Chapter 6
Miroku woke up the next morning feeling quite chipper. Yesterday he had met the girl of his dreams and had successfully infiltrated her inner circle of friends. With Ayame's help it shouldn't take long to convince Sango that InuYasha was no good for her and that he would be a suitable replacement. He hummed a tune as he went to the shower. Today would be a good day.
- -
"I can't believe this!" Kouga shouted at Ayame as he stormed into school, flanked by a nervous Ginta and Hakakku. "You ruin everything."
"It's not my intention to ruin everything. You're just being an overdramatic jerk." Ayame blazed, tears collecting in her eyes.
"Overdramatic! I'm not being overdramatic. My life was fine until you came waltzing in and started screwing things up." Kouga raged.
"Screwing things up! How am I screwing things up? This was the plan, it's always been the plan that I would come here and marry you." Ayame wailed.
"I don't want to marry you. I want to marry Kagome. I want to go to Kikyou's party with the girl of my choosing. I want you to go away. But ever since you showed up it's been all about what you want and what the elders want. I used to never take orders from the elders, now they're coming down on me every day! Stuff like this never happened before you arrived." Kouga snarled.
"I'm sorry you have to go with me. It wasn't my intention that they force us to go together."
"Oh sure it was!" Kouga yelled, coming to a sudden halt. He turned to face her. "You didn't want me to go with Kagome so you went crying to the elders about not having a date to Kikyou's party and now I can't go unless I take you."
"That's not at all what happened. Grandfather asked me why I needed a new dress so soon after getting here and I told him it was for a party I was hoping to attend with you."
"Yeah, told him to make me take you."
"I did not. I was explaining why I was buying a dress. I didn't think he'd tell the others and it's not my fault they think it's a good idea for us to go together."
"Just stay out of my life." Kouga growled before stomping away.
Ayame managed to hold back the tears until he was completely gone. When she couldn't hear him any longer, she fled to the bathroom and released the floodgates. 'He's such a jerk.'
- -
Enju bit her lip as she contemplated whether or not she should follow Ayame into the girls' bathroom. She had gotten to school early as usual and happened to hear most of the wolf couple's argument. She had to give Ayame credit for holding it together so well while Kouga unloaded on her like that. 'She probably wanted to go with Miroku anyway.' Enju thought.
Checking the time, Enju saw they only had a short time left before people would start showing up and Ayame's private moment would be ended. 'I can go comfort her and hopefully she won't have to deal with the public embarrassment of Kouga's treatment.' Enju decided.
- -
"If you really want to make me happy, you'll finish the day without getting a detention so we can actually have time to practice." Sango grinned, as she and InuYasha walked into school together.
"I can try but no promises there are a bunch of idiots running around here." InuYasha agreed.
"So ignore them." Sango advised.
"Well where's the fun in that?" InuYasha laughed.
She gave him an annoyed look.
"You should go find Kikyou. Maybe if you two start the day off on a good note, she'll be less inclined to torment me."
"Somehow I doubt it." InuYasha chuckled. InuYasha leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her cheek causing her to blush. "See you in calc."
She mumbled a quick good bye before putting as much distance between them as she could. When she was far enough away, Sango heaved a relieved sigh. 'He's trying to get me killed.' Sango thought as she wandered towards her locker.
She took deep breaths and scolded herself for the rapid beating her heart and flaming cheeks. InuYasha was her best friend and had been for several years but it always caught her off guard when he showed his affection so openly. The little things such as a peck on a cheek or stroking her hair was something that happened when it was only the two of them and it made her heart flutter like some silly teenage girl. It annoyed her because she absolutely refused to have a crush on her best friend. But she was a teenage girl and sometimes he affected her just like any other girl in this school.
'He is such a pain.' She grumbled internally. She was just putting in the combination to open her locker when she felt another presence beside her.
"Hey baby."
Sango squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that she was in the middle of a nightmare. She breathed an annoyed sigh when she felt strong arms wrap around her waist.
"Have you thought about my offer?"
"No Bankotsu. I gave you my answer yesterday. Remember?" Sango said turning around in his arms. She would have loved to punch him but the best method with Bankotsu was to make him think it was his own idea to go away. He wasn't the sort who simply walked away from an insult and she didn't want him and InuYasha fighting over Bankotsu's life goal to sleep with her. Placing her hands against his chest, she attempted to extract herself from his hold.
