lover."

"I'm not."

"Mm hmm. Sure, Inuyasha." I pause. "Ass-hat," I sing.

"Because I'm so nice, I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," he responds. I grab a lock of his hair, and tug it, causing him to hiss. But it's so soft. I always envied him for having nicer hair than me, because even though I take care of mine a whole lot better than he does, Inuyasha still gets the superstar tresses. "You can let go now."

Embarrassed, I do, letting the steady rhythm of his pace lull me into tranquility.

&&&

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I bring two bowls of ramen onto the coffee table in front of the big television, where "Blade: trinity" is playing.

Inuyasha licks his lips when he sees the ramen and begins to slurp it down, as I take my noodles slowly, watching the TV and occasionally taking a sip of my glass of sprite. He finishes way ahead of me, and begins commenting once in a while about how the blood in the movie looks totally fake, and how he would be able to take on Blade during a fight. "This is a boring movie," he complains.

I shrug. "I don't know, I think Ryan Reynolds is kinda hot. He has the six-pack and muscles."

Inuyasha snorts. "So do I."

He's got a point there. We fall into uncomfortable silence.

"Hey, Kagome?" he asks suddenly.

I look up with a mouthful of ramen, and gulp it down, wincing as I do so. "Yeah?"

"Sorry about what happened at school… I'll kick their asses if that makes you feel any better."

I try not to look alarmed. "No, don't hurt anyone! It's… it's not their fault if they think I'm ugly. That's their opinion, and nothing's going to change that. Don't worry about it. I'm used to your ass hattyness." I try to make a joke, but it ends up lame. He doesn't laugh at the attempt, and looks dead serious.

"I don't think you're ugly. I think you're beautiful."

I smile despite myself. Inuyasha's a flirt, and he could be annoyingly mean and conceited, but he has his moments, too, where he's undeniably sweet. It's just that I can never tell whether he's kidding me or not. "Well, thanks, Inuyasha. That's pretty polite of you to say."

Just then, as I lean over to the remote to raise the volume a bit, I almost knock down my ramen bowl. Rushing to steady it, I effectively find myself nearly sitting in Inuyasha's lap. I blush and apologize, already hauling myself onto my feet, when he grabs one of my hands, pulling me in a bit.

When his mouth hovers over mine, close enough for me to smell the spicy taste of his favorite food in his breath, my eyes automatically begin to close, drifting off to another world for a second. I see his eyes closing, too, and then:

"WE'RE HOME!"

Miroku and Sango's chorused voice echo through the house, and I leap back, spilling my bowl. In the end, I made a mess. I curse under my breath, using a nearby dishrag to soak it up.

"Ooh, what's this? Spending some quality time with each other? How romantic!" Miroku cheers.

"You're jumping to conclusions, Miroku," Sango scolds. She freezes, seeing Inuyasha blink a couple of time to clear his head, and me, cheeks burning, on my knees trying to clean the ramen accident. "At least, I think you're jumping to conclusions… right?"

"Oh, yes, of course!" I stutter, scrambling to my feet. "Let me just get another towel..."

Inuyasha finally relaxes, leaning back on the sofa. He winks at me. "You do that."