A/N: If anyone is interested in joining the RPG this story is based off of/coming from send me a PM. You'll be credited for any and all submissions. And thanks for the reviews.
Chapter 4
~Embarrassment~
(Ayame)
Ayame didn't believe she could get any redder or more flustered if she tried. Everything she had tried to say came out wrong and made the situation sound worse than it is.
"Nothing happened in the elevator with Miroku. We fell. That's it." Ayame half shouted in desperation. 'Oh crap, if I've ruined his chances with Sango, I'll never forgive myself.' "He's a good guy. He really is."
Enju was looking at her skeptically.
"You sure he didn't try to pull anything? He really fell?" Enju asked.
"Yes, yes. The elevator was going crazy." Ayame explained nodding enthusiastically.
"Alright. I suppose I have no reason to believe otherwise. It's not like you need to protect him." Enju shrugged. "Come on, Headmistress Kaede will get your passes forwarded."
~Sulking~
(Miroku)
Miroku slouched down in his seat. Sango was mad at him yet again and this time he'd been innocent. To make matters worse he was now sitting in the most pointless class possible. Everything else he'd wanted had been full so now he was stuck with a bunch of slackers in health.
"HEY TEACH'! Can we just bail and pretend we came?" Someone shouted from the back.
Miroku turned slightly to see a boy with long braided hair leaning on the back two legs of his chair and waving his hand widely at the teacher. Despite his current over eagerness this kid didn't look like the sort to be messed around with. From what Miroku could see he wasn't a youkai but there was something off about him. Besides InuYasha, this was the only other kid Miroku had seen out of uniform. Well on some level it probably was the uniform but it was ripped but in a rather fashionable manner. In fact, the sleeves were completely gone from his uniform showing off his biceps. 'Note to self, don't get on his bad side.' Miroku thought eyeing the kid's arms. He was wearing combat boots rather than the assigned dress shoes and he had a chain looped form his back to front pocket.
"No Bankotsu, you cannot 'bail' we've only been here fifteen minutes." The teacher said patiently.
"What about in another five?" Bankotsu asked hopefully.
"Turn on your laptops class." The teacher said as if he didn't hear Bankotsu at all.
"This blows." Bankotsu muttered.
'Sure does.' Miroku thought pulling up the text for their first lesson.
~Winning~
(Kouga)
Kouga draped an arm across Kagome's shoulders as the chemistry teacher droned on with his intro lecture.
"Er, Kouga, should you really be doing that? Your fiancée is in this class?" Kagome asked for what seemed to be the thousandth time.
"Why do you keep bringing her up Kagome? I don't want to talk about her. Let's talk about our date tonight." Kouga said.
"Actually, I don't think I can make it. I, er, have other plans that I forgot about. I'm supposed to go with Sango…to buy something." Kagome said unconvincingly.
"I can escort you ladies to the mall if you like. I'll buy you something pretty. What do you think?" Kouga grinned.
"I really don't think that's a good idea. Why don't you buy Ayame something pretty? You should probably be saving Ayame a seat as well. Who will her lab partner be?" Kagome said squirming from under his arm.
"She can partner with the mutt." Kouga shrugged.
"InuYasha's not a mutt…and I was kind of hoping to work with InuYasha this year…" Kagome blushed.
"Why he's a lazy lab partner?" Kouga whined.
"I am not you wimpy wolf. Just shut the hell up. Come over here Kagome." InuYasha snapped.
"Don't order her around, mutt." Kouga snapped.
"I'm not ordering her around." InuYasha argued.
"Sounded like an order." Kouga said tauntingly.
"Can you two shut up?" Kagome growled.
"Is there a problem?" Totosai, their teacher, thundered making all three jump.
"Er, no, no problem." Kagome said shaking her head.
"Like hell there isn't. The wolf is partnernapping!" InuYasha snarled pointing a finger at Kouga.
"She wants to be my lab partner." Kouga snapped.
"Does not. She just said she wants to be my lab partner. So just get out of here." InuYasha argued.
"Gentlemen settle down or you'll be each other's lab partners." Totosai barked.
Kouga and InuYasha instantly shut up.
