Story rating: T. For mild language.

Blanket Disclaimer: I do not claim any rights to InuYasha or the characters associated with the anime/manga. Those rights belong to Rumiko Takahashi. I do, however, offer my thanks to her for creating such vivid character's for me to terrorize.

ENJOY & REMEMBER REVIEW PLEASE!

Chapter 4. Princesses Never Say Die

~KAG POV~

I pushed my way into the front door of school the next morning and yawned loudly. I wished I had gotten more sleep last night but I had stayed up talking to Sango over the phone. We had talked about school, Miroku, Koga and of course…InuYasha. I bit my bottom lip thinking about our little conversation yesterday.

~Flashback~

Laying on my stomach, I drank a bottle of orange soda, listening to Sango talk.

"… and I think I would actually like Miroku a lot better if he didn't grope my ass as much as he does. I mean, I do need a little respect, you know?"

I nodded my head in agreement even though she couldn't see me. "Yea. Guys shouldn't treat you like that. Thats not how to win a girls heart."

I heard Sango sigh loudly over the other line. "Exactly!" Then after a few seconds of silence, she asked,"Anyway, what was up with InuYasha today? Did you notice how weird he was acting? I mean he always act weirder then most people but today was really weird."

I sat up a bit more on my elbows and frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Well usually he just sits in the corner not talking to anyone besides Miroku and I. He's usually scowling at every moving, living, breathing thing. But today his eyes were…more bright. Eager almost. Ive never seen him act that way. Didn't you notice?"

I twirled a pice of ebony black hair around my pointer finger. It had been two weeks since I had started Shikon High and InuYasha and I still hand't said more then two words to each other. I didn't know how he usually acted. beside giving the bird to new girls and glaring dagger's at them. "Well Sango, I've never really met him before. I don't know how he usually acts," I said honestly.

"Well, come to think of it, he seemed really interested in you. He couldn't take his eyes off you in gym. And if you think I didn't notice, I noticed."

My heart pounded against my chest wanting to break free. Just like every day since the first day of school, InuYasha had stared at me, watching me intently as I practiced my archery. I thought I was the only one who noticed but she saw it too?

I cleared my throat. "Well I don't really care for him. He acts like a jerk. And I get the feeling that he doesn't like me very much either."

The other line was silent.

"Sango? You there?"

A few silent seconds went by, before Sango mumbled a "Mmhmm I'm here. Its just…."

"Yeah?" I asked, tipping my soda bottle back and taking a swig.

Sango sighed quietly before saying, "well maybe he…he likes you."

I choked on my mouthful of soda, spitting a little bit out, allowing it to dribble down my chin. "WHAT!?" I laughed nervously at the thought, trying to find anything to clean up my mess. "No Sango he doesn't like me. He likes to antagonize me. And I really hate it." I found a tissue box on my nightstand and started cleaning off my face, removing the sticky orange soda. Seriously? What was it about InuYasha that made me act like a fool?

"Well whatever." Then she added, probably as an afterthought, "I bet Kikyo is jealous that he's even paying any attention to you at all."

I scrunched up my now clean face. "Why would she care?"

Sango stayed quiet for a second before she sighed again."Well they sort of have a past together."

My eyes widened. Ha Ha! I was right! I knew something was going on between those two! "Oh Sango tell me!" I pleaded.

"Ok…," I could hear her mentally prepare herself before telling me the story. "Well you see when InuYasha and Kikyo started freshman year they dated. They broke up halfway through sophomore year. And I hear she still likes him."

I suddenly didn't feel very well. "She still likes him? Well if she still likes him, why did they brake up in the first place?"

"Well there was this other guy named Onigumo from our sister school who liked Kikyo. They met at a house party that Tsubaki was throwing. And when Kikyo wanted to go father in her relationship with InuYasha, -if you know what I mean- and InuYasha said no, that they should wait, Kikyo went and cheated on InuYasha With Onigumo." She scoffed, sounding like remembering it. "It was a pretty nasty break up."

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out but air. Which was weird because it felt like I couldn't breathe.

Sango, sensing my sudden quietness, said, "So yea. Thats the story."

"Woah. So….does he you know…like Kikyo to or is he just done with her?" I asked, chewing on my lower lip.

"No. I don't think her likes her. But I could be wrong. InuYasha and I haven't talked about Kikyo since they broke up."

"Oh. Well um Sango, the next time you see him…can you ask him if he still does? Just so I can know?"

I didn't know why I wanted to know. I mean why should I care? But I decided knowing was better then not knowing when it came to InuYasha.

Sango suddenly giggled. "Ohhh. Why do you want to know?" She asked, her tone suggestive.

"Well because I…." I suddenly realized where this conversation was headed and It needed to stop. Now! I cleared my throat. "…Hey, you know Sango, I think my moms calling. I have to go. Ill see you tomorrow. Okay? Okay. Bye."

"Bu.."

I hung up before she could protest. I didn't want to hear anything more about Inuyasha for the day. Having to actually deal with the real thing was enough for me.

