Wow… I've already reached 90 reviews! Thank you for all your love, everyone! And thank you for your patience- I know how late this chap is. But with school and everything else, I've been so busy! No kidding!

And yes, I feel bad about the lateness. But it's wasn't due to complete busy-ness... Due to a minor issue (which was absolutely NOT ur fault Daichi because you thought you'd already sent it to me) it was a bit delayed.

Bitter or Sweet?

Disclaimer: Haha I wish!

Chapter 7: Tall, Dark, and Handsome

Am I alone in your heart, or am I alone...?
It tears me apart
Am I alone?
Doing all I can do, just to be close to you.
Every time that we meet, I skip a heartbeat.

~Scouting for Girls: Heartbeat

INUYASHA'S POV

Damn it.

That girl will be the death of me, I swear she will.

Seriously, how can she just freaking kiss me on the cheek and then practically run away to her little buddies? Damn it!

Just as I'm about to give Kagome a piece of my mind, my phone rings, and I bring it out. "'Lo?"

"INUYASHA, WHERE ARE YOU?"

"Whoa, Mom, I'd like to keep my hearing till I'm old. Mind lowering the volume?"

She takes a deep, long breath. "Sweetie, you're supposed to be at home! I know you didn't forget that your brother's coming over today so can you please come right now so that we can all have dinner together? Your dad's trying to convince him not to leave, because he keeps saying that he has 'better things to do.' So come on home. Right now."

"I-"

"Which means, RIGHT NOW, dammit!"

"Okay, but-"

A distant voice- not my mom's- calls, "Alright, good job, everybody! Our shrine was a success and now we can celebrate! I'll bring out the amazake, and Kagome, you get the glasses."

That gives me an idea.

"Oh, um, sorry Mom, but I was helping out at Kagome's Grandfather's shrine and now he's insisting with all of his poor old, withered heart that I have some amazake with him and the crew. I couldn't possibly turn him down."

There's a pause. Then: "That means you're with Kagome, then?" she asks in a melodic voice.

I inwardly groan. "Uh, yeah."

"What about Shippo? He's supposed to have dinner with us too, you know."

"Well, he's taken a liking to Kagome and I simply cannot pry him off of her. So as you can see, my hands are kind of full. Oh look, Kagome's waving me over. Bye!" And then I hang up on her. I'm just about the classiest guy you'll ever meet.

When I walk over to Kagome, her friends, her grandfather, and Shippo (who really is in love with Kagome), Kagome hands me a cup.

"Here. I've already given Shippo some, so I guess it's only fair to give you some, too."

But the grandpa gives me a funny look.

"Who are you?" he asks, and my jaw drops.

"Huh? You mean you've forgotten me already? What kind of neighbor are you?"

He scrutinizes me, getting right up in my face, forcing me to lean backwards.

"Oh!" he suddenly says. "I remember now! You're the dog boy!"

Kagome snickers, and my eye twitches. Dog boy? I clear my throat. "That's Inuyasha, sir."

"Psh! Whatever, I'm no good with names anyway."

So we sit around, having a nice little chat (well, not me, but the girls certainly do like to babble—do they, like, not take breaths between sentences?) when a black convertible stops with a screech, on the road at the very bottom of the shrine steps.

I know that car.

Ugh.

And then the door of the driver's seat open and out comes my flashy, feminine, master of cosmetics brother; Sesshomaru.

He leaps up the stairs in an unfair speed (though I'm being a bit hypocritical here) and slows down as he nears us.

"Inuyasha," he greets, eyebrow raised, all superior and stuff. "How… lovely to see you."

"Oh shut up, Sesshomaru. What do you want?"

"Mother told me to watch over you. Since you're obviously far too young and immature to do so yourself."

"Brother?"

I turn around. "Technically, it's half brother, Rin. And didn't you already know?"

"As a matter of fact," she answers, secretly looking him up and down, "I didn't." She sticks out a hand. "Pleased to meet you."

He looks at her with bored eyes for a moment, then painfully lifts his hand and shakes hers. "Pleasure's mine. The name's Sesshomaru."

"I'm Rin," she beams. "I've decided."

Kagome, Sango, and Ayame cock their heads and ask, "Decided what?"

"Sesshomaru, I've decided that I'm in love with you!"

A few hours later, I'm in the passenger seat of my dad's convertible, Sesshomaru driving. Finally, I speak.

"Okay, I always knew you were a cold-hearted bastard, but wasn't that just a tad bit meaner than you usually are? I know Rin, and she's actually a pretty great person. You didn't have to blow her off like that."

"I don't really think you're one to talk, Inuyasha, and if you like her so much, why don't you date her?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I don't go for older women."

He rolls his eyes, but keeping his gaze on the road.

"Sesshomaru, I've decided that I'm in love with you!"

Silence.

Jaws silently drop but Rin doesn't back down. Sesshomaru doesn't look even the slightest bit surprised. In fact, his facial expression doesn't even change. It never does.

"You're not my type," he bluntly retorts.

"Why not?" She demands.

"I don't make it a habit of dating small, annoying women. Are you sure you're even allowed to date?"

I punch him in the arm.

But Rin is persistent. "I know I'm a bit short for my age, but I swear I'm legally eighteen-years-old! And you don't even know me; why can't you just give me a try?"