"Kagome'll work with Kouga." Totosai said.
"What the hell?" InuYasha shouted.
"In your face mutt!" Kouga laughed.
"Why does he get to work with her?" InuYasha demanded.
"Because you've essentially already got a partner. You think I'm just a senile old fool but I know you get the answers from Sango every year." Totosai snorted.
"That's complete crap. She's not here for labs." InuYasha complained, not bothering to deny his tendency to copy Sango's work or IM her questions he didn't feel like doing. She was reluctant to let him cheat but he usually found a way to persuade her into helping him.
"Well you're in luck. Ayame can work with you. WHY ARE YOU LATE GIRL?" Totosai's loud voice made everyone cringe.
"Er, didn't you get an email from Headmistress Kaede?" Ayame asked.
"Er…heh, talk to each other class. I have to check my email." Totosai mumbled before disappearing into his backroom to check his messages.
Kouga smirked as Ayame looked on either side of him for a saved seat. He felt a twinge of guilt as her face fell seeing no seat saved for her. Kagome's face held a sympathetic mask as she shrugged and gestured towards the seat across the aisle next to InuYasha. Kouga thought that was a fitting seat for his NOT fiancée. He nodded at her then threw his arm back over Kagome's shoulders. Kouga saw Ayame square her shoulders and march over to the seat before sitting down with a huff of annoyance.
"Ow!" He yelped as Kagome pinched his arm to make him release her. "Was that necessary?"
"You shouldn't be flirting with me when you have a fiancée." Kagome said.
"I already told you. She's not my fiancée." Kouga whined.
~Parents~
(Sesshomaru)
Sesshomaru's wore a frown on his face which was unusual for the young demon lord. However, his displeasure was so great that even he couldn't hide it. Fortunately no one was around to witness his displeasure. After taking Rin back to school he'd gone home for a bit where he was now going over his reply to his father's email. Jaken stood behind him nervously, dancing from foot to foot waiting for his master's displeasure to erupt.
'Find a wife! What is the old man thinking?' Sesshomaru thought, a scowl coming to his face. 'I have no need or want of a wife.'
"Put that away Jaken." Sesshomaru snarled.
Jaken gave a yelp of terror before dashing off to store the tiny ring box the daimyo had sent for his son to give away.
'The company is what I want, not a wife. How will a woman help me run the company?' Sesshomaru began to pace in his fury.
Sesshomaru read over the email again and felt his temper flair again as once again he came across the last line:
Find yourself a wife and be happy Sesshomaru. You needn't worry about the company until you've done that. Running a business is like taking care of a family. You still have a ways to go.
Sesshomaru grabbed the vase nearest him and threw it, mildly satisfied by the crash as it shattered against the wall.
'What the hell have I been proving with Rin, then?' Sesshomaru thought angrily. He'd come to care greatly for his ward yes but his initial motives had everything to do with proving to his father that he was more than able to take care of a company. He was raising a child by himself why not build up the company. That ought to be trivial in comparison.
Sesshomaru couldn't begin to count the hours of community service and internships he had committed himself to, to gain his father's approval and yet none of it seemed to impress him. He sent emails expressing his pride in Sesshomaru's accomplishments and yet he still hadn't flown him to the family company's head quarters and begun to train him as a replacement. It was infuriating.
It was while working with a children's group that he had come across Rin. She'd been irritatingly loyal, following him around whenever he showed up. Her silence had been frustrating but in time she began to talk to him and seemingly only him. Someone in the group had written to his father commending his work, truly impressed by the "bond" he had formed with the once mute girl.
His father had come home for an hour to meet this little girl. His father had probably been joking when he'd said Sesshomaru could learn a thing or two about being a good leader from being a parent but Sesshomaru took that as a challenge. Rin was adopted the next day.
Since then, his father had kept in contact more. Sesshomaru received an email from the man every week asking about the girl. To InuYasha's great annoyance their father had flown home to celebrate one of Rin's birthdays while the two boys usually only received a late card and a sudden increase in their trust funds.