I rolled over, closed my eyes and pressed a cool palm to my forehead. I took a deep breath, trying to get the image of a smirking InuYasha from my eyes. My cell buzzed in my palm, signaling that I had a text. I flipped open my phone.

Sango: Hey! U hung up on me! :/ Ok ok. I guess InuYasha is a touchy subject with you. I won't tlk about Inuyasha with U anymore. Night girl.

I groaned and rolled over on my creaky bed and laid my head back on my pillow. Buyo came into my room, jumped up on my bed. He crawled over to my side, curled into my stomach right below my ribs and started purring as I scratched behind his ear. I reached over and flicked off the lamp next to my bed, sending my room into darkness.

With Buyo curled up next to me, I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

~End of Flashback~

I made my way into History class and saw InuYasha casually tilting his chair back on two legs, his hand clasped behind his head, wearing a black teeshirt and dark washed jeans. His signature biker boots were propped up on the desk. His eyes were clamped shut, his fuzzy white ears twitching at noises coming from around the room.

I rolled my eyes at him and sat down in the desk right in front of him. I sat down, suddenly feeling a intense pair of eyes on my back and I tried to ignore the feeling of his molten gaze on me.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, hopping that my outfit was cute today because I couldn't handle looking like a slob around him. I looked down to examine myself for the hundredth time today. My bright red tee hugged my curves -not that I really had curves to begin with- nicely and my black mini skirt was short but not to short and not to suggestive. I was wearing black flats and accessorized with a red rose chocker necklace. My makeup that I put on today was light.

I grabbed my folders and pencils out of my backpack before our teacher stepped into class. I rummaged around in my bag, looking around for my homework folder, but I still couldn't find it.

I growled in frustration, continuing to dig in my bag. "Where is that stupid thing?"

I felt a slight, hesitant tap on my shoulder and I turned away from my bag and found myself staring into pools of gold.

"Yea, you dropped this," InuYasha's lips in a tight line but were turned up on the edges, like he was fighting off laughing. In his hand was none other then my homework folder.

I stared dumbly at him for a few seconds. Where did he get that? And what was InuYasha being so nice to me? What? Had hell frozen over?

I ran a hand through my hair in a nervous action. "Oh um…Thanks." I said, hopping I sounded like I didn't care too much.

InuYasha's ear's twitched, causing m gaze to shift form his unworldly eyes to his inhuman ears. Man. They looked so fuzzy and soft. Why on earth did I have this sudden urge to touch and rub them?

InuYasha rolled his eyes. "Keh. Yea yea, whatever." I grabbed the folder out of his grasp and watched as he walked back to his desk and propped himself back into his previous lazy position.

I began to open my mouth, trying to come up with something clever to say, when out teacher, Myoga strolled into the room. I sighed and walked back to my desk and sat down.

Myoga was a short man, about five foot one, and he had beady little eyes. He was a curious little man. Myoga sighed tiredly and sat back behind his desk. "Good morning class. I hoped you finished your homework yesterday because today, you will begin researching your unit projects." A round of groans and mumbling whispers started spreading through the class.

"Alright, alright thats enough of that. Now, you will each be given a partner that I will assign you and you will each research one part of the project and combine your facts together to make up your project. You will have three weeks to finish it. But the sooner you turn it in, the more points you earn. Now, I will assign you partners and then we will head down to the library and computer lab where you will both pick a project together and start your research."

Myoga started calling off partners and my stomach rolled, and started praying in my head. Praying that Myoga won't call my name with his. Praying that Myoga would call any other name along with mine that wasn't his. I prayed that Myoga wouldn't say - "InuYasha and Kagome. Your partners."

I felt my whole body stiffen. Had I heard Myoga right? Hearing InuYasha scoffed crudely behind me, I knew that I had. I slammed my head down on my desk and heard InuYasha chuckle. This couldn't be happening.

After Myoga called out all the paired partner's, we turned in our assigned homework and headed down to the library and computer lab. The computer lab was built right next-door to the library, only being separated by ominous bookshelves. The lab was equipped with new looking computer's and new projectors and monitors.

InuYasha slid a hand into his back pocket, stretching his teeshirt over and around his chest (not that I noticed or anything) making the muscles in his chest more obvious. He strode confidently down the hallway, keeping his head held high and his back straight. I ,on the other hand, trailed behind him awkwardly.

Once we entered the library, InuYasha tossed his backpack down on an empty round table and sat down, and I following behind him sluggishly, not really knowing what else to do.

"So…. ," I said, starting the unavoidable and awkward conversation I knew was coming. "What should we base our project on?" I asked, sitting in a chair as far away from him as humanly possible.

He flexed his arms out behind him before placing his hands behind his head and leaning back in his chair. "Whatever you want our research to be on, princess."

I narrowed my eyes on him. He'd called my that before, in the gym on my first day of school. "Princess? Why did you call me a princess?" My toes began to curl in anger. "I do have a name you know. Ka-Go-Me," I said. Enunciating each syllable like he was a toddler.