"Go on a date with me." Bankotsu said.
"No." She repeated trying hard not to be annoyed. She dealt with this every year. Surprisingly this year instead of showing up and demanding she have sex with him, he was asking her to go on a date with him. She was tempted to believe he might be getting smarter since he seemed to have finally figured out that telling her all thy reasons they should have sex wasn't helping him achieve his goal.
"Come one, I'm a nice guy. Just one date?" Bankotsu purred next to her ear.
"Nice until you get bored. Bankotsu, I'm in no way you're type and you're in no way mine. I'm not going out with you. Please stop asking." She begged.
"Please?" He whined.
"What?"
"I said please. I know surprising. You should give me a chance, I'm full of surprises." He said waggling his eyebrows at the end.
"No." She said finally breaking out of his hold.
"Why not?" He asked, catching her hips and dragging her back against him.
"Because I'm not having sex with you." She said matter of factly. "And that's the only reason you want to go on a date."
"I didn't say sex. I said a date." He said smugly.
"Everyone knows how your dates go." Sango said rolling her eyes.
"You've been checking up on me. I didn't know you were the jealous type." Bankotsu grinned.
"Bankotsu?" Sango said calmly.
"Yes?"
"Go away. I'm not at all inclined to believe you suddenly want to date me. I know what you want and that's not happening now or ever."
- -
Kagome sat in her sister's limo feeling awkward from the prolonged silence. Kikyou was up early for once and it seemed silly to take two cars when one would get them to their destination just fine. Kagome sighed. When they had been younger riding together had been fun. Kikyou would brush her hair and tell her everything she needed to know about being cool.
That was all before they started fighting over InuYasha, of course. Sitting with her sister now, Kagome knew she and Kikyou would never be that close again.
"Must you look so utterly depressing Kagome? With a little effort, you could make yourself very pretty." Kikyou said, finally raising her eyes from inspecting her nails.
"I think I look pretty enough." Kagome replied.
"But you could do so much better." Kikyou sighed.
Kagome frowned.
"So much better than what?" Kagome asked feeling there was more going on here.
"Miroku."
"Miroku? What about Miroku?" Kagome asked, confusion creasing her brow.
"There's no need to pretend little sister. I'm not planning to steal him from you." Kikyou said with a shrug.
"Because he's just yours to take?" Kagome snapped on reflex.
"Well if I wanted to…yes." Kikyou smirked.
"You're so conceited." Kagome grumbled.
"I'm not conceited. I was stating a fact. But that's beside the point."
"And what is the point, other than insulting me?" Kagome snapped.
"Why can't you date a nice rich boy? Suikotsu's available and he's older. That would elevate your status by so much. You should come to my party with him instead. I'll tell him to ask you." Kikyou advised.
"I don't like Suikotsu and I don't care about status and since when am I coming to your party?" Kagome cried, feeling frustrated with her sister's attempt to manage her life.
"InuYasha invited Miroku and I guess he wants to bring you but you could do so much better. You're my sister after all." Kikyou said with a snobbish smile.
"Thanks for your concern but I think I can choose a boyfriend for myself." Kagome said with a glare.
She was thankful the limo had been slowing to a stop. She threw open the door, accidently hitting the driving who had been coming to open the door for the two girls.
"Sorry." She squealed before bolting into the school to get away from Kikyou.
--
Miroku strolled into school whistling a cheerful tune. Finding his first class without incident he found a sulky Ayame sitting next to a rather annoyed looking Kagome.
"Ladies, what's with the sour expressions? The sun is shining and the birds are singing. Relish life with me." Miroku ordered, coming between them and wrapping an arm around each girl.
"It's hard to be cheerful when your fiancé hates your guts." Ayame sighed, leaning her head against Miroku's shoulder.
"And when your sister is trying to run your life. Why does she think we're dating, by the way?" Kagome asked turning in his embrace.
"Dating?" Miroku frowned.
"She said I'm your date to her party." Kagome said, blushing feeling like her sister set her up for embarrassment.
"Oh!" Miroku said blushing. He wanted to ask Sango but after yesterday's incident how could he not take Kagome. "I was going to ask you if you wanted to go. You're the only girl I really know here besides Ayame and I assumed Kouga was taking her."
"He wants to take Kagome." Ayame said dejectedly.