Deleting the email, Sesshomaru decided to ignore it. He sat back in a plush chair to brood for a bit. Then, despite knowing his own distaste for being in the public eye he flipped open his phone to text Kagura. His father hadn't specified when he needed to find a wife. Perhaps gracing the cover of a magazine or two with other teen royalty might win him some points. He could just imagine his father framing the cover of him walking into Kikyou's party with Kagura on his arm while his picture on the cover of Entrepreneur Weekly merely got him "good job son" at the end of his father's emails.
Sessh: You going to Kikyou's party?
Wind: Of course.
Sessh: Pick you up at 8pm.
Wind: Sounds good.
Sesshomaru snapped his phone shut and got off of the couch. Kagura would do well enough to please his father. She was a demon and she belonged to one of the wealthiest families in Japan. Besides she didn't care for him any more than he cared for her. Like most others she had her own agenda but she was blessedly up front about it and that was why he tolerated her. He smirked, thinking back to the first day of high school when they met. She had sought him out specifically.
~flash back~
"There you are. I've been looking all over for you." Kagura snapped. "And thank Kami you're attractive. That's so much more convenient."
"Do I know you?" Sesshomaru asked coldly.
"No but you might as well get to know me." Kagura grinned.
"And why is that?" He sneered.
"I'm going to marry you." Kagura shrugged.
Sesshomaru couldn't hold back the snort of laughter. This wasn't new. Women had been throwing themselves at him since he could remember. He was about to tell her to get lost when she cut him off.
"Please." She sneered. "I'm not a part of your fan club. I have no intention of pretending to love you or to go out of my way to amuse you. You hate the act as much as I'd hate acting it out so let's cut to the chase. Nowadays it's all about money and power. You have both and in a greater abundance than I. So you'd better remember my name. It's Kagura of the wind. I'll be around but don't bother forgetting me because I won' forget you. I will marry into the Taisho clan and live a life of absolute luxury completely independent of my family. Understand?"
"You have quite an imagination." Sesshomaru said walking away from her.
"And I'm just as stubborn as you are." She shouted after him.
~end flash back~
She had been right in some respects, she was convenient. He had no intention of marrying her anytime soon but the thought wasn't totally unappealing. He didn't love her but she'd take care of herself; in fact, she'd probably agree to live separately and he'd never have to see her except when he wanted her refreshing honesty. It was something to consider.
"Are you going to respond o your father's email milord?" Jaken asked nervously.
"Later Jaken." Sesshomaru said, before picking up his keys to head back to school.
~Confusion~
(InuYasha)
InuYasha eyed the girl beside him curiously.
"You alright?" He asked recognizing her from earlier in the morning.
"Fine I guess." Ayame sighed. "It's just he's blowing me off again for the same girl."
"Want me to take care of him for you?" InuYasha smirked and cracked his knuckles.
"No, I have a bit of help already." Ayame said gesturing towards Kagome.
"How's Kagome helping? Did she cancel her date with him or something?" InuYasha asked.
"Date?" Ayame frowned.
"Yeah, he's taking her out after school since I have detention." InuYasha said.
"You were planning to take Kagome out?" Ayame asked, her eyes going wide.
"I dunno. I didn't really have any plans besides getting some practice in with Sango but I figured we all hang out for a bit after school. Not that that's possible anymore." InuYasha sulked.
"Wow, you sure do get around, don't you?" Ayame whispered.
"What?" InuYasha frowned confused by her musing.
"Er, it's nothing. I just…you seem to 'hang out' with a lot of girls…how do they not fight when they're all together?" Ayame asked.
InuYasha's frown deepened in confusion. "Er…well, Sango and Kagome are best friends so they don't really fight. Enju, I don't know if you met her yet, but she's really chill so she doesn't fight with anyone. Kikyou's kind of temperamental so the other girls usually just keep their distance from her to begin with. I don't really hang out with Kaguya or Kagura but you know Kikyou shares everything with them so sometimes I have to pretend I care about them. Kikyou's my girlfriend so she always gets what she wants but I never forget my friends. My girls are special to me."
Ayame just blinked at him. "So you care about all of them?"
"Of course I do. I mean, Sango and Enju are clearly my best friends, or rather, Sango's my super best friend but the others are important to me too except Kagura and Kaguya. I'd really rather not have to deal with them." InuYasha explained.