He exhales impatiently. "Is it a hobby of yours to proclaim your love for complete strangers?"

"No. Actually, today's the first time I've done it. But I think I've fallen for you at first sight. Is my height really the problem? Or are you already seeing someone?"

"That's not it. But like I said, you're not my type."

Rin pouts, crossing her arms and stubbornly looking up at him. "Then what is?"

"Someone with beauty, intelligence, suaveness. And wealth never hurts. But as you can tell, these are all traits of which you lack, if you even have any at all."

I snort, remembering how Ayame and Sango had to hold Kagome back from attempting to kick Sesshomaru in the ass. She had blown a complete fit, saying that no one insults her friends, and that there's an extent to how rude one can be. Typical Kagome.

Sesshomaru glances at his watch. "Thanks to you, our dinner is delayed." Sighing, he reaches over and ruffles my hair. "You're still just my baby brother, aren't you?"

I send him a deathly look. "Stop doing that."

"But it's fun."

"Sesshy, your sadistic side never ceases to scare the shit out of me," I reply.

"Don't call me that."

I grin. "But it's fun."

Kagome's family comes over to my house the next day, for some kind of fancy dinner which Mrs. Higurashi and Mom will be preparing together. Yay…not. The old man (Kagome's grandfather) is reading this morning's newspaper, while Dad and Sota awkwardly play against one another with one of my game stations.

As for Sesshomaru (yes, the bastard is still at my house), he's doing some kind of report for his professor.

That leaves Kagome with me. And she sure knows how to make someone feel bad/irritated.

"She was crying!" she explains, "I mean, if you're anything like your brother, then I'm ashamed to say that I feel like you're somewhat of a friend to me now. Rin is-"

"Look, I like Rin; she's a good friend. And my brother's not a complete monster either. Just leave me out of this!"

Why in the world did my mother push us into my room and close the door?

"Well, Rin deserves a good man, and although Sango, Ayame, and I tried to convince her that Sesshomaru's not good for her, she insisted that he was the only one she'll ever want, sooo… I've come up with a plan."

"A plan that doesn't involve me," I add, hopefully.

"Actually, it involves you very much. Inuyasha, you are going to help me match up Rin with your brother!"

I fly backwards into the wall, nearly causing a picture frame to fall. "Are you insane, woman? I'm not going to go play matchmaker with you!"

"Oh, but you will. And why? Because, Inuyasha, the guy that carelessly tossed Rin aside is your very own brother."

"Why does everyone keep saying that? It's half brother. Okay?"

"Whatever. So help me out, alright? And besides, you said yourself you liked Rin-"

Her eyes widen.

"Wait, is the reason you don't want to put Rin with Sesshomaru because you have a crush on her yourself?"

"What? Are you crazy? No! I like her as a person, not as a girl. Besides, I don't date older women."

"Then why don't you want to help her out? Don't you want your brother to finally find a girl who likes him despite his chilling personality?"

I growl. "Half brother!"

So we all sit down and have dinner… with small conversations here and there. Kagome gives me 'the signal' and I force myself to go with the plan. "So Sesshomaru… I've been thinking, don't you need some help with your love life?"

He spears a broccoli and puts it in his mouth. "Must I remind you that you are younger than me?"

"But at least girls want to date me. Why don't you go on a double date with me?"

He practically chokes on his broccoli.

"I hope you're joking," he mutters darkly.

"I'm not, actually. How about it? You're still here for tomorrow, right?"

"Who's the girl?" he asks mockingly, still not accepting the offer.

"Brunette, seventeen. Pretty, smart, athletic. You'll like her. Name's Sango."

"Not interested."

"If you don't, I still have pictures of-"

His eyes flash dangerously. "Okay, fine. But you owe me your life."

I roll my eyes.

-Flashback-

"Okay, so here's the plan: you set him up with Sango, telling him she's seventeen. She's tall, so he won't be able to tell, I think. Next, Rin and Sango will 'accidentally' bump into each on the streets and she'll plead Rin to take her place because she 'actually' has a crush on you and just wanted to make you jealous. Pretty good plan, huh?"

"Sounds corny, stupid, and predictable. Just like you."

"Meanie. I think the idea was smart. Let's do it!"

"And who'll play the role of my date?"

She snorts and puts her hands on her waist.

"Me, of course."

AN: Ahhh school is taking over! D:

AMAZAKE: "is a traditional sweet, low-alcoholic Japanese drink made from fermented rice. Minors are allowed to drink."

Anyhow, everyone has been asking for Sesshy, and he has finally made his appearance!

I know that's he's in University, so it is assumed there won't be a lot of him, but there will be. As well as Koga and Miroku. But remember—patience is key.

Thank you for your overwhelming reviews everyone! I heart you all! Of course, gratitude also goes to my beta Daichi for sticking with me!

Hugs,

Nyony

(Oh, and I've been asked this before, but Nyony is not my real name. It's a pen name, for those who don't know. My real name will be kept a secret but it starts with 'E' ^^)

Ninja Beta Daichi: I love writing that every time I edit! I'm happy everyone likes the story so far! Nyony deserves all the reviews you give her and more. So please, click that button right under my little note and you'll make her day!

I should try to guess Nyony's name. Hmm… Emily? Elizabeth? Elaine? (Darn, I ran out of names! But mark my words, I will figure it out! (And it wouldn't hurt to check out my stories too )