Kagome flushed with embarrassment. "I'm not going with Kouga. I never go to Kikyou's party."
"So then you don't want to go with me?" Miroku asked, hiding his hopefulness. If she refused, he could ask Sango.
"Of course, I'll go with you. In fact… do you want to go out tonight?" Kagome asked blushing furiously.
She had never asked a boy out and she didn't have a crush on Miroku but he was a nice guy. Dating him would piss off Kikyou, make Sango happy to think she was moving on from InuYasha, hopefully make InuYasha jealous, and maybe get Kouga to back off. Plus, maybe she could like him in the future.
Miroku's jaw dropped. He was gobsmacked. He hadn't been expecting that.
"Er…uh…sure." Miroku said, rubbing the back of his neck. He wasn't sure what else to say. It wasn't everyday he had a girl asking him out.
"But what about…" Ayame started.
Miroku coughed loudly and shook his head subtly at Ayame.
"What about what?" Kagome asked, leaning around Miroku to see the other girl better.
"What…about, um, Kouga? Won't he be angry?" Ayame asked, giving Miroku a quizzical look though the question was directed at Kagome.
"I don't like Kouga…I like Miroku." Kagome said with a forced grin.
"I thought you liked InuYasha?" Miroku couldn't help but ask.
"I, uh, I did but he's dating my sister and he can be a real jerk sometimes. After meeting you, I realized he's no good for me." Kagome pronounced.
"Oh…well…uh, that's great, Kagome." Ayame said as she slid away from Miroku and flipped open her cell phone.
A: What about Sango?
Miroku felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and held up a finger to Ayame telling her he was going to wait a bit to respond so that Kagome wouldn't know they were texting each other.
Biting her lip, Ayame sighed but nodded. She would just have to be patient if she wanted to know what Miroku was up to.
- -
B: Go out with me.
S: Is it really too much to ask for you to stop asking me?
B: Clearly.
S: You're really quite aggravating.
B: You know you like it.
"Argh!" Sango cried in frustration as she snapped her phone shut. She felt it vibrate again but chose to ignore it knowing it would just be Bankotsu further annoying her. She gave her seat a furious tug and then sat down in an irritated flourish.
"Are you alright?" Enju asked worried about her friend.
"Fine, annoyed, but fine." Sango growled, opening her laptop.
"Details might help me piece this story together." Enju grinned, hoping to lighten her friend's mood.
Sango almost threw her laptop in rage as a message from Bankotsu appeared on her screen.
B: Go out with me.
S: Don't you have better things to do.
B: Nope.
S: Well find something because I do have better things to do.
B: I could be planning our date right now.
S: Leave me alone.
B: Go out with me.
Sango closed the box. It opened again with a repeat of his request. She clenched her fists and counted to ten attempting to calm herself. When she was sure she could move without throwing her laptop she reached for the mouse and minimized the box. It blinked orange at her and she groaned not wanting to know what else he had to say.
"Is that Miroku?" Enju asked, having only seen part of the conversation.
"No, worse, much worse." Sango sulked.
Enju raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"Bankotsu wants me to go to Kikyou's party with him. Kikyou who hates me and Bankotsu who just wants to get laid, that sounds like a great night." Sango grumbled.
"You should take it as a compliment." Enju laughed, knowing this battle occurred every year. Bankotsu would try to get with Sango until he got distracted by some other conquest but his interest never failed to return to Sango.
"I just have no idea why he insists on going through this each year. He's probably stupid enough to think it's some sort of tradition we both enjoy." Sango complained.
"Or maybe he's actually into you." Enju offered.
"Not likely. Bankotsu doesn't date. He sleeps around and that's it." Sango said.
"True enough." Enju agreed.
"What's true?" InuYasha asked, slipping into the room.
"Bankotsu's a man whore who won't leave me alone." Sango growled.
"Want me to take care of him?" InuYasha asked.
"No, I can handle it. We do this every year. It's just annoying." Sango sighed.
"Just say the word and…" InuYasha started.
"And you'll get torn to shreds by Sesshomaru. There aren't many people in this world who he will tolerate. I doubt he's going to let you mess with the singular male he doesn't mind." Sango cut in. "its fine. I'll take care of him myself."
- -
"Dude, I seriously don't get this girl. I've been after her since middle school and she still won't go out with me." Bankotsu complained as he dropped into a seat beside Sesshomaru.
