Chapter 7: Why can't we be friends

         Rehearsals went to about 7 at night before dress rehearsals. The late hours rehearsing along with her homework were taking quite a toll on Kagome. No teacher seemed to understand that so much work couldn't be done in one day. Sango seemed to be dealing with the problem quite well. Everyone who was in the play more than once knew how to juggle school and the play. Kagome just couldn't see how they did it. Sango had to poke and prod her all through precal class just to keep her awake.


          It had been a while since Inu Yasha had apologized to her. Sango had told her a hundred times to make her move, and Miroku had told Inu Ysaha the same. It was the night of the first dress rehearsal. All the girls were busily working on eachother's hair for the performance, and Sango was getting help from Kagome with her old age makeup. "Everyone decent?" came a knock on the dressing room door, it was the voice of Inu Yasha. When he got the yes to come in, he did. He was wearing his blue costume pants and no shirt, but he still wore a bandana around his head to hide his ears.


          All the freshman girls swooned and the rest looked on as he spoke to Kagome. Sango watched as they talked. She had known Inu Yasha for about 6 years now, and she could read him pretty well. He smiled at Kagome before he left, it was one of those rare genuine smiles he only gave once in a blue moon. Everyone watched as he made his exit, once the door was closed, girls squealed at the sight of his bare chest.


         Kagome took her seat again in front of Sango and she took the pencil in her hand, only a few more wrinkles and Sango would look like the perfect old hag. "Kagome, why haven't you done anything about him yet?"


         Kagome mixed makeup shades together as she listened to Sango, "well, you know why. I'm leaving in a few weeks anyway, the semester's almost over. There wouldn't be any real relationship. Now give me that brush so I can do your hair"



         Unknown to Kagome and Inu Yasha, Sango and Miroku had been trying to get the couple together for weeks. Miroku had noticed that Inu Yasha was back to his old self when Kagome was around. It was as if Kikyo had never stepped into his life. "Inu Yasha, have you even told her once that you have feelings for her?" Miroku asked, he was busily trying to get his hair back so it would fit under his cap.


         The boys were all having problems with makeup, but Miroku and Inu Yasha had done this so many times, they were practically ready. "Miroku, she's a friend" he said, he pulled the white fencing shirt over his head. "Granted.. a very attractive friend, but a friend all the same"


          "You grin when you lie" Miroku said. Inu Yasha sent him a warning glare, "I was only saying. Tomorrow's opening night, and I was just thinking, tonight after the rehearsal, we all go over to your place and have a little celebration, like we always do, but this time, we have Kagome over too."


         Inu Yasha's hands combed through his hair, the costumer, Kaede, always did such a great job of managing to hide his ears. They were pressed tightly to his head with numerous bobby pins and what seemed like a gallon of hairspray. "I have no problem with Kagome joining us this time, but I'm not going to make a move on her. Remember, she's leaving in a few weeks anyway. It would be pointless"


         No matter how many times Inu Yasha tried to convince himself otherwise, he couldn't help but to admit deep down, he had feelings for Kagome. He'd learned so much about her in the past seven weeks. Nobody had been able to understand what it was like to lose someone so close. Like him, she didn't want sympathy, and like him, she needed someone who understood that. He put his hat on and got ready to go on stage, all the while, he thought about what had happened last week. Since then, he couldn't help but to realize his feelings.



*FLASHBACK*
         It was a rather rainy day, walking from building to building left most of the students soaking wet on days like that one. Inu Yasha sat under the porch of the drama building half watching the rain and half playing his father's old acoustic guitar. Long strands of silvery white hair dripped down his back, and a few strands stuck to his face. Again he had been left with nothing to do until rehearsals started. He'd been playing for about half an hour when a pair of voices, some distance away, sneaked into his thoughts.


         Normally, people wouldn't be able to hear much of anything around the heavy rain, but those ears of his weren't just to make him look cute. Even through his hat, he could tell that Kagome and that jerk Kouga were walking his way. The thought of that guy anywhere near Kagome made his blood boil. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kagome's pink umbrella and the bulky figure of Kouga walking right beside her. Inu Yasha watched as she put her books in her car.


          He wasn't exactly sure why he didn't just carry on and play, but he wanted to make sure Kagome would be fine. "Busy? What do you mean busy? Come on Kagome, you said you were busy last weekend" he heard Kouga say.


           "Sorry Kouga, I guess I just have a lot of things to do" Inu Yasha watched as she shut her car door again. She turned back to Kouga, "You understand, once the play's over I'll have plenty of time, but until then, I just can't juggle so many things."


           Inu Yasha's song had dwindled to a stop as he watched the scene play out before him. Kouga put one arm on either side of Kagome, he wasn't touching her, but it pinned her between himself and her car. "Comeon Kagome" Kouga leaned his head down to Kagome's level.


           Inu Yasha set his guitar down and began to make his way closer to the two of them. Kagome wouldn't be able to see over Kouga, and Kouga's back was turned. "No Kouga, and you're going to make me ate for practice!"


          She pushed against his chest, but he didn't relent, he opened his mouth to say something, but immediately was pulled away from Kagome. Kouga whirled around on his heel to look at Inu Yasha, "She said no Kouga, are you hard of hearing or something?"


          All Kouga could do was laugh, "I'm sure you aren't.. hanyou. And who asked you anyway? this is between Kagome and I. She's my woman now, or hasn't she told you?"


          "Feh, like she'd stoop to being some half rate demon's woman." Inu Yasha flipped his hair behind his shoulder.