Ayame opened her mouth to speak but then shook her head and began taking notes.
~Urge to Kill Rising~
(Kikyou)
Kikyou sighed internally seeing her sister's best friend enter the room. 'Great. Just who I wanted to see.' She thought sarcastically. She was still mad at InuYasha for forcing her to invite Kagome to her party. 'Next thing I know he's going to want her there too.'
She flipped her hair over her shoulder and peered at Kagura's voice as it buzzed quietly.
"Who is that?" Kikyou asked.
"Sesshomaru." Kagura said as she began typing her response.
"What does he want?" Kikyou snapped, annoyed that she had to ask.
"He's taking me to your party." Kagura said.
"What?" Kikyou hissed. "He never brings a date when he bothers to show up."
"Well I guess there's a first time for everything." Kagura shrugged, glancing down at her phone as it buzzed again.
Kikyou glared at her feeling a twinge of jealousy. 'How the hell did she manage to bag a date with the ice king?' She thought irritably. If he would act like he was available Kikyou probably would have dated him years ago but he was just so cold all the time. Whereas, InuYasha was so full of energy. He was so much work though. Kikyou felt like she had to work to keep his attention which was just wrong. She'd never worked a day in her life for anything but the affections of a hanyou. It was absurd.
Kikyou ground her teeth in irritation as yet another source of irritation entered the room reminding her that she was working for two hanyous. 'Damn you Naraku.' She'd almost forgotten she was being blackmailed.
"Alright, get into groups of, let's say five." The teacher said. "Let's brain storm some charities to write for. We're going to improve your persuasive essays."
"Excuse me. This is an AP Literature and Composition class, why are we working on persuasive essays? Shouldn't we be getting ready for exams so we don't have to go to cram school?" A girl in the corner asked.
"Ew, who goes to cram school?" Kaguya sneered.
"Seriously, don't you have your early acceptance to Tokyo U yet?" Kagura smirked.
"No one's been accepted yet." A boy up front said turning around.
"None of you peasants have anyway." Kaguya shrugged.
"So you've been accepted then?" The original girl asked incredulously.
"I have." Kikyou smirked. "If you're smart enough they start scouting you years in advance."
"Well, as many of you plan to be socialites I'm assuming you'll be hosting charity events. You'll need to be persuasive if you want donations. Group up." The teacher said cutting off all the chatter.
Kikyou rolled her eyes and sat up straighter in her chair making the list without the help of her two friends.
"What do you want?" Kagura's voice drew her attention.
"Let's pretend we get along for a brief second shall we?" Sango said sitting down across from the three girls. Enju sat beside her.
Kaguya opened her mouth to argue to Kikyou held up a hand to silence her.
"Fine but only because you two ought to be the experts in charity. You see girls, poor people have their uses." Kikyou said smiling sweetly.
"You are delightful as always Kikyou." Sango said tightly.
"Do you actually have a reason for hating us?" Enju asked.
"Are you sleeping with my boyfriend?" Kikyou asked without hesitation.
"NO!" Sango half shouted. She blushed then coughed. "Why would you think that?"
"Please, like I don't notice all the time you spend together." Kikyou snapped.
"They're battle partners. You spend a lot of time with Sesshomaru." Enju pointed out.
"Not really, we have natural talent." Kikyou grinned.
"Seriously, what does InuYasha see in you?" Sango asked.
"Beauty." Kikyou shrugged.
"And that's all." Sango muttered.
"What was that?" Kikyou snapped.
"Can we just brainstorm?" Enju asked.
"Fine but just remember. Keep your hands off my boyfriend." Kikyou said.
"That's really not a problem." Sango said.
"Good." Kikyou said flicking her hair out of her face.
~Monogamy is so Much Easier~
(Ayame)
Ayame's face lit up in a blush as she hurried into class late. 'This is so embarrassing.' She thought trying to slip in unnoticed.
"Well you're in luck. Ayame can work with you. WHY ARE YOU LATE GIRL?" The teacher's booming voice dashed hopes of slipping in without causing a stir.