"Perhaps because you are utterly none committal." Sesshomaru stated, without looking up from his chemical measurements.
"Really?"
"She's clearly the committing type." Sesshomaru sighed, trying not to be annoyed as Bankotsu slouched in his chair sulking. "Have you ever been on a second date?"
"Hell no!" Bankotsu snorted.
"There's your problem." Sesshomaru said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "That and with your reputation, you probably couldn't get her to come near you without a hazmat suit."
Bankotsu smirked but it faded as he thought about his friend's words.
"Damn it." Bankotsu mutter.
Sesshomura paused, noting that Bankotsu seemed genuinely upset.
"Why does it matter so much? She is neither exceptional nor wealthy. Plus she's smart. You hate intelligent women." Sesshomaru explained in a bored tone.
"I don't like being rejected." Bankotsu pouted. "She's never given me a chance."
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and returned to their assignment.
"Fine!" Bankotsu half shouted.
Sesshomaru hadn't said anything but he didn't need to for Bankotsu to know he could see through his lies.
"I find her attractive and while dating has never been appealing to me. She could maybe change my mind." Bankotsu shrugged.
"You like her?" Sesshomaru smirked, wrinkling his nose at the idea.
"Define Like?" Bankotsu scoffed.
"You disgust me." Sesshomaru replied already knowing Bankotsu's true feelings.
"How do you think I feel? It gets worse and worse every year. It makes me sick but for some reason the more she insults me and rejects me, the more I'm attracted to her."
"You really are pathetic." Sesshomaru replied.
"You're ever so helpful." Bankotsu muttered.
--
InuYasha's eyes were glued to the clock. Calc 3 seemed to drag on forever and it was only day two of the class. Fortunately, watching Sango's frustration with Bankotsu was amusing enough to get him through the hour but now he was anxious to move around. Glancing at Sango, he saw her shaking her head at him and trying not to laugh at his anxious squirming.
"You're such a child." She laughed.
"You say that like it's a bad thing." He retorted with a proud grin.
Enju and Sango rolled their eyes and began to shut down their computers.
"ALAS!" InuYasha shouted at the bell rang.
Before either girl could say anything to him, he was out the door. He was whistling contently as he strolled up the hall looking for Kikyou. He was in no rush to find her but it was always a good idea to check in with her before she got all crazy about him going missing.
He paused feeling a wave of angry energy coming from behind him. Turning, a smile curved his lips.
"What's the matter wolfy? Get a bad grade?" InuYasha smirked, as Kouga's angry form came close.
"Shut up mutt." Kouga snapped.
"Kagome turn you down again?" InuYasha snickered.
"Psh, like you're doing any better with her." Kouga growled.
"Whatever wolf." InuYasha shrugged. "I've got a girlfriend anyway."
Kouga stomped his angry rampage and grabbed InuYasha's arm very suddenly.
"This is all your fault isn't it?" Kouga shouted.
"I'm sure it is but would you like to clarify just what the hell I'm supposedly responsible for?" InuYasha snarled, pulling his arm out of Kouga's grasp.
"Don't act like you don't know." Kouga snapped, glaring at him.
InuYasha rolled his eyes and tapped his foot impatiently.
"If you're not going to say anything of value, I've got better thing to do besides standing around talking to you." InuYasha snorted.
"I'm talking about that new kid Kagome's dating. You set them up didn't you?" Kouga cried.
"What…oh, you mean Miroku taking her to the party. Geez you're stupid. That's nothing." InuYasha said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"They're dating moron. He's taking her out after school." Kouga retorted.
"You're the moron." InuYasha snapped.
"No, you're the-" Kouga started.
"Alright, I'm going to stop you right there because now you both sound like morons." Sango cut in as she finally caught up with InuYasha.
"But-" InuYasha started to argue.
"No buts! How about you both give acting your age a try?" Sango advised, taking InuYasha's arm and dragging him towards his next class.
--
"Well it's the best way to prove to Sango that I'm not a creep and Kagome is a nice girl. We might even have something if I can get over Sango." Miroku whispered to Ayame as the waited in their English classroom.
"That's not being completely honest." Ayame frowned.
"Well I don't think she's 100% in to me either. In fact, I sorta think she's only going out with me to make InuYasha jealous." Miroku pointed out.
"It's possible but… you shouldn't toy with people like that." Ayame said.