He continued to talk, ignoring my statement, watching me with his annoyingly bright golden eyes. "Well I just figured if you keep walkin' around here like you own the place, I should call you by your proper name don't y'a think?"

I felt like a blood vessel was going to pop in my forehead. I forced myself to calm down and I closed my eyes, reminding myself to remember to breathe. Sighing hotly, and bringing myself to look him in the eye I asked, "What did I do to make you hate me so much? We haven't even properly met!"

He smiled slightly. "Nothin. Its just, everyone's talking about the new girl and how cool the new girl is. There treating you like freaking royalty around here, even if you've been to stupid to notice. Your on everyones lips. Everyone wants to know you." He explained, sitting up straighter in the library's plastic blue chair.

"No they aren't." I said, shaking my head.

He looked past me and nodded his head the direction he suddenly gazed in. "Yes, they are."

I flowed his gaze, turing my body around to look behind me seeing a lot of my own class mates staring back at me. They look alike they were curious about me. Like I was an alien, come to their planet. Or some new type of species. Once they saw me me looking back at them, their eyes grew wide and they went back to pretending like I wasn't there.

'Huh.'

I turned my attention back to InuYasha who was watching me with an inept look on his face. Probably wondering what I was thinking. I bit my lower lip and tucked the bangs around my face behind my ear. "Well why are they talking about me? What did I do?" I asked, wondering why I was the main topic of people's conversation. People I didn't even know for crying out loud.

He sighed, shaking his head. "I have no clue. I mean, who'd want to talk about you?"

I sent him a heated glare to which he replied with a smug smile. Sobering up a little he added, "Well you do have the aura of a priestess. And you do know how to use a bow and arrow like a pro." He scratched the back of his right ear with his claws, reminding me of a dog. "That, and people around here are just desperate to know someone new I guess."

I let my eyes trail down to my hands that were clasped in my lap. "Oh well I..." I mumbled, trailing my sentence off. Partly because I don't have a clue on what to say next and partly because InuYasha makes me nervous. And when Im nervous I cain't speak. I forget how to use my tongue like a normal human being.

InuYasha cleared his throat, dragging me back to reality. "Yea. Anyway, I want to actually finish this stupid ass project by next year so can we pick up the pace?" He all but growled.

My cheeks flared with anger but I placed a kind smile on my face. "Of course." I bit out between clenched teeth.

The rest of our history period consisted of me asking InuYasha what we should do for our project and him responding with arrogant smart ass comebacks. It was then that I noticed people were still talking and staring at me. I felt so self conscious. Between InuYasha who was acting like a petulant child and my classmate's who kept talking about me behind my back in front of my face like I wasn't there, made me want to rip my hair out and scream.

When the bell at the end of the hour signaled that our class was over, I lugged my bag over my shoulder and walked out of the library with InuYasha hot my heels after we were dismissed. I kept walking, my teeth clenched. That was th sonly thing hiding me back form yelling in InuYasha's face to back off.

I kept walking, urning down a hallway to the right and saw Koga walking out of his classroom. When he saw me coming he gave me his friendly, albeit, wolfish smile. I forgot all about InuYasha as I walked up to him, returning the smile.

"Hey Koga." I said, glancing up to look into Koga's familiar and calming caribbean blue eye's, but they weren't looking at me. They were focused behind me. Well not focused. More like glaring.

"Takahashi," he growled and I groaned. Had InuYasha followed me? "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked, his tone gruff and hostile. Nothing like the usual calming voice he usually held for me.

"Oh nothing. Just walking my partner out of the library." I could hear Inuyasha's smirk in his voice. I looked back up to Koga who's hands were bald up into fists. I turned around to give InuYasha a warning glare. I might not have been a demon or a half demon. But when I wanted to be scary, damn. I could be scary.

"Your Kagomes p-partner?" Koga asked, spluttering like a fool.

I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. "InuYasha, just go away. Go home and do your part of the project and Ill do mine ok? We'll talk later tonight so we can discuss when we can meet up and go to the public library together and work on it. Alright?"

InuYasha glared at Koga who glared back with just as much ferocity. Shoving his hands into his back pockets, keeping his eyes glued on Koga, he growled out a, "Fine. Ill call you."

Finally, InuYasha looked down to me, allowing his eyes to soften, but just a little. "Ill see you later princess." He winked cheekily before walking away and I found myself balling my fists into a similar position to Koga's. Together we stared at InuYasha's retreating back.

Koga was the first to speak, after what felt like a thousand years. "What…the..the hell was that all about?"

I released my fists and wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans. Why was InuYasha having this big of effect on me? I mean Ive never had a guy act this way around me before. Why couldn't InuYasha just be normal when we were together? What was his problem?

I slid a hand down my face and sighed. "I have no idea. I really have no clue."

A/N: Alrighty. This is a short chapter and Im sorry about that. Anyway I have a question for you guys. Should I speed up Kag's and Inu's romance or should I make it slow and steady? Everyones different and I just want to know what y'all think. Personally I like em slow :p Press the REVIEW and tell me your opinion. Ill go from there

Updated 1/11/13