"Er, didn't you get an email from Headmistress Kaede?" Ayame asked her face pale from embarrassment and fear that the headmistress hadn't believed her about the elevator. Enju had affirmed that she looked shook up while she was explaining. The headmistress had nodded and told her everything would be fine. Ayame had then waved goodbye to Enju and sprinted to class. Now to her horror she was being called out regardless. She prayed she wouldn't have to tell the elevator story in front of the entire class.
"Er…heh, talk to each other class. I have to check my email." The teacher mumbled before disappearing into his backroom to check his messages.
Ayame breathed a sigh of relief before turning to find a seat. She had this class with Kouga. A smile lit up her face as she looked for and then spotted him. To her disappointment she found he hadn't saved a seat for her. She sighed had she really expected him to save her a spot.
Kagome's friendly face wore a sympathetic look as she pointed next to InuYasha. Ayame had half hoped Kagome would switch her but Kouga just gave her a nod as if the issue was settled and draped his arm around Kagome. Ayame wanted to slap him and demand he treat her with the respect she deserved as his fiancée but he looked unmoved by her irritated face.
Instead she squared her shoulders and summed up all her pride before walking over to InuYasha and dropping onto her stool with an irritated huff.
She felt InuYasha watching her and a light blush began to form on her cheeks.
"You alright?" He asked.
"Fine I guess." Ayame sighed. "It's just he's blowing me off again for the same girl."
It was almost an exact repeat of this morning. She had hoped he'd be over the childish rudeness by now.
"Want me to take care of him for you?" InuYasha smirked and cracked his knuckles.
Ayame turned to respond and froze caught in InuYasha's golden gaze. 'Kami his eyes are intense.' And there was something oddly attractive about that devious smirk. 'It's no wonder he has so many girlfriends he's easy to fall for. Gorgeous and sweet…AND TOTALLY OFF LIMITS!' Ayame caught herself. She was here for Kouga and this guy had enough girl drama it would seem. 'I just don't understand. He doesn't seem like a jerk at all.'
She averted her eyes and willed her cheeks to return to their normal color before answering.
"No, I have a bit of help already." Ayame replied pointing at Kagome.
"How's Kagome helping? Did she cancel her date with him or something?" InuYasha asked.
"Date?" Ayame frowned. Kagome hadn't said anything about going on a date with Kouga. She said they had gone on dates but…
'Maybe she canceled. I didn't really meet her until lunch. She's really helping me, isn't she?' Ayame glanced at Kagome worriedly.
"Yeah, he's taking her out after school since I have detention." InuYasha said.
"You were planning to take Kagome out?" Ayame asked. She glanced at InuYasha with a raised eyebrow. Why did he sound so upset about that? Did he like Kagome too? How many girls was he juggling? Was she being recruited? 'Ah! What if he's only being nice to me because he thinks I'm one of those girls?'
"I dunno. I didn't really have any plans besides getting some practice in with Sango but I figured we'd all hang out for a bit after school. Not that that's possible anymore." InuYasha sulked.
"Wow, you sure do get around, don't you?" Ayame murmured to herself.
"What?" InuYasha asked and Ayame flinched. He wasn't supposed to hear that.
"Er, it's nothing. I just…you seem to 'hang out' with a lot of girls…how do they not fight when they're all together?" Ayame asked trying to ask as diplomatically as possible. He didn't seem to see a problem with it. Was it socially acceptable around here to have more than one girlfriend? Maybe it was because he was one of the daimyo's heirs. Was it just understood that he had so many girlfriends?
She watched InuYasha's frown deepened. She couldn't help but think of how his confused look made him look more like a puppy. She half wondered if anyone ever pointed that out.
"Er…well, Sango and Kagome are best friends so they don't really fight. Enju, I don't know if you met her yet, but she's really chill so she doesn't fight with anyone. Kikyou's kind of temperamental so the other girls usually just keep their distance from her to begin with. I don't really hang out with Kaguya or Kagura but you know Kikyou shares everything with them so sometimes I have to pretend I care about them. Kikyou's my girlfriend so she always gets what she wants but I never forget my friends. My girls are special to me."
Ayame just blinked at him trying to process all of that. He had just named at least six girls. That was crazy. And that bit about sharing was more than she needed to know.