"It's not…it's not really toying, is it? We're both kind of using each other but we could end up liking each other because of this."
"I guess but I don't like it. I mean I like that it stops Kouga from going after her but I don't want either of you to get hurt." Ayame explained.
"We won't. I promise not to intentionally hurt Kagome." Miroku said in a hurried whisper as Kagome entered the classroom.
She'd split up from them to talk to her friend Enju in the hallway.
"Hey." She greeted cheerily as she slid into a seat next to Miroku.
"Hello again." Miroku grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
She blushed but leaned into his embrace. Ayame frowned, biting her lip at the scene but decided to say nothing. Instead, she set up her laptop to get ready for class.
Her head only came up when she heard Kouga's angry growl. He dropped irritably in the seat beside her, much to her surprise, but didn't say a word to her.
"Good morning Kouga." She said, trying to sound as cheery as Kagome had.
He just glared at her. She sighed and turned her attention to pulling up the reading for class.
Her head came up again as the shine of silky silver strands caught her eye. Her face lit up in a blush as InuYasha entered the room. He grinned when their eyes met and she felt her heart speed up. 'He's so cute.' She thought, trying to pull her eyes away.
"What's your problem?" Kouga snapped, sensing Ayame's increased heart rate.
She didn't say anything back, just ducked her head back down. He glared at her for a moment and then looked where she had been looking. His face scrunched up with disgust. 'Why do all the girls like him?' He thought irritably.
"You've got to be kidding me." He hissed.
"Kidding?" Ayame asked, blinking large green eyes.
"You can't have a crush on that stupid mutt." Kouga scoffed.
"I don't…he's just been nice to me…a lot nice than you." She sniffed.
"Then he's just trying to get up your skirt." Kouga snapped.
Ayame turned suddenly to face him angrily.
"You know what Kouga? You're a jerk! A gianormous jerk. Just because you don't like me doesn't mean there aren't people who enjoy my company. Maybe if you'd spend a little time getting to know me we could really like each other but you're too caught up on a girl who doesn't care about you." Ayame said angrily. Standing up, she gathered her things and stomped to a new seat.
InuYasha raised an eye brown and then smirked at Kouga before sliding into the open seat beside Ayame. He winked at Kogua as he draped his arm across the back of Ayame's chair.
"How are you today?" He asked casually.
"Much better now." She smiled, setting up her laptop again.
"Do you know what's up with the cuddle-buddies down there?" InuYasha asked gesturing towards Kagome and Miroku.
"Yeah, Kagome asked Miroku out this morning." Ayame reported.
"She what?" InuYasha gasped.
"She asked him out. She told him she likes him and then asked him out." Ayame shrugged.
"But she just met him!" InuYasha exclaimed.
"I guess they really connected, unlike me and Kouga." Ayame muttered.
"I can pound his face in if it makes you feel any better." InuYasha offered, temporarily forgetting Kagome and Miroku.
"I think a part of me would enjoy that today but that won't help in the long run so no thank you. It was a sweet offer though." Ayame said blushing.
"Well, ya'know, if you change your mind, I'm always willing." InuYasha grinned.
--
Sango was about to leave the locker room when she heard the metallic sound of her cell phone buzzing in her locker. 'He can't really still be texting me. We're in this class together.' Sango thought irritably as she yanked open her locker and pulled out her phone.
I: You didn't tell me Kagome had a thing for Miroku.
Sango frowned at the message.
S: To my knowledge she doesn't. We haven't really talked about him. Why do you ask?
I: They're dating.
Sango froze. She took a slow breath while trying to control the feel of betrayal that was creeping up. Miroku had played her, with his fake crush on her. She felt ashamed at having for even a second thinking he had been genuine. 'Of course he wasn't, he's been hitting on Ayame too.'
S: Since when are they dating?
I: Apparently, Kagome asked him out this morning.
S: Okay, well I have class. We'll talk about it later.
Sango bit back hurt tears as she thrust her phone into her locker and slowly left the locker room. 'He's a jerk and a pervert and I shouldn't care except for Kagome's sake. I have to tell her what a creep he is. What's with her horrible taste in guys?'
Sango was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't see Bankotsu coming towards her. As a result, she ran smack into him.
"Hello lovely." Bankotsu smirked, catching her in his arms.
"Go away Bankotsu. I'm not in the mood to deal with you right now." She sighed.