          Kouga raised both brows, "Half rate? Well big words coming from a half breed! Besides, last I heard, you're still in love with Kikyo" At that name, Inu Yasha visibly shook. He knew what Kouga and Kikyo had done, and he wasn't over it yet. "See, you are. Not that I'd blame you, she was a tasty one. All good things must come to an end though. Kagome you know, she looks a lot like Kikyo."


          "Kagome and Kikyo are two different people! Kagome wouldn't do something like that. She's no whore" Inu Yasha spat the last word out, he snarled as he did. The rain fell with lightening and thunder now growing stronger.


        The storm picked up as the tempers flared. Out of everything, Kouga didn't want to get into another fistfight with Inu Yasha. He had the scars to prove that he wasn't his match. "You got lucky thins time half-breed.." Kouga turned on his heel and left.


           Golden eyes watched Kouga leave before the rain falling over Inu Yasha's head stopped suddenly, he looked up, he had been so lost in his thoughts he had forgotten about Kagome. She held that pink umbrella over his head. He looked at her, a confused expression covered his features now, "You'll catch a cold" she simply smiled and walked with him into the drama building for their rehearsal.



          The company took a bow to the director, the only person to watch the performance on dress rehearsals of course. The rehearsal had gone alright. There was a completely new feel to the play with costumes and makeup on. It seemed to be more alive. The costumes were beautiful. Kagome was dressed in pinks and purples most of the time while Inu Yasha's costume switched between red and blue. Colors were symbolic of both love, anger, and happiness in this production. "So.. Kagome" Inu Yasha said as the company started to file offstage to change and take their makeup off. "Every year Miroku, Sango and I go to my place and sort of have a pre opening party the night before the day, and well since you are this year's leading lady, would you like to go?"


         Kagome was dead tired; the dress rehearsal had ended at nearly 11. She still had school tomorrow too, but she simply couldn't say no to Inu Yasha. "Sure.."


         "Good then! Kagome I'll drive you!" Sango chirped from behind her. She pulled Kagome back into the girl's dressing room and helped her get out of her complicated dress. "Here's your chance girl.. Tonight you can tell him just how you feel!"


         How she felt, it would be such a relief to finally tell Inu Yasha how she felt. "What if he doesn't feel the same, or what if he thinks it's useless because I'm leaving anyway?"


          Sango hung Kagome's dress up for her as they spoke. All the other girls had long since left, "Kagome, I've known him for 6 years, trust me. I'm right about this one!"


         
          Miroku, Sango, Kagome, and Inu Yasha stayed up almost the whole night last night. With Kagome's family gone for a few days, she didn't have to have an excuse, and Sango didn't need to tell her parents. They always knew they would hardly see their daughter during the week of the play. "I'm telling you, it's not Jason!" Inu Yasha said to the group. Kagome stared at the screen, her hands clutching a pillow from the couch.


           Miroku and Sango had unknowingly cuddled up close to eachother, and Inu Yasha sat close to Kagome. "This movie... is... so scary!" Kagome buried her face in the pillow.


           It was nearly 3 AM, but everyone had been getting so excited about that night that they had completely forgotten about the time. Once the movie was over, Miroku was the first to notice, "hey guys, you know we have school today"


           At that comment, Sango looked at her watch, "Oh no!! You're right. Sorry guys but we should be going!" Kagome still remained buried in the couch pillow. "Kagome I'll stay at your place tonight so nobody gets you!" she poked Kagome in the ribs.


          "hey heeyyy!" Kagome threw the pillow at Sango and picked to a few popcorn bowls and coke cans. Inu Yasha did the same. He led her into the kitchen as Miroku and Sango cleaned up the living room. 'Now or never' Kagome thought to herself. "So.. you nervous about the play?" Sure, she'd start out with small talk. What else would she do, strike up a conversation with.. 'Hey, you don't know but I actually think you're a sweet guy and over the past few weeks I've been realizing that more and more' how dumb would that be?


          Inu Yasha tossed a few cans into the garbage can, "No, not really. It's not exactly my first play you know."


         "W...well me neither" Kagome dumped all the popcorn into one bowl, "hey Inu Yasha..." Even though her back was turned to him, she knew he was looking at her. She could see his brows raised now, his ears twitching back and fourth. She loved how he never wore a hat around her when they hung out. His ears were just too adorable! "Inu Yasha, do you think of me as.. a friend? Or... do you... well.. I"


         Out of everything, Inu Yasha loved how innocent she was. He had known for a long time how she felt about him. He had just recently figured out what he thought about her, but he couldn't make himself get into a relationship, he spoke before he could think. His shell hid what he really wanted. He wanted to be with Kagome, but another part of him didn't want to be hurt again, "You mean do I like you as a girlfriend?" Kagome listened to him carefully, "of course not Kagome. Sorry if I've been sending the wrong signals" He spoke to her like he had before he got to know her. His warm tone of voice was lost. He was back to the jerk she had thought he was.


           All of Kagome's worst thoughts had come true. Sango had convinced her he would say yes, and now taking his rejection was much harder. She worked past the knot in her throat to choke out, "I thought so, sorry. Well I.. should get going"


           She didn't look at him as she left the kitchen, his eyes however followed her. Why the hell had he said that?! Kagome wouldn't turn on him. Kagome was too sweet for that. By the time he had figured that out, she had left with Sango. Inu Yasha would have yet another thing to apologize to Kagome for. This one would be harder to fix than the first one.

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A/N: wuu another chapter. review pleaseeeeee

 *~*Hugs and Kissies*~*