"So you care about all of them?" Ayame asked trying to understand.
"Of course I do. I mean, Sango and Enju are clearly my best friends, or rather, Sango's my super best friend but the others are important to me too except Kagura and Kaguya. I'd really rather not have to deal with them." InuYasha explained.
'Whatever super best friend means. Can he really care about all those girls? And why is Kikyou so special? She's the only one he actually calls his girlfriend. Why does he give Kikyou whatever she wants?' Ayame opened her mouth to ask him that when another thought struck her. 'He's got so many other girlfriends he could just pick a girl with friends he likes. Or a girl who doesn't make him share…ew, ew, ew! Done thinking now! Notes, must take notes!'
~Story of My Life~
(Sango)
'She is completely out of her mind.' Sango thought as she passed the girls completed list to the teacher and collected her things. She was overjoyed that the bell had finally rung. 'On some level she must be in love with him to be so crazy about him. That paranoia is going to kill her next year.'
"I have a feeling they aren't going to survive the separation of college." Enju mused as if reading her mind.
"No way. Kikyou might show up to school shooting purifying arrows at everyone." Sango laughed.
"I wouldn't put it past her. It's almost sad how into him she is. He's a terrible boyfriend once you think about it." Enju said.
"He's a fine enough boyfriend. He just a guy and very indecisive." Sango said thinking about all the things InuYasha did for Kikyou. 'He does try to be good. If Kagome didn't have such an open crush on him he might be able to behave but what male can really resist a willing girl?'
Enju was giving her a look.
"I'm not saying he's faultless. He is a flirt but a harmless one unlike that Miroku creep. If Kikyou weren't so hateful I'd probably smack him around for misbehaving for her but you can't completely blame the guy for looking for a little harmless affection." Sango laughed.
"He gets more than enough affection from us." Enju said.
"Which is the problem but if we weren't around he and Kagome would probably do something stupid." Sango said.
"You make an excellent point but they seem to have been fine over the summer while you were away and I was busy. There has yet to be a girl fight so…" Enju trailed off with a shrug.
"Don't say that." Sango laughed. "That's like saying InuYasha doesn't need us around as his conscience anymore."
"There will never be a day that InuYasha doesn't need us around as his conscience." Enju grinned.
The two girls stopped outside of Sango's next class.
"Oh joy!" Sango sighed peering into the room and seeing Kagura and Kikyou already sitting there. "I get two of the three for yet another hour."
"Isn't InuYasha in this class?" Enju asked.
"I think so." Sango groaned. 'I do not want to see them making out.'
"Hey guys." Kagome's voice drew both their attention. "You guys have history now too?"
"Nope, study hall." Enju grinned.
"Thank Kami, you're in this class." Sango breathed, hugging her friend.
"Not to be ungrateful but why so happy?" Kagome asked.
Sango pointed into the classroom.
"Oh…this is going to be…fun." Kagome said trying to sound peppy.
"Well would you look at that. All my favorite girls in one place." InuYasha said, coming up between Sango and Kagome and draping his arms over their shoulders.
"Don't start, baka. One confrontation with your girlfriend is enough for the day." Sango said smacking his hand off of her shoulder.
"Once upon a time, she loved me." InuYasha told Kagome jokingly. Kagome rolled her eyes and then shimmied from under his arm.
"Let's try not to start the year with a fight, hmm?" Kagome said.
"What's to fight about?" InuYasha asked.
"Uh…things." Kagome said, shooting Sango a look.
Sango frowned confused. 'Things. What things besides Kikyou being a psycho which was nothing new?'
'I'll tell you later.' Kagome mouthed.
Sango nodded.
"Well, I should get going." Enju said with a wave.
"See you later." The trio chorused before entering the room.
Sango took a seat in the corner opposite of Kikyou and Kagome sat with her. Sango raised an eyebrow when InuYasha dropped down beside her.
"What are you doing?" Sango asked.
"She's mad at me." InuYasha shrugged.
"And sitting with us is going to make her less mad?" Sango asked.
She watched InuYasha look at Kagome hesitantly.