"What's wrong pet?" He asked, keeping one arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Nothing I want to discuss with you and never, NEVER, call me pet." She growled, twisting out of his hold.
"I was being affectionate." He said with an angelic smile.
She kept walking and ignoring him.
"So listen." Bankotsu called after her as he sped up to walk beside her. "I was thinking, we should go for Thai food later today, just a you and me, date kind of thing."
"I'm not going on a date with you." She said grinding her teeth.
"So does eight work for you? I know you probably want to get back early to study or something." Bankotsu went on as if she hadn't spoken.
"Why won't you give up?" She asked.
"I mean I guess we could do 7:30pm but…"
Sango gave an irritated sigh and put as much distance as she could between herself and Bankotsu.
--
Sesshomaru was watching the demon slayer curiously. She was emitting distress and despite himself, he was intrigued. He knew there wasn't much that rattled the young woman.
"Bankotsu, what have you done to the taijiya? She is quite upset." Sesshomaru inquired as he sparred with his friend.
"I haven't done anything. I've just been trying to get her to go out with me." Bankotsu complained.
"Hmm." Sesshomaru intoned.
"What do you think is wrong with her?" Bankotsu asked stopping and turning to stare at her.
"I neither know nor care." Sesshomar stated, deciding not to share his concern with Bankotsu.
It was not in his nature to care about other people's problems but it was strange to know the slayer was upset. He was used to her calm, positive energy. She was one of the few people who seemed to somewhat understand him. She was also one of the few people he didn't feel the immediate need to kill. As InuYasha's best friend and Rin's hero, she had become a fixture in his life and he didn't like his things to be messed with. 'I'll make InuYasha sort it out.' He decided before pushing the thoughts from his head completely.
--
Miroku tapped his pen impatiently as he watched the clock waiting for Sango to arrive. He needed to tell her about Kagome in the best way so that he wouldn't complete destroy his future chances with her. He needed her to observe what a good boyfriend he could be and when Kagome got around to dumping him for InuYasha or someone else then he'd be free for Sango.
His breath caught in his throat as she finally entered the room. He was just thinking about how beautiful she was when the intensity of her glare hit him.
"Sango?" He asked frowning in confusion. What had he done today?
"Please don't talk to me, Miroku. I'm done with your crap." She said curtly.
She sat down rigidly and kept her back half turned towards him.
"What are you talking about? What's wrong?" Miroku asked, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me." She said slowly, turning her icy glare on him once again.
He withdrew his hand slowly.
"Do you really think I'm that stupid? That I wouldn't find out?" She snapped. "You're such an ass."
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about." Miroku said shaking his head.
"Just cut the crap. I know about you and Kagome and you and Ayame. For all I know you could be playing a ton of other girls. You're such a jerk and if you hurt my friend I'll kill you." She hissed.
"Oh." He breathed slowly, realizing she'd already found about. "News travels fast around here."
She just continued to glare at him. He rubbed the back of his neck trying to think of something to say. Then he paused.
"You're really upset right now." He said without thinking.
"What? Well…yes…of course. You're playing my friend." Sango stuttered.
"No, no, I don't think that's why you're mad." Miroku said trying to hold back a grin.
"And what you think matters, why?" Sango scoffed.
"Do you like me?" Miroku asked unable to hold back the hopeful upturn of his lips.
"Ew, no, of course not." Sango cried in a rush. "You're so conceited."
"No, I'm not. You're just really upset for it to be just concern for your friend you know." He said with a shrug.
"Well for your information I'm not jealous. I couldn't care less what you do. I care about Kagome." She said snippily.
"Sango, you can tell me the truth." Miroku said kindly.
"You're delusional. I don't like you. I'm seeing someone else, remember." Sango snapped. She bit the inside of her cheek before she could retract the lie. She didn't know why she said it but she knew she didn't want him to think he was winning or that he had hurt her. She had to show him that she didn't care.
"InuYasha? Well news flash, he's cheating on you." Miroku said sourly.
"No, not InuYasha. That's…" She paused knowing she had to tread carefully since now her earlier story was getting screwed up. She wished she could have just said yes but she didn't want to give Miroku the satisfaction of thinking she was the poor other woman who couldn't get a real boyfriend. "That's over now. I'm with someone else now."
"Who?" Miroku asked, fear and surprise flashing across his face.