"Probably not but it's best to give her space when she's angry." He said.
"What did you do?" Sango asked.
"I'll tell you later." He muttered before turning to his laptop.
Sango turned her head to Kagome.
"Well then you go." Sango said.
"Er…can't, later." Kagome said, jerking her head in InuYasha's direction.
'What does she have to tell me that she can't say in front of InuYasha?' Sango thought.
"Well, would you look at that? The gang's all here." Kouga's voice drew everyone's attention.
'Oh no! Now we're definitely not learning anything.' Sango thought dropping her head down to bang gently against the desk. She could already hear the growl building up in InuYasha's throat. 'We're going to get a live re-enactment of every great war of Japan's history.'
~Hello Again~
(Ayame)
Ayame blushed as she entered the library and saw Miroku sitting at a table alone reading a book. Glancing around she decided there wasn't much to study since it was the first day of school so she might as well socialize.
"Hi!" She chirped sitting across from him and trying to control the blush that came from the memories of the elevator. "How are you?"
"Battered and bruised but otherwise good." Miroku grinned.
"Why was Sango so angry?" Ayame asked.
"That is beyond me." Miroku murmured.
Ayame's eyes went wide as an idea came to her.
"OH MY GOSH MIROKU! She likes you!" Ayame practically shouted. "She has to like you otherwise her reaction doesn't make sense, does it? Oh this is so exciting."
"Er, I don't know that she likes me. I think she's just a feminist or something. She thought she was protecting you." Miroku said.
"Oh! Oh no, we have to clear your name." Ayame gasped. "But how?"
"I haven't the slightest clue." Miroku sighed.
"Hmm, you just wait. I'll get you two together somehow. I'll invite the girls over for a girl's night or something and we'll talk about boys and stuff and I'll find out what kind of guy she likes and then we could fix you up." Ayame gushed.
"You think that would work?" Miroku asked.
"Well it has to. InuYasha's a sweet guy and I can see why she fell for him but she deserves a guy that loves only her." Ayame said. "Every girl deserves someone just for her."
"But I think she thinks she's liberating him from Kikyou. Have you met Kikyou? She's scary." Miroku said. "She's really hot but super scary. In fact I think she's dangerously close to being over the line on the crazy to hotness scale."
Ayame blinked at him confused.
"The what?" She asked.
"Er, never mind. It's a guy thing." Miroku chuckled.
~Don't Let Me Get Me~
(Kagome)
Kagome breathed a sigh of relief she'd finally made her escape from the boys. It felt odd to be alone as she normally had someone to stroll down the hallway with. In some ways it was pleasant in others it worried her. She was alone with her thoughts, her confusion. InuYasha was throwing such mixed signals.
'I ought to just give up.' She thought. 'But I can't. Maybe I should just ask Sango. She'll be angry with him and disappointed in me at first but things will work out. Then she can tell me what to do to fix things.'
A flicker of silver in her peripheral vision caused he to glance up. A greeting was on the tip of her tongue but it died in her mouth as she caught sight of Sesshomaru. He did not look happy. He didn't express much emotion on the regular basis but today there was something about him that just screamed PISSED! It was terrifying. She like everyone else pressed against the lockers to stay out of his way.
'I wonder what happened.' A part of her felt the need to go ask since he was InuYasha's older brother but in a rare instant the terror won out over compassion. She could be as nice as she wanted to be, Sesshomaru still just gave her the same blank stare until she went away. Kagome hadn't really thought anything of it until she saw him talking to Sango once. 'Is there something wrong with me that repels demons? No, it can't be that. Kouga likes me.'
Another sigh. She was just venturing down the alley of depression when she spotted Sango and Enju outside of her next class and her heart lifted considerably.
"Hey guys." Kagome's called making them both turn in her direction. "You guys have history now too?"
"Nope, study hall." Enju grinned.
Kagome's smile faltered.
"Thank Kami, you're in this class." Sango breathed, hugging her friend. As quickly as it disappeared the smile reappeared. She wouldn't be alone. Then a confused frown etched its way onto her face.
"Not to be ungrateful but why so happy?" Kagome asked.