"I'm…uh… I'm with Bankotsu now." She said, clenching her hands into such tight fists that her nails broke the skin of her palms.
"Bankotsu?" Miroku echoed.
"Yes, not that it's any of your business." She said, turning her face away from him.
Miroku frowned trying to remember all the people he had met. He vaguely remembered the name Bankotsu but he couldn't put a face to the name.
"How long have you two been together?" He asked.
"Like I said, it's none of your business. Now leave me alone." She said coldly.
Miroku's shoulders drooped and he suddenly felt cold inside. 'What have I done?'
--
S: So this Thai place…how dressed up do I need to be?
Bankotsu felt a grin spread across his face at the text message that he had just received.
"HELL YEAH!" He shouted, jumping up out of his seat and punching the air.
"What's wrong with you?" Kagura hissed, grabbing the back of his shirt and yanking him back down into his seat as their teacher glared at him.
"I've got a date tonight." He smirked.
Kaguya's jaw tensed as she leaned closer to listen to the conversation.
"When don't you have a date?" Kikyou snorted.
"I meant one that counts." Bankotsu scoffed.
"You do dates that count?" Kagura laughed.
"Occasionally." Bankotsu smirked.
B: It's real classy, just like you. Eight good with you?
He had to wait for a moment. He figured she was probably rolling her eyes at the line but he was happy just the same.
S: Eight is fine.
B: I'll see you think, babe.
S: Don't call me babe!
B: Doll?
S: No
B: Sweetheart
S: I will cut your throat.
He glared at his phone for a minute. This girl was hell bent on killing his style. He shrugged; it didn't matter as long as she didn't cancel.
S: And I will break every bone in your body if you touch me inappropriately.
B: No promises but I can try to keep my hands to myself.
S: I get the feeling you're not going to be alive tomorrow.
B: No worries, I like it rough.
He waited for a response and then laughed out loud picturing the indignant face she probably made me before snapping her phone shut. He grinned to himself settling back in his chair. He'd finally managed to secure a date with Sango.
--
"What's with you getting all cuddly with Ayame?" Kouga snarled, as he punched at InuYasha.
"What's with you caring?" InuYasha smirked, as he dodged the attacks.
"You stay away from her." Kouga growled, kicking at InuYasha's head.
"Or you'll what?" InuYasha laughed, ducking out of the way. "Someone's got to be nice to her. You're clearly not taking care of her."
"Just stay out of it mutt." Kouga shouted, pushing InuYasha back.
"Make me." InuYasha shouted back.
"It's going to be like this every day, isn't it?" Suikotsu asked.
"Probably." Jakotsu shrugged.
"I hate this class." Enju muttered, massaging her temples.
--
Miroku tried to contain his laughter as he listened to the phone conversation going on behind him. The teacher was becoming increasingly irritated as he tried to ignore the conversation but it wasn't working. Whoever it was, was not trying at all to be quiet.
"Well despite your lack of belief and complete lack of support I have landed a date with her . . . We're getting Thai tonight . . . Well of course I'm taking her to Kikyou's party . . . Why wouldn't she want to go? . . . You just don't know anything about girls, she'll go . . . Well of course I'm gonna hit that . . . I'm not stupid. I've got a plan to gain her trust and all that . . . Sesshomaru, you have no faith in me. I can totally do this boyfriend thing . . ."
'Geez, must be some sort of badass if InuYasha's brother is cool with him.' Miroku thought to himself.
"BANKOTSU!!!" The health teacher shouted.
Miroku froze. 'Bankotsu…he must be talking about Sango.' He whipped around to find the boy with the cell phone. His jaw dropped seeing the kid from the day before. 'Sango's into him? What is it with her taste in men?' He thought taking in the edgy ripped up uniform Bankotsu chose to wear with combat boots and the silver chain hanging from his front pocket to feet were propped up on the desk in front of him and he looked rather irritated to be interrupted. Miroku sank down in his seat watching the movement of this kid's bulging biceps as he pulled the phone away from his ear briefly.
"What? Can't you see I'm on the phone." Bankotsu retorted pointing to his cell phone.
"We're in the middle of class." The teacher cried exasperated.
"I didn't say you had to stop teaching." Bankotsu shrugged. "Way to be rude."
The teacher stood there, mouth opening and closing as Bankotsu resumed his conversation as if he'd never been interrupted.