Sango pointed into the classroom. Kagome leaned around her and peered into the room. Her heart sank. 'Oh no, Kikyou.' Kagome bit her lip. She hated having classes with her sister. Kikyou always went out of her way to prove how much better she was. 'I really don't need an hour a day seeing how much prettier, and smarter, and faster, and cooler Kikyou is.' Kagome thought.
"Oh…this is going to be…fun." Kagome said trying not to let her friends here how upsetting the realization was to her. Now she'd have to hear about all of Kikyou's fabulous parties that she wasn't invited to. Kikyou would surely show off all the gifts InuYasha gave her and talk about their dates. It was going to be pure torture. 'Why can't she just graduate?'
"Well would you look at that. All my favorite girls in one place." InuYasha said's voice snapped Kagome out of her thoughts. He came up between her and Sango and wrapped an arm around both their shoulders.
"Don't start, baka. One confrontation with your girlfriend is enough for the day." Sango said smacking his hand off of her shoulder. Kagome raised a questioning eyebrow at her friend.
"Once upon a time, she loved me." InuYasha joked. 'And I've loved you forever.' Kagome thought rolling her eyes and squirming from under his arm.
"Let's try not to start the year with a fight, hmm?" Kagome said, not wanting Kikyou to see. If Kikyou saw them together she would surely get suspicious and then she'd find out about this summer. If Kikyou found out about this summer both Kagome and InuYasha would be dead.
"What's to fight about?" InuYasha asked. Kagome's jaw dropped open. 'Is he serious? He couldn't have forgotten could he? Or does he just not view what happened as significant?' Snapping her mouth shut and shaking her head Kagome chose to ignore his oblivious act.
"Uh…things." Kagome mumbled, shooting Sango a look.
Kagome saw the confused frown crease Sango's forehead and decided she had to tell her.
'I'll tell you later.' Kagome mouthed. Sango nodded.
"Well, I should get going." Enju finally said with a wave.
"See you later." The trio chorused before entering the room. Kagome dragged her feet wanting to prolong the inevitable.
Thankfully Sango sat far away from Kikyou and Kagome took the very corner seat as far as she could get from her sister.
"What are you doing?" Sango's question made Kagome turn her head. To her surprise InuYasha was sitting down next to Sango.
"She's mad at me." InuYasha said softly.
"And sitting with us is going to make her less mad?" Sango asked. Kagome tilted her head listening closely for his response.
"Probably not but it's best to give her space when she's angry." He said. Kagome was surprised by how hurt she felt that he was only sitting with them so he wouldn't upset Kikyou further. 'Why is it always about Kikyou?!'
"What did you do?" Sango asked.
"I'll tell you later." He muttered before turning to his laptop. 'I want to know now!'Kagome thought willing Sango to force an answer out of him. Instead Sango turned to face Kagome.
"Well then you go." Sango said.
Kagome suffered a minor seizure. She couldn't tell her now. Not with InuYasha sitting so close with his super sensitive ears. He already knew of course but he was determined to pretend he didn't. She didn't need him listening in as she poured her heart out and her own stupidity. She hated herself a bit for not regretting anything that happened between them. She debated telling Sango via instant messenger or texting but InuYasha could easily read it over her shoulder and the servers weren't safe from Naraku. He'd blasted more than one person for being stupid enough to discuss private matters over the internet. 'It'll have to wait.' Kagome thought.
"Er…can't, later." Kagome said, jerking her head in InuYasha's direction to let Sango know why she couldn't talk. Sango gave her an understanding look before her attention was ripped away by yet another student arriving.
"Well, would you look at that? The gang's all here." Kouga's voice drew everyone's attention.
'Oh boy. This class just got super interesting.' Kagome thought glancing at InuYasha. She wondered if he was going to hide his jealousy since Kikyou was there. 'Would it be wrong of me to flirt with Kouga just to see what InuYasha will do? I don't mean anything by it and Ayame's not in here.' Kagome bit her lip and glanced at Sango hoping she'd read her mind. Instead, Kagome found her friend face down against her desk.
"You okay?" Kagome asked.
"This class is going to be a nightmare." Sango's muffled voice came up to her.
It was impossible not to laugh.